Archive for June 6th, 2007
Scary: Manchester United boss Sir Alex
Despite claiming he has mellowed with age, Fergie, who famously kicked a boot in anger which cut David Beckham above the eye, admitted he can still scare the life out of his players – a warning to new boys Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson.
“On a Saturday after a game, if you’ve not won or not played well, it’s important to get the message across because winning’s important at our club,” said Fergie.
“With the preparation we give the players every week, nobody ever gets criticised in training. Everything is positive, so, therefore, on Saturday you expect a result.
“With all the work we’ve put in as coaches, the preparation we put in, the time spent going through video analysis, all the physical preparation and all the medical care they’ve got, we expect a result.
“So, I always believe in telling them right after the game. I’m not interested in this ‘wait until Monday’ attitude. I remember an old manager of mine saying that, but I can’t do it. I’ve no time for Monday, I’m already thinking ahead.”
PS: Sorry for yet another gratuitous topless David Beckham image 😉
June 6th, 2007
There is no room for sentiment in gambling, so you should be wary of the emotive headlines (Estonia desperate for a win…) and instead focus on getting the best odds around. So check out the best Euro 2008 odds on our live odds checker here.
Becks to the Rescue?
One of the first decisions Steve McLaren took when installed as England manager was a bold one. Having earned 94 caps, he dropped the Three Lions captain, David Beckham, by phone call, following a poor showing at the World Cup. The media saw this a bold statement of intent, and the country looked forward to a fresh new era for the national side, with a smooth Euro 2008 qualification campaign anticipated.
Things haven’t quite gone to plan for McLaren. England are currently fourth in Group E after a bitterly disappointing sequence of results including goalless draws at home to Macedonia and away to Israel, and defeat to Croatia in Zagreb. The new England manager’s stock has plummeted. After less than a year in charge he has been christened Steve McDonut, among other things, and the final humiliation has come in performing a spectacular U-turn over Beckham, who he has welcomed back into the England fold hoping he might save his skin in Tallinn on Wednesday night.
Worst still for McLaren, he is without Wayne Rooney through suspension, and cannot call on striker, Andy Johnson or winger Aaron Lennon, part of a growing number of other key players missing through injury. Owen Hargreaves – one of the only players to come away from the 2006 World Cup with any credit – misses out with a knee injury. Hargreaves’ new team-mates, Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand are crocked, part of a defensive crisis which accounts for Ashley Cole, Micah Richards and Jonathan Woodgate.
The media has been full of headlines suggesting that should England fail to beat Estonia, they will have a new manager for the home tie against Israel at Wembley, three months later.
The odds at top handicap bookie PinnacleSports.com suggest the Three Lions should prevail against a side of players that wouldn’t be out of place in the Conference, with goalkeeper, Mart Poom, the only name on the team-sheet that English bettors will be familiar with.
England will however face a difficult playing surface, and a side with nothing to lose. In the end, Beckham could mark a fairytale comeback by settling the affair with a trademark free-kick either finding the back of the net, or the head of Peter Crouch who will prove a handful for Jelle Goes’ side.
June 6th, 2007
OK – here’s a round up of the best cash backs, refunds and “betting insurance” I could find across our top rated bookies for Estonia v England.
Suss them out as you may change your mind on which bookie to bet with for this game!
First up is our favourite Irish Bookie Paddy Power with another money back special (and boy has he paid out on a fair few of these this season!)
Called HOT SHOT, Paddy Power will REFUND all losing single 1st/last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast bets on the Estonia v England match if the last goal is scored from outside the penalty area. Own goals do not count and the maximum refund is capped at €300/£200 per customer.
OK, compare that to Fred Done of BetFred.com ‘s latest offering – STEVIE WONDER.
Fred will payout if Steven Gerrard scores the first OR the last goal against Estonia, Betfred will once again REFUND all losing correct score, first/last goalscorer and scorecast single stakes as a free bet. Maximum refund £100 (or currency equivalent) per customer and own goals do not count.
Don’t forget about our top rated online bookmaker, bet365 either… here are a couple of offers that may be of interest.
1. Wednesday’s Estonia v England has been declared a “bet365 Big Match” so if you have a WINNING CORRECT SCORE BET they’ll give you a FREE CORRECT SCORE BET, to the same stake, on the next bet365 ‘Big Match’. If your free bet also wins, you will qualify for a further free correct score bet on the next bet365 ‘Big Match’. You keep picking the winners and they’ll keep giving you free bets… Maximum free bet per customer is £50 (or currency equivalent) per match
2. Have an each-way FIRST GOALSCORER bet on Estonia v England, and if your player scores at any time during the game bet365 WILL PAY YOU OUT! Each-way bets are now settled on all goalscorers, at 1/3 odds for unlimited places in 90 minutes play.
3. Have a SCORECAST bet (First Player to Score/Correct Score double) on Estonia v England, and if your nominated player scores the first goal but your correct score is a loser, bet365 will REFUND your losing stake! All good stuff.
…and last but certainly not least, Victor Chandler has come to the party again with a First Scorer‚ Second Chance offer…
Have a bet on a FIRST GOALSCORER in the Estonia v England game and if your selection fails to score the first goal, but scores at ANY OTHER TIME in the match, VCBet will refund your losing stake as a FREE BET! Max refund £100 (€150) per person per match.
June 6th, 2007