Having seemingly turned my pretty horrible run of betting round with a stonking midweek performance, I enter this weekend's preview full of the confidence that comes with such success. This being said I've still got a couple of things to get off my chest! I see yesterday a certain simian looking Mr G Bale was named amongst FifPro's list of 55 players to pick their World XI from. Christ on a sodding bicycle, can't people calm down? I think he's a very good player, but lest we forget that up until March last season he was Totteringham's second choice left back behind Benoit Essou-Ekotto. Sky Sports seem absolutely obsessed with putting him up against Leo Messi, and seem to keep making him about even. Here are the full stats, you can make up your own minds. Bale has played 20 matches, scored 9 goals and as far as I can establish has 3 assists. Messi has played 18 matches scored 23 goals and made 9 assists. Also, if you were to watch the games over the weekend you will notice Messi, whilst admittedly physically inferior, works harder in defence to with constant pressing and pressuring the opposition. As I said before, I think Bale is a very good player, but he is truly miles away from the benchmark in his position and it does no-one any good to make comparisons like that, except Messi. Also, as will now be a regular feature, I will be making one song recommendation a week. The Lord knows why, but it's a USP if nothing else. This morning I felt like The Hives with the cracking tune Diabolic Scheme. Wonderful it was...
Aston Villa v Arsenal, Saturday 1245
Now then, now then. Here we have the 2 men that were probably most responsible for bringing foreign managers into the public conciousness in this country, and they are both French. Messrs Wenger and Houllier have both had spells of trophy collecting with Arsenal and Liverpool respectively and now Houllier is back with a decent Villa team. Arsenal followed up last weekend's horrific capitulation at home to the Spuds by losing 2-0 to a Braga side they beat 6-0 back in September. This has again led to media and a significant number of Arse fans openly questioning whether it's time Wenger either learnt or fucked off back to the land of hairy women and strike action. Houllier has quietly established Villa as a hard to beat team and has taken points off both Man Utd and Chelsea already this season, they wont fear Arsenal. cesc Fabregas has hindered Arsenal since returning, in my opinion, and I think they may play better in his absence. The last 2 results have seen the Arse pushed out to 2.25 with 888sport and I think that they could bounce back.
Bolton v Blackpool, Saturday 1500
A lesser seen North Western derby this one! Both teams could lay claim to being the surprise package of the season so far in a pretty all round surprising start to the campaign.Bolton are up in the heady heights of 5th and Blackpool aren't being soundly thrashed every week are both surprises to many observers. Blackpool look much better when Charlie Adam performs, and the news he has signed a new contract with The Seasider's must bring Christmas cheer to their fans hearts (aah!). Bolton, under Owen Coyle, have been building up from an already strong rearguard and adding some flair in the form of Martin Petrov and the rejuvenated Johan Elmander, or Mark Viduka II as I am now referring to him for his recent glut of goals at contract renewal time! The fans wont be complainging much though, as he has been unplayable at times of late. I think Bolton might well dominate this, and running out 5-1 victors over a decent Newcastle last match has prompted me to look at handicapping The Trotters. I think a -1.0 asian handicap at 2.0 with Paddy Power looks a good bet to me.
Everton v West Brom, Saturday 1500
Two teams who's seasons have been polar opposites meet at Goodison on Saturday afternoon. West Brom started well and beat Asrenal and held Man Utd to a draw before slipping to a run of no wins in their last 5 matches. Everton's only loss in the last 9 was against Arsenal, and they almost salvaged a point from that match. They would be immeasurably better with a fit and in form striker, but with The Yak and Saha returning to the field recently they will hope one of those 2 steps up. I can only see a convincing home win in this one and I'm going to handicap The Toffee's for some extra value. Paddy Power are again standout at 2.0 with a -1.0 asian handicap.
Fulham v Birmingham, Saturday 1500
I pity any poor soul who is attending this match, I'd fancy one of the shortest highlight packages in history on MOTD on Saturday night. Both teams are about as likely to score as John Merrick at the moment and I can't see this being a classic. Mark Hughes might not have lost many as Fulham boss but he certainly hasn't won fuck all has he? After Roberto Mancini exposed him for the no better than average manager he is on Sunday, and no doubt forced a few 'journalists' to rip up their gloating over the Italian's sacking, he should be feeling the pressure himself. Fulham are a team on a downward spiral and need points from fixtures like this. Brum are the same dogged unit they always are under Alex McCleish, but they also lack goals. When Ben Foster and Scott Dann and Roger Johnson are keeping Chelsea at bay though they'll fancy their chances against The Cottagers attack. I think Victor Chandler quotes of 2.75 on Brum in the Draw No Bet market sound good to me.
Man Utd v Blackburn, Saturday 1500
I'll be watching this match very closely, and mostly because I think Big Fat Sam will be on his preverbial knees taking Sir Wrigley's preverbial schlong in his gob. The man absolutely worships Fergie as can be seen by possibly the most ridiculously overblown 'scandal' of recent years when Rafa Benitez had the temerity to suggest his team might have beat the Fat One's boys slightly before they had. Both men disgust me, but at least Fergie has the amazing success he's had to suggest his nonsense is a winning formula. The Lamb Shank lookalike is just a twat. Back to the game, and I think this is the match Fergie would love to have Rooney back for. The lad hasn't scored from open play since April and with Blackburn likely to roll over I doubt he'll get a better chance. Having said that I think this is one of those games that a certain dog-chomping man might shine in! Ji Sung Park is 4.5 wih extrabet to score anytime and I think he might trouble the scorers here.
Stoke v Man City, Saturday 1500
Another North Western derby this one, with City travelling to the Potteries. Before last week I would have this as the sort of match Mancini would dread, but I think he has inadvertently stumbled upon a winning gameplan. With Jo brought in to the side and working all across the front line it gave City a physical presence and relieved the burden on Tevez and Silva, who both had excellent games. Stoke will also struggle to bully Yaya '4 Bellies' Toure and Nigel De Jong, and this could be key. Pulis has done an admirable job in making Stoke look like a fixture in the Premier League without even attempting to play much actual football, but they rely on being physically intimidating and City can match them in that department. I think quotes of around 2.2 on the away win look good to me.
West Ham v Wigan, Saturday 1500
Jesus wept, West Ham are the dictionary definition of dogshit. I knew they were poor, but watching them against Liverpool last weekend made me realise they're going down, no two ways about it. I've rarely seen such a lack of fight in a team in all my life, and it is that more than any other reason why they need to sack Avram Grant if they are to salvage their season. It's often said that English players are overpriced, and they really are, but when you see the effort Scott Parker and Mark Noble put in compared to their highly paid foreign counterparts, maybe it's worth it? Wigan are almost as poor. They don't concede that many, but they score sweet FA. A Wigan match this eason is a guaranteed waste of viewing time, as chances are you will not be entertained. They're a pet hate of mine anyway as I really don't think a team that has about 7 fans belongs in the country's top league and I really hope they drop without trace. I think the only bet here is No Goalscorer at 10.0 with Skybet. It's a half stakes punt for me though.
Wolves v Sunderland, Saturday 1500
Another game with a team who doesn't score many up agianst a team that doesn't concede many. Sunderland have the best defensive record outside the top 4 even with that hammering by Newcastle. Wolves are shocking in front of goal. They have about 14 strikers on the books at last count, but none of them are a poacher or natural finisher. The best of the bunch are Doyle and Fletcher, but both do their best work outside the box. Steve Bruce looks like he's made another good striking signing in Asamoah Gyan, and with Darren Bent back and Danny Welbeck on a hot streak they'll fancy themselves to score and so do I. If they score I think that should be enough to see off a poor Wolves team who are getting dragged into the relegation mix. William Hill go 2.9 on the away win, but I'm going to take their quote of 2.0 on Sunderland Draw No Bet to make sure.
Newcastle v Chelsea, Sunday 1330
Until I was reminded that the Geordie's were missing both centre halves I was tempted to oppose Chelsea in this. Newcastle have been all about doing well in matches they're expected to find hard and royally fucking up in the supposedly easier games, so really they should overperform in this. However comma I think Chelsea might get the win their season needs to get back on track. There are no end of rumours flying around Chelsea at the moment, but all I know for sure is that Essien is their best player and John 'JT' (fucking grow up) Terry is an absolute cock of the very highest order. Having started the season on fire, Drogba, Anelka and Malouda have all been disappointing recently. If they're going to rediscover their repsective mojo's it'll be against Newcastle's second string backline. I think they'll start like a train in the freezing temperatures and I fancy them to be winning at half time and full time. Bluesq are the standout at 2.87 so I'll have a bit of that on Chelsea/Chelsea in the HT/FT market.
Tottenham v Liverpool, Sunday 1600
The last match of the weekend comes from Shite Fart Lane with Liverpool the visitors. nothing should particularly be read into last weekends victory as West Ham decided not to turn up. But, Pool have been more impressive of late as Torres and Gerrard return and players like Poulsen bed in more. Spurs are 2,2,2 after European games so there's little to be read into that. They secured qualification this week from a hard on paper group so hats off to them. I do enjoy watching them play, but that doesn't mean my opinion of Redknapp has changed. The reason they're so entertaining is because of the complete lack of tactics, and it makes them as likely to lose as to win. For this reason I can't see them beating the better teams left in the 'Champions'League or once again qualifying via the Prem. Hodgson's hopeless away record at Fulham has seemingly followed him to Liverpool and that puts me off backing the away team. Prices of 3.4 are available on the draw in this and I think that's where the last of my money will go.
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