Digicel Carribean Championships - starts about now!

[Napoleon Solo]

Trinidad and Tobago v Grenada

Just a quick one to start off - Trinidad are understrength, missing all their big name foreign based players and only using domestic based players and players in their respective leagues off-seasons.

Grenada are at full strength, fielding pretty much the same side that beat a near full-strength T&T in a friendly earlier this year.

Bet365 go 11.00 about Grenada - 1 point.

Kicks off at 22:00 if you're quick enough!

[Napoleon Solo]

19" Grenada missed penalty

[Napoleon Solo]

Trinidad and Tobago 1 - 2 Grenada

Two matches tonight:

Guadeloupe v Cuba 2.10 3.20 3.00
Haiti v Antigua and Barbuda 1.40 4.00 6.50

[Napoleon Solo]

Missed both matches last night, both favourites won:

Group A results
Trinidad and Tobago 1 - 2 Grenada
Jamaica 2 - 1 Barbados
Barbados 1 - 2 Trinidad and Tobago
Jamaica 4 - Grenada
Grenada v Barbados
Jamaica v Trinidad and Tobago

Group B results
Haiti 1 - 1 Antigua and Barbuda
Guadeloupe 1 - 2 Cuba
Haiti 2 - 3 Guadeloupe
Cuba 3 - 0 Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda v Guadeloupe
Cuba v Haiti


Tonight's games (odds from NordicBet)
Haiti v Guadeloupe 2.55 3.15 2.55
Cuba v Antigua and Barbuda 1.35 4.25 8.05

[Napoleon Solo]

Early kick-off in the Haiti v Guadeloupe game and I've found a bet I quite like.

Haiti drew with group minnows Antigua and Barbuda in the first game and, although they had many opportunities to win the game, they were also exposed at the back on numerous occasions.

Guadeloupe were beaten by Cuba in their opening match, but the game was pretty even throughout. Both teams are well organised at the back and created plenty of chances going forward.

Haiti possibly still being priced on their tournament victory two seasons ago. They've had a terrible run in the World Cup qualifiers and that could continue today.

Guadeloupe aren't a recognised FIFA nation so haven't had any matches against the bigger CONCACAF nations, but they've done alright in qualifying for this tournament with three impressive wins. They've also got a lot of foreign based players, with many French league players especially and Dundee's Mickael Antoine-Curier.

Unless Haiti improve markedly from the first game, Guadeloupe may well take full advantage. That's what I'm betting on.

Guadeloupe to beat Haiti @ 2.55 (NordicBet) - 2 points

[Napoleon Solo]

Cuba 3 - 0 Antigua and Barbuda
Haiti 2 - 3 Guadeloupe

[Napoleon Solo]

Tonights games:

Grenada v Barbados 2.60 3.35 2.40
Jamaica v Trinidad and Tobago 1.90 3.40 3.55
Odds from NordicBet

Jamaica stand out for me at the odds stated. They perhaps struggled a bit against a well organised Barbados side in the first game, but ultimately came through with a win after John Barnes had switched them to a more attacking formation. That approach payed off against Grenada with a convincing 4-0 win, the Grenadans never looking likely to get into the match. They need a point to qualify atop the group, but Barnes has said they'll be going all out for the win over their main caribbean rivals.

Trinidad were, on the balance of play, perhaps deservedly beaten by a late goal in their opening match against Grenada. They beat Barbados in their second match to get their tournament back on track, but only after going a goal behind and requiring two penalties to win the match, a somewhat fortunate result for the Trinidadians. As already stated in the punt on the T&T/Grenada match above, T&T are somewhat understrength having brought very few of their big name, foreign based players to the tournament.

This is a match priced up purely on the reputation of Trinidad and Tobago and, in my opinion, doesn't really take into account how poor their playing staff for this tournament are. A Jamaican side with an almost first choice starting eleven should beat T&T, hopefully quite easily.

Jamaica to beat Trinidad and Tobago @ 1.90 (NordicBet) - 3 points

[Napoleon Solo]

Tonight's games:

22:00 Cuba v Haiti 2.20 3.25 3.20
00:00 Antigua and Barbuda v Guadeloupe 6.00 3.90 1.55
Generally available prices

Cuba v Haiti
The Cuba v Haiti game really depends on a few things and that's why I'm staying away from it. Will Cuba go all out for the win when all they need is a draw to top the group? Will they put out a full strength squad or rest some players? How much of the improvement that Haiti showed in the second half against Guadeloupe was down to them playing better and not Guadeloupe sitting back on a 2-0 lead? For these reasons, I'm leaving any bets on this game, much like I should have done last night. Retrospect is a wonderful thing!

Guadeloupe v Antigua and Barbuda
Nothing really sticks out in this match at first glance. The Guadeloupe price is too short for me to be betting on, while the Antiguans haven't shown anything that would want to make me back them, or even the draw, at the odds shown. A little scouting about with my friends NordicBet has brought up a quite nice looking opportunity though. They're offering a Guadeloupe victory with a European handicap of -1 at 2.35.

Guadeloupe have apparently played some wonderful football this tournament. A close fought and thrilling 1-2 loss to Cuba was followed by a 3-2 win over Haiti, Guadeloupe racing into a 2-0 lead before possibly being guilty of taking things easy and letting the Haitians back into the game. They're well organised throughout and have some very skillful players and deadly strikers.

Antigua and Barbuda on the other hand, started well but have gradually lost any hope of advancing. An undeserved 1-1 draw with Haiti was achieved more due to a pourous Haiti defence and poor shooting than any sort of decent play from Antigua and Barbuda. They were found out by the Cubans in their last match though, an early goal and constant Cuban pressure giving them no hope. A red card for Ranja Christians has added to their woes, the important defender being banned for this match.

Guadeloupe need a win to secure their passage to the semi-finals, and I'm expecting them to get it against Antigua. If the previous games are anything to go by, Guadeloupe should get more than their fair share of chances against this poor Antigua side. They should be more than capable of putting away a couple and shouln't be troubled too much at the back.

Guadeloupe EH-1 to beat Antigua & Barbuda @ 2.35 (NordicBet) - 2points

[Napoleon Solo]

Just noticed, Bet365 seem to have stopped pricing this competiton after my 10/1 winner early on! I must have scared them!

[Petrous]

very nice previews napoleon

[Napoleon Solo]

Semi-finals

22:00 Cuba v Grenada 1.70 3.35 4.70
00:00 Jamaica v Guadeloupe1.55 3.55 5.80

Of the two games tonight, I think Grenada could cause trouble for Cuba. I always think it's a big gamble resting players, no matter how insignificant the game, as it disrupts the teams momentum. Cuba enjoyed a hard fought win over Guadeloupe and an easy victory over Antigua and Barbuda, but the 0-1 loss to Haiti has perhaps disrupted the great form the Cubans had built up on the way to this tournament.

Grenada pulled off an unexpected victory over Trinidad and Tobago in their first game before being convincingly beaten by tournament hosts Jamaica in the second game. The coach has said the team were guilty of showing the Jamaicans too much respect. That defeat seems to have focused the squad though as they raced into a 4-0 lead against Barbados in their final qualifier, conceding two late goals to give the score a more respectable look.

Grenada to beat Cuba @ 4.70 (NordicBet) - 1 point

[kompressaur]

i cant get on at bet365 nor skybet Napoleon. Looks like i will just have to make do with Kegman's horse good luck

[bromsgrovegreen]

Originally Posted by Napoleon Solo

Trinidad and Tobago v Grenada

Just a quick one to start off - Trinidad are understrength, missing all their big name foreign based players and only using domestic based players and players in their respective leagues off-seasons.

Grenada are at full strength, fielding pretty much the same side that beat a near full-strength T&T in a friendly earlier this year.

Bet365 go 11.00 about Grenada - 1 point.

Kicks off at 22:00 if you're quick enough!

great tip at 10-1

[trickrick]

Partybet offer Grenada X2 at 5/6..Not sure that sounds too appealing mind..

I'd have really wanted odds against...Actually maybe I can if I shop around..

[trickrick]

Originally Posted by bromsgrovegreen

great tip at 10-1

Yeah - super tipping

Pity there was only a 5 minute window of opportunity !!