Author Archives: admin

1. Four great things about TVSportGuide.com

   1st August 2018 12:03 pm Leave a Comment

   Long gone are the days in which you had to google each sporting event to see what time the game starts, or which channel it is on. TVSportGuide.com do all the hard work and collect an awesome list of all the best sporting events around the world that are live on UK channels.

   You will find a wide range of sporting events from football to formula 1 in an easy to read and highly customizable list.

   User-Friendly Design

   The TVSportGuide design is aimed towards the mobile platform with all the information being centred down the middle. Yet, it also looks great on a desktop using a smart and functional layout. Without any customisation, you will see a long list of all sporting events available on UK channels down the middle, organised by date and time.

   The earliest events start at the top and work there way down until 4:59 am. After this time the event will move to the next day starting from 05:00 am onwards. This is due to them following a TV-listings standard used by most similar sites. Bear in mind, all the times shown are the starting times of the event, not the start of the studio build up.

   Device Accessibility

   You are in no way limited to using just your laptop or desktop. Instead, you can download their awesome app that’s compatible with iPhone, Android and iPad. If you have any other devices, you can simply use their mobile optimised site on the browser of your choice.

   Favourites Tool

   You can customise which events you want to see by favouriting certain keywords. Say you wanted to only view which EFL Championship games are shown on TV. Simply favourite the word “Championship” and click it in the favourites section. Then, you will only see a list of EFL Championship games for the month.

   You can do this with hundreds of different keywords ranging from competitions, country, sport, leagues and so many more. It is really a cool feature to completely customise the list to your preferences.

   Settings Customisation

   To take their already awesome customisation even further, go to their settings page. Here, you can customise which TV channels, sports or leagues you want to see. You can simply deselect any channels or leagues by clicking the box. These settings are automatically saved whenever you make a change.

   Say you only have access to NowTV, simply deselect all the other channels to view a list of all the events you can watch on NowTV.

2. Ronaldo & Messi at the world cup

   28th May 2018 9:21 am Leave a Comment

   Russia 2018 is fast approaching and it’s the most magical time for a football fan, with nations across the globe putting aside the club mentality that has possessed them for the last nine months and coming together with one shared hope, that their country can win the World Cup.

   For so many years, The World Cup has been a stage for big player performances. It’s a platform that has produced many superstars over the years and I expect Russia 2018 to be no different. Who will be this years James Rodriguez? Will anyone turn up to the extent that Ronaldo did in 2002, when he scored eight goals for Brazil as they lifted the trophy in Japan. Incidentally, it was actually Oliver Kahn who was awarded the highly-coveted Player of The Tournament award.

   Two players that will be under the spotlight at this World Cup is Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, with many speculating that it could be the last time we see them both in an international tournament. Both players are not getting any younger and by the time Qatar 2022 comes around, the Portuguese forward will be thirty-seven years old. He’s always looked after his body, but even for him that would be some achievement.

   Both players have had fine seasons, as they often do. As you can see by our stats, Messi has forty-five goals this season, just one more than Ronaldo, who has more than double the amount of Champions League goals this season.  For the fourth year in a row, Messi has more assists than Ronaldo, who has been playing more as a central striker at times at Real Madrid under Zinadine Zidane.

   Portugal will be confident given their recent Euro 2016 success, where they lifted the trophy despite winning just once in normal time and drawing their first three games. They showed that there’s more than one way to win and they have been continuing that trend in the build-up to Russia, winning the last five games and picking up 2.20 points per game over the last fifteen. Despite this, they will still have a huge reliance on their captain, talisman and all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.

   Messi, who is also his nations all-time top scorer, is surrounded by players of a much higher quality. In fact, some of the players left behind by Argentina, like Mauro Icardi, would walk into the Portugal starting eleven. However, they have had their own issues leading up to the World Cup and needed a hat-trick from Messi against Ecuador to ensure they were on the plane. They have won just seven of the last fifteen games, conceding a high number of goals. Augero, Dybala, Di Maria, Messi… With all this talent at the top of the pitch, it’s up to Jorge Sampaoli to ensure that they improve at the back if they’re to stand a good chance of progressing to the latter stages of the competition.

   Both Portugal and Argentina will face some tough competition, with the former being dropped into a group with neighbours Spain, one of the early favourites for the whole competition. Who do you think will progress further in Russia, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?

   #FootyStats

3. Messi and Ronaldo: One Last World Cup?

   21st May 2018 10:32 am Leave a Comment

   This site has done much to highlight the superlative achievements of both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. But, it has become clear that the biggest omission from their CVs is a World Cup winners medal. If the pair retired now, the lack of a medal wouldnt tarnish their standing in the pantheon of football greats. However, it would be a fitting finale to either players international career. Of course, the 2022 World Cup is not completely out of the question, certainly for Messi who will be 34 at the time, but you would have to say this is the last chance for both stars when at the very peak of their powers.

   So, how will they fare at the World Cup in Russia? Will they land individual success? Or captain their nations to glory? Below is a quick guide to all the odds and betting markets for Messi, Ronaldo and their two nations in Russia. If you have your own idea of who will succeed, click the link to bet on Messi and Ronaldo at the World Cup with a free bet.

   Argentina:

   Messi and Argentina came agonisingly close to lifting the World Cup in 2014 after losing in extra-time to Germany. While Germany as the victors came away with all the plaudits (they are co-favourites at 5/1 for the 2018 World Cup), if you re-watch the Final you will see that Argentina were arguably the better side. The problem is that both sides have gone in opposite directions since that time: Germany have become stronger, whereas Argentina struggled to qualify and were humiliated by Spain last week. The odds of 10/1 for Argentina look tempting, but they will have to get their act together. They are 8/13 to win Group D ahead of Nigeria, Croatia and Iceland.

   Messi Individual Odds:

   Messi is the outright favourite with nearly all bookmakers to be the top scorer in Russia, with the best odds available around 10/1 (188Bet, Bet Victor).

   Portugal:

   Despite being European Champions, Portugal are among the dark horses for the World Cup. The current odds of 28/1 (Sporting Bet) look decent value however, for a side that always finds a way to go deep in the big tournaments. They are heavily fancied to join Spain in qualifying from Group B (ahead of Morocco and Iran), with odds of 2/1 for Portugal to top the group. If they qualify, they will play a team from a weak Group A (Russia, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Egypt) in the Last 16. On that evidence, you would have to say the World Cup draw is favourable for Ronaldo and Portugal.

   Ronaldo individual odds:

   Ronaldo is around third favourite to be top scorer, coming in behind Messi and Neymar at odds of 14/1.

   Will Messi and Ronaldo meet at the World Cup?

   The odds for a Final between Portugal and Argentina are currently 66/1 (Bet Stars). However, they will obviously have to be kept apart in the draw. That will mean that one side wins the group and one side comes second. If they both win their groups, they will potentially meet in the quarter-finals in Sochi on 7th July. The odds for Argentina to reach the quarters are 4/6 and Portugal 11/8.

4. Online Casinos Prep for New Sports Betting Regulations

   12th April 2018 7:50 am Leave a Comment

   Sports betting has been one of the top pastimes and ways to generate profits for millions of sports enthusiasts around the world. There are hundreds of sportsbooks that are operating online that support multiple sports markets and provide outstanding odds and payouts. There are even many operating online casinos that have a sports betting section available to registered members, allowing them to switch between playing traditional casino games and wagering on sports using the same account. As more and more sports fans become interested and involved in sports betting, more online casinos will be offering the ability to place these types of wagers.

   Sports betting sites must adhere to strict laws and regulations just as any other betting sites, and this can vary per location. For betting sites that are based in the UK, the sites must be licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and must always adhere to local gambling laws. Some of the best sportsbooks in the industry are based on the UK and punters from around the world are drawn to these sites, where they can engage in exciting sports betting action and even enjoy live betting.

   As for sites that are based on the US, there are some new regulations regarding sports betting that will come into play and any operating casino in the US will have to adhere to these regulations to provide legal and secure betting options to members. Online gambling is relatively new to the US and there are just a few states that offer legal online casinos. However, since 2013, these states have seen great growth and success with the sites that are offered and many are considering adding the sports betting aspect to extend betting options and attract more gamblers.

   In the United States, there is a federal ban on sports betting, but in 1992, there was a law passed that granted four states immunity to the federal sports betting prohibition. These states, Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon are legally allowed to offer sports betting services and these can be enjoyed at land casinos as well as online casinos that are operating, such as those in Delaware and Nevada. Some states are currently challenging the legality of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and if the law changes, several states have passed legislation that would allow sports bets to be placed by residents.

   While sports betting regulations may soon change for a number of states in the US, not all online casinos will support this form of betting. It will be at the discretion of each state whether they allow sports betting activities. Since 2013, only a few states in the country have passed laws that allow online casinos to operate, though there are quite a few that has bills in the works to establish online gaming sites. The new sports betting regulations that may soon be changing may affect how many states promote online gambling. They will want to tap into all possible resources to generate revenue, so the US could see a boom in the offering of online casinos across the country and these sites will most likely feature online sports betting as a result.

   At this time, there are just four states where sports betting is fully legal even though online gambling has been legalized since 2013. The current laws state that any online casino operating must be associated with an operating land casino. Should the new regulations for sports betting pass, many states may have a change of heart regarding the offering of online casinos as they will want to have this new means to generate revenue and boost the economy by offering online gambling and betting at a single site.

   

5. New betting sites launching

   15th February 2018 10:52 am Leave a Comment

   This is written the day after Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid won their first leg against Paris Saint Germain with 3-1, and although that’s a big happening we’re going to talk a little bit about the phenomenon with new betting sites launching every week.

   There are launching new betting sites every month right now and the beginning of 2018 has been really exciting (just has BettingLounge has reported before) if your looking for new betting sites. The biggest UK bookies such as William Hill and Bet365 is probably looking behind their back right now as there are hundreds of betting sites looking to take their spot.

   One betting site that is about to launch their site in the UK is Bethard. That’s a Swedish operator based in Malta that’s extremely popular in their core markets such as Sweden, Norway, Finland and Germany. We believe that they might take a big stake in the UK betting market as well and they’re famous for signing deals with popular ambassadeurs (Dragomir Mrscic in Sweden for example) so it’s very exciting to see if they’re about to sign someone big for the UK market.

   Why are so many bookies launching in the UK?

   It might seem like a difficult question as the UK market is probably the most competitive one in the whole world when it comes to sportsbetting but it’s also the biggest betting market in the world and everyone wants a piece of it.

   Betting is part of the extremely popular sports culture in the UK with big events such as the Premier League and Horse Racing resulting in big revenues for the betting companies.

   Good or bad?

   If you’re a big sportsbetting fan you should be excited of the new betting sites launching in the UK as that will drive all sportsbetting sites forward with new innovation, better bonuses and a better overall experience for you as a gambler.

   If you we’re looking for Real Madrid – PSG stuff…

   Down below you’ll find some highlights of the game.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMfGX2cjSR4

6. Can Messi fire Argentina to World Cup success in Russia?

   15th January 2018 7:41 am 1 Comment

   Argentine football fans have never warmed to Lionel Messi, but they worship Diego Maradona. At 30 years old, the Barcelona target man is approaching the twilight of his career and Russia 2018 may be his last chance to propel his country to World Cup glory.

   Having won everything at club level, can the five-time Ballon d’Or winner achieve true greatness this year? Let’s assess his chances…

   Signs Messi won’t win the World Cup

   Lacklustre performances on international stage

   Messi is one of the best two players in the world at club level, but some believe he rarely shows the same flair on the international stage. He was voted Player of the Tournament in 2014, yet Maradona was among those who claimed he didn’t deserve the honour.

   He can’t do it on his own

   The key reason pundits and fans cite Maradona as the greatest-ever player is because of his glorious performance at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Maradona was instrumental in every aspect of the national team’s success in 1986; he was by far the best player in the world at the time and capitalised on his abilities.

   By contrast, Messi can’t do it on his own. While there are some great players in the Argentina squad, none come close to Messi.

   The team as a whole is probably a few steps behind the likes of Germany, France, Brazil and Spain – and a host of old and new bookies agree, which is why most have Argentina down as fifth favourites. In 1986, Argentina were outright favourites from the start.

   Argentina struggled to qualify for Russia, 2018. Yes, the was due to a few strokes of brilliance from Messi. But Maradona is the only player in the history of the World Cup to be surrounded by also-rans and still win the competition; the likes of Brazil, Germany and even England all achieved glory with great squads.

   Reasons Messi can win the World Cup

   He’s brilliant

   It’s well established that Messi is a brilliant player. While Argentina didn’t perform well in the qualification stage, Messi proves time and time again that he can pull something out of nothing.

   He frequently saves Argentina

   He achieved this against Iran in 2014, when his team looked like getting dumped out of the competition before the knockout stages. Still at 0-0 in the 91^st minute, he scored the winner to save Argentina from an embarrassing premature exit. This same was true in 2017 when he scored a hat-trick against Ecuador to take Argentina to the World Cup in 2018.

   The notion that Messi doesn’t do the business from his country is nonsense. He’s often the savour of a mediocre Argentina side.

   Messi is not alone

   That said, the notion that Messi has to win the World Cup alone is also ridiculous. The likes of Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero, Paul Dybala and Mauro Icardi would make most teams in the world much better. The fact that Argentina are fifth favourites despite a poor showing in qualification is testament to the quality in the squad as a whole.

7. The betting year of 2018

   22nd December 2017 6:22 am 1 Comment

   2017 has been a very exciting past 12 months, especially in the messi vs ronaldo debate as they’re now equalled on 5 Ballon d’Or each (collectively claiming the last 10) and we have really great sportsyear a head of us that is 2018 with the highlights being the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang and the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

   Highlights of the past year

   • Real Madrid to claim their second straight Champions League
   • Real Madrid winning the La Liga for the first time since 2012 to break Barca’s domination
   • The spanish super cup between Real Madrid and Barcelona with Real Madrid outplaying Barca for 2 games and winning 5-1 (game 1, game 2)
   • Cristiano Ronaldo top scorer in the Champions League for five years straight
   • A transfer circus for Barcelona in the summer of 2017 with Neymar going to PSG for a record sum and Dembele being brought over from Dortmund

   New betting sites 2018

   2018 is going to be the biggest sports year to date with the highlight being FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia. Right now Germany is the favourite to claim the trophy in Moscow the 15th of July with an odds of 5.50, Brazil second with 6.00 and France third with 6.50. The EURO 2016 winner Portugal has an odds of 26 which could have some real value. All odds are taken from one of our favourite betting sites, bet365. At the other end of the table you can find both Panama and  Saudi Arabia with a whopping odds of 1001.

   To find new betting sites 2018 we recommend the site bettinglounge.co.uk which has complete comparisions and lists of the best bookmakers available.

   Messi Vs Ronaldo 2018

   2018 will be another year for the messi and ronaldo rivalry and as none of them are getting any younger this can be one of the last years when they’re both at their prime. It’s also possible that they’ll get some competition for the Ballon d’Or next year around with a Neymar performing very well with his new team, Paris Saint Germain.

8. Lionel & Cristiano: A Messi Releationship

   7th December 2017 9:06 am Leave a Comment

   Lionel Messi is a world star. He is, arguably, the greatest footballer of his generation and comes across as a man that has not let this stardom go to his head. He joined Barcelona as a child after the Catalonian club agreed to pay for his medical treatment for hormone growth deficiency and he has never looked back since. His humble demeanour has endeared him to fans all over the world and has also perhaps increased his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, whose character is seen as a polar opposite.

   

   Portugal v Argentina by Fanny Schertzer (CC BY 3.0)

   It is clear that there will always be a competitive rivalry between the world’s best players of certain generations. Players always want to prove that they are the best, so it is a natural thing for those at the top of the game to try to outdo each other – and it is not a modern phenomenon. You had it between Bobby Charlton and Franz Beckenbauer who were both the key figures for their respective countries. You had it between Roy Keane and nearly everyone he came up against. It occurs in other sports, too, with the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in golf and in ice hockey between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

   So when Neymar arrived at the Nou Camp and then left to PSG this summer in what was a mighty hurrah, it was always going to stoke a rivalry between the two stars. Messi was reportedly upset at the way Neymar went about getting the move and did not like the fact that his teammate’s ego played a massive part in the whole affair. You can understand Messi’s point as Neymar has already clashed with new PSG teammate Edison Cavani over who should take the penalties, which is really code for who should be the head honcho.

   

   Neymar Jr by Antoine Dellenbach (CC BY-SA 2.0)

   Both Messi and Neymar are doing the business on the pitch for their clubs, with Barcelona and PSG topping their respective Champions League groups and domestic leagues. It is hard to see which player will help their side progress the furthest in the Champions League this season, with PSG the current favourites in the eyes of the online football tips.

   Neymar recently posed with Cristiano Ronaldo at the FIFA Awards as the Portuguese star piped Messi to the FIFA Best Player award which many believed was a deliberate attempt to goad Messi after his open criticism of the Brazilian star. It would be great to see the two players face each other in the later stages of the Champions League and PSG fans will certainly believe their side owes Barcelona a thrashing after the dramatic comeback by the Spanish side knock the French champions out of the competition last season.

   Both sides appear to be on target for their domestic titles so the Champions League will take on a greater significance for both players. Real Madrid won it last season and both Barcelona and PSG will be determined to stop them repeating this feat in 2018.

9. The Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo Record Breaking List

   1st November 2017 7:13 am Leave a Comment

   Has there been a better football rivalry than the one between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo? Sure, Ronaldinho vs. Zinedine Zidane, Johan Cruyff vs. Franz Beckenbauer and Pele vs. Eusebio were all talent-filled, highly entertaining affairs, but Messi vs. Ronaldo is a rivalry that’s literally been record-breaking.

   Put simply, when you size up the careers of the two hotshots, the list of accolades and world bests is mind blowing. In fact, the combined résumé of the two players is so impressive that we’ve decided to take a second and recap some of the top records the pros currently hold.

   Messi the Hotshot

   When it comes to Messi, quantity is clearly his thing. As it stands, the man from Argentina holds the record for the most goals in a calendar year with 91. Thanks to this almost unbelievable strike rate in 2012, Messi has broken (and will continue to break) records for the most goal in Spanish League history (253), the leading scorer in the Champions League and the top striker Barcelona has ever had.

   In fact, when you have a look at any match preview from the betting brains at Sun Bets, Messi is always cited as a lynchpin. Often described by the writers as “terrorising” defences across Europe in the Champions League, Messi’s prowess in front of goal is both special and record-breaking. Off the back of this ability to find the back of the net, Messi is currently the only player in history to win the Ballon d’Or, FIFA World Player, Pichichi trophy and Golden Boot in the same season.

   Ronaldo the Golden Boy

   Across the pitch, Ronaldo has been just as prolific. At the last count, his 137 goals in all UEFA competitions was 30 more than his closest rival, Raúl González. If that wasn’t enough, Ronaldo has been named in UEFA.com’s Team of the Year (user poll) more than any other player (three times). Add to this the top strike rate in Real Madrid history (400+ goals at the last count) and the most goals in a single Champions League campaign (17 in 2013/2014) and it’s easy to see why Ronaldo is among the greatest to ever do it.

   Of course, there are some records the dynamic duo haven’t yet been able to crack. At the time of writing, neither Messi or Ronaldo had cracked the following footballing feats:

   • Oldest goal scorer in a Champions League final: Paolo Maldini at 36 years 333 days during Milan vs. Liverpool (2005).
   • Fastest UEFA Champions League goal: Roy Makaay found the net in 10.12 seconds.
   • Most number of teams scored for in the Champions League: Zlatan Ibrahimović has scored for six teams, including: Juventus, Barcelona, Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter and Ajax.
   • Greatest number of goals for a single club: Pele scored 643 times for Santos.

   A Battle on Virtual Ground

   With a few more years before the two hang up their boots, there’s no doubt a few of the above records and probably a few more will go. However, even if they didn’t push the boundaries any more, Messi and Ronaldo have proven they have every right to be considered among the greatest of their generation. Indeed, when you compare what they’ve achieved in arguably one of the most competitive eras ever, the mere mortal can only sit back and marvel.

   In fact, that’s one most of us do via the power of social media when it comes to Ronaldo. Indeed, if there’s one area in which Ronaldo trumps Messi, it’s social media. Although the former is going strong with 82.5 million Instagram followers while the latter is currently killing it with 114 million.

   Taking this a step further, the Ronaldo brand is huge and that’s helped him secure endorsement deals with the likes of Nike and more. When you tally all that up, Ronaldo has an estimated net worth of $93 million (£70 million). By this token, Ronaldo has not only broken plenty of records off the pitch in areas such as social media and wealth, it’s fair to say the 32-year-old just has the edge on his Barcelona counterpart.

   

10. A rivalry from hell but a match in heaven?

    24th October 2017 3:03 pm Leave a Comment

    The history of football is awash with ‘what ifs’. For instance, with Steven Gerrard nearly joining Chelsea in 2005, many people wonder just how he and Lampard could have given the West London club a complete monopoly over domestic trophies. A curious combination undoubtedly, but as evidenced by their poor cohesion in England’s failed Euro 2008 qualification campaign, Lampard and Gerrard might not have been a match made in heaven after all.

    Then there was Alan Shearer’s Manchester United near-miss in the mid-1990s. The Geordie hero instead chose to join his hometown club, rather than partner up with the likes of Andrew Cole and Eric Cantona. Had Shearer taken a different path, then an intriguing blend of contrasting personalities would have been in full evidence, although opinions as to how that would have affected United remain mixed.

    Today, there are two players that continually whet the appetite where fantasy football is concerned. They are, of course, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The latter is aiming to equalise against Messi in the Ballon D’Or stakes, and the latest spread betting markets indicate that Ronaldo (along with his Real Madrid teammates) is the more fancied of the two to lift the Champions League trophy yet again in May.

    The two have a personal rivalry akin to nothing the world has seen before, but how exactly would they combine in a dream starting XI?

    Joining forces – a match made in heaven?

    Firstly, and most importantly, the players would not necessarily have to overlap as part of any attacking setup. Ultimately, the dream XI with Ronaldo and Messi contains more of a ‘combination’ made in heaven, rather than a ‘match’ – or any sort of ‘partnership’. Being ambidextrous, Ronaldo’s primary objective would be to provide quality from the left flank in a wide 4-3-3, with Messi doing the same from the right.

     

    Both players are obviously well-known for cutting in from wide and shooting with deadly accuracy. Since there is no explicit need for the two to overlap under normal circumstances, the combination could very easily work. However, with Ronaldo generally being seen as the greater ‘showman’, there would always be underlying concerns that Ronaldo’s love for the limelight could affect the team. With Ronaldo and Messi in the same squad, a combination of big personalities would be an inevitable factor, but so too would a glut of silverware.

    It should be remembered that Ronaldo has won silverware playing alongside other celebrated luminaries of European football, and his personality has never prevented his club from fulfilling its expectations.

    Messi v Ronaldo – The war continues

    Most neutrals would argue that Ronaldo is the greater ball-player, but Messi’s low centre of gravity gives him extra stability on the ball when running at goal. Under the right coaching, such complementary qualities could be present to devastating effect. However, this is the real world, and the debate as to which player is the better continues to rage amongst football fans across the world.

    In each of the last nine editions of the Ballon d’Or awards, the greatest piece of personal silverware in the football world has gone to Messi or Ronaldo. This year, Ronaldo has every chance of ‘equalising’ against Messi by winning a fifth award, having powered his side to yet another domestic and European double. However, the fact remains that Messi outscored Ronaldo 37-25 in the 2016/17 La Liga season.

    Although it is naive to say that a sixth Ballon d’Or for Messi to Ronaldo’s four would be an unassailable lead, time is the only unbeatable element in football. There are now a number of younger players waiting to pounce on football’s most coveted personal prize, and the time of final reckoning in the battle of the world’s greatest two is close at hand.

    

     

What do you think? Have your say…

So who's the best?

• Lionel Messi
• Cristiano Ronaldo

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