The Sports Bookie Blog

Fred Done’s EPL Picks for 6/7 October

Fred Done of BetFred.com fame has provided us with his picks for the weekend’s Premier League football. Given some of his past efforts we’re not so sure – but it is great to see the “passionate” Man U man feel able to pick both Arsenal and City this week as bankers!

Man Utd 1/7 v Wigan 12/1 (draw 5/1)
Fred’s Pick: This game comes on the back of a great home win for United in the Champions League, this will give them a great boost and will nail this game 2-0 at 11/2.

Aston Villa 1/1 v West Ham 9/4 (draw 9/4)
Fred’s Pick: Very tight game in store here so I thing the draw is the safest bet at 9/4. A great bet is the draw at half time at evens, this market has been kind to me in the past and I expect it to come up trumps again here.

Arsenal 1/6 v Sunderland 10/1 (draw 5/1)
Fred’s Pick: A comfortable 3-0 home victory is on the cards here at 6/1. You may want to put your mortgage on Arsenal -1 goal on the handicap at 4/7. Not the best price but nailed on.

Reading 8/11 v Derby 100/30 (draw 9/4)
Fred’s Pick: I expect Reading to take this game at 8/11. It will be a tricky affair but I feel 8/11 is a good price.

Blackburn 4/6 v Birmingham 7/2 (draw 12/5)
Fred’s Pick: Expect another home win at 4/6. Very hard to predict a first goalscorer so I won’t try, you won’t go far wrong with lumping on a home win.

Bolton 3/1 v Chelsea 4/5 (9/4 draw)
Fred’s Pick: A great price for Chelsea and one I will be all over, Drogba is suspended which is obviously a hindrance but Chelsea should have enough. My first goalscorer bet will be going Malouda at 6/1.

Liverpool 4/9 v Tottenham 11/2 (11/4 draw)
Fred’s Pick: Tottenham have always been a bogey team for Liverpool and I fancy the draw again at 11/4. 4/9 for Liverpool is outrageous but I’m happy to take a bigger draw price.

Man City 4/6 v Middlesbrough 7/2 (12/5 draw)
Fred’s Pick: I never thought I’d hear myself say this but Manchester City are my banker for the whole weekend at 4/6! Need I say anymore – nailed on!!

Newcastle 1/1 v Everton 9/4 (9/4 draw)
Fred’s Pick: This will be a tight and compact game with few chances. A draw may be the best bet at 9/4. 

Check out the latest independent sportsbook review of BetFred.com on site at BookieLabRat.com.

Add comment October 4th, 2007

Football: Van Persie backs Gunners to keep firing

Football news from Gamebookers.com Check out the latest independent review of Gamebookers (a popular European sportsbook) online at BookieLabRat.com.
Arsenal’s strong start to the season has surprised many but Robin van Persie insists he saw it coming. And the Dutch forward sees no reason why Arsene Wenger’s young squad cannot build on their nine-match winning run to return to the top of the English game.

“At the start of the season I said we will surprise – and everyone was laughing,” the 24-year-old said. “Now 12 games into the season, everyone says, ‘Ooh, look at Arsenal, they are a good team’. This I knew before and my mind has not changed. “I started training early this season with Theo (Walcott) and after, when the rest of the lads came back in, I saw a great togetherness and belief and big quality. This is what I saw day in, day out. “I can understand the views of the fans and the press because they are not there every day – but I am and I saw this from early on.”

Van Persie, whose form and partnership with Emmanuel Adebayor has been crucial to Arsenal’s comfortable transition to life without Thierry Henry, added: “If we can stay together we can do amazing stuff in the future. We are progressing every week we play.

“If we just play our normal game, not many teams can stop us. We can win trophies. Why not? This is our aim. “If we win a trophy, we are a good team. If we miss it, we are not a bad team. We will just have missed it.”

Van Persie’s winner at Steau Bucharest in midweek put Arsenal in pole position in their Champions League group and Wenger’s men sit top of the Premier League. But their Brazilian midfielder Gilberto Silva, one of the few survivors from the squad that won the 2004 league title without losing a match, has warned that the new generation of Gunners cannot afford to allow the plaudits they are currently receiving to go to their heads.

“The more you win, the harder it is for you to play against other teams because everyone wants to beat you, but if they keep their minds right and everyone works hard for each other, there is a great chance,” he said.

Gilberto, who will celebrate his 31st birthday when Arsenal entertain Sunderland on Sunday, added: “It is important we keep our feet on the ground – if you do not keep your feet on the ground and your mind strong, it is very hard. “But I am not surprised how well this group is doing because I am with them every day on the training ground. The quality in which they do their job – the pass and movement, the goals – is fantastic. “If one of the players is not in condition to play, another replaces him and will do a great job.”

Add comment October 4th, 2007