Neil

http://cdn.niketalk.com/d/dc/350x700px-LL-dc71c2bd_black-kid-oh-snap.gif

True. I think that will slightly be offset by the pressure we as a country (media mainly) put on the national team to perform, though. 2-0 will only sharpen some more knives. Take your point though, don't think it's going to be another 8-0 or anything daft like that. Think 4-0 is a fair prediction. You can get such varied odds in games like this. Lampard anytime is 8/11 with Will Hill. 7/4 with others.

Nah, Kinnear.

Love stuff like that.

Never seen Barkley really, heard he's decent, do you think he will be top class? In a word, yes. Then again I thought Rodwell would be brilliant - I still think he can be excellent - but injuries have taken their toll and of course, the utterly absurd move to Man City. If we weren't well stocked in central midfield, I'd have him back. As for Barkley, he has a footballing intelligence well beyond his years. Could make a fair case of saying he's been the best player on the pitch in every single one of our 3 games so far. He makes some mistakes, of course, but his directness, quickness of feet and creativity suggest he's got a massive future and, perhaps a bit biased again, but is well worth his place in the England squad, if we are judging relative candidates.

Biased, but really hope Barkley gets some time tonight. Gerrard and Lampard, ffs.

Any England bets tonight? -3 @ 7/4 looks pretty good. Beat them 5-0 over there earlier in the qualifying campaign. Would imagine there'd be more goals in the 2nd half too, as they get more tired. Think the bookies are placing a bit too much emphasis on us having a few players out. -2 @ 8/11 looks just as appealing for a more conservative bet. Notice they actually haven't conceded *that* many goals, mind, we've rattled them in against the minnows. Can get some quite varied odds depending what bookies you go through for these handicaps.

Can't wait for tonight. Looking forward to see how Jags and Bainesy and Stevie G and Lamps and D-Welbs and R-Lambs and Walcotty all play together, Hodgkins is the right man for the job, da da, da da da, da da da da, ENGLAND!

I'd assume so, yes. Jelavic, as much as I want to defend him, has been fairly crap again at the start of this season and it seems Martinez sees Kone as more of an impact sub. I'd be very surprised if Lukaku didn't start regularly. Maybe the usual "game or 2 on the bench" to start with as seems to happen with new signings, oddly.

Genuinely random. What's he done to earn that?

They need to set up camp in a nou stadium. http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdo7qrvHlH1qc1xtmo1_500.jpg

Howay man. If you took that attitude with everything you wouldn't bet on anything, ever. He might get injured. He might he decides he despises Real Madrid by January. He might score 20 goals by December. Didn't mean to be a Debbie Downer, mate - I think I just have an aversion to long-term bets because of variables such as these - which is why I expect better odds for the money invested. For an 11/10 bet you're getting just over double your money having lost your stake money for about 8/9 months or whatever, but over the course of the season you can win 38 "1/10" bets and make more with the same stake, if you know what I mean? Just don't like long-term bets unless the price is really big, or unless you're putting it in an accy. Just a personal preference as I said. That's a fair enough mentality mate, but I think long-term bets, if anything, reduce the variables. I agree, he could get injured, but that's factored into the price. If we knew he was definitely not going to get injured, the odds would reflect that. That's betting - short or long-term. Just like how a 1/10 bet might not come off one day because Barca are misfiring, etc. I must admit I was more inclined to put an initial wedge on this as it was winnings from a previous bet. My biggest betting win came last year with Miami in the NBA which was long-term; I think if you have some patience, ante-post stuff can really be beneficial. Edit: can see the point about it being within an accy (fwiw it will be). I guess it does take a bit of patience to invest in a 11/10 single over many months but that's part of the reason why I'm betting on it. He might get injured for a few games, he might have a poor start as he adapts - I still think even these things were to happen, I'd fancy him to get 15. I think a) he's that good and b) he'll get enough chances at Real Madrid.

Ladbrokes, over 14.5 - 11/10 Paddy - under 14.5 - 6/4 The bookies themselves don't know. Anyway, I'll stop rambling on about this. I think it's an obscenely good bet, up to you to decide if you agree. Any international betting?

Hansen's retiring. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23968628

The bet isn't him being as good as Ronaldo. For what it's worth, Higauin and Benzema have both got 15 league goals in numerous seasons since Ronaldo has arrived. Real have scored 100 league goals in each of the last 4 seasons. The idea that Bale - a man who got 21 last year - can't muster 15 this season in a team where he'll get more chances, seems very unlikely to me. Howay man. If you took that attitude with everything you wouldn't bet on anything, ever. He might get injured. He might he decides he despises Real Madrid by January. He might score 20 goals by December.

Bookies would go bankrupt if they had 2/1. Bet of the season here. 15 should be 1/2, and im being generous with 1/2.

They've made a fundamental cock-up here IMO. They've put far too much emphasis on the whole "new club, new league (which does play a part admittedly, as Stu said), won't be the main man" type of thinking, and not enough on the fact he'll err, get a load of chances. Come the Villarreal game (which he probably won't even start) it'll be 16.5/17.5 across the board I reckon. Personally think they need their heads checking. Already put a wedge on >14.5 @ 11/10, any winnings over the next few days of betting are going on that and >13.5 @ 5/6 if it hangs around.

No, Yaya Sanogo.

Yaya Sanogo.

Coral have come in with 16.5. 5/6. Expecting most to go with this, if not higher. BetVictor still 14.5. 10/11. Make yourselves some money. Edit: Ladbrokes over 14.5 @ 11/10 lol wat

Looked into it, that's just class value. Seriously expected it to be set more around the 17.5, 18.5 level. He scored 21 with Tottenham last season ffs. Now, he won't be the main man at Real Madrid, won't take as many free kicks and has missed the first 3 games. Even with those considerations, it's set too low. You're betting on Gareth Bale to score 15 goals in 35 games (even take a few off for being rested/injured - call it 30) for Real Madrid, where he's going to get considerably more chances. He's going to score 1 in 2 man.

Not at all.

Pretty nice 3rd kit IMO.

You know something's gone badly wrong if you're jealous of Everton in terms of transfers. Trust me, I well and truly know the feeling. As far as our dealings go, the one negative is Barry. I'm not going to change my mind on what I think of him just because he's now with us, just hope he can prove me wrong to some degree. McCarthy on the face of it we've overpaid for but I really do like the look of him. Arguably going to offer superior footballing ability in the middle than Fellaini, more energy and more of a link between midfield and attack. Wigan didn't want to sell, so we had to pay for that accordingly, which is fair enough. Lukaku simply looks like a beast, just hope he can continue his progress at us. Anichebe for £6m. :lol: That won't get old anytime soon. As for Fellaini, I don't begrudge him for one second wanting Champions League football. He deserves it, and he's made a big impact for us in recent years. That said, as I've rattled on for a while now, he has a disturbing lack of footballing ability when it matters in tight areas in the middle of the pitch and is generally overrated due to the fact he fits the "dominant match-winner" mould when really, there are many, many players in the country with more pure footballing ability than him, McCarthy included. Man Utd have had a shocker. Not only could they have got Fellaini for £4m less earlier in the summer, not only have they had a million bids rejected from across Europe, not only did they have fucking imposters try and secure a Herrera deal, not only have they paid just £500,000 less for only Fellaini than they bid for both Fellaini and Baines a few weeks ago, not only all of that - they don't even fucking need Fellaini. Sir Alex will be spinning in his expensive leather seat, if physics allow that.

Anichebe for £6m is something else.