Firstly; congrats to Spain for smashing a big fat hole in Russia – 4-1, awesome stuff! What was that Fabregas was saying about Villa? Time whip out that cheque book Wenger – he's the fox in the box – and, based on that demonstration of finishing, we can certainly provide him with the service he needs to score 40 a season... how much would that be worth?
Mind you – his price has now shot up to 20+ million (and the rest)... so I doubt we can go there unless we flog Ade to AC – which I wouldn't want either... and with Eduardo making terrific progress in his recovery – do we need another striker?
In Wenger we trust.
Talking of Eduardo – he's up on his feet kicking a ball, check it out on you tube! The missus explained the video of the physio session to me and put a few things in perspective (she's a highly qualified physiotherapist in case you were wondering... shit – maybe she could get Lewin's job? :-D). The exercises he was doing were designed to re-train the automatic over-stretch reflex that would be lost through an injury like this... it's basically a safety valve that kicks in when you over-extend and muscle/tendon that makes you collapse like a sack of shit before you do yourself a mischief. If you over-extend and injure then these reflexes need to be recalibrated through intensive physiotherapy or you'll just go out, feeling fine, and injure yourself again. It takes a lot of time and skill to do this – so there is still a hill to climb for Eduardo! The bones and the joints seem to have healed very well though with no infection - so that's the first major hurdle cleared. We need you back Dudu – splitting defences wide open with Ade where you belong!
Anyhoo - back to Eurovison; this is a dilemma now... Holland, Germany and Spain are looking hot! But - I'm still backing the Netherlands...
Secondly; Greece what were you playing at? How could you let Sweden get 2 past you after I put all that not-so-hard-earned cash on you to win!? Good lord – the second goal was a joke... and you got Russia next – so, I don't fancy your chances... still it wasn't all bad as I put down two bets: 5 quid on Greece to win and 5 quid on winning margin to be 2 goals (@ 5.65). QUIDS IN! When I realised that (some time after the final whistle) it was like waking up on Monday and getting ready to go to work only to realise that it's a bank holiday!
Win some – lose some!
I will take this spawny earner as a gentle warning from lady luck not to put stupid half thought through bets down in future... Lady Luck can be a cruel mistress if you don't treat her right.
So – onto tonight's fixtures:
Czech Republic v Portugal @ Geneva
Ok – I reckon a draw right, and this is nothing to do with who's the best team or the refs being bent etc... this is simple common sense – look at the group (apologies if this table looks scrambled in blog format):
Group A:
P G/D PTS
1 Portugal 1 2 3
2 Czech Republic 1 1 3
3 Switzerland 1 -1 0
4 Turkey 1 -2 0
Check it out; Portugal are the better side and top on goal difference so if they get a draw tonight it sets them up lovely for the last game against the Swiss (who have lost their captain, Frei, so are toothless) – they are laughing. If you offered the Czechs a draw for tonight then they too would snatch your hand off as it'll mean that (probably) they'll only need a draw with Turkey to go through. Both teams, with that in mind, will be thinking: If we take it easy and get a draw then we'll have fresh legs for the next game and we'll both be in a great position to go through to the next round… and – if Turkey and Switzerland also draw then they will be double laughing. If I were them I'd be playing the odds as they are very much in their favour.
Switzerland v Turkey @ Basel
Right... this one is a must win for both teams – the Swiss have got nowt (not even the support from their own fans) and Turkey will be up for it. I didn't see too much in the way of bias decisions in their previous game and I doubt that they will be able to muscle Turkey off the ball. Turkey, in turn, have their own injury worries to deal with... but I don't think it will affect them as much as the Swiss.
Interestingly three of the Swiss team have joint Turkish/Swiss nationality: defensive midfielder Gokhan Inler, playmaker Yakin and striker Eren Derdiyok. Make of that what you will.
I'm backing Turkey by a goal or more, as they need to improve their GD for when they face the Czechs in the final game... although, according to Betfair, Turkey are the long-shot for this by a fair whack which may indicate that the fix is on..?
...If it is and Portugal are aware of this then that could mess up everything...
My advice is to wait for the result of game one before you get your money on game two – as one will most certainly affect the other... be warned though – the odds will shift accordingly.
:-@
