Unlucky? Who knows and I’m sure if we were it will even itself out. Barnet led 2-0 before drawing 2-2 andRennes still can’t find the net anddrew 0-0 for the 4^th time in 5 away games so both those bets were void. The loser was NottsCounty where Rochdale won 2-1 making both bets a loser.

35 bets (32 points staked) :: 12 win – 4 void – 1 half void/loss – 18 losses :: +1.49

Back with the weekend selections on Friday

When Barnet were 2-0 up last night I was thinking of words like ‘inspired’ but two quick goals and I was thinking of words like ‘frustration’. At least we didn’t lose with the draw no bet. The other game was a loser and if we could have blown up at 70 mins would have had a nice winer but we couldn’t do that and we have had late goals go in our favour earlier this season.

No corner bets as nothing stood out and with managerial changes this week it makes it a bit more volatile. Just one bet.

Valenciennes v Rennes (France Ligue 1: Wednesday 7pm)

I never watch French football and no very little about it but I have been on holiday there a few times and eaten horse for lunch in some rural bar. Something about Rennesdraws me to them time and time again. They don’t score many but amazingly have kept a clean sheet in 5/10 matches this season. Today they travel to Valenciennes who don’t seem to have the home presence they had last season and have lost 6 of their last 7 games. Rennes are unbeaten in 8 matches and if they can just start scoring away can start winning and with Valenciennes in such poor form this looks ideal. Rennes have played 4 of the top 5 times in the league anddrew 3 and won 1 which I think shows their quality. I can’t see Rennes losing and so the 0 Asian handicap/Draw No Bet looks ideal here and with close to evens being offered I am very happy with this and will go 2 points.

++ Asian Handicap – Rennes (0) @ 1.95 on Stan James/Bet Direct (2pts)

2 point staked.

Good luck in whatever bets you do.

It was a very short roundup at the weekend and I didn’t get the chance to talk about Barcelona. They were absolutely stunning against Almeria and I will be looking to back them on the handicap this season as they score goals for fun. I’ve not been their biggest fan lately but with Eto’o back to his best they have a formidable team. Gijón won again this time 3-0 at Deportivo and took an amazing 5,000 fans along. Considering Osasuna must have had about 25 at the most when they came to Gijón the week before this fanatical support will serve them well.

I don’t have time to look at all the best today as I need to go through all the prem matches for corners tomorrow so will a couple of bets today and a couple tomorrow. Swansea look a big price at Wolves considering they seem to have found their feet and beat Wolves 3-1 a few weeks ago at home.

On to the matches.

Shrewsbury v Barnet (English League Two: Tuesday 7:45pm GMT)

At first glance this looks a home win as Shrewsbury sit in 5^th and Barnet are in 18^th but it’s the more recent form that needs to be looked at. Shrewsbury took the maximum 9 points from their first 3 matches but then have taken 13 points from the next 10. Barnet on the other hand took 1 point from their first 7 games and then 10 from the last 6. They have won 2 of the last 3 games away and although they have drawn and lost in their last two matches those games were against the teams in the top 3 places. Shrewsbury have just one win in the last 5 games, but do boast an excellent home record so could be too strong for Barnet. However, their goalie is still out and at 6.5 Barnet look far too big. I will err on the side of caution and take the draw no bet option.

++ Draw No Bet – Barnet (0) @ 4.5 on Bet365/Paddy Power (1pt)

NottsCounty v Rochdale (League Two: Tuesday 7:45pm GMT)

Not really one for betting on draws as I find them hard to call but I have kept an eye on Notts County since last season as they can’t help themselves but draw. This season they have drawn 9/13 matches and 5/6 at home and you may think that’s a freak but last season they drew 18/46 games (39%). Rochdale arrive and they have drawn 4/6 away games this season and although they are in good form Notts County are playing well too and the draw looks likely even before you take into account that 14/26 matches these two teams have played this season were draws. That’s 54% and odds of 1.86 so the draw at 3.4 is worth betting and so is 1-1 as 8/26 matches have been that score.

++ Win Market – Draw @ 3.4 on Skybet/Betfred/William Hill (½pt)

++ Correct Score – 1-1 @ 7 on Betfred/Blue Sq/Skybet (½pt) – Betfair is nearly always better on correct score odds

2 points staked.

I’m pretty sure there will be one 2 point bet tomorrow as well as a corner bet or two.

Good luck in whatever bets you do.

I’m getting in early this weekend and its’ another bad weekend. Weeks 8 and 9 had an eleven point profit but 10, 11 and 12 have lost seven points. At least we’re still in profit and good times must be around the corner. At the bets this weekend were draws so at least were close to winning and I would back them all again tomorrow if I could. Valencia was the biggest let down I think.

I really don’t like to moan about nearly selections but wish I had taken Liverpool and of the 6 other bets on my shortlist 4 were winners so can’t be doing too much wrong.

Lots of games in midweek mean there is the chance to find some decent bets and hopefully get back some of the money from the bookies.

28 bets (25 points staked) :: 12 win – 2 void – 1 half void/loss – 14 losses :: +2.49

* This does not include the 2 antepost bets.

Will look at the games tonight and on Monday and post up bets then. Good to see both Carew and Adebayor score and they have 5 and 4 goals respectively.

“If I lose today, I can look forward to winning tomorrow, and if I win today, I can expect to lose tomorrow. A sure thing is no fun.” – Chico Marx

Added the cards tab to the mini-console this week and very happy with the site at the moment. If you do have any comments then please email me at mail@simplesoccerstats.com.

I have added some more bookmaker links to the site. Mainly this is because I don’t earn any money from the site so any people signing up to accounts will generate me some money and I will stick to bookmakers I think are relevant. I have Bet365 and Betfair on the main page and added Sporting Index banners like the one below to the mini console.

I think the mini console lends itself to spread betting and after dabbling last season I am back on it again with corner bets. The offer they have is true and just 3 bets risking £20 allows you to have £100 credited to your account. It was that or a free £200 bet on over/under in a game and I remember ringing them up to bet it on a champions league game between Valencia and Schalke or Bremen but took the cash. It was very lucky as I was going over and the game ended 0-0.

Some interesting games around this week and Liverpool look overpriced at 5 against Chelsea. Both teams have been impressive this season and I think the price factors in Liverpool’s previously bad form against the big 4, but with a win already against Man United this season could snatch a win or easily draw.

On to this weeks games. No corner bets and all the others are win bets.

Brentford v Shrewsbury (English League Two: Saturday 3pm BST)

I was surprised to see the odds on this game and had to check the team news to make sure Brentford didn’t have high profile absentees. Brentford sit in 2^nd with Shrewsbury in 4^th and just 2 points separate them. Since losing on the opening day Brentford have not lost in 11 matches, winning 6 and at home have won 4 and drawn 2. Shrewsbury have won just once in the last 4 games and away from home haven’t won since their first away game in August. If we look at the straight stats we have 4 Brentford home wins and 2 Shrewsbury losses in 12 games (Bees at home and Shrews away) which  is odds of 2 so the 2.4 looks good value and worth a bet with the good Brentford form.

++ Win Market – Brentford @ 2.4 on Ladbrokes (1pt) – 2.375 on several others

Toulouse v Monaco (France: Saturday 8pm Local Time)

I looked at various ways to bet this but have come back to the win bet every time. Toulouse lost away to Bordeaux last week but are in 5^th place and just 3 points off leaders Lyon. They had won in a row prior to the defeat and at home have 3 wins and a draw with the draw against hard to beat Rennes. Monaco have drawn 2 and lost 2 away scoring just one goal and have lost 4 of the last 6 games. It looks quite a simple call on the price so fingers crossed we get the result.

++ Win Market – Toulose @ 2.1 on General (1pt)

Recreativo Huelva v Valencia (Spain La Liga : Sunday 5pm Local Time)

Valencia have started the season very well with 6 wins and 1 draw, scoring 17goals and conceding just 4. They sit on top of La Liga and visit Recreativo who have won just once in 7 matches, on the opening day, and lost 4 of the last 6. Last time at home they got beaten 4-0 by local rivals Malaga and selling Sinima-Pongolle to Atletico was a big loss for them as was their on loan Villarreal defender being sold to Barcelona. Looking at Valencia away games and Recre home games an away win would win 4/6 times which is odds of 1.5 and I would think Valencia should be more like 1.73. Stan James offer 1.95 on the win and I will go with that.

++ Win Market – Valencia @ 1.95 on Stan James (1pt) – 2.17 on Stan James and 2.23 on Pinnacle

3 points staked on the weekend.

Good luck in whatever bets you do.