Scottish Premier League - 12th/13th August

[Beanie]

Scotland - Premier League

Saturday, 12/08/2006 Best Odds 16:00 Celtic - St Mirren 1.20 7.50 20.00 16:00 Hearts - Falkirk 1.35 5.10 11.50 16:00 Inverness - Hibernian 2.60 3.35 3.00 16:00 Kilmarnock - Dundee United 1.91 3.70 5.00 16:00 Motherwell - Aberdeen 2.63 3.30 2.92 Sunday, 13/08/2006 Best Odds 15:00 Dunfermline - Rangers 11.00 5.00 1.38

[SonicReducer]

Yo!

Couple of fave's at short odds this time, guess Hearts, Celtic and Rangers will win and Im actually tempted to bet a low-odds treble (I never do that)....

Aberdeen away vs 'Well is also a bit interesting, but the odds is probably a bit too short to bet them 1x2. A handicap-bet sounds a bit better, if 'Well was as bad as I have heard?

[Beanie]

Caught all the highlights last night, and want to read up a lot more before doing too much, but a few thoughts anyway.

Celtic game doesn't look appealing...they were poor against Hearts but as they proved against Killie they can be a different proposition at home. Not interested against a plucky St Mirren.

Hearts prices are beginning to gravitate towards those of the OF at home. Their performance against Celtic was very positive - Bednar now looks to be the striker they need(and than Jankauskas never was) and Aguiar is filling Skacel's boots very well indeed. 1.30 is very short tho - 1.40 or better I'd need to consider - but the HT/FT and clean sheet prices are worth a look if nothing else.

Thoughts Hibs looked very good in the first half again, and yet still only have 1 point to show for their efforts. ICT looked far from the solid side we've come to expect against Aberdeen and I could be tempted to look again at Hibs at 2.70+. 4 in a row for ICT v Hibs tho.

Killie big odds on is a bit of a surprise - didn't think they looked particularly good v Hibs and it took a classic goal from Stevie Naismith to split the sides. DU were given a going over by Rangers but the 2-2 draw could give them the confidence they have been lacking so far under Craig Brewster. Killie have won the last 3 of this fixture comfortably tho.

Motherwell looked very poor again vs St Mirren and I'm not sure they should be favs here, but Aberdeen haven't held a lead in either of their games so far. Tough one.

Still need to look more at match reports, H2Hs, other stats etc tho.

[Beanie]

Originally Posted by SonicReducer

Yo!

Couple of fave's at short odds this time, guess Hearts, Celtic and Rangers will win and Im actually tempted to bet a low-odds treble (I never do that)....

That one could become a popular bet this season - Bet365 looks the best priced at the moment at just over 2.10. If slightly better than that becomes available it could be a tempter SR

[SonicReducer]

Dundee Utd surprised me a bit, especially their ability as a counter attacking side. Sometimes very agressive defensive play and and a midfield/defense willing to run forward (Kalvenes, defender scored their 2nd. Never scored for Brann I think).

[milners]

quick thoughts:

Celtic should beat St Mirren crap price as usual.

Hearts i think will beat Falkirk and not the best price.

Jesus Hibs 7/4 that is massive for me, Inverness was shite against the dons yet Hibs hammered Aberdeen and only got a draw. It looked like they did the same against Killie going with Highlights and lost to a fantastic goal. Inverness are not a good side for me and last season had a poor record at home so i'm on hibs!!!

Killie should beat United for me bit too skinny though.

Motherwell at 6/4 is tempting with the way Aberdeen are playing especially as Aberdeen have only won 1 in 5 meeting at Fir Park.

Wouldn't trust Rangers against Dunfermline although they should win but this is time i would like Aberdeen to play them since there is major changes at the club.

[Kombinator]

Originally Posted by milners

quick thoughts:
..Jesus Hibs 7/4 that is massive for me, Inverness was shite against the dons yet Hibs hammered Aberdeen and only got a draw. It looked like they did the same against Killie going with Highlights and lost to a fantastic goal. Inverness are not a good side for me and last season had a poor record at home so i'm on hibs!!!

Agree with milners! Large bet for me on Hibs(0)@2.05. Feels like value to me... no way ICT can win 4 in a row against Hibs since last season. Good luck!

[milners]

Originally Posted by Kombinator

Agree with milners! Large bet for me on Hibs(0)@2.05. Feels like value to me... no way ICT can win 4 in a row against Hibs since last season. Good luck!

Didn't check in head to heads yet!!! wow Inverness have won the last 4 and Hibs won the 2 before that. Handicap might be the way to go for me

[crowie]

The 3 short priced all look decently priced to me.

Celtic lost at Hearts last weekend but back at home v promoted St Mirren, 1.20 is fine when others go 1.125.

Hearts home is outstanding although I do think they will be better when Hartley reappears. The two central mids, Brellier and Aguiar, are effectively the same player, defensive holders. Worked well v Celtic but not sure if it will be as successful against a side who will sit in (Falkirk).

I also think Rangers are 1.364 is more than decent. They battered Dundee Utd for a lot of the game, 3 cleared off the line first half, 11 corners or something. I think they will spank someone by a few pretty soon and that someone could be Dunfermline.

Paper yesterday said Dunfermline had an injury crisis, missing 10 players but doubts over a couple more including McGuire. They have NO fit forwards and Daquin (?) who played up front v Falkirk despite being a midfielder has now broken a cheekbone.


Hibs are playing nice football but not getting the results. I think this is due to the central defence not being up to much and the pair of keepers being poor. Still ICT only have 1 point from 2 games and that was due to a keeper howler at Dons with couple of mins to go. They are back at home where their record ain't too good. Maybe a lay of ICT?


I am sure I had a rare Over 2.5 goals punt on Killie up at Dundee Utd last season. Both teams seem to be able to score and concede and all 4 games so far this season have been over. Might be worth having another little >2.5 punt on this one.

[trainbairn]

I know they failed to collect at 1/6 at Ibrox at the weekend(Must have been those "bigotted" Dundee United supporters putting them off, I suppose ), but if Rangers cannot beat Dunfermline at the weekend then le Guen should hand his notice to David Murray after the game.The Pars could struggle to field a full team at this moment due to injuries and will probably have Andy Tod( a lumbering centre-half) playing up front for them. Cannot back the Away side at the odds(Don't back odds-on) but will look at backing 5-0, 6-0 and 7-0 correct scores for a bit of value methinks..

[kompressaur]

What about Chris Boyd at even money to score anytime? Stan James look well out of line (8/15) elsewhere. I know he hasnt been starting but i reckon he will on Saturday. Any views?

It was actually the 5/4 on him in a match bet (to score more than Burchill of dunfermline) at bluesq i was looking at.

Chris cant stop scoring for fun and i think he scoired in all the preseason games (well almost id say) scored 6 in one. If he's playing i'd say evens for him to score is a good 'un.

[Mr Chips]

Motherwell seemingly have injuries and have lost their opening 2 games. Cant help but think the loss o Butcher is HUGE for Motherwell and that Ex united boys Hegarty and Malpas aint what motherwell need. That said Aberdeen could be without Severin, Mackie and Diamond. Byrne definitely out and Nicholson a bit doubtful. Can't bring myself to back Aberdeen again but if I could get 2/1 on betfair......

[Parahandy]

I'm not that keen on getting involved so early in the season but without doubt this is a time where appealing prices are often available before the form settles down.

I've already seen enough of Dunfermline and Rangers to confidently predict an easy win for the latter. The Pars look certain to struggle this season (already are) while Rangers can only get better with a largely new look team. They've scored 4 goals in their opening 2 league matches but it could easily have been much nearer 14 and a rout wouldn't surprise me at East End Park against a team who have major selection problems in attack as has been mentioned. 1.36 looks fair enough to me.

Trainbairn might not be far off the mark his high scoring prediction, though Rangers defence looks none too solid. I hate to say it but I reckon Rangers will win the SPL fairly comfortably.

I agree that Killie look very short but Dundee Utd will have to start getting results on a regular basis before carrying any of my money.

Hearts are a different team at Tynecastle and should see off Falkirk despite a giant hangover from their midweek match. I agree with Beanie's comment re their odds coming more in line with the Old Firm at home but this is entirely justified on last season's performances. For them to have any hope of winning the league it is their away form that needs a big upward transformation and I'm not confident we will see that happening.

I expect Celtic to beat St Mirren but at those odds no thanks. Goals are proving hard to come by apart from an easy win against Killie and they were woeful at Tynecastle, despite Gordon Strachan's claims to the contrary.

Fair enough friendlies count for nothing but unless the Bhoys sign at least a couple of good quality players (more if Petrov leaves), I fear the worst this season. Stan is their best player and would be a big loss. Not a good situation.

Aberdeen have not showed much so far but Motherwell have been completely outplayed in both their opening matches. It was no surprise they lost to Rangers but they were done all over the pitch at Love Street last week and why they are favourites for this match I don't know. A leave alone for me.

That leaves Hibs at Inverness and I couldn't argue with the comments above that Hibs look a decent propositon here. It's been mentioned they've been playing good football but against Aberdeen and Killie it was the lack of a killer touch in front of goal that resulted in them failing to win both these matches. Not that hard to fathom either bearing in mind O'Connor and Riordan scored 40 league goals between them last season. Take that sort of firepower out of any team and there must be a big negative impact. Another leave alone for me.

[Beanie]

I'm the same I think Para...nothing catches my eye at all after a good look through so I think I'll sit this week out. Been a slow start but hopefully it'll pick up in weeks to come and the bookies start making some errors.

[trainbairn]

Can everyone please keep talking up the chances of a Home win at Tynecastle today?..