Weekend Tips

The day has come.  After another penalty heartache for England at the Euros and football fans enjoying Wimbledon and the Olympics: the domestic football is back. Men and women all over the country are waking up this morning with excitement as to the season ahead. All with hopes of promotion, glory or success. With clubs starting the new season with new managers, no fewer then six in the Premier League, a fresh hope of what is to come may be the feeling if you are an Aston Villa fan that is or maybe a slightly nervy one if you are a Tottenham fan. 

With this weekend being the opening day bets will be tough to call. There is no doubt ,as ever on the opening day, there will be shocks and possibly some big wins. If recent years are to go by then Wigan should start as ever with a resounding 4/5/6-0 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday. It is the first time we will get to properly see new signings and see the impact they will have. There is also racing from Newbury, Newmarket and Doncaster as they search for winners continues. Also just a reminder that next week is the Ebor Festival at York, should be a cracker. 

Football:

Tough times ahead for Laudrup:
A fascial expression I think we will be
seeing a lot of this season

There are seven Premier League matches this afternoon as well as a virtually full football league fixture list. My bet of the day is that of QPR to beat Swansea. Mark Hughes has strengthened his squad throughout the summer adding players of class and experience. The signings of Park Ji Sung and Junior Hoilett will really aid them this season. For me they will have a better season however I would not go as far as calling them a surprise package. As for Swansea, they did very well last season defying all expectations to stay up. Although this season I think they are in trouble. The loss of Joe Allan to Liverpool was a blow however for me it was losing Gfyi Siggurdsson that is the biggest loss. I look at Swansea and I just do not see goals. They may continue their style from last year and have plenty of possession but for me I do not see where the goals are coming from and a team that does not score goals are clearly relegation material. Also new manager Michael Laudrup (above right) despite a converted  playing career but his managerial CV is not full of successes and he has never managed in the Premier League. I think he is going to struggle. As a result with QPR being at home, first game of the season, they will look for 3 points. Personally I think it will be 3-0. 

SkyBet go 20/21 the QPR win and this is a great price. A Swansea win is at 11/4 and the draw 5/2. If anyone was interested the 3-0 win is at 40/1.     

Elsewhere it will be interesting to see how Arsenal perform. The loss of Robin Van Persie and now Alex Song may have affected them. Sunderland can be an awkward team but away from home would put me of a bet here. In theory it should be a classic Mark Lawrenson BBC prediction of 2-0, but with Martin O'Neil as manager I feel a shock here is possible and SkyBet go a tempting 7-1 the Sunderland win and 7/2 the draw. Also a wins for West Ham (6/5)and Reading (13/10) are possible. West Ham take on, in my opinion a very poor Villa, and at home back in the Premier League the atmosphere will be fantastic. Reading have a slightly trickier affair against Stoke, however again they will be buzzing to start the season and I do think despite the calls of doom and gloom for Reading that they will have a good season and survive. They play good football and I have been impressed with certain summer additions such as Pavel Pogrebnyak. 

The other games I will just watch as for me none are worth a bet.

Bet of the day: QPR win over Swansea @ 20/21- SkyBet 

Premier League Treble: QPR, West Ham and Reading @9/1 - SkyBet or add Manchester City for odds of 10/1

Long Shot- Sunderland to win at the Emirates @ 7/1- SkyBet

3 Draws- Hull/Brighton, Ipswich/Blackburn and Fulham/Norwich @40/1- SkyBet

Accumulator- Sheff Utd, Preston, Rotherham, Southend and Swindon @30/1- SkyBet

Racing:

 Each-Way bets:  Newbury 3.05 - Edinburgh Night/ Newbury 3.40- Rakaan

 Win Bet: Doncaster 5.00- Daring Indian

Rugby League:

The Bulls have been resurgent of late and despite Huddersfield's win last week I think the Bulls will have too much for them. Better focused and more committed so have to back the Bulls. Bradford Bulls to beat Huddersfield Giants @ 2/1 (Sunday)

Good luck with all your bets today.