ITALIAN SOCCER by MA

[themadactuarian]

Greetings,


2007-2008 Italian soccer gets under way with the Useless Coppa Italia.

My 2007 records were as follows:


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=412 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="24%" height=5>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="16%" height=5>W
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="16%" height=5>L
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="12%" height=5>T
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="33%" height=5>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="24%" height=5>Serie A
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="16%" height=5>W 86
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="16%" height=5>L 84
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="12%" height=5>T 43
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="33%" height=5>+ 22.630 units
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="24%" height=5>Serie B
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="16%" height=5>W 96
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="16%" height=5>L 99
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="12%" height=5>T 49
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="33%" height=5>+ 14.693 units
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="24%" height=5>Coppa Italia
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="16%" height=5>W 8
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="16%" height=5>L 4
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="12%" height=5>T 1
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="33%" height=5>+ 13.480 units
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="24%" height=6>TOTALS
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="16%" height=6>W 190
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="16%" height=6>L 187
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="12%" height=6>T 93
</TD><TD vAlign=top width="33%" height=6>+ 50.803 units
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Plays ranging between 3 units (small), and 9 units (best bet)

Above A & B records are somewhat disappointing, as both were cresting nicely in the +70 units around the middle mark of the month of April, before final collapse in the final weeks took most of it away (the meltdown resulting from poor selections and some nasty 90<SUP>th </SUP>minute luck)

Some early thoughts on the A:

• Inter is the best team, but no the best coached. Chivu (somewhat fragile and injury prone), is a perfect compliment on defense between Materazzi and Cordoba. Weapons at every position, and deep.
  
• Milan: From the big four, probably the best coached. Ancelotti’s 4-3-3 is as good as it comes in Serie A. Many jems here (Kaka/ Pirlo), however, keep an eye on the following: Maldini, Gattuso, Inzaghi, Jankulovki….defense will be a problem, and Inzaghi beside Ronaldo is a recipe for disaster. Pato was a great acquisition to compliment Kaka. Still, no Ronaldhino, no Scudetto.
  
• Juventus: Give the bastards of the North credit. Plenty of acquisitions in the right direction. Grygera and Andrade on defense will be a plus beside Zebina (who can go from looking like the best defender in the league, to the worst when caught napping). Nonetheless, no Scudetto, period. Ranieri is a good coach, but not good enough to lead this unit to the prize….interim duties until Capello returns next year, and that is my opinion. Still, this will be the toughest 4-4-2 team to play against. Strong enough on offense to have the potential to be one of the better "Cover" teams when laying the –1.5 goals.
  
• Roma: Could not get Cruz (almost did). Destined to be a spoiler against Juventus and Milan. Team might actually do better in Champions league play because of their depth. Juan and Giuly will struggle early, but will be solid in the second half. Don’t believe what you read, Totti will revert back to his natural passing style feeding jems to Mancini and Perotta, and as such his goal production will go down considerably. The 15 mil. Euros (from Inter) for Chivu is badly needed cash to search for size and speed up front. From the big four, I rank Spalletti number 2 in coaching prowess.

See it: Inter (first), Juventus (second), Milan (third), Roma (fourth)

Accordingly, my selection(s) to win the Scudetto is as follows:
INTER MILAN +132 (14 units)
JUVENTUS +641 (2.5 units)
AS ROMA +993 (1.5 units)


For opening week on the 25<SUP>th</SUP> I am tentatively looking at the following:
Torino +0.5 and +1 vs LAZIO
JUVENTUS –1 and 1.5 vs Livorno
Roma pk and –0.5 vs PALERMO
NAPOLI –0.5 vs Cagliari (probable best bet)
GENOA +0.5 and +1 vs AC Milan
GENOA over 2 and 2.5 (probable best bet)


For Serie B – Many of the B teams involved in Coppa Italia, and will wait to see how they perform out of the gates.


For tomorrow, Aug.14th:

in Coppa Italia:

Vicenza at MESSINA
Vicenza +0.5 –110 (4 units)

In Champions League Qualifier
Dinamo Bucharest at LAZIO
LAZIO over 2 and 2.5 –104 (3 units)


Good luck,


MA

 

[JohnMolson]

good luck this year MA

 

[GreenDoberman]

Good to see you posting. We need some good Italian soccer input. GL.

 

[Costanza]

Best of luck this season MA !!!

 

[MrCleo]

what do you think of Lazio in their CL match?

 

[themadactuarian]

what do you think of Lazio in their CL match?

Mr.C,

To be honest, I was considering Lazio -1 as a play to compliment the over 2 and 2.5, but decided to just stick with the total. In my opinion it's never a good thing to start any sort of qualifier on home turf, and as such it would be ideal for Lazio to make a statement by not only playing for the victory, but also striving for multiple goals and beat Dinamo in a convincing manner. It is easier said than done, but if accomplished it would certainly set-up a more relaxed return leg. Could get ugly in the stands, as 4000+ Dinamo fans have made the trip, many without tickets. Pandev for Lazio could be the difference, as he is capable of scoring in bunches.
At -1 and +103, it is not enough value for me, but worthy of consideration. I played the over, expecting Lazio to play wide open for most of the match. With this unit, it's all or nothing. 0-0 or 4-1, that is how unpredictable they can be. I'm hoping for the ladder.

good luck.

MA

 

[goran321]

who like betting in soccer see link http://www.therxforum.com/showthread.php?t=499931

free game

 

[joeyfitzclick]

I learned the hard way NEVER to bet on the Italian Cup.

 

[themadactuarian]

For tomorrow, Aug.14th:

in Coppa Italia:

Vicenza at MESSINA
Vicenza +0.5 –110 (4 units)

In Champions League Qualifier
Dinamo Bucharest at LAZIO
LAZIO over 2 and 2.5 –104 (3 units)


Good luck,


MA


[/quote]
Vicenza 2 Messina 2 (reg. time)
90th minute equalizer by Vicenza against one of the most brutal Serie A teams in the 2006-2007 season. I'll take it...for a change.


LAZIO 1 Dinamo Bucharest 1

1W-1L-1T (+2.44 units)

MA

 

[themadactuarian]

I learned the hard way NEVER to bet on the Italian Cup.

we all chose our own poison, Mr.J

 

[joeyfitzclick]

we all chose our own poison, Mr.J

I went 0-9 in the Copa Italiano last year.

 

[themadactuarian]

I went 0-9 in the Copa Italiano last year.

don't feel so bad,

May 12th (Serie B) - May 13th (Serie A): 3W - 11L (-50 something units)
One fucking weekend...crushed a good portion of this league's season profits.

 

[themadactuarian]

COPPA ITALIA for Wednesday, August 15th

Brescia vs Pisa (at Pistoia - neutral site category)
Brescia pk and -0.5 -103 (3 units)

Albinoleffe at BARI
BARI -0.5 +108 (5.5 units)

Frosinone at RIMINI
Frosinone OVER 2 and 2.5 +106 (3 units)

Cesena at NAPOLI
NAPOLI -1 and -1.5 -106 (4 units)
NAPOLI OVER 2 and 2.5 -102 (4 units)

good luck,

MA

 

[fhmesq44]

COPPA ITALIA for Wednesday, August 15th

Brescia vs Pisa (at Pistoia - neutral site category)
Brescia pk and -0.5 -103 (3 units)

Albinoleffe at BARI
BARI -0.5 +108 (5.5 units)

Frosinone at RIMINI
Frosinone OVER 2 and 2.5 +106 (3 units)

Cesena at NAPOLI
NAPOLI -1 and -1.5 -106 (4 units)
NAPOLI OVER 2 and 2.5 -102 (4 units)

good luck,

MA

Grazie Grazie Grazie.

 

[Costanza]

great Job MA !
Always nice to start of the season with a winning week

 

[themadactuarian]

COPPA ITALIA for Wednesday, August 15th

Brescia vs Pisa (at Pistoia - neutral site category)
Brescia pk and -0.5 -103 (3 units)
Pisa 2 Brescia 1

Albinoleffe at BARI
BARI -0.5 +108 (5.5 units)
BARI 1 Albinoleffe 0

Frosinone at RIMINI
Frosinone OVER 2 and 2.5 +106 (3 units)
RIMINI 6 Frosinone 0

Cesena at NAPOLI
NAPOLI -1 and -1.5 -106 (4 units)
NAPOLI OVER 2 and 2.5 -102 (4 units)
NAPOLI 4 Cesena 0

good luck,

MA

So far:

CL Qualifier YTD: 0W-1L-1T (-1.56 units)
(will only play games involving Italian teams. Held back from playing Sampdoria; sure enough, win on the road 1-0)

Coppa Italia YTD: 5W-1L-0T (+18.03 units)

COPPA ITALIA for Saturday, August 18th:

Vicenza at BARI
BARI pk and -0.5 -114 (4.5 units)

Piacenza at RAVENNA
Piacenza pk -106 (3 units)

good luck,

MA

 

[themadactuarian]

So far:

CL Qualifier YTD: 0W-1L-1T (-1.56 units)
(will only play games involving Italian teams. Held back from playing Sampdoria; sure enough, win on the road 1-0)

Coppa Italia YTD: 5W-1L-0T (+18.03 units)

COPPA ITALIA for Saturday, August 18th:

Vicenza at BARI
BARI pk and -0.5 -114 (4.5 units)
BARI 2 Vicenza 0

Piacenza at RAVENNA
Piacenza pk -106 (3 units)
Piacenza 2 RAVENNA 1

good luck,

MA

Coppa Italia - Sunday, August 19th

give me the heat.

AS ROMA at INTER MILAN

INTER MILAN under 2.5 and 3 +102 (3 units)



best of luck,

MA

 

[chriscol]

this is a great run you have in coppa italia..amazing... bring them on

 

[chriscol]

this is more than solid, looking for a great season.
THX:toast:

 

[Costanza]

thanks MA !
solid handicappig as usual