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4 things to look out for this weekend

By on October 3, 2014

Do not envy Alan Pardew
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew can be thankful for the fact that once again he is playing on the road. Two weeks ago Newcastle played Hull City at home, and even as they showed character to fight back from being 2-0 down to a 2-2 draw the atmosphere was barely tolerable for Pardew – “Sack Pardew” sings were already covering the Sports Direct Arena. Two weeks on facing Swansea City will be bad enough after another loss since, but if the match were to be a home fixture it would have been a hostile inhospitable night for Pardew. Even owner Mike Ashley has hinted he is at his wits end with the French manager’s results of late despite his strong backing of Pardew previously, and should Newcastle lose tomorrow it would be in fact the decent thing to do to let the poor guy go before he faces Leicester City at home the next weekend.

Alternatively, though, it is one last chance for Pardew. Swansea are winless in their last three matches and given their performance last weekend was hardly their worst so far this season a win would undoubtedly give Pardew a few extra weeks, and also calm the atmosphere against Leicester considerably.

Three months gone by and Burnley are still goalless.
The Premier League began mid-August, and Burnley kicked off their campaign on August 18th. As mentioned last week and the weeks before that, they are still goalless since August 18th. And since, that drought has already spanned three months as we enter October, what will be six matches this weekend considering they can’t score before kickoff, and nearly 700 minutes. Sean Dyche’s side knew their time in the Premier League would be tough but since they have arguably not played better than they did for parts of their first match in the top decision, against Chelsea. Thy currently sit bottom of the table and Dyche’s job is in danger, certainly if they don’t score again this weekend.

Juan Mata has to show up.
Juan Mata was already on the cusp of Manchester United’s bolstered attack coming into the season, and his position has not improved since. His one inspirational performance of the season came three weeks ago against Queens Park-Rangers, and when Wayne Rooney was dished the red card which got him suspended last weekend the Spanish magician was on the bench. That red card use given Mata exactly the break he needed, leaving him a near given starter for the next three weeks. United will have to play Everton and Chelsea in that time, and Mata will certainly need to turn up not just to win those matches but to save his starting position.

Will the time change affect Arsenal V Chelsea?
The time change certainly affects those on the West Coast of the United States – as the US’ clocks don’t reset for the winter for another month that means those who wish to watch Arsenal Chelsea this weekend on the West Coast will have to wake up at 6:05 am. But it won’t only affect them – it may actually affect the players as well. So much of football is mental strength, and so much of your mental strength comes from routine. That routine will be thrown off by an hour for Arsenal and Chelsea players, and may affect Arsenal particularly considering Chelsea will have one day extra rest after their Champions League fixtures.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.