Showing posts with label Blackpool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blackpool. Show all posts
December 24, 2013
July 18, 2012
World Matchplay Darts Betting: The Power can light up Blackpool at a big price
"Wes Newton is now a firmly established top eight player and has recently moved above Simon Whitlock and Raymond van Barneveld to number five in the rankings."
Phil Taylor is aiming for a record-equalling fifth successive World Matchplay title at the Betfair-sponsored event. Jaymes Monte assesses the betting ahead of the Blackpool action...
The Obvious Choice
It doesn't take a darts aficionado to pick Phil Taylor out as a potential winner of the World Matchplay. The Power has 11 Matchplay trophies in his cabinet and has won the last four in succession.
Those bare statistics alone suggest that the 2.71/1 available on Taylor winning the 2012 World Matchplay are fairly generous. And the draw handed to the world number one backs up that idea.
Taylor can be vulnerable in the early stages of tournaments, but an opening round match against old foe Mervyn King will only serve to focus his attentions. Should he beat King then Vincent van der Voort or Ian White would not be expected to pose much of a threat in the second round while the same could be said for potential quarter-final opponents Andy Hamilton, Brendan Dolan, Mark Webster and Colin Lloyd.
Gary Anderson is the next highest seed in the top half of the draw but the Scot hasn't played competitive darts for over a month due to an eye problem, and so his form is something of a mystery.
Come next Sunday evening that 2.71/1 on Taylor could look like a gift from the darting gods.
One to Trade
The best options for trading in the outright winner markets of a darts tournament usually come from players in the opposite half of the draw to Taylor. However, this week, the bottom half of the draw is a potential minefield and so I am plumping for an in-form player in The Power's half but in the opposite quarter.
Wes Newton is now a firmly established top-eight player and has recently moved above Simon Whitlock and Raymond van Barneveld to number five in the rankings.
Young James Hubbard will provide a stern examination in the opening round, but The Warrior's experience on the main stage should see him progress with some comfort. Justin Pipe or Joe Cullen await in the second round, and Newton would go into a match against either as a deserved short-price favourite. Then, given Anderson's injury problems, Dave Chisnall is probably the most likely quarter-final opponent.
Although Chizzy has had a fantastic year, Newton has a considerable 6-1 head-to-head advantage over the St Helens flinger, and would again go into the match as strong favourite. Taylor is a potential semi-final opponent but by that point Newton will be trading considerably lower than the 36.035/1 that is currently available and we can bag a tidy profit.
An Outsider to Keep Onside
As mentioned above, the bottom half of the draw is a real minefield. But it does offer up a couple of bigger priced options as a result.
Richie Burnett showed that he can still mix it with the best by reaching the semi-finals of last season's World Grand Prix and subsequently beating Mark Webster at the World Championships. He then teamed up with Webster to guide Wales to the semis of the PDC World Cup of Darts, before a rather inconspicuous UK Open.
The Prince of Wales appeared to have slipped back into the 'also-ran' status that he had become accustomed with, before bursting back to life in Dusseldorf a fortnight ago. There he beat Andy Jenkins 6-2 in the opening round with an astonishing 121 average before defeating Scott Rand, Michael van Gerwen and James Hubbard to reach the semi-finals. The 1995 Lakeside Champion couldn't go all the way as Raymond van Barneveld beat him in the semis, but he did enough to warrant backing him this week, for small stakes at 140.0139/1.
The action kicks off this Saturday evening with the final taking place the following Sunday. I'll be here all week with daily previews of individual matches so be sure to check these pages before placing your individual match bets.
Recommended Bets:
5 points - Back Phil Taylor to win @ 2.71/1
3 points - Back Wes Newton to win @ 36.035/1
1 point - Back Richie Burnett to win @ 140.0139/1
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March 7, 2011
Premier League Betting: Blackpool v Chelsea
Premier League 
/ Dan Fitch / 06 March 2011 / 1 Comments 
Will Torres break his duck against Blackpool?
Considering his performances since arriving at Chelsea, you can make an argument that Fernando Torres shouldn’t even be in the team, but his £50m transfer fee means that he almost certainly will be.
Blackpool have pulled off some shock results this season, but with two of their star performers missing, Dan 'The Betting Man' Fitch thinks that Chelsea will prove too strong for The Tangerines. Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals @ [1.54].
Venue: Bloomfield Road
Kick Off/TV: 20:00/Sky Sports 1
Carlo Ancelotti saw his Chelsea team get back to winning ways on Tuesday, as they came from behind to beat Manchester United 2-1. The Italian will be hoping that this result signals a revival in form and it looks like Chelsea are playing Blackpool at exactly the right time.
Blackpool have proved to be difficult opponents for the top teams when they've travelled to Bloomfield Road this season, even if Ian Holloway's side haven't always picked up all three points. A fragile Chelsea side can count themselves lucky then, that Blackpool go into the game without key personnel.
Both Charlie Adam and DJ Campbell are suspended for the match, though there could be some good news with Elliot Grandin a possibility to be available after a hamstring injury and Stephen Crainey also back in contention, having recovered from an ankle knock.
Chelsea are still without the injured Alex and Yossi Benayoun, but David Luiz looks set to shake off a hamstring problem.
Match Odds: Blackpool [10.5], the draw [5.8], Chelsea [1.35]
Chelsea beat Blackpool 4-0 in the corresponding fixture earlier this season and these odds are reflective of how you'd expect the Premier League champions to be priced, when visiting a promoted side.
However, were it not for the fact that Blackpool will be without the influential Adam and to a lesser extent Campbell, I might have considered that Chelsea were worth a lay, given their recent poor form.
With seven goals and seven assists, Adam has been integral to a third of Blackpool's goals this season and Holloway has admitted this week that Blackpool just aren't the same side without his Scottish captain and Campbell. So even though the odds of [1.35] are quite small, I reckon your money will be safe, as Chelsea cruise to victory.
Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Overs [1.54], Unders [2.78]
The odds of [1.54] for over 2.5 goals could be viewed as a compliment to Blackpool's ethic of playing attacking football regardless of their opponents, rather than attempting to shut up shop.
When you consider that 75% of Blackpool's games have broken the 2.5 goals barrier, then those odds actually look quite generous. Even considering that Chelsea's array of attacking talent have been misfiring of late, it is difficult to imagine them being as profligate as Spurs were on their recent visit to Blackpool.
Holloway's gung-ho side have also broken the 3.5 goals barrier in 50% of their games this season, making the [2.24] for four goals or more, another price that is good value from a statistical basis.
To Score
Considering his performances since arriving at Chelsea, you can make an argument that Fernando Torres shouldn't be in the team, but his £50m transfer fee means that he almost certainly will be.
If ever there was a team against whom Torres was likely to be presented with chances, it's Blackpool. When the market opens on Betfair closer to kick off, the Spanish international is likely to be priced at around [2.1] to score at any time. It's not the most generous of prices, but I'm working with the logic that Torres has to break his duck eventually.
Both teams to score
With Blackpool having scored in 79% of their games this season, it's no surprise to see that the odds of both teams scoring are just [1.88], with [2.1] for both teams to fail to hit the net.
Blackpool have scored in every one of their home games and I expect them continue to have no respect for reputations against Chelsea.
Best Bet: Back over 2.5 goals @ [1.54]
Recommended Bets: Back Fernando Torres to score @ [2.1], back both teams to score @ [1.88].
Sir Alex is up to his old tricks - lambasting referees in order to divert attention from his team, trying to influence officials and shunning the media - but Richard Aikman wants to know if the powers will stand up...
Kuyt hat-trick earns Liverpool key win and condemns United to second consecutive defeat. Meanwhile, Wolves and Spurs slug out six goal thriller......
Blackpool have pulled off some shock results this season, but with two of their star performers missing, Dan 'The Betting Man' Fitch thinks that Chelsea will prove too strong for The Tangerines. Best Bet: Over 2.5 goals @ [1.54]....
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