Archive for March, 2007
The latest football news brought to you by the team at BookieLabRat.com and Globet International.
Rangers offered record fee for LA Galaxy clash
The Glasgow Evening Times says the match stands to be the biggest pay-deal in football history. Smith has canvassed his squad and the players are keen on playing the MLS side in a fixture that would earn the club a significant pay-day. Rangers have confirmed Galaxy’s approach and a spokesman said: “The club is considering a number of options, but nothing is confirmed.” It is also believed that a number of lucrative offers for pre-season tours were discussed at a Rangers board meeting this week. The Ibrox club has been criticised for not cashing in like Celtic have on friendly matches abroad. Celtic have earned big money by travelling to the US and Japan. They will also provide the opposition in Beckham’s first game when they face an MLS All-Stars select on July 19 in Colorado.
Chelsea skipper Terry wants England coaching job
England’s captain ‘Iron Man’ has long been heralded for his leadership skills on the pitch and he admits he could be ready to put them to the test from the dugout when his playing days are over. He told the Daily Star: “I’m sure there isn’t a man in England who wouldn’t want to be England manager. “Picking the team would be great and winning the World Cup unbelievable.” But Terry also admitted that the acclaim of coaching the side would also come at a cost and acknowledged the pressure faced by Steve McClaren. “But it has its downside. The press intensity would be very difficult.”
Villa to offer cash, Angel for Tottenham’s Keane
The News of the World says Villa boss Martin O’Neill is prepared to offer Tottenham £8 million plus striker Juan Pablo Angel for Keane.
Spurs rival Man Utd for Racing Santander’s Ruben
The former Real Madrid stopper was watched by Spurs scouts last week, along with his Racing teammate Nikola Zigic. Ruben is also being tracked by Manchester United chief scout Martin Ferguson.
St Mirren boss reveals Rangers approach for Broadfoot
MacPherson said: “We received a phone call from Walter Smith, which shows what a professional guy he is. He has told us his plans but it’s in the very early stages. There has been no agreement put in place.” The former Rangers player admits the lure of Ibrox will probably be too great to turn down for the 22-year-old. With Rangers boss Smith having made his interest known, MacPherson accepts St Mirren cannot hold the youngster back.
MacPherson said: “He is just a kid, he is still learning the game. He has done fantastically well for us in the last two and a half years, since we have been here. “It’s a challenge for him but there is no doubt how strong a character he is. He is as good a professional as I have worked with. If it comes off for him he will deserve it.” MacPherson accepts players coming to the end of their contracts have the right to explore every avenue. He added: “Because of his age we are still entitled to compensation. “However hard it is for supporters to accept, and it is a sore one, St Mirren cannot compete against Glasgow Rangers financially or in the attraction of that level of football. “Kirk is like any other professional in the last year of his contract. If he wants to keep his options open then we fully understand his situation.”
Celtic boss Strachan furious with Dunfermline’s rough-house tactics
Strachan was horrified by some of the fouls which went unpunished by referee Steve Conroy, particularly a Scott Morrison challenge on Shunsuke Nakamura early on. He said: “The tackle on Nakamura in the early seconds was like going back to the ’80s when you intimidate somebody. “It was like when Neil Cooper kicked Charlie Nicholas up in the air after three seconds at Pittodrie. “I think if the tackle had been in the 70th minute, and the game was tight, he’s off. “Nakamura has done brilliantly picking himself up, despite playing with a broken hand and getting that kind of stick. “We’re helping out referees, you know. If Nakamura had gone down, rolled around and made a big song and dance, there would have been trouble. “We tell them to get up and get on with it because it’s part of their job – and I do believe that skilful players will get kicks. “But that’s if it’s fair and honest and some of them weren’t fair and honest out there. Then the players have got every right to get protection from the referee.” Goals from Kenny Miller and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink secured the win, despite a late reply from Adam Hammill.
Falkirk’s O’Donnell: I never rejected contract offer
O’Donnell, Jack Ross and Kenny Milne were singled out by Bairns boss John Hughes as treating the club disrespectfully after letting the deadline expire on sealing new 12-month deals. However, O’Donnell insists there has been some sort of contractual mix-up and wants to commit his immediate future to Falkirk. He said: “I opened up talks about a new contract in January and Falkirk offered me a deal. They gave me a deadline but I did not get back to the club in time. “There was a sort of mix-up between myself and my agent about responding to the offer that was on the table. We’ve discussed the situation a bit but I don’t really know what happened. “All I know is I want to stay at Falkirk and hopefully I’ll be here next season.”
March 4th, 2007
Bolton v Blackburn: In the white corner we have Bolton ‘The Wreckage’ Wanderers. In the blue corner we’ve got Blackburn ‘Raw Aggression’ Rovers. It’s enough to have you looking at Over 55 Points on the Card Index @ 5/4. If you think we’re unfairly stereotyping, well we are, but listening to Rovers’ midfielder, Aaron Mokoena you can understand why. Mokoena predicts that it will be “a physical game and I’m sure Bolton will be worried knowing they are playing against the real Blackburn” – also hinting that there is a group of people posing as Blackburn players going around the countryside.
Can Blackburn seriously hurt Bolton’s chances of European football? Sun 1.30pm SS1
Bolton Evens (2.00)
Draw 11/5 (3.20)
Blackburn 11/4 (3.75)
Wheely Unlikely
Juventus are managing to win without the assistance of Italian referees, so it looks like the Old Lady will back in Serie A for the start of the 2007/08 season. With that in mind, manager Didier Deschamps is already planning the additions to his squad that will ensure they return as a major force. The former World Cup winner is keen to bring Steven Gerrard to Turin saying “I would go and fetch him on a bicycle” – presumably wearing some bulbs of garlic around his neck and beret, just for the sake of the French stereotype.
Backing Juventus, Fiorentina, Lazio and Dortmund all to win at just under 4/1 could be the start of a winning cycle!
Check out the Whopper Soccer Coupon at PaddyPower.com
You Hib To Expect That!
Hibernian v Rangers: With the winners of the SPL known for a long time and Rangers somehow scrapping enough points together to ensure that they will earn the honour of finishing as distant runners up, there is little to talk about in Scottish football. Thank God for Rob Jones. The Hibernian defender has turned up the heat on former Hibs captain Kevin Thomson for his return to Easter Road by saying “he won’t be wished all the best when he comes back.” Sensing the desperate need to fill column inches, he displayed a Steve Staunton-like knowledge of what a football match actually is by saying “it’s us against them.”
Will Jones make sure that Rangers Hib another bad day? Sun 2pm Set Irl.
Hibernian 5/2 (3.50)
Draw 23/10 (3.30)
Rangers evens (2.00)
AND: Don’t forget Paddy’s Money Back Special “Lennon on Song” on Sunday’s West Ham v Tottenham game. Will Aaron Lennon score the last goal of the game?
March 3rd, 2007
The latest football headlines brought to you by Globet International Limited and BookieLabRat.com.
Liverpool’s Bellamy: Shearer kicked off text war
Bellamy is supposed to have sent Shearer a text reading: “Your legs are gone, you’re too old, you’re too slow” after Newcastle had been hammered by Manchester United in the 2005 FA Cup semi-final.
The text caused outrage on Tyneside and strengthened the hand of then boss Graeme Souness, who had banished Bellamy to Celtic. “I’d just played in a match for Celtic when we hit five against someone but I didn’t get on the scoresheet,” Bellamy told the Mirror. “When he heard about it, Al said to Kieron Dyer ‘They scored five and he hasn’t got a f*****g goal, that’s how good he’s doing up there is it?’ “I heard about it so after the semi-final, I sent him the text and it got leaked.
About 97 per cent of what I was supposed to have said about Al was b******t. “He’s not fat and I wouldn’t say he was lazy. “I don’t think he could run but that’s why I was there. “He’s still the best forward I’ve ever played with.”
Man Utd No2 Queiroz: Giggs can go to 2010
Saturday’s trip to Liverpool will mark his 700th appearance in a United shirt and his 16th year in the top flight. Giggs, 33, says he does not know if he can play on beyond the end of his contract in 2008.
But Queiroz told BBC Sport: “We expect his contribution to be another two or three years without any problems.”It is very rare to find a player who is able to complete 16 years in one club playing at the level of Giggsy.”It is an outstanding, amazing career. To be not only on top of, but one step ahead of the demands and goals Manchester United have is really something fantastic. “And that tells us something about his personality, the way he is committed to and his passion for the club and the game, his motivation and concentration at training sessions. “If you lose that desire, that fifth gear in your stomach, you just can’t do it.”
Queiroz added: “After 16 years, Giggs is Manchester United. The way he plays, with so much fantasy, creativity and entertainment – but also outside the pitch as a professional – he is really a role model for the game.”
Arsenal, Liverpool contact Stuttgart for Gomes
Stuttgart officials have recognised that they have a battle on their hands holding onto the youngster ahead of the summer market.Tuttosport says Juventus have already opened talks over £15 million-rated Gomes, however they face competition from both Arsenal and Liverpool.
Inter Milan president turns to Liverpool’s Gerrard
Inter directors Lele Oriali and Marco Branca have traveled to England in the past month to take in Liverpool games and to run the rule over Gerrard. Corriere dello Sport says while talks are continuing with Real Madrid for Mahamadou Diarra, Inter president Moratti is also keen to test Liverpool’s resolve over Gerrard. Only last week, Juventus coach Didier Deschamps went public over his interest for the England ace.
Inter Milan president turns to Liverpool’s Gerrard
Inter directors Lele Oriali and Marco Branca have traveled to England in the past month to take in Liverpool games and to run the rule over Gerrard. Corriere dello Sport says while talks are continuing with Real Madrid for Mahamadou Diarra, Inter president Moratti is also keen to test Liverpool’s resolve over Gerrard. Only last week, Juventus coach Didier Deschamps went public over his interest for the England ace.
Celtic, Rangers battle for Murcia striker Alonso
The powerful Uruguay international is being watched by both Old Firm clubs and could be made available by Murcia at the end of this season. Alonso is inside the final 18 months of his current contract. Scouts from Celtic and Rangers have run the rule over Alonso and are convinced his style of game will thrive in the hurly-burly of the Scottish Premier League.
Hearts chief Fedotovas: “We’re battling envy “
We have a new perspective. People are not used to that and perhaps it makes a lot of them unhappy. Maybe even envious. We have to overcome this revolt,” said Fedotovas. “We went on a path we had to go through. I don’t think we could change anything and do something different. This was our planned route and you have to go through it and meet the challenges along the way. “We were lucky last season because no-one expected us to be winning. This season, everybody has just tried to knock us off and we face this resistance both on and off the field. But we are not surprised.”
Fedotovas closed a record £2 million deal with Umbro this week and added: “The Umbro partnership shows Hearts are big and getting bigger. Finance is an integral part of the business of the club and our plans are to improve the revenue in a controlled manner. We needed investment and that led to the results with the Umbro deal.” Alistair Russell, commercial director of Hearts also said: “We are hoping to develop Hearts and we would love it to be people’s favourite team. If it can’t be people’s favourite team, then we want it to be their second favourite team. We want to provide a real alternative to the Old Firm.”
March 2nd, 2007
One savvy punter at Globet, a top UK and European sports bookmaker, placed a bet that paid out EURO 225,937.23 for a stake of just EURO 2.25 !
Guys, that’s 100,000 to 1 odds. Imagine the shout down at the pub after that one!
A spokesperson for Globet International Sports Betting Limited said “You may call him lucky, skilled or simply clever… the fact is that one of our players with a truly expert football betting move managed to take home 225,937 Euros. Globet.com has once again proved that all your bets will be accepted and we are happy to celebrate with you…”
The coupon from the 28 February 2007 bet (pictured below) covered 7 home wins and 7 draws. Time to try your luck?
March 1st, 2007
Quick tips from Nigel Ridgeway (a top numbers guy at bet365) on this weekend’s Premiership action.
The smart money in his book is apparently on Liverpool against Man U (8/5 or 2.60). He claims it’s easy to make a case for a home win that would really open up the title race, especially as Chelsea (1/2 or 1.50) are expected to get a win at Portsmouth.
If you take a correct score bet on the Liverpool-United game – and win – you’ll get to a free correct score bet (to the same stake) on the Portsmouth-Chelsea game. Nice.
He’s also picking that a trio of away wins could stir things up in the relegation battle and the odds on offer are pretty good.
We especially liked the look of the accumulator on all five of Nigel’s picks. A tenner acca at bet365 on Liverpool (8/5), Chelsea (1/2), Charlton (9/5), Wigan (11/4) and Tottenham (6/5) pays out a juicy £990.99, including the bet365 bonus (which can be up to 60% more for the more optimistic amongst you!).
Best of luck with your Premiership bets this weekend.
>>Get into the action at Bet365 (sorry, no US bettors)
March 1st, 2007
Surely we can bank on a red card?
Fancy some betting insurance?
There is no love lost between these two sides – and you can get a bit of betting insurance this weekend if you’re betting on Liverpool v Man Utd at Betfred.
Betfred will REFUND all losing first/last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast single bets on the Liverpool v Man United game as a free bet – if a player is sent off.
That’s gotta be a great safety net to have given the pressure-cooker atmosphere likely to be on show at Anfield.
Terms and Conditions:
- Losing stakes will be refunded in the form of a free bet
- Your free bet will be credited within 72 hours of game finishing
- Maximum refund is £100 (or your currency equivalent) per customer
- Applies to first/last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast single bets only
- Applies to single bets placed before kick-off only
- A player must be shown a red card during the game
- Applies only to match on Saturday 3 March 2007
>>Visit BetFred Bookmaker here (sorry, no US bettors)
March 1st, 2007
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