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Premier Preview -
22 Sep 2007
Look to the side
It's becoming increasingly difficult to find any value in the main
premiership markets these days. What you know, the
odds-compliers generally know as well.
Of course it pays to get in early, like those punters who snapped up
quote of 11/8 about Manchester United this weekend did. At
current prices there's no value to be had.
The same goes for today's other Premiership games. Blackburn
could be worth opposing after a tricky midweek affair in the heat of
Greece. Larissa exposed all of their short-comings, and proved
just how much Mark Hughes' side rely on the outstanding Nelsen-Samba
partnership at the back. Nelsen is out, and Samba is
struggling with concussion but will probably play. Kanu and
Utaka can take advantage, but is 4.2 any value given Portsmouth's
shocking away record under Harry Redknapp? Probably not.
A score draw looks the most likely result.
Newcastle are another side who look ripe for opposing but West Ham
are probably not the right side to do it with. The Hammers
have been flattered greatly by recent results. Middlesbrough
carved them open with ease at times, and would have taken something
if not for the profligacy of Jerome Alidiere and Sanli Tuncay.
Still, with Dean Ashton coming back into some form after a long
lay-off, and the in-form Craig Bellamy back to haunt his old
employers, the hammers have every chance of pulling off a shock
result. Newcastle are just not creating chances at the moment.
That's partly due to a lack of creativity in midfield, and partly
due to Sam Allardyce's Bolton-esque tactics, which have not yet
rubbed off on his new personnel. It could be another
frustrating afternoon for the 'Toon Army'.
The prices look a little too close to call so instead look to the
side markets for some speculative value.
Newcastle v West Ham: Sunday 13:30.
Recommendation: 0.5pts Geremi
to score at 8/1. Coral, Hills.
The Cameroonian is a player who performs better in home games.
Always a threat from set-pieces, it has come to light that he has
also been entrusted with penalty-taking duties, making 8/1 anytime
and 25/1 first g/s value prices.
The tenacious Portsmouth midfielder has collected four bookings in
his first six games. I expect a good midfield scrap here,
aided by Sulley Muntari, against the Blackburn duo of Dunn and
Savage. Four players who are not shy of a card or ten over the
course of a season. 3/1 is too big.
Blackburn v Portsmouth: Sunday 15:00
Recommendations:
0.25pts 2-2 at 18/1. Blue
Square.
1pt Sean Davis to
be carded at 3/1. Expekt.
Ilunga
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