Thursday 21 February 2019 22:39, UK
A tough week for our man with the crystal ball means Wayne Mardle is out to improve on two correct picks in Glasgow - what's in store in Dublin?
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I am finding the Premier League almost impossible this year - I got a few things wrong last week but how did Price not beat Barney? I think there is a conspiracy against Mystic Mardle's crystal ball.
I am forming an opinion on Gerwyn and that is I really like the way he plays the game. I don't like robots, the way I used to play had a bit of energy. I like the way Gerwyn does that and he is better than people think.
I've only formed this opinion over the last two or three weeks. I thought he was a good player but maybe not world class.
When he won the Grand Slam, he took out the right shots at the right times but now he is playing like someone who believes he belongs up there. Last year he looked well and truly out of his depth but that is not the case now.
It will be close, as it always is in the Premier League this year. I fancy Gerwyn here to put right last week and inflict another defeat on James, who was excellent last week but came up against Rob Cross.
Mardle's score - Price 7-5 Wade
Peter Wright is just not looking like the same player he did maybe a year ago. We always talk about the darts but is it the darts and the constant changes? I am really not sure.
He got a draw last week and Michael Smith must be thinking: "How did I not win that?" But Peter will think: "If I can play that bad and get a point, I won't have to improve much more to start winning."
I think Wright beats Steve because I am not sure how he will take to things. There are better contenders than Steve but like John (Henderson) there is the local hero element. It is an opportunity for him to grasp but I think his best form is probably a few months behind him.
He got to the quarter-finals of the Players Championship last year, played Michael van Gerwen in the final of the Dutch Darts Masters and has shown a lot of ability in the last 12-18 months, which is why he is a contender.
Mardle's score - Wright 7-3 Lennon
As you know I love an opinion and my next one is that Rob Cross is becoming the player we thought he would be last year.
Last week he made James Wade look average and James was excellent. I called Cross relentless when he first came on the scene and the last few months he has been relentless again.
I know he lost at the Worlds earlier than he would have wanted but the game against Jeffrey (De Zwaan) was so important - his first game, under all sorts of pressure and not playing well. I think he has turned the corner and we can see a lot of decent darts coming from Cross in the coming months.
I wouldn't put anyone off backing Rob Cross. That said, I think Van Gerwen wins because that is what Michael does - they played three times in the Premier League last year and Michael annihilated him all three times, including the semi-final.
Mardle's score - Van Gerwen 7-5 Cross
I am finding this very hard. I have not spent hours on it but it feels like it and I am no closer to working it out. That is because I have been impressed with Daryl recently.
If they both play well, I think Michael wins but I like the way Daryl is going about his business without much fuss and the way he dealt with Duzza last week was very professional. He did not get too excited and looked really comfortable.
Despite all the positives about Daryl, Smith, who I still do not know how he did not win against Peter Wright last week, is really starting to show week-in, week-out that he is becoming a better player and I think something gigantic is going to happen for him.
He could win this. He was within one game of winning it last year and I think I am going to have to go for a draw.
Mardle's score - Smith 6-6 Gurney
I have no idea what the Premier League does to Mensur Suljovic. I don't get how someone can play so well in one event and not get any wins.
He has played two games this year and only got a point despite averaging 101 and last year he basically averaged 99 for the whole duration and got eliminated.
We know it's all about timing but Mensur is playing so much better than Barney at the moment, Raymond is looking like a man who needs a win badly and it's so hard to get one on the toughest stage in darts when you need it so badly.
He got a point last week and admitted he was lucky to do so, but I don't see Mensur getting beat here.
Mardle's score - Suljovic 7-4 Van Barneveld
The Premier League heads to 3Arena in Dublin for night three on Thursday, February 21. You can also stay up to date with all the action by following us @SkySportsDarts and get all the latest news, previews and interviews www.skysports.com/darts
