[Npower Championship > Ante-Post 2011-12 Season]

Re: Npower Championship > Ante-Post 2011-12 Season Scott McDonald top goalscorer @ $21 Despite an injury interrupted season last year, was still Boro's top goalscorer with 14. With both Lita and Boyd moving on he is left as the main striker in Tony Mowbray's attack-minded side. Had a good pre-season as well, is the fittest he's been i a while, most recently scoring two goals in Boro's 3-2 loss to PSV as well. At 27 years of age he is very much in the prime of his career, a quintessential goal-poacher, can definitely see him returning to his form of a couple of years ago at Celtic scoring 31 goals in the 07/08 season, 19 goals in the 08/09. Should be primed for a big year for this talented young boro side. BOL

[AUSTRALIA A-League 2010/2011 Season]

Re: Australia A-League 2010/2011 Season

NQF-CCM over 2.5 @ 2.24 (Betfair) North Queensland missing Eric Akoto in the centre of defense with Osama Malik filling in their. Has never played in the position before (is a winger/striker that has been converted to centre mid). There has been an average of 3.08 goals a gamein NQ games this season. 16 goals in their last 5 games, the last time these two sides met it ended 3-2 to Central Coast. Central Coast won 5-0 last time out so are in good goalscoring form. Only one of NQ's home games has gone under so far this season. Central Coast are usually a pretty low scoring side but with NQ looking to take the ascendancy at home i can see goals in this fixture. BOL

No good here, hate to make excuses for lost bets but can't believe this game didn't go over. Hutchinson missing that free header in the 6 yard box during the second half, clear pen not given + about 4 or 5 good chances that CCM didn't take in the first half.

[AUSTRALIA A-League 2010/2011 Season]

Re: Australia A-League 2010/2011 Season NQF-CCM over 2.5 @ 2.24 (Betfair) North Queensland missing Eric Akoto in the centre of defense with Osama Malik filling in their. Has never played in the position before (is a winger/striker that has been converted to centre mid). There has been an average of 3.08 goals a gamein NQ games this season. 16 goals in their last 5 games, the last time these two sides met it ended 3-2 to Central Coast. Central Coast won 5-0 last time out so are in good goalscoring form. Only one of NQ's home games has gone under so far this season. Central Coast are usually a pretty low scoring side but with NQ looking to take the ascendancy at home i can see goals in this fixture. BOL

[AUSTRALIA A-League 2010/2011 Season]

Re: Australia A-League 2010/2011 Season 0-0:clap

[UEFA > Champions League > Wednesday 3rd November]

Re: UEFA > Champions League > Wednesday 3rd November Taking Chelsea to win to nil @ 1.91 (Betfair) at home to Spartak Moscow. Of Chelsea's 7 home matches so far this season in all competitions they have won 6 of their 7 matches to nil. Their only loss, and the only match they failed to keep a clean sheet was their home loss to Newcastle in the Carling cup. In addition to this they won all their home matches to nil in this October/November period last season as well, only conceding 3 goals in the 11 games they played in these 2 months. They won to nil in the away fixture against Spartak a couple of weeks ago 2-0 and for this fixture Spartak will also be missing their top scorer Ari. BOL

[AUSTRALIA A-League 2010/2011 Season]

Re: Australia A-League 2010/2011 Season Perth will be playing a lot of youngsters in this game in a desperate move by Ferguson to try and turn around their form slump. Both teams will be tired after a short turn around from games on the east coast of Aus. Perth were woeful and deserved to be thumped 5-0 by CCM, a side really down on confidence, with senior players not performing. They have lost their last seven on the bounce. Heart on the other hand have been playing well of late, a good 2-0 win on Sunday away against Newcastle Jets. Although they will be tired after the late change of venue to Port Macquarie meaning their travel plans were thrown into disarray. If anything the value lies with Melbourne Heart @ $3 (betfair), but after their travel problems etc such a long away trip will be tough so am reluctant to back them. Perth still have a lot quality players and could turn it around but most of all they will be desperate not too lose tonight. Not the best match for betting imo, but with the home desperate for a result and the away side fatigued i'll have a small play on Under 2.5 @ 1.77 (Betfair). Not a fan of Ferguson as a manger, if they lose tonight i can't imagine him staying on as the gaffer for too much longer. An impatient owner who has invested a lot of money and has stated that a top 4 finish is a bare minimum this season won't put up with the way they've been playing for much longer. BOL

[UEFA Europe League 16-18 February]

Re: UEFA Europe League 16-18 February

Lille - Fenerbahce LAY Fener @ 4.6 1 Unit Lille are a very strong home side. Lille have lost only one of fifteen matches on home soil in european competition. A 1-0 defeat to Manchester United three years ago in the champions league. Lille haven't lost at home since the opening day of the French ligue 1 season. They have also won their last 11 consecutive home games, including convincing wins over Bordeaux and Lyon and their most recent match, a 3-1 victory over Boulogne. Panathinaikos - Roma BACK Roma @ 2.58 1 Unit Roma have won their last nine games in all competitions, and are in some great form atm. 1116 can correct me if i'm wrong, but Pana are suffering a real form slump atm. Lost 2-0 at home to lowly Kavala and their lead at the top has been cut down. Whilst they have a big league game against PAOK on the weekend. The club hasn't won any silverware for 15 years and their focus is likely to be on the league given the position they are in. BOL

(Y) to Lille, (N) to Roma. Nothing night.:zzz

[UEFA Europe League 16-18 February]

Re: UEFA Europe League 16-18 February Lille - Fenerbahce LAY Fener @ 4.6 1 Unit Lille are a very strong home side. Lille have lost only one of fifteen matches on home soil in european competition. A 1-0 defeat to Manchester United three years ago in the champions league. Lille haven't lost at home since the opening day of the French ligue 1 season. They have also won their last 11 consecutive home games, including convincing wins over Bordeaux and Lyon and their most recent match, a 3-1 victory over Boulogne. Panathinaikos - Roma BACK Roma @ 2.58 1 Unit Roma have won their last nine games in all competitions, and are in some great form atm. 1116 can correct me if i'm wrong, but Pana are suffering a real form slump atm. Lost 2-0 at home to lowly Kavala and their lead at the top has been cut down. Whilst they have a big league game against PAOK on the weekend. The club hasn't won any silverware for 15 years and their focus is likely to be on the league given the position they are in. BOL

[Australian A-League 2/5-2/7]

Re: Australian A-League 2/5-2/7 I'm steering clear of this rounds A-league matches. Made a bit on hernandez in the goalscoring markets last night, but don't really fancy any of the other matches. CCM-NUJ game has been PP'd as well. Only the third game in a-league history to be postponed, yet it's happened to the Jets two games in a row.

[Australia - A-League 29th-31st Jan]

Re: Australia - A-League 29th-31st Jan Not betting on games being officiated by Chris Beath from now on. Indecisive on major decisions, ott with petty decisions. Ruins the game. Did the same in the CCM-GC game last week as well.:@

[Australia - A-League 29th-31st Jan]

Re: Australia - A-League 29th-31st Jan

Fwiw, Thompson was on crutches at the recovery session on wednesday and had a visible limp at the airport on thursday. This is the only piece of information holding me back from tipping Melbourne. Put out the same starting XI that have played in Melbourne's last few games and Melbourne's attack will be too much for Gold Coast's defence. They essentially play a back three of Bas Van Den Brink, Kristian Rees and Dino Djulbic. Not the type of defence that will strike fear into a strikers heart. Both Rees and Djublic have been average a-league defenders who have struggled to maintain a first team position throughout the course of the A-league before joining Gold Cost. And although Melbourne's back three consisting of an ageing Muscat, an underperforming Roddy Vargas and Adrian Leijer, i still think defensively Melbourne have the edge over Gold Coast. They have Brebner doing a great job screening in front of the back three, whilst their wing backs have (Kemp and Broxham of late) have been a lot better than Anderson at LWB and whoever else they have used at RWB (sometimes Djublic). Both teams weakness is in their defence, and both teams perceived strength lies in their attacking capabilities. That's why i'll be backing the overs. 5 Pts on Over 2.5 @ 1.85 (All bets with Bet365) 2.5 Pts on Both Teams to Score @ 1.66 2.5 Pts on Over 3.5 @ 3.10 0.5 Pts on Melbourne Win 3-2 @ 34 GL:hope

Archie Thompson not in the squad. I changed that second bet to: 2.5 Pts on Second half highest scoring @ 2.10 GL:ok

[Australia - A-League 29th-31st Jan]

Re: Australia - A-League 29th-31st Jan Fwiw, Thompson was on crutches at the recovery session on wednesday and had a visible limp at the airport on thursday. This is the only piece of information holding me back from tipping Melbourne. Put out the same starting XI that have played in Melbourne's last few games and Melbourne's attack will be too much for Gold Coast's defence. They essentially play a back three of Bas Van Den Brink, Kristian Rees and Dino Djulbic. Not the type of defence that will strike fear into a strikers heart. Both Rees and Djublic have been average a-league defenders who have struggled to maintain a first team position throughout the course of the A-league before joining Gold Cost. And although Melbourne's back three consisting of an ageing Muscat, an underperforming Roddy Vargas and Adrian Leijer, i still think defensively Melbourne have the edge over Gold Coast. They have Brebner doing a great job screening in front of the back three, whilst their wing backs have (Kemp and Broxham of late) have been a lot better than Anderson at LWB and whoever else they have used at RWB (sometimes Djublic). Both teams weakness is in their defence, and both teams perceived strength lies in their attacking capabilities. That's why i'll be backing the overs. 5 Pts on Over 2.5 @ 1.85 (All bets with Bet365) 2.5 Pts on Both Teams to Score @ 1.66 2.5 Pts on Over 3.5 @ 3.10 0.5 Pts on Melbourne Win 3-2 @ 34 GL:hope

[Australia - A-League 29th-31st Jan]

Re: Australia - A-League 29th-31st Jan I've been thinking a fair bit about this Melbourne game tonight. IMO there's definitely great value for Melbourne @ 3.30 given the form they've been in. But tbh, i really don't fancy putting any large sum of money on a melbourne side missing Thompson. Even though his goalscoring hasn't been the best this season, his play is so important to our structure and our ability to counter attack quickly. And really, without him, we're left with only one real striker in Robbie Kruse (...). Personally, i wouldn't rule it out, but a bet that looks pretty nailed on to me is the over 2.5 @ 1.85. I was expecting the price for this bet to be a lot shorter, but 1.85 is quite a good price. Their two games this season have ended 3-2, and 4-0 respectively, whilst Melbourne have had 19 goals in their last four games. Melbourne have only failed to score on four occasions this season, with two of those games coming against the well organised defence of Sydney. Both sides essentially play three at the back, and i'd tip plenty of chances for both sides. Also worth noting that these two are the two highest scoring teams in the league, with Melbourne scoring 45 goals in 24 games, whilst GC have scored 37 in 24 games. I'll be waiting for team news before putting these bets on, but atm i'm looking at: High stakes on over 2.5 @ 1.85 Medium stakes on both teams to score @ 1.75 Medium on Melbourne WIN @ 3.30 (pending Thompson playing) BOL :hope

[Australia - A-League 9th-10th Jan]

Re: Australia - A-League 9th-10th Jan 3 Pts Melbourne away WIN at Newcastle @ 2.40 (TAB Sportsbet) Melbourne welcome back star playmaker costa rican Carlos Hernandez, whilst young costa rican recruit Marvin Angulo will be making his debut. Melbourne have the best away record in the league. They are also coming off the back of a loss away to North Queensland. As Newcastle coach Branko Culina said, it's very rare that Melbourne lose two games in a row. They have lost four games this season, the week after each of these losses they have had two wins and two draws. With their two most recent losses being followed by wins. I'll also be taking this in a double with a Perth Glory Win @ 2.87 with 2 Pts. I'll do a write up of the Perth game at half time of the Melbourne game.

[Australia - A-League 9th-10th Jan]

Re: Australia - A-League 9th-10th Jan

A good rounds betting imo. Wellington - Brisbane There's been sweeping changes at Brisbane since Ange Postecouglou has come in after Frank Farina's much publicised indiscretions. He's gradually got rid of the scottish mafia of Craig Moore and Charlie Miller with Bob Malcolm and Danny Tiatto soon to leave as well. Although they have a good young squad, after their captain Craig Moore's contract was terminated at the start of January, i think it will take a while for Postecouglou's changes to have a positive effect, with many commentators suggesting he has already begun to plan for next year. When you take into account the public dissent from almost every senior figure in the team, the price of 2.20 becomes very attractive for the home team. With Paul Ifill in top form, i'd fancy the home team to get the three points. I'd also back Chris Greenacre to pull his shooting boots on and bag the opening goal. 3 Pts on Wellington @ 2.20 (TAB Sportsbet) 1 Pt on Chris Greenacre first goalscorer @ 6.5 (Bet365) GL

Phoenix 3-0 up in the 64th, Greenacre didn't play so i get my stake back there. No bets for the Mariners game.

[Australia - A-League 9th-10th Jan]

Re: Australia - A-League 9th-10th Jan 5Pts GC HW Vs Adelaide Utd @ 1.72 (Bet365) Gold Coast have started to get their form together after their 4-0 trouncing at the hands of Melbourne 5 games ago. Winning their last four games at home, most recently their emphatic 5-1 win over local rivals Brisbane. Gold Coast captain Jason Culina is a doubt with a knee injury that forced him to miss the Asian Cup clash with Kuwait midweek, which would be a major loss for the GC midfield. But they still have the top scorer in the league Shane Smeltz fit and firing, and he should prove a constant thread to the reds defence who have had only one win from their last nine. A very good price imo for a home side in form against the bottom club in the A-league atm. Also imo, you have to consider Perth Glory @ 2.87 at home to Sydney on Sydney. Even though Sydney is on the top of the ladder atm, there succes has been built on the foundation of a solid back four. With the injuries they have, they have been forced to sign Hayden Foxe on a short term injury replacement deal. I'll make my decisions on that one tomorrow after i've heard some more team news.

[Australia - A-League 9th-10th Jan]

Re: Australia - A-League 9th-10th Jan A good rounds betting imo. Wellington - Brisbane There's been sweeping changes at Brisbane since Ange Postecouglou has come in after Frank Farina's much publicised indiscretions. He's gradually got rid of the scottish mafia of Craig Moore and Charlie Miller with Bob Malcolm and Danny Tiatto soon to leave as well. Although they have a good young squad, after their captain Craig Moore's contract was terminated at the start of January, i think it will take a while for Postecouglou's changes to have a positive effect, with many commentators suggesting he has already begun to plan for next year. When you take into account the public dissent from almost every senior figure in the team, the price of 2.20 becomes very attractive for the home team. With Paul Ifill in top form, i'd fancy the home team to get the three points. I'd also back Chris Greenacre to pull his shooting boots on and bag the opening goal. 3 Pts on Wellington @ 2.20 (TAB Sportsbet) 1 Pt on Chris Greenacre first goalscorer @ 6.5 (Bet365) GL

[Asia » AFC Asian Cup (6 jan 10)]

Re: Asia » AFC Asian Cup (6 jan 10) Kuwait - Australia I wasn't thinking of having a bet on this game initially, but after having a look at the odds and a few stats, i really fancy Under 2.5 @ 1.60 (TAB). In Australia's 9 competitive fixtures in 09' there was a total of 12 goals, with only two of those games having over 2 goals, Australia's 2-1 wins against Japan and Bahrain. Whilst the four competitive away fixtures had only 3 goals, with three of those games ending in 0-0 stalemates. Of Australia's nine goals scored in these games, the break-up of goalscorers was this. Cahill- 3 Kennedy- 1 Kewell- 1 Wilkshire- 1 Emerton- 1 Sterjovski- 1 Carney- 1 Of those, only Sterjovski and Wilkshire will be playing tonight. Also worth noting that the pitch was shown on FSN, patchy, bumpy playing surface. Which should equal a scrappy game. Here's the predicted line-up for those interested (4-2-3-1 formation): Galekovic Kemp-Colosimo-Moore-Heffernan Wilkshire-Jedinak Sterjovski-Carle/Brosque-Vidosic Thompson The under 2.5 is @ 1.50 with Bet365, whilst i won't be going anywhere near an Australia win @ below evens with the squad that is playing. May go small stakes on draw or exact scores 0-0. 10pts on under 2.5 @ 1.60 2.5pts on under 1.5 @ 3.05 2.5pts on 0-0 @ 8 GL

[Australian A-League 26th Dec]

Re: Australian A-League 26th Dec

Hernandez is out, Suksomkit will come in for his first start. For me, the melbourne game is a no bet. 5 Pts Sydney WIN @ 1.70 (Bet365):clap 3 Pts Under 2.5 @ 1.65 (Bet365):clap 1 Pt Sydney 1-0 @ 7 ( Bet365):clap 1 Pt Sydney 2-0 @ 7 (Bet365) The same reasoning as last week for this bet. 7 of Sydney's 11 wins have come with a solitary one goal margin this season. On several occasions this year they have taken the lead early and held onto it for the remainder of the game. Adelaide's games are the lowest scoring in the league, with only 39 goals in their 19 games this season, at an average of just over 2 goals a game. Whilst Sydney have had 44 goals in their 20 games at an average of 2.2 goals a game. Only Central Coast have less. The only player unavailable for Sydney atm is youngster Kofi Danning, but apart from that they are at full strength. When these two faced eachother at the same ground earlier in the season, Sydney won 1-0. Sydney need to win this game to keep the pressure on Melbourne in the battle for top spot. Adelaide have also had unders in 6 of their last seven games fwiw. Will also have low stakes on the scorecast with Bridge + Sydney 1 and 2 nil. GL:ok

2 weeks in a row for the 1-0 Sydney Results at home.:D

[Australian A-League 26th Dec]

Re: Australian A-League 26th Dec Hernandez is out, Suksomkit will come in for his first start. For me, the melbourne game is a no bet. 5 Pts Sydney WIN @ 1.70 (Bet365) 3 Pts Under 2.5 @ 1.65 (Bet365) 1 Pt Sydney 1-0 @ 7 ( Bet365) 1 Pt Sydney 2-0 @ 7 (Bet365) The same reasoning as last week for this bet. 7 of Sydney's 11 wins have come with a solitary one goal margin this season. On several occasions this year they have taken the lead early and held onto it for the remainder of the game. Adelaide's games are the lowest scoring in the league, with only 39 goals in their 19 games this season, at an average of just over 2 goals a game. Whilst Sydney have had 44 goals in their 20 games at an average of 2.2 goals a game. Only Central Coast have less. The only player unavailable for Sydney atm is youngster Kofi Danning, but apart from that they are at full strength. When these two faced eachother at the same ground earlier in the season, Sydney won 1-0. Sydney need to win this game to keep the pressure on Melbourne in the battle for top spot. Adelaide have also had unders in 6 of their last seven games fwiw. Will also have low stakes on the scorecast with Bridge + Sydney 1 and 2 nil. GL:ok

[Australian A-League: December 16th-23rd]

Re: Australian A-League: December 16th-23rd 1-0 to Sydney :clap

[Australian A-League: December 16th-23rd]

Re: Australian A-League: December 16th-23rd

I'm tempted by the over 2.5 @ 2.15 given that the mariners have had overs in their last 3 games, and their 3 matches last season had 14 goals. But that was when Sydney were under Kosmina, and they are a vastly different side now. With Colosimo back in defence for Sydney, i'll probably err on the side of caution with that one. Sydney's home games are usually low scoring affairs under Lavicka. Whilst their last 2 meetings this year ended 1-0 and 0-0 respectively. If their is an early goal, i could see it being a goal fest. But personally I see Sydney winning this 1 or 2 nil. Medium Stakes: Sydney WIN @ 1.90 Low stakes: Sydney FC 1-0 @ 7 Sydney FC 2-0 @ 8 Mark Bridge first Goal + Sydney FC 1-0 @ 26 Mark Bridge first Goal + Sydney FC 2-0 @ 31 I'll be taking CCM in the youth game @ 2.30 as well. Kerim Bulut is the top scorer for Sydney (very good player), and is not playing today. CCM have a very strong youth team, 2 points clear on top of the table and beat Sydney F.C. 3-1 earlier in the season. Whilst first teamers Elrich, Clark and Kwasnik will all be starting for CCM.:hope EDIT: All bets with Bet 365:ok

CCM just won the youth game 2-1:clap Also a stat about the upcoming game. Six of Sydney's 10 wins this season have been by a single-goal margin. :ok GL

[Australian A-League: December 16th-23rd]

Re: Australian A-League: December 16th-23rd I'm tempted by the over 2.5 @ 2.15 given that the mariners have had overs in their last 3 games, and their 3 matches last season had 14 goals. But that was when Sydney were under Kosmina, and they are a vastly different side now. With Colosimo back in defence for Sydney, i'll probably err on the side of caution with that one. Sydney's home games are usually low scoring affairs under Lavicka. Whilst their last 2 meetings this year ended 1-0 and 0-0 respectively. If their is an early goal, i could see it being a goal fest. But personally I see Sydney winning this 1 or 2 nil. Medium Stakes: Sydney WIN @ 1.90 Low stakes: Sydney FC 1-0 @ 7 Sydney FC 2-0 @ 8 Mark Bridge first Goal + Sydney FC 1-0 @ 26 Mark Bridge first Goal + Sydney FC 2-0 @ 31 I'll be taking CCM in the youth game @ 2.30 as well. Kerim Bulut is the top scorer for Sydney (very good player), and is not playing today. CCM have a very strong youth team, 2 points clear on top of the table and beat Sydney F.C. 3-1 earlier in the season. Whilst first teamers Elrich, Clark and Kwasnik will all be starting for CCM.:hope EDIT: All bets with Bet 365:ok

[Australian A-League: December 16th-23rd]

Re: Australian A-League: December 16th-20th

Does the ball tend to bobble (when about to take a shot) more so on Australian pitches than in Europe and elsewhere? You hear the players saying the standard is about equivalent to The Championship, which I take that as meaning it's probably no better than League-1??

The pitch quality is not as good as most in europe mainly because the games are played in the Australian summer, as opposed to the european winter, meaning the pitches are harder. And also most of the venues are multi purpose (meaning they get more traffic from different codes than most grounds in the UK). The heat is also one of the reasons why the games can be perceived to be being played at a slower pace. On the question of quality, i have heard a lot of players mention the lower half of the championship as a good comparison, but i think it was Paul Ifill who gave the best analysis of the quality of the A-league. Saying that that it is a league where the standard of players varies much more than the any of the english leagues. According to him, instead of saying the league is of the quality of the championship, it is more a case of having players who could play prem, championship, league 1, then also players who would only be non-league players in the uk. On the game last night, Melbourne dominated, didn't capitalise, hit the bar in the 1st minute. IMO it was a mistake letting Ney Fabiano go after selling Allsopp, they would be much more of a threat if they still had a physical presence up front alongside Thompson. There's just something about Kruse and Thompson up front that doesn't seem right.

[Australian A-League: December 16th-23rd]

Re: Australian A-League: December 16th-20th I'll be taking Melbourne at the 2.15 on offer with the TAB if Hernandez is playing. I'll be at the game, so i'll wait until i hear team news at the ground, but if Hernandez is starting i will be putting 5 Pts on Melbourne WIN @ 2.15 (TAB). Melbourne are in some very good form at the moment, coming off a 3-0 win away to Central Coast and a 4-0 win at home to the Gold Coast. Their inspirational captain Kevin Muscat is making his 500th league appearance (with the papers making quite a fuss of this), and i can't see the Victory letting their supporters down in this big rivalry game against Sydney. They have a better record against Sydney over the course of the A-League, and they will be looking to bounce back from their very dissapointing loss to Sydney last time. An important out for Sydney is Simon Colosimo, he absolutely dominated Melbourne's star striker Archie Thomspon last game, and he will be sorely missed by the sky blues, who look a much better outfit with Colosimo in the line up. For that reason i will also be looking at Thompson in the goalscoring markets. But again, this will all hinge on the fitness of Costa Rican Hernandez who has been struggling with an ankle injury. If he fails to make the starting line up, this game will be a No Bet for me. GL:hope