Money Talks - Inside the World of Sports Betting

It looks like sports betting is a whole different animal Stateside

Red or Black?

The very idea of putting it all on the line like this would give me heart failure!!

Horse Racing Saying and Quotes

A horse is dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle -Ian Fleming

A good jockey doesn't need orders and a bad jockey couldn't carry them out anyway; so it's best not to give them any - Lester Piggott

My horse's jockey was hitting the horse. The horse turns around and says "Why are you hitting me, there is nobody behind us - Henny Youngman

When you are on a great horse, you have the best seat you will ever have - Sir Winston Churchill

Any money I put on a horse is a sort of insurance policy to prevent it from winning - Frank Richardson

That was the first time I saw a horse start from a kneeling position - Henny Youngman

Fabian Ruiz set for summer showdown

When you have clubs the stature of Real Madrid and Liverpool fighting over you, it must feel pretty good. That’s what former Real Betis and current Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz must be feeling. The 24-year-old has been one of the most impressive midfielders in Europe for the last 18 months, and has continued his tremendous form in Naples this year.

Now, though, it looks like that he could make a move to a new team entirely. Both Real Madrid and Liverpool are looking to try and make a deal happen. For Liverpool, he would offer a creative edge in midfield that has been lacking at times despite a tremendous 2019-20 campaign. For Madrid, he could join the likes of Marco Asensio and create a new-look midfield in Spain.

For the player, though, the news that Napoli have seemingly dropped their asking price down to around the £50m mark will see many clubs vying for his signature. Players of his poise and precision with the ball are rare indeed. His strong output from midfield, too, with numerous goals and assist, makes him a very intriguing young footballer.

The 24-year-old has played 18 months in Italy, and has gone up a new level since his early days at Betis. Now, he looks like he could be the symbol of a new generation of talent either at Anfield or the Santiago Bernabeu. Both clubs are interested in a new creative midfielder, and Ruiz would suit the style of both clubs perfectly.

His versatile nature means that he can play in numerous positions and roles in midfield, making him an absolutely tremendous asset for any club. If he is to move in the summer, then, a move to one of the major clubs in Europe will happen entirely.

Should 2019-20 league leaders be champions?

It’s been a debate that has for the most part dominated the entirety of the last months. Since the January COVID-19 outbreak started to spread, it soon became clear that the future of some of the league tournaments taking place would become uncertain. Teams who are a point clear at the top of their league with as many as ten games to play – is it really fair that they get handed the league?

This is a debate that shows no sign of stopping, either. For every Rio Ferdinand who says leagues should be void, there’s a voice saying the total opposite. It’s hard not to look at this through the eyes of the team(s) we support, too; how can you really say, for example, that you want your biggest rivals to be given a title?

But at the same time, how could anyone realistically say someone like Liverpool isn’t going to win the league here?

It’s a nightmare scenario, but one that has to be dealt with – and soon. There really is no opportunity for teams to hide from this; they need to find a solution and to bring closure to the season. The view of many is that leagues should be called as they are; there will be winners and losers in that situation, of course. But is it really any worse than, say, writing off a full season of football?

How can fans who have spent thousands travelling to and from games find any kind of solace in the idea that the leagues would be voided?

If a league is any more than 60% finished, then it would be fair to say that it could be called. However, while this means that some teams would likely to win leagues they might not have otherwise, and other teams relegated who may have stayed up, these are unique and trying times.

From what we hear, though, the consequences of voiding a season would be far greater than the consequences of declaring all standings early.