What you need to look at before placing serious bets? Here's how it is with me, I hope it will be of use to someone.
- league table (home / away)
- form table (last four or more games)
- H2H (last five, ten mutual games)
Statistics are useful and important factor that is easily accessible to anyone before placing bets. However, I don't like bets which are based only on statistics and then my stake is usually very low (one or two units).
- injuries, suspensions and returns of regular players
A very important criteria before placing bet, IMO. Information that some key player(s) is injured or fit again can be crucial. Also, when I see that some team got few red cards, I'm immediately looking for value in their defeat in the next match. All information on the availability of players can be found through useful football sites that I'll add in this forum ff you need. I would really like that more punters using this option because with such details, you dramatically improve the chances that your prediction is correct.
You need to know when one team has a much higher motive than his opponent, especially in the various cup competitions. Also when it comes to fighting for survival or for a place in European competitions. The special thing, but no less important are local derbies. Statistics (form and league table) are of less importance when the game is city or regional derby. Both teams are very motivated then, and underdog can win often though odds don't suggest anything like that. If you are not familiar with it, find help here >
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ball_rivalries
This is also a very important thing for a professional punters. Looking at only the team's results in the last few games, you can get a wrong impression of them. So you should look at the match report after each played game, so you'll see real team performance which can be completely different compared to the result. This should be a necessary task for those who follow only certain leagues.
I just like to check if there is a possibility for bad weather and precipitation (especially since I sometimes take some small clubs that don't have perfect surface), find help here>
http://www.myweather2.com/Football.aspx
It can also be useful when it comes to international competitions, or the American MLS or Russian Premier Division. Eg, it can be difficult for a U.S. team that have three or four consecutive away games (what happens to them). Tough schedule with a long trips often leads to poor form, find help here>
http://www.freemaptools.com/how-far-is-it-between.htm
We all know that some clubs use an artificial surface, and it is generally big advantage for them when playing at home. Artificial pitches are commonly used in the Scandinavian leagues, but I unfortunately don't have a list of clubs with artificial pitch.
This plays an important role only in the South American international competitions, but I lost the map with altitudes of all clubs from that continent. I remember that teams from Ecuador and Bolivia play at about 3000 meters above sea level which is a big advantage for them.
Cheers lads
