Weekend Action Post 1

Afternoon

Well last week was interesting, and I was a touch frustrated a couple of big priced dogs came in with Baggies and Villa (in two completely different types of games) coming up with victories. Man U look rife to oppose right now, although we need to be careful as this will be factored in with a few things. Baggies certainly deserved to win that, although the Villa game I felt was more City replicating some of their failings last year is closing out games and throwing them away with individual mistakes. I have been advocating the quality in the Premier League is not as great as some people believe (or want to believe) and with your 'mid-table' sides realising they can play themselves are taking them on and making the games much more competitive now. The hope is we can continue to pick out the right bets.

The early kick off sees City take on Everton at the Etihad. City were given the run around by a Bayern side on Wednesday who are miles head in a football sense. Everton's first 45 against Newcastle was equally impressive, and Martinez is getting some positive performances in terms of a new possession style. They pulled Newcastle across the pitch in both directions, and the directness of Barkley and Lukaku have them a cutting edge which they had lacked a little bit earlier in the season. Everton are the only unbeaten side in the League at the moment, and I think they record may survive here. Historically they have a good record over City in the League, and believe these are the types of games Martinez himself relishes from a tactical point of view. Pellegrini goes two up top again, and although Milner is brought in to help the midfield out, I can't help but look at Everton and think they could win this area. They have pace and mobility which Yaye Toure and Fernandinho do not have and it could be a case of Everton dominating the ball more than people expect. I am not expecting a carbon copy performance of Bayern, and I am not calling Everton a Bayern-lite, but that mantra is in the Martinez style. Pellegrini looks like he is still learning to me, which is somewhat of a surprise, but City have either been rank or very good. Against anyone half-decent, they have been rank, so I am hoping this will be the case today.

0.5pts Under 2.5 goals @ 2.30 (BetVictor & Coral)
1pt Everton win @ 6.56 Pinnacle Sports
1.5pt Everton + 0.5 @ 2.58 188bet

Posting this now and will post again shortly