Since Mrs Harry Brady is over 8 months pregnant I felt I had to acquiesce to her request that we go shopping last Saturday to buy some essential items.  The only debate was whether we go before or after the game .  Eventually it was agreed that we go before and as a consequence I missed the first two goals of the game.  We returned home and I remained fraught.  After a couple of yelps I was asked what the score was; 4-2.  “Thank God, we can all relax now” she proclaimed.  Well, not quite, we need to play for another 10 mins or so without letting in a stupid goal.  So we duly let in that stupid goal and I switched everything off.  At that point I knew the equaliser was only a matter of time.

 The lack of professionalism in losing that 2 goal advantage is astounding.  These guys are paid at the level of blue chip CEO’s yet don’t do the simple things.  A basic element of the job must surely be tracking back or just passing to another player in your team?  Still as I said to Neil McCallum when he commented on my half glass full attitude, at least we’re scoring goals.

But enough of this tedium, what about my increasingly useless predictions (due to the inconsistency of us and to a lesser extent Rangers) and the odds from Paddy Power?

SPL

Scottish Div One

Outside the wonderful world of Scottish football we will look again over the border at the worlds most indebted league and this week’s Paddy Power’s Bulletin pays special attention to the inform Wayne Rooney – and his return to Goodison Park.

Arguably the best player in the world on current form Paddy Power are offering 7/2 on Rooney for this year’s World Player of the Year betting as well as how many league goals Rooney scores for Man Utd this season. Paddy Power also have a number of Rooney and own goal markets ahead of United’s trip to the former Evertonian’s boyhood club on Saturday.

For those of you who like the idea of a no lose bet, Paddy Power are also launching a new Accumulator Money-Back Special where from now until the end of March Paddy Power will refund all football four folds or above if the accumulator bet is winning at half-time but not at full time.

Meanwhile now that we have Robbie Keane scoring pens for us after we missed 4 out of 5, we find Spurs are struggling to score from the spot with both Jermain Defoe and Tom Huddlestone missing from 12 yards.  This week Paddy Power are giving odds on whether Spurs will score a penalty against Wigan and which Premier League team will be the next to miss a penalty. And with Liverpool and Manchester City playing a huge game in the race for a Champions League spot there is betting on Top Four and to finish fourth.

SPL Predictions 

Money-Back Special
Until the end of March, Paddy Power will refund all losing 4 folds and upwards if the bet is winning at half time but not at full time.

I really hope I’m wrong with the Rangers prediction because if I’m right they’ll be 13 points clear by the time we kick off.  How will the CP atmosphere be if the score is level between us and Dundee Utd with 15 or so minutes remaining?  And if Utd were to score – the 30,000 part-timers would be out of there quicker than snow off a dyke.  But since I’m a glass half full kinda guy, you’ll note I’ve gone for 3 – 1 to the hoops (I was going to put 3-0 but couldn’t see us not losing a goal).

That’s the SPL predictions done, so where else might you get value this weekend?

PADDY POWER MONEY-BACK SPECIALS

NEW! Paddy Power Accumulator Money-Back Special – Half-time Saver!  Until the end of March Paddy Power will refund all losing 4 folds and upwards if your accumulator bet is winning at half time but not at full time.

(Am I milking this too much?)

 Everton v Man Utd – Don’t Louis Your Shirt

If Louis Saha scores the last goal Paddy Power will refund all losing first/last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast singles on the match. 

Wayne Rooney Betting 

World Player of the Year

7/4        Messi

7/2        Rooney

9/2        Ronaldo

12/1      Kaka

16/1      Xavi

How many Premier League goals will Rooney score this season (currently 21)

4/1        Less than 25

7/2        26-27

5/2        28-29

7/2        30-31

7/2        32 or more

Everton v Man Utd

11/2      Rooney to score and be booked

18/1      Rooney to score a hat-trick

40/1      Rooney to be sent off

14/1      Everton to concede an own goal

66/1      Phil Neville to score an own goal

40/1      Tim Howard to score an own goal

150/1    Louis Saha to score an own goal

Wigan v Spurs

14/1      Spurs to miss a penalty

11/2      Spurs to score a penalty

22/1      Kirkland to save a penalty

Next team to miss a Premier League penalty