Raymond van Barneveld faces a make-or-break Premier League Darts night, says Wayne Mardle
Saturday 16 April 2016 16:20, UK
Playing two games in one night has handed Raymond van Barneveld a final lifeline to stay alive in the Premier League, Wayne Mardle believes.
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The maverick Dutchman is languishing in seventh in the eight-man table, six points off the pace for a play-off berth. But two games on Thursday in Belfast, live on Sky Sports, could yield four points and put Barney back in the hunt.
Does Mardle back Barney? Here's his predictions...
Robert Thornton v Peter Wright
I loved the way Robert played last week. We thought he'd be more relaxed after avoiding elimination and it proved the case against Michael van Gerwen.
Thornton isn't going to get beaten 7-0 anymore, he's had a couple of those earlier this season but he's far too good for that.
I think he'll play well again but Wright is a better player. Wright has been putting himself in some really good positions without getting as many points as he should.
Prediction: I think Wright wins but, again, Thornton will be a tough nut to crack. I'm going for 7-5 to Wright. (Wright to win 7-5 is 9/2 with Sky Bet)
Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor
This is a very important night for Raymond because, if he can nick four points, he's back in the mix. He's got a lifeline. If he doesn't get all four points, he's out of it. He just can't afford to lose one of them because other players are picking up points. Draws are no good to Raymond.
Phil is playing miles better than Raymond, although - I say this every week - we don't know what Barney will do and he doesn't know himself. He played brilliantly against Van Gerwen but poorly the next.
Last week, Phil played James Wade and it was a poor game. But, there wasn't any point where it appeared like Wade had a chance of winning. Phil just kept him at arm's length.
You'd still go and see Pete Sampras v Andre Agassi, wouldn't you? I still want to see Barney v Phil, I want to watch a cracker.
Prediction: Barney will play well but Phil will win, because Phil keeps finding a way to win. He's confident and has an ability to read his opponent. (Taylor to win and score more 180s than van Barneveld is 2/1 with Sky Bet).
James Wade v Adrian Lewis
This is a massive game because only one of them, maximum, can make the play-offs. They can't lose to each other, then they need to beat Anderson. This is a must-not-lose match for both of them.
Adrian has found it tough, he wasn't well last week and pulled out of an event at the weekend. I know he wasn't well over the weekend. Sometimes that doesn't matter but sometimes it does.
This is close to call so you've got to go with the information that you've collated.
Prediction: If I was going to have a punt, which I'm not, then Wade is a good bet (Wade to win is a 15/8 chance with a narrow 7-4 win a tasty 7/1).
Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson
Anderson isn't guaranteed a play-off place yet - I said earlier this year that there's not four players better than Anderson. Well, last year there weren't four players better than Taylor but he didn't make the play-offs, so my theory is out the window!
Michael is a certainty for the play-offs - he's too good, and he's not losing games. Even when he doesn't win, he has chances to win. He's looking anything but dodgy.
I just can't read Anderson but I'll never back against him because he's too capable. You've got to feel that Michael has the upper hand. He's playing better and he's the odds-on favourite for a reason, because of his recent form.
But Gary finds a way against Michael, and that sticks in the back of my head. Like when Barney plays Van Gerwen, it's horses for courses. Certain players love playing others, and I think Gary loves playing Michael.
Prediction: I think Van Gerwen will win 7-5 in a last-leg thriller. (Van Gerwen to win 7-5 is 7/1 with Sky Bet)
Raymond van Barneveld v Robert Thornton
Barney is one of these players that, if he's got a chance to win, you can tell by his body language that he fancies it. When he plays Van Gerwen he says : 'You think you're good? Prove how good you are'.
When the games are not glamorous he doesn't fancy it. If he loses to Phil he'll have nothing to play for. I think Robert just wants to win.
Prediction: I think Robert will win - I'd rather back someone who I know is 100 per cent going to try. I think Robert cares more than Raymond. (Thornton to beat van Barneveld is 2/1 with Sky Bet).
Watch Premier League Darts from Belfast on Thursday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD at 7pm.
