TFT Issue 344!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Norwich City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers – home win at 4/5.
Today’s featured game is the English Premier League game between Norwich City and relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Norwich have impressed me all season long. They’ve impressed a lot of people, to be fair. Their football is direct, no-nonsense football but it’s effective and it’s entertaining. You’d do well to find a side that plays with greater spirit or belief than Norwich City do, which is largely down to talented boss Lambert, whose motivational skills are superb. There are plenty of attacking options in Lambert’s squad and despite them not possessing a great deal of what I would call quality players, Norwich have a very strong squad unity and thus they trouble a lot of sides, especially at Carrow Road. Therefore, it’s reasonable to expect a good display from The Canaries today, in my view.
Helpfully, Wolves are going to be heading down to the Championship for next season and there’s precious little that they can do about it. It has seemingly only become apparent now just what Mick McCarthy brought to this club in terms of experience and organisation because Connor has been in charge for a handful of games and has seen his side decimated by conceding stupid goals at daft times. It’s been higlighted how bad Wolves have been from set pieces and I cannot disagree with that assessment either. Wolves used to be able to say that they boasted a solid defence with great organisation. That foundation allowed their attack to flourish but the removal of that foundation removes the cohesion of the team. Wolves attack and defend in a horribly ineffectual manner and the absence of Karl Henry is doing them a lot of damage when it comes to winning the midfield battle. To put it bluntly, Wolves are in a hole and they’ve got a man in charge that simply isn’t good enough to get them out of it.
For me, this really should be three points in the bag for the hosts. No game at this stage of the season is easy but Norwich have a lot of what Wolves lack and thus 4/5 on the home win appeals to me a lot here.
Verdict: Norwich City to win at 4/5.
Additional games
Sillamae Kalev vs Levadia Tallinn – away win at 8/5.
Whether this tip wins or not, it’s a complete bargain to me. Yes, both sides have changed quite a lot pre-season, as is customary in the Meistriliiga. However, the difference between the two sides is that Levadia can replacement the majority of the talent that they’ve lost; Sillamae Kalev can’t. That has shown in the opening games of both sides, too, with Levadia playing effectively and scoring goals whilst Sillamae Kalev flounder and are still yet to score a goal. It’s not like today’s hosts have just been unlucky, either – they’ve been genuinely poor and they’ll have to play better in this game than they have this season to get a result off a better side, in my eyes. This is a big test for Levadia without the likes of Nahk in their ranks but their youthful side is not short on confidence, as they’ve demonstrated in their two preceding games, so I’ve got faith in them doing the business here. With fifteen wins from the last seventeen meetings with Sillamae Kalev and whilst still possessing a better side than their hosts, I can’t help but look upon 8/5 on the away win as a bargain today.
Verdict: Levadia Tallinn to win at 8/5.
SV Kapfenberg vs SV Mattersburg – away win with draw no bet at 4/5.
Of late, Mattersburg have been absolutely outstanding, in my view. Admittedly, the Austrian Bundesliga is not a place for many goals en mass as there dwells many crap strikers. However, Mattersburg have simply mastered the art of keeping teams out with their well-organised defence and physical approach. They’re not great in front of goal but when they do score, it tends to matter by the end of the game as few sides can break through Mattersburg. Indeed, in their last few away games, Mattersburg have only lost once, which was a 1-0 defeat against Sturm Graz. After that, they won 0-1 at Admira Wacker, 0-1 at Salzburg, and drew 1-1 with Rapid Vienna and all of those sides are better than they are! Hell, they beat Austria Vienna 2-0 last match so they’re truly riding the crest of a wave at the moment. Mravac is a defensive rock unlike any that they’ve had before and it’s helping to solidify the whole team. Give the visitors a goal here and I cannot envision them losing the game. The hosts were quite smart by picking up former Virsliga hotshot Nathan Junior from Skonto Riga – I like this kid – in the transfer window but it’s only helping the hosts marginally with their massive lack of quality. The fact is that Kapfenberg do not score enough goals and they concede far too easily. Although there’s little between the two sides on paper, you have to favour the visitors here with the above in mind. For me, the away win with draw no bet is a bit of a steal at 4/5.
Verdict: SV Mattersburg to win with draw no bet at 4/5.
Slovan Liberec vs Bohemians 1905 – home win with -1.5 handicap at 5/6.
There’s a big gulf between these two sides and I think we’re in a prime position to see it. Liberec have a very good squad, the best that they’ve had for some years. They’re now mounting a realistic Gambrinus Liga title challenge to heavyweights Sparta Prague and with the league leaders stuttering a little, the hosts are confident and who can blame them?
At home, Slovan have already won six out of ten this season, bagging an average of two goals per home game. Although occasionally guilty of careless defending, the hosts are very dangerous when it comes to attacking and breaking sides down, not to mention counter-attacking opponents. Slovan have a lot of options in their team and on the back of four wins from their last five games, three of which beat the -1.5 handicap, you have to fancy the hosts to do the business here.
Unfortunately, Bohemians 1905 look destined for the Druha Liga and I don’t think that there’s anything they can do about it. It’s a shame because they’re a plucky and determined outfit and I for one have made some good money off Bohemians 1905 over the years. However, there’s a growing lack of ability at the club with players being sold and not replaced and that’s now more evident than ever with goals drying up and defending simply a myth. The only side with a worse away record in the Gambrinus Liga this season than Bohemians 1905 is rock-bottom Viktoria Zizkov. Today’s visitors have lost no less than eight out of ten away games whilst averaging conceding 2.4 goals per away game. Take them away from their fanatical fans back in Prague and this Bohemians 1905 side becomes very vulnerable, especially on big pitches and when conceding an early goal, both of which should go against them here.
I like the hosts a lot this season and if they apply themselves correctly for this encounter then we could and should see a cricket score, especially with Bohemians’ lacklustre displays in recent weeks and their horrible run of form. Therefore, the home win with a -1.5 handicap appeals to me at 5/6.
Verdict: Slovan Liberec to beat the -1.5 handicap at 5/6.
Team news
Australian A-League:
Perth Glory – Sikora, Berger, Neville, Coyne, and Heffernan are absent. Burns is a doubt.
Melbourne Victory – Brebner, Rojas, Celeski, and Leijer are absent.
Wellington Phoenix – Daniel, Downey, and Pantelis are absent.
Central Coast Mariners – No absentees.
Belarusian Vysshaya Liga:
Belshina Bobriusk – New boss Yaromko.
Dinamo Brest – No news.
Slavia Mozyr – No news.
Neman Grodno – Varankov may debutise.
FC Minsk – No news.
BATE Borisov – No news.
Bulgarian A PFG:
Vidma-Rakovski – Kolev, Ashimov are absent. Drenovichki and Starkov are doubts.
Chernomorets Burgas – Tsonkov, Telkiyski, Kishishev, and Dyankov are absent.
Slavia Sofia – Petrov, Yurukov, and Zlatinov are absent.
Ludogorets – Kishada is absent.
Beroe – Livramento, Ermoigbe, Dzaferovic, Owona, and Vezalov are absent. Kavdanski may debutise.
Kaliakra – No news. Players will not be paid until the club obtains some points in 2012.
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Slavia Prague – Pospech, Simecek, Kores, Petrak, Contofalsky, and Skoda are absent.
Sparta Prague – Vidlicka and Abena are absent.
Slovan Liberec – Krystan is absent. Vacha and Fleisman are doubts.
Bohemians 1905 – Nikl and Nespor are doubts.
Slovacko – Ondrejka, Fujerik, and Kosut are absent.
Banik Ostrava – Cverna, Poliacek, and Sverkos are absent.
Danish Superligaen:
Aalborg BK – Bogelund returns.
SonderjyskE – Hansen and Fabricius are absent.
English Championship:
Leicester City – Wellens, Drinkwater, and Danns are doubts. King, Gallagher, Vassell, and Waghorn are absent.
Hull City – Koren is absent.
Reading – Connolly and Mills are absent. Roberts is a doubt.
Blackpool – Bednar is absent.
Birmingham City – Murphy, Carr, and Spector are absent. Fahey is a doubt.
Cardiff City – Miller is a doubt.
Coventry City – Baker, Wood, and Hreidarsson are absent.
Portsmouth – Mokoena and Kanu are absent.
Burnley – Treacy has left. Lafferty is a doubt.
West Ham United – Faubert, Vaz Te, Reid, Demel, and Diop are absent.
Barnsley – Steele and Preece are absent.
Peterborough United – Zakuani is absent.
Watford – Jenkins and Mariappa are absent.
Ipswich Town – Leadbetter and Bullard are absent.
Southampton – Lee is absent. Prado and Tadnari are doubts.
Doncaster Rovers – Matis, Spurr, Bennett, Bamogo, Stock, and Woods are absent.
Nottingham Forest – Higginbotham and Elokobi are doubts.
Brighton & Hove Albion – Reyes is absent. Buckley is a doubt.
Millwall – Mildenhall, Mkandawire, Racon, and Trotter are absent.
Leeds United – Bruce and O’Brien are absent.
Middlesbrough – McDonald and Robson are absent.
Bristol City – Fontaine, Skuse, Nyatanga, Wilson, Elliott, and Davis are absent.
Derby County – Ward is absent.
Crystal Palace – Zaha is absent.
Estonian Meistriliiga:
Flora Tallinn – Many players were signed from Maag Tammeka Tartu.
Maag Tammeka Tartu – No news.
Sillamae Kalev – No news.
Levadia Tallinn – No news.
Flora Paide – Nomme is absent.
Viljandi – No absentees.
Nomme Kalju – Neutral venue. No absentees.
Tallinna Kalev – No absentees.
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Debreceni VSC – Rezes, Bernath, Szucs, Alisic are absent. Ferenczi is a doubt.
Lombard Papa – No absentees.
Kaposvari Rakoczi – No absentees.
Siofok – No absentees.
Pecsi MFC – No absentees.
Fehervar – No absentees.
Diosgyori VTK – Dobos, Abdouraman, and Budovinsky return.
Ujpest – Rajczi is absent.
Vasas Budapest – No absentees.
Zalaegerszegi TE – Bogunovic and Kocsardi are absent.
Israeli Ligat Ha’al:
Bnei Sakhnin – Gawu returns.
Maccabi Haifa – Degani, Tawatha, Meshumar, Golasa, and Ghadir are absent. Katan and Buljat return.
MS Ashdod – El-Hamid and Werta are absent.
Maccabi Netanya – Kalibat returns.
Hapoel Tel-Aviv – Yadin, Toama, Edel, Kende, and Tamuz are absent. Hotba, Fransman, and Igiebor return. Played behind closed doors.
Maccabi Tel-Aviv – Pavicevic, Konate, and Medunjanin are absent. Dabur, Yeini, and Yitzhaki return.
Hapoel Haifa – Arel and Hermon return.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva – Gavish is absent. Gabai returns.
Hapoel Acre – Capiloto returns.
Hapoel Petah Tikva – Zarfati, Luzon, and Stoler are absent. Vasi returns.
Ironi Ramat Hasharon – Lavi is absent. Abutbul returns.
Hapoel Rishon Lezion – Cohen returns.
Italian Serie A:
AC Milan – Inzaghi, Strasser, Cassano, Abate, Flamini, Antonini, and Pato are absent. Boateng, Lopez, and Nesta are doubts.
AS Roma – Burdisso, Juan, and Cassetti are absent. Heinze, Pjanic are doubts. Totti returns.
Palermo – Bertolo, Munoz, and Migliaccio are absent. Bacinovic and Silvestre are doubts.
Udinese – Floro Flores, Fabbrini, Badu, Domizzi, and Isla are absent. Benatia, Ferronetti, Barreto, and Basta are doubts.
Latvian Virsliga:
Jelgava – No news.
Liepajas Metalurgs – No news.
Daugava Riga – No news.
Daugava Daugavpils – No news.
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Kruoja Pakruojis – No news.
Zalgiris Vilnius – No news.
Suduva Marijampole – No news.
Siauliai – Rimavicius is a doubt.
Dutch Eredivisie:
Roda JC Kerkrade – Staelens, Wielaert, and Pluim are absent.
Vitesse Arnhem – van der Heijden, Hofs, and Vink are absent.
Heerenveen – Jenmaat and Steppe are absent.
VVV Venlo – Mei, Yoshida, Timisela, Verbeek, and Molhoek are absent.
NAC Breda – van Fessem is absent.
NEC Nijmegen – Goossens and Conboy are absent.
ADO Den Haag – Radosavljevic, Boussaboun, N’Toko, Toornstra, van Duinen, and Leeuwin are absent.
Twente Enschede – Douglas, Rendla, Landzaat, and Verhoek are absent. Wisgerhof is a doubt.
Polish Ekstraklasa:
LKS Lodz – Gieraga and Papikyan are doubts.
Zaglebie Lubin – Isailovic is absent.
Lechia Gdansk – Machaj, Tadic, Andriuskievicius, Kacprzycki, and Kostrzewa are absent.
Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biala – Sokolowski is absent.
Legia Warsaw – Astiz is a doubt.
GKS Belchatow – Bozok is absent.
Polish Liga 1:
Dolcan Zabki – game played in Leczna.
Bogdanka Leczna – El Mehdi returns.
Olimpia Grudziadz – Kokoszka is absent.
Wisla Plock – David, Goralski, Zagurskas, Nadolski, and Wyczalkowski are absent.
Olimpia Elblag – Pacan and Sidorowicz are absent. Kaczmarczyk returns.
Arka Gdynia – Jarun, Nwaogu, Radosavlievic, Nakano, Benat, and Zolnierewicz are absent. Ivanovski may return.
Ruch Radzionkow – No news.
Zawisza Bydgoszcz – Klofik has left. Oleksy, Ekwueme, Skrzynski, Skowronski, Lipinski, Markowski, and Jackiewicz are absent.
Flota Swinoujscie – No news.
GKS Katowice – Goncerz is absent.
Gornik Polkowice – No news.
Kolejarz Stroze – Lisak is absent.
Sandecja Nowy Sacz – Janic and Wozniak are absent.
Pogon Szczecin – Fraczczak and Kolendowicz are absent. Pietruszka returns. Boss Sasal has to sit in the stands for this game.
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Sporting Clube de Lisboa – Rinaudo, Onyewu, Pereirinha, Rodriguez, Schaars, and Ribas are absent.
Feirense – Thiago Freitas, Rosado, Stopira, Miguel Assuncao, and Jonathan are absent. Douglas, Bamba, Cris, Miguel Pedro, and Diogo Cunha return.
Russian Premier League:
Tom’ Tomsk – Botvin, Sosnowski, Balyakin, A.Ivanov, Smirnov, Bazhenov, and Boyarintsev are absent.
Krylya Sovetov Samara – Priemov is absent.
CSKA Moscow – Gonzalez and Honda are absent.
Lokomotiv Moscow – No absentees.
FK Krasnodar – Mikheev, Erokhin, and Drinchich are absent.
Amkar’ Perm – Cherenchikov, Smirnov, and Dzhalovich are absent.
Serbian Super Liga:
Novi Pazar – Match played behind closed doors. Bulatovic is absent.
Red Star Belgrade – Borja and Milivojevic are absent. Tosic and Cadu are doubts.
Jagodina – Mudrinski is a doubt. Injured players confirmed but not listed.
Vojvodina Novi Sad – Mojsov is absent. Trajkovic is a doubt.
Radnicki 1923 – Petrovic, Lepovic, and Milisevic are absent.
OFK Belgrade – missing 3-4 players but are not listed.
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Domzale – Ihbeisheh is absent.
Nafta Lendava – No news.
Rudar Velenje – No absentees.
Gorica – Galesic is absent.
Spanish Primera Liga:
Real Mallorca – Tejera, Bigas, Ogunjimi, and Kevin are absent. Castro, Pereira, and Ramis return.
Barcelona – Alves, Abidal, Afellay, Villa, and Adriano are absent.
Real Madrid – Diarra, Ozil, Pepe, Di Maria, and Altintop are absent.
Real Sociedad – Elustondo, Estrada, Bergara, and C.Martinez are absent. Griezmann returns.
Getafe – Lopo, Rafa, and Pedro Leon are absent. Barrada is a doubt.
Valencia CF – Barragan, Canales, Brito, Banega, Dealbert, and Maduro are absent. Ricardo and Tino Costa return.
Swedish Super Cup:
Helsingborg – Edman and Hansveit are absent. Sundin is a doubt.
AIK Solna – No absentees.
Turkish Super Lig:
Fenerbahce – Ozgur Cek, Recep Niyaz, and Sezer Ozturk are absent. Only women and children may attend this game.
Bursaspor – Ozan Ipek is a doubt.