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MALA POMOC OD CHRISA
Weekend Soccer - By Chris
The Premiership
Blackburn - Newcastle 2.15 - 3.75
Many Premiership games this season have been quite dull and it is becoming increasingly difficult scoring goals. The Charlton - Blackburn fixture exemplifies what I am talking about, not to mention the M City - Watford encounter. Blackburn made little effort away to Charlton. (0-1 loss). They lost B Emerton to an injury and he will be sidelined a couple of weeks. Tugay is playing again.
Newcastle fielded a much weakened side at home to Reading in midweek and their defence (read Babayaro) was back to the old disaster level, but despite all the shortcomings Newcastle managed a heroic 3-2 win. Hopefully one or two of S Parker, K Dyer or D Duff will be back on Saturday, but it is not very likely. Maybe it is more important to put Babayaro out of work. S Carr could be the man to do just that, but he is an injury doubt. For now I will definitely back the home win. (2.15)
Bolton - West Ham 1.85 - 5.00
Bolton have lost 5 of their last 7 matches, but I would not go so far as stating that they are totally out of form. Quite typical that 4 of their defeats have been 0-1 losses. So no lucky breaks lately, but I cannot say that they were in any way the inferior side in those 0-1 defeats. Their Israeli defender Ben Haim is suspended this weekend.
I am getting fed up with the W Ham impotency. Their starting line up, at home to Wigan in midweek looked just great, but once again the Hammers failed to find the net. One goal, the winning goal vs. S United, is all that they have mustered in 5 matches. There is a soft touch about W Ham these days. One thing is certain you cannot face Bolton at the Reebok stadium without the right attitude. I mean it is difficult as it is, but the players need to be fired up to withstand the Bolton artillery. A Ferdinand is a major injury doubt. I am no fan of backing Bolton as favourites, but I cannot make a case for the away win, although I would like to.
Liverpool - Fulham 1.36 - 10.00
Liverpool will be well prepared for this task, despite their midweek Champions League game. They fielded basically a reserve team, with one or two exceptions. On Saturday we will of course see the Liverpool A team again. Probably the same starting line up as last week, when Liverpool outclassed Wigan, 4-0.
Fulham continue with their Ukrainian keeper Lastuvka. Although Fulham have done better away from this season than usual, with only 3 defeats in 8 games, I cannot see Coleman's men troubling Liverpool. Not this time. Then you do want you want with this lousy price. (1.36)
Manchester Utd - Manchester City 1.40 - 10.50
Watching the M City - Watford encounter earlier this week, it was almost like watching Wolves at the Molineux stadium in the early 70's. The pitch was filled with sand in those days, and the players had to keep the ball in the air all time. Big difference this time - City offered a perfect pitch. Then you know how little I appreciated the City performance vs. Watford, and you cannot only blame Watford, can you? Still I have no doubt that City will go back to playing football in this derby. Unchanged City squad.
United are in smashing form and they have a healthy squad ahead of this big derby game. The way United are playing at the moment, you almost always trust them to win their matches. OK, they played vs. Benfica in midweek and need to fire on all cylinders twice in 4 days. It is not an automatic thing, but I guess that the derby factor will be helpful. Home win, but the odds are too poor. (1.40)
Middlesbrough - Wigan 2.15 - 3.75
Time for a Middlesbrough win again? They usually get back to winning ways again after a couple of losses, but building up a positive sequence seems almost impossible for Boro. Why? They are probably not good enough, it is as simple as that. I saw Viduka played the Tottenham fixture in mid week, (1-2 loss) and what a relief for Boro to have him back again. Two suspended players this weekend, Cattermole and Boateng. Sorry, Boateng has been cleared to play. Good news for Boro!
I was worried about Wigan. Could they keep it tight without their defensive ace De Zeeuw? No problems - they faced W Ham. Anyway, big 3 points for Wigan against W Ham. I cannot say that they were stronger than the Hammers, but fact is, they scored 2 goals. One from their exciting young striker Cotterill.
What did I say? Time for a Middlesbrough win. (2.15)
Portsmouth - Everton 2.20 - 3.40
Both Lua Lua and A Cole are out injured for Portsmouth, meaning that they have only two fit strikers, Kanu and Benjani. In other words, they have only one potential goal scorer up front. Their midfielder P Mendes sits out his suspension this weekend, but Sean Davis will be available again.
Everton managed to defeat W Ham without the injured duo, Arteta and Cahill. I thought that their midfield play depended on those two. Same situation again, with Van der Meyde and/or J Vaughan filling in. J Beattie and A Johnson going forward, I guess. I still consider Portsmouth quite a force at the Fratton Park. Home win. (2.20)
Tottenham - Charlton 1.60 - 7.40
Tottenham are losing their strikers. First Mido and now also R Keane is out injured. Remain Berbatov and J Defoe. J Jenas will be sidelined for a while and another Spurs midfielder, Zokora, is suspended for 3 games. Ghaly on the other hand, returns from his suspension.
First win for new Charlton coach Reed vs. Blackburn. It was a free kick in injury time that decided the outcome, and talk about important 3 points for Reed and his footballers. Reed made a surprise inclusion, Lloyd Sam, and this young striker proved an instant success in his role just behind Darren Bent. Was it not a bold move to use this Sam from the start? At least this writer thinks so. Bravo! Diawara will replace the injured Traore. I have no use for this 1.60 on the home win, but I not will back the away win either.
Watford - Reading 2.75 - 2.65
Much as I appreciate the tremendous fighting spirit from the Watford players, their work ethic, their team effort, I have to say that their way of playing football is medieval. I could hardly believe my eyes this Monday, when they played against City. Wimbledon of old, would be proud to see that their tradition goes on. Their midfielder Mahon is suspended this weekend.
The Reading defence was shaky up at St James in midweek, especially trying to handle the high balls. Did you hear that, Watford! They were poor in the air. Gives Watford the edge on Saturday. Reading will most likely be without two of their best players, G Murty and S Hunt. All in all I am leaning towards the home win for the medieval side. Watford to win. (2.75)
Chelsea - Arsenal 1.80 - 6.00
All logic points to the home win. Personally I enjoy backing Arsenal as complete outsiders like this time. They are at their best when they can rely on their counter attacks, and I take it for granted that this will be the case on Sunday. Unfortunately the Arsenal defence will be far from full strength. Eboue, Toure, Djorou and Clichy played last week, but this time Toure will be suspended and Djorou is a major injury doubt. Gallas? According to reports he has a 20% chance of being fit. Other Arsenal absentees are Henry and Rosicky.
And Chelsea? Terry back and no worries to mention. As I just said, all logic points to the home win, (1.80) but I refrain from that bet.
Sheffield Utd - Aston Villa 2.75 - 2.60
Two successive S U wins in this last week, and altogether they have won 4 league games. I just checked which sides they have beaten, M.boro, Newcastle, Watford and Charlton, all bottom sides, at least for the time being. Trying to be objective or logical, I suggest that S United can only hope for a draw in this encounter. Still missing for S U is the injured defender C Davis.
A Villa will be without their captain G Barry, but C Sutton could be back. Villa are hard to beat, both at home and away. Yes, away from home they are 1-6-1. I support the draw! (3.30)
Serie A
Palermo - Livorno 1.72 - 6.20
Questionable Palermo form, but my choice is nevertheless the home win. (1.72) All their key players will be available for this match, but Brienza, Biava and Diana are sidelined.
Important midfielder Passoni returns for Livorno. It looks like the Brazilian striker Paulinho will replace the injured Bakayoko up front, alongside C Lucarelli. Livorno have problems to deal with 2 games per week, demonstrated last week in their 2 home fixtures with Maccabi and Chievo. Instead of the expected 6 points they managed 1 single point. I can only picture a comfortable home win here. (1.72)
Reggina - Ascoli 1.80 - 5.50
Definitely the home win (1.80). I happened to watch Ascoli last week, and I have to say that there is no hope for the club in Serie A. They faced a weakened Catania side, they had the home advantage and in some bizarre way they were 2-0 up at half time, thanks to 2 Bjelanovic goals. Ascoli were outplayed and outfought in the second half and the 2 Catania goals came very logically. The Ascoli coach Sonetti and all his players had the same look in their eyes afterwards, saying: " We are quite simply too poor". Ascoli miss the suspended duo Pesce and Minieri, and the injured Boudianski, plus their old absentees.
Reggina miss the suspended Lanzaro, with Giosa deputising. Mesto and Modesto will both be OK. Home win. (1.80)
Milan - Torino 1.35 - 12.00
One win in their last six Serie A games, yes, Milan have seen better times. Pirlo is suspended this weekend and several regulars remain on the sidelines. Kaka and Ambrosini will at least be back for this match.
Since I declared that Torino are the worst side in Serie A together with Ascoli, they have won 3 wins on the bounce. Their winning goal vs. Empoli came very late, but no doubt that Torino were stronger than Empoli on that day. A very weak Empoli side, I was told. Torino miss the suspended Di Loreto on Sunday, but both Brevi and Ardito should be fine. Home win, but I cannot use 1.35 on the Milan win. Not now!
Atalanta - Messina 1.80 - 6.40
It is a home win, nothing but a home win. (1.80) Messina have depended on Rigano for goals this season, and he has been magnificent. Unfortunately he is out injured at the moment, and to make things even worse Messina will be without the suspended trio, Zanchi, Iuliano and De Vezze. They will use Floccari as the one punter on Sunday in a 4-5-1 formation.
Atalanta played a strong match with Roma last week, despite the 1-2 loss. The referee gave Roma 2 penalties, and Atalanta were not happy with the decisions of the referee. Missing this week end is the suspended Donati with Bernardini playing from the start instead. Home win. (1.80)
Cagliari - Parma 1.91 - 5.50
Milan had problems with Suazo last week. Well, all Serie A defenders find it difficult to control the excellent Cagliari forward. Pisano should be available for this encounter, and Cagliari will be able to field their strongest side again.
Leading Parma striker Budan will make his return on Sunday, as well as the Australian international Grella. Morfeo is still out injured.
Parma are 0-2-5 away from home this season, and I cannot bee too optimistic about their chances this time either. I suggest the home win. (1.91)
Catania - Udinese 2.50 - 3.25
Credit to Catania. Even though 2 of their regular strikers, Corona and Mascara were sidelined, they attacked Ascoli last week, with Del Core, Colucci and Spinesi doing the business instead. How can anyone not like Catania? Mascara completes his suspension this week end and Corona is still not fit, not Vargas either. In other words, Catania will continue with their Ascoli squad.
Udinese had a strong look last week, at least on paper, but they were disappointing at home to Reggina. (1-1) They are beginning to be a little too unpredictable for my taste. Looking at these two teams, no doubt that Udinese are so much stronger. At the same time Catania play with much more urgency and determination - quite simply more passion from the newcomers. At home Catania are 3-3-0, but you should not forget that a couple of those home fixtures have been played on neutral ground. I will make it easy for myself and suggest the over bet. I have no winner.
Chievo - Fiorentina 3.40 - 2.38
Two successive 2-0 wins for Chievo and all the four goals were scored by the speedy Nigerian Obinna. Both Zanchetta and Giunti will be available for this game, but maybe only Zanchetta from the start.
Fiorentina deserved their 1-0 win against Lazio last week, but no denying that their keeper Frey saved the club on a couple of occasions. Santana is back in training and Fiorentina have all their leading players available. I do not know. Both clubs face this fixture full of confidence and I guess that both sides hope to win this game. I settle for the draw. (3.00)
Empoli - Inter 7.50 - 1.67
The Inter coach Mancini surprised everyone by resting some of his first choices in midweek, away to Bayern. Players like Gonzales, Solari and Maxwell played from the start. On Sunday Inter have to without the suspended duo Vieira and Maicon, but I expect back Cambiasso, Stankovic, Materazzi, Grosso and Crespo.
Empoli have Lucchini available again and probably also Vanigli. Seems to be two alternatives for Empoli right now - they manage to score 1 goal or they fail to score at all. This writer does not think that 1 Empoli goal will be enough to avoid defeat against Inter. Away win. (1.67)
Lazio - Roma 3.30 - 2.40
Interesting pre match circumstances. Best Lazio player Mauri returns from his suspension. Roma will most likely be without their captain, their ace Totti. Surely the pendulum has swung towards a favourable result for Lazio in this massive derby game. Not to forget that Roma have already been involved in a big match in mid week, vs. Valencia. I take it back. According to the latest bulletins Totti will take part in this derby. One of Montella or Vucinic could be used as top striker. I suggest a score draw! (3.00) Why not 2-2!
Sampdoria - Siena 1.95 - 4.75
Like Udinese, Sampdoria have turned unpredictability into a religion. I never can figure out what they are up to. In form striker Quagliarella will probably be preferred to Bonazzoli this week end, alongside Flachi in the front line. Falcone will be OK, maybe also Palombo. No problems for Sampdoria ahead of this match.
Siena welcome back Vergassola, but have to do without Codrea, Antonini and Bertotto, plus some old injury victims. Advantage Sampdoria this time. (1.95)
The Championship
Crystal Palace - Colchester 2.00 - 4.25
My intention is to back C Palace again. (2.00) Now that they finally picked up some decent form. I guess more people than this writer had expected better results from C P, but I have heard that new coach P Taylor had "communication problems" with some of the players. Obviously things have settled down and we will see an upsurge in the table from C P. M Lawrence will replace the injured D Butterfield in defence, and talking about defence, L Cort is not yet fit to play. We will see S Kuqi and D Freedman in the front line again, although Scowcroft is back from his suspension..
Colchester, the newcomers, are 6 points ahead of C P in the league. They are by no means any pushovers these days, but away from home they have only managed 1 win in 11 attempts. R Garcia and Ephraim are both vying for starting roles. Home win. (2.00)
Plymouth - Hull 2.00 - 4.50
Seems like the Plymouth success saga has finally come to a halt. One win in their last 7 games is enough proof. Both D Norris and H Aljofree are suspended this week end and L Hodges, P Connolly, N Chadwick and Ebanks- Blake all look like losing this match. Only Norris and Aljofree played last week.
Hull sacked their manager Parkinson this week and P Brown will be in charge for this match. Brown, once the Derby boss. Hull have underachieved big time this season and it can only turn better from this moment. I suggest that the timing is excellent for Brown and his Hull to register an away win vs a shaky Plymouth side. The bottom line is that Hull probably have a stronger squad than Plymouth. Away win. (4.50)
Stoke - Q P R 1.75 - 5.25
Six games without conceding, the Stoke success story goes on, and they will have my backing this weekend. (1.75) R Fuller or Pericard upfront? It depends on when Fuller returns from Jamaica. Only unsettled Stoke issue.
QPR will be without the suspended duo R Jones and Z Rehman. They were without their influential winger L Cook last week and he is a doubtful starter again. M Bircham could feature. When QPR defeated Cardiff some weeks ago I was right in my conclusion - Cardiff were rubbish, and QPR not much better. Since then QPR have lost 3 successive league matches. Home win. (1.75)
La Liga
Racing Santander - Real Zaragoza 3.10 - 2.50
Racing have no strikers around. Maybe I am exaggerating a bit, but both their big names up front, Zigic and Munitis are suspended this week end. Aganzo is out injured. Remains young Juanjo.
In my opinion Zaragoza threw away the 3 points last week at home to Osasuna. They changed a couple of players in the second half and tried to preserve their slender 1-0 lead. It is old fashioned and foolish to do that, and rather deservedly Osasuna found the net twice late in the second half. I suggest that Zaragoza will pick up their winning habit again this week end. Away win. (2.50)
Celta Vigo - Villarreal 2.40 - 3.25
Home win in my book. (2.40) Celta welcome back 5 previously sidelined players to their squad, Lequi, A Nunez, De Ridder, Angel and G Lopez and maybe two or three will play from the start on Sunday.
Villarreal lost P Cygan to an injury last week, and the former Arsenal defender will be sidelined for a month or so. Nihat out injured.
Villarreal have visited Celta 6 times in modern days and they have yet to pick up a point. Seventh loss on the bounce this time. (2.40)
Sevilla - Real Madrid 2.50 - 3.15
From what I have seen from the previous Sevilla home fixtures this season, I have to back the home win. (2.50) Their up tempo attacking football has been terrific and I wonder if the Real players will be able to handle the pace.
Dragutinovic is sidelined for Sevilla, but his defensive colleagues Ocio and Escude are expected to be fit, most likely L Fabiano as well. There is an outside chance that J Navas will be available.
Damned Real, they are beginning to cost me. First Van Nistelrooy misses a late penalty against Lyon, then they score two extremely late goals in Kiev. I hate these 2-2 results. Diarra is suspended for this game and both Helguera and Cannavaro risk missing the match. Guti and Reyes will be fit to play. Home win. (2.50)
French League
Lille - St Etienne 1.85 - 4.75
I support the home win. (1.85) The typical home side, Lille, had an extraordinary last week. First a 3-1 win away to Nancy and the 2-0 victory at San Siro vs Milan. Bodmer was man of the match in Milano, playing just behind Odemwingie. No injuries to talk about.
St Etienne welcome back Bayall Sall, but miss once again the injured Feindouno. High spirits in the Lille camp and I suggest their third win in 8 days. (1.85)
Marseille - Monaco 1.93 - 5.00
I have decided that this match will end in a score draw. (3.10) Monaco unbeaten in 5 games now, are definitely the form card of these two side, while Marseille have the home advantage and the poor form. Djibril Cisse will be part of the Marseille squad for the first time this season, but we will only see him as a substitute. Still a big bonus for Marseille to have him in their squad. Pagis is back from his suspension.
Jan Koller scored again for Monaco last week, and I say the same thing about him as about Cisse. What a relief for Monaco that he is playing again. One big difference. Koller is playing from the start. Missing for Monaco is the injured trio D Perez, Gerard and Bernardi. The draw! (3.10)
Nantes - Le Mans 2.30 - 3.55
Not for the first time this season. Now or never for Nantes. I suggest now. (2.30) Both Da Rocha and Rossi are back in training again and Nantes have all their players available, minus Wilhelsson and Boukhari. They are nowadays in the freezer.
Sessegnon will be OK for Le Mans, but they have lost the injured Matsui. Bangoura will be his replacement. This match has ended with 1-0 wins for Nantes these last 2 years and a third straight home win is on its way. (2.30)
Chris.
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