Premier League predictions: Lawro v Joe Montana BBC Sports football expert Mark Lawrenson is pitting his wits against a different guest each week this season. This week he takes on legendary NFL quarterback Joe Montana, who won the Super Bowl four times in the 1980s with the San Francisco 49ers. Montana, who is in the UK coaching aspiring quarterbacks, compares Liverpool to the 49ers as he backs them to beat West Brom, while he tips Newcastle to see off Sunderland in the north east derby because he likes their Brown Ale. Crystal Palace v Arsenal (12:45 BST) Ian Holloway left his job as Crystal Palace manager by mutual consent this week but the clubs problems were not down to him. The team who comes up through the play-offs always ends up playing Russian Roulette when they sign players. There is no way Palace could do any real planning for the Premier League because they did not even secure a play-off spot until the final week of last season. After they won the final, they faced a scramble to add to their squad. Whoever replaces Holloway will face the same problems because he will still have the same squad until January, and even then it will be difficult to change anything significantly. Palace are a well-run club, though, and they have not spent daft money. If they go down, it will be not be the end of the world. We have seen before that clubs can come back stronger. Crystal Palace want Tony Pulis as their new manager following Ian Holloways departure this week but I cannot see him being installed in time to face Arsenal. If Pulis is appointed, it might be one of those where he sits in the stands to have a little look rather than taking charge and, because of who the opposition are, it is probably a good idea for him to wait. Once they have a new manager, the season will start again for Palace but, with the way Arsenal are playing at the moment, I dont see anything changing for either side on Saturday. The Gunners got unhinged a bit in the Champions League in midweek, but that was because Borussia Dortmund are a very good side. For me, Arsenals improvement in form has come down to how good they are when they play in their opponents half. When the majority of play is in their own half, they still do have a weakness. But I dont see Palace doing that to them. Realistically, none of the Eagles players would get in Arsenals team and this should be a straightforward enough win for Arsene Wengers side. Lawros prediction: 0-2 Montanas prediction: 0-3
Posted on: Sat, 26 Oct 2013 03:29:37 +0000
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