This Week's Top Premier League Punts...
HORNETS STING THE COCKEREL
With the October international break finally behind us and the focus well and truly back on the Premier League, a huge spotlight will be shining on Tottenham's sparkly new stadium this Saturday afternoon.
Tottenham have been all out of sorts thus far and after getting spanked by Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the belief was that they would bounce back in double quick time against Brighton four days later.
Although that was nothing further from the case and this recent competitive hiatus would have given manager Mauricio Pochettino the perfect opportunity in which to do some soul searching (or take a trip to Qatar)
However, things could be a lot worse and they could be a club that is still searching for its first Premier League win of the season. A role that is currently being played by Saturday's opponents Watford.
Now if we were to use the logical part of our brain, this should have all the hallmarks of a home banker. Then again, what if we were to use the more reckless part and one that suggests that Spurs will once again stutter.
Asking Quique Sanchez Flores to mastermind a win on Saturday might be a step too far, although if you fancy Watford to earn a point and come away unscathed, then you can back last season's F.A. Cup Runners-up in the double chance market at the rather inviting odds of 2.80
Summary: More trouble for Tottenham, as Watford avoid defeat.
THE VALUE OF SILVA DECLINES FURTHER
If you are looking at who is going to win (or should that be lose) the latest edition of the managerial sack race, then Marco Silva has to be not only a serious contender but arguably the front runner going into this weekend.
With Everton losing their last four outings and subsequently sliding down the Premier League table - so much so that they resume proceedings while lying in the bottom three, the pressure is beginning to mount on the man at the Goodison helm.
This Saturday sees them play host to a West Ham side who lost their first game in seven outings in the appearance before the international break and Manuel Pellegrini will look to right that particular wrong on Merseyside.
In days gone by, this would be pointing to a routine home win but the trajectories of the two clubs has changed over the course of the off-season and therefore the Hammers will be confident of continuing their impressive start to the campaign.
If that does prove to be the case, it could mean real trouble for Marco Silva and especially if the usually hostile home fans direct their ire towards him rather than the opposition. With that in mind, backing the visitors to win at 3.75 might be the value bet of the weekend.
Summary: West Ham land Toffees boss in a very sticky situation.
SACKED IN THE MORNING
To add a bit more context to the above point regarding Marco
Silva, here are the latest odds in the battle to avoid being the next man to
receive a P45:
Marco Silva (Everton) � 1.80
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United) � 4.00
Maurico Pochettino (Tottenham) � 6.00
Steve Bruce (Newcastle) � 13.00
17.00 Bar
GOALS ARE VITAL AT THE VITALITY
Bournemouth play host to Norwich this weekend and the one thing that stands out before kick-off, is the fact that with both teams having played eight Premier League games this season, neither has yet to keep a clean sheet.
Which means we could be in for a healthy dollop of goals at the Vitality Stadium this Saturday and although Eddie Howe and Daniel Farke will be tearing out their hair from an ever thinning scalp, it should at least promise some entertainment on the South Coast.
Bournemouth were edged out by Arsenal in their last outing before the international break and also that was the first game of the season, in which the Cherries were not part of a game that ended with a BTTS outcome.
However, this is exactly what we are plumping for this weekend, as both teams have a goal threat at one end and the ability to concede with ease at the other. Therefore, odds of 1.44 for both teams to score is pretty much a no-brainer.
Summary: At least one goal each for Bournemouth and Norwich on Saturday.
