Picks
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Weekend Football
by Ben, last updated 2005-11-13 20:13:17Well another really tough week on the premiership. Teams that should be losing just aren't.
So my picks this week are
Sheffield United and Reading double at 2.08 at Paddypower
Celtic to beat Rangers. Price was 1.83 but its dropping. Check the odds page for current best prices.
Celtic are back to their winning ways up in Scotland. Rangers are not. Its a bit of a no brainer to bet on the team that is playing the better football and has the home advantage.
In the Championship, Reading and Sheffield United are playing at home playing teams at the foot of the table. It should really be a formality these two teams winning. They are the best two teams in the league by a country mile.
Nigels Picks
by Nigel Ridgeway
LAST WEEK'S PICKS - ENGLAND (7/4), SWITZERLAND (13/10) & CZECH REPUBLIC(7/5) ALL WON!
ENGLAND NOW 7/1 FOR WORLD CUP GLORY
England staged a remarkable comeback to clinch a thrilling 3-2 victory over Argentina last weekend to earn a cut in the World Cup odds from 8/1 to 7/1. The result wasn't unexpected, and the Three Lions were well-backed (and tipped up) at 7/4, but what was more surprising was the fact that we got to see a competitive friendly and, as a result, there was plenty of betting action via bet365's live ‘In-Play Console'. With only three minutes to go, England were trading at 25/1 (Argentina 1/20), while they were also a very backable 14/1 after Argentina had gone 1-0 up after 34 minutes.
However, it's easy to get carried away with this result, which means nothing in terms of the World Cup, and if a further reality check were needed, Brazil were showing why they're 3/1 favourites with an 8-0 thrashing of UAE. If England are to go all the way, they'll need the defending champions to have an off-day or two, which is always possible given the unpredictable nature of knockout football. A few more goals from Saturday's hero, Michael Owen would help too, and he's 15/8 with bet365 to be top England scorer (Rooney 4/1).
However, England and Brazil were not the only market movers at the weekend, with Italy cut into 10/1 from 11/1 after their 3-1 victory over Holland. The Dutch were missing a few players, but this was still an impressive performance from Italy's new-look forward partnership of Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino. There were also play-off victories for Spain, who were chopped into 16/1 from 20/1, and the Czech Republic (20/1 from 33/1). However, anyone looking for a long-shot at this stage might want to consider Serbia at 66/1. The Serbs finished above Spain in qualifying, conceding just one goal in the process, and they may be able to do a Greece!
Ante Post Pick: Serbia & Montenegro @ 66/1
bet365 World Cup prices ... Brazil 3/1, Argentina, Germany, England 7/1, Holland 9/1, Italy, France 10/1, others on bet365 website.
LATICS ARE VALUE AT 10/3
Sa Nov 19 - 12.45 ko (SS1)
Back in the Premiership, Wigan's success story has been one of the stories of the season, and a very profitable one for ‘in the game' readers who've latched on. However, Saturday's visit by Arsenal will be one of their toughest tests so far, and many will be expecting their golden run of six straight wins to come to an end. After a difficult start, Arsene Wenger's side are beginning to find the net regularly, winning eight of their last nine in all competitions, but they're priced accordingly at 4/5. As a consequence, Paul Jewell's side are probably a shade too big at 7/2, and are worth a small bet at that price, but more significant support getting a half-goal start on the Asian handicap (currently 2.05). Obviously, the Gunners will be a different proposition to the likes of Portsmouth and Fulham, but the Latics are on a roll and weren't disgraced against Chelsea on the opening day of the season. Three months on, they haven't lost since, having conceded just three times in the last eleven (none in the last five), and scoring at least once every time. Once the game goes live, don't forget to check out our 14 exciting live ‘In-Play' markets.
Live Game Pick:Wigan @ 7/2
Whether we've got the confidence to put Wigan in our Premiership acca is another thing, the cornerstone of which has to be Chelsea at home to Newcastle. After two defeats on the bounce against Real Betis and Man Utd, Chelsea should be fired up for this, and Newcastle, who were lucky to overcome Birmingham 1-0 at St James', could be on the wrong end of a thrashing (Chelsea to win 3-0, 8/1).
Liverpool have bounced back from their Carling Cup defeat by Palace, and the 2-0 win at Aston Villa suggests that they'll have no trouble seeing off Portsmouth, who've won just four games in 20 matches under manager Alain Perrin (8/11 in our ‘Sack Race' betting). With little confidence in our odds-on quotes for both Man United and Middlesbrough, our weekend acca is completed by Bolton (7/4) and Tottenham (4/6). A £25 acca on our four fancied team pays out £228.74, which includes a bet365 bonus of 5% (up to 60% available every weekend).
Suggested Premiership Acca:
Chelsea, Liverpool, Bolton, Tottenham - pays £228.74 (£25 stake) at bet365
bet365
Gerry's Picks
by Gerry McDonnell
A few years ago, you couldn't turn the television on without hearing Bob Hoskins say, "It's good to talk", Jose Mourinho may not be a chubby Cockney, but he shares Bob's love of the spoken word.Jose has recently engaged in verbal sparring with Arsene Wenger; daily ‘tit for tat' remarks were exchanged, with Wenger playing the role of the ‘Tat'.
Mourinho then turned his attention to Sir Alex, offering this gem, "If I lost three games on the trot, I'd expect to be sacked." As Chelsea have now lost two consecutive games, there's every chance that Roman Abramovich may have one hand on the P45.
Chelsea are leaking goals, Drogba is suspended and Crespo is out of favour while he works on his singing career. Newcastle have won their last four matches; back the Toon Army to win or draw at 2/1.
If you look up ‘value' in the dictionary, you'll find it just before Wigan. The Latics are sitting 2nd in the league, they're on top of the recent form table and they've won their last five matches in all competitions without conceding a goal.
Arsenal may be breathtaking on their day, but it's not been their day away from home all season. Wigan are available at 10/3 to collect all three points; merry Christmas.
I was shocked to hear of the Old Trafford bugging controversy. Carlos Queiroz was allegedly heard to say, "Rooney, get on the left wing, 4-5-1, 4-5-1". That rumour is probably untrue, this is a fact; Wayne Rooney ran the show for England against Argentina, he'll be a decent player when he fills out. United are the real deal, get on at 4/6.
David O'Leary has been the master of the excuse this term, "The boys gave me everything out there" has been used. The obligatory, "The ref cost us the game" has also had an airing, the Villa are one defeat away from the return of, "You can't expect too much from them, they're just babies." Sunderland can gain revenge for the Villa nicking their three best players, back the Mackems at 13/8.
Birmingham City are very much like the wife, they've done nothing at home for six months. City's inability to perform in front of their own fans stems from a lack of firepower up front. Forssell hasn't scored a league goal all season and Heskey hasn't put the onion in the bag since August. As every experienced chef knows, you can't make an omelette, with two puddings.
There's always a few specials floating about on the weekend, Super Soccer have the following:
"R.S.V.P." - Rooney, Shearer and Van Persie all to score 20/1
"M.C. Hammer" - Michael Carrick to score two or more goals 33/1
"Waiting for the S.P." - Stilian Petrov to score the last goal 15/2
"H.P. Soars" - Henrik Pedersen to score with a header 20/1
"P.C. gone mad" - Peter Crouch to score at any time 11/10
"J.D. and Coker" - Jermain Defoe and Reo-Coker both to score 16/1
Quote of the week:
"How did Everton get on?"
Wayne Rooney's first words after the win against Chelsea, captured on the Old Trafford bug.
Stat, you're a liberty:
Arsenal have lost every match they've played after an International break this season.
Acc of the week:
Man Utd
Liverpool
Sunderland
Everton
Bolton
The five-fold pays a juicy 35/1
Weekend Betting:
Wigan v Arsenal Saturday 19th November 12.45 Live on Sky
Wigan 10/3
Draw 9/4
Arsenal 8/11
Get on: Wigan
Wigan are on a roll, Arsenal are poor on their travels. It all points to the Latics.
Match Special:
Wigan to win 1-0 9/1
Charlton v Man Utd Saturday 19th November 15.00
Charlton 7/2
Draw 12/5
Man Utd 4/6
Get on: Man Utd
Man U have beaten Charlton in their last four meetings by two goals or more. The Addicks have lost their last two matches, easy pickings fur United.
Match Special:
Wayne Rooney to score two or more goals 11/2
Chelsea v Newcastle Saturday 19th November 15.00
Chelsea 1/3
Draw 10/3
Newcastle 13/2
Get on: Draw
Chelsea have conceded goals in their last five matches; the Geordies are on fire.
Match Special:
Emre to score at any time 5/1
Liverpool v Portsmouth Saturday 19th November 15.00
Liverpool 2/5
Draw 11/4
Portsmouth 13/2
Get on: Liverpool
Liverpool have won their last three matches ‘to nil'. It's been 54 years since Pompey won at Anfield; a real no-brainer.
Match Special:
Luis Garcia to score at any time 6/4
Man City v Blackburn Saturday 19th November 15.00
Man City 5/6
Draw 9/4
Blackburn 11/4
Get on: Draw
The last three meetings between City and Rovers have ended in a draw, both teams are in great nick, another tight match awaits.
Match Special:
Match to finish 2-2 14/1
Sunderland v Aston Villa Saturday 19th November 15.00
Sunderland 11/8
Draw 2/1
Aston Villa 7/4
Get on: Sunderland
Sunderland and Villa have met 10 times in the Premiership, the away team has never won. Aston Villa have conceded the most goals away from home in the league this season, it all points to a home win.
Match Special:
Sunderland to score three or more goals 5/1
West Brom v Everton Saturday 19th November 17.15 Live on Premiership Plus
West Brom 11/8
Draw 2/1
Everton 7/4
Get on: Everton
West Brom have lost their last three matches without scoring. Everton have won their last two matches 1-0. It's all too easy.
Match Special:
Everton to win 1-0 7/1
Tottenham v West Ham Sunday 20th November 13.00
Tottenham 8/11
Draw 9/4
West Ham 10/3
Get on: Draw
West Ham were forced to sell Jermain Defoe and Michael Carrick to Spurs when they were relegated; the Hammers got their own back though, they also sold them Freddie Kanoute. It's three without a win for Spurs, make that four.
Match Special:
Benayoun to score at any time 7/2
Middlesbrough v Fulham Sunday 20th November 16.00 Live on Sky
Middlesbrough 8/11
Draw 9/4
Fulham 10/3
Get on: Draw
The stats say that Boro can't get motivated for the visit of lesser teams, their only wins at home have came against Arsenal and Man Utd. Fulham haven't won on the road this season; goalless draw.
Match Special:
No Goalscorer in the match 8/1
Birmingham v Bolton Monday 21st November 20.00 Live on Sky
Birmingham 8/5
Draw 11/5
Bolton 7/5
Get on: Bolton
Bolton have won their last four matches 1-0. I've spotted a pattern.
Match Special:
Bolton to win 1-0 6/1
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