RK's Soccer Thread 2011

thetrinity · 08-10-11, 11:17 AM

surprised you have QPR last place. id take out tottenham 4th and put in arsenal.

bottom 3 id go with wolves, wigan, swansea.

Bluedragon · 08-10-11, 12:11 PM

Top, I would def not put Arsenal like the guy above said. Liverpool could surprise.

Man Utd.
Chelsea
Man City
Tott or Liverpool

Bottom, I would defnitely not put QPR there. I think they will do OK.

Aston Villa
Wigan
Norwich
Swansea

RubberKettle · 08-10-11, 01:38 PM

Yes Liverpool have improved by making some smart signings, but I think Spurs are still stronger and will not have UCL fixtures to muddy up their schedules (they are playing in the Europa League though)..

As for QPR they have a squad full of good Championship players. They have only bought a few bobs from West Ham and Abel Traabt is going to leave the first chance he gets. They lost Routledge who was on loan and players like Derry and Kenny are not going to cut it in the top flight. Also, I do not rate Neil Warnock to highly. But its a long drawn out season and I won't be surprised if they are mid table for the first few months.

Bluedragon · 08-11-11, 08:22 AM

Just as long as ARSEnal don't do well, I'm happy. son-of-a-gunners need to get used to losing. Damn how I would love to see them drop to Championship and lose to my Forest or get throttled by Leicester LOL. Maybe one day, maybe one day.

latinrus · 08-11-11, 08:28 AM

BOL on ur new thread buddy!

Will be checking for some tips for the EPL cause have not much idea!

I agree that Liverpool shod be with Spurs fighting for that top 4!

thetrinity · 08-11-11, 09:08 AM

i was tempted to say pool for 4th, but i went with arsenal, i think its pretty close between those 3 (spurs being the 3rd).

i think QPR can defend at least. not conceding goals is a big part of staying up.

wigan have been playing with fire for years and amazingly always stay up so they probably will again even though everyone thinks they go down.

RubberKettle · 08-11-11, 10:21 AM

Looks like Arsenal will lose Cesc and Nasri very soon. Odd slashed to 1/20 for Cesc and 1/7 for Nasri. This would be a big blow for them. Next week they play Udineze in the 1st leg of their qualifying tie for the UCL. If they go out losing that money could cost Wenger his job.

Jose Enrique will sign for Liverpool.
Newcastle do not look like a big club anymore. If Barton goes and they don't sign any replacements they could be in the relegation scrap.

Looking ahead to the fixtures on Saturday...

Wigan v Norwich

I think this line of +275 is too high for Norwich. The canaries are a good side who play football and probably have more attacking power than Wigan (Holt, Jackson, Hoolahan possible goal scorers). Wigan lost their two best midfielders in N'Zogbia and Cleverly over the summer and have only signed a couple of bodies on loan. Their top striker Hugo Rodalegga played in the Copa, but should be rested, there has also been a lot of speculation about his future at the club.

The other reason I like Norwich is because Wigan is an easy place to play. The DW, JJB or whatever they are calling the place now a days is not an intimidating place to play. Last year Wigan opened the season at home to Blackpool (Another promoted team) and were thumped 0-4. The PK is another way to play with less risk and that sits around +175.

Fulham v Aston Villa

Looking at over 2.5 here. Fulham have already played a few games in the Europa League qualifying and that should put their fitness a few notches ahead of Villa. Last seasons matches between these teams saw draws 2-2, 1-1. New manager Alex Mcleish will need to show the fans he can produce more than he did at rivals Birmingham as he will be under pressure right out of the gate. Villa have the attacking talent to score goals with trio Bent, N'Zogbia, Albrighton.

Fulham also have a new boss in Dutchman Martin Jol. He has inherited a very good squad capable of finishing in the top half. At home last season Fulham was very good and could score goals. It is also important to note that they bagged 7 goals in their last 3 home games albeit against much inferior competition.

RubberKettle · 08-12-11, 11:12 AM

Barcelona say Fabregas is going Wenger the Voyeur expects everyone will stay and has named both Cesc and Nasri in the squad for Saturdays opening game vs Newcastle. If they both leave before the Champions league game in Italy I will be really worried about Arsenal's ability to do anything this season.

Looks like Carlos Tevez is staying a City, Joey Barton's not moving out of the Toon and Wesley Sneijder is content with Inter.

Fukkn pumped up for the new season

PickApprentice · 08-12-11, 11:58 AM

RK, the news that I have read is that both Nasri and Fab are out of the squad for the weekend.

JOHON8 · 08-12-11, 12:08 PM

Looking forward to your insight, good luck this season...

1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Man City
4. Liverpool

18. Wigan
19. Swansea
20. Wolves

RubberKettle · 08-12-11, 12:23 PM

Originally posted by PickApprentice

RK, the news that I have read is that both Nasri and Fab are out of the squad for the weekend.

Yes you are correct, I have misread Wenger's statement.

If they are both out of the squad why does he think no one will leave

Wenger is playing a game, delusional or both.

"I expect nobody to leave,'' Wenger said. "The best thing for us one day before the championship starts is not to focus on possible transfers. At the moment there is no news. If there is news I promise I will give it. I will decide what's best for the club.

The Special One · 08-12-11, 10:06 PM

1. Man Utd
2. Liverpool
3. Chelsea
4. Man City

18. Wigan
19. WBA
20. Swansea

RubberKettle · 08-13-11, 08:45 AM

Norwich City ML cut about 50c overnight, Fulham have a strong lineup. Johnson and Zamora upfront are full of goals when they play together. Over is still +$.

Good luck everyone, you can follow the league in text here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...premier-league

Soccer Saturday is here: http://nutjob.eu/

OneTipster · 08-15-11, 06:09 AM

Hi RK!

What's your goal in this season?

RubberKettle · 08-15-11, 10:23 AM

Have fun, win a few bets....didn't really come up with many goals for the season. Both plays so far have lost, but its a marathon not a sprint. Going with under 3 goals Manchester City vs Swansea City.

I'm just betting points and $5-$10 here and there until we get to about mid November. This is how I did it last year and I had a lot of success between the festive period and the end of the season. There will be some big plays thrown in once we get there and have a relatively large sample size for these teams and Ive had time to see all the teams play regularly.

Notes from this weekends games:
- No home wins?!?!? Will City become the 1st home side to get 3 points this round?
- United still got it. Late goals are their trademark and another one helped them beat West Brom.
- Torres is back. If you watched that game he looked sharp. His touch was good and he had that yard of pace again. He will score a lot of goals this season.
- Blackburn are in big trouble. If they don't sing some players quickly it will be tough for them to stay off the bottom.
- QPR and Norwich will struggle. Norwich do not have the attack to score goals if Grant Holt finds scoring hard in the Prem. QPR cannot rely on Gabbidon and Dyer to fill out a starting XI with premier league experience. Norwich could of won their game vs Wigan, but never had any end product.
- Chelsea need a creative midfielder. If the Luka Modric deal is off they need to look at someone else.
- Shay give ruins my over by himself. The guy made like 5 awesome saves against Fulham and is a great buy for Villa. Also that ginger Riise missed a sitter in the 14' that would of changed the game.

thetrinity · 08-15-11, 11:13 AM

gl kettle also on the under 3 got it at -135. personally id rather lay reasonable juice (rarely go above -140 myself) and have under 3 then have 2.5 at plus money, hate to know i could have had a push and take a loss. on the flip side if it was under 2.5 i wouldnt mind gambling on under 2 at plus money.

PickApprentice · 08-15-11, 01:34 PM

RK, I think it is still too early to judge both QPR and Norwich. That been said, I was really disappointed with Neil Warnock as he surely had experience with SU, and to go on losing 4-0 at home is just beyond bad. If any of the two teams pick up from here and play as a team for the rest of the season. Anything can happen. Just my though. As you said, it is not a sprint, and it is a marathon.

Agree with you on Fulham, that game could have easily turned.

Good luck with your future bets!

OneTipster · 08-15-11, 03:55 PM

It sounds good RK!

Best of luck!

RubberKettle · 08-19-11, 10:08 AM

Some real good games this weekend

Tyne Wear Derby - Don't like betting on derby games this early in the season. Newcastle travel to Sunderland in the early kickoff Saturday. I don't see much here, maybe draw.

Arsenal Liverpool - Arsenal have so many players missing. Song and Gervinho are suspended. Nasri surely cannot play. Like Liverpool in this spot. +200ish on the ML, like the over here at evens. Suarez in great form, Downing has given Liverpool a new option as well.

RubberKettle · 08-26-11, 06:51 PM

+600 for Arsenal is way to high.

I don't know if they can win it, but draw is very realistic.