As the new recruits begin to show their undoubted talent at Manchester City, the club is slowly but surely rooting out, and removing, all the players who are considered expendable.
Despite being one of City’s players of the year in recent times, Stephen Ireland has been sent to Aston Villa. It is a prime example of the ruthlessness that is becoming part of the Manchester City cleanout, with players who are anything less than world class being shipped out. After all, high ambition requires a high quality of player, particularly if City are to realise the dreams of their owner and shorten for silverware in the football betting.
With Benjani the latest to exit the revolving door at Eastlands, one thing that has been notable in the departure of these players is the limited amount of money that City have managed to recoup from their transfer dealings.
With players such as Benjani signing for relatively hefty fees, their departures for nothing (or in the case of Stephen Ireland, as part of a deal to bring another player to the club), City could fall foul of UEFA’s new financial rules.
Should the club fail to secure better rates for departing players, even if they are forced to sell them to clubs which may be rivals for the positions City aim to occupy, the Eastlands outfit may find itself winning the Premier League but crashing out of Europe on a technicality.
With deals like the loan departure of Craig Bellamy likely to be ones that are pushed through at great cost to the club, and with limited interest for the majority of highly paid players at City, the club is aware that it will need to have a serious rethink of its outgoing transfer policy in future transfer windows. If they don’t, the football odds which suggest they could win silverware in the future will be seen as somewhat premature.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Redknapp confident of Champions League success
After coming through the tie with Young Boys last night, Tottenham can now look ahead to competing in the Champions League for the first time.
A Peter Crouch hat-trick helped Spurs to a 4-0 victory against the Swiss side, meaning they won the tie 6-3 on aggregate. There will now be at least three more European nights at White Hart Lane this season and this is exciting for everyone concerned.
Just how competitive can Spurs do in the ultimate club competition though? Well, Harry Redknapp believes that his side will be a match for anybody they come up against.
The Tottenham boss said: "We'll take on anybody now. We'll give anyone a good game here. We are a good side with good players and it will be a great experience for us."
The former Portsmouth man is certainly right about one thing. Not many teams will enjoy coming to White Hart Lane on a European night. The place will be rocking and you would back Spurs to beat almost anyone if they are on form.
The problem might come on the road. They showed they are vulnerable on the road against Young Boys last week and you have to question how many points they could pick up away from home. You can follow their campaign with Bets Player.
Redknapp isn't worrying about this at the moment though and he will always back his team to succeed. They have, after all, got an excellent squad full of extremely talented players.
The draw for the group stages of the Champions League takes place later today, so perhaps more assessment on Spurs chances can be made then.
A Peter Crouch hat-trick helped Spurs to a 4-0 victory against the Swiss side, meaning they won the tie 6-3 on aggregate. There will now be at least three more European nights at White Hart Lane this season and this is exciting for everyone concerned.
Just how competitive can Spurs do in the ultimate club competition though? Well, Harry Redknapp believes that his side will be a match for anybody they come up against.
The Tottenham boss said: "We'll take on anybody now. We'll give anyone a good game here. We are a good side with good players and it will be a great experience for us."
The former Portsmouth man is certainly right about one thing. Not many teams will enjoy coming to White Hart Lane on a European night. The place will be rocking and you would back Spurs to beat almost anyone if they are on form.
The problem might come on the road. They showed they are vulnerable on the road against Young Boys last week and you have to question how many points they could pick up away from home. You can follow their campaign with Bets Player.
Redknapp isn't worrying about this at the moment though and he will always back his team to succeed. They have, after all, got an excellent squad full of extremely talented players.
The draw for the group stages of the Champions League takes place later today, so perhaps more assessment on Spurs chances can be made then.
Sevilla lose Squillaci
Sevilla have sold their French defender Sebastien Squillaci to Arsenal for a fee of around £6million. The fee is the same amount that Sevilla paid Lyon two years ago for him.
After spending eight years with Monaco, in a spell which included over 100 games, Squillaci moved to Lyon. In his two years at Lyon, Squillaci won two Ligue 1 titles, playing over 50 games during that time, before moving to Southern Spain. His last season in Spain was interrupted by injury, with the 30 year old only starting 14 games in the league as his side finished fourth in La Liga.
Arsenal have signed a consistently quality defender who has made over 20 appearances for France in his career so far. However, he has been unlucky to have been around at the same time as a number of quality French defenders. While he has been around the French squad since making his debut in 2004, Squillaci has never managed to cement a place in the first 11.
Sevilla are reportedly looking at Argentinean centre back Martin Demichelis as a replacement for Squillaci. Bayern Munich could be willing to sell Demichelis after the experienced defender had a bust up with his coach Louis Van Gaal.
If Sevilla are to improve on their fourth-placed finish last term – and to be amongst the sides with favourite odds to win La Liga – then they will need to make a new signing. However, crashing out of the Champions League qualifying stages 5-3 against Braga in midweek has made this significantly harder.
Meanwhile, Bayern made a perfect start to their defence of the Bundesliga title on Friday by beating Steve McClaren’s Wolfsburg 2-1. They are one of eight teams to have taken a maximum three points from the opening weekend’s fixtures. Check out the latest Bundesliga betting prices to see if Bayern are tipped to continue this form.
After spending eight years with Monaco, in a spell which included over 100 games, Squillaci moved to Lyon. In his two years at Lyon, Squillaci won two Ligue 1 titles, playing over 50 games during that time, before moving to Southern Spain. His last season in Spain was interrupted by injury, with the 30 year old only starting 14 games in the league as his side finished fourth in La Liga.
Arsenal have signed a consistently quality defender who has made over 20 appearances for France in his career so far. However, he has been unlucky to have been around at the same time as a number of quality French defenders. While he has been around the French squad since making his debut in 2004, Squillaci has never managed to cement a place in the first 11.
Sevilla are reportedly looking at Argentinean centre back Martin Demichelis as a replacement for Squillaci. Bayern Munich could be willing to sell Demichelis after the experienced defender had a bust up with his coach Louis Van Gaal.
If Sevilla are to improve on their fourth-placed finish last term – and to be amongst the sides with favourite odds to win La Liga – then they will need to make a new signing. However, crashing out of the Champions League qualifying stages 5-3 against Braga in midweek has made this significantly harder.
Meanwhile, Bayern made a perfect start to their defence of the Bundesliga title on Friday by beating Steve McClaren’s Wolfsburg 2-1. They are one of eight teams to have taken a maximum three points from the opening weekend’s fixtures. Check out the latest Bundesliga betting prices to see if Bayern are tipped to continue this form.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
City show they are the real deal
It may only be the second week of the season but the clash between Manchester City and Liverpool told us a lot about where the two clubs are at.
City's meteoric rise from mid-table battlers to genuine title contenders has coincided with Liverpool's decline and the clash at Eastlands looked every bit like a matchup between two sides going in opposite directions.
City looked slick, exciting and inventive, while Liverpool looked sluggish and lacking in ideas. The online football betting suggests the Merseysiders could struggle this year.
It may not have been too difficult considering the money he has had available but Roberto Mancini has assembled an exciting front line of Adam Johnson, Carlos Tevez and James Milner, all of whom can play with either foot and so bamboozle defenders with their movement.
Behind them the defensive wall of Nigel De Jong, Gareth Barry and Yaya Toure is a formidable looking wall and one that will ensure clean sheets a plenty for Joe Hart this year.
Liverpool, meanwhile, continued their stuttering form from last season. Too reliant on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, who were successfully harried out of the game, as well as missing the suspended Joe Cole, they lacked ideas and never really looked like getting back into the game once City took the lead. The Premier League title odds now suggest they are in with a real chance of glory.
With a week to go before the transfer window closes Reds boss Roy Hodgson needs to find some creativity from somewhere to ease the burden on his star pair, with the expected departure of Javier Mascherano set to fund any move.
City have no such problems, with both first choice full backs unavailable, the like of Shay Given, Emmanuel Adebayor and David Silva on the bench and Mario Boletelli unavailable, they still strolled to victory - Mancini has a wealth of riches to choose from.
In fact things are so good owner Sheikh Mansour even turned up for his first City game. If their performance in this game is anything to go by it won't be long before he returns.
City's meteoric rise from mid-table battlers to genuine title contenders has coincided with Liverpool's decline and the clash at Eastlands looked every bit like a matchup between two sides going in opposite directions.
City looked slick, exciting and inventive, while Liverpool looked sluggish and lacking in ideas. The online football betting suggests the Merseysiders could struggle this year.
It may not have been too difficult considering the money he has had available but Roberto Mancini has assembled an exciting front line of Adam Johnson, Carlos Tevez and James Milner, all of whom can play with either foot and so bamboozle defenders with their movement.
Behind them the defensive wall of Nigel De Jong, Gareth Barry and Yaya Toure is a formidable looking wall and one that will ensure clean sheets a plenty for Joe Hart this year.
Liverpool, meanwhile, continued their stuttering form from last season. Too reliant on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, who were successfully harried out of the game, as well as missing the suspended Joe Cole, they lacked ideas and never really looked like getting back into the game once City took the lead. The Premier League title odds now suggest they are in with a real chance of glory.
With a week to go before the transfer window closes Reds boss Roy Hodgson needs to find some creativity from somewhere to ease the burden on his star pair, with the expected departure of Javier Mascherano set to fund any move.
City have no such problems, with both first choice full backs unavailable, the like of Shay Given, Emmanuel Adebayor and David Silva on the bench and Mario Boletelli unavailable, they still strolled to victory - Mancini has a wealth of riches to choose from.
In fact things are so good owner Sheikh Mansour even turned up for his first City game. If their performance in this game is anything to go by it won't be long before he returns.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Promoted side face battle to stay up
The three teams promoted from Serie B will all find this season a struggle in Italy’s top flight according to the latest Serie A odds. Brescia, Cesena and Lecce will be up against it if they are to survive this season. All three teams looked good last season in gaining promotion, Lecce finishing top ahead of Cesena in second, with third place Brescia winning the play-offs.
Lecce are the classic yo-yo team, they suffered relegation two seasons ago only to bounce straight back up. Experienced manager Luigi De Canio had a brief spell in England with QPR before returning to Italy to take the Lecce job. Di Canio is renowned for getting the best out of his players and has recruited a number of promising youngsters. Davide Brivio, Simone Sini, and Giulio Donat have all joined on season long loans. Lecce have also managed to sign 24 year old Norwegian defender Tore Reginiussen from Schalke on loan. The clubs biggest signing has been that of ex Juventus midfielder Ruben Olivera, the Uruguayan has joined on a three year deal from Penarol.
Cesena were last year’s surprise package, returning to Serie A after a 20 year absence. Although favourites to go straight back down again, they shouldn’t be written off just yet. They have some promising young players like Ezequiel Schelotto and Dominique Malonga mixed with experienced players like Francesco Antonioli, Stephen Appiah, and Giuseppe Colucci. The appointment of inexperienced manager Massimo Ficcadenti is a risk however.
Online Betting suggests that Brescia could be the team to really struggle this season. The club have been very quiet in the transfer market bringing in only one new face, that of experienced keeper Matteo Sereni. Coach Giuseppe Iachini has a squad who have many who were in the Brescia squad when the club were relegated five years ago.
Lecce are the classic yo-yo team, they suffered relegation two seasons ago only to bounce straight back up. Experienced manager Luigi De Canio had a brief spell in England with QPR before returning to Italy to take the Lecce job. Di Canio is renowned for getting the best out of his players and has recruited a number of promising youngsters. Davide Brivio, Simone Sini, and Giulio Donat have all joined on season long loans. Lecce have also managed to sign 24 year old Norwegian defender Tore Reginiussen from Schalke on loan. The clubs biggest signing has been that of ex Juventus midfielder Ruben Olivera, the Uruguayan has joined on a three year deal from Penarol.
Cesena were last year’s surprise package, returning to Serie A after a 20 year absence. Although favourites to go straight back down again, they shouldn’t be written off just yet. They have some promising young players like Ezequiel Schelotto and Dominique Malonga mixed with experienced players like Francesco Antonioli, Stephen Appiah, and Giuseppe Colucci. The appointment of inexperienced manager Massimo Ficcadenti is a risk however.
Online Betting suggests that Brescia could be the team to really struggle this season. The club have been very quiet in the transfer market bringing in only one new face, that of experienced keeper Matteo Sereni. Coach Giuseppe Iachini has a squad who have many who were in the Brescia squad when the club were relegated five years ago.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Hughes is a good fit for Fulham
He may not have been first choice but the appointment of Mark Hughes as Fulham manager is a fantastic move by the London club.
Sven Goran Eriksson and Martin Jol were first considered for the role - with the latter formally approached and offered a deal.
But when that move collapsed Hughes seemed the natural choice - especially as he worked with Fulham chief executive Alastair Mackintosh at Manchester City.
His budget will be considerably smaller at Craven Cottage than at Eastlands but that could actually work in his favour.
I believe the takeover at City worked against Hughes as he struggled to deal with the increased expectations - the online odds never suggested he would break the top four, but that's what his bosses seemed to think would happen. He was also an uneasy fit with the owners, who you always felt preferred a glamorous continental manager rather than the Welsh grit offered by Sparky.
There will be no such pressure at Fulham, with chairman Mohammed Al-Fayed backing his man 100 per cent.
On the pitch you can argue that Hughes is in a bit of a no-win situation, joining a club that has just enjoyed two of its best ever seasons - finishing seventh and then reaching the Europa League final - and many would argue the only way is down. The Premier League football odds certainly suggest that is the case.
But luckily for the Cottagers the nucleus of their side remains intact and with a few shrewd additions there is no reason why they can't break the top ten again and maybe even set up another European adventure for the following season.
Sven Goran Eriksson and Martin Jol were first considered for the role - with the latter formally approached and offered a deal.
But when that move collapsed Hughes seemed the natural choice - especially as he worked with Fulham chief executive Alastair Mackintosh at Manchester City.
His budget will be considerably smaller at Craven Cottage than at Eastlands but that could actually work in his favour.
I believe the takeover at City worked against Hughes as he struggled to deal with the increased expectations - the online odds never suggested he would break the top four, but that's what his bosses seemed to think would happen. He was also an uneasy fit with the owners, who you always felt preferred a glamorous continental manager rather than the Welsh grit offered by Sparky.
There will be no such pressure at Fulham, with chairman Mohammed Al-Fayed backing his man 100 per cent.
On the pitch you can argue that Hughes is in a bit of a no-win situation, joining a club that has just enjoyed two of its best ever seasons - finishing seventh and then reaching the Europa League final - and many would argue the only way is down. The Premier League football odds certainly suggest that is the case.
But luckily for the Cottagers the nucleus of their side remains intact and with a few shrewd additions there is no reason why they can't break the top ten again and maybe even set up another European adventure for the following season.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Becchio takes centre stage
Since signing for Leeds two years ago, Luciano Becchio has played second fiddle to Jermaine Beckford for much of the time. With Beckford now at Everton, Becchio is now his team’s number one striker going into the new season. Early signs look good for the Argentinean. He has just scored four goals in two pre-season games. He followed up his double against Hartlepool with another brace against Norwegian side SK Brann.
Becchio has been a hit with the Elland Road faithful, since signing from Spanish side Merida. In his first two seasons in English football, Becchio has scored 37 goals. His scoring record along with his tireless work-rate has made the former Boca Juniors player has become a cult hero in Yorkshire. After being used as more of a supporting striker in League One, Simon Grayson is looking for Becchio to become more of an out and out goal scorer in the Champioship. Leeds are still looking to bring another forward in before the season starts.
The club have already added Billy Paynter to their playing staff. The former Swindon striker scored 26 goals in League One last season and will be a useful addition to the squad as they look to prove themselves as one of the favourites to win the championship.
Leeds are weighing up some possible loan signings from the Premiership. Aston Villa’s young forward Nathan Delfouneso has been mentioned as a possible Beckford replacement.
If Leeds make a couple more signings before the season starts, then they will be confident of challenging for promotion this season. Along with a new striker, Grayson should be looking at another centre back and a holding midfielder. The club has almost everything needed to be a top Premier League club. Grayson will be hoping to put the finishing touches this season so that come the next campaign, they are one.
They will want to take it a game at a time though and will aim to take three points from their opening game against Derby County. Then, most will be placing a Carling cup bet on them to defeat Lincoln City in their first round tie.
Beyond that, who knows what the season will bring.
Becchio has been a hit with the Elland Road faithful, since signing from Spanish side Merida. In his first two seasons in English football, Becchio has scored 37 goals. His scoring record along with his tireless work-rate has made the former Boca Juniors player has become a cult hero in Yorkshire. After being used as more of a supporting striker in League One, Simon Grayson is looking for Becchio to become more of an out and out goal scorer in the Champioship. Leeds are still looking to bring another forward in before the season starts.
The club have already added Billy Paynter to their playing staff. The former Swindon striker scored 26 goals in League One last season and will be a useful addition to the squad as they look to prove themselves as one of the favourites to win the championship.
Leeds are weighing up some possible loan signings from the Premiership. Aston Villa’s young forward Nathan Delfouneso has been mentioned as a possible Beckford replacement.
If Leeds make a couple more signings before the season starts, then they will be confident of challenging for promotion this season. Along with a new striker, Grayson should be looking at another centre back and a holding midfielder. The club has almost everything needed to be a top Premier League club. Grayson will be hoping to put the finishing touches this season so that come the next campaign, they are one.
They will want to take it a game at a time though and will aim to take three points from their opening game against Derby County. Then, most will be placing a Carling cup bet on them to defeat Lincoln City in their first round tie.
Beyond that, who knows what the season will bring.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Wolves striker aims to his prove worth
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has been challenged by his manager Mick McCarthy to prove he can cut it in the Premier League.
The striker scored 25 league goals in the 2008/09 season as Wolves gained promotion, but he failed to carry that form into last season's campaign.
He only scored only twice in the Premier League as Wolves finished 15th.
It was expected Ebanks-Blake would be sold this summer, with rumours linking him with a move back down to the Championship where he has a prolific record.
But, although Premier League new boys Blackpool are apparently considering a move for the striker, it looks as though McCarthy will give him another chance. However, it's unlikely those who bet Premier League money will back him to be top scorer.
Ebanks-Blake through the Manchester United youth set-up but failed to break into the first team at Old Trafford and was transferred to Plymouth.
At Home Park he scored 23 goals in his 66 appearances and that form prompted Wolves to trigger a buy-out clause in the player's contract with £1.5million bid.
In his first season at Molineux, Ebanks-Blake scored 23 goals to win the Championship Golden Boot. He retained that award the following season with his 25 goals to help Wolves secure promotion.
It may be that the 24-year-old is one of those players who just aren't good enough to cut it in the top flight. There are no doubt those who bet Championship football is about his level. Other players, Jason Scotland, Michael Chopra and David Nugent to name but three, have had the same problem. Still, Wolves will be hoping he rediscovers his scoring form this year as they look to improve on last season.
The striker scored 25 league goals in the 2008/09 season as Wolves gained promotion, but he failed to carry that form into last season's campaign.
He only scored only twice in the Premier League as Wolves finished 15th.
It was expected Ebanks-Blake would be sold this summer, with rumours linking him with a move back down to the Championship where he has a prolific record.
But, although Premier League new boys Blackpool are apparently considering a move for the striker, it looks as though McCarthy will give him another chance. However, it's unlikely those who bet Premier League money will back him to be top scorer.
Ebanks-Blake through the Manchester United youth set-up but failed to break into the first team at Old Trafford and was transferred to Plymouth.
At Home Park he scored 23 goals in his 66 appearances and that form prompted Wolves to trigger a buy-out clause in the player's contract with £1.5million bid.
In his first season at Molineux, Ebanks-Blake scored 23 goals to win the Championship Golden Boot. He retained that award the following season with his 25 goals to help Wolves secure promotion.
It may be that the 24-year-old is one of those players who just aren't good enough to cut it in the top flight. There are no doubt those who bet Championship football is about his level. Other players, Jason Scotland, Michael Chopra and David Nugent to name but three, have had the same problem. Still, Wolves will be hoping he rediscovers his scoring form this year as they look to improve on last season.
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