Betting Spreadsheet - online for weekend

It's pretty quiet this week so I've taken advantage of the time to get the "Gooners Numb3rs" (tm) betting spreadsheet done.

Gooners EPL Numb3rs - English Premier League
Has 4 likely home wins, and one likely away win (Spurs?!)

It also suggests a "value" draw on Saturday - and some value on taking Chelsea to win at Stamford Bridge against Liverpool on Sunday.

Gooners ISA Numb3rs - Italian Serie A
Has 3 likely home winners and one likely away winner.

There are two more value draw picks - although these are on a 0-4 run - so be a little careful with your stake size,

Gooners GBL Numb3ers - German Bundesliga
The Bundesliga is proving hard to make a profit on this season - but the sheet reckons that there are five likely home winners (at reasonable prices too) and a couple of discover value plays too.

Check it out.

Stumble It!

I'm not sulking - it's tax time ...

I've received email asking why I'm not writing so much this week - is it because Arsenal have been eliminated from their 3rd knockout competition?

ARSENAL'S SEASON ALMOST OVER
Well - yes a bit - it's always hard to wind up the enthusiasm when you're watching your club struggling to live up to their potential - and that's certainly been Arsenal's fate over the last 3 weeks.

On Wednesday night Arsenal huffed and puffed and "almost" blew PSV Eindhoven's house down but when they conceded yet another soft headered goal from a 83rd minute free-kick the jig was up.

Well done to PSV - the Dutch side battled well over both games - and scored two good goals which was one more than Arsenal managed to convert - and they deservedly go into the Quarter-Finals.

For Arsenal the follow-up news is that Theirry Henry suffered ripped groin and stomach muscles - almost certainly season ending for him - and they'll now have to concentrate on achieving a top 4 league finish and a tilt at the Champions League again next season ... as we're out of everything else.

All season Arsenal have looked to be short of a couple of experienced players whenever the injuries and/or suspensions have hit - no matter what Mr Wenger says - and it's not good complaining about fixture congestion as it should not be a surprise anymore - it happens every season.

PROVISIONAL TAX TIME
However ... the main reason that I've been a bit quiet is simply that it's provisional tax time in my part of the world.

March 7th, July 7th, November 7th. These are all days which fill the self-employeed and small company owners full of dread - as we struggle to calculate earnings and liabilities, estimate the profits and then stump up huge portions of tax payments - finding the cash somewhere.

Pay too little and you'll be whacked with huge penalty taxes when the end of year accounts come through - so you end up pouring almost all your savings into the state tax coffers - keeping just enough for a few beers and a tin of baked beans.

Working for yourself has plenty of benefits - but financial security and certainty at tax time isn't one of them. Still at least I can afford a beer.

Catch ya soon.

Stumble It!

Recommended Arsenal Book

I just got this book through the post today.

Thoroughly recommended for any Gooner that is missing the old stadium, or that likes to read a decent club history.

It's the official illustrated History of Highbury Stadium, and it also covers the period earlier as well as talking about the clubs' formation and struggling early seasons at some pretty manky fields in South London.

Plenty of old photos and stories, Brian Glanville has done a good job of bringing it to life, and plenty of new information (to me) and I'm sure for other Gooners too.

Xmas is just around the corner - so get it for yourself - or get your significant "other" to buy it for you (instead of a pair of socks).

Arsenal Stadium History: The Official Illustrated History of Highbury Stadium - 93 Years of Innovation, Passion and Pride

(oh ... Get the Hardback version - it costs a few quid more - but it's well worth it for a book that you'll read plenty of times over - and keeps it in good nick.)

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