Prediction Panel table: Spurs shake off Wigan defeat to close gap at top

Football . . .it’s a funny old game. I was expecting some big scores from our pundits this week as there were four seemingly nailed on home wins. However, while Chelsea beat Stoke City, Liverpool disposed of West Brom and Manchester United gave West Ham a hiding, Champions League new boys Tottenham ...

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Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic: Martinez faces another spanking

It must be a great time to be a Spurs fan. Harry Redknapp’s are in the Champions League proper, are playing some fantastic football and this weekend they welcome the whipping boys of Wigan to the Lane. To say Roberto Martinez has had a poor start to the season is an understatement. Thrashed on the ...

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Squarefootball’s Premier League quiz: Week Three

Some people think they know everything about football, well let’s see if they do. Here I have 10 questions which will separate the Spurs from the Young Boys. If you think you are clued up on the beautiful game then prove it. 1. Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal: Who was the last player to be transferre...

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Squarefootball’s Premier League Quiz: Week Three – The Answers

Well, how did you get on? We’d love to hear from you. 1. Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal: David Bentley is the last player to have moved between the two sides. 2. Blackpool v Fulham: You could have said: Barry Hayles, Geoff Horsfield, Steve Finnan or Kit Symons. 3. Chelsea v Stoke City: Florent ...

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Prediction Panel Table: Wolves topple the Toffees

Wolverhampton Wanderers attracted a bit of criticism for their performance at Goodison Park on Saturday but their representative in our Prediction Panel, and current champion, has toppled the Toffees following another brilliant week. Chris Cox, the only pundit last week to predict that Chelsea woul...

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Wigan Athletic: Can Martinez turn it around?

Nineties pop act D:Ream famously sang that Things Can Only Get Better. Unfortunately it looks as though things are going to get a whole lot worse for Wigan Athletic before they show any signs of getting better. Humbled by newly promoted Blackpool on the opening day, then hit for six by the champion...

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Wigan Athletic v Chelsea: How many will the Blues score this weekend?

Wigan were thumped emphatically by the Premier League new boys Blackpool on the opening day so what on earth are the free-scoring champions Chelsea going to do to Roberto Martinez’s men this weekend? On paper the Latics should be annihilated. The Blues put eight past Wigan on the final day of last ...

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Squarefootball’s Premier League Quiz: Week Two

It’s that time of the week again. Here is the latest batch of questions intended to leave you rooted to the spot like West Ham’s Robert Green! Last week’s questions were intentionally hard. This week we’ve lowered the mark a little but it’s still more taxing than your average GMTV phone-in. All the...

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Squarefootball's Premier League Quiz: Week Two - The Answers

Here are the answers to the second instalment of our quiz. 1. Arsenal v Blackpool: Alan Ball is the World Cup winner with links to both Arsenal and Blackpool. 2. Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers: Barry Ferguson is the former Rover who scored against Birmingham in 2003. 3. Everton v Wolves: ...

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Prediction Panel Standings: Toffees top the table

Everton may have lost their opening game against Blackburn Rovers but Toffees fan Chris Goodwin has given the blue half of Merseyside something to cheer by topping the Premier League Prediction Panel table. Mr Goodwin correctly predicted five correct results from the first weekend of top flight ac...

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Wigan Athletic v Blackpool: Seasiders seek sensational start

Eighteen years ago Blackpool took on Wigan in their first ever league clash in what was then Division Four. This weekend the two clubs meet in the top flight for the first time. Both clubs have gone on unbelievable journeys in recent years but who will start the new campaign with a win? Ian Hollow...

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Squarefootball’s Premier League Challenge: Week one

The new Premier League season kicks off this weekend and so does a new feature on squarefootball. Each Friday I’ll be testing your knowledge of the top flight clubs by posing you 10 questions relating to that weekend’s fixtures. There are no prizes on offer, only personal glory – we’re not made of m...

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Premier League Challenge answers: Week one

Here are the answers to the questions in our Premier League Challenge week one. 1. Tottenham v Manchester City: Joey Barton and David Sommeil were the goalscorers in City’s last league win at White Hart Lane. 2. Aston Villa v West Ham United: Marlon Harewood was the last player to have scored a ...

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Predictions: Who will be 2010/11’s main winners and losers?

If everything I predicted 12 months ago came true I would be a very rich and happy man right now. Unfortunately Arsenal let me down in the league, West Ham failed me in the FA Cup and letting my heart rule my head in the SPL by putting £10 on my beloved Aberdeen to win the SPL really was a waste of ...

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Predictions: Who will be 2010/11’s main winners and losers Part 2

Well you’ve heard what our Panel members have had to say for themselves, now it’s time for the “experts” to have their say. We’ll start off with writer Hugh Larkin. He loves the underdog but he thinks Chelsea are just far too strong for anyone to cope with and thinks Arsenal and Spurs are going to...

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Fantasy football 2010/11 reminder

Do you think you can spend £100 million better than Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini? Do you think you could assemble a better squad than Spurs boss Harry Redknapp? Do you think you can guide your side to glory like Chelsea’s Carlo Ancelotti? If so then we want to hear from you. We at Squarefootba...

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Wigan Athletic- The Premiership's Loose Cannon

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway might have winced a little when the fixture list sent his team to begin thair first season in the top flight with a trip to the DW Stadium. At least a match with one of the higher-ranked teams would have made coming up with a game plan easier. Predicting how Wigan Athlet...

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Squarefootball fantasy football invitation 2010/11

I saw more action and excitement this summer down at the mortuary than I did at the World Cup in South Africa. There was also a better atmosphere between me and my ex-girlfriend than there was inside the grounds, thanks to the constant drone of those awful vuvuzelas. And as for entertainment, I th...

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Get on side and sport your colours for Shelter this World Cup

In celebration of this years FIFA World Cup, housing and homelessness charity Shelter are teaming up with Nationwide Building Society, Official England Team sponsor, to launch their fantastic footy fundraiser, Strip4Shelter. Shelter is asking people across the country to replace their regular work ...

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Chelsea v Wigan Athletic: Martinez hopes to make the Bridge a blue, blue place

According to most pundits all Chelsea need to do is turn up this afternoon and they will be crowned champions. However, Roberto Martinez and Wigan Athletic have other plans which could make Stamford Bridge a real blue place to be. The Latics stunned Carlo Ancelotti’s men in September by running ou...

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Wigan Athletic vs Hull City: Summer's nearly here

More and more of the fixtures have nothing left in them; this game being a case in point. Wigan can finish between 14th and 17th - so there is a question of prize money, but will that motivate the players? Hull are relegated unless they can find a couple of 8-0 wins and their last match is against...

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West Ham United vs Wigan Athletic: Hammers look to safety

A couple of weeks ago this looked like a relegation six-pointer, but Wigan are probably already safe and contrary to the fairly pessimistic musings of many Hammers fans a month ago, West Ham are not doomed. Indeed a win today for West Ham will probably push them safe - unless Hull and Burnley sudde...

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Wigan Athletic v Arsenal: Gunners are not giving up on the title

Arsenal’s title hopes sustained a huge blow in midweek at the hands of their bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur but the boys from White Hart Lane blew the title race wide open yet again following their fantastic win yesterday over leaders Chelsea. Arsene Wenger has conceded that it is highly unlikely...

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Tottenham versus Arsenal the pick as the top six takes shape

At the tail-end of the season the prediction panel is still in operation and ready to call the midweek games. The big game is the north London derby with Spurs looking to put pressure on Manchester City in the battle for fourth - whilst Arsenal can go second and dream of the title if they prevail. ...

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Wigan Athletic vs Portsmouth: Wigan eye safety against demob happy Pompey

Wigan have spent the season scratching around just above the relegation zone but with a handful of games left suddenly find that the buffer of teams between them and the drop has disappeared. Both Wolves and West Ham have been distinctly buoyant recently - but this game gives the Latics a perfect c...

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Fulham v Wigan Athletic: Roy’s the top boy at the Cottage

Fulham infuriated West Ham United owners David Gold and David Sullivan last weekend by fielding a weakened side against relegation threatened Hull City- agame in which they lost – ahead of their important Europa League clash with Wolfsburg. With the return leg in Germany just days away, I wonder wha...

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Manchester City v Wigan Athletic: City need to show their manager’s fighting spirit

Manchester City may have been beaten by Everton in midweek but at least manager Roberto Mancini showed his fighting spirit on the touchline. The Italian certainly lost his cool with David Moyes near the end of that 2-0 defeat but the former Inter Milan chief will be hoping his troops follow his lead...

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Wigan Athletic vs Burnley: Can Burnley save themselves?

Burnley have the most abject away record of the 92 clubs - with only Gillingham and Hull joining the Lancashire team with a liking for claret in failing to win away. But Gillingham and Hull have picked up nine draws between them - compared to Burnley's one. But these two teams have had regular cla...

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Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa: Can Martinez be the main Villain again?

Aston Villa’s top four hopes were shattered on the opening day of the season by Roberto Martinez’s Wigan, but can the Lactics be the Villains again tonight? Wigan, on the back of their impressive win over Liverpool, were destroyed at the Reebok on Saturday and Martinez will be looking for a marked ...

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Bolton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic: Can the Lactics build on Reds win?

Bolton Wanderers’s recent revival came to a crashing halt in midweek at the Stadium of Light while Wigan Athletic piled more pressure on under-fire Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez with their first-ever win over the Reds. So it should be a comfortable away win for Wigan, well not according to our Panel. ...

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Wigan Athletic v Liverpool: Rafa’s Reds target away day joy

With Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Aston Villa not in league action this weekend Rafa Benitez has a golden opportunity to put the Reds back into the driving seat for fourth place and a coveted Champions League spot. Liverpool travel to Wigan Athletic this evening to take on Roberto Martin...

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England: Who should Fabio choose as his No 1 for South Africa?

In less than 100 days the greatest show on earth kicks off in South Africa but England manager Fabio Capello still has major issues to resolve before he finalises on his squad who will be given the task of bringing the World Cup home. Who will fill the left-back role if Ashley Cole fails to recover ...

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Birmingham City v Wigan Athletic: McLeish seeks return to winning ways

Roberto Martinez just loves the Midlands. On two visits to the region this season he has left with maximum points. However, if he wants to make it a hat-trick of wins he must guide Wigan to their first win at St Andrews in their history. Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers have both succumbed t...

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Is Wayne Bridge right to turn his back on England?

Representing your country in the World Cup is supposed to be every footballer’s dream. Every one bar Wayne Bridge that is. The Manchester City left-back has kicked his international career into row Z due to the fall-out of John Terry’s alleged affair with his ex-girlfriend and mother of his children...

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Wigan Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur: Wigan seek revenge for horror show

Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez has been having nightmares about Tottenham Hotspur since they were thrashed 9-1 at White Hart Lane in November, but so has Spurs boss Harry Redknapp. Tottenham have managed to win just four league games since putting the Lactics to the sword and have seen their C...

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Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers: Coyle’s boys need to find scoring boots

Wigan Athletic host Bolton Wanderers tonight in a game that will go a long way to determining who stays up and who goes down this season. Roberto Martinez’s men are just one point above the drop zone but that is still two points better than their opponents Bolton who haven’t seen the marked improvem...

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Wigan Athletic vs Stoke City: Wigan looking to stay out of the drop zone

Wigan know they are in a relegation scrap now - and will they keep faith with their young manager, or take the option that Blackburn did last season when they ditched Paul Ince for the more grizzled relegation scrapper, Sam Allardyce? It would be a shame as Roberto Martinez has instilled an attract...

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Sunderland vs Wigan Athletic: Prediction Panel 2009/10

Sunderland have hit the glass mountain in recent weeks and will slide towards relegation if their form does not improve. From the edge of the European scrap to three points above the relegation zone means that Steve Bruce is under the first sustained pressure of his time at the Stadium of Light. S...

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Wigan Athletic v Everton: Everton aim to stretch unbeaten record

Everton go into today’s game on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run that has seen them burst into the top 10 and revive aspirations of finishing in a European place. However, standing in their way is a Wigan side that is hosting its first home league game of 2010 and has lost only once at the DW ...

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Blackburn Rovers vs Wigan Athletic: Blackburn look ready to push into the top half

The second relegation haunted Lancashire derby of the mid-week sees 12th placed Blackburn plays 14th placed Wigan - both a bad week away from the relegation places. Blackburn's home record is just about as good as the much more lauded Burnley or Stoke home records, so there is little reason to fear...

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Wigan Athletic transfer diary 20 December 2009 - 20 January 2010

Roberto Martinez has been one of the busiest managers this month with two players arriving and two players leaving to date; but with ex-manager Steve Bruce linked with a raid on his old club most days who have the tabloids been speculating about concerning Wigan? Sunday 20 December 2009 The Sunday ...

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Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Wigan Athletic: Will McCarthy have his tactics right again?

Fifteenth placed Wolved play sixteenth placed Wigan - with a loser likely to drop into the relegation zone. Wolves have a decent home record but are missing a number of players with Edwards, Keogh, Kightly, Maierhofer and Murray missing. As a result there may not be as much confidence as there sho...

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Manchester United vs Wigan Athletic: United look to close up title race

Manchester United start the game in second spot against a Wigan side in a relegation scrap. After ten straight wins over Wigan, the expectation must be that United will win again. But a similar record at home to Villa was recent busted and this season it seems that there is a shock in every round ...

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Wigan Athletic vs Blackburn Rovers: More worried Lancastrians

Another Lancashire derby sees another two sides within three points of the drop - and Wigan and Blackburn will be as apprehensive as Burnley and Bolton. Wigan continue to ship goals at a scary rate, conceding 20 in the last seven games - with only one clean sheet since September. To balance a dodg...

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Transfer Speculation: Maynor Figueroa (Wigan) to Tottenham (£6m)

Nick Ive in The Mirror (I would put a link to the article but Mirror Group, as well as most other national papers, are threatening to sue websites that link to their content) must watch Match of the Day. It is the only conclusion to be drawn from his speculative piece which you can stop reading aft...

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Liverpool vs Wigan Athletic: What would Shankly say about a top 4 finish?

Eighth placed Liverpool look to move back into the top six against a thoroughly unpredictable Wigan side. Rafa Benitez today guaranteed that Liverpool would finish in the top four - which suggests that games against Wigan and Portsmouth must be won this week if such confidence isn't going to sound ...

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Stoke City vs Wigan Athletic: Stoke should Beattie strong for Wigan

The early kick-off pits mid-table Stoke with a Wigan side that lurches from heavy defeats to comfortable wins. Stoke have had a week to forget off the pitch, Tony Pulis allegedly assaulting James Beattie after a 'discussion' in the shower block possibly reminiscent of Gerald and Rupert in 'Women in...

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Wigan Athletic vs Birmingham City: The portents suggest that Wigan will lose this one

Wigan are 14th having put a five point gap back to the relegation zone by beating Sunderland last time out, Birmingham have risen to 11th on the back of some fine form. As Wigan's palindromic recent form suggests this is not a team that likes winning, losing or drawing consecutive games. This seas...

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Wigan Athletic v Sunderland: Martinez aims to put horror show to bed

Wigan Athletic had a seriously bad day at the office last weekend at White Hart Lane and yet at half-time it looked as though they could have snatched a draw at least. However, as we all saw, a Jermain Defoe-inspired Spurs side tore the Latics to shreds and inflicted them to their heaviest defeat in...

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Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic: Spurs have sights set on the Gunners

With Aston Villa and Arsenal slipping up yesterday, Spurs have an ideal opportunity to go level on points with their north London rivals in third with a win this afternoon against Wigan Athletic. However, they may not get it all their own way as Roberto Martinez will be looking to claim the scalp of...

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