Originally Published January 30th 2024 for For Green Fields clients
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Hooper and Gillett on TNT / BT Sports first game of the evening with Gillett joining 4th Official Graham Scott at WW v MU on Thursday. It was only a matter of time before TNT / BT events became accommodating to the markets they serve (particularly in the Saturday 12:30 slot with it being prime time in SE Asia). But there was a brief hiatus after BT shut down their Peaky Blinders style operation. It's things like that that make the Premier League worthwhile.
A heroic hiatus.
The market will know the outcome before any of us on this game.
And the market will know pre-kick off.
When Forest (quite reasonably) asked for confirmation of the rules after the piece of theatre known as The Return Of Ivan Toney, Gary Neville blurted: "Pathetic!".
Behind closed doors, in smoke filled rooms, in private groups, in Faraday cages is where any discussion should be had according to Neville who personally bifurcates between Mr Reasoned Argument - Trust Me and Mr Pathetic Rabble Rouser.
See below.
Fulham v Everton
Even though they had the option to show all 10 EPL games this midweek, TNT / BT are choosing not to show Ful v Eve, LT v BHA or CP v ShU.
With unknown points deductions further tilting seasonal trading projects in favour of insiders, do Everton factor in 0, minus 10 or minus 20 points?
In our non-regulated EPL, the punishments are arbitrary and captured to the needs of a chosen few. Such rules as do exist are regressive and are in place to protect certain versions of power. Just like the PGMOL decide what they are going to do (trusting IFAB will do their bidding) when they create, extrapolate, ignore, overrule the rules of the game in favour of private agendas and hidden wealth.
It's arbitrary and if you ask to look at the books, you're treated like Charles Manson out on bail.
The Neville Effect.
Trust us.
We know what we're doing.
Luton v Brighton
Has the atmosphere of a boiler room scam.
Bankes who was VAR in BHA's last game is VAR again and Bankes is above his station.
Overpromoted.
Surprised the Premier League haven't produced a new rule whereby Luton are given two extra players (jokers) that they can play for 30 minutes each. The 'players' can be players or, as was the case when Luton stole a point at Burnley via a Bankes VAR, match officials.
And Bloom is present in the market as well.
The matches where there are no live transmissions are going to become the equivalent of the off camera race meetings serving as fodder on major race days.
So much easier to adapt outcome away from prying eyes (as was discovered in the pandemic).
Palace v Sheffield United
Presumably the two January signings indicate that Old Roy is intending to stick around until the Bouffant Owner Sings. It will be scripted whatever it is.
Complex number of routes to market.
For events such as CP v ShU, I can't be the only one who would prefer to knock the football entirely on the head but to be privy to the visuals accompanying the real time money flows in the underground and in the dark pools. Proper sport. Proper telly. Far more compelling than yet another Wasserman inspired piece of theatricality.
The markets is where the result to this match will exist.
Pre-match.
Aston Villa v Newcastle
So, this week what apparently counts as strategy has it that "Saudi Arabia is good; Mohammed bin Salman, very good; Newcastle even better, the Newcastle chairman, bad; the Saudi League, very bad; the mercenaries who became victims by earning money in Saudi Arabia, good, better than good, the best, the ones who never have ever wanted to hurt another human being. Oil, good; arms deals, very very good; sportswashing, okay if Wasserman are involved; beheadings or contracts on former spy chiefs - I think we need to keep terrorism out of sport.
Anyway.
Just ban Israel already.
One key market maker has extensive control of this match between two of the three teams who the PGMOL markedly favour, by utter chance, of course.
Good Saudi.
© 2024 Football is Fixed
