Monte's Multiple / Jaymes Monte / 26 August 2009 /

Jaymes Monte believes Man City are now in a position to field a strong second string side, Surrey can continue their recent upsurge and Verdasco won't have any trouble progressing to the quarter-finals...

I was visiting my mother last week and as I came in the door I made an off the cuff remark about there being a really strong wind outside.

"It's because of those fans they've installed" she replied, pointing to the recently erected wind turbines on the horizon. I naturally rolled my eyes and guffawed. "You don't believe me do you" she continued, "Well if it's not them then how is it that the faster they go, the windier it gets?"

Bet 1: Football - Carling Cup

Man City have made a start to the season that many believed was not likely. The theory was that you cannot put so many egos together and expect them to perform as one unit immediately. Two wins from two games, without conceding a goal have forced the sceptics to sit up and admit that City could genuinely challenge the big four's strangle hold on the Champions League places.

Mark Hughes is in an envious position which allows him to make many changes to his side but still field an extremely strong and competitive team in the Carling Cup. The likes of Nigel de Jong, Craig Bellamy, Martin Petrov and Nedum Onuoha could all feature in the starting 11 chosen to take on Neil Warnock's Crystal Palace.

Palace have made an average start to their season and the league cup is probably a competition they could do without. Whereas City will be keen to progress in all domestic competitions this year, and extensive cup runs will give Hughes the ideal opportunity to rotate his squad and keep his superstars happy.

Backing [1.5] shots away from home is not an advisable long term strategy, but it certainly represents value here.

Selection: Back Man City to beat C Palace @ [1.5]

Bet 2: Cricket - Pro40 Division Two

It is second top versus second bottom in Thursday night's Pro40 Division Two match, as Surrey Brown Caps take on Kent Spitfires. Kent have won three of their four fixtures thus far and Surrey lost three of their four matches, leaving the two at opposite ends of the table.

Kent's strength has been their depth in batting, there have been no stand out centuries in any of their recent Pro40 victories, but there have been contributions right through the side. Surrey's latest fixture produced their only win of the tournament to date and came in the way of a rain affected victory over Glamorgan. Mark Ramprakash's involvement that day seemed to inspire the Brown Cap's to a comfortable win.

Although the sides are at contrasting ends of the table, the manner of Surrey's latest victory suggests that they are a side on the up. For that reason the [2.6] available on them to take this fixture looks too big to me and the value has to be to side with the Brown Caps on this occasion.

Selection: Back Surrey to beat Kent @ [2.6]

Bet 3: Tennis - Pilot Pen Tennis

As the majority of the world's top tennis players take a break from competition in the week leading up to the US open, some are taking a last chance to hone their skills in the Pilot Pen Tennis tournament.

World number ten Fernando Verdasco made a shock exit against compatriot Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in Cincinnati last week and is one of the players taking this opportunity to get some extra match practice. He breezed past Paul Capdeville in his second round match here, and now faces Andreas Seppi in the third round.

Verdasco has won each of the four ATP tour meetings between the players, and has yet to drop a set against the Italian. Seeded number two, the Spaniard should make a comfortable progression to the quarter-finals of the competition.

Selection: Back Verdasco to beat Seppi @ [1.3]

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