Friday Football Preview. 18th October.

After another boring international break (okay if Scotland hadn't long ago horsed their efforts to qualify for Rio it wouldn't be boring - damn you Craig Levein) its back to domestic matters this weekend. The midweek Scotland game was more encouragement for the future as we competed the double over Croatia. A result that can't be underestimated in its importance with the forthcoming Euro 2016 qualifying draw. A larger European championships means that qualification will become easier and winning our last game will help no end with the FIFA ranking. Seedings for the qualifying draw will be determined by ranking and therefore a higher ranking will mean a place in a higher pot for Scotland and an easier draw. A second place in a group will see automatic qualification - much like it did when we were qualifying all the time, and it should be achievable.

The international break has been good for Dundee United.. We're providing the captains for both the u21s (Stuart Armstrong) and u19s (Darren Petrie) and Adrian Coots also scored twice for the schoolboys. The youth set-up started by Craig Levein is really paying dividends. Ironically, given his poor performance as national team manager, his vision at United may very soon start helping the national side out. Especially if young Ryan Gauld keeps on progressing as he has.

This weekend is a massive game for United and big test. They've been playing some really exciting football and earning the plaudits of late, however, if they are to be a team that wins things and challenges at the top end of the table, they have to get a result against Aberdeen. The dons under Derek McInnes look favourites for 2nd with their blend of proven SPL talent and youngsters. It's a tough one to call but i'm hoping a fast start can see United take a 2-1 victory. Elsewhere in the SPL this weekend i expect Hibs to be shown up by Cetlic and take a real hammering, Motherwell to heap more misery on Hearts and my game to watch is the Saints derby where i think Danny Lennon will further his case to stay in charge by taking a victory 1-0. 

Down south, the press will be cock-a-hoop at England's professional job of taking care or Montenegro and Poland to get to Rio. Back to premiership duty, theirs no games that really stand out. However, Newcastle v Liverpool always makes you harp back to the 4-3's and hope for a high-scoring game. Liverpool will be hoping for a win to keep them back on the right track for a title challenge,with Gerard still on a high from his midweek goal. Likewise, Arsenal will want to stay top with a straight forward win against Norwich. Where they my be intrigue is where West Ham  meet Man City at Upton Park. West Ham will be bouyant after their 3-0 win against Tottenham last time out but i think Man City will ruthlessly see them off.

In Germany, they national team finished their campain with the entertaining 5-3 win against Sweden. DoHibernmestically, can the Polish contingent at Dortmund get their heads back up and get their side back to winning ways against Hannover? Can Schalke's resurgance continue apace against Eintracht Braunschwieg - with the Boatend the new Prince of the Veltins-Arena. This weeks player to watch is Schalke youngster Julin Draxler - expect some goals from him this week.

Predictions:

SPL

Hibernian 0 Celtic 4

Aberdeen 1 Dundee United 2

Kilmarnock 1 Ross County 1

Motherwell 2 Hearts 0

St Mirren 1 St Johnstone 0

Inverness 2 Partick 1

EPL

Newcastle 1 Liverpool 3

Arsenal 2 Norwich 0

Chelsea 1 Cardiff 1

Everton 1 Hull 0

Man Utd 2 Southampton 0

Stoke 1 West Brom 1

Swansea 0 Sunderland 1

West Ham 0 Man City 2

Aston Villa 2 Spurs 2

Bundesliga

Dortmund 2 Hannover 1

Braunschweig 0 Schalke 4

Eintracht Frankfurt 1 Nuremburg 1

Bayern Munich 2 Mainz 0 

Werder Bremen 1 Freiburg 1

Hertha Berlin 1 Borussia Moenchengladbach 3

Hamburg 2 Stuttgart 1

Augsburg 1 Wolfsburg 2

Saturday Football Preview and Predictions.

Each saturday i'll be looking forward to some of the top games in Scotland, England and Germany and giving some predictions. Starting as ever with Dundee United.

Today we are home to Kilmarnock, a team that down the years we have struggled to get a result against but who this season so far don't like that great. If it was away from Tannadice i'd be confident of predicting a big win for United but the home form just isn't that great (too many draws) and i worry that if we continue to mess about with the starting line-up to try and incorporate Goodie, rather than sticking with the side that was so impressive against Ross County, that a disjointed performance may lead to a slow start and a tought game. I'll plump for a 3-1 United win though.

                                                                             (source)

Elsewhere, in the SPL, i'd expect Celtic to see of Motherwell with a 2-0 victory. Aberdeen should see off Ross County and i'd expect Inverness to remain at the top by edging out St Johnstone. The real intrigue today is with the Hearts v St Mirren game. St. Mirren have had a horrendous start to the season and a defeat against Hearts today could not only see Hearts get closer to wiping out their points deduction and reeling in the Saints but may also see Danny Lennon become the first SPL manager to lose their job this season.

Down south, my eye is drawn to the two Manchester sides and how they bounce back from their European exploits. Everton have looked impressive under Martinez so far and it'll be interesting to see how City bounce back from their humbling against Bayern. I can see a 1-1 draw here. Sunderland still looking for a new manager host United, and on paper you'd expect an away win. David Moyes however, hasn't had the greatest of starts and teams can often find a bounce when a manager leaves so Sunderland could well cause an upset here. Outwith the Premier, i'll be keeping an eye on Derby v Leeds. Following Derby this season because they have Johnny Russell and quite a few Scottish players, and it'll be interesting to see how Steve McLaren gets on in his first game in charge.

                                                                           (source)

                                                                           (source)
In the Bundesliga, it's the day of tenous link derbies. The two Borussia's play each other, where we'll see if Dortmund can continue their fantastic start to the season and keep their noses in front of Bayern, who face Leverkusen in the Bayer(n) derby. 2nd v 3rd and an excellent game in prospect - expect plenty of goals and more from the unluckiest striker in Germany. Stefan Kiessling has been banging them in for years and could easily do a Klose style job for the national team but is always overlooked. I'm going to plump for Leverkusen to get the draw. My team Werder will be looking to get some consistency and i expect a close fought game with Stuttgart with whom they are level on points.

                                                                       (source)

The Predictions

Scottish Premier

Celtic 2 Motherwell 0
Dundee United 3 Kilmarnock 1
Hearts 1 St Mirren 0
Ross County 1 Aberdeen 2
St Johnstone 0 Inverness 1

English Premier

Man City 1 Everton 1
Cardiff 0 Newcastle 1
Fulham 1 Stoke 1
Hull 1 Aston Villa 3
Liverpool 4 Crystal Palace 0
Sunderland 1 Man United 2

Bundesliga

Mainz 1 Hoffenheim 2
Borussia Moenchengladbach 1 Borussia Dortmund 2
Schalke 1 Augsburg 0
Stuttgart 0 Werder Bremen 1
Wolfsburg 3 Eintracht Braunschweig 1
Bayer Leverkkusen 2 Bayern Munich 2