BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

A winter break could have unforseen benefits

As I pore over the coupon for the second successive day of Europa League action I've got to admit I'm struggling to weigh up the respective merits of AEK Larnaca's recent five-game unbeaten run against a Maccabi Haifa side buoyed by their recent 4-1 win against Beitar Jerusalem.

I'd like to think there's a similarly devoted Cypriot punter scanning the form of English football's second tier trying to work out if Birmingham's 2-2 draw with Blackpool is suitable preparation for a trip to a Braga side who held Benfica in their last home game.

One thing that did strike me as I was perusing Europe's far-flung divisions is just how many of them are about to go into hibernation for the winter.

At first the thought of a winter break appalled me, but I'm beginning to come around.

Maybe it would be nice to have a Christmas Day where I didn't have to explain to Mrs Bunter how Arsenal conceding a late equaliser through more comedy defending means she won't be getting the expensive necklace she asked for.

Anyway, despite my extensive research I've decided to swerve the Larnaca-Maccabi tie and concentrate on what I know best (or at least pretend to).

Despite their patchy domestic form Stoke have won all of their European ties at the Britannia, and should secure top spot in their group with a win over Dynamo Kiev.