as great as we are, we tipsters gotta eat too

Saturday, October 18, 2008

NAPOLI vs JUVENTUS (SERIE A)

Quick tip: Napoli have lost their last 2, and will not lose 3 in a row, especially with this game being at home. Juventus are in a crisis and I think Napoli will get at least a point out of this game.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Napoli level @ 1.750 = $8.75

KARLSRUHE vs BAYERN MUNCHEN (BUNDESLIGA)

bayern munich have not won in their last 3 matches. they HAVE TO WIN tonight. franck ribery is also slowly coming back to form, and this could spell real trouble for karlsruhe, who do not have the best of players. if andreas gorlitz is able to line up against his former club bayern, they might have the smallest of chances to stop ribery, but fortunately, he is doubtful for this match. i think bayern will win this one.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on bayern munchen -0.5/1 @ 1.73 = $8.65

HERTHA BERLIN vs VFB STUTTGART (BUNDESLIGA)

both sides notched impressive victories last week, with hertha beating bayer leverkusen away, and stuttgart smacking werder bremen 4-1. this makes tonight's game tough to call. there's good firepower on both teams, with pantelic and voronin for the berliners, and cacau and mario gomez for stuttgart. i can see stuttgart winning this one to push on further ahead in the table, as thomas hitzlsperger has been in good form, pulling the strings in midfield and releasing super mario, mario gomez frequently. mario gomez is a totally different player from the one you saw at euro 2008, in case you don't follow the bundesliga. the one playing for germany at euro 2008 comes from the same species, but is of a different type. it is commonly referred to as the "mario goal-miss" for a complete lack of finishing inability or the "mario go-where" for his lack of influence in matches. hopefully tonight, it's "mario gomez" who turns up.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on vfb stuttgart level @ 1.95 = $9.95

BOLOGNA vs LAZIO (SERIE A)

zarate and pandev are brilliant. they've combined to score 782 goals already this season, despite it being only october. bologna do have quite a good team actually, but they just haven't clicked yet this season. i see them losing further, before bouncing up the table later on. lazio have the luck of champions, as shown in last week's draw with lecce, where simone inzaghi popped up with a minute left to head home a mourad meghni cross. back lazio tonight.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on lazio -0/0.5 @ 1.88 = $9.40

I agree with Eddy, as I also have money on Lazio.

Roland's prediction: $5 on lazio -0/0.5 @ 1.88 = $9.40

MILLWALL vs LEEDS (LEAGUE ONE)

ok this is my first-ever third-tier football post. decided to do it, because i've been getting some joy from the lower leagues. millwall are lacking in firepower for this one. tresor kandol, who did well against tranmere rovers last time out, is ineligible to play against his parent club, while jermaine easter is suspended. i fancy leeds in this one, as i think they will keep a clean sheet, given millwall's problems.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on leeds level @ 1.69 = $8.45

Friday, October 17, 2008

VFL BOCHUM vs BORUSSIA MOENCHENGLADBACH (BUNDESLIGA)

well well well. borussia moenchengladbach are on a HORRIBLE run of form. they have lost their last 5, and have generally looked quite bad. marko marin has managed to pick up an injury, and without him, i dare say gladbach are kinda screwed. bochum look a nice bet to end their own 4-match streak without winning.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on vfl bochum -0.5 @ 1.98 = $9.90

HULL vs WEST HAM (EPL)

Well, I did warn Eddy against going for Spurs against Hull, as it was a supremely confident side versus a side lacking any shape, form or structure at all. West Ham are different though, they look rejuvenated under Zola. Carlton Cole and Bellamy have really impressed, the latter playing really well for Wales in the international break. Marlon King looks to be out for this match so I don't think Hull will win this one, unless Geovanni decides to score a crazy freekick out of nowhere again.

Roland's prediction: $5 on West Ham @ 2.80 = $14.00

hull are in very good form, but i think the bubble will burst here, much like how their early season form was brought to a crashing halt by a rampant wigan side. hull do however have the quality to sneak a draw, and that's why i'm going for the safer option of west ham on the handicap. bellamy should cause problems all night for a slow hull defence.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on west ham +0/0.5 @ 1.77 = $8.85

FULHAM vs SUNDERLAND (EPL)

Fulham have lost their last 4 games, and have outplayed their opponent each and every time. Surely their bad luck will end against Sunderland, who are undoubtedly strong at home but pretty weak away. Johnson returns for Fulham and will be a great boost, and I think that Fulham will finally break their horrible run.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Fulham @ 2.15 = $10.75

i think fulham will win too, but sunderland are well capable of sneaking a draw, as they are technically quite good. players like malbranque and andy reid will look to provide the ammunition for the speedy dribbly sissy (nickname taken from arseblogger) to chase, and they always look threatening. however, as roland mentioned, fulham have lost 4 in a row, and having a rather good team themselves, this is rather surprising. andrew johnson's return might just be the spark necessary for fulham to kick off on a good run, and i think fulham won't lose.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on fulham -0/0.5 @ 1.91 = $9.95

BOLTON vs BLACKBURN (EPL)

Bolton have a fully fit squad, whereas Blackburn are missing Roque Santa Cruz, Steven Reid and David Dunn. Do I need to elaborate more? Bolton have finally ended their torrid run against West Ham (which I told Eddy about, too bad I didn't tip it) and will look to get maximum points from this game against a shitty Blackburn side.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Bolton @ 2.30 = $11.50

blackburn suck. no RSC, no steven reid, no dunn, as mentioned above, plus emerton had a long trip back from australia where he played against qatar. blackburn will be seriously lacking in energy and i think bolton can definitely take full advantage, with willing runners like fabrice muamba and kevin nolan bossing the midfield.

Eddy's prediction: $5 on bolton -0/0.5 @ 2.13 = $10.65

ASTON VILLA vs PORTSMOUTH (EPL)

Well, Villa don't have any injury concerns other than Agbonlahor, who will face a late fitness test. Portsmouth on the other hand have Diarra and Kranjcar out for this match, both really important players for them. Diarra has impressed much this season and I wonder why he has been sold by Chelsea and Arsenal. While it means that Utaka may get a run out on the right due to Bouba Diop moving into the middle, I think that Shorey is great defensively and can handle Utaka's pace. Villa have a great attack and their speed will definitely exploit Campbell's and Distin's lack of pace, which saw them leak 6 goals to Man Shitty. Take Villa on this one.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Aston Villa @ 1.800 = $9.00

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

BELGIUM vs SPAIN (WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - UEFA)

Spain. Why? They have carried their Euro-winning form into the Qualifying stages, having notched 4 straight victories since their 1-0 win over Germany. Their strike duo of Torres and Villa have been in top form in their respective leagues. Everyone has been playing well. The last time Belgium and Spain met in the Qualifiers, Spain won both legs 2-0. I don't think Spain will slip up here.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Spain -0.5 @ 1.700 = $8.50

GREECE vs SWITZERLAND (WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - UEFA)

Greece have won their last 3 and sit comfortably at the top of their group. However, they've played sub-par opponents so far - Moldova, Latvia and Luxembourg. That said, they are well compact and can counterattack well, and they are very tough at home. The Swiss haven't had a good start to their Qualifying campaign, losing shockingly to Luxembourg at home. But they have a skillful and pacey team, and their win over Latvia will give them a great confidence boost going into this game. I fancy the Swiss to nick a point off Greece.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Switzerland +0.5/1 @ 1.800 = $9.00

BELARUS vs ENGLAND (WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - UEFA)

England have been great these few weeks, the win over Croatia giving them a great morale boost. Up against Belarus, I think that England will win by at least 2 goals again, as the strike partnership of Rooney and Heskey seems to be working wonders under Capello. They seem to be relishing the challenge for first team places, and every player has been playing well. Seriously, 11 goals in 3 games... I think they'll win by more than 2, so I'm going for the handicap for England.

Roland's prediction: $5 on England -1/1.5 @ 1.96 = $9.80

NORWAY vs HOLLAND (WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - UEFA)

Norway are a decent side, no doubt about that. They did well to hold on for a goalless draw against Scotland, and even created some great chances of their own. However, Holland is an entirely different proposition. They dominated against an Iceland side which drew with Norway previously. There's the difference in quality. Van der Vaart has been in great form for both club and country - he just made 2 assists against Iceland - and Holland will be boosted by the return of Van Persie and Sneijder. Take Holland on this one.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Holland -0.5 @ 1.95 = $9.75

LATVIA vs ISRAEL (WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - UEFA)

Latvia are a shit team. Their only win comes from Moldova, who everyone beats anyway. Israel have been fortunate to be placed in an easy group and will be high on confidence after winning 2 games away from home against Moldova and Luxembourg. Israel are a decently strong side and should be able to beat Latvia away from home.

Roland's prediction: $5 on Israel -0/0.5 @ 1.900 = $9.50