Sunday 26 February 2012

24/2/2012


SUNDAY
1130am - Excelsior v Ajax - 1.32 away
HEAD TO HEADS
03.12.2011D1AFC Ajax4-1SBV Excelsior
24.04.2011D1AFC Ajax4-1SBV Excelsior
24.10.2010D1SBV Excelsior2-2AFC Ajax
02.03.2008D1AFC Ajax4-0SBV Excelsior
23.12.2007D1SBV Excelsior2-1AFC Ajax
18.02.2007D1AFC Ajax2-2SBV Excelsior
Ajax have scored 4 three times in last 4 head to heads.
LEAGUE POSITION - 18th v 6th. Ajax will be buoyed by their away win v United, although United knew by how much they could lose to still go through.

HOME TEAM - -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team - Excelsior

RECENT HOME FORM - LDLLLWDDLWW - last 2 wins saw Excelsior scoring 3 against 14th and 16th. Have played 5 matches at home to top 10 without scoring. But note Excelsior did score in last 3 meetings in head to heads.

RECENT FORM OVERALL - WDDLDLLWLWLD - those 2 wins, as above. Only 3 wins this season, have come at home against bottom 8 sides.4 of 6 draws have come across bottom 4.

GOAL TRENDS - 36% overs at home. 5 of last 7 matches over 2.5 goals. Have failed to score in 10 of the last 17 matches.  

STREAKS - 2 match home winning streak. Have conceded in last 4 overall.

AWAY TEAM - past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team - Ajax

RECENT AWAY FORM - WDWDLWLWWDLW - Only 1 defeat in last 5 matches. 3 defeats v 5th, 8th and 13th. Have scored 2 and 4 against 16th and 17th away.

RECENT OVERALL FORM - WLDWWWWDLLWW - away draw to 2nd, away loss 4-2 to 5th, home defeat to 13th stopped an admirable winning sequence.

GOAL TRENDS - 67% overs away from home. Have failed to score in only 1 away match.Have only failed to score in 2 matches this season.

STREAKS - have scored in last 7 away. No draw in 4 overall.

CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS - Ajax have scored a bucket load recently in head to heads. Excelsior have won their last 2 home matches scoring 3, but against 14th and 16th of 18. Nothing to trouble top 5? Excelsior have also scored in last 3 head to heads so this goal streak might help them get a goal today. Only 3 wins for Excelsior, so the probability is that they are less likely to win. Most of the positive results ( draws and wins) have come against bottom sides for Excel. Only 36% overs at home , remember they failed to score in any matches against top 10 at home this season. 0-0 best case? But remember what I said about scoring in last 3 head to heads.
Ajax have scored 2 and 4 against 16th and 17th away so this augurs well for another assault on goal.
Excelsior's home unders is standout but recently the trend for them has been over 2.5 goals. As with Ajax away. A hope for over 4.5 goals, 5.5 goals for speculative traders in the hope a heartened Ajax gain confidence from away Man Utd win. Excelsior might score, as the head to heads foretell, but have not scored in the 5 home matches against top 10.

1245pm - Inverness CT v Rangers - 1.79 away
HEAD TO HEADS
17.12.2011PRGlasgow Rangers2-1Inverness CT
13.08.2011PRInverness CT0-2Glasgow Rangers
18.01.2011PRGlasgow Rangers1-0Inverness CT
11.12.2010PRInverness CT1-1Glasgow Rangers
30.10.2010PRGlasgow Rangers1-1Inverness CT
04.03.2009PRGlasgow Rangers0-1Inverness CT
Caley rarely get anything from the Old Firm, but they will never get a better opportunity than with a Rangers under administration and all over the shop.
LEAGUE POSITION - 10th v 2nd.23 points behind Celtic with 2 games in hand. It's all over this season for Rangers. Caley can go as high as 7th if winning their 2 games in hand. 

HOME TEAM - -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team - Caley

RECENT HOME FORM - LLWDWDLLLWWD - perhaps tellingly, have lost all home matches against 1st 2nd, 3rd and 5th, 0-2 against Old Firm and 2-3 against 3rd and 5th. Immediately, ( dependent largely on the time of the 2nd goal), this points to over 2.5 goals, and in the shape Rangers are in, a neutral bet will cover any potential shock. 

RECENT FORM OVERALL - LLWLLWDWWDLD - only 1 defeat in last 6 was a 1-0 away loss to Celtic. The emphasis for Caley has been very much on defence of late.Look at recent scorelines. 1-1, 0-1, 0-1, 1-0, 0-0, 1-0, 1-1 that last 1-0 was the Celtic 1-0 win at home. This defensive attitude could really pay off against a faltering Rangers. Against top 5 home and away, 8 defeats and 1 win , 0-1 away v Motherwell. 

GOAL TRENDS - 42% overs at home. As you have seen, last 6 matches clearly under 2.5 goals. Caley have failed to score in 22 of last 3.

STREAKS - 3 at home without defeat. 3 overall without a win. 

AWAY TEAM - past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team - Rangers

RECENT AWAY FORM - WWWWWWWLWLLWW - no draw away for Rangers. have lost to 1st, 8th and 9th away , 2 matches only 1-0 losses. Have scored 2-2-4 against bottom 3 with the concession of only 1 goal.

RECENT OVERALL FORM - LWWWLLWWDWWL - home loss to Kilmarnock last match 0-1. 

GOAL TRENDS - 46% -0.54 conceded away on average. Will this impressive away stat continue in current troubles?Have failed to score in only 4 matches this season, and they have all come in last 13. Sporadic over 2.5 goals. 

STREAKS - 13 away without a draw. 2 match away winning streak.

CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS - if ever Rangers were vulnerable it's now with the off field antics. But conversely, we will be getting value in any recent Rangers prices in matches they historically usually win. What stands out for me is Caley's recent strong under 2.5 goals trend , strong enough to keep Celtic to a 1-0 home win only. This could continue today. And they face a Rangers side conceding only 0.54 goals per away match. This could be 0-0 back to lay trade to stay in for as long as you dare.
Rangers , on a level playing field, would win, scoring 2+ goals  usually. No draw away for Rangers. If the draw price reduces further during the match , consider laying it at a low ( and thus value) price.

130pm - Arsenal v Tottenham - 2.58 home
HEAD TO HEADS
02.10.2011PRTottenham2-1Arsenal FC
20.04.2011PRTottenham3-3Arsenal FC
20.11.2010PRArsenal FC2-3Tottenham
21.09.2010LCTottenham1-4 AETArsenal FC
14.04.2010PRTottenham2-1Arsenal FC
31.10.2009PRArsenal FC3-0Tottenham

As regular readers know, local derbies of this calibre offer unique circumstances which makes research based on form largely irrelevant. This is a match where best on the day will win . So tough to get an angle in. Arsenal's recent 7 goal haul could give them extreme confidence against a real Top 3 Spurs side. And Arsenal historically have trouble against top 3.The odds, as with a number of matches yesterday, means exactly what I said earlier - this is a match for the best performer on the day.
Head to heads obviously points to over 3.5 goals. If there is something like a 2-0, 3-0 scoreline either way at halftime, lay the team 2-0/3-0 up

130pm - Norwich v Man Utd - 1.58 away
HEAD TO HEADS
01.10.2011PRManchester United2-0Norwich City
09.04.2005PRNorwich City2-0Manchester United
21.08.2004PRManchester United2-1Norwich City
Only one head to head of relevance saw an expected United home win.
LEAGUE POSITION - 8th v 2nd - a match featuring top 10 sides. United are losing touch with City so apparent winnable matches must become real winnable matches. 

HOME TEAM - -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team - Norwich

RECENT HOME FORM - DLWWDLWWLDDW - 3 defeats at home have come against 3rd, 5th and 12th. Conceded 2 against Spurs and Arsenal in their home defeats. The home defeat to Spurs came with 2 2nd half goals, which emphasises that Delia's boys are hard to break down at home. NO win at home in 3 matches against top 5, 2 defeats and a 0-0 draw with Chelsea.

RECENT FORM OVERALL - WDDLDWWDLWW - only 2 recent defeats at home to Spurs and away to Sunderland. 3 of last 4 wins away from home. 

GOAL TRENDS - 50/50 overs at home  borne out in a split between overs and unders in recent matches. The opponent leads at halftime in only 1/3rd of matches.

STREAKS- 3 at home without defeat. Clean sheet in last 2 home matches v Chelsea and Bolton.

AWAY TEAM - past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team - Man Utd.

RECENT AWAY FORM - WWDDWWWWWLWD - recent defeat 3-0 away at Newcastle.and recent 3-3 draw with Chelsea in a match Chelsea were 3-0 up in. Not the best record against top 10 away, draws against Chelsea and Liverpool , 1-2 win away at Arsenal and 3-0 loss at Newcastle.

RECENT OVERALL FORM - WWWWWLLWWWDW - home loss to Blackburn, away loss to Newcastle away draw to Chelsea. 

GOAL TRENDS - 50% overs at home. Average 2 goals scored away from home. 8 of last 9 matches over 2.5 goals. Only failed to score in 1 match this season. 

STREAKS - no defeat in 5 overall. have scored in last 5 overall. 

CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS - no win in 3 against top 5 with a 0-0 v Chelsea for Norwich. Losses to Spurs and Arsenal at home for Norwich saw 2 goals conceded ( and Spurs took til the 2nd half). I have a feeling this park the bus mentality might be employed today for United's arrival. You get the feeling 0-2 is the scoreline today, or a derivative of that. 0-0 a best case scenario as is the case against Chelsea.
it's quite literally 50/50 regarding overs/unders for both sides. 8 of United's last 9 games overall have been over 2.5 goals.In Norwich's favour ( if you think they really are a "top 10 " side, and not just 8th at the moment, is United's poor away record in the 4 matches they have played against top 10.
I see a tight match and eventual capitulation by Norwich.

130pm - PSV v Feyenoord - 1.45 home
HEAD TO HEADS
04.12.2011D1Feyenoord2-0PSV Eindhoven
24.04.2011D1Feyenoord3-1PSV Eindhoven
24.10.2010D1PSV Eindhoven10-0Feyenoord
11.04.2010D1PSV Eindhoven0-0Feyenoord
27.01.2010CupPSV Eindhoven0-3Feyenoord
20.09.2009D1Feyenoord1-3PSV Eindhoven
So feyenoord have won the last 2 head to heads,and PSV are 1.45 at home?
LEAGUE POSITION - 1st v 5th and still PSV very short.A win for PSV sees them top,not joint top. A win for Feyenoord sees them go 3rd.

HOME TEAM - -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team - PSV

RECENT HOME FORM - WWDWWWWWWW - ahh , now a reason why PSV are so short?They have not played any of the top 5 at home though and this is something the market makers might have missed when factoring in the price. The home form looks impressive but none of the big guns have visited. 2-2 v Ajax in 6th perhaps exemplifies struggles against better sides.

RECENT FORM OVERALL - WWWLWWDWDWL - ropey recent form. Recent LDDL have all come away from home. 

GOAL TRENDS - 70% overs at home. 3.5 scored and 0.8 conceded on average at home. 3 overs in last 4. PSV have only failed to score in 2 matches this season.

STREAKS - 7 match winning run at home. No defeat in 10 at home. Have scored in last 10 at home. Have conceded in las 6 overall.

AWAY TEAM - past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team - Feyenoord

RECENT AWAY FORM - WDWLDLWWDLW - inconsistent away. Feyenoord have only played one away match against top 5, losing 2-1 to AZ ( 2nd placed).8 of Feyenoord's last 9 away matches over 2.5 goals. 

RECENT OVERALL FORM - LLWWWDWLWWWD - recent defeats against 8th, 12th and 16th. 

GOAL TRENDS- 64% overs away from home. General over 2.5 goals trend for Feyenoord. Have failed to score in only 3 matches this season. 

STREAKS - have scored in last 5 away and last 10 overall. No defeat in 4 overall. 

CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS - so what to make of last 2 head to heads where Feyenoord won? Of concern for me, PSV have not played top 5 at home yet, so their unbeaten form at home has to be put in this context. 2-2 draw v Ajax at home. Feyenoord have only played 1 of the top 5 away , losing to 2nd. THe odds just seem too short for PSV given this is a top 5 match, and I would lay at 1.45 as a lay to nothing ( liability is low). Goal trends point to over 2.5 goals or better for these sides, but again I remind you they have both not really been tested home and away by top 5 sides.

130pm - Twente v Utrecht - 1.28 home
HEAD TO HEADS
04.12.2011D1FC Utrecht2-6FC Twente
02.03.2011CupFC Twente1-0FC Utrecht
06.02.2011D1FC Utrecht1-1FC Twente
29.08.2010D1FC Twente4-0FC Utrecht
17.01.2010D1FC Utrecht0-0FC Twente
12.09.2009D1FC Twente3-2FC Utrecht

LEAGUE POSITION

HOME TEAM - -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team

RECENT HOME FORM

RECENT FORM OVERALL

GOAL TRENDS

STREAKS

AWAY TEAM - past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team

RECENT AWAY FORM

RECENT OVERALL FORM

GOAL TRENDS

STREAKS

CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

2pm - Catania v Novara - 1.62 home
HEAD TO HEADS
29.11.2011CupCalcio Catania2-3Novara Calcio
02.10.2011D1Novara Calcio3-3Calcio Catania

LEAGUE POSITION

HOME TEAM - -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team

RECENT HOME FORM

RECENT FORM OVERALL

GOAL TRENDS

STREAKS

AWAY TEAM - past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team

RECENT AWAY FORM

RECENT OVERALL FORM

GOAL TRENDS

STREAKS

CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

2pm - Trabzonspor v Mersin Idman Yurdu - 1.47 home
HEAD TO HEADS
18.11.2011D1Mersin İdmanyurdu1-1Trabzonspor

LEAGUE POSITION

HOME TEAM - -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team

RECENT HOME FORM

RECENT FORM OVERALL

GOAL TRENDS

STREAKS

AWAY TEAM - past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team

RECENT AWAY FORM

RECENT OVERALL FORM

GOAL TRENDS

STREAKS

CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

3pm - Rayo Vallecano v Real Madrid - 1.42 away
HEAD TO HEADS

LEAGUE POSITION

HOME TEAM - -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team

RECENT HOME FORM

RECENT FORM OVERALL

GOAL TRENDS

STREAKS

AWAY TEAM - past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team

RECENT AWAY FORM

RECENT OVERALL FORM

GOAL TRENDS

STREAKS

CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

3pm - Stoke v Swansea - 2.24 home
HEAD TO HEADS
02.10.2011PRSwansea City2-0Stoke City
07.03.2001L1Stoke City1-2Swansea City
Only one head to head of relevance.
LEAGUE POSITION - 14th v 13th, nothing to split them pointswise.

HOME TEAM - -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team - Stoke

RECENT HOME FORM - DWDWLLWWDDLL - interesting sequence, LLWWDDLL if continuing ( highly unlikely) will be WW next 2 matches. Losses, wins and draws are spread throughout the league making Stoke tough to read ( inconsistent?). Where's that Fortress Stoke?

RECENT FORM OVERALL - WWWWLDDWDLLLL - 4 consecutive losses against West Brom, Man Utd, Sunderland and Fulham. Only 1 win in last 8. Perhaps the Europa League ( now over) has been an unwelcome distraction.

GOAL TRENDS - 50/50 at home. Normally with Stoke you would expect unders to prevail at home. Stoke have failed to score in 3 of their last 5 matches. 

STREAKS - 4 without a win at home, 5 overall. Have conceded in last 3 at home and last 4 overall. 

AWAY TEAM - past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team - Swansea - like Norwich are surprising .

RECENT AWAY FORM - LLLLDDLDLWLW - away from home not as impressive as at home, but 2 wins in last 3 against West Brom and Villa, and in Villa's case at least, Swansea scored 2 against a notoriously defensive side.

RECENT OVERALL FORM - WDLDDWWLDWL - last 4 defeats against Blackburn, Everton, Sunderland and Norwich, 3 of them came away from home.Have lost 6 and drawn 2 0-0 against top 10 away from home. the only other away defeat was against blackburn 4-2. 

GOAL TRENDS - 50% overs and unders away from home. Strong under 2.5 goals trend overall. Have failed to score in only 1 of last 8. Have kept a clean sheet in only 1 of last 9. Suggests conceding and scoring. 

STREAKS - 4 away without a draw. Have conceded in last 5 overall. 

CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS - another toughie in a Premiership weekend of tough matches. 14th v 13th says it all. 50/50 overs /unders for both sides says it all. Strong suggestion, via Swansea, for under 2.5 goals but no real congruence. 2 consecutive home losses for Stoke might be enough motivation to avoid defeat?Swansea have scored and conceded in matches of late. They are weaker away than at home.
Another toughie. With the Europa league ended for Stoke, there is no distraction, and a need to avoid a hatrick of home defeats might be enough to oppose the Swans but cover the draw? But then Swansea have won 2 of last 3 aways. I'll get me coat!!

330pm - AZ Alkmaar v Heerenveen - 1.62 home
HEAD TO HEADS
04.12.2011D1SC Heerenveen5-1AZ Alkmaar
19.02.2011D1SC Heerenveen0-2AZ Alkmaar
27.11.2010D1AZ Alkmaar2-2SC Heerenveen
06.03.2010D1AZ Alkmaar4-1SC Heerenveen
23.08.2009D1SC Heerenveen0-2AZ Alkmaar
25.07.2009SCAZ Alkmaar5-1SC Heerenveen

LEAGUE POSITION

HOME TEAM - -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team

RECENT HOME FORM

RECENT FORM OVERALL

GOAL TRENDS

STREAKS

AWAY TEAM - past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team

RECENT AWAY FORM

RECENT OVERALL FORM

GOAL TRENDS

STREAKS

CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

4pm - Cardiff v Liverpool - 1.4 away - LEAGUE CUP


430pm - Dortmund v Hannover - 1.32 home
HEAD TO HEADS
18.09.2011D1Hannover 962-1Borussia Dortmund
02.04.2011D1Borussia Dortmund4-1Hannover 96
07.11.2010D1Hannover 960-4Borussia Dortmund
20.02.2010D1Borussia Dortmund4-1Hannover 96
19.09.2009D1Hannover 961-1Borussia Dortmund
14.03.2009D1Hannover 964-4Borussia Dortmund

LEAGUE POSITION

HOME TEAM - -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team

RECENT HOME FORM

RECENT FORM OVERALL

GOAL TRENDS

STREAKS

AWAY TEAM - past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team

RECENT AWAY FORM

RECENT OVERALL FORM

GOAL TRENDS

STREAKS

CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

815pm - Porto v Feirense - 1.14 home
HEAD TO HEADS
18.09.2011D1CD Feirense0-0FC Porto
06.04.2002D1CD Feirense0-3FC Porto
30.11.2001D1FC Porto2-0CD Feirense
04.03.2001D1FC Porto2-0CD Feirense
02.10.2000D1CD Feirense1-3FC Porto
0-0 does not make for a 1.14 home side! The other scorelines do though, 1.14 usually signals a win to nil.
LEAGUE POSITION - 2nd v 14th. A win takes Porto top on goal difference.

HOME TEAM - -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team - Porto

RECENT HOME FORM - WWDWWWWWWW - only draw was against top side, 2-2 at home. Porto have scored 2+ in all home matches this season.

RECENT FORM OVERALL - WWWDWWWDWWLWW - sole loss this season was an unexpected 3-1 loss away to Gil Vicente. 3 away draws were 0-0.

GOAL TRENDS - 80% overs at home. Have scored in all home matches this season, averaging 3 scored per match and 0.6 conceded per match. 

STREAKS - 7 match current winning streak. Have scored in last 10 at home and last 5 overall.

AWAY TEAM - past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team - Feirense

RECENT AWAY FORM - LWLLLDLLL - sole win away v 7th. Have lost to first and 3rd, conceding 3 .Have conceded in all away matches. 

RECENT OVERALL FORM - LLLWDWLDLLLD - last 2 wins came at home.

GOAL TRENDS - 67% overs away from home. Have conceded in all away matches. 2.22 conceded on average away from home.Have scored and conceded in last 3 overall. 

STREAKS - 7 away without a win, 6 overall. Have conceded in last 9 away matches. 

CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS - 0-0 cover for the ultra cautious along side an over 3.5 goals speculative trade. Win to nil expected and 3 base minimum if Porto are on form. I could chance over 4.5 goals if feeling adventurous.

830pm - Atl Madrid v Barcelona - 1.54 away
HEAD TO HEADS
24.09.2011D1FC Barcelona5-0Atlético Madrid
05.02.2011D1FC Barcelona3-0Atlético Madrid
19.09.2010D1Atlético Madrid1-2FC Barcelona
14.02.2010D1Atlético Madrid2-1FC Barcelona
19.09.2009D1FC Barcelona5-2Atlético Madrid
01.03.2009D1Atlético Madrid4-3FC Barcelona
Tight matches when Barca visit El Madrigal.
LEAGUE POSITION - 8th v 2nd. 10 points behind Real in a disasterous season for Barca. 

HOME TEAM - -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team - Atl madrid

RECENT HOME FORM - DWWDDWWWLWD - sole loss at home came against 11th . Have played 3rd, 0-0, and 4th, 3-2 win at home. 4 of 5 home wins this season have come against bottom 4 sides.

RECENT FORM OVERALL - LWLLDWWWDDD - no defeat in 7 away. 

GOAL TRENDS - 55% overs at home. Madrid have kept a clean sheet in 6 of last 7 matches and failed to score in 2 of last 3 matches. Interesting stat. The opponents lead at halftime in only 8.7% of matches. Maybe factor that into a halftime position?

STREAKS - No goal conceded in last 2 at home. No defeat in 7 overall. 

AWAY TEAM - past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team - barcelona

RECENT AWAY FORM - DDWWDLWDWDL - very poor away from from Barca recently. We do not expect this. Defeats to Osasuna and Getafe away, draws with 7th and 17th recently away. Draws away to 3rd, 6th and 7th, and playing 8th today.

RECENT OVERALL FORM - WLWWWDWWDWLW - wins generally home wins. Just faltering away.

GOAL TRENDS - 55% overs away from home. With Barca, the opponent, incredibly, also only leads at halftime in 8.7% of matches. So where does that leave us? I thought I got a good angle in.18 scored and 13 conceded away from home from a total of 68 scored and 17 conceded all season tells you that Barca are not firing away from home.

STREAKS - Have scored and conceded in last 3 overall. 

CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS - Barca immediately look vulnerable here and may be worth laying as the first half could see a stalemate. Both sides amazingly have that 8.7% stat re teams leading at halftime, the inference being for a tight first half, backed up by Ath Madrid's ability to keep a clean sheet in 6 of their last 7 matches.  Barca do historically struggle on their visits, making that 1.54 surely very layable initially. I would certainly not be a Barca backer at the off.