Blackpool have been a breath of fresh air this season, not least for the crazy bumpkin manager Ian Holloway but for their at time kamikaze gung-ho attacking play. The tangerines travel down this weekend to face leaky West Ham in a game that has goals written all over it in 10 foot tall neon letters. The Hammers have gone overs in around 65% of all home games, whereas Blackpool have been overs in 10 out of 12 games this season. Neither team can defend to save their lives and with the home team having to win this game, expect an attacking outlook. The bookies have it pegged at a 2.14 for over 3 goals (basically we lose if 2 or less goals, draw if 3 goals and win if 4 goals or more) and I am having a piece of that!

My perennial fave team this year Bolton, continue to look under-rated by the bookies and look value once again as they travel to Molineux to face Wolves. Bolton have been beaten only twice this season by Arsenal and Liverpool despite a very tricky set of games so far. I make the chance of a draw or Bolton win to be around 55 to 60%, which equates to odds of about 1.74. The bookies are offering me 1.91 with Stan James on them with a +0.25 Asian Handicap so there is clear value there.

Elsewhere I also fancy 3 teams who are strong at home in the form of Everton, Stoke and Aston Villa to win for me this weekend.

Villa have been beaten only once at home by a top 8 team and conversely United have won only 3 games away against the top 8 since the 09/10 season. A United away win I rate at between 30 – 40% chance here and considering the likes of Scholes, Rooney & Giggs are out they may struggle to break Villa down. I’m taking the +0.5 Asian Handicap on Villa at 2.14 with 12Bet as I make the true odds of this to be around 2.0.

Everton have been playing well with little reward lately as they can’t find the back of the net but stats show their dominance in matches. Historically under David Moyes, Everton have a formidable home record and Arsenal will do well to win here so the +0.5 on Everton at 1.78 from 188bet appeals.

Finally Stoke have endured a very tough run of games, not helped by some very dodgy referees decisions and they host a tired looking Liverpool who look to be feeling the effects of having such a small squad. Stoke are notoriously difficult to break down and only lost at home to the top 4 teams last season. I am taking the +0.5 Asian Handicap again on the home outfit at 1.88 with Stan James.

Main Bets
1 pt Over 3 goals – West Ham V Blackpool. 2.14 10Bet
1 pt Bolton (+0.25 AH) V Wolves. 1.91 Stan James
1 pt Villa (+0.5 AH) V Man Utd. 2.14 12Bet
1 pt Everton (+0.5 AH) V Arsenal. 1.78 188bet
1 pt Stoke (+0.5 AH) V Liverpool. 1.88 Stan James

Shortlist Bets
None

Whatever you bet on, good luck!

Mike

A full midweek fixture list in the Premier League and my best value bet is over at White Hart Lane where Spurs take on Sunderland on Tuesday night. Two teams with totally contrasting form at home and on the road, with Redknapp’s charges winning 9 out of 13 games against ‘bottom 12’ opposition since the 09/10 season. Sunderland are woeful away from home losing 15 out of 23 games and I’m taking the 1.83 on Spurs to overcome a -0.75 Asian Handicap with Bet365.

Over at Molineux I am also backing Spurs’ North London rivals Arsenal to overcome a -1 Asian Handicap at 2.14 with 188bet. I don’t seem to be able to call Arsene Wengers team right recently but the odds on them winning by at least a goal look value against a Wolves team on a very difficult run of form. If Arshavin & Van Persie play, along with Fabregas & Walcott I think we could see goals here against a Wolves team who maybe a bit flat after recent losses.

I also foresee plenty of action up at St James Park where Blackburn travel to an in-form Newcastle side who look to have plenty of goals in them. Blackburn’s games see over 2.5 goals away from home around 55% of the time and with Newcastle hitting their straps recently, the 2.04 on overs with SBObet equates to a 49% chance. Not huge value but worth a small bet.

Finally my last main bet is on Stoke to overcome a -0.25 Asian Handicap at 1.85 with Pinnacle against a Birmingham side who are poor travellers. At home they have won 8 and drawn 4 out of the last 14 games against bottom 12 teams and Tony Pulis will have them targeting 3 points here. They have been unlucky with lots of referee decisions lately and this looks too big a price for what will be a tough game for Birmingham.

Main Bets
1.5 pt Spurs (-0.75 AH) V Sunderland. 1.83 Bet365
1 pt Arsenal (-1 AH) V Wolves. 2.14 188bet
1 pt Over 2.5 goals Newcastle V Blackburn 2.04 SBObet
1 pt Stoke (-0.25 AH) V Birmingham. 1.85 Pinnacle

Shortlist Bets
1 pt West Ham (0.25 AH) V West Brom. 2.08 SBObet
1 pt Over 2.5 goals Stoke V Birmingham. 2.33 SBObet

Whatever you bet on, good luck!

Mike

A full midweek fixture list in the Premier League and my best value bet is over at White Hart Lane where Spurs take on Sunderland on Tuesday night. Two teams with totally contrasting form at home and on the road, with Redknapp’s charges winning 9 out of 13 games against ‘bottom 12’ opposition since the 09/10 season. Sunderland are woeful away from home losing 15 out of 23 games and I’m taking the 1.83 on Spurs to overcome a -0.75 Asian Handicap with Bet365.

Over at Molineux I am also backing Spurs’ North London rivals Arsenal to overcome a -1 Asian Handicap at 2.14 with 188bet. I don’t seem to be able to call Arsene Wengers team right recently but the odds on them winning by at least a goal look value against a Wolves team on a very difficult run of form. If Arshavin & Van Persie play, along with Fabregas & Walcott I think we could see goals here against a Wolves team who maybe a bit flat after recent losses.

I also foresee plenty of action up at St James Park where Blackburn travel to an in-form Newcastle side who look to have plenty of goals in them. Blackburn’s games see over 2.5 goals away from home around 55% of the time and with Newcastle hitting their straps recently, the 2.04 on overs with SBObet equates to a 49% chance. Not huge value but worth a small bet.

Finally my last main bet is on Stoke to overcome a -0.25 Asian Handicap at 1.85 with Pinnacle against a Birmingham side who are poor travellers. At home they have won 8 and drawn 4 out of the last 14 games against bottom 12 teams and Tony Pulis will have them targeting 3 points here. They have been unlucky with lots of referee decisions lately and this looks too big a price for what will be a tough game for Birmingham.

Main Bets
1.5 pt Spurs (-0.75 AH) V Sunderland. 1.83 Bet365
1 pt Arsenal (-1 AH) V Wolves. 2.14 188bet
1 pt Over 2.5 goals Newcastle V Blackburn 2.04 SBObet
1 pt Stoke (-0.25 AH) V Birmingham. 1.85 Pinnacle

Shortlist Bets
1 pt West Ham (0.25 AH) V West Brom. 2.08 SBObet
1 pt Over 2.5 goals Stoke V Birmingham. 2.33 SBObet

Whatever you bet on, good luck!

Mike

Once again we venture to the Reebok stadium for one of my main bets this weekend as Owen Coyle’s men face a resurgent Spurs, fresh from taking Inter Milan apart on Tuesday. Despite all the hype surrounding Spurs, I am siding with the home team again, where you can get 1.84 with SBOBet on them with a +0.25 Asian Handicap. Bolton are a strong team on their own patch and were very unlucky to lose last Sunday so I expect them to get at least a draw here, all things being equal.

Bolton’s victors last Sunday were Liverpool, who have flattered to deceive of late and face a real test up against a very slick Chelsea outfit. I was surprised to see odds of 2.15 on Ancelotti’s charges to win at Anfield as that represents a 46% chance of them winning, which I feel undervalues them. I don’t expect the Liverpool back line to cope well with the likes of Malouda, Anelka and Drogba in their current form and it would be no surprise to see the 3 points go to Stamford Bridge.

Sunderland were dire last weekend and everything that could go wrong did as they were taken apart far too easily by local rivals Newcastle. At the Stadium of Light however they are a different proposition and face a Stoke side on a losing run of their own. The price on a home win has gone out to 2.15, which looks to me an over-reaction to one poor performance and I am lumping on.

A couple of shortlist bets as well with a chance taken on City to get back to form at what looks a value price. The same down at Craven Cottage where the over 2.5 goals price is too big, Villa have to start scoring goals soon and Fulham have Dempsey in great form and quality support from the likes of Dembele and Andy Johnson.

Main Bets
1.5 pt Bolton (+0.25 AH) V Spurs. 1.84 SBOBET
1 pt Chelsea to beat Liverpool. 2.15 12Bet
1 pt Sunderland to beat Stoke. 2.15 Unibet

Shortlist Bets
1 pt Man City to beat West Brom 2.17 5Dimes
1 pt Over 2.5 goals – Fulham V Aston Villa. 2.35 Canbet/SBOBET

Whatever you bet on, good luck!

Mike

Once again we venture to the Reebok stadium for one of my main bets this weekend as Owen Coyle’s men face a resurgent Spurs, fresh from taking Inter Milan apart on Tuesday. Despite all the hype surrounding Spurs, I am siding with the home team again, where you can get 1.84 with SBOBet on them with a +0.25 Asian Handicap. Bolton are a strong team on their own patch and were very unlucky to lose last Sunday so I expect them to get at least a draw here, all things being equal.

Bolton’s victors last Sunday were Liverpool, who have flattered to deceive of late and face a real test up against a very slick Chelsea outfit. I was surprised to see odds of 2.15 on Ancelotti’s charges to win at Anfield as that represents a 46% chance of them winning, which I feel undervalues them. I don’t expect the Liverpool back line to cope well with the likes of Malouda, Anelka and Drogba in their current form and it would be no surprise to see the 3 points go to Stamford Bridge.

Sunderland were dire last weekend and everything that could go wrong did as they were taken apart far too easily by local rivals Newcastle. At the Stadium of Light however they are a different proposition and face a Stoke side on a losing run of their own. The price on a home win has gone out to 2.15, which looks to me an over-reaction to one poor performance and I am lumping on.

A couple of shortlist bets as well with a chance taken on City to get back to form at what looks a value price. The same down at Craven Cottage where the over 2.5 goals price is too big, Villa have to start scoring goals soon and Fulham have Dempsey in great form and quality support from the likes of Dembele and Andy Johnson.

Main Bets
1.5 pt Bolton (+0.25 AH) V Spurs. 1.84 SBOBET
1 pt Chelsea to beat Liverpool. 2.15 12Bet
1 pt Sunderland to beat Stoke. 2.15 Unibet

Shortlist Bets
1 pt Man City to beat West Brom 2.17 5Dimes
1 pt Over 2.5 goals – Fulham V Aston Villa. 2.35 Canbet/SBOBET

Whatever you bet on, good luck!

Mike

A busy weekend of bets so I will get straight into it…

Over at the Emirates this weekend I am keen to follow in Arsenal to overcome a -2 Asian Handicap at 1.91 with Paddy Power against what looks a very poor West Ham side. After a recent blip against West Brom, the Gunners have perked up and with Fabregas & Walcott back they look a much more potent team. Arsenal have won by 2 goals or more in 13 out of 16 games against the bottom 12 teams since last season and I expect Robert Green to be a busy man!

Fulham also have a strong home record against the bottom 12 teams and have won 9 out of 12 games against these teams since the 09/10 season. They have had a very tough start to the season but have still drawn against Man Utd and Everton at home, with the only blip a narrow defeat to Spurs because of a very dubious goal. I fancy them at 1.91 with Pinnacle to have too much for a Jekyll and Hyde Wigan outfit.

I am keen to continue to follow in a fave team of mine this season – Bolton, who take on Liverpool who were far from convincing when beating poor travellers Blackburn last week. The trotters have drawn at home with the likes of Man Utd, Fulham & Birmingham and beaten Stoke this season so far and are a very tough not to crack at the Reebok. A draw looks to be the most likely result and I am taking a +0.25 AH on the home team at 1.98 with Ladbrokes.

Blackburn may be terrible on the road but at home they are a completely different proposition and if Samba and Nelson are back in defence, Chelsea will find it hard to break them down. Only Arsenal and Everton have won their in recent teams and then only by the odd goal. Blackburn at 1.95 with a +1.25 Asian Handicap from Betinternet looks value.

I also see value in siding with Sunderland away at inconsistent Newcastle this weekend in the North East derby. The +0.25 AH on them is 2.07 with Betinternet but I am going to include it as a shortlist only due to the complications that such intense derby games can bring.

Main Bets
1.5 pt Arsenal (-2 AH) V West Ham. 1.91 Paddy Power
1 pt Fulham to beat Wigan. 1.91 Pinnacle
1 pt Bolton (+0.25 AH) V Liverpool. 1.98 Ladbrokes
1 pt Blackburn (+1.25 AH) V Chelsea. 1.95 Betinternet

Shortlist Bets
1 pt Sunderland (+0.25 AH) V Newcastle. 2.07 Betinternet

Whatever you bet on, good luck!

Mike

A busy weekend of bets so I will get straight into it…

Over at the Emirates this weekend I am keen to follow in Arsenal to overcome a -2 Asian Handicap at 1.91 with Paddy Power against what looks a very poor West Ham side. After a recent blip against West Brom, the Gunners have perked up and with Fabregas & Walcott back they look a much more potent team. Arsenal have won by 2 goals or more in 13 out of 16 games against the bottom 12 teams since last season and I expect Robert Green to be a busy man!

Fulham also have a strong home record against the bottom 12 teams and have won 9 out of 12 games against these teams since the 09/10 season. They have had a very tough start to the season but have still drawn against Man Utd and Everton at home, with the only blip a narrow defeat to Spurs because of a very dubious goal. I fancy them at 1.91 with Pinnacle to have too much for a Jekyll and Hyde Wigan outfit.

I am keen to continue to follow in a fave team of mine this season – Bolton, who take on Liverpool who were far from convincing when beating poor travellers Blackburn last week. The trotters have drawn at home with the likes of Man Utd, Fulham & Birmingham and beaten Stoke this season so far and are a very tough not to crack at the Reebok. A draw looks to be the most likely result and I am taking a +0.25 AH on the home team at 1.98 with Ladbrokes.

Blackburn may be terrible on the road but at home they are a completely different proposition and if Samba and Nelson are back in defence, Chelsea will find it hard to break them down. Only Arsenal and Everton have won their in recent teams and then only by the odd goal. Blackburn at 1.95 with a +1.25 Asian Handicap from Betinternet looks value.

I also see value in siding with Sunderland away at inconsistent Newcastle this weekend in the North East derby. The +0.25 AH on them is 2.07 with Betinternet but I am going to include it as a shortlist only due to the complications that such intense derby games can bring.

Main Bets
1.5 pt Arsenal (-2 AH) V West Ham. 1.91 Paddy Power
1 pt Fulham to beat Wigan. 1.91 Pinnacle
1 pt Bolton (+0.25 AH) V Liverpool. 1.98 Ladbrokes
1 pt Blackburn (+1.25 AH) V Chelsea. 1.95 Betinternet

Shortlist Bets
1 pt Sunderland (+0.25 AH) V Newcastle. 2.07 Betinternet

Whatever you bet on, good luck!

Mike

It’s been a crazy few weeks in the Premier League, even by its own often sometime ridiculous standards. What with all the lawyers, court cases and offers of 250k a week wages – it all makes me pine for the days when the biggest news of the day was the quality of mullet on offer. Check out some of these beauties for some light relief!  What was Barry Venison thinking!

There may be no mullets on offer at Stamford Bridge this weekend but it does feature my first bet of the weekend where I am very keen on Chelsea to overcome a 2.25 goal Asian Handicap at 2.1 with Bet365. Last season they won 8 of their 11 games against the bottom 12 of the league by 3 goals or more and have already stuck 4 and 6 past West Brom and Blackpool this year. They host a limited Wolves side and I see an easy 3 points here with hopefully lots of goals!

I also want to continue my net-busting bets on Blackpool this weekend where 12bet are offering 1.83 on over 2.5 goals when they visit Birmingham. The home team’s defence has lost the mean look it had last season and Blackpool have gone overs in 7 out of 8 games already. Ian Holloway ended his last game against Man City with 4 strikers on the field, whereas Brum will see this as a must win game and won’t sit back either.

I am quickly picking up some favourite teams for this season and one of these is Bolton who I am backing with a 0.25 Asian Handicap away at Wigan (1.85 Pinnacle). There are two sides going in contrasting directions and I am a fan of Owen Coyle and what he is doing at Bolton, who could be a dark horse this season.

Another quarter ball Asian Handicap for me is on West Brom to overcome Fulham, who continue to have a very poor record on the road. The Cottagers have drawn all 4 games away this season, whereas the Baggies have shown fantastic resilience and plenty of skill by beating Arsenal and drawing with United away recently. I am taking the -0.25 Asian with Canbet & SBObet on the home team at 1.90.

Main Bets
1.5 pt Chelsea (-2.25 AH) V Wolves. 2.1 Bet365
1.5 pt Blackpool V Birmingham. Over 2.5 goals. 1.83 12bet
1 pt Bolton (+0.25 AH) V Wigan. 1.85 Pinnacle
1 pt West Brom (-0.25 AH) V Fulham. 1.90 Canbet, SBOBet

Shortlist Bets
1 pt Man City V Arsenal. Under 2.5 goals. 1.93 Pinnacle/12bet

Whatever you bet on, good luck!

Mike

It’s been a crazy few weeks in the Premier League, even by its own often sometime ridiculous standards. What with all the lawyers, court cases and offers of 250k a week wages – it all makes me pine for the days when the biggest news of the day was the quality of mullet on offer. Check out some of these beauties for some light relief!  What was Barry Venison thinking!

There may be no mullets on offer at Stamford Bridge this weekend but it does feature my first bet of the weekend where I am very keen on Chelsea to overcome a 2.25 goal Asian Handicap at 2.1 with Bet365. Last season they won 8 of their 11 games against the bottom 12 of the league by 3 goals or more and have already stuck 4 and 6 past West Brom and Blackpool this year. They host a limited Wolves side and I see an easy 3 points here with hopefully lots of goals!

I also want to continue my net-busting bets on Blackpool this weekend where 12bet are offering 1.83 on over 2.5 goals when they visit Birmingham. The home team’s defence has lost the mean look it had last season and Blackpool have gone overs in 7 out of 8 games already. Ian Holloway ended his last game against Man City with 4 strikers on the field, whereas Brum will see this as a must win game and won’t sit back either.

I am quickly picking up some favourite teams for this season and one of these is Bolton who I am backing with a 0.25 Asian Handicap away at Wigan (1.85 Pinnacle). There are two sides going in contrasting directions and I am a fan of Owen Coyle and what he is doing at Bolton, who could be a dark horse this season.

Another quarter ball Asian Handicap for me is on West Brom to overcome Fulham, who continue to have a very poor record on the road. The Cottagers have drawn all 4 games away this season, whereas the Baggies have shown fantastic resilience and plenty of skill by beating Arsenal and drawing with United away recently. I am taking the -0.25 Asian with Canbet & SBObet on the home team at 1.90.

Main Bets
1.5 pt Chelsea (-2.25 AH) V Wolves. 2.1 Bet365
1.5 pt Blackpool V Birmingham. Over 2.5 goals. 1.83 12bet
1 pt Bolton (+0.25 AH) V Wigan. 1.85 Pinnacle
1 pt West Brom (-0.25 AH) V Fulham. 1.90 Canbet, SBOBet

Shortlist Bets
1 pt Man City V Arsenal. Under 2.5 goals. 1.93 Pinnacle/12bet

Whatever you bet on, good luck!

Mike

My phone has been buzzing this week with enough Liverpool FC jokes to give Ken Dodd a coronary and the bookies predict there will be little relief for the reds this weekend with Everton clear favourites at a best 2.52 to win the Merseyside derby. I never like betting in these derby games and it’s hard to see a confident edge with even the under 2.5 goals line a very short best priced 1.68 with Expekt. Perhaps a better bet is the 11/5 with Betfair on there to be a red card as some of the challenges regularly seen in this fixture are enough to make even Jackie Chan wince (or Nigel De Jong nod approvingly).

It’s just a short drive down from Goodison to find my first main bet this weekend as Bolton host Stoke at the Reebok where I fancy Owen Coyle’s outfit to take all 3 points. The home team are a much changed outfit no longer hoofing the ball up field at every opportunity (unlike their opponents) wit Continue reading →