Premiership 26 - 28th Aug

[slick]

Saturday, 26/08/2006		Best Odds
13:45	Liverpool - West Ham	1.44	4.25	8.00
16:00	Charlton - Bolton	2.38	3.25	2.90
16:00	Fulham - Sheffield Utd	1.91	3.30	3.90
16:00	Watford - Manchester Utd	7.50	4.00	1.50
16:00	Wigan - Reading	2.00	3.25	3.90
16:00	Tottenham - Everton	1.80	3.30	4.80
18:15	Manchester C. - Arsenal	5.00	3.50	1.75
Sunday, 27/08/2006		Best Odds
15:00	Aston Villa - Newcastle	2.30	3.25	2.90
17:00	Blackburn - Chelsea	7.00	3.75	1.57
Monday, 28/08/2006		Best Odds
21:00	Middlesbrough - Portsmouth	2.25	3.25	3.90

[mrmuzeman]

Ok quick words about some games with my early thoughts just randomly.

Liverpool really were a cracking home team last season, as always IMO they will be suspect away but at home top notch. Not one for me at 1/2 though despite this and I dont really like backing against a team that works like West ham. I guess you could argue value in a 1/2 quote as Liverpool did win near 80% of their homes last season.

Doh Spurs at 4/5 against Everton. I was hoping for a Evens or 11/10 there so I shant be backing it. At those odds I was gona have to be on but I cant be bothered as an Everton fan at odds on. We put in a decent 2nd half performance against Blackburn tonight.

Still the 'White Hart Lane Curse' hangs over us. Oh how I wish for it to be lifted. Ive only got records from the 'Premier League' (not the old top div) and Everton have lost 9, drawn 4, won 0 there in that time. Weve lost the last 4 there conceding 14 goals in the process so its getting worse as well I hate the bastards. Basically if your gona bet on this game then dont bet on us. Ill be thrilled with a draw and that certainly could happen so I dont like the odds on quote personally. I wouldnt blame anyone for backing Spurs tho all the same

I wouldnt be backing Chelsea at 4/7. Obviously the most likely result is a Chelsea win but after todays loss, dirty bastard Blackburn is the last place you want to be heading off too really.

[Grga]

Fulham to win @ 1.9 seems like good bet.
Fulham was strong at home last season with 13-2-4.But I'll wait and see what is happening with Malbranque,is he leaving Craven Cottage or not.

[mrmuzeman]

Coleman has stated that Malbranque will never play for Fulham again so take it as a given he aint playing.

[farnerud]

I watched Sheefield's two games and I think they will defend with 5 man at the back for all away matches this season. Fulham odds looks nice but according to match reports they were lacklustre against Blackburn. Fulham have a good home record from last season, may be a narrow win like 1-0 tomorrow, also Fulham to keep a clean sheet and under are good bets imo.

[Winrew]

Quite fancy the draw for the Fulham match to be honest.

[slick]

Agree with all that has been said above.

I'll start with City again for this weekend.
Man City v Arsenal
Allthough Citys midweek performance against Portsmouth was a slight improvement on last weekends game, the truth is; it is not good enough at this level and if they play in the same vane then Arsenal should take all 3 points at a canter.
City look a mismatch of a team at the moment midfield up and have a real problem trying to find a goalscorer, well even a goal truth be told

Its only early doors yet but his pre season buys Dabo and Carradi look a bit out of sorts putting pearce in a bit of a predicament as he needs to bed them in quickly as there is not enough quality on the bench for back up, would be ideal if cole was fit again along with Hamann who has experience in the prem.

It wil take a special effort of City to turn over Arsenal, something that i don't believe is in them and the fact of the matter is City just cannot beat Arsenal and its quite ironic that Citys last league goal came from David Sommeil (who has now left the club) in a 1-3 defeat to Arsenal in May and we have also lost our previous 7 home meetings to the Gunners too.

I don't Know Arsenals team news but do know they have an abundance of class in the whole squad to pick a side that should really take all 3 points here.

Arsenal win.

[slick]

I was about to mention the Everton Curse but see Mrm has allready covered it, Everton just cannot seem to win in London and worst still never seem to win @ White Hart Lane.
But Everton have acquired themselves a pretty decent side this season and as Mrm mentions 1.8's for a Spurs win does seem a bit miserly.

[edinlichtie]

The big 4 acca - Liverpool, Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea is biggest price 5.35 @ betdirect.

Think i'll have some of that, all have very good reasons for wanting to win this game desperately after poor starts (or amazing starts in Man U's case).

[avok]

Team news from BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...em/5266256.stm)

Manchester City goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson is still unavailable for his debut, after it emerged he now needs minor surgery on his ankle. Bernardo Corradi is back but Dietmar Hamann (foot) and Andy Cole (knee) are out. Hatem Trabelsi is not in England due to visa trouble with his family.


Arsenal will welcome back captain Thierry Henry and keeper Jens Lehmann. Tomas Rosicky could make his league debut, but Freddie Ljungberg (ankle) and Jose Reyes (groin) are out.

I guess good news for Arsenal fans

[mrmuzeman]

Im on nothing in the Prem this weekend but if I were to be on any of the big teams it would be Arsenal. The only thing stopping me is their constant poor away form last season. Thier record against City speaks for itself though so I wouldnt put anyone off Arsenal. What I dont think is a good bet right now is Chelsea, id definitely say thats one to avoid.

[slick]

I'd avoid them at all costs too, travelling upto and playing a team like Blackburn is probably the worst game they could have picked after the Boro result and as i've said i've not been overly impressed with Chelsea in any of their pre season or league games to date.

[slick]

Just going through the fixture list now and Barring Man U and Arsenal it certainly looks a tricky week to try and pick anything, i wouldent be surprised to see a few draws this week.

Liverpool v West Ham

Liverpool look good for the points but West Ham have got off to a good start and will prove to be made of a lot more sterner stuff than Sheffield Utd.
OK Liverpool are at home but West Ham are proving to be quite adapt on the rd and it will be no easy game allthough Liverpool did totally dominate he FA cup final between the two sides so maybe they know how to play them.
Chelseas midweek defeat should be enough to spur on the Scouse but losing Carragher and Riise will be a big blow even if new signing Kuyt makes his debut.

West Ham should have no new injury worries with doubts Benayoun and Bower expected to make full recoveries.
Its going to be a tough game and one Liverpool should expect to win but with odds of less than 2/1 on , its a no bet for me as i wouldent be surprised to see the Hammers grab a point.

Charlton v Bolton

Another game that could go either way allthough i do have a feeling Bolton are in with a good chance of nicking all 3 points here.
Charlton played 2 and lost 2 will start to set a few doubts in new manager Dowies mind and could rub off on the players, Bent and Holland are expected to be fit which will be a bonus but again it will be a tight game.
Bolton are on a high after a decent start to the seaon allthough Fulham did push them all the way midweek and were unlucky not to win the game even though they had to nick a 90 minute equaliser but were the better side for most of the 90 mins.

But thats Boltons way away from home and if they do go in front then Big Sam will try and shut up shop, the signing of Anelka will be huge boost to the club and players seeing a large investment of the type they have not seen before which should instill confidence in them.

It does not instill that much confidence in me mind to back them but laying Charlton could be the way to go here.

Fulham v Sheffield Utd

Have to go for Fulham here, they played well midweek and we can forgive them getting a bit of a hiding at Old Trafford as Man U are riding high at the moment.
No new injury's of note and the same side that did played against Bolton should take to the field here.

This is where the going starts to get tough for Sheffield Utd allthough they pulled of a nice point against Liverpool, that was like a cup final for them and playing at home were expected to produce.
This is where it matters and i just don't think they have the quality to trouble Fulham.

Fulham win.

Watford v Man U
No point in going into to much depth about this game, United have got off to a screamer and have more than enough class to beat Watford.
Chelseas midweek defeat can only spur them on and Fergie won't be happy with anything other than 3 points here.

Man Utd win

Wigan v Reading

Another game thats to close to call, its a bit early to judge either of these two sides yet and whether Jewell has made a mistake in letting Bullard go.
They seemed tobe missing that bit of strength in midfield against Newcastle but its far to early to cast any judgements just yet.

Reading allthough with no big names are a useful and quite classy outfit especially with Coppell at the helm and will make a good game of it.

No bet for me but again given no choice i'd lay Wigan.

[Keith]

It's very difficult to talk about form with any confidence this early in the season but my instincts told me that I thought both Wigan and Charlton might find life a bit tougher this year. So if todays opponents are priced up on the longish side then I suppose I should support my judgement.

So,

Charlton v Bolton 3pts @ 2.86

Wigan v Reading 2pts @ 3/1

[Mix]

if Liverpool fail, go on Arsenal ! my experience told me