EVERY Wednesday I walk down the bookies, pick up some coupons and head for the local park.
While the dug has a run I'm the idiot sitting at the picnic table in the freezing cold poring over the weekend's fixtures.
Without looking at form, stats or team news I like to come up with a shortlist of sides I may discard by Friday night after doing my homework.
I thought I'd try this experiment and list the teams I've picked out at this early stage. Comment on any you don't like rather than like and if there are fans of any clubs featured let's know if there is any key team news or injuries that might affect our thinking.
I'm listing 12 homes – and remember these are not my tips at the moment – and eight aways.
HOMES
Aston Villa v Sunderland
Newcastle v West Brom
Leicester v Millwall
Orient v Sheffield Utd
MK Dons v Coventry
Tranmere v Colchester
Walsall v Port Vale
Exeter v Bury
Southend v Cheltenham
St Johnstone v Livingston
Peterhead v Montrose
AWAYS
Arsenal at Cardiff
Leeds at Blackburn
Brighton v Bournemouth
Wolves at Peterborough
Brentford at Notts County
Stranraer at Clyde
St Mirren at QoS
Aberdeen at Partick (Sun)
So let us know what you think – and play a part in picking the weekend top tips.
In December 2020 we sadly 
Paul you are the man for tips. To me it looks like a lot of draws in the homes. Wouldn’t is be class if your 4 draws came in this sat.
Out of all the games you list I am fairly certain you will find reasons to oppose that many Mr F that come Friday night you will maybe use 4 or 5 maximum in Saturdays homes and aways. I constantly like a ‘first glance’ at games in the Racing Post and often surprise myself how many I actually end up discarding through uncertainty. St Johnstone, Aberdeen and Orient look strong to me without having to go through form.
raaljaca, it’s a shortlist. There will be 5 homes and 3 aways on Saturday – and 4 draws.
Mk dons vs Cov both conceded a lot and lost their last 2 looks like a btts rather than a result game Paul.
Wouldn’t trust Peterhead either!
Sparky, I have an over 2.5 and btts shortlist too and it’s one as well as the likes of Ayr v Dunfermline, Huddersfield v Burnley, Schalke v Stuttgart and Espanyol v Real Sociedad.
Dundee United at hone to Kilmarnock Friday night 4/6 on ladbrokes coupon so better price online
Craig, I really fancy United but as you say playing Friday.
Have to say I really fancy stmirren on sat Paul. They’ve defo turned a corner. Think given they lost to queens earlier in the Season at Palmerston in league cup will also make them more up for it and aware. Queens are also in poor form. Would have liked a bit bigger than evens mind.
At a bigger price Forfar look a decent bet to turn over brechin look like teams going in opposite directions to me!
Aberdeen have battered Partick Th twice already this season, and Mcginn seems to be back to his scoring ways of last season but I think Thistle will be bang up for this and will look for revenge.
I’d be happy with a draw and take them back to Pittodrie.
Daryl, I’ll be all over Aberdeen. In fact I’m going to back them tonight because I reckon the price will drop.
Any idea Paul if the red cards for thistle mean suspensions tis weekend? Balatoni would be a huge loss to the jags!
Sparky, Balatoni can play but Bannigan is suspended as his was a straight red at the weekend. Muirhead is also banned so I’m told by a Jags fan that Gabriel Piccolo could play. He’s had 3 starts this season – two against Aberdeen which were 3-0 and 4-0 defeats.
Sparky, read today that one of Patrick’s players is suspended as for violent conduct, but the other player’s suspension is in league
Wish muirhead was playing he’s a total liability! Dons do look a tasty bet I have to agree.
anyone fancy watford? their form is terrible at the moment but they are at home to bottom of the table Yeovil. surely this is the best fixture to get back on track! any thoughts?
Rangers @ 4/5 with Coral to beat Falkirk will be on that.Stirling to beat Alloa 7/1 in a local cup derby looks massive.
Haha, Mr F great minds think alike.
Every single Wednesday I do the same thing. My dog is no longer around though, but I go to my local Bookie every Wednesday on my way home, then sit down at the dinner table with my long list and begin picking out between 10 and 15 games that catch my eye!
I know its an obvious one but Orient leapt out at me, purely because Sheff Utd are still something of an unknown quantity under Clough, a bit stop start if you like and L Orient will want to bounce back after Tuesday night and have the goals and quality to do so.
Andrew
Wolves fan here,
I feel quite confident going away to Peterborough we’re in great form and I think we have more than enough to come away with the win but..
Peterborough will fancy their chances and this will be a very tough game,
We are currently 9pts clear of 3rd place Preston, and I don’t think they are going to let us try and open that gap up further without a fight,
We are quite an unpredictable team so I’m gonna say
Under 2.5 – 4/5
Wolves / Sako anytime 11/4
Good luck all
Mr.F,
I like the look of an accumulator of all 11 of the home games you have chosen,
What do you think?
Cheers
Stevenage, I’d never do all 11 but hey if you fancy them all throw a quid at it.
Over 2 goals mkd v coventry & St john v livvy …hmmm tastey
Leicester look a safe bet at 4/7 though will probably add them to a treble due to fairly low price.
any thoughts on motherwell on the handicap in the Scottish cup? minus 1 and minus 2 looks a good bet imo. also like your stranraer inkling, they have been on fire lately and again might even take them on the handicap
robbo, Motherwell should cover the -2 but of course -1 is safer. Stranraer have been brilliant recently and have loads of goals in them so should see off Clyde.
Leicester are such an horrible team to back; always win the difficult games yet somehow are inconsistent against the lower teams; Barnsley for example at home last season 2-2 is one that sticks in my mind. Blackburn at home to Leeds should edge it in my opinion but maybe i’m biased being an Hull lad. Leyton, Brentford and Aberdeen looks a juicy treble and worthy of small stakes.
Danny, I know what you mean about Leicester but they have won 5 out of 6. To me Blackburn are really struggling and as long as Leeds have Ross McCormack playing and in form they should win.
Mr F, id put together both your home and away teams and I am sticking a pound on it… It accumulator is crazy
Rangers look a cracking bet on Saturday @ 4/5. Have a team full of Premier league standard players and are far better than an average Falkirk team.
Dundee Utd should beat Kilmarnock at home on Friday night @ 4/6.
Celtic -1 v Hearts on Sunday even money looks a good bet against a poor Hearts team. Will be doing singles on all three.
Of those you have listed my treble would be Arsenal, St Johnstone and Peterhead Mr F. (Stranraer and Aberdeen too if you were looking for a bigger price).
Mr F, surely you spent a minute or two debating on whether to throw QPR in the mix? suprised you never, Doncaster were pretty average against a poor Yeovil side at home last week and were lucky to snatch the winner at the end. i can see QPR grinding out another famous 1-0, or maybe 2-0 win at the Keepmoat. I don’t think they will be 4/6 much longer.
Kev, QPR are on my longer shortlist so I’m still considering them. Just don’t like odds-on aways.
Good idea mate.
Mr fixit when are you putting the over2,5 and btts shortlist
justn, wasn’t planning to – mentioned some of them already.
Hey Mr Fix It I am a Leeds fan and i am usually level headed with my team i know we are not a great team i am not deluded or a pessimist….
We are in the best form we have been in all season and Ross McCormack is on fire with 9 in 7 however i would tread lightly when looking at backing us away from home.
Last 5 games away we have lost 4 and won 1 conceding 11 scoring 7 (helped by 4 goals in our last outing away)
Blackburn are water tight at home conceding one in their last 5 however only scoring one goal themselves.
Our only real hope of scoring is through Ross McCormack we have no other great threat any where in our team so if we are going to struggle to score 1 let alone 2 goals against a solid defensive unit i wouldn’t back us to win because you can be sure with our leaky defense (conceded vs 10 man at home Saturday) will be good for conceding at least 1!
A stat to also consider is that we haven’t beaten Blackburn in around 10 years and tend to draw most games against them!
I am thinking this is more of a 1-1 (McCormack FGS if you’re feeling adventurous)
how about brighton mr f 6/4 sounds good?
Kevin Hurst of Southend i would imagine will be out as he got a second yellow card last week. Is first yellow was for taking his shirt off after scoring. So he will be missed for Southend, he has been banging a few goals in for them lately too.
Anyway Mr F- Everyone will be looking for your 4 draws as i heard you got a full house last week and i missed them.
Stephen, sure did. Chances of a repeat will of course be about 125-1 but I’ll give it a go.
Man utd should beat a poor spurs side, after the 5-0 away win at Leverkusen and spurs getting hunped 6-0 off city I’ll defo be man utd in acca’s and on tge btts/win coupon
can’t believe Bulgaria woman to come back from 12-0 down and win 13-12 is only 500-1! lol surely a few zeros missing!?
Mr F, it is a good idea. Mk Dons form would be a concern 2 wins in 8 although they were at home. If Clarke is back for Coventry that would be a concern backing MK. Coventry won there 3-2 last season and with their ability to score goals this season. At this moment in time without team news, I would be thinking a potential for the BTTS.
thechief, team news is key of course. Reckon I’ve already ruled MK Dons out but all the comments on this are great.
Sorry Paul cant help you with any of the the possibles. RAALJACA’S given me too much homework for DUNDALK tomorrow
Really good method Mr F, I did the same thing last Friday night, went through ever league in Scotland and England, researched the ones I liked then posted 10 teams, turned out really well with only 9 of the 10 winning! Going to do the same thing tomorrow night! At first glance they look like a solid shortlist!
Mr Fixer letting his pit bull roam arooond the park!!
Wullie, not at all. Just a wee terrier. Right, off for the night.
Palace draw could be a good bet both teams finding it hard to score with pulis at palace now and a win last week
The Motherwell game is at a neutral ground I believe so defo backing well minus 2, also fancy Stranraer at Clyde and Dumbarton at berwick. Berwick may be forced to play a 42 year old in goal who has only had 1 game(against culter in replay) this season and should be a lot busier tomrrow
Also liking Inverness minus1 and stenhousemuir minus 1 in a treble with Dundee utd
Also liking Inverness minus1 and stenhousemuir minus 1 in a treble with Dundee utd
mmmmmm Everton may draw sorry
James, it’s a shortlist, Everton won’t be on my top tips.
Banker double QPR and Brentford
banker double QPR and Brentord
just looking at the goal rush.Games for both teams not to score.
Tottenham
Notts county
Fleetwood
Leeds
Wallsall
IF FALKIRK CAN SHACKLE DALY 23/20 ON THE DOUBLE CHANCE WILL MAKE IT WORTH WATCHING
ALSO ON THE DOUBLE CHANCE STIRLING ALBION 12/5
TWO SINGLES AND A DOUBLE