England » Barclays Premier League » Feb 9/10

[Spooner]

Some good midweek fixtures.

Tuesday 9 February 2010	Home	Draw	Away	BPP
	Manchester City v Bolton Wanderers (19:45 GMT)	1.48	4.4	9.6	100.71 %
	Portsmouth v Sunderland (19:45 GMT)	2.52	3.35	3.3	99.84 %
	Wigan Athletic v Stoke City (19:45 GMT)	2.25	3.4	3.7	100.88 %
	Fulham v Burnley (20:00 GMT)	1.82	3.75	5.6	99.47 %
	Wednesday 10 February 2010	Home	Draw	Away	BPP
	Arsenal v Liverpool (19:45 GMT)	2.18	3.45	3.9	100.50 %
	Aston Villa v Manchester United (19:45 GMT)	4.5	3.75	1.95	100.17 %
	West Ham v Birmingham City (19:45 GMT)	2.36	3.4	3.5	100.36 %
	Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur (19:45 GMT)	4.7	3.75	1.92	100.03 %
	Blackburn Rovers v Hull City (20:00 GMT)	1.9	3.65	4.9	100.19 %
	Everton v Chelsea (20:00 GMT)	5.5	4	1.76	100.00 %

[Spooner]

Pompey may just get a result against Sunderland who are poor at the minute, Pompey have been a little unlucky on occasions, obviously things don't go your way when struggling, they outplayed Fulham last week though. Sunderland will be thinking this is the game to get back on track though, although Stoke & Wigan appeared to be the time.

Arsenal, Manchester United & Chelsea, one of them will slip up, United have a good record at Villa Park but Villa played well in a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford.

Hard calls these games.

[Jase82]

Must win game for us, and a game I truly believe we can win. Sunderland only have a win over Barrow to their name since November. We already beat them in the cup in January, so I see no reason why we can't beat them again here.

Sunderland look really low on confidence right now. They have some fine players, but they just seem unable to get a win right now.

I for one won't be betting on this game because I can't bring myself to have money as well as emotions riding on the game.

If I were to put anything on our game though, I would be backing the home side, and definitely laying Sunderland.

[Jase82]

Spurs are too short away at Wolves also. I knew at the start of the season this would happen, and their price would drop considerably when away to lower ranked sides.

Initially I was going to say Blackburn are too short, but Hull have no wins away from home this season. I think 1.90 is a steal for them. Hull are the sort of side that will draw at home to Chelsea and then lose the next game. I say that because I'm sure they'll be someone that says Hull had a great result against Chelsea, and use it as reasnoning as to why they consider Hull "value". Home and away form is totally different.

Chelsea are too short at Everton also. I'd be laying them at that price.

[Smooth Jimmy]

Would appear to a neutral that Avram Grant pulled abit of a Mick McCarthy at Old Trafford, not starting Finnan, Yebda, Boateng and Dindane, with an eye on the Sunderland game, which they have a much better chance of getting something from, which may help. Portsmouth and Man City are the only two sides I'm gonna be looking at, midweek.

[Jase82]

Unfortunately, It appears Boateng may have picked up an injury. Van Den Borre is possibly out, which is a good thing in my eyes.

One other point to take on board regarding us, is that emotions will be running high. We have a hearing at the high court on Wednesday, so come Thursday, we could potentially be in administration, and this result won't matter much then.

[GLOCK"]

Portsmouth game is really unpredictable. Could go either way. I heart that club is in financial crises is that true Jase? Portsmouth half moon and star is given to the emblem after Ottoman's help in 1850.

[sajtion]

portsmouth are finished in my opinion. they will not win another game for the rest of the season. grant knows this and he's only staying put for his wages. the board has had to sell begovic to finance players wages-a goal keeper who kept them alive in some games. managment know they will be relagated which is why they are to sell the club. while they pass the ball well they have no one quality strikers to get them goals. sunderland have be having difficulty to scoring goals but their defence has been solid. its just a matter of time before bent gets on the scoresheet again. i see sunderland 1-2 win

[sajtion]

its hard to see man utd dropping points even if they are playing against tough aston villa. they've been very efficient against teams in the last several matches. they've shown against arsenal how serious they are about title race and its now between them and chelsea to push for the first place. losing points is out of the question so man utd will step it up and try to get all three points. aston villa are only good on counter attack and when they played tottenham they didn't show much at all. agbon lahor may be a threat from corner or set piece. my prediction is 1-2 man utd

[IAmGooner]

United and Chelsea are understandably short, but I think one if not both will slip up in midweek. Extremely tough games.

Wouldn't touch Pompey with a barge-pole tbh, signs of improved form without results while Sunderland look short of confidence. Don't think it's worth the hassle.

Arsenal above Evens would be my bet of the midweek. Fairly confident we won't lose this game, Liverpool are usually happy with a draw at our place and without Torres I think it's the best they can hope for. Don't have the pace to hurt us on the counter IMO.

[sajtion]

everton manager moyes was in the stands in stamford bridge watching chelsea beat arsenal and i'm sure on wednsday night everton will play for a draw from the get go and try to frustrate chelsea in the midfield with 4 5 1 formation. obviously missing still key players i doubt they will want to risk more players injured. i think everton will want to play it safe and hope for scoreless draw but i think chelsea will break them down eventually and score. my predicition is 0-2 to chelsea

[sajtion]

surely man city will won't to improve on poor performance against hull in the weekend. they played to many crosses but i expect they will go back to playing fluid passing game. bolton are desperate for a win now but i don't think it will come against city. they will try to keep it tight and i expect a physical encounter. if bolton get one goal then i expect city will get at least three. my prediction is 3-1

[Jenspm]

honestly, I like Liverpool +0.5 @ evens

Liverpool have strung up a few wins recently, and they gained control of that 4th spot quicker than I'd have thought. They held yet another clean sheet Saturday, and that brings them up to 4 in a row, 6 in the last 7 league games - impressive. This includes matches against high-scoring Tottenham, Aston Villa, and with 10 men for over an hour vs. Everton. These results have for the main part come at home, however, but Arsenal's form isn't good at all. Earning one point in the last 4 games, if we include the 3-1 loss to Stoke in the cup. Liverpool should come in with a boost of confidence after than derby win, while Arsenal have been beaten by 2 goals 3 times in their last 4 games.

A win for Liverpool would bring them within 2 points of Arsenal in 3rd place, while Arsenal may well consider this a "must win" if they want to keep up with Chelsea and Man U up top.

Furthermore, these games, head to head, have been tight affairs in recent years, with five (!) draws in the last 8 games between the two, four of them ending 1-1. Two last games have ended 2-1 Arsenal. Last 8 head to head:

13th Dec 09 L Liverpool v Arsenal 1 - 2
28th Oct 09 C Arsenal v Liverpool 2 - 1
21st Apr 09 L Liverpool v Arsenal 4 - 4
21st Dec 08 L Arsenal v Liverpool 1 - 1
8th Apr 08 C Liverpool v Arsenal 4 - 2
5th Apr 08 L Arsenal v Liverpool 1 - 1
2nd Apr 08 C Arsenal v Liverpool 1 - 1
28th Oct 07 L Liverpool v Arsenal 1 - 1

Hardly a blowout to any party. I can see a match where Arsenal have most of the possession, while Liverpool work their asses off and get a goal on the counter-attack.

Other interesting bets: 1-1 @ 7


thoughts?

[9coconuts]

Originally Posted by Jase82

I say that because I'm sure they'll be someone that says Hull had a great result against Chelsea, and use it as reasnoning as to why they consider Hull "value". Home and away form is totally different.

I agree with you. Only been using these forums a few days, but if there's one thing I've noticed it's that too many people fail to distinguish between home and away form. I think they should be considered almost entirely separately.

[Kosher Readies]

Originally Posted by Jenspm

honestly, I like Liverpool +0.5 @ evens

Liverpool have strung up a few wins recently, and they gained control of that 4th spot quicker than I'd have thought. They held yet another clean sheet Saturday, and that brings them up to 4 in a row, 6 in the last 7 league games - impressive. This includes matches against high-scoring Tottenham, Aston Villa, and with 10 men for over an hour vs. Everton. These results have for the main part come at home, however, but Arsenal's form isn't good at all. Earning one point in the last 4 games, if we include the 3-1 loss to Stoke in the cup. Liverpool should come in with a boost of confidence after than derby win, while Arsenal have been beaten by 2 goals 3 times in their last 4 games.

A win for Liverpool would bring them within 2 points of Arsenal in 3rd place, while Arsenal may well consider this a "must win" if they want to keep up with Chelsea and Man U up top.

Furthermore, these games, head to head, have been tight affairs in recent years, with five (!) draws in the last 8 games between the two, four of them ending 1-1. Two last games have ended 2-1 Arsenal. Last 8 head to head:

13th Dec 09 L Liverpool v Arsenal 1 - 2
28th Oct 09 C Arsenal v Liverpool 2 - 1
21st Apr 09 L Liverpool v Arsenal 4 - 4
21st Dec 08 L Arsenal v Liverpool 1 - 1
8th Apr 08 C Liverpool v Arsenal 4 - 2
5th Apr 08 L Arsenal v Liverpool 1 - 1
2nd Apr 08 C Arsenal v Liverpool 1 - 1
28th Oct 07 L Liverpool v Arsenal 1 - 1

Hardly a blowout to any party. I can see a match where Arsenal have most of the possession, while Liverpool work their asses off and get a goal on the counter-attack.

Other interesting bets: 1-1 @ 7


thoughts?

Hmm. Looking at those previous games, both teams to score jumps out at me.

Over 2.5 goals @ 2.14 looks good, 11 out of 12 league games at the emirates have gone over this season.

[Mustafa]

Originally Posted by IAmGooner

United and Chelsea are understandably short, but I think one if not both will slip up in midweek. Extremely tough games.

Wouldn't touch Pompey with a barge-pole tbh, signs of improved form without results while Sunderland look short of confidence. Don't think it's worth the hassle.

Arsenal above Evens would be my bet of the midweek. Fairly confident we won't lose this game, Liverpool are usually happy with a draw at our place and without Torres I think it's the best they can hope for. Don't have the pace to hurt us on the counter IMO.

I don't expect Man. United to drop points. They are doing really good both at home and away and waiting for Chelsea to lose some points. I guess Man. United will manage to win against Villa probably by one goal, and feel that Chelsea will draw with Everton.

I really don't see the point of +1 handicaps when you can pick a double chance and since both are almost the same value. So, I prefer Everton or Draw @ 2.10, than Everton +1 @ 2.00.

[Mustafa]

Originally Posted by Kosher Readies

Hmm. Looking at those previous games, both teams to score jumps out at me.

Over 2.5 goals @ 2.14 looks good, 11 out of 12 league games at the emirates have gone over this season.

And in this type of games which can go either way it's safer to focus on goal markets. So, will also probably pick Over 2.5 goals.

[Charles Drawin]

Originally Posted by sajtion

everton manager moyes was in the stands in stamford bridge watching chelsea beat arsenal and i'm sure on wednsday night everton will play for a draw from the get go and try to frustrate chelsea in the midfield with 4 5 1 formation. obviously missing still key players i doubt they will want to risk more players injured. i think everton will want to play it safe and hope for scoreless draw but i think chelsea will break them down eventually and score. my predicition is 0-2 to chelsea

Can you quit the underlining? It makes it harder to read

[SpiritOf67]

I think this is a pretty hard week.

The only one that stands out for me at first glance is Spurs at 10/11. Their away record is 4 5 3 but I feel they have been a bit unlucky in some of these games, losing a last minute goal away at Birmingham, and losing 2 late goals to throw away a 2-0 lead at Everton before missing a last minute penalty. They have only lost at Anfield, The Emirates and Stamford Bridge on the road, no disgrace and they look a lot tighter this season at the back.

Spurs away wins have come against the lower teams, beating Hull, West Ham, Blackburn and Pompie so they can take care of the poorer teams away from home and Wolves are one of the poorer teams in the league who at this moment look like they will go down and will be demoralized by conceding 2 late goals to lose at Birmingham.

Spurs will be frustrated after drawing their previous 2 games where they should have won at least one. They are still in the running for a top 4 place but with Liverpool finding form they need to win games like this and at 1.9 I think they should have too much firepower for Wolves.

[Charles Drawin]

Originally Posted by SpiritOf67

I think this is a pretty hard week.

The only one that stands out for me at first glance is Spurs at 10/11. Their away record is 4 5 3 but I feel they have been a bit unlucky in some of these games, losing a last minute goal away at Birmingham, and losing 2 late goals to throw away a 2-0 lead at Everton before missing a last minute penalty. They have only lost at Anfield, The Emirates and Stamford Bridge on the road, no disgrace and they look a lot tighter this season at the back.

Spurs away wins have come against the lower teams, beating Hull, West Ham, Blackburn and Pompie so they can take care of the poorer teams away from home and Wolves are one of the poorer teams in the league who at this moment look like they will go down and will be demoralized by conceding 2 late goals to lose at Birmingham.

Spurs will be frustrated after drawing their previous 2 games where they should have won at least one. They are still in the running for a top 4 place but with Liverpool finding form they need to win games like this and at 1.9 I think they should have too much firepower for Wolves.

Considering Man City were priced 8/11 at Hull this looks good value. Seems like the bookies pay more respect to City than they do to Spurs or more respect to Wolves than they do to Hull.