as great as we are, we tipsters gotta eat too

Saturday, May 24, 2008

ROMA vs INTER (COPPA ITALIA)

<2.25> <2.88> <2.98>

simply put. you don't often get 2.98 for inter milan to win. why it's so high, is primarily because roma are at home, with the game being held at stadio olimpico. BUT they are without francesco totti, cancelling out the mini-injury crisis at inter. ibrahimovic is back, and ibrahimovic will score.

- Eddy's prediction: $5 on inter @ 2.98 = $14.90

Sorry Eddy, I'll disagree. Apparently, Ibrahimovic is definitely out of this match, and Inter will be without Materazzi and Julio Cruz who are suspended, adding to Inter's long injury list. Roma don't have many injury problems other than Totti. I'd back Roma to win because they triumphed 6-2 over Inter last season at Stadio Olimpico, and I fully expect Roma to do the same this time round.

- Roland's prediction: $5 on Roma @ 2.25 = $11.25



BALESTIER KHALSA vs TAMPINES ROVERS (S-LEAGUE)

<4.55> <3.30> <1.65>

balestier head into this game on the back of a very encouraging run, holding teams like geylang, gombak and super reds to draws, while the outstanding win against home united will probably live long in the memory. tampines seem to have recovered well from the 5-0 thumping dished out by the super reds, beating home united and gombak. i see tampines having the edge here, even if a defensive crisis has forced singaporean international mustafic fahrudin into central defence. rafi ali is a seasoned campaigner, and i see him utilising his guile to full effect here, against a willing but naive balestier khalsa defence.

- Eddy's prediction: $5 on tampines @ 1.65 = $8.25

BRISTOL vs HULL (CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS)

<2.77> <3.10> <2.25>

both teams have defied all the odds to reach this stage, disposing of watford and crystal palace, way more established sides. hull have never been in the premiership, and they won't get a better chance. in this match-up i just feel, quality will shine through, and hull have the better side, i reckon. they boast the likes of the evergreen dean windass, frazier campbell, caleb folan, and nick barmby. bristol probably only have mcindoe to boast about. hull to win, cos i believe in fairy tale endings, and what better way for it to happen than for dean windass to win promotion at 39 years old, for his hometown club?


- Eddy's prediction: $5 on hull @ 2.25 = $11.25

Both teams have no injury concerns and will be at full strength. However, what I feel will be the deciding factors would be: 1) Man Utd loanee Fraizer Campbell has really impressed and done very well in the championship. He's quick, fast and two footed and will really trouble the Bristol City defence. 2) Hull City have never ever been in the premiership and will be more amped up for this match than Bristol City are. 3) Hull City have been the better side compared to Bristol City.

- Roland's prediction: $5 on Hull City @ 2.25 = $11.25

Friday, May 23, 2008

WOODLANDS vs SUPER REDS (S-LEAGUE)

<4.60> <3.50> <1.60>

frankly, this is a game pitting two very good sides together, and i would normally not bet on such games, given their unpredictability. however, as this game will be shown live on channel 5 tonight, it is always fun to have a little wager on the game, to enhance the watching experience. super reds are the arsenal of the s-league, playing quick one-two football, and dazzling fans with their athleticism and flair. woodlands boast a potentially devastating strikeforce which is surprisingly muted this season, mainly due to laakkad being off-form. park tae won is still brilliant though, and i rate him as one of the stars of the s-league. in this game though, i'm going for a super reds victory, even if the opinion on the betting floor is that woodlands should be backed here. the odds are tempting, but i think super reds have too much quality to not win this one.

- Eddy's prediction: $5 on super reds @ 1.60 = $8.00

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

MANCHESTER UNITED vs CHELSEA (UEFA CL)

<2.30> <2.70> <3.10>

manu should be on a high heading into this one, considering they have after all, just won the epl for the second time in a row. however, i think that at the back of their heads, they fear chelsea. with most of the squad heading off in different directions, i see this as being the last hurrah for chelsea. in any case, both teams are very even, and any of the three outcomes (manu win, chelsea win, draw) could happen. as such, i see 3.10 being outstanding value for chelsea to triumph in 90min. also, everyone has predicted this as a tight game with few goals. however, i think that this match has the potential to be a firecracker, with goals from both sides, as the quality on show is truly amazing. over 2.5 is a good shot, especially considering the odds. another bet u can try is ronaldo notching the first goal in the game. he is an oustanding and very selfish goalscorer, and as such, odds of 5.oo are unignorable for him.

- Eddy's prediction: $5 on chelsea @ 3.10 = $15.50
$5 on SPECIAL total goals over 2.5 @ 2.55 = $12.75
$5 on SPECIAL ronaldo to be first goalscorer @ 5.00 = $25.00

I think that I'll have to disagree with Eddy on this one. Sir Alex Ferguson will want to secure a second Champions League trophy and will play it cagey in this one. Chelsea's players will be slightly overawed by the occasion, but still very amped up for this one as it's the first time that Chelsea is in the Champions League final. I expect a very cagey match from both teams as both do not want to lose. I think experience counts a lot in this one and I think Man Utd just have the edge and will win in the end. Ronaldo @ 5.00 is also unignorable as Cashley Cole seems to have been injured by Makelele during training, and we all know how Cashley Cole has stopped Ronaldo in recent matches. Without Cashley Cole, I doubt Bridge can handle Ronnie well.

- Roland's prediction: $10 on Man Utd eventual champions @ 1.75 = $17.50
$5 on SPECIAL Ronaldo first goalscorer @ 5.00 = $25.00

SENGKANG vs YOUNG LIONS (S-LEAGUE)

<4.20> <3.15> <1.75>

sengkang, as usual, are underdogs for this one. they have only scored two goals all season, a shocking statistic, considering s-league defences are not the tightest. the young lions still have possession of khairul amri, who is vital to their chances in any game. firdaus salleh is suspended for this match, meaning sengkang will have to battle really hard in the middle, without his commanding (relative to rest of team) presence. i see lions doing it.

- Eddy's prediction: $5 on young lions @ 1.75 = $8.75

Monday, May 19, 2008

BALESTIER KHALSA vs GEYLANG UNITED (S-LEAGUE)

<3.60> <3.15> <1.87>

both teams head into this one after being knocked out of the singapore cup by the two favourites, geylang and saffc. prior to cup games, balestier were on a 3-match unbeaten run, drawing with gombak and super reds, while sensationally beating home united. that set of results is fantastic for a side battling not to finish last. geylang, on the other hand, were unlucky in their last league outing to lose 3-2 to saffc, while their cup exit was also a painful one, where they fought hard against super reds, but ultimately lost in extra time. in truth, this could go either way, but i see geylang's quality telling in the end, so i'm rooting for geylang in this one.

- Eddy's prediction: $5 on geylang @ 1.87 = $9.35

Sunday, May 18, 2008

CATANIA vs ROMA (SERIE A)

<6.50> <3.65> <1.43>

Roma need a win to have a chance to steal the title, provided Inter lose or draw to Parma. Catania need a point to definitely ensure their survival in the league, although a loss would not matter if Parma and Empoli both drop points to Inter and Livorno respectively. For Roma, Juan will come back to the centre of defence and together with Mexes, they have been pretty solid all season. Other than the fact that their travelling supporters are banned, Roma have no fresh injury concerns. While some may point to the 1-1 draw in the Italian Cup when Roma visited Catania, Roma did dominate the match and if not for some brilliant saves from Bizzarri Roma could have won it very convincingly. Roma have the impetus in this match and I see them winning.

- Roland's prediction: $5 on Roma @ 1.43 = $7.15

PARMA vs INTERNAZIONALE (SERIE A)

<5.80> 4.00> <1.42>

inter head into this match with the title on the line. three weeks ago, they looked to be in total command, but a loss to ac "flamini-poacher" milan, and then a disastrous draw with siena has left their title hopes hanging on a thread, with roma waiting to pounce. good news on the injury front for inter, as swedish striker zlatan ibrahimovic is back from a six-week layoff. parma are missing influential midfielder daniele dessena, and as such, i see parma getting relegated, and inter winning this match. on top of that, roma do not look likely to win, as they are being forced to travel without their away fans, for safety concerns.

- Eddy's prediction: $5 on inter @ 1.42 = $7.10
$5 on A-A on HT-FT selection @ 2.05 = $10.25
$10 on inter to win serie a @ 1.27 = $12.70

I would not be so confidedent about Inter. Ibrahimovic is set to make the bench because he isn't match fit. Maxwell is apparently out with the flu, and Cambiasso is out. Inter's fans have also been, like Roma's, banned from the opposition's stadium. As we've witnessed last week in the relegation dogfight, strange things happen, and Parma are in need of a win to secure their 19th year running in the Serie A. However, Parma have conceded the most goals in the Serie A and I think that Inter have enough in them to clinch the title.

- Roland's prediction: $5 on Inter @ 1.42 = $7.10
$10 on Inter to win Serie A @ 1.27 = $12.70