Another barren night last night as my Uefa Cup bets both flopped.
I got a run for my money in the Schalke v Man City game but the elusive 3rd goal didn't materialise, mainly due to a fantastic point blank save by Joe Hart to deny Asamoah.
City look like they are starting to get their act together under Mark Hughes, typical that the next live match I am going to sees them visit Fulham, who have a habit of meeting in form sides.
The Manchester derby on Sunday is now eagerly awaited.
As for AC Milan, they should have been out of sight against Pompey in the 1st half with Inzaghi hitting the woodwork twice.
A few Peroni's eased the pain and as Pompey scored their first and then second goals my drinking partner layed then at 1.50 and then 1.03 - Inzaghi's predatory strike to equalise sparked celebrations, but unfortunately not for me.
Friday, 28 November 2008
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Uefa Cup Bets
Thursday night and a feast of football on Channel 5, not a statement I could have made when I started my trading career.
The Uefa Cup for all its faults (make it a proper cup competition ffs)is a lot stronger this season and I have 2 small bets on the go.
Schalke & Man City have served up an entertaining 1st half which opened up even more after Benjani's far post finish.
There looks like more goals to come, and I am on over 2.5 goals at 2.04.
Later tonight European royalty AC Milan look too strong for an understrength Pompey side.
A quote of 2.28 looks too big to turn down and I have invested a small amount on the Italian giants.
I will be out and about this evening, supping a few Peroni's so will be unable to trade in running - but I am yet to be convinced by Tony Adams stewardship and a midfield likely to include Fulham cast offs Sean Davis and Papa Bouba Diop will struggle against Kaka et al.
Lets hope that i'm back to form after a lengthy lay off!
The Uefa Cup for all its faults (make it a proper cup competition ffs)is a lot stronger this season and I have 2 small bets on the go.
Schalke & Man City have served up an entertaining 1st half which opened up even more after Benjani's far post finish.
There looks like more goals to come, and I am on over 2.5 goals at 2.04.
Later tonight European royalty AC Milan look too strong for an understrength Pompey side.
A quote of 2.28 looks too big to turn down and I have invested a small amount on the Italian giants.
I will be out and about this evening, supping a few Peroni's so will be unable to trade in running - but I am yet to be convinced by Tony Adams stewardship and a midfield likely to include Fulham cast offs Sean Davis and Papa Bouba Diop will struggle against Kaka et al.
Lets hope that i'm back to form after a lengthy lay off!
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Lay Liverpool all day long
Liverpool's annual European tour gathered momentum as a Stevie G strike against Marseille guaranteed progression from a tough looking group.
The catalyst for nearly all things good at Anfield was sorely missed last Saturday as the reds title hopes took a big knock with failure to win against a Fulham side that normally turns to jelly away from Craven Cottage.
Liverpool's frailties were cruelly exposed in the 0-0 draw with Roy Hodgson's surprisingly resilient Whites.
No guile and a squad not good enough to deal with the tinkering imposed by a manager obsessed with European success will condemn Liverpool to more barren domestic seasons unless the Anfield hierarchy take a close look at the Spaniards weaknesses.
Watching Saturday's game through an alcohol induced fog did little to dispel the thought that Benitez is still 3 or 4 players short of maintaining a genuine title challenge - and given the support and investment he has been given the lack of quality is inexcusable.
The full backs of Arbeloa & Aurelio/Dosena are simply not up to it - the only position in the modern game to get any sort of space needs to offer much more than the current incumbents.
Lucas is in danger of becoming the least talented Brazilian since the lumbering Serginho ruined the best Brazilian side of all time in 1982. Even the notorious Kop could not hide their displeasure when Lucas wasn't replaced on Saturday.
Robbie Keane spends more time moaning and appealing than actually playing football and as the great Fernando struggles for goals Liverpool will surely once again fade into 3rd or 4th place.
The bookies and traders on Betfair already have their measure and it is only a Liverpool obsessed media that are still clinging to the Scousers as genuine title contenders.
The catalyst for nearly all things good at Anfield was sorely missed last Saturday as the reds title hopes took a big knock with failure to win against a Fulham side that normally turns to jelly away from Craven Cottage.
Liverpool's frailties were cruelly exposed in the 0-0 draw with Roy Hodgson's surprisingly resilient Whites.
No guile and a squad not good enough to deal with the tinkering imposed by a manager obsessed with European success will condemn Liverpool to more barren domestic seasons unless the Anfield hierarchy take a close look at the Spaniards weaknesses.
Watching Saturday's game through an alcohol induced fog did little to dispel the thought that Benitez is still 3 or 4 players short of maintaining a genuine title challenge - and given the support and investment he has been given the lack of quality is inexcusable.
The full backs of Arbeloa & Aurelio/Dosena are simply not up to it - the only position in the modern game to get any sort of space needs to offer much more than the current incumbents.
Lucas is in danger of becoming the least talented Brazilian since the lumbering Serginho ruined the best Brazilian side of all time in 1982. Even the notorious Kop could not hide their displeasure when Lucas wasn't replaced on Saturday.
Robbie Keane spends more time moaning and appealing than actually playing football and as the great Fernando struggles for goals Liverpool will surely once again fade into 3rd or 4th place.
The bookies and traders on Betfair already have their measure and it is only a Liverpool obsessed media that are still clinging to the Scousers as genuine title contenders.
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Fulham bring Spurs back to earth
Hope you were all on Fulham at fancy prices as advised earlier in the week..
The quotes from leading bookmakers - 9/4 generally available on Fulham - bore no relation to the real world and once again highlighted that betting on reputation and size of club is an expensive game.
I made Fulham at best a 6/4 shot to overcome an average Spurs side on Saturday, so was rubbing my hands with glee whilst reviewing the opinions of layers up and down the country.
Just backing Fulham blind in every game would have yielded a level stakes profit so far this season. Bearing in mind their away day achilles, any odds against quote on Fulham at Craven Cottage should be hoovered up immediately. (Home to Man City on Dec 6th may well pay for Christmas unless the so-called experts wake up in the next couple of weeks)
Fulham are a tough proposition at the Cottage, solid at the back and with enough flair and cutting edge to trouble far better sides than Spurs.
The Zamora - Johnson partnership is beginning to bear fruit and it is surely only a matter of time before Roy Hodgson masterminds an improvement in an embarrassing away record.
As for Spurs, they will get nowhere fast with Gomes the clown in between the sticks and the limited Darren Bent up front on his own. Don't get me wrong, Spurs are in no danger of going down despite still being in the bottom 3, but this latest defeat will do no harm to the fawning media and their deluded fanbase.
The quotes from leading bookmakers - 9/4 generally available on Fulham - bore no relation to the real world and once again highlighted that betting on reputation and size of club is an expensive game.
I made Fulham at best a 6/4 shot to overcome an average Spurs side on Saturday, so was rubbing my hands with glee whilst reviewing the opinions of layers up and down the country.
Just backing Fulham blind in every game would have yielded a level stakes profit so far this season. Bearing in mind their away day achilles, any odds against quote on Fulham at Craven Cottage should be hoovered up immediately. (Home to Man City on Dec 6th may well pay for Christmas unless the so-called experts wake up in the next couple of weeks)
Fulham are a tough proposition at the Cottage, solid at the back and with enough flair and cutting edge to trouble far better sides than Spurs.
The Zamora - Johnson partnership is beginning to bear fruit and it is surely only a matter of time before Roy Hodgson masterminds an improvement in an embarrassing away record.
As for Spurs, they will get nowhere fast with Gomes the clown in between the sticks and the limited Darren Bent up front on his own. Don't get me wrong, Spurs are in no danger of going down despite still being in the bottom 3, but this latest defeat will do no harm to the fawning media and their deluded fanbase.
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Vela Time
Carlos Vela - remember the name.
Most football fans you meet nowadays know very little outside of their Rooney's and Ronaldo's (excuse readers of this blog, who obviously have a fine grasp on the game).
Vela is the latest light to illuminate Arsene Wengers reputation, a Mexican with a left foot to die for.
One of his goals against Sheffield Utd in the last round of the Carling Cup was one of the best I have ever seen - lobbing the keeper (Paddy Kenny?) from short range - pure genius.
I haven't even seen his goal tonight, but no doubt the youngster has given the genius Wenger a selection headache
Wenger, sent the Mexican Vela out on loan last season to Real Osasuna and the teenager was regularly the best player on view.
Had he been English ala Walcott, Vela would have had his chance by now, but his Carling Cup magic and one of the best left foots in the modern game will make Vela a star in 2009.
Have a speculative punt on Mexico to perform well in 2010 World Cup @80/1
Most football fans you meet nowadays know very little outside of their Rooney's and Ronaldo's (excuse readers of this blog, who obviously have a fine grasp on the game).
Vela is the latest light to illuminate Arsene Wengers reputation, a Mexican with a left foot to die for.
One of his goals against Sheffield Utd in the last round of the Carling Cup was one of the best I have ever seen - lobbing the keeper (Paddy Kenny?) from short range - pure genius.
I haven't even seen his goal tonight, but no doubt the youngster has given the genius Wenger a selection headache
Wenger, sent the Mexican Vela out on loan last season to Real Osasuna and the teenager was regularly the best player on view.
Had he been English ala Walcott, Vela would have had his chance by now, but his Carling Cup magic and one of the best left foots in the modern game will make Vela a star in 2009.
Have a speculative punt on Mexico to perform well in 2010 World Cup @80/1
Leaky Rearguards
Having just completed a course on diversity, the title of this article is probably a big no-no,but any Premier League teams that have designs on survival in this tightest of tight seasons would do well to address the leaks.
A look through the history book re-inforces that teams with the worst defences are relegated 9 out of 10 times.
Build from the back, keep clean sheets and grind out results - its boring for a lot of Premier League fans, but all credit to Roy Hodgson at Fulham.
He inherited a dogs dinner from Lawrie Sanchez (a man who should never work in football again in any capacity) and has slowly organised a renaissance by the Thames.
Brede Hangeland remains the best kept secret in the PL, and his partnership with the experienced Hughes gives Fulham the platform to field a midfield 4 that should get rolled over week in week out.
Gera, Davies, Bullard and Murphy break every stereotype and cliche in football - where is the ballwinner? where is the athlete? where is the width? where is the power?
Despite their obvious inadequacies, 4 footballers who can pass the ball, keep possession and play within the tight regime layed down by Hodgson are providing an adequate screen to frustrate more vaunted opponents.
Team shape and organisation are the basics for any team and Hodgson probably the most technically astute manager outside of Arsene Wenger has embraced the basics to revive the fortunes of the super whites.
Rejuvenated Spurs visit the Cottage on Saturday with their ridiculous band of quasi fans predicting a comfortable win against their 'small neighbours'.
The Odds compilers have also made their standard mistake in pricing up a game based on tradition and size of club and make Spurs hot favourites to damage Fulham's strong home record.
I fancy Hangeland & co to nullify the threat of Darren Bent and an overrated Spurs side at fancy prices.
My bias may lead me to the poorhouse, but backing Fulham at home at 9/4 is just too good to miss.
Come on Zamora, time to deliver!
A look through the history book re-inforces that teams with the worst defences are relegated 9 out of 10 times.
Build from the back, keep clean sheets and grind out results - its boring for a lot of Premier League fans, but all credit to Roy Hodgson at Fulham.
He inherited a dogs dinner from Lawrie Sanchez (a man who should never work in football again in any capacity) and has slowly organised a renaissance by the Thames.
Brede Hangeland remains the best kept secret in the PL, and his partnership with the experienced Hughes gives Fulham the platform to field a midfield 4 that should get rolled over week in week out.
Gera, Davies, Bullard and Murphy break every stereotype and cliche in football - where is the ballwinner? where is the athlete? where is the width? where is the power?
Despite their obvious inadequacies, 4 footballers who can pass the ball, keep possession and play within the tight regime layed down by Hodgson are providing an adequate screen to frustrate more vaunted opponents.
Team shape and organisation are the basics for any team and Hodgson probably the most technically astute manager outside of Arsene Wenger has embraced the basics to revive the fortunes of the super whites.
Rejuvenated Spurs visit the Cottage on Saturday with their ridiculous band of quasi fans predicting a comfortable win against their 'small neighbours'.
The Odds compilers have also made their standard mistake in pricing up a game based on tradition and size of club and make Spurs hot favourites to damage Fulham's strong home record.
I fancy Hangeland & co to nullify the threat of Darren Bent and an overrated Spurs side at fancy prices.
My bias may lead me to the poorhouse, but backing Fulham at home at 9/4 is just too good to miss.
Come on Zamora, time to deliver!
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