Weekend Football Preview
Written by: Gerry McDonnell (30-September-2006)

I am not a sentimental person. The only time I have ever wept as an adult was when my wife threatened to leave me; I was totally devastated when she changed her mind at the last moment. Rather embarrassingly, I must admit being moved by the tale of ‘Beenie’, the small furry horse that saved Stuart Pearce from the axe. I can only envision how awkward it must have been to have a small animal next to you on the touchline, but Beenie dealt with the situation astonishingly well.

The only way that Manchester City will get a result at Goodison Park is if Beenie can convince possible relative Ruud Van Nistelrooy to offer his help; bet on the Toffees at a generous 1.83 odds.

Paul Jewell’s choice to spend most of his summer transfer money on Emile Heskey is proving to be the most shocking rick since ‘The Young Ones’ first went on air. Blackburn have never been defeated by Wigan in a competitive game, so the Rovers are a confident tip at 2.00 odds.

Robbie Savage undressed to his underpants in Blackburn’s victory over Middlesbrough last week; that type of performance should really be limited to the caravan. Savage has been booked in precisely half of the Premiership football matches he has played this year; the 2.50 odds offered for another yellow card is quite tempting.

Liverpool constantly struggle when they go to Bolton, they have only claimed three points on one of their last six trips there. There is a greater chance of Sam Allardyce paying his license fee early than there is of Liverpool winning at the Reebok. Bolton are worth a wager at a tasty 4.00 odds.

It is an unwritten rule in UK football that players always score against their former team. I think El Hadji Diouf scored in this match last year, (I am not 100% certain because my notes are in shorthand) the Senegalese striker is a 4/1 shot to repeat that accomplishment.

With only one victory to his name in his managerial career, Gareth Southgate has engaged in his new job like a duck to slaughter. Middlesbrough face a tough looking visit to Sheffield United against the Blades; it looks destined to be a draw, get on at 3.25 odds.

The last time these clubs met in the football league, Dean Saunders scored the winner for Sheffield Utd. It is reasonable to say that in his prime, Dean would be more of a goal threat than Ade Akinbiyi was. Actually, feel free to cut ‘in his prime’ from that previous sentence. This one has the look of a 0-0 draw; bet on their being no goalscorer in the game at a big priced 9.50.

One criticism often made against Arsenal Football Club is that they don’t like winning ugly, pitiable Iain Dowie literally hasn’t a choice. Ashley Cole asserted team spirit was lacking in the Arsenal dressing room, it appears to have been noticeably enhanced now that he has left. The Gunners are the bet of the weekend at 1.57 to get a win at Charlton.

It is generally thought that Isaac Newton was moved to formulate the theory of universal gravitation because an apple fell on his head. But I choose to think he saw a middling Watford team win last season’s playoff and affirmed, “What goes up, must come down.’ Fulham have a hard time winning on the road, but that is only against UK Premiership clubs. Bet on the Cottagers at 2/1.

With a three point penalty threatening them after the Ashley Cole fiasco, the Chelsea board must have plainly been trembling during the recent Panorama programme. (Even Seth Armstrong did not steal this much, supposedly.) The league champions have only victory from two of their last six encounters against David O’Leary’s Aston Villa; an undefeated Martin O’Neill squad are worth a punt at 12.00 for a shock win.

It is all going wrong at White Hart Lane. Tottenham have only scored in one league game this year, their fans are booing the players off the field and Jermaine Jenas missed the simplest opening since Helen Chamberlain. Pompey can leave North London with a draw at 3.40 odds.

You can call me a crazy conspiracy theorist, but is it purely coincidence that Wayne Rooney’s decline in form has corresponded with KFC’s introduction of a new spicy chicken menu? I think not. On the bright side, however, the big boy enjoys playing against Newcastle United more than he likes talking to old ladies. (Man Utd have done a double over Newcastle in the past two seasons, with Waye scoring in all four games.) I expect the round one to get his form back as Manchester Utd win at 1.36 odds.

The accumulator of the week:

This week’s combo is so good that Pete Doherty is thinking about dumping Kate Moss as a direct result. Pete may have said, “Sure, Kate is a looker; but this parlay is just gorgeous.” Everton, Fulham, Arsenal, Blackburn, and Man United are the pretty good things; the payout is a huge 20/1 odds.

Weekend UK Football Betting:

Bolton v Liverpool                  

Bolton             4.00
Draw              3.25
Liverpool         2.10
 
Bet on: Bolton
 
Match Special:
Kevin Nolan to score a goal any time    5.50
 
Charlton v Arsenal                 
 
Charlton          6.50
Draw              3.60
Arsenal           1.57
 
Bet on: Arsenal
 
Match Special:
Thierry Henry to score three goals  19.00
 
Chelsea v Aston Villa        
 
Chelsea           1.30
Draw              5.00
Aston Villa       12.00
 
Bet on: Aston Villa
 
Match Special: 
Angel to score the only goal of the match  136.00
 
Everton v Man City                  
 
Everton           1.83
Draw              3.40
Man City          4.50
 
Bet on: Everton
 
Match Special:
Everton to score a goal from a penalty    6.00
 
Sheff Utd v Middlesbrough           
 
Sheff Utd         2.63
Draw              3.25
Middlesbrough     2.63
 
Bet on: Draw
 
Match Special: 
Boateng to receive a card 2.38
 
West Ham v Reading            
 
West Ham          2.00
Draw              3.25
Reading           4.00
 
Bet on: Draw
 
Match Special:
Match to end 1-1     6.50
 
Blackburn v Wigan             
 
Blackburn         2.00
Draw              3.25
Wigan             4.00
 
Bet on: Blackburn
 
Match Special:
Blackburn to win the match with a clean sheet   3.00
 
Man Utd v Newcastle           
 
Man Utd           1.36
Draw              4.50
Newcastle         11.00
 
Bet on: Man Utd
 
Match Special: 
Louis Saha to score the game’s first goal  4.50
 
Tottenham v Portsmouth        

Tottenham         1.91
Draw              3.40
Portsmouth        4.00
 
Bet on: Draw
 
Match Special:
Tottenham Hotspur to score a goal     1.25
 
Watford v Fulham              
 
Watford           2.50
Draw              3.20
Fulham            3.00
 
Bet on: Fulham
 
Match Special:
Fulham to score three goals or more 6.50