Over The Line

Crystal football gazing for 2009

Premier League
There’s something ominous about Man Utd’s form of late. They’re generally winning and not playing well. They look like they can step it up a couple of gears when needed. Much has been made about Liverpool topping the table at Christmas – mostly by Rafa Benitez – but the undeniable truth is that in recent seasons, their form in the second half of the season has matched and in some cases surpassed that of the title contenders. Having not conceded the ground to their rivals in the first half of the season that they have done in recent years, it looks to be a genuine title challenge.

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In a sense it never went away - we’re still updating the table so that you can find out how your bet is looking. But the big news is that our football traders have shown the sort of fearless attitude that made them famous and stepped back into the fray!

Posted in Football, Sportsbook, Premiership Handicap | 12 Comments »

This Wednesday the site is going to see some changes, we have been banging away at our keyboards for a while now to totally revamp the Live betting pages.

Including:

- Improved graphics - easier to keep an eye on the selections that matter
- Better layout – We have taken away lots of stuff to focus on the odds and the information

Posted in Football, Sportsbook, Cricket, Website, Website developments, Whats new, Live Betting | 4 Comments »

Gunn Off The Rails?

WLL - Beat the English and European Champions. Lost to the European Champions … of 1982. Trounced by Man City.

The fact that Arsenal followed up their tremendous victory over Man Utd with the limp surrenders to Aston Villa and Man City that almost certainly put paid to the Gunners’ chances of winning the Premier League makes this the most peculiar form of crisis. Arsenal have had periods in their history when they won less games, although they never used the word ‘crisis’ – they just called it the Don Howe era.

Posted in Football, Sportsbook | 23 Comments »

Retired Old Story

A run of the mill Finnish international.
A useful player who got called into the French squad once several years ago, but didn’t get capped.
And there’s no other way of describing Dean Whitehead other than he’s Dean Whitehead.

These are just some of the players that are ahead of Andy Reid in the midfield packing order at the Stadium of Light. Tainio, Malbranque and Whitehead were deemed good enough by Roy Keane to start for Sunderland at the weekend whilst Andy Reid had to make do with a place on the bench. He did play eventually a part in the game, but if he’s not good enough to hold down a regular place in the Black Cats’ first XI, then why is there such a clamour for him to be in the Ireland team?

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News has reached us that Ruud Van Nistelrooy will be ruled out for the rest of the season due to knee injury. We’ve got some good news and some good news. It turns out the vets have decided not to put him down and more importantly for anyone who backed him to the top scorer in the Champions League or La Liga, we’re doing the decent thing and refunding all bets on him in these markets.

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From Diego Maradonna’s “Hand of God” to Spain’s more than dubious two disallowed goals against South Korea in the 2002 World Cup. From Mendes’ goal that never was to Graham Poll’s three yellow cards. For as long as you or I can remember, dodgy refereeing decisions – or more to the point - dodgy referees have been part and parcel of football. They make the game what it is - intriguing, unpredictable, fascinating and frustrating.

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It’s the mystery that has all of Ireland talking. Well, it’s one of them at least, alongside “why do apparently sane women find Eoghan Quigg attractive?” and “how come Paddy Power NEVER tips a winner - even by accident?”.

Yes, I’m talking about Giovanni Trappatoni’s refusal to consider world-class creative midfielder / Sunderland journeyman (delete as applicable) Andy Reid for a place in his squad - never mind the first team!

Posted in Football, Sportsbook | 3 Comments »

Apologies for this - our TV man took a week’s holiday and forgot to tell anyone about it. So we’ve had to dig this week’s video out of the archives. Still, it’s a real classic and surprisingly relevant…

Posted in Football, Sportsbook, Videos | 2 Comments »

After close on a decade of experimentation with fancy continental management systems (and fancy continental managers), Spurs are throwing in the towel. The appointment of Harry Redknapp couldn’t send a clearer message - Daniel Levy wants to return the club to the good old fashioned British virtues of being a geezer and throwing teacups around the dressing room.

Posted in Football, Sportsbook | 10 Comments »