TFT Issue 23!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Sorry about the downtime – hopefully it’s the last we’ll see of it for the forseeable future!
Featured game
Jaguares vs Jorge Wilstermann
This game is being played in Mexico between hosts Jaguares and Bolivian opponents Jorge Wilstermann. I’d normally stay well away from this one as Mexican sides generally don’t give a shit about this competition but certain factors have made this game very interesting indeed to me tonight.
Jaguares have already shown willing in this tournament by beating Peru’s Alianza Lima 2-0 both at home and away to qualify for the group stage so I expect them to put on a good show tonight. They loaned Argentinian playmaker Manso from Monterrey during the break, which was a great move – I really like this good as he’s got a superb eye for a pass. He’s perked Jaguares’ fairly average side up and they’ve started scoring goals as a result. They’re still not a Cruz Azul or Santos Laguna in the Mexican Primera Division but they’re on the up whilst they make signings like the afore-mentioned.
However, the main part of my confidence comes from Jorge Wilstermann. You see, Jorge Wilstermann hilariously managed to get themselves relegated after qualifying for the Copa Libertadores so as such, they’re currently not good enough to be in the top flight of Bolivian football, which means they’re shit, in essence. On top of that, they’ve had a sharp descent to get to Mexico as they play in Cochabamba, which is well over 2000m in altitude. On top of that, Jorge Wilstermann were forced into selling almost all of their first team after being relegated – they lost no less than seventeen first team players and have only brought in six to replace them, none of which are even close to the players they’ve replaced quality-wise. They’ve lost a large number of important Argentinian and Brazilian players i.e. Sanjurjo to Aurora Cochabamba, Andrara to San Jose, and Barrera to Deportes Iquique, not to mention defender Nilton to America RJ. Bluntly, the players that got Jorge Wilstermann to this competition are no longer there and what remains is a very poor side!
Now, the bookies are obviously at least partially aware of this because they’ve slashed the price on Jaguares to 1/5. However, if they knew all of it, then Jaguares realistically wouldn’t be shorter than 1/10 so there’s still value here. Everything is stacked against the visitors here and whether Jaguares care for this competition or not, it’ll take something monunmental for them to not win this game comfortably, in my view. Therefore, my attention was immediately captured by giving Jaguares a -2.5 goal handicap at 7/5 because with the above in mind, this looks a very real possibility and at very good odds too.
Verdict: Jaguares to beat the -2.5 handicap at 7/5.