Pre-Season Friendly Betting Madness

[kompressaur]

Dunno who would be crazy enough to bet on pre-season friendlies but if you are then here is an indication of prices. Feel free to mention if you have any onfo that could sway my opinion though.

Saturday 24 July 2004
Ipswich v Crystal Palace (13:00 BST) 7/4 9/4 5/4 112%
Fulham v Rangers (14:00 BST) 7/4 5/2 1.8/1 101%
Bradford v Bolton (16:00 BST) 5/1 12/5 1/2 113%
Chesterfield v Derby (16:00 BST) 4/1 5/2 4/7 113%
Colchester v Watford (16:00 BST) 5/2 5/2 4/5 113%
Darlington v Blackpool (16:00 BST) 5/2 5/2 4/5 113%
Doncaster v Man City (16:00 BST) 4/1 5/2 4/7 113%
Kidderminster v Walsall (16:00 BST) 11/5 11/5 1/1 113%
Lincoln v Nottm Forest (16:00 BST) 9/2 12/5 8/15 113%
Northampton v Wolves (16:00 BST) 5/1 12/5 1/2 113%
Peterborough v West Ham (16:00 BST) 9/2 12/5 8/15
Preston v Middlesbrough (16:00 BST) 4/1 5/2 4/7 113%
Swindon v Millwall (16:00 BST) 15/8 12/5 11/10 112%
Torquay v Portsmouth (16:00 BST) 7/1 3/1 1/3 113%
Yeovil v Bristol City (16:00 BST) 6/4 5/2 5/4 114%
York v Sheffield Wed (16:00 BST) 5/1 12/5 1/2 113%
Celtic v Chelsea (21:00 BST) 2.45/1 5/2 5/4 103%

Sunday 25 July 2004
Brentford v Reading (16:00 BST) 3/1 12/5 8/11 113%
Leeds v Valencia (16:00 BST) 6/1 11/4 2/5 113%
Man Utd v Bayern München (21:00 BST) 1.48/1 11/5 11/5 103%

[Zebedee1]

As I'm going down to Yeovil, I'll be a little crazy & have a few quid on Bristol City at 5/4

Here is the City team
4-3-3
Phillips
Coles
Buttler
Hill
Bell
Orr
Doherty
Harley
Murray
Roberts
Hefferman

The defence is pretty much 1st choice, up front there should be a lot of goals in Murray, Roberts & Hefferman (20 odd with Notts C last season). Tinnion has also said he has no plans of mass half time changes.
All I can find about Yeovil, is that they have signed Polish midfielder Bartosz Tarachulski & Frenchman Nicolas Mirza. They lost at home to Bournemouth 2-1 last week & have beated Bath City (3-0) & Dorchester Town (2-0).

Komp
Local Bookies down here in the midlands (champion bookmakers) has the leeds friendly on the coupon priced up as
Leeds v Valencia (16:00 BST) 12/5 9/4 10/11
I know friendlys are bad news but do ya reacon there is value in the valencia at 10/11?
Any one got any team news on this one?

They (Leeds) played Oldham Athletic last night, and drew 0-0. Their team is listed on this page - www.oldhamathletic.premiu...69,00.html
This could well be their first choice team at the moment, and if so I can't see how they'll be able to cope with a full strength Valencia team, but until you actually know the teams might be worth giving a miss.
To be honest, I can't see us (Sheffield Wednesday) failing to beat York. We will have our first team out, bar Lucas and Branston (injured), but the replacements will be adequate. It is also Lee Peacocks first game of pre-season, and he'll be out to impress and hopefully bag a goal, alongside MacLean or Proudlock.
Turner is trying to install a winning culture at the club, and this includes winning in friendly matches. Our results so far have been a 3-2 victory over PNE, a 1-1 draw with Watford, and a Wednesday XI beat Barrow 9-0.
Where did those odds come from Komp? Can't find them anywhere!

[Zebedee1]

Yeovil 0 Bristol City 3
Thanks for posting this tread Komp, Ididn't think bookies would price up this game.

Jcaple, Skybet priced a lot of friendlies today.
How did Peacock do on his debut?

Well we won 2-1, expected it to be more and a little disappointed if I'm honest.
Varying reports on Peacock, none worse than him being average, a lot saying he could be the target man we've been looking for, who can also chip in a few goals. He only came on at half time, and scored the winner, following up from Brunts shot.
Heard a lot of views from City fans, some bad, some good. What do you think of him? Glad he's gone, or disappointed he didn't sign a new contract?

[Zebedee1]

I'm not disappointed he has left, I think it was time we had a change up front and the strikers brought in to replace him look like doing very well. He went through a spell last season when he never looked like scoring, but Wilson would never take him off. Maybe a new challenge will get him among the goals again, I bet he scores against us this season
I'm expecting McClean to do well for you this season.

Yeah, fair point. That's the concerning thing, he's not a consistent goalscorer, whereas I think all your strikers have plenty of goals in them, Heffernan (potential League 1 top scorer), Gillespie, Roberts, Miller etc. In addition if Murray can refind the form that saw him off to Reading you'll be scoring goals for fun imo, which is the only thing you lacked last season. As I've said before, I think you're rightful favourites to finish top, even after losing one of the best defenders in the division. I think Tranmere will fill the second automatic place.

Some interesting info on uniteds website - www.manutd.com.

It appears united only have three recognised attackers in the squad - smith, bellion and giggs.

Fergie looks like he will be playing the kids against Bayern and they are not in the same league as the lot before them.

Cant find any info on the bayern team but suspect the 2.62 on BF or better around elsewhere could be worth a punt.

[Paul Ross]

Leeds 2 Valencia 2

Didn't expect that at all, but nice to see some youth coming through.

Match Report

Hardly a match to get the blood up, but York at 10/3 with Skybet (in from 5/1 an hour past) might be worth an interest. The Leeds side is basically reserves, kids and a couple of triallists.

According to the official website the team is as follows: Wilberforce, Edwards, Constable, McStay, Gorville, Winter, Woods, Singh, Barralon, Johnson, Keogh. Subs: Corr, McDaid, Tyrrell, Bowler. Although Harpal Singh and Simon Johnson have some league experience, and I think I've heard of Keogh, it's not much of a side.

I haven't seen any news on the side York are putting out, but they didn't play at the weekend so I expect them to have a first-teamish side out. If that is the case, they should be much closer to evens - an experienced if not particularly gifted side against potentially good players of the future.

Negative factors are that Leeds 'reserves' have already held Scarborough to a 1-1 draw and beaten a couple of other non-league outfits. Also, I don't think York have been pulling up trees pre-season, but I seem to remember they ran Sheff Wed close last week. A close game, but York should never have been 5/1 and shouldn't be 10/3.

SupS not bad shout on York I think they drew with Leeds last night?

20,000 at the Riverside tonight to watch Parlour and Hasselbaink make their home debuts and Zenden as full player. Should be good atmosphere. Viduka and Reizeiger are out, but otherwise full strength Boro side expected. Eto out for Mallorca who is their main striker and who they are likely to sell to Barca. Mallorca - I believe lost 4-2 at Leicester in a friendly recently.

I saw 8/11 for Boro in RPost with Skybet. I expect Boro to win, to bounce back from defeat at Rostock on Saturday. The pre season form against CCC teams was quite good. But would like better odds to put money on it. I have not shopped around, but if anyone can get 5/6 worth a punt.