Dundalk - Derry City

Nine times champions returned to the Premier league for the first time in seven years. They have a new manager Sean Connor (ex Bohemians and Sligo Rovers) who before the league start released the majority of the team from last season, keeping just four of the of the First Division-winning squad. He brought some experienced players and it gives a result. Team performs well, but they still haven’t made a convincing distance from the relegation zone. Skipper Thomas Heary stated: “We're only five points off bottom, which is not a lot”. Currently, they have three competitive wins in a row. In last round defeated Cork City on the road 2-1. Dundalk scored twice in the first half (Chris Turner from the penalty-kick and Michael Daly) and in the second part with a player more on the pitch kept the lead. They also won tonight’s opponent as the visitors 1-0, clearly showing they don’t have problems with respecting the rivals. Manager Sean Connor has no injury concerns, or suspended players for this encounter. It is expected the new sign ups Mickey Collins and Alex Williams to make their debut. 

Last season 3rd on the table, League Cup winners and FAI Cup finalist, Derry City play very good season so far. They’re just a point behind the superior Bohemians (previous distance was 27) and their title dreams are not so unreal. Derry is in excellent run of results. Six competitive games without a defeat. Four straight league wins and clean sheet in last six games! On the road they conceded only four goals from eight games (scored 14)! Only defeat on the road was against Cork City 0-1. But, despite the excellent shape, Derry will face a tough test at Oriel Park. The main reason is missing players. Stephen Gray, Clive Delaney and Gareth McGlynn will serve their suspensions, while Kevin Deery, Barry Molloy and Liam Kearney are injured. All those six players are keys and manager Stephen Kenny will have a difficult task to compensate the hole in defence and midfield line. With Bohemians who travel to bottom of the table Bray Wanderers, a result is even more important to Derry.

Home side already knows how to beat favorites. They’re fully motivated and focused to make a good display. Will be satisfied with a draw, but will try to use any chance for all three points. On the other hand, Derry will secure own goal first. Three points at Oriel have a big weight, but it will be hard reachable without six important players. So, I think Derry will not win. I go for double chance 1X and home win. Expekt offer 4.00 for Dundalk, I see it as more than acceptable.

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Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Former Liverpool and Newcastle striker Michael Owen will have to take a 50% pay cut - to £50,000-a-week - and pass a stringent medical before making a shock move to Manchester United.(The Sun) 
Actually, Owen could be offered a basic wage of a paltry £20,000-a-week, with performance-related bonuses taking him close to the £110,000-a-week he earned at Newcastle.(Daily Mail) 
Chelsea are the only club to have submitted a formal bid, of about £40m, for Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery - but the French international wants to join Real Madrid.(Daily Telegraph) 
Real Madrid have put their bid for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso on hold, until mid-July when his former club Real Sociedad will no longer be entitled to a percentage of the fee.(The Sun) 
Liverpool are steeling themselves for two bids worth nearly a combined £60m from Real Madrid and Barcelona for Alonso and his fellow midfielder Javier Mascherano. (Daily Telegraph)
Manchester United will make a £16m move for Sevilla's 28-year-old Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano, but face competition from AC Milan.(Daily Mirror) 
Barcelona have risked the wrath of Arsenal by making an approach for midfielder Cesc Fabregas.(The Sun) 
Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell is considering a shock move to Championship club Newcastle United.(Daily Star) 
Chelsea are close to signing Man City youngster Daniel Sturridge and and CSKA Moscow left-back Yuri Zhirkov.(Daily Telegraph) 
AC Milan could make a remarkable £12m bid for Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch if they fail to sign Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor.(The Sun) 
Fulham are also keen on Pompey's giant hitman, preparing a £10m bid.(Daily Mail) 
Aston Villa are weighing up a potential £8m bid for 22-year-old Swedish striker Marcus Berg, who impressed at the recent Euro Under-21 Championship.(Daily Star) 
Tottenham will have to pay £12m to sign Lille's 25-year-old Brazilian midfielder Michel Bastos.(Daily Mail) 
Goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, 32, will seal his move from Southampton to West Ham on Monday.(The Sun) 
Hull boss Phil Brown could be set to offer veteran midfielder Dietmar Hamann a 12-month contract after he was released by Manchester City.(Daily Mirror) 
West Brom have rejected a £2m bid from Fulham for captain Jonathan Greening. (Daily Star) Everton are set to raid Leeds to sign highly-rated defender Luke Garbutt in a £1m deal. (Daily Star)
Wolves will complete the £2m signing of Sunderland defender Greg Halford, 24, on Friday. (The Sun) 
Stoke are set to make a £5m bid for Manchester City's Zimbabwean striker Benjani.(Daily Star) 
Watford have accepted a £1.8m bid from Sheffield United for their player of the year Tommy Smith, 28. (The Sun) 
Nottingham Forest are set to sign Preston's Paul McKenna and QPR's Lee Camp in the next 48 hours. (Daily Star)
Norwich are close to signing Crystal Palace striker Alan Lee, 30, in a deal which could take goalkeeper Stuart Nelson, 27, the other way. (Daily Star) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is hoping to sell the club to a Malaysian group - after a secret trip by the prospective buyers on Thursday. (Various)
Ipswich boss Roy Keane has told Bristol City manager Gary Johnson to "mind his own business" after Johnson said he thought the Tractor Boys would sign Lee Martin from Man Utd. (Daily Mirror) 
New West Brom boss Roberto di Matteo insists he will decide on signings, not sporting director Dan Ashworth.(Daily Mail) 

AND FINALLY

In four years at Newcastle, Michael Owen started 65 games and scored 30 goals. He is reported to have cost the relegated club an eye-watering £41m in fees and wages. (Various)
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Motherwell 0-1 Llanelli

Motherwell boss Jim Gannon suffered an embarrassing defeat by Llanelli in Europa League qualifying in his first match in charge of the Scottish club.
The Steelmen enjoyed plenty of the ball early on, but were stifled by some stiff Welsh resistance. 
Llanelli took a shock lead on 28 minutes on a rare foray forward, when Stuart Jones headed in from a corner (photo). 
Motherwell tried to get back in the match but looked disjointed and could not convert any of their chances. 
The defeat means Motherwell go to Parc y Scarlets in a week's time looking to salvage their Europa League future. 
Gannon had to deal with the loss of nine regulars from last season's first-team squad, but his side still looked good in the opening exchanges, and with just five minutes on the clock should have taken the lead through Jamie Murphy.
The midfielder beat Llanelli's offside trap to collect a ball over the top from Ross Forbes, but instead of shooting himself he tried to square to John Sutton, allowing the visitors to regroup and clear. 
The Welsh Premier League runners-up were unsettled in the centre of defence when in quick succession, Stuart Jones was booked for a rash challenge, then Lee Jarman was forced to leave the field injured. 
For all their possession, Motherwell found it difficult to break down a resolute 11-man defensive unit, which served to frustrate the hosts and mute their fans. 
On the rare occasions that the ball reached Reds striker Rhys Griffiths he found himself isolated with no supporting outlet. 
But the Welsh side took the lead against the run of play through Jones on 28 minutes.
The home side conceded a corner defending player-manager Andy Legg's long throw, and from the set piece Jones stole in at the back post to bundle a header past goalkeeper Michael Fraser. 
Motherwell attempted to press from the wide areas, but their delivery into the box left a lot to be desired, and they were booed off the Airdrie pitch at 1-0 down at the break. 
After the restart, the Steelmen's play exhibited more pace and purpose, with O'Brien looking sharp on the right. 
His play set up Steven McGarry then Sutton with headers, although neither could convert, and before long the urgency had fizzled out of the hosts' game. 

Murphy shot wide from a volley, and substitute Paul Slane also went close with a drive before, with seconds remaining, forcing Llanelli goalkeeper Ashley Morris to make his first serious save of the match with a fine strike. 
Forbes also had one last effort which Morris held easily, but it was too little too late from Motherwell, and the Welsh club held on for a memorable victory, much to the disgust of the home support. 

Motherwell: Fraser, Saunders, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, O'Brien (McHugh 74), Lasley (Slane 46), Forbes, McGarry, Sutton, Murphy.
Subs Not Used: Kosiorowski, Darren Smith, Fitzpatrick, Hutchinson, Page. 

Llanelli: Ashley Morris, Legg (Warlow 51), Howard, Stuart Jones, Jarman (Thomas 16), Phillips, Mumford, Corbisiero, Venables, Griffiths, Craig Jones (Follows 65).
Subs Not Used: Craig Morris, Jenkins, Moses, John. 
Booked: Stuart Jones, Griffiths, Howard. 
Goals: Stuart Jones 28. 

Att: 4,307 
Ref: Tero Nieminen (Finland)

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Buducnost - Polonia Warszawa

0 - 1 I. Koziol  54.min.
0 - 2 T. Jodlowiec 65.min.

Motherwell - Llanelli

Motherweell made a big improvement in past few years, making their way to the top Scottish clubs. Last season was under the expectations. Club finished the regular part of the season at the seventh place and played in play-out group. They didn’t reach a European qualification spot in domain competition, but got the fair-play invitation for UEFA Europa League. Motherwell have to start right from the beginning. In the previous European campaign, they promptly crashed out in the first round to AS Nancy of France. After many years in the club, manager Mark McGhee left the bench and went to Aberdeen. His place took the former Stockport manager, Jim Gannon. Another missing will be excellent striker David Clarkson who went to Bristol City, but Gannon made his first signing in ex-Tranmere midfielder Steve Jennings. This game will be played at Airdrie FC stadium as their home ground is closed because changing the grass. Despite they’ll have to start without any pre-season fitness work done, Motherwell is a clear favorite here.

Llanelli is the small amateur club from Wales, who qualified for Europa League – Qualification after they finished at the second place in domain league. As the preparation for this game, they defeated first division club Afan Lido 4-0. A few days before, club made a big signing, ex Swansea’s left back Michael Howard and he’s expected in the first eleven. But the “main face” in the club is their player-manager Andrew "Andy" Legg (42 years old). He is known for having the longest throw-in in football, being able to regularly throw the ball over 30 metres. He once held the world record with 41 m! Legg is raising the team’s morale and saying to Welsh press they’re not afraid, will try to make Motherwell run and to threat from the counter-attacks. The problem is, only eleven experienced players will be available to him. However, I expected more than defensive attitude from Llanelli, with probably ten players on 30 metres from the own goal. 

It is the fact Motherwell have much more quality. But also, facts are they’re with new coach, without the best player, game won’t be on their ground and they’ve just started with the preparation for new season. I expect hard defence from the visitors and think they can resist first 45 minutes. So, with the small bet I go for a home win, but after the draw at the half-time. Odds are around 5.00.
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UEFA Cup

Lack of football action made me little frustrated. I've been trying to made some good picks, but found just two games that worth of small bets. However...

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Buducnost - Polonia Warszawa

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The biggest Montenegrin club finished the title race second, four points less than Mogren. Lost three very important players. Attacking midfielder Igor Burzanovic (loan deal expired and returned to Crvena Zvezda) and two central defenders: skipper Raicevic and Carapic. New coach Mihailo Ivanovic has been repeating to the press they don’t have big expectations about this game because the lack of quality and late start of preparation for the next season. And he got what he wanted, there’re no pressure from the audience regarding this game. In last four European campaign Buducnost have no defeat at home, one win (Deportivo La Coruna) and three draws (La Valetta, Hajduk Split and Tampere).

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Polonia is one of the oldest Polish clubs, but without the big achievements in their history. In the previous season, they had ten points less than the champions Wisla Krakow. Polonia have fairly strong team (for Polish standards), consisted mainly from domain player and despite they haven’t appeared in European competitions since 2003., they can’t avoid a position of favorite in this encounter. Coach Jacek Grembocki can not count on two important players, Vlade Lazarevski and Lukasz Tralka. But, two other keys, Radek Mynar and Marek Sokolowski are back in the squad.

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Home side already has the experience with being underdog on own pitch, but usually stay undefeated and lack of quality cover with fighting attitude, supporting from the frenetic crowd. On the other hand, Polonia is closer to face Copenhagen in the next round, but I’m not sure are they capable to win in the first game. Instead the winner, I’ll go on goals. Betfair offer 2.14, Expekt 2.00. Over.

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Thursday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery says he wants to leave the German club to join Karim Benzema at Real Madrid.L'Equipe ((in French))

TRANSFER GOSSIP

New Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has delayed his arrival in London as he attempts to lure striker Alexandre Pato from his former club AC Milan.(The Sun)
Barcelona are preparing to make a £25m bid for Liverpool's Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano.(Daily Mirror)
The proposed deal to take Ricardo Carvalho and Deco from Chelsea to Inter Milan could collapse over the London club's insistence that they want £12m for the duo.(Daily Telegraph)
Forward Carlos Tevez will be unveiled as a Manchester City player on Monday next week, after agreeing terms of about £120,000 a week.(Daily Mirro)
Former Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira has been offered £100,000 a week by Birmingham as they try to sign the Frenchman from Inter Milan.(The Sun)
Chelsea are closing in on the signing of AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo. (Daily Express) 
And the Blues are refusing to give up in their chase of Bayern Munish winger Franck Ribery.(Daily Mail)
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is facing the prospect of being priced out of signing Everton defender Joleon Lescott. Everton value the centre half at £20m, which is £5m more than Hughes is willing to pay.(Daily Star)
Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey could be set for a £4m move to Everton after turning down the offer of a new contract at Craven Cottage.(The Sun)
New Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is keen to sort out a quick deal for Honduras midfielder Hendry Thomas as Sunderland are also interested. (Daily Mirror) 
Aston Villa are ready to launch a bid of £3.5m plus midfielder Barry Bannan for Wigan defender Titus Bramble. (Daily Star)
And Villa boss Martin O'Neill is exploring the possibility of signing Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing - even though the winger will be out until October with a foot injury.(Daily Mail)
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is lining up a bid for Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt, and is also close to completing the signing of Chile forward Humberto Suazo.(The Sun)
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce will not be making a bid for Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton. (Daily Star) 
Burnley are interested in Hamilton midfielder James McCarthy, according to the Scottish club.(The Scotsman)
Birmingham want Arsenal left-back Armand Traore on a season-long loan.(The Sun)


OTHER GOSSIP

Arsenal defender William Gallas says he will not sign a new contract with the Gunners and will walk away from the Emirates for free when his deal expires next summer if he is not allowed to leave this year. Inter Milan are interested in the 31-year-old.(Daily Mirror)
Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole is on the brink of signing a new four-year deal with the club, which is thought to be in the region of £120,000 a week.(The Times)
Broadcast giants Sky and ESPN have teamed up to force the SPL into agreeing a cut-price bail-out television deal worth less than the previous Setanta contract. (Daily Record)
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has called for the Premier League to consider a salary cap as a way of encouraging greater competition.(The Guardian)


AND FINALLY

Newcastle's players returned to work on Wednesday as the club prepares for life in the Championship.
Striker Obafemi Martins turned up late with midfielder Joey Barton back at the club for the first time since he was told to stay away from the training ground by caretaker boss Alan Shearer. Martins is apparently now on £65,000 a week, after earning a £5,000 a week pay rise under the terms of his contract.(The Sun)
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Finally some action!

After few days of forced break from betting, tomorrow we'll have finally something. Qualification games for UEFA Europa League are on schedule. I already have something on my mind, but will make some additional digging and post some picks no earlier than tomorrow.

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Wednesday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Discussions between Chelsea and Inter Milan over a possible switch to Italy for defender Ricardo Carvalho and midfielder Deco have collapsed. The Blues value the pair at £12m while the Nerazzurri are unwilling to go beyond £6m.(La Gazzetta Dello Sport (in Italian)) 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Barcelona will turn their attentions to prising midfielder Cesc Fabregas away from Arsenal after learning that previous target Franck Ribery would prefer to leave Bayern Munich for Real Madrid. (Daily Star) 
The proposed move of Samuel Eto'o to Manchester City may be wrecked by the Cameroon striker's demands for a slice of any transfer fee Barcelona receive. (Daily Mirror) 
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce will offer former Everton winger Andy van der Meyde, who is currently without a club, the chance to resurrect his career at Ewood Park. (The Sun)
Real Madrid are delaying a move for Liverpool's Xabi Alonso until a sell-on clause with the midfielder's former club Real Sociedad expires later in July. (Daily Mail) 
Having been frustrated in their pursuit of Felipe Melo, Arsenal will go head to head with Tottenham for the signature of Marseille midfielder Loik Cana. (Daily Express) 
After securing Wigan's Antonio Valencia, Manchester United could now bolster their forward line with a move for £11m-rated Toulouse forward Andre-Pierre Gignac. (The Star) 
Or it may be that Lyon's Karim Benzema is next on United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's list of priorities at Old Trafford, with the France international forward's team-mate Miralem Pjanic claiming a £38m move is in the offing. (The Times) 
CSKA Moscow left-back Yuri Zhirkov, Manchester City striker Daniel Sturridge and Middlesbrough goalkeeper Ross Turnbull will be the first three players brought to Chelsea by new manager Carlo Ancelotti. (Daily Telegraph) 
Michael Owen is holding out for offers from Aston Villa and Everton as his Newcastle United contract comes to an end today.(The Independent) 
Brazilian forward Jo will return to Everton on loan next season, with Manchester City boss Mark Hughes unable to promise him a regular first-team place. (The Sun) 
Aston Villa are keeping tabs on Arsenal's Philippe Senderos as well as fellow defenders Sylvain Distin of Portsmouth and David Wheater of Middlesbrough. (Daily Mail)
Tottenham are weighing up an approach for Lokomotiv Moscow and Switzerland goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic. (The Times) 
Celtic's hopes of signing West Brom's Marc-Antoine Fortune have been given a boost as the forward has stalled on a proposed move to Hull. (Daily Record)
Ipswich manager Roy Keane is poised to raid former club Manchester United for winger Lee Martin. (Daily Mirror) 
Bolton have moved to snap up Sean Davis on a free transfer after he turned down Portsmouth's offer of a new deal, while Swansea's Ferrie Bodde could line up alongside him in midfield if a £2.5m switch goes through. (The Sun)
Middlesbrough are preparing for life in the Championship with a £400,000 bid for Sheffield United midfielder Nick Montgomerie. (Daily Mirror) 
Blackburn's South Africa striker Benni McCarthy is concerned that a lack of first-team games may be harming his chances of appearing for the host nation in next summer's World Cup and may move to Spanish side Celta Vigo. (Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has said that AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid have all enquired about the possibility of him leaving Old Trafford but, despite his wife's eagerness to move away from England, he is determined to stay put.(The Sun)
Paul Ince could return to management with former club MK Dons after Roberto Di Matteo left for West Brom. (Daily Mirror) 
Three consortia are weighing up offers for Newcastle but it is unlikely that the club will be sold before next week. (The Guardian) 
England coach Fabio Capello has told his scouts to monitor Sylvan Ebanks-Blake once the new Premier League season gets under way to see if the Wolves striker is ready for the step up to international football. (The Sun) 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says that the chance to develop the young players at the Gunners convinced him to stay at the Emirates rather than join big-spending Real Madrid. (Daily Mirror) 
Celtic could move in to pole position to sign Nancy striker Marc-Antoine Fortune after Hull City threatened to withdraw their £4m bid for the player. (Daily Record)
Ipswich manager Roy Keane is stepping up interest in Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley. (The Star) 
Hearts director Sergejus Fedotovas insists the club is not actively looking to cash in on winger Andy Driver amid interest from Burnley in the player. (The Scotsman)

AND FINALLY

Manchester City will recruit Endemol, the company behind reality TV series Big Brother, to expand their global brand. (The Guardian) 
Former Hibernian striker Keith Wright has warned fellow forward Steven Fletcher that he is not yet ready for the Premier League after his £3m move to Burnley. (Various)
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