Archive for May, 2007
Football news summaries by the team at Globet International Betting.
Arsenal promise Henry deals for Ribery, Eto’o
Catalunya Radio says Gunners management have sought to assure Henry they will be competing at the top table next season by making a raft of big-name summer signings to the tune of £40 million. Topping the list will be Eto’o, while Olympique Marseille winger Franck Ribery and Lyon star Florent Malouda will also be signed.
Barcelona president convinced he has deal for Arsenal’s Henry
The Mirror says Laporta let slip his bold claim while giving a speech in America at the Stanford University as he said: “I’m closing the signing of Henry.” And it was also claimed on Radio Catalunya that Laporta said an initial agreement had been reached with Arsenal for the striker and now it was down to personal terms. Henry has endured a frustrating season at the Emirates due to injury.
Barcelona allow Gudjohnsen to speak with Man Utd, West Ham
El Mundo Deportivo says the Iceland international striker held recent talks with Barca management and was told he can begin negotiating with interested clubs for next season. Manchester United are keen on Gudjohnsen, however West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson will also move for the forward should they beat the drop.
Voronin “excited” about Liverpool move
Voronin, who can play in midfield or attack, said: “It will be difficult coming to England, and so I will study English intensively, so that I am ready for the challenge. “I had thought about changing leagues for quite a long time. I wanted a change of environment, to discover something new, so with my Leverkusen deal coming to an end my agent began to look for options in Italy, Spain or England. “There were some interesting offers even before the 2006 World Cup but we decided not to hurry. When we started talking about Liverpool, who I could join on a free transfer, everything clicked into place. “I am excited about England, the football there is very exciting, and it is a challenge that suits me. I am ready to give everything to be a success at Liverpool.”
May 11th, 2007
Inter Milan’s hopes of lifting the Italian Cup for the third consecutive year were dealt a potentially fatal blow after they were thrashed 6-2 by Roma in the first leg here on Wednesday. Roma, last year’s beaten finalists, were 3-0 up after 16 minutes through Francesco Totti, Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta – all World Cup winners with Italy last year – before Hernan Crespo pulled one back for the recently-crowned Serie A champions. Further goals from Brazilian winger Mancini and Christian Panucci made it 5-1 before Crespo grabbed his second of the match. Panucci pounced again a minute from time to restore Roma’s four-goal cushion and give Inter a mountain to climb in the second leg at the San Siro next week.
Inter coach Roberto Mancini lamented his side’s woeful start at the Olympic stadium.
“To lose three goals in the first quarter of an hour or so gave us too much to do,” he said. “Roma started superbly and we were awful.”
Roma, the only side to beat Inter in Serie A this season, took the lead with less than a minute on the clock. Panucci fed Rodrigo Taddei down the right and the Brazilian’s cutback found Totti who drilled a low, angled shot past Francesco Toldo. Worse was to follow for Inter as Roma extended their advantage four minutes later. A left-wing corner fell kindly for Phillipe Mexes whose half-volley, which was going wide, was diverted into the net by De Rossi’s outstretched boot. Roma went three up when Christian Chivu’s left-wing cross was prodded home by Perrotta.
Crespo pulled one back in the 20th minute thanks to a woeful error by David Pizarro. The Chilean playmaker tried to pass the ball back to his keeper, Alexander Doni, but Crespo was alert to it and reached the ball first. The Argentina international then rounded Doni before tucking home from a narrow angle. Mancini got in on the goalscoring act on the half hour, gobbling up the loose ball after Toldo had failed to clear Panucci’s right-wing cross.
Panucci’s towering header made it 5-1 before Crespo responded with a close-range header to give Inter some hope. That hope was practically extinguished in the 89th minute when Panucci lashed home the rebound after Toldo had parried Totti’s free-kick. Juventus are the most successful team in the Italian Cup with nine titles, followed by Roma on seven and Fiorentina on six.
May 9th, 2007
I always find it interesting to see where the money is being made and what others are betting on. To help with this ‘punter’s voyerism’ 2 of our top rated European bookies have a special section on their web sites highlighting the top ten bettors from the last week.
Top ten bettors? The punters who’ve made the greatest percentage profit from a single bet (ie not the biggest payouts). These rankings reflect successful long odds bets.
Today Betsson Sports congratulate Rafał from Poland who this week won 832,59 PLN with a stake of only 0,4 PLN (about 10 EURO cents) whereas Interwetten’s top punter is Halil from Germany who staked 2 EURO for a 1688.34 EURO return.
You can also click through from these Top Ten Tables (above) at each of these bookie sites to see the actual winning bet slip… for example here’s the most profitable Betsson punter’s picks.
May 9th, 2007
Fancy a Ronaldo rocket on Wednesday night? Or maybe a Carvalho curler?
Top Uk bookie BetFred.com will refund all losing correct score, first/last goalscorer and scorecast single bets on the Chelsea v Man Utd game as a free bet – if any Portuguese player scores the first or last goal.
Yep, that’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Carvalho or Paulo Ferreira scoring the first or last goal in the game… we think the chances are pretty good.
Maximum refund is £100 (or your currency equivalent) per customer
Sorry, no US bettors!
PS: Check out – SHOT AT SOME PRIDE – another Cash Back Betting Offer on this Wednesday 9 May 2007 Chelsea vs Man U game at PaddyPower.com – or in our blog posting here.
May 8th, 2007
Sir Alex Ferguson quickly demonstrated he will not rest on his laurels despite his ninth Premiership title as Manchester United manager, claiming a triple transfer swoop was in the offing in the close season.
United claimed the Premiership title for the first time since 2003 as Chelsea failed to beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, drawing 1-1 and leaving them with an insurmountable seven-point deficit with just two games to play.
But Fergie knows that Chelsea will come back stronger than ever next season and after United’s Champions League quest fell away courtesy of a lack of defensive cover when injuries reared their head, the Scot is planning on bolstering every area of the team.
He has told chief executive David Gill the trio of new faces he believes will give United their best chance of finishing top of the pile again next term.
“We have outlined three targets and David Gill is aware of them,” said Ferguson. “As everyone knows, there is competition for the best players and when there is competition, it costs, so we will just have to wait and see.”
Ferguson refused to go public with the names of the players United will go for but Bayern Munich’s Owen Hargreaves will certainly be one, with Tottenham’s Dimitar Berbatov also believed to be near the top of his list.
While Spurs boss Martin Jol may be unwilling to part with Berbatov 12 months after selling Michael Carrick to United, the blow may be softened by the arrival in return of Louis Saha, whose United days appear to be numbered.
If rumours of a Juventus move for Gabriel Heinze prove correct then young Southampton defender Gareth Bale, whom Ferguson targeted during the last transfer window, can also expect to be on the United manager’s hit-list.
However, in the knowledge that Chelsea are bound to splash the cash this summer in a bid to overhaul his side, Ferguson is keen to do his business quietly.
“Manchester United has always been an attraction,” he said. “We have 76,000 people watching us every week and have a celebrity status which means we are known throughout the world. It is not a question of attracting players. The real competition comes when Chelsea pay 27 million pounds for someone like Michael Essien. They can outbid us all. We identify players as quietly as we can so we can do things quickly. It is not easy, but that is what we are trying to do.”
May 8th, 2007
Much to our delight Irish bookie PaddyPower.com is once again paying out on one of his Money Back Specials.
Paddy is refunding all losing 1st/last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast single bets on this match after Gilberto scored a penalty for Arsenal on Sunday.
I’d have preferred an Arsenal win personally but at least a €150 payback was a good consolation prize. There’s nothing like having a punt with a bit of betting insurance!
Here’s Paddy’s next offer on the Chelsea v Man Utd game, and aptly called: “Shot At Some Pride”
Chelsea v Man Utd (Wed May 9, 8pm SS1) – Paddy Power will refund all losing 1st/last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast single bets on this match if the last goal of the game is scored from outside the box. Max Refund €300/£200 per customer.
May 7th, 2007
Today’s football news from Globet International Sports Betting and the team at BookieLabRat.com.
Arsenal to close deal for Legia Warsaw keeper Fabianski
The Legia Warsaw star, 22, jetted to London for talks and a medical on Thursday. Arsene Wenger wants the 6ft 3in stopper to be Jens Lehmann’s understudy next season and sees him as the long-term Gunners No 1. Fabianski was given permission by Legia to meet Wenger but the transfer terms have not yet been finalised. Fabianski won the Polish title with Legia last season and is seen as a better prospect in his homeland than Manchester United’s Tomasz Kuszczak. He was selected ahead of United No 2 Kuszczak for the World Cup and has four caps.
Mourinho demands Chelsea bomb out Ballack, Shevchenko
The Daily Mail says Mourinho has held showdown talks with Roman Abramovich’s right-hand man Eugene Tenenbaum over the futures of Chelsea stars Ballack and Shevchenko. Tenenbaum, who is now the link man between Mourinho and Abramovich, was called to a meeting with the manager at Chelsea’s training ground with Shevchenko present following another chaotic week at the club. Mourinho wanted Ballack sacked after the Germany midfielder flew to Munich last Friday for an operation on his ankle without the permission of the club, but Tenenbaum is refusing to agree to the manager’s demand. The Chelsea boss is also determined to sell Shevchenko in the summer after the striker apparently aggravated a groin injury hours before the squad flew to Merseyside for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Liverpool. According to club sources, Mourinho is still shocked that Shevchenko, who scored Chelsea’s crucial equaliser in Valencia in the Champions League quarter-final, could miss the club’s biggest game of their season.
Chelsea Sheva swap on for Barcelona’s Eto’o
Should Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich decide to sell Shevchenko, then Barcelona could offer him a way out of Chelsea after accepting that Eto’o will be leaving Spain this summer. Club president Joan Laporta had promised Frank Rijkaard that he would try to bring the Ukrainian to the Nou Camp before his move to the Premiership at the start of this season. Barcelona are now thought to be willing to pay £15million for the 30-year-old, but there is also a possibility of a swap deal including Eto’o. Chelsea chief scout Frank Arnesen has recommended Eto’o to Abramovich, claiming he is the best centre-forward in the world. Abramovich had a £30m offer for the Cameroon international, who has a £75m buy-out clause in his contract, dismissed out of hand by Barcelona last year. Eto’o has had a disappointing season at Barca and his fractured relationship with team-mate Ronaldinho is thought by many within the club to be unsustainable for another season. Laporta’s technical advisors have submitted a detailed dossier on Shevchenko’s potential role as an out-and-out centre forward in a 4-3-3 formation between Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi. Crossing to the Bridge? Samuel Eto’o has been linked in a swap deal with Chelsea for Ukrainian star Andriy Shevchenko. Rijkaard believes the Ukrainian would be a bargain and that Barcelona’s style of play would suit him down to the ground.
May 5th, 2007
The latest football headlines from the team at UK Bookmaker Globet and BookieLabRat.com.
Barcelona keep tabs on Chelsea’s Ballack
Barca were beaten by Chelsea last season for Ballack’s signature as he came off contract at Bayern Munich. DiarioSport says Barca sports chief Txiki Begiristain has never binned his interest in the Germany international and is now monitoring developments closely at Stamford Bridge as the midfielder struggles to settle in London.
Richards “excited” as Man Utd plan £20M bid
The Mirror says the United manager has targeted the versatile City right-back as Gary Neville’s long-term successor. Powerful Richards, 18, who was nominated for this year’s PFA Young Player of the Year Award, is “aware and excited” by the Reds’ interest. Fergie is ready to move quickly to trump Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham – all of whom tried to take Richards to London during last summer’s transfer window and in January. It adds more spice to the City of Manchester Stadium clash which injured Richards will sit out. Victory could see United win the title this weekend if Chelsea are beaten by Arsenal on Sunday
Berlusconi opens AC Milan doors to Chelsea’s Shevchenko
Shevchenko is desperate to leave Chelsea after failing to win over manager Jose Mourinho and is hoping Blues owner Roman Abramovich won’t block his exit. Berlusconi told Gazzetta dello Sport: “He wants to return to Milan, so we’ll see what we can do. “Of course, for him the doors are always open – they are wide open.”
Real Madrid plan £20M bid for Chelsea’s Carvalho
The Blues beat Real for Carvalho when the Portugal international was still with Porto and he is again on the Madrid club’s radar for this summer’s market. Chelsea are keen to open new contract talks with the centre-half, but Real hope to convince them to cash in with a £20 million bid, says the Daily Star.
May 4th, 2007
As top tipster Simon Noble says “There could be few worse places than the Emirates Stadium for Chelsea to end their two year reign as Premiership Champions”.
That however, is the scenario unless the Blues can emulate West Ham as the only club to win at the Gunners’ new stadium in any competition. Jose Mourinho’s side will be physically tired and emotionally drained after crashing out of Europe on penalties in midweek at Anfield, but are unlikely to go down without a fight. The game is on 6 May 2007 at 4pm (SS1).
Here are two money back offers on Sunday’s Arsenal vs Chelsea game for your consideration:
Betfred will refund all losing correct score, first/last goalscorer and scorecast single bets on the Arsenal v Chelsea game as a free bet – if the game finishes 1-0 to Arsenal. Maximum refund is £100 (or your currency equivalent) per customer
Paddy Power in his PENALTY SICK Money Back Special will refund all losing 1st/last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast single bets on this match if there is a penalty scored in 90 mins. Max refund €300/£200 per customer.
May 3rd, 2007
AC Milan are 5/6 favourites (1.83) to lift the Champions League trophy when they contest the final against Liverpool in Athens on May 23.
The Italian side thrashed Manchester United 3-0 in the second leg of their semi-final at the San Siro on Wednesday night to progress 5-3 on aggregate.
First-half goals from Kaka and Clarence Seedorf allowed the Rossoneri to turn around the 3-2 first leg deficit, before substitute Alberto Gilardino put the game beyond United’s reach with 13 minutes left.
AC Milan book a meeting with Liverpool, in a repeat of the thrilling 2005 final which finished 3-3 after extra time.
The 2007 Final will take place in the Athens Olympic Stadium on 23rd May.
OUTRIGHT WINNER BEST ODDS :
AC Milan 1.83 at Ladbrokes and EuroBet
Liverpool 2.10 at Betfred.
May 3rd, 2007
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