This has to be one of the most bizarre weekends I’ve encountered for a long, long time. It was a gambler’s nightmare, effectively. Everything that should have happened on any level, didn’t. I can’t begin to imagine the number of people that have lost out because of it. It just all seems somewhat dodgy to me though. I mean, take French Ligue 1 for example – 1 home win from 10 games? Does that strike anyone else as being odd? Still, I suppose we can only look onwards from here.
In other news, it was amusing for me to see Liverpool further distance themselves from Manchester United by somehow failing to overcome Manchester City at Anfield.
That, however, leads me onto another point. I don’t know how many of you watched Manchester United vs Blackburn Rovers but there was one particular incident in this game that caught my attention. The game itself was decent, chances for both side overall, the better side just about shaded it. However, my point is regarding Cristiano Ronaldo. There’s no denying people love to hate him – that’s fine. People have to have an enemy in life. However, the referee booked him for diving during this game, and rightfully so, he did indeed dive. You can only hold up your hands and say “fair play” at that point, even if he shouldn’t be doing it. But my problem is this – Morten Gamst Pedersen did exactly the same thing at the other end of the field by making out that somehow little Rafael da Silva pulled him down in the box in the fleeting instant he had his arm on his shoulder. It was a blatant dive and the referee didn’t give the penalty – so should he not also be booked for diving? I don’t have a problem following the authority of the referees if it’s consistent, which it isn’t. That’s what I cannot stand about it all – Ronaldo’s reputation got him booked but enables others to get away with it? That grates on me at times, and it would probably grate on me a lot more had United not won the game. Just some food for thought for you all!
Lastly, I have to add that I really, really hate my fellow Manchester United fans from a general perspective. I just cannot tolerate their fickle and stupid ways. I go to every United home game and sit with such louts in the stand that I feel sick. I’ve actually heard people saying how bad legendary figures like Scholes, Neville and Giggs are whilst sitting in this stand, as well as hearing that Ronaldo is “shit” and “should be sold” etc. It’s just such utter bullshit. The nail in the coffin lid was when they started berating poor Rafael da Silva against Blackburn Rovers – he’s just a kid, for fuck’s sake! Give the lad a chance!
Anyway, onto the picks before you really get me started!
Monday’s Picks
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Slavia Prague vs Viktoria Plzen (9) 2-0
English Premier League:
Hull City vs Tottenham Hotspur (5) 2-2
English League Two:
Wycome Wanderers vs Rotherham United (8)
French Ligue 2:
Metz vs Lens (5) 1-1
Israeli Ligat Ha’al:
Maccabi Netanya vs Maccabi Haifa (7) 1-1, at least 1 red card in this game
Italian Serie B:
Ancona vs Frosinone (6)
Pisa vs Salernitana (7)
Maltese Premier League:
Birkirkara vs Marsaxlokk (8)
Portuguese Liga:
Leixoes vs Belenenses (7) 1-0
Enjoy your free betting tips!
