Tips for Tikay

[bobby1]

I'm just sayin......from the live rehearsal blog. ( I know, I need to get out more)

The busiest rehearsal so far and not too surprisingly its Russia.
There are lots of Russian journalists around this year but also the
rest of us are keen to see this too for all sorts of reasons.
The grannies are wearing the same traditional costumes and have
a traditional oven on stage as a prop(I did not get this in their national final).
They also seem to be baking something in the oven at the start then pass round
a tray of (dumplings perhaps?) later. This is really very endearing and has some
members of the press corps in tears. This is not exactly the most perfect vocals
here in Baku but honestly it does not need to be, this is the first SERIOUS contender
for the victory on May 26th.


Just to add to that, Russia also topped the press vote which is a good sign.

[TightEnd]

How many new East European states in this year's event Phil?

Uzbekisthan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Baltics like Lithuania etc?

The sort of countries that will vote for it.

[tikay]

I'm just sayin......from the live rehearsal blog. ( I know, I need to get out more)

The busiest rehearsal so far and not too surprisingly its Russia.
There are lots of Russian journalists around this year but also the
rest of us are keen to see this too for all sorts of reasons.
The grannies are wearing the same traditional costumes and have
a traditional oven on stage as a prop(I did not get this in their national final).
They also seem to be baking something in the oven at the start then pass round
a tray of (dumplings perhaps?) later. This is really very endearing and has some
members of the press corps in tears. This is not exactly the most perfect vocals
here in Baku but honestly it does not need to be, this is the first SERIOUS contender
for the victory on May 26th.


Just to add to that, Russia also topped the press vote which is a good sign.

Reckon we should press, Phil?

[tikay]

Tony I think you should go to Cannes and treat yourself to lunch in the Carlton Hotel's coffee-shop.

They have a Cartier shop on one wing and Van Cleef & Arpels store on the other each side of the hotel entrance in case you need to do any shopping while you're there. Nice cufflinks, watches and sparkly stuff.

Sparkly stuff, Ralph?

We call it bling these days.

[bobby1]

Well I think the overwhelming feedback is that we are abs nuts, tho the banter has made it even funnier. We staked it as a fun bet so I wouldn't press up.

[tikay]

Russia now clear 3rd favourites.

What a coup we are on here.

The mockers are gonna be so upset when this cruises in, hard-held.  

http://www.oddschecker.com/specials/tv/eurovision/winner

[bobby1]

How many new East European states in this year's event Phil?

Uzbekisthan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Baltics like Lithuania etc?

The sort of countries that will vote for it.

Azer won it last year, The counties that gave them 8 or more were as follows.

Bosnia
Lithuania
Estonia
Russia
Moldova
Romania
Austria
Iceland
Ukraine
Georgia
Poland
Albania
Turkey
Malta
San Marino
Croatia
Portugal
Cyprus

[tikay]

League One Play off semi second leg

Huddersfield at 23/20 Wm Hill, 11/10 generally

Huddersfield won the first Leg 2-0 away and according to two friends who went, were vastly superior.

Perhaps they should be, their £20m+ budget compares to £1.5m at the land of the roundabout cows

Huddersfield won't want to muck around tonight, I expect them to go out to win

I was surprised they weren't odds-on before I checked the markets


Statsville:

Huddersfield are unbeaten in their last eight matches against MK Dons, including 5 wins

For MK Dons a first leg deficit has been overturned nine times in the play-off semi-finals at this level in twenty six years; three clubs only have progressed despite being two goals in arrears after the first match

Both were in the play offs last year. MK Dons lost at this stage, their third time of doing so. Huddersfield lost in the final to Peterborough

Recommend

£100 Huddersfield at 23-20 Wm Hill if you can get it

That looks a cracking bet, Rich, thanks. Can't quite understand why so big, but I guess that may be a clue. Anyway, lets have some.

We have £100 with BetVictor @ 23/20.

ON

Huddersfield Town v MK Dons
Huddersfield Town
(Match Betting)
Odds:  23/20
Stake:  100.00
Possible Return:  215.00

 

[TightEnd]

So psephologists would suspect that the sheer numbers of newer/ex Soviet countries in the contest gives a voting bias to a good song from that region

A bit like Spain always voting for Portugal, Scandis always voting for each other only on a bigger scale, as each have 12 points to award

And why the UK entry will often struggle as we have no natural voting bloc to ally to.

I am sure there must be some statistical analysis on this out there somewhere

[bobby1]

Yes it deffo works that way, Chompy will be the man with a better idea of who votes for who. He might have the stats.

[tikay]

Ok Tikay here we go NBA time..

Tonight is Game 1 San Antonio Spurs at Home to La Clippers :

San Antonio are Red hot at the moment and swept past Utah in the last round 4-0.

They have the 2nd most powerful offense in the league and averaged 105.7 points per game at home through the season. There last 7 home games they have averaged an astonishing 113 PPG.

All there stars are fit and well rested. They have probably the deepest bench in the NBA and with the addition of Diaw at starting centre have an answer to the clippers blake griffin.

In their last 14 games home and away only 1 has resulted in a total score less than 192...

La have just come off a tough 7 game series with Memphis and their two stars Griiffin & Paul are a little banged up but still ready to go.

Clippers have an average away PPG of 96..san antonio D is average allowing around 93 at home through the season..bit better with Diaw... with all that i feel LA still good for about 92 and if San Antonio don't score 100+ at home against an average Clippers D there will be something very wrong..

110-91 feels a good score

These two teams met twice in the regular season scores being 103-100 & 108-120.

The total points for the game of over 190.5 at 1.9 looks generous given the above, unless i am missing something...maybe Jaffa Cake can confirm or deny... by the way Jeff forgot to do our bet....doh..

Disagree - I have this nearer 110-92 in based on my secret NBA algorithm.

Anyway, we have £55 with Paddy Power @ 10/11, over 190.5 points.

Eventually, we'll get an NBA Winner or two. Unless we run out of money first, but tonight, I feel confident. 

ON

NBA Matches Los Angeles Clippers At San Antonio Spurs
16-05-2012 02:35
Total Points Scored
Over (190.5) @ 10/11
 
Single: Over (190.5) @ 10/11
1 line at £55.00 per line
Total stake for this bet: £55.00
Potential returns: £105.00
No: O/23146337/0000034

[typhoon13]

League One Play off semi second leg

Huddersfield at 23/20 Wm Hill, 11/10 generally

Huddersfield won the first Leg 2-0 away and according to two friends who went, were vastly superior.

Perhaps they should be, their £20m+ budget compares to £1.5m at the land of the roundabout cows

Huddersfield won't want to muck around tonight, I expect them to go out to win

I was surprised they weren't odds-on before I checked the markets


Statsville:

Huddersfield are unbeaten in their last eight matches against MK Dons, including 5 wins

For MK Dons a first leg deficit has been overturned nine times in the play-off semi-finals at this level in twenty six years; three clubs only have progressed despite being two goals in arrears after the first match

Both were in the play offs last year. MK Dons lost at this stage, their third time of doing so. Huddersfield lost in the final to Peterborough

Recommend

£100 Huddersfield at 23-20 Wm Hill if you can get it

Yeah, like the look of that Tighty.

[tikay]

Might even have to watch that Huddersfield match tonight, here in Nice.

Last night, wandered down to the Market Square, where all the open-air restaurants are, & incredibly, this was on one of the tv's - Sheff Utd v Stevenage! HUGE crowd excitedly watching it, too.  ("Huge" is subjective).

 

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[Chompy]

I'm just sayin......from the live rehearsal blog. ( I know, I need to get out more)

The busiest rehearsal so far and not too surprisingly its Russia.
There are lots of Russian journalists around this year but also the
rest of us are keen to see this too for all sorts of reasons.
The grannies are wearing the same traditional costumes and have
a traditional oven on stage as a prop(I did not get this in their national final).
They also seem to be baking something in the oven at the start then pass round
a tray of (dumplings perhaps?) later. This is really very endearing and has some
members of the press corps in tears. This is not exactly the most perfect vocals
here in Baku but honestly it does not need to be, this is the first SERIOUS contender
for the victory on May 26th.


Just to add to that, Russia also topped the press vote which is a good sign.

Think we'd all be in tears if they took their dumplings out tbh.

Re: stats, who voted for who in previous years is all readily available online. But it's not as rel as it was a few years ago. Best song/performance wins now. Draw is far more important. Azer were stuffed by stall 1 two years ago before winning last year.

Hold bets until after the semi finals imo. Next Tuesday and Thursday is when it all gets exciting.

[MANTIS01]

Yeah there's got to be some good statistical analysis available about the old grannies with an oven online somewhere. Perhaps Mere can do a spreadsheet? The oven is prob for people to stick their head in during the performance. Anyway, can't wait for the excitement to start after the semi finals.