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2011/2012 season Ante-post betting preview for the Championship, League 1 & League 2

The new English domestic football season kicks off this weekend with what is certain to be 10 months of fantastic quality football, excitement, passion, drama & all off that will combine to give millions of football fans great pleasure & entertainment.

The Premier League action starts in 2 weeks time but this coming weekend is all about the tens of managers, the hundreds of players & millions of fans that make up the 72 teams in the football league & it is their big chance to shine in the spotlight.

English football is the most competitive in the world & that is certainly the case within the Championship, League 1 & League 2 as every year it becomes an ever increasingly difficult task to assess the leagues with confidence & deciding who will win the leagues, who will be promoted & who will be relegated can almost be described as mission impossible for punters.

While the task of finding the league winner is tough, we at http://www.bettingpreview.co.uk/blog/ have had a good look at the betting markets for the Championship, League 1 & League 2 and here are our own independent views on the teams we feel are worth following & who offer betting value at this stage:

Ante-post views for the Championship:-

Now usually I sit down to look at the ante-post markets for the Championship at this stage of the season & I normally find myself thinking that the Championship just looks almost impossibly competitive with as many as 10 teams looking to have a fair & reasonable chance of winning The Championship but that doesn’t look the case at all this year with all the bookmakers agreed that there are are 2 clear standout contenders for the prize.

This season the ante-post market for the Championship appears to completely evolve around expectations that West Ham United & Leicester City will be the two major contenders this year & both share favouritism in the betting markets in & around the 5/1 mark with the rest some distance back at anything from 12/1 upwards.

So the key questions to this season in the Championship is do West Ham United & Leicester City both deserve favourite status & if so which one of those two big clubs will take the prize this season.

My answer to the first part is yes I completely believe that both Sam Allardyce’s West Ham United & Sven Goran Eriksson’s Leicester City have everything in place to be the powerhouses in the Championship & I totally understand the reaction of the bookmakers to make them both clear contenders for the Championship.

Last season was a complete disaster for West Ham United, there is no other way to describe with such incredible levels of negativity & depression surrounding the club after their pathetic performances as a club during a season that resulted in a tame & lifeless relegation from the Premier League to the Championship.

Based on the negativity that surrounded West Ham United, it may seem dangerous to assume that things will automatically be different this season because teams have got relegated before from the Premier League & continued to drop through the leagues but quite simply I don’t see that happening with West Ham United because they have finally made a proper managerial appointment with Sam Allardyce installed into the very hot-seat at West Ham United.

Gianfranco Zola was popular as manager at West Ham but ultimately lacked the experience to handle the pressure & failed while Avram Grant was just a disaster from day one, the fans never really supported him, the negativity around him was a huge factor in the negativity surrounding the club & ultimately Avram Grant was again found to be out of his depth at this level.

So now West Ham United find themselves as a club in need of strong leadership, experienced management & proven ability to generate team spirit & belief and now finally in Sam Allardyce they should have the right man for the job & a manager who can handle everything that comes with being at West Ham United.

The signings of Kevin Nolan & Matty Taylor, two players who excelled & mader their names under Sam Allardyce, really do give West Ham a big boost of experience & quality, combine that with an already talented squad and with more signings sure to come, West Ham United look a really solid bet to have a serious shot at the Championship title & very, very strong contenders to gain automatic promotion back to the Premier League.

In the case of Leicester City then Sven Goran Eriksson & the club’s owners look totally & utterly determined to get the club back into the Premier League with a relentless, intensely active transfer policy that has to be seen to believed at this level.

Quite simply Leicester City have so far endeavoured to go heavy & go big into the transfer market with big wages & big fees invested to capture the likes of Matt Mills, John Pantsil, David Nugent, Kasper Schmeichel, Sean St Ledger, Michael Johnson, Paul Konchesky all of whom who are experienced, quality players with the promise of more big moves to come to make Leicester City’s squad stronger & superior to probably every other side in the Championship apart from West Ham United.

The risk with Leicester City is that Sven Goran Eriksson has to find a way for all of these new players to settle together & it may start slowly for them but the players are so good & so experienced that Sven Goran Eriksson will surely make it work & when that happens it will make Leicester City very hard to stop this season & like West Ham United they look serious title & promotion contenders.

Of course the Championship is a league that consists of 24 clubs & has always proven to be a fiercely competitive league so it cannot be simply dismissed as a two horse race with huge clubs such as Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Cardiff City, Birmingham City, Reading, Ipswich, Southampton & Burnley all determined to have a real go at reaching the promise land of the Premier League & the tremendous riches that will bring.

All of those clubs mentioned with give it their very best shot & have talent within their squads to push but at the same time they all have big questions to answer first with Steve Maclaren having to prove himself at Nottingham Forest, Chris Hughton charged with turning around relegated Birmingham City under limited finances, Malkay Mackay taking over at Cardiff City with a small squad lacking numbers, Reading & Burnley looking likely to lose their better players with Ipswich & Southampton look like clubs in early stages of progression.

The teams who want to win the Championship & gain promotion will have to show immense commitment, belief, quality, determination & a willingness to compete solidly for 10 long, hard months so it will be a serious test of managers & players and as things stand right now West Ham United & Leicester City do look the two best placed teams to have an all out fight for the title.

So West Ham United & Leicester City do look absolute standout contenders for the Championship title & it will be a major shock if either of those two fail to win promotion, the financial strength of Leicester City & their ability to keep strengthening what is already a very strong squad makes Leicester City seriously appealing & very hard to dismiss over the course of the season but I just believe that Sam Allardyce’s proven experience in this type of scenario could be the decisive factor this season as he will have a quality squad at his disposal at West Ham United & the East London club get my vote but it will most probably be quite close.

West Ham United get my recommendation as the main bet but I have huge respect for what Leicester City are likely to offer & so a saver bet on Leicester City also has to form part of the ante-post portfolio, with West Ham United & Leicester City both covered it should give me a huge run for my money this season.

Betting Recommendations for the Championship:

Main Bet:- West Ham United each way for the Championship
Saver Bet:- Leicester City each way

Ante-post views for League 1:-

League 1 is always fiercely competitive & it really is a tough test that any team has to pass & pass well if they are to win the League and that will definitely be the case again this season but I believe one team do look outstanding contenders to take the main prize this time around.

In my opinion Lee Clark’s Huddersfield Town are the strongest looking contenders for League 1 this year after finishing a very good 6th two seasons ago & then improving on that again last year to go very, very close to automatic promotion with a very good points total in 3rd position that probably would have usually seen them promoted in a normal season but the incredible strength of Brighton & Southampton meant they just missed out.

Obviously Lee Clark’s Huddersfield Town do have to prove they can bounce back after their Play-Off Final defeat against Peterborough but I personally don’t see a problem on that front as Lee Clark is a mentally strong, determined character & a very positive man-manager who will be able to again drive his players on & inspire them and for me Huddersfield Town do set a very good standard for everybody else to aim at & I really cannot see them finishing outside the top 3 again this year making them look banker each way material at the very least.

Sheffield Wednesday & Sheffield United are rated by the bookmakers to be the main rivals to Huddersfield Town and clearly the one thing those two big local rivals can count upon is fantastic support in huge numbers but in turn that brings huge pressure & expectations and I personally think those pressures make backing either of the Sheffield clubs a risky proposition at this early stage.

Phil Brown will certainly be endeavouring to get Preston back into the Championship at the first attempt & he has the proven experience to know what will be required but whether he can do enough quick enough with a very limited squad will remain to be seen & again probably best to wait to see how Preston start the season before placing any concrete financial interest in them.

The other team that greatly interests me as a value each way option for League 1 this season is MK Dons who in my opinion have one of the most talented & promising young managers in Karl Robinson & I think he can again inspire what appears to be a talented squad for this level & a squad that can do a good job in what is a wide open league.

The other teams that I believe will have good seasons & be in contention for the play-offs include Notts County, Scunthorpe, Chesterfield, Bournemouth & Charlton and everything looks set for another cracking season in League 1.

Betting Recommendations for League 1:

Main Bet: Huddersfield Town each way for League 1
Saver Bet: MK Dons each way for League 1

Ante-post views for League 2:-

My feelings for League 2 are quite simplistic but entirely accurate as I believe League 2 is & always has been a complete lottery & puzzle that looks almost impossible for punters to solve although this year the bookmakers don’t quite share that view.

I have heard it said that the National Lottery would be entirely appropriate sponsors for League 2 because the chances of correctly & confidently predicting the winners of League 2 before a ball has been kicked are similar to the chances of winning the lottery.

Ok, that is an exaggeration on my part but a valid one as it perfectly portrays the difficulty in deciding which team or group of teams will go well in League 2 this season & fight their way to success through what must be the toughest & most competitive league anywhere, if there is another tougher league to solve then I certainly can’t think of another league like it .

The honest truth with League 2 is that all the teams are capable of beating each other, home or away, and that has always been the case in this incredible league and definitely likely to be the case again this year so the question is how does that reflect in the betting markets for League 2.

The answer to that is the bookmakers have installed Crawley as very clear, outright favourites for League 1 & on the face of it the general price of 3/1 for Crawley to take League 1 does look very, very short for such a competitive league.

The thought of taking 3/1 about a team in the ultra-competitive 24 team League 1 would not have been a thought that I would have welcomed or considered for longer than a few seconds in recent years & the odds seem short but again I do believe the bookmakers are not far wrong in having Crawley so far clear of their rivals.

Crawley are stepping up from dominating Non-League football into the big time of League football & it will be a real challenge for them but they are a seriously well run club with a fantastic budget for League 2 level & most importantly a club with positive momentum of achieving & winning and the confidence gained from that could well be the key to their hopes again this year.

Crawley invested big to get promotion to the football league last season & I am sure they will continue to invest to have a serious go at getting promotion again this season so as this stand right now, Crawley do look the team to beat in League 2 this year.

Of course while Crawley do look a solid bet for League 2, it makes perfect sense in such a fiercely competitive league to add a few more options to the portfolio and in my view the best looking value options are Shrewsbury Town & Accrington Stanley.

Shrewsbury Town had a very good, consistent season last year & went very close to securing automatic promotion, only missing out on the final weekend with that & then unfortunately failing to do themselves justice in the play-offs after that.

Every team that goes through failure in the play-offs has to prove they can bounce back & that will be a test for Shrewsbury Town this season but they proved last year they had a very good, consistent team & as long as they don’t suffer a hangover from the play-offs, then I can see Shrewsbury Town having another cracking season this year & they look excellent each way value.

Accrington Stanley are a general 40/1 shot for League 2 this year & admittedly they may well be a slightly risky proposition but at that price the risk is definitely worth taking about a team who always look to play excellent, attacking football & always look to win games and if they can find consistency in performance & results this year that 40/1 might end up looking absolutely massive come the end of the season.

Betting Recommendations for League 2:-

Main Bet:- Crawley to win League 2
Saver Bets:- Accrington Stanley & Shrewsbury Town each way for League 2

 
Those are our own independent views on what we believe to be the best value betting options in the Championship, League 1 & League 2 and we hope they provide ideas & indeed betting success for the season ahead.

Whatever ante-post football bets you choose to go for, we of course recommend that you shop around for the best prices & best terms and we at http://www.bettingpreview.co.uk/blog/ of course wish you all the best of luck with your football bets for the season.

Championship, League 1 & League 2 Play-Off Final Previews

Teams in the Championship, League 1 & League 2 face the arduous task of 46 seriously intense, competitive matches compressed into 10 months & all 72 teams give absolutely everything in the desire to achieve promotion & progress through the leagues.

Those 72 football leagues sides have 2 chances to achieve promotion, firstly automatic promotion via winning or finishing in the top 2 of the Championship or winning & finishing in the top 3 in League 1 & League 2.

That is the perfect & ideal way to get promoted but for those teams that don’t make it there is the extra chance of promotion via the Play-Offs & now after a fantastic series of Play-Off Semi-Finals, the Play-Off Finals are upon us with 6 teams agonisingly close to promotion but equally agonsingly close to failure.

Reading & Swansea are set to do battle in the Championship Play-Off with a place in the Premier League at stake, Huddersfield Town & Peterborough face each other to decide who will go into the Championship while Stevenage & Torquay are fighting for the right to play in League 1 next season and all 3 Play-Off Finals look tremendously close & hard to call.

I have had a good look at the set-up of all three Play-Off Finals & at the betting markets available for each final and here are my own views on the value bets that I feel are worth consideration:

Championship Play-Off Final Preview:- Swansea vs Reading – (Monday 3.00pm)

Swansea & Reading both had fantastic seasons in the Championship finishing 3rd & 5th respectively with only 3 points separating them at the end & this has all the makings of a really close, competitive & hopefully entertaining match that can go either way.

During the regulation Championship season Swansea actually did the league double over Reading achieving two 1-0 wins so that may give the Swansea players a slight mental edge & extra confidence but at the same time it should make the Reading players more determined than ever to make sure Swansea don’t make it 3 wins here.

Both Swansea & Reading look to play positive, attacking football & they both showed that with their excellent winning performances in the 2nd legs of their Semi-Finals with Reading getting a very impressive 3-0 win at Cardiff while Swansea saw off a good Nottingham Forest side 3-1 and hopefully both teams will recreate that positivity & creativity here.

This should be an open, entertaining game but the absolute key factor will be whichever of Swansea or Reading can handle the intense pressures the best on the day, the prize at stake is truly massive & failure will be a major disappointment so it’s all about which set of players can control themselves the best on the day & let their football do all the talking.

Reading & Swansea are very well matched in terms of player quality, Swansea won more games & conceded few goals but also lost more games than Reading who themselves scored more & achieved positive results in more games so there really is nothing between them although the bookmakers do have Swansea as favourites to take it.

Swansea do just about deserve favouritism & they will certainly be very well prepared by Brendan Rodgers to be organised, controlled & positive in looking for the win but then again the same can be said of Brian McDermott’s Reading side and the fact Reading are a bigger price does make them more appealing to me.

This is essentially a coin flip in my opinion & should be a close game with a scoring draw a seriously tempting option but I tipped & backed Reading for promotion before the season started & I think they still look good value to get the job done in 90 minutes & seal their place in the Premier League for next season.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: Reading to win
Correct Score options: Reading to win 2-0/2-1
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Long/Kebe/MCanuff
Scorecast options: Long/Kebe/MCanuff score first & Reading win 2-0/2-1
Double Result: READING H/T & F/T

Leauge 1 Play-Off Final Preview:- Peterborough United vs Huddersfield Town – (Sunday 3.00pm)

League 1 has been absolutely fantastic this season & certainly Peterborough United & Huddersfield Town have been two of the major players providing fantastic entertainment & quality for anybody who witnessed them play so this should be an excellent game that might go all the way.

Peterborough United had a remarkable season in terms of goals in their games with Peterborough United themselves scoring an incredible 106 league goals but also conceding 75 goals with entertainment & drama guaranteed in most of the games.

Those goalscoring & goals conceded statistics clearly highlight the strengths & weaknesses of Peterborough United and it how they balance their attacking strength against their defensive fragility that will decide which way this game goes for them.

For Huddersfield Town this match represents another match Lee Clark’s impressive team to have a crack at extending their incredible unbeaten run in the league that stretches back 25+ games & there is no doubting Huddersfield Town will be tough to beat again here.

To go unbeaten for so long takes some doing in any league but for Huddersfield to achieve it in the notoriously competitive League 1 then Lee Clark’s team really do deserve great praise for the character, quality, determination & excellent team spirit they have maintained all year.

The Play-Off Semi Finals reflected both teams well with Peterborough losing a goal packed thriller & then winning at home while Huddersfield Town fought out 2 hard draws & battled through on penalties showing real character so this game represents a real quandry as both teams are more than capable of winning this on the day & in the 90 minutes.

It’s a total one off & anything can happen on the day so the fact Huddersfield finished 9 points clear of Peterborough should not matter here but what might well matter is Huddersfield Town’s superior consistency & resolute nature and that makes Lee Clark’s side Huddersfield Town side appeal as a lively bet worth taking to win this & put them back in the Championship again.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: Huddersfield Town to win
Correct Score options: Huddersfield Town to win 2-0/2-1
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Rhodes/Afobe/Kilbane
Scorecast options: Rhodes/Afobe/Kilbane score 1st & Huddersfield Town to win 2-0/2-1
Double Result: HUDDERSFIELD TOWN H/T & F/T

League 2 Play-Off Final:- Torquay vs Stevenage – (Saturday 3.00pm)

Both Torquay & Stevenage were outsiders to win their respective Play-Off Semi-Finals but there was certainly no fluke about their victories & they will now both believe they have a great chance of promotion so this should be a really intense, competitive match.

In terms of their performances in the standard league season then there was only one point splitting the two sides after 46 league games with Stevenage finishing 1 point & 1 place above Torquay so everything points to a close battle in this one & indeed it may go all the way to penalties.

Both Torquay & Stevenage are well matched in terms of quality, both are well organised squads who look to play possession based football so while it’s hard to dismiss either side from winning this in 90 minutes, a close, competitive game looks the sensible call here & appeals a value bet worth taking with the match to be won in extra time or penalties also worth consideration.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: DRAW
Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Zebroski/Charles/Tomlin
Scorecast options: Zebroski/Charles/Tomlin score 1st & 1-1/2-2
Double Result: DRAW H/T & F/T

As ever they are my views & hopefully they help in your decision making process for any bets you maybe considering on the Play-Offs, please take the time to check team news before placing bets & shop around for the best prices, value & terms

Championship, League 1 & League 2 Play-Off Previews

10 months of gruelling, intensely competitive, physically demanding & incredibly exciting league campaigns are now over in the lower leagues with the winners & runners-up promoted & the bottom teams relegated, all that remains is for the Play-offs to be solved.

However, solving the Play-Offs has traditionally always proven to be the most demanding task of all & that definitely looks the case this year with the play-off situation in the Championship, League 1 & League 2 looking seriously tight & competitive with absolutely anything possible.

The bookmakers have priced events how they see it, all the various football pundits have their own varying views & of course the fans of all the teams involved all think differently as well & the only that is certain is that all the games in the play-off will provide great drama & excitement because they always do.

I have had a good look at the Play-Offs in the Championship, League 1 & League 2 and here are my own views on how I think they might work out & them teams that I think offer betting value worth considering.

Championship Play-Off Preview

Without doubt the Championship Play-Off looks the hardest & most competitive of the lot to try & solve, the four remaining teams, Nottingham Forest, Swansea, Reading & Cardiff City all have massive chances on winning the Championship Play-offs with a gap of only 5 points covering them all and it will all just come down to what happens on the day of the games.
SWANSEA head the market as favourites & indeed they have been fantastic this season with Scot Sinclair inspiring them with his tremendous eye for goal & the likes of Pratley, Dobbie & the recently added Borini providing real quality, creativity & a lively goal threat so they will be dangerous opponents.

The one negative I have about Swansea is that they lost 11 away matches in the Championship & only achieved 3 away draws so their chances of making the Play-Off final may well be badly damaged if they cannot get a positive result away against a very strong Nottingham Forest side in the first leg & it is that first leg that holds the key for Swansea.
CARDIFF CITY have been excellent this season & looked likely for most parts of the season to clinch automatic promotion but a dip in form right near the end of the season put paid to that & the big question is can Dave Jones get his players back up & confident for what will be a very tough 2 games against a confident fluent Reading side.

Craig Bellamy, Jay Bothroyd & Peter Whittingham are the key inspirations in the Cardiff City team & if that trio play to their potent best then Cardiff City can definitely do it but if they don’t they may well struggle so it’s all up in the air with them.

CARDIFF CITY have to look to avoid defeat in the first leg away at Reading because Reading are a very dangerous counter attacking side & if Cardiff City go into the 2nd leg having to chase the game & win it then that could be just too tough a test.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST were my main ante-post to tip for the Championship & indeed finished the season very strong, they certainly look the most in form side of all 4 Play-off hopefuls so Billy Davies will be hopeful that his players can make good use of that & have a real go at getting promotion.

The absolute key for Nottingham Forest appears to lie in getting off to a flying start at home in the 1st leg & securing a home win will give them the advantage they need to take to the tough away fixture in Swansea, a 1st game draw would not be a disaster but certainly would make it tough to progress from there.

Boyd, McGugan, Earnshaw, Tudgay & McGoldrick, Anderson, Moussi & Chambers are all class & all have the ability to create & score goals and that combined with Nottingham Forest’s surge in form just might be the key factor.
READING have been the team that have surprised most of the footballing world, not me as I tipped them for promotion & recommending backing them at a tasty odds to do so but generally the success of Brian McDermott’s side has caught people off guard but it has to be said Reading have been marvellous this year & totally deserve their chance of promotion.

The real strength of Reading is their consistent, positive approach in games & they always go into games believing they can score goals & win and Shane Long, Jimmy Kebe, Simon Church, Noel Hunt & Mikel Leigertwood give Reading a potent threat that can really damage teams home & away.

Summary:- There really is nothing between either Nottingham Forest, Reading, Cardiff City & Swansea City and either of those teams would be deserved winners of the Championship Play-offs given their fantastic performances this season so it really is tough to split them but I believed NOTTINGHAM FOREST & READING were good value bets for promotion before the season started so we’ve got that in the bank & I am going to with those 2 again here.

I think NOTTINGHAM FOREST can get the better of Swansea over 2 legs & that READING can fight their way past Cardiff City over 2 legs leaving NOTTINGHAM FOREST & READING to clash in the Play-Off final & for us that would be a dream scenario having got them both covered for promotion at good odds.

If it is to be READING & NOTTINGHAM FOREST in the Final then it would be a very good & intensely competitive final that can definitely go either way but if I had to choose one then I would just take Billy Davies’s NOTTINGHAM FOREST to have too much overall & NOTTINGHAM FOREST look the value call here.

League 1 Play-Off Preview

League 1 has been fantastic entertainment this years with tons of goals & fantastic, attacking play produced by some quality sides, BRIGHTON & SOUTHAMPTON have already earned their places after great seasons & now HUDDERSFIELD TOWN, PETERBOROUGH, BOURNEMOUTH & MK DONS do battle to decide who will join them in the Championship.
The obvious starting place for the League 1 Play-Offs has to be Lee Clark’s HUDDERSFIELD TOWN who have been amazingly consistent this season & indeed probably would have usually done enough to get automatic promotion had it not been for equally impressive seasons for Brighton & Southampton.

Lee Clark & his Huddersfield Town players deserve massive respect for the work they have done this year & indeed they totally deserve to be solid favourites to win the League 1 Play-Offs coming into them unbeaten in 2011 and looking in excellent, confident form.

Huddersfield finished 16 points clear of their Play-Off Semi Final rivals Bournemouth & surely that huge gap will be a factor here, Huddersfield are a lot stronger than Bournemouth & it will take a serious effort from Bournemouth to stop Huddersfield Town reaching the Finals.

The Play-Offs are always seriously tough & competitive but HUDDERSFIELD TOWN do set the standards & in my opinion they look the team that have every other team has to look to try & beat but doing that will be very, very hard.
Darren Ferguson brings PETERBOROUGH into the Play-Offs knowing that his side could not have provided more goals, entertainment & excitement if they had wanted so they deserve massive credit for that but the key question is can defend well enough to get through the Semi Final against the dangerous MK Dons side.

Peterborough have struggled defensively & the big danger for them is while they are always likely to score plenty, they also have a fragile side to them & they will have to make sure they combat that if they are to progress.
MK DONS only finished 2 points behind Peterborough in the table & will certainly believe they have the ability within their squad to get this important job done first & get themselves into the Final in with a fair chance.

The absolute key to MK Dons chances is to first look to get that all important home win in the first leg & if they can do that they will have an excellent chance to progress to the final & then take their chances from there.

Summary:- The League 1 Play-Offs should be truly fascinating to watch & provide real entertainment but the clear team to beat going into the Play-Offs are Lee Clark’s HUDDERSFIELD TOWN with their massively high confidence levels being unbeaten in 2011 & as long as that does not change here they should be hard to beat & can earn their place in the Championship for next year.

League 2 Play-Off Preview

Before the season starts, League 2 always looks the toughest league to solve because every team looks fairly well matched & there is never much between either side which always contributes towards inconsistent results on a weekly basis.

Shrewsbury Town, Stevenage, Accrington Stanley & Torquay do deserve massive respect for being the most consistent sides outside of the top 3 in League 2 & they all have a fair chance to win these Play-Offs & earn their place in League 1 so it’s a tough call to make.

SHREWSBURY TOWN have to be the first team to consider & indeed totally deserve to be favourites to win the Play-Offs after finishing a very close 4th & only just missing out on automatic promotion by one point & finishing 6 points clear of 5th place Accrington & 11 points clear of their semi final opponents Torquay.

SHREWSBURY TOWN do set the standard & as long as they don’t blow it by losing the first leg heavily, SHREWSBURY TOWN should have too much for TORQUAY at home & then will be very hard to beat at Wembley if they play to their best, definitely the team to beat.

TORQUAY obviously deserve their place in the Play-Offs because if you are there after 46 tough games you’ve earned it but the fact they only held of Gillingham on goal difference & finished 11 points behind their rivals Shrewsbury then it does highlight the tough task they have here.

The first home leg of the semi final is the key for Torquay because they have to look to win that & take an advantage to defend at Shrewsbury, otherwise it will be very tough for them & it will be hard needing a positive result at Shrewsbury, but of course if they get through then they have as good a chance as any.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY have had an amazing season already & everybody connected to the club can be amazingly proud of what they achieved in finishing an excellent 5th.

Stunning home form with 15 wins & proving incredibly hard to beat away with an incredible 14 away draws secured are the two big factors why Accrington have had such a good season & why they rate the main dangers to Shrewsbury in my opinion and as long as they avoid defeat in the first leg then they should be too good at home.

STEVENAGE have had a very good season in both the league & also the F.A. Cup with their fans having plenty to cheer along the way with the Play-Offs a big bonus & a big chance to carry that on.

The key for STEVENAGE looks to rely on getting a good home win to start with in the first leg & having something to defend away from home because their away record is relatively poor having suffered 10 away defeats, but like Torquay if they can get through this they would old a fair chance of glory.

Summary:- No doubting that the League 2 Play-Offs will be tough & competitive and all 4 teams are certainly capable on their day but I expect SHREWSBURY & ACCRINGTON STANLEY to win through their Semi Finals & producing a Final line-up that should create a game well worth watching with SHREWSBURY the call to just edge it with their extra all-round quality.

Betting Recommendations:

NOTTINGHAM FOREST & READING to qualify for the Championship Play-Off Final
NOTTINGHAM FOREST to win Championship Play-Offs

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN & MK DONS to qualify  for the League 1 Play-Off Final
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN to win the League 1 Play-Offs

ACCRINGTON STANLEY & SHREWSBURY TOWN to qualify for the League 2 Play-Off Final
SHREWSBURY TOWN to win League 2 Play-Offs
As ever they are just our views & hopefully they help in your decision making process for any bets you maybe considering on the Play-Offs, please take the time to check team news before placing bets & shop around for the best prices, value & terms

Midweek Football Preview

The action comes thick & fast in the football world at this time of the year and this week is no different with another midweek packed full of top football from all the different competitions & leagues taking place.

Right through from the highest level football of the Premier League, Championship right through to matches in League 2, we have had a good look at the midweek fixture lists & here are our views on the matches taking place:

Premier League Predictions:

Newcastle United vs Manchester United – (Tuesday 7.45pm)

Past clashes between Newcastle United & Manchester United have proven to be high octane, high intensity matches that provide real entertainment & there is every chance that this renewal will be the same with the 3 points meaning absolutely everything to both sides in this one.

Alan Pardew’s Newcastle United side are probably already safe from relegation but there is still the potential there for them to go down & so they know one more win & 3 more points will put that to bed so we expect Newcastle United to be positive for this one.

The atmosphere will be electric for this one as the Newcastle United fans really do get themselves up for the big nights & they don’t get any bigger than the visit of title chasing Manchester United so we are expecting a hostile atmosphere & for the Newcastle United players to respond with a high tempo performance but whether they will have enough to stop United is the big question here.

Newcastle United’s home record has not been that special this year & they have only won 5 of their 16 previous home league matches and that is certainly a record that will encourage Manchester United here along with a defensive record that is not strong either & quite simply Newcastle United will have to be at their very best & have things go their way if they are to get anything from this match.

Manchester United have to respond to the disappointment of losing against bitter rivals Manchester City in the F.A. Cup but Sir Alex Ferguson’s team always respond to adversity in the right way & we are expecting a really intense, positive response from them in this one.

Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that the Premier League is the main priority for Manchester United this season & that means he will restore his strongest possible starting line up in this game with the likes of Rooney, Hernandez & Giggs all returning & that creative, attacking trio will really test the fragile Newcastle United defence.

Manchester United’s away record in the Premier League is not that good so taking 4/6 about them winning this may look risky but in my opinion 4/6 looks huge value for a Manchester United who are far superior in terms of quality & who have that ability to win games in whatever way is required & so Manchester United do look a rock solid bet to get the job done again here.
Betting Recommendations:
Manchester United to win 3-0/3-1
Rooney/Nani/Hernandez score 1st or anytime
Manchester United H/T & F/T

Tottenham vs Arsenal – (Wednesday 7.45pm)

Tottenham vs Arsenal matches are always games of massive importance & magnitude given the intense local rivalry that goes with fixture but this renewal matters so much more with both teams absolutely desperate to win for their own needs & we are expecting this to be a cracker.

Tottenham have one clear target for the remainder of the season & that is to achieve a top 4 finish & secure Champions League football again for next season so there is no doubt they will be looking to win every game between now & the end of the season and that starts with this massive home clash against Arsenal & that should be all the motivation they need.

Harry Redknapp will have huge respect for Arsenal but he will also know that Arsenal’s failure to hold onto a lead against Liverpool & indeed their failure in recent weeks we really be hurting Arsenal & there is no doubting this is a great opportunity to go for a massive win & inflict huge damage on their local rivals.

For Arsene Wenger & Arsenal this match represents another huge test of their quality & character following a period of huge games that have resulted in disappointment after disappointment & the big question that remains is do the Arsenal players have the fight & determination left in them to do what is required.

Mathematically Arsenal still have a real posssibility of winning the Premier League title but the absolute key to that is can Arsene Wenger get his players believing again & can he get them over the disappointments of recent weeks to make sure they go for & get the win in this battle.

The quality of show from both sides here is fantastic & that combined with what is certain to be a fierce & intense atmosphere then this should be an absolutely cracking match that can go either way but the fact Tottenham have home advantage & are a bigger price than Arsenal makes them a great value bet & Tottenham can edge what should be a thriller.
Betting Recommendations:
Tottenham to beat Arsenal 2-0/2-1
Defoe/Crouch/Van Der Vaart score 1st or anytime
Tottenham H/T & F/T 

Chelsea vs Birmingham City – (Wednesday 7.45pm)

Chelsea are home & we expect them to win comfortably. Now that probably sounds dismissive & disrespectful to Alex McCleish’s Birmingham City side who will battle & compete for everything but quite simply this really should be a game & result that completely revolves around what Chelsea do & as long as Chelsea are in form they will take the points.

Chelsea did have the disappointment of losing out to Manchester United in the Champions League but the truth is they played very well in the 2nd leg at Old Trafford & certainly showed that by producing a very good performance to come from behind & beat West Brom 3-1 away at the weekend.

That performance against West Brom showed that Chelsea have got their belief & confidence back in the team and indeed that the team are again being positive & using their extra quality to get the results they need.

There is no doubting that Birmingham City needs the points as desperately as Chelsea & Alex McCleish will set up his players to be organised, hard to beat & physically competitive in an attempt to make it as hard as possible for Chelsea but it will take a monumental performance from Birmingham City to get something from this game.

Chelsea have the quality & seem to have their confidence back so with home advantage against a side who are poor away & don’t really score enough away goals then Chelsea look a rock solid bet to get another 3 massive points as they chase Arsenal down for 2nd place.
Betting Recommendations:
Chelsea to beat Birmingham City 2-0/3-0
Drogba/Lampard/Anelka score 1st or anytime
Chelsea H/T & F/T 

 

Championship Predictions:

QPR to Derby 2-0/3-0
BURNLEY vs MIDDLESBROUGH DRAW 1-1/2-2
IPSWICH vs NORWICH CITY DRAW 1-1/2-2

Leauge 1 Predictions:

League 2 Predictions:

BRADFORD CITY to beat Burton 2-0/2-1

Well those are our views for the midweek matches & hopefully you find them interesting & informative and that they help guide you towards successful punts on what should prove to be a truly fascinating set of midweek matches in all the different competitions.

Remember to check the latest team news before you bet & also to shop around for the best odds & best terms available and good luck with whatever bets you have.

Midweek Football Preview

The action comes thick & fast in the football world at this time of the year and this week is no different with another midweek packed full of top football from all the different competitions & leagues taking place.

Right through from the highest level football of the Champions League, Europa League, Championship right through to matches in League 2, we have had a good look at the midweek fixture lists & here are our views on the matches taking place:

Champions League Quarter Final 2nd Leg Predictions:

Manchester United vs Chelsea – (Tuesday 7.45pm)

The starting point ahead of gigantic clash is that we must all hope that this 2nd leg clash between Manchester United & Chelsea is anywhere near as good as the first leg was because that was an absolute cracker that had everything.

The tempo to the match, the attacking intent of both sides, the great quality play & indeed the immense effort of all the players involved to fight for the best result was a pleasure to watch & it really was a proper Champions League battle, a real test of two very strong teams going head to head.

The fact Manchester United bring a 1-0 advantage into this game with that vital away goal already under their belt obviously makes Manchester United strong favourites to quality through but we must all remember & especially the Manchester United players must remember that this tie is not over & they will have to play as well again if they are to go through.

There can be no denying the strength & power of Manchester United at Old Trafford, unbeaten at home all season & Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have hit a level of form that makes Manchester United hard to beat no matter who they are playing & of course Chelsea have to at least match Manchester United’s result to have any chance here.

The 1-0 scoreline is a dangerous scoreline because if Chelsea open the scoring in this match & particularly if it is early, they then know that scoring another goal would give them a huge chance to progress & would switch the pressure back to Manchester United but if Manchester United score 1st & go 2-0 up in the tie, then Chelsea instantly know they need to score at least 2 goals to go through.

Chelsea have to be positive in this match & I certainly expect them to be so given the quality they have they certainly have a chance to do what they need to  & cannot be ruled out but Manchester United are seriously tough to beat at Old Trafford & only need a draw to progress, all of which makes this a tough game to call.

Given how intensely competitive & pressurised this game will be it was really tempting to go for a scoring draw & that cannot be ruled out but on balance Manchester United’s strength at home combined with the excellent recent form makes them appeal as the team to be on here & a Manchester United win looks the bet in this one.
Betting Recommendations:
Manchester United to win 2-0/2-1
Rooney/Nani/Hernandez score 1st & Manchester United win 2-0/2-1

Shaktar Donetsk vs Barcelona - (Tuesday 7.45pm)

This tie had the potential to be a tough & tricky one for Barcelona & especially if they did not get the job done in the first leg at home but last weeks stunning 5-1 win has put this tie to bed & makes this a match that really does not matter to them, with Shaktar Donetsk’s pride the only real factor at stake here.

Another massive potential factor for this game is the fact Barcelona have to travel to arch rivals Real Madrid on saturday night for the title deciding clash & so Josep Guardiola is highly likely to rest the likes of Villa, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta & a several other key members here and if that happens then Shaktar Donetsk really will have a great chance to at least go out with pride.

Shakhtar Donetsk have an amazing record at home in european competititions & will certainly want to ensure that record stays intact here so while whoever plays for Barcelona will have great quality & still make them dangerous, Barcelona’s mental focus will not be fully on this match & that makes Shaktar Donetsk a bet to get another home european win here.
Betting Recommendations:
Shakhtar Donetsk to win 2-0/2-1
Costa/Adriano/Jadson score 1st or anytime

Tottenham vs Real Madrid – (Wednesday 7.45pm)

Real Madrid bring a 4-0 advantage into this 2nd leg & in all honesty the tie is over so all that remains here for Tottenham is playing for pride & also how seriously Real Madrid take this match with Barcelona to come on saturday.

Harry Redknapp has stated his pride of his Tottenham players for the way they have performed in the Champions League this season & without doubt he will want his players to respond to the disappointment of losing 4-0 in Madrid & certainly expect his players to go all out for a home win that restore the pride that was badly damaged last week.

There is no question that Tottenham will attack here & go for the goals that will help to give them the win to at least go out on a high so the only question that remains is how seriously will Real Madrid take this game that means nothing to them.

Jose Mourinho prides himself on success in the Champions League & of course had a successful time in England so will want to impress to a degree but Jose Mourinho also knows that saturday’s game against Barcelona in the league is the biggest game for Real Madrid right now & surely he will want to keep the key players back for that one.

The Real Madrid squad is absolutely bang full of top class talents so there can be no talk of Real Madrid playing a weakened side but surely Mourinho will rest the key players which will reduce the threat they carry while the other key factor here has to be what state of mind will the Real Madrid players be in & will the have the required motivation to get the result here.

Given all the facts & circumstances then it does point towards the Tottenham players having a far great motivation for the win & their strength at home could well be the deciding factor here with the fans behind them & so a Tottenham home win looks the bet here.
Betting Recommendations:
Tottenham to win 2-0/2-1
Defoe/Van der Vaart/Lennon score 1st or anytime

Schalke vs Inter Milan – (Wednesday 7.45pm)

I would not have gone for Schalke to win the first leg 5-2 even if I had been given a 100 free bets on the match & to be honest I am still trying to work out how that scoreline happened.

That first leg clash between Inter Milan & Schalke was incredible, end to end action, goals galore, red card, erratic defending, one of the very best goals you will ever see & overall just a sensational match that Schalke totally deserved to win & surely they have done more than enough to get to the Semi Finals.

Inter Milan have got to win this match at least 4-0 to progress & while they have the quality within the squad who can produce results like that at their very best, Inter Milan simply are not playing at their very best & the defensive failings highlighted by Schalke last week could well be exposed again here.

Schalke do know that they are all but in the Semi Finals already so the key for them here will be their mental approach to the game but they have approached every single Champions League game so far with the belief they will score goals & win matchs so we expect the same here while Inter Milan have to look to attack & score goals so this should be another belting match to watch.

It definitely is a match that can go either way & there should be a few goals so on balance an open, attacking scoring draw looks the value call here.
Betting Recommendations:
Schalke vs Inter Milan Draw 2-2/3-3
Farfan/Milito/Sneijder score 1st or anytime

Premier League Predictions:

MANCHESTER CITY to beat Liverpool 2-0/2-1
Tevez/Silva/Balotelli score 1st or anytime

Championship Predictions:

QPR to beat Barnsley 2-0/2-1
LEEDS to beat Derby 2-1/3-1
DONCASTER ROVERS to beat Preston 1-0/2-0
IPSWICH to beat Middlesbrough 2-0/2-1
LEICESTER CITY to beat Crystal Palace 2-1/3-1
MILLWALL to beat Bristol City 2-0/2-1
NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs BURNLEY DRAW 1-1/2-2
PORTSMOUTH to beat Coventry City 2-0/2-1
READING to beat Scunthorpe 2-1/3-1
CARDIFF CITY to beat Sheffield United 2-1/3-1
SWANSEA to beat Hull City 2-0/2-1
NORWICH CITY to beat Watford 2-0/2-1

Leauge 1 Predictions:

League 2 Predictions:

BURY to beat Burton 2-0/2-1

Europa League Quarter Final 1st leg Predictions:

SPARTAK MOSCOW vs PORTO DRAW 1-1/2-2
BRAGA vs DYNAMO KIEV Draw 1-1/2-2
FC TWENTE vs VILLAREAL DRAW 1-1/2-2
PSV vs BENFICA DRAW 1-1/2-2

Well those are our views for the midweek matches & hopefully you find them interesting & informative and that they help guide you towards successful punts on what should prove to be a truly fascinating set of midweek matches in all the different competitions.

Remember to check the latest team news before you bet & also to shop around for the best odds & best terms available and good luck with whatever bets you have.

Midweek Football Preview

The action comes thick & fast in the football world at this time of the year and this week is no different with another midweek packed full of top football from all the different competitions & leagues taking place.

Right through from the highest level football of the Champions League, Europa League, Championship right through to matches in League 2, we have had a good look at the midweek fixture lists & here are our views on the matches taking place:

Champions League Quarter Final 1st Leg Predictions:

Real Madrid vs Tottenham - (Tuesday 7.45pm)

Given their joint reputations for positive, attacking football Real Madrid vs Tottenham at first glance looks like a tie that you would think would scream open, flowing football & wave after wave of attacks by both sides but the chances are this will be a tight, competitive match & goals may well be limited.

Jose Mourinho is the best in the business at winning the Champions League & his clear target as manager of Real Madrid is to win the Champions League & we are expecting a very serious, professional & organised performance from Real Madrid.

In terms of players then Real Madrid are likely to be without Ronaldo & Benzema while Higuain has only just returned from a lenghty injury so that does limit the goalscoring abilities but the likes of Di Maria, Ozil & Kadeira can provide the creativity & have the eye for goal that still makes Real Madrid a serious threat here.

For Tottenham’s chances in the tournament then this 1st leg looks the absolute key to it all & avoiding defeat has to be the target or at least avoiding a heavy defeat.

Obvious Harry Redknapp will want to make sure Tottenham compete & attempt to be positive but Tottenham are really struggling with injuries at present & especially in defence so he is likely to set the team up to be organised & hard to beat first and see what happens from there.

The great mix of quality on show should make this a game worth watching but it looks likely to be quite tight on the night given the importance of the result & on balance Real Madrid look the solid option to win this & take a vital advantage into the 2nd leg.
Betting Recommendations:
REAL MADRID to win 1-0/2-0
Higuain/Ozil/Di Maria score 1st each way/score anytime

Inter Milan vs Schalke – (Tuesday 7.45pm)

Fascinating tie in prospect here as reigning european champions Inter Milan welcome a Schalke side who are rated outsiders for the competition yet boast a talented & dangerous squad so this should be a good game to watch.

Inter Milan suffered a major blow for their title hopes when losing to arch rivals AC Milan at the weekend & their fans will certainly demand they bounce back with victory here as the Champions League now looks to be their best chance of success this season.

Inter Milan were under great pressure in the last round after losing 1-0 at home but they showed great quality, character & belief to win 3-2 in Bayern Munich and the great quality within their squad means they can beat anybody on their day as they showed against Barcelona last season.

Inter Milan will want to get the tie won or at least take a major advantage into the 2nd leg in Germany so we are expecting an organised but positive response from Inter Milan here & with the likes of Sneijder, Eto’o, Pandev, Stankovic, Cambiasso they have the quality to get the job done here.

For Schalke reaching the quarter finals is amazing in itself but they have come this far & despite facing a really tough task against Inter Milan, they will believe they can progress & keep their amazing run going.

The positive for Schalke is that they do play positive, attacking football with Raul, Huntelaar & Farfan just 3 of their players who can create & carry a real goal threat and even if they lose the game, Schalke will believe they can at least get an away goal to take back with them.

This should be a decent, entertaining game as Inter Milan will want to get the win & Schalke are always positive so there could be a few goals here & Inter Milan do look a solid bet to edge the goalscoring & take a winning lead into the 2nd leg.
Betting Recommendations:
INTER MILAN to win 2-1/3-1
Sneijder/Eto’o/Cambiasso score 1st each way/score anytime

Chelsea vs Manchester United – (Wednesday 7.45pm)

What an absolutely massive tie this is, the two most successful English clubs from the last 5 years clashing in the Champions League again for the first time since Manchester United edged a thrilling final on penalties & this certainly looks a tie that could go all the way again.

There really is nothing between Chelsea & Manchester United for this tie, yes both sides will have home advantage in the respective ties but they are two seriously strong sides who know each other so well & have managers with incredible experience & tactical knowledge so deciding which way it will go is incredibly tough.

Chelsea have had a clear edge over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in recent years & that will be something both sets of players & both managers are fully aware of, it will give the Chelsea players extra confidence & belief to do well again while Sir Alex Ferguson will want to use it as inpsiration for his players to put the records straight & finally get a good win or at least good result at Chelsea.

Both teams have great attacking quality within, both are certainly capable of scoring goals & both have displayed a defensive fragility this year so there is the chance of goals but what is certain is that it will be a fiercely competitive match & will have a seriously high intensity to it making team organisation & defensive strength the key in this one.

Most bookmakers cannot split Chelsea & Manchester United in this tie & we can understand why, both sides loaded with quality, both managers have great tactical experience & knowledge for this situation & both sides will be desperate not to lose this vital 1st leg.

Chelsea are deserved favourites to win this match given their home advantage & record against Manchester United but we don’t expect their to be too much between them on the night and on balance a seriously competitive & intense scoring draw looks the value call here.
Betting Recommendations:
CHELSEA vs MANCHESTER UNITED DRAW 1-1/2-2
Lampard/Drogba/Rooney score 1st e/w or anytime

Barcelona vs Shaktar Donetsk – (Tuesday 7.45pm)

The bookies have Barcelona as 1/5 shots to win this so that’s it then, Barcelona will win & no more needs to be said.

Well that’s the impression quotes of 1/5 give but those odds are purely indicative of the volumes of money that the bookies expect to take on Barcelona and not a true reflection of the actual contest & for us that is good because we feel there is great value to be had here.

Yes Barcelona are undoubtedly the best team in the world right now & this current side is rightly being talked about as probably the best club side ever, nobody can really argue with that & quite simply Barcelona in top form will not be stopped by anybody.

Messi, Pedro, Villa, Xavi & Iniesta absolutely frighten the life out of teams & particularly defenders when they are in full flight but Arsenal this year & Inter Milan last year showed they can be beaten & so this is not going to be the one way romp the bookies expect.

That said Shakhtar Donetsk are a vastly experience side in european & have a squad full of talent with Jadson, Adriano, Eduardo,Willian, Costa all highly talented players that can cause Barcelona huge problems & as long as Shaktar Donetsk defend properly they certainly are capable of causing a surprise here & can get a positive result.

Assuming Barcelona hit top, top form then they will win this comfortably but their overall recent form suggests they are not quite at the level they have been & in Shaktar Donetsk they face a team who will give them a test so we are going to go against the grain & the vast majority of the footballing world here & go with the great value bet for Shaktar Dontesk to earn a draw in this one.
Betting Recommendations:
BARCELONA vs SHAKTAR DONETSK DRAW 1-1/2-2
Messi/Villa/Willian score 1st or anytime

Championship Predictions:

QPR to beat Sheffield United 2-0/3-0
READING to beat Preston 2-1/3-1

Leauge 1 Predictions:

League 2 Predictions:

ACCRINGTON to beat Southend 2-0/3-0
BURTON vs NORTHAMPTON DRAW 1-1/2-2
WYCOMBE to beat Hereford 2-0/2-1
MACCLESFIELD vs BRADFORD DRAW 1-1/2-2

Europa League Quarter Final 1st leg Predictions:

BENFICA to beat PSV 2-0/2-1
DYNAMO KIEV to beat Braga 2-0/3-0
FC PORTO to beat Spartak Moscow 2-0/3-0
VILLAREAL to beat FC Twente 2-0/3-0

Well those are our views for the midweek matches & hopefully you find them interesting & informative and that they help guide you towards successful punts on what should prove to be a truly fascinating set of midweek matches in all the different competitions.

Remember to check the latest team news before you bet & also to shop around for the best odds & best terms available and good luck with whatever bets you have.