As we talk my midweek tips are 5 from 5 and I'm fairly confident the Villarreal -1.0 tonight will oblige for a full house! This should go some way to making up for last weekend being the first where I lost money. With this in mind I'll be trying to make up even more by getting some Premier League tips right this weekend. Right then, less foreplay, more action, here we go!
Manchester City v Chelsea, Saturday 1245
This is the first time we will really get to see Chelsea tested and it should give us a better idea of how good they actually are. My personal opinion is that they have the best first XI, but their backup is truly horrendous. In Ross Turnbull they have the worst goalkeeper in the Premier League on the bench every week and Ancelotti must shit his pants every time Cech dives that he'll get injured. The young lads coming through look a long way from fitting in to a top 4 team too. Having said this it will be mostly their first choice starting line-up on Saturday so I've wasted your time a bit! Man City were my pre-season tip for a title tilt and I still think they might oblige, but they need to pull their preverbial socks up and fast. Eastlands has been a fortress for them in recent seasons and I think they are capable of getting something from this game. I am going to be a bit cautious and look to the draw no bet market for this one though. Man City are 2.62 at Paddy Power and I think that's the bet for me.
Arsenal v West Brom, Saturday 1500
So far this season Arsenal have given anyone not up to their standards a good hiding at home and I see no reason why this shouldn't continue. West Brom are not built to just sit back and bully someone like Arsenal and that seems the only way to avoid defeat. Roberto Di Matteo is trying to get West Brom playing 'the right way' and whilst commendable, it is incredibly stupid not to have a Plan B for games like this. Arsenal will be without RVP and Fabregas, but they should still steamroll WBA with Jack Wilshere coming into form and Marouane Chamakh looking to cement his place as the number one forward at the club. Skybet go a standout 2.25 on Arshavin to score anytime and with the lack of value in the match odds that's where I'll be punting.
Birmingham v Wigan, Saturday 1500
Birmingham lost the first of many Midlands derbies away at West Brom last weekend at that must have hurt. I wouldn't read too much into the result as derbies can throw up results like that, especially when there's only a moderate margin of difference in the sides abilities. St Andrews has been almost impenetrable in the last 2 seasons and I struggle to see an away win here when such luminaries as Liverpool and Arsenal have failed to register victories. Wigan will still go down in my opinion due to their talented but inconsistent forwards and abysmal defence. I have a rule not to bet on Wigan matches and I fancied City to beat them last week and avoided at 1.7, that's enough reason for me to back Brum in this. They aren't massive odds, with a top priced 1.83 available, but I'd be happy with that. Hills go 2.1 on Both Teams To Score and I'd advise that if match prices don't appeal.
Blackpool v Blackburn, Saturday 1500
This is a tough one to call I think. Blackburn have gained a draw away at Man City this season, and Blackpool only have one home match under their belts ending in a 2-2 draw. I'm going to have a heart over head bet on this I think. My hatred of the man who resembles a lamb shank has intensified this week with his astonishing 'I could manage Real Madrid to European glory' diatribe. What. A. Clown. Maybe he could, I doubt it hugely, but maybe. The problem lies in the fact he's an objectionable twat who's teams play the worst football the Premier League has seen and no flair player in their right mind would play under such a tool. Ian Holloway, on the other hand, is a gentleman and a legend of the game as well as being hugely likeable. On that basis alone I'll back Blackpool to win with the knowledge I'll feel brilliant if they beat Fat Sam's motley crew and I win the bet. Victor Chandler go 3.25 on the home win and that's good enough for me.
Fulham v Everton, Saturday 1500
Another one that I see promising to be a tight game. I'm sure I am not alone in thinking surely Everton will perform sooner rather than later and I'm wary of opposing them on this basis. Mark Hughes has made a good start to his Cottagers reign although with Zamora and Dembele missing we could witness the first ever Premier League match with no strikers present! As mentioned I don't see either team running away with this and I think 1 goal from either side might nick it. For that reason I'm going to look at the match handicap and go for the draw. Totesport go 4.5 on this outcome and I'm more than happy to take those odds!
Liverpool v Sunderland, Saturday 1500
I think we may see the Liverpool fans take another kick in the nuts in this fixture. Whilst I think Roy Hodgson is suffering for Rafa Benitez poor buys quite a lot, I see no reason not to make some money out of it! Having been bombed out of the cup on penalties to a Northampton side languishing in 17th in League 2 I can't be having Pool at 1.5 in this game. Darren Bent continues to prove he is the best English goalscorer in the Premier League today for me and I see him netting at least one. Steve Bruce hasn't spent wisely in general, but in Bent it almost makes up for his general crapness in the transfer market. Liverpool still have no creativity or cutting edge and I don't see them scoring more than once in this. You can get a widely available 2.75 on Sunderland and the draw on the double chance market and I think it's the only sensible thing to do.
West Ham v Tottenham, Saturday 1500
THE Big Game for Hammers fans so far is the visit of Sloppy Chops boys to the Boleyn Ground. The boys from the East End picked up their first point away at Stoke last weekend and followed up with an away victory at Sunderland in the Carling Cup. This will have the Hammers fans blowing their bubbles and hoping they'll beat those North Londoners. As good as Spurs are now this is the sort of game Redknapp must dread. He is decent at getting plenty of players in to a club, and motivating those he likes, but his tactical acumen could be written on an Oriental man's penis (they're notoriously small!). If the Hammers come out all guns blazing and get ahead then I can see Churchill coming up short again. Because of the occasion I think the Irons have got a result in them. I would take them draw no bet to be safer and at 2.62 at Paddy Power there's still plenty of money to be made.
Bolton v Manchester United, Sunday 1200
I'd love to oppose United in this match as I'm no fan of Sir Wrigley and I think they're a team in decline too. I also think Owen Coyle is building a good, solid team at Bolton with a dash of flair. Unfortunately Dimitar Berbatov is enough to put me off. With Wayne Rooney making a complete mockery of any fool who compared him to Messi when he is in reality barely playing the same sport United needed Berba to step up. And how he has! A hat-trick against Liverpool, and a brilliantly varied one at that showcased his abilities and he'll outscore Rooney with ease this season. I still see no value in quotes of 1.5 on United when Bolton could possibly force a draw so I'll be following Berba's hot streak. You can take the Bulgarian superstar to Score 2 or More Goals with 6.0 widely available.
Wolves v Aston Villa, Sunday 1400
Antoher weekend another Midlands derby! This is the biggest one in many neutrals eyes and is quite a second match for Ged Houllier in the Villa dugout. He was never an exciting manager in France or at Liverpool and I'd advise Villa fans that O'Neills industrial approach will likely continue for a long time yet. With Mick McCarthy similarly no-nonsense I don't see this being a thriller. He has built Wolves ensibly from the back forward and they are very organised with a touch of the god stuff up front in Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher. I think with the home support they can definitely get a win here and I would have them at slight favourites. Everyone else seems to be of the view it's Villa though! You can get 3.0 on Betfair and I'd get on that.
Newcastle v Stoke City, Sunday 1600
With me rescinding my never back a result in a Wigan game rule, I'm now going to apply it to Newcastle for this weekend. They have beaten Villa 6-0 at home and Everton 1-0 away, but failed to beat lowly Blackpool. I'm currently unsure which is the freak result so I will not be putting money on the unassuming Chris Hughtons men for the time being. Stoke, contrary to popular belief, are better away from home of late and that's not providing any great security for me. Since I really don't want to call this I'll have a half stakes poke on big Andy Carroll to bet first. He's got unbelievably crap hair, but he's a threat! The biggest is 6.0 available at BWIN and let's end the weekend on that.
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