Non-league / Gary Boswell / 14 August 2007 /

Legendary Non-League manager Frank Gregan draws on all his experience to guide us through the best bets

"Keep it tight for the first twenty minutes," when away and "We don't have to win this early, be patient," when at home. Those are probably two of the most quoted clichés from the "Managerspeak" phrasebook.

The book also contains other classics such as "this lot (the opposition) are expecting to get beat, let's not disappoint them" and "if we keep a clean sheet I can't see us losing this game!" Probably the stupidest thing I have ever said during a pre match team talk was "keep turning them, get it in the channel." This was greeted with smirks and sniggers from the players, we were playing away to Dover!

However, let's get back to the original statements and see how that can be used to our advantage. One side has been told to keep it tight and the other to be patient. This will involve the away side getting bodies back behind the ball at every opportunity. Defensively, they are unlikely to hold a high line, they will try and defend relatively deep and keep the play in front of them. The tempo of the game will be dull and they will be attempting to subdue the crowd. Conversely, the home side will not feel any great need to force the pace having been instructed to be patient.

So how does this relate to tonight's match between Cambridge and Oxford? Back 0-0 in the correct score market prior to kick off at around 12 and lay off with 20 minutes on the clock at odds of about 9. Easy peasy, a green screen after 20 minutes, sit back and relax! If you have only recovered your stake when placing the lay bet you will be in for a nervy remaining 70 minutes hoping that there is not a goal in order to show a profit. That's a big ask and consequently another option that I prefer is to back the draw in the match odds market and lay after twenty minutes.

In Thursday's match the draw is available at 3.4 and any subsequent goal is not the end of the world as an equaliser for the other team is all that is required to be in the money. The later that equaliser came in the game the shorter the price would be on the draw at that stage.

A word of caution though, the "Managerspeak" phrasebook contains lots of other words of wisdom that could ruin the plan. "Come on then lads, let's have a right go from the start, make them wish they had never got off the coach," springs to mind. Also remember that players seldom listen to management, a very common part of the half time team talk for the away team is "I thought I told you idiots to keep it tight for twenty minutes!" Tonight's game should be a cracker, I fancy one of the university cities!

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