TFT Issue 466!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Thoughts
Today’s choice for in-play betting would have to be the games involving Inter Turku, Brondby, Valerenga, KR.
Inter are expected to be given a good game by in-form IFK Mariehamn and I can’t disagree with that idea. IFK are playing very well and you never just know how Inter will react to Twente drubbing them last week. However, Inter are a couple of classes ahead of IFK and if they choose to show it then you’ll see a very one-sided scoreline here. Let’s not forget that IFK don’t travel well and they are not particularly gifted when it comes to actually scoring goals, unlike their hosts. The odds on this match at the moment don’t interest me in the slightest. However, given that it could take some time to get going, you may well find very good odds on Inter winning, Inter scoring over 1.5 goals, and Inter beating the -1 Asian Handicap in-play.
What else? Brondby vs Silkeborg. Brondby have no defence nowadays. They’re a shadow. They may well get relegated if they’re not careful. There’s plenty of pace going forward but not much intelligence in that area of the field, hence yet another problem. It’s basically whatever Krohn-Deli can produce; that decides how Brondby play. Their defence is a complete joke, though – positionally, cohesively etc. Silkeborg are a bit of a shit, anti-football side but even they can score here. I would expect Brondby to get at least a drawn from this game, based on how Silkeborg play, which awakes my interest to both sides scoring. The odds at the moment are too short so I would wait until about fifteen minutes into the game, see how the game is being played, and then hit it. If you want, you can just hit Brondby to concede, to be honest – that’s the foundation of this bet, after all.
I like Valerenga vs Brann to go overs but the odds are an absolute joke. Brann are probably the worst away side in Norway but it’s not through a lack of effort. Indeed, it’s due to their suicidal all-out-attack tactics that they’re suffering. They’re a polar opposite of Valerenga, who prefer to ride wins out. Both sides have goalscorers though, so we should see goals here. I wouldn’t be surprised if Brann nicked the win, based on how well they’ve played lately. Their statistics on the road are a bit harsh when you consider how easily they score goals. Brann have also welcomed back former star Huseklepp, which is a great boost to them as he’s a cracking player at this level. I question why they’ve signed him, though, as attacking players are the last thing that they need right now; it’s defenders that they’re short of! Don’t get involved on the 1×2 market here but we should see at least three goals in this game – hit it in-play when the odds are good enough.
Lastly, I like KR to batter IA. IA have had a wake-up call and are struggling against the bigger and better sides. KR are much better than IA and should record a simple win here as long as defeat against HJK last week doesn’t get to them too much. Given the old rivalry between two big Icelandic clubs, I’m hesitant to take a European handicap on this game, which is why I’ve not tipped the game. However, the -1 Asian Handicap at 4/5 would interest me if the odds get there in-play as KR could and should do a lot of damage to IA, in my view. IA might think they’re as big as KR but they’re not as good and not as clinical. KR should be comfortable enough here but wait and see in-play.
Featured game
Fram Reykjavik vs FH Hafnarfjordur – away win at 9/10.
Today’s featured game is the Urvalsdeild game between Fram Reykjaivk and FH Hafnarfjordur.
Despite defeat last week against AIK Solna of Sweden in the UEFA Europa League, I still fancy FH to do what is required of them here. They’re the better side, as you’re all already aware, but they’ve got a side playing against them today that they enjoy playing against. Not only have FH beaten Fram in six out of their last seven meetings but Fram’s goal-shy approach to football suits FH perfectly as they almost always score and are usually capable of holding the lead too.
Fram just don’t have enough firepower, basically. It’s not a coincidence that the only side that they’ve managed to beat at home this season after falling behind was UMF Grindavik, who are rock bottom of the table at the present time. Fram are good enough at holding leads when they get them but where will their goals come from? There are too many youngsters in this side and too much reliance on their dangerous midfield, which usually contains Lennon, Hewson, and Halldorsson. There are no good strikers in this side and that’s causing them no end of problems. They have no “Plan B” at all; they have to take the lead and hold it or things fall down around them and against the bigger sides/goalscoring sides, they have struggled an awful lot this season.
Unfortunately for Fram, they don’t come much bigger than FH Hafnarfjordur nowadays, much as though both KR Reykjavik and IA Akranes fans would protest at me writing that. FH are the heavyweights nowadays because they have that winning mentality and the experience to get wins when it matters. Just look at their away form; you won’t find many with form like it in Scandinavia. Only bitter rivals KR Reykjavik and Valur Reykjavik (with their one inspired half of football!) have beaten FH this season when FH have been the away side; everyone else has lost against FH. FH are adept tactically and have more than enough firepower to defeat every side in Iceland if it suits them. The skill of Snorrason, the movement of Sverisson, the experience of Bjornsson, the finesse of Gudnason – there’s more than enough in FH’s arsenal to trouble Fram today. Defensively, they’re a little guilty of being complacent more often than not and thus FH conceding wouldn’t surprise me much. However, they’re one of the most prolific sides in Iceland and you really have to expect them to do the job here.
Barring an uncharacteristic display, FH should have too much firepower in their side to do anything but win this game. Fram would need to be at their absolute best and FH to be below-par for this one to not come in. Still, if yesterday was anything to go by then Fram will probably win this one 5-0, eh?! The value has to be on the FH win at 9/10, though.
Verdict: FH Hafnarfjordur to win at 9/10.
Team news
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Slavia Prague – Cicman and Dobrotika are absent. Juhar and Vohsalik may debutise. Kisel may feature.
Vysocina Jihlava – Rada is absent. Sourek, Josl, and Kolousek may debutise.
Danish Superligaen:
Brondby – Rommedahl is absent. Thygesen returns.
Silkeborg – No absentees.
Romanian Liga:
Rapid Bucharest – Pancu and Sabau are absent.
Otelul Galati – Ilie and Didi are absent.
Swedish Allsvenskan:
BK Hacken Goteborg – Forsell is absent. Majeed returns.
GAIS Goteborg – Floren is absent. Sillanpaa, Gustafsson, Aubynn, and Ekunde are doubts.