Football Betting
Premier League Betting Recap
In the Premier League we had our first really bad week. Arsenal failed to be beat an inspired Manchester City in a thriller. Arsenal are a different box of frogs without Arshavin. Elsewhere, my punt on Stoke to nick a draw against Chelsea looked like the call of the weekend, that is until Florent “I only try when I feel like it, despite the fact I’m paid millions” Malouda popped up with a 94th minute winner. Sickener! I boldly tipped a double with Blackburn and Pompey to win which would have meant a very good Saturday night out for yours truly. Rovers did there bit and when Pompey got it back to 2-2. Well you know how it ended. This blog and no doubt my local publican wish Portsmouth nothing but ill will for the rest of the season.
We’ll finish the weekly round-up on a positive (as much as I hate being positive). Leicester went to Harlequins and won in the Guinness Premier League as I suggested they would. That was a victory for Rugby in general! Enough said.
Duff Watch – Week 4
That was a lengthy re-cap but stick with me as before we get to this week’s predictions while I bare just a little of my soul to you. Last Sunday afternoon my world turned upside down. As I stared at the screen, something magical almost miraculous occurred. A willowy blonde millionaire ghosted in off the touchline and with power, precision and no little skill he curled the ball into the top corner to win the game. Could this really be happening I asked myself? What could possibly follow this earth shattering development…was world peace about to breakout I wondered, was this the end of the recession, my god were Elvis, John Lennon and Jacko about to knock on my door to ask me to go for a round of golf??? But before I could even begin to get excited about my new utopian society the dream was smashed to pieces as Duff hobbled off injured within 5 minutes of scoring that world changing goal. Life was back to normal and I was back to my egg on toast, oh well.
Adebayor-gate
Before Sunday’s out of body experience it was predictably Saturday. Almost as shocking as Duff’s goal that was to follow we had an entertaining Premier League game on our hands. The most financially driven, capitalist league in sport, the Premier League (okay maybe the NFL is worse), had rediscovered its soul. In this case football’s soul re-incarnated itself in the form of Man City v Arsenal. Pride, passion, skill, goals, the game had everything! How sad afterwards then that the suits who control the game feel Adebayor should be punished for his goal celebration. The stamp incident is different, what I want to discuss is purely the goal celebration.
Adebayor received rough treatment from the Arsenal fans last season, most of it justified given his courtship of AC Milan. On Saturday he received utter vitriol from the Arsenal away fans. It was a guarantee that he’d net the winner and he duly obliged. From the second Adebayor put the ball in the net to when he slid on his knees in celebration in front of the Arsenal fans I cannot see what he did wrong. That is what football used to be all about.
Taking flack from the away fans and having a bit of banter back as Adebayor did. It’s not Adebayor’s fault that some of the Arsenal fans are a bunch of thugs who saw fit to hurl anything they could get their hands on in his direction which led to a steward being knocked unconscious. It’s the behaviour of these animals which should be under the microscope and not Adebayor. Sure give him stick for leaving etc. He deserves some it, but be man enough to take your medicine when he bangs in the winner. How dare they hurl bottles and coins at him or anyone. It’s sad that you can no longer go to games and enjoy a bit of banter with the opposition. In my view the only ban imposed should be Arsenal for the behaviour of their fans. The FA should ban Arsenal fans from attending away games for the rest of the season and force them to play their next 3 home games behind closed doors. That would send out a message to the thugs that we don’t want their kind in the game. Will it happen though? You have more chance of a Damien Duff winner against Italy next month.
And exhale and on to this week’s Premier League predictions.
Premier League Betting Predictions
Single Bets
The big game this weekend is the Manchester Derby. United just don’t look like a team with many goals in them right now. I think City can keep them scoreless. It looks like Adebayor will be unavailable which is a big blow to City. I think this one is destined to be a draw at 5/2. Personally, I’m going to go one step further and go for a 0-0 at 10/1.
Stoke are the new Bolton but are better at it. I think Stoke are good value to take the points at the Reebok. Stoke win at 12/5.
Double Bet
My double bet this week is Sunderland to beat Burley at Turf Moor and Liverpool to beat West Ham at Upton Park. A tenner will get you a return of just over forty euro which looks great value to me. Steve Bruce looks like he is putting a really good side together and Darren Bent looks rejuvenated following his move. I think they will be too strong for Owen Coyle’s side who are coming off the back of a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool. The Reds look like they have got their Premier League challenge up and running now and will be very keen to keep the momentum going. West Ham have looked average thus far and Torres will be ready to pounce.
Complete list of predictions
Arsenal 2-0 Wigan
Aston Villa 1-0 Portsmouth
Bolton 1-2 Stoke
Burnley 0-2 Sunderland
Hull 0-0 Birmingham
West Ham 1-2 Liverpool
Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham.
Everton 1-1 Blackburn
Man Utd. 0-0 Man City
Wolverhampton 1-1 Fulham
Happy gambling and enjoy your sport this weekend, just don’t enjoy it in the manner of an Arsenal “fan”.
