Captain's Blog Stardate 16/12/2011

Coming into the Christmas period and everyone is looking forward to spending time with loved ones, presents and maybe even some snow. All I want for Christmas are some live football games to enjoy on the couch with a cold one in hand and a couple of big bets to keep me focussed. Santa has been kind this year, so here’s some football gambling advice for the festive season.

QPR v Manchester United
12:00 18/12 Sky Sports 1

Manchester United travel to Loftus Road Stadium to take on a QPR side who have been a different proposition at home than away this season. QPR have already beaten big boys Chelsea at home and pushed Manchester City close in a match that finished 3-2 to the money men. United are now out of the Champions League and the Premiership has to be the main focus for the red devils now. A good win at Old Trafford last week against Wolves and Chelsea beating league leaders Manchester City puts United right back in the hunt coming into this vital Christmas period.

The games come thick and fast over the next few weeks and this is where champions are made. I think that United will come out on top in this one and give their title chances a good push in the right direction. QPR won’t make this an easy three points for Fergie’s men and I see it being a tight match. United seem to have turned a corner and are starting to convert their chances into all important goals. QPR are no slouches when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net with Heidar Helguson slotting home six times already this year.

Captain’s Prediction

A high scoring game with United to come out on top.

Captain’s Big Bets

Buy Total Goals
Buy Manchester United Team Goals

Manchester City v Arsenal:
16:00 18/12 Sky Sports 1

The Gunners make the trip to the Etihad Stadium to face league leaders Manchester City. This is a must-see game. Both teams are so unpredictable anything could happen in this one. Manchester City were found out last week at Stanford Bridge and in my opinion are not the world beaters that everyone is hyping them up to be. They were played off the park at Anfield two weeks ago and were lucky to get a point from the game. City will be trying to put things right after their first league defeat of the season but Arsenal are no mugs and will give them a game and a half.

Robin Van Persie is in unbelievable form this term with 15 goals from 14 league starts and a dodgy Man City defence will do well to keep him from making it 16 or even 17. Manchester City front man Baloteli is in good goal scoring form himself but it’s hard to tell if he will be on the pitch long enough to score. The striker has 4 yellows and 1 red cards in only 5 league stars but has also amounted 8 goals. Two bad defences spell goals in this one and I can see Arsenal getting at least a point from the over-rated superstars of Man City. This game will change the look at the top of the table completely.

Captain’s Prediction

Arsenal to edge it at a good price with City finishing with ten men.

Captain’s Big Bets

Buy Robin Van Persie Goal Minutes
Buy Total Bookings
Sell Manchester City/Arsenal Supremacy