Back to the Führer

Back to the Führer

My old man has forgotten more about betting than I’ll ever know; he has Alzheimer’s. It’s bad news for the old fellow, but it’s a result for me at Christmas.

He always used to say, “Never overestimate the importance of recent form.” He hasn’t said this since his condition deteriorated though; the poor sod thinks he’s still fighting in the war. The last coherent statement he made was, “We must invade Poland.”

Liverpool’s recent form on the road may be abysmal, but the cream will rise to the top like a Scouse salmon. Even the old man is backing the Reds at 11/10 to see off Wigan; if he remembers the location of the betting shop.

Jamie Carragher had said that he wouldn’t swap Stevie Gerrard for Ronaldinho, which coincidentally, is a view shared by Barcelona. The in form Gerrard can inspire the Pool to a 2-0 win at 6/1.

Gareth Southgate is a rich man’s Steve McClaren, which places him one rung off the bottom of the English managerial ladder. A Manchester United romp at 8/13 will be about as surprising as the Sunday newspaper headline: ‘Rooney KO’s reporter, sleeps with an old dear’.

If Wayne Rooney were so inclined, he could visit ‘the canny granny’ twice a week (at £65 a pop) for the next 44 years, and it would cost him less than 1% of the £30m deal he’s just agreed. Unlike the old lady in question, that’s not too shabby. The 4/1 on offer for Rooney to open the scoring is a genuine looker.

West Ham’s new owner made his fortune in biscuits, so it could be argued that Frank Lampard part-financed the deal. A draw between Everton and West Ham looks a great investment at 9/4.

Alan Pardew is worried about a gambling culture at the club. Apparently, the players enjoy the card game ‘roaster’; it’s a variation of poker, played with more hands. Get your hands on the 8/1 about ‘no goalscorer’ in the match.

As a result of recent defeats to Fulham and Bolton, Arsenal are available at a huge 8/13 to see off Tottenham. Henry missed the Reebok shoeing due to a pain in the neck; Robbie Savage let his tyres down. Spurs will not be so fortunate.

Robbie Savage is like a box of tissues; girly, but useful. Blackburn have only lost one of the last twelve games in which the blonde bombshell has been involved; Fulham will succumb to girl-power at 10/11.

In a climate where footballers and managers ‘see no evil’, ‘hear no evil’ and ‘roast no evil’, it was refreshing to hear El Hadji Diouf admit to taking the occasional dive. He’s also an expert in domestic conflict resolution; the lad’s really growing on me. Diouf’s honesty will be rewarded with a win at the Madejski at 15/8.

Les Reed has also embraced the concept of truth. His quote of “Andy Reid’s body shape makes him look worse than he is,” is a polite way of saying “the fat lad done well.” Charlton can leave Bramall Lane with a point at a pleasantly plump 9/4.

I keep hearing how Watford have been unlucky this season; but what about me? The house caught fire last year and the wife wasn’t even in. I’ll say what I said to her mother when we moved in for a few weeks shortly after; I’ve got a huge tip for you. Get on Man City at 8/11.

Andy Cole and Kanu should both be involved when Pompey face the Villa, and surprisingly, they’re not being wheeled out for a pre-match presentation. The Villa are in play at 9/4.

I’m feeling genuine remorse for criticising David James. Judging by his new haircut, it’s quite clear that the poor sod is living with his mother, and she’s still living in the 1940’s. I’ll have to introduce her to my old man.

This week’s accer is so inevitable, Doctor Who, Austin Powers, ‘Bill and Ted’ and Shakin’ Michael J Fox have all declared themselves powerless in the fight to prevent it from obliging. Arsenal, Blackburn, Liverpool, Man Utd and Man City are the selections, the payout is a Billie Piper pleasing 15/1.


Weekend Betting:

Arsenal v Tottenham Saturday 2nd December 12:45 Live on Premiership Plus

Arsenal 8/13
Draw 13/5
Tottenham 11/2

Get on: Arsenal

Match Special:
Henry to score direct from a free kick 6/1

Blackburn v Fulham Saturday 2nd December 15:00

Blackburn 10/11
Draw 9/4
Fulham 3/1

Get on: Blackburn

Match Special:
Blackburn to score three or more goals 7/2

Portsmouth v Aston Villa Saturday 2nd December 15:00

Portsmouth 5/4
Draw 9/4
Aston Villa 9/4

Get on: Aston Villa

Match Special:
Gareth Barry to score with his left foot 5/1

Reading v Bolton Saturday 2nd December 15:00

Reading 6/4
Draw 9/4
Bolton 15/8

Get on: Bolton

Match Special:
Anelka to score the only goal of the game 40/1

Sheff Utd v Charlton Saturday 2nd December 15:00

Sheff Utd 13/10
Draw 9/4
Charlton 23/10

Get on: Draw

Match Special:
Match to finish 1-1 11/2

Wigan v Liverpool Saturday 2nd December 15:00

Wigan 11/4
Draw 9/4
Liverpool 11/10

Get on: Liverpool

Match Special:
Kuyt to score two or more goals 6/1

Middlesbrough v Man Utd Saturday 2nd December 17:15 Live on Premiership Plus

Middlesbrough 5/1
Draw 13/5
Man Utd 8/13

Get on: Man Utd

Match Special:
Rooney to score from outside the penalty area 9/2

Everton v West Ham Sunday 3rd December 16:00 Live on Sky

Everton 10/11
Draw 9/4
West Ham 10/3

Get on: Draw

Match Special:
Under 2.5 goals in the game 8/13

Man City v Watford Monday 4th December 20:00 Live on Sky

Man City 8/11
Draw 12/5
Watford 9/2

Get on: Man City

Match Special:
Barton to score at any time 4/1


Copyright (c) Gerry McDonnell & soccerphile.comBet with Bet 365

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Seongnam Stroll To Seventh Success

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma have been crowned K-League champions for the seventh time after a 3-1 aggregate win over Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the two-legged championship play-off decider.

It was a deserved win for the team that inhabits the affluent southern Seoul suburb of Bundang as they took the first leg at home 1-0 and shocked Suwon with a fairly comfortable 2-1 win in the second match.

The first leg was a tight affair –even more so for the fans squeezed into Seongnam’s Stadium as the attendance given was 21,000 – 5,000 more than the official capacity of the airy arena.

K-League spokespeople mumbled something about a temporary increase in capacity. It may not be too important but anyone familiar with Korean football knows that if Korean teams were as creative on the pitch as officials are when announcing attendance figures then the K-League would be a much better place.

One thing is for sure; at least half of those in attendance were sporting blue shirts after making the short trek east from Suwon.

They had little to shout about. Seongnam controlled the game for long periods without looking especially dangerous against a well-drilled Suwon back-four. With the visitors failing to create anything of note, the game was heading for a goalless draw.

That was until the 88th minute. Park Jin-seob launched a long cross from the right and K-League top scorer Woo Sung-yong was allowed to sneak in at the far post between two defenders and head the ball past the flat-footed Park Hyo-jin in the Suwon goal.

It was a deserved win on the day and left things nicely poised for the second leg with Suwon going for a fourth title and their second in three years in front of their own fans.

Those supporters turned out in force though the official 38,500 attendance was surprisingly swelled by the presence of over 5,000 yellow-shirted away fans at the ‘Big Bird'. The Seongnam fans took advantage of free travel to give the K-League’s most successful but worst supported team some vocal backing in the second leg.

Suwon boss Cha Bum-keun gave those critics who believe that he may have been a great player but he ain’t a great coach extra fuel by sticking playmaker Lee Kwan-woo on the right wing and drafting in Park Ju-song in defence. The 22 year-old had just returned from his two year military spell with Gwangju Sangmu and looked lost.

He was put out of his misery at half-time but by then the damage was done as Seongnam have something that Suwon lack – strikers that don’t need asking twice to put the ball into the net.

2004 K-League top scorer Mota has not had the best season at Seongnam – a broken ankle is responsible for that – but he showed all his predatory instincts after 26 minutes as he flicked the ball into the Suwon net from close range, despite the attentions of a blue-shirted defender.

From that moment, the hosts’ hopes of a quartet of titles looked doomed. Suwon were short of ideas, movement and perhaps most worryingly, motivation.

It didn’t improve much in the second half. The introduction of a disappointing Da Silva and young striker Seo Dong-hyun looked lightweight compared to Seongnam’s substitutions which brought the K-League’s top scorer Woo Sung-yong and international star Kim Sang-sik onto the pitch.

It wasn’t until Mota, left unmarked at the near post, scored his second and Seongnam’s third of the fixture midway through the second half that Suwon roused themselves to finally trouble Kim Yong-dae in the Seongnam goal.

Da Silva lifted his barrel-chest into the air with 14 minutes left to head home and hand the hosts a lifeline though with two goals still required, it was a tenuous one. So it proved and it was all over with three minutes remaining when striker Seo dragged a shot wide of the post with only ‘keeper Kim to beat.

It was very much a case of too little, too late from the Bluewings who can console themselves with the FA Cup final against Chunnam Dragons on December 3.

Seongnam rejoiced with a seventh title and a crack at the 2007 Asian Champions League when their line-up may contain a certain Mr. Ahn Jung-hwan.

Copyright: John Duerden & Soccerphile

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J-League Results & Standings

Urawa Reds stand on the verge of lifting their first J-League title after yesterday's matches on the Labor Day national holiday. After their disappointing loss away to Grampus at the weekend, the Saitama giants beat 10-man Ventforet Kofu in front of 57,781 fans at Saitama Stadium - this year's largest J-League attendance.

Gamba Osaka stumbled to a 1-1 draw away to Avispa Fukuoka, which means Urawa can lift the title with a win away to FC Tokyo on Sunday.

In the match in Saitama, Brazilian striker Washington missed two first half penalties but netted a second half brace to settle Reds' nerves. Kofu had defender Michitaka Akimoto sent off after 30 minutes, a decision that swung the match massively in Reds' favor.

Kawasaki Frontale dropped out of contention with a 4-3 loss away to Shimizu. At the bottom Avispa and Cerezo both drew and will battle it out for the play-off spot with the third-placed J2 team. Kyoto Purple Sanga return straight back down to the second tier after a 3-1 loss in front of their own supporters in the ancient capital.

The J-League title race is not all over yet and FC Tokyo will not want to lose again in front of their fans after yesterday's loss to Marinos. The last game of the season sees Saitama host Gamba and that match might still decide which side takes the prize.

It's equally tight at the top of J2 with Yokohama FC, Vissel Kobe and Kawasaki Reysol all in contention for the top two automatic promotion slots.

Saturday 23 November

Cerezo Osaka 1 Nagoya Gampus Eight 1
Urawa Reds 3 Venforet Kofu 0
Kyoto Purple Sanga 1 Jubilo Iwate 3
Avispa Frontale 1 Gamba Osaka 1
Kashima Antlers 5 Albirex Niigata 1
Shimizu S-Pulse 4 Kawasaki Frontale 3
Oita Trinita 1 Omiya Ardija 2
JEF United 0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1
FC Tokyo 1 Yokohama F Marinos 2

Leading Positions

Reds P32 Pts 68
Gamba P32 Pts 63
Frontale P32 Pts 61
S-Pulse P32 Pts 57
Jubilo P32 Pts 55
Antlers P32 Pts 55

J2

Yokohama FC P46 Pts 87
Vissel Kobe P46 Pts 85
Reysol P46 Pts 85
Sagan P46 Pts 76
Vegalta Sendai P46 Pts 73
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