Tiffy

It's not the government's job to bail out football clubs like some seem to think it is, their job is to look after the people and jobs and sure that covers a lot of football too, but let's dig into this more.
First of all, FIFA, UEFA, The FA, EFL, & especially The Premier League should NEVER let any club go out of business in this scenario because it's just not their fault.
Let's break this down though:
So the EFL to their credit has promised £50m as far as I last read and rightly so, but if it's not enough then they need to put more in. These football authorities have huge cash reserves, not least because they love handing out fines.

The Premier League - I dread to think how much cash is in their bank account and they need to back up the EFL and the whole of the Non League Football Divisions too, because in reality it wouldn't cost that much and they've got a ton of money to do it.

As for FIFA and UEFA, but especially FIFA - these guys are a total joke at the minute. FIFA has all the money in the world as they're corrupt as hell with all the bribes they get, not to mention the revenue and same applies to UEFA. They again are a total disgrace at the minute, as they should be backing up all football authorities with cash if the that authority can't financially stop every club going to the wall and what have they done so far?

"Fifa also announced it had donated $10m (£8.5m) to the World Health Organisation's Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund."
Well, whoopee fcukin aye FIFA - are you taking the piss with that? ?

It's staggering the arrogance they've got and Gianni Infantino is instead on youtube telling everyone how to wash their hands - is he on crack? 

I'm speechless at FIFA's lack of input and more importantly cash.

I said I'm here for you all... I'm not a bloody miracle maker!

Thanks Stevie D. If you have time for us all, then can you pick me up a couple of packs of bog roll please?
I'd love to post summat, but struggling for a topic lol.
Stay safe

Thanks Stevie D. If you have time for us all, then can you pick me up a couple of packs of bog roll please?
I'd love to post summat, but struggling for a topic lol.
Stay safe

It has been decided to suspend the TC Competition until further notice
The fixture has been hit badly this week and i'm guessing it will only get worse in the weeks to come.
The football league, Spanish League and Italian League have already been postponed this week and i'm sure others will follow.
Hopefully we can pick it up where we left off next month, I will try and keep you all informed.
 
BH
 
 

Be interesting to see what happens from here.  Don't think there's much chance we will actually get back underway in April.  China's league is still shutdown and their main outbreak was in January.  They are saying the peak is 12-14 weeks away in the UK, so could be months before anything starts up again.
If I was a Liverpool fan i'd be seriously concerned that this season might be voided.  As a spurs fan, that outcome would be fine for me!
I hope lower league clubs are able to survive without any gate income for the next few weeks.  Be a real shame if one or more go out of business over this.
Guess this place is going to be pretty quiet for a few weeks so hope everyone stays fit and well and hopefully we'll be back soon.

What are we gonna do now then ffs. Football suspended till April 4th?

Have to share this little nugget. My database in the FA Cup goes back to 2009, and it's a small sample, but the results in the 8th-finals are surprising. Big dogs away get outright wins at a high rate when they're in the up-to-5.00 range (no matches fit this year), and big home dogs are 0-7-15 (32% draws). The surprising thing is it's the home dogs of greater than 8.00 that are most responsible. Those huge dogs are 0-5-5. Most recent was Rochdale taking Spurs to a replay in 2018 as dogs of 14.74. The year before, Huddersfield (10.80) drew 0-0 with Man City. Oldham, Orient, Stevenage got draws home to Everton, Arsenal, Spurs in 2013-2011 as dogs of around 9.00. Anyway, Sheffield Wednesday home to Man City are currently at 14.00, and with draw at 7.05 you might consider it.

Hibernian v Them.
I don't think it'll surprise anyone here that I've backed Hibs to win the Edinburgh derby tonight. If Hibs turn up and play anywhere near to what they're capable of then there's only one winner here. There's a fraction of value on Hibs also, coming into this game I was thinking anything around evens would be about right.
Hibs @ 2.20 - 2 pts.

Thanks @Tiffy, I don't want to crow too much about the victory as I was in pain when you did the double over us last year. One thing Brighton have in their favour for the relegation battle is their goal difference which is better than the teams in and around them.
Anyway don't get relegated otherwise Watford and that foolish Hornet creature will once again start trying to claim they are our rivals. They need to give it a rest and just wait till they are relegated to the same division as Luton Town. 

@mindfulness
I did have a look at your post on Sat morning, but haven't had time to reply. Made me chuckle as usual, I bet you spend ages working on your posts! 
Well done on the win, it was payback after we won at yours last season. I still think Brighton will stay up, but only just. There should be 3 teams worse than them. 
Roy is certainly doing a decent job, and your lot are always well organised and capable of nicking a goal. 
Bask in your glory...... ?
 

Nice work Stevie D

Brighton vs Watford
The second preview of this weekend's Premier League games covers one of the trickiest matches to call in quite some time. It's Brighton hosting Watford in a 5:30pm GMT kick-off at the Amex Stadium on Saturday evening. Neither side is really instilling me with any confidence that they can get the win here so it makes me wonder if backing the draw is the most sensible option?
Brighton need to have a little word with themselves because right now they are in 15th place and just 2 points above the relegation zone. Graham Potter's side are without a win in 5 league games now. The Seagulls can't even blame an FA Cup run for their league woes because they lost 1-0 at home to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday in the 3rd Round. That means they've not tasted a competitive win in 2020. The positive news is that they have only lost 1 of their last 5 home league matches. They also remain unbeaten at home in the league against clubs positioned below them.
Watford manager Nigel Pearson will want to see a reaction from his team after back-to-back defeats in the league. The Hornets are in 19th place and 2 points adrift of safety. In both of their last two defeats, the decisive goal has been scored in injury time. If that is a sign of fitness issues then Watford will need to be wary against a Brighton side that like to get it down and keep possession to tire their opposition out. Pearson himself will want to lay to rest a ghost he has having failed to win on all four of his previous visits to the Amex Stadium.
I do think we'll see a reaction from Watford after their previous two matches. The ELO ratings fancy the away side to get the win but it's close. Brighton feel like they are on the verge of a home win. They've been knocking on the door but it's just not come. @sajtion has rightly pointed this out and as much as I want to back him for the home win I just feel Watford will put in a more assured display so I'll go for the score draw.
Draw @ 3.45 with Unibet
BTTS @ 1.75 with Betway

i have been waiting for while for brighton to put in a really good performance at home and after watford dropped the ball last week i'll be giving them the benefit of doubt
i've learned the hard way but this crystal palace is really dangerous countering teams quick and they hold up defensively too occasionally. everton just have crazy lapses of concentration. i'm thinking of taking crystal palace on some kind of handicap

Money talks dude, can you imagine a weekend without the PL on TV!!!!!

I like Sheff Utd +1 which can be had for just around even money.  Other than at Liverpool and Man City, Sheffield United have not lost away from home, and that includes games at Chelsea, and Spurs.  Given Aubameyang is out, I think Sheff United are more than capable of getting a draw with Arsenal, who are still in indifferent form, with the win against Man U their only home win since October.
Crystal Palace can be had at 29s if you fancy them to repeat their win from last season at the Etihad.  Palace +3 is again around the evens mark and I think that is more than fair given they have one of the tighter defences in the PL.  I can't see Man City winning that easily in this one.
 

Odds on Tottenham - Liverpool for Under 3.00 are 1.90 at my bookie. I think it's a good bet:
Tottenham has many injuries and one of them is Kane (11 goals). Also, but far less important, Ndombele and Sissoko are out (both 2 goals). Liverpool also has some less important missings, but still they are missings; Liverpool hasn't allowed a goal in 9 out of 10 recent matches; I expect Mourinho to use a (very) defensive approach against Liverpool (as he normally does against stronger opponents, but surely if a key-striker is missing); If Tottenham takes the lead I expect a even more defensive approach. If Liverpool takes the lead maybe they will take the foot of the gaspedal, because next week Manchester United awaits. All-in-all I don't see many goals coming in. Why not Under 2.50? Well the possibility margin isn't huge as 1-2 / 0-3 (and even 1-3 [I think a Tottenham win is out of the question]) are also possible outcomes under these circumstances. I don't want to take that risk either and 1.90 is absolutely good enough for me.

I´m taking Rochdale +0.5... Newcastle lost his Form now and have big injury crisis... Think this can end fast in a Replay Game.

bournemouth v luton
Eddie howe often rotates his team in cup competitions and with the relegation threat and injury problems i'm hoping the fa cup has a low priority for him.
Luton are no great shakes but at the prices i will chance them . There are often plenty of goals in Luton games also so a small sell of the time of the second luton goal is my second pick.
Bets:
luton at 7/1 (bet 365)
sell time of second luton goal at 84 (spreadex)

Selling the time of first corners today.
leicester sell@ 30 - Leicester have proved profitable for me in the corner market, and there is nothing to suggest that they won't have a corner in the first half hour. I can see them going at City on the counter attack from the start.
Norwich sell@ 19 - At home &  In the relegation zone and are going to have to come out and get the crowd going early doors. 
Everton Sell@ 17 - Market settled at 3 whilst I have been writing this. But another team who were at home looking to impress the new boss.
Burnley sell@ 24 - Away at Bournemouth, I'd be surprised if Burnley waited till the 24th minute for a corner given the way they play, against Bournemouth's depleted squad. 
Aston Villa, Corner supremacy V Southampton - Sell@ 1.5 - The ratings above indicate that Saints are playing attacking football, and Villa may be feeling a bit under par after their cup game midweek. I can see Saints having more CORNERS than Villa in this game.
 

Manchester City vs Leicester
OK, so I'm going to wade into this discussion before all the bets are covered. I agree that the price is probably greatly influenced by reputation, as @Tiffy highlights, but @thfc also raises a point about Leicester's form potentially dropping off. I'm in @Mindfulness's camp where I think there is still value to be had in a handicap bet maybe. It's Manchester City versus Leicester in a 5:30pm GMT kick-off this Saturday evening so how's it looking overall?
Manchester City sit in 3rd place coming into this game and it hasn't been the easiest of campaigns for Pep Guardiola's side. Even if they manage to win this game they still won't overtake their opponents in the table. Is the focus this season purely on the Champions League or is their lack of squad depth starting to rear its ugly head. Can we face the reality that they haven't successfully managed to deal with the departure of Vincent Kompany yet? Just 3 wins in their last 6 league games isn't like the City we've all come to know these past few seasons. It's a disconcerting time for the Citizens fans.
Leicester fans must feel like it's deja vu with the club hitting unexpected heights this season. Brendan Rodgers is working miracles with the club in 2nd place and just 10 points behind league leaders Liverpool. Yes, 10 points is a big gap but when you consider the Reds have only dropped 2 points all season then you realise how well the Foxes have done to stay relatively in touch. It's title winning form in any other season really. However, the draw to Norwich in the league last weekend and the draw against Everton in the EFL Cup Quarter-Finals in midweek, albeit winning on pens eventually, has led to questions being asked.
I'm really excited about this game. I've said all season that something just isn't quite right at City this season. I think the injuries they've had have really rocked them and I actually think Pep is getting unsettled. Not sure why but I think maybe he wants that Champions League trophy again and he doesn't feel his team is good enough to win it. It kind of feels like he's written this season off already or it's the Champions League or nothing. I think they'll probably win this one but Leicester are worth backing as a handicap and I'll always back my boy Jamie Vardy to get on the score sheet.
Leicester +2 @ 1.85 with SpreadEx
Anytime Scorer: Jamie Vardy @ 3.00 with Betfred

and a Merry Christmas to you  CrazySuzy wycombe winAND Yuletide Felicitations! to everyone 
£ 70.00 SINGLE
Championship HUDDERSFIELD [1] 2.55 
 

Yeh I think the price is silly and it opens the door to a value bet. I have just taken Leicester +1.5 AH @ 1.884 Matchbook
Leicester's ELO is stronger. Key goal metrics are level. Leicester's defence is the best in EPL.
It's still going to be a proper tough test for Leicester and Man City are dangerous to oppose even with big asian lines as they are capable of running up cricket scores and making us all look stupid. Despite this I don't think we can really ignore the value bet on Leicester here. I was expecting to see Leicester +1.0 AH around EVS, to get +1.5 AH in a similar price region looks generous to me.

I think Leicester are a tempting price, but perhaps their form is tailing off a bit with the draws against Norwich and Everton.  I would rather be on Leicester/draw double result which can be had for 3.2 (betfair) but good luck if you go with Leicester outright.