The title this week is sadly a reference to my own tipping 'skills' over the past couple of weeks. To say I had been dreadful would be akin to saying Arsenal make things hard for themselves, a huge understatement. I am going to try and redeem myself this week obviously, but in my defence it is now reaching the nadir of the season and it's hard to know if everyone is making the effort. This week saw both Arsenal and Spuds dropping points in their respective title and Champions League qualification campaigns. I'd like to send out my sympathies to anyone unfortunate enough to support Arsenal. Having watched them against Sunderland, Blackburn and Spurs recently I have found myself tearing my hair out and their complete inability to close a game out. I'd be an exceptionally angry man if I actually gave a sod either way about the result. Musical recommendation this fine day is for Incubus with Wish You Were Here.
Aston Villa v Stoke, Saturday 1500
Stoke winning 5-0, well fuck me sideways. The impossible happened last weekend in the FA Cup Semi Final and Stoke actually had more possession than their opponents. This had not happened since their promotion to the Prem in any match against Premier League opponents. They gave Northern neighbours Bolton an absolute shellacking and could well have gained some long overdue respect. From me as much as anyone else. Villa's mini renaissance continued with a last gasp victory away at West Ham. Ged Houllier has been taken in to hospital this week, and with his history of illness it has to be asked whether he should just call it a day. Anyway, I'm sure Villa will put in a good performance. Footballers are fickle and now the team is winning matches I'm sure they are all Ged's biggest fans again after last months revolt. With Stok now as good as safe from relegation I wouldn't expect them to exert themselves too much with the cup final to come. Back Mr Darren Bent to score anytime at an industry leading 2.1 with Coral.
Wolves v Fulham, Saturday 1500
Mark Hughes many fans in the media must be very pleased with the way Sparky has turned around Fulham's early season form. It must be said that the poor performances like the 4-1 home tonking by Citeh have mostly come with the entire strike force out injured. All this being said though, they are still a poor side away from Craven Cottage. The effort is there still, but wins have come at a rate of only 1 from 16 matches this term. This has been going on for around 3 seasons now and shows no sign of abating. Wolves have been nothing short of workhorses this term, but sadly they have lacked that bit of flair/class that would push draws into wins. They don't find goals easy to come by at all and Mick McCarthy will surely be looking to remedy that if they are in the Prem or Champ next season. Kevin Doyle is a wonderful partner for a predator, but Ebanks-Blake and Fletcher have been about as useful as a chocolate teapot for most of the season. I see this being a drab affair probably decided by a goal either way. I do see Wolves somehow getting it though. Back them at a best priced 2.6 with Victor Chandler.
Bolton v Arsenal, Sunday 1600
Sunday's match has Arsenal's fading title hopes on the road at the Reebok Stadium. I've already mentioned the pathetic lack of composure that led to a collapse from 3-1 up to 3-3 and hanging on at Shite Fart Lane so I wont go into any more detail. Bolton head into this with any hope of European football now a distant memory thanks to their FA Cup exit to Stoke at Wembley on Sunday. I would imagine Owen Coyle will be telling everyone that they're 'up for it' and other inane cliches, but they'd only be human if they aren't at full speed. Now that Coyle has taken over the Trotters they are also endeavouring to play football 'the right way' too. This is a laudable thing, and has seen them climb the table and show the fans a style of football unimaginable back in the Fat Sam days. Sadly thogh, this plays into the Gooners hands somewhat. I'm sure they'll make it look difficult, they always bloody do, and they'll probably give a goal away for good measure. But, I would expect them to get the job done. They are unbeaten in 15 in the league and that's not to be sneared at. William Hill are taking them on at 1.8 and I'm happy with that.
Valencia v Real Madrid, Saturday 1700
This is an intersting match up to start the La Liga weekend. Madrid know now that they cannot possibly hope to win the league having failed to beat Barca last weekend and have bigger fish to fry in the Champions League this midweek. I would fully expect the likes of Ozil and Ronaldo to start on the bench and be fairly unlikely to make it on to the field. Mourinho is nothing if not a masterful tactician and he will want his star men fresh to once again take on Barca in the week. This should play into the hands of a Valencia side playing some fantastic stuff of late. They are on a 3 match winning steak having scored 12 goals to 2 in the process. Roberto Soldado in particularly scintillating form having netted 6 of those. With Valencia out of every other competition and looking to cement their place in next seasons Champions League they will no doubt see a win as a huge confidence boost going into the tail end of the season. They have been shortening in price for a few days so I would snap up Victor Chandlers quotes of 2.5 on the home team while they last.
Sevilla v Villarreal, Sunday 2000
The late Sunday match in La Liga has Villarreal travelling to Sevilla for another intriguing match. It is widely accepted that Villarreal are confident enough in their league position that they are putting all their eggs in a basket labelled 'Europa League'. They have a 9 point cushion over 5th place Bilbao in La Liga and can afford to rest players in the league to wait for their semi final in midweek. Expect players like Ruben Castro and Guiseppe Rossi to be on the bench. Sevilla have been a different team in the second half of the season. The arrival of Ivan Rakitic and return to form of Fredi Kanoute have seen them unbeaten at home since the xmas break. They should see off a second string Yellow Submarine. Odds of 2.0 are still widely available and I would take them before line-ups are announced.
Galatasaray v Kayserispor, Saturday 1800
This match sees two of the teams in the worst form in the SuperLig going head to head. Gala have had a really poor season and find themselves in desperate need of points to avoid being dragged into a relegation scrap. Kayserispor were in a comfortable 4th position until they seemingly switched off around the start of March. They haven't taken a point in 6 matches and are drifting towards mid table. Gala should be able to raise themselves for this match, the motivation to avoid complete embarrassment should see to that. They have had a tough run of matches lately including the two best teams Fener and Trabzon. They won their last match 3-2 away and that should also give them a timely boost heading into this. I'd be tempted to back them with a -1.0 asian hcap at Bet265 at odds of 2.25.
Karabukspor v Sivasspor, Saturday 1300
Also this weekend we see last weeks let down Karabuk taking on Sivasspor at home. Karabuk should have won last week, they conceded goals to the only attacks Istanbul BB had. And they also failed to capitalise on the numerous attacks they had. I would imagine they would again make plenty of chances, and I'd expect them to take at least one this time out. Sivasspor have been in great form over the last 5 matches, a record of 4 wins and 1 draw is great form in anyones book. And they have been scoring plenty of goals whilst doing so, 9 in those 5 games. I would expect an end to end match here, with both teams liable to errors at the back. Coral go 2.1 on over 2.5 goals and I think there's a great chance we'll see that.
Nurnberg v Mainz 05, Sunday 1630
The match of the weekend in the Bundesliga could well come from this game in my view. Mainz started the season in great form, blooding numerous youngsters and blowing teams away at times. Nurnberg were quite the opposite and really struggled to get going. However comma Nurnberg have come on strong since xmas and have risen to sit in behind Mainz in 5th position. This has been in no small part down to striker Eiger recently, having picked up 3 goals in the last 3 matches. Mainz are a very good away side so I'm loathe to lay them, a record of 9 wins from 15 away is pretty formidable. I do think Stan James have gone to far in pricing the home team at 2.25 though, so sod it, I'll take them on.
Here ends this weeks tips. Hopefully we'll start getting back on track before I'm forced to crawl away!
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