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issue 84 posted at 11.00am on 05 September 2008...

It's been one of the most entertaining and inconceivable weeks in English football. A week when Sky Sports News showed nothing but yellow bars and footage of fat Chairman downing pints. So, just as well the international break is here to keep the excitement at its peak!

Expect mediocre defeats of minnows mixed with some underperforming superstars, with a little lack of player passion thrown in. Or maybe not? As Spurs' greatest ever alcoholic once said "it's a funny old game".

Yours in jest

 

The first Old Firm derby of the new season got straight into our faces last Sunday as Rangers took first blood in what was one of the most thrilling seen in some years. One punter had an inkling that there might be a bit of aggro and bought the bookings in the game at 58 for £200 (10pts for a yellow, 25pts a red). Our man didn't have to wait long for his bet to get going when Rangers' Kevin Thompson was booked after just nine minutes. Booking after booking followed: Macmanus, Cousin, Samaras, Adam, McGregor all wiping themselves from the referee's Christmas card list. Then came Cousin's last act as a Rangers player, needlessly leading with his Spanish Archer and seeing yellow for the second time. This was followed a minute later by Jan Vinegar of Helsinki's petulant push right in front of the referee. The Dutchman saw red and there was still time for a final booking for Broadfoot to give the market a make-up of 120 which locked in an FD cowering profit of £12,400 for the client.
 

After last week's mauling of South African sport for being rubbish at both rugby and cricket, the sporting gods decided to reverse the fortunes a little as the Springboks took on Australia for the second time in eight days. One client, who was on the right end of last week's encounter, got on the Wallabies again and sold South African supremacy at 2 for £150. With the Aussies looking to go ahead of New Zealand in the Tri-Nations and the Springboks out of things, it looked like the right choice. But, like at the end of The Crying Game, a nasty surprise was in order for our man as South Africa bounced back like Zebedee on crack to record their biggest ever win over Australia. Tries from Bekker, Jacobs, Pienaar, Ndungane and new wing wizard Jongi Nokwe, who went over an amazing four times in 55 minutes, before leaving the game on a stretcher. Australia went over just once through Mitchell in a game which in the record books will look like this: 53-8. But to the punter, it will look like a £6,450 loss.

 

NFL New England were left kicking themselves after they fell at the final hurdle last season. Will the Pats find life a little tougher this time around? Bill Belichick's boys are down five to 47-51 on our Super Bowl Outright Index since we went live with our prices.

Premier League "Blue Moon, you saw me standing alone". City fans are in dreamland following the Middle East takeover which helped broker Robinho's move to the City of Manchester Stadium. Their Season Points quote is up a massive four to 57.5-59 following Monday's mayhem.

Primera Liga Barcelona were desperate for a positive start on Sunday after they finished 18pts adrift of Real Madrid last season. However, they fell foul of newly-promoted Numancia and Pep Guardiola is already under pressure. The Catalan giants are down two to (Desmond?) 41-43 on our Primera Liga Outright Index.

Mildly interesting / useless sporting fact

Former Rangers striker Daniel Cousin will be hoping for a few less culinary shocks in the Hull City dressing room after once remarking: "The Scottish players like a good drink. What's more, they put their beer in big glasses here. It's as if they need it to recharge the machine. There are also chips and pizzas in the dressing room at the end of the match, plus Coca-Cola and ketchup!"
 

"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?" (Vince Lombardi) NFL is back and no other spread betting firm offers you more pre-game choice than us. From long term to game markets, we're your one and only stop to football heaven.

Get a mate to join (we'll make it worth your while!) If you know anyone who you think will enjoy the thrill of sports spread betting as much as you do, introduce them and after they've placed five bets each risking £20 then you'll get a £100 Total Goals bet on any live football match.
 
 
 

...avg goals in Ireland's
last 4 Internationals
 
 


...Internationals since
Scotland scored 1+ goal
 
 


...avg rounds boxed by
A. Khan in last 2 fights
 
 


...yrs since there was a 5-set Men's US Open Final
 
 


...time of 1st match goal in
last 2 England Internationals
 
 


...avg pts in last 3 Tampa Bay/New Orleans games
 
 


...time of 1st Leicester
try in last 2 GP games
 
 


...avg England Team Goal Mins in last 3 Internationals