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Boxing Day 1963: Football's Craziest Day Of Results?

It’s Christmastime, so it’s only in-keeping with British football tradition that we take a look back at one of the craziest days in the history of the sport.

Boxing Day 1963 produced 66 goals across 10 thrilling matches – something similar in 2019 would be a wonderful delayed Christmas present.

The football betting markets will offer you pretty good prices on a repeat of 1963 ever again. It seems the goalkeepers might have relaxed a little too much on the 25^th, allowing the forwards to take full advantage on Boxing Day in front of the festive crowds.

The top flight in 1963 is the focus of this piece, but the chaos wasn’t confined to the First Division – Manchester City thrashed Scunthorpe 8-1 in the second tier.

Without further ado, let’s run through the matches on the wildest of Boxing Days…

West Ham United 2-8 Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn came into the meeting as league leaders and they put down an emphatic marker against West Ham.

The Hammers went on to win the FA Cup in the 1963/64 season – they bounced back effectively from their Boxing Day drubbing and finished just six points behind Blackburn.

Andy McEvoy and Fred Pickering each bagged hat-tricks. Johnny Byrne notched a brace for the hosts, but it was no more than a footnote in West Ham’s biggest ever home league defeat.

Fulham 10-1 Ipswich Town

Ipswich had conceded 58 before they headed to west London to face Fulham.

It might not be one of the greatest Boxing Day games, but it’s certainly a momentous one. Ipswich had won the title 18 months previously, and they were handed a humiliating defeat by Fulham on their way to relegation.

Graham Leggat netted four times for Fulham, and he wasn’t the only hat-trick hero as Bobby Howfield also scored thrice.

Blackpool 1-5 Chelsea

Chelsea were 4-0 up before Blackpool scored their goal, effectively ending it as a contest. Terry Venables, who went on to manage numerous clubs and England, added a fifth for the visitors.

Venables was a product of Chelsea’s academy, which has been delivering for the Blues in 2019/20. Chelsea have only produced two Premier League Young Player of the Year winners, but that could become three this season.

Leicester City 2-0 Everton

By the standards of the afternoon, the 2-0 between Leicester and Everton was a tedious affair. Everton were reigning champions, however, and the defeat seriously dented their title ambitions.

Leicester won the League Cup on their way to a mid-table finish – Ken Keyworth scored a brace to topple the Toffees.

Burnley 6-1 Manchester United

Manchester United were within touching distance of the top of the table before kick-off.

Four from Andy Lochhead and two from Willie Morgan hurt the Red Devils, who ultimately fell short, finishing four points behind Liverpool.

Burnley finished ninth and were one of the best home teams in the league, winning 14 and losing just four times in front of their fans.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-3 Aston Villa

The first half was drab. With the score 0-0 at half-time, both teams were lethargic like most are on Boxing Day. The match came to life in the second half, however.

Villa struggled away from home in 1963/64, winning just three times. They will have viewed this match as an opportunity missed. It has a strong claim as the most entertaining match of the day.

Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 Bolton Wanderers

With other top clubs dropping points, Sheffield Wednesday took full advantage. Colin Dobson’s brace led the way for the Yorkshire club, who cruised past a struggling Bolton side.

Wednesday were five points off the top by the end of the day, but their title challenge never got much better than that. They finished sixth.

West Bromwich Albion 4-4 Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham were the team to beat in the early 1960s. A double was followed by Cup Winners’ Cup glory in 1963, making them the first English club to win a European trophy.

Spurs were in the title race on Boxing Day, but they crumbled from 4-2 ahead to take a point from their trip to the Midlands.

Jimmy Greaves scored twice (he went on to finish top scorer) for Spurs. Clive Clarke, Micky Fudge, John Kaye and Don Howe saved the Baggies.

Liverpool 6-1 Stoke City

Not many Premier League tips would’ve predicted Stoke to beat Liverpool 6-1 in 2015. The reverse result on Boxing Day 1963 was less of a surprise.

Liverpool went on to win their sixth First Division title, and subsequently qualified for the European Cup. Their European Cup adventure ended in semi-final heartbreak as Inter staged a dramatic second leg comeback.

Nottingham Forest 3-3 Sheffield United

Nottingham Forest leapt out to a three-goal lead. On most days, that’s unassailable, but Boxing Day 1963 was not a normal day.

Mick Jones scored twice and Len Allchurch once as the Blades completed a dramatic comeback. The teams both finished in mid-table, separated by just two points.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alessandro Fucarini / AP Photo*

December 22, 2019

Football

By Sam Cox

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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

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Who Is The Greatest NBA Player NOT Named Michael Jordan Or LeBron James?

The debate about the greatest ever NBA players tends to centre around LeBron James vs Michael Jordan.

Few would name James or Jordan outside the top two players in NBA history. The reasons for which have been discussed here recently. This article takes a different focus, looking at the best players in NBA history outside of James and Jordan.

The following five players span generations, and some of them made their way into our greatest ever starting five. All have enjoyed immense success in the NBA, some winning more titles than others.

Putting any of them ahead of Jordan or James may be a stretch, but their legacies shouldn’t be defined in such a way. Instead, let’s celebrate their greatness…

Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain’s two NBA titles might not match others on this list, but there’s no question he belongs in this group.

Playing from 1959 through to 1973, Chamberlain collected four MVP awards and six scoring titles. He owns the four highest scoring seasons ever, and he is the only player ever to score 100 in a game.

Wilt The Stilt holds 72 NBA records and has had his jersey retired by six teams, including the Harlem Globetrotters and Overbrook High School.

Durability was combined with finger rolls, fadeaways and humiliating dunks. Chamberlain averaged nearly 46 minutes per game for his career, which was a major factor in his obscene numbers.

Bill Russell

After being selected second overall in the 1956 draft, Bill Russell constructed not just a Hall of Fame career, but the most decorated of all-time.

No player has more than Russell’s 11 rings, and only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won MVP on more occasions than Russell’s tally of five. He also led the league in rebounding in five different seasons.

The NBA belonged to the Boston Celtics in the 1960s. Russell was the best player on that team.

He might have had plenty of talent alongside him like Jon Havlicek and Bob Cousy, but there’s no questioning Russell was the leader (as his five MVPs suggest).

Larry Bird

A member of the 1992 Dream Team, Larry Bird was a one-franchise man, playing for the Boston Celtics from 1979/80 through to 1991/92.

He went sixth overall in the 1978 draft, and the five teams before Boston must have quickly been wondering how they missed out. Bird was an All-Star and Rookie of the Year in his first campaign.

Bird won three titles, three MVPs and was named on All-Defense on three occasions. He had two full 40/50/90 seasons, and was one of the most skilful players the game has seen.

Whether a primary ball handler or shooting from the perimeter, Bird was up there with the best in the league. He could do it all.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s tally of six MVP awards is the most in league history. His 20 NBA seasons played was a record at the time, and he remains the all-time top scorer.

Kareem’s 18 All-Star appearances is also a record, and no one has bettered his 15 All-NBA selections (though it’s been matched by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Tim Duncan).

Six NBA championships isn’t a feat achieved by many. In fact, Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen are the only non-Celtics to do so.

Abdul-Jabbar was also involved in perhaps the most significant trade in NBA history, when he left the Milwaukee Bucks to join the Lakers and eventually team up with Magic Johnson.

Abdul-Jabbar became the first player to win Finals MVP with two different franchises, an achievement that has since been matched by James and Kawhi Leonard.

Kareem’s skyhook is one of the most famous moves in league history. Some would name him the greatest centre ever.

Steph Curry

Curry might be the least popular choice on this list, but the reasoning isn’t just his individual standard.

Along with fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson, Curry changed the game, he altered how basketball is viewed and become an icon for a whole generation of guards.

It could be argued Curry’s spot here is a little premature, too. The two-time MVP has years left at the top of the NBA, and his Warriors could yet win another title or two (their NBA odds in 2020/21 will be fascinating).

Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson could easily have taken this spot. For Curry’s role in the NBA in the 21^st century, though, he deserved a mention at the very least.

Golden State, for all their superstars, are never the same team without him on the floor and, as we saw in the 2019 NBA Finals, he causes defences a unique set of problems.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to AP Photo*

December 20, 2019

Basketball

By Sam Cox

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LeBron James: The Greatest Player In NBA History?

LeBron James is, at worst, the second-best player in NBA history. That’s a pretty good starting point for an athlete’s legacy.

James has been the best player in the NBA for, at the very least, a decade. The 2019/20 campaign was the first in some time when it has been doubted – James is still a strong contender to win MVP per 888sport’s NBA betting.

The debate over GOAT in the NBA pops up every few days, it’s a talking point that can been wheeled out on a slow news day, it provokes tribalism between team LBJ and team MJ.

Michael Jordan’s case as the greatest ever has been discussed on this very site. There are comparisons to be drawn between James and Jordan, but there are differences aplenty, too.

The way they play the game, their personalities and careers are far from identical. Universal respect is perhaps their greatest similarity.

Play-making Ability

Court vision and passing is one area that LeBron’s ardent supporters hold up in any debate. James is leading the league in assists at the time of writing and never averaged fewer than 5.9 dimes per game across a campaign.

Jordan’s best mark was eight per game, but his career average was down at 5.3, 0.6 lower than LeBron’s worst playmaking season.

James has a good case as the greatest passer in NBA history. He’s up there alongside career point guards Magic Johnson, John Stockton and Steve Nash.

The 2019/20 season has seen James become more of a facilitator than ever (sharing the floor with Anthony Davis tends to have that impact).

His ability to not just see crosscourt darts and behind-the-back hand-offs, but execute them, has produced some of the best passes in league history.

Teammates improve alongside James. Careers have been made, and big contracts earned, off the back of LeBron’s ability to find the open man. Shooters like JR Smith and Mario Chalmers ascend to key components. They have James to thank for their championship rings.

Leadership

This isn’t a point of comparison with Jordan, but a nod to James’ role in bringing rosters together. Player turnover has created some turbulent times on James’ teams.

In his second stint in Cleveland, his leadership enabled a roster the Cavaliers to build the team spirit necessary to recover from going 3-1 down to the Warriors.

Since being drafted first overall in 2003, James has changed teams three times. All three moves have been met with fanfare, and the first was a difficult period in his life, such was the vitriol directed at him from Cavs fans.

Someone of James’ stature changes a franchise when he arrives, and that brings dressing room troubles too.

There have been bumps along the road (some spiky social media posts have caused problems), but he has united people, and brought the best out of teammates.

Dwight Howard’s rejuvenation on the Lakers is the most recent example of James’ leadership, and could prove to be yet another key component on a title winning team – the Lakers are one of the top teams in the NBA odds.

Longevity

Only 11 players have played more NBA regular season minutes than James. Add the postseason to that, and he will be almost top of the list by the end of 2019/20.

Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell and Sam Jones have appeared in the NBA Finals more times than James. Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone are the only players to have scored more points than James.

Those records tell us two things: longevity and greatness. James has not just played 17 NBA seasons, he’s maintained the same high standards throughout, he’s avoided injuries.

Playing for a long time is an achievement in itself but doing it to the level James has is unheard when you consider the athleticism he plays with and the pace of the NBA in the 21^st century.

Player Empowerment

Like Jordan, James’ impact hasn’t just been on his teams. His move from Cleveland to Miami drew attention to the NBA, but it’s James’ efforts for player empowerment that have changed how the league works.

NBA stars feel they have control over their careers in a way that past generations didn’t. While that has led to criticisms of trade requests, there’s no overstating James’ role in the change of attitudes.

LeBron has been the face of the NBA for longer than anyone else. His legacy as a top two player in the league, and a member of any greatest NBA starting five, is secure.

Many already consider James as the greatest to play the sport, and that group is only going to grow over the final years of his career. Another title will make it almost impossible to argue against him.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Morry Gash / AP Photo*

December 20, 2019

Basketball

By Sam Cox

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Long Walk Hurdle 2019: Betting Tips, Horse Racing Odds & Predictions

The Long Walk Hurdle was first run in 1965 and it was initially a handicap race. It became a conditions race in 1971, and it was given Grade One status in 1990.

Prior to the redevelopment of Ascot Racecourse (2004-2006) the race was run over 3 miles and 1½ furlongs.

Six winners of the Long Walk Hurdle (currently named The Marsh Hurdle) have gone on to win the Stayers’ Hurdle in the same season.

Derring Rose (1980–81), Baracouda (2001–02), My Way de Solzen (2005–06), Big Buck’s (2009–10, 2010-11 and 2011-12), Thistlecrack (2015–16) and Paisley Park (2018-19).

Long Walk Hurdle: Race Trends

Previous Course Form – 5/10 winners had at least one previous run at Ascot, 3/10 winners had at least one previous win at Ascot.
Previous Distance Form – 9/10 winners had at least three previous runs over 24-26 furlongs, 9/10 had at least one previous win over 24-26 furlongs.
Previous Hurdle Form – 9/10 winners had at least 10 runs over hurdles, 10/10 winners had at least three wins over hurdles, 10/10 winners had at least four wins over hurdles.
Age – 9 of the last 10 winners were aged between 6 and 8-y-o.
Price – 5 of the last 10 favourites have won, 9/10 winners were in the top three in the horse racing betting.
Last Run – 6 of the last 10 winners won on their last run before the Long Walk Hurdle, 10/10 winners ran within the last 34 days.
Rating – 10/10 winners were rated 151 or higher.
Grade 1 Wins – 8/10 winners had at least one previous win in a Grade 1 race.
Season Form – 10/10 winners had at least one run that season, 8/10 winners had at least one win that season.

2019 Long Walk Hurdle Contenders:

Agrapart (Nick Williams)

All of his best form has come on soft to heavy going and he should be suited by the ground conditions once again here.

Worryingly all of his hurdling wins have come when going left-handed so a track of this nature could cause problems once again.

A former Cleeve Hurdle winner back in the day, he could well be on the premises if this becomes any kind of a stamina test and Davy Russell is an interesting jockey booking.

L'Ami Serge (Nicky Henderson)

Three-time Grade One winner L’Ami Serge filled the runner-up spot behind Sam Spinner in the 2017 version of this race and returns to competitive action after a 580-day absence.

The nine-year-old has been a great servant to his owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, having won a total of eight races from thirty starts under rules, including the Aintree Hurdle, the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil in France, and the Gerry Fielden Hurdle on his British debut for Nicky Henderson.

As Henderson goes into this Christmas period without his absolute A-listers, there is every reason to believe that plenty of focus will have been vested in the likes of L’Ami Serge and others to also keep the winning tally ticking over, so do not be surprised if he runs a big race.

Paisley Park (Emma Lavelle)

Paisley Park needs no introduction here having taken this Grade One contest last season during an unbeaten run of five races, which culminated with success in the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The seven-year-old proved he was going to be a force to be reckoned with once again this term with a comeback win in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month.

Since bursting on to the staying scene at Haydock Park in November 2018, the Andrew Gemmell-owned gelding has been streets ahead of the opposition in this sphere, and on a rating of 169 he is a full stone clear of his nearest rival.

That is the monumental task that faces the rest of the field here and it would come as a major shock if he was turned over at prohibitive odds.

The only external factor that may give his rivals some semblance of hope is that the track could quite easily turn into a real mud-bath, and even the greatest of horses can be vulnerable under such conditions.

The Worlds End (Tom George)

The eight-year-old was an impressive winner in testing conditions on his reappearance at Wetherby but he had to play second fiddle to both Paisley Park and the veteran Thistlecrack in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.

He can be excused the 6lb he had to give away to Thistlecrack but he was beaten fairly and squarely by Paisley Park.

Tom George did have the option of sending his gelding over to Leopardstown for the Christmas Hurdle next week, but has opted to stay at home and have another crack at trying to knock Paisley Park off his pedestal.

The Worlds End has previously shown great tenacity in some of these muddling small-field affairs and if there are any miscalculations by any of his rivals here then he could easily be the one who profits.

Tobefair (Debra Hamer)

After joining Debra Hamer’s yard in 2015, Tobefair clocked up an amazing sequence of seven wins on the bounce and ultimately ended up running in the Pertemps Network Final at The Festival.

It wasn’t to be that day but in the 2019 renewal of the Pertemps he just went down by the narrowest of margins to the favourite, Sire Du Berlais.

Two visits to Cheltenham this season have resulted in a win in the heavy going in October and a third place in soft conditions in November.

The nine-year-old can certainly handle himself in the yuckiest of goings so do not underestimate this popular syndicate horse.

Papagana (Oliver Sherwood)

Papagana slammed her rivals by twelve lengths in a Listed mares' novices' hurdle at Doncaster back in March before returning this season to win a similar contest at Kempton, this time by nine lengths.

She’s clearly a very talented mare and at the age of six she is the youngest competitor in the field.

It’s very interesting that Sherwood is running her in this race rather than keeping her confined to races for her own sex, so he must rate her highly - she could be subject of a heavy gamble on race day.

Who Wins The 2019 Long Walk Hurdle?

It’s almost impossible to oppose the favourite on Saturday but at an each-way price let’s give The Worlds End another go at reversing the placings with Paisley Park.

888sport suggests: The Worlds End (e/w).

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo*

December 20, 2019

Horse Racing

By Steve Mullington

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Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.

Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?

He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.

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Michael Jordan: The GOAT in NBA?

Michael Jeffrey Jordan has GOAT listed as one of his many nicknames on Basketball Reference. That tells you all there is to know about his status in basketball history.

Jordan’s case as the greatest basketball player has won over many – it is LeBron James against His Airness, a duel that divides generations and has filled hour upon hour of talk-show discussion.

Some of the Jordan arguments are chorused on the aforementioned chat-shows. Others are overlooked. Jordan’s impact on the NBA, as a business and a product, is phenomenal, and he continues to make millions a year on the back of his Hall of Fame career.

Iconic doesn’t do Jordan justice. His name transcends basketball in a way few athletes manage.

Count The Rings

Individual greatness only elevates a player to a certain level. If team glory doesn’t follow, their legacy will often be smaller than they may deserve.

Jordan had team success by the bucketload, winning six rings across two spells with the Chicago Bulls. Robert Horry is the only non-Celtic with more championships than Jordan and his robin, Scottie Pippen.

The ‘six rings’ argument might be shallow, and often oversimplified, but it’s also an undeniable fact. Jordan led a team to an unprecedented era of dominance (once again, post-Celtics).

Sport is about winning ultimately, it’s about lifting trophies. Jordan did that as the star player better than anyone other than Bill Russell.

It’s the most common discussion point when Jordan is pitted against James. The Los Angeles Lakers might be a title favourite in this season’s NBA betting, but James only has three championships to his name.

Many would say that gap needs to close before he can truly threaten Jordan’s GOAT status. Another player in the discussion for greatest ever, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, matched Jordan’s six rings (one with Milwaukee and five with the Lakers) over his 20-year NBA career.

Jabbar wasn’t the undisputed best player on those teams, however. As great as Pippen was, the Bulls were Jordan’s team, and he was the player who took responsibility for winning games in the fourth quarter.

Jordan = Clutch

Without getting bogged down in clutch time shooting percentage and comparing moments against one another, James is Jordan’s only rival when it comes to delivering the game-winning moments in the dying embers.

The shot against Utah in 1998 is the moment most well-remembered, but it’s not the only example. That dagger against the Jazz secured Chicago’s sixth title – and their second three-peat.

Nine years previous, Jordan delivered a similarly devastating shot to knock the Cleveland Cavaliers out in the first round.

Our all-time NBA starting five featured Jordan and James. Jordan was known for his self-belief in clutch moments, an unwavering desire to take the shot.

It didn’t always result in the best basketball play, but that helped him shrug off the occasions when it didn’t work out.

Underrated Defence

James’ defence – until 2019/20, anyway – has been on the decline in recent years. He has coasted on that side of the ball in his second Cleveland stint and his first year in Los Angeles.

In contrast, Jordan never developed such a reputation. His Airness was named in the All-Defensive first team on nine occasions, including the 1997/98 campaign, which was his age-34 season.

James’ peak defence may well be superior to Jordan’s, but James managed his workload in a way that Jordan didn’t choose – or perhaps need – to.

Jordan was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate throughout his career – the Bulls were first, fourth and fourth in adjusted defensive rating in the three full seasons following his sabbatical.

Impact On NBA

Jordan ‘saved the NBA’. As much as dynasties are criticised, the NBA has seen ratings increase when there’s a big, bad dominant force beating everyone before them. The Chicago Bulls generated that feeling, and Jordan’s ascendance from third overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft to become one of the most famous people in the world drew attention to the NBA in a way few envisaged. The 1992 Dream Team played a significant role in the growth of the league.

It exposed Europeans in particular to NBA stars in a way they hadn’t been before. Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were the faces of the league at that point, and the Bulls’ dynasty was the first taste of the NBA for many fans. If Jordan had left for baseball permanently, or his career had taken a different path, there’s no doubt the NBA would look very different today.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to John Swart / AP Photo*

December 19, 2019

Basketball

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Best Football Skills For Young Footballers To Learn In Training

Every youngster dreams of becoming a professional footballer. Recreating a Champions League-winning goal in the back garden or leading your local side to promotion is a staple of a football fan’s childhood.

We’ve covered a guide to becoming a football manager at 888, and this time we are taking a look at the key skills to learn as a young footballer. We’ll admit this isn’t a guarantee you’ll be succeeding Harry Kane as England captain, but they’re important starting points.

The stories of David Beckham’s near obsessive free-kick practice are an example of what young footballers should aim for.

That level of commitment, that dedication to improving, is how a young player can improve sufficiently to make a career in the game. Here are five skills they should focus on…

Stepovers

Although associated with wingers who dance around the ball and then hit the first man, stepovers are a useful skill for young players. It is a way to beat your man and helps develop dribbling skills from a young age.

Having quick feet is key for a footballer, regardless of position. Defenders need to be nimble enough to live with opposing attacks, midfielders must be able to move the ball in tight spaces.

Stepovers aren’t always going be appropriate in a game, but from a young age, it is important footballers are confident taking on their opponent. Stepovers are an exercise to help with that.

Cruyff Turn

Named after arguably the greatest footballer of all-time, the Cruyff turn is a good way to either beat a player or retain possession.

It is executed by planting one foot alongside the ball, as you would if you’re going to pass or shoot. As you begin the motion, twist your foot slightly to drag it back behind the planted foot.

The player can then dribble away into space, having left the opponent behind, or pass to a newly available teammate.

Learning ways to turn with the ball helps young players to become more aware of their surroundings on the pitch and opens up options. It aids ball retention, one of the most vital skills.

Two-Touch Passing

This is the only ‘skill’ on this list that ideally needs another person (though a wall would work, too).

Two-touch passing sounds simple, but it’s a great way to work on developing a good first touch and quick feet to receive and move the ball swiftly.

The rondo is a well-known exercise which looks to work on the same skills. A two-touch passing drill could be done between just two players, or even using a wall to bounce the ball back at you.

Roulette

Often named after Real Madrid legend and Ballon d’Or winner Zinedine Zidane (Zidane’s Madrid are one of the football betting favourites in the Champions League once again), the roulette is a move particularly useful for midfielders.

It is a great way to lose players in confined spaces or keep possession when an opponent closes in.

A roulette is effectively a spin move. The player will put their foot on top of the ball and pivot, switching the ball to their other foot. Space has been created, and the opponent is unable to do anything about it.

Stop And Go

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Simply dribble the ball at pace, keeping it under control. Abruptly stop, controlling it with the outside of your foot. Then, get the ball moving again with the inside of the same foot.

It’s straight forward and very effective. Some of the game’s best dribblers have used this frequently, stopping on a sixpence before leaving their market behind.

Eden Hazard and Lionel Messi will both stop and start when dribbling, making it very hard for their opponent to stay with them.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Martin Meissner / AP Photo*

December 18, 2019

Football

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Lauren EXCLUSIVE With 888sport: Arsenal Must Unite Under Arteta And Look Ahead To Bright Future

Former Arsenal defender Lauren has called for calmer heads to prevail at the Emirates with the club currently languishing tenth in the Premier League having recently endured their worst run for 42 years.

And for the two-time title winner the healing must begin in the stands.

“The fans always have the right to criticise because they pay every single year but at the moment we need to be united.

"It is easy when the team is winning everything and winning cups to be a fan but in the complicated moments people have to come together: the team, the fans, the board. We have to all come together to get back to the position where we all like to see Arsenal.”

If a more harmonious relationship between the Emirates faithful and their team can only be beneficial what matters most of course are the performances on the pitch and to that end the Gunners have recently dispensed of their struggling manager Unai Emery with Mikel Arteta looking most likely to be his replacement. The 42-year-old Cameroonian approves of their choice.

“Arteta has been an important figure for Arsenal. The captain. He played a lot of good football for us and I wish him all the best if the appointment happens. I hope he can get Arsenal back to winning ways.”

Yet if Arteta offers genuine hope moving forward their problems still reside at the back with the Gunners defence seemingly in a constant state of disarray having conceded 27 times in the league alone.

For Lauren however it is not Sokratis and co who solely deserve the criticism but also the midfield that too often exposes them.

“It has been a long time since Arsenal has dominated the middle of the park. It’s very important and for a while now they haven’t done this. If they don’t control the middle it is very difficult to win against Manchester City and the big games.

"This makes it difficult too for the strikers and the defence. It is harder to score goals and easy for the defence to concede when the middle is not dominated. Finding out why this is brings many different opinions but Arsenal have to find a way.”

If a lack of protection hardly helps matters what has also proven to be the Gunners’ undoing this term is an inability to play out from the back.

Should the unpopular strategy go the same way as Emery now that the club are looking to turn over a new leaf?

“Every manager who was a player under Arsene Wenger will try to play out through the back. Freddie is doing this and it’s not a problem because we’re not conceding goals through playing out from the back.

"This is not an issue. We’re conceding goals through other issues. This is the Arsenal way: trying to play from the back and build up to the opponent’s half and try to score goals.”

On the occasions this has successfully been achieved they have found a striker in red-hot form capable of terrorising one and all. Where would Arsenal be without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang right now?

“He has been outstanding. He is Arsenal’s best player at the moment. And he is improving; he is improving every single year.

"It is very important that they keep him because there are not many players in the market who can score 25 goals a season. It’s a massive thing to keep him and fight for the league in future seasons.”

Talk of the future brings us to the wealth of young attacking talent within the ranks who are not only threatening to steal the spotlight from established, under-achieving stars but offering up significant hope too for seasons ahead.

In particular Lauren has been impressed by a blistering, brilliant Brazilian who was only three years old when Arsenal – and Lauren – became forever Invincible.

“Martinelli shows personality. He shows character. Arsenal fans should be optimistic because the youngsters are coming up and showing a lot of quality and also a lot of ambition. Martinelli takes on players and he has that kind of hunger that we need.

"This guy has a lot of quality, he is quick, and most importantly he has the mentality to be fighting for everything.

"That is very important for a youngster to have that. They might have the technical ability but they also need the mentality and ambition to win things. I like him.”

A consummate pro who spent a decade in the Premier League putting in weekly masterclasses from right-back Lauren’s views on another emerging player are revealing.

It seems that the versatile and highly rated Ainsley Maitland-Niles still has some way to go before making the full-back role his own.

“He’s a good player but like any other young player of his age there is always still a lot to improve because when you have a midfield mentality it takes a while to adapt, stay back and do things the right way.

He is young, eager to learn and I hope he can break into the England squad. He makes good crosses, he beats players and he understands the game.

“When he goes forward he’s a very good player but he can still improve in his defensive duties, but he is young and not the finished product yet. I am sure his determination will help him on that learning process. Then he will be the one for the future.”

With Aubameyang firing on all cylinders and a clutch of fantastically gifted kids showing the way forward there is a lot for Arsenal fans to be excited about even in troubled times.

Yet still we cannot overlook the disappointing results that continue to rack up and the player who many believe should be blamed more than anyone else for them. Step forward the perennial scapegoat Mesut Ozil.

“It is always unfair to point the finger at one striker, one midfielder or one defender. When things don’t go well everyone has to push together and find a way to win and get the three points every weekend.

"Ozil is just one player in the whole team. Sure he is one of the best and has the most quality so gets criticism when the team don't get results. But I am sure his talent can still make the difference”

Throughout our chat Lauren is at pains not to compare his extraordinary team of the 2000s with the present flailing incarnation.

When looking back at what qualities brought so much silverware back in the day however it is hard not to draw a conclusion that the Invincibles and the Invisibles really are chalk and cheese.

“My team had quality, mentality, determination, hunger and ambition all mixed up together. We had fighting spirit and hated to lose and hated to draw.

"To draw 0-0 was like you had lost the game. In my time you also had hunger from the bench. They had the ambition to perform and when they came on you could see it in their face. It is very difficult to have that in a squad of 22 players like today.”

But let’s not end on a negative note. After all, a new manager will soon be at the helm and a new dawn starts over. Have they left it too late though to turn things around in 2019/20?

“There are many points still to play for until the end of the season. It’s not easy because the position right now is not the best but with the many, many points left there is a possibility of top four for sure. I believe they can make it. Why not?”

Lauren Quickfire Questions:

Everton vs Arsenal - Score Prediction?

1-2 to Arsenal

Everton vs Arsenal - First Goal Scorer?

Aubameyang

Who Will Win The Premier League?

Liverpool. They have the momentum.

Who Will Win The Golden Boot?

One of Liverpool’s front three. Salah or Mane.

Who Will Win The Champions League?

Liverpool.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Bas Czerwinski / AP Photo*

December 18, 2019

Football

By 888sport

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The 888sport blog is here to offer betting and tipping advice on the biggest sports fixtures, events and competitions around the world.

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French Open 2020: Comprehensive Guide To Roland Garros Grand Slam Event

The only clay court Grand Slam in tennis, the French Open is unique in that sense, and as a result, it provides an opportunity for plenty of players that may not be competitive on the grass and hard courts of Wimbledon, Melbourne and New York.

For many players, the French Open is the hardest to win (and not just because of Rafael Nadal’s dominance).

As there are clay-court specialists, there are also players who find the challenges of clay much greater than grass or hard courts. Some of the greatest tennis players of all-time have enjoyed only minimal success at the French Open.

The 2020 French Open is out focus here, as we run through everything you need to know about the tournament, starting with the when and where and moving onto a look at the latest tennis betting…

When Is The 2020 French Open?

The 2020 French Open starts on Sunday 24^th May and finishes with the men’s singles final on Sunday 7^th June.

For many dreaming of a run in the tournament, the journey to the French Open begins before the 24^th May. Qualification will be taking place in the weeks prior.

Although the weather in France in early summer tends to be pretty reliable, there’s always a risk of delays. This is very unlikely to make the tournament overrun, but it can force some players to squeeze matches in.

French Open 2020: Where Is It?

The second Grand Slam of the calendar year is held at Stade-Roland Garros in Paris. Roland Garros was a French aviator, and the venue has been named after him since 1928. Prior to that it was called Racing Club de France.

Lagging behind the other three Slams, the French Open is expected to have its first retractable roof ready for the 2020 edition of the tournament.

This will – unsurprisingly – be over the main court, and follows years of renovations including to Court Philippe-Chatrier and the new Court Simonne-Mathieu.

Planning opposition slowed progress at Roland Garros, and they considered leaving to a new venue outside of Paris in the mid-noughties.

French Open 2020: Reigning Champions

Most tennis fans will follow the singles and little else, but a Grand Slam brings glory for many beyond the big stars.

From legends matches to wheelchair doubles, plenty are celebrating at the end of a Grand Slam fortnight.

In fact, two big names enjoyed success in the legends’ matches in 2019 with Amelie Mauresmo and Goran Ivanisevic winning the women’s and men’s doubles respectively.

Rafael Nadal won his 12^th (yes, twelfth) French Open singles title in 2019, and Ashleigh Barty won her first career Grand Slam after never previously reaching the semi-finals.

German duo Andreas Mies and Kevin Krawietz reigned supreme in the men’s doubles – Hungarian Timea Babos and Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic won the women’s.

French Open 2020: Betting

To the shock of quite literally no one, Nadal is the far and away favourite to make it 13 in 2020. As ever, the women’s side of the draw is much trickier to call.

Women's French Open Odds:

Simona Halep – 4/1

Bianca Andrescu – 8/1

Serena Williams – 8/1

Ashleigh Barty – 9/1

Kiki Bertens – 12/1

Elina Svitolina – 12/1

Naomi Osaka – 14/1

French Open 2020 - Men's Betting:

Rafael Nadal – 4/5

Novak Djokovic – 11/4

Dominic Thiem – 7/2

Stefanos Tsitsipas – 16/1

Roger Federer – 20/1

Alexander Zverev – 20/1

Daniil Medvedev – 25/1

Stanislas Wawrinka – 25/1

French Open 2020 With 888sport

The 2020 French Open will be upon us before we know it. 888Sport is the place to be for all the latest news, tips and odds.

Looking for a certain bet on the French open? 888 Sport have you covered

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Christophe Ena / AP Photo*

December 18, 2019

Tennis

By Sam Cox

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Australian Open 2020: Comprehensive Guide To Melbourne Grand Slam Event

The first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open is one of four tennis Slams in the calendar year. The event is often targeted as players return from injury and can be the start of a glorious campaign.

After a break over Christmas, the Australian Open is underway before we've remembered to start writing 2020 instead of 2019.

As with all Grand Slam events, the Australian Open includes various different tournaments from youth events and doubles through to the singles - we could see a few players who could break through on the Grand Slam stage in Melbourne.

The singles’ champions are obviously the most well-known, but it is often the doubles that is hardest to call ahead of the Australian Open.

Of the men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles winning pairings in 2019, five of the six were winning their first Australian Open.

Winning the Australian Open is the highlight of a tennis player’s career. This article tells you all you need to know about the 2020 edition, including some tennis betting tips…

When Is The 2020 Australian Open?

The tournament gets underway on 20^th January and the men’s final takes place on 2^nd February. Qualification matches will take place prior to this, however, and the schedule could be altered during the tournament fortnight if weather or over-running matches force changes.

The 2012 Australian Open final, played by two of tennis' big three in Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, was the longest Grand Slam final match ever played (by duration). To this day, it is still one of the greatest Australian Open matches of all-time.

Australian Open 2020: Where Is It?

The Australian Open is hosted in Melbourne, the most populous city in Australia. In 1988, the Australian Open moved to Melbourne Park, and became a hard court event rather than grass.

Two types of hard court have been used since 1988, with a change to a blue ‘Plexicushion’ hard court taking place in 2007.

It became the first Grand Slam to host indoor play, and its three main courts – Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Melbourne Arena – all have retractable roofs that are used in poor weather or extremely hot conditions.

Over 780,000 people attended the 2019 Australian Open, making it the highest attended Grand Slam.

Australian Open 2020: Reigning Champions

Although the singles champions get all the attention, there are a lot of people returning to the Australian Open as defending champions.

Across the wheelchair singles, doubles and mixed doubles, men’s legends doubles, youth singles and doubles and men’s singles, doubles and women’s singles and doubles, there was a whopping 25 champions in 2019.

Novak Djokovic lifted his seventh title in Melbourne - and the latest Australian Open odds make Djokovic the favourite to win an eighth in 2020.

Meanwhile, up and coming superstar Naomi Osaka won her first Australian Open crown. Australian Mark Philippoussis and Frenchman Mansour Bahrami won the men’s legends.

Australian Open 2020: Betting

As ever, the men’s Australian Open market is dominated by the aforementioned big three. The women’s draw is comparatively wide open, however, with Serena Williams the 6/1 favourite.

Women's Australian Open Odds:

Serena Williams – 6/1

Bianca Andrescu – 7/1

Ashleigh Barty – 7/1

Simona Halep – 8/1

Naomi Osaka – 8/1

Elina Svitolina – 14/1

Petra Kvitova – 16/1

Karolina Pliskova – 16/1

Australian Open 2020 - Men's Betting:

Novak Djokovic – 6/4

Rafael Nadal – 3/1

Roger Federer – 6/1

Daniil Medvedev – 8/1

Stefanos Tsitsipas – 11/1

Dominic Thiem – 14/1

Alexander Zverev – 18/1

Andy Murray – 25/1

Australian Open 2020 With 888sport

Keep your eyes peeled for the latest tips, news and odds ahead of the 2020 Australian Open.

We are only a few weeks away from a tournament that could define careers, and may give us another key moment in the argument over the greatest ever tennis player.

Excited about the Aus open? You'll also get excited about the tennis odds at 888sport.com

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Kin Cheung / AP Photo*

December 16, 2019

Tennis

By Sam Cox

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Our Complete Guide To The Best Football Betting Apps

If you’re new to football betting or an experienced gambler, you will always been looking at ways to find good value in the markets.

There are plenty of methods of doing this, of course, and bettors will also look to bookmakers who provide a smooth service whether on a browser or app. Apps are the focus of this article, and specifically those that can help us out when it comes to football betting.

The betting industry has changed drastically over the last decade or so. Technology has changed the game, it has seen in-play betting become a staple, and every major company is judged as much on the quality of their app as they are by their sports odds.

Our list of the top five football betting apps has a combination of bookmakers, tipsters and news sources. A combination of which is a necessity to become an effective football bettor…

888sport

Before selecting the apps to help you make football bets, you need an app to place them on.

888Sport frequently have football betting promotions or offers, and their weekly Up For 8 game is a great way to give yourself a chance at winning a substantial chunk of cash and a few free bets.

888Sport offer football betting markets on anything you could think of. Enhanced wincasts and trebles are always available too and they pride themselves on covering an incredible range of leagues around the world.

Whether it’s a bet on the 2022 World Cup winner or the top scorer in the Europa League, 888Sport is the place to go.

Racing Post

It’s not just horse racing at the Racing Post. The horse racing app is marketed as the ‘must-have for the must-have info’, but the racing post also offers an app to view the newspaper.

It requires a subscription, but it allows you to read sporting tips galore. Racing Post’s team of experts are a good port of call, and their podcast – which featured in our list of the best sports’ betting podcasts – is well worth subscribing to.

Football might not be the first thing you think of with the Racing Post, but they’re one of the best around. New or old when it comes to football betting, Racing Post is a handy app for news and tips.

Infogol

Infogol is the home of football statistics. Their app provides betting tips, but this earns its place on your phone or tablet with their stats. Analysing the numbers is important ahead of any bet, and that’s no different with football.

Infogol covers all of the top leagues around the world. Before matches, they offer ‘smart stats’ and ‘flags’ as well as team news and form guides.

Analyst verdicts are usually available, too. Once the match kicks off, live score updates are provided and a ‘half-time team talk’ gives an update on the best in-play bets.

It is as comprehensive as any app on the market. Infogol’s model provides expected goals for all the leagues they cover, and stats are available for the league, teams and individual players.

With great personalisation, this is the first app anyone getting into football betting should download.

Betting Tips Football

With nearly 68,000 reviews (most of which are five-star) on Google Play, there’s no doubting the popularity of ‘Betting Tips Football’.

It is a smooth app to use, easy to navigate, and includes a Premium VIP option that may tempt some particularly committed football bettors. Their win rate is pretty impressive too...

Crucially, they don’t stick to backing the obvious bets either. A range of good value options are provided from small, medium and long odds. History of past bets is kept on the app too, allowing users to check the past success rate.

It isn’t as simplistic as ‘team to win’ or ‘both teams to score’ either. Betting Tips Football take a wider look at the markets, making informed decisions about a range of available bets.

One Football App

You need to know everything in the lead up to a match to make an informed betting decision.

A reliable news app is a must in the arsenal of any football bettor, and they don’t come much better than One Football. The coverage is comprehensive, not just in terms of detail, but also the amount of leagues and teams available.

It’s got a solid five stars on Apple from a whopping 72,500 reviews. The app provides all you need from team news through to minute-by-minute coverage once the match kicks off.

There’s expert analysis, too, which can help to guide you in the right direction as you place your bet.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Ian Walton / AP Photo*

December 16, 2019

Football

By Sam Cox

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