Sportsbet.io's English Premier League Football Pool Discussion Thread

[rdbase]

I've probably got to tone down my Pool pick too... heart says Jota and Firmino are good enough (and the latter did enjoy a backheel goal in FA Cup) but I don't think I've actually seen him, Jota and Minamino play together... we also don't have a full midfield so yeah, this could be tight.

Based on the performance tonight, I think caution should probably be taken. Though, I have a gut feeling, and a bet riding on a 2-0 win with Jota scoring at anytime in the match. I think that's pretty probable. Brentford going through a rough patch at the moment, and conceding a lot. Shipping 3/4 goals recently, however we're significantly weaker without Mane, and Salah so I'm actually feeling the 2-0 here.

Obviously, I haven't bothered to put in predictions since pretty much the start of the season so don't take my advice . I'm predicting a CuJo, Henderson, and Fabinho midfield. Milner being used tonight against Arsenal pretty much confirmed this for me.

I do like your way of thinking there Welsh!
Today's match just shown how vulnerable this liverpool side can be without their main players who are off playing for their respectable countries in AFCON. And Arsenal even with only playing with 10 men for the majority of the match showed this to be true.
I really thought when I saw them go down on a red card at the 24' minute they were done for. But some how the gunner boys kept them off the score sheet. Rematch on Thursday then back to basics on Sunday against the Hot Spurs.

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[hilariousetc]

Philippe Coutinho has signed with Villa. Never saw that coming. Kieran Trippier has also gone to Newcastle. Wonder if the Geordies will sign a big name this year. Not sure I'd put Kieran Trippier in that bracket.

I used to love how Coutinho plays, so its nice to see him in the Premier League again. Whether or not he'll gain his previous form from when he was here last will remain to be seen, but I think it was quite obvious to everyone watching at the time, he has something special about him. Since leaving Liverpool his career has taken a massive downer though.

I'm sure he'll do well at Villa though he'll seem out of place. It's a weird signing for sure. Is he starting this weekend? They're playing Man United. I was tempted to go with a draw on that game but a home win wouldn't surprise me either given Man U's shakiness right now. If Coutinho is playing I might back it.

Trippier is a decent signing, probably the best they can get considering they will likely be battling for relegation. I know they pretty much have unlimited money, but not all the top players want to be earning money, they also want to be winning trophies.

I haven't been following him since he left the PL but going from ATL to Newcastle is a big drop off for him. Was he playing much there or is he just getting a bigger paycheck out Newcastle? If they beat Watford tomorrow then they'll leapfrog them out of the relegation zone so could be a good match to watch.

[buwaytress]

Game tonight, gentlemen, new round, 17 more match days to go!

^Coutinho AND Digne for Villa! Gerrard factor at play here for sure. Both passed medicals so are eligible to play, don't know if they actually will, but Digne's distribution, and Coutinho's unlocking? United won't want them on the pitch!

Based on the performance tonight, I think caution should probably be taken. Though, I have a gut feeling, and a bet riding on a 2-0 win with Jota scoring at anytime in the match. I think that's pretty probable. Brentford going through a rough patch at the moment, and conceding a lot. Shipping 3/4 goals recently, however we're significantly weaker without Mane, and Salah so I'm actually feeling the 2-0 here.

Obviously, I haven't bothered to put in predictions since pretty much the start of the season so don't take my advice . I'm predicting a CuJo, Henderson, and Fabinho midfield. Milner being used tonight against Arsenal pretty much confirmed this for me.

I do like your way of thinking there Welsh!
Today's match just shown how vulnerable this liverpool side can be without their main players who are off playing for their respectable countries in AFCON. And Arsenal even with only playing with 10 men for the majority of the match showed this to be true.
I really thought when I saw them go down on a red card at the 24' minute they were done for. But some how the gunner boys kept them off the score sheet. Rematch on Thursday then back to basics on Sunday against the Hot Spurs.

Actually, though, both sides were going for the win before 24th min. 4 corners in that time, compared to 5 the remainder of the match. The red card spoilt the EFL game as after that, in came Holding, out went Nketiah,  so Arsenal effectively put their men in their half, sometimes Lacazette ventured up front, but in fact we spend a big portion of the game with 21 men in Arsenal's half, and even Alisson outside his box. And Liverpool simply haven't really learnt how to dismantle a team bus.

Ref didn't really have a choice but I wish Xhaka had stayed on, game would have been much more open -- as Brentford will NOT be playing like this, giving Jota and Firmino more space the way they excel, I'm still confident we can get a big win.

Oh and now I've seen Mina, Jota and Bobby together, yeah, it's definitely not working. Mina doesn't take on people like Mane does, and both Jota and Bobby are too silky and unselfish for their own good. They need a bit of... Ox selfishness, without his finishing of course haha.

[casperBGD]

Game tonight, gentlemen, new round, 17 more match days to go!

^Coutinho AND Digne for Villa! Gerrard factor at play here for sure. Both passed medicals so are eligible to play, don't know if they actually will, but Digne's distribution, and Coutinho's unlocking? United won't want them on the pitch!


~snip

yeah, new round, but Leicester is already postponed
Brigthon and Crystal Palace tonight, what a match

we are taking Norwich at home, maybe that should be a decent match and a chance for Gray to prove his value

regarding United and Villa, not sure, but United has to start winning sometime soon, maybe this weekend is the moment

[Joca97]

Game tonight, gentlemen, new round, 17 more match days to go!

^Coutinho AND Digne for Villa! Gerrard factor at play here for sure. Both passed medicals so are eligible to play, don't know if they actually will, but Digne's distribution, and Coutinho's unlocking? United won't want them on the pitch!


~snip

yeah, new round, but Leicester is already postponed
Brigthon and Crystal Palace tonight, what a match

we are taking Norwich at home, maybe that should be a decent match and a chance for Gray to prove his value

regarding United and Villa, not sure, but United has to start winning sometime soon, maybe this weekend is the moment

Lets hope i start this week good,i always start slow in first 2 matches then middle matches pick it up really well then end up badly. Lets hope the match between Brighton and Crystal Palace ends in 1-1,that would be a huge boost for me.Hoping for a lot of good results this week its a tricky one

[swogerino]

Game tonight, gentlemen, new round, 17 more match days to go!

^Coutinho AND Digne for Villa! Gerrard factor at play here for sure. Both passed medicals so are eligible to play, don't know if they actually will, but Digne's distribution, and Coutinho's unlocking? United won't want them on the pitch!


~snip

yeah, new round, but Leicester is already postponed
Brigthon and Crystal Palace tonight, what a match

we are taking Norwich at home, maybe that should be a decent match and a chance for Gray to prove his value

regarding United and Villa, not sure, but United has to start winning sometime soon, maybe this weekend is the moment

Lets hope i start this week good,i always start slow in first 2 matches then middle matches pick it up really well then end up badly. Lets hope the match between Brighton and Crystal Palace ends in 1-1,that would be a huge boost for me.Hoping for a lot of good results this week its a tricky one

After so many failing results for me at least this week which will have 13 games I started with the right foot and a correct score of 1-1 in the Brighton game yesterday.There are still a lot of games to be played but it makes me feel good when I start with such kind of results,one thing is sure this is not going to be my weakest week in term of results.

[buwaytress]

Nice exacts for a few of you swogerino, Joca, hahay and captain

we are taking Norwich at home, maybe that should be a decent match and a chance for Gray to prove his value

regarding United and Villa, not sure, but United has to start winning sometime soon, maybe this weekend is the moment

As long as we don't force another red card and then have to break down a fort, we should be all right. Compliments to Norwich, they still come out of the blocks trying to fight, for better or worse.

And on United starting a winning streak well, Villa's also got to start theirs soon to hold off the panic tide.

[tomahawk9]

^Coutinho AND Digne for Villa! Gerrard factor at play here for sure. Both passed medicals so are eligible to play, don't know if they actually will, but Digne's distribution, and Coutinho's unlocking? United won't want them on the pitch!

i was gonna say "have you seen Coutinho with Barcelona lately? he's been awful!" but then i remember his one season loan in Bayern a few years ago and boy did he look phenomenal in germany despite being crap in spain, like you said, it looked like he was unlocked after leaving Barca... but, apart from that, i'm actually surprised the bookies have Villa @2.8 and United @2.4?? when was the last time you saw a Man Utd win with these odds against a team outside of the top 4? i know they've been poor this season, but 2.4 against Villa? that's a bit disrespectful lol

[slaman29]

^Coutinho AND Digne for Villa! Gerrard factor at play here for sure. Both passed medicals so are eligible to play, don't know if they actually will, but Digne's distribution, and Coutinho's unlocking? United won't want them on the pitch!

i was gonna say "have you seen Coutinho with Barcelona lately? he's been awful!" but then i remember his one season loan in Bayern a few years ago and boy did he look phenomenal in germany despite being crap in spain, like you said, it looked like he was unlocked after leaving Barca... but, apart from that, i'm actually surprised the bookies have Villa @2.8 and United @2.4?? when was the last time you saw a Man Utd win with these odds against a team outside of the top 4? i know they've been poor this season, but 2.4 against Villa? that's a bit disrespectful lol

Coutinho was really awesome with Bayern actually. In fact, if you judged him from time on the field to contributions he was one of the best, if not in the entire team. Just goes to show that he COULD be a great player for great teams. I always wanted him to succeed at Barca but if we have to move him on to rebuild, so we shall. This is only a loan now anyway, so I sincerely hope he does well to make the move permanent.

And you're right, it only makes sense to bet on United right?

[Trofo]

Nice exacts for a few of you swogerino, Joca, hahay and captain

Lot of us got exact scores in that first match, really surprising since it was a draw. It is historically least choose option in our pool for sure.

Now watching City - Chelsea and it seems to me both managers are happy with draw here, City keeps a big lead while Chelsea is coming away with a point form Etihad which is always good enough.

[rdbase]

Need Manchester to start scoring in this one against Chelsea or will end in a draw just like Brighton match yesterday did 1-1.
Absolutely hate matches that end in a tie those are so hard to predict.
Also needing goals in the Everton, NewCastle and Southampton matches later on today with all those to win with over on 2.5 goals.
Should be eventful for these upcoming games.

[buwaytress]

Sigh. I knew it would be dull, but not this dull. Like you said Trofo looked like both just wanted a draw but KDB as usual pulls a rabbit out of the hat for Pep.

Chelsea hedge bet did not work out, by least got a point from this yawn win. Thought City might get a wake up call but on they march. And a number of you got exact scores too. Sorry, Welsh but there you go. Hope Villa at least gets the other Manchester team tonight.

Only bet left for me is a long acca with first leg won thanks to Citeh. January blues, let's say.

Edit: aaaand ruined as Norwich got 2 goals in the time I wrote this. Heh.

[casperBGD]

~snip

Edit: aaaand ruined as Norwich got 2 goals in the time I wrote this. Heh.

yeah, shitty Everton, hopped for a win today

still, United is leading in Birmingham, would they be able to finish it as a win?
one close result in first five matches in the pool, some unexpected results, but mostly missed draws yesterday and for Newcastle, expected more from lousy teams

[swogerino]

~snip

Edit: aaaand ruined as Norwich got 2 goals in the time I wrote this. Heh.

yeah, shitty Everton, hopped for a win today

still, United is leading in Birmingham, would they be able to finish it as a win?
one close result in first five matches in the pool, some unexpected results, but mostly missed draws yesterday and for Newcastle, expected more from lousy teams

I was surprised at Norwich winning against Everton but I should be not that much.Norwich got nothing to lose and they got all in and now they have real possibilities to keep fighting for real against Watford for the relegation battle and who knows they may be able to save themselves from falling down a category.

Manchester City which managed to win against Chelsea I guess says the definitive thing that they are going to be Champions of the Premier League,many points ahead right now and although mathematics permit for other teams to try the title for me in reality is not possible.Time for Liverpool and every other team to shift focus 100% on the Champions League.

[tomahawk9]

And you're right, it only makes sense to bet on United right?

my bad,, my comment did not age well 😂 they just ruined my 19 odds acca,, bottlers

anyway, does anyone else why the London Derby was postponed? iirc Arsenal had one or two covid positive cases, Spurs don't have any 

[Joca97]

Today i was thinking this might be the best week yet. But late goals killed me. I didnt see so many late goals that killed me for a long time. Wolves score in 91st minute ,Newcastle conceded in 88th minute. Man Utd same conceded in last minutes. Pure unluck this week

[Trofo]

anyway, does anyone else why the London Derby was postponed? iirc Arsenal had one or two covid positive cases, Spurs don't have any  

Arsenal asked for postponement I am not sure how many covid cases they have, but not a lot. They got it on the grounds that they don't have enough (13 + goalkeeper) first team players to field. Now the problem is some of their players are injured, some are on AFCON, some have cards and they conveniently used covid excuse to postpone. There was some outrage regarding this decision, mainly from Spurs as expected.

[slaman29]

And you're right, it only makes sense to bet on United right?

my bad,, my comment did not age well 😂 they just ruined my 19 odds acca,, bottlers

anyway, does anyone else why the London Derby was postponed? iirc Arsenal had one or two covid positive cases, Spurs don't have any 

I think what surprised me here was not that United dropped poins, but that they didn't lose. Coutinho got his dream start though, one assist and one goal, so he and Gerrard must be considered Liverpool heroes in Villa now, so weird, that I read everything and they kind of forgot Coutinho was playing with Messi too, but I guess his time there wasn't so memorable.

Good game, and especially to shipley for getting an exact score on this!

[buwaytress]

Urgh yeah, was looking forward to Arsenal-Spurs to end the weekend, but now we've got another bunchup. Spurs the poor victims again, just can't catch a break. Really hope we get a good game today, took too many risks in the predictions to try and widen the distance so hope at least one or two risks pay off.

Today i was thinking this might be the best week yet. But late goals killed me. I didnt see so many late goals that killed me for a long time. Wolves score in 91st minute ,Newcastle conceded in 88th minute. Man Utd same conceded in last minutes. Pure unluck this week

It affected quite a lot of us, but gave a lot of others great points too. Imagine, from 0 points to getting 3 exact on Newcastle's 1-1... and for guys like us to get 3 points to 0 in one moment and one goal eh?

Even Wolves disappointed me, when was the last time they scored 3 goals in EPL? And see, we need to lay into Adama Traore hard, so he scores!

[tomahawk9]

they conveniently used covid excuse to postpone

seems like this was the case. And yeah, i just read the press statement from Spurs and you could tell the people in that camp are fuming: "We are extremely surprised that this application has been approved."   not pulling any punches huh, middle finger to the PL