Premier League: Who will finish in the top four this season?

Finishing in a top four position at the end of a Premier League season is what most English teams dream of. The competition endured throughout a Premier League season remains to be at a very high level with few teams containing the ability to be able to finish in a top four position. Finishing in the top four gives each of the teams a chance of playing in one of the most prestigious footballing events, the UEFA Champions League. The teams in the running for a top four finish are as follows: Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool.

In the running for first and second place has to be City and United. The Manchester sides are a step ahead of the rest of the teams in the Premiership and are sure to finish in first and second. Their final position will be determined by which team is able to keep form, and the daunting factor of injuries, which may be incurred throughout the season. Anyone gambling on football should remember this.

This season third and fourth remains to be a position that is harder to come by, this being due to four teams fighting for two all-important positions. Last season the Premiership was one of the closest battles yet. The teams that finished in first, second, third, and fourth were as follows: Manchester United (1st), Chelsea (2nd), Manchester City (3rd), and Arsenal (4th). The team that has seemed to decline most in form since last season has to be Chelsea. At the weekend they sustained a bore draw against Wigan, which ultimately proved that the London side aren’t cut out for top four football. Anyone looking at the Premier League best odds should bear this in mind.

Andre Villas-Boas – Chelsea’s current manager - will have to claim some important transfers in the January transfer window to ensure that Chelsea remain to be viable contenders in the Premier League. Tottenham and Arsenal look to have adopted a good run of form and are sure to finish in the top four with Arsenal being the more likely candidate for third position.

This season, Liverpool simply doesn’t have a strong enough squad to compete for a top four finish. Kenny Dalglish – The Reds’ current manager – will have to build upon his squad and attempt a top four finish next season.

Soccer Players: Can Ba's form guide Senegal to glory?

Newcastle Untied's Demba Ba looks to be in the form of his life and with the African Cup of Nations looming it seems like his clubs loss could be Senegal's gain.

The 2012 African Cup of Nations is the 28th renewal of the event and it gets underway on January 21st and given it lasts until February 12th a number of Premier League side could be without their star players for some time.

However, Ba's contribution to Newcastle United has been huge this season, bagging as he has 16 goals in 13 appearances and it seems likely they will struggle to cope without him.

But that won't bother Senegal and their fans who will be hoping the striker will be able to take his form into the African Cup of Nations and help them seal a memorable upset. Those looking at the best African cup of nations betting online will be keeping an eye on him.

The nation have been drawn in Group A of the tournament and will play against Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Zambia in the first round and they will be hopeful of progressing in what is one of the easiest groups in the tournament.

However, their price of around 12/1 makes them something of a long shot to go on and win the whole thing and Ba will have to carry a lot of weight on his shoulders if the side are to see of Ivory Coast and Ghana, who are the two favourites in the competition.

But if he can transfer his goal scoring form to the ACON, then it could be that he returns to his club tired but victorious. 
Newcastle fans will just be hoping he comes back in one piece.

London sides miss out

Tottenham failed to close the gap on the top two after a thrilling 1-1 draw with Chelsea at White Hart Lane.
Both sides were chasing victory to keep pace with the runaway leaders, but cancelled each other out in a free-flowing encounter.

Controversial Chelsea skipper John Terry played 24 hours after discovering he was being charged with racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand. Terry vindicated manager Andre Villas-Boas’ decision to select him with a courageous display.

Chelsea needed all of Terry’s experience and courage in the opening exchanges as Spurs threatened to run riot. They were swift and incisive and took a deserved lead when Gareth Bale surged down the left and crossed to find Emmanual Adebayor, who benefited from a hesitant Petr Cech to finish. People following the in-play football betting will have been impressed.

The home side were dominant and left Chelsea chasing shadows at times. They looked set to close the gap on the leaders Manchester City to seven points.

However, Chelsea harbour slight title hopes themselves and hit Spurs on the break. Ashley Cole’s cross found Daniel Sturridge and the Chelsea front man converted past Brad Friedel.

The goal lifted Chelsea and the visitors gained a foothold in the game. Didier Drogba hit the woodwork as Chelsea threatened to take the lead.

Both sides recovered from half-time changes to produce a second half just as exciting as the first. The game ebbed and flowed, but there was no way through for either side. Terry had the final say when he blocked an Adebayor shot on the line in the closing stages.

Neither side lost any ground in the race for the Champions League spots after the 1-1 draw, but the battle for the title looks increasingly like a two-horse race.

Reds to test Blues depth

The Carling Cup semi-final legs between Liverpool and Manchester City look set to be mouth-watering contests but who will be walking out onto the Wembley turf on February 26?

City have certainly been impressive to watch this season, as they have managed to cut out many of the mistakes against lesser side that made them slip up in the Premier League title race last term.

With a 100% winning record at the Etihad Stadium, the Blues have certainly turned their ground into a fortress and Liverpool will have to make the short trip to Manchester looking to feed off scraps, as City have proved they can keep hold of the ball well in front of their home crowd. People placing a Carling Cup bet should remember this.

The first leg on January 11 could see City boss Roberto Mancini field a strong side to try and kill the tie off before the return trip to Anfield, where Liverpool are capable of beating any club in the world on their day. Those looking at the Carling Cup betting should bear this in mind.

Reds manager Kenny Dalglish does have the benefit of a stronger squad this season, having spent big money over the summer and that should hold them in good stead over the two semi-final legs.

These two sides did play out a 1-1 draw in the Premier League back in November thanks to goals from City players Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott who found the back of his own net.

However considering the seemingly limitless international talent at City it's hard to see them slipping up this time and they should reach the final of the Carling Cup early next year.

Dalglish out to end Reds wait

There is no doubting manager Kenny Dalglish has made a big impact since his return to his beloved Liverpool and the Scotsman would love nothing better than to secure some silverware in his first full season back in charge at Anfield.

The Merseyside outfit have splashed the cash under Dalglish which in turn has created some strength in depth at Anfield; something that was lacking for a number of years previous under the likes of Rafa Benitez and Roy Hodgson.

For this reason and with the lack of European football in Liverpool this term, the Reds have been able to plough more resources and quality into the domestic cups. People looking at the Carling Cup betting should remember this.

Both skipper Steven Gerrard and veteran defender Jamie Carragher have stated they would love to guide the club to a day out at Wembley but they do have to get past Premier League frontrunners Manchester City before they can think about walking down the tunnel at the national stadium. Those looking at the odds Carling Cup final should bear this in mind.

Liverpool’s first job will be to try and get something from their first leg trip to the Etihad Stadium on January 11, which many teams have found to be no easy feat this season.

City have a 100% winning record at Eastlands in the Premier League this term and it will be up to the likes of Carragher and Gerrard (if he returns from injury) to come to the fore against the Blues.

It will be a tough test for Dalglish and his men but considering Liverpool’s cup history you would not put it past them.

Can Liverpool finish in the top four?

Until recently, Liverpool were the most successful English team. Their comprehensive history includes: 18 top tier English football league titles, 7 FA Cups, 7 League Cups, 5 UEFA Champions League titles, and 3 UEFA Cups.

The Reds' most successful season was back in the 1983/84 season where they managed to claim a prestigious treble obtaining the top tier league title, the League Cup, and the European Cup. With their current squad it seems unlikely that they will have the quality to enable the Reds to achieve as successfully as they have done in previous seasons.

The once mighty Reds have dipped in form since the 2009/10 season where Liverpool finished in a disappointing 7th place, which effectively led to ex manager Rafael Benitez leaving by mutual consent. Those looking at the football predictions should remember this.

Soon after Benitez's departure, it was former Fulham and current West Brom manager Roy Hodgson that took the managerial reigns. After a mere 6 months in charge Hodgson was sacked with Kenny Dalglish taking his place. Since Dalglish's arrival, things are looking slightly brighter for Liverpool. Probably due to the fact that the current owners allowed free reign to Dalglish in terms of available cash to spend on new acquisitions; something which they didn't entrust with Hodgson.

This season's Liverpool squad does not contain the quality in comparison to the likes of a handful of teams including: Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea. The Premier League betting predictions reflect this.

Current manager and Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish will have to claim some important purchases in the January transfer market to compete with the likes of the aforementioned teams; especially so when considering the fact that their star player and Uruguayan international Luis Suarez has been banned for 8 games for being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's French left-back Patrice Evra.

Dyer in fresh injury heartbreak

Injury-plagued Queens Park Rangers midfielder Kieran Dyer may not feature again this season after breaking down during a reserve team comeback.

The 32-year-old limped off with a recurrence of the foot injury he suffered minutes into his QPR debut against Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the season. The injury will now require surgery and is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season. People who have placed football bets will know how unlucky he has been.
QPR boss Neil Warnock has moved to dismiss fears that this latest setback could spell the end of Dyer’s career. He said: "I have absolutely no doubt that he will recover after the operation."

The former Ipswich Town and Newcastle United man has spent the latter part of his career on the sidelines. He has featured just 41 times for various clubs over the last five seasons and has struggled to string a run of games together. The latest setback will no doubt have him questioning his future in football.

Injuries have blighted Dyer’s career. After a promising start to his career at Ipswich, Dyer seemed destined for the top. He signed for Newcastle in a multi-million pound deal in 1999, but controversy and injuries were never far away.

Dyer spent some time on loan back at Ipswich last season after a failed spell at West Ham United, before making the move to west London in the summer on a one-year deal. It remains to be seen whether he will add to his brief appearance for QPR.

On the flipside, QPR must decide whether to renew his deal next summer. It is another testing period in Dyer’s career.

Soccer World: Big sides gear up for FA Cup action

With the FA Cup third round just around the corner, let’s take a look at how the cup was won last season.

Arsenal and Manchester City were given scares by Championship sides on their way to the fourth round. The Gunners needed a late penalty to earn a replay at Elland Road, while City were taken to a replay by Leicester City. Notts County provided the shock of the round, beating Sunderland 2-1 at the Stadium of Light.

Manchester City needed another replay in the fourth round, this time to get past third-round giant-killers Notts County. Chelsea left the FA Cup at the fourth round stage after losing on penalties to Everton. Anyone making an online FA Cup bet would have been shocked.

Manchester United were faring better than the previous season, but made hard work of Crawley Town at Old Trafford in the fifth round. The non-league outfit won all the plaudits, despite losing the tie 1-0. Manchester City, Arsenal and United were the high-profile names in the hat for the quarter-final draw.

Arsenal came unstuck at Old Trafford, while City scraped past Reading at home. Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City also took their places in the semi-final following narrow victories over Birmingham City and West Ham United, respectively.

Any hopes of an all-Manchester final were dashed when the cross-city rivals were drawn together in the semis. Yaya Toure scored the only goal of the game as City overcame United at Wembley. The following day, Stoke demolished Bolton 5-0.

Toure was the star of the show again in the final. His goal with 15 minutes remaining was enough to see off Stoke and give City FA Cup success for the first time in 42 years.

City start their defence at home to bitter rivals United in the third round. It promises to be another exciting FA Cup journey.

Blow for Barca as Villa breaks leg

It is a tournament that receives much criticism given its awkward timing and relative unimportance, but I guess the World Club Championship has lost a whole heap more supporters following Barcelona’s game with Al-Sadd.

Not that is was anything to do with Barca's Qatari opponents, who worked diligently to try and contain the European Champions. The eventual 4-0 score-line was perfectly respectable given the difference in quality between the two sides.

But Pep Guardiola’s men paid a heavy price for their win and progression to Sundays final against Santos, with striker David Villa suffering a broken leg.

The 30-year-old Spain international fractured his left tibia when he fell awkwardly just before half-time of the clash in Yokohama, Japan.

"Bad news for David Villa and Barca; the striker's left tibia is fractured," Barcelona said on their Twitter feed.

"The player has been taken to the Yokohama Rosa hospital for further tests."

The injury means he could miss the rest of the season and even his participation with Spain at Euro 2012 is now in doubt, leaving the club to ruw their particpation in a tourament that is more cermonial than anything else.

Barca’s La Liga odds may take a hit after this, with the Catalan outfit facing the prospect of going into the winter break second behind Real, who unlike Barca, will play this weekend.

As Spain’s all-time leading goalscorer with 50 goals in 81 games his absence would also be keenly felt in Poland and the Ukraine next summer, with Villa’s striker partner, Fernando Torres, struggling for form.

Villa was a popular name for those looking to bet on the top scorer at the Championships, given the key role he played in the 2010 World Cup and the 12 goals in 26 games he has hit so far this term.

Barca will be hoping hospital scan prove the break to be not as serious as feared and that the former Valencia man can get back fit and firing before the end of the season.

Soccer Games:Tractor Boys come from behind

Ipswich Town boss Paul Jewell must have feared the worse when he walked into the dressing room at half-time during their game against Barnsley at Oakwell last Saturday.

His side was 2-0 down and staring down the barrel of an eight consecutive league defeat. Incredibly, they hit five goals during the second half as they staged the most unlikely of comebacks.

Barnsley went into the game full of confidence having won their previous four games and looked set to make it five wins on the bounce when Craig Davies gave them the lead from the spot. Those who had placed Championship bets on the side will have been confident things were going their way.

When in-form Ricardo Vaz Te headed home to make it 2-0 five minutes before the break, there looked to be no way back for a demoralised Ipswich side. It seemed a case of damage limitation for Jewell and his men.

Crucially, Keith Andrews got one back within 20 seconds of the restart with a brilliant volley. The Ipswich skipper then hauled his side well and truly back in the game just a few minutes later when he headed past Luke Steele to make it 2-2. The Republic of Ireland international had completely changed the complexion of the game and Barnsley were rocking.

Worse was to come for the home side. Danny Collins gave the Tractor Boys the lead with a powerful header, before Michael Chopra doubled that lead within the space of two minutes.

Ipswich weren’t done yet. Jason Scotland finished Cresswell’s cross to make it five and end a goal drought which had spanned eight games. Barnsley did get one back late on through an excellent Davies free-kick, but it was too late for the Tykes.

It was a brilliant second half display which could well have saved Jewell from the sack. The game could prove to be a watershed in Ipswich’s season.

Top sides set for Champions League misery

In recent years, qualifying for the Champions League has become an obsession for the top clubs in England.

Although the title is still the main prize, even fourth spot can offer adequate consolation given the amount of cash on offer in Europe’s top club competition.

However, only four sides are given the opportunity to play in the tournament, meaning at least one fancied side misses out each season.

With so many clubs spending huge amounts of money in the hope of qualifying for the Champions League the stakes are even higher than ever before.

Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur all have serious top four aspirations this season and by and large have spent big to make sure they get there. Those following the latest Champions League odds will know how important the tournament is.

Although City’s owners mean they don’t have to worry too much about missing out on the massive windfall that is the Champions League, the other five clubs can ill afford not to be getting a slice of that lucrative pie.

The plain fact is though, two of the six clubs will miss out and will have to cope with a Champions League sized hole in their accounts the next season.

Worse, the world’s best players now expect Champions League football in order to showcase their skills at the highest level, and if a club can’t offer that they may look to move on.

Spurs look the most vulnerable here, with the likes of Luka Modric clearly unsettled last summer when the side failed to finish in the top four.

Whatever happens, two of the Premier League’s top sides will be in for a tough summer.

Soccer World: Curbs thinks Parker talented has been wasted by England

Former Charlton and West Ham manager Alan Curbishley believes England have failed to utlise the talents of midfielder Scott Parker during his career.

The 31-year-old has only just begun to play for England regular after winning his first four caps while with four different clubs across eight years.

However, he has finally found a niche in Fabio Capello’s line-up, acting as a holding midfielder in front of the back four.

It is a position that is ‘en vogue’ given the success of Claude Makelele at Chelsea and the adoption of the 4-1-3-2 formation at international level, finally giving Parker the chance to gain a foot hold in the England set-up.

He also seems to have found a new home at Tottenham Hotspur. After battling, unsuccessfully against relegation with West Ham last season it was always clear he would leave. But after failing to truly find his best form in spells at Newcastle and Chelsea Parker knew it was a big move.

Thankfully for him and Spurs it has worked and the club are currently third in the table and well fancied in the champions league betting stakes.

They are even considered dark horses for the title after winning ten games out of 11, though their premier league odds did drift after their controversial 2-1 defeat at Stoke last Sunday.

Switching back to Parker and when asked if he thought England had wasted the midfielder's ability, Curbishley told BBC Radio 5 live: "I think so.

"If you define his role as a holding midfielder, there's nobody better."

"We saw the advent of Makelele as a holding midfield player, [Nigel] De Jong is in there for Manchester City, and Scott Parker is up there with them all because he is so quick over the ground, he makes tackles and wins the ball.

"We have been crying out for somebody in the England set-up to do that when you have the likes of [Steven] Gerrard and [Frank] Lampard either side.

"Parker would have been the ideal foil for them and I can't understand that [why he was not used more often in the past].

"He went off with the [extended] England squad to the World Cup in South Africa, before it got whittled down to the squad that went, and he didn't get in.

"That was a massive surprise to everybody because the way he played and trained in that week, everyone thought he was an absolute cert to be going and, if you look at the best countries around the world, especially at that World Cup in South Africa, Spain had two holding players, so did Brazil.

"Everyone had holding midfield players except us.”

Bruce departure highlights fine lines of success and failure

In the end it was not the Sunderland chairman, Ellis Short, who condemned manager Steve Bruce to the sack, it was the Black Cats supporters.

The sheer level of bile and vitriol aimed in his direction following Wigan’s last minute winner on Saturday rendered his position untenable.

Bruce looked wounded in his post-match press conference, stressing that he “couldn’t help where he was born”. Sadly for him, the north east is more tribal than most, so Bruce’s Newcastle roots were always going to be a stick to beat him with when things went wrong.

And they certainly did that on Saturday – “you fat Geordie b******, get out of our club” was the chant swirling venomously around the Stadium of Light.

Bruce said it bordered on abuse and I can’t say I disagree, but in the eyes of the chairman those singing fans are also paying punters, and when they lose faith in the manager it is very hard for the boss to turn things round. The relegation betting alone will have caused the Sunderland hierarchy to get twitchy.

Ellis Short consulted those around him and after a few days to take stock decided that results were not good enough for Bruce to continue.

Three home wins so far this year certainly points to that, but performances haven’t been that bad. But such are the fine margins in football scores a failure to convert close draws into narrow wins have cost Bruce dear.

His biggest mistake though was probably the failure to adequately replaced Darren Bent, Danny Welbeck and Asamoah Gyan – a more ruthless cutting edge may have made the difference in some games this season. Thirty players have come and gone during his tenure, suggesting a lack of an overall plan or formula for success.

Supporters have also criticised him for being too rigid tactically, that a failure to adapt to game situations leaves him open to be out manoeuvred by more astute managers.

There is no doubt that Steve Bruce is a talented manager, but in the cut-throat arena of the Premier League small details make a big difference, and it has cost him dear.

Soccer World: Which team will qualify in Group B along with the group winners Inter Milan?

In the qualification group stage process in the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League, the fight to qualify in Group B looks to be quite a difficult task for all teams concerned.

The Italian outfit Inter Milan have won Group B by a achieving a total of 10 points, with no other team being able to catch them. This puts Inter in good stead for when they play in the Knockout Phase of the prestigious competition.  
The other teams that reside in Group B are as follows: Trabzonspor (2nd), Lille (3rd), and CSKA Moscow (4th). My favoured team, other than Inter Milan, is the French side Lille. People placing a Champions League bet should remember this.

They have being playing okay in the top tier of French football and currently reside in 3rd position. They’ll need to pick up their form in the league, and attempt to transfer a good run-of-form into the Champions League to ensure qualification. So, in answer to the question in the title – ‘Which team will qualify in Group B along with the group winners Inter Milan?’ – My thought is that current French champions Lille will qualify. Those who bet on Champions League games should bear this in mind.

Their next, and final matchup consists of playing Turkish outfit Trabzonspor at home. The result in this match seems quite obvious in foresight, but the Turkish side have shocked us all before. Take for example the match between the Italian powerhouses Inter Milan, and Trabzonspor.

Now although the Italian side were clear favourites, the Turkish club pulled out all the stops and claimed that all-important 0-1 victory away at the San Siro, Milan. Another reason that makes Lille more likely to qualify, is the fact that Russian outfit CSKA Moscow are playing Inter Milan at the San Siro. For obvious reasons the Italian side are clear favourites and I can imagine the result ending in a 3-1 victory to the home side.

Beye wants Doncaster stay

Habib Beye is keen to stay at Doncaster Rovers for the rest of the season as he has no desire to head back to his parent club.

The right-back joined the Yorkshire club on loan from Aston Villa until January, but he is hoping to secure a longer move after making his first appearance in a 0-0 draw with Watford this weekend.

"Beye told BBC Radio Sheffield: "I think I will be here all season because I don't want to go back to Villa.

"Unless Doncaster kick me out, I will be here all season. It's a great club and I want to be part of it."

Although the side are struggling near the wrong end of the table, Baye is happy to stay and do his bit to drag them out the relegation zone. Those looking at the online Championship betting should remember this.

He pointed to their 0-0 draw with Watford as a sign that the team is heading in the right direction, although admit the side would have to work hard to get out of trouble.

Doncaster have been extremely active in the loan market since making an agreement with agent Willie McKay which sees him representing them in the transfer market.

He has been charged with finding players which can help in their survival fight and has made a number of additions.

Marc Antione Fortunre, Carl Ikeme and Herold Goulon have all arrived at the club in recent weeks, while El-Hadji Diouf has teamed up with the club on a free transfer.

Soccer games:Ferguson to go with youth

Manchester United will continue their policy of fielding a youthful side in the Carling Cup when they take on Crystal Palace in this week's quarter-final tie. Sir Alex Ferguson revealed he would be making wholesale changes from the side that were held to a draw at home to Newcastle at the weekend, with the majority of senior players expected to be rested once again.  Those looking at the odds carling cup should bear this in mind.

Mame Biram Diof and Federico Macheda have been restricted to Carling Cup appearances so far this season, and the attacking duo are expected to once again be handed a chance to impress in this tournament. Ferguson also revealed exciting youngster Ravel Morrison, who made the bench for last week's Champions League game against Benfica, will be likely to once again make the match-day squad. Anyone placing a Carling Cup bet should remember this.

"There will be complete change. Just the same as we had at Leeds and Aldershot. All the younger players [will come in] – Zeki Fryers, the two Da Silvas [Rafael and Fabio] are possibles," he said.

"Ravel Morrison was in the squad for Wednesday's game [against Benfica], and he'll possibly be on the bench, at least, in midweek. But I've got other players needing a game like Mame Biram Diouf and Federico Macheda."

The youthful squad will need to be fully focused for their clash against an in-form Palace side. Dougie Freedman's men have enjoyed a somewhat surprisingly strong start to the season in the Championship, currently 10th in the table. The London club will certainly give United a game and Ferguson will be hoping his young side can handle the pressure. 

Soccer World: Tevez eyeing Milan escape-route

It isn’t quite the beloved Buenos Aires Carlos Tevez is so desperate to return to, but the warmer climes and glamorous image of Milan seems a decent back-up option for the Argentine.

His relationship with high-flying Manchester City has been dead for a while, perhaps even before his contretemps in Munich last September. Now he doesn’t even pretend to care about his job, showing the barefaced cheek to simply not turn up for training and instead play golf – in front of the cameras - thousands of miles away in his native Argentina. All while picking up in the region of £250,000 a week.

Now it has been revealed that officials from AC Milan have begun talks with Tevez’s advisors over a deal to take him to Italy.

This is where the Carlos Tevez money machine kicks in. There is no doubting his talent, he is always among the favourites in the top scorer betting ,and his high workrate and energetic style makes him popular with the fans.

But his career is beginning to follow a pattern – with big money moves every couple of years, with his ‘advisors’ and various other hangers on earning very tidy sums for negotiating on his behalf.

Was it the influence of these people, lurking in the background, that unsettled Tevez in the first place?

We can only speculate, but there will certainly be some hard negotiating in the coming weeks. City are desperate to get him off their books before he starts to corrode their promising campaign to date, but they are also rich enough to be able to command a significant transfer fee – they are pretty much the only club in the world who could actually ‘let him rot in the reserves’.

Milan, despite their stature in the World game, don’t have bottomless pockets either so they will be hoping to take advantage of the saga and snap up a talented player on the cheap.

And surely Tevez is keen to play live football again? Or maybe he isn’t, and that’s his problem. But if that is the case then he (and his advisors) shouldn’t be taking vast sums of money with one hand but slapping his employers in the face with the other.

Spurs can Win the League - Redknapp

Yesterday evening, Emmanuel Adebayor scored a couple of goals in Tottenham Hotspur's match against Aston Villa to help Spurs climb to third place in the Premier League, displacing Newcastle United.

The result, hewn from the grass at White Hart Lane, had a profound effect on the Londoners' coach, Harry Redknapp, who has since tipped his club to claim their first league title since the 1960/61 season. Anyone looking at the best online football betting should remember this.

Spurs have won eight of their last nine encounters, a tally equalled by table-toppers, Manchester City, who have not lost a game this season, but fell to a draw with Fulham on September 18.

Manchester United, the only other club above Spurs in the league, after City, have won six of their previous nine fixtures. The Red Devils' first (and so far, only) loss of the season was their infamous 6-1 drubbing by City, on October 23.

“The title is a possibility; it's not impossible”, explained Redknapp, in the aftermath of last night's encounter with the Villa.

However, despite his newfound optimism, which came after his first day back in charge at Tottenham, following heart surgery, Redknapp remains realistic: “If we keep up our form, we'll win the league, but it will be very hard.”

Spurs' chances at claiming the gold is directly tied to the performance of Manchester United and Manchester City, who will need to falter on their quest for the Premier League title, to give Tottenham a shot at the title.

Chelsea and Arsenal, although they endured shaky starts to the 2011/12 campaign, should not be written out of the title race just yet.

Can Croatia make an impact at Euro 2012?

Croatia, or formerly known as Yugoslavia, have been quite a force in the history of the World Cup and the European Cup respectively. Although they have never quite made it to a final, they still remain to be a team of which other national sides fear. In the qualification group stages Croatia – nicknamed The Blazers – finished 2nd in Group F narrowly missing out on 1st position by a mere 2 points.

The other teams that resided in Group F were as follows: Greece (1st), Israel (3rd), Latvia (4th), Georgia (5th), and Malta (6th).  The Croatian’s best result had to be their 3-1 Home victory against Israel. After going 1 goal down in the first half, Slaven Bilic – the current manager of Croatia – must have had some serious words with his team, as the Croatians came managed to bag the 3 goals in the second half to ensure that all important victory. Anyone planning to bet on Euro 2012 will have been impressed.

The most disappointing result that The Blazers endured was the 1-0 away defeat against national footballing minnows Georgia.  Currently, Croatia’s most prolific player has to be Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Luka Modric. The Croatian star has had a massive impact on the Premiership since joining Tottenham from Dynamo Zagreb for a fee thought to be in and around the region of £16.5 million.

He is sure to take his excellent form from the Premier League, and focus on the up and coming European Cup. Croatia’s last matchup saw them face Turkey in what was the European Championship Qualifying playoff. The first leg ended in a 3-0 away victory for The Blazers after goals from Ivica Olic, Mario Mandzukic, and Vedran Corluka.

The second leg ended in a 0-0 draw ensuring Croatia’s qualification to the European Cup. Now although Croatia are one of the underdogs in the tournament, I could see them getting to at least a quarter-final, if not a semi-final.

Soccer World: Capello pleased with England's double win

England manager Fabio Capello revealed he had ‘found what he was looking for’ after victories over Spain and Sweden.

The Three Lions defied the football betting on Saturday to overcome European and World Champions Spain, with Frank Lampard grabbing the only goal.

Then on Tuesday Gareth Barry’s header deflected in off Celtic defender Daniel Majstorovic to give England their first win over Sweden since 1968.

But what pleased Capello the most, as well as those who watch Live Football Online at home, was the emergence of several young players, giving real competition for places.

The performance from the likes of Kyle Walker, Jack Rodwell and Phil Jones means that many of the established order are no longer guaranteed a place, meaning there is a real battle on to make Capello’s final squad for next summer’s European Championships. Something that pleases the Italian.

"It was important to win and important to beat Sweden after 43 years, but, for me, it was most important to see Jones, Walker and Rodwell play against a team which is really organised on the pitch and difficult to play against," said Capello after the game.

"The answer that I received from the performance was really important for me. These three players played really well.

"The last two matches, against Spain and Sweden, have been really interesting. During these games I was looking for something new and I found it. I found three really interesting players. These three players are really good technically, really good physically and all three are fast. That is important in modern football."

At the end of the season I will decide on my squad. I hope that all the midfield will be fit but Rodwell is a really interesting player. A young player. The competition to play at the Euros will be really, really strong and I hope that competition involves all these players."

Soccer World:Lambert glad for chance to catch breath

Norwich City have made an impressive start to their latest campaign in the top flight of English football, but manager Paul Lambert is grateful for the current international break which he believes will give his squad the chance to take stock of their achievements to date and recharge their batteries ahead of the next stage of their season.

Speaking this week to BBC Radio Norfolk he was full of praise for his players but admitted that he was relieved for the breathing room ahead of another tough stack of fixtures:

"It's been relentless. The break will galvanise us again. The first game back though is Arsenal which will be another mammoth task – but it's something we love doing."

Highlights of the campaign so far have included wins against Swansea, Sunderland and Bolton; a 1-1 draw at Anfield, and as a hard-fought point against Blackburn Rovers during which Lambert saw his side fight back from 3-1 down with just ten minutes remaining on the clock. People following the Premier League betting should bear this in mind.

The Canaries have really been up against it so far this season – especially in defence where they have seen long-term injuries to Zak Whitbread and Elliott Ward leave them so short in the centre-back department that full-back Russell Martin has filled in on a number of occasions – but with Martin now ruled out of action with an ankle knock, that leaves just a threadbare defensive unit at Lambert's disposal. The Premier League betting predictions reflect this.

After Arsenal, Norwich will face QPR, Man City, Newcastle and then Everton – a run of fixtures by any team's standards – and with the Canaries still yet to keep a clean sheet this season, shipping a massive 22 goals in all competitions, Lambert will have his work cut out keeping things tight at the back until he can bolster his ranks in the January transfer window.

Soccer World:Rovers looking to turn performances into points

There is no doubting just how tough the Blackburn boss has had it since being appointed manager last season. The media have insinuated that underhanded tactics were involved to remove his predecessor with Kean waiting in the wings as heir apparent; the fans have become disillusioned with both his tactics and transfer policy, and they have now grown exasperated by his bullish refusal bow to the virtually continual protests against his tenure. However, down but not out, the Scot is viewing the impending international break as a chance to regroup before his team manufacture a push up the league.

Following a tough start to the season which has seen them pitted against Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, Kean is confident that with their next six league fixtures scheduled against Wigan, Stoke, Swansea, Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion and Bolton he will see his side’s recent strong performances converted into points – which in turn will see them projected up the table. The latest football betting odds suggest they will find things tough though.

Speaking after the 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Chelsea, he remained upbeat and denied that a sense of panic had set in around Ewood Park: 

"Now we have got games against teams around us and if our levels are as high as they have been then I am convinced we will pick up points." 

With the pressure on the Rovers’ board to sack the manager set to increase in coming weeks, Kean needs to find a way to back up these claims – and quickly. After some sections of the Ewood Park faithful found an ingenious way around the recent banner-ban within the stadium by flying a plane across the skies above Blackburn on Saturday, wielding the all-too-familiar "Steve Kean Out" message, it seems that there will be no let up for the beleaguered boss until positive results start flowing.

Soccer World: Wigan look doomed after latest defeat

They may have suffered eight defeats on the bounce before – on two occasions in fact – but this latest nightmare run could prove terminal for Wigan’s Premier League hopes.

Their latest defeat, at Wolves on Sunday, left them bottom of the Premier League without a win since August. Yes, it is only November, with plenty of football still to be played, and Wigan have always being among the favourites in the relegation betting  in their seven year stay in the top flight to date, but the options available to boss Roberto Martinez and chairman Dave Whelan appear limited.

Martinez has changed Wigan’s style of play in recent years, moving away from the more rugged, direct football of his predecessors.

However, in order for that to be successful you need players with enough technique to pull it off. The summer departures of Charles N’Zogbia and Tom Cleverly hit the Latics hard, and with Whelan seeking to cut costs Martinez has not had the funds to bring in direct replacements. Neat, passing football rarely flourish in uncompromising relegation battles.

He should be commended for rejecting the advances for Aston Villa in the summer in order to stay loyal to Wigan, but now his chairman is facing a test of his own. There are plenty of examples down the years of club’s failing to act decisively in order to dig themselves out of trouble, while others have made a tough – but ultimately successful - decision.

My hunch is that Whelan will not sack Martinez, he knows the restrictions his manager is under and has a long enough memory (unlike many other Premier League chairman) to remember all the good things Martinez has done.

Next up for the Latics is gargantuan relegation clash with Blackburn, a point above them at the foot of the table. Lose that -and with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool to come in their next six games – then you can bet on relegation finally coming to haunt Wigan and their fairytale run in the Premier League come to an uncomfortable end.

Soccer World: Levante living the dream

For many the Spanish Primera Liga is the ultimate two-team league. You have footballing powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid, and then you have the rest, scratching around for scraps.

The way Spanish clubs negotiate their own TV rights also means that this inequality is merely magnified when it comes to finances – the big two able to command fees far higher than the rest.

But just when we thought romance was dead a plucky little side from Valencia are defying gravity and ruffling a few of the established feathers.

After successfully staving off relegation last year with a run of eight wins in 12 games from January to April, tiny Levante are unbeaten in their first eight games of the current campaign – beating Real Madrid in the process – and turning the La Liga betting on its head. They are currently only second to Barcelona by a point, with the Catalans having played a game more.

But before you suspect heavy investment is involved in what is the best start in their 102 year history I feel I should say now that it isn’t - Levante spent €210,000 over the summer. How about in previous seasons? Nope, their most expensive player cost €300,000 and their last 50 players have cost a combined total of less than €400,000.  Their entire budget is €22m – 20 times less than that of Barcelona, who are just a point better off.

Now, not many people think this flying start will continue, the age of their squad would dictate that they can’t defy the La Liga odds forever and that there will be a drop-off at some point. But it has at least breathed new life into what was becoming a stale and predicable league – even with the brilliance of Messi and co.

Their story gives others hope that money doesn’t rule all and maybe, just maybe, the underdog could have its day.

Soccer games: Platt staying grounded

Manchester City first-team coach David Platt has insisted the squad are fully focused on their upcoming Carling Cup date with Wolverhampton Wanderers following their heroics last weekend.

In what was a thrilling encounter which had everything at Old Trafford on Sunday, City ran out 6-1 victors over their rivals Manchester United, to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points.

However there has not been too much time to celebrate, as their Italian manager Roberto Mancini and his side look to progress to the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup, with a victory over Wolves at Molineux on Wednesday. People placing a Carling Cup bet should remember this.

Following such as historic victory over a United side which has ruled the roost for so many years in Manchester, City could be forgiven for taking time to pat themselves on the back and take in the magnitude of what they accomplished.

Platt has insisted that has not been the case and it has been business as usual at the club ahead of their upcoming League Cup encounter in the West Midlands this week. Those following the Carling Cup betting should remember this.

He said: "You have always got to put your football boots back on, it is always zero-zero when you start another game.

"It is something that will be at the back of his [Mancini's] mind, to make sure we don't let what happened at the weekend take away focus on what the position in hand is - and that is progress in the Carling Cup.

"There is a belief in them that they can do it and the manager is greedy, he wants everything.”

Soccer Games: Cardiff wait on Miller

Cardiff City will have to wait and see whether or not they will have Kenny Miller available to them for this week's Carling Cup clash against Burnley. The Scottish striker was forced from the field during his side's 5-3 thrilling victory against Barnsley at the weekend with a head injury, following an unfortunate collision with team-mate Ben Turner.

The former Rangers and Celtic striker had scored the opening goal of the match, only to run straight into the powerful figure of Turner just before the half-hour. Miller left the field with his head covered in blood, with his manager Malky Mackay later confirming the front-man had gone to hospital for a check-up. People looking at the Carling Cup betting should remember this.

The Bluebirds boss will now have to wait on the results of the scans before deciding whether or not to include him for this week's Carling Cup fourth-round against an unpredictable Burnley side. Anyone placing a Carling Cup bet should bear this in mind.

"I still don't know how it happened, but it was a 5ft 10in player running into a 6ft 5in giant. Ben was okay, but Kenny had to have stitches in a nasty cut on his head," he said.

"The doctor will have to check him out before we decide whether or not he will be alright to play on Tuesday night against Burnley."

Cardiff will be one of a number of Championship clubs who will be looking at the Carling Cup as a genuine chance of reaching the latter stages in a big competition. Having the in-form Miller available to Cardiff would be the ideal situation for Mackay, but the manager won't want to risk his main striker with so many important league games coming up. 

Soccer World: Could Rooney suspension be a good thing?

Ok, the headline may sound strange. But given his act of petulance against Montenegro will have ramifications on England’s preparations for next summer, it may force England into a beneficial reshuffle.

At time of writing Rooney is set to miss just the opening game of the finals in Poland and the Ukraine, though that could be extended to two or more.

This means that the Three Lions’ fate will largely be decided without their talismanic striker. But could there be some benefit from Rooney’s absence?

After all, over reliance on one or two players has been an England trait for years and that pressure has proven too much to bear for some meaning, unsurprisingly football scores have suffered.

Therefore this could force England to explore other options and give vital international experience to the likes of Andy Carroll, Darren Bent and Bobby Zamora.

Ok, they are not in the same class as Rooney, but by working out a plan b, when Rooney does come back into the team England will have a number of options, giving opposition defenders something to think about.

Given Rooney has been in the game of nearly ten years, we can no longer treat moments of madness like Friday night as a wild act of immaturity. he has had enough time to grow up and learn from his mistakes – the World Cup in 2006 was surely the moment for that. So therefore, despite his immense talent, he is a powder keg waiting to explode at any time – and opposition players know it.

Rooney’s red in Podgorica now means he will be taunted and tormented in England games to come, with defenders looking to get him sent off, don’t rule it happening in a crucial game again in the future.

Therefore, Capello has to find a workable alternative - otherwise if Rooney’s ban is extended to two or even three games he could play his first live football of the summer with England already on their way out of the tournament.

I know it is clutching at straws and trying to find a glimmer of hope amongst Rooney’s red mist, but sometimes circumstances can force change for the good. England will be hoping that will prove the case in eastern Europe next June.

Soccer Word: Richardson issues fans apology

Sunderland star Kieran Richardson has made an apology to the club's fans following their defeat to newly promoted Norwich City on Monday night in the Premier League.

The Black Cats have made a poor start to the season with just one win coming from their first six games, despite the club splashing the cash in the summer. The football betting suggests they could struggle.

Manager Steve Bruce was forced to bring in a number of new players after last season, with a handful of loan personnel who featured last term leaving the Stadium of Light.

It is taking time for the current crop of Sunderland players to gel and that has manifested itself with results on the pitch not going as planned and the pressure mounting on the manager, who is ultimately paying the price for a quick turnover in the squad.

The slow start was compounded on Monday at Carrow Road as Sunderland went down 2-1 to a spirited Canaries side, who were buoyed on by their home support. It was something of a football odds upset.

Richardson managed to get on the scoresheet for the visitors, however the former Manchester United star has felt it necessary to apologies to the Sunderland faithful for the team's performance against Norwich, after an uplifting win over Stoke City in their previous outing.

He told the club's website: "I was pleased to score but the result overall is very disappointing.

"We were on a high after the Stoke game, but we didn't play well tonight. We had possession in the first half, but it wasn't effective.

"It's a shame because we have let the fans down and I am sorry for that."

Can anyone stop Bayern Munich?

Bayern Munich are a legendary team for the supporters of the notorious club, and football fans around the world. In recent times the German side have been very successful. They've won the Bundesliga title a total of 22 times, the DFB-Pokal 15 times, the DFB Liga-Pokal 6 times, they've been the UEFA Champions League winners on 4 occasions, the runners up in the European Cup on 4 occasions, and managed to claim the Europa League once back in 1996.

The summer transfer window of 2011 was a busy period for Bayern Munich. The current manager – Jupp Heynckes – had much maneuverability in the aforementioned transfer window, acquiring the signatures of several players including Dale Jennings from Tranmere Rovers for an undisclosed fee, defender Jermome Boateng from Manchester City for a fee thought to be in the region of £13.5 million, Japanese international Usami on loan from Gamba Osaka, the talented goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from fellow Bundesliga side Schalke 04 for a astronomical figure of £18 million,  Brazilian international Rafinha from Italian outfit Genoa for a transfer sum of £7 million, and striker Nils Peterson from Energie Cottbus for a fee of £2.8 million. The manager hasn't just been sitting around watching a Betfair Manchester United Bowling Video.


These deals made Bayern Munich the biggest spending club in the Bundesliga, with the transfer fees rising over the £41 million mark. So, it's time for the question in the title. Can Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga in the 2011/12 season? In my eyes they certainly can. With an impressive manager and some highly talented players to boot, Bayern Munich are sure to cause problems for any up-and-coming opposition in the Bundesliga, and any other competition for that matter.  The German football betting reflects this.

The Bavarians – or Die Bayern – are the present favourites for the Bundesliga title. Their best odds stand at 2/9, which is an incredibly short price regarding the fact that the Bundesliga's 2011/12 season has only just begun. 

Mourinho prepares for Ajax tie

Jose Mourinho prepares his side for a home tie Ajax on Wednesday night following a debate amongst Real Madrid's general assembly about the Portuguese manager. Some of the members were unhappy with the outspoken coach, and felt he has damaged the reputation of the club since his arrival.

Despite the heated debate, club president Florentino Perez did defend the 48-year old who moved to the Bernabeu in May 2010 from Italian side Inter Milan.

Real were back to winning ways on Saturday with a 6-2 victory over Real Vallecano, following a 1-0 defeat to Levante, and a 0-0 draw with Racing Santander.






Man United Bowling


They did start with a win in their opening Champions League game two weeks ago in Dinamo Zagreb, coming out on top with a 1-0 victory. However, the nine-time winners of the competition have not won the leading club trophy in Europe since 2002. Users of online betting sites will know all about this.

Mourinho has already won the tournament twice as a manager, once in 2004 with Porto, and more recently in 2010 with Inter Milan. He will be hoping to become the first man to win the competition three times with three different clubs as manager. However, you can certainly see Manchester United Bowling over this current Real squad.

The 'special one' will conclude the last game of his three match ban by UEFA on Wednesday. He was handed the punishment following last season's semi-final defeat to Barcelona, when the Portuguese coach made an outburst about the officiating in the match.

Despite the reports of disagreements in the board room, Real assistant coach Aitor Karanka has confirmed that everyone is together inside the dressing room.
He said: "Everyone at the club is united, not just yesterday but they have been for a long time."

Nani aiming high

Manchester United star Nani has insisted he wants to be likened to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as one of the best players in world football.

The 24-year-old has bloomed at Old Trafford following his move from Portuguese outfit Sporting CP back in 2007, even though it took the winger a while to settle to the style of football in the Premier League.

Now the trickster is considered as one of the top players at United and showed why he is so highly valued when he scored a fabulous goal in the 3-1 victory over Chelsea, in arguably the biggest game of the season so far. Those looking at the Premier League best odds will know he seems to be getting better and better.

Nani played alongside Ronaldo for a short time at Old Trafford and you can see elements of the Real Madrid superstar in his protégé, who is making a name for himself in Europe, with some impressive performances in the Champions League last term. People who bet on Premier League games should bear this in mind.

After a strong start to the Premier League campaign, Nani has revealed some of his high aspirations for the future as he wants to go down as one of the game’s best.

He told Inside United: "That's one dream I've got: to be the best in the world.

"But I don't let it frustrate me. I have other priorities like winning trophies with the team.

"Hopefully, when I have finished playing football, people will say 'Nani was a fantastic player who won a lot of titles and beat records at the club'.

"I know I have the condition to be among the select best players in the world but I have to work hard and show that."

Soccer World: Hargreaves hoping to get career back on track

Owen Hargreaves must have the patience of a saint, given he has spent the best part of three years on the treatment table.

The 30-year-old last started a game for United in September 2008 after suffering from tendinitis in both knees.

Several aborted comeback attempts have been made since, including a start against Wolves last November that barely lasted five minutes before a hamstring injury forced him from the field. Regular Live Football  has eluded Hargreaves for too long.

He was released at the end of last season, sparking rumours that he was set to retire. However, the Canada born midfielder was determined to get back onto the field and went as far as releasing a YouTube video of himself, to prove his fitness to potential clubs.

In the end I doubt even Hargreaves would have expected United’s bitter rivals Manchester City to be the club who came in for him. But that was the reality in late August and in one of the more surprising moves of the window, Hargreaves signed for moneybags City.

He is set to make his first-team debut in the Carling Cup against Birmingham on Wednesday, though Mancini will leave it until the last minute to decide. Even if Hargreaves’ knees have recovered, three years without playing a full competitive 90 minutes will have taken its toll on the rest of his body.

It also remains to be seen whether his arrival will make any impact on City’s premier league odds. However, after all the pain and heartache of operations, rehabilitations, aborted comebacks and injury setbacks, Hargreaves will be grateful of any time spent across the white line and on the lush green turf of a football field.

Third Round 2011-12 Football League Cup: Leeds United Will Defeat Manchester United

Manchester United, bulldozing through the 2011-12 football campaigns, will lose to Leeds United in Third Round Carling Cup action. Here's four reasons why.

1. Ross McCormack: The 25-year-old Scottish attacker is en fuego right now with four goals in his last three matches for Leeds. The forward netted six already this year and will look to add to his tally against United.



2. It's at Elland Road: If this match was at United's pitch than Nani, Rooney and Co. would be walking away winners; feeding off the crowd will push Leeds to victory.

3. Ramón Núñez: El Principito finally is settled in at Leeds and the playmaker is beginning to showcase his talent for the English side. The former MLS (FC Dallas, Chivas) right-footed midfielder will make Hondurans the world over proud with his performance against Manchester United.



4. The Letdown: Manchester United has to lose sometime, right?

Back to Soccer City

Time to crank up the post machine. Soccer Beckhams.

Football World: Fans demand to be heard

Protest seems to be the words on the lips of two sets of fans in the Premier League this week as they have grown tired of their club’s plight.

Everton and Blackburn supporters are not known for their militancy, in fact protest goes against Blackburn’s sleepy Lancashire town image. Evertonians meanwhile usually see protests as ‘something Liverpool fans do’.

However, both sets of fans have been driven to despair by their current owners, who could not be more different.

Everton supporters are angry with the club’s apparent stagnation under Bill Kenwright, the theatre impresario whose love for the club is clear, but does not possess the wealth or ability to attract the fund require to support the club in the transfer market.

Toffees boss David Moyes has not had a net spend on players in three years and this summer raked in more than £20million in sales while only bringing in two loan players.

Supporters clubs are planning a protest on before Saturday’s game with Aston Villa to voice their demands for change.

A quick look into nearby Lancashire though spells a warning about what might happen if the club gets sold. Indian poultry farmers Venkys took control over Rovers almost 12 months ago. In a controversial early move they sacked Sam Allardyce and replaced him with the inexperienced Steve Kean. Lavish statements about signing Ronaldinho and Raul have been made since, but  the owners have largely failed to live up to their promises, and three defeats in a row this season has left the club bottom of the table and top of the relegation betting stakes.

Rovers supporters – like their Everton counterparts – now plan to protest ahead of their next home game.

But the questions is – what will it achieve? After all football fans being football fans, they will voice their discontent before paying their money and heading into the ground to support the team or pay their subscriptions to watch live football online. This fierce loyalty despite of anything is why boards have taken advantage of fans for decades.

The only benefit protest may bring is pressure courtesy of increased media coverage. That coverage though could portray the team as a side in crisis, lower confidence and actually make things worse.

Blackburn and Everton fans are probably aware of this, but they have been pushed to a point where they feel doing nothing would be just as dangerous.

Soccer World: Smaller teams should go for Carling Cup

The Carling Cup is not the most glamorous cup competition in the world but it is a great opportunity for some so called 'smaller' Premier League teams to have success and get into Europe.

For years there has been some discussion about the merits of the Carling Cup, with some managers putting out under strength sides, as they see the competition as a burden, have disrespected it to a fair degree. Those looking at the Carling Cup betting will be aware of this.

The competition remains important however and can provide a side with the chance to get into the Europa League, while it can also capture the imagination of fans with a trip to Wembley and increase overall optimism around the club.

Aston Villa could be dark horses to win the Carling Cup this season, especially considering their boss Alex McLeish led Birmingham to victory at Wembley in the competition last season. Anyone placing a Carling Cup bet should remember how upsets often occur.

They have a strong squad and the boss has shown in the past he is willing to give the Carling Cup a fair crack of the whip. Villa fans have been starved of any real success for years and a Wembley date, coupled with a trophy win, would well and truly win over any fans still questioning McLeish's appointment.

While the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City remain in the draw they will be the big scalps, but tradition usually shows the majority of these top teams drop out of the Carling Cup before the latter stages.

The top four sides also tend to put out reserve and youth team players for the competition which, while it gives fans a chance to see these new faces, it does undervalue the competition.

It would be better for football for a smaller side to win the Carling Cup rather that see a youth team make the final, only for the big guns to be rolled out at Wembley.

Liverpool finally in with a shout

This summer, Liverpool have again made crucial signings aimed at addressing key failures from last season – but there’s no massive change there.

Every close season since Roy Evan’s reign, Liverpool have signed “the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle”, be it Harry Kewell, Fernando Morientes, Fernando Torres, or most recently Joe Cole. 
 

Getting the Kop on his side was always going to be easy for a Liverpool legend like Dalglish, but this has been made so much easier by the carefully chosen criteria of his purchases. Buying young British talent is a quick-fire way to win over even the most sceptical of fans – especially after nine years of foreign managers bringing in unproven players, only to witness them fade into obscurity before disappearing back to their homeland at a fraction of the price for which they were brought in.

In Downing, Adam and Henderson, Dalglish has recruited three of the top performing midfielders from last season, and with their reputations already assured, a re-sale price can be competitively negotiated should they feel the need to move on in the future.

But in the short term – and that’s all modern-day managers can really bring themselves to think about – he has also brought in Jose Enrique to solve their long-standing problem at left-back and Craig Bellamy as a back-up striker. Already Enrique looks like a well-established member of their back four, and with 20-year-old Sebastian Coates lined up to replace the recently-departed Sotirios Kyrgiakos, they now look like they possess a squad that won’t need major investment to compete year-on-year and whose Premier League odds look favourable.

At right-back they have the impressive John Flanagan and Martin Kelly pushing Glen Johnson hard for a starting place, and up front both Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll will have benefited from a full pre-season under their belts. Already their bench looks infinitely stronger than it did for the majority of last term – against Arsenal last weekend it boasted no fewer than five full internationals.

They may not deliver their long-suffering fans the title this year, or even next – but the football betting suggests they are on an upward curve, and that change was all that was required after the recent stagnation that had set in around Anfield.

Soccer World: The saga is over - now the real work starts for Arsenal

So, finally, the transfer saga that has kept a small army of journalists busy over the past two years has finally come to a close - much thumb twiddling may now ensue following Cesc Fabregas' tortuous move from Arsenal to Barcelona.

We are, of course, not privy to the intricate details of the transfer but from what we can glean from the endless reels of news reports on the issue it is clear that both player and club have wanted the move for some time.

Credit to Wenger for holding onto his star midfielder for perhaps a year longer than most people expected, but with just over a fortnight to go until the close of the transfer window and a crucial Champions League qualifier imminent, why has the Gunners boss let this drag on so long?

For only now does Wenger (supposedly) have the funds to go out and bring in replacements. Though given his stubbornness to date don't be surprised if he brings in another batch of untried teenagers 'for the future'.

Their first live football of the season up at Newcastle on Saturday failed to convince me that any of their failings from last season had been addressed. They were easy on the eye as ever and had the bulk of the possession, but with Newcastle understandably defending in numbers the game often slowed down to walking pace.

They lacked that zip and drive needed to unlock the Magpies defence. On this evidence I wouldn't fancy their Premier League odds this season without significant reinforcements.

I'm sure Arsenal will tell you that the delay to the Fabregas deal was down to the club driving a hard bargain, hoping to get the best possible deal for the club. But by doing that they are also limiting the amount of time they have to bring in replacements. Other clubs will now see Wenger with a bucket load of Barca's cash and a clock rapidly ticking towards the deadline.

In teasing out a few extra million from Barca Wenger may now have to shell out more on replacements. Except that Wenger is at his most stubborn when it comes to spending cash, so will he be prepared to write some hefty cheques to plug the gaps in his creaking side?

I have my doubts.

Soccer World: Keane dismisses title contenders

People are predicting the Premier League title race is going to be a classic over the coming season, but Roy Keane disagrees with this and reckons it will be a one-horse race.

The former Old Trafford captain reckons Manchester United will romp to the Premier League title and not be worried about the presence of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City.

Sir Alex Ferguson recently said he thinks up to six teams – including Liverpool and Spurs – will be in Premier League title contention over the course of the season and he was predicting a tight race. Anyone looking at the football betting may be thinking the same.

There is no doubt Chelsea are looking for glory under new manager Andres Villas-Boas, while City are spending manically in the hope of getting ahead of United.

The likes of Liverpool and Spurs are also looking to build through spending, while Arsenal have also been looking to improve but have concerns about losing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri and the football odds show they could struggle.

Ferguson himself has spent £50 million-plus during the summer to transform his team as he ensures they stay ahead of the chasing pack, but Keane thinks the title is a sure thing as he claims Chelsea will "self-destruct" and fall behind, Arsenal "have not really bought anybody" and Liverpool are "nowhere near" winning the Premier League title.

The outspoken Irishman told the Sun: "Even Sir Alex Ferguson said the other day the league's getting tougher. But I don't think so.

"If United are really at it, which they will be, they'll win it comfortably."

There remains constant speculation that Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder could be on his way to United, and if Ferguson gets his man then the arrival of such a top player could swing the Premier League title battle firmly in his side's favour.

Football World:Will the bubble actually burst?

With football financial fair play rules on the horizon a warning once again has been sent out to football clubs about the potential financial disaster awaiting those who don't curb their wild spending.

A new report by José María Gay de Liébana - football finance specialist at the University of Barcelona - this month warns a "football bubble crash" across Europe if clubs don't start acting responsibly.

This comes in the wake of many of Europe's top sides threatening a break-away league, no doubt encouraged by the sight of packed out stadiums across the World for lucrative pre-season friendlies.

But will this elusive crash ever happen? I have heard these warnings for years, with club's making losses year-on-year and debts being racked up, I wouldn't bet on the Premier League bubble bursting anytime soon.

There have been a few high profile casualties, notably Leeds and Portsmouth in the Premier League. But even in their darkest days did they ever go bust? No.

Football is in a unique position of having such a slavishly loyal fan-base. They are the dream consumer, who will keep going to watch football live almost regardless of results.

Some domestic based fans are becoming tired of the corporate take-over of the game and the sky-high ticket prices (get it?). But they are no longer the fans that matter. Chairman and owners want the new supporters in Asia or America, or to put it in their language – emerging markets.

Look at the recent US-based friendly between Barcelona and Man United. Thousands of fans in replica shirts, clutching their bags packed full of merchandise. They no doubt have website subscriptions and magazine orders meaning they will watch the team at all hours – and pay for it.

As long as this tap of cash remains on then this bubble will not burst. Rich men will come in to make a fast buck and if FIFA or UEFA try to curb it they will simply pick up their ball and go elsewhere.

The only losers will be the fans at home who have supported the club for decades but now feel priced out the game that was once theirs. But the game just keeps on rumbling on – as long as you're prepared to pay for it.

Soccer Players:Johnson signs for Leicester

Leicester have announced the latest name to join their promotion push with the news that Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson will join the club on a season-long loan.

Johnson had been on the wish lists of a number of clubs including Premiership side Wolves and Championship rivals Leeds but it has now been confirmed he'll spend next season at the Walkers Stadium. Fans of Betfair in-play betting will be keen to see how he gets on.

Johnson burst onto the scene a few seasons ago and was tipped to be one of the stars on the future with many predicting he would go on to be a stalwart at both City and at international level with England.

However, his progress has been seriously hindered with numerous injuries and it was understood the midfielder was keen to play first team football rather than sit on the bench at Eastlands. Those looking at the mobile betting will back the move.

Foxes boss Sven Goran Eriksson was the man who gave Johnson his big break in the game, making him a regular in the time the pair were at City together and says he is delighted to be reunited with the player and hopes to bring the best out someone with such undoubted talents.

"Michael was a great talent when I worked with him at Manchester City. He is a mobile midfielder, who can run, pass, shoot and tackle," said Eriksson.

"His talent should have seen that he became a regular for England, but injuries have prevented that, which is a shame for him.

Soccer World: Can City be Champions League contenders?

Manchester City seem to be on track to signing Sergio Aguero and this could lead many fans to ask the inevitable question – are City building a squad capable of winning the Champions League this season?

The Citizens are preparing for their debut season in the Champions League and have come on leaps-and-bounds since Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, due to the money he has splashed since arriving. Those looking at the Champions League 2012 best odds have to bear this in mind.

Roberto Mancini took City in the Premier League top-four last season and a transfer window does not seem to pass without the club spending massive sums of money on some of the best players across Europe.

With the likes of Yaya Youre, Nigel de Jong and David Silva among the squad and a mass of big-name players littered throughout the City line-up there is no doubting the ability of the team.

If Carlos Tevez stays – which remains doubtful – and City add Aguero to the team they are going to boast an impressive attack force. Add those two Argentineans to Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli and Emmanueal Adebayor and it is a potent strike force available to Mancini.

With the talent they have Mancini will be looking to impress in their debut Champions League campaign, but they are newcomers to the competition and could come up short given the rigours of the tournament. Anyone following the Champions League promotions needs to remember this.

City will be a dangerous opponent for any side in the Champions League draw, but there remains question marks about how they operate as a unit as opposed to individual genius and you cannot imagine them coming out on top against the real power houses of European football.

Soccer Players: Park offered new contract

Park Ji-Sung, has been offered a new contract by Manchester United, potentially keeping the midfielder at the club for the next two years.

Park began his career at Japanese club Kyoto Purple Sanga in 2000. He joined Dutch outfit, PSV Eindhoven two years later, where he became a huge draw for fans. Park signed for United in 2005, for £4m. He has scored 17 goals in 117 appearances for the Red Devils. Fans of Betfair Premier League betting will know just how important he is for the side.

United boss, Alex Ferguson, confirmed that Park has been asked to remain at Old Trafford, by saying: "He has been offered a new contract, yes. His career at United has been nothing but excellent".

Park became the first South Korean player to win the Premier League in 2007, and the first Asian player in history to compete in a Champions League final in 2009. The South Korean is regarded as a model midfielder by United fans, full of energy, and able to play on both flanks.

"I'm sure he'll accept the new offer, and tie himself to the club for the next two years," Ferguson continued.

Park was a member of the South Korean national side for over a decade, but retired earlier this year to allow younger players to break into the squad. He scored 13 goals in 100 games for South Korea, and captained the team during the 2010 World Cup.

The 30-year-old closed the door on international tournaments to concentrate on his career at Manchester United and the Betfair football betting indicates he could easily win more medals in the season ahead.

Park is currently in the United States with the Red Devils. The club defeated the Seattle Sounders 7-0 on Wednesday, in a pre-season friendly match. United will go on to play Chicago Fire on July 23, and the MLS All-Stars on July 27 2011.

Football world: Evaluating Liverpool's transfer deals

Liverpool have been reshaping their squad ever since the January transfer window opened midway through the 2010/11 Premiership season.

Fernando Torres' departure came about as Kenny Dalglish was appointed as the new manager of Liverpool. He soon had to make a fundamental decision along with the support from the owners and the chairman as to whether he should cash in on the out-of-form striker, or hope the once prolific front-man could regain his status as one of the most exciting Premier League players around. The Reds eventually sold Torres to title-contenders Chelsea, for a whopping £50 million.

In exciting fashion, a last minute transfer was made between Newcastle United and Liverpool, bringing Andy Carroll to Anfield. His hefty £35 million price tag shocked many who couldn't understand why they so much was invested in an unproven player. Anyone looking at the Premier League betting prices will have to bear this in mind.

Another overpriced transfer that was made more recently, was the England U21 international and Sunderland player, Jordan Henderson. He was acquired for a fee of around £16 million. Last season saw Henderson hit periods of excellence in club football, alongside poor patches. However, with Steven Gerrard and Dalglish on hand to give him the benefit of their experience, there's no reason he can't become a top player. The betfair football betting prices indicate he can help the side push on.

Charlie Adam is another new face at Anfield, although again many questioned the worth of the deal.. Adam is quite clearly an influential player on the pitch, giving Blackpool every bit of hope of staying up all throughout last season. Whether he can push on at Liverpool remains to be seen, and he may have trouble getting in the side. That said, if he can perform in the way he did for Blackpool he can make a significant impact.

Last but not least is yet another man from the north-east, Stewart Downing. Downing displayed some terrific displays throughout Aston Villa's last campaign. Some have raised their eyebrows at the amount paid for him, but the stats show he was the most consistent and dependable winger in the Premier League last term and he should show this for Liverpool as well.

Soccer World: Can Villas-Boas deliver Champions League to Chelsea?

New Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas will know the Champions League is of prime importance to the Blues next season as he looks to bring trophies to Stamford Bridge.

The Portuguese boss was brought in to replace Carlo Ancelotti after the Italian was axed following a trophy-less season in 2010/11, even though he won the double at Chelsea 12 months earlier.

It is well known that the Champions League is the one trophy Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich dreams of seeing his side win, and it is the only tournament the West London side have yet to win under his tenure.

The leading coaches across Europe were linked to the Stamford Bridge hot-seat during the summer and it is a risky move for the Blues to plump for the relatively untried Villas-Boas. Anyone looking to bet on Champions League winner will be wondering if he has what it takes to bring Chelsea glory.

He guided Porto to league, cup and Europa League success but at the age of 33 he is the same age as John Terry and Frank Lampard, so it is a gamble to bring him in.

Villas-Boas will be under pressure to deliver trophies in his first season at Chelsea and the Champions League will be the main ambition, with the coach set to spend big money before the campaign gets underway to build a squad capable of delivering that glory.

Chelsea did underperform last season and Villas-Boas will know what is expected of him, but if he could win the Champions League in his first campaign in charge then he would show the Blues big-wigs were right in taking a gamble on him. Those who bet on Champions League games will be keeping a close eye on his progress.

This success would also ensure he is spoken of in the same bracket of his former boss Jose Mourinho, and maybe Villas-Boas can take the moniker of 'The Special One' away from his countryman.

Bingo Calls For The Modern Day: Arsenal Special

If you're an Arsenal fan, we're guessing that uppermost in your thoughts at the moment is the fact that you may well be about to witness one of the most psychologically damaging player exoduses in the Premier League era.

You may also be wondering at which point manager Arsene Wenger will say enough is enough and finally reach into his pocket to buy a player who the average football fan has actually heard of, or perhaps you're spending your time day-dreaming about watching your club captain lift a trophy for the first time in six years…oh, except Cesc is on his way to Barcelona, so that one's a no-hoper.

Anyway, we can probably agree that one thing not on your mind at the moment is free bingo. For that reason (well, and to give us an excuse to tease the long-suffering Arsenal fans), we've decided to open the world of bingo up to a whole new demographic, by rebranding some traditional bingo calls with reference to the stylish side from North London.

Let's take a look at who Ladbrokes Bingo, celebrating the launch of their new £50 bingo bonus promotion have shortlisted in their Arsenal Bingo Call Top Three.


Number Three: Nicklas Bendtner

In third position, we have the man who once proclaimed himself the best player in world football and a man deserving of playing "every minute of every match", despite consistently frustrating Arsenal fans with his stunning profligacy in front of goal, with the striker week in week out missing sitters from a few yards out that a lame turkey would have trouble sending off-target.

With Bendtner's unforgivable miss last season in the Champions League against Barcelona all but condemning the Gunners to yet another defeat at the hands of the team they try so hard but fail so dramatically to emulate, some Arsenal fans clearly can't wrap their heads around the fact that Wenger continues to put his faith in the lanky Dane.

Although the striker should be commended for being "Number 15: Young and Keen", albeit a little too keen at times, we feel that his knack of stringing together a run of appearances without getting his name on the score sheet makes him deserving of "Number 80: Eight and Blank".


Number Two: Andrey Arshavin

Upon his arrival at the Emirates, Russian winger Andrey Arshavin became an instant hit with Arsenal fans, scoring crucial goals left, right, and centre, despite the fact that Bendtner admitted he didn't have a clue who Arshavin was as he didn't bother watching Euro 2008.

However, as the seasons passed and Arshavin started settling in properly in North London, it appeared as if he was becoming a little too familiar with the kebab houses and pizza joints the English capital offers in abundance, with the slightly porky winger becoming the subject of chants about his ever-increasing waist line from opposition fans up and down the country.

A lazy manner, even when on the ball, hasn't helped the Russian in this respect, with Arsenal fans fed up with his attitude quite entitled to "Number 34: Ask for More" but we still have to admit that "Number 28: Overweight" simply must be handed in the direction of the man who once stated: "I would never give driving lessons to women. We need to build new roads for them. Why? Because you never know what to expect from a woman on the road. If you see a car behaving weirdly, swerving and doing strange things, before you see the driver you know it is a woman."


Number One: Jack Wilshere

A man who makes Arsenal fans truly believe that the next couple of seasons may not end without club officials needing to unlock the Gunners' stagnant trophy cabinet after all, "Number 68: Saving Grace" for Arsenal Jack Wilshere has proved an instant hit since breaking into the starting line-up.

Admired for his technical ability on the ball as much as for his grit and determination, the youngster possessing that skill entirely lacking in the majority of Arsenal players: being willing and able to tackle, there's no doubting that Wilshere is the man of the moment around the Emirates.

If Wilshere, in the likely absence next season of Fabregas, can inspire Arsenal to a trophy or two, his name really will become synonymous with "Number 67: Made In Heaven".

Soccer World: Free agents - bargains or a waste of money?

Owen Hargeaves' bizarre online self-advertisement acts a reminder of the talent that is available to Premier League clubs in the form of free agents. The former Manchester United man has tongue firmly in cheek in proving his fitness in gym-based YouTube videos, but is nonetheless a come-and-get-me plea. There are plenty of other big names without a club as the new season approaches.

Hargreaves heads the list of players released due to injury problems that also includes Jonathan Woodgate. Both former England internationals would command a starting place in most top flight teams if fully fit, but the word if is crucial here; between them they have made five league appearances in the last two seasons.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have declined to offer 'pay as you play' deals, but there must surely be other Premier League clubs willing to take this chance. Both men are used to earning big money, but their time on the sidelines means they would jump at the chance to play regularly virtually anywhere. Those looking at the Premier League odds will be wondering if someone will take a chance.

Age is another reason for clubs not renewing contracts. Patrick Vieira, Sol Campbell and Marcus Hahnemann are past their best but were recently supposed to be good enough to compete at the top level. The former two require large wages and might opt for retirement rather than humbly dropping down the league ladder, but the American stopper is just one of many goalkeepers available.

Richard Kingson, Maik Taylor and Iain Turner have varying degrees of Premier League experience but would be good back-up options at a time when reliable keepers are thin on the ground. 39-year-old Taylor is certainly reliable, the latter two, noted for high-profile errors, less so.

Nigel Reo-Coker, Matthew Upson, John Carew, Danny Gabbidon, John Pantsil and James McFadden are players without clubs who feel they have something to prove after falling out of favour with previous clubs and supporters.

A fresh start should make them motivated and fresh, although the feeling that they are damaged goods might accompany them. This applies to all free agents and whilst most might prove to be expensive mistakes, one or two are sure to evolve into bargains.