Category Archives: Tips

Articles and reports that provide beneficial tips for footballers.

Premier League Betting Preview: This Weekend’s Top 5 Bets

  By O-Posts Team | March 16, 2013 - 17:00 | , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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This weekend we’re back to a full complement of Premier League fixtures as there is no FA Cup action to contend with, and it could be a pivotal weekend for both ends of the table as Manchester City would have had a tricky fixture away to Europe-chasing wounded animals Everton earlier in the day in the lunchtime match, while in the evening clash champions-elect Manchester United take on the relegation-threatened and managerless Reading, with the Royals fully knowing the task ahead of them in light of the crucial six-pointer between fellow basement dwellers Aston Villa and QPR in the pick of the 3pm games.

The first tip comes from the Liberty Stadium however, where the newly-crowned Capital One Cup winners look a tad over-priced to claim their third successive league victory over Arsenal today.  I would suggest the quoted match odds represent an over-reaction of sorts to the Gunners’ admittedly impressive yet ultimately fruitless 2-0 midweek win at Bayern Munich, coupled with an away win being seen as necessary to maintain real hope amongst Arsene Wenger’s men of trips to opposition of Bayern’s ilk next season.

The Swans will not be easy pickings by any stretch however, and Michael Laudrup has been keen to stress there remains lots to play for despite safety assured and a cup win under their belt.  Besides, having the pressure off should only encourage even more champagne football from Michu, De Guzman and the like.

Next up, I see no reason why Luis Suarez cannot continue his impressive goalscoring form at a notoriously porous Southampton at St. Mary this afternoon, while former Saints boss Harry Redknapp will be as pumped for a QPR win today at Aston Villa as he was for his current team to beat his old employers a couple of weeks ago.  Redknapp always gets dogs abuse at Villa Park and he’ll use the home fans’ bile as an incentive to rile his players to extend their recent purple patch.  Expect the Hoops to come away from Birmingham this evening with at least a point.

Redknapp’s old protegè from the South Coast and more recently North London was unavailable for Tottenham’s torturous yet ultimately successful trip to the San Siro on Thursday, but Gareth Bale will return from his European ban to give his team-mates a badly-needed boost after successive bashings by Liverpool and Inter Milan.

Spurs looked out on their feet, in particular at the back, towards the end of Thursday’s Europa League marathon and a significantly fresher Fulham have the quality in Bryan Ruiz and former Lilywhite Dimitar Berbatov to capitalise on a tired defence and find the net.  A well-rested Bale may have the last laugh, however.

 

PREMIER LEAGUE TOP FIVE BETS

1) Swansea to beat Arsenal 23/10 PINNACLEBET
2) Southampton vs. Liverpool Suarez Anytime Goalscorer Evens BOYLESPORTS
3) QPR +0.5 Handicap vs. Aston Villa 4/6 Ladbrokes
4) Tottenham vs. Fulham Both Teams to Score 17/20 BetVictor
5) Tottenham vs. Fulham Gareth Bale Last Goalscorer 3/1 EVERYWHERE!

 

Written by Emelie Okeke

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Premier League Betting Preview: This Weekend’s Top 5 Bets

  By O-Posts Team | March 9, 2013 - 14:55 | , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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This weekend’s Premier League fixture list has been almost halved as a result of running concurrently with the FA Cup quarter-finals, but there are still truffles to be found in the mud that is a difficult top-flight coupon comprising of relegation six-pointers, mid-table battles and… Liverpool vs. Tottenham where the North Londoners look great value to take something tangible away from Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

The red-hot Spurs are unbeaten in twelve league games since a last-gasp defeat to Everton in December, but they look set for happier memories from this particular trip to Merseyside.  Liverpool aren’t in bad nick either it must be said, buoyed by top-scorer Luis ‘Marmite’ Suarez’s weighty goal contributions, and Phillipe Coutinho looks a player too.

However the Reds have yet to beat any of the teams above them on the current table in nine attempts this season and it will make for curious viewing to see what provisions are made to prevent man of the moment Gareth Bale from continuing his ceaseless run of destruction.

Back to today, and with Wigan on cup duty Reading and Aston Villa fans will know that one of their teams will be out of the relegation zone come 5pm today.  This writer is opting for Villa, who were good value for a point against Man City on Monday night and would have got one if it wasn’t for a pesky schoolkid’s error from Ciaran Clark.  Moment of madness notwithstanding, Clark and co acquitted themselves well on Monday, they just lacked the requisite teeth to make imprints on the best defence in the land.

Reading, though, have conceded over twice as many goals as Man City and are starting to ship points – and goals at an alarming rate at just the wrong time.  Eight goals let in and no points from their last three league matches and in addition Jason Roberts ruled out for the rest of the season and the attack badly missing the physical threat of the suspended Pavel Pogrebnyak.  Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann have punished better defences and can inflict more pain today at the Madejeski.

As someone who revels in the accolade of having successfully being able to predict precisely none of QPR’s fixtures correctly this season, I can say with no degree of confidence whatsoever that the Hoops are worth backing to follow up their impressive victory against Southampton last weekend by winning to nil at Loftus Road for the first time this season.

Sunderland’s switch to 4-4-2 since the purchase of Danny Graham has not done the Mackems any discernible favours, and the resurgent (for now) Hoops can leave Martin O’Neill’s boys looking over their shoulders come tonight.  Two things, meanwhile, look set in stone to occur at Carrow Road this afternoon when Southampton rock up to play Norwich.

First, the away team will score.  Second, the marvellous Rickie Lambert will notch against the faltering Canaries.

 

PREMIER LEAGUE TOP FIVE BETS

1) Tottenham +0.5 (Asian Handicap) 11/10 188BET
2) Aston Villa to beat Reading 21/10 CORAL
3) QPR to beat Sunderland to nil 3/1 CORAL
4) Norwich vs Southampton Away team to score first 6/5 BETFRED
5) Norwich vs Southampton Rickie Lambert to score anytime 2/1 STAN JAMES

 

Written by Emelie Okeke

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The Football Betting Guide

  By O-Posts Team | March 5, 2013 - 20:46 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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There’s nothing quite like the excitement of laying a bet on the football on a Saturday afternoon to really get your adrenaline pumping.

A few small bets here and there can turn a game you may have had little interest in into one of the games of the season but where to start? Football is a notoriously unpredictable game with surprise results coming every week. Here’s our guide to the fundamentals, to get you started:

 

Do your homework

Picking out a team from the match day schedule can be a tricky business. All you have, until you do your homework, is a name. What do we mean by ‘homework’? Well, a team’s form is crucial in making your betting decision, so you should be asking yourself questions like; ‘what was their last game like? Did they win?’; ‘who scored and how many?’

By asking yourself questions like this, you’ll be able to work out the ‘in-form’ teams of the moment. Conversely, you’ll be able to work out the weakest selections in the league and bet against them.

 

What bet works best for you?

Defining what you want out of your bet is a good place to start. The most obvious factors are how much you’re willing to stake as well as how much you’d like to win- after all, putting ten pounds on a thousand to one bet may sound tempting but you’re more likely to lose that ten pounds than make ten thousand.

Online gaming websites often have an instant bet calculator which shows you exactly how much you’re likely to win from your proposed bets and here are two types of bet to consider laying:

 

Accumulator

Instead of betting a large amount on one fixture, betting on an accumulator is a great way to increase your odds at the same time as decreasing your stake. On any given day there are likely to be large favourites to win, so by putting a bet on more than one result you can massively increase your potential pay out.

Look for teams called ‘bankers’, these usually consist of three or four favourites which are there to ‘bulk out’ your accumulator- adding riskier teams at the end will increase your potential pay out further.

Of course, if you’re looking for something a little more skilful that doesn’t rely completely on others’ luck then try a few hands of poker but remembering first to read a decent poker blog.

 

Scorecast

Perhaps one of the more challenging bets to lay, the scorecast can simply be described as picking the correct final score. If you’ve done your homework as described above, you’ll quickly see how many goals a team is likely to score in a given match and how many another are likely to let in.

Of course, this is sometimes a lot easier said than done as football results vary massively- so you may not be correct in your prediction but you may have the comfort of an excellent afternoon’s football.

Adding the first or last goalscorer to your scorecast is a sure-fire way of massively increasing your odds- and if your team tends to rely on a single striker for their goals, it may not be a bad addition to your bet.

 

Jack Linsel is a freelance copy writer in London. He enjoys writing about football, sports and exercise.

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Premier League Betting Preview: Top 5 Weekend Bets

  By O-Posts Team | March 2, 2013 - 17:06 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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The biggest game of the Premier League weekend by far takes place at White Hart Lane where Champions League qualification-chasing Tottenham and Arsenal do battle in an eagerly-anticipated North London derby which will surely have massive ramifications for both teams not only this season but the next.

So where else to start today’s preview but at the DW Stadium where Wigan will take on Liverpool this evening.  Luis Suarez must be backed to hit the onion bag, champing at the bit as he must be having had over a week’s rest, and facing a defence whom before the Latics’ admirable victory over Reading last weekend had failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their previous six league matches of 2013.

I like the look of Suarez to score tonight, and I also like the look of goals at the Liberty Stadium today for the Swansea-Newcastle game.  The injury-enforced absence of vital Magpies custodians Tim Krul and Fabrizio Coloccini casts a veneer of uncertainty over the Newcastle defence which the newly crowned Capital One Cup winners can exploit, whilst at the other end Swansea are themselves missing a defensive stalwart in Chico Flores and it remains to be seen whether they will become another victim of the defensive lax-itis that seems to befall teams in the aftermath of winning the League Cup over past seasons.

Lost amongst all the rightful praise and incorrect over-fawning of Gareth Bale’s decisive contribution to Spurs’ win over West Ham on Monday was the fact that the Hammers applied themselves very well against the third-place team and as Sam Allardyce rightly pointed out, if the mercurial Welshman had not been on the pitch then the Boleyn club would have surely collected three points so good was their performance.

If they can maintain that level against Stoke today then Allardyce will surely be in celebratory mood come 5pm.  He has in Andy Carroll a weapon that can give Stoke’s burly defenders sonething to think about, and if Carlton Cole comes in for the injured Kevin Nolan then that could spell double trouble for the free-falling Potters.

The Manchester United juggernaut rumbles on and regardless of the fact that Los Merenges loom large on the week’s horizon, Sir Alex and co will ensure that all focus remains on beating Norwich today, and beat the Canaries well they should do.

Vengeance may also play a part today as Norwich were the last team to inflict a league defeat on the Red Devils way back in mid-November.  The Norfolk club havent scored an away league in a couple of months, during which time United have improved defensively by an immeasurable amount.

Lastly, Southampton must be a decent shout at home to QPR and further cement the Pochettino revolution against a former Saints manager, with whom he shares a birthday.  One assumes the Argentinian incumbent will be enjoying his cake a little more than his counterpart Harry Redknapp this evening.

 

TOP FIVE PREMIER LEAGUE BETS

1) Wigan vs. Liverpool Luis Suarez Anytime Goalscorer 6/5 Boylesports
2) Swansea vs. Newcastle Over 2.5 Goals 5/6 Boylesports
3) West Ham to beat Stoke 12/5 Coral
4) Manchester United to beat Norwich to nil 5/4 BetVictor
5) Southampton to beat QPR 3/4 Coral

 

Written by Emelie Okeke

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Feature: Important Tips to Follow to Become a Not-So-Bad Goalkeeper

  By O-Posts Team | February 23, 2013 - 15:20 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Do you want to fly like Messi? Then follow the tips below.
Do you want to fly like Messi? Then follow the tips below.

Do you want to fly like Messi? Then follow the tips below.

No soccer team can ever dream of doing well without a reliable goalkeeper. The goalkeeper forms the last line of a team’s defense. It is such a key position that it plays a crucial role in determining the result of a match.

For instance, a team that is doing poorly in defense and is not being able to stop the opponent from coming up with one attack after another, can get away with a draw just because of having a great goalkeeper who helps them to keep a clean score sheet with some spectacular saves. Mentioned below are some useful tips that will help you in becoming a good goalkeeper.

Do Not Lose Focus on the Ball

A mistake that novice goalkeepers often commit is that they start watching the ball only when it is there inside the penalty box. It is necessary for a goalkeeper to keep seeing the ball each and every moment. Even when the ball is far away from you, you need to keep watching it so that you do not find yourself unprepared when the opposition suddenly comes inside your penalty box.

Many goalkeepers have realized later how dangerous it can be if the eyes are not on the ball all the time.

 

Be Prepared for Leaving the Penalty Box

The main aim of a goalie is to prevent the shots of the opposition players from entering inside the goal. However, you can find such situations in a match where it is necessary for you to come out of the penalty box. But it is not wise to perform this act frequently as the opponent will always be ready to capitalize on the slightest of mistake from your part. You should be ready to leave the goal line and attack the ball when it is required.

When you make a run towards the ball, you should be full of determination and confidence that you will either clear away the ball from the feet of the opponent striker or stop him successfully.

 

Reach for the Crosses

Before jumping up in the air for saving the ball, you must ensure that it will actually be possible for you to reach for the ball. It is quite challenging for a goalkeeper to determine whether he should or should not jump for intercepting the cross. This is actually something that you will get to learn with the matches you play.

It is with experience that you will develop the capability of anticipating. If ever you end up losing the ball even after jumping, then the opponent strikers will waste no time in capitalizing on the opportunity that you have presented them.

 

Do Not Repeat Your Mistakes

It is absolutely necessary for a goalie to realize his mistakes and learn from them. While playing, it is quite obvious that you will make mistakes and you should use them as learning curves. It is extremely essential for you to have sufficient amount of confidence in yourself.

Mentioned above are some highly useful tips that you will enable you to polish your goalkeeping skills and will take you further in your football career.

 

Description: Goalkeeper is a key player in a football team. He needs to have all the necessary skills along with good presence of mind in order to make sure that his team does not concede.

 

Author Bio: Diyana Lobo is a renowned author writing high quality articles on topics such as android games. She contributes regularly for the website Bahis77.com where she also writes on dünya kupası and Tek Maç.

 

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Feature: The Health Benefits of Football

  By O-Posts Team | February 11, 2013 - 18:57 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Every sport has unique benefits, and soccer is no exception. It’s more than just a great cardio workout with balance and foot-eye coordination exercises. It also has many additional benefits that you might be unaware of. Football naturally has a semi-circuit setup with bouts of walking, running and jogging which helps keep the body guessing (and the metabolism high).

While running can be hard on the knees, it’s also a great way to build bone strength. Endurance is another important aspect of health that wanes as people age. While you might not be listing your football league on a federal resume, it’s still an important part of your life.

Check out these surprising health benefits your favorite sport is giving you.

 

Tight in the Right Places

The combination of sheer cardio and strength training can lower body fat and increase muscle tone. This lowers your risk for a host of diseases including diabetes and heart attacks. Cardiovascular health is a biggie, as heart disease is the leading killer in America. The best way to beat it is with regular cardio exercise.

You know that you’re unlikely to stick with a cardio routine that you don’t like. Football mixes things up, and there’s an end in sight (unlike epic runs on the treadmill). It’s also best to run outside whenever possible for more resistance with wind and natural differences in fields.

Many football players, even on intramural teams, also practice regular strengthening and stretching.

 

Social Health

Running, lifting and using elliptical machines might be great exercises. However, they’re also solitary and do nothing to improve your social health. Football is a team sport, and gives you an opportunity to meet people, engage and build a community. This can help with depression and anxiety.

You likely have different friends for different aspects of your life. Having a group that loves the same sport helps give you a community. It’s a great way to find a sense of belonging when you move. It also gives you the opportunity to share your passion with your children.

 

Prepping for Old Age

Soccer improves coordination, which can get shaky as people age. Of course, it also helps to get you outside. Gyms can be great, but there’s no replacement for the fresh air. Building healthy routines now can help cement the foundation for an active life in middle age and beyond. It’s much easier to get into the habit now than to try and pick up a new activity when you’re older.

There are many health benefits to football, and it’s important to keep them in mind the next time you head to the field. Is there something more you can do to improve your game and your health? Maybe you can lead the team in adopting new (or additional) strengthening exercises before or after practice.

It’s your game, and your health, so play it wisely.

 

Written by Michael Deaven

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Premier League Betting Preview: This Weekend’s Top 5 Bets

  By O-Posts Team | February 9, 2013 - 13:40 | , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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The weekend begins at White Hart Lane where a rejuvenated Newcastle aim to maintain their recent revival against a Tottenham side aiming to usurp Chelsea into third place in the Premier League, at least for a few hours.

Gareth Bale has been in talismanic form for club and country in the last few weeks, and in guiding his side to favouritism for a Champions League place, the flying Welshman himself has been backed into second-favourite for the personal accolade of PFA Player of the Year, behind only Robin van Persie in the betting.

Going six points ahead of fifth-placed Everton a day before the Blues travel to Old Trafford is a huge incentive for Andre Vilas-Boas’ men to beat the Geordies today, but the Lilywhites may have to settle for a draw in this lunchtime fixture.

Newcastle have been boosted by their new French influx, in particular Moussa Sissoko who was the hero of the hour in defeating Chelsea in memorable fashion last weekend, but in addition Yoan Gouffran has impressed and Cheik Tiote is now back from the African Cup of Nations to add further bite to a revamped midfield.

Furthermore, despite Newcastle’s well-documented lack of points on their travels this season, they have held their own at the big venues.

They led three times at Old Trafford on Boxing Day before succumbing to a 92-minute winner, were also at 3-3 with Arsenal at the Emirates only to be blitzed in the final throes, and they have picked up a pair of Mersey draws at Goodison and Anfield.

Southampton are the only outfit outside of the top seven to have scored more away goals than Newcastle this season, and the French connection can flourish once again at a Spurs side set to be devoid of a recognised centre-forward in their starting line-up.

QPR have been on a solid run of decent results, picking up the odd point and clean sheet here and there, but that run looks set to be halted at the Liberty Stadium by Swansea today.

The Swans did lose for the first time in eight matches against West Ham last weekend, but they have shown character allied with quality all season and Michu and co can oblige against the Premier League basement boys at an attractive price.

The Hammers can back up their aforementioned win over Swansea by gaining a valuable three points away to Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon. Sam Allardyce’s men have flattered to decieve at times, especially away from Upton Park, but with Andy Carroll back in their ranks and experienced campaigners such as Carlton Cole and Kevin Nolan available, the East End side have the weapons available to bludgeon the Midlands strugglers into submission.

I’m on form at the moment with scorer bets so let’s side with Luis Suarez – with Daniel Sturridge’s fitness in the balance – to claim the opener on Monday night. Lastly, over 2.5 goals looks a banker bet for this evening’s clash between Southampton and Manchester City.

 

PREMIER LEAGUE TOP FIVE BETS (CORAL)

1) Tottenham vs. Newcastle Draw 11/4
2) Swansea to beat QPR 8/11
3) West Ham to beat Aston Villa 15/8
4) Liverpool vs. West Brom Luis Suarez First Goalscorer 10/3
5) Southampton vs. Manchester City Over 2.5 Goals 8/11

 

Written by Emelie Okeke

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Betting Feature: What’s the Hottest Ticket in Town Right Now?

  By O-Posts Team | February 5, 2013 - 19:44 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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If you are looking for something to do at the weekend, a ticket to a local football game could well be top of your list. However, if you are looking for sporting excitement that you can enjoy during the week without having to take time off work or travel to a packed stadium, you may well find that the betting opportunities available on a wide range of international events are just the ticket!

For fans of horse racing, there are a number of top jump meetings held at this time of the year in the UK. If neither of those options tickles your fancy, the Rugby Union season is also in full swing and come next spring, the main Australian Rules Football league will start again.

The Formula 1 2012 season finished last month and the SBK World Championship, featuring top motorcyclists from across the globe drew to a close in October but will start again in the spring. Of course, the English Premier League is entering the busiest part of its season, with many appealing fixtures over the holiday season on which odds are available.

You can choose to back your favourite soccer teams from the comfort of your home, with many online bookmakers offering prices for each fixture. New account holders are often offered free bets by leading forms when they fund their account, enabling you to back your opinion in a wide variety of events without fear of losing your shirt.

Avid football fans can of course bet on a fixture they are attending to make the event even more exciting so there is no need to choose between supporting your local team in person and backing them online.

Before you open an account with an online bookmaker and fund it, it is of course advisable to make sure that you are not breaking any laws. As these differ from country to country, it is not possible to give definitive advice on what each individual reader of this article can and cannot do.

If you want to obtain tickets to an English Premier League game, you will find various sellers on the Internet but if you want to attend a popular fixture, it is advisable to book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. FIFA fans can also buy tickets online, with seating charts for each stadium making it easy for you to ensure that you book the seats you really want.

For those that are unable to bet on local or international sporting fixtures with an online bookmaker due to legal problems, there is always the option of travelling to attend a major sporting event in Europe and having a flutter while you are there.

To find out about upcoming fixtures, you can check one of the many websites dedicated to providing fans with details of the latest football schedules around the world.

 

About the Author:

Punters Lounge is an online leader in Paddy Power free bets and similar offers. You can also obtain expert advice on sports betting on their website at www.punterslounge.com.

 

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Premier League Betting Preview: This Weekend’s Top 5 Bets

  By O-Posts Team | February 2, 2013 - 13:02 | , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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After a romantic weekend away in the FA Cup, the bread and luxury butter that is the Premier League is a back with a full weekend programme and the first port of call for a viewing perspective is Loftus Road when Norwich City rock up for the lunchtime fixture at QPR, presumably checking before they leave Norfolk that Peter Odemwingie hasn’t strapped himself to their coach in an attempt to infiltrate Rangers’ HQ.

One player that did manage to sign for the moneyed bottom club before the transfer deadline was Christopher Samba, and the accomplished Congolese centre-back can go some way to justify his huge fee by making an instant positive impact to the R’s backline today.

The Canaries have only won once away from home all season, and have scored at a rate of less than a goal a game on their travels, so backing Samba to be man of the match may well be worth a punt. Tottenham.

Unbeaten in eight league matches, and on course for that coveted fourth-place finish. West Brom. No wins in five, one point won out of a possible last fifteen, ensconced in mid-table and shrouded in the mire of unsettling controversy.

Jermaine Defoe has to start scoring again at some point, but even though the England man has been quiet of recent, the likes of Gareth Bale and Clint Dempsey have helped pick up the slack. Away win here in the early Sunday fixture.

Later on that day, both champions Manchester City and visitors Liverpool should be able to notch in their clash at the Etihad Stadium. City’s two most experienced centre-backs, Vincent Kompany and Kolo Toure, will be absent for this fixture, and Liverpool – who have scored in their meetings at Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge, White Hart Lane, Goodison Park and the Emirates this season – clearly are not fazed by the more daunting arenas of English football, often playing well and scoring albeit without the desired result.

Despite defensive selection headaches, Roberto Mancini ought not to be too concerned with the state of affairs at the other end of the pitch despite the sale of striker Mario Balotelli. He still has three top-quality centre-forwards at his disposal and his side have not failed to score at home since a 2-0 defeat by Everton in December 2010.

On the subject of top-quality centre-forwards, one who is entering a purple patch of goalscoring at this moment in time is Wayne Rooney, who pitched in with a brace at home to Southampton during the week to accompany his two FA Cup goals against Fulham and West Ham since returning from injury.

Three starts, four goals since his return from a one-month abscence, and the Scouser seems to be benefitting from taking a break from competitive action during the congested festive period, albeit an enforced one.

His team Manchester United take on Fulham again and Rooney must be backed to put one over on the Cottagers yet again. He and the irrespressible Robin van Persie looks like a partnership coming into great form just as Real Madrid approach the horizon.

When it comes to goalscoring bets, it pays to not only go with players on song, but also those returning back to their former clubs. It seems that centre-forwards love to bite the hand that feeds, and Demba Ba can do just that in Chelsea colours when he returns to Tyneside today.

 

TOP FIVE PREMIER LEAGUE BETS

1) QPR vs. Norwich Chris Samba Man of the Match 12/1 LADBROKES

2) Tottenham to beat West Brom 6/5 BETVICTOR

3) Man City vs. Liverpool Both teams to score 8/13 BETFRED

4) Fulham vs. Man United Wayne Rooney to score anytime 11/8 BOYLESPORTS

5) Newcastle vs. Chelsea Demba Ba to score anytime 6/4 CORAL

 

Elsewhere in Premier League-land this weekend, Arsenal will aim to continue their recent goalscoring exploits in a fixture they usually come away from with three points, at home to Stoke.

Beleagured Aston Villa are sinking in the relegation quicksand and are unlikely to find any helping hands at Goodison when they visit Champions League-chasing Everton.

Comeback kings Reading clash with a Sunderland side boasting a new addition in Danny Graham, while Graham’s former club Swansea travel to West Ham with seventh place in their sights.

At the DW Stadium, a six-pointer supreme with Mauricio Pochettino aiming for his first win as Southampton boss against Wigan, who have a returning hero in Paul Scharner back in their ranks.

 

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Football Tips: Psycho-Motoric Training Allows You to Play Football with Your Mind

  By O-Posts Team | January 23, 2013 - 16:14 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Football players do not only need physical fitness, powerful technique and perfect mental ability, but they also need to develop psycho-motor skills. This means that they need to improve their concentration abilities, multitasking, space orientation, the ability to comprehend, and enhancing memory capacity and so on.

Barcelona’s midfielder, Xavi Hernandez has stated in an interview that the first thing, which is taught to every child in Barcelona, is to keep thinking fast without losing a second. Children are taught to play football with perfection, and right from the age of ten it is imbibed in their minds that losing a ball brings shame.

This statement can be better understood if you refer to the performance of Xavi Hernandez starting from the time when the player receives the ball, till the moment it is released for a pass.

The moves go in this manner:

1. Determining an open space with a passing angle and then moving the ball into it.
2. Understanding the ball is now being passed to him.
3. Looking off from the ball and viewing the surrounding.
4. While the ball is half underway, pointing his look and predicting the spot where it will head to
5. The strength of observation during the time of absorption
6. Receiving the ball and viewing the surrounding areas while estimating the moves
7. Passing the ball with maximum accuracy towards his team member or to an open space where the team member is moving to.

Xavi is speaking about the human brain and the functions of thinking abilities during physical exercise. To put it in simple words, it is all about training and exercising the brain.

 

The talent capacity

Famous football players like Pele, Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Messi and so on are also blessed with extraordinary psycho-motoric skills. These players have many qualities but one of the most noteworthy of all the qualities is their thinking ability and the power to take the correct decision on field while in motion. Coaches have also said that talent is one thing that cannot be taught. It is something which you either have it or do not have it.

A football player who is unable to put in complete attention and distracted easily is liable to perform critical mistakes, irrespective of how talented he might be. Hard training or motivation alone is just not enough for playing good football.

Barca star, Xavi Hernandez in action.

You need to understand about the neurological pattern here on which a football player does not have complete control. The first thing towards rectifying this problem is:

• Development of consciousness and getting aware of these distractions
• Instant training which is dedicated towards complete attention

The mental effort of any football player that he uses for keeping his concentration in the game is affected by concentration and attention skills.

 

Psycho-motoric training

The importance of physical fitness cannot be ruled out as it affects both concentration and attention skills. However, even if a player is physically fit, the symptoms of mind getting fatigued cannot go unnoticed.

It has been observed that players who have performed psycho-motoric training since months have reported of having both improvement and better attention ability in the game. They have also expressed the feeling of remaining fresh for a longer duration. You should not be surprised with this. Human brain reacts to physical training with equal extent in the same manner as body muscles do.

 

Conditions of Psycho-motoric training

Psycho-motoric training can be divided into general training that fits to all kinds of specific training and sports activities and is adjusted to its nature. There are multiple conditions for different exercises:

• Regular – when the player is fresh
• Intensive – when the player puts in effort
• Under tiring or fatigue conditions.

 

Author’s Bio:

Albert Steve is a sportswriter, and he also interviews popular sports people for a magazine. You could also check out his interview with Mericle, who is quite a big name in American football.

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