TFT Issue 203!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Manchester Cityvs SSC Napoli – home win with -1.5 handicap at 11/10.
Today’s featured game is the UEFA Champions League game in England between Manchester City and SSC Napoli.
A lot has been made of the difficulty of City’s group, although I have my own views that it’s difficult moreso on paper than in actuality. Nonetheless, with no experience whatsoever in this competition, I concede that games can be hard for the hosts despite the experience of their respective individiuals so I can just about understand the comments about the difficulty of their group. My viewpoint is that the sides in it all lack in firepower on this stage, however, and given that City have now finally gone 4-4-2 and attack more often, they should outscore most, if not all, of their opponents in this group.
Concerns – their defence is shit. Let’s not beat around the bush here – only Kompany is of any quality in that backline and when placed under significant pressure, City will collapse at the back. However, the good news for them is that Napoli don’t play quick enough football to put that kind of pressure on them so I can only see a lot of one-way traffic today.
Aguero is in superb form – no questions asked. Dzeko is still an average striker in my eyes but stick quick players around him and play long ball and you have a player that is in his element, hence him playing so well lately. Silva is a world-class playmaker and there’s plenty of other attacking options here, enough so for City to win this one comfortably.
Napoli have been absolutely terrible in Europe in the last year or two. They’ve looked slow, uncomfortable, weak, and disorganised. Their players tend to get booked rashly and pace unsettles them greatly. They’ve got some great players themselves – on paper- but I’m still of the opinion that Serie A is some distance behind the Premier League and the Primera Liga and it’s in games like this where I expect it to show. Napoli may pinch a cheeky goal but I expect them to concede two or three if City don’t bottle it.
For me, there’s a lot of value in taking City -1.5 here at 11/10.
Verdict: Manchester City to beat the -1.5 handicap at 11/10.
Additional game
HB Torshavn vs EB/Streymur – away win at 4/5.
If ever there was a time to show up for EB/Streymur then it’s now. They’re playing their demoralised bitter rivals, who have no goal threat and nothing left to play for. EB/Streymur are still in the race for the title, eight points adrift of B36 Torshavn, which looks a lot, but consider that EB/Streymur still have a game in hand and an away game with B36 Torshavn yet to play and you’ll see that this race is still open. Let’s not discount Vikingur Gotu too, who have also had a good season, although I can’t see them doing it, to be honest. EB/Streymur are one of the best goalscoring sides in the Meistaradeildin with Hansen and Samuelsen frequently causing Faroese defences problems. They’ve won six consecutive games in all competitions ahead of this one and I think they’re more than good enough to win this one today. HB Torshavn only have a midfield nowadays – their defence and attack are shocking. For me, there’s value on the away win at 4/5.
Verdict: EB/Streymur to win at 4/5.
Team news
Basel – No news.
Otelul Galati – Bus is absent.
Internazionale – Viviano, Cordoba, Maicon, Thiago Motta, Chivu, and Poli are absent.
Trabzonspor – No news.
Manchester City – No absentees.
SSC Napoli – Britos and Donadel are absent.
SL Benfica – No news.
Manchester United – Ferdinand, Vidic, Rafael da Silva, Cleverley, and Welbeck are absent.
Dinamo Zagreb – Biscan, Cufre, Simunic, Alispahic, and Morales are absent.
Real Madrid – Kaka, Altintop, and Sahin are absent.
AFC Ajax Amsterdam – No news.
Olympique Lyonnais – Lopez and Cris are absent.
LOSC Lille – No news.
CSKA Moscow – Akinfeev and Necid are absent.
Villarreal CF – No news.
Bayern Munich – No news.
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Zalgiris Vilnius – Komolov is a doubt. First game back at home stadium.
Banga Gargzdai – Zelmikas is absent.
Siauliai – Jarusevicius is absent.
No news from other teams.