A European tip on a Friday is not stupid stuff. In addition, with 2.5 million in jackpot. The meeting at Old Trafford will be like a magical appetizer before it is full carpet in The Championship and a couple of contributions from League One.
Several favorites are drawn really crookedly in the English second division. Among the finds that stand out I have circled Swansea, Watford, Portsmouth and Hull. And Leyton Orient. Don’t miss the latter.
I wrote about Newcastle as a steal in the preamble and also like Southampton, Stoke and West Bromwich as singles. Even Stockport is left alone.
Below you will find my best moves – to John’s shares (TO THE EUROPEAN TIP)
The tall man! – 1. Manchester United – Newcastle – 2
The 1-2 loss against Aston Villa was heavy from several different points of view for Manchester United. Partly because the effort was one of the better in a long time and above all because Bruno Fernandes broke down. The Portuguese is said to be out for a couple of weeks and if it is the absence of any individual player that lowers the overall rating of his entire team, it is undoubtedly the 31-year-old’s. In my book Fernandes is one of the best players in the world and without him I doubt Manchester United can live up to their favorites against Newcastle.
After the derby loss against Sunderland, The Magpies have stepped up with 2-1 in the League Cup quarter against Fulham and then 2-2 with more flavor this weekend against Chelsea. In undulating match pictures, Howe’s company thrives best and if it is such an event at Old Trafford, I think the visitors have more firepower in their Hawaiian football than Manchester United has. Not least when Fernandes is missing.
Newcastle have a better squad situation and on this analysis I like the sneaky second best. On the cooperative system, one can be hooked on.
Key in the match: Newcastle squad situation. When several of the visitors’ big guns are available, I think they will sink Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Blast! – 2. Coventry – Swansea – 1X2
There is no doubt that Coventry are still the team to beat in The Championship. Frank Lampard’s men are top of the table and a whole bunch of metrics say that The Sky Blues will be powerful even in the long run, but at the moment the level of performance is not at its peak. Just one win in the last four testifies to this and I didn’t like the signals Lampard sent out after the 1-1 draw with Southampton.
The gesticulation towards the opposition supporters speaks volumes that the head is not on the shaft and I don’t see a shaky Coventry as a given winner against Swansea this Friday. It takes a lot for me to nail an 80 percent favorite in The Championship. Regardless of opponent. Swansea haven’t exactly pleased the market overall, but three wins in the last four is at least an indication that Matos has something going on.
I think the match picture in the Midlands suits the Welsh like a glove where Galbraith and Vipotnik can achieve a lot on their own. Or the Swedish duo Inoussa/Widell. X2 creates cross strokes among the coupons and is counted early.
Key in the match: Swansea are brimming with confidence after three wins in their last four. Coventry have the opposite after just one win in their last four.
The hell! – 3. Leicester – Watford – 1X2
The defeat against Queens Park Rangers (1-4) was probably the nail in the coffin for Martí Cifuentes. Leicester have looked miserable under the Spaniard’s wing and I wouldn’t be surprised if the management are just waiting for an opportune moment to let Cifuentes leave his post. The Foxes are underperforming in terms of the quality of the squad and if it wasn’t for the home field advantage I would have taken away the first against Watford.
According to all kinds of underlying statistics, The Hornets are a step up compared to Leicester, but the away ground is also a monkey for the London team. 1-4-5 in ten away games cannot be talked away anyway. When it’s so obvious that the yellow and black don’t thrive outside the confines of Vicarage Road, I feel compelled to make room for one. Playable X2, however, goes wild.
Key in the match: The return of Chakvetadze. The Georgian is starting to approach full fitness after the injury and is an x-factor in Watford’s attack.
The nail! – 6. Oxford – Southampton – 2
With almost every round that passes, it becomes painfully clear that Oxford are one of three teams – along with Sheffield Wednesday and Portsmouth – who are finding it extra difficult to make it in The Championship. Gary Rowett should be praised for what he achieves with material limited on paper, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the university city hosts have a fresh start in League One next season.
One team that, on the other hand, may have to start over elsewhere, namely in the Premier League, is Southampton. Will Still didn’t get the power-hitting squad to do much, but I think things look different — and better — since Tonda Eckert took over. The offense has a rough height when the game clicks and after the misleading 1-1 against Coventry, The Saints were better, it’s time for a three-pointer this Friday.
Adam Armstrong and Finn Azaz are two players whose top qualities are unmatched on the other side. The duo decides this in their own way. Second will be my blind nail.
Key in the match: The class difference. Southampton are better in pretty much every position and win this at a considerable stake.
Draget! – 9. Sheffield W – Hull – 1X2
Hull is a team that I will follow closely in the future. The whole autumn was one long overperformance from the “Tigers” who ran with the gods, but towards the end the gains have come after strong performances that bode well in the long run. Jakirovic has a sharp squad where McBurnie, Joseph and Belloumi can come up with a lot in the offensive and then it should also be said that Gelhardt will be back in 2026.
Having said that, I’m not interested in nailing Hull to a vastly exaggerated percentage against Sheffield Wednesday. It doesn’t matter that the visitors are miles ahead in the table when the runner-up is painted over 70 percent when the odds say just under 50 percent chance of winning. Sheffield Wednesday are not uneven and if there is somewhere that the “Owls” should shine, it is at Hillsborough.
At the current mark, over 70 percent, it’s just a matter of finishing second. Playable 1X goes first. If the wallet allows, the second can be considered on larger systems.
Key in the match: Sheffield Wednesday are better than the table says. When The Owls are laughed off, I gladly make room for 1X.
TO THE EUROPE TIP
Europatipsinfo
- To think about
- The coupon contains 2.5 million in jackpot.
- Middlesbrough was clearly better than Bristol City despite being 0-2 behind. Kim Hellberg’s gang take at least a stick against Blackburn.
- Norwich have conceded just one of their last six in league play.
- Portsmouth have taken 14 of their total of 21 points at home at Fratton Park.
- Stoke win over half of their home games in The Championship.
- Looking at the data, West Bromwich are miles ahead of Bristol City. Good spiketta at The Hawthorns.
- Sheffield United are 5-1-1 in their last seven league games.
- Lincoln have dropped points in seven of ten away games.
2. Suspensions on the tip
- Jay Dasilva (Coventry)
- Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke)
- Milutin Osmajic (Preston)
- Alfie Gilchrist (West Bromwich)
