English Premiership
Betting - The Premiership Weekend Wager
Sporting predictions by Chris Clegg - Putting your money where
your mouth is!
Put your hand up if you took my betting advice last week...
My hand is firmly pointing towards the sky, as I took my own advice
and placed a rectangular piece of paper furnished with her majesty's
pretty old head - that's pretty old as in aged, not
attractive - on the wager of the weekend: namely Arsenal, Aston
Villa, Burnley - all to win; and Bolton/Stoke to draw. My
mouth was ajar and making some strange noises at 4.45 on Saturday
as my 'horses' galloped home to victory and I headed
back to the bookies to collect in excess of £140. Nice work.
This Saturday sees some intriguing encounters in the world's
most exciting football race and I'll start proceedings at
the cottage where Roy's rejuvenated Fulham will remain reeling
¬from last week if awesome Arsenal play how they are capable
of playing. Fulham are excellently priced at 13-2 but Wenger's
boys will just be too good...
Can Hull 'Phil' their boots?
Erm... a resounding NO.
Hull will kop a huge hiding at the hands, or feet, of Yossi, Fernando
et al: no betting 'against all odds' for Hull here,
as Phil Collins-loving Stevey G will be experiencing 'another
day in paradise' up in the capital of culture. A groovy kind
of football will result in an embarrassing score-line for the Humbersiders/East
Yorkshiremen - whatever they call themselves nowadays.
Get on the Reds at 1/7. Hull are typically priced at 18/1 which
is the same price as 'Stevey G' is to release a duet
with Collins when he retires: I'm sure Gerrard's punch
victim would agree that 'True Colours' would be an apt
song title - get on it. I wouldn't back Hull if they
were 100/1. Like Collins, they have a bad back 'four'
years - Phil's unable to play the drums anymore; Hull
- it seems - are unable to play football in the top
flight anymore.
'Moor' of the same for Burnley?
It's a no again, I'm afraid.
Burnley are hoping for 'moor' effort from the players
away from their turf but all efforts will be thwarted by 'Crouch'ing
Peter, Hidden Harry, as Redknapp's boys will still be hurting
from Chelsea's mauling on Sunday - apparently wounded
tigers are fierce - expect Peter and Jermain to rip up their
rivals...DEFO[E] and 1/3's not bad value; 8/1 about Burnley.
Birmingham entertain Bolton whilst Blackburn face the Villa and
I hate to admit that I'm struggling to pick a winner out of
these four, none of whom lost last weekend... a £10 draw double
pays around £100. Nice.
HuGo ahead, make Wigan's Saturday!
The remaining games on Saturday involve the two table-toppers,
though unfortunately not against each other. United travel to the
Midlands to face the Stokers and Chelsea head to the North West
on the road to Wigan [pier]. Wigan will need the help of Big Brother
if they are going to topple the Blues on Saturday; having said that
they are handily priced at 9/1 which is worth a look...a look, NOT
a bet.
Chelsea will win but are hideously priced at 3/10 - you'd have
got a better price back in 1984 when Wigan Athletic were barely
out of short pants and were languishing in the lower leagues; big
brother was still only a George Orwell novel and not the TV monster
it is today and Hugo Rodallega was still a twinkle in his mummy
and daddy's eyes, and underpants; all of the above have thrived
over the last decade and they (excluding Big Bro) may just cause
Chelsea a few problems on Saturday. Rodallega was born in 1985,
the same year the Latics recorded their record loss against Chelsea:
0-5. 'HuGo and make a difference, son, make your daddy proud!
Down on the south coast, Pompey entertain Everton, who are on
a role at the moment. Portsmouth is in the middle of nowhere -
the next nearest city is almost 30 miles away, which is roughly
how many points the team will amass this season. Get on Everton
at roughly even money to do what everyone else seems to be doing
this season - beat Portsmouth.
Beware of the Sun, son!
Like Icarus, McCarthy's boys will get a bit too giddy in
their flight from victory against Fulham last Sunday and their wings
will be burnt by Sun-derland on Sun-day. McCarthy will mourn on
Monday, as Daedalus did as his son's feathered wings melted
and he fell into the sea. Wolves' wings won't disappear
on Sunday but they will be Bent by Darren. Get on 9/2 about him
to score first.
Wagers of the Weekend
Everton to beat Portsmouth (evens), Blackburn and Villa to draw
(23/10), Liverpool to beat Hull (1/7), Tottenham to beat Burnley
(1/3). Your tenner should return just over £100 (including
your stake).
Alternatively a draw double on Blackburn/Villa and Birmingham/Bolton
pays over a ton as well. Take your pick.
Funday Sunday
Darren Bent to score a hat-trick against Wolves at 25-1
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