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My Journey to Professional Football-Betting
Observations and thoughts of a pre-professional football bettor with occassional comments by J Armstrong. Updated at least once weekly.

by Daniel Andersson

Date: 5 May 2008

End of Season Motivations

Hey J

I just noticed, once again, how important motivation is in football and sports in general. The Milano derby involved two teams with good motivational reasons, as it is a prestigous derby, to go fully for the win. But it seemed obvious from the starting whistle, that Milan was under more pressure to win and they really stepped up to the challange.

They showed once again that when it really matters they know how to play football.

(Armstrong: That, plus their form (notably Kaka's) is finally on the rise. Of course, you could also argue that motivation was the main factor for their recent rise in form.)

Allthough I must say that Inter gave them a helping hand with poor defensive tactics. They basically gave Milan the opportunity to hold onto the ball with their low defence. Now it isn't wrong to play with a low defence, it can be very effective, but if you do you must still be aggressive when the opposition is approaching your set line of defence and not allow to walk around unhindered especially a Milan team who have more good distance shooters than you can count on one hand.

Obviously it wasn't only a tactical mistake from Inter since they didn't match Milan's motivation they may have had a tough time despite a better use of the formation and tactics but it's dumb to give the opposition a easier time then needed.

This isn't the first time Inter has thrown away a game because of bad defensive tactics. Remember the game against Liverpool in the Champions League this season? The exact same thing happened. Sure Inter were one man short for a long time in that game but even before the send-off they used a very low indifferent defence.

This must stem from the coach. I can't see anything or anyone else being responsible, unless the players just aren't listening to the tactical instructions which is quite far fetched but not impossible. So maybe it's time to let Mancini go. He doesn't seem to be all that harmonical at the club since he has allready quit once this season.

I actually had a bet on Inter in this game, which was a bad move. My reasoning was basically like this; even though Milan has their life to play for Inter still has the title to secure and it is a derby and the likelyhood of a draw is pretty big and since I get Inter at +0.25 I will play them. Wrong decision. Not because Milan ended up as winners really but because I misjudged the motivations of the teams and its effects on the game.

My other bets this weekend was; Blackburn -1.75, Aston Villa -1, Atletico Madrid -1, Zaragoza -0.5, Sevilla -1.25 and Villareal -0.5.

All of these bets were based on the fact that the teams had something big to play for. That was the main reasons for the bets since at this stage of the season it is all motivation.

Blackburn are fighting for a Euro spot and they were facing Derby who's already been degraded to the Championship. Game ended 3-1 for Blackburn.

Aston Villa is in for a Euro spot and they faced a other team who also has alot to play for, maybe more, and it was Wigan who was fighting for survival and are now safe because of a win with 2-0 away to Villa.

Atletico is in the struggle with Racing and Sevilla for the last Champions League spot in La Liga. Both Atletico and Sevilla were facing teams in the bottom struggle who because of that also has alot to play for but the fact that they both had home pitch and are better teams, despite some inconsistent form from Atletico, they should pull through in these games. They both won 3-0 and 2-0.

Zaragoza has not been flowering the market as of late but a good home record and a team that is much better than their table position in company with their expectations will give them huge motivation to avoid the drop and despite everything considering form is seeing Deportivo as the clear winner motivation will be decisive in this game and since Depor already has aquired there objective this season Zaragoza was a good bet. They won the game with a late winner after totaly dominating the game. End result 1-0.

Villareal is on the vurge to grab their best table position in the history of the club at their second place and they aren't going to let Getafe stand in their way. Villareal 2-0 Getafe.

Thanks for reading.

Daniel

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