Beating the market

There is always satisfaction in beating the market and that is as much my driver for a flutter as an  enhancement of watching tv sport.  The match between Liverpool and Manchester United had been hyped up all weekend . Klopp’s Liverpool were on the up with significant wins against the big boys.  On the other hand the credentials of Mourinho were  more being questioned :the £100m signing of Pogba had not materially changed the Reds’  fortunes   Should Rooney play up front, in midfield or not at all,  was the defence strong enough? Liverpool were talked up in betting circles and even by Paul Scholes. We had been there before with Mourinho. For me it had all the ingredients of a no score bore  draw with Mourinho frustrating Liverpool with his stultifying  tactics. Which is exactly how it panned out.  But for a couple of superb saves by De Gea the action was fought out in midfield

I needed the 8-1 goalless draw as after many golfing weekends of successful golf punting Jeremy Chapman  in the Racing and Football Oultlook did not pick a winner or even a top five in US or European PGA.   The Safeway was won by Brendan  Steele shading out  Patrick Kizzire. Paul Casey finished third . How Darren Clarke must have  wished Casey chose to play the European tour and thus be eligible for the Ryder Cup team. Lee Westwood rightfully came in for criticism for his 3 losses at Hazeldine but retuned to form with third place in  the British  Masters  where Alex Noren achieved his third victory in 9 tournaments. A late developer  at 34 and somewhat of an obsessive he has relaxed a bit.  We weekend 18 handicappers know the feeling: the more you try the less you perform , take a couple of weeks off, have too much in the pub the night before the Monthly Medal and swing like an angel on the day  .

You need local knowledge too to beat the market too . I was indebted to Ivan and Alan for predicting correctly their team’s results :small pickings but welcome nonetheless as I went into Sunday with not much prospect of earning on my golf tickles. I know Ivan was troubled by being negative on his team but there is a view that the supporter who profits from  his team failing to win is not so much being  treacherous as seeking solace.