Punters should look to all possible resources when trying to put together a betting strategy.
Fortunately, there are plenty of easily accessible and free platforms from which to pull information together for betting.
The most traditional way of researching bets is to dig into statistics. Popular areas like head-to-head form, scoring and timing of goals helps punters with their strategies. Many statistics platforms even have a win probability football listing, to help steer you in the right direction.
But the surge in popularity of podcasts in recent years has given punters another great well of information to tap into. With so many podcasts available hosted by former and current players, they can provide unique insights into the beautiful game that can be used towards betting.
Professional Insights
Professional footballers sharing thoughts about what the outcomes of tournaments or league matches might be is great news for punters when it comes to football betting, gathering as much information you can about a match, will help with decision-making.
What better way than by listening to current, active professional footballers who can provide unique insights into things like dressing room culture, team spirit and give an honest look at how well a team is playing and how difficult a certain opponent may be, and why. It’s possible, among all the talk, to find some great tips for football betting.
Footballers usually find time to come on podcasts during the off-season, or perhaps right after the end of a championship or major international tournament. Podcasts can be particularly valuable just before the new season kicks off, when teams have completed their transfers, and professional players have a full picture of the teams’ strengths for the upcoming season. So, next time you see the first top odds from bookies, as compiled by the analytics portal ClubSport, make sure to check out YouTube channels of well-known podcasters.
Some Famous Podcasters
Everywhere you look there are famous names from the world of football doing podcasts. Former England goalscoring legends Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer are among some of the highest-profile ones, while former Manchester United fullback Gary Neville, who is not shy of a controversial comment or two, also runs a podcast.
Premier League stars Callum Wilson, Michail Antonio and Kyle Walker are in the podcasting game, discussing everything from a week in the life of a professional footballer to answering questions from listeners.
In addition to what the podcasters have to say, footballers encourage fellow footballers to come on their shows, even those from different teams, so you can get extra nuggets of information about teams and tactics from various perspectives.
How Listening Helps
A good example of how podcasts can help is when podcaster Michail Antonio understood the context of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s thoughts ahead of last season’s crucial title clash away at Man City, saying “every time he’s gone there, Man City has beaten them…this year may they may need a point from this game and still be top of the table.”
Ahead of the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, Gary Lineker gave his thoughts on the Switzerland vs England match, saying that he thought it was “going to be tight, going to be cagey and I think it could go all the way” predicting England would win on penalties, which they did. With podcasts, there are a few main areas to keep an ear out for.
Tactics: Try to get a grasp on what a player is talking about regarding tactics. It could be specific reasons why a certain team is so good defensively, or it could be highlighting weakness in a team’s tactics.
Line-ups: There’s arguably no bigger discussion in football podcasts than about which player should be playing where in a team line-up. These choices can influence a game, so listen to what the pros have to say about who is likely to play where and why.
Predictions: Tips and predictions are part and parcel of the game and everyone likes making them. Even the professionals have their turns by challenging themselves and guests about outcomes, providing specific analysis.
Beyond the Pros
It’s also worth looking beyond podcasts by professional footballers, as even just fans with a passion for the game can add to the bank of knowledge that can help you pick up tips for football betting. Anything that you can get your hands (or in this case ears) on, that’s entertaining and full of information, is going to be valuable.
It’s all about the details, really, so listen for those moments when they give specific reasons for why they think something is going to happen or not. They have the inside view and that can make a big difference for your football betting picks.