After trailing in our wake for the last number of weeks, Paddy Power have gained the edge in the betting challenge, but how long will their reign at the top last?
Well we can’t say it wasn’t coming. For weeks, Paddy Power have been hot on our heels and as soon as Martin Skrtel passed the ball into no man’s land on Sunday afternoon we knew our reign at the top was over.
Skrtel’s brain-fart came only an hour or so after Colm O’Neill had netted an ultimately futile goal right at the death for Cork, an event that put paid to what had looked like a brilliant bet from our side, that there would be no goals scored in the first of the All-Ireland football semi-finals.
In the end, Paddy’s prediction of four or more goals in the Liverpool v Man City game was the only bet of the six that came through last weekend, pushing Paddy ahead by just under a fiver after 16 weeks of the betting challenge.
Here’s how it stands at the moment.
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Outlay: €560 |
Outlay: €560 |
With only one successful bet in three weeks, Conor Heneghan has done everyone a favour and stepped away this week, leaving room at the plate for Declan Whooley, who has joined the JOE team in recent weeks.
Like any proud Corkonian, Declan doesn’t part with his money easily, so he could be worth listening to this week. Here are his recommendations.
JOE’s Picks:
Mayo v Dublin, exactly two goals in the game @ 5/2
This will be quite an intriguing game at HQ, and the ‘battle’ from 2006 has been covered in-depth all week. If you believe all you read in the media then Mayo have no chance with the loss of Andy Moran. We’re not sure what you call a one man team that loses that one player, but it can’t be good.
Still, Dublin haven’t been setting the world alight by any stretch and both teams will need to up their performance to give Donegal a game in the final. Both defences are pretty solid but we can see it opening up in the second half. We are banking on a couple of goals to be scored at a decent 5/2.
Liverpool v Arsenal, Draw/Liverpool @ 4/1
For the second week in a row Liverpool welcome another top four rival to Anfield. This would have been a game between title contenders not so long ago but Champions League qualification is now the height of both sides’ ambitions.
Brendan Rodgers will be hoping to turn Anfield into a fortress and build on last week’s performance against City. Arsenal have a good record in this fixture, they won 2-1 last season and are unbeaten in their last five visits. We expect a close encounter and a cagey first half before Liverpool edge it in the second half.
Manchester City v QPR, Carlos Tevez to score first @ 7/2
Champions City will be looking to get back on track after two dropped points against Liverpool and this game represents the perfect opportunity to get three points. Mark Hughes has taken the Championship Manager approach to transfers, and that is with the cheat for unlimited funds.
It is anyone’s guess what team he will put out tomorrow and though they did draw last time out, the opening day hammering at Swansea shows the brittle nature of the team.
There will be goals in this and Carlos Tevez has been demonstrating all the benefits of appearing on Argentina’s Biggest Loser (the only explanation we can think of) and is now as fit looking as we have ever seen him. We’re backing him to continue his fine form and score first in what could be an unhappy return to Eastlands for Sparky.
Paddy’s Picks:
Mayo v Dublin, Mayo to win @ 9/4
Mayo!? But Alan Brogan’s back and Andy Moran is out you say? Very true, but looking at their performances to date even the most die-hard Dub would have to admit that Mayo have looked the better side.
The green and red have looked balanced this year with Ger Cafferkey amongst the top full backs in the country at the moment, while James Horan has the envious task of picking two out of the three outstanding midfielders this term. There’ll be fireworks, but Mayo to edge it.
Mayo v Dublin, both teams to score a goal @ 5/4
Speaking of those fireworks, there’s no reason to expect anything other than goals, goals, goals, with both sides having rattled the onion sack 14 times between them already this summer.
The Dubs, for the first time since early summer, have all their aces in the forward line while Mayo have found the net in their previous six championship encounters at headquarters. All in all it’s not shaping up to be a bad game is it?
Liverpool (-1) to beat Arsenal @ 11/4
Liverpool gave the Gunners a minor paddling at the Emirates when they met at this stage last season and we can see a similar result occurring this weekend. There’s little doubt that Wenger will manage to turn one of his current ranks into a world class player but the problem for them right now is that the side is completely devoid of match-winners.
Liverpool, meanwhile, look by far the more settled side should come out on top in what we expect to be a high scoring game and are good value -1 at 11/4.
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