The Long Shot

The Long Shot

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The Long Shot
The Long Shot
[S2:E52] Finale

[S2:E52] Finale

In the final episode of TLS season two, Ali Maxwell picks three value goalscorers from three play-off games.

May 22, 2025
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Ali Maxwell

Hello! Ali here. Goffy and George are the key players of Team TLS, but I’m taking the baton for the final episode of the 24/25 season, and we’re in decent shape as we turn for home, with open positions on both Sheff U and Sunderland, as well as Wimbledon.

To mark your cards:

  • Next Tuesday, our total P/L for the season will be presented in cold, hard numbers.

  • Later in the week, it’ll be presented with warm, soft words - Nick and George will release a season review podcast for TLS’ paid subscribers, discussing this season of EFL betting and our own portfolio, of course.

  • TLS Season 3 will then begin in earnest.

For this weekend, I’m presenting to you some Play-Off final goalscorers.

Play-Off finals don’t scream goals, it’s true. The last four years have seen only 20 goals scored in normal time across 12 games. 3 of them were own goals (Colwill, Mellish, Turton). So it’s not easy to pick a goalscorer, but I think it’s worthwhile to back any fancies to score first rather than anytime, which I would normally lean towards.

Another recent wrinkle, is that in the last 4 years of Play-Off Finals (12 games), only four goals have been scored by strikers: Kian Harratt and James Wilson of Port Vale, Ross Stewart of Sunderland, and Danilo Orsi of Crawley. Strikers have a tougher time than usual on account of the risk averse mindset employed by most teams. Less space, more attention. Again, I think that makes it worthwhile to consider other options at larger prices, so that is what I will do.

Get on with it, mate.

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