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Ante-post preview for the 2012 European Championships:

The 2010 World Cup proved to be a fantastic success & an amazing celebration of football for the World to enjoy and all football fans are greatly looking forward to the 2016 World Cup in Brazil with great excitement & anticipation of what is sure to be a feast of football.

However, in terms of international football in the here & now, the attention now switches back to individual continental challenges with our focus on the 2012 European Championships with qualification for that starting on friday September 3rd.

61 european countries make up the 9 different qualifying groups & this qualifying campaign should prove to be a fantastic, entertaining mix of footballing cultures as the smaller nations do battle against the larger, proven countries of european football.
Here is how the current ante-post outright market stands for the 2012 European Championships:

SPAIN 7/2
GERMANY 5/1
HOLLAND 7/1
ENGLAND 9/1
ITALY 10/1
FRANCE 12/1
PORTUGAL 14/1
RUSSIA 20/1
CROATIA 22/1

33/1 Bar
There is no surprise to see SPAIN at the head of the market & being reigning European & World Champions clearly marks SPAIN down as the team to beat and easily the most solid bet to consider at this stage, any team that stops SPAIN will almost certainly win the trophy.

GERMANY had an excellent World Cup campaign & their young, progressive squad will have had 2 more years experience by the time this tournament comes around so they will clearly also expect to be major contender & especially  given their proven ability to perform in major tournaments.

HOLLAND deserve great praise for reaching the World Cup Final & they have the extra motivation of playing well & trying to win this tournament in the right way after their shambolic & disgraceful loss of discipline in the World Cup Final, they undoubtedly have the talent to be major contenders if they keep their best players fit & in form.

With regards to the other countries then of course ENGLAND will be regarded as challengers given the talent at their disposal but they have to recover from the World Cup disaster & always under too much pressure to win that they ultimately fail.

ITALY have to re-build an ageing squad, FRANCE have to completely build a squad destroyed by a major split in the camp but new manager Laurent Blanc is capable of doing that, PORTUGAL have to prove they can learn to play football and win games that way, not be so negative in the big games while RUSSIA & CROATIA have great talent but also have to prove they have the right mentality in tournaments.

Summary:

It has to be SPAIN all the way for us, 7/2 might seem a short price to be taking 2 years in advance but assuming SPAIN qualify with the minimum of fuss, they will be shorter than 3/1 by the time tournament starts & given all the talent they have at their disposal, they are clearly the team that everybody will have to beat.

GERMANY have a progressive bunch of young, talented players & we expect them to progress massively over the next 2 years and as long as those players learn to handle the pressure of expectancy that will come, then GERMANY rate the most solid dangers to SPAIN at this point.

EURO 2012 Qualifying – Group by Group Analysis:

Group A:- Germany, Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan & Azerbaijan

GERMANY are generally 1/4 shots to win this group & they should deliver on those odds barring a disaster, GERMANY showed their class at the World Cup and with that squad likely to get better over the next few years, qualification looks guaranteed & it will be a major shock if they don’t win the group.

TURKEY have been re-building over the last few years but they are clearly the 2nd best team in this group and they should have enough to finish as runners-up
Group A Forecast: Winners: Germany, Runner-Up: Turkey

Group B:- Russia, Republic of Ireland, Slovakia, Armenia, Andorra & Macedonia

8/11 is the general price for RUSSIA to win Group B and that looks a rock solid bet in our mind, this group looks at the mercy of RUSSIA & REPUBLIC OF IRELAND and RUSSIA to win the group & REPUBLIC OF IRELAND to finish 2nd looks the way to go in our view.
Group B Forecast: Winners: Russia, Runner-Up: Republic of Ireland

Group C:- Italy, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Estonia, Slovenia & Faroe Islands

ITALY are rated as marginally odds-on shots to win Group C but in our view those are too short judged on how much work needs to be done to the Italian national team & we are taking SERBIA as a value bet at 5/2 to win Group C & edge out Italy who can qualify with them.
Group C Forecast: Winners: Serbia, Runner-Up: Italy

Group D:- France, Bosnia, Romania, Belarus, Albania & Luxembourg

FRANCE where completely & utterly disgraceful at the World Cup in South Africa & they have to re-build from that, particularly the spirit of the squad, but in Laurent Blanc they have a manager who should be able to do that & have a squad of players that should prove too good for their group rivals.

It looks hard deciding between the other countries as to who will follow France through but our vote goes to BOSNIA who will be intent on reaching the Final stages of a major tournament.
Group D Forecast: Winners: France, Runner-Up: Bosnia

Group E:- Holland, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Moldova & San Marino

World Cup Finalists HOLLAND are the headline team in Group E & clearly set the standards for their group rivals to aim at, 4/11 is the price for HOLLAND to win Group E & while that seems short, those odds look entirely fair & they must rate as a solid bet to win Group E with SWEDEN looking the standout bet to follow them through Group E in second.
Group E Forecast: Winners: Holland, Runner-Up: Sweden

Group F:- Croatia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Georgia & Malta

This Group does look one of the tougher, more complicated ones to solve with confidence although the general 11/10 available for CROATIA to win Group F looks well worth a play & we are going to take GREECE to prove solid & earn their place as group runners up.
Group F Forecast: Winners: Croatia, Runner-Up: Greece

Group G:- England, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Wales & Montenegro

Clearly England’s presence in Group G makes this the most interesting group in our view & with WALES also thrown into the mix, Group G should prove well worth watching.

General quotes of 2/7 for ENGLAND to win Group G are too short in our view but at the same time ENGLAND must be ranked as favourite to win Group G & look the most solid option for that.

In terms of who will follow England through then it will not be easy as BULGARIA & SWITZERLAND have talented players and they both look closely matched and we just give the edge to BULGARIA to earn their place as Group G runners up.
Group G Forecast: Winners: England, Runner-Up: Bulgaria

Group H:- Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Cyprus & Iceland

This group looks a straight match between PORTUGAL & DENMARK in our opinion and deciding between the two is not easy by any means but PORTUGAL definitely have more naturally talented players & are generally hard to beat so they look the bet to win Group H with DENMARK the team for the forecast.
Group H Forecast: Winners: Portugal, Runner-Up: Denmark

Group I:- Spain, Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania & Liechtenstein

SPAIN all the way in this group & even before a ball has been kicked, it is hard to see SPAIN dropping too many points in this group & they could certainly win every group stage game.

SPAIN are bankers for this group & the CZECH REPUBLIC should be the team to follow them through as surely Scotland, Lithuania & Liectenstein don’t have the players to do any damage.
Group I Forecast: Winners: Spain, Runner-Up: Czech Republic
Well those are our ante-post views for the 2012 European Championships & hopefully you find them interesting & informative and that they help guide you towards successful punts on what should prove to be a truly fascinating qualifying campaign before the Euro Finals in 2012.

Remember to shop around for the best odds & best terms available and good luck with whatever bets you have.

Premier League Match Previews & Recommendations for the weekend 28th & 29th August

Following on from a really tough first week, last weekends fixture list in the Premier League proved to be tough again but thankfully we managed to guide you towards some successful punts at good value odds.

The fixture list for this weekend looks really fascinating & we have had a good look at the betting markets & studied all the facts & figures to hopefully seek out some more great value bets.

Here are our own views on this weekends Premier League action including what we believe to be a range of great value bets but remember team news is always vital so please make sure you are totally happy with your bets before you place them:

Blackburn Rovers vs Arsenal – (Saturday 12.45pm)

This match represents a huge test for both Blackburn Rovers & Arsenal and will tell us a great deal about who we can expect from them this season.

Blackburn Rovers had a fantastic home record last season & started this season fantastically well by beating Everton and home again looks highly likely to be the absolute key to Blackburn Rovers season.

Sam Allardyce will want his players to respond to the defeat away at Birmingham City by being incredibly positive here & in many ways a home match against Arsenal is the perfect game to have because Blackburn Rovers do generally enjoy playing Arsenal.

That was perfectly highlighted by the way Blackburn Rovers showed great determination, desire & a level of quality to beat Arsenal 2-1 at Ewood Park and that will give the Blackburn Rovers players great confidence to have a real go at Arsenal here.

Arsenal come here on the back of a 6-0 win against Blackpool that really could have been a 10-0 win so confidence will be high & they showed by deservedly earning a 1-1 draw away at Liverpool they can fight when needed.

The real test for Arsenal in this game will be if they can add a physical commitment & a desire to battle to their undoubted football quality because there is no doubt that Blackburn Rovers will look to exploit Arsenal physically.

Arsenal won 4-0 here two years ago & Blackburn won 2-1 last season so any result is possible here but we know Blackburn Rovers will give absolutely everything in this match & makes us believe a scoring draw looks an entirely possible outcome & a good value bet worth taking here.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: DRAW
Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Kalinic/Van Persie/Pedersen
Scorecast options: Kalinic/Van Persie/Pedersen score 1st & 1-1/2-2
Double Result: DRAW H/T & F/T

Blackpool vs Fulham – (Saturday 3.00pm)

This is a massive game for Blackpool because this is their first home match of the season & it will be their home form that dictates if they are to have any possible chance of staying up in the Premier League.

Blackpool started with a stunning 4-0 win away at Wigan but then got completely & utterly destroyed by Arsenal who scored 6 and probably should have scored more than 10 and Blackpool were so out of their depth it must have been quite frightening for them to experience.

So the absolute key to this game will be how Ian Holloway gets the Blackpool players to respond & we are sure Blackpool will give commitment & desire but whether they really have enough quality has to be doubted.

Mark Hughes will be satisfied with his unbeaten start as Fulham manager, 2 solid draws away at Bolton & at home to Manchester United are very early signs that Mark Hughes has settled in very well & that the Fulham players are responding accordingly to him.

Now the major area that Mark Hughes has to improve upon for Fulham is what has been a terrible away record over recent seasons & Mark Hughes knows that Fulham have to be far more positive than they generally have been in recent years.

The Blackpool fans will be looking to their team to respond & show great fight here and indeed we expect the Blackpool players to do just that but we also expect the Fulham players to come here full of confidence & their extra quality lends us to believe they can edge a good game & get a massive away win here.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: Fulham to win
Correct Score options: Fulham to win 2-0/2-1
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Zamora/Murphy/Dempsey
Scorecast options: Zamora/Murphy/Dempsey score 1st & Fulham 2-0/2-1
Double Result: Fulham H/T & F/T

Chelsea vs Stoke City – (Saturday 3.00pm)

This match completely revolves around what Chelsea do & if they turn up in the same free scoring form they have shown to destroy West Brom & Wigan then this could well be another bad day for Stoke & their fans.

Stoke City fans will not need reminding of the score from the last match these two sides met back in April but for those who cannot remember it was Chelsea 7 Stoke City 0 and that was a very painful day for everybody connected to Stoke City.

Tony Pulis loves a challenge & the Stoke City fans will do their best to get their players up for this but how do you take on a side that have won 11 of their last 12 competitive matches, including their last 6 and who have scored an incredible 50 goals in that time & only conceded 4.

Whichever way you look at Chelsea in their current form & the statistics involved, it really does make frightening reading for Stoke City and it really will be a miracle if any other result than a comfortable Chelsea win is the final outcome here.

Stoke City have the physical ability & power to challenge Chelsea but it is hard to envisage Stoke City getting enough possession to create chances & so while we don’t expect Chelsea to hit 6 again, we do expect the likes of Drogba, Lampard, Anelka & Malouda to produce the quality & give Chelsea another win.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: Chelsea to win
Correct Score options: Chelsea to win 2-0/3-0
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Drogba/Lampard/Anelka
Scorecast options: Drogba/Lampard/Anelka score 1st & Chelsea win 2-0/3-0
Double Result: Chelsea H/T & F/T

Tottenham vs Wigan – (Saturday 3.00pm)

We really do feel sorry for all Wigan fans at the moment & any money spent following their team must feel like the biggest waste of hard earned wages there has ever been because Wigan just look absolutely gone already.

Wigan’s last three competitive results have been an 8-0 defeat against Chelsea, a 4-0 home defeat by Blackpool & a 6-0 home defeat by Chelsea – admittedly Chelsea are a real force capable of beating any side in world football but nevertheless, 18 goals conceded in three tepid, inept performances without reply is a disgraceful return for Wigan.

To make matters worse for Wigan, they line up here against a Tottenham side who scored 12 goals against them last season, including that incredible 9-1 win in this same fixture so what can we possibly expect from Wigan other than another lifeless performance.

Anyway, that’s enough of Wigan and in all honesty this match should centre completely around what Tottenham do & quite simply if they play to their ever increasing capabilities then Tottenham will win & win with style.

Tottenham were fantastic against Manchester City & deserved to win but didn’t, they were then distinctly average against Young Boys but showed character to scrape a 3-2 defeat and they then showed tremendous character to respond by beating a tough Stoke City side 2-1 on their own ground with key players missing.

That win at Stoke City really did impress us & proved that Tottenham have the team spirit, the desire to win when the pressures & demands are on and that combined with their fantastic quality makes them a real force to be taken seriously this season in our book.

The only way Tottenham will not win this is if Wigan somehow regain team confidence & the ability to defend otherwise this really should be a straightforward home win for Tottenham and they should get plenty of chances to get a few goals along the way.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: Tottenham to win
Correct Score options: Tottenham to win 2-0/3-0
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Modric/Crouch/Krancjar
Scorecast options: Modric/Crouch/Krancjar score 1st & Tottenham win 2-0/3-0
Double Result: Tottenham H/T & F/T

Wolves vs Newcastle United – (Saturday 3.00pm)

This should be a cracking game, two teams coming into the match full of confidence & with the belief they can get something from the game and so be prepared to be entertained by this one.

Wolves have had an excellent start to the season, a good, solid 2-1 home win against Stoke City followed by an excellent, hard fought draw away at Everton and confidence levels within the Wolves squad could not be any higher right.

Newcastle United’s welcome back into the Premier League came with a 3-0 defeat against Manchester United but there was no negative reaction to that amongst the Newcastle United players, board or fans and boy did they respond in the right way against Aston Villa.

Newcastle United 6 Aston Villa 0 is not a scoreline we could never have predicted & indeed we had Aston Villa to win this clash but a Kevin Nolan inspired Newcastle United simply out-played & out-fought Aston Villa for the entire 90 minutes & thrashed them 6-0.

That incredible victory will give the Newcastle United players massive confidence going into this match & two confident sides coming up against each other sets this up to be a really competitive, entertaining match.

Wolves will believe they can beat Newcastle United and Newcastle United will believe they can beat Wolves so anything is possible here but our view on this one is that the value could well lie in backing a scoring draw & surely both teams will be happy with that come the end of the match.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: DRAW
Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Doyle/Carroll/Jarvis
Scorecast options: Doyle/Carroll/Jarvis score 1st & 1-1/2-2
Double Result: DRAW H/T & F/T

Manchester United vs West Ham United – (Saturday 5.30pm)

Manchester United have to respond & they will by winning this, it really is as simple as that. Now that will sound dismissive of West Ham United but the statistics back our view up & so do the relative performances of the two teams so far.

Manchester United & West Ham United have played each other 30 times in the history of the Premier League with the record standing at: 19 wins for Manchester United, 7 draws & 4 wins for West Ham United.

The record in this particular fixture is Manchester United have 13 wins from 15 matches and that record highlight the task that West Ham United face along with the fact Manchester United have started the season well & West Ham United simply have not.

The truth is that Manchester United & West Ham United do not compare favourably in terms of squad strength & unless Manchester United greatly under perform here then we can only see a comfortable home win for Manchester United here.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: Manchester United to win
Correct Score options: Manchester United to win 2-0/3-0
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Rooney/Berbatov/Valencia
Scorecast options: Rooney/Berbatov/Valencia to score 1st & Man United win 2-0/3-0
Double Result: Manchester United H/T & F/T

Bolton vs Birmingham City – (Sunday 1.30pm)

We know it is very early days with only 2 games down but this fixtures sees 4th against 5th and those lofty league positions indicate how well both Bolton & Birmingham City have started this season.

Both Bolton & Birmingham City come into this match with 4 points from their first two matches & both will feel proud of what they have achieved so far with good committed performances & great team spirit the key strengths of both sides.

We are expecting Bolton to be positive & build on their 3-1 away win at West Ham United while Birmingham City have already displayed great belief & commitment to fight back from being behind in both games so far & they never know when they are beaten.

This really is a fascinating contest & a tough one to call, if either side wins this there will probably be only 1 goal in it & either side can win this but we are going to take a punt on this being a scoring draw & that looks a value call worth taking here.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: DRAW
Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Davies/Elmander/Jerome
Scorecast options: Davies/Elmander/Jerome score 1st & 1-1/2-2
Double Result: DRAW H/T & F/T

Liverpool vs West Brom – (Sunday 3.00pm)

Only two games have gone so far but the pressure & negativity already seems to be resurfacing at Anfield & Roy Hodgson’s honeymoon appears to have been rapidly brought to an end by the 3-0 defeat at Man City.

That 3-0 defeat really has piled the pressure on Liverpool & the absolute key to this game will be how they respond as a unit & whether Roy Hodgson can inspire the Liverpool players to respond in the right way.

Liverpool are at home against one of the favourites for relegation so they will be expected to win & win with comfort which adds even greater pressure in this situation & this match may well be tougher for Liverpool than would normally be expected.

West Brom responded to their 6-0 thrashing at Chelsea by showing real character & belief to deservedly beat Sunderland 1-0 and they do appear to have a positive, attitude that should serve them well but what they achieve in this game will depend on what Liverpool more than what they do themselves.

1/5 is the general quote for a Liverpool win and those odds suggest Liverpool will have a lot to spare over West Brom but that is not necessarily the case & will depend on how they start this match.

Assuming Liverpool will come out firing & determined to bounce back after the defeat, a fast start from Liverpool & early goal could well set them up to score 3 or more but we think the lack of confidence combined with the pressure might just make things tougher here than they should be.

We are going with a Liverpool win despite the 1/5 quote being far shorter than ideal & but Liverpool should respond with a win & although the goals may not flow, a good solid win will is all Liverpool need right now.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: Liverpool to win
Correct Score options: Liverpool to win 1-0/2-0
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Gerrard/Torres/Jovanovic
Scorecast options: Gerrard/Torres/Jovanovic score 1st & Liverpool win 1-0/2-0
Double Result: Liverpool H/T & F/T

Sunderland vs Manchester City – (Sunday 3.00pm)

Can Sunderland respond to their slow start to their season & can Manchester City now maintain the very high standards they set by beating Liverpool 3-0?

The answer to those questions will decide the outcome of this game which is massively important to everybody connected to both Sunderland & Manchester City.

Home form was the absolute key to Sunderland’s season last year & they had not been so strong & hard to beat at home Sunderland may well have been relegated.

Steve Bruce knows the importance of getting wins at home & that is why he was absolutely furious about Sunderland giving away 2 goal lead to only draw against Birmingham City on the opening day of the season.

Now that draw felt like a defeat to Sunderland & they will be determined to bounce back here but the truth is they have looked very average so far & defensively vulnerable which does create big problems for them in this game.

Sunderland at their determined, committed  & organised best will be a test for Manchester City but if they show the defensive fragility that they have done in recent matches they will get punished & struggle to get anything from this game.

Manchester City received great plaudits for their impressive team performance in beating Liverpool 3-0 & they will certainly arrive at this game with maximum confidence & belief to keep that going.

Now the real test for Manchester City this season will be what they can achieve away from home & whether they will develop into serious title contenders will depend on whether they can turn away draws into away wins.

The key to this match will be who scores first as a Sunderland opener, likely to be Darren Bent if it happens, will give them something to hold onto & build from while also getting their support behind them but an opening goal for Man City will really increase the pressure on Sunderland & leave them vulnerable to Man City’s quality in attack.

Sunderland proved last season that they can handle the big teams at home & will want to compete again here but surely if Manchester City repeat the form they showed against Liverpool they will win this & they do look a solid bet to get 3 more massive points.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: Manchester City to win
Correct Score options: Manchester City to win 2-0/2-1
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Tevez/Balotelli/Milner
Scorecast options: Tevez/Balotelli/Milner score 1st & Man City win 2-0/2-1
Double Result: Man City H/T & F/T

Aston Villa vs Everton – (Sunday 4.00pm)

There can be no doubting how massively important this game is to both Aston Villa & Everton and intensely competitive & pressurised that is likely to make this match.

Aston Villa had a fantastic start by beating West Ham comfortably at home but then got absolutely thrashed in a humiliating 6-0 defeat against Newcastle United.

How Aston Villa respond to that horrendous result & performance will tell us what type of character & belief the Aston Villa players have but actually predicting how they will respond is tough.

The fact Aston Villa don’t yet have a permanent manager to replace Martin O’Neill has to be a massive factor behind the inconsistency and clearly lack of proper, concentration & motivation looks a problem for the Aston Villa players.

Of course Aston Villa will want to respond for the home fans & show they have the commitment but that 6-0 defeat may well hang around the minds of the Aston Villa players minds & that could create big problems in this match.

David Moyes will be massively frustrated with how Everton have again started a Premier League season in very slow, sluggish fashion because that has been their weakness in previous seasons & something that Moyes said he was committed to changing.

The defeat at Blackburn was a disappointment & even though they drew with Wolves, the fact they failed to win that home game after being in the lead for so long will really have hurt David Moyes & we expect him to make sure the players respond here.

The history books show that Aston Villa have a fantastic record in this particular fixture with 10 wins & draws in the 18 times they have played Everton in the Premier League at Villa Park and that should give the Aston Villa faithful more confidence.

Maybe a more important statistic for this fixture is that 13 of the 36 Premier League games between Aston Villa & Everton have finished in a draw including the last 2.

So both teams have something to prove, they both have the ability & desire to win but equally neither Aston Villa or Everton will want to lose this match & on balance a competitive scoring draw looks the value call in this one.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: DRAW
Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Cahill/Saha/Carew
Scorecast options: Cahill/Saha/Carew score 1st & 1-1/2-2
Double Result: DRAW H/T & F/T

 Those are our own views on this weekends games in the Premier League, hopefully they will give you a few punting ideas & guide you towards punting success but whatever bets you have, we wish you all the best of luck.

Midweek Football Preview

The football season is really clicking into top gear now & the action continues this week with loads of fantastic matches taking place in the Champions League, Europa League & Carling Cup.

There are loads of matches to get stuck into & hundreds of betting opportunities to explore so feel free to explore them all but here are the matches & bets that interest us the most:

Best of the Champions League Qualifiers:

Sevilla vs Braga – (Tuesday 7.45pm)

This is a massive test for Sevilla & the pressure is on as they know the must win to keep their Champions League group stage dreams alive but we think they can handle that pressure and turn this tie around.

Sevilla have been fantastic in european competitions over the last 6 years or so, winning what was the UEFA Cup and doing well in the Champions League so they have the proven pedigree & they should have more than enough quality at home to see of Braga here & get the win they need.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: SEVILLA to win
Correct Score options: Sevilla to win 2-0/3-0
First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Kanoute/Fabiano/Renato
Scorecast options: Kanoute/Fabiano/Renato score 1st & Sevilla win 2-0/3-0
Double Result: Sevilla H/T & F/T

Ajax vs Dynamo Kiev – (Wednesday 7.45pm)

Two former giants of the european game & both clubs have fantastic pedigree in the major european tournaments so something has to give here & we just give the edge to Ajax.

The first leg finished 1-1 with Ajax getting a vital away goal which gives them the edge & as long as they can handle the pressure, we expect Ajax to make home advantage pay & they can edge what looks certain to be a competitive game.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: Ajax to win
Correct Score options: Ajax to win 2-0/2-1
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Suarez/El Hamdaoui/Sulemani
Scorceast options: Suarez/El Hamdaoui/Sulemani score 1st & Ajax win 2-0/2-1
Double Result: Ajax H/T & F/T

Tottenham vs Young Boys – (Wednesday 7.45pm)

This is an absolutely massive game for Tottenham & it could well define their season given what is at stake for them & given how hard they fought to get to this stage.

There is upwards of £20 million pounds riding on this fixture for Tottenham and if they qualify, there is no doubting that Harry Redknapp will quickly use that financial backing to add a few more quality players to further bolster what is already a strong squad.

Failure to qualify will see that massive money vanish & the psychological impact of not qualifying could have a detrimental impact on the rest of Tottenham’s season so they have to win & we think they will.

Admittedly Tottenham were awful for the first half of the first leg as they found themselves 3-0 and they have to be very careful again but the fact they fought back to 3-2 was massively important and Tottenham should get the job finished at home & they look a solid bet to win with comfort.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: Tottenham to win
Correct Score options: Tottenham to win 3-0/3-1
First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Defoe/Modric/Krancjar
Scorecast options: Defoe/Modric/Krancjar score 1st & Tottenham win 3-0/3-1
Double Result: Tottenham H/T & F/T

Best of the Carling Cup 2nd Round Matches:

The first round of the Carling Cup proved that absolutely anything is possible & there are certain to be a few shocks again this time around so we have just gone for a range of games that we feel offer the most interest & a few where shocks are entirely possible at big odds must add they are not games for big stakes though:
MILLWALL to beat Middlesbrough 2-0/2-1
CARDIFF to beat Peterborough 2-1/3-1
OXFORD UNITED to beat West Ham 2-0/2-1
READING to beat Northampton 2-0/3-0
HUDDERSFIELD to beat Everton 2-0/2-1
HARTLEPOOL to beat Wigan 2-0/2-1
BRADFORD to beat Preston 2-0/2-1

Best of the Europa League Ties:

ASTON VILLA to beat Rapid Vienna 2-0/2-1
FC PORTO to beat Genk 2-0/3-0
LILLE to beat FC Vasilu 2-0/3-0
MAN CITY to beat FC Timisoara 2-0/3-0
TRABZONSPOR vs LIVERPOOL DRAW 1-1/2-2
PSV to beat Sibir Novosibirsk 2-0/3-0
APOEL NICOSIA vs GETAFE DRAW 1-1/2-2
FC UTRETCH vs CELTIC DRAW 1-1/2-2

Those are our views on the midweek matches that we feel offer most interest & a range of good value bets for you to consider but we wish you all the best with whatever football bets you have.

The earlier message this week highlighted the point that Rochard Hannon was the man to follow on Friday (2,729/1 treble twelve months ago) and sure enough, the trainer did not let us down when securing a 655/1 four-timer, winners which included two 12/1 chances!

Readers will point to the fact that Richard saddled plenty of runners on the day but that said, a twenty point level stake profit would be enough to enable you to retire if you could maintain that level on a daily basis!

Go0d luck with all your bets this weekend.

Aston Villa v West Ham: (3.00 Saturday):

Matches played in the Premier League at Villa Park

Number of matches: 15

Villa wins: 6—-Draws: 7—-West Ham successes: 2 (goal difference: 20-13)

Since:

Villa win: 2—Drawn game: 0—-West Ham victory: 4

Number of ‘doubles’ gained over their opponents:

Aston Villa: 0—-West Ham: 2

CHELSEA–OPENING GAME RECORD IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

PLAYED: 18
WON: 11
DRAWN: 4
LOST: 3
GOAL DIFFERENCE: 34/17

Since: Win: 0……Draw: 8……Defeat: 11

Chelsea have scored two or more goals in half of their eighteen matches, only drawing a blank on two occasions.
Opposing teams have scored a maximum of one goal against Chelsea twelve times.

Chelsea play West Brom at Stamford Bridge this year. 

Chelsea’s home results down the Years:

Played 12……Won 8……Drawn: 3……Lost: 1 (25/9)

QUIZ NIGHT QUESTION: Chelsea were last beaten in their opening game in the Premier league in August 1998 by the same team which beat them the previous year in the opening match of the season!  Which team (they now play in the Championship) inflicted the defeats on the London club?

Answer: Coventry

TOTTENHAM–OPENING GAME RECORD IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE:

PLAYED: 18
WON: 6
DRAWN: 5
LOST: 7
GOAL DIFFERENCE: 22/23

Since…..Win: 0……Draw: 5……Defeat: 1

Tottenham have only played five opening game matches at home since the Premier League started in the 1992-1993 season:

Won: 2–Drawn: 2–Lost: 1 (goal difference: 6-5)

Tottenham play Manchester City at home this year.
These two teams met at Maine Road in the opening game in the 1995-1996 season—Result: Manchester City 1 Tottenham 1

QUIZ NIGHT QUESTION: Tottenham’s biggest victory in the opening game of the season since the turn of the Millennium was via a 3-1 home victory.  Who were Tottenham playing in that game on 19th August 2000? (Clue: the team are now contesting matches in the Championship).

Answer: Ipswich

Premier League Match Previews & Betting Recommendations for the weekend – 14th, 15th & 16th August

Here are our views on all this weekends fixtures in the Premier League, kicking off with the massive Tottenham vs Manchester City clash at 12.15pm on saturday & finishing on monday night with the clash of Manchester United & Newcastle United.

This Premier League season looks set to be one of the most exciting, competitive & potentially dramatic for many years and this opening set of fixtures really does look a tough test for punters to get stuck into.

As the first day of action in the Championship, League 1 & League 2 showed us all, shocks do happen at this early stage of the season & we have to recommend caution when betting but nevertheless we like a challenge & here are our match by match views:

Tottenham vs Manchester City – (Saturday 12.15pm)

What a game to start the season with – last season Tottenham & Manchester City fought right to the very end for 4th place & the riches of Champions League and ultimately is was Tottenham who won that battle but Manchester City will be determined to strike back this year & both teams will be fully up for this one.

A massive factor in Tottenham securing 4th place was their strength at home & they showed with victories against Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea & indeed Manchester City that they have no fear against the bigger sides & can beat them so we fully expect Tottenham to be hard to beat again here.

Harry Redknapp knows he has fantastic quality within his squad & more importantly in many ways he knows that there is a team unity & belief that they will succeed and that is definitely a big advantage they hold over Roberto Mancini & his Manchester City players.

Manchester City have all the pressure on them this season as they are now expected to not only break into the top four but actually challenge for the league title and it will be how Manchester City handle that pressure that will decide their fate.

Hundreds of millions have been invested at Manchester City into buying some very good on completely ridiculous wages so there is no doubt they have a strong squad in terms of numbers but what cannot be guaranteed & must be questioned is the ability for those players to bond & build the solid team spirit which they will need to succeed.

The final element to this fixture that has to be discussed is the historical record of the games the two sides of played in the Premier League – of course you can argue that the information may be irrelevant because Manchester City are such a different entity now but whichever way you look at the figures between the sides, they really do tell a story.

Tottenham & Manchester City have clashed 26 times in the Premier League with the scores standing at: Tottenham 19 wins, 4 draws & 3 wins for Manchester City, that means Tottenham have only lost 3 out of 26 clashes against Manchester City & won 73% of the games & did the double over Manchester City last season.

So while anything is possible given the early nature of the season & the top quality on show, Tottenham’s strength at home combined with their incredible record against Manchester City makes them an excellent value bet to start the season with a huge home win & put an early dent in Manchester City’s very expensive dream.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match result: Tottenham to win
Correct score options: Tottenham to win 2-0/2-1
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Defoe/Modric/Keane
Scorecast options: Defoe/Modric/Keane score 1st & Tottenham win 2-0/2-1
Double Result: Tottenham H/T & F/T

Blackburn Rovers vs Everton – (Saturday 3.00pm)

Good, solid clash in prospect here as two well organised teams & two very experienced managers both look to start their seasons in a positive manner so really should be a competitive contest.

Blackburn Rovers built their entire season last year on their tremendously strong home form & Sam Allardyce will certainly want to ensure they repeat that this season so we expect Blackburn to be fully pumped for this one & start the season with a rousing home performance.

David Moyes knows that Everton missed out on a chance of finishing any higher last season because of their horrendous start to the season but he has stated that this is the best squad he has ever had & we are expecting Everton to hit the ground running as well here.

This looks certain to be incredibly competitive, physically intense & it’s a tough call to make given Blackburn’s home form & Everton’s fantastic ability to win tight away games and we cannot honestly split them for this one so the value appears to lie in backing a scoring draw in this one & both managers will be happy with that.
Betting Recommendations:
outright match result: DRAW
Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2
First Goalscorer Each way/Players to score anytime: Cahill/Saha/Dunn
Scorecast options: Cahill/Saha/Dunn score 1st & 1-1/2-2
Double Result: DRAW H/T & F/T

Bolton vs Fulham – (Saturday 3.00pm)

Owen Coyle starts his first full season in charge of Bolton looking to take them higher up the league table and away from relegation trouble while Mark Hughes now has the task of looking to take Fulham higher than their 12th position from last season so there is everything to play for & both teams will want a positive start here.

Both Owen Coyle & Mark Hughes have stated the importance of getting off to a good, positive start by getting points on the board & building confidence within the team so we certainly believe both teams will look to be positive here but also cautious of not losing and that might ultimately be the deciding factor.

Should be a good game to watch as both managers like to play a fairly open, positive game and either side are capable of winning this but neither side will want to lose on the first day & a scoring draw appeals as a value bet in a match which looks to close to call.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: DRAW
Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Davies/Zamora/Taylor
Scorecast options: Davies/Zamora/Taylor score 1st & 1-1/2-2
Double Result: DRAW H/T & F/T

Aston Villa vs West Ham United – (Saturday 3.00pm)

Aston Villa, a team with no manager after Martin O’Neill’s departure playing at home against West Ham United a team with Avran Grant taking over as their new manager, two good footballing sides but anything possible in terms of the outcome.

Martin O’Neill will be the story with regards to this fixture & even though he has left, all the talk will concentrate on why he left & who will replace him and the game itself will become secondary to everything to all of that so it’s a tough call to make.

Of course the Aston Villa players will want a positive start to the season & to go for a home win but surely the exit of Martin O’Neill has had a massive impact on team morale & indeed concentration within the Aston Villa squad and this may just be the case of getting this game out of the way & then see what comes in the next few weeks.

For West Ham United & Avram Grant, this game is all about getting off to a positive start & they may well now feel that they have a greater chance of winning this game & improve team confidence but at the same time nobody knows how the players will come together in Avram Grant’s first game in charge.

Too much guesswork involved to recommend any serious punts on this match & it really is a very tough call, tempted to go with an away win for West Ham United because of the prices but we just feel that a scoring draw looks the safest call and I think that will ultimately suit everybody involved.

One very interesting statistics that adds weight to the appeal of the draw is that 15 of the 30 Premier League games played between Aston Villa & West Ham United have finished in draws & that statistic does make the price for the draw look fantastic value.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match result: DRAW
Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Cole/Piquionne/Noble
Scorecast options: Cole/Piquionne/Noble score 1st & 1-1/2-2
Double Result: West Ham H/T & DRAW F/T

Wigan vs Blackpool – (Saturday 3.00pm)

Might seem crazy to talk about relegation battles & so called ’6 pointers’ on the opening day of the season but unquestionably both Wigan & Blackpool are rated relegation contenders and for both sides this must be seen as a winnable game so should be entertaining.

Wigan were completely unpredictable last season with the only consistent factors their inconsistency & their determination to stick to their passing football which has to be admired in a way but does lead to their own downfall.

Ian Holloway is a fantastic, lively character who looks made for this type of job with everybody in the football world expecting Blackpool to be relegated but while Holloway will fear that, he won’t let that show & we are expecting a real roller coaster ride from him this season & that will be reflected in how Blackpool play.

The local derby element adds another level to this fixture & so everybody connected will be pumped up for it so there could be a few goals but we are taking Wigan to start the season with a home win & get 3 incredibly valuable points on the board.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: WIGAN to win
Correct Score options: Wigan to win 2-1/3-1
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score 1st: Rodallega/N’Zogbia/Boselli
Scorecast options: Rodallega/N’Zogbia/Boselli score 1st & Wigan win 2-1/3-1
Double Result: Wigan H/T & F/T

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Stoke City – (Saturday 3.00pm)

Mick McCarthy versus Tony Pulis, two vastly experienced managers who have done fantastic jobs to keep their teams in the Premier League & two managers even more determined than ever to keep that going this season so should be a real battle this one.

Very much a clash of styles here with Wolves playing a more passing based football, organised & direct at times but based essentially on passing the ball around and now they have Steven Fletcher & Kevin Doyle up front as a strike partnership that may well add something to their game because they did lack goals.

Stoke City have used a tried & tested template of team spirit, solid organisation, physical power & a determination to do their best at all times and that has seen them first survive & then thrive in the Premier League with last seasons 11th place finish proof of that.

Wolves have the target of trying to improve, move up the table & avoid another nervous relegation scrap while Stoke City have to at least maintain or even build on their 11th place finish so they will both be looking for a positive start here & that will make for a tight, competitive game in our view.

It really is a close, tight call to decide who can win & to be honest it is hard to rule out any of the three possible outcomes but we are going to take a chance on Stoke City starting off with an away win as they look the value bet in what is essentially a coin flip.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: Stoke City win
Correct Score options: Stoke City 1-0/2-0
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Jones/Etherington/Fuller
Scorecast options: Jones/Etherington/Fuller score 1st & Stoke City win 1-0/2-0
Double Result: Stoke City H/T & F/T

Sunderland vs Birmingham City – (Saturday 3.00pm)

There are tough calls & then there are really tough calls and we really do believe this game falls into the latter of those two categories with Sunderland & Birmingham City hard to split in this one.

Sunderland where two different teams last season, fantastically solid & strong at home, with only the very best sides getting anything there and yet Sunderland where exactly the opposite away from home.

So home form is likely to be the main factor again this season & Steve Bruce will definitely want to get started with 3 points at home but that has to be depend on whether main player & goalscorer Darren Bent is fit or not.

A fit Darren Bent will be a massive threat to Birmingham City & he scored so many goals at home last season that the whole Sunderland team & crowd will be so much more confident & potent with him in the side but if he is not then Sunderland may struggle for goals with Kenwyn Jones now left.

With regards to Birmingham City, then they were absolutely fantastic with their organisation & resolution taking them to a well deserved 9th place finish but the pressure is now on to maintain that very high standard.

How Birmingham City deal with that pressure will be the absolute key & Alex McCleish will want to start with a positive result here to banish the negative thoughts inflicted by Birmingham City’s poor finish to last season.

Really is a tough game to call that depends on Darren Bent’s fitness & participation, if he is fit then Sunderland can edge it, if he is not then it could well be a low scoring draw & on balance it might pay to side with a low scoring draw as the value bet.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: DRAW
Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2
First Goalscorer each way/Players to score anytime: Bent/Jerome/Richardson
Scorecast options: Bent/Jerome/Richardson score 1st & 1-1/2-2
Double Result: DRAW H/T & F/T

Chelsea vs West Bromwich Albion – (Saturday 5.30pm)

Chelsea, Reigning Premier League champions, scorers of 103 league goals last season & holding a fantastic home record welcome newly promoted West Brom with former Chelsea player Roberto Di Matteo as manager and this should be a fascinating game of good football.

Roberto Di Matteo could not have wished for a tougher opening day fixture than Chelsea away but at the same time he may view this as the perfect time to play Chelsea so it will be fascinating to see how West Brom approach this match because that could well be the deciding factor.

If West Brom go into this game believing they can just take Chelsea on with positive, attacking football then Chelsea will surely be too good for them but also defending deep will not work either so Roberto Di Matteo really does need to find that balance that to be honest most teams struggle to find against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

With regards to Chelsea, then given all the negative press surrounding the club & general feeling of apathy towards them you would think that they have lost all their best players & they are on the slide but that could not be further from the truth.

Yes good players have left but the impact they were having on the Chelsea team was becoming less important & in our view the biggest factor for Chelsea is the return of Michael Essien, a truly world class midfielder who has excels in every department, physically strong, powerful, good tackler, good passer, dynamic & overall a massively positive impact player for Chelsea.

Chelsea certainly don’t lose home games & they usually win them quite comfortably and that is what we expect from this one, perhaps not an onslaught but Chelsea really do look a rock solid bet to win this & get a few goals to kick of their season.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match result: Chelsea to win
Correct Score options: Chelsea to win 2-0/3-0
First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Lampard/Drogba/Anelka
Scorecast options: Lampard/Drogba/Anelka score 1st & Chelsea win 2-0/3-0
Double Result: CHELSEA H/T & F/T

Liverpool vs Arsenal – (Sunday 4.00pm)

It really is incredible how the fixture list creator works, producing the massive Tottenham vs Manchester City fixture on the saturday & then stepping up a few levels for this mammoth clash of Liverpool vs Arsenal that should be a game to savour.

The Tottenham vs Manchester City fixture is a massive fixture in terms of modern football but Liverpool vs Arsenal is a true heavy-weight clash that has great history & importance attached to it and this game will be no different as both teams look to build again & progress towards success.

Roy Hodgson has taken over in the management hot seat at Liverpool & we expect him to be the right man at the right time, with his vast experience & knowledge a vital element in getting Liverpool back on the track to where they belong, amongst the elites of the game.

Roy Hodgson success at Fulham was based on being very strong & incredibly hard to beat at home and we expect much the same with Liverpool this season and another key element is a good, solid start so we expect Liverpool to be strong in this game.

Arsene Wenger’s task for this season is to try & get that extra improvement & level of consistency that will take Arsenal from challengers to winners again and again the key for them will be to get off to a fast, positive start in the league.

Arsenal’s mentality in terms of approach to games never changes & we expect Arsenal to go into this game with a very positive, attack minded approach & with the belief they will win.

Reina, Gerrard, Carragher & Joe Cole against Fabregas, Van Persie, Chamakh, Nasri & Walcott, this game really does set up quality against quality and it should prove to be fascinating game with anything possible but neither side will want to lose & ultimately an entertaining scoring draw appeals most.

The draw is the biggest price of the three possible outcomes & as we expect Liverpool & Arsenal to be positive, a scoring draw looks the most sensible play & the one the outcome that offers the best betting value.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match Result: DRAW
Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2
First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Gerrard/Van Persie/Arshavin
Scorecast options: Gerrard/Van Persie/Arshavin score 1st & 1-1/2-2
Double Result: DRAW H/T & F/T

Manchester United vs Newcastle United – (Monday 8.00pm)

Sky Sports have made a big splash about bringing back Monday Night Football & they have decided to kick things off with this intriguiging clash of Manchester United & Newcastle United, old Premier League foes from the past but now on a very different level.

Manchester United & Newcastle United actually met on the opening day a couple of seasons ago, the last time Newcastle United where in the Premier League, but since then Manchester United have won one league & finished 2nd in the other while Newcastle United got relegated & then won promotion straight back.

The clashes between these two sides always had a real energy & entertaining edge to them, with goals usually in plentiful supply & usually it was Manchester United who dominated the goalscoring although Newcastle United had a few memorable victories including a 5-0 thrashing so this definitely should be a game well worth watching.

The clear aim for Manchester United this season is to retain the league while Newcastle United’s aim will be to survive but the two managers, Sir Alex Ferguson & Chris Hughton, both believe in being organised & positive so this should be a decent game of football.

In terms of how we think the game will go then we expect Manchester United to win & win comfortably in the end given their incredible strength at home & the obvious difference in quality of players compared to Newcastle United but that said, it should be a game with a good tempo & Newcastle United will do their best to have a go.

The fact it is a night game also adds something extra to it because the atmosphere at night matches & especially games likes this always seems so much better and that will be guaranteed with thousands of Geordie’s intent on having their passionate say but ultimately it could be Wayne Rooney having the final say & continue his fine scoring record against Newcastle.

So we are going for Rooney to call the tune for Manchester United & to upset the Toon by getting the goals to get Manchester United’s title campaign off & running with a home win.
Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match result: Manchester United to win
Correct Score options: Manchester United to win 2-0/3-0
First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Rooney/Valencia/Nani
Scorecast options: Rooney/Valencia/Nani score 1st & Manchester United win 2-0/3-0
Double Result: Manchester United H/T & F/T

Those are our own views on this weekends games in the Premier League, the betting recommendations provide choices & hopefully they will give you a few punting ideas & guide you towards punting success but whatever bets you have, we wish you all the best of luck.

Ante-post Portfolio for the Premier League 2010/11 season

The new Premier League season kicks off this weekend & we have already posted our team by team views for the forthcoming Premier League season and predicted where we think all the teams will finish in the table come the end of the season.

In this piece were are going to highlight the bets we feel offer most value & interest for this Premier League season.

Hopefully these recommendations will guide you towards successful punts, we gave a very confident vote to CHELSEA to win the title last season + successful match bet & handicap tips so we are aiming for more of the same this time:

Ante-post Premier League bets:

OUTRIGHT WINNERS:- We have already highlighted CHELSEA as our pick in our early ante-post thoughts section & we are going to stick with Carlo Ancelotti’s men to once again deliver the top prize in english domestic football.

Chelsea are the reigning Premier League champions & are in our view, the team to aim at & the team to beat in this seasons title race and nothing that we have seen develop over the summer gives us any real reason to think any differently.

It is fact that Frank Lampard & John Terry, two vastly experience players & key to what Chelsea do come into this season with the added pressure of failure with England in the World Cup but in our view that should have very little impact on what they do for Chelsea in club football.

At Chelsea & within the Chelsea squad, Frank Lampard & John Terry are regarded & greatly respected by their team mates & being back amongst them will inspire them to give their best & do their best.

It is true that Chelsea have had a poor pre-season in terms results & performances but we can’t ever remember a title being won or lost during pre-season, and once the season gets fully up & running we expect Chelsea to once again set the standards for every other team to aim at.

It is true that players such as Michael Ballack, Joe Cole, Balletti & Deco have already left Chelsea and now we hear that Carvahlo is on is way as well and people have reacted to that by saying Chelsea are much weaker without those players but we really don’t see it that way.

Of those group of players, only Ricardo Carvahlo played a signficant, lengthy part in Chelsea’s incredible success last season & if those players had contributed more & where deemed valuable they would have been kept, the fact Ancelotti feels they can go surely says it all.

The major positive for Chelsea is that Michael Essien is back fit & healthy, Essien is a truly world class midfield powerhouse with technique, eye for goal who drives Chelsea on & makes it easier for the likes of Drogba, Lampard, Anelak & Malouda to do their best.

A full season of Michael Essien giving his best will be much more valuable than anything either Ballack, Deco or Joe Cole offered and in our view will make Chelsea much stronger & even harder to beat than they are now.

Chelsea have the proven experience, proven quality, a winning mentality & a proven, experience manager who knows how to handle pressure and how to respond to criticism and in our view makes CHELSEA the team they all have to beat & our solid tip to win retain the Premier League.
There is no doubt that the Premier League title race will certainly be that again & ultimately we believe CHELSEA will prevail from Manchester United & Arsenal in third, they are the 3 top class & strongest teams in the Premier League and it could well pay to do the Premier League forecast of Chelsea/Man United & the tricast of Chelsea/Man United/Arsenal, something to think about anyway.
 

TOP GOALSCORERS:- The Top Goalscorer market is always an incredibly fascinating & interesting market to assess because there are so many top class strikers who are all capable of getting the goals that gives them a chance to win the Golden Boot.

The good news for punters is that most bookmakers pay each way on the first 4 goalscorers & so we believe it makes perfect sense to cover your options and go for 4 each way plays and our 4 picks are:

DIDIER DROGBA:- No award for originality here but then again no reason to ignore the rock solid claims of last years Golden Boot winner & a full, injury free season will see DROGBA score 25+ league goals without too much fuss in our opinion, looks certain to be in the top 4 barring a lengthy injury because he will play when fit

WAYNE ROONEY:- Again no award for originality by selecting Rooney although we must admit to considering leaving him out but impossible to leave him out he looks certain to score the 25+ league goals and again that will put him safely in the top 4 because he will play when fit

JERMAIN DEFOE:- We tipped Jermain Defoe last season at a cracking 25/1 and that looked a rocking bet for quite a while as Defoe was banging in the goals for fun but then a lengthy injury put paid to that, but he will be fresh this season & hopefully the boost of being England’s only real positive in the World Cup should give him extra confidence and being Tottenham’s main striker will ensure he gets plenty of games & goals.

CARLOS TEVEZ:- Absolute sensation for Manchester City last season & in our view one of the few player who will be guaranteed to play for Manchester City when fit, unquestionably Manchester City’s best striker & main goal threat which should give him an excellent chance to get the goals needed for this & looks a certainty for 20+ goals.
We believe those four strikers represent a rock solid set of value each way bets & they should all give you a very good run for your money over the course of the season.
 

SEASON MATCH BETTING:- Now this market is a very simple one, Team A vs Team B and all you have to do is nominate one to beat the other, no other teams are involved in the bet.

The match bets we like in the Premier League are:

ARSENAL to beat Manchester City – ARSENAL had an 8 point advantage over Manchester City last season & believe they are good value to finish above Manchester City again this season, we have predicted Arsenal to get at least 3rd while Man City to finish 5th so no sense in going against that view.

TOTTENHAM to beat Manchester City – We highlighted the same bet last season at a cracking price of 7/2 & we genuinely believe the same bet is on again this season, TOTTENHAM are a better organised team in our opinion & have every chance of once again finishing above Manchester City

TOTTENHAM to beat Liverpool – This bet looks an absolute banker to us, Tottenham had 7 points in hand of Liverpool last season & we see know reason why that gap should close this year

FULHAM to beat Birmingham City – Only 4 points seperated these 2 last season & while we have massive respect for what Birmingham City did, they will do well to repeat that this year & FULHAM have great scope to improve past Birmingham City without the pressures of european football & with Mark Hughes to drive them on.

SUNDERLAND to beat Newcastle United – We have got Sunderland to finish in or around 10th and Newcastle United to just about avoid relegation so this seems a certainty to us, Newcastle United will really have to go some to finish ahead of Sunderland & we just can’t see it

EVERTON to beat Aston Villa – EVERTON have a great manager, a solid, talented squad who know where they are going & how to get there while Aston Villa have been rocked to the core by the exit of Martin O’Neill & surely it will take some effort by the new manager to do as well as O’Neill, EVERTON should prove too strong for Aston Villa this season.
Those are the best value match bets in our opinion & indeed they are interesting bets that provide a different way of looking at the league and it could well pay to combine those bets in a multiple for the season.
 

HANDICAP BETTING:- In the Handicap betting market the task is to try to assess which teams will win the Premier League with their handicap mark taken into account – what this means is each team is awarded a handicap mark at the start of the season & then at the end of the season that points mark is added to the final official points total & the team with the highest total wins.

Just as is the case with the Top Goalscorer market, the bookmakers generally offer each way terms on First Four in the Handicap so we are going to nominate 4 Handicap runners as it where to hopefully provide cover for the season:

TOTTENHAM (+17 points) - TOTTENHAM finished 16 points behind the league winners last season & would have landed our tip for them to win the Handicap last season had they not lost their final match after being in the lead. Tottenham look set to have another fantastic season this year & we so no reason why they won’t be serious challenges for a top 4 place in the Handicap market with a start of +17 points.

EVERTON (+22 points) - EVERTON finished 25 points behind last season and that includes a desperate start to last season so we believe that a more solid start this season will give them every chance of at least being in the top 4 for the handicap market & their start of 22 points gives them every chance of winning.

STOKE CITY (+ 39 points) - Our tip for STOKE CITY is based on the fact we expect them to be around mid table on at least the 50 point mark & that added to their start of 39 points will put them right in the mix for the Handicap 1st prize

FULHAM (+ 39 points) - Same logic behind tipping FULHAM as there is tipping STOKE, we expect Mark Hughes to inspire Fulham to at least the 50 point mark & that combined with their 39 points start gives them every chance of being in the top 4

Summary of Betting Recommendations:

Premier League Outright Winners:- CHELSEA, Forecast: CHELSEA/MAN UNITED, TRICAST: CHELSEA/MAN UNITED/ARSENAL

Top Goalscorer Market (each way): DROGBA, ROONEY, DEFOE & TEVEZ

SEASON MATCH BETTING:- ARSENAL to beat Man City, TOTTENHAM to beat Man City, TOTTENHAM to beat Liverpool, FULHAM to beat Birmingham City
SUNDERLAND to beat Newcastle United, EVERTON to beat Aston Villa

HANDICAP BETTING:- TOTTENHAM, EVERTON, STOKE CITY & FULHAM all each way

Well those are our own, honest views of the bets that we believe offer the best value in all the major ante-post market for the Premier League, hopefully you find this of interest & use to you but we do recommend that you shop around for the best offers & terms and of course wish you all the best for the season ahead.