EPL Week 37 – Weekend Premier League Tips

by

John Newsome Football Betting Tips - everytipIn the penultimate game week of the 2019/2020 season, John Newsome analyses the stats and latest team news to deliver his unique and detailed preview of all the upcoming English Premier League week 37 matches.  You can view all previous analysis from John’s regular column here: English Premier League Predictions For Saturday

Please note all prices quoted below were correct at time of publication.


boylesports new account offer offer
Exclusive Mobile only, simple to use sign up offer at Boylesports - SIGN UP HERE

NORWICH v BURNLEY

July 18th

The one and only Game Week-37 Saturday fixture with this game at Carrow Rd kicking off at 17.30 PM in England live on Sky Sports.

Norwich had their relegation confirmed prior to the game against Chelsea on Tuesday, so it would have been thought that Daniel Farke would pick a team that had nothing to lose and go for the win at Stamford Bridge.

Not the case, Dan left Teemu Pukki and Emiliano Buendia on the bench and didn’t introduce the pair until well into the 2nd-half.

It doesn’t make any sense, what’s the worse that can happen? Norwich lose?

As it turned out, Norwich lost by a 1-0 scoreline in one of the Premier League’s dullest ever games, not just of this season but in the history of Premier League fixtures.

Norwich have now been relegated from the Top Flight, a record 5-times.

The owners are probably sitting pretty on a fist full of dollars and will get a few dollars more from the unfair Parachute payment scheme, that enables a team that has failed to be rewarded with Premier League money, whilst in the Championship.

What that was introduced for was so the Clubs could still pay the players on top wages, following relegation, however, a couple of things are flawed with that means, one being the players rarely stay and play in the Championship and two, that the clubs should have a pay structure in place to take into account relegation.

It’s unfair on a team in the Championship, such as Barnsley FC, Luton or Charlton, who were promoted from League 1 last season, to try and compete with teams relegated from the Premier League but still with a parachute payment of about £50 Million.

The 1-0 drab defeat against Chelsea is what Dan and his Canaries deserve after not being more creative.

Burnley left it late, very late on Wednesday, at Molineux to get a point from a 1-1 draw.

Wolves had gone in front, midway through the 2nd-half and with time running out, Burnley were awarded a penalty.

VAR had a look but couldn’t come up with anything to prevent the penalty from being taken and Chris Wood obliged to earn a point for Sean Dyche’s Clarets.

The point leaves Burnley with 51, for the season, 2-points less than Arsenal, after the Gunners victory against Liverpool on Wednesday.

The Clarets have this long trip to Norfolk, then a final home fixture against Brighton, in the cold of Turf Moor, even in July it’s a coat-colder than the rest of the country.

It was muted that Burnley were in the hunt for a Europa League place, however, that particular goal looks gone now, being 5-points off, it would take a tremendous amount of right results to go Sean’s way for a place on Thursday night football.

To be fair, the last time Burnley gained a European place, it didn’t go to plan and affected the initial part of the season, so maybe Sean is secretly happy his boys don’t need the passports.

In the cold of Turf Moor back in the heat of late September, a Chris Wood double gave Burnley the 2-0 victory.

Away Win 0-2

BOURNEMOUTH v SOUTHAMPTON

July 19th

Early Sunday Afternoon football live on BT Sport with this being a 14.00 PM kick-off in England.

After a great victory against Leicester, that kept Bournemouth’s season alive, the Cherries suffered their 4th-defeat from the 6-games since resuming on Wednesday, succumbing to a 2-1 defeat against Man City at the Etihad, David Brooks with the solitary goal.

Whilst a defeat, that leaves Eddie and his Cherries in the drop-zone, Bournemouth can take heart from the display against City and not dwell on the loss too much as not many teams get a victory at the Etihad.

Eddie has games against Southampton and Everton left and will feel that it is still in their hands to prevent relegation, especially with Watford having to face City also, albeit at Vicarage Rd and a final away-fixture against Arsenal.

Southampton earned another point at home on Thursday getting a 1-1 draw against Brighton.

After going behind, trailing 1-0 at the break, Danny Ings scored to not only earn the Saints a point but also continue Danny’s fine goalscoring form that takes Ings to 20-goals for the season, 3-less than Jamie Vardy.

Wreck-It’s boys have this game against Bournemouth then a final home fixture against Sheffield United and with 46-points already in the bag, have a chance to finish with 52, for the season.

In the heat of late September back at St Mary’s, the Cherries got a rare victory in their season, beating a poorer Saints team by a 3-1 scoreline.

Nathan Ake and the Harry of the Wilson’s scored in the 1st-half to take Bournemouth in at the break leading 2-0.

James Ward-Prowse pulled a goal back after the break until the Callum of the Ws put the game to bed in the 5th-minute of stoppage time to give Bournemouth 3 of their 31-points so far.

Draw 1-1

TOTTENHAM v LEICESTER

July 19th

This game at the new Tottenham Stadium kicks-off at 16.00 PM in England on Sunday Afternoon live on Sky Sports.

Tottenham got a great 3-1 victory on Wednesday, away at St James Park against Newcastle.

Son Heung-Min scored midway through the 1st-half to give Spurs a 1-0 lead.

After the break, Harry Kane put Tottenham back in front after Newcastle had equalised.

Big Harry then scored his 2nd and Tottenham’s 3rd in the 90th-minute to give Jose’s men the points.

The victory puts Tottenham on 55-points, just a point less than Wolves who sit in the final European place.

Spurs have this home game against the Foxes then a final fixture away at Selhurst Park.

Considering Leicester are suffering from a bit of nerves and Palace are on the beach, Jose could quite conceivably see his boys earn another 6-points and sneak a few Thursday night fixtures in Europe next term, which would be amazing considering he’s doing his best to suck the life out of the Lilywhites.

Dracula will no doubt put the achievement in a glass cabinet.

It’s been 25-years since either Tottenham or Arsenal have finished outside of the top five of the Premier League table, however, it looks like that’s going to happen this time.

Leicester comfortably beat an inform Sheffield United on Thursday.

What was a surprise is that the Sheffield Superstar, Jamie Vardy didn’t add to his Golden Boot chasing tally and the Foxes goals came from Ayoze Perez and Demarai Gray, one in each half, to seal a great 2-0 victory against the Blades, which was imperative after Chelsea’s victory 2-night’s before and Manchester United’s victory a couple of hours later.

At the King Power Stadium back in late September, Brendan’s Wonderful’s beat Mauricio’s Spurs by a 2-1 scoreline.

Harry Kane had given Tottenham a 1st-half lead but Ricardo Pereira and James Maddison got the 2nd-half Foxes goals to give Leicester the victory.

Home Win 2-1

SHEFFIELD UNITED v EVERTON

July 20th

Early Monday Evening Football with an 18.00 PM start time in England.

After 3-victories and a draw from the last 4-games, Sheffield United lost on Thursday, going down to a 2-0 scoreline against Leicester at the King Power Stadium.

Little James from Swinton wasn’t happy, especially when he’d just paid £7.99 for a cardboard cutout of himself to go in his seat at Bramall Lane for this final home game of a tremendous season for Happy Chris and the Blunts.

A great name for a band that, especially when the other Premier League rockers, that are Eddie and the Cherries, heading out of the Top Forty, Happy Chris and the Blunts could just be the new Brit-Pops.

Jimbo’s lovely boss, Danielle, has already been in touch with Bramall Lane and offered £17.49 for the cardboard cutout of the little Blunt as she says,

‘It will probably do more work and know more about cars than the real Slim Jim’

James lovely girlfriend has put a counter-bid in of £17.72 as she says the cardboard Jim will be better in the bedroom than the real one.

Not sure what that means?

Sheffield United have 54-points and with this relatively easy game against a flip-flop wearing Toffees and an away trip to the South Coast in the final fixture, can realistically achieve 60-points, which is simply remarkable for the newly-promoted Steel City team.

Everton were lucky to earn a point on Thursday after Theo Walcott scored a 2nd-half equaliser against Aston Villa.

Considering Villa are fighting for their lives, the point earned by Everton, was probably the right result, however, Villa had an amazing opportunity to make it 2-0 to inflict a defeat on Carlo Ancelotti’s Toffees.

What Carlo will want is to get this game against Sheffield United and the final game against Bournemouth, who could or could not be relegated by then, out of the way and then concentrate on the new season, which will probably start in September.

At Goodison Park back in late September, Sheffield United came away with the points following a 2-0 victory.

The unfortunate Toffee, Yerry Mina, scored a 1st-half own-goal with Lys Mousset adding a 2nd after the break, to give Happy Chris and the Blunts a new entry.

Home Win 2-0

BRIGHTON v NEWCASTLE

Another Monday 18.00 PM kick-off in England live on Sky Sports.

Brighton gained a valuable point against Southampton on Thursday, that probably was the water in the sand to cement their place in the Premier League for next season.

Neal Maupay scored his 10th-goal of the season to put the Seagulls in front in the 1st-half.

Unfortunately for Harry’s men, Southampton equalised after the break and the game finished in a 1-1 draw.

With 37-points, Brighton are safe and with this fixture against a Magpies side, who are safe themselves, this game could be relocated to the Brighton Beach.

Newcastle are in danger of letting, what seemed like a great season, turn into an average one following their 3rd-defeat in a row on Wednesday, losing by a 3-1 scoreline against Tottenham.

Matt Ritchie had equalised an early Tottenham strike, in front of the cardboard Toon Army, who’s delight, quickly turned into disappointment following 2-further goals from Spurs.

The defeat leaves Steve Bruce’s Magpies with 43-points, which, although will see them safe for another season in the Top Flight, could have been a lot better for Newcastle until the fire fizzled out over the last 3-games.

It was noticeable that Steve left the goal machine that is Joelinton on the bench, against Tottenham and it was rumoured that Jose quickly changed his tactics when he saw Joelene wasn’t playing.

When the Brighton fans were allowed to travel and ventured the long distance up to Newcastle back in September, the game won’t be shown on Sky Sports Best 100, as it finished in a drab 0-0 draw.

The highlight being, when the Seagull faithful ordered a pint, got out a twenty quid note and were astonished to get £17 change.

Draw 1–1

WOLVES v CRYSTAL PALACE

July 20th

Monday Night Football with this game at Molineux kicking-off at 20.15 PM in England live on BT Sport.

Wolves had 3-Wins and 2-Losses since the resumption of the Premier League, before Wednesday’s home game against Burnley.

After Raul Jimenez had scored to put Nuno’s men in front midway through the 2nd-half, it looked like Wolves would register a 4th victory, however, in the 96th-minute, a penalty was awarded to the opposition and despite the dreaded VAR wanting to spoil things, the penalty stood and Burnley equalised to take 2-points off the Gold and Blacks.

Wolves are now 6-points adrift of the Champions League places and are now only a point ahead of Tottenham in the race for a Europa League spot, so Nuno will definitely target this home fixture against Crystal Palace as one to gain a victory to stay ahead of Spurs and try and close the gap on Manchester United and Leicester.

Crystal Palace, wearing the flip-flops, succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against Manchester United on Thursday, conceding a goal in both halves.

There was a bit of VAR controversy when Wilfried Zaha thought he had been hacked down in the penalty area but to be fair to VAR, who do get rightly pilloried, if a lumberjack ‘hacked’ down a tree like Wilfried said he had, it would be a long shift in the patched shirt for the Canadian grafter.

The Eagles Ultras penned a letter stating that ‘Crystal Palace should play the youths in the final games’

What’s ironic about that is Roy Hodgson stated, right at the beginning of the resumption, that the youth would be given a chance, however, none of them have yet, with Big Roy constantly picking the same eleven.

At Selhurst Park back in September, Diogo Jota left it very late to score an earlier Leander Dendoncker own goal to snatch a draw from a 1-1 scoreline.

Home Win 2-0

WATFORD v MAN CITY

July 21st

An Early Evening start time with this fixture at Vicarage Rd kicking-off at 18.00 PM in England live on Sky Sports.

Watford suffered a 3-1 defeat against West Ham on Friday that leaves the Hornets with 34-points, 3-more than the relegation places, however, with this tough game against Man City and an away, final fixture against Arsenal, it’s not looking good for Nigel Pearson’s men.

After trailing 3-0 at the break against West Ham, Watford, theoretically, won the 2nd-half, after Big Troy Deeney pulled a goal back, which ultimately was just a consolation.

The picture will be much clearer for all teams at the bottom, once the penultimate games are over.

It looked like Pep and his Blues were having a break on Wednesday, firstly, with the team Pep chose and then the performance of his boys.

The David of the Silva’s and Gabriel Jesus gave City a 2-0 lead at the break, that looked like it would inspire the Blues to come out in the 2nd-half and run riot.

That just didn’t materialise and in truth, City were lucky to hold on for the victory after Bournemouth made a late fight of it and pulled a goal back.

Ultimately it was just a Cherry consolation and Man City eventually ran out winners by a 2-1 scoreline.

After the European ban was overturned and an FA Cup Semi-Final against Arsenal before this Premier League fixture against Watford, it probably was understandable that Pep’s Boys weren’t on song against a fighting Cherry.

Now that the clubs can make a maximum of 5-substitutions from 9-named, throughout the game, it throws up the situation that the clubs with the biggest squads, now have an added advantage over the smaller squad clubs.

A first eleven of any team can rival another’s with effort and hard work, on any given day.

To make 3-like for like substitutes, who still give 100% can again equal 2-sides on the day, however, to throw 5-top drawer players on, will give an advantage to those who maybe only have 3-top players on the bench.

Basically, half of the team can be changed in the 90-minutes.

The Top-6/8 clubs in the league, will definitely have the advantage over, say Bournemouth, Brighton or Watford for example.

The rule is here to stay for the foreseeable future but will become more prevalent next season when Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea are bringing on 5-more World Class players and Bournemouth, Brighton and Watford are bringing on 5-more Dale Stephens.

Following a statement like that, it’s obligatory to add the phrase,

‘No disrespect to Dale Stephens!’

That definitely is the case as Mr Stephens is a top player who gives 100% every time but even Big Dale will accept that he’s not a World Class player and the 5-substitute rule will only play into the hands of the top clubs with the resources.

Of the 9-substitutes on Man City’s bench, last time out, against Bournemouth, that Pep could choose 5-players to bring on, they included Kevin De Bruyne, Aymeric Laporte, Riyad Mahrez, Rodri and Raheem Sterling, plus Scott Carson, in case Ederson got injured, a youngster called Tommy Doyle, Eric Garcia and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

That’s almost a team in itself.

Against Bournemouth, Pep brought on Eric Garcia, Raheem Sterling, Rodri, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riyad Mahrez, having the luxury of giving KDB a rest.

Eddie brought on Callum Wilson, David Brooks, Lewis Cook, Harry Wilson and Sam Surridge.

No disrespect!

Having 9-substitutes, that a maximum of 5 can be used, will only benefit the top clubs, not Bournemouth, Brighton and Watford.

At the Etihad back in September, Watford, under their 2nd-manager of the season, Quique Sanchez Flores, were unlucky to lose by just the 8 (eight).

8-0 (Eight-nil!)

Here goes, the David of the Silva’s scored number-1, Sergio Aguero with number-2, Riyad Mahrez got number-3, the Bernado of the Silva’s made it 4 and Nicolas Otamendi making it 5-0 before half-time.

Bernado made it 6 and 7 before Kevin De Bruyne rounded off the 8-0 drubbing, that actually followed the 6-0 victory in the FA Cup final, 4-months previous.

So 14-0 in the previous 2-games.

It’s fair to say that it doesn’t bode well for Nigel and the Boys.

Away Win 0-3

ASTON VILLA v ARSENAL

July 21st

Late Tuesday Night football with a 20.15 PM kick-off in England live on Sky Sports.

Aston Villa almost, almost came away from Goodison Park on Thursday with a victory that would have made these final 2-fixtures more appealing in the race for survival.

Ezri Konsa scored midway through the 2nd-half to give Villa a lead and then Anwar El-Ghazi missed an absolute sitter that would have surely given Dean’s Claret and Blues the 3-points.

The miss proved costly, as Everton equalised late on that gave Aston Villa a point instead of 3.

The point gained gives Aston Villa 31, so far which is still 3 from safety and as well as this tough fixture against Arsenal, Villa have a final away trip to the London Stadium, however, due to West Ham being safe, may work in Villa’s favour.

After the disappointment of losing the North London Derby on Sunday, Arsenal surprised the new Premier League champions on Wednesday and took advantage of some awful defending by Liverpool, to get a great 2-1 victory.

Alexandre Lacazette equalised an early Liverpool goal, after a poor back-pass by Virgil Van Dijk then after Alisson slipped up, Reece Nelson scored to make it 2-1 at the break.

Despite the victory against Liverpool, Arsenal, with 53-points, only leapfrog Burnley into 9th-position in the league and remain 2-points adrift of Spurs.

As mentioned in the Tottenham preview, at least one of the North London clubs, have finished in the top five of the Premier League table, since 1995, which looks like that particular record isn’t going to happen this time.

At the Emirates back in late September, Unai’s Arsenal got the victory with a 3-2 scoreline.

John McGinn scored first to give Villa 1-0 lead at the break.

Arsenal were reduced to 10-men when Ainsley Maitland-Niles was shown 2-Yellows in quick succession and ultimately a Red in the 1st-half.

Nicolas Pepe equalised for Arsenal after the break, before Wesley put Villa in front again.

Callum Chambers brought the score level which gave Arsenal the momentum to go all out for the win

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got the winner that gave Unai’s men a great victory.

Away Win 0-2

MANCHESTER UNITED v WEST HAM

July 22nd

Early Wednesday Evening football at Old Trafford with an 18.00 PM start time in England live on Sky Sports.

Manchester United got a professional 2-0 victory against Crystal Palace on Thursday that leaves them 5th in the Premier League table, level with Leicester and a point behind Chelsea, who remain 3rd.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial with the Gold Devils goals at Selhurst Park.

The victory leaves United outside of the Champions League places but like a horse in mid-flow knowing that a tap on the hind will propel the being into the top four in the final furlong.

Ole’s Wheels have this game against West Ham, who are now safe and a final fixture against Leicester that will seal a Top Four finish.

www.halftimepie.co.uk

West Ham all but sealed their place in the Premier League on Friday by comfortably beating Watford at the London Stadium.

Goals from Michail Antonio, Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice, gave David Moyes Hammers a 3-1 victory after Watford scored a consolation.

West Ham now have 37-points, 6-more than the last relegation placed team, that is Bournemouth and a far superior goal difference that means it would take results beyond results to relegate the Hammers.

When Manchester United travelled to West Ham back in September, David Moyes got a great 2-0 victory against Ole’s Wheels.

With Andriy Yarmolenko and Aaron Cresswell getting the Hammers goals.

  • Bet 365 offer Manchester United at Odds On 1/4, the Draw at 9/2 and a massive 11/1 for West Ham to come away with all 3-points
  • Check latest odds on Bet365 here

Home Win 3-1

LIVERPOOL v CHELSEA

July 22nd

The final fixture of the penultimate Premier League Game Week-37 and what a cracker with this kicking-off at 20.15 PM in England live on Sky Sports and also free to air on FreeView channel Pick.

The result of this game will throw up so many permutations as to who will play in the Champions League next season.

Liverpool have failed!

Headline news, Jurgen’s Reds have failed, failed to win the most games in a season, failed to overhaul Man City’s 100-points for the season and failed to win Love Island-Australia!

What Liverpool haven’t failed at is becoming Premier League champions.

When the boys get their medals, it doesn’t say on the back ‘scored most goals!’

Maybe it should?

Virgil Van Dijk made probably his only error of the campaign to gift Arsenal an equaliser on Wednesday night after Sadio Mane had given the Reds a lead.

Alisson then thought,

‘If Big Virgil is allowed a mistake, then so am I!’ and promptly gifted the ball to an Arsenal player who made it 2-1.

With no further goals, Liverpool had lost and the records were now unachievable.

What as been evident in the last 2-games, is the absence of Jordan Henderson.

Jordan, for some reason, as his detractors but he is a class player, despite how he runs (Sir Alex!) and without him, Liverpool lacked the energy and urgency.

Despite the loss and the records, Liverpool are worthy winners of the Premier League and could even do Manchester United a favour if they get a positive result against Frank’s Blues.

As mentioned earlier, Chelsea got a 1-0 victory last time out against Norwich, in a game that won’t make the highlight reel of this protracted season.

Olivier Giroud scored the Blues goal on the stroke of half-time to light up a poor performance by all 31-players (yes 31!) with Chelsea making the maximum of 5-changes and Norwich just the 4.

Chelsea stay in 3rd-place a point more than Leicester and Manchester United and 7-more than Wolves.

The fixture compilers probably couldn’t have envisaged that on the final day of the season, which should have been back in May, that on the last Sunday in July, the 4-teams vying for a Champions League place and a Europa League place, all face each other for what could turn out to be a European Shootout.

Frank’s Blues have this tough game at Anfield then a final home fixture against Wolves, who are still in the hunt for a Champions League spot themselves.

Chelsea will have played in the Semi-Final of the FA Cup against Manchester United at Wembley, prior to this fixture against Liverpool.

At Stamford Bridge back in September, Liverpool beat Chelsea by a 2-1 scoreline.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino with 2-first half goals to give the Reds a lead at the break.

N’Golo Kante replied for the Blues in the 2nd-half to give the faithful hope but the game ended in a victory for Jurgen against Frank.

Home Win 3-1

Jack Charlton

Last week, the World lost a legend, not only a great footballer but a great man.

Jack Charlton died on 10th July 2020, having just turned 85-years old.

Having been born in Ashington, Northumberland, Mr Charlton signed for Leeds United aged-16, playing his whole career at Elland Rd, winning countless domestic honours, including the Second Division title in 1963/64 and the First Division title in 1968/69, plus the FA Cup in 1972.

Out of the millions of English footballers that have graced the fields of England, Mr Charlton is one of only 22-English players that have in their possession, a World Cup Winners Medal.

Jack Charlton was part of the England team that won the World Cup in 1966, as a Centre-Back.

To be one of only 22-Englishmen to win a World Cup is in itself phenomenal, to then have his little brother be another of the 22, is simply a brilliant achievement for the Charlton family.

Mr Charlton, only received his 1st-England cap, just prior to his 30th birthday and was 31-years old at the time of the 1966 World Cup and one of the oldest players in the group.

As of the structure of football back in 1966, there weren’t any substitutes (5!), so Mr Charlton played all 90-minutes of all of the 6-games, concluding in the 4-2 victory against West Germany in the final.

Mr Charlton was then part of the England squad that played at the World Cup in Mexico’70, however, only featured in 1-game as his time for England was coming to an end.

After his playing career, Mr Charlton managed a few clubs including Sheffield Wednesday, wherein his time at Hillsborough resided in Barnsley.

After being overlooked by the FA, to become the England manager, The Irish FA came calling, where Jack Charlton became the boss and took the Emerald Isle to the European Championships in 1988 and the World Cup in 1990 and 1994.

One of Mr Charlton’s Republic of Ireland players was Mick McCarthy, who coincidentally, was born in the same Worsbrough Village as where Mr Charlton lived in Barnsley.

What’s probably not known about the Charlton brothers is that although Bobby and Jack were very successful players, they also have 2-younger brothers called Tommy and Gordon.

Both decent footballers in their own right but never made the grade.

Whilst working at a local company in Barnsley called M and H Plant Hire, which was then known as Hewden Hire Centres, this EveryTip contributor worked with Gordon Charlton and his son, Jack’s nephew, Brett.

Both lovely people and Brett, who would be about 21 at the time, was a big lad in Jack’s mould, however, didn’t have the Charlton football gene.

In 1997, when Barnsley FC were promoted to the Premier League, at the Player of the Year Black Tie Evening Dinner, Jack Charlton was present and gave a great after-dinner speech and it was a pleasure to be in such a great man’s company.

Jack Charlton is the 12th player of England’s World Cup winners to die and the 3rd of the greats to die this year, following the death of Mr Charlton’s Leeds United team-mate, Norman Hunter and Peter Bonnetti.

Leeds United have themselves lost 3-legends this year, with the loss of Trevor Cherry, Norman and now Jack, so it is fitting that Leeds United are promoted to the Premier League.

It might be strange for a Barnsley FC fan to wish Leeds United all the best in their promotion, being fierce rivals but that’s not the case for this EveryTip contributor.

When John Newsome first started watching his beloved Reds back in 1978, Barnsley were under the guidance of Allan Clarke, a Leeds United legend.

In the team was Norman Hunter, a Leeds United legend and following, Mr Clarke’s and Mr Hunter’s spells as Barnsley managers at different times in the ‘70s and ‘80s, the Reds were under the guidance of Bobby Collins, another Leeds United legend.

In the late ‘80s, Leeds United had the legends that are Vinnie Jones and Gary Speed in their midfield.

John Newsome was a massive fan of Vinnie and often ventured down to Elland Rd on a Saturday to watch the film star.

Gary Speed was born a couple of hours later than John Newsome back in 1969, so an instant affinity was established, knowing that their great mothers were giving birth at the same time, in different hospitals, 100s of miles apart.

Whilst Leeds United should be a rival, as a football fan, Leeds United are a great Yorkshire club who, in the 1970s, when the youngster was watching football on the Big Match or Match of the Day, with Big Jack and Norman at the back, under Don Revie, played some of the best football ever seen and should be afforded tremendous respect for that.

Watch the goals against Southampton back in March ‘72, Leeds United 7-Southampton 0.

Big Jack was a scorer that day.

Pep was only 1-years old then!

The Premier League is 27-years old and has just been won by Liverpool.

If a question was asked as to who won the First Division title, the season before the inaugural Premier League in 1992/93, the answer would be Leeds United.

It’s fitting that Leeds are now back in the Promised Land.

Respect Gary Speed!

Respect Trevor Cherry!

Respect Bobby Collins!

Respect Norman Hunter!

Respect Jack Charlton!

Rest In Peace.

 

Related Reading

Related Tips

John’s Previews Archive