February 2014
19th February, 11am
A quick look back at our bet for the fifth round of the FA Cup, and unfortunately we came up just a single goal short in our “both teams to score” double. Chelsea were the culprits, failing to find the net in a timid 2-0 reverse to Man City. The game was the polar opposite to the recent Premier League meeting which Chelsea had dominated with a superb performance, and this time they barely wimpered to an unapologetic defeat.
It almost felt like Mourinho didn’t want them to progress, and they went out without once threatening the City goal. Guess this is the problem betting on Chelsea, you’re also betting on the whims of Jose, and to be frank, no-one can second guess him at anything! Can’t win ’em all, we’ll move on with another bet shortly.
13th February, 12pm
We’ve just completed close to a full program of Premier League games, and but for the weather it would have been the lot. As with most of the country, here at FBS HQ the weather has been disrupting things, with power cuts and the like to contend with. Stay safe and dry out there, and roll on the summer!
We’ve got a couple of stand out FA Cup ties on the horizon this weekend. Let’s have a look at the fixtures:
Saturday 15th February 2014
FA Cup Fifth Round
Sunderland V Southampton
Cardiff V Wigan
Sheff Wed V Charlton
Man City V Chelsea
Sunday 16th February 2014
Everton V Swansea
Sheff Utd V Nottm Forest
Arsenal V Liverpool
Clearly the biggest games here are the ones involving the Premier League top 4, brilliantly brought together by the draw. Furthermore, both games take on an added dimension after their respective recent Premier League clashes. Both Man City and Arsenal will be looking to put things right after losing massive games to their title rivals.
Can Chelsea repeat their superb victory at The Etihad? Can Liverpool hand out another battering to a wounded Arsenal? Honestly, I don’t have a clue! These are tough games to call, but I will say that I don’t expect an action replay of the previous results. Liverpool might win again, but not by such a score. Chelsea might win again, but surely they won’t keep free-scoring City out again. So rather than trying to pick a winner, I’m going to pick goals.
No team here is going to want a replay, they are going to want to get the job done in 90 minutes. I’m expecting two end-to-end, attacking cup ties, and think they are unlikely to disappoint. So today the pick is for both teams to score, in both of these games. For which you’ll get the following odds:
Man City V Chelsea – 1.64
Arsenal V Liverpool – 1.6
Double pays 2.62.
Not a bad price at all, and hopefully one that will give us a solid start to Feb.
Today’s bet.
FA Cup double, weekend of 15-16th February 2014.
Man City v Chelsea and Arsenal v Liverpool. Both teams to score double. £10 @ 2.62.
Good luck and enjoy the games!
4th February, 11am
We start February with a quick look back to our final bet in January, which was a 5 game FA Cup accumulator. Considering the odds-on nature of some of the games, the rolled up price of close to 2/1 seemed like massive value, and so it proved. All 5 teams did the business, and the only real danger turned out to be a real surprise, as Watford took a lead 2-0 at Man City! This was our shortest price pick of the lot, and City showed why in the end, prevailing with a 4-2 victory that actually flattered them. Bad luck to Watford who were within sight of a massive upset.
So a positive finish in January means we start the year with a profit, and we’ll be back next week with our first bet for February. With the hectic run in to a cracking Premier League season, the resumption of the Champions League, the Capital One Cup final and plenty more, we’ll be really pushing on this month. Let’s make those bookies suffer!