Premier League: 13/16 Mar

[kompressaur]

Statistics - Football365 News

odds to follow....

[slick]

Ehhm, bit of a mixed bag this weekend with the bookies in a seemingly miserly mood as nothing amongst that lot particularly grabs me offering any sort of value.
I suppose Spurs look a half decent bet and should dispose of Blackburn with ease but odds on against a Cannie Allardyce side I don't know, Blackburn aren't playing that badly of late and are the type of side Tottenham are known to slip up against.
I'll probably go with Spurs due to Blackburns poor away form but it has the potential to be a bit of a banana skin so tread carefully.

I'm very tempted to go with Everton as they look a class act at the moment but I'm not very happy with their away form, one win on the road since early November does not inspire me with confidence , especially against a team like Birmigham who have relied on solid home performances to stay in the Prem this season, form wise you have to give Everton the nod and you could feel now Birmingham are safe and sound in the Prem they could take their foot off the gas but as they shown away to Pompey midweek, Mcleash won't allow that and while they are 2 points above Everton they will think they have every right to fight for a European spot too.
Its a game i wouldn't mind watching tell the truth as it could become a bit feisty as Everton will feel they have more of a right to win this to also keep in with a shout of a Euro spot, I'll go for the draw as Brum have more than held their ground against most of the big boys at St Andrews this season.
Draw.

Bolton v Wigan and Burnley v Wolves, both proverbial six pointers where if you play your cards right value could be had but best to get some incling of team news b4 backing anybody, Kevin Davies for example is a huge part of Boltons set up and i'm sure he's up before the FA soon for slagging the ref off, if its tomorrow and he gets a ban then he will be a huge miss for Bolton, as it stands and Davies plays then I'll go for a Bolton win as it would give them a bit of breathing space as Wigan are their nearest rivals in the relegation zone, wigan's tails may be up after a cracking win against Liverpool on Monday but Saturday i feel will bring them back down to earth as fancy football will be thrown out of the window against Bolton who will try and bully them.
If Davies plays i'll go for a Bolton win , if not then i wouldn't be suprised to see the draw.

Burnley and Wolves are neck and neck too in the league, both hovering above the relegation zone with only goal difference keeping them apart, this will be like a cup final for both these sides with home advantage to Burnley once more proving vital for them to stand any chance of winning this , they may be one trick ponies only bothering to show up for home games at Turf Moor but for large parts of this season its worked in their favour.

They will also be praying top goal scorer Steven Fletcher will be fit for this one who's been out since he broke his hand whilst training with Scotland the other week, one goal could seal this match, Nugents filled in nicely in his absense hitting two in two but Laws will be hoping no doubt to have the pick of both of them in such an important match.
I'm going to go for a Burnley win as they are used to thriving on matches like this at Turf Moor and usually come up with the goods.
Burnley Win.

[ONEDUNME]

I was wanting you to tell me to back City Slick.

Good result for Sunderland last week but surely City are too good for them?

[slick]

Soz ODM i was working my way down the list, Odds look about right for City.
I think Sunderland will suit City, there not to aggressive and try and play a bit of football, up until a few weeks ago Sunderland were on my list for relegation as I just didn't fancy them at all and they were playing some of the worst football under Bruce I've ever seen in the Prem but it looks like they are managing to turn it around mainly now they have all their key players back and Bent now getting his eye in, Kenwyn Jones seems to be hitting form again too after having a quiet season and beginning to throw his weight about like he used too, mainly because they have stopped lobbing balls up field and getting back to playing football, and actually getting the ball across to him from the flanks , utilising decent wide players like Richardson.

Saying all that i still have to fancy City and I will say we should be to good for them, I should be right in thinking Benjani will be missing this one as he's at Sunderland on loan from us, not that he's getting regular football anyhow but he seems to have perked Bent and Jones up with his presence.
Barring Michael Johnson City Injured and Adebayor suspended we have for the first time this season a full squad of players to pick from , people might see Adebayor a big miss for City but truth be known we seem to play better as a team without him and most of our decent displays under Mancicni have been without him, he's a great option to have but when he's out it lets City play with two wingers and Tevez up front rather than shoring up midfield to make way for the extra forward.
Santa Cruz is Adebayors obvious replacement but I'll be suprised if Mancicni plays him from the off like he would do if Adebayor was fit, if need be he'll bring Bellamy infield , move Johnson across and bring on SWP for a midfielder , its that forward formation that looks Citys most balanced and the one thats most likely to get results.

It has to be a game that City will be looking to grab by the scruff of the neck, they certainly have the players to do that and also remember have had the extra weeks rest to work on tactics, My biggest worry is Sunderlands ability to grind out draws at home when things aren't going there way and I'm pretty sure Bruce would settle for a point before a ball is even kicked.
But given Sunderlands recent change in tact, I hope they try and make a game of it and if they do that you have to Fancy City, I won't be backing them mind as they have failed to deliver far to many times in games like this but even still I'd have to go for a City win as these are the matches that will make or break Citys season, nothing more than a win will do.

[Pokoko]

Stoke City - Aston Villa Draw at 3.35 @ Pinnacle

I'' try in although I do not bet much on draws.

Stoke City is great home team with balance 6-4-4 so far. They are very close to the 40th point, so Stoke will play in Premier League next season almost for sure. After long run unbeaten at home, Arsenal overcomed City on their pitch and took three points away after 3-1. The red car of Shawcross had big influence over the final result. Now I think Stoke will do everything not to lose in second game in a row. Shawcross is suspended for this game.

Aston Villa has 2 games in hand, and at the same time is 4 pints behind top4 temas so It can be said they are seriously involved in the battle for a Champions League place. Stirker Gabriel Agbonlahor has overcome the virus that ruled him out of the FA Cup game veruss Reading last Sunday. But he will be on the bench while Carew will start Aston Villa must be a bit disappointed after the lose in the Carling Cup final. At alll, I think this game and next visit to Wigan can be critical about O'Neill's team chances to finish in top4. But I do not see enough quality in their team to play in CL and should start to make mistakes. Here one possible versus tough home team.

[slick]

Welcome to TDP Pokoko and i won't argue with your pick. i've left this game alone as Stoke on their day and playing at home can be a pain in the ass for anybody when they want to be, they need 5 points to be relatively safe out of 10 games left so I imagine they will want points in the bag sooner rather than later.

Villa on paper will be obvious favourites as their still chomping at that 4th Champs league spot or a Europa place at least and 12 games to go themselves they will be looking to put pressure on Man City.
Its a bit of a paradox as both could cancel each other out for opposite reasons.

This is a game thats a bit to close for comfort to me and where the odd goal will probably decide this match as i don't see more than a goal between them either way.

personally I don't see Stoke winning but can see the draw or Villa winning by the odd goal which by looking at the odds the bookies seem to think too.

[trickrick]

On the face of it Spurs should win this quite easily, but then again, will Big Sam be the spoiler? I keep fighting the demons inside me that tell me to back Spurs on the asian handicap (-1.25 @ around evens), but then the counter-question is can Blackburn make this one of those dire games where Spurs frantically try and find a winner in the last 20 minutes..

If Spurs score early I can see a 3-0 or 4-0 scoreline. Goalless at half time and it'll be a difficult afternoon for Spurs..

Nah.. Think I'll give the handicap a miss and just watch..

[szczwanylis]

bettingzone tipped Chelsea to draw. I prefer more safe whu AH +1.5 around 1/1 (2.0) in places

[szczwanylis]

Tottenham is fighting for CL place, but they tend to struggle with teams involved in relegation battle which blakburn are as Wolves and Stoke won here and Hull took draw.
Blackburn as all teams coched by Sam Allardyce are bad away, but since Nov they havent lost more than 2 games in a row away (recently they have lost 0-3 at Stoke and 1-2 at Liverpool).Also Blackburn need to be better away as they will face at home strong teams as Chlsea, Man Utd, Birmingham, Everton, Arsenal and away likes of Burnley,Portsmuth,Wolves.
H2h shows that since 1995, Spurs have not won by more than 1 goal vs Blackburn and won next 4 losing 2.
I see this as tight game and Spurs will win by 1 goal or not win at all.
Blackb +1 Asian 188bet @2,35 5/10

[edinlichtie]

Interesting stats regarding the Burnley v Wolves game...

Burnley have scored in every home game this season.
Wolves have failed to score in 7 of their last 10, including all of their last 3

Burnley to win to nil @ 11/4

[Swooperman]

I've got to agree that Spurs-Blackburn will be tight. Spurs just arent predictable enough to be that short. Smells of a lay @ 1.48 to me but I might play in running. 75.0 Blackburn 2 nil

Theyre just too big surely Spurs are unbackable that short

[Bigkegman]

Liverpool to win tongiht ? Portsmouth only interested in cup ?

Interesting piece from RP

Want to know why the Reds don't like Mondays?


By ian wilkerson 9:31PM 14 MAR 2010
WE'LL tell you.
After directing a season that has crashed around his ears Rafa Benitez could feel miserable any day of the week, but the Liverpool boss can be excused for treating Mondays with particular disdain.
You have to go back to New Year’s Day 2007 for the last time Liverpool posted a Premier League victory on a Monday – a 3-0 win over Bolton.
They have failed to win six Monday games since, including last week’s dismal 1-0 defeat at Wigan, and will be looking to put that right by gaining a success over bottom side Portsmouth tonight.
The pressure continues to grow on Benitez, who is 7-4 with
Bet365 to still be in charge of the Reds on the opening day of next season.
The Midlands firm go 100-30 from 9-2 that neither Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres will be at the club in September.
Best match prices are 2-7 Liverpool with Paddy Power, 5-1 the draw with Ladbrokes and a general 12-1 about Portsmouth.

I'll back my usual 2-2 draw involving Liverpool but nothin else jumps out.

Anybody any strong fancies ?

[pinkmoon]

is anybody backing liverpool tonight with any confidence???
i do fancy them for a win, but after the wigan result......

[yorkieacer]

and the Lille result....

[pinkmoon]

hmmm....exactly... but it's a game they simply can't lose, surely there's big motivation there