September 2012 … -3.3 Units
August 2012 ... +30.5 Units
EPL 13-3
La Liga 3-1
Champions League 5-3
Japan League 2-0
League Championship (Eng) 0-1
Europa League 0-1
Turkish Superlig 0-0-1
Wednesday September 19, 2012
2:45pm ET
Celtic vs. Benfica
My first thoughts when I saw this short line and this match up were, “Why are Benfica at +120 as a road favorite of 0.5 goals?” When I see a road favorite at plus odds I raise an eyebrow and look a little closer at the match. In fact, if you are backing Celtic tomorrow, it would be a bet for them not to lose; because a win by them, even at home, is highly improbable and I cannot back a team on these grounds.
I know I will get some challenges if I start to compare the domestic league successes and how that will translate into CL success for both clubs; so I won’t go there. But let’s look at the talent pool on both sides of this match up.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon can only dream of getting any worthwhile signings and Benfica have a heavy South American flavor to their lineup, play very good possession football and their offense has been clicking, having scored 8 goals in their last 2 matches and since Sept 3rd when they started preparing for Celtic and only Celtic.
Celtic is nowhere near as strong as Benfica on the attacking side of the ball and certainly don't look as defensively strong either. So let’s look at the Celtic offense: Commons, Stokes and Hooper. They are all good talented players in the SPL, but the level of soccer in that league compared to the CL and Internationally Battle Tested Benfica are a few hundred miles apart. I am sure in their last match on Saturday, Celtic were looking ahead at today, but that’s no excuse for losing to St. Johnstone who has had 3 losses and 2 draws coming into that match. LOL.
Benfica are technically sound and are a class above Celtic in all aspects of the game. Every Celtic supporter out there believes they are extremely strong at home. That may be true domestically, in a league with no competition and a relegated Rangers; but on the international stage, they are not the threat they were the last time they participated in the CL.
Let’s not forget that Benfica were down to 10 men in the CL quarter finals last year versus Chelsea and managed a goal. In fact, they were forceful from the off. Had that Red Card not been given in the 40’ we may not have seen advancement come so easily for The Blues. Then in Europa they lost in the semi-finals in a 2-2 aggregate result to Braga on away goals.
HOW CAN ANYONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND PLACE CELTIC AT THE SAME LEVEL AS BENFICA?
Finally, if Celtic is to even get a sniff at a draw, they need to really up their performance level significantly, fortify their defensive back four and that has to have happened between Sunday and today. NO WAY! This side is untested in this environment and many Celtic supports are saying that the crowd will be enough to get them the draw. I say, “Save your money for the pub!”
Benfica -0.5 (+120) 4 Units
!~))!
August 2012 ... +30.5 Units
EPL 13-3
La Liga 3-1
Champions League 5-3
Japan League 2-0
League Championship (Eng) 0-1
Europa League 0-1
Turkish Superlig 0-0-1
Wednesday September 19, 2012
2:45pm ET
Celtic vs. Benfica
My first thoughts when I saw this short line and this match up were, “Why are Benfica at +120 as a road favorite of 0.5 goals?” When I see a road favorite at plus odds I raise an eyebrow and look a little closer at the match. In fact, if you are backing Celtic tomorrow, it would be a bet for them not to lose; because a win by them, even at home, is highly improbable and I cannot back a team on these grounds.
I know I will get some challenges if I start to compare the domestic league successes and how that will translate into CL success for both clubs; so I won’t go there. But let’s look at the talent pool on both sides of this match up.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon can only dream of getting any worthwhile signings and Benfica have a heavy South American flavor to their lineup, play very good possession football and their offense has been clicking, having scored 8 goals in their last 2 matches and since Sept 3rd when they started preparing for Celtic and only Celtic.
Celtic is nowhere near as strong as Benfica on the attacking side of the ball and certainly don't look as defensively strong either. So let’s look at the Celtic offense: Commons, Stokes and Hooper. They are all good talented players in the SPL, but the level of soccer in that league compared to the CL and Internationally Battle Tested Benfica are a few hundred miles apart. I am sure in their last match on Saturday, Celtic were looking ahead at today, but that’s no excuse for losing to St. Johnstone who has had 3 losses and 2 draws coming into that match. LOL.
Benfica are technically sound and are a class above Celtic in all aspects of the game. Every Celtic supporter out there believes they are extremely strong at home. That may be true domestically, in a league with no competition and a relegated Rangers; but on the international stage, they are not the threat they were the last time they participated in the CL.
Let’s not forget that Benfica were down to 10 men in the CL quarter finals last year versus Chelsea and managed a goal. In fact, they were forceful from the off. Had that Red Card not been given in the 40’ we may not have seen advancement come so easily for The Blues. Then in Europa they lost in the semi-finals in a 2-2 aggregate result to Braga on away goals.
HOW CAN ANYONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND PLACE CELTIC AT THE SAME LEVEL AS BENFICA?
Finally, if Celtic is to even get a sniff at a draw, they need to really up their performance level significantly, fortify their defensive back four and that has to have happened between Sunday and today. NO WAY! This side is untested in this environment and many Celtic supports are saying that the crowd will be enough to get them the draw. I say, “Save your money for the pub!”
Benfica -0.5 (+120) 4 Units
!~))!
