Weekend Tips / A Lazy
‘Worst Of' Compilation
Gerry's taking a well-earned sabbatical
for the 2008-2009 season. Here's his last piece from the previous
season.
Gerry McDonnell of the supersoccer.co.uk
betting site takes a humorous look at the odds for this week's English
Premier League's (EPL) games.
Saying goodbye to the football season is very much like giving
birth to a ginger child: after nine months of optimism, hope and
anguish, you're left with a genuine feeling of disappointment.
The final day is often emotional. Who could forget Arsenal pipping
Liverpool to the title in 1989? Well sadly, my old man. In fact,
if you see a small befuddled pensioner roaming the streets, you'll
be better off avoiding football trivia altogether; senility is no
picnic.
I'm absolutely devastated that I have to work on Sunday as the
drama unfolds. The gaffer has offered me double time and a day in
lieu though, which I'm reasonably happy with; but it hasn't gone
down too well with Louise.
Lou hasn't been this upset since Liverpool were beaten by Chelsea
in the Champions League semi-final.
Liverpool supporters are like Paul McCartney on his wedding night;
they're struggling to get over a disappointing second leg.
Steven ‘more dives than Glasgow' Gerrard will hope to inspire
his team-mates to a win over Spurs, but I fancy the Tottenham boys
at 9/5. They can be heroes, just for Juande.
Manchester United are on the verge of winning the title and I'm
particularly pleased for Paul Scholes. There was a worry that Paul's
career was over as a result of blurred vision, practically confirming
what my mother told me. I'll have my head in my hands if Manchester
United fail to beat Wigan at 1/4.
As is often the case in such a high profile match, there has been
plenty of early activity in the first goal scorer market. Bookmakers
have already seen a monkey on Ronaldo, a pony on Carlos Tevez and
an old dog on Wayne Rooney.
A recently discovered tribe of Congolese pygmies have admitted
knowing absolutely nothing of western civilisation, other than the
fact that Steven Gerrard is better at football than Frank Lampard.
Frank simply isn't that great a player, most of his goals come
from his close relationship with the O'Shea family, notably Rick.
Frank would need 29 attempts to score on an 18-30 stone holiday.
Frank will not be happy about Chelsea finishing second best to
Manchester United. I remember how upset he was when I first suggested
that he had a weight problem - he sent me a text that read, ‘gbvsdfabdsb'.
Ashley Cole will also be unhappy with a runners-up spot. The overrated
full-back is desperate for success to cement his role as a celebrity.
He's already been offered a spot on next week's Jonathan Ross show,
he just needs to find three pals and a piano. Chelsea are certainties
to beat Bolton, i'm all over the 1/6 like John Terry on a referee.
I'm no stranger to disappointment; I once watched all of Soccer
AM. Alex McLeish can empathise, he would give his right arm for
Birmingham to avoid relegation, but a trade of that magnitude has
only ever come off for Heather Mills. I'm backing Blackburn to beat
the Blues at 3/1, but be warned, the price is dropping quicker than
Steven Gerrard in a penalty area.
Reading are a lot like Princess Diana, they used to look good,
but they've hit a wall.
The wife is praying that the Royals stay up, as she's supported
them ever since her English teacher wrote ‘reading difficulties'
on her school report.
I also hope that Reading beat Derby, as I'm not a great fan of
Robbie Savage - I can't forget how he kicked me off the waltzers
when I was young. I can't let my heart rule my head though, I'm
going to be like Robbie and mark the coupon with an ‘X' at
7/2.
Portsmouth are currently wobbling like a jelly on a drunken Sumo
wrestler - they haven't won in their last handful of games. Actually,
they haven't won in their last four games, so it's more of a Jeremy
Beadle handful.
I'd like to see Pompey beat Fulham as I have an enormous amount
of sympathy for Harry Redknapp; he's been the subject of more enquiries
than the 118-118 guys.
Hollywood should make a film of Harry's life, they could call it
‘The buying, the twitch and the fraud probe.'
A case can be made for backing Portsmouth at 5/2 to beat Fulham,
but it has more holes than Pete Doherty. I'm going to be like David
Cameron in college; and get stuck into the draw at 11/4.
Hopefully, my son will become a professional footballer. The last
time we had a kick around in the back garden, he nutmegged me twice;
nobody's regretted opening their legs on two separate occasions
since Mrs Neville.
Phil Neville is like the sun, you should never look directly at
him. The lesser of two evils is surprisingly quite bright, he can
quote the old Chinese proverb: ‘Give a man a fish, and he'll
eat for a day; give him twelve cans of lager, and he'll think that
Newcastle are worth a bet at Goodison Park.
You don't have to be Stephen Hawking to realise that Everton are
nailed on at 10/11, even Mrs Hawking could work that one out; if
she wasn't down the gym working the bags.
I once said that Benjani couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo.
If we were ever to meet, he'd probably want to hit me; I'd better
change my name to Annette.
On a related note, I once tried to hit a cow's arse with a banjo
- at least that's what I told the police officer, although the lack
of a banjo aroused some suspicion.
Middlesbrough are a riddle, wrapped up in an enigma, shrouded in
mystery, situated in a hole. The 11/10 for a Boro win over Manchester
City is the most enticing proposition since Ulrika Johnson offered
Sven Goran Eriksson a little slice of Swedish fish pie.
Is it wrong for me to continually speak of my admiration for Cesc
Fabregas? Apparently, it is during lovemaking.
Cesc is a little magician. He'll have a great future in the game
as long as he avoids Debbie McGee. Arsenal are a great bet at 10/11
to beat Sunderland, it's as clear as the chin on Frank Lampard's
chin.
As an Aston Villa supporter, I'm a huge fan of Randy Lerner. I'm
not ashamed to say that all it took to make me happy was just one
little Yank.
I did read that a healthy male averages 20 minutes when expressing
his love physically; I'm assuming that includes the taxi journey
and the queue for the cashpoint. I'll be throwing my cash on a West
Ham win over the Villa; the 12/5 is positively pulchritudinous.
The Premier League remains my true love, but I've occasionally
strayed into the arms of the football league, the SPL, the conference
and the Paralympics. I'm a little bit uncomfortable about watching
football at such a poor level though, but Rangers have made it into
the UEFA Cup final.
I'm often asked why I appear reluctant to share my expertise on
the Scottish football scene. I can assure you it's not a result
of xenophobia; some of my best friends know Scottish people. I know
that a Celtic win over Hibernian at 1/4 will practically wrap up
the title for the Bhoys.
My computer is a lot like the wife, if the information is punched
in correctly, positive results are guaranteed. My spreadsheet plays
a sound if the odds offered on an accer are greater than the actual
probability of success: when I placed 16/1 next to Middlesbrough,
Tottenham and West Ham, it whipped out a guitar.
Weekend Betting:
Birmingham v Blackburn Sunday 11th May 15:00 Live on Sky
Birmingham 21/20
Draw 13/5
Blackburn 3/1
Get on: Blackburn
Chelsea v Bolton Sunday 11th May 15:00 Live on Sky
Chelsea 1/6
Draw 7/1
Bolton 18/1
Get on: Chelsea
Derby v Reading Sunday 11th May 15:00
Derby 11/2
Draw 7/2
Reading 8/13
Get on: Draw
Everton v Newcastle Sunday 11th May 15:00
Everton 10/11
Draw 5/2
Newcastle 7/2
Get on: Everton
Middlesbrough v Man City Sunday 11th May 15:00
Middlesbrough 11/10
Draw 12/5
Man City 27/10
Get on: Middlesbrough
Portsmouth v Fulham Sunday 11th May 15:00 Live on Setanta
Portsmouth 5/2
Draw 11/4
Fulham 6/5
Get on: Draw
Sunderland v Arsenal Sunday 11th May 15:00
Sunderland 17/5
Draw 11/4
Arsenal 10/11
Get on: Arsenal
Tottenham v Liverpool Sunday 11th May 15:00
Tottenham 9/5
Draw 12/5
Liverpool 7/4
Get on: Tottenham
West Ham v Aston Villa Sunday 11th May 15:00
West Ham 12/5
Draw 5/2
Aston Villa 13/10
Get on: West Ham
Wigan v Man Utd Sunday 11th May 15:00 Live on Sky
Wigan 14/1
Draw 11/2
Man Utd 1/4
Get on: Man Utd
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