22 December 2009

The penultimate week had it all:

• Goals galore - The first of the weekend's 24 goals, scored by Nadir Belhadj, was the 500th of the Premier League season; the fastest that milestone has been achieved
• Upsets - bottom-placed Portsmouth beat mid-table Liverpool 2-0, whilst Fulham whipped Man United 3-0
• Vindication - Wolves' manager Mick McCarthy caused controversy and took a lot of stick for deliberately picking a weakened line-up when travelling to Old Trafford mid-week, but it paid off when his rested players secured a 2-0 victory over relegation rivals Burnley
• Managerial sacking - Mark Hughes was dispatched, despite a see-saw 4-3 victory over Sunderland that sees them lie in 6th place with a game in hand
• Postponements - Bolton's visit to Wigan at the JJB DW Stadium was called off due to the heavy snow - not because the pitch was unplayable, but the surrounding area was too icy for fans. Go health and safety!
• Penalty practice - Frank Lampard was made to take his penalty 3 times before his goal was allowed. Good news for England fans was that he score each time. Bad news for England fans was that Rob Green failed to save any of them

So now that just leaves the busy last week, with the remaining games taking place each day between Boxing Day and the 30th December. Plenty of chances to get your bets on to determine the final positions and overall winners. Good luck!

10 December 2009

'tis the Festive season [according to shops and advertising] which seems to mean Fighting and Fitness concerns in the Premier League.

Stoke's manager Tony Pulis was pulled off by the club masseur, easy there, after the former had battered James Beattie. Ahem. The fisticuffs started after Beattie complained about Pulis demanding the players needed to return to the potteries the next day for training, which put a spanner in the works of the planned Christmas party/piss-up in London. Ah well, at least the lads got to see the obligatory party punch up.

Meanwhile, the physios of several clubs are working overtime as a series of injuries has led to them being busier than Santa on December 24th. The Champions League contenders seem worse hit, with Essien ruled out for a month for Chelsea, whilst Man United have been left without a defence; in the mid-week Champions League game Ferguson was forced into a 3-5-2 with Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher slotted into a back 3 alongside last-defender standing, teeny Patrice Evra whilst Park and Nani played as wing-backs. Will the powerful and pacy Aston Villa strike-force bring goals and cause an upset at Old Trafford this weekend? Get your bet on.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have the opposite problem with a host of strikers out. Arshavin has been used as the single forward, and with Eduardo still being ring-rusty after returning from his horrific leg-break, he may have to continue. The Russian has looked very good this season but will he be able to inspire the Gunners out of their current slump when they travel to Anfield on Sunday? Liverpool have also been affected by several injuries and whilst Gerrard and Torres seem to be back in contention they couldn't salvage a victory in their last Champions League game as their miserable tournament came to an end with another defeat. I can see an entertaining draw for this match-up.

04 December 2009

The Arsenal v. Bolton Wanderers game was postponed this week due to Arsenal's League Cup quarter-final [defeat] to Man City. Although, as they usually send out their under 11's team in that competition, you'd think they could have used the older lads for the league game...

There are two big games this weekend, but at opposite ends of the table. Man City host Chelsea to see who has the biggest... bank balance. Chelsea have looked very dominant this season, and it seems Ray Wilkins had revealed Ancelotti's secret: "He knows the time and the place for it. In the dressing room, in team talks and tactics, it's business time." You'll need speakers to truly appreciate the video. I would have preferred it Ray had stopped talking then, but unfortunately, he thrust more detail in our faces: "A lot passed through his hands at Milan over those eight years, and he's walked into a similar situation here." I hope Carlo washes those hands regularly...

At the other end of the table, Portsmouth host Burnley, a game that the home team's players are calling a must-win game for their survival... in December! Pompey have had a terrible season so far, and this week summed it up succinctly: players and staff wages weren't paid, and they conceding four goals in their League Cup quarter-final against Aston Villa to match the four Man United popped in a few days earlier. Their hope stems from the fact that away from Turf Moor, Burnley are winless, with just a point to show for their travels; the 25 goals they've conceded is the worst record in the league. So, all bets on a 0-0 bore draw?

26 November 2009

Who'd be a football manager, ay? Sam Allardyce is in hospital getting his dodgy ticker fixed. Sure, part of the blame can be attributed to a diet of pies, but there is also the stress of being a Premier League boss. Plenty of his colleagues are also feeling the strain.

Chelsea are in a rich vein of form and look good to win trophies on all fronts, but will lose half their team during the African Cup of Nations; Man United are five points adrift and look a shadow of their former selves; Arsenal look brilliant one minute, very beatable the next; Spurs guarantee goals at both ends; Liverpool get knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage and are way off the pace in the Prem.

Whilst at the other end of the table, Everton's injury crisis has seen them drop like a stone; Wigan keep getting thrashed; Bolton get beat again and good ol' Portsmouth decide to put their manager out of his misery after another game playing well but losing. In fact, who'd be a football fan?

09 November 2009

Sir Alex Ferguson's Christmas card list just got even shorter after yet another referee helped spoil his weekend with several big decisions going against his United, in the big game of the weekend at Stamford Bridge. There was a dispute that the single, and match winning, goal came from a free kick that shouldn't have been. Worse still for United, was Drogba pulling Wes Brown to the ground in front of the goalkeeper when the ball was put on John Terry's head.

The win was a record 11th in a row at home for Chelsea and put them five points ahead of United and Arsenal, although the gunners have a game in hand even after their 4-1 demolition of Wolves.

In other games, Aston Villa thrashed Bolton 5-1, even affording an Englishman to miss yet another penalty. It must be a World Cup season... Pompey threw away a 1-0 half time lead to remain rooted at the bottom of the table, while Hull City nicked a late winner to help give Phil Brown a stay of execution.

27 October 2009

After a short break, www.FootieGamble.com is back for its second competition of the 2009-10 season. For the next 8 weeks, you can once again place bets on Premier League results without risking the mortgage or wrath of the missus. We've topped up your account with £10,000 and will add another £10,000 EVERY WEEK for you to gamble as you see fit.

Congratulations to Lupamac who walked away with the first competition's prize of a Nintendo DSi. As the final week takes in Christmas and to the start of the New Year, we've bumped up the prizes: the top 5 will each win something!

• The overall winner will receive an Xbox 360
• The runner up gets a Nintendo DS
• Third place gets a Silverstone Ferrari Thrill drive
• Fourth place gets an Inflatable Referee Costume
• Fifth place gets a 'Throw' Football Alarm Clock

Images of the prizes can be seen on the Prizes page.

25 September 2009

It's almost here, the final countdown! Ahem. Back to the football: can Portsmouth extend their incredible 0% record in the early kick off as they host Everton on Saturday?

The big four [at least, according to last season's table] have what look like winnable games so the more profitable punts could come elsewhere such as when boisterous Burnley travel to free-scoring Spurs. Yes, I said punts.

Don't forget there is a final match on Monday between big spenders Man City and West Ham, so any money won from the weekend bets could be used then to take you over the top...

17 September 2009

Bonus 20k in the bank for all FootieGamblers this week so get puntin'

Some hot champions league action last night kept the premier league teams on their toes, especially the Arsenal who looked a little red-faced after 10 minutes, still 3 goals - one being a blatant handball - dug them out of that little hole. Liverpool didn't exactly play a blinder and are continuing their shaky start to the season with a meagre 1 - 0 win!

There's some cracking games coming up this weekend notably the Manchester Derby and Chelsea against this seasons' hot starters 'Spurs.

Who's your money on?

If you're completely insane you could have a punt on Portsmouth away at Villa but I should imagine they'll still have absolutely no points this time next week.

10 September 2009

The Premier League and therefore FootieGamble.com had a break this week for the international games with England securing their place in South Africa for the 2010 World Cup finals thanks to a 5-1 thrashing of Croatia at Wembley.

Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard scored twice apiece but can they bring that form back to their vital club games against Stoke and Burnley respectively?

28 August 2009

Week 2 has come to a close now and whilst the league isn't won this early in the season, it can be lost. Liverpool have got off to a shaky start with two defeats out of only three games played, which is also the same number of games they lost in the whole of the 2008/9 season!

Meanwhile, Harry Redknapp has performed an impressive turnaround at Tottenham having taken them from the bottom last year to the top so far this season, with a hundred per cent record. Can they maintain it with another win at home against newly promoted Birmingham? Or can the Blues take a point or three back to the Midlands?

The footie gamble competitions are a lot shorter and whilst there is still a ways to go, chrisedmonds28 will be happy to be sitting top of our leader-board.