Round of 22! Happy New Year 2007!

Happy new year 2007 to one and all. The first day of the year promises to bring rewards to those who dare venture forth. A few sneak peeks today. First up,

READ VS WHAM

The battle of two astute managers will see Coppell racking his brains against veteren Curbishley. Reading won the reverse by a solitary goal back in October, but the gaffer then was Pardew. A change in management brought an encourging start to the relegation threatened club but the first win against Manu was short lived. The dull draw with Fulham followed by defeats against Portsmouth and ManCity.

Reading has survived the two most difficult battles in the EPL against both ManU and Chelsea, picking up a surprising point in the encounter with the latter. The loss against Manu was tough given that they are one of the rare teams to put 2 past van der Sar in a match. The upcoming game sees defender Sodje suspended following his red card and captain Murty picking up a knock.

On the other hand, West Ham welcomes back Konchesky, Zamora and captain Reo-Coker for the matchup while the injured includes Gabbidon, McCartney and Mascherano. Curbishley has yet to do magic but it is hardly surprising given that the squad he inherited is unchanged. This same team has not won on the road this season. while drawing two and losing 8. All the while they only scored 2 but conceded a whooping 16!

It is imperative for West Ham to start picking up points, as Curbs suggests 'performing a Man City'. Yet it remains to be seen whether they can improve their away form and indicators point to a Reading victory.


NEW VS MANU

An interesting match through the history of EPL as this game tends to produce a few goals. Fond memories of the 4-3 Newcastle victory when Shearer was still playing are thrown up but there is slim chance that any such repeat will be seen today. Roeder can count his walking wounded to form up a whole team but itself, but has commendably held the team together, stringing the odd victories here and there.

To date, Manu has won away games as though they were at home, adding in the fact that 9 out of the last 10 meetings between the two sides and it can be said that St James is akin to ManU's playground. Furthermore, driven by the recent run of wins and a realistic chance of capturing the championship after missing out for the last three years, you can bet your life that they won't be slipshod about this. Timely rotation has ensured that fatigue is reduced to a minimum, but this does not help in any way of our prediction of the lineup. However news is that Scholes and Vidic, who are suspended the last match, returns for this. Also, a injury doubt for Ferdinand will give Neville a start, hence squashing rumours of his leg operation.

Team news for the other camp is that injuries to Bramble, Moore, Carr, Bernard, Babayaro has seen the Newcastle defence in shreds and the limping off of Ramage against Everton leaves Steven Taylor as the only fit senior centre back. Nicky Butt is most probably going to fill the other empty slot as an emergency centre back, as he has done in the previous match. After the last two away defeats by Everton and Bolton, this home game is a headache for manager Roeder and he will be in no doubt to take an extremely defensive play for the visit of Manu. Solano, Duff, Ameobi, Owen, N'zogbia and Harper are the remaining injured players.

Once again, the longest serving manger of the Premiership has proved his unpredictability with his rotation and it is wise to wait for the lineup before deciding. Perhaps the 65th birthday of Fergie can give a boost to the troops for another consective win on the trot and I will be cheering them on too.