- This topic has 104 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 4 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Any thoughts on this market??
I’m going to have a few quid on Oscar Cardozo of Paraguay at 100/1 a striker in form with 38 goals for Benfica in the season gone by which has attracted the attention of Man City if you believe what you read in the press. His powerful left foot will be dangerous at free kicks and should be the penalty taker although the squads have not been confirmed it would be a surprise if he wasn’t included. I also think Paraguay with qualify from their group and could be an underrated team.
Market
David Villa 9/1
Lionel Messi 11/1
Wayne Rooney 12/1
Luis Fabiano 12/1
Fernando Torres 14/1
Gonzalo Higuain 18/1
Cristiano Ronaldo 18/1Blackbeard to conquer the World
Good man Nathan – I was just about to start a thread on this topic.
Paraguay preview
Funny enough I fancy a Paraguayan strike to win this given that they have one of the weakest teams in the WC in their group, New Zealand and the draw could favour them.
With a bit of luck and a slow Italian start, we could see Paraguay going into their match against New Zealand having drawn with Italy & Slovakia. This would mean that the group will possibly decided on Goal Difference and with New Zealand in the last group game, who knows?
I’ve had a look at the Paraguayan qualifying and the absence of Salvador Cabanas (shot in head in a Mexican night-club in January) from South Africa really throws their 2 starting striking spots up for grabs as he was their main striker and guaranteed a starting spot.
Looking at the 3 main others:
Roque Santa-Cruz
67 caps – 21 goals
Not in the squad for a whopping 13 of their 18 qualifiers, he spent much of the season injured so can be excused those absences. He did however start 3 of the other 5 qualifiers, scoring 3 goals in all. Paraguay’s 2nd highest all-time goalscorer with 21 goals (after Jose Cardozo with 25 who retired in 2006), it is hard to to see him being left on the bench given that he is one of their most experienced players and also he hasn’t had a hard season.
He is worth a bet at 170 on BF
Oscar Cardozo
29 caps – 4 goals
As Nathan has said, Cardozo had a sensational season at Benfica scoring 38 goals in all competitions. However, he deosn’t seem to be one of the favoured starters in the National team. In the squad for 15 of the 18 qualifiers, he scored 2 goals in all. However, he only started 3 games, one of which where neither Santa Cruz nor Cabanas were available. Of the other 13 games, he came on as a sub 9 times and was unused 3 times (incl when 1-0 down away to Ecuador). In fact, after Paraguay qualified against Argentina (unused sub in that game), Cardozo was still left on the bench for the final 2 meaningless games against Venezuela and Colombia.
I will probably have a small bet on him as 100/1 is far too big but, unless I’ve read it wrong, I don’t really see him starting too many games which is a huge negative.
Nelson Valdez
38 caps – 9 goals
There’s sneaking under the radar and then there’s sneaking under the radar! Valdez was available for 17 of Paraguay’s 18 qualifiers and started 16 of those 17. He scored 5 goals in qualifying, 2 of which were the only goal in 1-0 wins against Uruguay and Argentina and he looks to be an almost definite starter in South Africa.
Available at 200/1 with Boylesports (1/4 odds 1,2,3,4), Valdez is currently available to back on Betfair at 430 (couple of quid only) and has been matched at 660.0!
More to follow later tonight on a few other options
Good preview of the Paraguay team/strikers there David. Hopefully for the sake of my couple of quid Cardozo does get a chance as i feel his form at club level has been high class. I knew Cabanas hadn’t been playing but i did not realise he had been shot.
.I definitely think it’s worth looking at those at bigger odds as I reckon the likes of Rooney and Torres could be in for some rough treatment with teams aware of them carrying fitness problems. Messi is the best player on the planet but does he score or receive the same service for Argentina as he does Barca?
Blackbeard to conquer the World
Good to see some World Cup betting on here. We need to discuss all the possibilities of every market so we can make some serious dosh *froth*.
I actually like Rooney as I think Eng could make 1/4’s or semis. He is deffo one of the best strikers out there. He should get the service, even if he does play up front alone. 12/1 Totesh*t isn’t great, but it will have to do.
Interesting thinking re Paraguay – not sure I see it that way, though.
Let me state categorically that ARGENTINA WILL NOT WIN THE WORLD CUP. I will be very surprised if they make it past the 2nd round.
Maradonna is an awful coach and his ego has stopped him from allowing Messki to do what he does for Barca at national level. Maradonna is a rubbish tactician believe it or not.
I watched quite a few Arge games in the WC qualifiers and they scraped through against Uruguay at the end. They were disjointed and messy (no pun intended).
I didn’t think David Villa would be a shorter price than Torres?!
Hope there will be more opinions on this market!
Zippy
The latest on Torres is that he is expected to be fit for the opening game, if he’s fit and guaranteed to stay injury free then i would expect him to score more goals than David Villa however if there’s any concern over his fitness he could be subbed alot like in the Euros if I’m thinking correctly. Who’s the Spanish penalty taker?
Blackbeard to conquer the World
An alternative for Rooney is 13/8 with boylesports to be the England top goalscorer.
Blackbeard to conquer the World
The latest on Torres is that he is expected to be fit for the opening game, if he’s fit and guaranteed to stay injury free then i would expect him to score more goals than David Villa however if there’s any concern over his fitness he could be subbed alot like in the Euros if I’m thinking correctly. Who’s the Spanish penalty taker?
I wouldnt be so sure….Villa is an absolute international goal machine(36 goals in 55 caps as opposed to Torres 23 in 72).
Fabiano is also a great bet. Hes Brazils main striker,scores most of their goals…..and is a tremendous player to boot.
Had a little look at this market aswell as the win market and I agree with another poster here that Argentina, as classy as their squad looks, will not win the World Cup. I have them down as going out in the 2nd Round to France.
As for the Golden Boot….
I feel France will make the best of their group stage and Anelka and Henry are massive prices at 80/1 and 66/1. Holland also have the chance to score a lot of goals early on so Dirk Kuyt and Van Persie are sizeable at 150/1 and 25/1.
Lastly, with Slovakia and New Zealand in the group followed up by a likely 2nd round tie against Japan or Cameroon I think Alberto Gilardino is massive at 50/1 for Italy.
Good luck lads! Going to be a great World Cup. I fancy Holland and Germany for the final
Being 49% English and 51% Scottish,i can happily bet on
Spain
to win the World Cup! I have backed them in every major tournament since 1982,so they have cost me a bloody fortune! Except the real deal turned up and didn"t just try to walk the ball into the net 2 years ago in the European Championships so i had a treble on them, Spain 7/1, Nadal to win Wimbledon at 2/1 and the Duke of Marmalade to win the King George at 10/1! Hasta la Vista Baby! I think Torres and Villas at 12"s and 9"s are both worth a bet!
Good luck TAPK!
Theyve got to beat Portugal or Brazil (whoever gets 2nd in Group G) before they get past the 2nd Round!
The latest on Torres is that he is expected to be fit for the opening game, if he’s fit and guaranteed to stay injury free then i would expect him to score more goals than David Villa however if there’s any concern over his fitness he could be subbed alot like in the Euros if I’m thinking correctly. Who’s the Spanish penalty taker?
I wouldnt be so sure….Villa is an absolute international goal machine(36 goals in 55 caps as opposed to Torres 23 in 72).
Yeah you’re right DalryBear about Villa, about half the forum were on when he top scored at Euro 08. But as a Liverpool fan I have high expectations of Torres a bit like you with Rangers.
Blackbeard to conquer the World
Good luck TAPK!
Theyve got to beat Portugal or Brazil (whoever gets 2nd in Group G) before they get past the 2nd Round!
I hope its Portugal Nathan! Brazil are always to be feared!
You mean Halfwaytoheaven. Im on your side TAPK with Spain, Brazil for the first time ever imo look to be stronger in defence then attack.
Blackbeard to conquer the World
Good luck TAPK!
Theyve got to beat Portugal or Brazil (whoever gets 2nd in Group G) before they get past the 2nd Round!
I hope its Portugal Nathan! Brazil are always to be feared!
I reckon Brazils chances hinge on what Kaka turns up…….fully fit,on song Kaka then theyl go very close.The way he inspires that team is unbelievable.
But if the injury Kaka has been carrying hasnt cleared up and/or hes below form then i reckon they are going to struggle badly and you could see someone upsetting them big time.They are more of a workhorse side this year than the usual flair.
If the spanish play to form they will probably win it anyway.
Been putting bits on D.Villa for a while now.
Best team, attacking team, most active goalscorer, takes pens and freeuns and basically loves it. Can’t wait
I don’t watch football, but there are some nice prices available here.
Could someone provide some form, please? I want the ages of eaach player, and the number of goals and appearances for their club side at domestic and continental level.
Also, could someone provide some trends? I remember Oleg Salenko, from 1994.
Ta.
It seems that the trend is for the Golden Boot winner to get older. I’m going to restrict it to age 25-28 though, or to keep it simpler, born 1982-1985.
WC Year YOB Difference
2006 1978 28
2002 1976 26
1998 1968 30
1994 1969 25
1994 1966 28
1990 1964 26
1986 1960 26
1982 1956 26
1978 1954 24
1974 1950 24
1970 1945 25edit: David Villa born 3 December 1981, so he’s 28. Envelope stretched to accommodate him.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.