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Weekend Soccer – By Chris.
The Premiership
Birmingham - Arsenal 7.55 - 1.53
Maybe the odds on Arsenal are just too short for this
game, considering their Champions League participation
in midweek. I take it for granted that the Arsenal coach
Wenger will make some changes but officially he has sent
Wednesday’s squad to Birmingham. Eboue is suspended,
Toure out injured, no Rosicky or Van Persie, but
keeper Almunia should be back. Some doubts concerning
Adebayor and A Hleb.
Although Birmingham are hovering just above the
relegation zone they are quite dangerous. They have a
habit of picking up unexpected points from the top sides
in the Premiership and when they lose it is often a
close call. O Kapo will be back. I have no interest
whatsoever in backing this low priced away win (1.53).
Birmingham 1 Arsenal 1
Fulham - West Ham 2.73 - 2.80
Fulham have to win another home game. They defeated
Aston Villa in their last home fixture, recovering from
0-1 down. No doubt that new coach Hodgson has been able
to tighten up their defence, that it is the easier part,
but making sharp shooters out of miss hitters, that is
the tricky one. Hopefully for Fulham their American
striker McBride will pick up his scoring habit again.
The Fulham midfielder S Davies is out suspended.
West Ham drew their last game with Birmingham at Upton
Park. They were rather harmless on the day and one can
say that the Hammers have similar problems as Fulham,
finding the net. With C Bellamy back W Ham will improve,
but he is out for at least another month. L Bowyer will
be suspended this weekend. Solano, Faubert and Zamora
are all back in training. I admit that Fulham have more
to play for, but in my opinion W Ham will not lose this
match. I will back the draw (3.25).
Fulham
0 West Ham 1
Liverpool - Middlesbrough 1.44 - 9.50
Lucas and F Aurelio played from the start against Inter.
Definitely not my choice, but Benitez got it right with
Liverpool winning 2-0. In some strange way Liverpool are
lucky when they are playing in the Champions League but
domestically the short straw is often theirs. Like last
week when they inexplicably lost to a last minute
Barnsley goal. Tomorrow Liverpool have to do without Mr
Liverpool himself, Jamie Carragher.
Middlesbrough hope to include R Huth again and also
Tuncay Sanli is back to fitness. Plenty of options up
front for coach Southgate with Mido, Aladiere and Afonso
Alves all in action at Sheffield U last week and now
also T Sanli could be ready. Liverpool can not afford to
rest on their laurels, they must not drop more
"unnecessary" league points. Home win, I guess, but
quite useless odds (1.44).
Liverpool 3 Middlesbrough 2
Newcastle - Manchester Utd 8.12 - 1.50
The times they are certainly a changing. Even Bob Dylan
would be surprised to find 8.12 on a home win for
Newcastle in the Premiership. Not that I am prepared to
back the home side and that is the tragic part. They are
soft defensively and with Owen and A Smith going forward
there will always be a shortage of goals. Nothing wrong
with M Owen, but Keegan has to pick Viduka or Martins as
Owen's partner. O Martins could not play against Villa,
but he is expected back for this game.
First Lyon and then Newcastle. Tough week for M United
and the other Champions League participants. Fortunately
they have a big squad (22 fit players) and Ferguson
will add some fresh players to his squad for this league
game. I will not back Newcastle tomorrow, but I have no
intention of backing the away win either. Just take a
look at the odds (1.50).
Newcastle 1 Man Utd 5
Portsmouth - Sunderland 1.65 - 6.00
It was a remarkably poor Portsmouth second half display
in their cup game with Preston last week. Their late
winning goal only goes to show that there is no such
thing as justice in the game of football. All their
Africans were back and I thought that their starting
line up looked almost perfect, only missing J Defoe. He
will be back for this match. It sounds like coach
Redknapp will rest Kanu this week end.
Looking at the previous Sunderland away games the home
win looks inevitable. Sunderland are 0-2-11 away from
home. They have so far been the worst away side in the
Premiership. Important wingers K Richardson and C
Edwards are not yet ready for come backs. Andy Reid
could play his first game tomorrow and G Leadbitter is
also available for this match. Likely home win, but
personally I cannot back a low priced Pompey home win.
They are 3-7-2 at Fratton park. No bet!
Portsmouth 1 Sunderland 0
Wigan - Derby 1.65 - 6.00
I am actually ready to back this low priced home win. I
mean 1.65 on Wigan to win can never really be
an attractive price, can it? Wigan are playing some
decent football but they were extremely unlucky two
weeks ago, when they returned home pointless from their
visit at Sunderland. All the five Wigan strikers,
including Heskey, are available for this match and new
defender E Edman is poised to make his debut. Derby are
quite simply not good enough and they must also have
problems with their motivation nowadays. McEveley and H
Ghaly will return to the Derby squad. Home win (1.65).
Wigan 2 Derby 0
Blackburn - Bolton 1.85 - 4.66
The Blackburn squad has been off to Florida for some
days in the sun. I am sure that it is a good thing for
the club and its players, the feel good factor cannot be
ignored, but it will be no special advantage for
Blackburn ahead of this fixture. Matches between
Blackburn and Bolton are traditionally very tight
affairs, seldom attractive from a footballing
perspective. Blackburn were 0-1 down in the
first meeting this season between these two rivals, but
thanks to an injury time goal from J Roberts, they won
the match 2-1. Blackburn will have their defender Samba
back for this match, Gamst-Pedersen and D Dunn as
well, but lose another defender, Ooijer. Definitely a
big advantage for Blackburn that Bolton late Thursday
night played a big game with Atletico Madrid, (0-0) and
that is why I decide to give my support to the home win.
Questionable odds, I know that (1.85).
Blackburn 4 Bolton 1
Reading - Aston Villa 3.25 - 2.40
As it stands Reading will be relegated. I find it a bit
surprising that they are in this predicament, but If you
do not open your wallet this is bound to happen in the
Premiership. Reading have signed one player recently and
that is the Czech international midfielder Matejovsky
and what I have heard coach Coppell is very satisfied
with him. Ingimarsson, Bikey, Fae and M Duberry are all
available again. None of them are world class players to
be honest.
Villa destroyed a poor Newcastle side in their last
game, 4-1 and this they managed without their latest
star, Agbonlahor. He is expected back for this match and
Villa will be at full strength. Any given Saturday and
against any given opponent in the Premiership,
Reading can be winners, but I admit that this statement
had more bearing last season. Maybe I am living in the
past because Reading are 6-1-6 in their home games this
season. Villa have lost only two away games, but they
were weak in their last away game, losing 1-2 vs Fulham.
A similar effort tomorrow and Villa will lose their
third away match. Conclusion? I have none!
Reading 1 Aston Villa 2
Manchester City - Everton 2.45 - 3.15
City lost their away game with Everton, 0-1. Sounds like
it was a close call, but it was not. Everton were
clearly the better side and City had practically no open
scoring possibilities. You got the feeling that the City
players did not like the traditionally physical Everton
approach. City won their last match, the Manchester
derby, 2-1, and after this famous win I do not think
that the City players will fear Everton. Benjani had a
great first game for City and winger Petrov must be a
relieved man to finally have a target man in the penalty
area. M Johnson and Bojinov played recently for the City
reserves and could feature soon.
Everton only miss the injured A Gardner. They played a
UEFA Ccup game with Brann in midweek but I will make not
too much of that engagement (6-1 win). City are 9-3-1 at
home and their confidence is sky high ahead of this
match. Betting wise I end up, backing the home win
(2.45).
Carling Cup Final
Chelsea - Tottenham 2.10 - 3.80
In my dreams I can see the Chelsea coach Grant waking up
one day, ready to use a 4-4-2 formation with Anelka and
Drogba up front. Alas, it will never happen. At the
moment I suggest that Chelsea have some fantastic
football players in their squad, but their overall
football is not as impressive. With all their Africans
fit and raring to go again and practically an injury
free squad to choose from, Grant certainly has a
dilemma, which players to pick and in what positions to
play them. J Terry and F Lampard were rested in midweek
and rumours say that they can could be rested again.
This I doubt, but I do not know if it makes much
difference. I mean, the Chelsea defence has been
impeccable without Terry and there are one or two decent
midfielders in the Chelsea squad, not just Lampard.
Anyway, Chelsea played a boring game in Greece with
Olympiakos, not to mention their last league game with
Liverpool (0-0).
R Keane, Malbranque and J Jenas were on the bench when
Tottenham played a UEFA Cup game in midweek (1-1) with L
King and A Hutton not even included in their squad. For
this final all are back in contention and also M Dawson
has an outside chance of being fit in time. Although
Chelsea have the superior squad I will back Spurs to win
this final (3.80). Chelsea have quite simply bored me
enough these last couple of weeks and I prefer the way
Tottenham play their football. Hopefully I will be right
(3.80).
Chelsea 1 Tottenham 2
Serie A
Reggina - Juventus 6.70 - 1.63
I thought that Reggina would be able to defeat a
weakened Udinese side last week, but instead they lost
the match 1-3. Relegation looks inevitable. Expect
nothing revolutionary for this match. Missiroli will
miss the game and Tognozzi could earn a starting role,
maybe also Cirillo.
Juventus will be without their keeper Buffon and the
suspended Nocerino. Belardi will stand between the
Juventus sticks. Iaquinta is an injury doubt. Sissoko
will play from the start and up front we will find Del
Piero and Trezeguet. Juventus are almost as much
a machine as Inter against the majority of the Serie A
clubs, all rather mediocre, and the only time they
surprised in a negative way was when they drew their
home game with Cagliari. Likely away win (1.63).
Reggina 2 Juventus 1
Torino - Parma 2.10 - 4.35
The Torino keeper Sereni was probably their best player
last week at Siena (0-0). Diana and Comotto will be back
this weekend from their suspensions, but their defender
Motta goes the other way. Corradi will be available
again for Parma and I hope to see C Lucarelli and
Corradi as joint strikers. Far from certain however as
Lucarelli is not 100% fit and could be that Budan will
join Corradi in the front line. Midfielders Dessena and
Cigarini are out of this match.
Torino are on an unbeaten run and Parma picked up a
deserved point against Milan last week, but it was a
Parma home game of course. Away from home they are still
winless with 0-4-7 this far. 1X will cover this fixture,
but maybe the value is on the home win (2.10).
Torino
4 Parma 4
Milan - Palermo 1.57 - 7.50
I can imagine that one or two of the Milan campaigners
will have something of an off day on Sunday after their
tough game with Arsenal in midweek. This could be just
the opportunity that I have been waiting for. Once
again, Milan seem to be a team for the big games these
days, while they often struggle in the bread and butter
matches. Missing for sure is the injured Nesta and
Ronaldo and then we will see if Ancleotti will decide to
rest some of his first choices.
Both the Palermo aces Amauri and Miccoli will return
from suspensions but Miccoli is a major injury doubt. If
Miccoli should not make it Cavani will play alongside
Amauri. Capuano is out, injured. Palermo won this
fixture 2-0 last season and they could do it again. I
backed Palermo away to Roma. They lost the match 0-1,
but is fair to say that a dismissal destroyed the
Palermo chances that day. My choice will be the away win
(7.50).
Milan
2 Palermo 1
Atalanta - Siena 2.05 - 4.50
First of all, it has to be said that Atalanta were not
as bad last week as the 0-3 result at Lazio indicates.
The Lazio keeper Ballotta saved his side on more than
one occasion. Defenders Capelli and Carozzieri will be
missing for the home side, but both Tissone and Langella
will be fit to play. Doni and Floccari up front again.
Siena welcome back Vergassola and Galloppa, but lose
their midfielder Kharja to a suspension. Maccarone was
injured earlier this week and he risks missing this
match. Rigano is ready to deputise. Siena are far from
harmless but I still find some value on the home win
(2.05).
Atalanta 2 Siena 2
Cagliari - Lazio 3.40 - 2.50
A trio of players will not be available for the home
side. I am referring to Conti, Ferri and Canini. The
first two played from the start last week at Palermo
(1-2). Kolarov returns from his suspension and Lazio
will come with their fittest squad for a long time on
Sunday. The Lazio away from is quite terrible, failing
to score in any of their last two away games at Torino
and Empoli, and they are 1-6-4 so far on their travels.
Calgliari are the worst side in Serie A and the only
game that they have won in modern times was against
Napoli when they scored two injury time goals. No home
win for Cagliari against Lazio these last 10 years. OK,
the draw! (3.00).
Cagliari 1 Lazio 0
Empoli - Catania 2.20 - 4.25
A real six pointer game with a confident home side after
their big result last week at Napoli (3-1 win). Pozzi
scored two of the Empoli goal, but he is out injured at
the moment. The Empoli defender Piccolo is out,
suspended. Saudati will replace Pozzi and Pratali will
come in for Piccolo. Important Vannuchi will be back to
play. A mixture of good and bad news for Empoli.
Catania lost again, this time away to Fiorentina (1-2).
They could easily have taken something from the match
but at the moment things are not going well for Catania.
Colucci will replace the injured Spinesi again and
Slivestri will miss this match due to a suspension.
Catania are 0-5-7 away from home and the Sicilians would
be extremely happy returning home with a point. 1X, I
guess!
Empoli
2 Catania 2
Livorno - Napoli 2.25 - 3.75
Livorno paid two visits to Milan last week and one point
in the bag from away games with Milan and Inter must be
considered a bonus. Leading striker Tavano is out
injured again as well as Volpe, Giannichedda,
Rossini and Bergvold. Same as last week. Napoli are
going down in the league table and losing their home
game with Empoli last week (1-3) says it all - loss of
form! Their coach will revert to a 3-5-2 formation this
weekend. Out suspended are their striker Zalayeta and
Domizzi. Contini is back to play. Their Argentinian star
Lavezzi played a strong game against Empoli, but he was
the only one. I do not see any of these two teams as
"winning" sides at the moment and I have to back the
draw (2.95).
Livorno 1 Napoli 2
Roma - Fiorentina 1.83 - 5.10
A few brilliant moments from Totti and Mancini and Roma
could defeat Real Madrid in midweek. Totti has not
reached his best form, but there were certainly sings of
improvement against Real. On Sunday Roma will be without
the suspended Mancini. Fiorentina played a cup game
earlier this week, and their opponents were the less
fancied Rosenborg from Norway (2-1 win). Vieri and Gobbi
will not play for Fiorentina this weekend. Fiorentina
are three points ahead of Milan and their dream of a
place in the Champions League next season is indeed a
realistic one. Visiting the Olympic Stadium in Rome has
seldom or never been fruitful for Fiorentina. Roma are
7-1-0 in their last home games with the Florence based
club. Expect no away win tomorrow.
Roma 1 Fiorentina 0
Sampdoria - Inter 4.00 - 2.22
It is not often that my sympathy goes to the Inter hard
man Materazzi, but how on earth could he be sent off at
Anfield? At most one he was due yellow card, in my
opinion. They say that Inter are favoured by the
referees but obviously no such favours outside Serie A.
Sampdoria are one of the six or seven sides in Italy
that can possibly make things difficult for Inter in an
odd game. Their form is excellent and at home they have
been almost impeccable this season (7-3-1). One set back
for the home side - Volpi is out suspended. Absolute
key player is Cassano. Sala looks like he will be
missing this match with Gastaldello covering for him in
the home defence.
Cordoba has joined the Inter injury list joining among
others L Jimenez. I expect Inter to be very motivated
for this match. Had they won against Liverpool I would
see this match in another way. Something tells me that
Inter do not wish to lose two matches in a week. Away
win! (2.22)
Sampdoria 1 Inter 1
Udinese - Genoa 1.80 - 5.45
The Italian international striker Quagliarella will be
back for the home side, joining Di Natale and Floro
Flores in the front line. Both Asamaoh and Pepe are out
of this match and that is why we will see Floro Flores
from the start. Some four or five Udinese players are on
the sidelines, the same situation as last week, but
Pinzi is back in training. Genoa lost the big derby with
Sampdoria last week, 0-1. It was a cruel loss, Sampdoria
probably deserved their win, but it came late in the
88th minute. Life goes on however,and they visit Udine
with the same group of players minus the suspended
Danilo. 1X, but I will pick the home win alternative
(1.80).
Udinese 3 Genoa 5
La Liga
Valencia - Recreativo Huelva 1.81 - 5.10
Although Valencia were involved in a terrible game last
week, I am prepared to back Koeman's side again (1.81).
Valencia had no winning ambition at Getafe last week and
the 0-0 game was indeed a depressing one. David Villa
was dismissed in the second half and he will be missing
this match as well as Helguera, Valencia welcome back
Vicente, Baraja and Arizmendi. I look forward to see
Zigic up front this time. I do not know for sure, but I
hope so.
Huelva will be without both their regular central
defenders, Beto and Caceres plus a third defender, Poli.
All in the starting line up last week. It will not be
easy replacing Beto and Caceres. Both scored for Huelva
last week. J Vazquez should be OK and Bouzon could be
back in contention. Hopefully the Valencia coach will
come to know about the absence of the Huelva defenders.
Even better reason to start with Zigic. Backing the home
win.(1.81).
Valencia 1 Rec. Huelva 1
Osasuna - Atletico Madrid 2.50 - 3.10
I like to oppose A Madrid. They have to do without the
suspended trio Aguero, Pablo Ibanez and R Garcia. Five
players, including Simao are out, injured. A Madrid,
using their strongest side, played a tough UEFA Cup game
against Bolton last night (0-0) and their squad will
certainly be stretched ahead of this visit to Pamplona.
Osasuna have blown hot and cold this season but they
have at least been able to win their last two home
games, 2-0 vs A Bilbao and 1-0 against R Zaragoza. They
also played quite strong away games recently with
Sevilla and Barcelona, but there is no excuse for their
loss against Levante last week. Previously injured
Corrales, Margairaz and Sola will be available for this
match, but still no Nekounam or J Flano. Sola or Dady up
front? In support of the home win (2.50).
Osasuna 3 Atletico Madrid 1
Mallorca - Real Betis 2.05 - 3.85
Mallorca are unbeaten in seven matches but despite their
positive sequence I would not say that they are in top
form. They can do better, in my opinion. Guiza and
Arango should be able to score more goals, but Guiza has
been a bit unlucky lately. This weekend Ballesteros will
replace the suspended Nunes in the Mallorca defence.
Betis defeated a below par Real Madrid side last week,
but credit to Betis, they did their part of the job.
They will most likely be unchanged with Edu, Pavone and
M Gonzalez going forward again. Mallorca then (2.05).
Mallorca 1 Real Betis
1
The Championship
Plymouth - Burnley 2.25 - 3.15
Both these sides are doing just fine, only a couple of
points away from the play off zone. Plymouth have won
their last three games without conceding a single goal
and Burnley managed a big win away to QPR last week
coming back from 0-2 to win 4-2. Three of the Burnley
goals were scored by the old hit man Andy Cole and he
also scored the Burnley goal against Colchester the week
before.The thing is that A Cole will not be able to play
tomorrow as he will be rested. Russell Anderson, the
Sunderland defender, played his first game for Plymouth
earlier this week when his new club won away to
Southampton. With Seip and Doumbe sidelined coach
Sturrock has loaned Anderson. It was a fantastic
achievement to defeat rivals Southampton and away from
home into the bargain. MacLean and Easter up front
again, I guess. Home win then (2.25).
Plymouth 3 Burnley 1
Colchester - Bristol City 2.65 - 2.65
I saw Bristol City against Crystal Palace earlier this
week and I cannot say that I was impressed by the high
flying B City. Typical Championship stuff, I would say
and I would probably say the same thing about
Colchester. Anyway Colchester have come alive lately.
Maybe it has something to do with their new assistant
coach K Symons, who has been able to improve their
defensive game in a short while. L Carey could not play
for B City against C Palace and he is in danger of
missing this match as well. For Colchester D Hammond, P
Baldwin and J Gury are all hoping to be included in
tomorrow's squad. Hammond for sure. I suggest that home
advantage will be decisive in this fixture. Home win
(2.65).
Colchester 1 Bristol
City 2
Sheffield Wednesday - Cardiff 2.55 - 2.65
My intention in midweek was betting on the S W home win
against Coventry. The match was cancelled, but I will
make a new attempt with the home win. I mentioned in my
preview how superior S W were at home to top side
Charlton in their last home game and that the Charlton
keeper Weaver was man of the match. Improved S W display
in other words. Tomorrow they will have G Kavanagh back
in their squad. Ben Sahar, the Chelsea striker, has
joined Sheffield on loan and he will probably put one of
Showunmi and Tudgay out of work. Sahar, the Israeli
international. Could prove to be a great signing.
Cardiff are without their best player, J Ledley, for
this match and they also have to do without their key
defender G Loovens. D Purse will deputise. Sheffield W
then! (2.55).
Sheffield Wednesday 1
Cardiff 0
French League
P S G - Monaco 2.00 - 4.60
My choice here will be the home win (2.00). I was really
impressed by PSG in the first half hour of their away
game at Marseille last week. They gave Marseille no room
at all and the Rothen 1-0 lead came very logical. What a
penalty by the way! And he had to do it twice. Then
Marseille scored with their first real chance, they took
over the match, scored again and were 2-1 winners after
the 90 minutes. PSG finished the match the stronger
side. It looks like Pauleta will replace Luyundula up
front, joining Diane and J Clement and fit again Digard
should both be available. Key defender Armand is out
suspended.
Monaco have three suspended players D Perez, Berthod and
Bernardi this weekend but only Perez was in action last
week. Nene will be OK, but still no Monsoreau. PSG have
more to play for, they looked strong enough against
Marseille and I do not know where we have Monaco at the
moment. You know they lost their home game with
Bordeaux, 0-6 last week. They conceded all the goals in
the last 40 minutes of the game. Must be some kind of
record. P S G then (2.00).
PSG 1
Monaco 1
Nice - Auxerre 2.00 - 4.60
Lens at home to Nice last week ended with a 0-0 result,
but Nice were the better team, having more scoring
chances. Tomorrow Nice will have their striker Laslandes
back again but they lose their defender C Rool to a
suspension. Ederson is expected to play. Auxerre
continue without Kahlenberg and Sorin, but they have
Munteanu back. Nice are a formidable home side (7-4-1)
and Auxerre seldom convince on their travels. Auxerre
play a cup semi final next Tuesday and that might be a
distraction, but probably not. Home win for Nice (2.00).
Nice 1 Auxerre 2
Strasbourg - Sochaux 2.35 - 3.55
Sounds like Strasbourg will be on the offence tomorrow
and they will get my vote (2.35). Mouloungui and Mulenga are
back again and they will probably start on the two
flanks with A Santos (or Gameiro) in the middle and
Renteria in a frontal position. Fanchone is out,
injured.
Sochaux were leading Caen 1-0 last week then missed a
penalty, conceded shortly afterwards and then they never
recovered. Nothing is easy for the struggling Sochaux
side this season, and that is a fact. Erding and K
Traore are back from their suspensions. Strasbourg
scored three goals in their last home game and they will
be an attacking force again tomorrow. Home win (2.35).
Strasbourg 0 Sochaux 2
Chris. |
