Football Bulletin: Villa – Newcastle, A Game Best Watched On Ceefax?

By utilising the excellent Form Lab Black software, the team at the Smart Betting Club have cast their eye over some of the weekend’s feature games in search for any angles of betting interest.

This weekend, we start off with the game at Villa Park, which if the stats are anything to go by, could be one best watched on Ceefax!

Aston Villa vs. Newcastle

I believe it was Gary Lineker who once famously claimed, “If Wimbledon were playing in my back garden, I would draw the curtains”. With Alex McLeish’s teams, not exactly displaying a Brazilian flare, I’d put them in the same category.

Villa have been level at the interval in 10/21 home matches since the start of last season, while Newcastle have been level at half time in 10/21 away matches. It implies roughly a 50/50 chance of a half time draw, but we can get 2.20 with Bet365 & Coral on that outcome. Continue reading

The Transfer Insider: 5 Days That Could Change Your Season

In this period of transfer market cat and mouse is it too soon to press the button? That is the question facing punters this week as they survey an interesting looking relegation market with a couple of vulnerable big priced runners who may well be very active this week.

QPR have money burning a hole in their pocket but can they bring in enough quality players before the deadline passes? Joey Barton is just one player mulling this over, but who else is Warnock looking to sign? Blackburn also desperately need new faces after failing to convince the likes of Ronaldinho, Beckham and Raul to move to Lancashire, so is the 17/10 on them to go down a worthwhile punt?

At the top end of the table,  Man City’s bloated squad needs chopping down with the likes of Tevez, Boyata, Onuoha and Bellamy all on the move – but to where? Arsenal also desperately need to strengthen and transfer guru Ed, has all the latest on them plus all the key transfer moves – vital for your betting in the Premier League. Continue reading

The Transfer Insider: Implosion at St James Park

In the last few weeks I’ve covered the various sagas involving Carlos Tevez, Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Luka Modric, nothing has happened and unless you’re them, their agent or their club it is basically guesswork – it could easily be the same for the aforementioned foursome as well.  Such are the wheels within wheels that surround them that they simply may not know themselves whether they are coming or going.

At a guess, I’d say Tevez and Nasri will probably have to stay, while Fabregas and Modric could be off – I’m leaving that now, they’re all covered enough anyway – I’d suggest keeping tabs on Gazetta Dello Sport (Italy), Marca (Spain), quotes emitting from Catalan radio (Barcelona) and the BBC, Sky and the London Evening Standard to get the best idea what’s going on with their respective situations.

The Joey Barton Saga & Newcastle For The Drop?

You may recall I mentioned Joey Barton was an Aston Villa target a few weeks ago and following the latest twist in the drama Alex McLeish could be tempted to make a move.  The situation has of course dramatically changed and Continue reading