Leicester City V Bournemouth – 21st May – 15:00

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Leicester City V Bournemouth - 21st May - 15:00 Leicester will host Bournemouth on Sunday 21st for the last match of the season. Both teams have nothing to lose or win, as they’re in the middle of the table (10th and 11th respectively). For Leicester, after a shocking last season, one could argue this is not the place where they wanted to be: A good performance in the Champions League seems to compensate the irregular display on the Premier League, but those first months of bad performances marked the rest of the season and left them outside of the contest for an UCL or UEL spot. Bournemouth, on the other hand, continue to reaffirm their place in the Premier League with their highest league finish in the club’s history.

For the home team, Wes Morgan and Robert Huth, their main center backs, still won’t be available. The same is true of the midfielder Drinkwater. Bournemouth have their main line-up from the past matches fit and ready to play. Joshua King, who is having a tremendous season with 16 goals and will be a tough challenge for the Leicester alternative defense.

The odds are in favor of a Leicester win, but the draw at 3.70 (average) seems like a solid bet, since both teams have no need to win. This could also mean a high scoring match, since the pressure for a must-needed victory won’t be there. Also, Leicester are conceding a lot of goals, especially in their last few matches. Bournemouth, on the other side, have been a team with a lot of offensive power, being one of the most scoring teams, but also conceded a lot during the season. At 1.55 (average), the odds for a match with more than 2 goals seems like a real possibility!

Scotland vs Canada (Friendly)

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Scotland vs Canada (Friendly) On Wednesday Scotland and Canada kick off the international break with a friendly. In recent times neither side have had particularly good fortunes on the international stage. Scotland have won just one of their last fiver international fixtures, that coming against minnows Malta. On the other side of the field Canada have won two of their last five although these have been against much weaker opposition than Scotland are used to facing.

Their FIFA rankings shows quite clearly who is the favourite in the game as Scotland find themselves in 67th position on the rankings where as Canada are a poor 117 meaning that it would definitely be a huge surprise for Canada to get anything from the game. If i were to pick out a goalscorer it would have to be Leigh Griffiths who last year looked almost unstoppable for Celtic but the recent rise of Moussa Dembele has seen him a bit overlooked this year. Regardless his talent remains and he’s definitely a man capable of bagging a goal or two for Scotland.

I can’t see Canada scoring many due to Scotland’s very respectable defence and so I would definitely go for Scotland to win and/or to keep a clean sheet. As for goals in the game I don’t see there being loads. A reasonable punt would be for a 2-0 victory to Scotland, nothing outstanding but a comfortable win for the boys in blue. Although if you wanted a slightly safer bet then for there to be under 3 goals would also be a good shout.

Selection: Scotland clean sheet 4/6 and Scotlan win 4/11

Liverpool versus Tottenham Hotspur, Saturday, February 11

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Liverpool versus Tottenham Hotspur, Saturday, February 11 Remarkably, Liverpool have won just one game, in all competitions, in 2017 and their last four home matches in the Premier League have yielded just seven points, with the 1-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield on New Year’s Eve a fading memory. The Reds’ title hopes vanished following a 2-0 defeat by Hull City at the KCOM Stadium and, having already been knocked out of the FA Cup and the EFL Cup, Jurgen Klopp’s side have just a Champions League place to play for.

Indeed, Saturday’s match could prove crucial in terms of qualifying for the Champions League and, after another wretched display against the Tigers, Liverpool have plenty to think about. Tottenham haven’t exactly set the world on fire in recent weeks, but head to Anfield undefeated in their last nine games and, if confidence counts for anything, look a decent bet at the 3.6 with BetVictor to compound the Reds’ misery and retain second place in the Premier League.

Selection: Tottenham Hotspur to win (3.6 with BetVictor)

A look at the job of chairman

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In the game of football, the role of the club Chairman or Chairwoman is an interesting one. They are certainly not all alike. Usually the job of the Chairman/woman is to try to earn as much income for the club as possible to either generate a profit or at least not make a loss.

Retained earnings can later be used to provide the funds to make significant player purchases from other clubs in order to bolster the player ranks as some of the older players prove that perhaps their best playing days are behind them.

The case for Chairmen/women for non-league football clubs is no doubt not that much different except that there is far less opportunity to generate income for the club, which makes it challenging to purchase players of a calibre to elevate the club out of non-league status.

Some leaders in football leave a lasting impression though. Matthew Harding left such an impression with Chelsea football fans when he ensured he managed club affairs in a transparent manner.

Over at Cardiff City, Mehmet Dalman the Chairman, recently apologised for the way he behaved in his dealings with the previous manager of the club, Malky Mackay. Fans are loyal to their clubs so this kind of openness creates more of a sense of forgiveness.

Manchester United on the other hand are seeing things a little differently with the current challenge of bringing down their debt which still stands in the hundred of millions of pounds.

David Moyes is overhauling much at United presently, so it is difficult to see how things will shake up in the medium term, but maybe Moyes will make the tough decisions needed to take United fiscally back in the first direction. Results on the pitch are not as strong either with a top 3 finish looking unlikely.