Introduction ------------ The main idea behind Football Forecast is simplicity. There are many prediction programs available but I have found that most of them require the use of the keyboard. With any prediction program most of the time will be spent entering data, so with the help of AMOS I decided to write a simple point and click method which reduces the time required when entering data. With this method, weekend results can be entered in approximately ten minutes. I recommend that this program be used with the fixed odds coupons from the large bookmakers and not the pools. The chances of winning the pools are too slim with or without the help from any result predicting program but this is only my opinion and of course, it is entirely up to you how you use this program. The way I have been using this program is to aim for relatively small, frequent wins i.e. approximately £30 every two to three weeks. For the first three months of the 93-94 season the winnings totalled £130 while the overall stake placed totalled £14. Of course this program cannot guarantee success but so far this season the success rate has been very good. If you would like the full version of Football Forecast please send £6 which includes postage and packaging to - CRAIG SLATER 62 CHILDS AVENUE WOODCROSS BILSTON WEST MIDLANDS WV14 9UU The full version will include `result data` up to the date purchased. Also included wil be ideas and general information on how to achieve the most from Football Forecast with a progress report which will show the profit made if certain sets of factors were used to place bets over the last few weeks. How to use Football Forecast ---------------------------- When Football Forecast has loaded you will be presented with the main menu. From the main menu it is possible to enter results, predict results and change factors. Also via the system menu you can load data, save data and start a new season. Before results can be entered or predictions be made, the team and result data must be loaded. This is achieved by clicking on 'SYSTEM MENU', then clicking on 'LOAD DATA'. It is now possible to enter results and/or predict results. Entering Results ---------------- From the main menu click on 'ENTER RESULTS'. Now click on the desired division and a list will be displayed of all the teams in that division. Click on the HOME TEAM followed by the HOME score, now click on the AWAY team followed by the AWAY score. To continue entering results click on 'NEXT' or click the right mouse button. If you wish to return to the ENTER RESULTS screen click on 'END'. If a mistake is made click on 'CANCEL' and the message 'result ignored' will be displayed, now click on 'NEXT' or 'END' to continue or exit. For example, enter the results - ARSENAL 2 ASTON VILLA 2 and WOLVES 3 DERBY 1 From the main menu click on 'ENTER RESULTS' Now click on Premier League " Arsenal " 2 " Aston Villa " 2 " END " Division One " Wolves " 3 " Derby " 1 and finally click on END Clicking on 'SHOW LAST ENTRIES' displays the last sixteen results entered. When all the results have been entered go back to the main menu and click on 'SYSTEM MENU'. Click on 'SAVE DATA' then 'YES' to save the updated result data. WARNING - Using the 'SAVE DATA' option is irreversible and should only be used when the correct results have been entered. If a drastic mistake is made when entering the results, reload the team and result data and start again. Predicting Results ------------------ First enter all the matches for prediction. From the main menu click on 'PREDICT RESULTS MENU' and then click on 'ENTER MATCHES'. Now click on the desired division and a list will be displayed of all the teams in that division. Click on the HOME team followed by the AWAY team. To continue entering matches click on 'NEXT' or click the right mouse button. If you wish to return to the 'ENTER MATCHES FOR PREDICTION' screen click on 'END' and if a mistake is made click on 'CANCEL'. When all the matches for prediction have been entered, return to the 'PREDICT RESULTS MENU' and click on 'PREDICT RESULTS'. After a short delay you can display the best HOME WINS, DRAWS and AWAY WINS. For example, predict results - ARSENAL ASTON VILLA and WOLVES DERBY From the main menu click on 'PREDICT RESULTS MENU' and then click on 'ENTER MATCHES'. Now click on Premier League " Arsenal " Aston Villa " END " Division One " Wolves " Derby and finally click on END Now return to the 'PREDICT RESULTS MENU' by clicking on 'DONE' and click on 'PREDICT RESULTS'. After a short delay you can display the best HOME WINS, DRAWS and AWAY WINS. For the previous example only two matches were predicted and both matches appear as HOME WINS, DRAWS and AWAY WINS. This only happens when less than sixteen matches are predicted. Usually there are about thirty matches played at weekends and if all these matches are entered for prediction then only the best sixteen HOME WINS, DRAWS and AWAY WINS will be displayed. You will have noticed that when the predictions are displayed each match is given a value. This value denotes a HOME WIN, DRAW or AWAY WIN. HIGH POSITIVE VALUES - HOME WIN VALUES CLOSEST TO ZERO - DRAW HIGH NEGATIVE VALUES - AWAY WIN These values are calculated from the setting of the factors. Factors ------- The factors can be altered by clicking on 'CHANGE FACTORS' from the main menu and clicking on the 'PLUS' or 'MINUS' of the desired factor. All of the factors are adjustable within the range 0-9 except the MATCHES EXAM. factor which is adjustable between the range 1-30. Changing the factors alters the value given to the matches when predictions are made, so it is important to find the best set of factors. Here is an explanation of how altering the factors alters the predictions. The MATCHES EXAM. factor (short for matches examined) is different from the other six factors. This factor sets how many of the previous results will be examined. For example - Predict the match ARSENAL - ASTON VILLA with the MATCHES EXAM. factor set to 3 The prediction will be made by examing Arsenal's last three home games and Aston Villa's last three away games. For the other six factors it is best to think of them working in pairs i.e. HOME WINS/AWAY WINS, HOME SCORES/AWAY SCORES (short for home and away goal difference) and HOME DRAWS/AWAY DRAWS. If you think it is more difficult for a team to win away than it is for a team to win at home then make the factor AWAY WINS larger than the factor HOME WINS. The same applies to the other two pairs of factors. If you make a factor equal to zero e.g. HOME WINS = 0, all home wins will be ignored and will not affect the predictions. It is possible to save three sets of factors on the disk. To save a set of factors click on 'SAVE FACTORS' followed by 'FACTOR 1','FACTOR 2' or 'FACTOR 3'. To reload a set of factors click on 'LOAD FACTORS' followed by your desired set. Three example sets of factors are included on this DEMO. New Season ---------- At the start of a new season all the four divisions must be set up. This is achieved by clicking on 'NEW SEASON' from the 'SYSTEM MENU'. Now click on each division in turn and click on all the teams which will be playing in each league. If a mistake is made click on 'CLEAR' and click on 'FINISHED' when all the teams have been selected. If a team does not exist in the list such as a team which as been promoted from the Vauxhall Conference league then any teams name can be altered by pointing to it and clicking the right mouse button. Now type in the new name and press return. When all four divisions have been set up return to the 'SYSTEM MENU' and click on 'SAVE DATA'. This will save the four new divisions and the program is ready for entering results. WARNING - When the 'NEW SEASON' option is selected all previous team and result data will be lost.