The BBC has released research figures which show that the number of English players starting in matches in the 2007-8 Premier League season has reached a new low. Only 170 of the 498 players who started matches in the top flight were English. This represents only 34.1% of the total. Sports betting fans might look back to our poor showing in the qualifying for Euro 2008 and wonder if a broader choice of players might not have yielded a better result.

Admittedly, the quality of the players is high but there can be no doubt that the grass roots level of the game must be energised so that no football talent is overlooked. The academies do a good job but perhaps they could do better. Sepp Blatter, President of Fifa, believes that restricting the number of foreign player starters to five in each premiership match would resolve the problem. Undoubtedly, the more pressure placed on the clubs to rear home talent the more likely they are to do so, but, unfortunately for Sepp, his idea breaches EU employment law. He remains adamant that he press on with his six-plus-five plan. Good luck to him, I say.

If he succeeds, his plan will present a considerable challenge to some of our top clubs and may even level the playing field somewhat. Arsenal averaged 0.34 English starting players last season while Manchester United had 4.48. The top four finishers in the Premiership League table managed an average of just 2.64 per game. Cynics might think Sepp’s move is a ploy by the jealous Europeans to shrink the dominance of the Premiership but fair-minded fans of international football betting will have to admit to a sneaking feeling that something needs to be done.

We were in day four of the second Test at Old Trafford and cricket betting fans who, 24 before, had again thrown up their hands in frustration at the lamentable performance of the upper England batting order are now gaping at their plasmas in bewilderment as the home team edged their way to a victory which defies all comprehension.

New Zealand’s first innings was predictable fare with their batsmen knocking our ineffectual bowlers all over the place to build a respectable total of 381 on what was a difficult wicket very much favouring swing and spin. With the welcome exception of a Strauss revival, England then delivered on their usual commitment to abject failure, slinking back to the pavilion with a mere 202 runs on the board. In comes New Zealand to deliver the expected second innings death blow only to meet, wonder of wonders, a rampant Monty Panesar who proceeds to strew five of the top six of their strike crew right and left and knock the lot out for pathetic 114.

England batsmen then come back in for their second innings and gradually reveal that they have condescended to actually make an effort and score a few runs. The more cynical among sports betting fans might conclude that this new found enthusiasm to earn their pay results from concerns about keeping their jobs. These days the selectors are less inclined to regard team places as sacred. Strauss reasserts his return to form and makes 106 while Vaughn continues to offer reliable support. A solid batting performance ensues to produce a comfortable win for England. Joyous as this is, online betting buffs must wonder why it is such a rare event that England teams make the decision to go out there and do the business.

Eurovision Song Contest   Sat 24 May 2008

The Eurovision Song Contest returns to our screens on Saturday night and Eurovision betting fans face an unusually complex task in deciding the likely winner. Accusations of ‘bloc’ conspiracies abound with various country groupings allegedly trading votes to climb to the top of the pile. Let’s face it though, the voting system has always been wayward and international taste varies so much it’s near impossible to foretell.

Having said that, Ladbrokes are tipping Russian entrant, Dima Bilan, to claim the top accolade at the Belgrade arena in what will be the European Union’s biggest ever TV show. Bilan came second to the memorable Finnish heavy metallers who amazingly won everyone over in 2006. On Tuesday, in the first semi-final, Bilan beat off his main rival, a singing turkey, to reach the final with his song ‘Believe’.

The contest has suffered much derision in recent years but, taken for what it is (a surreal kind of international musical circus) there is something about it that has attracted ever-increasing numbers of fans over the years. The United Kingdom and Terry Wogan in particular, have been criticised by the organisers for not giving the show due respect and this may therefore be Terry’s last year. I believe Terry is the one thing that has kept British interest on board and losing him could possibly ring the death knell of our involvement.

Our contribution tonight has been described as our worst ever offering and online betting fans will doubtless steer well clear. Far better to get into the live betting on the night where the chances of seeing where the voting is going are much greater.

On Thursday 22nd May the winners of the SPL Title race will be decided. With both Rangers and Celtic neck and neck on points its going to be a nervy end to the season. As usual the Free Bets Blog will be watching the outcome carefully.

Celtic travel to Dundee United while Rangers head even further north to Aberdeen. With both sides tied on 86pts apiece, Celtic are favourites because they have 4 goals superior goal difference than their Old Firm counterparts.

In an almost a mirror image of the 2002 / 03 SPL season when the pair went into the last game with Celtic shattered after their Uefa Cup Final defeat against Porto. Rangers won that Title by one goal. This time its Rangers who are shattered after a long and arduous season that saw them beaten finalists to Zenit St.Petersburgh in the City of Manchester stadium.

The Free Bets Blog offer great SPL Betting offers as these two Glasgow giants battle it out once again to claim bragging rights for another season.

As both Manchester United and Chelsea fans arrive in Moscow for the Champions League Final with no place to stay and many without tickets, online betting fans sit at home stroking their beards and wondering which way this one is going to go. Manchester United, with great breadth and depth to their team, are the obvious favourites with prices around the 13/8 mark on various online betting sites. The snag is, it’s difficult to overlook the fact that they were beaten by Chelsea less than a month ago.

Foreign turf might make the difference. The Chelsea win was at the Bridge and the equalisation brought to both teams by the Moscow venue might justify the bookies underdog offer of 9/4 on Chelsea. Certainly, Alex Ferguson is brimming with theatrical confidence while Avram Grant is approximately an ant’s nostril away from picking up his P45 if things go awry at the Luzhniki Stadium tonight. Especially with Roman there in front of all his Russian mates for the crowning glory of his expensive football adventure.

Chelsea has had a couple of lucky breaks to get to the final, not least against Liverpool while Manchester United has improved with each season in the Champions League. The Chelsea team is said to pick itself at the moment and, while that might sound like a good thing, Alex Ferguson has to make some shrewd choices, not because he is strapped for talent but more because he is spoiled for choice. Drogba will be the key for Chelsea. If he’s in the mood he is more than a match for Lampard and hunger from him could prove decisive.

The grand prize of European glory awaits for two of England’s biggest clubs as they battle it out for The Champions League in Moscow. Can Alex Ferguson guide the newly crowned Premiership Champions, Manchester United, to success? Or will Avram Grant succeed where Jose Mourinho failed and deliver Europe’s top football prize to Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea? Its a close one to call and if you need more info on the latest Champions League Betting odds then Free Betting Online is always the ideal place to get the latest info on the big sporting occasions.

Its an exciting prospect as Moscow hosts its first ever Champions League Final at the Luzhniki Stadium. There are concerns, however, at just how much the pitch itself will play a part in the game. Normally the Luzhniki Stadium has a plastic turf but this was uplifted some months back and a new grass pitch was laid in its place, however the new pitch has only been down for 15 days before the grand finale takes place and there are fears it may cut-up badly.

As for team news both clubs have the added benefit of strong squads to pull a selection from and there will no doubt be a few disappointed faces as the final team selections are read out. Manchester have the edge of finishing just ahead of Chelsea in the Premiership race but Chelsea were the victors the last time the pair met at Stamford Bridge just edging out in a frantic 2-1 win with both Chelsea goals coming from the in-form Michael Ballack.

It promises to be an exciting and tense final with over 40,000 fans heading to Moscow from England. Lets hope both these Premiership giants serve up a memorable Moscow final.

Everything is set to be decided in the Premiership this weekend. The triumphs and the tears, the highs and the lows – all will be clear by teatime on Sunday. Premiership betting fans, neutral and partisan, will be nervously calculating the chances of Wigan when they host Manchester United and Bolton when they visit Chelsea. Can Steve Bruce’s side cause an upset? He claims Wigan will battle it out and not just roll over. Bolton are back to their bruising best but will Chelsea let them bully their way to a victory on the hallowed turf of Stamford Bridge?

At the other end of the table it’s about survival and, of the three teams in danger, Reading, Fulham and Birmingham, it’s the Brummies who stand the best chance. They are the only team of the three playing at home and this is a must win for them. The crowd won’t let them lose. Its unlikely Fulham will achieve another away win and Reading travel to a Derby County that will want to go down with at least a point in their final match in the Premiership. On goal difference, Birmingham should stay up.

And what about the top two? It’s unlikely that either Manchester United or Chelsea will lose their games. They each have the defence and the strikeforce to claim these games as rightfully theirs. On that basis, Chelsea will match United on points and be placed second on goal difference. Most sports betting enthusiasts would feel this to be a fair result for the season, reflecting the sheer excellence of Ronaldo and the United team and the skill and determination of Chelsea to take their challenge on the Champions to the final day.