29/30th March: English Premier League

[Bigkegman]

Premier League

29 Mar 15:00 Birmingham vs Man City 11/8 11/5 7/4
29 Mar 15:00 Bolton vs Arsenal 9/2 5/2 4/7
29 Mar 15:00 Derby vs Fulham 15/8 9/4 5/4
29 Mar 15:00 Portsmouth vs Wigan 8/13 5/2 4/1
29 Mar 15:00 Reading vs Blackburn 11/8 11/5 7/4
29 Mar 15:00 Sunderland vs West Ham 5/4 9/4 15/8
29 Mar 17:15 Man United vs Aston Villa 2/7 7/2 9/1
30 Mar 13:30 Chelsea vs Middlesbrough 1/4 4/1 9/1
30 Mar 15:00 Tottenham vs Newcastle 8/13 5/2 4/1
30 Mar 16:00 Liverpool vs Everton 8/11 12/5 100/30


prices from Stan James

[slick]

It looks like the trickiest set of fixtures i've seen for a long while, Wigan again maybe now Pompey are in the cup but with Defoe back I'm not to sure , needs a lot of thought that one.
Even Arsenal don't look that confident and it would take a mad man to back them away from home at those odds at the moment.

Barring Chelsea and Man U who both look to have easy fixtures this weekend its flick a coin time for the remaining ones.

I don't know why but with the Champs league quarters on the Horizon i have a sneaky feeling Everton might get a result at Anfield this weekend as this will be Evertons biggest game of the season in effect.

[TheJoker]

Think if Derby are going to win it has to be against Fulham at home. Derby aren't actually that bad at home but they really struggle for goals, can't see Fulham keeping a clean sheet away from home, 1-0 home win for me.

Am i mad?

[slick]

Ure not mad Joker its just that like a few of these games this weekend its a tough call as b4 last weeks slip up against Newcastle Fulham havent been playing that badly but there away form is shocking but they do tend to drag out a draw against the lower teams on the rd.

As i said u may aswell flick a coin on most of the games this week and team news will be vital i'd say if you want to gain any advantage at all from them.

[ONEDUNME]

The bet that stands out to me there is Liverpool to beat Everton. 4/5 (sportingodds and betfair) is a cracking price and I'll be taking it.

Being realistic, Liverpool have an easier run in than Everton and the Toffees must secretly by looking over their shoulder at the chasing pack, rather than in front of them. I think with 15 mins to go and level at Anfield, they'll be settling for a point.

If I remember rightly (and Muze will let me know if I'm wrong) Everton had two or three seasons where they just fell away during the last couple of months of the season.

I see the same falling away this season but I have my fingers crossed for them that they make Europe.


Also, a lay of Spurs at that price and a lay of Fulham away.

[renton]

derby to beat fulham and drag them into relegation...good odds...and i it wont be a surprise for anyone innit

[kompressaur]

[ONEDUNME]

Originally Posted by renton

derby to beat fulham and drag them into relegation...good odds...and i it wont be a surprise for anyone innit

It will be a surprise for me.

Fulham are shit. They've had their brief revival and are now doomed to go down with the Derby.

I really don't see them winning on Saturday.

[Cinny]

Whats the thoughts on reading continuing their mini revival and their super home form of the past few games, a good price into the bargain! I think they can take Blackburn especially it being at home.

I like the value with derby at home because fulham are pish on their travels and fancy a small bet on newcastles juicy 9/2 away to spurs.

the local goes 1/3 chelsea which is a super price considering ive seen a lot of 1/4 or 2/9's about

[slick]

Sat games...

Birmingham vs Man City
Has the makings of one of the dullest games of the weekend once more as Man City have long forgotten what it means to take chances, City wil play it cautionary again not looking to give anything away and hoping to nick something should the ball fall to their lonesome forward which doesnt usually happen.

Birmingham too can ill afford to drops points here and will play this on the back foot leading to a stalemate so a single goal could and will probably win this match if either side can muster one, so the best bet here will be on the Unders.

- 2.5 goals.

Bolton vs Arsenal
I have no confidence in Arsenal what so ever at the moment and even less in Bolton but wegner does like to harp on about a good pitch and i think he has every reason to do so considering the fluent style Arsenal like to play.

Well Bolton have invested heavily this year in adecent pitch and it looks like it may be there undoing at the end of the sesason as Arsenal should get the spoils here where as in the past they have struggled due to the conditions and type of football Allardyce used to play against them which was to get stuck up em.

Megson has a more casual approach and I think this could well be his undoing come the end of the season as Bolton just don't have the players to play 'Nice' football but with Champs league football on the Horizon for the gunners a draw could well be on the cards as Arsenal seem to be letting the Prem slip.

You have to fancy Arsenal but @ those odds no bet for me, if anything like the game above I'd rather go for the unders.

Derby vs Fulham
Fcuk knows where to start here as every poitive soon cancels itself out, Derby are as good as gone but they have found a sadistic way of making life as hard as possible for anybody they face and I have a funny feeling they are relishing the prospect of ditching Fulham further into the shite alongside them as nobody wants the worst Prem record ever.

This weekend could see the end of Derby in the Prem once and for all but i have a feeling they will live to fight for at least one more weekend.

Derby Win


Portsmouth vs Wigan
I'm going to give Wigan one more chance here in the hoping pompey won't be wanting to risk to much with then FA cup semi's only a week away.

Huge game for Wigan as they strive for points to stay in the Prem and they must see this as a chance of gaining points they wouldent usually get

Wigan Win.

[slick]

Reading vs Blackburn
Here we continue with another game where the final result could go either way, this weekends not one for putting your shirt on.

Reading are still fighting Relegation and its still not impossible for Blackburn to gain uefa cup spot so where do we start?
Both sides have hit a similar run of form and both have everything to play for, Reading seem to have turned the corner whilst Santa Cruz for Blackburn has set there season up and running again.

Tough call but Blackburn look to be putting in one final push for a Euro spot and as they have the better players I'm gonna stick with them.

Blackburn win.

Sunderland vs West Ham
Great win for Sunderland last week against all the odds away to Villa whilst the Hammers put up a stirling display against Everton Showing they want to improve on on their Blackburn win after a disasterous run of results.

Now thats in the bag and prem safety is guranteed they can take things alot more easier which can't be said of Sunderland as a home win here would virtually gurantee there safety with the modest run in to the end of there season as they wouldent want to be looking for points come the final game against Arsenal.

Can see Sunderland going all out on a limb for this match wanting all 3 points.

Sunderland win.

Man United vs Aston Villa
Not much to be said here as on current form Man U should piss this, Villa seem to have settled on premiership security whilst Man U still have all to play for and won't be wanting to slip up here.

Man U win

[slick]

Cahill missing will be a big blow for Everon as I don't think it was coincidence that his last return from Injury turned around Evertons season in effect, Cahill out and blip in Evertons recent form probably gived Liverpool the edge here especially with the form Torres has been in lately , same too with Yakubu i suppose but Liverpool have a lot more experience at the back unlike Everton where Jagielka is beginning to get found out a bit lately.

Mascherano out will be a headache for Benitez as he's had a blinding season and Liverpool don't have a like for like replacment which may cause Gerrard to play deeper then he and Benitez would prefer which may effect Torres as they have found a good understanding in there first season together with some good link up play, still Liverpool look stronger on paper but in derbys you never know and you cannot rule out Everton completely who will be looking for revenge after being robbed of the points at Goodison earlier this season.

Not bet for me but recent head to heads would suggest a Liverpool win.

[mrmuzeman]

If I remember rightly (and Muze will let me know if I'm wrong) Everton had two or three seasons where they just fell away during the last couple of months of the season.

I see the same falling away this season but I have my fingers crossed for them that they make Europe.

Youre right barring last season. Even tailed off pretty poorly in the season we came 4th actually. It was only owing to Liverpools total ineptitude in away games (they lost 11) we came 4th that season. Well that and Big Dunc nutting one into the onion bag to beat Man U 1-0 Ended up with 61pts that season and we are on 57pts right now with 7 games left. Did fine last season though, was consistent and that is the most relevant.

After witnessing the last 2 games im kind of the same mind though that we'll fall away a bit, mainly due to our crap record against the top teams (0-1-6 this season) as weve got Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea still to play yet. Have to be pretty bad to not make 5th still though, one of the pack would have to go on a right tear up to catch winning 6 out of 7 or something (slight chance though as 4 chasing teams = 4 chances). Thank fcuk weve still got home to Newcastle and Derby


Anyway back to the game in hand. I dont have a good feeling about it tbh but I dont think the red scum at odds on are good value. We always set up so tight and hassley at Anfield under Moyes a draw is always a big chance and the better value bet for me. Benitez then always moans after about us being too physical and stuff. Were 0-4-2 at Anfield under Moyes. I always think Liverpool are a better bet at Goodison as they fcuk us over there in all sorts of ways at better prices.

I think were gona set up with Neville in midfield and Hibbert at right back which makes me want to commit suicide everytime I see it. Those 2 should never ever both be in as they give away posession so much you cant carry both. One or the other at right back ok but please not both. Its honestly 50/50 if one of them passes posession is lost, blindfold either and the same pass completion would be achieved and probably with greater accuracy. So when you get 1 passing to the other and chuck one of them having to control it in there, well, need I say more. Nevilles such a pile of shit in midfield he really is but I think Moyes will stick with Captain Fantastic, load it and maybe get Neville to mark Gerrard, which will hopefully focus his mind into a specific task at least.

I want to beat them so bad though. Its like good triumphing over evil or something

[keemanan]

Sunderland at 5/4 looks good to me, 3 goals conceded in 6 , no shame in 2 home defeats against Chelsea and Everton. nice

[ONEDUNME]

Did fine last season though, was consistent and that is the most relevant.

Not really Muze. If you have the same sized squad, same Manager and same training methods as before it's entirely possible that the same pattern could be repeated (caused by fatigue, injuries etc). Just because you managed to avoid it happening one season in the last four doesn't mean that the ghost has been laid.

As I said, I'll be cheering you on for a good finish. The only reason I remember the points thing is that for many years one of my long term season bets was to pick a mid table team and buy their season's points on the spread bet. For that reason I regularly found myself cheering on Everton, Villa and Man City and that's why I have a soft spot for all three of them every season now in the absence of having any interest in the Prem for my own team.

Mind you, I have to say that Man City are the most frustrating team in the world and have probably lost me more money than any other, losing when I back them and winning on the occasions that I lay them. I feel sorry for Keema, Slick and Chris as at least I can walk away from them