SPL Weekend 30th/31st July

[Beanie]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's some odds up! YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!



Ok, its only Interwetten and a handful of other crappy bookies which no one in their right mind would have an account at like BetAndWin, but its a start.

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Interwetten say:

12:30 Motherwell - Celtic
S 8,50 4,30 1,27

16:00 Dundee United - Aberdeen
S 2,50 3,00 2,50

16:00 Falkirk - Inverness
S 2,20 3,10 2,80

16:00 Hibernian - Dunfermline
S 1,60 3,40 4,60

16:00 Kilmarnock - Hearts
S 2,50 3,00 2,50

31.07.2005

15:00 Glasgow Rangers - Livingston
S 1,12 6,50 13,00

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EVERYBODY DANCE NOW!

[kompressaur]

Beanie i'll delete this messgae but best to add vbbookie to the event at the start as it loses all the VIEWS when you move it onto a vbooke thread.

I might as well leave it and mention also that is my fault folks for hee bein g 2 Scottish threads for next weekend. I never thought it was starting so early.

I dont fancy any of them Beanie I had toi laugh at this after me spend ing 2hours making a big list of all the bookies your talking about Beanie

Ok, its only Interwetten and a handful of other crappy bookies which no one in their right mind would have an account at like BetAndWin, but its a start.

[Beanie]

Aye, should have set up the thread better, but I got a bit excited when I saw the odds.

Not much to fancy at the mo, but I reckon there will be plenty after a week and a half of transfer activity and friendlies.

[Parahandy]

With the Livvy/Dundee saga having now reached the courts, there could be problems with the fixture list. After Celtic's lacklustre showings against Fulham and Leicester a few weeks delay might be no bad thing

[Beanie]

Not only that, but the SFA have decided they're gonna review the whole thing whether Livi decide to bypass them through the courts or not.

To be honest its tiring now...I couldn't care less if they relegate us or not, I just want the team to be able to make their signings for the new season and start preparing to have a good year.

[Beanie]

Livingston and Hearts are two sides beginning to take shape now.

Hearts have pulled off a big signing with highly rated Skacel, and Schemmel looks set for Edinburgh too.

Livi have signed Ramon Pereira, Dubi Tesevic and Harald Pinxten over the last few days, and the most important thing is that they are all on 3 year deals. I can't remember the last time we offered a 3 year deal to someone, but it must be atleast 2 or 3 years ago. For me that reflects both that the financial situation is improving nicely at the club, and that Lambert has confidence in the players he is signing. As long as Lambert or Flynn aren't making poor judgements, these are positive signs IMO.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Perriera?

Is that the same boy that was at Hearts?? If im not mistaking i thought he was a pretty good quality player. Weren't Ipswich trying to sign him at some point last season??

If its who i think it is then it will be a top signing for you guys!

[crowie]

Same player Kiko.

[Mr Chips]

Aberdeen are really struggling to field players for their friendly matches over in Holland at the moment. Currently injured are, in order of importance in my opinion:

Scott Severin
Russel Anderson
Barry Nicholson
Darren Mackie
Kevin McNaughton
Zander Diamond
Michael Hart

New signing Steve Lovell has returned to England due to a family illness.

Calderwood concerned at lack of match practice for a lot of players. Still take them at 6/4 to beat United though

[Beanie]

Wow chips...hadn't heard a peep about those injuries. They could just about all be considered first choice players. Definately a situation to monitor over the next week.

Pressley has signed up at Hearts, continuing their strong preparations.

Makel possibly missing the first game of the season for Dunfermline, which would be a huge loss. After losing Nicholson, they have very little quality left in midfield.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

All bar Severin are expected to be available for Aberdeen for next Saturdays games.

Calderwood is just being cautious at the minute and any little niggle they are getting rested. They might not have played many pre season matches but they should still be fit enough for a full 90 minutes.

Its the pre season training that you need to get in, the matches are a bonus!

[Beanie]

Livi 4-0 Berwick.



Debutants McKay, Tesevic and Pereira all notched goals, so thats looking a bit more positive, especially as we're usually garbage in pre-season friendlies.

[Beanie]

What we thinking then chaps?

Lets try some early thoughts...

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Motherwell v Celtic

Celtic as usual a little too short with the bookies, then again Motherwell have lost Richie Partridge to Bristol and Corrigan to injury. Neither have much to be impressed about from pre season, so it will be best to wait and see how Celtic look on Wednesday night.

Dundee Utd v Aberdeen

Not looking so tempting this one, although Chips likes the look of Aberdeen. Will be interested to see the Aberdeen line up injuries wise, but looks a tight one this.

Falkirk v ICT

All I remember here is Livi's first home game after we came up...vs Hearts on the first day of the season. There was just something special about it, a big buzz, and they were shiting it every time we went at them. 2-1 we beat them, and we were prob at huge odds that day.

Then we look at ICT last season, who won their first home game(at Pittodrie tho) and then also their first home game in Inverness.

Its all ticket at the Westfield on Sat, and it'll be no surprise to see Falkirk run out winners in a tie of two very similar sides.

Hibs v Dunfermline

Hmmm...Tricky one to read. Dunfermline look very poor, but Hibs at 1.60? Would have to be 1.75 to consider taking I think.

Killie v Hearts

Stick the two teams down on paper, and Hearts look like a gift at those odds.

Gordon, Pressley, Webster, Hartley, Mikoliunas, Skacel, Jankauskas - thats just the top players, and the only Killie player who I could put in the same league is Invincible. Its quality all over the pitch.

I can see myself on that one at the end of the week.

Rangers v Livingston

We'll get beat, Lambert will get plenty abuse, and everyone will go home and prepare for next week.



Falkirk and Hearts are the standouts for me at the mo.

[crowie]

Some early thoughts

Falkirk v ICT - As Beanie says Falkirk will be on a high, in SPL where they should have been a couple of seasons ago, sell out crowd, new ground. A lot of positives for them going into this game.

Paddy Powers 2.70 is pretty big the average across 13 bookies is only 2.36. Small money (£3!) available at same price on Betfair. Next best with bookies is 2.40 at Victor Chandler and B&W.

However the one thing putting me of is ICT. Since early December and especially when Brewster got in and got them playing how he wanted they were one of the better sides in the SPL, especially rather surprisingly, away from home. 1 defeat in 10 away games (3-1 at Dundee on 15th Jan) from 27th November onwards. For a side that was looking dead and buried (as predicted) for a while at the start to finish safe by 11 points is pretty good going.

They will also be approaching the start of the season in confident mood and that away record is enough to make me steer clear of Falkirk even though that 2.70 is pretty bloody tempting.


Hibs v Dunfermline - Hibs have only lost Murray from last seasons v good young side. A big miss but the rest of the side, and most importantly Riordan and O'Conner remain. Nicholson has gone from Dunfermline and I still can't get over how badly they flopped last season. Hibs price is short for an opening day fixture but confidence, again, should be with the Hibs while the Pars will be just happy to be playing in the SPL. They might not be for much longer after this season.

[crowie]

Btw, Burley reckons he may bring in as many as 6 players this week.

Jankauskas looks to be signing up. If he is up to it he will be a good player at SPL level. A big strong centre forward, something Hearts have lacked since De Vries left. He has a decent "pedigree", been round a few good European sides and its no disgrace not to be able to break into the Porto side who were winning European trophies while he was there.

Two more Czechs could possibly be added.

Burley also said they had failed to agree terms for the re-signing of Colin Cameron which would have been another good add to the squad.

It looks like Romanov is putting down the cash and in truth its been needed. IMO Hearts were really getting to the bare bones of the squad and having to start to rely on too many of the youth set up to fill squad/first team places. Adding a half dozen probably experienced players to the squad will fill them up well.