Soothing hearts the immediate task

Yesterday I kicked off the Euro 2012 theme on the blog and started with the favourites, Spain. Moving on, today we'll have the joint favourites, Germany (in the eyes of the bookmakers, at least).

Germany

In terms of the top 6 teams earmarked with the best chance to win the tournament, Germany has the lowest average age in their squad.

Monitoring the evidence being given by Rebekah Brooks to the Leveson Inquiry is more than entertaining...
... the collusion in corruption between power and insiders is evident.
In the dim and distant past, I undertook a Ph.D in Economics - the title of my thesis was "The Impact of Conspicuous Money on Outcomes in British Horseracing Betting Markets".

South Wales is experiencing a severe shortage of Elvis Presley fancy dress costumes as Swansea fans step-up to their manager's request for a fancy dress tribute to the King. Brendan Rodgers asked Swans supporters to don Elvis outfits for their final game of the season against Liverpool on Sunday. He touted the idea after last [.

In the old days, there was humour about the state of corruption within Italian football.
Now the tittering is about the rampant corruption in ScudamoreWorld - the Premier League Theme Park.
Serie A, Serie B, the Bundesliga, La Primera Liga (to an extent), the Dutch Eredivisie, the Champions League, the Europa Cup, the leagues in Portugal, Denmark, Sweden and even Russia have taken institutional actions that target the match-fixers.

Only four weeks ago, following Man City's losss to Arsenal at The Emirates Stadium, almost the whole of the soccer world were crowning Man Utd as Premier League Champions for the 20th time. Their massive eight point lead looked insurmountable especially given the experience and success of United's wily old manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Premier League, via the PGMOB, announces the referees and assistants for the matches on the following weekend on Monday afternoon at 16:00.
This occurs regardless of the presence, or not, of a Monday night match.
For the first time this season (aside from Easter), no such announcement was made yesterday afternoon prior to the Manchester derby - the Championship Play Off officials were released, so someone was in the office!

Newcastle United star, Cheick Tiote, has refuted claims he is about to leave the club, and insists his future lies on Tyneside.
The Ivory Coast midfielder has been a revelation since his £3.5m switch from FC Twente, in the summer of 2010. He impressed enough to be offered a new six-and-a-half year deal, in February 2011.

Tonight's new battle of the Olympiques is one that will make history.

Being a Coupe de la Ligue final, its result will be carved in stone. The name of the winner will be added to the list of glorious predecessors, those who at least once have been the heroes of this recent but well publicized competition.

After the weekends results it seems almost certain that the Premier League title is heading to Old Trafford to give United their 20th title. In Sunday's earlier game, United defeated QPR 2-0 after being given a fortuitous penalty decision which saw QPR skipper Shaun Derry sent off. In the later kick-off at the Emirates, a late Mikel Arteta strike gave Arsenal the victory over Manchester City, who ended the game with 10-men after the headline grabbing Mario Balotelli saw red after escaping a red card for a shocking tackle on Alex Song in the tenth minute.

Two seasons ago, the English Premier League declared war on UEFA both over financial fair play and the programming of EPL matches to coincide with ones from the Champions League.
The bookmakers, as ever, were most grateful for such impact as the success of the English teams over the previous four seasons had been immensely poor for the bottom line.

Back in the summer there was a point when Harry Redknapp was a very short odds on favourite to take over the Chelsea manager's job. Before checking the current prices, many may have thought that a similar scenario would happen again but at present, Harry is way off the pace at 40/1 with some bookmakers.

When Kyle Walker returned to Spurs at the end of his loan spell with Aston Villa, he came back with a reputation as a marauding full back with a keen eye for goal but maybe with some question marks over his defending.

As we reach the last third of the season, Kyle is unchallenged as our first choice right back and while he won't be happy that BAE is currently outscoring him this year, Walker's lone strike undoubtedly mattered most in securing a 2-1 win over Arsenal earlier in the campaign.

With Steve Bruce, Neil Warnock and now Mick McCarthy all gone in the Premier Sack Race, the question every football fan is asking will Chelsea boss, Andre Villas-Boas, be next for the chop?

The Portuguese manager has been made a very short priced 5/4 favourite with bookmakers to be the next to join the three already sacked, in the latest betting odds which were shortened following the strong rumours that indicate Blues owner, Roman Abramovic, is becoming increasingly agitated with the current situation at Stamford Bridge.

In a decision that was undoubtably cheered at the FA's headquarters, a jury today cleared Spurs manager Harry Redknapp and former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric of tax evasion.

Speaking on the steps of Southwark Crown Court, Redknapp said the case "should never have come to court".

by Adam Bate

What a return it has been for Kenny Dalglish. Only Cardiff City now stand in the way of Liverpool lifting the Carling Cup at Wembley later this month and thus securing the club's first trophy in six years. King Kenny has brought the buzz back to the city. And thankfully, whatever the dramas off the field, everyone at Anfield appears to be pulling in the same direction once again.

The Football is Fixed prediction of a seriously brand damaging scandal within the British game this year is coming to fruition nicely - not just with Redknapp/Mandaric, Portsmouth FC and Rangers FC but with the occurrence of both "a betting accident live on tv" and the inappropriate control over the selection of match officials as well.

It was concerning to read that Liverpool were planning to offer Andy Carroll in a direct swap deal with Carlos Tevez at the weekend.

At £35 million it is quite clear as far as the best bookmakers are concerned that the former Newcastle forward has not lived up to what might have been expected of him at Anfield in the year he has been with the club, but it is important to remember that he is still young.

LeagueSpy.com A definitive and comprehensive betting guide to world football - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Football betting can be a great investment or a waste of money, with an ever-increasing number of people deeming themselves football experts and putting their money where their mouth is on a daily or weekly basis, only to see their hard-earned cash taken from them.

Even Homer could rig a football match more professionally than the British criminal classes.
It is little wonder that your sport, this game of football, is TOTALLY controlled by Asian underground bookmakers whose expertise on both the sport and the behaviouralisms of another culture show you up as the psychopathic antisocials that you are.

Bookmakers William Hill have agreed a two-and-a-half year deal with The Football Association to become an 'Official Supporter' of the England football team, and 'Official Supporter' and 'Official Betting Partner' of the FA Cup.

Check out the following "Live Odds" on the correct score tomorrow. This will also be updated with first, last and anytime goal scorers as soon as available.
Why not have a bet as the odds shown below are the best from 4 of the biggest bookmakers in the land!.
KTBFFH
Check out my blog posts on the Official Chelsea Website - http://bit.

Well you have come to the right place. You can check the odds to ensure you get the best value for your online sportsbook or check the odds with the best odds featured from 4 of the biggest bookmakers, why not have a punt here?
Check out the live odds as below:
KTBFFH
I'm taking part in Movember this month, please donate!

The bookmakers make Arsenal 1.44 shots to maintain their terrific run of form by beating Fulham in...
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Premier League Weekend Review: Easy games for Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd & Liverpool - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

The big clubs of England play the minnows this weekend with odds largely in favor of the giants formerly known as the 'top 4′. Here's a look at the betting situation heading into the Matchday 11 of the English Premier League.

Arsenal are on a roll and the bookmakers have taken no chances by chalking them up at a top price...
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For Leicester City, might British be best? is a post from: Just Football

By David Cockcroft

An October managerial casualty seems to be the norm in today's game, yet the news of Sven Goran Eriksson heading out of the Leicester City exit door came as no little surprise to the football world.

It's not often that you able to back Manchester United at odds-against to win at home, but you can this Sunday when they play host to arch rivals City.

United are 2.1 Boylesports and Victor Chandler to bag three points in the Derby clash and regain the top spot in the league from Mancini's men.

The year is 2018, Italy is a nation in chaos, shaken to it's foundations by the leaking of documents proving that for the past twelve years Leonardo Araujo has been single-handedly running the FIGC. The national team, under the stewardship of the controversial yet well-liked coach Massimiliano Allegri, has embarked in a state of disorder to Russia, as a result of their dramatic securation of qualification for the World Cup on a windy december night in Zagreb, courtesy of a late goal scored by Azzurri icon Alberto Paloschi.

Javier Hernandez is fit to face Stoke at the Britannia this weekend, and that's the last news that the Potters would have wanted.

Chicarito has scored three goals in two appearances against them and netted in the 27th minutes in both games.

He was lucky to escape serious injury following Ashley Cole's horror tackle in United's 3-1 defeat of Chelsea, and it was terrific news when the gaffer revealed on Thursday that he was available for this game.

Arsenal take on Bolton at the Emirates, and despite a 3-1 win by a second XI over Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup on Tuesday, the Wenger Boys still have plenty of points to prove.

Arsenal are short priced favourites with all bookmakers for their game against Bolton, but once again Unibet offer you the very biggest odds on the planet!

Whether it be in the newspapers, on fans forums or on radio phone-ins there have been some Arsenal fans suggesting, or even demanding in some cases that Arsene Wenger should be sacked as Arsenal manager. The bookmakers have been having a field day with Arsenal all summer, but they have also been having sleepless nights [.

Arsenal's chances of beating Manchester United at Old Trafford today are put into some sort of context by investigating the odds the bookmakers are offering.

Unibet, Arsenalinsider's betting partners, make Arsenal a huge 7.0 (6/1) to gain what would be only the Gunners' fifth victory in Manchester in the last 23 Premier League encounters at Old Trafford.

Arsenal's chances of beating Manchester United at Old Trafford today are put into some sort of context by investigating the odds the bookmakers are offering.

Unibet, Arsenalinsider's betting partners, make Arsenal a huge 7.0 (6/1) to gain what would be only the Gunners' fifth victory in Manchester in the last 23 Premier League encounters at Old Trafford.

Arsenal's chances of beating Manchester United at Old Trafford are put into some sort of context by investigating the odds the bookmakers are offering.

Unibet, Arsenalinsider's betting partners, make Arsenal a huge 7.0 (6/1) to gain what would be only the Gunners' fifth victory in Manchester in the last 23 Premier League encounters at Old Trafford.

In May of 1983, three clubs were relegated from the First Division. Brighton & Hove Albion were one, and the other two were Swansea City and Manchester City. Manchester City returned to the top flight a couple of seasons later but, for Swansea City, the intervening three decades have brought hardship and a couple of seasons during which even the league status of the club was thrown into doubt.

The more something is hyped, the more difficult it will be for that thing to live up to said hype. Even allowing for the excesses if the media over the last couple of weeks or so, though, the new Premier League season started with a faintly ridiculous raspberry noise rather than a bang. Five of the eight matches played ended in draws, all of which made the league table look even more ridiculous than it usually does at this stage of the season.

By William Taylor
With Manchester City and Liverpool dominating the transfer window in the Premier League this season, it would appear unlikely that Spurs will be considered favourites among bookmakers to win the title.
However, it appears as though manager, Harry Redknapp has the title in his sights, with a return to the Champions League a must for the club.

With the start of the Premier League season just around the corner now is the time to get all you season bets down with the bookmakers. The coming season looks an exciting and competitive one and one that certainly could through up a few surprises. So with this in mind we'll be looking at all the betting for the season and try and find that extra bit of betting value to help win that little bit more from the bookies.

With thirty minutes left to play in Dresden last night, it looked as if the England team was heading out of the 2011 Womens World Cup. A goal down against New Zealand, having picked up a draw against Mexico in their opening match, they looked all but out of the competition, but two goals from Jill Scott and Jess Clarke managed to pull an iron from the fire, and they now go into their final match against Japan knowing that a draw will definitely see them through to the quarter-finals and that even should they lose, they could still go through to the quarter-finals should results elsewhere go their way.

FC Porto have denied that current boss Andre Villas-Boas is set to join Chelsea amidst mounting speculation that the highly-rated coach is to be unveiled as the new Blues boss.

According to reports, Chelsea are set to move for the current FC Porto boss with The Times in particular reporting that Jose Mourinho's former assistant is ready to leave the Portuguese champions and follow in the ‘Special One's' footsteps and sign for Chelsea.