Many apologies for the lateness of this effort. Went on a work night out on Thursday and the involvement of Sambuca made me less than useless yesterday I'm afraid. Once again I have had a good week punting on the 'Champions' League. I went in fairly hard on Madrid -1.0 and was rewarded handsomely for my efforts. Much as Mourinho is a brash, greasy, self-important twat, he does love to win a football match! Whilst other managers are happy to settle for a less than stellar performance when top spot is assured, that wont do for the Special One. It's almost warming me to him in fact. This weeks music is a bit of a modern punk ballad, it's Roadside by my favourite band Rise Against.
Aston Villa v West Brom, Saturday 1500
First up is the first of 2 Midlands derbies this weekend. Di Matteo is bringing his seemingly back on form WBA to Villa Park to take on Ged Houllier's abject lot. It is no exaggeration to say that the man that brought the mickey mouse treble to Anfield has yet to make a good impression at Villa and his comments about how much he loved Pool and everything about it will not have gone down well on the back of a 3-0 victory that could have been 6. All in all, Villa are currently dogshit. Because of the nature of derbies, and because I'm not fully convinced about WBA still, it's going to be a Draw No Bet for me. I'll take Stan James quotes of 2.62 on WBA in that market.
Everton v Wigan, Saturday 1500
Having previously stated West Ham were the worst team in the Premier League I might already be forced to retract that statement in light of how poor Wigan are. It does not pain me at all to say this as I've long thought they have no place in the top division. I hate Dave Whelan, the man's a fucking slag when it comes to being in the media spotlight, can't get enough of it. I also resent the fact they can't muster more than about 12000 fans to come and cheer them on, they're dull and shit so I can't blame them entirely, but even when the weren't the attendances were piss poor. Everton are again on a crap run too and are looking increasingly likely to get dragged into a relegation scrap if they don't turn things round. A glance at their line-up says they should, but they need a striker to step up and score. Jermaine Beckford has proved as poor a signing as my Leeds supporting mates predicted, he makes Jermaine Defoe look clinical. With both teams struggling for goals and creativity, I'm plumping for an under 2.5 goals poke at a widely available 2.0.
Fulham v Sunderland, Saturday 1500
Mark Hughes must already be feeling some pressure at Craven Cottage. They were a team slipping in the league last term masked by their great European run and he has done nothing to arrest the slide. Being deprived of his 2 main strikers hasn't helped, but he's a hateful, sour prick so I'm short on sympathy. Steve Bruce on the other hand looks to have finally got his team playing like one that was assembled at the large cost his has been. Lee Cattermole has been impressive now he's decided gobbing off at the ref isn't helpful and Danny Welbeck has been hugely impressive of late too. The losses of Michael Turner and Titus Bramble have hurt them at the back as they had struck up a strangely impressive partnership. There's always a chance Fulham will battle out for a draw, as they have done so many times already so I'm going to go for that as I think both teams would settle for it before kick-off. Best price is 3.3 at Betfair.
Stoke City v Blackpool, Saturday 1500
This would have been a huge match in the late 30's! Both these teams are now back in the top flight and look set to have another season at least, due to them being not as shit as some of the dross like Wigan hanging around the bottom. They go about their tasks very differently, Stoke are all raw power and long throws whereas Blackpool are an attacking lot who try and play football. Charlie Adam has been a hugely impressive performer for The Seasider's and is the sort of player Tony Pulis has bought and then failed to integrate into the team. I look at these failures to change they style and I think sooner rather than later he'll be removed for a manager with some track record of playing football. I think power will come out on top in a cracking game in this one. I also feel it's a match Ricardo Fuller may get one in, although lord knows why! He's available at 3.5 with Betfair to find the old onion bag anytime.
West Ham v Man City, Saturday 1500
This is the sort of match Mancini will need to win if City are to be serious challengers this year. If they do manage it today they'll be above neighbours Utd, albeit having played 2 more games. I think they're a club on the up who will pass Utd on their way down if current squads continue along current trends. West Ham have looked better of late, and 'Super' Scotty Parker has been at the fulcrum of everything good that happens. I think he'll be over-run by City's man-beasts in the middle though and that should decide it. Stan James take the biggest stand on the away win at 2.0 and I'll be on that.
Newcastle v Liverpool, Saturday 1730
Well, well, well...The circus is back in Toon. I'm not an idiot, so I can see Chris Hughton will not be guiding Newcastle to the upper reaches of the Prem, but sacking him at this time seems mental. The only reason I can see for it is that Ashley plans on cashing in on players in January and Pardew has promised to not put up a fight. All this points to the possibility of a return to The Championship for me if true. The man's clearly a prat. Pardew has had a moderate managerial career so far, with the FA Cup final he took West Ham too the highlight. He talks a decent enough game, but it all seems like bluster to me. Liverpool have been out of the headlines for a couple of weeks now as Roy Hodgson has been getting results. I think Andy Carroll will be looking forward to this one though, Jamie Ehr Carragher would have been up for the battle, but I'm not sure the other centre backs are. I fancy a Newcastle win followed by a long hard slog to the end of the season. A best priced 3.75 is available on the Geordie win.
Bolton v Blackburn, Sunday 1330
The Fat One returns to Bolton to see a man doing so much better than he ever did. Owen Coyle has taken the physicality and defensive attributes already ingrained and allied a previously unseen flair to the Trotters. He has even managed to make Johan Elmander look like a half decent player, and that's no small task. He's going to Liverpool at the season's end I think, where he will likely return to the shite from more representative of his career as a whole. Fabio Capello has this week installed The Fat Man and Sloppy Chops as his most likely successors and I can't argue. The FA have, as usual, made a balls up in stating the next man must be English, and left themselves the choice between these 2 evils. One with no tactical awareness and one whose only tactic is fouling and kicking it long. No less than they deserve anyway. I see Owen Coyle's more attractive lot beating a Blackburn team who don't travel well anyway. I'm going to stick my neck out on this somewhat, and I think Bolton do this comfortably. Match prices of 2.1 are fine, but I'm taking them with a -1.0 asian handicap at 6.4 with Bet365.
Wolves v Birmingham, Sunday 1500
The second of the Midlands derbies and this one ought to be slightly more exciting. Wolves are in a pretty shitty streak at present and will be looking to this match for 3 points and the morale boost of a derby win. Birmingham have been in cracking form though and have held both Chelsea and Spurs to draws lately. Their new striker Nicola Zigic might well be utter toilet, but his height means that knock downs are a plenty. Wolves problems stem from being unable to keep them out in and unable to put them in. A pretty worrying time to be a Wolves fan I'd imagine and professional Yorkshireman Mick McCarthy has threatened to get dirty to set things right. Neither team are prolific, but I've got a feeling their may be goals in this. Quotes of 2.2 at Victor Chandler on over 2.5 goals have me hooked.
Tottenham v Chelsea, Sunday 1600
There can be no better time for Tottenham and their magical manager to take on the Champions. Chelsea are on a horrendous run and their big players seem unable, or unwilling, to perform and pull them out of it. This being said, Sloppy Chops legendary lack of tactics or defensive organisation means they'll get chances, everyone does! The Spuds will be riding high on topping their Champions League group and the plaudits that have come with it. I stated at the start of the season that injuries would be key for Chelsea this season, as the back-up at the club is by far the worst in the top 5 and the starters are getting on in years. It might be just a bad patch, but I think we're witnessing the start of the fall of Chavski. This all points to a Totteringham victory for me and the lauding of Redknapp again for a less impressive victory than Sunderland or Birmingham have achieved. 2.87 is widely available still and it's good enough for me.
Man Utd v Arsenal, Monday 2000
Monday night sees Man Utd's first test in a while with Arsenal travelling to the Theatre of Dreams, what a poncey name. Both teams have looked dodgy at the back at points, mostly when Jonny Evans or Laurent Kocielsny have featured. Arsenal's away form has been the best in the league so far and is the reason I think they're the best bet for the title. United have been grinding victories out undeservedly and they're going to get punished soon. In the absence of Cesc Fabregas Samir Nasri has raised his game to become the main man for Arsenal. I think both he and Andrey Arshavin will love a game of this magnitude and I think that might just swing it. United don't pose a physical threat, and that is still the best way to cause Arsenal problems. I fancy Arsenal in this and the papaers to then declare them champions and Weneger a genius, before tearing him down when they go out of the Champions League. Victor Chandler go 4.2 on a famous away win and that's my betting done.
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