Betting Spy: Torres to score and Carroll? – Not sure

Grant Prior 13 years ago
Share

Now I like a gamble. But I take my hat off to Liverpool’s owners and Kenny Dalglish.

To pay £35m for Andy Carroll – now that is a punt and a half.

Kenny and his American bosses are relying on Carroll to become a new Kop hero in the wake of Fernando Torres rapid conversion to the bright lights of west London.

The lad can certainly play. But he’s no world beater at the moment and could easily be a poor man’s Mark Hateley rather than the next Ian Rush.

Some pundits have described Carroll as “unplayable” on his day. I’m not so sure.

I puffed around a bit in my playing days as a centre half and described the odd striker as unplayable whenever they scored.

My manager soon deemed me unpickable if I didn’t find a way to stop them next time and the same could be true of Premiership defenders with Carroll.

The surprise factor is now over and from here on in is the real test of whether he’s a real Liverpool number nine or the latest in a series of Merseyside disappointments.

Enough of the analysis – how can we make cash out of the whole transfer merry go-round?

Well Chelsea take on Liverpool on Sunday and it seems written that Torres will pop-up to torment his old team and should be backed at 11/10 with Paddy Power to score any time and infuriate the travelling fans with a bout of apres-goal badge kissing.

This week’s other football matches look a bit tricky to call so let’s turn to rugby to make a few bob.

The Six Nations kicks of Friday night and I fancy England to get off to a winning start and cover the -3 handicap with Paddy Power at 10/11.

Put them in a win double with Ireland to beat Italy at -13 on the handicap at 10/11 for a linked bet which pays 3.64/1.

It’s been a blank few weeks for Betting Spy, but the striking Spaniard and England and Ireland’s finest can get us back to winning ways.

Running Total for all bets to a £10 stake:   +£95.75

Betting Spy has joined forces with Paddy Power to offer all readers a free bet when they open an account. Just click on the link below to visit construction’s favourite bookmaker to find out all the latest prices and follow the easy steps to setting-up an online, telephone or mobile account

Latest news

Carpenter killed by falling timber frame panels

Court fines specialist contractor £8,000 after site tragedy
28 mins ago

Road sweeper specialist files administration notice

Go Plant lodges court notice
5 hours ago

Anglian Homes rides in to finish crashed Everest contracts

Rival doubled glazed window specialist commits to complete orders
5 hours ago

Final work starts to connect super sewer to London system

End in sight with 1.5m thick concrete wall to be demolished to link-up to Lee Tunnel sewer system
5 hours ago

Legal challenge launched against £1.5bn A66 dualling

Balfour Beatty, Kier and Keltbray must now await outcome of court challenge
5 hours ago

John F Hunt wins 24-storey Battersea tower

Specialist to carry-out demolition, enabling works and RC frame construction
1 day ago

William Hare wins steelwork on £500m Broadgate towers

Specialist to work on 2 Finsbury Avenue with McAlpine
1 day ago

McAlpine appoints MD to grow ventures business

Owain Thomas will build on private rental and healthcare development successes
23 hours ago

BAM Co-op Live Arena opening delayed yet again

Another gig cancelled last night amid last minute safety concerns
1 day ago

National Grid unveils winners for £9bn network upgrade

New 'enterprise model' to deliver infrastructure schemes quicker and cheaper
2 days ago

Turkish insulation panel maker to build £45m UK factory

Assan Panel to open first UK plant at Freeport East
1 day ago

Expanding consultant Stantec swoops for Hydrock

Stantec UK business expands by a third as 950 staff join from Bristol-based engineer
2 days ago

Contractors wanted for £800m highways deal

Bids invited for Eastern Highways Alliance Framework 4
1 day ago

Galliford Try names group head of infrastructure

David Lowery promoted to Divisional Managing Director – Infrastructure.
1 day ago

Chigwell Group looks at stock market listing

Essex contractor registers as Public Limited Company
2 days ago

A57 Mottram Bypass clears final legal challenge

Balfour Beatty to get go-ahead to start shortly
2 days ago

100 jobs axed as Geoffrey Osborne confirms administration

Chairman Andrew Osborne calls it a 'sad day' as board loses fight for survival
3 days ago

Midgard set for Notting Hill office tower overhaul

Landmark project edges towards final approval after 10-year planning saga
2 days ago

Cumbrian civils firm clinches £40m Sellafield contract

Civils specialist Stobbarts will support McAlpine on groundworks and concrete
2 days ago

Designers named for London 2000-bed student rooms job

Bouygues will build £400m London School of Economics student scheme next to Tate Modern
2 days ago

£117m-turnover contractor files administration notice

ARJ Construction lodges court notice
3 days ago

£1bn London Blackfriars tower blocks approved

Trio of buildings rising to 45, 40 and 22 storeys approved by Southwark Council
3 days ago

Council decides to end Balfour deal after 13 years

Contractor has been maintaining roads across Herefordshire since 2013
3 days ago

Six civils clients to switch to low carbon concrete and steel

National Highways, Northumbrian Water and Sellafield sign fresh decarbonising pledge
4 days ago

Fortem extends homes repair deal across Birmingham

Willmott Dixon owned firm adds another two years to deal worth £170m
3 days ago

Kier wins £118m civil service Darlington hub

Work is expected to start towards the end of this year
4 days ago

Green light for 34-storey Digbeth apartments tower

480 flats will be delivered for Clarion housing association
3 days ago

LHC starts race for major retrofit and decarb framework

Hunt starts for firms to help with 6.1m social homes upgrade target
4 days ago

Windows giant Everest crashes into administration

Around 350 jobs at risk while hunt starts for a buyer to salvage business
4 days ago

Green light for £500m Newcastle health complex

Mixed use scheme will promote healthy living across all stages of life
4 days ago

Contractor services