Now if we discount my rather lacklustre attempt at tipping international matches two weeks ago, and I am keen to do just that, I am two blogs in a row in profit. I will add that I would only ever present my domestic league tips as the ones to seriously invest in as I do find international football very haphazard outside of the major tournaments themselves. So I will be looking to make it three in a row this week and hopefully make us all some extra mid-month cash.
This week saw the return of the 'Champions' League and all it's wondrousness. It also should serve as a reality check to all those saying that the Manchester clubs were ready to conquer all before them seeing as they both failed to win. I take particular issue with the assertion Man Utd are some sort of super team ready to start a new era of dominance. Put simply I think they have improved their midfield from abject to above average and by using Giggs more sparingly and without Scholes the play is bound to be quicker. They are better, but they're a little way away from Barcelona still. City look less than brilliant any time Nigel De Jong is out of the side. For all their undoubted talents there is noone who can fill the massive hole he leaves in the side when not around, the same can be said for Holland incidentally. Enough of that, let's get betting...
Music this week is an old favourite and it's Lit with Miserable.
Swansea v West Brom, Saturday 1500
Swansea will take comfort from the fact they were only beaten by a single fortunate goal by Arsenal last weekend, but it should not disguise the fact they once again looked thoroughly toothless up front. I thought they stood a chance of staying up as they do play good stuff at times and have plenty of willing in midfield, but Danny Graham looks hopelessly out of his depth at the top level. If their current form continues then they are going to be all but down by christmas. West Brom managed to wrestle a win from Norwich at Carrow Road last week in all senses of the term. Rarely will you see such a display of the dark arts of defending so often in one match, shirt pulling, barging, and a smack in the mouth for James Vaughan just some of the things that went on. Roy Hodgson is not generally associated with this side of the game, but he does set his defences up well and they should be able to cope with the blunt attack Swansea offer. With Peter Odemwingie up front too, I would fancy them to nick a goal. Back West Brom at 2.87 with Stan James.
Man Utd v Chelsea, Sunday 1600
The biggest match of the weekend sees Andres Villas Boas take his Chelsea side to Old Trafford to take on the latest 'bestest team ever' that Fergie has produced. I have already made my feelings known on that point so I wont go over that again. All being said though, they are a cut above all but neighbours City in the Premier League for me. And although they were held and generally outplayed by Benfica on Tuesday night, they rested players specifically for this match. Wayne Rooney has started the season with a smile on his face generally and with Javier Hernandez also returning I think Chelsea will be worried. Chelsea's problems are well documented and have been apparent for all to see for a couple of seasons now. Namely, they are getting very old all together and the younger players are not of sufficient quality to step up. Daniel Sturridge being the exception to that statement as he really does impress me every time I see him. With Didier Drogba still injured we will likely see the forlorn figure of Fernando Torres starting the match and still looking for his second Chelsea goal as he approaches 30 matches for the blues. He looks shot to me and a man who no longer trusts his body to do what it used to, a great shame. All this is leading to me believing United are good things at a shade below evens. Back Man Utd at 1.9 on Betfair.
Real Zaragoza v Espanyol, Sunday 1500
Off to Spain now and it's Barcelona's second side travelling to Zaragoza. A lot of people, me included, predicted a season of struggle for Espanyol and I see no reason to change that opinion. They sold there best player by a long way in Pablo Osvaldo to Roma in the summer and without his goals they should really struggle to pick up points. Zaragoza have so far only managed a measly draw from their two matches, but did face Real Madrid in the opener so that can be scrubbed off really. Spain's big two again look likely to dominate proceedings and make a mockery of any attempts to portray the league as a contest. Zaragoza looked better in their second match away to newly promoted Rayo and escaped with a scoreless drawer. I think they'll follow up that positive result by beating Espanyol. Back Zaragoza at 2.25 at Stan James.
Inter Milan v Roma, Saturday 1945
The biggest match of the weekend in Italy sees the thoroughly new look Roma under new management at all levels travelling to the San Siro to take on a faltering Inter side. New managers at both clubs will both of been hoping for quick starts, but sadly neither have gotten them. Gasperini at Inter has come in with his new 3-4-3 system and tried to shoehorn players into it een though it is completely alien and fails to make the most of talents such as Diego Forlan and Wesley Sneijder. The whole team looks disjointed, confused and generally a bit poor so far. Roma would have seen a home start against Cagliari as a very winnable match and one to build confidence from. Sadly for them they got beaten 2-1. I still think they will come good in trying to play more of a Spanish style in Italy, but understandably it may take time for all the new players to gel as a team. This game could be a dull 0-0 if both sides are happy not to get beaten again, or an absolute thriller if either decides to go guns blazing. I would back Roma and the Draw in Double Chance at 2.0 with Paddy Power and hope Inter's poor start continues.
Udinese v Fiorentina, Sunday 1400
Last seasons slow starting dark horses Udinese host Fiorentina in an appetising clash on Sunday afternoon. The men from Florence are now a long way from the glory days of the nineties, but are a fairly solid upper mid-table side who are tought o beat at home. Udinese have always been a club to bring cheap players in young and then ship them out for huge profits before repeating the cycle. This summer was no different with them losing Alexis Sanchez to Barcelona. This has led to them being written off as a team in transition, but that does a great disservice to their recent history. They still have the evergreen Antonio Di Natale scoring the goals and a host of promising young players from around the globe. They opened with an impressive away win at Lecce with Di Natale already opening his account for the season. I think Udinese are great value this weekend. Back them at 2.2 with William Hill before the price goes.
Hamburg v Borussia Monchengladbach, Saturday 1430
Monchengladbach are my current team to follow as they have opened their season impressively in the Bundesliga and have made me a decent little profit so far. This week they take on the one team in that league I currently wouldn't touch with free money, Hamburg. Since appointing former Chelsea Sporting Director Frank Arnesen over the summer he has taken it upon himself to purchase all the utter dross from Chelsea's youth sides under him. Players like Michael Mancienne and Jeffrey Brum have no place in a top European division and it is no surprise to me to see Hamburg already struggling horribly. They lie bottom of the table with one solitary point from five matches. I don't see their form improving any time soon as they simply don't have the players to compete. I would back Monchengladbach Draw No Bet with 2.1 widely available.
Orduspor v Manisaspor, Saturday 1800
First Turkish tip this weekend is again to be looked at as the league is only one match old so it is very early to be drawing conclusions. But, after last weeks successful laying of Besiktas paying dividends, I have somewhat grown in confidence enought o include two tips from the Super Lig. First up is newly promoted Orduspor hosting Manisaspor. Orduspor managed to limit a still very decent Fenerbahce side to only a 1-0 loss on Monday night and will have taken a lot of encouragement from that result. Manisaspor opened with a home draw against an also very good Trabzonspor side who went on to beat Inter midweek in the Champions League. More than a lot of leagues, Turkey seems to be very much a home win country. Most sides away from the big 4 or 5 tend to rely on good home form to keep them safe from harm and those that go down tend to do so because their home form has not held up. For this reason I'm going to get behind the newly promoted side. Back Orduspor at 2.4 with Stan James.
Sivasspor v Eskisehirspor, Sunday 1530
I think we may well see goals, goals, goals in this match. Sivasspor follow many Turkish sides in having a truly abysmal defence and let in as many as they score during the course of a season. Eskisehirspor were actually a tight side last season, winning many matches by just the odd goal, and it pushed them towards European qualification. They have tried to improve on their meagre goals for column by drafting in Kris Boyd to see if his prolific talents from anywhere with 4 yards of goal can add another element to their game. They also heavily relied on home form last season and were relatively average away. I think this new, more cavalier approach may see them leaking a few more, especially away from home. Sivasspor are the sort of team to attack at all costs so I think getting behind overs is the way forward. Back Over 2.5 Goals at 2.2 with Paddy Power.
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