Four to Watch – Super Sunday

For the neutral football fan, days in front of the television don’t get much better than Sunday. Manchester takes on London as four of the top five in the Premier League battle it out, with Arsenal looking to avenge their 8-2 mauling at Old Trafford, whilst Spurs will want to put right their August 5-1 home defeat to Manchester City. The 1.30pm kick off sees Spurs face a Manchester City side yet to drop a point in the league at home, but who have lost their last two home games in all competitions; Manchester United in the FA Cup and Liverpool in the League Cup. It is over a year however since any visiting side scored more than once in... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 22nd, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Football, Oggsblog)

5 Things to Watch Out for at the African Cup of Nations

Gabon/Equatorial Guinea 2012 rolls into action, if not off the tongue.    1.     The football won’t be very good: Throughout the 80s and 90s, the football world managed to convince itself that African football was improving. Algeria beat Germany, Cameroon beat Argentina, teams like Senegal reached the Quarter-Finals whilst Pele no less predicted an African World Cup winner by 2010. Well 2010 has been and gone Mr Edson Arantes de Nascimento, and still no African champion. Whisper it quietly – but the continent’s football appears to have plateaued. 2.     The Goalkeepers will be particularly terrible: And a possible reason for the above, is a notable absence of top African keepers. Last time out we had this and a little bit of this too. Mad and useless.... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Friday, January 20th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Football, Oggsblog)

Australian Open 2012

New Year, New Murray?  Anyone else make a New Year’s resolution to get a new personal trainer? Andy Murray did, only his was eight-times grand slam winner Ivan Lendl. Yours probably wasn’t. And so to Australia for the first major of the year, and the first opportunity to see if the Czech can bounce Murray from being perennial bridesmaid to blushing bride. Historically, this tournament is won by the best player in the world. Unlike at Roland Garros, there can be no complaints about the funny surface. And unlike at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows, players tend not to arrive at the competition in mid-season and therefore injured. The big three at the top of mens’ tennis have shared the last... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 14th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Oggsblog, Tennis)

4 for the Weekend – 14/15 Jan 2012

- Norwich will travel to the Hawthorns looking to continue a fine run which has seen them lose just one of the last seven. Few teams have been as poor as the Baggies at home this season – they’ve taken just 8 points out of a possible 30 whilst Norwich in contrast boast a record of scoring in all bar one away game this season There is no reason to think that the Canaries can’t sing once more this weekend, and at 11/4 with Ladbrokes we’re happy to back an away win. - Harry Redknapp may have blasted Man City for spending too much money (although how he would have signed Adebayor if they hadn’t has yet to be explained,)... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Friday, January 13th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Football, Oggsblog)

Pakistan vs England 3rd Test Series – What could possibly go wrong…

Given how spectacularly disastrously the last two series ended (Pakistan refusing to come back out at the Oval and Pakistan bowling dot balls to demand in 2010), it is little surprise that lips are being licked all round for England’s upcoming three-test series against Pakistan. Trips over there often prove just as dramatic (ask Mike Gatting), but unfortunately due to security reasons, this series will be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Here are three rules worth adhering to, when punting Pakistan-England. 1)      Ignore current international trends of low-scoring, quick test matches: The Middle East produces completely different conditions and wickets to the grounds on which England made short work of Australia and India. There have only ever been two tests... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 12th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Cricket, Oggsblog)

4 TO WATCH – FA CUP ROUND 3

Back in the good old days, anything could happen in the FA Cup. Sutton dispatched the holders Coventry. Wrexham knocked out the Champions Arsenal. Yet these days, such upsets are rarer than a raw steak. Tamworth can be backed as high as 38.0 on Betfair to overturn Everton, but we think even the out-of-sorts Toffees will romp to a comfortable victory. Everton at -2.5 on the Asian Handicap (9/10 with Bet365) looks decent value. The Fylde Coast derby this weekend sees Fleetwood fans dreaming of overcoming their local rivals Blackpool. Nobody has netted more than Fleetwood in the Blue Square Premier, so we expect both sides to score (1.72 with Betfair) and we’re happy to back over 2.5 goals at... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Friday, January 6th, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Football, Oggsblog)

4 to watch (2 January 2012)

Arsenal start the new year against Fulham in the late kick off on Monday and we’d be surprised if their magical Dutchman doesn’t strike again. Van Persie has 17 goals for the season whilst Fulham have 20 so the 2.18 price with Betfair on another goal today appears to be a good price, it’s as low as 8/13 elsewhere. The Gunners have four wins and one defeat (at Man City) in their last five league away trips and we expect them to extend that good form today. Their most recent three wins have all been by a single goal and the 3/1 with Ladbrokes about them repeating that seems a generous price. That it can be considered a slight loss... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Monday, January 2nd, 2012
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, Football, Oggsblog)

4 for the Weekend (31 December 2011)

Liverpool look very skinny to beat a Newcastle side who have managed more away wins this season than Liverpool have done at Anfeild. With Luis Suarez serving part 1 of his bans, this all makes Alan Pardew’s men a tasty looking 7.0 on Betfair to record a victory. Benayoun, Sessegnon and MG Pederson – not a trio especially known for their aerial prowess, but they have all scored headed goals against Aston Villa this season. The Midlands outfit have conceded an astonishing 57% of their goals this season from set pieces. John Terry already has four Premier League goals to his name this season and is an attractive 25/1 with Ladbrokes to further exploit Villa’s weakness in the air and... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Friday, December 30th, 2011
(Posted in: Articles, Football, Oggsblog)

Boxing Day 4 to Watch

It may well be the season to be jolly, but not if you support Blackburn Rovers. Next up for Rovers is a trip to BNP FC Liverpool at Anfield, and whilst the Reds haven’t overly impressed at home so far, (drawing five of their eight games,) they should have enough to edge Kean Out’s men. Blackburn have lost 11 in the league so far – seven of those have been by a single goal so we think the 1-0 Liverpool win at 7/1 with bet365 is good value. Equally, under 2.5 goals looks a fair investment at 11/8. Manchester United don’t win titles by dropping points to Wigan – in fact they barely concede a goal to them, winning seven of the... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Monday, December 26th, 2011
(Posted in: Articles, Football, Oggsblog)

King George VI

As if it wasn’t enough to be responsible for one of the finest British films of our time, George VI also gave his name to one of the finest races in the jump calendar. Boxing Day quite simply would not be Boxing Day without the King George VI Chase, and this year’s line-up is as tasty as ever. Second only in prestige to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the King George is normally a pretty good gauge of how horses are jumping in the run-up to the big one. The hot favourite is last year’s winner, the Waley-Cohen owned and jockeyed Long Run, 5/4 with Ladbrokes. Many believe he could string a chain of victories together to rival the legendary Kauto... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 22nd, 2011
(Posted in: Articles, Horse Racing, Oggsblog)