Winner Stays On: Making your own luck

Winner Stays On / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 30 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

"Here at WSO we feel we have more in common with the Bobster. Sick of If Only and his attitude, strut and general contempt for his opponents, we decided to do something about it. After all, if these were characteristics we condoned, we would be fans of Paul Robinson. Which we’re not."

If Only has finally been knocked out and we here at Betfair Towers are taking all the credit for it.

I once had a housemate who was a tad lazy.

He'd walk into the hall where there were two light switches separated by about ten feet. The first was the one for the kitchen, a room in the house that he had no need for (he didn't cook). The second switch was for the lounge where he spent the vast majority of each and every day (he didn't work) watching TV, playing Playstation and occasionally looking at the pictures in the newspaper (he didn't like to read). He could never remember which switch was which so if he turned one on and it was the one for the kitchen, which he didn't want, he'd sit down on the sofa in darkness for the rest of the day.

When this happened I'd occasionally ask him why he didn't walk over to the other light switch, turn it on, and in the process turn off the light in the kitchen.

His response was generally something quite philosophical, along the lines of "it wasn't meant to be", "destiny decided that I should be paired with darkness" or "we can't decide our own fate. That's for someone Else to do". The latter phrase was normally accompanied with a raising of the eyebrows and a rolling of his eyes towards the ceiling.

This attitude is of course is in sharp contrast to Robert the Bruce and his spider mate. Bob felt we made our own destiny and if things went wrong the first time, it was us and not some higher being, who could rectify that.

Here at WSO we feel we have more in common with the Bobster. Sick of If Only and his attitude, strut and general contempt for his opponents, we decided to do something about it. After all, if these were characteristics we condoned, we would be fans of Paul Robinson. Which we're not.

Hence, you'll remember we strategically placed black cats and ladders in his path and warned our readers of the consequences of him carrying on winning WSO every week. He'd become Prime Minister with Paul Robinson as his Deputy, you'll recall.

And it worked. FFormigal responded to our plea and took him out. Not for dinner. Nor did he "take him out" in the Tony Soprano sort of way, you understand. He eliminated him from our family-friendly competition and in the process restored the values that are the cornerstone of this wonderful contest. And for that, we thank him.

This week's matches

Napoli v Lazio
Rennes v Auxerre
Benfica v Porto

Fformigal's selections

Napoli v Lazio - Back Lazio to win at [5.9]
Rennes v Auxerre- Back Rennes to win at [1.77]
Benfica v Porto- Back Benfica to win at [2.4]

Paulscholes18's selections

Napoli v Lazio- Napoli to win 1-0 at [6.4]
Rennes v Auxerre- Back 1-1 draw at [7.8]
Benfica v Porto- Back both teams to score at [1.9]

The consequences of If Only's incredibly fortunate win last week could end up being disastrous. Read on to find out why....

If Only keeps on winning and quite frankly, we're pretty sick of him......

Reigning champ If Only tries to make it six in a row with Arenal's trip to Old Trafford amongst this week's matches....

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Wheels, Pain and Making it Rain

Pud's Poker Progress / Matthew Pitt / 30 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Like many people in Britain I have struggled to find a dentist that will take NHS patients onto their books. Again, like many people in Britain I point-blank refuse to pay some jumped up 25-year old graduate tons of cash just to look in my gob and patronise me about my dental hygiene when an NHS dentist will do it for a quarter of the price.

With that in mind it should be quite clear why I've only been to the dentist three times in 12 years, the first time to have a manky tooth removed at a private dentist (he wanted £400 to repair or £40 to extract it) and the second time after finding an NHS dentist at the start of March and the third time yesterday. Amazingly I only needed three fillings and the horrible sounding de-scaling of the plaque build up. Sexy.

The dentist gave me a couple of injections, which were uncomfortable rather than painful, then set to work de-scaling. This hurt like crazy and when I rinsed my mouth out it was basically all blood though today my mouth feel uber fresh so it was definitely worth it. She only did two of the required three fillings because she said they don't like to numb all of your mouth at once as you not only can't eat or drink but you can also swallow your tongue. So she set to work on the top-right filling and all was fine but when she came to do the bottom-right one the numbing agent didn't work!

I mean it took the edge off but Jesus Christ it hurt, like nothing I have ever felt. After moving out of the way like I was having a seizure she asked "can you feel that?" Of course I could feel it dickhead, why do you think I was body popping down your chair? She gave me another injection and said that should sort it. She was wrong. I could still feel it and she informed me I would not get any number! I just told he to get on with it and she said she'd be as quick as she could be. Five minutes later, which felt like an hour, she was done and said "well done" like I was six. Anyway, I have to go back at the start of May for the left filling doing, hopefully she'll buy some better drugs for me.

Straight after the dentist I had to go to the bank because I needed to draw some money out to pay for a car I have just put a deposit down on. I managed to get £670 out and headed back home to do something I've always wanted to do but for one reason or another never had. I wanted to "make it rain" where you throw bundles of cash into the air and watch them rain down. So armed with a load of notes I did this in the living room and it was rather disappointing to say the least so I headed upstairs to stick it in a draw. One last count revealed there was only £600 there. In a panic I phoned the bank and asked them to see if the ATM had short-changed me and they agreed to start an investigation.

About half hour later I was playing with the youngest Pudding in the living room and he pointed to the ceiling and said something about bears. I thought he was just being daft but when I looked up towards the ceiling I saw a number of shadows in the "big light's" lampshade! On closer examination these shadows turned out to be seven £10 notes! Oops! I phoned the bank back and told them of my sad attempt to make it rain and they had a giggle and said they were happy I'd found my money! Bet they think, correctly, that I am a right loser. Oh well. The car isn't anything special, it;s a diesel Citroen Saxo which should mean that we save more than £150 a month just on fuel and car tax, and cutting down our monthly outgoings is a priority at the moment. I'm not overly thrilled about downsizing as I like my Vectra but it's just so thirsty on fuel and costs a bomb to maintain so it needs to go.

I'll update my poker progress, or severe lack of it, in another post because I need to dash now to go pick up the aforementioned motor. Until next time, thanks for reading and best of luck at the tables!

Sign up for a free Betfair Poker account and you will be able to choose your own sign-up bonus of between $50 and $2,500 and you too could make it rain!

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League One Betting: Slade's Orient making promotion noize

English Football League / Alan Dudman / 10 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Russel Slade has put together a very effective unit at Brisbane Rd

"Orient haven't lost a league game since New Year's Day (a 5-0 drubbing at Brighton) and could just make a late charge into the play-offs. There has been no FA Cup hangover, and Tuesday's win over Walsall pushed them up to seventh place in the table."

Al Dudman thinks Leyton Orient are just magic and can keep one of the season's most unlikely promotion bids on track this weekend

Leyton Orient [1.85] v Oldham Athletic [4.80], the draw [3.55]
There are some amazing things in this world. Chocolate biscuits, magicians and Susannah Hoffs to name but three. There is a fourth though, and it's this amazing team that Leyton Orient manager Russell Slade has produced, and a quite staggering run of results.

Orient haven't lost a league game since New Year's Day (a 5-0 drubbing at Brighton) and could just make a late charge into the play-offs. There has been no FA Cup hangover, and Tuesday's win over Walsall pushed them up to seventh place in the table. Their season is very much alive, and are currently [9.8] to get promoted.

The Londoners dominated the game at the Saddlers for long periods, playing some neat one- and two-touch football. Slade plays a 4-4-2, which alternates to a 4-5-1 when leading scorer Alex Revell tucks in. They do have craft and guile, added to the league's second best defensive home record.

Oldham meanwhile have slipped down to mid-table, and are in a wretched run of eight games without a win. Goals are a problem (despite scoring twice in the 3-2 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek), whilst the leaky defence has a habit of crumbling under pressure.
Best bet: Back Leyton Orient to win @ [1.85]
Back Orient to win 2-0 [10.0] and 3-0 [19.0]

Colchester United [2.44] v MK Dons [3.05], the draw [3.35]
The MK Dons are another 'momentum' team worth backing this weekend, and once again I think their price is too big. Last Saturday Karl Robinson's side were similar odds at Rochdale - and they thumped the Dale 4-1 at Spotland with an ultra-convincing display.

Tuesday night was no different when they dispatched play-off hopefuls Charlton 2-0 in a game where the Addicks were not allowed to create anything upfront. Robinson described that success as one of the most important wins of the season. Added to that, the MK Dons have really got their act together on their travels.

The Buckinghamshire outfit have a good footballing philosophy, instilled into them by a manager who is very calm and confident. They create plenty of chances and are excellent in reaching the final third, a quality that many lack in this league. The MK Dons can move at pace, and their movement can sometimes be too hot to handle.

This game will suit Colchester better, who got embroiled in a dogfight at Dagenham on Tuesday night. Manager John Ward called that a soft display in a poor game of football. Fighting and scrapping isn't really what the Essex side do, as they tend to play possession football with a good tempo. The home team can score here, however the MK Dons are rolling and will be confident to go playing for the win - which also brings into play the overs.
Suggested bet: Back MK Dons to win @ [3.05]
Back over 2.5 goals @ [2.1]
Back MK Dons to win 1-2 @ [14.0] and 1-3 [22.0]

Bristol Rovers [4.00] v Huddersfield Town [2.02], the draw [3.50]
Bristol Rovers sacked Dave Penney on Monday, and have installed player (and fans favourite) Stuart Campbell in charge - and he worked the magic on Tuesday by switching formation in a 1-0 win against Tranmere. The players looked happier, and it
seems all was not well under Penney. Has the gloom lifted?

Huddersfield need a win to keep in touch for automatic promotion, but will be without star winger Antony Pilkington who suffered an horrific leg break in midweek against Rochdale, an injury that rocked manager Lee Clark and his team. It could have a galvanising efffect on the Terriers, who are more resolute and solid these days rather than spectacular.

I'd like Huddersfield to win, but I think it's going to be a scrap. The [2.02] on offer for an away victory is tempting, but the safer option could be the unders at around [2.00].
Suggested bets: Back under 2.5 goals @ [2.0] or bigger.
Back 1-1 @ [12.0]

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