Should we really be surprised by what happens in football? Here are some more reminders from the weekend about why we turn up most weeks.
Carlos Tevez may not be missed
Manchester City may publicly toe the party line but one wonders privately if manager Roberto Mancini has decided want-away striker Carlos Tevez is no longer worth the hassle? (6/1 Man City – Premier League outright)
The combustible Argentinian has confirmed City fans worst fears by revealing he wants away from Eastlands because his relations with “certain executives” at Eastlands have “broken down beyond repair”.
City have countered this as “ludicrous and nonsensical” and insist they do want to sell the 26-year-old. However, the performance of David Silva against West Ham may now tempt Mancini to contemplate the previously unthinkable.
Tevez fought tooth and nail to leave neighbours United – and it is significant that Sir Alex Ferguson has not lost too much sleep over his defection across the city.
Never doubt Barcelona again
Whisper it quietly but this commentator dared to suggest Barcelona may not have the legs and squad depth to see off the threat of great rivals Real Madrid (Villarreal 8/5 – La Liga w/o Barcelona and Real Madrid)
The 5-0 destruction of Real Sociedad on Sunday at Camp Nou means Barca last tasted defeat – and a shock one at that – on September 11 against Hercules.
Since then they have scored 64 goals in all competitions – including a 5-0 defeat of Real – and have not lost a single game.
The result keeps Pep Guardiola’s star-studded side at the top of the Primera Division table after 15 rounds of matches.
Prepare for a Chelsea backlash
A 1-1 draw on Sunday means Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League but, significantly, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard are both yet to return to full match sharpness (2/1 Chelsea – Premier League outright).
The pair came on against Tottenham on Sunday and fit-again defender John Terry put in a performance to suggest punters who wrote the west Londoners off could be left with a custard pie in their face at the end of the season.
It never pays to dismiss a top team – as comeback kings Manchester United have proved down the years – and Chelsea have too much quality to be considered also-rans in a wide-open race for the Premier League title.
Yes, the draw extended Chelsea’s winless streak to five league games but the 2/1 about their title chances could look big come next May.
Borussia Dortmund refuse to go away
Die Schwarzgelben continue to raise eyebrows in Bundesliga and a 2-0 win at home to travel-sick Werder Bremen on Friday means they should not be dismissed as genuine title contenders (1/4 Dortmund – Bundesliga outright).
Dortmund last won the German title in 2002 but play an attractive brand of attacking football under Jurgen Klopp and have only lost once in the league this season.
Bayern Munich are certain to be a threat after the winter break once their well-documented injury problems have cleared, but livewire strikers Shinji Kagawa Lucas Barrios – both have scored eight goals each in all competitions – are a potent combination of pace and movement.
West Ham fans should be worried
When West Ham were relegated in 2003 they finished on 42 points – still a record in a 20-team league – and for once the tired old cliché that a team is too good to go down seemed to ring true (4/9 West Ham – Premier League relegation).
Fast forward and the Hammers look anything but a Premier League team.
A 4-0 Carling Cup win over Manchester United off the back of a 3-1 Premier League win over Wigan has proved a false dawn for the Boleyn faithful.
West Ham have won only 10 of their last 55 league games and may not get much Christmas cheer from upcoming festive games against Blackburn, Fulham and Everton.
Alan Pardew may have won the battle?
Coronation Street script writers sourcing inspiration ahead of the 50th anniversary celebrations could be forgiven for turning to the long-running soap that is Newcastle United (16/1 Newcastle – Top 6 Finish).
Alan Pardew may have won the first battle, namely a 3-1 win over Liverpool, but that does not mean he will win the war on Tyneside. True, it is not his fault Chris Hughton was sacked but in an age where contracts at the highest level are worth precious little, it does seem like wishful thinking to believe he will see out his five-and-a-half-year deal at a club where managers come and go as often as Tuesday follows Monday.
Pardew appears savvy enough to win over the fans but the dressing room is another matter and, like most good soaps, you never quite know what is around the corner.
David Moyes may have reached the end
Everton have historically been slow-burners but an uninspiring goalless draw at home to Wigan has set the alarm bells ringing (22/1 Everton – Premier League relegation).
The New Year usually brings an upturn in form from the blue half of Merseyside but on current form it might be wise for David Moyes to start preparing his players for a fight at the wrong end of the Premier League table.
You have to go back to the end of October for Everton’s last Premier League win and fans must be wondering if the highly-rated Scot has hit a wall at Goodison Park.
Harry has a point
Harry Redknapp was bullish in his assertion that Tottenham can consider themselves genuine title contenders – before and after the 1-1 draw with champions Chelsea on Sunday (33/1 Tottenham – Premier League outright).
And given that Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all face other in the next couple of weeks his declaration might not be the bluff it appears at face value.
Redknapp has assembled an exciting crop of young talent fused with experience and the no-fear approach makes them dangerous.
Tottenham have already accounted for some sizeable scalps this season so Redknapp may just have a point.
And finally…
Gerard Houllier is going to have to rely on all his know-how to turn around a perilous situation for Aston Villa.
A home win over West Brom has provided brief respite but reports of player-unrest have done little to stem the flow of fans’ fears the club is going backwards.
Roy Keane may find he is running out time to transform Ipswich’s fortunes following their disastrous 1-0 defeat Championship basement club Preston.
The former Manchester United favourite has never shirked a battle, but, worryingly, admitted his team are now in a relegation battle after their sixth straight league defeat.
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