SPL - Friday 14th Sept Dundee Utd v Ross County

Currently just back in my hotel in Newcastle with shite internet access! (I think these Premier Inns actually block your internet unless you sign up to their bollocks...)


Anyway from what I gather,


Dundee Utd still have Gary Mackay-Steven out and their new signing Gregory Vignal is not ready to start yet. This French boy has more stamps on his passport than Judith Chalmers!!!!!

Ross County's new boy Mark Fotheringham is looking unlikely to start also.



Dundee Utd apart from Mackay-Stevens have a full team and I expect Gardyne will simply come into cover him in a team that is basically picking itself every week, which is sometime I like and shows a belief and successful team!

Ross County will in my opinion deploy a tight 4-5-1 system so for that reason I am a little bit weary about the over 2.5 happening. I hate Friday night football in SPL and think it simply shouldn't happen and silly again to see the clever boys in the SFA picking the northern teams to highlight their Friday game. Its a fair drive from Dingwall to make it to Dundee in time for KO from their work, absotute muppets in the SFA.


I will not rant anymore but my prefered bet would be Dundee Utd to score 2 or more @ 2.0 (Ladbrokes)

SPL - Sunday 2nd Sept Team News & Thoughts

*****My post and selections today go out in the memory of the great and legendary Bob Aitken (who was my "Uncle" and my old boys best friend) Bob was a loyal old school Rangers fan, and sadly passed away on Friday night, he will be fondly remembered *****




Hearts v Dundee


Hearts


Injuries - Enckelman

Available Squad - MacDonald, R McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger, Paterson, Barr, Taouil, Novikovas, Carr, Sutton, Driver, Hamilton, Robinson, Holt, D McGowan, McHattie, Stevenson.


Probable XI - Maconald, Patterson, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger, R. McGowan, Barr, Robinson, Stevenson,  Driver, Novikovas, Sutton. (4-3-3)



Dundee


Injuries - McGregor, Riley, Bendictus, Stewart , Toshney, McBride, Finnigan

Available Squad - Douglas, McGregor, Lockwood, Gallagher, Irvine, Webster, Conroy, McAlister, Baird, McIntosh, Davidson, Grassi, Reid, Cavanagh, Milne, Boyle, McCluskey, O'Donnell, Nish

Probable XI : Douglas, Irvine, McGregor, Lockwood, Grassi, McAlister, Conroy, Webster,  Baird, Davidson, Milne, (4-4-2)



Prediction : Hearts 2-0 Dundee

Jeez oh, I thought I would see Hearts at about 1.70 to win this match but the bookies have priced it at 1.5, there's no value there! I have no doubt Jambos will win but that is not a backable price. Dundee team is muck and I would advise getting involved in a home win "inplay" at anything over 1.8 (will have to be betfair....)



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Motherwell v Inverness

Motherwell


Injuries - Hammell, Higdon, Saunders
Suspended - Hutchinson

Available Squad - Randolph, Kerr, Cummins, Page, Hammell, Francis-Angol, Hateley, Ramsden, Law, Lasley, Hetherington, Carswell, Humphrey, Daley, Murphy, Ojamaa, Higdon, McHugh, Murray, Erwin, Hollis.

Probable XI - Randolph, Hateley, Ramsden, Cummins, Hammell, Law, Lasley, Daley, Murphy, Ojamma, Higdon (4-4-2)


Inverness


Injuries - Ross, Hogg

Available Squad -  Esson, Meekings, King, Raven, Warren, G Shinnie, Tudur Jones, A Shinnie, Morrison, Draper, Doran, Sutherland, McKay, Pepper, Polworth, Reguero, Foran, Philips

Probable XI - Esson, Meekings, Warren, King, G. Shinnie, King, Sutherland, Draper, Foran, McKay, A. Sinnie (4-4-2)


Prediction - Motherwell 1-0 Inverness

I reckon this game is going to be another close encounter! I look at the results today in the SPL and can't believe I didn't have DRAW for everything! (I had one though) But I'm confident that Motherwell will take a hard fought win here.

They have the palyers to win and Terry Butchers mob are just without any decent ball players! Happy to take HOME WIN @ 2.15 (Bet Victor)

SPL - Saturday 1st Sept Team News‏ & Thoughts

Please note I have not included any of the transfer speculation in the team news

Aberdeen v St Mirren


Aberdeen


Injuries - Naysmith, McGinn, Milsom
Doutful - Fallon, Hughes
Available Squad - Langfield, Brown, Foster, Considine, Anderson, Robertson, Jack, Hughes, Rae, Vernon, Fallon, Hayes, Osbourne, Megginson, Magennis, Fraser, Paton, Robertson, Reynolds

Probable XI : Langfield, Considine, Reynolds, Anderson, Osbourne, Rae, Jack, Hayes, Fraser, Fallon, Vernon (3-5-2)



St Mirren


Injuries - Adam, McGregor

Available Squad - Samson, Mair, van Zanten, McAusland, Goodwin, McGowan, Robertson, Carey, McLean, Thompson, Imrie, Teale, Parkin, Reilly, McGinn, C Smith, J Smith, Barron

Probable XI : Samson, Van Zanten, Mair, McAusland, Barron, McGowan, McLean, Carey, Imrie, Thompson, Parkin (4-4-2)



Prediction : Aberdeen 1-1 St Mirren

3 out of 4 of the games played between these two ended up in a draw last season and right now when Aberdeen play the likely result is a draw. So, it comes as no surprise that I'm predicting another draw here. The Dons badly need a goal scorer and with a bit of doubt over Fallon's fitness and McGinn out injured they will continue to struggle. Johnny Hayes has a goal threat from attacking midfield but if I was a fan I would be praying for something in the tranfer deadline day today! St Mirren are unbeaten in 4 games on the road and have a decent 1st XI who have now all played togther for a couple of seasons and work well as a unit. Minimal stakes on DRAW @ 3.4 (Sky Bet)



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Celtic v Hibs


Celtic


Injuries - Brown, Ledley, Stokes, Kayal

Available Squad - N/A

Probable XI : Forster, Matthews, Mulgrew, Wilson, Izaguirre, Forrest, Wanyama, Twardzik, Samaras, Hooper, Watt (4-4-2)



Hibs


Injuries -
Doutful - Stevenson
Available Squad - Williams, Antell, Grant, Clancy, Booth, Hanlon, McPake, O'Hanlon, Stephens, Kujabi, Smith, Claros, Cairney, Wotherspoon, Sproule, Stanton, Griffiths, Doyle, Caldwell, Maybury, Deegan, Kuqi, Stevenson

Probable XI : Williams, Maybury, Clancy, McPake, Hanlon, Claros, Cairney, Wotherspoon, Deegan, Sproule, Doyle, Griffiths (4-4-2)



Prediction : Celtic 3-0 Hibs

Hibs with their awful defence managed a 0-0 draw last time out at Celtic Park and if we see a repeat of that clean sheet I will wear a Hibs scarf myself....lolol

Odds are horrible for this match, just horrible, NO BET If I was to have a bet I'd advise Celtic to score in both halves.



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Ross County v Kilmarnock


Ross County


Injuries - Corcoran, Malin

Available Squad - Fraser, Boyd, Munro, Tokely, Fitzpatrick, Brittain, Kettlewell, Vigurs, Quinn, Duncan, Cooper, Byrne, Glen, Morrow, McMenamin, Lawson, Scott, Brown

Probable XI : Fraser, Fitzpatrick, Boyd, Munro, Tokely, Kettlewell, Quinn, Vigurs, Brittain, McMenamin, Morrow (4-4-2)



Kilmarnock


Injuries - Tesselaar, Harkins, Bell, Hay, Heffernan

Available Squad - Letheren, Fowler, O'Leary, Nelson, Kelly, Kennedy, Johnson, Pascali, Racchi, Borja, Winchester, McKenzie, Jaakkola, Gros, Dayton, Boulding, O'Hara

Probable XI : Letheren, O'Leary, Pascali, Nelson, Pursehouse, Fowler, Racchi, Johnson, Dayton, Gros, Borja (4-4-2)



Prediction : Ross County 2-0 Kilmarnock

I was surprised County got knocked out of the League Cup 4-1 at home against Raith Rovers until I checked the line ups at noted County put out a bucket team showing that they are completely focused on the league in their virgin season in the SPL. Killie are without 1st keeper Cammy Bell, Harkins, Hall and Heffernan who are all hard to replace and not what you need with a tricky fixture up in the highlands. Ross County are still 35 games undefeated in the league so backing Killie here would be crazy, a bit like the short odd Celtic backers a couple of weeks ago. With the likes of Brittain and McMenamin a Ross County HOME WIN @ 2.2 (Paddy Power) is the play here. For those that like an anytime scorer bet Richard Brittain is worth a go @4.5 he is on fire this season and is deadly from free kicks on the edge of the box.



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St Johnstone v Dundee Utd


St Johnstone


Injuries - Millar
Doubtful - Beattie
Available Squad - Mannus, C Davidson, Wright, MacKay, Anderson, Cregg, Pawlett, Craig, M Davidson, Vine, Tade, May, Hasselbaink, Higgins, Adams, Miller, Caddis, Tuffey

Probable XI : Mannus, C. Davidson, Wright, MacKay, Anderson, Craig, Cregg, M.Davidson, Hasselbaink, Vine, Tade (4-4-2)



Dundee Utd


Injuries - Mackay-Steven

Available Squad - Cierzniak, Watson, Dillon, Gunning, McLean, Douglas, Flood, Rankin, Ryan, Russell, Daly, Dow, Armstrong, Millar, Gardyne, Robertson, Banks

Probable XI : Cierzniak, Watson, Dillon, Douglas, Gunning, Flood, Rankin, Gardyne, Ryan, Daly, Russell (4-4-2)



Prediction : St Johnstone 1-2 Dundee Utd

I'm surprised that with the strikers that will be on the park tomorrow that evens is available on over 2.5 goals. St Johnstone are on a woeful run and you have to go back as far as the end of March for their last win. But Dundee Utd had a poor game last week losing to Killie 3-1 but I expect them to bounce back here. They will miss Makay-Steven who needs an operation but Gardyne should step in for him. OVER 2.5 goals @ 2.0 (Bet Fred) for me.



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SPL - Sunday 25th August Team News‏ & Thoughts

Aberdeen V Hearts



Aberdeen

Injuries -  McGinn
Doutful -  Hughes

Probable XI - Langfield, Jack, Russell, Considine, Naysmith, Osbourne, Rae, Fraser, Hayes, Clark, Vernon (4-4-1-1)




Hearts

Injuries -
Doutful -  Grainger, Zaliukas
Suspended - Templeton

Probable XI - MacDonald, McHattie, Webster, Barr, Patterson, McGowan, Taouil, Robinson, Driver, Novikovas, Sutton (4-3-3)




Prediction : Aberdeen 1-1 Hearts


Opta stats kicks up some remarkable stuff for this match.

• Aberdeen have failed to score in their last seven SPL meetings with Hearts.
• It is seven years (a run of 12 matches) since Aberdeen managed to score more than once at home against the Jambos in the league.
• Five of the last 10 SPL matches at Pittodrie have finished goalless.

I'm not a big fan of backing draws but this game seems to have 0-0 or 1-1 written all over it. Aberdeen are much improved in defence and Hearts found scoring goals a big problem away from home last season.


There are a number of bets for this match that interest me but I will keep all stakes to an absolute minimum - Draw @ 3.25 (Betfred) -  Under 2.5 goals @ 1.65 (Bet Victor) - also worth dutching correct scores of 0-0 @ 11.0 (Ladbrokes) and 1-1 @ 6.5 (Ladbrokes) to give you a combined odds of circa 4.08

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Motherwell v St Mirren



Motherwell

Injuries - Ramsden, Saunders
Doutful - Motherwell apparently have a number of unnamed injury doubts but they are not saying who for some reason.

Probable XI - Randolph, Hateley, Hutchison, Cummins, Francis - Angol, Humphrey, Law, Lasley, Murphy, Ojamaa, Higdon (4-4-2)




St Mirren

Injuries - McGregor

Probable XI - Samson, Van Zanten, McAusland, Mair, Barron, McGowan, McLean, Goodwin, Imrie, Thompson, Parkin (4-4-2)



Prediction : Motherwell 1-0 St Mirren

I'm a little doubtful now about this game with Motherwell saying they have a number of injury doubts but won't name them, they do have a 2nd leg of the Europa qualifying to play next week in Spain against Levante. St Mirren had a poor result at home against Hibs so I would probably suggest that Motherwell should get the win here but with the uncertainty its a NO BET for me.





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SPL - Saturday 25th August - Team News & thoughts

Inverness v Celtic


Inverness

Injuries - Hogg
Suspended - Foran, Tudur-Jones



Probable XI - Esson, Raven, Warren, King, G. Shinnie, Draper, Pepper, Doran, Sutherland, A. Shinnie, Mackay (4-4-2)



Celtic


Injuries - Ledley, Kayal, Murphy, McGeouch, Stokes
Doubtful - Rogne, Brown, Samaras, Commons


Probable XI - Forster, Matthews, Wilson, Lustig, Izaguire, Mulgrew, Ledley, Wanyama, Commons, Samaras, Hooper (4-4-2)



Prediction : Inverness 1-2 Celtic

Another tricky trip up north for a Celtic team which I feel is lacking a little bit of creativity in midfield and are finding it hard to get clear cut chances in the league so far. Its a fixture that Celtic got maximum points from last season (home & away) and I can see them continuing this tomorrow. Inverness are still looking for their first win of the season after 3 draws in a row but I just dont see it coming here. Best price you can get on a Celtic win is 1.57 but that doesn't interest me at all, especially with their vital european 2nd leg game coming up midweek. NO BET

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Dundee v Ross County


Dundee

Injuries - Riley, Finnegan, McBride


Probable XI - Douglas, Irvine, Grassi, Benedictus, Lookwood, McAllister, Davidson, Conroy, Boyle, Baird, Stewart (4-4-2)



Ross County


Injuries - Malin, Lawson, Scott


Probable XI - Fraser, Fitzpatrick, Munro, Boyd, Tokeley, Kettlewell, Brittain, Vigars, Quinn, Corcoran, McMenamin (4-4-1-1)



Prediction : Dundee 1-2 Ross County

I still believe Dundee will be the whipping boys of the SPL this season and so far it has basically gone to plan. They are still without a win and will probably look at a home game against County to be a good chance for them but I think not. Ross County finished 25 points clear of Dundee in the 1st Div last season and this proves that they are a much better outfit. Only worry here is that scoring goals has been a bit of a problem for them so far this season, in fact they have only managed 1 in 3 games. Still County are the better team and I'm happy to back them for the away win @ 2.5 (Ladbrokes)



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Hibs v St Johnstone


Hibs

Injuries - Gilbraith, Stevenson


Probable XI - Williams, Clancy, McPake, Hanlon, Maybury, Deegan, Claros, Cairney, Wotherspoon, Doyle, Griffiths (4-4-2)



St Johnstone


Injuries - Beattie, Millar, M. Davidson



Probable XI - Mannus, Mackay, Anderson, Wright, Scobbie, Adams, Cregg, Miller, Craig, Vine, Tade (4-4-2)



Prediction : Hibs 2-0 St Johnstone


It may have gone a little unnoticed but St Johnstone are on an absolute shocking run of form!!! In their last 10 league matches they have only managed to get 2pts from a possible 30pts - now that is really bad! A positive for them though is that they will have both strikers, Vine & Tade, back from suspension. Call me crazy but I think the dirty Hibees have a great chance of a win here. Hibs home win @2.6 (Stan James)



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Kilmarnock v Dundee Utd


Kilmarnock

Injuries - Bell, Hay, Heffernan, Muirhead, Fisher

Probable XI - Letheren, O'Leary, Pascali, Nelson, Tesselaar, Dayton, Kelly, Fowler, Harkins, Boulding, Borja (4-4-2)



Dundee Utd


Injuries -

Probable XI - Cierzniak, Watson, Dillon, Douglas, Gunning, Flood, Rankin, Ryan, Mackay-Steven, Russell, Daly (4-4-2)



Prediction : Kilmarnock 1-2 Dundee Utd

Dundee Utd are top of the league yet have only played 2 games, which were both won 3-0 and its fair to say they have really impressed me. They have some great talent combined with experience. What makes them so effective is the balance they have in the team, a solid defence, bit of guile in midfield, great wing play from Mackay-Stevens and of course two really on form strikers  in Daly and Russell. It's no surprise to me that they are evens favourite to win at Kilmarnock. Killie are struggling still without Heffernan and I reckon they will have their hands full tomorrow. I think Dundee Utd have goals in them and will take Dundee Utd to score over 1.5 team goals @2.2 (Ladbrokes)



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Jocks in Europe - Team news & thoughts

Motherwell v Levante

Motherwell

Injuries - Saunders, Ramsden

Available Squad - Randolph, Hateley, Hammell, Cummins, Hutchinson, Lasley, Law, Ojamaa, Higdon, Murphy, McHugh, Erwin, Carswell, Page, Humphrey, Hetherington, Kerr, Daley, Hollis


Probable XI : Randolph, Hateley, Hutchison, Cummins, Hammell,  Law, Lasley, Daley, Murphy, Ojamaa, Higdon (4-4-2)



Prediction : Motherwell 0-1 Levante

Another really hard task for Motherwell here I think. Levante are a seriously good outfit and held their own against a star studded Atletico Madrid side at the weekend with a 1-1 result. Levante have come a long way in the last 3 or so years and they will be desperate to qualify here and enter Europe proper. Motherwell will be without Ramsden at centre half so Cummins should come in to replace. Just get the feeling Motherwell's defence will be under serious pressure and an away goal is on the cards to effectively kill off the tie. (maybe more than 1...)

You can get 2.0 (Coral) on an away win which looks a good bet but I will pass on this game. NO BET


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Hearts v Liverpool


Hearts


Injuries - Hamill
Doubtful - MacDonald (was a doubt as his wife was just about to give birth, but I hear through the wonders of twitter, she has given birth now - so he should play)

Available Squad - MacDonald, Enckelman, Hamilton, Patterson, Barr, McGowan, Zaliukas, Webster, McHattie, Taouil, Driver, Prychynenko, Holt, Novikovas, Thomson, Walker, Sutton, Grainger, Robinson, Templeton

Probable XI - MacDonald, Patterson, Zaliukas, Webster, Grainger, McGowan, Taouil, Barr, Driver, Templeton, Sutton (4-4-1-1)



Liverpool

Injuries - Enrique, Cole
Available Squad - Reina, Jones, Kelly, Agger, Carragher, Coates, Flanagan, Shelvey, Lucas, Adam, Allen, Henderson, Spearing, Downing, Borini, Carroll, Wilson, Robinson, Sterling, Eccleston

Probable XI - Reina, Kelly, Agger, Carragher, Wilson, Spearing, Adam, Allen, Downing, Carroll, Borini (4-4-2)


Prediction :  Hearts 1-3 Liverpool

If you had asked me earlier on on the week for a prediction I would have said (my) Hearts were going to get an absolute TONKING!!! but Liverpool, similar to Spurs last season, have decided to leave out some stars from the trip to Royal Tynecastle. Gerrard, Suarez, Skrtel and Johnson all don't travel and that can only be seen as a boost to Hearts. But lets face the facts Liverpool can still put out a team that will have a massive gulf in class. I was listening to Gordon Strachen the other night, who I like, and he suggest the one thing Hearts can do is match Liverpool physically and athletically but I don't really think he thought that through as were I'm looking from Liverpool do actually have a strong physical presence, especially if Carroll starts. I can see a weakness if Hearts concentrate on wing play but overall I think Liverpool will be far too strong. Granted Liverpool played a shocker at the weekend but I think that will spur them on a little bit more to get a good result under their belts.

I hope for a decent result but hope is all I have got. The bet I will be placing is Liverpool to score 2 or more @ 1.85

SPL - Sunday 19th August Team News & Thoughts

Dundee Utd v Dundee (12.45 KO)


Dundee Utd

Injuries -
Doubtfuls - Mackay-Steven, Dillon, Russell, Gunning

Probable XI - Cierzniak, Watson, Douglas, McLean, Gunning, Flood, Ryan, Rankin, Robertson, Gardyne, Daly (4-4-2)


Dundee

Injuries - McBride, Riley, Finnigan

Probable XI - Douglas, Irvine, Lockwood, Benedictus, Grassi, McAlister, O'Donnell, Davidson, Conroy, Baird, Boyle (4-4-2)


Prediction : Dundee Utd 2-0 Dundee


Dundee Utd have 3 key players that they are sweating over the fitness of but they have had since their european match on the 9th of August to recover so they may well be fine to start (part of me is thinking that Peter Houston is just pretending their injured until the transfer window closes as it is a mystery to me that Mackay-Steven and Johnny Russell have not been snapped up as they are both that good)  There is a massive gulf in class here that should see Dundee Utd win the first Dundee Derby to be held for 7 years. If the 3 doubts for Utd all make the starting XI then I see this as being very comfortable. Dundee have however signed Martin Boyle from Montrose who was banging in the goals last season, I expect to see him involved straight away.

I've had a quick look and must say I am amazed that Dundee Utd to score 2 or more goals is @ 2.48 (betfair) I'll have some of that!!!!