⚽ Sportsbet.io ⚽ Spanish La Liga ⚽ Football Pool Discussion Thread 2023/2024

[Trofo]

@Trofo, seems that only @rdbase decided to go against majority and this time majority were right. Athletic win wasn't easy and Inaki Williams achieved impressive La Liga record with 203 appearances in a row. He haven't missed any single game since 2016 April. Or 4,5 years without missing game for injuries or yellow/red cards. Wow!

i have a feeling Suarez is gonna score a hat-trick or he's gonna be the MVP with goal+assist or something like that...this has to be his match, it's gotta be Suarez the one who puts the final nail in the coffin and koeman finally gets sacked...2-1 Atletico is my pick

btw, latest rumours say that Pirlo could be the next manager lol and this one came out just recently: "Laporta wants Tuchel in 2022"  source: Mundo Deportivo (spanish newspaper)

Personally I think that this time Griezmann will destroy us.
Tuchel sounds good, but I doubt that he is likely option. I don't see any reasons why successful manager would want to got to current Barca. If Pirlo is an option, I'd rather stay with Koeman lol .

Sure Laporta wants Tuchel and I want to win the lottery. Chances are about the same, even though I don't play lottery  Yeaf right, Tuchel is interested to leave one of the top clubs in the world playing in the best league with the budget only surpassed by PSG and maybe City for a club with tons of debt where nothing works as it should playing in the league that is loosing it's major stars. And probably for a quarter of the wages he has now. While he is at it maybe he could also check Guardiola or Klopp, I am sure they are dying for a chance to take control of this Barca.

That Inaki record is incredible, just shows how well prepared he is.

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[buwaytress]

Who else is thinking about making the idiot bet on Barca? I actually saw it at over 5/1 at one point, but now more like 45/10. I might end up pulling the trigger closer to the game, but if they let in a goal first, they'll crumble like they have the last few games.

Went for a tight home win on the early game, I know Rayo's been tearing up the league lately but this is my "return to mean" picks. So far so good on the stats at half time -- 3 yellows for the away team, something's got to give. Need to do a little bit better here to improve on Top 5!

P.S. I just realised I haven't been playing the special side bets, and I noticed quite a few of you haven't also, so here's my reminder to check out Trofo's ongoing challenge thread;)

[slaman29]

You all know which match I'd be watching if I could. But it's 3 am starting and I have a shift so maybe it's good for my health. No Messi to shake hands with Suarez, I still haven't got over the shock of Barca's downfall.

Who else is thinking about making the idiot bet on Barca?
P.S. I just realised I haven't been playing the special side bets, and I noticed quite a few of you haven't also, so here's my reminder to check out Trofo's ongoing challenge thread;)

Do you ever doubt me betting on my team? And thanks for the reminder. I will go and put in my picks now. I have so many reminders about so many things it's hard but I should make it a point to not miss out this!

[tomahawk9]

"Koeman will stay" said FC Barcelona's president earlier today...

well, at least Barca will be the main favorites to win the europa league this season, so that's something to look forward to, am i right? 

Who else is thinking about making the idiot bet on Barca? I actually saw it at over 5/1 at one point, but now more like 45/10. I might end up pulling the trigger closer to the game, but if they let in a goal first, they'll crumble like they have the last few games.

Barca moneyline is just a donation button to the bookie...imo, if you''re feeling confident about Barca, asian handicap 0 or +0.5 is the way to go

Personally I think that this time Griezmann will destroy us.

i forgot about him...Griezmann worldie to win the game?    would love to see it

[Harkorede]

"Koeman will stay" said FC Barcelona's president earlier today...

well, at least Barca will be the main favorites to win the europa league this season, so that's something to look forward to, am i right? 

Who else is thinking about making the idiot bet on Barca? I actually saw it at over 5/1 at one point, but now more like 45/10. I might end up pulling the trigger closer to the game, but if they let in a goal first, they'll crumble like they have the last few games.

Barca moneyline is just a donation button to the bookie...imo, if you''re feeling confident about Barca, asian handicap 0 or +0.5 is the way to go

Personally I think that this time Griezmann will destroy us.

i forgot about him...Griezmann worldie to win the game?    would love to see it

I wonder for how long Koeman would stay even when it's become obvious that's his tactics or so called plan isn't working. I really don't know what to expect from Barcelona so I'm definitely not coming close to the game (bet wise), I'll just be watching with utter disgust for Koeman being on the sideline.

Atletico have not be up and running with their defensive abilities which had been the core component of their success over the years, I'd expect goals at both ends, except of course if Koeman have other plans.

[buwaytress]

"Koeman will stay" said FC Barcelona's president earlier today...

Koeman really didn't want to be around anymore judging from his last press conference. Worst feeling in the world, when you're still on the payroll because it's more expensive to fire you than to keep you. I really feel for you Barca fans.

Personally I think that this time Griezmann will destroy us.

It's a matter of pride for him and Suarez to do just that. I feel more and more idiotic now placing that Barca bet ha ha.

[Trofo]

"Koeman will stay" said FC Barcelona's president earlier today...

Koeman really didn't want to be around anymore judging from his last press conference. Worst feeling in the world, when you're still on the payroll because it's more expensive to fire you than to keep you. I really feel for you Barca fans.

This is really becoming a farce. They need to find solution and fast. The team looks worse with every match, players are also reading all those articles and i am sure they are not 100% behind Koeman. Horrible situation for all involved parties. Probably making a lot of people in Madrid very happy though


The deadline has passed and I am not accepting new participants any more. We actually almost had another participant just few days ago but it seems he decided to wait for next season. I'll take some time tomorrow and work out exact rewards amounts now that our pot is final. I am still undecided if it is better to reward first 3 places with higher amounts or drop the amounts a little and add reward for 4th place as well. If you have preferences you have about 12 hours to let me know. We have 0.062 in the pot for La Liga and 0.06 for Serie A (almost 3000$ per pool). I think that is enough to reward 4 places + highest yellow cap this year.

[cygan]

The writing had been on the wall—at least in the media—Ronald Koeman's days as FC Barcelona's head coach were counted. But now Barça boss Joan Laporta has strengthened Koeman's position at the club. "No matter the result, Koeman will remain coach," Laporta said ahead of the game against champions Atlético Madrid to reporters (cited by Barcawelt).

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/barca-boss-laporta-koeman-to-stay-quot-he-deserves-some-trust-quot-/view/news/393590

how often have you always heard these confessional statements about how you stand behind the coach... i think, as I wrote 2-3 weeks ago, that RK will be dismissed in december at the latest and then today's words of boss Laporta are already forgotten again

[boltz]

Was this the last game for Koeman at Barcelona ? We keep hearing this for 2 weeks now and nothing happens because lets be honest , who could replace him right now ? Maybe a top coach from LaLiga that most of us did not hear of him but he is doing a great job on certain teams. Another issue might be that maybe barcelona doesn't have the necessary funds to replace Koeman right now ...this might be possible if he is still coach tomorrow.

[buwaytress]

The team looks worse with every match, players are also reading all those articles and i am sure they are not 100% behind Koeman. Horrible situation for all involved parties. Probably making a lot of people in Madrid very happy though

Yeah, they're not even the team I support, or really like a lot, but no one wants to see this happen to a club, who's given us so much great memories past and recent past. And of course Madrid is happy, I'm smiling whenever Manchester (both) has big issues 

The deadline has passed and I am not accepting new participants any more. We actually almost had another participant just few days ago but it seems he decided to wait for next season. I'll take some time tomorrow and work out exact rewards amounts now that our pot is final. I am still undecided if it is better to reward first 3 places with higher amounts or drop the amounts a little and add reward for 4th place as well. If you have preferences you have about 12 hours to let me know. We have 0.062 in the pot for La Liga and 0.06 for Serie A (almost 3000$ per pool). I think that is enough to reward 4 places + highest yellow cap this year.

Shame about the almost-guy. I have no preferences, but remind me if I haven't paid up for anything (my PMs are a maze right now).

Effing hell, $3000 per pool, I didn't realise it was that much. What was the fee each again? 15 participants means about $200 each??

how often have you always heard these confessional statements about how you stand behind the coach... i think, as I wrote 2-3 weeks ago, that RK will be dismissed in december at the latest and then today's words of boss Laporta are already forgotten again

Farce, like Trofo says. I usually get pretty disgusted anyway by all of this politicking, but this particular series of nonsense takes football club management to a whole different dimension of circus.

[Harkorede]

Was this the last game for Koeman at Barcelona ? We keep hearing this for 2 weeks now and nothing happens because lets be honest , who could replace him right now ? Maybe a top coach from LaLiga that most of us did not hear of him but he is doing a great job on certain teams. Another issue might be that maybe barcelona doesn't have the necessary funds to replace Koeman right now ...this might be possible if he is still coach tomorrow.

Probably, If whatever the President said a few days was supposed to believed but I'm looking to see when team comes battling for a spot in Europe (after being eliminated in the champions league during the group stages), or maybe when the El Classico turn out to be another humiliating game for the history of Barcelona.

It is a though most people from the pool went with Atletico to win, which obviously was an easy decision since only 3 people went other way.

[Trofo]

I have no preferences, but remind me if I haven't paid up for anything (my PMs are a maze right now).

Effing hell, $3000 per pool, I didn't realise it was that much. What was the fee each again? 15 participants means about $200 each??

No, no, it was less than 50$ per person and rest is Sponsorship money, buy in was 1 mBTC, not sure what was BTC then but it was probably around 40k. You gave 5 mBTC sponsorship money into the pool and Sportsbet gave very generous 40 mBTC. We have 17 participants per 1 mBTC so that gives following pool:
40 (Sportsbet) + 5 (buwaytress) + 17 (all participants) = 62 mBTC ~ little less than 3000$ at the moment.
That is the beauty of blockchain, I can check what happened very easy and so can all of you. Granted it is even easier for me since I labeled the transactions as they were coming.

Really can't believe there is not at least 50 players here. When you also add the chance to win 1 mBTC free bet every week and 0.5 mBTC participating free bet that everyone got, value proposition is through the roof.

There is very similar calculation for Serie A, just 2 mBTC less since we have 2 participants more here.

[buwaytress]

No, no, it was less than 50$ per person and rest is Sponsorship money, buy in was 1 mBTC, not sure what was BTC then but it was probably around 40k. You gave 5 mBTC sponsorship money into the pool and Sportsbet gave very generous 40 mBTC. We have 17 participants per 1 mBTC so that gives following pool:
40 (Sportsbet) + 5 (buwaytress) + 17 (all participants) = 62 mBTC ~ little less than 3000$ at the moment.
That is the beauty of blockchain, I can check what happened very easy and so can all of you. Granted it is even easier for me since I labeled the transactions as they were coming.

Really can't believe there is not at least 50 players here. When you also add the chance to win 1 mBTC free bet every week and 0.5 mBTC participating free bet that everyone got, value proposition is through the roof.

There is very similar calculation for Serie A, just 2 mBTC less since we have 2 participants more here.

Thanks man. Blame my Sunday memory, back of my head I knew about the sponsorship money, but my brain somehow computed the $3000 as participants' fees.

17 players, 3/4 prize spots.
Half of fee returned as Freebets.
Weekly freebets where chances are you get 2 throughout the season if you're really poor.
150%++ of fee as sponsorship money.

These pools are by far the best value, we need to talk about them often, and especially end of the next season in the regular La Liga/Serie A threads to get even more people playing. I know there are fewer gamblers than the forum discussion threads suggest but yeah, still strange to get only this few people.

[Trofo]

Prizes for this season:

We have 62 mBTC (40 mBTC Sportsbet sponsorship + 5 buwaytress sponsorship + 17x1 mBTC  buy in fee) in the pool, I decided to award first 4 places and best yellow cap this season.
1. place - 27 mBTC (minus tx fees)
2. place - 15 mBTC
3. place - 10 mBTC
4. place - 5 mBTC
Highest yellow cap - 5 mBTC

Remarks:
*There is no sharing of the prizes, Superbru has implemented tie breakers and I will use their final table as basis to pay out rewards
*All transaction fees will be paid out from first prize. I boosted this one with extra 2mBTC when compered to Serie A thread so it seemed like most fair solution. 

[tomahawk9]

Nice! Bigger prizes than last season   good job, @Trofo, and thx again for the sponsorship @buwaytress 👍

anyway, this international break came in clutch for Barcelona, no? 2 weeks to cool down a bit, plenty of time to try to figure out again just wth is going on...but, is it gonna the calm before the storm?

It is a though most people from the pool went with Atletico to win, which obviously was an easy decision since only 3 people went other way.

one of them had 1-4 Barcelona...damn!!  

[LTU_btc]

Real lost to Espanyol, but when my team is shit, Real losses don't give me so much joy. But recent results shows that not everything is OK with Real.
In predictor I started this round quite well, but from Sundaay games I will get 0 points (if Sevilla won't beat Granada).
@casperBGD, how did you managed to predict Getafe and Real Sociedad draw? Because this result doesn't makes much sense

anyway, this international break came in clutch for Barcelona, no? 2 weeks to cool down a bit, plenty of time to try to figure out again just wth is going on...but, is it gonna the calm before the storm?

I doubt that's possible fundamental changes during international break. But maybe this break can help team to clean out their heads heads a bit. I'm looking at our schedule after break and it looks damn difficult. First against Valencia which looking good this season, then decisive game in CL against Dynamo for 3rd place and El Clasico. I think every of these games can be last for Koeman.

[casperBGD]

@casperBGD, how did you managed to predict Getafe and Real Sociedad draw? Because this result doesn't makes much sense

another tough round for me, and I am a bit down in the pool, but it is a long season

why do you think that it is not making any sense? Sociedad is a good team, but to win every match on a side is too much for Atletico, and for Sociedad as well

it is a question for me why did not I put Granada to win, with Maximiano on goal, they will conceive much less goals in the future, and this is first clean sheet, nevertheless, he brough me another reward on sorare, so missing points in the pool is forgotten

now, we have an international break

[slaman29]

@casperBGC don't be sad, look at me. This is MY league, or at least I thought so, and I'm bottom 2 seasons in a row.

Nice! Bigger prizes than last season   good job, @Trofo, and thx again for the sponsorship @buwaytress 👍

anyway, this international break came in clutch for Barcelona, no? 2 weeks to cool down a bit, plenty of time to try to figure out again just wth is going on...but, is it gonna the calm before the storm?

Yeah I think we really have it so good here on this forum. Nothing comes close to the Sportsbet work in crypto and sports, and then all you great guys, constantly giving and helping this forum grow, we really need to appreciate all of you.

About Barca, yes, a break to recover and come back stronger. But I remember last season I said it was time for us to collapse so we know how bad we are. Maybe this is the season it happens. We don't win anything and just go down so bad. We need to have that. Only from ruins can we rebuild. They say every fan must go through moments of toughness. I guess this is finally mine

one of them had 1-4 Barcelona...damn!!  

Man, even I as a Barca fan only went 2-1, but rdbase you went for 1-4, so maybe you're a bigger and more faithful/loyal fan than me it seems;) But don't worry, we will get a scoreline like that this season. Maybe in King's Cup lol

[Harkorede]

^

Even as a Barca fan, I didn't let my heart get the better of my head, I would have been happy if Barca had without minding lost points in the pool, but I strongly doubted Barcelona chances of winning, so I instead just went with Atletico knowing I can only win some, lose some, not lose all.

A couple of result were also unexpected for me this week too, Getafe securing a draw against Real Sociedad and Sevilla also losing to Granada.

[buwaytress]

I doubt that's possible fundamental changes during international break. But maybe this break can help team to clean out their heads heads a bit. I'm looking at our schedule after break and it looks damn difficult. First against Valencia which looking good this season, then decisive game in CL against Dynamo for 3rd place and El Clasico. I think every of these games can be last for Koeman.

Well, win or lose, he's stuck with them so they better get used to it. I think the contract and their finances are part of the problem but the other is finding a superior replacement in this non-off season period. Impossible I think.

I still feel like there's light at the end of the tunnel so they cal salvage their season with just UCL qualification -- and at least group progress. Coutinho, Depay, Fati, just some names who have to perform. Distribute Messi's burden among themselves, so to speak. There are other big names in that team but I'm not even counting on them (as their problem now is to fix their confidence and that only happens when they can score frantically as they used to again).

I know it's an oversimplification of a convoluted problem there but you know what? Get a point against Valencia. Win against Dynamo and they can breathe a little easier.

Take heart, Harkorede and slaman29