Below you can read two full (Sunderland have already won, left as sample) and some snippets from the other two previews we sent to subscribers in the first of today's three newsletters. There were another four match previews in the follow up, so we looked at eight games in total and will also be sending a third email later this afternoon, that is what they pay the big bucks (somewhere around 2.7 euros per day) for !
Saturday February 1st
Wow ! Where did January go ? It was a good month for us and time passes quickly when you are having fun, or are old !
Next newsletter is at 13.30 UK time today and will cover the evening fixtures.
The rain has been relentless in the UK ,there are a lot of early morning inspections planned around the lower leagues and I suspect that quite a few will be off, I have stuck mainly to the top flight, but did speak to someone at Fleetwood this morning who said the pitch was in good condition, it was dry and no problems at all.
Premier League : Newcastle United -Sunderland
We opposed United in midweek at Norwich City , main reason focused around the huge loss of their star midfielder in the transfer window, ahead of the game I wrote .....United have sold Yohan Cabaye (19-7-3) to PSG they are 0-2-1 without him this season, two home draws and a heavy road defeat and were an eyepopping 2-1-9 without the Frenchman last season, the two wins came against relegated teams (QPR and Wigan) and on the road, they are 0-1-7 over the two campaigns when he has been missing, conceding at least two in each, at an average of over 3 per game ! I think we can say he will be missed ! To be fair to the Magpies, they started really well and should have had the game sewn up by the break, but City ended the stronger and were close to snatching all three points at the death, it remained honours even and that run is now up to just two wins in 16 starts without Cabaye.
Today they have to play the North East derby against an inform rival, also missing the suspended Loic Remy ( 21-11-2), they have failed to score in the two EPL starts he has missed and lost 2-1 to Cardiff City here in the FA Cup, when he was rested and only came on for the final six minutes.
Sunderland are completely rejuvenated under Gus Poyet and what looked a season to forget, with the Black Cats cast adrift at the foot of the table just a couple of months ago, is rapidly turning into one to cherish. The midweek win over Stoke City took them out of the drop zone, they are in the Capital One Cup final and 5th round of the FA Cup. Significant funds were released in the window and Poyet allowed to upgrade, with five strong signings, Ignacio Scocco from Internacional is player we know well from covering Brazilian football and his movement upfront will give Sunderland something new, Gus has largely gone with what he knows, South American players and Liam Bridcutt from Brighton, whom he signed and knew from Chelsea. I doubt we will see too much from the new boys today, but Sunderland are looking for an historic third straight derby win, Adam Johnson is in the form of his life and has scored or assisted their last seven Premier League goals and they look the way to go, with United short of options up front and failing to score in four of their last five starts.1.25 units Sunderland +0.25 ball 2.23 asian line/Ibramarket.
Premier League : Hull City-Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham have served us very well on the road this season, they have only dropped points at Manchester city, Arsenal and Everton and are a perfect 8 from 8 in all games against teams outside the top six. They desperately need to bounce back from the heavy loss to City in midweek at WHL, they recovered really well from that 6-0 thumping at the Etihad earlier in the season and won their next five away starts. They need the points to stay in touch with the top four, not least because they also have Everton (whom they host next weekend) and Manchester United breathing down their neck. City have quickly lost their way and are only four points above the drop zone, they have lost their last four PL starts without scoring and that 6-0 defeat of Fulham has papered over a poor run, with that their only win in ten top flight outings.They are without suspended keeper Allan McGregor (20 starts, lost 2/3 and conceded five goals in his absence).
Spurs did us big favours with those wins last month at Old Trafford and the Liberty Stadium and ahead of the trip to South Wales my notes went a lot like this ...Tottenham did us a big favour at Old Trafford on New Year's Day when I wrote ... This is another of those classic top flight games which invariably provides a huge amount of entertainment, two teams who like to play on the front foot and it is no surprise this is the late televised game, the perfect fixture to end New Year's Day with. New Spurs boss Tim Sherwood is very attack minded and in the four starts since AVB has left, they have averaged an attempt on goal every 4.5 minutes. They have scored twice at Old Trafford on two of their last five visits, including a 3-2 win here last season, also in that sequence was a 3-1 loss where they could/should have scored three. The reverse fixture ended 2-2 at WHL, exactly a month ago and I see something very similar today. United are on a run of seven straight wins in all competitions, but have hardly been meeting the cream of the EPL in that sequence and we saw them look very vunerable away to Hull City on Boxing Day and we have spoken many times over the last 2-3 seasons about how teams prepared to attack United here at OT have had great success and that number is growing, with the fear factor lessened since Sir Alex has left, although the defensive issues were here long before that. Tottenham are not afraid to attack in any case and I can see plenty of joy for them offensively here. I admit to being tempted by the 5.0 for the away win, but will instead opt for 1 unit Tottenham Hotspur to score over 1.5 goals 3.0-3.50 general quote, I would push that up to 1.25 units if the upper quote is available to you, many companies will offer this running, so the bigger odds should be easy enough to find.
They won that 2-1 and have since lost feebly to their great North London rival Arsenal in the FA Cup, in a "no show" performance and wobbled, but beat Crystal Palace at home last week. They are back in Top 4 contention and whilst ultimately they do not look strong enough for that , how close they come, will probably determine how much they will invest long term in the Sherwood regime. They have been happier on the road for sometime ( last year 34 points away /38 at home and this campaign 22/18), they have a lot of pace in the team and it is easier to play to that strength when teams are not camped around their penalty area.
This is a very good opportunity for the visitors and odds against quotes seems perfectly fair. 1.5 units Tottenham Hotspur -0.5 ball 2.16 asian line/Ibramarket.
Premier League : Everton -Aston Villa
Villa won by the odd goal in seven at home to West Bromwich Albion in midweek, Everton are bound to be a little shellshocked after that battering at Anfield and it is easy to see the goals flying again today. Villa took Liverpool all the way on their last trip to Merseyside just two weeks ago, so will arrive in the city with very positive mental memories, ahead of that I wrote...
I think the odds are a little silly here for a team like Villa, who are so well suited to playing on the road. The visitors have Ron Vlaar back in central defence now and we have discussed many times how crucial he is to them and despite losing to Arsenal last time out, Christian Benteke's scored his first goal in almost 15 hours of football and there is every chance he could go on a bit of a run now, like strikers so often do after a dry spell. They are ideally suited to playing on the road and with the Reds happy to pour forward, they are going to get chances on the counter attack today. Having already won at the Emirates and lost by the odd goal in three at Stamford Bridge, a trip to Anfield, where they have lost just once in four visits, winning and scoring three goals in two of those, is unlikely to strike fear into their hearts. They have only lost one of their 21 away starts by more than two goals and I am confident they will not do so today. Boss Paul Lambert has been busy this week,Grant Holt has has re-joined his former boss and will be a good option off the bench and Lambert knows how to get the best from him, the signing of left back Ryan Bertrand looks clever business and having played in a Champions League final, the big stage will certainly not worry him.
Only Manchester City have scored more goals than Liverpool this season, but they have conceded 26 times, which is more inline with a mid table side and they have allowed more attempts on their goal than Crystal Palace at the foot of the table.....but hey, they are fun to watch !
Key stat time, Liverpool are a stunning 18-0 (goals scored/conceded) at home in the first half, 9-6 through the second 45 minutes. Villa are most vunerable very early on the road, 0-3 through the opening 10 minutes, but a very nice 12-8 after that. If they can ride out the opening 10 minutes and only one of those 18 home goals have come in this period, they should settle down into their game plan and then, they are a very decent away team. I have to bet them with the handicap start, there is also the chance that this could develop into a shootout and if it does, the odds on Benteke scoring look a little juicy and I will also suggest taking a little on him if you can get on. 1.5 units Aston Villa +2 goals 1.97 asian line/Ibramarket and 0.5 units Christian Benteke to score anytime 4.00-5.50 general quote.
I feel..... the rest of this preview is only for subscribers to the newsletter service.
League 2: Fleetwood Town- York City
the rest of this preview is only for subscribers to the newsletter service.
Good Luck.
