Archive for March, 2007

Ronaldo better than Zidane?

Click to visit BookieLabRat.com for the latest sportsbook reviews and ratingsFootball News headlines brought to you by Globet International Sports Betting Limited and the team at BookieLabRat.com.

Man Utd No2 Queiroz: Ronaldo better than Zidane
Queiroz, who helped groom Luis Figo through the Portugal youth system and worked with Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid, gushed: “In my career I have never found a player with as much quality. He plays in a unique way and I cannot see any player in the world who can produce as much as he can. “I’ve never seen a player with so many different qualities as Cristiano. His courage, ambition, speed and technique make him really special.”

[Ed’s comment: get a hotel room]

Juventus coach Deschamps: I want Liverpool’s Gerrard, Lampard
“Gerrard and Lampard? In terms of quality, there can be no argument about them. But it’s not up to me to try and negotiate for them,” said Deschamps. “Clearly, their international experience would make any team comfortable.”

Newcastle approach West Ham for Ferdinand
After going AWOL to the USA recently, Ferdinand’s relationship with manager Alan Curbishley shows no signs of thawing. “Anton is causing unrest in the dressing room and there are teams interested in taking him at the end of the season, with Newcastle making the firmest enquiry,” a Hammers source told the News of the World.

Villa join interest for Celtic keeper Boruc
The News of the World says Villa boss Martin O’Neill is planning to go back to Parkhead in the summer for the Poland international. Boruc has also been linked with AC Milan and Bayern Munich in recent weeks.

Koeman: “We handled them with velvet gloves”
PSV Head Coach Ronald Koeman admitted at the post-match press conference that Ajax had been physically the stronger team as well as footballwise. “We handled them with velvet gloves. We should have used different weapons against a team like Ajax”, was his harsh verdict.

Henk ten Cate said his team had had the upper hand and earned ‘a fine and deserved win.” Ronald Koeman reviewed the game at the post-match press conference at the Philips Stadium. “I think the 5-1 defeat should be seen as a random indication”, claimed Koeman, who emphasized that Ajax had shown more fighting spirit. “They played a physical game, often on the borderline and at time across it, which the referee accepted. They scored their goals at very convenient moments, in particular their second, which they scored on the stroke of half time, when I felt we deserved to draw level. We were punished after the break for giving away space at the back. Ajax started some lethal counter attacks and obviously fully deserved to win this afternoon. We handled them with velvet gloves. We should have used different weapons against a team like Ajax.”

Henk ten Cate was not unexpectedly delighted with the result. Ajax manager Henk ten Cate thought his team had earned ‘a fine and deserved win.’ “We put in a tactically skilful display, anticipating our opponents’ ideas really well. We survived a few scares when PSV had reduced the deficit, as Babel and Huntelaar found it hard to thwart the build-up of the PSV defenders. But then we brought on Tom de Mul, which proved to be a successful substitution. He was involved in as many as three goals. I think we completely deserved to win.”

Add comment March 20th, 2007

How about a 350,000 to 1 payout?

…and we thought the lucky punter at Globet with his 100,000 to 1 payout on football in February was pretty canny…(see previous blog posting)…

Ladbrokes bookmakers said that a Welsh man had overcome odds of 350,000 to one, to win £700,000 from a stake of £2. A spokesperson for the UK firm called the win extraordinary adding that it was the most “phenomenal betting performance we’ve seen in many years.”

Archie Evans from Cwmbran, who picked six horse race winners to get the payout, said “It’s a huge amount of money and if I’m honest it’s not sunk in yet.”

“I’ve not decided on how to spend it yet,” he continued. “But I know I’m going to take my wife on a bloody good holiday.”

 

Click to visit Ladbrokes bookmaker - safe, secure sports bets onlineLadbrokes plc is a British based betting & gaming company based in Middlesex, UK. Listed on the FTSE 100 Index since Feb 2006 since the de-merger from the Hilton Group plc. (Ladbrokes sold off the Hotel group). Ladbrokes is the UK’s largest bookmaker with 2000 retail outlets in the UK, Ireland & Belgium.Sorry no US bettors

Add comment March 19th, 2007

Franks a Lot! Spurs v Chelsea Cashback

Right… this blog is not meant to dwell on Paddy Power (I’ve just noticed that quite a few of the previous items include references to this intrepid Irish bookie).

But hey, hope you took his Cash Back special on the Everton v Arsenal game. Paddy’s paying out up to €300/£200 per customer – he’s refunding all losing 1st/last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast singles on this match after Andy Johnson’s injury-time winner gave Everton a 1-0 win. 

Here’s Today’s Cash Back Offer – tempted?

Paddy Powers latest Cash Back deal

Tottenham v Chelsea Monday 8.05pm BBC1
Money Back Special – Paddy will refund all losing 1st/last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast single bets on this match if Frank Lampard scores the last goal in 90 minutes play (extra-time and penalties do not count).

Here’s PaddyPower.com’s fixed odds on the game:
Tottenham   12/5 (3.40)
Draw           11/5 (3.20)
Chelsea      11/10 (2.10)

Also: Proving Us W-Ron-g
There are few things we’ve enjoyed more than slagging Cristiano Ronaldo. Motivated partly by jealousy, partly by the frustration of watching a player with obvious talent acting like a petulant child and partly by our naturally bitter outlook of the world. Still it’s hard for us not to admit he’s on his way to being player of the season. Annoyingly the winger was even quick to praise his team-mates after an excellent performance against Bolton. “When you play with great players it is easy. I am enjoying playing with Giggsy, Scholesy, Wayne and…eh….eh..” We’re in serious danger of being won around, the sneaky winker! Mon 8pm SS1

Man Utd         3/10 (1.30)
Draw             15/4  (4.75)
Middlesbrough 9/1 (10.00)

>>Visit PaddyPower now to get in the action (sorry, no US bettors)

Add comment March 18th, 2007

Want insurance on your Everton v Arsenal bet?

Two top ‘cash back’ bookies are vying for your attention today.

If you’re  planning on taking correct score, first/last scorer or scorecast bets on the Everton v Arsenal Game have a look at these two deals.

There’s nothing like a bit of insurance – and it is amazing how often these deals pay out!  

Click to visit Paddy Power for detailsClick to visit BetFred for details

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

>>Both Paddy Power, (the top Irish bookie), and BetFred, (a leading UK bookmaker) come highly recommended. Use these links to visit them or jump to BookieLabRat.com to see how they compare to the top 15 online  sports books.

Add comment March 17th, 2007

Free bet for Paddy Power Punters…

Click to go to PaddyPower to hear him grovel...Here’s a special message for punters who had a flutter with Paddy Power over the Cheltenham Festival period.

We’re not sure if Paddy reads much of what his marketing team  come up with as sometimes it’s a little dodgy and makes him look like a eijit – but here’s a free bet to make you feel better about the hassles you may have had over the last few days…. 

Our website pulled a bit of a sickie for the first couple of days of the Festival. It’s unacceptable so we’re giving you a free bet to show that we mean it plus you can watch Paddy Power squirm as he grovels for your forgiveness“.

Free Bet Information  –  Redeeming your Free Bet is simple . Just follow these ‘easier than Paris Hilton’ steps.
 
1. Login to PaddyPower.com
2. Make your selection in the way you normally would. 
3. On the Betslip choose the Free Bet option on the drop down menu. 
4. Em … that’s it. 
 
Free Bet Conditions  –  Free bet applies to customers that have bet with us between 1st March 2007 upto 11.59pm on 15th March 2007. 
– Free Bet can be used for any horse race until Midnight 31st March. 
– Free Bet stakes will be included in returns. 

Cash Back on Everton v ArsenalPS: Paddy’s weekend Premiership cash back looks a good one (if you’re not an Arsenal fan).

Paddy’s team thinks that Arsenal were lucky to pick up the win against Aston Villa midweek and with all their injuries and suspensions Everton will fancy their chances at Goodison Park.

…So Paddy Power will refund all losing 1st/last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast singles on this match if Everton win 1-0. Max Refund €300/£200 per customer.

Add comment March 16th, 2007

Sacking Mourinho will cost Chelsea GBP125 Million

Visit BookieLabRat.com for the latest sports bookmaker ratings and reviewsFootball news brought to you by Globet International Sports Betting Limited and the team at BookieLabRat.com 

Sacking Mourinho will cost Chelsea £125 MILLION
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will have to find a staggering 125 million if he wants to sack manager Jose Mourinhho. The Sun says paying up the remainder of Mourinho’s contract – £15million; shelling out £25m on finding a new boss; splashing £30m on a new Frank Lampard; £50m to bankroll the new boss’ transfer whims; and £5m on new backroom staff. It’s all adding up.

Arsenal’s Reyes pleads for Sevilla return 
Reyes, 23, does not want to return to London under any circumstances and wishes to stay in his native Spain. Agent Jaime Rodriguez de Moya said: “Our objective is for a move to Seville. “At the moment, it’s not an option – but it’s something we hope to sort out.”

Spurs rival Barcelona for Chelsea’s Robben
Barca are turning to the Dutchman after receiving little encouragement from Manchester United over the availability of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Spanish champs are willing to offer £16 million for Robben, however Spurs are also keen and will go head-to-head with Barca for the midfielder.

Bayern Munich chasing Celtic keeper Boruc
The Daily Record says the German giants have been looking to bring in a high-profile shotstopper for some time because skipper Oliver Kahn is approaching the end of his career. Goalkeeping coach Sepp Maier has put Pole Boruc at the top of his wanted list after seeing his stunning displays for the Hoops this season. Maier has been searching the globe for a replacement and noted Hearts and Scotland man Craig Gordon and Middlesbrough ace Mark Schwarzer. But Boruc again enhanced his reputation with superb displays against AC Milan at Parkhead and in the San Siro to fire him to the top of Bayern’s wanted list.

Rangers paid for home-leg performance
The Spaniards claimed a 1-0 win in the return leg in Pamplona to progress through to the quarter-finals 2-1 on aggregate. Although his side lost the second leg at the Reyno de Navarra, Smith feels it was the opening match at Ibrox that was the source of all their problems. “We are obviously disappointed. After a poor first-leg performance, we hoped to do better here,” Smith said.

Rangers only scraped a 1-1 draw from last week’s first meeting thanks to a last-gasp equaliser from Brahim Hemdani. But they were unable to build on that good fortune as they found themselves under pressure for much of the first half of the second leg, whilst barely troubling home goalkeeper Ricardo during the entire 90 minutes. “We did better in some aspects but we didn’t really create enough opportunities. We only had a few chances,” admitted Smith. “It was a game where there wasn’t many clear-cut opportunities for either side, although Osasuna will feel they had the better of those that were created. “We are disappointed with the way we played in the first leg, and if you play that way you always have an uphill task in the second leg. “Overall you would have to play better than that to go through, in the first leg especially.”

Pierre Webo was Osasuna’s goal hero in the second leg, slotting home at the far post midway through the second half to secure a 1-0 win.

Add comment March 15th, 2007

Fancy your Foresight? Proud of your Premonitions? Win a £100 Free Bet

BetFred is a top UK bookmaker - more bonuses and giveaways on sitePredict the exact time of the first goal in the upcoming Everton v Arsenal match on Sunday, March 18th at 16:00, and win a £100 free bet at BetFred.

It’s free to enter,  just correctly pick the time of first goal (minutes & seconds e.g. 05:02).

Pete guessed 27:00 last week and while the actual time on that game was 27:02, his guess was closest so won a £25 free consolation bet.

Up to the challenge?

Come on, you’re going to be watching the game anyway – why not have a stab? 

Add comment March 14th, 2007

Henry: I love the club, I love the fans and am 100 per cent behind the boss

Football News from Globet and the team at BookieLabRat.com

The latest football transfer news and management frustrations brought to you by the team at Globet International Sports Betting Limited and BookieLabRat.com.

Henry wants to end career at Arsenal
Henry’s injury troubles have had some people claiming he will leave the Emirates Stadium. Barcelona and Real Madrid were both ready to pay £50million for the Frenchman last summer but instead he signed a four-year deal to stay with the Gunners. Henry told The Sun: “People in France and some over here are still saying I am going to leave. I am not going to leave. Never. I am staying here for life. “I have no intention of walking out on this club, whatever the situation is. At no stage this season have I ever thought about leaving. “I love the club. I love the fans and I am 100 per cent behind the boss. “When I signed my new contract I said I never wanted to kick a ball for another team and nothing has changed.”

Frustrated Lampard sets Chelsea contract deadline
The Times says Lampard has given Chelsea a deadline of the end of the month to agree a new deal or he will buy out the two years left on his contract at a cost of £8 million. Fifa rules enable him to do so and leave on a free transfer in the summer. The stand-in captain, 28, is threatening to do just that and with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan all having expressed interest he would have no shortage of suitors. Lampard’s preference is to stay at Stamford Bridge, but he has decided that if he does not receive an acceptable offer by the end of March he will examine other options, as he does not want to be distracted by negotiations when the season reaches its climax. The England midfield player is seeking a five-year contract that would give him parity with Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko, who are paid £130,000 a week, and is concerned that time is running out as Peter Kenyon, the club’s chief executive, has not contacted Lampard’s agent for more than three weeks.

Chelsea management angry over Mourinho’s Real Madrid talk
The Sun says Stamford Bridge officials are angry that Mourinho spoke about Real during a trip to Spain on club business. He was flown on one of Roman Abramovich’s private jets to Pamplona where he watched Champions League quarter-final opponents Valencia play Osasuna. Despite insisting he will honour his Chelsea contract – which runs until 2010 – the gaffe is the latest incident to cause friction between Mourinho and the board. A club insider said: “Mourinho takes every opportunity to tell people how much he loves Chelsea and the minute he is asked about Madrid, he talks about them as well.” Mourinho revealed last week that he has not met with Chelsea owner Abramovich for two months. And the pair have yet to have a clear-the-air meeting following their falling out in January. These latest comments will do nothing to repair the relationship which appears to be permanently damaged.

Terry furious with Chelsea over contract comments
The Times says Terry is understood to have been deeply upset by the club’s handling of his proposed extension, and talks with the England captain broke down last week. Terry has no wish to leave Chelsea, though that should not disguise the extent of his anger over what he perceives to be a contract snub. The present stand-off was exacerbated by a snatched conversation with Peter Kenyon in the tunnel at Stamford Bridge before Sunday’s FA Cup sixth-round tie against Tottenham Hotspur, which Terry interpreted as an attempt by the chief executive to pressure him into signing. He was particularly offended by the comment from one senior official that their offer would make him “very well paid for a centre half”. Terry was distressed at being described in such dismissive terms.

Add comment March 14th, 2007

Cheltenham Festival Brings out More Generous Bookmaker Free Bets

Cheltenham Festival Bookie Free Bet OffersLooking for an excuse to set up a bookie account?

Several of the UK’s top bookies are using the Cheltenham Festival as an excuse to entice new punters. Here’s the latest run-down on special bookmaker joining bonuses available only during March 13-16 while the Festival is on. (Sorry, no US bettors).

 

Click to visit BetFred BookmakerBETFRED £50 FREE BET Renowned as ‘THE BONUS KING’ BetFred will 100% match your first bet up to £50 (or currency equivalent) as a new BetFred customer during the Cheltenham festival (March 13-16) plus give you £10 in casino chips …

Click to visit SportingOdds BookieSPORTINGODDS – Get  4 X £10 free bets at SportingOdds as a new customer – you’ve got to bet on the Cheltenham Festival to qualify (The standard join offer is 3 X £10 free bets on ANY market) …

Click to visit Victor Chandler Bookmaker VC BET – VC Bet will match the first bet you place up to £100 (or currency equivalent) when you open a new Account with them during the Cheltenham Festival. UK and Irish punters only. Bettors from all other countries are still eligible for €75 in free bets …

Click to go to Ladbrokes.comLADBROKES Fancy winning a £1,000 free bet? Place a bet of £5 or more on both the first and last race of the day at Cheltenham and you could win a share of the £40,000 pot…. 

Click to visit top Irish bookie Paddy PowerPADDY POWER Get £25 in free bets and this crazy Irish bookie is also running some awesome specials throughout the Cheltenam Festival. Here are Day One’s specials

  1. Special 1:
    3.10 Cheltenham – Champion Hurdle If your horse finishes 2nd to Detroit City in this race Paddy’ll refund your losing single stake.
  2. Special 2:
    2.00 Cheltenham – Supreme Novice’s Hurdle. Paddy’s paying out on the FIRST 4 PLACES in this race.
  3. Special 3:
    5.40 Cheltenham – Fred Winter Junior Novice’s H’cap Hurdle. Paddy’s paying out on the FIRST 5 PLACES in this race.

Add comment March 13th, 2007

Arsenal, Juventus, Man Utd, Fulham, Villa and PSV – news on player movements

How does your bookie rate? Compare the top 20 at bookielabrat.com

Today’s football news brought to you by top UK and European Bookmaker, Globet and the team at BookieLabRat.com.  

Arsenal’s Gilberto emerges as top Juventus target
The ball-winning Brazilian has the characteristics that Juve coach Didier Deschamps is missing from his midfield this season. Deschamps is anxious to fill the void left by Patrick Vieira last summer and after admitting that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard’s asking price was too high, is now focusing on bringing Gilberto to Turin. The midfielder is contracted to Arsenal until 2009, however he could take advantage of a FIFA law in the summer to leave for a knockdown fee – in the region of £2 million – with him moving inside the final two years of his existing deal

Man Utd boss Ferguson impressed by Quagliarella
Quagliarella, 23, has been a revelation in Serie A this term and has attracted the interest of AC Milan and Inter, which both made enquiries during the January market. Dieci says Ferguson is also keen on the player, whose contract is co-owned by Samp and Udinese. It’s reported that the United manager has been studying DVDs of Quagliarella and believes the player could complement his existing pool of strikers.

Fulham tracking Fiorentina defender Gamberini
The Cottagers have been represented at recent Fiorentina games to check on the form of the 25 year-old.

Villa to bid big for PSV star Kone
The News of the World says Villa boss Martin O’Neill is prepared to offer £7.7 million to land Kone at the end of this season. Kone joined PSV in 2005 from Roda JC for £6.1 million.

Crespo agent in Chelsea talks
Crespo is starring on-loan at Inter Milan this season and is wanted back at Stamford Bridge next season by Blues owner Roman Abramovich. The Argentine striker’s agent, Fernando Hidalgo, was at Chelsea yesterday for an update on their plans for the player.

Add comment March 12th, 2007

Next Posts Previous Posts


Calendar

March 2007
M T W T F S S
« Feb   Apr »
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  

Posts by Month

Posts by Category