Three bits from our Stats/Previews feature for the OZ games played on May 26^th, 2007. ALL 49 coupon games got this kind of treatment that day, with the teams where we felt a bet might be on highlighted in blue.  The first three bracketed figures in the top line are for Pools fans – first the number of weeks since this particular coupon number coincided with a score-draw, then the total score-draws each team has played.

 

After that we are aiming to help Individual Odds and Pools punters. The next bracketed figure were the current five-match-form figures for both teams, while the final plus or minus figure in brackets is the difference between the two teams on the Racing and Football Outlook Form scale (we produce most of the football stats for that paper, published every Tuesday).

 

We go into this kind of detail most weeks during the summer, because no-one else does! And we reckon people need MORE help with OZ teams than they might with the Premiership. Note the mix of pure stats, stats analysis and team news. Holdi and Dave Blake are two long-established contributors to our Message Board.

 

During the winter, we cover eight English and Scottish major leagues plus SIX English non-league Divisions with this feature and between this and the TIPS section of the site, cover game where we feel a bet is possible in this kind of depth. In general, we don’t recommend a bet on anything unless we have considered them in this kind of depth.

 

Here’s the sample:

 

 

6: (4) WLXWO PASCOE VALE (1) v (1) MORELAND LWXWL (58-41) (+6)

Pascoe Vale won 4 of last 6

Pascoe Vale have climbed 5 places in the last month.

Pascoe Vale have the best home defence

Moreland have the worst five-match-form in this Division

Vale have had a tougher set of games than this team from

eight places from below them in the table so this looks

a home banker. The site stats have them as a 1/2 chance and

I would not offer more than 2/5, so 4/7 with Bet365 and Skybet

is actually value. The clincher is that Moreland have lost here the

last four years, scoring just the once in that run.

HOLDI: Local derby. Last season Pascoe suffered from injuries and

players attending the World Cup and with a few good signings they

now look the team to beat. Moreland just avoided the drop and could

be better this season but this looks a solid home win.              

 

14: (5) LWXLL TEMPLESTOWE (1) v (1) DIAMOND V. LWXWO (35-66) (-40)

Templestowe lost last 4 on the trot

Templestowe have dropped 4 places in the last month.

Templestowe have the worst five-match-form in this Division

Templestowe have the worst home defence

Diamond V. won 6 of last 8

Diamond V. have the best five-match-form in this Division

Diamond V. have the best away defence.

 

Bottom v Top is usually a much better recipe for away banker Down Under

than it is here. Diamond’s away draws came at teams with pretty good

defences (Waverley – just one conceded in five games – and Doncaster

- five conceded in six games). Templestowe are conceding 3-per-game on

average and their only point came at home to another struggler on Day One.

Diamond have scored nine without reply in their last two against bottom half

teams. We make the away win a 2/7 chance (look at those form figures), but

this being the first week of the OZ season when the layers still have a UK

mindset, you can get 1/2.  

HOLDI: Templestowe were offered late promotion due to the demise of Clayton

 and will find it tough. DV have made some astute signings and look one of the 
 better teams. They have a regular starter still under suspension, Tempy`s

 best forward returns from a ban. Diamond Valley have a key player now available

because he`s asked for a tribunal hearing. 

 

 31: (1) LWWWW CROYDON (0) v (1) PIRATES WWWWW (52-51) (-10)

Croydon won last 4 on the trot at home, three against teams in the

last four. Pirates’ three away wins have been at the bottom three though!

Croydon have the best home attack

Croydon are 14 homes without a score-draw.

Pirates are 20 aways without a score-draw.

Pirates are 10 aways without a loss.

One of those ten was a 4-0 here in September and they have won

three of their last four here. We make this a 5/4 away win chance so 15/8

from Skybet is very tempting.

 

DAVE BLAKE: Pirates have retained the majority of their squad from last season.

Dylan Iacopetta, Paul Matteo, The Brothers Alagich, Bun, Reth, Chhum to name but

a few. More importantly, Scott Unglaube is back from a year off with a badly broken

leg and is already knocking the goals in. Croydon were pre-season faves to win the

title but have gone off the boil of late. They still have a decent squad and on their

day can beat any team in the league. Squad consists of the experienced Captain Joe

Lagana, Michael's Cavallaro, Papacharalambous and Edwards (top scorer with five)

plus the up and coming Chris Adcock(four this season). Two ex-Pirates also line up

for the home side, Africans, Aaron Taye and Ali Toure. This is one of those games

that can go three ways...If you'd asked me who'd win a month ago, I'd have said

Croydon without a doubt but with Unglaube back in the Pirates line up and the

recent insurgence in form, I’m fancying an X2. Croydon were beaten at home by

Modbury 0-2 last night in Errea Cup although both teams did field quite a few U23's.

They also miss the banned  Ross Gray.