Too true Gooner. I myself have used a few so called "professional advisory" services in the past. Many a time there are ups and downs and the long term yields do not really justify the services strike rates.
I've also noticed that many of them sometimes do stumble upon some "systems" or "algorithms" of sorts that actually do help forcast quite accurately... for a while at least... But things change and if these "systems" somehow do not catch up or is lacking one or more parameters due to the changing environments, all hell breaks loose and some of them end up with a 6 to 10 game loosing streak. Needless to say, a lot of flaming and threats to the physical well-being all over the place.
For some who would like to try, I would recommend just for the fun of it to enrol for the usual "1 month cheap trail" thingie. Relatively cheap but you can at least see their results for 1 month before making any decisions. Would not put any money on those tips based on their stakes though... But if their picks do agree with your OWN analysis, then well and good...
ONLY try out those that appear at the START of the season. ie, NOW... If you get some spamming mails sometime in September onwards... Most of the records are a lie. Some even claim 60%-80% yields...!!
I guess nothing beats experience when it comes to
sportsbetting and all the analysis and information in the world only still brings it to 80% probability. After all, the ball is still round... Mother nature loves surprises and referees and linemen could have "offdays" ;-) re: Italy...
Suggest we all continue with the fundamentals and share in case some might have stumbled upon bits and pieces of information that others might have missed out. This way, at least we stand a better chance... :-)
By basics it would be the usual,
1) Current Form
2) Historical Power and Class
3) Available Personnel for that match
4) Psychological factors for the teams - Both sports and non-sports related
5) Motivation at time of match
6) Cup game effects
7) Local Derby effects
8) Old "enemy" effects
9) And the list goes on... There are many books and articles out there that look a so many things...
Again... it would have to change for changing environments and the inherrent nature of the leagues that one is tracking. One thing that always ring true is that one size does not fit all...
End of the day, do try to specialize in 1 or 2 leagues and you will find that your strike rates and yield increases significantly.
Discipline to walk away when unsure or in doubt is also crucial if we are to prevail. After all, isn't there games EVERY day...? Why not live to fight another day...?
Cheers and Good Luck to us ALL...!!! :-)