Bookmakers Paddy Power never shy away from the chance to create a cheeky billboard and they certainly never miss an opportunity for some controversial PR. So, they've jumped on the news that Sir Alex Ferguson is retiring as Manchester United manager by suggesting that somewhere a Liverpool fan has just one wish left.
Sir Alex Ferguson is odds-on to step down as Manchester United manager before the end of the week. Both bookies and the rumour mill are confident that Fergie will end his 26-year reign at Old Trafford. The rumours seem to have their source with information leaking out of a United players versus coaches golf day [.
Rest assured that this headline will be appearing in every newspaper and on every website next
season if the French national manager does cross the channel to White Hart Lane so there's no harm
in trying to get in first.
As yesterday progressed, stories started to emerge suggesting that the club were in preliminary
talks with Laurent Blanc although those reports went on to stress that no official discussions had
taken place and that the former Manchester United centre half was only one of a number of
candidates being considered.
Manchester United duo central to England's chances against France - originally posted on
Soccerlens.com
It's the moment which everyone's been waiting for, as England kick-off their Euro 2012 campaign
with a really tough clash against the tournament third favourites.
As as far as the bookies are concerned it won't be a winning one with bet365 going 3.
Premier League betting: odds on a Manchester City or Manchester United title win - originally
posted on Soccerlens.com
Sky Sports are screening both Manchester games on the final day of the season, and it's City (on
SS1) who are firmly in the driving seat and long odds-on to clinch their first title in 44 years.
South Wales is experiencing a severe shortage of Elvis Presley fancy dress costumes as Swansea fans
step-up to their manager's request for a fancy dress tribute to the King. Brendan Rodgers asked
Swans supporters to don Elvis outfits for their final game of the season against Liverpool on
Sunday. He touted the idea after last [.
Despite losing 2-0 to Manchester United on Sunday, Swansea City have had a tremendous first
season in the Premier League, playing entertaining football and staying comfortably out of
relegation danger all season. So, perhaps inspired by Hartlepool's Smurfs, Swansea manager Brendan
Rodgers has asked the club's fans to wear something special for their final match of the season at
home against Liverpool.
'Club Bias Integrity' due to certain PGMOB referees, as mentioned in the previous post, impacts
both positively and negatively on the leading teams in the country.
The list below yields the positive and negative biases on such clubs without disclosing which
referees are up to what (+ = bias in favour; - = bias against).
David Beckham's eldest son Brooklyn had a trial at Chelsea yesterday. The 13-year-old joined in a training session with the Blues' under-14 setup. He had previously played for the LA Galaxy's under-14 team but is on the lookout for a new a team since his dad quit MLS and moved the family back to London [.
Newcastle to dominate Aston Villa - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Newcastle look a cracking bet at 1.62 with bet365 and Betfred to beat Aston Villa at St James'
Park.
Alan Pardew's men Newcastle have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League home games (W8 D2
L1), whereas Villa have won none of their last nine away matches (W0 D4 L5) a run which started
with defeat at this ground.
Arsenal yesterday became only the third team in a year to get a point at the Etihad Stadium, which has pushed Manchester City out to second favourites for the League at 15/8, while Manchester United are the new favourites at 7/4.
Chelsea remain top at the moment after beating Stoke 1-0, but they are still only third favourites for the title at 4/1, and although Arsenal are looking better and better every week they are still rated at 12/1 to win the Premiership.
Today we take the pitch against Cologne in our last pre season friendly. Arsene's pre season
routine has been upset by the tour of the Far East and the games played there excluded a number of
first teamers and most importantly our new signings were left at home to settle in to London life,
and find their way around London Colney.
Today we take the pitch against Cologne in our last pre season friendly. Arsene's pre season
routine has been upset by the tour of the Far East and the games played there excluded a number of
first teamers and most importantly our new signings were left at home to settle in to London life,
and find their way around London Colney.
One thing I've often wondered about is whether some teams are good value with bookmakers. It
always seemed to me that Fulham could be had at really good odds on 0-0 draws, for instance,
although these days, what with this newfangled attacking play of Martin Jol's, you never know where
you are.
One thing I've often wondered about is whether some teams are good value with bookmakers. It
always seemed to me that Fulham could be had at really good odds on 0-0 draws, for instance,
although these days, what with this newfangled attacking play of Martin Jol's, you never know where
you are.
With Euro 2012 cluttering up the brain matter reserved for the not-so-fond-memories of most of
us, and the Olympics just around the corner, things are slowly heating up in the build-up to the
2012/13 English Premier League.
Champions and this season's Premier League betting favourites Manchester City have had the
purse-strings drawn tightly thus far, with Roberto Mancini maintaining he will not disrupt the team
in any major way during this transfer window, but expect late action in the form of moves for RVP
and at least two other big-name signings.
After breaking a 26-year-long wait for a league title, United started the 1993-94 season as the
bookies' favourites, after the capture, for a then British record of £3.75 million, of Roy Keane
from Nottingham Forest. The 21-year-old Irishman had been closely followed by Arsenal and Blackburn
but arrived at Old Trafford on July the 19th [.
Arsenal in recent weeks have become the bookies' favourites to land hard-tackling Rennes midfielder
Yann M'Vila this summer, but the French club aren't yet ready to let their star man go on the
cheap, and are testing the Gunners with a £25 million valuation for the 21-year old club academy
graduate.
The bookies usually give a very good indication of where a player will end up during the transfer
window so I like to have a periodic roundup of where the money is going re: Arsenal transfer
targets. So I've just had a quick look at the latest prices across the board, and Skybet have got
[...]
Arsenal are visiting Stoke. Normally, there wouldn't be any need to mention Chelsea. Or
Newcastle. But this time around we have to, with a passing mention of Spurs thrown in.
The Champions League semi-finals threw up some not entirely unexpected surprises. Roberto Di
Matteo, Just a year after being sacked from West Brom where his attacking style put the club's
survival at risk, will lead the Chelsea bus to Munich for the Champions League Final.
Arsenal are visiting Stoke. Normally, there wouldn't be any need to mention Chelsea. Or
Newcastle. But this time around we have to, with a passing mention of Spurs thrown in.
The Champions League semi-finals threw up some not entirely unexpected surprises. Roberto Di
Matteo, Just a year after being sacked from West Brom where his attacking style put the club's
survival at risk, will lead the Chelsea bus to Munich for the Champions League Final.
Chelsea's unlikely draw at Barcelona and their advancement to the Champions League Final means a
third place finish in the English Premier League could be essential for Arsenal if they're to make
the Champions League next season. There's now a 50 per cent chance that Chelsea's going to lift the
trophy on May 19 in Munich's Allianz Arena.
The first title of the 2012-13 season is up for contention and both Barcelona and Real Madrid
are looking to make a dramatic entrance by lifting the Spanish Super Cup. The first leg, which will
be played on Thursday at the Camp Nou, already has a clear favourite for the bookies: Barça.
A triumph by Vilanova's team is the favoured outcome and therefore the worst paid: €1.
Pep Guardiola is stepping aside, so who will be the new man in charge of the European champions?
Here are 10 potential candidates of varying degrees of likelihood. 1. Marcelo Bielsa The Athletic
Bilbao boss has caught the eye this season with his team playing very attractive football to very
good effect.
1. Balotelli emerged as undisputed champion in the battle of the Super Marios. Two goals from the
Manchester City man were enough to secure victory for Italy. 2. He picked up a cheap booking for
taking his shirt off. OTP was hoping he'd have a 'Vy alvays me' t-shirt to display. Instead he
seemed to [.
With Chelsea's extraordinary performance at the European Championships, hopes of the English
team repeating the feat at Euro 2012 are high. Bookies are getting in on the action with Paddy
Power giving us generous 10/1 odds to win the title and as we're just behind Germany, Spain and
Holland I'm certainly going to have a sneaky bet.
England kick-off their Euro 2012 campaign with a really tough clash against the tournament third
favourites and as far as the bookies are concerned it won't be a winning one.
They are 3.2 chances with bet365 for victory, with France general 2.
Group C Spain
If my predictions are anything to go by last time around, get involved. I predicted a Spain win and
Senna player of the tournament as well as having Villa e/w as top scorer. Not so sure on La Furia
Rosa this time mind. Spain are the bookies faves and I think a repeat of the final from 2008 could
well be on the cards but despite that win and the other funny looking gold cup, they still have
that pony midfield: Fab, Biscuits, Mata, Silva, Alonso, Iniesta, Xavi, Carzorla and Speedy Jesus Of
Navas, that doesn't bode well.
After Chelsea's heroics in this season's Champions League, the comparisons are mounting between
what Chelsea have achieved, and what England could potentially achieve, this summer, at Euro
2012.
Of course, Chelsea were the underdogs going into both the semi-final, against Barcelona, and Bayern
Munich, in the final, but they came through to be successful.
If Redknapp goes, who should be the next Tottenham manager? - originally posted on
Soccerlens.com
As I type this Harry Redknapp is still the Tottenham Hotspur manager, though it's fair to say
very few people expect him to still be Spurs manager when the season starts in August. Judging from
the comments of all parties involved it seems as if Redknapp's departure is as inevitable as a Matt
Le Tissier penalty.
TweetChelsea overcame Bayern Munich on penalties to be crowned champions of Europe in a match which
left In The Stands' Rolly Pelovangu all the more wiser. Home Advantage Meant Little Advantage For
Bayern Munich It was meant to be their final, on their ground, in their country. At 4/5 bookies
made Bayern Munich strong favourites [.
Andre Villas-Boas has told pals he has ‘no chance' of getting the Liverpool job.
The Portuguese coach, sacked by Chelsea in March, held talks with the Reds earlier this month about
replacing sacked Kenny Dalglish in the Anfield dugout.
But after being installed as the bookies' favourite to assume the Kop reins, Villas-Boas, 34, has
dropped down the pecking order in the last 24 hours.
1. Rafa Benitez Let's talk about facts: Rafa is still loved by the Liverpool faithful, is settled
on Merseyside and is available. Little wonder that he's gone straight in as the bookies' favourite
for the job. 2. Graeme Souness Woah, woah, woah, Rafa. If the Reds are going to continue this retro
manager vibe then [.
Celtic hosting Rangers and Hibs continuing their long, frustrating struggle to shake off relegation
rivals Dunfermline against St Mirren. Two games that might normally have the Betfair football
betting experts scratching their heads.
Today's match at Celtic Park is both essentially meaningless and yet crammed full of meaning.
Lord Redknapp of The Sandbanks or Woy The Hedge or Stuart Pearce?
A colleague has had an entertaining conversation with a senior HMR&C official and was informed that
the police found copious amounts of highly incriminating evidence when the mansion of a certain
individual was raided.
Roy Hodgson is on the verge of becoming England's new manager. His current employers, West Brom,
have given the FA permission to make an official approach, with private talks between Hodgson and
the FA having already taken place behind the scenes. In other words, he definitely wants it, the FA
definitely want him and West [.
When bookmaking organisations see no benefit in allowing a market on a match to exist eg agreed
draws at the close of the Serie A season in Italy or very overwhelming insider trading on non
top-tier matches where liquidity issues prevent the options of hedging and/or balancing the books
(never mind turning an honest profit), the market is suspended or terminated.
Warning: this is not a video to watch in earshot of your boss. Ex-Rangers goalkeeper Andy Goram received a tirade of abuse from Celtic fans who found him playing the roulette machines in a bookmakers. The video starts with the fan chanting "There's only two Andy Gorams" in reference to the former Scotland international suffering [.
Men's Football Tournament 26th July - 11th August 2012 Venues -Wembley, London 90,000 Old Trafford, Manchester 76,000 Millennium, Cardiff 74,500 St James Park, Newcastle 52,000 Hampden Park, Glasgow 52,000 Ricoh Arena, Coventry 32,500
Group A:Great Britain,Senegal, United Arab Emirates,Uruguay Group B: Mexico, South Korea, Gabon, Switzerland Group C: Brazil, Egypt, Belarus, New Zealand Group D: Spain, Japan, Honduras, Morocco
1st round - 26th July, 29th July, 1st August Quarter-Finals - 4th August (London, Manchester, Newcastle & Cardiff) Semi-Finals - 7th August (London & Manchester) Bronze medal match - 10th August (Cardiff) Final - 11th August (London)
Bookies' favourites in order: Brazil, Spain, Great Britain, Uruguay, Switzerland, Mexico, South
Korea, Japan, Egypt, Belarus, Senegal, Morocco, Gabon, Honduras, U.
