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PICKING UP THE PIECES 18-3-08
Rob Dixon
So here we are again.
After another FA Cup quarter-final defeat, once again Boro and their fans only have a Premier League survival battle to look forward to this season.
Whilst the last eight was the same hurdle at which the side fell last year, this time it was a very different despondency that followed. Boro went out with a whimper in a competition that was shaping up well for them.
Unlike last year, there were no cynical lunges at cocky arrogant Portuguese players to applaud, just the sight of eleven men capitulating in the most toothless way imaginable. Where do you go from that game?
Well, it seems you go to two difficult away games and take valuable points from both.
Gareth Southgate has got the right reaction from the players in the aftermath of a game that had many spelling the end for the football club's place in the top flight.
One can only presume that the side had got too comfortable, too predictable and too relaxed after a good run of form which saw them pull a little clear of the drowning rats around them.
It can be argued that everyone in the team knew who would be playing on an almost weekly basis. Indeed, the only real fluctuations in the starting team over recent months had been up front, since the OTT arrival of Afonso Alves and the frivolity of Jeremie Aliadiere.
Maybe that's where Gareth went wrong. Maybe it became a case of the coaching staff taking their collective eye off the ball and failing to keep the players on their toes in the competition for places.
While it wouldn't be too silly to suggest that on their day both Fabio Rochemback and Julio Arca are better central midfielders than George Boateng, maybe Southgate failed to tell them that that is not necessarily the case and that they could easily be dropped.
All the best teams have some sort of competition and while Boro may not have the most quality in reserve, some players bring different attributes to a game.
For example, while skill and vision are (usually) the forte of Messrs Arca and Rochemback, super Lee Cattermole brings a tenacity that can boost a flagging side.
As we have also seen recently, Boateng and Shawky can bring a tough tackling, simple passing style to the middle of the park, along with the occasional raking shot from the latter.
While some players may not be the most technically gifted, they can definitely change games.
Southgate and Colin Cooper need to ensure that they never lose sight of the benefits of different players across the park if they want to avoid travesties like the Cardiff performance from happening again.
The move to change the midfield two has got a reaction out of the team. Let's all hope that the FA Cup loss was a wake up call to ensure that it never happens again.
Boro have shown in the past two games that when they are on the ball (metaphorically and literally), they can compete with some of the League's best sides in their own backyards.
The coaching staff needs to make sure that none of the players become too comfortable in their position or regard themselves as a shoe-in for the team on a Saturday afternoon if this change of attitude is to continue.
It has been pointed out on several occasions that Boro tend to pull out their best football when they are unfancied or when their backs are against the wall.
This also needs to change if there is to be any point in the football club at all.
No team should strive to be the eternal underdog, that's not what competing is about. We have a decent squad who can play good football, let's hope that in the rest of the season they show it.
Up the Boro.
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A GUARANTEED PROFIT OF AT LEAST £40.98 ON CARLISLE v LEEDS
Did you know that it is possible to win money on Thursday evening's League One play-off clash between Carlisle and Leeds, whatever the result?
The game kicks off at 7.45pm and we can guarantee you a profit of at least £40.98, whatever the result of the match. All you have to do is follow the simple instructions below and then sit back and enjoy the game. At full-time (ninety minutes), you will be at least £40.98 better off, whatever the result of the match.
We must point out that if you want to take this bet, you should do it now because if the odds change, then the figures here will be invalidated. If they have changed, let us know and we will rework the bet for you.
You can still do this if you have a Betfair account but your overall profit will be reduced by £25.00 as you won't receive the £25.00 cashback as an existing account holder.
If you are unsure about this bet, you are most welcome to call us on 01642 223229 and we will help you as much as we can.
We're going to lay out a total of £73.00 on the Carlisle v Leeds match and we will collect £114.60 if Carlisle win, £115.00 if Leeds win and £113.98 if it's a draw. That's a minimum profit of 56%, a much higher interest rate than you will get in any high street bank.
Here's how it's done. Just follow these simple instructions.
1. Open an account with Coral. It is really important that you enter the bonus code of CORALTD when prompted. This is to ensure that you receive your bonus.
Open an account with Betfair. It is really important that you enter the promotional code of BFB425 when prompted. This is to ensure that you receive your bonus.
Open an account with Extrabet
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This shouldn't take you any longer than a few minutes.
2. Make the following deposits into your new accounts.
Deposit £22.00 into your new Coral account.
Deposit £26.00 into your new Betfair account.
Deposit £25.00 into your Extrabet account.
3. Now make the following bets.
Place £22.00 on Carlisle at 2.80 (9/5) with Coral.
Coral will now add a £10.00 bonus to your account. Place this on Carlisle as well. You will now have £32.00 riding on Carlisle.
Back the draw with £26.00 at 3.55 (5/2) (or higher if available) with Betfair.
Place £25.00 on Leeds at 2.37 (13/10) with Extrabet .
Extrabet match your first bet up to £25 so you will now have £50.00 riding on Leeds.
The £25.00 matched bet will not show in your account but you can read all about how it works on the Extrabet site. It's the purple box that says '£25 FREE BET FOR NEW CUSTOMERS' on the top right hand side. Click here to visit the Extrabet site.
If you are unsure about placing these bets, please feel free to mail us or call us on 01642 223229 and we will talk you through it, no problem at all. There is no such thing as a stupid question.
You have temporarily laid out a total of £73.00 on the Carlisle v Leeds match. I stress, temporarily... Now sit back, crack a beer open and enjoy the match.
4. Here's what happens at the end of the game.
If Carlisle win, you collect £114.60. That's £89.60 from Coral plus a £25.00 cashback from Betfair.
If it's a draw, you collect £113.98. That's £88.98 from Betfair plus a £25.00 cashback from Betfair.
If Leeds win you collect £115.00. That's £90.00 from Extrabet plus a £25.00 cashback from Betfair.
5. This means that the worst case scenario on the Carlisle v Leeds match is a draw and you make £40.98 profit. However, if Carlisle win you make £41.60 and if Leeds win you make £42.00. That's a minimum profit of 56%, a much better rate of interest that you would get at any high street bank or building society.
6. It is absolutely vital that you click on the links on this page to open the accounts with the two bookies and enter the correct bonus codes or you may not qualify for the bonuses.
Also, before you place your bets, you should check that the odds haven't changed. If they have, let us know by mail or phone us on 01642 223229 and we will rework the bet for you.
Please feel free to contact us or phone us on 01642 223229 if you have any questions at all about this bet and we will help you as much as we can.
Please note that the bonuses are valid for new customers only so if you already have an account with one or more of the bookies we are using, you won't be able to do this. If that is the case, mail us or phone us on 01642 223229 and we'll create an alternative bet for you using different bookies.
This method of betting was used very successfully during the 2006 World Cup and you can read all about how it was done right here.
We guarantee this bet
It's understandable that some people will not believe that it is possible to do this. "What's the catch?" I hear you asking. My answer to that question is that we have been publishing arbitrage bets for four seasons now and literally hundreds of people have profited from following the advice on these pages.
Only twice has our refund guarantee been triggered and that was when we did all the figures wrong and sent refunds out to those who had followed our advice and made a small loss.
Our refund guarantee works like this. If this bet doesn't work like we say it will and you end up out of pocket, we will refund your losses. Simple as that.
That means that you simply cannot lose on this, whatever happens and even if we messed up the numbers.
The only stipulation here is that you must click on the links on this page to be eligible for the refund guarantee, not that you'll be needing to claim anyway. Just enjoy the profit and stay posted for many more of these throughout the season.
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