TWITS Picks GW25: Still Anyone’s League
As always it’s been an up and down season for teams, fans, and players alike, and it is no different in the Tipple TWITS office. With neither of the 3 of us able to find consistent form all season this is still anyone’s league for the taking.
Read below for our Gameweek 24 review and a preview of our picks for Gameweek 25.
Want to test your footie knowledge against us? Download Tipple here and get involved!
Gameweek 24 Review
Kieran: 14 points
Picks
Bristol Rovers 3-0 Newport County (BIG BET) - Home (8pts)
Northampton 0-2 Reading - Draw (0pts)
Barnsley 3-1 Stevenage - Away (0pts)
Accrington 3-1 Cheltenham - Home (3pts)
Crawley 2-0 Harrogate - Home (3pts)
Aston Villa 0-1 Brentford - Home (0pts)
Review
I needed that, after 2 consecutive crap weeks I needed atleast something to give me a chance of climbing back into the mix. Now although I did get the same as Will, Schoey had a shocker, so I’m not out of this yet. Another couple of weeks like that with consistent form and I’m back in it.
Schoey: 0 points
Picks
Bristol Rovers 3-0 Newport County (BIG BET) - Away (-3pts)
Leicester 0-2 Charlton - Home (0pts)
Ipswich 1-1 Preston - Home (0pts)
Liverpool 4-1 Newcastle - Home (3pts)
Aston Villa 0-1 Brentford - Home (0pts)
Tottenham 2-2 Manchester City - Away (0pts)
Review
After my best week on tipple I've come crashing back down to reality with a huge 0 points. After being well off it, by predicting a Newport win in the big bet, which cost me -3 points. It was only Liverpool who could find me 3 points to save me from -10. So it was certainly a week to forget.
Will: 14 points
Picks
Bristol Rovers 3-0 Newport County (BIG BET) - Home (8pts)
Leicester 0-2 Charlton - Home (0pts)
Ipswich 1-1 Preston - Home (0pts)
Accrington 3-1 Cheltenham - Home (3pts)
Liverpool 4-1 Newcastle - Home (3pts)
Tottenham 2-2 Manchester City - Away (0pts)
Review
Another positive week 14 points in total, thought I had the City away win coming in to top off the weekend. That was until Solanke some how flicked his leg behind him to leave Donnarumma stranded. There was one sweetener to come from this game, Schoey finishing on a big fat zero and his lead at the top being cut to just 3.
Current Standings
1st) Schoey (Correct: 57, Points: 240)
2nd) Will (Correct: 59, Points: 237)
3rd) Kieran (Correct: 53, Points: 197)
Gameweek 25 Picks
Kieran
Liverpool vs Manchester City (BIG BET) - Home
With Arsenal seemingly running away with it (but we all know in reality what can happen with that when it’s Arsenal), this match will show us if City are really up for chasing them down. From Liverpool’s side, it’s a strange situation for them compared to the last few seasons success, and they need to win this to keep themselves in the fight for the top 4. If they lose they’d be far from out of it, but ideally at least a draw would be needed to instil some confidence in their fanbase. So this could go either way in reality, the perfect Big Bet. I’m going with a Liverpool win, purely because I hate cheering for a draw.
Derby vs Ipswich - Draw
What a signing Sammie Szmodics is for Derby. That could well send them on their way to the playoffs, and it will be interesting to see if he plays against his old club this weekend. Ipswich though have been in decent form, and will provide a stern test. Going for a draw here but wouldn’t be surprised to see this go either way.
Crawley vs Crewe - Away
It seems that League Two is full of matches with big disparities this week, this being one of them. Crewe sit 18 points above Crawley in the table, and have achieved just 1 less point away from home than Crawley have at home. Those stats I can’t ignore, and that’s why I’m going for an away win.
Hull vs Bristol City - Home
I’ll finally say it, I was wrong about Hull. They are flying at the minute and I can only see one winner in this match. However I’ve said that a lot of times this season so I’ll say sorry in advance Hull fans…
Swindon Town vs Oldham Athletic - Home
Another of those League Two disparities. Swindon have bottled it a bit of late, losing 3 games in a row to promotion rivals. However their run at the moment gives them a chance to get back into things with about 5 games in a row to bottom half teams. I think they’re going to pick up another win on Saturday, annoyingly.
Colchester vs Shrewsbury - Home
If this was a little bit later into the season I might have even picked Shrewsbury with Colchester having nothing to play for. But as it stands, they’re only 7 points away from the playoffs and that is more than achievable, so I think this will be a home win.
Schoey
Liverpool vs Manchester City (BIG BET) - Draw
I was very close to choosing a Liverpool win for this game, after they've thrashed their opponents in their last 2 games scoring 10 goals! Along with City's little wobble against Spurs giving up a 2 goal lead. But the more I think about it, the quality Man City possess is too good to bet against. With both defences not being extremely solid I think we can expect a fair few goals in this game.
Derby vs Ipswich - Draw
Both teams are in pretty good form recently. Strangely, Derby have poor home form while Ipswich haven't been great away this season. I'm hoping these factors may even each other out and this match will end as a draw. I just hope the Derby of last week, who smashed Bristol 0-5 don't turn up.. This could be a bit of a risky pick.
Norwich vs Blackburn - Home
Norwich actually have the second worst home record in the championship this season. But they were well and truly awful at the start of the season. Recently however, they have really come into form! Whereas Blackburn managed to just about beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 on Tuesday to earn their first win in 10 games. Blackburn may have had one of the worst January windows in the championship, sacking their manager on deadline day. I think Norwich should be winning this game.
Southampton vs Watford - Home
After a very successful festive period and new years day, Watford haven't won a game in their last 6 matches. Southampton certainly haven't set the world a light either, but they have won 2 and drawn 1 of their last 3 and I'm hoping the home advantage will spur them on to win this weekend.
Burnley vs West Ham - Away
Burnley recently have proven quite difficult to beat at home, earning points against Man Utd and Spurs. But they still have the joint second worst home form in the prem this season, funnily enough, joint with West ham. West ham have been extremely underperforming so far this season. But they have shown glimmers of their quality recently, beating Spurs at home and Sunderland away. And also gave Chelsea a really close game last weekend, even if they did let go of a 2 goal lead... Maybe this is a bad choice actually.
Hull vs Bristol City - Home
Hull are looking unbeatable at the moment. I've gone from praising them for how they've been, to actually being genuinely worried about them as a Coventry fan. Bristol however have just come off a 0-5 defeat at home to Derby, and a really poor January transfer window. Losing 3 of their best players, and replacing them with nobody! I can only imagine Struber to be pretty outraged with the self sabotage that has been displayed by the owners. I would be surprised if Hull don't get 3 points here.
Will
Liverpool vs Manchester City (BIG BET) - Draw
I’m backing the draw again this week I just really cannot split these sides. Both teams are just stacked full of quality players and any one of them could grab a winner. But I’m firmly sitting on the fence for this Big Bet.
Brighton vs Crystal Palace - Home
Massive M23 derby for these two and I’m thinking it’s not going to be a spectacle this one. For me Crystal Palace are in a relegation battle, the players we have seen leave were instrumental in there high finish last season now I just don’t believe they have that flair and leadership to have a stable end to the season. Going for a Brighton win 2-0.
Southampton vs Watford - Home
Wow what a resignation statement from Javi Gracia, its really unsettling reading if you’re a Watford Fan. Saints will be looking at this game as a must win and I’m fully backing them to do so.
AFC Wimbledon vs Reading - Away
I shall give props to Kieran on this one pointing out Readings recent run of form only losing 1 in the last 5. With a solid 2-0 win last week to Northampton away they will be hoping to make it back to back wins on the road.
Colchester vs Shrewsbury - Home
Colchester will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday after 2 defeats back to back. Shrewsbury’s first game under new manager Gavin Cowan was a bit of a rough opener with the only positive being they made it out with a point, after Barnet enjoyed 77% possession along with 17 shots. If you’re a Shrews fan you’ve got to have everything crossed that you get out of this relegation scrap. I have to go with Colchester on this one though not going to to be an easy afternoon for the Shropshire side.
Swindon vs Oldham - Draw
Before we get into why I think Swindon are bottling their promotion hopes, if you haven’t seen Ian Hollaway’s latest rant you need to it’s hilarious. Swindon form recently has improved with two scrappy win’s against relegation battling teams. They just squeezed it against Harrogate town with a 84th minute penalty. Oldham have showed some good form previous two their last two fixtures so believe they have a chance to find a little form again. I don’t see a winner coming from either sides.
