Neil

Muller anytime single Ozil anytime / Sweden-Austria BTTS double.

We're actually in very real trouble if we don't win both these games - it's not some overblown media rhetoric. There are a lot of permutations but if Ukraine win tonight, then anything less than 6 points in our 2 games (Ukraine kicked off just now vs Poland), and we're almost certainly in the playoffs. Ukraine have San Marino on Tuesday. Fun.

If only Luke Shaw had a right foot.

Apart from 3 players, that's an awful side. Northern Ireland. :lol: What a shambles.

b365.

Well, that's a good start to the night. Not that I could've seen Belgium conceding whatsoever. Looked very comfortable.

Armenia bringing home the money. 20+ mins left vs Bulgaria at home, Bulgaria down to 9. Was 1-1. Armenia were 2/1 to win in play. Morons. Stan James, that is, for being so slow to update their odds. Most other bookies had Armenia odds on, obviously.

Lukaku 2-0.

I am. Lukaku 1-0.

Anyone after some decent early football, Croatia v Belgium just started.

Eventually ordered. Anyone had a read yet?

Sigh.

Had the chance to look at a few things for tonight. Initial selections that jump out are Croatia-Belgium BTTS, Sweden-Austria over 2.5, and Muller anytime. Gone for the first selection as a single. Kicks off at 5. Also, I know we probably should win tonight, and Montenegro aren't at full strength, but at 12/1 it's a struggle to resist not putting a couple of quid on Montenegro. Can get 10/1 DNB with SpreadEx.

Nice bloke as well. Whether or not it comes across on Soccer Saturday, he's very knowledgeable about the game. Dealt with him in my last job regarding his work with Guernsey.

Want to be sick all over England at 1/3.

We'll see who's an amateur when Uruguay players are celebrating their 4th goal tomorrow.

...you can, however, get 3/1 at Will Hill. That's a bit more like it.

Was gonna say. 2/1 are what I think of as great psychological odds. They sound class in your head. 2/1? For a quality side like Uruguay? To beat Ecuador?! When you break it down, though, the odds are fair - if anything, a little stingy. As Disco said, Ecuador are great at home. A 33% chance of Uruguay winning is pretty much what I'd say is a fair chance. But people will naturally be lured in by 2/1 because it sounds like value, as opposed to being value.

That's something I've picked up on so far. But, as I say, I'm pretty convinced he isn't even fully fit yet. Benteke is oustanding like. There's no need, Belgium.

I think a fully-fit Lukaku would be frightening. Would be interested to know more about this Belgian wave, mind. Was it a change in youth development? From the outside, seems bizarre a fairly average European country has, at the same time, got a dozen or so top-class players coming through.

Fwiw, my thoughts on him generally have very little to do with these comments. I think they were unnecessary but fairly off-the-cuff. Much ado about nothing. Fair enough and I can totally understand why people don't like him. Big fan myself, love for us to produce that kind of player even if he was half as good. Depends if we're talking about the player or the person - because they illicit 2 entirely different reactions from myself. He should be the fulcrum of our midfield for the next 10 years if he lives up to his potential.

Fwiw, my thoughts on him generally have very little to do with these comments. I think they were unnecessary but fairly off-the-cuff. Much ado about nothing.

Comes across as an almighty prick generally, IMO.

GW8: Newcastle 1-3 Liverpool Arsenal 4-1 Norwich Chelsea 2-0 Cardiff City Everton 2-1 Hull City Man Utd 2-1 Southampton Stoke City 1-2 West Brom Swansea 0-0 Sunderland West Ham 2-2 Man City Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham Crystal Palace 2-1 Fulham

Avid South American watchers might be able to help more with this, but SA football is treating me well recently. It seems you can often get ludicrous odds for away teams (good away teams, too). Take Gremio at Botafogo last week for example. Gremio 2nd, Botafogo 3rd, Gremio in great form, Botafogo in rotten form, Gremio were something like 3/1. Crazy. Is there just more of a natural home advantage in South America (altitude?) and this is why odds are often overly skewed towards home teams?