Each week we will be asking Islanders with vested interest in highlight fixtures to give us their views, while giving some of our sporting stars the chance to challenge the JEP sports team for top honours in a five-match score predictor.
This week we have Arsenal supporter James Dingle and Liverpool hopeful Richard Pearce chipping in with their views ahead of Monday night’s Premier League clash, and, after Serena Guthrie joined Graeme Le Saux in tasting defeat against the JEP in the Score Predictor, Jersey’s women’s football manager Simon Petulla gives us his Week Three match predictions.
| James Dingle (Arsenal) | Richard Pearce (Liverpool) | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Age | 39 |
| Assistant trust manager | Occupation | IT technician |
| ‘Ive supported Arsenal since I was a young boy, my Dad is a Man Utd fan (we cant all be perfect), however my Grandfather was an Arsenal fan and luckily he put me on the right path before Dad had the chance to turn me to the dark side. My first game was a home game at Highbury against Middlesbrough. Thierry Henry produced a masterclass and we marginally won 7-0.’ | How long have you supported/suffered? | About 33 years. The first game I went to was Liverpool v West Ham with my dad and granddad in 1993. That was a special moment. We won it 2-0, Clough and someone I cant remember scored an own goal. |
| ‘It has to be the 2003-04 Invincibles season. Not only did we go through the entire season unbeaten, but we won the league at White Hart Lane, the home of our bitter rivals, Spurs. We received a gold Premier League trophy that year for the feat, the only team to ever receive one. In my mind theyre certainly one of the best group of players that English football has ever seen.’ | Most memorable moment? | Apart from the above, the 2005 Champions League final. I ended up watching it with a couple of friends, one who was a Chelsea fan who lost a bet from the semi-final, in the Sport Bar. It was an insane night and I went through a lot of emotions dejection, hope, elation. |
| ‘Thierry Henry. Without doubt the greatest player the Premiership has ever seen. I remember watching him against Boro from only a few yards away and his pace was unreal, he was unstoppable. His short return in 2012 with the FA Cup goal against Leeds was the icing on the cake.’ | Best ever player? | For me it has to be Steven Gerrard. I know there have been a lot of greats before him but for my generation I cant think of anyone that comes close. The ability he showed consistently week in, week out, sometimes single-handedly carrying us through a season and winning us games we never looked like winning … it will be a long time before we see anyone like that again. |
| ‘Theres a few potentials here Francis Jeffers The Fox in The Box, joined for a big fee in 2001 but scored I think four in two seasons. Sebastien Squillaci, probably the worst defender Ive ever seen play for Arsenal. Im going to put Richard Wright in there too, was fabled as David Seamans replacement but was awful and left soon after.’ | And the worst? | Theres been a fair few. Piechnik, Poulsen, Dundee, Meijer, Diouf, Diao, but the name that stands above them all for me is Antonio Núñez. When Michael Owen went to Real Madrid we got a paltry £8million and him. He didnt actually get to play his first game for some time as he got injured on his first day of training and eventually when he did get a game he was just awful. Somehow he managed to win a Champions League medal.’ |
| ‘Liverpool have started the season well and we slipped-up against West Ham in our first game, but I think were back on track. I think Liverpool could struggle to contain our front line as Lovren can be a liability, and they havent had to deal with too much of a threat this season so far. I can see both sides getting on the score sheet but I think well just nick it 2-1.’ | Score prediction | Its going to be a tough one to win and dont think well be able to keep a clean sheet, that said Arsenal arent exactly on fire, Im not confident well win so Im going for a draw, 1-1. |
| JEP Sport | Petulla | |
|---|---|---|
| 2-1 | Arsenal v Liverpool | 3-1 |
| 0-1 | Watford v Southampton | 1-2 |
| 0-3 | Dundee Utd v Celtic | 0-2 |
| 1-2 | Ath. Bilbao v Barcelona | 1-1 |
| 3-1 | St Paul’s v Jsy Scottish | 2-1 |
* 1 point for correct result, 3 points for correct score *
| JEP Sport | Guthrie | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | Man City (3) v Chelsea (0) | 0-0 |
| 0-0 | West Ham (1) v Leicester (2) | 2-1 |
| 1-2 | Sunderland (1) v Norwich (3) | 0-1 |
| 1-0 | Blackpool (0) v Rochdale (2) | 1-0 |
| 1-3 | Motherwell (1) v Aberdeen (2) | 3-0 |
| 2 | Total points | 1 |
Are you an avid sports fan? Would you like to get involved? Get in touch! sport@jerseyeveningpost.com
