Week 8 preview

Week 8 of the EPL season is almost here.  Let's take a look at the matchup on store.

Birmingham @ Arsenal--  Birmingham is toiling at 16th place in the current table with many of their acquisitions either injured or not yet producing as hoped.  Arsenal started hot but have struggled since the loss of Theo Walcott losing their last two matches to West Brom and Chelsea. 
Stoke City @ Bolton--  Stoke has been able to ride out the tough beginning to the season and get into a solid spot in the top ten with Kenwyne Jones leading the way with 3 goals.  Bolton is in a tying streak to start the season with 5 ties in 7 matches played this season. 
Tottenham @ Fulham--  Fulham are another team piling up the ties to start the season with 6 of their first 7 games knotted up.  They are still undefeated in EPL play.  Tottenham have yet to put a full 90 minutes together in EPL play resulting in embarassing losses to Wigan and West Ham.  Even so, they are still tied for 4th in the season table.  Maybe the international break is the rest needed to make a push for the top. 
West Bromwich @ Manchester United--  West Brom are the revelation of the season so far tied for 4th in the EPL table.  After looking out of class in the opening match versus Chelsea, getting ran 6-0, West Brom have looked to be the safest of the recently promoted to stay in the EPL.  Manchester United have gotten a great start from Berbatov but just do not look like the big, bad, scary monster they usually are.  Even so, they are 3rd place and 5 points away from leader Chelsea.
Wigan @ Newcastle--  Roberto Martinez's squad have finally began to play some solid ball right before the break and got an important three points in the final game before international break allowing them to get some rest on a good note.  Newcastle have had the brillance of Andy Carroll to start the season but his recent loss of form has booted him from the starting XI.  With Ben Arfa out for the season with a brutally broken leg, can midfielder Kevin Nolan keep the goals coming in and save Newcastle from relegation.
West Ham @ Wolverhampton--  The pillow fight of the week with West Ham still dead last.  At least they have company in the underachieving Wolves.  Dont expect alot of goals, just a scrappy, sometimes overly violent match that will most liekly end up as a draw.
Chelsea @ Aston Villa--  Chelsea fell to their recent kryptonite while looking ordinary versus Man City.  Drogba and company still feel the sting of that loss even after easily controlling Arsenal in their last match.  Aston Villa is nothing short of a roller coaster so far this season.  Between the manager issues to start the season and the drubbing versus Newcastle, Aston Villa still remains mid table with the chance to move up with a statement game versus Chelsea.
Liverpool @ Everton--  Words cannot even describe the disarray that is Liverpool football at this time.  A season that had a sprinkling of optimism at the beginning is spiraling out of control.  Liverpool is facing a 9 point deduction if the ownership situation is settled immediatly.  They would be at -3 points if that happens.  Everton have played solid for the most part this season defensively but cannot put the ball in the net.  Tim Howard and company need Time Cahill and Steven Pinnear to show better form and get Everton some goals.
Manchester City @ Blackpool--  Looking at the game from afar, it looks to be a blowout.  But Blackpool seem to play above their head in games this season.  Now the bad.. of the top five teams in the EPL, Blackpool have played Chelsea and Arsenal and both were brutal for Blackpool being outscored 10-0 overall in those games.  Manchester City have an big showdown versus Arsenal on the horizon and should have no trouble against a Blackpool team that tends to lose big to the top teams. 
Sunderland @ Blackburn--  Darren Bent scored 24 goals in 38 games in the EPL last season, believe it or not, he has been scoring at an even higher rate this season with 5 goals in 7 games.  He tweaked his groin in training and will be held out of international games this week but gets a couple extra days to be ready with his game being Monday.  Blackburn is midpack so far this season with some nice performances surrounded by embarrasing games.