Russia target winning start

Posted on June 7, 2012 by SoccerCapper

On the opening day of the European Championship, one of the competition’s dark horses, Russia, will be looking to get off to a strong start with a win over the Czech Republic (Russia 11/10, draw 9/4, Czech Republic 14/5).

Friday’s encounter in Group A (10/1 to produce the tournament winner) should be an edgy encounter with neither side wanting to come away from the Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw with nothing, in what is set to be a highly competitive group which also includes co-hosts Poland and Euro 2004 winners Greece.

Russia are sweating on the fitness of their first choice goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, who is hoping to recover in time from a knee injury for the clash on Friday, with Vyacheslav Malafeev waiting in the wings as a replacement.

The Russians, under former Rangers boss Dick Advocaat, have been on a decent run of late and will take plenty of confidence from their last outing when they took apart Italy to beat the Azzurri 3-0.

Led by playmaker Andrey Arshavin, Russia managed to reach the semi-finals of the competition four years ago and will be tough prospect for any team in the tournament this time around.

It’s the Czech Republic who are first up to take on Advocaat’s men and they will be hoping their standout players come to the fore in this summer.

The Czechs certainly have a strong spine to their side, with Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech set for a busy tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

Cech was instrumental in helping the Blues win an elusive Champions League title this season and the 30-year-old will have to use that experience to help grind out results for the Czechs.

In the heart of midfield Tomas Rosicky will be an influential figure and expect plenty of the play to go through the Arsenal man, who has come on leaps and bounds this season at the Emirates to become an important player for the Gunners.

The 31-year-old has highlighted his club team-mate Arshavin as the major threat to his side for Friday’s encounter and believes his players will be looking to give the playmaker as little time as possible.

Rosicky will also be hoping to link up with former Liverpool striker Milan Baros (15/2 first goalscorer), who can still be a threat at this level and will hope to cause the Russian defence plenty of problems at the Municipal Stadium.

It’s a very hard opening game for the Czech Republic, who will be up against it against a Russian side who will be brimming with confidence following that comprehensive win against the Italians.

Russia should come out the stronger of the two teams and claim the three points in this encounter, but expect a tightly fought contest between two sides who have a good chance of finishing first and second in this competitive group (9/2 Group A highest scoring group).

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Spurs to continue winning streak

Posted on November 26, 2011 by SoccerCapper

After another interesting week of European action the Premier League returns on Saturday, with eight matches in total. While Manchester United v Newcastle might be the standout game, we look at three which might offer a bit more value for money, headed by in-form Tottenham.

West Brom v Tottenham (3pm)

After taking a beating at the hands of the two Manchester clubs in their opening two matches, Tottenham have been on a storming run of form which has seen them climb up to third in the table. Monday’s win over Aston Villa was as complete a performance as Harry Redknapp could have wished for on his return to the dugout. The likes of Luka Modric, Scott Parker and Gareth Bale have all be in excellent form and they look set to carry that into Saturday’s clash at the Hawthorns.

The Baggies might have won last week against Bolton, but they looked so tame before that against Arsenal and Liverpool that you can’t help but fear for them.

You know what you are going to get with Roy Hodgson’s team, a well drilled unit that will be tough to break down. However, going forward they have looked decidedly toothless without Peter Odemwingie, who looks unlikely to face Spurs.

If recent performances are anything to go by Tottenham will probably have this game wrapped up at half time, therefore the bet to go for could be Spurs HT/FT @ 15/8.

Bolton v Everton (3pm)

With six points separating 17th-placed Bolton and Aston Villa in eighth, both these clubs know a win at the Reebok Stadium could shoot them up the league and give them a bit of breathing space.

Bolton’s problems have been well documented this season, the Trotters starting the campaign with a run of results against Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea that have seriously dented their confidence.

While their last home game resulted in a 5-0 win over Stoke, Everton will be a much tougher nut to crack. Last week’s defeat to West Brom might have knocked some of the stuffing out of Owen Coyle’s men and the Toffees come into this game off the back of a win over Wolves.

Much like Bolton, Everton have had a nasty run of fixtures, which saw them play Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea all before November arrived. However, against teams in and around them David Moyes’ men have done the business, winning four out six against those sides in mid-table. With that in mind Everton to win @ 13/10 looks a good price.

Norwich v Queens Park Rangers (3pm)

These two teams have made very respectable starts to life back in the Premier League after promotion last season, Rangers picking up 15 points and the Canaries just two less. In their two meetings in the Championship last season it was Norwich who got the better of things, beating QPR 1-0 at home and picking up a point at Loftus Road.

At home this season, Norwich probably haven’t picked up as many points as they would have liked, winning just two of their six matches on their own patch so far. In contrast, Neil Warnock will be very pleased with R’s away form, aside from a 6-0 defeat to Fulham. The Hoops have won three out of six on the road, including last week’s impressive victory against Stoke.

On paper these two look fairly well matched. QPR might have a few more star names but Norwich have proven how much a club can achieve if they share a mindset and stay as a collective unit. With that in mind, it is time to sit on the fence and plump for the draw @ 23/10.

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Lomas set for winning start

Posted on November 6, 2011 by SoccerCapper

After another weekend of thrilling SPL action, Monday sees St Johnstone host Aberdeen in what is sure to be a thoroughly entertaining encounter with both sides looking to play exciting, attacking football (St Johnstone 6/5, draw 9/4, Aberdeen 23/10 – Match Prices).

All the focus will be on new Saints boss Steve Lomas, who was appointed to the role last week following the departure of Derek McInnes to Bristol City, and he’ll be hoping his side can give him the perfect start to his reign at McDiarmid Park.

St Johnstone currently sit fourth in the SPL table and have been one of the league’s surprise packages this year and so will be confident going into the game against their lowly opponents.

As a player Lomas was well known for his determination but was also a highly competent midfielder with a lot more skill than people gave him credit for and he will surely be looking to mould the Perthshire club in his image.

Key to this could be ex-Chelsea man Jody Morris, who like his new boss is known for his ability to mix tenacity with skill and is almost always at the forefront whenever St Johnstone do anything positive.

The skipper is always the first name on the team-sheet and his performance will be vital if Lomas is to get off to the perfect start.

Another of St Johnstone strength is their strike duo of Cillian Sheridan (3/2 to score at anytime) and Francisco Sandaza (11/8 to score at anytime) who have notched nine goals between them this season and have struck-up a superb understanding in the short amount of time they’ve been together. Both will be looking to fire their side to victory and make a good impression on the new boss.

However, Aberdeen won’t simply roll over and have some exceptionally talented players themselves and are capable of beating anyone on their day. The Dons have struggled so far this season and currently sit 11th in the table.

Boss Craig Brown is a wily old character and knows how to motivate struggling teams and will fancy his chances of getting his players in the right frame of mind ahead of the match.

Their key player is more than likely to be talismanic striker Scott Vernon (15/8 to score at anytime) who has struggled to rediscover his form of last season but will be determined to find the net again.

However, it seems as if the script is written for Lomas and it’s hard to see anything other than a home win but it will undoubtedly be a tight game.

On paper St Johnstone have a much stronger line-up and, with Sheridan and Sandaza leading the line, should have enough to overpower their opponents.

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City eye winning start

Posted on August 15, 2011 by SoccerCapper

A trip to title hopefuls Manchester City (7/2 Premier League outright) is almost the toughest opening possible for top-flight new boys Swansea City.

Brendan Rodgers’ men have been tipped by many to head straight back down to the Championship (8/15 to be relegated) after reaching the Premier League promised land via the play-offs last term.

Rodgers has moulded his side into a confident passing outfit and has vowed not to change his ways, having largely stuck with the players who helped the Swans win promotion.

The most notable new face is £3.5million record signing Danny Graham (9/1 match goalscorer), with the striker having netted 27 goals for Watford last season to earn a crack at the Premier League.

Leroy Lita also adds to the attacking options available to Rodgers, who last season placed his faith in the twin threats of Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer on the flanks.

Rodgers may be more concerned by having to make a change in goal following Dorus De Vries’ departure for Wolves, with Dutchman Michel Vorm and Portuguese Jose Moreira competing for a starting role.

His worries will be heightened by the knowledge that the Swans conceded 31 goals on their travels in the Championship last season, while at home they let in a mere 11.

However, Rodgers is ready for the tough task of avoiding the drop, saying: “We understand the scale of the task, not only on Monday, but throughout the season.

“We know it will be a roller-coaster ride but I’m excited about the challenge.”

Hosts City have high expectations after winning the FA Cup last term and head coach Roberto Mancini will be under pressure to mount a title challenge this time around.

Mancini has again been busy in the summer transfer market, with former Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy and Stefan Savic strengthening their defence.

The big-name signing has been Argentina frontman Sergio Aguero (7/2 match goalscorer), a £38million recruit from Atletico Madrid, who is seen as a direct replacement for compatriot Carlos Tevez, who is expected to depart before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month.

However, Mancini is wary of expecting an easy win to start their Premier League campaign, with both Aguero and Tevez short of full fitness.

“I think that the first ten games are very difficult – the squad is not 100 per cent ready,” Mancini warned. “It needs four or five games to find good form for the players.”

Mancini’s caution is understandable after his side capitulated in the second half of the Community Shield to lose 3-2 to Manchester United, but City cannot afford to make a slow start in the league and lose touch with the likes of United and Chelsea.

Anything less than three points on Monday evening will be seen as a setback at the earliest stage of the battle for Premier League supremacy.

However, a victory should be on the cards if the hosts perform as they did in the opening 45 minutes against United, when they took a two-goal lead against the reigning champions and the favourites for glory again in 2011/12.

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Mancini’s men aim for winning start

Posted on August 14, 2011 by SoccerCapper