UEFA Cup 6th December

[Football-Tipper]

What price the 0-0 lol

[ScottishBhoy87]

Originally Posted by malcolmas

But don't forget your talking about a very weak defensive team who have tried to outscore their opponents rather than keep a clean sheet.

I have taken the <2.5 with the Spurs game however was interesting to notice the odds with bet 365 had increased from 1.75 to 1.90....not much but still

[Bossie13]

Bordeaux starts with 8 not normal starters and Getafe change also 6 ,i think i go against those teams together with red star belgrado.
I keep my hands of Anderlecht - Tottenham because 2 teams who play under their normal level.

[Mazarin]

Just what I've been saying; the UEFA cup is a third rate tournament that no one in the leading football countries care about. It would probably be better to let more teams take part in the Champions League.

[frankcastle]

Mazarin - I agree with you about the quality of the Uefa cup. However, just as with any sport,, you have to have a prime league and an inferior one. European basketball has the Euroleague and the Uleb Cup. American football has the NFL and the AFL or whatever they call it. American basketball has the NBA and the CBA and of course in baseball you have the majors and the minors.

I think Champions League has lost it's flare this year because none of the teams have a really strong presence. Sure Arsenal just got better when Henry left, but it's really not enough. Where are the days of a strong Man Utd or Bayern or Real?

Aris game update at the half - Even though Braga scored a lucky goal early, Aris has dominated with many chances and didn't take long to score the equalizer.

[friskyfitz]

Im having a shocker tonight...

overs in 2 games and only 1 goal scored...

[aliando]

Originally Posted by friskyfitz

Im having a shocker tonight...

overs in 2 games and only 1 goal scored...

how the hell its 0-0 in anderlecht is beyond me

[Bossie13]

Anderlecht got stolen by the referee , a penalty for Tottenham and lots of strange dicisions all in favor of Tottenham who played really bad again. Tottenham is through with this draw. Anderlecht need a point in Getafe.
But the Slovenian ref was the worst man on the pitch and that was really very difficult with lots of players not in form.

[aliando]

Originally Posted by aliando

i've just snatched at the 1.99 on offer for over 2.5 goals on betfair on the spurs game.

spurs have managed just 11 clean sheets in all competitions since the beginning of november LAST year - 2 of those against cardiff, and one against blackpool in the FA Cup! Anderlecht are generally amassing a minimum of 2 goals a game in most of their home matches for some time now.

imo, these odds are extremely good value!


5pts - over 2,5 goals anderlecht-spurs

no idea how this game never got the 3rd goal - end to end with no strikers

referee was appaling though

[frankcastle]

Originally Posted by frankcastle

Hello everyone!

Another day of Uefa group matches and the same goes for today (as did yesterday). Don't expect all matches to go Over 2.5. There are a couple that have the potential to go Over, and I think some of you have hit on it.

I'm gonna try and get as much info on the Austria-Panionios game as I can because there could be the possibility of an upset away win. Panionios has come off a couple bad results but all-in-all has a very good team, and Austria is unlikely to qualify for the next round...even with a win today (with a win, they'll be level with Galatasaray).

Austria-Panionios 0-1

[JCtips]

Originally Posted by Unbelievable

The last time Bolton send out a lot of fringe players, they managed to score 2 against Bayern Munich while playing away and draw that match

I guess you're right Unbelievable...they won ...maybe that's what they need to do in the EPL as well in order to start winning games .



JC

[frankcastle]

Also...6/8 matches Under 2.5

[JCtips]

Originally Posted by JCtips

My picks for tomorrow in the UEFA Cup:

Bordeaux-Helsinborg
The French are doing well in the home league while Helsinborg finished middle of the table in their league which was over in late October (this should affect them).
Both Bordeaux and Helsinborg have 7 overs in their last 10 games.
My pick: >2.5; won

Aris-Braga
Aris are 5th in the Greek league with a 2-2-1 record, scoring 5 goals and allowing 3 so far.
In the UEFA Cup they beat Red Star 3-0 at home in early November and tied away to Bolton recently.
Braga has improved a bit under new coach Manuel Machado with 2 wins (3-0 against Sporting and 2-1 last weekend over Maritimo) and 2 draws (at home against Bayern and away to Leiria).
Braga has a quality roster, they can play with 11 quality players and still have a few on the bench ready to come in if needed (which some teams don't and this sometimes makes a difference).
After drawing away to Bolton and at home to Bayern, Braga needs at least a point from this game. It should be very difficult but I think they can do it.
My pick: away +0.5AH (Asian Handicap) won

Red Star-Bolton
Red Star doesn't seem to have any important missings and have a 5-3-2 record in their last 10 games overall.
Bolton will miss seven 1st team regulars (6 of which the manager decided to rest...) and has only one win in their last 10 games (at home against Man. United).
Red Star will try to get their first 3 points here in order to keep their hopes of qualifying o the next stage alive while Bolton doesn't seem to care much about this game.
My pick: home 0/-0.5AH; lost

Good luck!

JC

It was a good day with a 2-1-0 record and a nice profit.

I have to say I disagree with the Aris analysis (well, we don't have to all agree on everything...) I read here, I think they suck and are just an average team that gets strong home support from the fans...nothing else and we'll see that in the next stage of the UEFA Cup.



JC

[frankcastle]

Hello JCtips - I always appreciate a conflicting opininion.

If you watch any of the Aris games, you'll see that they have good ball movement and very good player technique. However, they lack firepower upfront and their defense is not the most airtight in the world, but I was impressed by their coverage tonight. The goal that Braga scored was not due to their overpowering game.

When I say Aris has a very good team this year I merely mean that in the Greek league they are much better than they have been in years and with Ronaldinho's brother being one of the major shareholders, there is definitely an open pipeline of players from S. America. Their games in places like Reebok Stadium (where they were equalized in the 93rd minute) and their performance in Zaragosa cannot be overlooked. Both teams mentioned are not doormats and I'm sure positive results there must stand for something and surely must mean that they are not only good at home because of their crowd.

I don't know how far Aris will go in the Uefa cup, they may be ousted next round...but I do know that their coach (Bagevic) has asked for an attacker over the winter signing period and I'm sure with the results they've been getting, if they do go through (which is still far from certain after tonight's draw) they have the money to sign a decent forward.

The new team owner has managed to save Aris from financial dire straits and is quite well-off himself; meaning that if all goes well, Aris will sign at least a couple of good players soon. (Rumor has it they might get Giannakopoulos of Bolton and certainly a good player up front).

So in making a sweaping statement like "they suck", I usually like to hear some arguments to back it up. Sure, I agree they're not Real Madrid all of a sudden. However, a team that in the past few years was the doormat in Greece and now can beat Zaragosa and look Bolton in the eyes certainly deserves a second look.

Also, JCtips, congrats on your midweek record. Pretty good, especially yesterday when most people were lured into betting on Overs.

[JCtips]

Originally Posted by frankcastle

Hello JCtips - I always appreciate a conflicting opininion.

If you watch any of the Aris games, you'll see that they have good ball movement and very good player technique. However, they lack firepower upfront and their defense is not the most airtight in the world, but I was impressed by their coverage tonight. The goal that Braga scored was not due to their overpowering game.

When I say Aris has a very good team this year I merely mean that in the Greek league they are much better than they have been in years and with Ronaldinho's brother being one of the major shareholders, there is definitely an open pipeline of players from S. America. Their games in places like Reebok Stadium (where they were equalized in the 93rd minute) and their performance in Zaragosa cannot be overlooked. Both teams mentioned are not doormats and I'm sure positive results there must stand for something and surely must mean that they are not only good at home because of their crowd.

I don't know how far Aris will go in the Uefa cup, they may be ousted next round...but I do know that their coach (Bagevic) has asked for an attacker over the winter signing period and I'm sure with the results they've been getting, if they do go through (which is still far from certain after tonight's draw) they have the money to sign a decent forward.

The new team owner has managed to save Aris from financial dire straits and is quite well-off himself; meaning that if all goes well, Aris will sign at least a couple of good players soon. (Rumor has it they might get Giannakopoulos of Bolton and certainly a good player up front).

So in making a sweaping statement like "they suck", I usually like to hear some arguments to back it up. Sure, I agree they're not Real Madrid all of a sudden. However, a team that in the past few years was the doormat in Greece and now can beat Zaragosa and look Bolton in the eyes certainly deserves a second look.

Also, JCtips, congrats on your midweek record. Pretty good, especially yesterday when most people were lured into betting on Overs.

Frankcastle,

I would say that I always appreciate a different opinion.
It makes me think and look at things from a different angle/perspective, so it helps me improve my thinking process.

When I say Aris sucks, it is based on what I saw tonight and also on knowing some of team's best (?) players.

Tonight's game with a great athmosphere and also great pressure (not easy to play in Greece we all know that) on the away team and the ref.
Mainly in the 1st half the only Aris danger was coming from free kicks (IMHO they were milking it all the time trying to get the fouls...and actually saw two yellow cards because of that...) or corners. And that's how they scored the equalizer.
They had one good scoring chance at the end of the 1st half but that was it.

Again, IMHO Braga controlled the pace of the game in midfield and Aris looked like a mediocre side to me.


Players:
Brazilian Centre Back Ronaldo scored their equalizer tonight.
He played for Benfica a few seasons ago and was dropped because he was just an average defender.

Ronald Garcia who plays miedfield, played a few seasons in Portugal on loan from Benfica to other clubs.
He failed to impress even at those lowly clubs and never got a chance at Benfica who ended up dropping him without ever really playing for Benfica.

Forward Koke, from what I read and hear, he's considered Aris' star player (at least for the fans) which, I admit, makes me laugh...he played on loan at Sporting for one season a couople of years ago and he was a complete joke...

Quality players are needed for you to have a quality team no matter how good a coach is.
Maybe if they can sign Giannakopoulos or another striker like you said they can improve but IMHO they still have a long way to go in order to be a quality team.
This is just the way I see it, nothing else.

Last but not least, congratulations on your Panionios pick&win tonight !
I was tempted to take it yesterday but decided to stay away (shame on me...).



JC

[frankcastle]

JCtips - Then I must say we pretty much are saying similar things. Aris is no super-team, but has proven in quite a few matches that they have a good team. If you know Greek league at all, outside of Panathinaikos, it's a miracle if a team goes and beats a Spanish team in Spain and draws with a Premier League side on the Isle.

I think it's Baghevic the head coach that makes the difference. And after all, in terms of players, one teams trash is another team's treasure (Ronaldo Garcia).

It's widely accepted that Koke, one of their best players is not a scorer, yet he has had to take on that role in absense of a better option.

Anyway, I think we could probably go on for days on this subject...

Are you a Benfica fan? What do you think of Katsouranis? (Last time I went to a Benfica game was when Michel Prudhomme was playing at keeper!)

Seeya soon

[JCtips]

Originally Posted by frankcastle

JCtips - Then I must say we are pretty much on the same page. Basically we are saying similar things. Aris is no super-team, but has proven in quite a few matches that they have pretty good moments. If you know Greek league at all, outside of Panathinaikos, it's a miracle if a team goes and beats a Spanish team in Spain and draw a Premier League side on the Isle.

I think it's Baghevic the head coach that makes the difference. And after all, in terms of players, one teams trash is another team's treasure (Ronaldo Garcia).

It's widely accepted that Koke, their best player is not a scorer, yet he has had to take on that role in absense of a better option.

Anyway, I think we could probably go on for days on this subject...

Are you a Benfica fan? What do you think of Katsouranis?

Seeya soon

frankcastle,

I guess so...but you saying Ronald Garcia is a treasure for Aris really leaves me surprised.
Maybe he adapted well to Greek football, I don't know...but he still didn't impress me against Braga.

Yes, I'm a Benfica fan and also a fan of Katso.
He adapted very well and very fast to Portuguese Football, he's kind of a low profile person and player and all the fans just love him.
He had an incredible season last year playing as a defensive miedfielder (still scored many goals).
This season he played many times as a Centre Back because of injuries and just moved up to miedfield with the return from injury of Brazilian David Luiz. He doesn't seem to be as influential as last year but was playing very well as a defender (different role, of course) and with him at the back Benfica was not conceeding many goals.

If you're Greek you're surely a Katso fan as well.

We also had Karagounis last couple of seasons but he left to Panathinaikos (I think) at the start of the season.
1st season he didn't adapt well but last year he was playing at his best.



JC