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issue 36 posted at 11.00am on 17 August 2007...

So how was it for you? After football made its long awaited return to our screens this weekend our trading floor looks like a scene from nine and a half weeks. It was full of men with smug, satisfied looks on their faces surrounded by half eaten food! This was the type of satisfaction that the return of football brought to us last weekend.

Yours in sport
 

John Daly has answered Tiger's comments regarding his unfit colleagues in some style: "I'm flexible enough, there are probably some things I could do to keep my flexibility up, but I'd rather smoke, drink diet Cokes and eat!" – over to you Tiger. The beauty of spread betting is that you don't always have to worry about who wins in order to make money (so it’s perfect for golf then). One client sold Woody Austin's Finishing Position at 59 for £50 at Southern Hills last week. The 43-year-old former bank teller mounted the best challenge to the great one finishing six under par for the tournament. The Floridian finished just two back from Tiger, a great effort considering Tiger pretty much blew away his opponents in round two when he lipped out for a 62. Woody's second place finish meant that the punter collected a £2,850 windfall.

One client from Finsbury Park sold the Tottenham Win Index in both the Sunderland and Everton games this week for £100 (at 13.5 and 15 respectively). A goal four minutes into injury-time from Michael Chopra and a determined Everton performance, who wrapped things up before half time, meant for two very rewarding win. This top class bit of opposing produced a combined profit of £2,850. Martin Jol, over a smoke and a pancake, must be wondering what he needs to do in order to get Spurs back on track this season – hold the 'buy another striker' thought though Martin!
 

A big upset in the trouser department for one punter who had to bear witness to another of the major shocks in this year's Super League as St. Helens took on Les Catalans in France last Saturday. Our client bought St. Helens' Hotshots at 67 for £10 knowing that for every try that Gardner, Gidley, Meli and Long scored he would earn 25 points. But top of the table Saints were blown away by the serial giant-killers going over four times with not a hint of a reply from the league champions. This meant no tries, no points and the dreaded zero make up for any buyer as our man was relieved of £670.

Sky's new rival kicked off its coverage of the Blue Square Premier at the weekend with a trip to the English Riviera. Torquay United versus Grays Athletic was the showpiece picked to fill the Sunday night domestic soccer gap. One client wanted to test our knowledge of the league (formally known as the Conference) and bought shirts at 29 for £150. In a bright game which saw the visitors dominate the first half without creating any real chances, the punter must have thought it was only a matter of time until his bet would get off the mark. But Justin Edinburgh's Essex boys frustrated their more famous rivals in the second 45, defending stoutly to take a Plainmoor point back in the Ford XR3i. The stalemate meant for a make-up of zero and the punter left nursing a £4,350 deficit.
 

Premiership Money doesn't buy happiness (or victories in the case of Tottenham). It's two defeats from two matches for Martin Jol's men. The White Hart Lane outfit are down three to 5-7 on our Premiership Championship Index.

It was a nightmare start for the Premiership champs. Not only did United fail to beat Reading in their seasonal opener they also lost the services of Wayne Rooney. The Croxteth born star is down 12 points to 12-15 on our Premiership Golden Boot Index after being sidelined with a foot injury.

French League They're nervously chomping on their baguette's at the Stade Gerland. The six-time French league champions Lyon, who suffered a shock defeat against Toulouse at the weekend, are down a point to 49-52 on our Ligue 1 Outright Index.

Super League Catalans 21-0 St Helens … There were many in the Merseyside area who thought the papers had made a printing error when reading this score line over brekkie last Sunday. But the Dragons had indeed singed the Saints' halo. Daniel Anderson's men are down two points to 94-96 on our Super League Outright Index.

Big Brother Brian remains favourite, but have the tabloid rumours that he's playing dumb started to grate on the British public? He's down four points to 33-36 on our Big Brother Outright Index.
 

Naked women! Knew that would get your attention! Have you had a crack at our new spread betting game - Play Yer Cards Right? This is a unique version of the classic higher / lower card game and if you play this weekend we will double your profits up to £50, once you have placed more than 10 bets, on this or any other of our 16 great games. Click here for more info.

Free beer! Knew that would get your attention! We're hosting another party in London for the crunch World Cup match between England and South Africa on Friday 14th September. If you want to come along simply get a friend to open an account and after they place three bets you will both be able to come along and have us treat you all the way. Click here to sign up and for full terms of the offer.
 
 
 


...Durham team sixes in
last 2 FP matches
 
 


...avg 1st half goals Bolton have conceded in last 6 away
 
 


...no pts scored by England in last match in France
 
 


...league matches since
MU scored more than 1 goal
 
 



...avg Chelsea team bkgs pts in last 3 v Liverpool
 
 


...avg Wire tries scored in last 3 SL matches at home
 
 


...matches since England won away from home
 
 


...avg pts in last 5 Wales v Argentina matches
 
 


...mins since Newcastle scored a league goal at home