Soccer World: Do Home Teams Get Preferential Treatment?

With Patrick Vieira claiming that Manchester United get preferential treatment form referees in their home games this week, Sir Alex Ferguson has responded by claiming that their isn't much water to that theory and that each team in the league all have good and bad decisions against them.

You have to say that Sir Alex does have a point. It seems that Manchester United and the bigger clubs usually have this conspiracy against them and referees because it is the bigger teams that are in the media the most. It is the big teams who have more riding on penalty incidents and so such controversies are magnified. Those placing a Victor Chandler bet need to bear this in mind.

Then you have to think of the amount of times the likes of Manchester United are in their opponent's box. They attack teams all day long as Sir Alex Ferguson put it, so they are bound to have more penalty shouts against them as opponents crack under pressure make rash decisions. In actual fact, over the course of the season, I bet they have more appeals for penalties turned down than anybody else.

Lionel Messi is a perfect example of this, sometimes the only way to stop him is to foul him, so you are going to get a lot more decisions in your favour if he is in your team and anyone placing a Bet Victor bet needs to bear this in mind.

Unfortunately people ignore the above points when it comes to judging fairness, and instead use the number of penalties given or conceded. Let's make no mistakes about it, Fulham should have had a penalty on Monday night, but Manchester United could have argued they should have had a penalty in recent weeks that wasn't given. It really is swings and roundabouts and it balances out for teams over the course of the season.

Have Manchester City thrown the title away?

Earlier in the season, the Eastlands outfit had a seven point advantage over bitter title rivals Manchester United but now it is the red half of the city which has the advantage. Sir Alex Ferguson’s team are four points clear atop the Premier League, although City do have a game in hand.

That game is against a resurgent Chelsea outfit on Wednesday – a fixture which is far from a home banker for Roberto Mancini’s men, despite the fact City have yet to drop a point at home this season. The west London side have improved significantly since the dispensing of Andre Villas-Boas and will fancy their chances of taking points away from Eastlands. Those betting on football should remember this.

The change in form of the two contenders has been startling. City battered all before them at the start of the season, winning 11 of their 12 opening Premier League games, including a 6-1 demolition of United at Old Trafford.

However, since Christmas, they have started to wobble. Defeats to Sunderland, Everton and Swansea in the league, as well as Manchester United in the FA Cup, have cast doubt on their title aspirations. The key to their problems has been their away form. They may have not dropped a point at home this season but winning just seven of their 14 matches on the road is not title winning form.

Questions were asked about Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure following the City demolition in October but since mid-January, United have picked up 25 of the 27 points on offer. The only two dropped was in a 3-3 draw against Chelsea when they came back from 3-0 down. People searching for football predictions need to bear this in mind.

At this stage of the season, momentum is everything and United are also blessed with an easier run-in. City are still to play Chelsea and Arsenal whereas Ferguson’s side no longer have to play any side in the top seven barring City at Eastlands in late April.

A few weeks ago, pundits were saying that this game between the rivals will decide the destiny of the title but by then, City could be out of the picture. They need to get back on track quickly, but it will be tough against Roberto Di Matteo’s resurgent side tomorrow evening.

Birmingham Regain Play-off Spot

Eleven matches were played in the Championship, at the weekend, with the most notable development being Birmingham's return to the play-off positions on goal difference. The Blues, in sixth, currently have a goal tally worthy of the top three in the division.

Birmingham drew 1-1 with Cardiff City, after Marlon King failed to score a penalty, and Mark Hudson hammered home for the Welshmen. The draw helped maintain the Blues 46-year unbeaten streak over Cardiff at St. Andrews and those looking at the Championship betting will have been impressed.

In other games of note, Barnsley scored one to see off Peterborough, while Coventry beat beleaguered southerners, Portsmouth, 2-0. The honours were even in Lancashire, where West Ham and Burnley fought to a 2-2 stalemate.

Birmingham now have 60 points from 38 fixtures, a tally they share with the two teams below them in the league: Cardiff and Hull City. However, the Blues have a game in hand over both clubs, meaning that a win in their next game would give them some breathing space.

Erik Huseklepp scored the only goal for Chris Hughton's team from a counter-attack in the second-half at St. Andrews. The goal came against the run of play; the Blues looked utterly lost at times and followers of the Championship betting odds will be wondering if they can improve as the season draws to a climax.

Chris Burke managed to test Cardiff's custodian, David Marshall, but Hudson's goal was the talking point of the evening. He slammed home the assist from Peter Whittingham. Cardiff's Rudy Gestede hoofed the ball wide after the break.

Hughton believed that Birmingham put in a decent performance in the Midlands. "We were not at our best in the first half [but] we got an improvement in the second half, up against a team which floods the midfield."

The manager added that Hudson's goal was "the only chance they had", a point that Gestede's unsuccessful shot proved inaccurate. Cardiff coach, Malky Mackay said that he was "disappointed" with the result.

Championship promotion picture update

For a long while the Championship promotion battle seemed to be in effect a race for the play-offs and the chance to join Southampton and West Ham United in the Premier League. The big spending duo seemed to be a class above the opposition, but things have got interesting recently as the Hammers have faltered.

Sam Allardyce's outfit might have lost just once in the league in 2012, but they have drawn their last four 1-1 and suddenly seem to be treading water despite the recent recruitment of Nicky Maynard, Ricardo Vaz Te, Ravel Morrison and Danny Collins and those who bet with Bet Victor will be questioning their form.

'Big Sam' is battling to appease fans criticising the style of football the club is playing, but the Irons' relative slump would not have been significant had others not taken advantage. Reading's 3-0 win over West Ham in December was the start of a purple patch that produced 14 wins from 17 matches, a run ended surprisingly by Peterborough United this week.

The Royals have edged two points ahead of the Hammers having played a game more and having done the easy bit when the pressure was off they might find life harder when being chased. Brighton and Hove Albion have also joined the automatic promotion picture, losing once in 14 since the turn of the year after losing four on the bounce in December.

Albion are seven points adrift of West Ham and are just one ahead of Blackpool and Middlesbrough, teams that have been in the hunt for most of the campaign. Birmingham City, Hull City and Cardiff City are tightly bunched just outside the play-offs and all of these teams have not given up hope of finishing in the top two and the Bet Victor betting shows they're in with every chance.

Southampton have never been out of the top two all season and can look over the shoulder in relative comfort, as no one is playing better than the Saints, spearheaded by the free-scoring Rickie Lambert. They can start planning for life back in the top flight.

David Luiz feels sorry for ex boss

Chelsea defender David Luiz believes former manager Andre Villas-Boas should have been afforded more time at Stamford Bridge.

Villas-Boas took over as Chelsea boss last summer after an impressive spell as manager of Porto. However, the 34-year-old struggled to stamp his authority on his new side and paid the price for a disappointing campaign when he was sacked at the beginning of March.

Many experts felt Villas-Boas fell victim of player power and was undermined by the experienced heads in the Chelsea dressing room and fans of Bet Victor will have been following the saga closely.

Roberto di Matteo took the reins on a temporary basis and has presided over three consecutive victories, including Wednesday’s dramatic Champions League victory over Napoli.

Despite Di Matteo’s fine start, Luiz believes Villas-Boas was not given enough time to prove his credentials.

"I'm really sad, as Andre was a really capable professional. Unfortunately, he didn't have the time to show his true value at Chelsea," said the Brazilian.

"He didn't have the chance. You cannot doubt a professional like him, who won five titles last season and was feted by everyone. But he didn't have enough time at Chelsea."

Chelsea will be looking to continue their renaissance when they face Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final.

Luiz picked up a knock in the thrilling 4-1 extra-time victory over Napoli but is determined to help his side reach Wembley, even though the www.betvictor.com odds suggest they are in for a tough time.

"It's my ankle. I hurt it when I got a kick, but that's normal. This is football. I'll go to the training ground for treatment to help me for Sunday. I want to play," added Luiz.

Whilst tempted to make changes after Chelsea’s exertions in midweek, Di Matteo will be conscious of the fans’ desire to reach the last four. In present mood, the players will be desperate to feature against Leicester.

Will Tevez row cost Mancini his job?

It's unlikely the truth about the row between Carlos Tevez and Roberto Mancini affair will ever be known, but if at the end of the season the blue side of Manchester were to miss out by say a point or even two, some hard questions may well be asked of the gaffer.

Unsurprisingly, his opposite number at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson, at one congratulated him on his handling of a mess from which nobody has emerged with any great credit, as those betting Premiership money will know.

The manner of his departure from United wasn't exactly written in any script the footballing Knight had written when he snapped him up from West Ham so his praise of Mancini was perhaps predictable.

Now we are led to believe that the workaholic Argentine is on his way back to aid City's Title cause and he may indeed make the difference.

If he doesn't and the cash mad City board fail to emerge with a trophy from a season of such rich promise, Mancini could pay the ultimate price, especially as the Premiership betting odds mad them strong favourites at one point.

And that would leave him lots of time to ponder why he didn't solve his problem with the striker a little earlier instead of walking into an ambush which saw his term in charge killed stone dead.

Thoughts will then turn to his successor and the name Jose Mourinho will spring off most lips as it has done in relation to Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal and even Liverpool this season.

However, this time there seems little doubt that despite his protestations to remain at Real Madrid and become part of its history, City is his most likely destination.

Manchester United is strapped for cash, Spurs can't give him the amount he needs and Liverpool are happy with Kenny Dalglish.

City, however, want the best and most expensive players everywhere – the same is true of their manager and Mourinho has the sort of charisma and pedigree they crave.

As they go about their business seemingly murmuring “Recession, what recession?” the smart money is piling on United to take the Title, Mancini to be sacked and Mourinho to arrive in a head to head with the man he most respects, Sir Alex.

Mancini confident of title glory

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has defiantly outlined his confidence in his side’s title chances despite a post-Christmas wobble that has seen rivals United go four points clear at the summit.

City do have a game in hand on their near neighbours – against Chelsea at the Etihad on Wednesday – and Mancini believes his side will go on and lift only their third ever top flight title, despite an increasing number of doubters.

"We will win the title, we will win. We will do everything to win the title. We need to think positive always," said Mancini.

"Until now we have had a fantastic Premier League, we need to continue like this.

"We play one game a week, we can have more concentration about this."

The Italian is, of course, right to be speaking positively about the title run-in but his desperation to try and convince reporters that everything is ok perhaps tells us the opposite.

City are stuttering, make no mistake about it.

Since a 0-0 draw away to West Brom on Boxing Day, they have suffered defeats to Sunderland, Manchester United, Everton and Swansea.

United meanwhile have racked up 25 league points out of a possible 27 since mid-January, an upturn in form we are all too used to seeing from Sir Alex Ferguson’s men, who are now favourites to lift the title in the
Premier League betting.

It has rekindled old doubts among the City support of the club’s persistent flirtation with brave failure, prior to the billion pound injection by owner Sheikh Mansour. The fear of losing out to United in such agonising circumstances is a consequence many struggle to contemplate – just ask the City supporter who burst into tears after Swansea scored against them last week.

On paper City’s run-in appears tougher, with the Manchester derby on April 30 sticking out as one of the most important  derby clashes of recent times – you can bet on the Premier League title race going right to that game and beyond.

However, the return of Carlos Tevez could give them a timely boost as the season reaches its climax. Plus it needs to be said that City have one of the most expensively assembled squad in world football, meaning winning football matches should not be problem.

The issue appears to be in the head rather than on the pitch (or bank balance), which gives United – veterans of many a title run-in – a undeniable advantage.

Connor still has belief

Wolves manager Terry Connor insists that his team have the ability to avoid relegation, despite their crushing 5-0 home defeat to Manchester United on Sunday which left them bottom of the Premier League table.

Connor took over the side in February following the departure of Mick McCarthy but the change in manager hasn't improved their fortunes as they've collected just a single point in his four games in charge, conceding 14 goals in the process.

The 49-year-old was a surprise appointment to replace McCarthy having previously been part of the coaching set-up under the former Ireland manager as it was expected that the board would prefer a new regime to come in and make drastic changes to the club.

The manner of the defeat to United saw the Black Country side drop to the bottom of the table on goal difference and they have now gone nine home games without a victory.

Connor and his men face a tough run-in to the end of the season with fixtures against both Arsenal and Man City in April but they do have chances to take points as they face a number of their relegation rivals between now and the end of the season.

Despite the odds being stacked against them, the boss is confident they can maintain their Premier League status and has called on his players to club together and show some spirit in their remaining games.

"Of course the stats don't look great but we still believe we can turn it around and I still have confidence in my ability to do that" he said.

"The message to the players and to everyone is keep believing.

Written by Alex a football supporter and follower of the football odds.

Soccer World: Who will clinch the Europa League?

Does anyone actually want to win this competition? Based on the recent displays of Manchester United and Manchester City, it would appear not!

However, with two of the favourites having crashed out of the last round, the sides that have suddenly awoken with fresh intent are those that have nothing to lose but everything to gain - sides like Atletico Madrid, Metalist Kharkiv, and Schalke 04. These sides have nothing to compete for domestically now and can focus their efforts entirely on the UEFA Europa League.

So who is going to win this competition? I wouldn't look beyond Athletic Club de Bilbao. Bielsa's squad is youthful but easy-on-the-eye with their Barcelona-esque passing game and high defensive line. My sole doubt for them would be Bielsa's "anti-rotation" policy as they attempt to compete on three fronts with limited squad depth. However, it's not affected them thus far so it's hard to look beyond the talented Basque outfit. Those looking at the Europa League betting need to remember this.

Atletico Madrid look fresh under Diego Simeone, which is a surprising statement to make. He wasn't notorious for his calming effect during his playing days and Atletico Madrid are not a patient side so the two gelling as well as they have remains a surprise. With poacher Falcao leading the line and Diego sat behind him, it's hard to write off Atletico Madrid.

Schalke 04 compensate for their lack of quality through a great work ethic and that's shown in every UEFA Europa League game that they've featured in this season. Huntelaar is in tremendous goalscoring form and with veteran Raul there supporting him, Schalke 04 have more than enough firepower to damage any side that remains in this tournament so we can't rule out Huub Stevens' side and the online football betting reflects this.

As far as the other potential contenders go, some people might be surprised that I've not listed Valencia CF as one of the more likely sides to emerge victorious in the UEFA Europa League. The reason I haven't is because they tend to baulk under pressure. They're terrific as underdogs but in front of their own fans at the Mestalla, Valencia CF tend to struggle.  Unai Emery's side also struggles to provide cover for their instrumental midfielders when absent so it's hard to consider Valencia as favourites for this tournament although their quality is undeniable.

Of course, we can never write off Metalist Kharkiv with their terrific away form in the UEFA Europa League either. They've got some superb South Americans and are ruthlessly efficient tactically. I will stick my head on the chopping block and rule out Hannover 96 (not enough firepower or experience), AZ Alkmaar (not enough depth and a tiring squad), and Sporting Clube de Lisboa (not strong enough defensively).

As a winner of the tournament, though, I cannot possibly look beyond the talented Athletic Club de Bilbao. They play great football with tremendous freedom and belief. Although their defence is dubious at times, especially from set pieces, this side has the firepower and the quality to win the UEFA Europa League.

Dalglish eyeing derby day reaction

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has called on his players to ‘stand up and be counted’ as look to end their losing run against city rivals Everton.

The Toffees travel across Stanley Park on Tuesday knowing a win will see them leapfrog their neighbours and into seventh place, an ignominy Reds fans will find hard to bear.

The club may have celebrated the Carling Cup with gusto at Wembley a fortnight ago but three Premier League defeats since have all but ended their faint hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

A return to Europe’s premier competition was Dalglish’s principal aim at the start of the season and he was confident of achieving it following heavy investment in the squad over the close-season.

A failure to do so will be a huge disappointment for the fans who watch football live at Anfield and demand success - though Dalglish will hope the success over Cardiff last month will prove to doubters that he still  has what it takes to win trophies.

However, the Scot knows more than anyone that for a club of Liverpool’s stature that sole success is not good enough and he faces a pivotal week that not only takes in the derby but a FA Cup quarter-final at home to Stoke, where they will have to battle and scrap just as hard to justify their place among the favourites in the FA Cup betting .

"It depends what teams you're playing, but certainly it's not a record you expect from Liverpool," said Dalglish, when quizzed on his sides’ recent poor run. "We don't want to get into the habit of losing games, but in between the losses we've had a Carling Cup victory.

"Everyone needs to stand up and be counted and see what we can do."

Soccer World: English teams struggle

It was another disappointing night in Europe for the English contingent after the Premier League's top two fell to potentially damaging defeats.

The Europa League is stronger than ever this season, as Manchester United and Manchester City found out to their cost. The champions and champions elect were below-par and punished by fearless opponents.

Manchester United hosted Spanish side Athletic Bilbao with the 2-1 home defeat to Ajax on February 23 still fresh in their minds. Sir Alex Ferguson's men face an uphill battle to stay in the competition after a stunning 3-2 reverse at Old Trafford. Fans of Bet Victor will have been astonished.

Bilbao began the game with purpose and energy and United struggled to cope during the opening exchanges. It was a surprise when Wayne Rooney gave the hosts the lead midway through the first half.

The La Liga outfit refused to lie down and came storming back. Fernando Llorente headed home just before the break to give Bilbao a deserved equaliser and that goal gave them the platform to hurt United's European bid in the second period. People looking at Victor Chandler need to bear this in mind.

Oscar De Marcos and Iker Muniain found a way past the excellent David de Gea to give the Spaniards a two-goal cushion, before Rooney gave United a lifeline from the penalty spot in injury time.

Manchester City travelled to Portugal for the second time in as many rounds to face Sporting Lisbon. They failed to come away with an away goal and will begin the return leg at the Etihad Stadium with a one-goal deficit after Xandao's second-half strike.

Roberto Mancini's men lacked energy and attacking verve against spirited opposition. They rarely threatened Sporting keeper Rui Patricio and had opposite number Joe Hart to thank for keeping the damage to a minimum.

The top English sides are finding the going tough on the continent this season.

FA insist England manager search is being done ‘urgently’

Former England captain Terry Butcher has already labelled it a farce, the rest of us, tired of the false dawns, over-inflated egos and annuals disappointment of anything to do with the England team, are waiting for it to descend into one.

More conflicting messages are leaking from out of the FA as they continue their hunt for Fabio Capello’s successor.

Last Friday FA general Secretary Alex Horne said a new boss would not come until the "back end of the season", which means precious little Live Football time for the manager to form a winning side ahead of Euro 2012.

In their defence, with most top managers in employment, they are perhaps left with little choice, but they also need to ensure that when they do make an approach, they know the answer will be yes – remember ‘Big’ Phil Scolari’s embarrassing rejection of the job (though that was the press’ fault as much as anything).

In response to Horne’s claims, FA chairman David Bernstein has since come out and stressed that they are actively seeking a new manager, telling reporters:

"Under no circumstances should our taking time be seen as anything other than dealing with it professionally and urgently,"

"We don't believe rushing this process is going to be good for arriving at the right conclusion. We are also doing this treating clubs and managers with the greatest of respect, we don't want to disrupt the season of the clubs.

"Most of the people we are looking at are in positions and whatever we do we ought to try and do it in a way which enables clubs to finish their season with the minimum of disruption.”

Clearly any appointment will have to now wait until May, but that doesn’t mean groundwork can be put in place. It appears the biggest battle the FA have it making any approaches without alerting the press, as that would cause a media storm, disrupting the chosen candidates and their club, potentially leading to the boss in question rejecting the FA’s offer.

Harry Redknapp is the favourite in the football betting, but Spurs will resist any approach until at least the end of the season.

It is clearly a delicate balancing act but one the supporters are weary of already. Years of under-achievement and let downs mean goodwill for the England team appears low, meaning the powers that be need an inspired appointment to get everyone back onside.
No wonder they are taking their time.