By Betting Zone
October 16 2006

Gareth Southgate has accused Stewart Downing's critics of making him the scapegoat for England's European Championship flop against Macedonia.


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The Middlesbrough manager and former England defender believes many of those suggesting the winger should be sacrificed for the Croatia clash are biased against the 22-year-old because they rarely see him play for his club.

"There are times when you feel that whatever Stewie does at the moment he's going to be the one that gets it in the neck first," Southgate told Boro's official website.

"It's almost as if he's having to prove himself more than anybody else there, which is tough for a young lad.

"Sometimes I do believe that [it's] because he's not as high-profile as some of the other players.

"When you play down in London, for example, your cause is pushed a bit more by the national media but Stew's got to battle against that and the only way he can do that is by his performances on the field."

Southgate claims Downing has a legitimate excuse for failing to find top gear in Saturday's goalless draw.

"He only had one match before he went away. He's had an injury," Southgate said.

"In an ideal world, going into an international match, you would've had a good run of games under your belt."

The Boro boss has spoken to the player while he has been on England duty in the past week and urged him to prove the doubters wrong if he keeps his place.

"I've spoken to him a couple of times since he's been away just to check he's okay," Southgate said.

"He seems in good spirits and obviously he has to wait and see the team that goes in against Croatia.

"If he's in there then he has to try and stake a claim to keep his place."

Southgate admits part of being an England player is accepting the extra scrutiny that comes a player's way and believes Downing will emerge a stronger person from the experience.

"I've been there and when the team aren't doing so well, as was the case on Saturday, then everybody's performance is under the microscope," Southgate said.

"That's very tough for him but he'll come through this as a stronger person. These are the sort of experiences that shape your character.

"We know his ability, we know that he'll come back a lot stronger.

"He's in good company, because I think (Wayne) Rooney and everybody else is getting it in the neck this week.

"That's international football with England. The focus is so intense."

"When he comes back to us, he's got to pick up his performance again and play at as high a level as possible with us.

"That's when he'll be noticed and that's how he'll keep himself in the squad."

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By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.

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GUARANTEED PROFIT ON FULHAM v CHARLTON

The Monday night match this week is between Fulham and Charlton at Craven Cottage and we can guarantee you a profit on the match, whatever the result.

We're using the same three bookies that we used at the weekend so you won't be able to do this if you already have one or more of these accounts but if that is the case, contact us and we'll try and find you an alternative.

What we are going to do is back Fulham with Betfred in the hope of cashing in the Betfred bonus of your first bet winnings matched, up to £100.

We are also going to back both Charlton and the draw so that we ensure that we end up in profit on this bet, whatever the result. Read on and you will find out how.

We're going to lay out a total of £155.00 on the match and we will collect £244.50 if Fulham win. But if Charlton win or it's a draw, we will get all our money back. Whatever the result, we will also gain a £25.00 free bet.

Here's how it's done. Just follow these simple instructions.

1. Open accounts with Betfred and Totesport and Extrabet. This shouldn't take you any longer than ten minutes.

2. Make the following deposits into your new accounts. Deposit £81.50 into your new Betfred account. Deposit £48.50 into your new Totesport account. Deposit £25 into your new Extrabet account.

3. Now make the following bets.

Place £81.50 on Fulham at EVENS with Betfred.

Place £48.50 on the draw at 11/5 with Totesport

Place £25 on Charlton to win at 13/5 with Extrabet

You have temporarily laid out a total of £155.00. I stress, temporarily... Now sit back, crack a beer open and enjoy the match.

4. Here's what happens at the end of the game.

If Fulham win, you will collect £244.50 from Betfred, including your stake back and your first win bonus. This money can be withdraw immediately.

We've had a few mails recently saying that our figures are wrong because people are forgetting about the Betfred bonus. When you are checking our figures, don't forget that Betfred double your winnings up to £100 if your first bet is a winner, so with this bet you will collect the following if it's a draw.

£81.50 winnings, doubled, plus your £81.50 stake back which equals £244.50.

If it's a draw, you will collect £155.20 from Totesport

If Charlton win, you will collect £155.00 from Extrabet.

As with Betfred, Extrabet also pay a bonus on your first bet. What they do is match your first bet up to £25.00 so if Charlton win, you will collect the following:

£65.00 winnings, plus £65.00 winnings from your free matched bet plus your £25.00 stake back which equals £155.00.

Totesport will also credit your new account with a £25 free bet, whatever the result of the match.

5. This means that the worst case scenario on the Fulham v Charlton match is a Charlton win and you break even and gain a £25.00 free bet. But if Fulham win, you make £89.50 clean profit plus a £25.00 free bet.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions at all about this bet and we will come straight back to you.

Please note that the free bets and bonuses are valid for new customers only so if you already have an account with one or more of the bookies we are using, you won't be able to do this. If that is the case,contact us and we'll try and find you an alternative.

This method of betting was used very successfully during the World Cup and you can read all about how it was done right here.

It's understandable that some people will not believe that it is possible to do this. "What's the catch?" I hear you asking. My answer to that question is that we have been publishing arbitrage bets for three seasons now and literally hundreds of people have profited from following the advice on these pages.

Just enjoy the profit and stay posted for many more of these throughout the season.