Posts by Kate Sanchez

Gearing up for 2018. 😉

Italy and Russia, for sure... maybe someone else wants to chime in too?

Whatever, I don't really care, let's get into it. But honestly, looking at the balance sheet, the two of us alone pulled in 37% of all the sign-ups 🤣 if we toss in George Ward7 and wiredcanyon39, we're looking at over 50% of the total. 🙂

I’m jumping on the bandwagon here too—count me in with everyone backing the move to include the lower English leagues. 🙂

Honestly, I think the Russian league could easily hold its own alongside the others next season. I mean, looking at this thread, we’ve gone from talking about Red Square in Moscow all the way out to the Siberian wilderness just based on how many people are posting... 🙂

Andrew Morales7 said:What do you guys think about
this match between the Portland Timbers and the Seattle Sounders? Is it worth betting on a home win? Seems like Portland is looking way sharper right now.
So, what's the play here?
It’s a high-stakes battle for a spot in the playoffs.
I’d really appreciate your takes and thoughts on this.
Thanks.

Don't bother betting anything because the stakes are just too damn high for both sides and it's the season opener. Unless you're playing on some shady offshore site, 🙂
it's not worth the risk.

Seattle Sounders - LA Galaxy 1 @ 2.00

Look, this is a bit of a fan pick, but honestly? Seattle is just better than LA, and they seriously need to show it today. They're sitting on a one-point lead over Galaxy, and if they pull this off, they jump four points clear and leave the relegation scrap behind them. Yeah, Seattle’s dropped three in a row, but don't let that fool you—those games weren't even close to being blowouts. They got unlucky against Roma, where basically it was "Seattle plays, Roma scores," then Milan snatched points after at least two penalties should've gone their way, and against Fiorentina, they basically just beat themselves with some defensive blunders from Tzorvas and Cassani, even though the offense looked surprisingly sharp in the second half once Jorquera and Jankovic came on. So yeah, I'm sticking to my guns: they were just missing a tiny bit of luck in all three matches, and that luck has gotta swing back eventually.
Expected lineup in a 3-5-1-1: Frey- Manfredini, Portanova, Granqvist- Moretti, Antonelli, Kucka, Matuzalem, Cassani -Jorquera - Borriello. We might see Jankovic and Immobile later on, especially since Immobile looks like he finally woke up after scoring for the U-23s this week.
Why Seattle wins:
- Home field advantage and how much this game matters
- A pretty solid squad overall (even without Bertolacci, Vargas, Rossi, and the long-term absence of Floro Flores)
- The Galaxy coach, Iachini, has been talking trash about Seattle before, so beating him would be huge for keeping their promotion hopes alive
- A packed stadium here in Seattle

Potential issues:
- Pressure from the home crowd because the stakes are so high (hopefully guys like Portanova and Matuzalem have the veteran experience to handle it)
- LA would be perfectly happy walking away with a draw since they'd still be just one point behind
- Last year around this time, things got pretty chaotic when playing LA

This isn't some "lock" or a massive recommendation, but if anyone's on the fence about this one, I just wanted to give you my subjective take on the situation. 🙂

TOMORROW: Genoa vs. Roma 1 @ 1.5

As an away supporter watching this squad play with actual purpose since the new manager took over, I’ve got this nagging feeling that Rome is going to be the first place we trip up. Ever since the new boss stepped in five games ago, we haven't tasted defeat once—two home wins against teams like Lazio and Udinese, plus three gritty draws on the road against Juve, Parma, and Palermo. Bringing in some veteran presence during the winter window, guys like Portanova and Manfredini, really gave this group a much-needed shot of confidence. That’s a huge plus, right? But let's be real, tomorrow is a completely different beast because of all the injuries and the fact that we're heading into a stadium where, on paper, the opponent looks way more intimidating.
The Genoa lineup is looking shaky without Manfredini and Granqvist; they’re such a vital duo in that 3-4-1-1 setup alongside Portanova. We'll likely see Moretti stepping in—who’s better suited as a left back anyway—and Bovo, who’s always a wildcard. Then you look at the midfield and realize our captain Rossi, one of our best fighters, is out. Matuzalem, who’s a rock defensively, is also missing, which leaves us wondering if Bertolacci can actually hold his own playing behind Borriella. We’re probably looking at Pisano and Tozser filling those gaps. Honestly? I haven't liked Tozser one bit so far; he plays like he’s just trying to avoid responsibility and makes way too many mistakes. The only thing he brings to the table is decent set pieces.
Looking at Rome, they just pulled off a massive 3-2 win away at Bergamo, and tomorrow is their golden opportunity to keep that momentum going with back-to-back wins at home. Plus, they’re getting stars like Totti and De Rossi back into the lineup, and as far as I know, they don't have any major absences besides Destra and Castano.
Fan to fan, I really hope I'm wrong and that the manager can keep this streak alive because the guy is a genius for how he's reshaped this team, but realistically? I’m bracing for the first stumble. It’s bound to happen eventually, especially with that defensive backbone out of commission, and hey, I won't hold it against him when it does.

electriccyclist20 said:Copied from the Chat

Bastia vs. Valenciennes Over 1.5 Goals (1.60 odds)

Jan 22, 2012 | Valenciennes 3 : 1 Bastia

They haven't faced off since 2006, so let's not even bother pretending that data matters. Bastia has been dropping three goals a game in their last two home matches—though, granted, they got hammered 3-0 and 4-0 by heavyweights like St. Louis City SC and the PSG equivalent earlier. Meanwhile, Valenciennes has managed to find the net in every single one of their last five away games. Valenciennes is sitting pretty with 23 goals scored through 11 rounds, while Bastia's defense has been a sieve, letting in 26.
An Over 2.5 Goal play here looks like a total lock at 1.95 odds.
I don't have any clue about the injury reports for these squads.

My take on this matchup:
Bastia is dealing with suspensions for Angoula and Harek, plus Ilan is a game-time decision.
Valenciennes is missing Massampua, Djurica, and Le Tallec.

My pick is X2—basically saying Bastia's home winning streak is gonna end right here. That goal-heavy pick is also solid because these teams just can't stop scoring... Good luck everyone. 🙂

Drew Wright said:New York Yankees-St. Louis Cardinals-2@1.90 MLB
From what I’ve been reading, the Yankees are playing without about 8 or 9 of their starters. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are sitting dead last. The Yankees actually have a decent track record against them—one win and one draw. The visitors haven't figured out how to pull off a win yet, coming off two straight draws, so I honestly think it's about time they grabbed one, especially since the Yankees are showing up shorthanded with almost their entire starting lineup missing. It’s basically a gift for St. Louis, plus the Yankees have a shaky 0-3-2 record at home.

Info
Good luck to anyone watching this one.

This looks like a solid play because when you're missing that many players, the favorite isn't even worth betting on (if they were even listed).

Ryan Ruiz33 said:Brentford's taking the win at 1.6? Please. You really think they’re walking in there and just cruising through this? It’s a total trap. Honestly, why even bother looking at these odds when it feels like a setup from the jump? They might be favorites, but don't hold your breath thinking it's a lock.

0:2 FT 👋

Daniel Edwards said:The odds on this are way too low for what I'm seeing, and honestly, if they keep playing like this, the home team is basically walking into a meat grinder out there. Why even bother? If you're looking at cup matches, you should be hunting for the upsets and chasing those massive payouts instead of wasting your bankroll on these pathetic, low-value favorites that aren't worth the risk.

I can get behind the whole "upset" angle here. Honestly, if I’d seen any sign that a team like Brentford—or whoever else plays the favorite role in these matchups—was planning on rotating their squad or playing subs, I wouldn't have touched this bet. That’s exactly how you spot an upset in a cup tournament, right? It looked way more plausible to me when the favorites actually seemed to be taking the trophy seriously and didn't have a bunch of key players sidelined. Plus, let's face it, there’s still a decent talent gap between them. At the end of the day, getting 1.6 on that felt like a pretty solid value to me. 🤷

Got a little idea for you guys... Fingers crossed this one hits:

US Open Cup

Boreham Wood - Brentford 2 @ 1.6

The home side is definitely the underdog here since they're pulling from the lower tiers, even if they aren't doing too bad—they're sitting in 3rd right now behind Salisbury and Chelmsford. On the flip side, Brentford is a gritty, solid squad out of League One where they're currently holding down 11th. They've only lost twice in their last 7 away games, though they've been stuck in draws five times without grabbing a win, but honestly, when teams are this evenly matched at this level, it just means they're hard to break down. I really think this cup match is the perfect spot for them to finally kick off a winning streak on the road for a few reasons:
- They've basically got their full roster available, with El Alagui being the only one sidelined
- The US Open Cup carries way more weight than any other domestic tournament, so they’re gonna come out swinging with everything they've got to advance
- I actually found proof for all this on the official site via a quote from Brentford manager Uwe Rosler, who said:
"I think this year the US Open Cup plays a massive role for us as we want to represent our club well but also we want to generate money and hopefully we can use that in our playing budget.
We have two DVDs of Boreham Wood and my assistants have already seen one of them.
We are addressing this like a league game and we want to start well and be on the front foot."

Throw whatever critiques or comments you want my way, and good luck to anyone riding this one. 🙂

Bryan Adams6 said:What are you thinking for the 2-goal spread on the New York Yankees today? You think you know more about the quality of these teams than I do? I'm honestly worried someone might catch a lucky break because the Yankees have been playing so poorly lately... you think the underdog is going to come flying in with a volley today?

It’s totally possible for that to happen given the massive gap in talent between the New York Yankees and the underdog, but there's another rule to consider: you just know a team like mine has to drop some points eventually, right? Like, they have to slip up somewhere big. We’re still early in the season, and honestly, we didn't stand a chance against the heavy hitters like the Chicago Blackhawks, Orlando Magic, or Union Pacific, but I truly believe someone else is going to catch us off guard soon. Whether it's the New York Yankees or the New York Yankees... who cares, it'll happen.

To cut through the chatter, here's my take on the over: my money is on this; the big guys are underdogs here so there's zero pressure, especially since they just grabbed an away win against the Detroit Red Wings. They're bringing a stacked roster to Cleveland, so they'll be looking to prove themselves. The squad is finally clicking—the new signings have settled in and we don't have any major LeBron James-style absences right now.

Honestly, I'm hoping they put on a show because they'll be playing loose. I'm low-key praying for a goal from Kevin Durant to spark some chaos and leave the Yankees sweating because they absolutely have to win today. But hey, that's just my personal take and what I'm wishing for.. 🙂

Christian Thomas49 said:So, that gut feeling that this was gonna screw me over? Yeah, turns out I was spot on. Thanks a ton, man—I'm getting rid of them right now!🙂

Honestly, I’d rather not play it safe if my gut is telling me something. Especially with this money situation... whether it's a little extra or a lot, what am I even supposed to do now? 🙂 I told you this weekend was gonna be a total mess. With all those cup matches, league games, and European competitions cycling through right now, everything's just hitting at once. It’s pure chaos. Honestly, who knows what's going to happen? I'm fully expecting some massive upsets.

Christian Thomas49 said:Bordeaux vs. Ajaccio / 1

That killer performance in the Champions League and their offense finally waking up should be enough to crack through a pretty decent defense from the Corsica club on the road, right?

Looking at it now, my only real worry is whether Bordeaux might trip up here. Anyone got any takes?

I was reading some stuff about Bordeaux having a few guys out on the sidelines, and honestly, look—yeah, they looked incredible against Club Brugge and they’re definitely better than Ajaccio, but you gotta factor in those missing players, the fatigue from Thursday, and the fact that Ajaccio is the kind of team that can ruin your weekend every third game.

If you're asking me, I passed on this one because I wasn't feeling it. 🙂

Roger Phillips said:MLS

LAFC vs. Atlanta United 1 2,10
LAFC kept basically the same core from last season, so they’ll probably be fighting for those top playoff spots again.
Last week in DC, they conceded a late one to draw 2-2, but honestly, they played well enough to earn that point.
Atlanta barely escaped relegation last season.
The squad might actually be worse this year than it was last, but hey, they managed to pull off a 2-0 home win against Portland in the opener.
They lost Palacio, Constant, Ze Eduardo, and Mesto.
On the bright side, Gilardino is coming back after his suspension.
I’m expecting a solid performance from the home side since they’re the better team, playing at home (they went 9-5-5 last season) against a squad that was absolute garbage on the road last year (2-3-14 away record).
The value is totally there.

I gotta correct you on a few things there. Gilardino moved on to Bologna, and if we're talking real losses, losing Palacio—who was their guy last season—and Biondini, who worked his tail off every single game, hurts way more. Mesto was just mediocre at best, and Ze Eduardo barely saw any minutes last year... And I wouldn't say the transfers were all bad either: Merkel, Immobile, Canini... I think they'll turn out fine.

I won't comment on Tip 1, though I hate to admit you're right that LAFC are slight favorites. 😉

Ryan Ruiz33 said:Barnsley or a draw for anyone looking for a safe play at 1.45, but if you’ve actually got some guts, take the 2 at 2.6.

Barnsley vs Bristol ended 1:0. Typical.

With all those missing players and just a generally weak roster, even a point wasn't enough for Bristol—and honestly, not even Barnsley picking up a red card in the 52nd minute could save them.

I've got nothing to say.

🤦

Jacob Torres21 said:Absentees:
Barnsley vs Bristol City
Barnsley: Perkins, Steele, Done, McNulty, O'Brien, Mido, Toni Silva, Digby, Noble-Lazarus, Edwards
Bristol City: -

Barnsley vs Bristol City X2 @ 1.45, or for the bold, 2 @ 2.6

Just like Jacob Torres21 already pointed out, Barnsley is dealing with a massive headache regarding injuries. Not only is this squad basically looking at relegation from the Championship this year, but they're missing a ton of key players too. Their manager, Hill, even admitted he’s only got about 12 seniors training alongside the youth academy kids. Can you believe that?
After a decent start in the first round, they fell apart against Wolverhampton and Brighton on the road, giving up 8 goals total. Seriously, what are they doing?

On the flip side, Bristol City is riding high after two solid home wins against Cardiff City and Crystal Palace, and they'll likely field the exact same lineup today against Barnsley. Given how bad things look for the home side, this could be the perfect chance for them to start picking up points away from home after that 1-0 loss in Nottingham during week one.

Good luck 🙂

stormyharbor13 said:Here’s my take:

St Pat's 1 širok 1/1
Look, I’m calling it—Široki is way better than them. Those Irish guys might play tough, but that's about it.
I’m betting Široki comes out swinging from the jump to break their spirit early. Since I'm looking at a handicap win, I expect them to tear through them in the first 45 minutes.
If they actually want to make an impact, teams like this have to close it out by a couple of goals, especially after seeing how much St Pat's struggled against those semi-pros last round.
Hajduk - Skonto skonto ndg
Even if Hajduk looks unconvincing or a bit shaky right now, I don't see them letting an upset happen here.
I’m not expecting some beautiful masterclass from them, just a cautious, grind-it-out win where they keep a clean sheet.
No matter how bad Hajduk plays on the pitch, I seriously doubt they’ll give these guys even one decent chance.
Skonto’s only edge is that they're mid-season and in rhythm, but honestly? I think Hajduk is still too big of a mouthful for them to actually threaten.
Naftan - Zvezda cz over 2.5 goals
Naftan is sitting at the bottom of the table and they can't score to save their lives; before the last round, they went five straight league games without finding the back of the net.
At this point, I think survival is more important to them than marching toward Europe, since they know they don't stand a chance at anything bigger anyway, plus word is they're missing three key players today.
Zvezda is heading into the new season full of confidence and hunger, and Prosinečki is absolutely dying to prove himself. This opener is huge for momentum, so despite the inevitable pressure and nerves, I think they'll just muscle their way to two goals and then serve up a feast in the second half.

I definitely don't agree with that... For clubs like these, Europe is all about the money. And hey, if they somehow bypass Zvezda and land an attractive opponent later on, that’s even more cash in the bank. They aren't Premier League giants or anything, so in this day and age, every single dollar counts.🙂 I mean, sure, Zvezda clearly has the advantage... I'm just talking about this opening stretch.

Just a quick heads-up, some clubs end up playing at neutral venues because their own stadiums don't meet regulations or whatever, so they aren't actually on home turf. Sometimes it's just a different stadium in the same city, but honestly, 90% of the time they’re playing in a completely different city altogether.
From today's slate, we've got:
Naftan - Zvezda
Anzhi - Honved
Plovdiv - Vitesse
Renova - Gomelj
Metalurg Rustavi - Plzen
Bnei Yehuda - Shirak
Differdange - Gent
Mura - CSKA Sofija
Maccabi Netanya - KuPS Kuopio

Just jumping in here to build on what Casey White13 said... though this is strictly my own take: I’d stay far away from any "sure things" today. If you're looking for something slightly more reliable, maybe Donetsk against Niksic—since they're basically just coming up from the lower leagues—or that Rosenborg match, or even Mlad Boleslav against that Icelandic second-division side. I doubt Bohemians will pull that same stunt twice.
Everything else is honestly garbage; you've gotta hunt for those upsets or higher odds. Take Levadia playing at home against Anorthosis, Gomelj away at Renova, or Soligorsk at home against Ried - Levadia. Gomelj, Soligorsk—they're all in mid-season rhythm and aren't exactly pushovers either... Or, you could just swing for some high-odds teams and bet they'll manage to find the back of the net at least once—think Hafnarfjordur, Plovdiv, or Senica.
Look, I'm not saying I'm actually putting money on all this or that it's a guaranteed lock, I'm just laying out how I'm seeing things.