Premier League Week 8

Posted: 28.03.13 in Tournament Analysis Blog category

The PDC darts arrive in Glasgow ! What's going to happen? No, we are not too sure either!

.

At last, in week 7 we had some results that we could fathom. MVG destroyed Anderson in a superb display of aggressive, attacking darts. They both lived up to their Premier League status so far. Mighty Mike looked invincible and Anderson hit 17% on the checkouts; he only had 6 attempts but he isn’t bottom of the checkout percentage table by chance!

The Power predictably beat the increasingly doomed looking Warrior. Wade and Barney drew, no draws are predictable in the Premier League but it was a fair result that summed up the campaign of two of the best players in the league to date.

This week is Glasgow! Oh yes! Darts nights in Glasgow bring a most interesting variable in to predicting who may win a darts match, the fans!  We blogged a few weeks ago about how home advantage had been scientifically proven! Anderson and Thornton will get huge support. Overall the passionate partisan support has been a bonus for the Scottish players and, well any other player who happens not to be English really! And why not? Darts without passionate fans is nothing, to borrow a famous phrase from football! 

Week Eight -March 28 – SECC, Glasgow
Adrian Lewis v Andy Hamilton
Simon Whitlock v Robert Thornton
Phil Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld
Gary Anderson v Wes Newton
Michael van Gerwen v James Wade

Regular followers of the blog will know we offer a couple of forecasts each week relating to our opinion of what may happen. You may have also noticed that we have steered clear of actually predicting a winner of any particular match, instead focusing on statistical bets, such as checkouts and 180’s. Our ratio of correct forecasts is one out of two usually; significantly better than if we had been trying to pick match winners I suspect!

Look at the fixtures this week for example. Can anyone really put their hand on their heart and tell 100%, the name of a winner from any of these games?  Taylor? He always beats Barney doesn’t he? Maybe there are some variables to consider before you lump on The Power though at 4/6 or something.  The crowd for a start, the Barney Army’s ranks will be full! Also, what about the “incident” from the semi final of the Worlds? Barney has the support and the motivation; it is up to him to deliver on stage!

What about Whitlock V Thornton. The Thorn has the crowd and is higher in the league table than The Wizard, but is second favourite (13/8)! The same can be said for Jackpot V The Hammer; Lewis is below Hamilton on the table but goes off 5/4 favourite.

Anderson V Newton; The Flying Scotsman has the crowd, hmmm, that hasn’t always worked and he struggles to hit a double, yet he is odds on favourite (10/11)! Confused? Me too! Even Mighty Mike V The Machine is a conundrum to an extent. Both players have looked like Premier League champions one week and average the next. If MVG has an off day the 100/30 about Wade will look like an excellent investment!

So now we have told you how totally unpredictable the matches here is what we think may happen!

Barney to beat Taylor in the 180’s market! 4/7

Whitlock V Thornton Highest C/O over 118.5 at 5/6 

Do those bets sound a bit dull? Go for a night of carnage for the favourites then but realistically even in this year’s crazy Premier League what are the odd on that happening?

325-1 actually according to the bookies for all the second favourites to win, not likely at all then as the bookies are rarely wrong. Maybe normality will return to Premier League darts this week? Perhaps, athough I wouldn’t bet on it!

..............................................................................................................................................

The Darts Performance Centre is a resource to assist dart players of all standards play better darts. The site is arranged as an on-line coaching manual. There is advice on technique, nerves, psychology, goal setting, practice games, an area to log your statistics and an interactive area where your darting questions are answered by two sports scientists, one with 30 years dart playing experience! Membership is just £25.00 per annum.