England: Premier May 3-5

[aliando]

Saturday 3 May 2008	Home	Draw	Away	BPP
Manchester United v West Ham (12:45BST)	1.21	8.40	17.00	100%		Details »
Hide « Manchester United v West Ham
Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic (15:00BST)	1.60	4.00	7.40	101%		Details »
Hide « Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic
Blackburn Rovers v Derby County (15:00BST)	1.31	5.90	14.00	100%		Details »
Hide « Blackburn Rovers v Derby County
Fulham v Birmingham City (15:00BST)	2.26	3.50	3.50	101%		Details »
Hide « Fulham v Birmingham City
Middlesbrough v Portsmouth (15:00BST)	2.10	3.55	4.10	100%		Details »
Hide « Middlesbrough v Portsmouth
Reading v Tottenham Hotspur (15:00BST)	2.34	3.45	3.45	101%		Details »
Hide « Reading v Tottenham Hotspur
Bolton Wanderers v Sunderland (17:15BST)	1.67	4.00	6.50	100%		Details »
Hide « Bolton Wanderers v Sunderland
Sunday 4 May 2008	Home	Draw	Away	BPP
Arsenal v Everton (13:30BST)	1.76	3.75	6.00	100%		Details »
Hide « Arsenal v Everton
Liverpool v Manchester City (16:00BST)	1.73	3.95	5.60	101%		Details »
Hide « Liverpool v Manchester City
Monday 5 May 2008	Home	Draw	Away	BPP
Newcastle United v Chelsea (16:00BST)	6.40	4.20	1.65	100%		Details »

[leecrowe007]

Middlesboro v Portsmouth - 4.10 betfair...... or 13/8 bet365 draw no bet

Think the draw no bet might be a decent punt here. Portsmouth have shown this season they are well capable of an away win with 9 so far, and if they get the first goal you'd have to fancy them. Boro's home form is indifferent at 5-5-7. Which team will turn up the team that man utd struggled to get a 2-2 draw against, or the one who bolton sneaked away with a 1-0 win? Admittedly pompey were awful at man city, but the away before that they got a decent 1-0 win at west ham, and were unlucky not to get anything at home to blackburn last game. I doubt harry redknapp will accept another performance with such low standards as at city, so i might have a small stab at pompey draw no bet here. Will wait for some other thoughts first though.

[leecrowe007]

Reading v Spurs - 2.45 betfair

I think spurs might be worth a smallish bet at these odds against reading. Yes reading are still in the mire and could do with a win, but sometimes this sort of pressure can get to a team and with a nervy crowd, a poor start could increase this pressure. Spurs under Ramos have shown they are not a charity to these struggling sides. They have drawn away at wigan when ty played well and absolutely battered bolton last time out but just couldnt score. It is important to remember that a lot of these spurs players are playing for their futures, so they will definitely not get complacent. I just feel that with the players spurs have, they are well capable of a win here and if a few players are on song like berbatov, then that is exactly what they will get. Any thoughts to dissuade me or confirm my thoughts here? Think its decent value to be honest

[DJ]

Originally Posted by leecrowe007

Reading v Spurs - 2.45 betfair

I think spurs might be worth a smallish bet at these odds against reading. Yes reading are still in the mire and could do with a win, but sometimes this sort of pressure can get to a team and with a nervy crowd, a poor start could increase this pressure. Spurs under Ramos have shown they are not a charity to these struggling sides. They have drawn away at wigan when ty played well and absolutely battered bolton last time out but just couldnt score. It is important to remember that a lot of these spurs players are playing for their futures, so they will definitely not get complacent. I just feel that with the players spurs have, they are well capable of a win here and if a few players are on song like berbatov, then that is exactly what they will get. Any thoughts to dissuade me or confirm my thoughts here? Think its decent value to be honest

Look at Spurs results and form since they won the League Cup and were knocked out of Uefa Cup, the season is as good as over for them. Realistically even if Spurs motivation was at 60%, then Reading's will be at 110% to play to stave off relegation. Reading have the home crowd and sure there will be more pressure on the side but again this adds to the necessity to win. Spurs have been shocking away from home all season and have only won 2 away games, at Derby and Portsmouth. Spurs dominated and played as well as they did against Bolton in my opinion because Bolton can't defend and Spurs are geared up as a very attacking side. I don't think the motivation is as much there as earlier in the season and so against Reading I expect either the 5th 1-1 draw in a row or Reading to take the points. Spurs lost last season away to Reading, a game which Reading needed the points from because of a bad run of form, sound familiar? For me as this game is most definitely a No Bet

[Barty_uk]

Some initial thoughts for this weekends games….Hope I can continue with some solid form…
Aston Villa -1 - Wigan - Villa are playing very well of late and are full of confidence. Scoring a lot of goals in the process and the front three are a real handful for anyone at present. Wigan have been solid though defensively since Bruce took over but I just get that feeling that Villa will be to strong for them here. Also throw into the fact that Wigan are not a free scoring side.

Blackburn -1.5 - Derby - Already locked this play in at the start of the week. Not really much to say on this game. Betting against Derby has just been pure money on many occasions this season and don’t see any real reason to expect anything different from this game either. Derby's defence was split open at will against the Gunners and the score line really could have been much worse. Going forward they are not really much of a threat and im expecting Blackburn to at least manage two goals from this game and thus cover the spread convincingly.

Bolton - Sunderland +1 - Am I dreaming or really seeing this line. Admittedly, Bolton are pretty much in a must win situation here but come on, +1 on offer here for Sunderland? Going forward Bolton are simply awful and have no real goalscorer or real attacking threat especially without Davies. They were lucky to get a point last weekend at White-Hart-Lane and I think their weaknesses were there for all to see. I would slightly favour Bolton to win this game, but not by more than 1 goal that is on offer.

Leans are; Unsure on these yet, still need more time to think and look into these games;
Middlesbrough -0.25 - an offer that im tempted by but odds are a little bit to low to pull the trigger on atm. Boro are an underrated side (even by myself at times this season) But they do play good attacking football and create chances and ultimately cause teams issues at the Riverside. Out wide Downing is always a threat with his delivery and Tuncay is also a threat. Going forward they perhaps do lack goals with Aliadiere yet to get going and Alves only just starting to find his feet in this league. I sense next season they will be stronger and they have a lot of good youths coming through their ranks.
Im just unsure on Portsmouth's motivation here. Against Blackburn they were pretty poor and I suspect players are more concerned with being ready for the FA Cup final. An offer im seriously considering, I may in the end decide to pull the trigger on the ML win.

Liverpool -0.75 - Man City - City's season is over just as much as Liverpool's is hence my reluctance here to take this bet. City were woeful in the 2nd half against a poor Fulham side and deservedly lost, somehow! Defensivly a lot of missings aswell but the major concern here comes from Rafa's selection, who will he play?? This game carrys little meaning to it but these Liverpool fringe players do still have a lot to play for. Will probably end up taking both Liverpool and Boro, but need a little bit more time to dwell on these,

GL this weekend all!

[WHUPUNTER]

Would leave them well alone Lee to be honest mate. Pompey minds are on Cup and Spurs 1 win in 8 says it all, Reading have it all to play for.

[SeanMac]

didnt think i needed reasoning for these two

[DJ]

The best bet without a shadow of doubt appears to be Aston Villa at home to Wigan. If I can get odds of 1.6 then I will look to back them quite heavily. Since losing 4-0 against Manchester United on 29th March, Aston Villa have scored 17 goals in 4 games and taken 10 points out of a possible 12. While the chance to finish higher than Everton and qualify for the Uefa Cup is still possible then they will remain highly motivated. Aston Villa have scored 69 goals this season, only 4 short of Manchester United which is a good achievement. On the other hand Wigan have only won one game away from home, a 1-0 win at Derby. Wigan have only scored 11 away from home, while conceding 34. I think Villa will put a few past Wigan and finish their home season on a great note!

So 9/10 on Villa to win and 1/10 on Villa to win 3-1.

[WHUPUNTER]

Originally Posted by Djlion

The best bet without a shadow of doubt appears to be Aston Villa at home to Wigan. If I can get odds of 1.6 then I will look to back them quite heavily. Since losing 4-0 against Manchester United on 29th March, Aston Villa have scored 17 goals in 4 games and taken 10 points out of a possible 12. While the chance to finish higher than Everton and qualify for the Uefa Cup is still possible then they will remain highly motivated. Aston Villa have scored 69 goals this season, only 4 short of Manchester United which is a good achievement. On the other hand Wigan have only won one game away from home, a 1-0 win at Derby. Wigan have only scored 11 away from home, while conceding 34. I think Villa will put a few past Wigan and finish their home season on a great note!

So 9/10 on Villa to win and 1/10 on Villa to win 3-1.

Agree for the same reasons but one thing that would stop me is Wigan have solid form of late with draws against Arsenal and Chelsea and wins against Birmingham, West Ham, Newcastle and a draw against Reading last week so will not go in too heavy but Villa should win.

[aliando]

Originally Posted by SeanMac

didnt think i needed reasoning for these two

all tips in the named threads must have reasoning - hence the midweek/weekend bets for the "obvious" and unreasoned tips.

[WiseGuys]

Think there are quite a few games that are hard to call here, loads of teams are looking for three points to be sure of staying up and other teams are playing with no pressure as they are safe and have nothing to play for.
So i'm going for Manchester United -1.5 V West Ham. They will be full of confidence after getting to the Champions League final and now they have to concentrate on retaing their title. West Ham have nothing to play for, so I can't see past a comfortable home win.
Also like the look of Blackburn Rovers -1.5 V Derby. Derby are poor and were relegated ages ago. Blackburn are a very competent side with quality players in Bentley, Santa Cruz and McCarthy. At home they should have enough to see off this Derby side.

Pick - Manchester United -1.5 - 1.59
Pick - Blackburn Rovers -1.5 - 1.74

GL

Wise Guys

[1882]

Blackburn v Derby
Obvious one I know but I do like the 8/11 at bet365 on Blackburn -1. Blackburn are a tough side to beat and normally dispose of teams like Derby without much problem at ewood. Also might have a couple of quid on Santa Cruz 1st goal.

[SecondSight]

Boro/Pompey

Boro still need a point ot two to be safe. Pompey's main thoughts must be on the FAC. Schwarzer returns for Boro as well as Aliadiere and Riggott has been recalled from his loan at Stoke. Boro had to play a part fit third choice keeper at Sunderland last week, but still were only 60 seconds away from getting a draw. The Boro/Bolton game should have been over in the first 9 minutes as Boro wasted 6 good chances and Bolton got away with a cast iron penalty. I'd expect Boro to get something out of the game tommorrow.

[addick4life]

Does anybody else think the price on sunderland away at bolton is extremely generous? Keane will not want them to take it easy and boltons play does not inspire confidence all season.

[tuocugenc]

"KEVIN DAVIES returns from suspension to lead Wanderers' line in their final home game of the season against Sunderland on Saturday.."

Probable Squads
Wanderers (From): Al Habsi, Walker; Steinsson, Cahill, A O'Brien, Samuel; Campo, Nolan, Guthrie, McCann, Taylor, Diouf; Davies, Rasiak, Stelios, Cohen, J O'Brien, Fojut
Sunderland (From): Gordon, Fulop, Whitehead, Harte, Nosworthy, McShane, Evans, Higginbotham, Collins, Wallace, O'Donovan, Reid, Yorke, Leadbitter, Miller, Richardson, Edwards, Jones, Chopra, Stokes, Prica, Waghorn.

check:

Match Preview: BOLTON WANDERERS v Sunderland | Bolton Wanderers | News | Latest News | General

[DJEFCDJ]

Correct Score Treble

Newcastle 0-1 Chelsea
Fulham 2-1 Birmingham
Bolton 2-0 Sunderland

392/1

gotta be worth 50p

thought?

[budda1312]

Originally Posted by DJEFCDJ

Correct Score Treble

Newcastle 0-1 Chelsea
Fulham 2-1 Birmingham
Bolton 2-0 Sunderland

392/1

gotta be worth 50p

thought?

oh why but why?

anyways, Bolton 2-0 is pretty unlikely, if impossible, at the price on offer I MUST go for Sunderland with a sensible handicap, Mr. Keane should not like another sh*** result, especially against a Bolton CS 1-1 if you ask me
Aston Villa and Blackburn -1,5 are clearly the bets of the weekend
Wigan are rather safe and AV's form is simply smashing, the price is about right
Derby managed quite sensible away results lately and maybe they should finally show their true worth Blb are a perfect team at the moment to put them back in line with some 3-0
h2hs are the only worry here... yet stats are to be corrected, especially at the present state of affairs, Derby and Wigan are nowhere near the teams they were in the past

[blackcrow]

Man Utd -2.5
Man Utd will use their midweek win to propel them into an easy win here. They know they have to beat West Ham to keep alive their chances of a double. The Hammershave a few injuries in their side, and even though they have a good record against them, you would expect the OT crowd to get right behind them and ensure that they don't take this game casually.

Aston Villa -1 (EH)
Villa are in 6th place and still look a chance of getting that 5th spot. They have been playing some great football over the last month and have been scoring some goals too. Wigan have only won once away and conceded 34 goals in their 18 away games while Villa have scored 34 goals in their 18 home games. Villa have still something to play for while Wigan should be safe from the drop so look for Villa's good form to carry them to a good win here.

Blackburn -1 (EH)
Rovers need to win to keep alive their slender hopes of qualifying for Europe via the Intertoto Cup. They ahve good home form and an in form striker in Cruz who continues to show his class in front of goals. Derby are appalling and have nothing to play for. They have no motivation and they have some injuries to make it worse. Easy Blackburn win

[AK1979]

Sport	Football (Eng - Prem)
Event	Bolton v Sunderland
Selection	under 2.5 goals
Strength	10/10
Date	03/05/2008
Bookmaker/Price	Betfair @ 1.79 (Back)
Reasoning	Both sides struggle for goals - Bolton have only scored in 3 of their last 6 homes games (4 goals). Sunderland have only scored in 2 of their last 6 away from home (4 goals - 3 of which we against leaky Fulham).

[AK1979]

Sport	Football (Eng - Prem)
Event	Mbrough v Pmouth
Selection	Under 2.5 goals
Strength	10/10
Date	03/05/2008
Bookmaker/Price	Betfair @ 1.71 (Back)
Reasoning	Taking each sides goalscoring record in their recent home and away games swerves me towards this bet. 5 of Middlesbroughs last 6 home games have finished either 1-0 or 0-1, with the exception being the 2-2 draw vs man Utd. Portsmouth seem to lack firepower away from home scoring 0 1 1 0 1 1 in their last 6.