Weekend 10th January 2009

Have started new headers for the blog in the new year as the weeks make no sense if I miss some out. Looking forward to watching some football at the weekend and the United-Chelsea game on Sunday should be interesting. As usual the corner bet is worth a look in a big 4 game. Real Madrid looked tempting at 1.8 away at Mallorca as I do think Mallorca are very poor but need to see the Madrid side and see how Huntelaar fits in.

After doing the analysis this week I have concentrated on the lower English leagues and think I have found a couple of good bets. There will be less bets from now on with probably between 2 and 5 each weekend.

I had written up Swindon v Stockport but that has been postponed till Tuesday night so this is what is left and we’ll start with a corner bet.

Manchester United v Chelsea (English Premiership: Sun 4pm Local Time)

It’s a Big 4 game and historically that means low corners. I use results going back 4 seasons (5 including this) and we have 54 matches and 40 have been 10 corners or less. That’s 74% and should be odds of 1.35. Looking at just Manchester United home games 8/12 were 10 or less (67%-1.5). For Chelsea away it’s 10/12 10 or less (83%-1.2). In the 4 times this fixture was played 2 were under 10, 1 was 11 and the other was 14. In StamfordBridge matches between the two 3 have been under 10 and 2 11. Sadly the bookmakers seem to have finally caught up with this but even so there does seem to be value as the lines are mainly set at 10. At a short price extrabet offer 1.54 on under 11.5 corners which is madness in my book. Most lines are set at 10 and on the Asian Total Bet365 offer evens on under 10 so money is returned if there are 10 corners. In all big 4 games that’s still a winner 60% of the time with money returned 15% of the time. For United homes it’s a winner 7/12 times with stake returned once and for Chelsea away a winner 6/12 with the stake returned 4 times. You can get 8.5 on it being 10 corners exactly if you want a tiny bet to make it under 12 instead. For example £9 at evens on under 10 and then £1 at 8.5 on 10 exactly returns £8 on anything under 10 and then £7.50 on 10 as you get your money back on the handicap bet.

 

++ Asian Total Corners – Under 10 @ 2 on Bet365 (1pt)

 

NottsCounty v Exeter City (English League One: Sat 3pm Local Time)

There’s 8 places and 12 points between these 2 clubs in the league but NottsCounty already look to be a team with nothing to play for. The points deductions handed out at the start of the season mean that rather than them being 5 points from the drop zone they are actually 17. If there had been no points deductionsCounty would find themselves in 20th place on goal difference. The top of the table is very tight and Exeter have a game in hand on most teams and a win of the game in hand would see them up to 4th. The home/away records also helped me here as NottsCounty have won just twice at home in 12 games. Again Exeter have played less away games than most teams but a win in their next two would give them the best away record in the division. NottsCounty have lost 5 of the last 6 at home and 8 of their last 11 games home and away. Exeter have not won either of their last 2 games but these were against the top 2 teams in the league and that included a draw away at runaway leaders Wycombe. They have lost away just twice all season and with the Asian Handicap I think we have a decent bet with a safety net.

++ Asian Handicap – Exeter @ 1.98 on VC Bet (1pt) – 1.95 Bet365

2 points staked on the weekend.

Good luck in whatever bets you do.

9 Jan, 09 | Comments Closed

2008 Betting summary

I only started doing the tips on Simple Soccer Stats in late 2007 so 2008 was the first full year and happy to record a profit overall of 17 points. The stakes have varied between ½ and 2 points with the majority being 1 pointers and looking at the level stakes results they are even higher at nearly 23 points, but this is down to having 2 big winners which were just half point bets. The ROI% was 10.5% to level stakes and 8% to my staking

I’d like to think this run will continue in 2009 and I may be even more profitable as I get a better idea of where I am good and where I am weak.

The main win bets have come from corners, asian handicap bets and the odd accumulator/double. In level stakes the Asian Handicaps, which include draw no bet made 11 points and 10 using my staking. Corner bets made around 6 points in level staking and my staking.

Looking at leagues the English league one and two were easily the most profitable and both the premiership and championship also made profits. However, the championship was down to a big correct score winner and the premiership was only in profit thanks to the corner bets. Spain was up in my staking but down to level stakes and Greece was the only other league to make a profit although there was only one bet.

What can be learnt from all this? Firstly, I should stick to the English League One and Two and use only corner bets in the premiership. I only really watch Spanish football and will stick to that and try to bring in some more of my own thoughts as opposed to strict stats on this league. All the other leagues should be left alone although I will keep looking at Greece.

Finally, Asian Handicap, and corner bets in the Premiership seem to be the best way forward and I’ll try and stick to these more. Clean sheet bets were used sparingly but were quite profitable and I may look at this avenue more.

I am also looking at all previous games in Spain to see if I can put together some sort of ratings for over/under 2.5 results and if I do will share the findings.

Back this weekend and hope to kick off the new year in style.

7 Jan, 09 | Comments Closed

Weekend of 3rd January

Been a long time since I have posted and this will be a brief one. A combination of the FA Cup, leagues having a winter break, a laptop needing to be rebuilt and illness mean I haven't had time to do anything this weekend and don't want to rush any selections. I just got back home on Thursday and should be back up and running after this weekend.

The last selection I gave was a loser and I'll sum that up as well as a round-up of 2008 in the next day or two.

Good luck betting this weekend.

3 Jan, 09 | Comments Closed