Neil

Rarely has one player held an entire club for ransom so often. Man Utd forced into accepting his demands too because they know, and he knows, they ain't getting anyone better. It's quite funny, really.

Froggy, if you're interested, that second double is looking like one of my all-time worst bets. Chateauroux haven't had a single meaningful attack in 42 minutes. I've no idea how they're still a footballing entity let alone scored so many goals in their last 9 games.

Huntelaar starts which is good enough for me, so that first double is on.

Just going with the stats, mate. French 2nd division. Chateauroux aren't very good but have scored 2 goals (or more) in 8 of their last 9 games. They're 7/2 to do so again tonight against the team just above them in the league. Only one of Caen's away league games haven't seen both teams scoring. Not that stats are the be all and end all of course.

Probably cursing it by posting it in here, but here goes nothing. (Providing Schalke are playing a strong team), Schalke over 1.5 goals/Dundee Utd v Motherwell BTTS double Also Chateauroux over 1.5 goals/Niort v Caen BTTS double

He hasn't. He had everything in his locker to become one of the very greatest players of our time, but as good as he is, he isn't on that level. Ferguson is responsible for a lot of that, coaching some of the flair out of him but of course for the overall benefit of Man Utd.

That Compostela goal is easily one of my favourite goals of all-time. Etched into my memory.

Not anymore. Got kicked out of Rileys recently for playing keepy uppy on Table 16.

wat

Long balls from the "top" teams suddenly becomes "direct play" as well.

Definitely keep watching out for those offers. Paddy Power do something similar. Of course, they're trying to lull you in and if you win that bet, hope that you piss away the rest/keep depositing.

It's all become much of a muchness now. 50, 100, 200, 300 grand a week. I have no idea how to quantify that in my head and it just emphasises the alienation between footballers and fans. The bubble will burst eventually, but until then we'll just keep seeing astronomical numbers flying all over the place.

Schalke over 1.5 goals is getting a good seeing to tonight. Gonna check teams first though, in case they're resting players ahead of Real Madrid.

2 things at play here for me. One is how good Rooney is. He's good - he's very, very good - but he's not on the current level of Ibra, Suarez, Aguero etc. He threatened to be, and he really should be in the top 5 players in the world, but for whatever reason he hasn't fulfilled his potential. Yet, anyway. The more overriding factor IMO is just how important he is to Man Utd. They're not going to get anyone better so I guess this contract is necessary to keep him. Everyone has their relative worth and Rooney is absolutely vital to Man Utd, losing him would be a terrible blow. In fairness to him he's held them to ransom, good on him.

Not that my tenner bet was anywhere remotely close.

Aaaaaand this is why I kept a low profile on the betting front tonight. EL is a nightmare.

This is why you don't bet much on the EL. Only 2 games with goals.

Not betting much tonight, EL is a minefield: Have a free bet on Juve to be winning 3-1 at anytime at 4/1. Also have £10 on a BTTS/match result double of Napoli, and Lazio draw @ 26/1. Otherwise, keeping quiet tonight and focussing on the weekend. Hope everyone continues some good form tonight.

Anzhi are bottom of the league, haven't won a single game all season. They scraped through to this stage thanks to a couple of 1-0 wins over the might of Tromso. They seem like they're genuinely terrible although Genk aren't particularly amazing themselves. In poor form too, lost 8 of their last 12. Perhaps for the sheer meltdown-ness of Anzhi, Genk would be the bet but it's a no-go for me. Would say 7/5 is about right. Also, Anzhi haven't played competitively since Spurs twatted them 4-1. Normally that'd be a reason to say a team is likely to lose but I wonder if for Anzhi, it actually might have been a help. They couldn't really get much worse.... could they?

Congrats on anyone who won last night (tonight), seems plenty had Costa/Atletico/Bayern based bets. Good night for N-O! Onto the EL and I'm definitely exercising some caution here. Learnt the hard way with this competition in the past, so won't be going heavy. Definitely some value to be had mind and Napoli could still represent a good bet but team news is massive, as it is for the other games. Don't get caught out ploughing money onto teams who end up resting half their normal first XI.

Costa you beautiful man.

Another good night. Nice one Col!

Unjustifiably or not, I've got this image of Milan, at home, being right up for it on big European nights. Atletico may well win, but I don't think they're especially good value (unlike PSG last night who were a similar price but great value). As I say, 15/8 Costa anytime is a bit crackers. Nearly 2/1 for a man who has 26 goals this season, to find the net. Without even considering Milan's at times pantomime defence, it's good value. Andy: you say 4/1 is too big and yeah it does sound big, but I'd say it's about right. Bayern have been beaten twice - once in a one-off Super Cup game vs Dortmund before the season started, and once at home to Man City in what was a dead rubber game for them. They've drawn twice - once at Freiburg, once at Leverkusen. They've won every single other game. That's frightening. Records are there to be broken, but I think 4/1 is fair.

It's an insane price. That is, under the proviso they play a strong team. I really want to jump on 6/4 as I'm fairly sure you won't get that come kick off on Thursday but it's only such good value if they play most of Higuain, Callejon, Hamsik, Insigne and so on. The only other reason I'd personally be put off is for whatever reason, whenever I bet on Napoli/watch them wanting to be impressed, they're pretty flat. Yet I hear every other week about how they're playing so well. Bit of a daft attitude to take but I'm still a tad suspicious of them not being all that. As for tomorrow, Atletico/Bayern should win. However: a) Milan, for all their faults - and man, there are loads - don't lose at home much. Their humbling of Barca last year is still fresh in the memory too, let alone the fact they held them 1-1 again this year. Got a feeling they might sneak something, or something will go inexplicably wrong for Atletico. That being said, Costa is 15/8 with Betvictor to score anytime. Definitely a price worth taking. b) Bayern are pretty gash value if you ask me. I'd take the -1, if anything.

Nail on head for me.