Brentford v Yeovil Town

The money has been coming in for Brentford during the pre-season and Uwe Rosler’s men could not wish for a better start than a home opener against relegation candidates Yeovil.

Comparisons between the new Brentford manager and Gus Poyet, who won the League with Brighton a year ago, are far too premature to be taken seriously, but there are some convincing signs that Brentford are moving in the right direction. In signing Clayton Donaldson, Brentford have a player who scored 29 times for Crewe a season ago in League Two,  has bags of potential and should adapt to the demands of League One football readily. Goal scoring should also be helped by the Bees creative but stiff midfield that has been bolstered with loan players from Celtic and West Brom and a promising pre-season suggests that Brentford could be a force to reckoned with for some of the bigger guns on the fixture list.

Yeovil, not one of those bigger guns, meanwhile have shown ability in recent seasons not only to survive in League One but to do so with some comfort. Indeed, Brentford were one of a number of away scalps for the Glovers last season, but with a young squad that has not been bolstered over the summer with any key signings, it is possible that the south west club may be standing still while others around them are moving forward. Yeovil have defied the odds in League One ever since their promotion and their fans may suggest that I am falling into a trap that has caught many before me, but Brentford look value at only a shade of odds on to set the tone for the very different campaigns that both of these sides could be in for.

SUGGESTION:

BRENTFORD  – 1pt @ 5/6 @ Blue Square, 888 Sport and Coral

Hull City 0-1 Blackpool

If the return of this blog carried with it no great fanfare, the return of Blackpool to the Championship was hardly front-page news either. Despite becoming the darling side of many a neutral a year ago with their free-flowing, attacking and attractive style of play, few expected Blackpool to make much of an impact on the top end of a fiercely competitive Championship this season.

With the spending power of West Ham and Leicester, alongside perennial contenders such as Nottingham Forest, Reading and Cardiff, Blackpool have hardly dropped down to a level where they can be assured of being one of the ‘big dogs’ in the league. Indeed, the short list of teams above does not include the sides that many people expect to make a run from the middle of the pack – Ipswich (whom I believe can make the playoffs), Brighton, Southampton, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Burnley and their Friday night opponents Hull City to name just a few.

However, after watching Ian Holloway’s men on Friday, my mind at least has been changed on the potential of this Blackpool team to mount a serious assault on the Championship playoffs. Yes, losing Charlie Adam to Liverpool would hurt any side, not to mention the late sale of D.J. Campbell during the pre-season, but the Blackpool skill and thirst for goals was as evident as ever at the KC Stadium. Some of the football in the second half was nothing short of magnificent, as the Blackpool midfield seemed to have a magnetic control of the football going forward. The overall ability to turn the sublime skill into killer passes and, ultimately, game-changing goals is still something that we have to wait more than 90 minutes to judge, but the signs are positive for Holloway’s men. In the goal scored by Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Blackpool showed that a pretty flick pass can set up a chance and that Taylor-Fletcher has the ability to do something that a host of Hull players cannot – smash the ball into the back of the net. This is not an Arsenal style of toothless, if pretty, passing – Blackpool genuinely mean it when they come forward.

Winning promotion may be a long way off for Blackpool even with this impressive start to the season, but worries that their stint in the top-flight, and their spiral out of it, may have dampened the mood around the club were dispelled with the gritty and, at times, thrilling display of football. Nearly all eleven players punched the air as the full-time whistle went – there is a fire that still remains within this team, and whether or not they ultimately fall short of a top six place (defensive frailties would have been exposed had Hull not continued last season’s lacklustre play in front of goal) Blackpool must still be respected as a side that present an interesting betting proposition as the season goes on.

90 minutes into the new season, and already I have learned something new from a fascinating night of football. Bring on Saturday.

The Return...

Amid great fanfare*, I have returned to the world of blogging with the intention of developing ‘thetippingpoint’ into a sports betting blog phenomenon. Or, at least, developing it into a blog read by at least three separate people a day – either way I’ll be making some headway.

I enjoyed writing this blog immensely when I had the time to dedicate to it during the Christmas holidays a year ago, and managed to turn a profit in that time – receiving some kind comments along the way. Non-blog related work commitments then returned to take over, but with those rescinding once again on a more permanent basis, I hope to have the time to update the blog on as near to a daily basis as possible.

 

The focus will continue to be on football – both the English and American versions, but most of all I hope for sound reasoning for my selections that can foster discussion, and to turn a profit. If I can do that, then this blog can be considered a success. I hope you enjoy reading.

 

*My fiancée has not lifted her head from her book, and the dog continues to lie sleepily on the floor.

Update - Packers 10-3 Bears

Not quite as comfortable as one would have hoped, but the Packers secured their playoff slot via a stout defensive win over the Bears.

Now 3/9 (33%) on the week.

Green Bay should wrap up playoff spot

THE Green Bay Packers put themselves in pole position for a playoff spot when they beat the New York Giants last week, and they look like good things to confirm their place with a win over the Bears tonight.

The Packers got their offence back into high gear last weekend with the return of Aaron Rodgers under center, and Rodgers will not let his side miss out on their chance to make a real playoff charge. While ordinarily the Bears would never lack motivation for a trip to Green Bay, Chicago may also not be willing to risk potential injuries depending on how the game develops. Regardless of week seventeen action, the Bears have already secured a first-round bye when the playoffs begin. However, the Bears 36-7 loss at home to New England showed the potential fragility in their defence, and while the Packers may not rack up a win in such comfortable fashion, they have enough offensive firepower to continue an impressive run at Lambeau Field.

1/5 is a very short price about Green Bay, but they are the only team I trust this week in the mine-field of week seventeen football. Money is generally best preserved for the start of the playoffs next week, but Green Bay are just about value in this matchup – as unexciting at that this.

SUGGESTION:

Green Bay WIN (1/5 @ Stan James and bwin)

Update - Saturday Results

Preston 1-2 Derby

Manchester City 1-0 Blackpool

West Brom 1-2 Manchester United

Coventry 1-1 Ipswich

Grimsby 7 (SEVEN!) -2 Mansfield

Stoke 2-0 Everton

Another poor afternoon, as only Derby delivered with a 2-1 win at struggling Preston. Both Manchester teams managed one-goal victories, United helped by a West Brom penalty miss, but neither did enough to convince me to trust them at those prices again in similiar games.

Coventry only managed a home draw with Ipswich, while Everton succombed 2-0 at Stoke after being denied an early penalty.

However, the standout selection was my pick of Mansfield, who promptly got stuffed 7-2! Seems to have summed up the week so far!

Overall, 2/8 (25%) on the blog so far this week.