Saturday FA Cup picks

It is FA Cup weekened again and there is no shortage of excitement around the big Manchester United versus Liverpool game tomorrow. Personal opinion is Liverpool will get drilled but who knows, maybe they pull a rabbit out of the hat.

For today I've made the following picks:

Blackburn to beat QPR
Fulham to beat Peterborough
Everton to beat Scunthorpe
Arsenal to beat Leeds (no repeat of 2010 heroics methinks)
Aston Villa to be Sheffield United (although they sure as hell better than they played against Sunderland!)

Will post my Sunday picks later in the day.

If you haven’t opened an account yet you can sign up at Sportingbet by clicking HERE or by visiting Voltbet.com

Roo-Turn

Maybe the cut-throat world of English football is very different from the world of social soccer, but I just don't get how anybody would want Wayne Rooney to play in their team after his antics this week?!

I've just been reading an article online where he supposedly ate "humble pie" and apologised to his team-mates and then they all went for lunch together.

WTF?!

If he was playing in a social club, the rest of the team would have pointed him to the exit and told him not to let the door hit him on the way out.

He has monopolised the media this week and had half the premiership speculating which club he was going to next. He's created doubt about his loyalty and made Sir Alex Ferguson look like a tit and then everything is supposed to be fine?

Is this really somebody you want representing you in the big games? Somebody who think he is more important than the team?

Rooney forgets that he is a success because the 25 other people in the squad are experts in their own position and they gel together as a team. If he was such a brilliant individual and could do it all on his own then why didn't England destroy everybody at the world cup?!

Precisely.....

Ke Nako Africa: 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

Wow its amazing how quickly time flies by. A few short months ago we were celebrating one of the most successful World Cups of all time.

To remember all the good times that were had soccer fans all over the world will be able to own the legacy and embrace the essence of what the World Cup had to offer.

KE NAKO AFRICA is a comprehensive summary of the biggest sporting event in the world – the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ - all contained as an entertaining, action-filled double disc DVD.

This breathtaking, awe-inspiring account is a must-have memento for all, to recall and relive the most memorable four weeks in June and July 2010.

Content featured on these DVDs include Live Performances by top musicians including Shakira, R Kelly and Freshly Ground, The Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Best Goals, Best Saves, Summaries of all games as well as the Final game.

You can buy the DVD for R152.95 by clicking HERE or on the book cover above.

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Updated World Cup betting

Wow it has been a fascinating World Cup so far and the glamour sides are certainly being given a run for their money by the underdogs. Argentina have surged in the betting following a convincing first fixture while Germany has also shortened. Surprisingly there is still betting support for England...

Here are some of the key events that have shaped week 1 of the tournament:

• England have been incredibly disappointing so far and maybe are cracking under the pressure. Their press have absolutely gone to town in ripping them to shreds. Facing a first-round exit behind Slovenia, Algeria and the USA
• Germany - brilliant in the first game and now possibly also going out in the first round as well after losing to Serbia. I still think these guys will go through but they have left themselves a lot to do against a Ghana that is on form
• USA have again been good value for money. I suppose it shouldn't be a total surprise considering how well they played in the Confed Cup
• Pre-tournament favourites Spain have lost to Switzerland and might have a tricky task getting into the top 2 in their group if Chile and Switzerland don't play according to script
• Portugal have the capacity to be stuffed by Brazil and the Ivory Coast
• France also looks like they're on an early trip back home - but like they say cheaters never prosper!

After a week of soccer here is the updated betting via World Sports Betting:

• Spain, Argentina and Brazil - 5/2
• England and Holland - 8/1
• Germany - 10/1
• Italy - 14/1
• Portugal - 30/1
• Ivory Coast, Mexico, Uruguay - 40/1
• Chile - 60/1
• Serbia - 70/1
• USA and Paraguay - 80/1
• Ghana - 100/1

I have to say USA at 80/1 isn't the worst odds around. They've shown good spirit, been well disciplined through the tournament and been one of the few sides who has been able to bounce back after going down early in a match.

EPL picks

Another big weekend of Premiership soccer is here with the Arsenal vs. Manchester United game likely to be a season -defining moment for these two powerhouses.

It has been a good premiership season with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United all pushing eachother hard – been quite enjoyable from a punters perspective as well with some nice upsets and some really competitive fixtures.

I’m slightly in favour of Manchester United but its tough to rule out home-ground advantage for The Gunners. We’re calling either 1-1 or 1-2 to United

Here are our picks for the weekend:

Saturday fixtures
Birmingham vs Tottenham – Draw (1-1)
Fulham vs Aston Villa – 0-1 or 0-2 to Villa
Hull vs Wolves – 1-0 to Wolves
Liverpool vs Bolton – 2-0 or 3-0 to Liverpool
West Ham vs Blackburn – 1-0 West Ham
Wigan vs Everton – 1-1 or 1-2
Burnley vs Chelsea – 0-2 or 0-3 to Chelsea

Sunday Fixtures
Man City vs Portsmouth – 1-1
Arsenal vs Manchester United – 1-1 or 1-2 to United
Sunderland vs Stoke – 1-1

International soccer games

There are a couple of very interesting international soccer friendlies on the go this evening including our own Bafana Bafana.

Some tricky match ups - here are my predictions.

England vs Slovenia
I don't think you can look beyond England here. They have it all in their favour and even though I don't like backing the Poms in anything I have put a few bucks down on them winning 2-0 and 3-0.

Germany vs. South Africa
This is one of those bets you place with your heart not your head but I am quite bullish on the chances for the South African boys. World Sports Betting is giving 4.5/1 for a draw and 10/1 on a South African win and I thought that neither of those are a bad bet to take.

I've then spread a few bucks around on the following "Correct score" bets:

2-0 (Germany) - 5/1
1-1 - 10/1
1-2 (In favour of South Africa) - 28/1

Holland vs Japan
I am indifferent on both these teams at the moment and maybe for a cheap and nasty punt I would put some money on Japan but nothing really jumps out at me

South Korea vs Australia
Australia being quoted at 2/1 to win seems like a pretty safe bet here.

Saturday Picks - Absa Premierhsip

The 2009 Absa Premiership kicks off again this weeekend and we take a look at our picks for the Saturday games.

• Sundowns vs. Black Aces - Sundowns to win 3-0
• Ajax Cape Town vs. Orlando Pirate - Ajax to win 1-0
• Amazulu vs. Wits - Wits to win 2-0
• Kaizer Chiefs vs Santos - Chiefs to win 2-0

Obviously it is the start of the season so it is tough to weigh up the sides so it will be an interesting Saturday

I wasn't mugged today

Two weeks back, a much publicised article by Louise Taylor appeared in the online version of the Guardian under the title: “Why going to South Africa for the World Cup terrifies me”

She took some airy stats and promptly trashed our country suggesting that either Egypt or Morocco was a better destination for the World Cup to be staged.

I am not going to give the article any credence with a link but I was impressed by was the number of comments from both South Africans and international visitors highlighting why the article was a load of drivel.

Read the rest of my article here and give me your thoughts....

Should Beckham give it all up and return home?

By Tom Mallows

He said he would never go back, but this week David Beckham did an about turn and left the door ajar for a possible return to the Premier League

It is perhaps no surprise his comments have come in the wake of the frosty reception he received upon his return to the L.A Galaxy after his brief sojourn with A.C. Milan.
I have to admit I feel some of the criticism of Becks has been a bit harsh, especially as other players chose to play in Europe during the MLS break – Landon Donovan being one of them. But I can understand American ‘soccer’ fans' frustrations.

The MLS and all of its previous guises has seen European players cross the Atlantic to finish off their career with a nice pay cheque, with little effort in return. That was fine a few years ago, but as football searches for credibility within U.S. sport, fans have become tired of half hearted performances from over-paid European stars.

As far as Beckham is concerned I think things changed when Steve McClaren recalled him to the England squad. Don’t forget when Becks signed his deal with the Galaxy he was out of both the England and Real Madrid sides. A semi-retirement in L.A. looked a decent option then.
But once back in the international fold a fourth World Cup appearance suddenly seemed an option. The passion for playing for his country is one of Beckham’s defining characteristics and it seems a good international football bet that he would do anything to keep on playing for the Three Lions. That includes playing all year round across two continents.

Beckham has publicly assured us that he is committed to his role as an ambassador to the MLS; well of course he is going to say that. But I can't help thinking he regretted moving to the US the day he returned to the England fold and realised he still had something to offer the highest level of football. Fabio Capello has already stated he believes Beckham should return to Europe in order to preserve his England chances, I wouldn’t bet against that happening before the year is out.

North Korea qualification to spice up the World Cup

By Tom Mallows:

So they have done it, no not tested nuclear weapons (though they have done that as well but that’s not what I’m talking about), North Korea have qualified for their first World Cup since 1966.

Ironically that tournament was probably the last time the country was seen in a positive light by much of the Western world. They were plucky underdogs who came away with a shock 1-0 win over Italy at Middlesbrough’s Ayresome Park before surging into a 3-0 half time lead over Eusebio’s Portugal at Goodison Park, only to collapse in the second and lose 5-3.

But since then it has been tales of domestic oppression, nuclear weapons and one of George Bush’s famous ‘axis of evil’.

Unfortunately football and politics don’t really mix, and as much as the North Korean side will look to concentrate on their football at the tournament in South Africa next year, the political undertones from both sides will always bubble to the surface – can you imagine if the USA are drawn in their group? Football betting on that one would be interesting!

The qualification has all the hallmarks of one achieved through the influence of a dictator. They train like a military platoon, running themselves into the ground. Because of that they will become one of the fittest teams at the tournament with a high stamina rate, constantly hustling and harrying away at the opposition. This sort of high tempo game is usually only effective for certain parts of games before you become worn out. However the military training has allowed the team to play this type of game for the full 90, and it has reaped dividends.

The irony of South African sport

Sport remains a hugely political tool in South Africa and I think many ordinary people find it frustrating when government officials who haven’t seen a sports field (let alone run on one) start making bold predictions about how they are going to ‘fix’ things.

Upfront, I completely acknowledge that sport was largely divided along racial lines in the past so I don’t deny that there is some merit in the racial arguments.

However the landscape is changing. No side in South African cricket or rugby enjoys the backing of the likes of billionaire Patrice Motsepe. The South African football side is not subjected to selection criteria of local, black coaches or quotas. In fact if one adds up how much the national football side has spent on foreign coaches or advisors over the last decade, it must be a massive figure.

This week has been a case in point about government administrators getting on their high horse and focusing on the wrong aspects of South African sport.

Every few years, sports administrators (typically those with political ties), will get together to hold a sports indaba of sorts where the ‘future strategic direction’ of sport will be covered. Ironically senior figures in cricket, rugby and soccer are normally not invited to give their input.

A hot topic this week has been the future of the Springbok emblem worn by the national rugby team. The politicos it should go because they believe it divides South Africa along racial lines.

The ‘logical decision’ is that it must go to unite South African sport.

Please note that senior rugby administrators and players were not invited to comment at this congress / indaba / conference or whatever they want to call it.

(Bear in mind – nobody actually knows if these guys have any legal backing to the ‘decisions’ that are taken here nor do they enjoy backing of the ruling government party, even if it is convened by some of its more militant members).

Now let’s remember that South African rugby has won 2 World Cups, a Tri-Nations, has a good black coach that is there on merit and has been able to attract an increasingly mixed racial audience to its grounds.

Soccer on the other hand is plumbing new lows. Millions have been spent on foreign coaches, the players themselves are reluctant to play and pick and choose the games they want. The national side is barely competitive with the minnows on the African continent that have budgets probably one fiftieth of what Bafana Bafana enjoys.

The national Olympics team managed a single medal at the 2008 Olympics campaign. We took along more non participating members in our squad than actually athletes, sponsors were disappointed or more interested in sponsoring the Paralympics squad and despite this, the athletes were poorly managed.

Throw in the fact that we have local government departments trying to sell off the land on which grass roots sports clubs operate to make sure that their books balance at the end of the year and the minor issue of a global financial crisis that is robbing all sports disciplines of sponsorship money and we have a pretty grim sports scene.

But no – the priority is to make sure we get rid of a brand that is highly successful, generates a lot of revenue for grass roots sports development.

I think we all agree that sport in South Africa is not perfect, but the meddling of sports officials is somewhat ironic. They talk about wanting to improve sport, but the idea of actually focusing on the problems is something that escapes some people’s agendas.