Topic: Sportsbet.io's English Premier League Football Pool Discussion Thread - page 230. (Read 145488 times)

Should be pleased with the way the day went, only annoyed Leicester took an early lead and then proceeded to gift the game. Frustrating team, that one, didn't watch match but Bournemouth probably couldn't believe their fortune playing a side that just won majestically.


Only thing is 1.5 is the lowest BTTS I've seen in a long time, but yeah, both teams scoring (doesn't matter how I guess) responsible for that.

I recall hilarious talking about BTTS both halves a common option in Skybet, but yeah, don't ever recall myself seeing that kind of market unless you're into Betbuilder but the odds aren't valuable in BB I find -- as en example: BTTS both halves + Arsenal over 9.5 booking points = 5/1. Truly bad value... (sorry Sportsbet but Betbuilder really drags it down).


I want these games usually, and the one vs City, because it's the perfect way to pick yourself up and cut the gap. But yeah, even if we win these 2 games, I'm actually more wary of the others.

That Community Shield performance seems so, so far away.

I had picked 2-0 and damn how mad I was seeing that late 90 minute goal as 3-0 for Chelsea ruining my correct prediction.I was fully convinced them to keep a clean sheet because Wolves have been several weeks without scoring a single goal even against much weaker teams than Chelsea so it was natural for them not to score against a strong team like Chelsea.It looks like the impact of the new coach is starting to show here in the Chelsea team little by little by their recent results.

I will not talk about my performance in the pool like I did in the previous year but just keep seeing green arrows which I am seeing from a couple of weeks.

Betting-wise, I'll fully skip the Arsenal - Liverpool game. Gun to my head, I'd pick Arsenal - they are playing at home and are an inform team at the moment.

However - LFC found it relatively easy to deal with Arsenal in recent years. That was due to the fact that our pressing actually worked and we had a lot of easy chances due to their inability to play through us from the back. Our pressing game is not on a high level this year - and if we let them play, we'll be in all sorts of problems.

For the first time in many years, I'm actually dreading the game vs Arsenal.

Well i think that Chelsea will concede at least one goal in this match they showed in last match only against Milan that they can play well and i dont think they can keep another clean sheet. I picked 2-1 for Chelsea because i think wolves can score at least one in this match.

BTTS for me here as well. I wouldn't worry about Liverpool not scoring, their attack works fine, defense is the problematic part. Just the way I like it when I play BTTS, I will go even further and probably play "both to score in both halves" if I find that market anywhere. Stake used to have them and you can build it yourself on Sportsbet. Should pay out about 9 for this game.

Wolves are best chance for Chelsea clean sheet IMHO. They are good at the back but they are total shit going forward and you can't change that in short period of time. Too make it even worse Pedro Neto is injured and will probably miss WC as well.

I have predicted a clean sheet for Chelsea in this game,I doubt Wolves has the power to score against them,I saw them in Champions League and they dominated the game and they were also great defensively.As you say Wolves have a lot of difficulty in scoring goals so most likely the best bet in this game is Chelsea to win and with a clean sheet to add to the odds substantially.I know this won't be easy as we are in the Premier League here and goals happen more than they don't but I see Wolves as a struggling team.

Really strange to find myself agreeing with you here. We have scored in every single game this season except Eveton. And we did have two setpiece goals last game, and also recall we won the last EPL game from a corner. Open goal beauties have been hard to come by if not for Diaz heroics and Bobby rennaisance.

So BTTS should be a no brainer but I would rather risk a straight bet on Liverpool win. We need to get October on track, and if they are going to surprise me with a win, I want full value.

Honestly, the only concern I have with that bet is the fact I'm not overly confident on Liverpool actually scoring. We've struggled against lesser sides, and I feel Arsenal might be a little too organised for us at the back. If we haven't improved on our defense, or confidence whatever is plaguing our defenders right now, it could easily be a demolition job by Arsenal.

They've been playing sleek football all season, while we've been pretty much at our worst in several years. Especially in that back line. Whether or not Nunez can start his career up once again with us remains to be seen.

Salah hasn't been his usual self, Jota is coming back form injury, Diaz is definitely dangerous, and Bobby seems to have picked up some goal scoring form as of recent games. So, if we were to score it'd likely be one of those.

And every club/player that has gone blank for a while always breaks it against Chelsea it's now norms, and with Fofana out of the team, Potter may likely go with Chalobah or Apzi to pair with Silva since he's not a big fan of Koulibaly and with Kepa in the goal there is no way we keep a clean sheet against wolves. They are always causing us problems, and now Diago Costa is coming to Stanford Bridge to prove himself to us.

BTTS + Over 2.5 are good options for both games. That's about 3+ odd. Value bet.

^  What do you mean the Wolves 'won't go blank'?  They'll be able to get at least a goal in vs Chelsea?  Dunno about that.  The Wolves haven't gotten a goal in 5 of their last 7 matches and Chelsea on the other hand have been winning in their last 7 home matches.  I think we're gonna see something like a 2 - 0, 3 - 0 score line or something.

But yeah, I could be wrong.  I'm just looking at all the stuff that's been happening this season. 

Anyway, what do you think of Arsenal vs Liverpool BTTS and over 2.5 goals at 1.85 or something...  Seems like an easy bet.  I fancy it could go 2 - 2.

It wouldn't have been bad the way things are now with him at Manchester United, the Pep side were desperate to replace Aguero with another proven puncher and Ronanldo was the only available option at the time, Pep wanted to use him for the short term while he monitored the contract situations of Lukaku and Halaand. Ronaldo's only job, I believe, with the service from Manchester City's midfield and wings, would be to sit at the front and bury those passes inside the net. I believe that move would have been a better option for both parties.

@cryptofrka nice comment, I almost miss this nice discussion 

That is one of the disadvantages of being a pouncher; not every manager wants such a player when they are 32+ years old, especially with how fast and young defenders are these days. I believe Diago Costa experienced the same thing when age caught up with him; he was no longer as valuable as he was in his prime because all he does is score, and he doesn't help much in ball recovery. This is why Messi can fit into any team; he is the best utility player I've ever seen; if you want him in the midfield, he provides assists and open goal chances; if you want him on the wing or up front, he provides goals and high-level teamwork.

Any injury concern for Liverpool? I would stick to BTTS or sit this one out.

Wolves won't go blank against us at least that's the only outcome I'm sure of now.

^  This and it has been going on for a while now.  It's not totally about the quality of football anymore, the dubbed 'United way', whatever that really means but the supporters expect it from their club.  It's all about United the brand now and with complete disregard of the 'style' of how they should play.

But why not, play Ronaldo the way Real played him under Mourinho.  Starts at left wing and given free reign to move around and drift to the middle at the attacking third where he's a real threat.  Mou still made it work defensively imho.

And what do you guys think of Chelsea clean sheet at 1.89?

I think this is clear based on their recent form winning both in Premier League and in Europa League and doing so at ease even against difficult opponents like Tottenham is in the Premier League so mostly I think they should win against Liverpool despite me preferring a Liverpool win.

Liverpool on the other hand has come back or at least restored some confidence after winning in the Champions League easily against Rangers which is not that bad of a team,so both teams are coming from wins and the most logical result here should be a draw.

Who knows Man City may have wanted United to make the move, knowing it wouldn't be a good one, and knew they'd have to step in. I just can't imagine Ronaldo in a Pep team. I just doesn't look like it would fit.

Ronaldo still has the quality, but with his age increasing, and therefore the miles on his legs starting to show, he might need to reconsider his approach to other players. He might need to be a little more accommodating towards the tail end of his career. No doubt though, he's one of the best players to ever play, and was a joy to watch despite being a Liverpool fan myself.

Anyway, I'm just getting my predictions in. I'm assuming most here are going for a Arsenal win over Liverpool, given their current forms?

Yep, but it was probably a smart move from his agents. It would be impossible to imagine Ronaldo in Guardiola's system - and he's too powerful there to be told 'take Ronaldo and make it work' - which United did to Solskjaer/later requested from Rangnick.

United are awful for exactly that reason - they bring players with marketing value, not players that will improve them on the pitch.

Man United wasn't exactly settled at the time. Although, I believe their hand was kind of forced. Wasn't Ronaldo being linked to Man City? I don't know how much merit there was to those stories, but it seemed to be getting coverage everywhere including the main football news outlets. I didn't pay much attention beyond that, and certainly didn't verify its integrity.

However, if that was the case they couldn't exactly stand by, and let one of their legends move to a rival club. I don't think they particularly wanted to make that move. He does obviously bring in a decent amount of revenue, and there was definitely a lot of fans buying his shirt when he returned.

So, while Ronaldo may have not been planned, and the right person to sign, I don't think it's all negative from an investment point of view. I think we have to remember that United were god awful before he returned.

It seems to me that those who criticize Ronaldo are overdoing it. I agree that he is old and that his prime is behind, there is no question. The problem is that if you listen to Ronaldo's critics, you can come to the conclusion that he is to blame for everything in general and he also killed Kennedy 

As for pressing, this is a question of the game model. If you are Barcelona (days of Xavi and Iniesta) or City (without a prominent centre-forward like last season), then yes, all players should run after the ball when it is lost.
But if you have a different model, then even an attacker standing in the center circle when his team defends pulls at least one defender (in the case of Ronaldo, rather 1.5-2). Even without doing anything, such an attacker is beneficial (and, by the way, retains strength in order to accelerate at decisive moments).

As I said, the fact that Ronaldo is not the same as he used to be is not a question at all. But as they say, everything is relative. So... who from United is consistently good in attack and who can be counted on as a consistent goalscorer? Oops... for all his cons and problems, Ronaldo is still better than the rest.
And this means that if Ten Hag has such a tool but does not know how to use it, then this tool is not bad, but Ten Hag is a shitty coach.

Mbappe is spoiled and I agree his ego is even bigger problem, especially since he just started his career.

You are overdoing it a bit regarding Ronaldo. Of course he is not a defender, but best teams in the world now play pressing almost whole game. Ronaldo isn't doing that, he spreads his hands and pouts in the corner if team mate screwed the attack while rest of the team is trying to get the ball back.

It is not so important in most games but on highest level it shows and that is why I think Ronaldo should accept that just maybe he isn't the player for highest level any more.  Very best teams simply doesn't want to risk it with Ronaldo and I understand them.

He has a normal ego in my opinion. His ego is backed by achievements. In general, I think it will soon be possible to forget about this template, since Mbappe will take the discussion about the ego to a new level, in my opinion, in terms of the ratio of achievements/ego, he has bypassed everyone for a long time 
As for the criticism that Ronaldo does not defend, I also propose to leave this old discussion and come up with something new - for example, criticize him for being ... bad at the gate! How many saves has Ronaldo made in recent years? I think even looking back at his play while corners, his average is much worse than any other goalkeeper. How bad is he! 

The initial idea to bring him had a lot more to do with the economic side of the business than with a footballing one. From an economic side it all makes perfect sense - the long awaited return of one of the best players in the history of the game to the club that made him a star.

He'll score goals. The problem is that progressive teams cannot afford to start with a player that does not press, does not track back and does not listen to tactical instructions. United with him in the team cannot challenge for trophies, even if he scores 50 goals - because they will suffer in all other parts of the pitch.

He's still a goal threat but should probably accept that he can be an impact sub on a high level or a starting option for a club of a lower level. He still wants to be the main man for the CL finalists - and that simply doesn't work anymore.