The two LoftforWords pundits are locking horns again as they attempt to seek out winners and value from the extensive Easter weekend sporting markets.

A little profit for Brian last week based on non runners and football accumulators moves his season total to £365.21. Lewis had a blank week again last time out, but was only denied a substantial three figure accumulator win by a last second goal by Gareth Ainsworth for Wycombe at Colchester – a goal clearly scored with his hand. With such bad luck, and a £469.78 deficit for the season, we can perhaps forgive him his rule infraction this week when he has failed to place the required tenner on the QPR matches.

Brian Power
Wallsall let us down for a full house last week but the treble paid 50.85 and a return of 7.50 for a non runner in the Lincoln means another small profit for the week.

The Easter weekend always hold fond memories for me as I got married on a Easter Monday, my daughter was born a couple of years later on a Easter Monday and probably the greatest game at HQ when we beat the upstarts 6-0 happened on a Easter Monday. We travel to Leicester this Easter Monday and I fancy us to get a result at the Walkers. On Saturday Sheffield Wednesday head into town and a win will see us take a step closer to safety and I think we will get the win.

Monday sees the Irish Grand National and I will go for Willie Mullins Ballytrim to add to his victory in the Leinster and Ulster versions.

Spurs go to Sunderland and Darren Bent who is having a good season for the Black Cats takes on his former employees. This is the type of game that Spurs do get beaten in and I will for Bent to get the first goal.

Good Luck

For the weekend:
£5 QPR to beat Sheff Wed 3-1
£5 QPR to beat Leicester 3-1

£7.50 Ballytim to win Irish national 14/1
£10 Darren Bent 1st scorer Sunderland V Spurs

£2.50 trebles and £2.50 acca
Blackburn 13/10
Swindon 16/5
Huddersfield 11/10
Luton 11/5

£10 acca
Rotherham 5/6
Inverness 1/2
Everton 4/9
Stoke 4/5

Lewis Jones
People go on about moments in life that make the struggle all worth it. The bellowing first cry from their first born, the view over the countryside on a summer’s day or lying on beach surrounded by beautiful women and palm trees, you get the picture. But for the everyday man, like yours truly – little things, usually of the humorous nature, make me thankful to be alive.

The sight of homeless man at 7.30a.m busting out a set of sit-ups on bench outside Canary Wharf, warmed my heart and turned what was a very depressing early morning into a smile fest. Despite being pot less and without a home, this maverick was obviously still adhering to the demands of a toned body image in society. Who needs to climb a mountain to feel alive, when you’ve got a homeless tramp to satisfy your needs?

The laughter that came over me when I witnessed one of these ‘perfect men’ (tall, dark, handsome, great job) make a fool of himself on the train was up there with the feeling of happiness people get on their wedding day. “Shall I put my number in that phone” said the confident chap to a rather beautiful young lady. “How about you pull your shirt out of your flies” replied my future wife. Cue the start of the longest under your breath laugh in history of the world, a pure genius moment which will live long in the memory.

Another thing which makes me restore my faith in living is securing a bit pay out from a bookmaker, although judging by my exploits in this blog this season that has been a very rare occurrence. I have been knocking on the door of breaking the bank in the last few weeks, hopefully this can be the week in which my fortunes turn, but I have decided to look to the future in this week’s blog, call it a long term investment.

The market for the World Player of the Year, which is still eight months away, is a head-scratching conundrum. Not because of the difficulty in finding the value, but down to the current prices being offered. Someone has become too engrossed in pure footballing ability and forgotten to face the facts. This has sent alarm bells going off in my mind, usually meaning a hefty punt is in the offing.

History has proved that in a World Cup year the winning nation’s stand-out player picks up the title, not the player that has impressed throughout the domestic and, more significantly, the European season. Romario 1994, Zidane 1998, Ronaldo 2002 and Cannavaro 2006. With Spain leading the outright betting markets for the World Cup, the prices surrounding their star players to pick up the World Player of the year award are truly mesmerising. Fernando Torres (14-1) and Xavi (25-1) all are incredible prices considering the criteria for deciding who wins the award.

One for the notebook has to be spreading this week’s £50 on a mixture of Torres and Xavi picking up the award.

Although I’m bypassing the QPR game this week from my betting perspective, the value if any, would lie in a narrow QPR victory. Sheffield Wednesday are touted to bring over 2000 to west-London and will make it into a cup tie atmosphere, but QPR have far too much ability going forward to be stopped for 90 minutes. It may take a while but QPR should come through this game and secure their Championship safety in the process.

For the Notebook:
£25 on Fernando Torres to become World Player of the Year – 16-1 Skybet
£25 on Xavi to become World Player of the Year – 25-1 Skybet

Photo: Action Images

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