Who do we turn to in our hour of need? Steve McClaren!
It’s been a horrible few days. Firstly, Man United flopped when all the long shots in our Champions League accumulator delivered and then Lyon once again mugged Liverpool in injury time yesterday.
When your luck is down, you probably don’t want to be relying on a Goodison Park goalfest, Spanish strugglers finding form and Steve McClaren. The Spoiler loves a long shot though…
Over 2.5 goals in Everton/Benfica
Six of Everton’s last seven European games have produced three goals or more. Benfica are the most prolific team in Portugal by miles and thumped five
It’s time for Rafa to dig himself out of yet another hole
Yesterday The Spoiler picked out a four-team accumulator and were just one goal away from celebrating a tidy £104.70 profit. With Liverpool a tasty 21/10 on 888sport to win away to Lyon tonight, we’re relying on Rafa’s knack of delivering results when they matter most to make us some money. Here’s why we’re trusting the Reds:
» No team has ever done the double over Liverpool in the Champions League group stage since Rafael Benitez arrived in 2004 and only one side - Benfica in 2006 - have beaten the Reds twice in the same season in the competition.
» Liverpool have won their last four Champions League games in France, beating Bordeaux, Toulouse and Marseille (twice).
» Lyon have triumphed in just four of their last 12 home matches in the competition and were beaten 2-0 by regular strugglers Sochaux the last time they stepped foot in the Stade Gerland.
The Spoiler has a bit of a soft spot for Chris Hughton but he let us down badly last night by leaving the Hare well and truly malnourished at Bramall Lane - using him in only the last six minutes to render yesterday’s bet null and void.
Today, we’re taking no chances, pursuing an accumulator so that nothing besides the weather and floodlight failure can rule the bet pointless. We’re looking to turn £10 into £104.70 by backing Juventus, Porto, Wolfsburg and Manchester United to win tonight. Here’s why:
Maccabi Haifa v Juventus - The Israelis have lost all three of their matches so far without scoring.
APOEL v Porto - Porto won their first group meeting and over the past three seasons, whenever they do that they go on to complete a double.
Besiktas v Wolfsburg - A big ask, although Besiktas have lost four of their last ten home games and have scored just once this season in Europe.
Manchester United v CSKA Moscow - United are unbeaten in 23 Champions League matches at Old Trafford, of which they have won 18.
Combine these four together using the Betfair Coupon and you stand to win over ten times your initial stake!
Bramall Lane is a happy hunting ground for Harewood
It’s difficult to confidently argue in favour of either team ahead of tonight’s TV offering of Sheffield United v Newcastle, with the hosts winless in six and the Magpies having ended three of their last four away games empty-handed.
Therefore, our attention turns to Marlon Harewood, a boo-boy victim during last weekend’s 2-1 home win over Doncaster. Assuming Chris Hughton is brave enough to risk the wrath of the Toon Army by starting the Hare, his Betfair odds of 3.75 (11/4) to score are worth a glance.
The 30-year-old isn’t the most prolific striker in the world, which is why his record of five goals in his last seven meetings with Sheffield United - and two on his last three visits to Bramall Lane - is worth paying attention to.
It could also prove a blessing that he is playing away from the sceptical St James’ Park support - six of his last eight league goals have come on the road.
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Joleon Lescott to Manchester City The Times are reporting that the Everton defender spoke to manager David Moyes yesterday to tell him that he wants to join Manchester City and spent the evening writing a letter to chairman Bill Kenwright.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: It’s claimed that the Toffees are holding out for £30 million but an offer of £22 million may prove too good to turn down for England’s fourth-choice centre-back.
Alberto Aquilani to Liverpool
The Spanish press were reporting yesterday that Liverpool have reached an
The latest transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Andrea Pirlo, Franck Ribery and Sergio Aguero to Chelsea
Chelsea have been searching all summer for what they call a “marquee name” and now The Daily Mail expect them to bring three in at once by spending £100 million on Pirlo, Ribery and Aguero.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: The Blues have been linked with Pirlo ever since Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment and that looks a reasonable possibility but Bayern Munich have said Ribery is no longer available and Aguero is supposedly happy to stay in Spain.
Joe Cole to Spurs
Obviously the arrival of two more midfielders would damage Cole’s chances of
The great gentleman of English football passes away aged 76
Former England manager Sir Bobby Robson died this morning, aged 76, after a long battle with cancer.
Robson was one of the most loved and respected figures in football. He was in charge of the national team for the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where England reached the semi-final before losing on penalties to West Germany. After a playing career that brought him 20 England caps, Robson had a long and distinguished managerial career, taking unfashionable Ipswich Town to UEFA Cup glory in 1981 before landing the England job.
After standing down from international football, Robson took on some of the biggest jobs abroad, enjoying success withteams in Holland and Portugal before moving on to Barcelona. In 1999 he returned to English football, as manager of Newcastle, the club he watched and supported as a boy.
Sir Bobby’s last public appearance was last Sunday at St James’ Park, where 33,000 fans turned out to honour their former manager and raise money for the Sir Bobby Robson cancer foundation. An England XI, including several members of the 1990 World Cup Squad took on a Germany XI. This time Robson saw his England team win 3-2.
Loading ...