Ставки на матч «Краснодар» – «Рубин»!

Футбол. Россия. Премьер-лига

Краснодар – Рубин. Чемпионат начался и уже сейчас кто-то хочет увидеть его тенденции, но как мне кажется, до закрытия «трансферного окна» пока рано делать далеко идущие выводы.Dyadyun scored 1 300x241 Ставки на матч Краснодар   Рубин! Многие из команд фаворитов могут очень сильно изменить свои составы в течение ближайшего месяца. Так что стартовые матчи я лично воспринимаю, как раскачку. Хотя для кого-то из тренеров неудачи в первых турах наверняка станут залогом увольнения.

Президент «Краснодара» Сергей Галицкий поставил перед подопечными вполне лаконичную задачу – быть в первой восьмерке. Видимо после прошедшего сезона, который длился 1,5 года руководители клубов отойдут от традиции мерить итоги соревнований «тройкой», «пятеркой» и «десяткой», что же раз надо – значит надо. Кроме того, в прошлом году «краснодарцы» заняли 9-ю строчку, так почему же не сделать шаг вперед?

В ближайший год-два серьезную помощь основной команде сможет оказать и ДЮСШ ФК «Краснодар», которая благодаря стараниям все того же Галицкого развивается в правильном направлении. Не удивлюсь если через пару лет президент команды озвучит цифру 5.

«Рубин», после победы в Суперкубке России над «Зенитом» подтвердил, что в этом году его интересует, как минимум место в пьедестале почета, а как максимум, так и свержение этого самого «Зенита» с первой строчки в турнирной таблице. Самое главное, чтобы внутренние распри между руководителями команды и Курбаном Бердыевым этому не помешали.

Роман Шаронов на этот счет ответил, что перед «Рубином» 1.85 поставлена «максимальная задача», думаю каждый способен «перевести» эту фразу правильно.

Обладая таким форвардом, как Юрий Мовсисян «Краснодар» 4.00 всегда может забить мяч, даже не обладая большим количеством моментов, вот только думаю в этом матче – это будет сделать очень сложно, так как «Рубин» уже наглядно показал, что оборона в его исполнении будет под стать его чемпионским сезонам. Полагаю, что в этом матче более чем вероятен Тотал Меньше 2.5

Могу объяснить это еще и тем, что «Рубин», как никто другой нуждается в усилении линии нападения. Так как с Владимром Дядюном чемпионат выиграть будет крайне сложно,  а Карлос Эдуардо, хоть и является самой дорогой покупкой в истории клуба, но к сожалению крайне часто получает травмы.

No related posts.

Список похожих постов предоставлен вам плагином YARPP.


Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Jelavic targets golden boot

The new Premier League season is fast approaching, with less than a month to go before the battles at the top and bottom of the table are renewed.

While most people’s focus will be on the success of their team, there are those who might have one eye on individual glory as well. We examine who could pick up the biggest prize on offer to just one player – the Premier League golden boot.

As any football manager will tell you, a natural finisher can be worth his weight in gold when it comes to achieving a club’s long-term ambitions. Last season was a prime example as Robin van Persie carried Arsenal to third almost single handily. Without the Dutchman’s goals, the Gunners would have struggled to finish in the top half, let alone in a Champions League position.

Van Persie finished atop the scoring charts with 30 goals last season and is 10/1 to retain his gong this year, despite his future being up in the air as he looks to leave Arsenal. Given all the injury problems the 28-year-old has had in his career, it seems unlikely he will enjoy as prolific a season again, especially if he goes to either Manchester City or Manchester United where he will face plenty of competition.

The two Manchester clubs already have two of the best strikers in the Premier League and the co-favourites for the golden boot in Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney. Both players are priced at 8/1 to win the individual award after excellent campaigns last term. Rooney managed 27 goals for United last season, while Aguero netted 20 times in his first campaign in the Premier League. With City and United expected to be the main contenders for the Premier League title again, both players will need to have good seasons in front of goal if their respective teams are to be successful.

United and City also have some handy deputies for Aguero and Rooney, with United’s strike force featuring Javier Hernandez (20/1), Danny Welbeck (25/1) and Ashley Young (66/1). City can call upon Mario Balotelli (16/1), Carlos Tevez (14/1) and David Silva (66/1), but neither they, nor the United trio, are likely to win the golden boot.

To take that honour you need a player who the manager has either built the team around, ie Van Persie, or caters towards their style of play. While Liverpool as a team are something of an unknown quantity at this time under new boss Brendan Rodgers, you can bet Luis Suarez will figure heavily in his plans.

The Uruguay striker didn’t score as many as he should have last season due to a combination of his unsavoury antics resulting in a lengthy ban and some bad luck in front of goal. Suarez is 14/1 to win the golden boot this season and if he finds his shooting boots, might be worth an each way bet.

However, across Stanley Park, Liverpool’s rivals, Everton, surely have the best dark horse for the golden boot in Nikica Jelavic. The Croatian hitman joined from Rangers during the January transfer window and hit the ground running, ending the season with nine goals in 13 appearances.

The 26-year-old is 25/1 to finish top of the goal scoring charts this season and is surely worth a few quid given his uncanny ability to find the back of the net. With Steven Pienaar and Steven Naismith likely to be providing the ammunition, Everton and Jelavic could enjoy a good season.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Juve primed for more title glory

The 2012/13 Serie A season looks set to be a battle between three giants of the Italian game - Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan. Here is our closer look at their preparations and chances of success in the upcoming campaign.

In this age of austerity and looming Financial Fair Play regulations, Italian clubs have spent the summer shedding their squads of expensive players in order to bring their finances into line.

Add to that the spectre of match-fixing casting an unfortunate shadow over the game yet again, there is a feeling the new campaign represents a fresh start for a number of clubs as they bid to put recent troubles behind them.

Defending champions Juventus are understandably 11/8 favourites to retain their trophy after going unbeaten throughout the whole of last season.

Juve’s 2011/12 title completed the renaissance of a side that had hit rock bottom just six years ago when relegated to Serie B following the ‘Calciopoli’ scandal.

A return of Champions League football is the main reason for Juve fans to get excited this season and crystallises their return to the top of the European game.

Transfers have been reasonably modest so far, with Kwadwo Asamoah, Mauricio Isla and Sebastian Giovinco expected to fill out the squad rather than be first-choice. Brazilian defender Lucio and former Manchester United star Paul Pogba are exciting talents, however, and should see more action.

The crowning glory to Juve’s summer shopping, though, will be a striker. The club are desperate for a big name to spearhead their European challenge with Robin van Persie, Luis Suarez, Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko the names regularly mentioned.

Add one or more of those to the squad and they will be difficult to dislodge at the top of the division.

Behind Juve, 18-times champions AC Milan are 2/1 second favourites for the title, but they, perhaps more than any other club, represent Italy’s efforts to comply with Financial Fair Play.

Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have been flogged to PSG, despite being key first-team players, while further departures have not been ruled out, with Robinho among those consistently linked with the move away.

Incomings, in contrast, have been sparse, with Kevin Constant a loan signing from Genoa and Bakaye Traore a free transfer. Riccardo Montolivo is, though, also a shrewd signing on a free from Fiorentina.

Boss Massimiliano Allegri will have to show all of his man-management skills to build a side shorn of his biggest stars but in contrast to Juve’s summer shopping, they look unlikely to challenge.

Milan’s city rivals Inter will dearly hope they have a better campaign than last, where they went through three managers, with Gian Piero Gasperini, Claudio Ranieri and finally Andrea Stramaccioni occupying the manager’s chair at the San Siro.

Stramaccioni managed to steady the ship during a troubled campaign, where they eventually finished sixth – significantly better that what was expected midway through the season.

Like Milan, the Nerazzurri are also clearing out their experienced players, with Lucio, Ivan Cordoba Goran Pandev and Diego Forlan all departing. Dejan Stankovic and Julio Cesar are expected to follow, while Douglas Maicon, Wesley Sneijder and Giampaolo Pazzini have also all been linked with a move away.

However, while Milan have limited themselves in the transfer market to date, Inter appear to have been shrewd in their dealings, with highly-rated goalkeeper Samir Handanovic joining from Udinese and Matias Silvestre arriving from Palermo. Rodrigo Palacio should also add goals to a side that struggled to find the net last season.

Roma (14/1) and Napoli (20/1) should be considered rank outsiders for next seasons’ title, though the latter could be a handy each-way beat to snatch the runners-up spot.

It is Juve, then, who look the team to beat next year again. The Old Lady appear determined to rediscover past glories after a traumatic few seasons and exert their dominance both at home and in Europe.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Старт Чемпионата России по футболу! Ставки на матч «Мордовия» – «Локомотив»!

Футбол. Россия. Премьер-лига

Мордовия – Локомотив. Еще несколько сезонов назад «Мордовия» 4.20 уверенно играла во втором дивизионе и не помышляла о Премьер-лиге. Ну, наверно, в глубине душиMaicon ball 1 300x216 Старт Чемпионата России по футболу! Ставки на матч Мордовия   Локомотив! каждая команда второго дивизиона мечтает о подъеме в высший, но такого быстрого и стремительного взлета я не припомню.

Как только клуб из Саранска оказался наверху он сразу понял, что надо срочно менять состав. Так уж повелось, что все клубы, поднимающиеся из первого дивизиона, начинают покупку/аренду игроков, которые по тем или иным причинам не проходят в основные составы своих основных команд. На моей памяти последним клубом, который попробовал поиграть в Премьере тем же составом, что и в первом дивизионе, был грозненский «Терек». К сожалению, для них это ничем хорошим не закончилось.

«Мордовия» уже сейчас успела набрать несколько неплохих «рекрутов» Томислав Дуймович перебрался из московского «Динамо» на правах аренды, но зная хорвата он явно не будет сочковать, а включится в работу на 100%. Из более или менее известных нам лиц в «Мордовии» в этом сезоне заиграет Антон Бобер. Но хватит ли таких приобретений для того, чтобы остаться в Премьер-лиге?

Совсем иная картина в нынешнем «Локо» 1.87. Ольга Смородская начала с того, что подписала крайне интересного тренера, а уже затем вместе с ним стала разбираться, что делать дальше. Славен Билич на посту главного тренера – это уже интересно…

Трансферная компания, в которой не хватает только восклицательного знака в лице форварда с мировым именем – это тоже неплохо. Укрепление средний линии при помощи Ведрана Чорлуки и Александра Самедова, пока что самые серьезные приобретения среди всех основных претендентов на призовую тройку.

Проблема железнодорожников пока только в том, что с нападающими, которые могут их усилить им не удается договориться. Последней новость, которую растиражировали спортивные издания стали переговоры с Адебайором, но этот трансфер пока из серии слухов.

Исходом такого противостояния, да еще и в первом туре, может стать результативная ничья 3.25 так, как «Локо» пока не столь сыгран, а на эмоциях и при переполненных трибунах «Мордовия» может и сыграть на 120% от своих возможностей.

No related posts.

Список похожих постов предоставлен вам плагином YARPP.


Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Barca can gain La Liga revenge

Spain may still be basking in the glory of their stunning Euro 2012 success earlier this summer, but the new La Liga season is just around the corner. Here we look ahead to the new domestic campaign and, in particular, the title battle.

The Spanish top flight kicks off over the weekend of August 18-19 and, predictably, Real Madrid are favourites to retain their crown with totesport making them odds-on at 4/5 to be celebrating again come May.

In fact, a quick check of the outright odds reveals that it is expected to be a repeat of last term and a straight fight between Real and their great ‘El Clasico’ rivals, Barcelona (11/10 – Outright), for the top prize in 2012-13.

Jose Mourinho’s men ended up winning the league last term by nine points and got the better of Barca in the crucial April clash to make amends for their early home defeat against the Catalans. Those three points helped seal the title after a season that had ebbed and flowed but with the capital-based club usually just about holding the upper hand.

It could, of course, be very different in the coming season with Barca sure to want to reclaim their crown and prove there is life after Pep Guardiola at the Nou Camp.

New coach Tito Vilanova has inherited the star-studded squad and also has another one of Spain’s summer heroes to utilise this season after the capture of Jordi Alba from Valencia was confirmed during the European Championships. Alba has emerged as a world-class performer and will slot into left-back as first choice to plug what had become somewhat of a problem position for the Blaugrana last term.

His addition to a squad already containing Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano (to name just five) is a frightening prospect for the rest of La Liga.

But that’s not all. On top of his arrival, Barca are also set to welcome back star striker David Villa, who is expected to be fully fit for the start of the season after recovering from the broken leg he suffered in December. If he stays fit, Villa could be the difference in 2012-13 and his goals could help wrestle the title back from Real’s grasp.

Mourinho and co will, obviously, have other ideas. Some fine-tuning might be undertaken by the Portuguese coach at the Bernabeu and he is looking to add Luka Modric to his midfield from Spurs. If that move comes off – and it is by no means a certainty with Manchester United also very keen – then Real will be an improved outfit for next term because the Croatia star appears born to play in Spain.

Away from the big two, and next on totesport’s outright market, come Malaga and Atletico Madrid – both priced at 50/1. But, sadly for both clubs, the best they can hope for is third and they are expected to trail the big two by a significant margin come the business end of the season. Valencia are on offer at 66/1, meanwhile, but it would surely be a wasted bet to look anywhere else other than in Barca or Real’s direction when considering who will lift the title.

The La Liga race between the two great rivals is set to be as intense as ever, then, and expect it to be closer in the final weeks than last season.

Real will not give up their crown easily but Barca, with Villa back and Alba in, should just have the edge.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Ставки на матч «Анжи» – «Гонвед»!

Футбол. Квалификация Лиги Европы

Анжи – Гонвед. К сожалению, для махачкалинских болельщиков, комиссия УЕФА не разрешила проведение этого матча в родном городе. Таким образом, первый матч в еврокубках в своей новой истории «Анжи» проведетCarlos ball 1 300x237 Ставки на матч Анжи   Гонвед! в Раменском.

Про венгерскую команду «Гонвед», до того момента, как судьба свела ее с «Анжи», знали только эксперты. Да и то в основном о том, что она из Будапешта и не более. Не исключено, что после этой серии матчей мы вновь забудем про этот коллектив. Но вернемся к «Анжи»…

Команда под руководством Гуса Хиддинка впервые в своей истории провела летнюю предсезонку. Как заявил главный тренер, «Анжи» – пока не на все 100% готов к сезону. Как сказала сам Гус, подготовка была прерывистой, и это не дало возможности вести все планомерно. Он дежурно отметил, что соперник обладает небольшим преимуществом в виде игровой практики, которую «Гонвед» 14.00 получил в стартовых матчах чемпионата. Но не будем относиться к этому серьезно, так как сравнивать эти два клуба – это как смотреть на необкатанный Феррари и 12-ю модель Жигулей с небольшим пробегом.

За время межсезонья «Анжи» приобрел несколько игроков. От тактики веерных закупок было решено отказаться, и мы увидели весьма спокойные и рассудительные действия «российского Манчестер Сити».  Покупка Ласина Траоре позволила закрыть проблемную позицию таранного форварда, что, безусловно, создаст в паре с Самюэлем Это`О одну из самых опасных связок в чемпионате.

Молодой ивуарийский нападающий рассыпался в комплиментах к своему новому камерунскому товарищу. Траоре заявил, что сыграть с Это`О – это мечта любого африканского мальчишки, а за матчами Самюэля он наблюдал еще в детстве.

«Анжи» 1.16 получается наверно самой интернациональной командой нашего чемпионата, но как мы знаем, Гус Хиддинк работал от Южной Кореи до Голландии, так что он наверняка сумеет объединить такой коллектив.

Как отметил он сам, первоочередной задачей для его команды является попадание в групповой этап. И как мне кажется, уже первая игра может снять все вопросы по прохождению этого раунда.

No related posts.

Список похожих постов предоставлен вам плагином YARPP.


Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Premier lacks Europa League passion

The 2012/13 Europa League gets underway this week with a host of qualifying matches taking place so it’s an ideal time to assess which teams have a realistic chance of lifting the trophy in Amsterdam next May.

Chelsea’s Champions League success last season will no doubt spur on the strong Premier League contingent in this term’s Europa League with the likes of Tottenham (12/1 – Winner) and Liverpool (also 12/1) well fancied to go far, while Newcastle at 25s should not be discounted following their impressive campaign.

The main problem with English clubs is they tend to see the Europa League as a hindrance to their domestic aspirations which sees respective managers opting to risk fielding weakened teams in order to rest key men for big Premier League games as the battle for the title and Champions League qualification takes precedence.

Both Manchester United and Manchester City epitomised this when sweeping changes to their line-ups resulted in exits at the hands of Athletic Bilbao and Sporting Lisbon respectively last term.

Therefore, with new Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas no doubt being tasked with the job of getting the Londoners into the Champions League via a top-four Premier League finish, don’t expect him to roll out the big guns for their matches in Europe.

It will be the same story at Anfield where Brendan Rodgers will be focused on dragging Liverpool back into the fight for a place at the top table of European football.

Newcastle’s fifth-placed finish was one of the surprises of last season’s Premier League campaign and boss Alan Pardew will probably be mulling over whether to lower his sights in the league to make a fist of winning the Europa League or use the matches to blood youngsters and give his fringe men a chance to shine.

The majority of English clubs simply do not have the capabilities to consistently fight it out at the top end of the Premier League and enjoy a sustained run in European competition so something will have to give – and it’s usually the Europa League.

Therefore, while we expect Spurs, Liverpool and Newcastle to at least progress beyond the group stages, it is unlikely the trio will go all the way and win the tournament.

Clubs in Spain have enjoyed the greatest success in this competition with Atletico Madrid (12/1 – Winner) winning two of the last three finals, while Sevilla won in 2006 and 2007, and Valencia picked up the then UEFA Cup trophy in 2004.

Atletico and last season’s beaten finalists Athletic Bilbao (14/1) , who comprehensively dispatched Manchester United from last season’s tournament, are both back for the 2012/13 campaign and are capable of lifting the trophy.

Zenit St Petersburg and CSKA Moscow have been relatively recent winners so big-spending Anzhi Makhachakala are worthy of consideration at 20/1 as they will look to put their stamp on European football.

The other big threat is certain to come from Italy as 2010 Champions League winners Inter Milan (12/1) are in the Europa League this term and they will be looking to win this trophy for a record fourth time in their history.

Napoli (20/1) join Inter from Serie A and having impressed in last season’s Champions League against both Manchester City and eventual winners Chelsea, it would be pure folly to discount the men from Naples.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Брэдли Уиггинс станет победителем Тур де Франс?

Велоспорт. Тур де Франс

После ухода Лэнса Армстронга тур перестал быть борьбой всех против одного. Его место уже было началphoto Брэдли Уиггинс станет победителем Тур де Франс? занимать Альберто Контадор, но допинговые кошмары догнали и его. Это, конечно, добавляет непредсказуемости, но без эпических героев тур наверняка будет жить недолго.

Почему я так рассуждаю? Ну, вот, например, сейчас есть прекрасно организованная команда «Скай», они даже чем-то напоминают армстрогоновскую «ЮС Постал», но есть и одно главное отличие. Субординация «почтальонов» была просто выдающейся, вот «Скай» может стать первой командой, в которой верный оруженосец Брэдли Уиггинса 1.15 Крис Фрум 6.00 может выкатить из-за спины своего товарища по команде.

Первый «звонок» прозвучал на 7-м этапе (когда Фабиан Канчеллара прощался с желтой майкой), Фрум в момент финиша в гору первой категории уверенно вел за собой пелотон, и все ждали, когда оставит Уиггинса один на один с Кэделом Эвансом. Но к всеобщему удивлению Фрум устроил такой спурт, что только спину его и видели. Да, в итоге он выиграл всего 2 секунды, но выглядело это очень убедительно. В тот момент, правда, подумали, что лидер дал возможность своему «грегори» выиграть этап.

Впрочем, затем Уиггинс выиграл разделку и на какой-то момент  снял много вопросов, но опять же вторым был Фрум. Сегодня, пока день отдыха и гонщики могут привести себя в порядок, мы можем предположить, что будет дальше…

А дальше будут очень приличные пиренейские горы, которые могут до неузнаваемости изменить ситуацию. Кэдел Эванс и его «БМС» заявляют, что они до сих пор надеются вырвать желтую майку из рук «Скай». В конце концов, Эванс 31.00 может перенести решающий удар на финальную разделку, которая, по мнению американской команды, может решить все. Но по моему скромному мнению, все решится уже на ближайших двух этапах, так как именно на них организаторы приготовили нам выдающееся зрелище, а вот для велогонщиков – это будет настоящий ад!

Бесконечное сочетание гор первой и высшей категории просеет пелотон настолько, что ни о какой командной помощи не может быть и речи. Помимо перечисленных трех действующих лиц, сюрприз нам может преподнести итальянец Винченцо Нибали, проблема итальянца только в том, что он небольшой фанат разделки.

Ну а прогноз мой таков, что многое решится завтра, и если Нибали 21.00, Фрум и Эванс хотят «нанести удар» Уиггинсу, то после дня отдыха самое время начинать!

P.S Все коэффициенты даны с учетом итоговой победы.

No related posts.

Список похожих постов предоставлен вам плагином YARPP.


Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Best 5 transfers of the summer so far

There has been plenty of transfer activity already in the Premier League summer transfer window, here we pick out our top five deals done so far.

1. Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United to QPR, undisclosed)

Park was always a big-game player for Manchester United and often the ‘go-to’ man for Sir Alex Ferguson when he wanted someone to step up to the plate and attack from midfield. He won four Premier League titles, three League Cups and the Champions League during his time at Old Trafford and appears to be a very astute, and surprise, signing by Mark Hughes.

Officially, the fee is undisclosed but reports say the Hoops (9/2 – To be relegated) have only paid £2million for the South Korean and that could well be the bargain buy of the summer.

2. Hugo Rodellaga (Free agent to Fulham)

Rodallega’s release by Wigan came as somewhat of a surprise, although it is probably more a case of the Colombia international wanting to move on rather than Roberto Martinez deciding the striker was surplus to requirements at the DW Stadium.

While the 24-year-old can be inconsistent, he can also be devastating on his day and his overall goalscoring record is good despite just finding the net three times for Latics last season.

Martin Jol may have brought Rodallega in as a replacement for Clint Dempsey, who is set to leave the Cottage this summer, and he has landed himself an established Premier League forward who can hit double figues – or more – if he stays fit and gets the right support (Fulham 8/1 – to be relegated).

3. Olivier Giroud (Montpellier to Arsenal, undisclosed)

Arsene Wenger has failed with some big summer purchases in recent years – take Marouane Chamakh for example – but this deal should be one that comes off.

The 25-year-old notched 21 goals in 36 league appearances to help Montpellier claim their first Ligue 1 title last season and, while he is not in Robin van Persie’s class yet, he is highly-rated and a skilful addition to the Gunners frontline.

It is another officially undisclosed transfer but it is thought Wenger has paid in the region of £13million which may seem a tad pricey, but only if he doesn’t go on to fulfil his undoubted potential in the next few seasons at the Emirates (Arsenal 4/9 – Top 4 Finish).

4 – Steven Naismith (Rangers to Everton)

This transfer is still awaiting international clearance due to the ongoing financial wrangling at newco Rangers but Everton (18/1 – Top 4 finish) should eventually profit from another piece of apparent clever trading by David Moyes at Goodison Park.

Naismith has regularly been linked with a move south to the Premier League in recent years and now he has landed at probably the best club for him to make an impact. Under Moyes’ guidance the Scotland international can flourish and re-engage his old Rangers partnership with another similarly astute signing, Nikica Jelavic, in the new campaign.

5 – Pavel Pogrebnyak (Free agent to Reading)

The Royals (2/1 – Top Promoted Team) have bought well so far this summer as they hope to stay in the Premier League and this could end up being one of the deals of the transfer window.

The Russia international, who was part of his country’s Euro 2012 squad, impressed at Fulham while on loan at the end of last season, scoring six goals in just 12 games and, in the process, became the quickest player to reach five goals in Premier League history.

He is strong, powerful and clearly has an eye for goal so Brian McDermott’s side’s survival this season may just be dependant on him coming up with the goods.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Are City going to dominate?

The ’silly season’ of transfer activity is starting to get going and we will be taking a look at whether anyone can stop Manchester City dominating the season to make it back-to-back successes in the Premier League.

It was a real roller-coaster of a season for Roberto Mancini’s men last term – they had won the league by Christmas, lost it by April, back in front going into the climax but then only claimed their first title since 1968 with two goals in injury-time against 10-man QPR.

However, the Citizens did have to deal with the pressures of expectation, given the vast outlay of the owners, but now they have got the monkey off their back, can they justify 5/4 favouritism to land another success.

A lot may depend on the transfer market, like for most clubs, but the simple answer is yes they can – they have the squad and they may well improve it over the next few weeks.

The Champions League could be a distraction of course but Mancini has assembled a strong squad that should at least be able to cope with the demands and they look the team to beat.

There are sure to be some comings and goings at the Etihad Stadium but it will not be to the detriment of the champions, although it could impact on their rivals’ fortunes – if reported moves for the likes of Robin van Persie come to fruition for example.

So the onus is very much on the chasing pack with Manchester United currently the second favourites at 9/4 to regain the trophy after they were denied on goal difference last season.

However, United have struggled to hit the heights of previous campaigns recently and although they were successful two years ago, many experts suggested it was with an ‘ordinary’ side.

Sir Alex Ferguson has no peers in the English game and seems to get the absolute best out of his squad time after time, and will be doubly determined to get back to the top after losing out to his ‘noisy neighbours’.

Two deals have already been completed by the United boss and it will be interesting to see how the highly-rated Shinji Kagawa handles the move to England, while Nick Powell’s acquisition is more of a move for the future rather than the upcoming season.

Nemanja Vidic will almost be like a new signing after missing the majority of last season, while Leighton Baines has been linked with a move, but if Ferguson does not address central midfield issues and continues to rely on veterans Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, it is difficult to see United reversing the form.

Of course, there is sure to be one or two moves in the transfer market but, at the prices, they look too short to even finish second (City/United 13/10 Dual Forecast Market).

It may be foolish to back against Ferguson but Chelsea (9/2 Premier League Outright) could well be the one to side with and put up the biggest challenge to City in lifting the trophy.

Yes, the club is in a period of transition with Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Jose Bosingwa already departed and others perhaps to follow suit, but they have bought astutely with young and attacking play-makers Eden Hazard and Marko Marin joining the ranks.

Whether Hazard justifies the outlay, around £32m, remains to be seen but money is not the issue for Roman Abramovich, and he is sure to bring in more new faces – one being a striker to replace Drogba.

Last season’s success in the Champions League may not have been pretty or ‘deserved’ but it can only bring confidence to the players and has already acted as the attraction for new blood following Hazard’s arrival.

Roberto di Matteo turned the season around last term and can be more relaxed over his future this time around, although that in itself will bring pressure.

There is no doubt that they have a big enough squad to challenge but they need to sort out a new striker as the jury is still out on Fernando Torres.

Of the others, it is difficult to see Arsenal making the Premier League title the one to end the barren trophy drought, despite the marvellous work Arsene Wenger keeps doing for the club.

Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski have been brought in but their hopes are going to hinge on van Persie, who almost single-handedly got the Gunners into the top four last term, and whether they can keep hold of him.

Andre Villas-Boas makes a quick return to the Premier League but Spurs have a similar problem to their north London rivals in the sense that Luka Modric is arguably their best player – and he looks set to leave.

So, ultimately, City look the side to plump with this term and it is a question of who will finish best of the rest with City/Chelsea on offer at 6/1 in the straight forecast market.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.