Chelsea vs Newcastle United: Premier League Prediction Panel 2008/9 - preview and predictions

Chelsea are missing a number of players but will still expect to put out a team capable of winning this match. With Liverpool having a very winnable home game this weekend, Chelsea can't afford to let up. I guess that Chelsea will probably try to again win this game before half-time (like the West Brom game) so that if any legs are wearied by the international break they only fade when it doesn't matter.

Newcastle is expecting Michael Owen to be fit enough to start, and the cold reality of his contract situation suggests that he will be going all out to score goals for Newcastle. The loss of Joey Barton won't help, but the utter lack of any expectation that Newcastle can get anything here is bound to help; Joe *^%^$ Kinnear is used to getting results from an underdog situation.

The international break will have hit Chelsea hard, but it will expect to resume normal service at home and beat Newcastle.

Chelsea vs Newcastle United; Kick Off 3:00pm 22 Nov 2008

Prediction Panel

Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Tony Bellew : 3 - 1

Dave Blackburn : 3 - 0

Sue Gardener : 3 - 1

Chris Goodwin : 2 - 1

Paul Grech (sqf) : 3 - 1

Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 3 - 0

Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 2 - 0

Peter Lee : TBC - TBC

Don McMahon : 3 - 0

Antony Melvin (sqf) : 4 - 0

Stephen Orford (sqf) : 2 - 0

Tony Ratton : 2 - 0

Peter Rendle : 3 - 0

Dan Taylor : 3 - 1

Bill Urban (sqf) : TBC - TBC

Andy Wakeman : 3 - 0

Isaac Williams : TBC - TBC

Mark Williams : TBC - TBC

Panel Verdict

The panel fully expects Chelsea to win, probably 3-0, and stay top

Home: 14; Draw: 0; Away: 0; TBC: 4;

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!