The Foxes occupy shameful 22nd place (third from the bottom) and after a run of embarrassing results, Paolo Sousa got fired. The thing is, the team is almost the same from previous season (finished 5th and lost after play-off penalties against Cardiff), but team was paying prices to Sousa’s attempts to implement his defensive philosophy of football that was working perfectly at his time at Swansea. Also, some of his management decisions didn’t help, like to leave top goal scorer and club’s mascot, Matty Fryatt, on the bench. It’s not a new boss syndrome, in the first game without Sousa players showed a new face and played like without the weight on the shoulders (Scunthorpe at home 3-1). I’m not a keen of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s admirer, but his arriving just confirms club’s ambition that his owner is repeating these days – Premier League. Erikson has already signed two very good players, extra talented Kyle Naughton from Spurs (should even start the game) and Villa’s defender Curtis Davies. Striker Dany N`Guessan is only missing.
Hull are facing a rough times in the second tier. And while at home things don’t look so bad (haven’t conceded a goal in all five games, scored just two tough), their record on the road again looks shameful. In previous season in Premier they finished without a win (6 draws and 12 scored goals in 19 games) and not too much have been changed. One win (very lucky one at Norwich) and four defeats with goal difference 3-13! I predicted at the start that lot will depend from Jimmy Bullard (key of their key players). He has an injury and will face a late fitness test for today’s game, but even when he was fit didn’t look too much interested for the game. Their ambition is return to Premiership, but that doesn’t sound likely for the near future.
Leicester will start climbing on the table (in fact, started already), they possess more than decent amount of quality and will finish somewhere in top eight – I’d say. Sousa’s era has been finished and players are eager to show their full potential. Opponent is very good for that purpose. Home win.
Bet: Leicester -0.5
Odd: 1.90 Pinnacle
Stake: 8/10
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Hull City have collected the same number of points as today’s opponent and hold the 17th position with just one point far from relegation zone. They’re typical home side, from total of 24 points, 20 collected at home. On the road they’re the second worst team (after Burnley) with just four draws in 13 games. Tigers scored just 7 goals and conceded 31 and didn’t score in last three games on the road! The Tigers also have failed to score in seven of their last nine away games in the league. As for West Ham, this game is also decisive for Hull and I expected their intention to win all three points. That would, at the same time, make the defense line even more vulnerable. The biggest dilemma for boss Brown is should he include his “key of the keys”, Jimmy Bullard in this game. Midfielder has been absent for 11 weeks and still doesn’t train with full capacity. Geovanni remains sidelined, but midfielder Boateng is available after his red card at Blackburn was rescinded. Hull City have gone 18 games without an away win.
Everton play a season much under all expectations. David Moyes has had a lots of injury players since the league started. They have only one win (West Ham 2-1, away) in last nine competitive games. Defense line hasn’t been performing well, since the departure of Joleon Lescott. Two other defenders who Moyes imagined to be key in back line, Jagielka and Neville, are long-term injured. However, they have plenty of players who make a goal scoring threat and I think (hope Moyes too) Everton will have more chances if attack and try to play for a goal more, than to defend. Yakubu and Saha should cause a lots of problems for Hull’s shaky defense. Fellaini and Bilyaletdinov are suspended, while Steven Pienaar is finally set to return, but could appear only against Liverpool on Sunday.
