If Fulham could hand pick a Premier League home fixture to claim 3 points in, then Bolton Wanderers would be the opponents.
The Trotters have made the trip to Craven Cottage 8 times since both teams secured promotion to the top flight back in 2001, and Fulham have won 7 times with a solitary 1-1 draw.
The bookies quite rightly make Fulham favourites, and with many coupons being printed before the midweek 3-0 win against Blackburn, a price of Evs at William Hill looks far too big.
With history in Fulham's favour and Bolton's poor recent run of form surely this is a home banker?
Any long standing Fulham fans will immediately start to worry when terms like 'Home Banker' are being bandied about.
Hull last season and Derby before that were both Home Bankers that went wrong and despite the massive strides made under Roy Hodgson, Fulham can still throw in the odd quirky result.
The Whites have had their fair share of injuries this season, but unlike the Merseyside pair of Liverpool and Everton they haven't whinged and moaned but just got on with it.
That attitude has paid off as squad players like Chris Baird have come to the fore and can now be reinforced with the likes of Murphy and Johnson who are likely to see action on Saturday.
As one striker comes back in, another - Bobby Zamora - is a major doubt with a groin problem. Zamora, who scored a cracker on his home debut in the corresponding fixture last season is unlikely to be risked with CSKA Sofia and Sunderland around the corner.
So in form Clint Dempsey is likely to deputise up front after his brace against Blackburn.
Bolton were thrashed 5-1 by Villa in their last away game, but have actually picked up more points on their travels than at the Reebok.
They have already picked up maximum points at Portsmouth and Birmingham and under pressure boss Gary Megson will have them well fired up for Saturday.
Megson has changed Bolton's approach this season, slowly dismantling the hoofball culture he inherited from Sam Allardyce for something that actually requires a midfield. Whilst Fulham handled the aerial bombardment from Blackburn well on Wednesday, they will be far more comfortable against Bolton and a more attractive game is likely on Saturday.
Recomendation
Given current form and recent history, I make Fulham about a 4/7 shot to beat Bolton, so if there is any Even money or 5/6 still available on Saturday morning, then get involved.
Friday, 27 November 2009
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Spanish Cup
An intriguing match up at the Bernabeu tonight as the Galitico's of Real Madrid try to overturn a 4-0 first leg deficit against lowly Alcorcon.
Some interesting betting opportunities tonight, that make me wish I had a massive bankroll.
For novelty value I have had a couple of quid on correct score markets. 9-0 (175/1) and 10-0 (500/1) with Paddy Power. These prices have long since gone.
More seriously though, you have to fancy Real to get through this tie and a trade on over 4.5 goals at 1.88 looks like good value.
Hopefully I can find a live stream to keep an eye on my investment
Some interesting betting opportunities tonight, that make me wish I had a massive bankroll.
For novelty value I have had a couple of quid on correct score markets. 9-0 (175/1) and 10-0 (500/1) with Paddy Power. These prices have long since gone.
More seriously though, you have to fancy Real to get through this tie and a trade on over 4.5 goals at 1.88 looks like good value.
Hopefully I can find a live stream to keep an eye on my investment
Monday, 9 November 2009
Liverpool fail again
Oh dear, the crisis at Liverpool deepened tonight after they cheated their way to a point against lowly Birmingham at Anfield.
David Ngog conned the ref into giving a penalty to gift Liverpool an equaliser in the second half, but once again the transfer policy and team selection of Rafa Benitez is under the spotlight.
My small trading loss on the game is overshadowed by the mess that is Liverpool FC.
From the boardroom to the Managers office there is something seriously amiss at Anfield and unless something is sorted in the next 2-3 weeks Liverpool could be facing meltdown.
4th place is now the target for Benitez, and the incompetence of others may leave the door open for the Reds to scrape into the Champions League qualifiers next season.
If they fail to make it, expect a mass exodus of top talent - Torres, Reina and Mascherano could well be playing in Spain next year.
David Ngog conned the ref into giving a penalty to gift Liverpool an equaliser in the second half, but once again the transfer policy and team selection of Rafa Benitez is under the spotlight.
My small trading loss on the game is overshadowed by the mess that is Liverpool FC.
From the boardroom to the Managers office there is something seriously amiss at Anfield and unless something is sorted in the next 2-3 weeks Liverpool could be facing meltdown.
4th place is now the target for Benitez, and the incompetence of others may leave the door open for the Reds to scrape into the Champions League qualifiers next season.
If they fail to make it, expect a mass exodus of top talent - Torres, Reina and Mascherano could well be playing in Spain next year.
Liverpool back in it
Dodgy penalty by the sounds of it and not even at the Kop end!
Price has now collapsed to 2.08, hope you were following the Football Trader - stay invested
Price has now collapsed to 2.08, hope you were following the Football Trader - stay invested
tick tock get on Liverpool
Price is growing all the time 3.35 now available...
Surely they can't lose this?
Surely they can't lose this?
Time to get back in the chair
So, I have made my first tip for a number of months below and have recently got the taste for updating my blog again.
The trading hasn't stopped, but without the discipline of maintaining my blog I have quickly slipped back into bad habits and have been all over the place in terms of selections and staking plans.
A decent Saturday when I managed to turn £25 into £300 got my juices flowing as the cut and thrust of Football trading came to the fore.
I rode the waves of Norwich's 7 goal romp against Paulton Rovers, always seemingly one step ahead of the layers as a number of late goals increased profits.
Ignoring all of my own advice I then lumped the whole of my paltry bankroll (£160) on Man City to beat Burnley at 1.35, and at 2-0 down stormed out of my flat swearing profusely..
My mood improved after a quick trip to the shops to find that Man City were 3-2 up. A harsh lesson was learned a few days previously when a big win on Liverpool(v Lyon) was snatched away from me when I neglected to lay off my bet in the closing minutes and against my better instincts I layed off my City bet at 1.13.
Burnley's excellent equaliser meant I got my stake back and out of jail.
With feelings of luck still flowing through my veins I nipped up to the pub to watch Arsenal at Wolves.
Backing goals at all levels in running was a good move as no goals in the first 25 minutes saw the prices rack up quickly and also a small bet on Fabregas to get the first goal all proved profitable and reminded me that sometimes being a lucky punter is better than being a good one!
With typical greed I was more disappointed with the chances that Arsenal squandered as a 6th goal in the game would have been worth £250.
Anyway back to tonight, and it is worth drip feeding bets on Liverpool as their price will move Northwards very quickly - @2.74 as it stands
The trading hasn't stopped, but without the discipline of maintaining my blog I have quickly slipped back into bad habits and have been all over the place in terms of selections and staking plans.
A decent Saturday when I managed to turn £25 into £300 got my juices flowing as the cut and thrust of Football trading came to the fore.
I rode the waves of Norwich's 7 goal romp against Paulton Rovers, always seemingly one step ahead of the layers as a number of late goals increased profits.
Ignoring all of my own advice I then lumped the whole of my paltry bankroll (£160) on Man City to beat Burnley at 1.35, and at 2-0 down stormed out of my flat swearing profusely..
My mood improved after a quick trip to the shops to find that Man City were 3-2 up. A harsh lesson was learned a few days previously when a big win on Liverpool(v Lyon) was snatched away from me when I neglected to lay off my bet in the closing minutes and against my better instincts I layed off my City bet at 1.13.
Burnley's excellent equaliser meant I got my stake back and out of jail.
With feelings of luck still flowing through my veins I nipped up to the pub to watch Arsenal at Wolves.
Backing goals at all levels in running was a good move as no goals in the first 25 minutes saw the prices rack up quickly and also a small bet on Fabregas to get the first goal all proved profitable and reminded me that sometimes being a lucky punter is better than being a good one!
With typical greed I was more disappointed with the chances that Arsenal squandered as a 6th goal in the game would have been worth £250.
Anyway back to tonight, and it is worth drip feeding bets on Liverpool as their price will move Northwards very quickly - @2.74 as it stands
Liverpool faltering again
Rafa Benitez has been put under increasing pressure by his namesake Christian Benitez as Birmingham have pegged back a mis-firing Liverpool at half time in the Monday night clash at Anfield.
Just before the break Cameron Jerome has compounded the misery at Anfield and given Birmingham a 2-1 lead.
You would expect an early goal by David Ngog to settle any nerves that might have been circulating around Anfield - but no.
A half fit Steven Gerrard has now been pressed into service to rescue the Reds.
I would still expect Liverpool to exert their dominance in the second half and they are available to back at 2.66 at Betfair - time to get stuck in!
Just before the break Cameron Jerome has compounded the misery at Anfield and given Birmingham a 2-1 lead.
You would expect an early goal by David Ngog to settle any nerves that might have been circulating around Anfield - but no.
A half fit Steven Gerrard has now been pressed into service to rescue the Reds.
I would still expect Liverpool to exert their dominance in the second half and they are available to back at 2.66 at Betfair - time to get stuck in!
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