Tag Archives: Potential

Graham Hunter La Liga Preview: A potential 10/1 Real Madrid blank and goals all round between Barcelona and Valencia

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Málaga v Real Madrid. Saturday 7pm

I’m sure that there are many who have a punt based on superstition, hunches – call it what you will. If you are one of that relentlessly intuitive band of gamblers then you’ll have a cheeky wee fiver on Real Madrid not scoring at Málaga on Saturday at 10/1.

Reason? Carlo Ancelotti’s team has won fifteen straight matches in La Liga, the Champions and Copa del Rey and in doing so they’ve equalled the all-time record throughout Real Madrid’s history.

It’s only happened twice before – under the great Miguel Muñoz in 1960/61 during the Di Stefano, Puskas, Gento era when Los Blancos won five straight European Cups, and under Jose Mourinho in 2011/12.

The Muñoz team had just been knocked out of ‘their’ European Cup by Barcelona and took it out on Liga opponents. Fifteen straight wins. Fifty seven goals in the process.

The Mourinho team ended their run via a 1-3 home defeat to Barça but prior to that won five Champions League matches and ten Liga matches on the trot. Hold on…. fifty seven goals in the process.

Carlo Ancelotti

THAT’s YOUR LOTTI: Will Real Madrid’s 15 game winning streak come to an end this Saturday? (pic: Inpho)

No, you’ll never believe it. Ancelotti’s fifteen wins on the bounce have yielded … go on, guess. Yes, fifty seven goals.

So if you believe in momentum and the power of a tremendously confident squad led by the irrepressible Cristiano Ronaldo then it’s money on Madrid to win at the Rosaleda and make all-time history.

But if you’re hung-up on signs and numerical patterns then Madrid have won their fifteen games, scored their 57 goals and .. that’s their lot.

A little more help you say? Málaga are sixth, close enough to the pack that if they’d won at Atlético at the weekend they’d have gone fourth equal. Madrid looked laboured for the first time in weeks while winning 1-0 at Basel midweek. Toni Kroos admits: “I’m tired” This should be their first firm test of playing without the injured Luka Modric against a team which knows how to stretch their midfield if they aren’t positionally shrewd. However perhaps the most persuasive factor is that Málaga can’t really afford to have one, never mind three, influential players missing. Amrabat and Juanmi [goals disappearing out the window] are both out injured while in midfield their natty little organiser, Camacho, is suspended.

Last week’s red for Samuel García has been rescinded … but is that really enough to balance out the losses? No, probably
not. Perm from Bale, Ronaldo and Isco, returning to his home ground, to see Madrid through.

PS, for anyone who hasn’t lumped on the league title yet each of the previous 15 game winning runs ended with Madrid winning the title. Hint, hint.

  • Malaga 8/1, Draw 4/1, Real Madrid 1/3 – Bet Now: Desktop | Mobile

Atlético v Deportivo La Coruña. Sunday 11am

These midday kick-offs are a relative novelty in Spain – a football nation just waking up to the fact that there may, just may, be a reason why the Premier League, with less skill and flair, is economically dominant around the world. Now, key markets [Asia, the Gulf] will watch this game in their afternoon rather than [via Spain’s horrible 9pm Sunday kick-off] in the middle of the night.

There’s a knack to playing these early matches and that’s for Atlético that’s to eat Depo for breakfast.

The champions haven’t lost at home for 26 games [twenty wins, six draws] and it’s over a decade since Depo last took a point at the Calderón on a day when Diego Simeone was on the bench, but as a 75th minute sub rather than as boss.

Toché

Also on the same bench that day was Toché – now 31, now playing for Depo and currently their equal top scorer with two. Which tells you just about all that’s needed. Depo have four goals on the road [six games] and twelve all season. Meanwhile during Atlético’s last seven home games they’ve won the lot, scored 23 times and looked increasingly powerful. During that run Mandzukic has five, Griezmann four, Raúl García three, Koke two and Godín two. Cholo Simeone’s reign has been defined by his team winning games like this when Madrid and Barcelona are away from home and there’s just the sniff of an opportunity to close the gap at the top. Take your pick [Griezmann], but back the champs.

  • Atlético 1/6, Draw 6/1, Deportivo 16/1 – Bet Now: Desktop | Mobile

Valencia v Barcelona. Sunday 8pm

There’s no getting around the fact that, traditionally, this is Apache territory for Barça. Across their decorated history they’ve lost to Valencia at the Mestalla in: the 1961 Inter City Fairs Cup final first leg 6-2; the 1980 Cup Winners Cup quarter final first leg 4-3; the 1999 Spanish Supercup second leg 1-0; the 2000 Champions League Semi Final first leg 4-1, the 2008 Copa Del Rey semi final 3-2. Major defeats. But it was nearly as seismic last season at the Camp Nou when Valencia won 3-2 – three points which if Barcelona had taken, it now transpires, they’d have won the title.

The deduction is that despite Barcelona’s nine goals in their last two games and Valencia’s derby defeat to Levante last week there’s no way that an away win is a ‘gimme’.

Luis-Enrique 840

Luis Enrique’s team appear to have found their best form of the season, or at least their most clinical finishing. Turgid in the first half against Sevilla last week they erupted via Leo Messi’s record-breaking second half and then trampled all over APOEL in Cyprus. But their manager has a disturbing unwillingness to play the same XI consistently, often changing the midfield and back four.

For Barça two key figures are Gerard Piqué and Messi. The latter has two hat tricks in two matches and appears both electric-quick and happy in his football. The former has put together three games, for Spain v Germany, and the last two club wins, where he’s played with confidence, form and passed the ball superbly.

Perhaps for Valencia it’s Diego Alves and Álvaro ‘the Beast’ Negredo. The keeper reserves his very best form for Barça – I’ve seen him make umpteen indescribably good saves in games where he stands between the Catalans and a humiliation for his side. Negredo scored his last goal in Spanish football against Barcelona [2-0 ahead, 3-2 defeat with Sevilla] and knocked the Blaugrana out of the cup with a goal and an assist for the Andalucians in 2010.

The most intriguing game of the weekend, both teams will score, Negredo will get off the mark, Messi will get another couple, Valencia have the capacity to win but Barcelona’s extraordinary goal power suggests they’ll do no worse than a score draw and quite possibly win 3-2.

  • Valencia 9/2, Draw 16/5, Barcelona 4/7 – Bet Now: Desktop | Mobile

Sevilla v Granada. Sunday 4pm

The theme here is: ‘define crisis?’. After their defeat in Holland to Feyenoord on Thursday Sevilla, by their demanding standards, feel like they are in free-fall. They’ve won just once in five matches, tumbling from top equal with Barcelona on Matchday 9, to fifth and seven points off leaders Madrid today. In the Europa League if they lose their last group game [at home] to HNK Rijeka the holders will be eliminated.

At which point Granada can assume their Monty Python ‘Four Yorkshiremen’ personality and sneer: ‘That’s nothing! You’ve got it easy … we’d lick the sweat off a tramp’s socks to have it that good’.

Joaquín Caparrós’ team has scored just twice since September and, in fact, seven la Liga players have scored more than Granada’s entire squad this season. No, not just Messi and Ronaldo but guys like Celta’s Larrivey and Sunday afternoon’s threat – Carlos Bacca.

Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan

To add to the woes both Riki and Rochina are out injured, further damaging Caparrós’ ability to return to the club he did so much to ‘grow’, and register a needed win. Sevilla have to marshall energy quickly after their defeat in Rotterdam.

Granada’s main problem is their striker El-Arabi who hit twenty goals over the previous two seasons but just one this. Perhaps it’s his moment? For Sevilla Kevin Gameiro’s return isn’t yet yielding the goals he’s due so the responsibility falls squarely on Bacca.

  • Sevilla 4/9, Draw 10/3, Granada 13/2 – Bet Now: Desktop | Mobile

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Graham Hunter: What Manchester United fans should know about Louis van Gaal, the potential fireworks with Wayne Rooney and the class of 2014

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The first time I prepared to interview Louis van Gaal he looked like a Hollywood villain.

It was Glasgow, 1996, and the Ajax manager was flanked by 6’3″ Winston Bogarde. Both men were wearing full-length leather coats which went from their necks practically to their ankles.

Big, haughty, they exuded: “We are Ajax. Who the **** are you” to everyone clamouring around them on their arrival at the airport.

Louis Van Gaal 1995

It seems that from that day to this van Gaal (above, lifting the European Cup with Ajax in 1995) possesses the capacity to intimidate and to misdirect people’s impressions.

Having interviewed him many times since and watched his work closely I know him to have mellowed, enormously, and that underneath the bark and the not inconsiderable bite there is a good-humoured, passionate, interesting and multi-faceted man.

Nevertheless, before it has even been announced that he’s the next Manchester United manager, it’s being written very strongly that Wayne Rooney is already on a collision course with the 62 year old Dutchman.

Van Gaal’s ticket in, is Rooney’s ticket out.

Patrick Kluivert

Patrick Kluivert celebrates after a World Cop qualifier with Holland in 2001 – he could be phenomenal with Rooney

United would be daft to ‘reject’ Kluivert

I beg to differ. Firstly, it strongly appears that van Gaal will succeed David Moyes as long as a couple of things don’t get in the way.

a)      IF he’s decided that he doesn’t want Ryan Giggs on his first team staff (and I emphasize the word IF) and United tell him that it’s either take Giggs or don’t take the job then van Gaal is more than capable of saying: “Give the job to someone else then.” In fact in that scenario that’s what I’d back him to say. But if Giggs plays his hand shrewdly he should stay. Van Gaal makes a habit of keeping a link-man from the club he’s inheriting – Jose Mourinho at Barcelona and Hermann Gerland at Bayern Munich are examples. It’s the conduit he uses to get to know the youth set up quickly.

b)      IF United deny him the chance to take Patrick Kluivert with him (which they’d be daft to do) it’s also perfectly within van Gaal’s compass to turn the job down.

c)      IF Bayern Munich are stupid enough to allow teething trouble to make them think that they need root canal surgery and IF Pep Guardiola departs but wants to coach again immediately then perhaps United may be tempted to stage a beauty parade between the 44 year old Catalan and his former Barcelona coach.

Otherwise United have got the perfect, and I mean close to lottery winning perfect, coach for the job in Aloysius Paulus Maria van Gaal, aka ‘Louis’.

But, back to the widely circulated idea that because Robin van Persie and van Gaal ‘fit’ well on the training ground and for the national team, and because Rooney is known to have the occasional ‘off-pitch moment’ upon which disciplinarians might frown, it’s curtains for United’s best player.

Instead, I think that how van Gaal and Rooney ‘fit’ might be quite interesting.

Jari Litmanen

Rooney’s Finnish inspiration…

For example: recently when I was interviewing the United No10 and asked him who he’d modelled himself on when he was younger, from whom he’d tried to learn it was a thrill to hear him say: Jari Litmanen (above, with Liverpool).

The Finn did have one particularly noble season at Liverpool and a shot at glory with Barcelona but his great days were with Louis van Gaal’s Ajax.

Rooney used to ask himself:

“How did Litmanen make that space for himself?”

“How did he compensate for not being particularly quick.”

The young Scouser used to feed off the Finn’s intelligence.

And it’s football intelligence and vision, even above obedience, that van Gaal rates most highly in one of his footballers. Technique and pace are right in the mix, naturally. But brains top his list.

Litmanen played in the No10 position for van Gaal – almost always with a striker (hypothetically van Persie) and two wingers ahead of him. Van Gaal would protect that ‘creative’ ’10′ position with two hard working, very clever ‘organising’ midfielders alongside it: Davids and Seedorf or Ronald De Boer for example

IF in Rooney van Gaal can find his new ‘Jari’ then the two men may well ‘click’.

Louis Van Gaal

Kluivert could show Rooney a thing or too…

As for Rooney’s infamous ‘personality’ he’s a winner who trains as he plays: all in, nothing left behind.

Van Gaal likes that. The root of his infamous spat with Luca Toni at Bayern Munich stemmed from the Italian training apathetically. Van Gaal wouldn’t have it. Not from anyone.

But if you want to, why not take a look at Patrick Kluivert?

If you blindfolded him and dumped him in Kazakstan he could find you a night club within about quarter of an hour.

All in all he could show any United player a thing or two about ‘off-pitch moments’ – but van Gaal likes and trusts the man and so he was given the chance to train and develop as a coach while van Gaal was winning the 2008/2009 Eredivisie with AZ Almaar and now Kluivert’s an assistant coach with the Dutch national team.

If you believed all the hype about the 62-year-old there would have been no way back into his life for Kluivert. The facts prove otherwise.

Van Gaal’s ferocity is a fact though. In the old training ground days at FC Barcelona, when we were allowed within about five metres of the training pitch, I’ve often seen the Dutch growler letting loose a stream of expletives while roaring at Rivaldo – at that time the FIFA world player of the year.

“RIVAALDOOOOOO, NOOOO! NO! ASI NO!”

“Rivaldo, no, no not like that.”

That’s how he’d break up a training drill and dress the Brazilian down, as if he were a trainee. He thought the Brazilian played too much for himself, not for the team. An unforgivable sin in van Gaal’s book.

Riquelme

‘You are not my player’

So TV reporter the Holland manager had fun with the other day when asked what he ‘knew about United’ only to be told that was a “stupid question” can be reassured that what he got was van Gaal-lite.

Previously he might have had a verbal dressing down, a kick up the backside and an order never to return until he got his act together.

It was also van Gaal, beginning his second and unsuccessful time at the helm of FC Barcelona who showed the ‘exit’ door to the same Juan Roman Riquelme who went on to thrill for Villarreal en route to the Champions League semi-final.

But to his credit van Gaal took Riquelme (pictured above), who’d been signed by Barça without the Dutchman’s involvement, and told him straight: ‘You aren’t my player, I don’t need you here – find yourself a team to go to on loan’.

Riquelme told me later:

“I was perfectly happy to be told, straight, rather than kept on and made to suffer on the bench until I got the message. Van Gaal treated me with respect by telling me to my face.”

I also recall the pain it caused van Gaal when midway through that season, he was sacked by Barça and he allowed tears of fury and frustration to escape his eyes as he insisted, to the last seconds of his ‘farewell’ press conference: “I AM the right man for this job!”

In those tears I don’t see weakness.

When he talked to TV reporters from the Dutch training camp this week, amongst whom was Sky Sports News’ admirable Gary Cotterill, he used the expression of ‘giving four years’ to Holland so that he could finally live his dream of coaching at a World Cup.

The expression was used advisedly.

Manchester United 1999

What LVG could do at Manchester United

If United get him he’ll ‘give’ everything. He’ll be obsessive, he’ll be driven, he’ll expect a drive for perfection from everyone around him and he’ll be savage with anyone who doesn’t think or act the same way.

It’s what he thought he was giving to Barcelona back then, hence the hot tears of frustration more than shame at failure.

His drive for perfection even extends to holiday homes. He kept his villa near Sitges for years after leaving Barcelona but then sold it and bought in Portugal (where he was hunted down by reporters seeking United comments from him) because: “I don’t think that we get as many sunny days in Barcelona now as when I first moved here. There are more cloudy days and so I’m going somewhere else.” Meteorological inadequacy wasn’t for Louis.

Finally, there is his merited fame for total belief in promoting from within the ranks as soon as he feels there is raw talent sufficiently technically able and sufficiently well-tutored in his philosophy of football.

Remember, in the United treble season of 1999 (pictured above) it was van Gaal who gave Xavi his Champions League debut, aged 18, for Barcelona at Old Trafford (how ironic) in the first of two 3-3 draws between the sides in that Group stage.

(Maybe the two men could re-unite there… who knows, stranger things have happened).

“I pick whoever is the right guy to fit in my 4-3-3 formation, because I always play that way. If he is a young player and he can do it then I select him – if he is old then no problem for me. Age is not an important factor for me”. Gospel of van Gaal.

Adnan Januzai

So what for the class of 2014

Andrés Iniesta (18) and Victor Valdés (20) followed as van Gaal debutants. It’s a strain which runs firmly through his career from 18 year old Kluivert coming on to win Ajax their first Champions League final in 1995 to full Bundesliga debuts for Thomas Müller, David Alaba and Holger Badstuber at Bayern aged 19, 17 and 20 respectively.

James Wilson, Tom Lawrence, Adnan Januzaj, Michael Keane and co couldn’t wish to be at a better place for their football development if van Gaal takes charge.

All in all I must say that I hope United get their man and their man gets United. Probably it was van Gaal who wrote the words to the Sham 69 hit ‘.. if the kids are United, then we’ll never .. be divided’.

Just as the ‘Class of 92′ hits the DVD shelves, the class of 2014 can hit the pitch.

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Foxes to prove potential

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Leicester City were once again touted as one of the favourites to earn promotion to the Premier League over the summer but after a slow start to the season the Foxes will be looking to get back on track with three points against Burnley on Wednesday (Leicester 4/5, draw 5/2, Burnley 7/2 Match Betting).

Manager Nigel Pearson will have been frustrated by his side’s performances at the start of the campaign, which has not been easy for the East Midlands outfit. Defeats to Blackburn Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers have shown that this Leicester side is going to struggle to compete for the title, but a win over high-flying Blackpool will give them hope of finishing in the playoff places.

With the likes of Jamie Vardy, Andy King and Ben Marshall in their ranks, Leicester (9/1 Championship outright) have some promising young players who will cause Burnley problems at the King Power Stadium.

As for Burnley, they will be buoyed by their 5-2 victory over Championship struggles Peterborough United on Saturday and will head to the midlands looking for their first points away from home. Striker Charlie Austin will be the main threat for the Lancashire outfit, having scored six goals this season so far, but on home soil Leicester should come out on top and climb up closer to the playoff places.

Wednesday will also see Ipswich Town host a Wolverhampton side who are starting to get into their stride in the Championship (Ipswich 11/8, draw 12/5, Wolves 15/8 Match Betting). Having suffered an opening day defeat to Leeds United and losing to Cardiff City before the international break, Wolves (11/1 Championship outright) have come back strongly with that 2-1 victory over Leicester.

Excluding the loss of Steven Fletcher and Matt Jarvis, Wolves have been able to keep many of their players from their Premier League campaign last term and they should be challenging for the Championship title this term.

Ipswich find themselves second from bottom in the table and manager Paul Jewell certainly has his work cut out for him if the Tractor Boys are to enjoy a successful season. Town have been guilty of leaking 11 goals in their first five games in the Championship and they look set to concede a few more, with Wolves likely to pick up the three points at Portman Road.

Wednesday also presents a Yorkshire derby as Sheffield Wednesday prepare to host Huddersfield Town at Hillsborough (Wednesday Evs, draw 5/2, Huddersfield 11/4 Match Betting).

Having made a fine start to the season, the Owls are running the risk of stalling after a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace and a 3-0 drubbing by Brighton in their last outing.

Huddersfield, who were promoted with Wednesday from League One last season, are still looking to adapt to life without star striker Jordan Rhodes, who completed an £8m move to Blackburn Rovers last month. A 1-0 win over Derby in their last outing will have pleased manager Simon Grayson, whose side look set to share the points with the Owls in what should be an exciting Yorkshire derby clash between two evenly matched sides.

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Five potential Cup shocks

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FA Cup fourth round weekend is coming up so we assess where the shocks could be with plenty of big Premier League reputations once again on the line.

QPR v Chelsea

The first of five all-Premier League ties in the fourth round gets the action underway on Saturday and, after all the off-field shenanigans in the build up to the game, expect a fiery encounter at Loftus Road.

The Rs managed a 1-0 win in the infamous league game between the two and Mark Hughes’ men can match that feat and cause a minor shock (QPR 9/2, Chelsea 4/6, draw 13/5).

Much of the focus will be on John Terry and Anton Ferdinand but afterwards all the talk could be about another disappointing day for Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas and an early FA Cup exit for his side.

Derby v Stoke

The Potters survived a banana skin in the third round when they overcame Gillingham but they are sure to be tested once again when they head to Derby on Saturday (Derby 5/2, Stoke 11/10, draw 9/4).

The Rams made a fine start to the season in the Championship but have been inconsistent of late as their play-off bid has faltered. But in Nigel Clough they have one of the most respected young managers in the game and he will have his side well prepared to take on last season’s beaten finalists.

Derby have been difficult to beat since the turn of the year and have kept four consecutive clean sheets so a narrow 1-0 home win, on offer at 17/2, looks tasty in this one.

Sheffield United v Birmingham

The Blades host the Blues at Bramall Lane with the League One club good value at 13/8 to cause an upset and dump out the Championship side.

United are well in touch in the League One promotion race and have lost just twice at home all season ahead of this fourth-round tie.

Boss Danny Wilson is scenting a shock and this week described Saturday’s game as a “fantastic clash” between two in-form sides.

Blues (13/8) will fancy their chances too, and have risen up the Championship table in recent weeks and could yet mount an automatic promotion bid in the second half of the season.

But a passionate home crowd can inspire Wilson’s men in this one and a narrow home win is well worth backing.

Brighton v Newcastle

The evening game on the south coast has been picked for live TV because of the very real prospect that another Premier League side could going tumbling out (Brighton 11/4, Newcastle Evens, draw 12/5).

The Magpies have exceeded expectations so far this season and remain in the hunt for a top-six finish in the Premier League but will face a stiff examination against Gus Poyet’s side.

The Seagulls have been good at their new Amex Arena home this season, losing just three times in the league, and expect another packed stadium to make things difficult for Toon, who are likely to make changes for the tie.

Without top-scorer Demba Ba, Pardew’s men may struggle to penetrate the Brighton defence so the Championship side could easily spring a shock.

Arsenal v Aston Villa

Another of the all-top flight games rounds off the action on Sunday with Villa, buoyed by a 3-2 win at Wolves last weekend, eyeing the Gunners’ scalp and brave punters can be rewarded by backing Alex McLeish’s side at 5/1.

Arsenal (4/7) have hit another sticky patch in recent weeks, losing against Fulham, Swansea and Manchester United to scupper their top-four hopes.

Arsene Wenger usually rotates his squad for the FA Cup and while that could mean a first start since his return for Thierry Henry, several inexperienced youngsters may also get the chance to impress.

That could play into Villa’s hands, however, and they can take advantage of the current gloom at the Emirates and come away with a hard-fought away win.

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Five potential big-money moves

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With the January transfer window now firmly open, bosses up and down the country are checking available funds and players, as they look for a key buy to help them in the second half of the season. Here we look at five potential big deals.

Last January was an unusually active transfer window in the Premier League with plenty of business conducted by some of the top clubs. Liverpool landed Luis Suarez, but then lost Fernando Torres to Chelsea for £50million which prompted the sensational last-day purchase of Andy Carroll from Newcastle for £35m. But will there be similar drama this month?

1. Darren Bent – Aston Villa to Liverpool?

Liverpool (9/4 – Top 4 finish) are again in the hunt for a goalscorer with Suarez serving his eight-match ban and the aforementioned Carroll not looking like a man capable of replacing the Uruguayan and his goals. They have been linked with a big-money swoop for Bent, who himself only left Sunderland for Villa 12 months ago.

The Reds have certainly enquired about the England man but Villa steadfastly say he will not be sold. However, a bid over £15million could tempt the Midlanders and this one could have legs.

2. Cheik Tiote – Newcastle to Man City?

Despite signing a new long-term contract in February, the Ivory Coast star has attracted attention from all the top clubs following some outstanding displays for the Magpies (66/1 – Top 4 finish) this term.

The midfielder is now heading to the African Cup of Nations but speculation is growing that he will not be a Toon player when he returns.

Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and now City (4/9 Premier League outright) have all been linked with him and the latest reports suggest Roberto Mancini wants Tiote and is prepared to pay up to £25million for his services.

3. Jack Rodwell – Everton to Chelsea or Manchester United?

The Everton youngster has long been on the radar of United with boss Sir Alex Ferguson a confirmed admirer of the midfielder, who earned his first England cap at the end of last year.

David Moyes has constantly denied reports he is prepared to sell the starlet, but privately knows he could get something in the region of £15-20million for him – money he desperately needs to strengthen his threadbare squad.

The Toffees boss has admitted he may need to sell before he can buy and the thinking is Rodwell could be sacrificed for the greater good at Goodison Park and, with Chelsea (1/2 – Top 4 finish) also interested, a deal could well be on the cards this month.

4. Andrey Arshavin – Arsenal to Zenit St Petersburg or Galatasaray?

The Russian star, who moved to north London from Zenit St Petersburg in a £17.5million deal three years ago, has fallen out of favour at the Emirates and looks a pale shadow of the player he was when Arsene Wenger brought him to the club (Arsenal 11/8 – Top 4 finish).

Arshavin has struggled with form and injuries over the past year and Wenger is reportedly happy to let him go for £12million in order to fund other buys from elsewhere.

The return of Thierry Henry could also be seen as sign Arshavin’s exit is imminent and there will be plenty of interest in the forward should it emerge he is surplus to requirements.

Plenty of sides back in his homeland are keen, with a return to Zenit the most likely, while Turkish giants Galatasaray have also targeted the talented, but inconsistent, 30-year-old.

5. Chris Samba – Blackburn to Spurs?

Samba first handed in a transfer request a year ago but never got his move away and has been forced to stay at Ewood Park, watching as Rovers struggle under embattled boss Steve Kean.

He has plenty of admirers in the Premier League, with Arsenal interested last year, but now Spurs (10/1 Premier League outright) have emerged as the frontrunners for the DR Congo international.

Harry Redknapp has confirmed he is looking at luring the centre-back to White Hart Lane and Samba is said to be desperate to secure a move, with QPR and Chelsea also monitoring the situation.

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Five potential EPL weekend shocks

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Following the international action, the Premier League is back this weekend but any chance of a repeat of the crazy goalscoring we saw last weekend looks slim. However, there are plenty of betting opportunities, as ever, and here we take a look at some possible shocks and value bets to earn you some money.

The Manchester derby is the early game but, as is often the case with local showdowns, it’s best to steer clear of this one with pretty much anything able to happen at Old Trafford in what could be an early pointer as to who could end up winning the title come May.

Looking at the weekend coupon, though, there are plenty of other value bets to be had in another intriguing set of fixtures in the top flight.

Birmingham host Stoke at St Andrew’s looking to build on the 1-0 win at West Ham while the Potters are fresh from the late, late win over Sunderland so this one looks tight as well. However, at 2/1 the visitors – no doubt backed by a loud and large away following – seem attractively-priced to pull off a victory in the West Midlands.

With still only nine points separating bottom and eighth in the table, there are plenty of teams sweating over their top-flight status and Blackpool, despite all their early-season coupon-busting, are now very much in the relegation fight everyone expected them to be in all along. They entertain Aston Villa, who are the slight favourites at 11/10 for this one, but we fancy the Seasiders to secure a much-needed Bloomfield Rd win at 23/10.

Apart from the late capitulation at Stoke, Sunderland have been fairly solid home and away all season, so expect Spurs to find it tough going at the Stadium of Light this weekend. A 1-0 success for Steve Bruce’s men looks tasty here at 7/1.

West Brom versus West Ham at the Hawthorns has all the makings of a scrappy but full-blooded relegation six-pointer on Saturday and the Hammers, despite being bottom, are not as bad as all that. In Victor Obinna, Freddie Piquionne and now Robbie Keane, they have players to cause any defence problems so we see another away win here. Get on the Hammers, who some thought could be challenging for a European spot by now, at 13/5.

Finally, the west London derby on Monday evening at Craven Cottage sees Chelsea hoping to bounce back from the defeat against Liverpool with a win over Mark Hughes’ Fulham. But we see more misery for £50million man Fernando Torres and co with the home side worth a punt at 19/5 to achieve the three points here.

So, with a few derbies and relegation scraps to look forward to there will be no repeat of last week’s goal-fest – just plenty of shocks to keep us entertained. Or that’s how we see it anyway.

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Five potential FA Cup shocks

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Every football fan loves the excitement of the FA Cup third round and there is always a shock result somwhere. Several Premier League teams face possible banana skins and here are five potential surprise results………

Millwall v Birmingham

Kenny Jackett has got Millwall riding high in the Championship table and they are proving many doubters wrong this season. They are unbeaten in their last eight games and he seems to have found the perfect combination, as the Lions are scoring goals and not conceding.

Things are not looking so rosey for Alex McLeish, with Birmingham’s win over Blackpool in midweek their first victory on the road this season, lifting them out of the Premier League relegation places. They have only kept two clean sheets in 19 games in all competitions and that could be their downfall when they enter the Lions’ Den on Saturday.

Prediction: Millwall will add to Blues woes @ 11/8 for the win

Arsenal v Leeds

On paper this may not seem a likely shock, but this is a Leeds side that defied all the odds to knock Manchester United out of the FA Cup last season. Add into the equation the fact Arsene Wenger has already admitted he will rest a number of players for the clash, and Leeds’ chances do not seem quite as slim.

Arsenal have already lost three of their nine home league games this season, but the statistics show they come into the game in much better form. They are unbeaten in four, while Leeds have drawn three and lost one in the same period. It could all depend what side Wenger puts out and especially how his reserve defence copes with a dangerous Leeds attack.

Prediction: Leeds can get a draw @ 9/2

Blackburn v QPR

Blackburn are a difficult club to predict in recent times, whether it is the surprise sacking of Sam Allardyce, their swings from good wins to big defeats or their chase of Ronaldinho! QPR have had a much more basic season, just notching win after win, both at home or on the road. Neil Warnock has blended grit and determination with skill and flair and the Hoops look more than capable of giving any Premier League side a real game.

Prediction: QPR’s flair @ 5/2 to overcome Blackburn’s steely determination

Leicester v Man City

Sven Goran Eriksson is unbeaten at the Walkers Stadium during his time as Leicester manager and will be looking to get one over on the club that harshly sacked him after he led them to the top of the Premier League. The Swede also has another ex-City man in Darius Vassell leading his attack and the Foxes are becoming an increasingly effective force in the Championship.

It remains to be seen exactly what side Roberto Mancini will put out at the Walkers Stadium, but most football fans would expect even a City reserve team to be too good for Leicester. This season City have impressed and shocked in equal measure, so it is hard to predict exactly what they will do in the FA Cup.

If Sven can motivate his side and get the frustrating City, then their millionaire visitors could implode and the former England man could get an unlikely result.

Prediction: Leicester to hold City to a draw @ 14/5

Stevenage v Newcastle

This clash brings back great memories of the 1998 competition, where the home side – then non-league and still being called Stevenage Borough – held Kenny Dalglish’s Premier League Newcastle to a 1-1 draw at Broadhall Way, thanks to a goal from Giuliano Grazioli.

Stevenage are sitting mid-table in League Two under Graham Westley, but that controversial replay defeat to Newcastle still sits hard in the throats of Stevenage fans. Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will not want the same bad memories of this clash that predecessor Dalglish had, and his side come into the game on the back of a morale-boosting 5-0 win over West Ham.

Prediction: For nostalgia’s sake, another draw @ 3/1

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Five Potential Festive Shocks

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The games come thick and fast over the festive period and there is another full programme across Tuesday and Wednesday, weather permitting of course, and with so many games in such a short space of time a few shocks tend to crop up so here are five potential shocks for your consideration.

Rumours emerged earlier in the month that West Ham boss Avram Grant had just three games to save his job.  Since those reports emerged the Hammers have drawn at Blackburn and beaten Fulham at Craven Cottage, their first win on the road in the Premier League this season, and the situation at Upton Park has started to look a little better.

West Ham host Everton on Tuesday in what could well be an intriguing contest.  Everton have been unable to hit the same heights they have achieved in previous seasons this campaign and the Goodison Park side seem to be lacking a clinical edge.  West Ham can stretch their unbeaten run to three games and possibly even haul themselves out of the drop zone with a win over Everton and at 2/1 they could well produce a shock at Upton Park (Match Betting – West Ham 2/1, draw 12/5, Everton 13/10).

Manchester United are now the clear favourites to take the league title at the end of the season and the Old Trafford side now enjoy a two point advantage, with two games in hand, at the top of the table after their 2-0 win over Sunderland on Boxing Day.

The most remarkable thing about United so far this season is the fact they have managed to remain dominant despite the fact key man Wayne Rooney is in arguably the worst form of his career to date.  Rooney has not managed to bag a Premier League goal since August, when he scored from the spot against West Ham, but the England international must surely end his barren run soon.

United travel to Birmingham on Tuesday and Rooney can be backed at 10/3 to score the first goal, everyone knows Rooney has the talent and eventually he will rediscover his scoring form – and it could well happen against a struggling Birmingham on Tuesday.

Sunderland are riding high in the Premier League table but on Tuesday they host an unpredictable Blackpool side who love to flow forward.  Sunderland are suffering from a mini defensive crisis with both John Mensah (ankle) and Michael Turner (knee) ruled out.  The Seasiders have managed to pick up some impressive results this season and a win at the Stadium of Light would be another big achievement but one they’re certainly capable of (Match Betting – Sunderland 8/13, draw 3/1, Blackpool 11/2).

The Championship can prove to be a very difficult competition for the punter but there is also great value in England’s second tier.  On Boxing Day Leicester City were heading for a home defeat against Leeds United but the plucky Foxes managed to fight back and secure a 2-2 draw, despite the fact the Yorkshire side had dominated the contest for over an hour.

Leicester have struggled on the road this season and they travel to Millwall on Tuesday but after that stunning comeback against Leeds the confidence should be high amongst Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men and at 7/4 they could well be worth backing to pick up their third win on the road of the campaign (Match Betting – Millwall 6/4, draw 12/5, Leicester 7/4).

Reading secured an impressive 4-1 victory over strugglers Bristol City on Boxing Day and the promotion chasing Royals travel to relegation contenders Hull City on Tuesday.  The Tigers main problem this season has been scoring goals and in 10 home games they have only managed to hit the back of the net eight times.

After Reading’s win over Bristol they are now seventh in the Championship table and well placed to fight for promotion.  Hull like to keep it tight but with Reading in free-scoring form it may be too much of a task for the KC Stadium side and the Royals look a good bet to continue their fine away record and pick up another three points on Tuesday (Match Betting – Hull 6/4, draw 23/10, Reading 9/5).

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Potential Boxing Day shocks

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The weather may yet wreak havoc with the Boxing Day programme but just in case there is a let up, let us have a look at any potential shocks after the Christmas Turkey has been polished off.

Blackpool v Liverpool

To flag this one up as a potential shock might be doing the Seasiders a disservice as they have equipped themselves magnificently over the first half of the season. Both clubs have taken 22 points so far, although the Reds have played one more match. Under normal circumstances, Liverpool would be expected to win this one nine times out of ten but, despite having Steven Gerrard back in their ranks, they will struggle to contain a Blackpool side that have entertained with their attacking football up and down the country so far this term. Victory for the Tangerines could see them just two points off a European spot while Liverpool’s slide down the table will continue.

Verdict: Blackpool to win (19/5)

Value Bet: Blackpool to win 1-0 (9/1).

Manchester United v Sunderland

United are riding high at the top of the Premier League standings but there is a feeling, despite an improvement over recent games, that they are still not the side of old and do have weaknesses. It is true that they have yet to be beaten this term but that is purely down to a few last-gasp equalisers earlier in the season. Steve Bruce’s men will not fear the Red Devils, having beaten Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge earlier this season and they are themselves just four points off a Champions League place going into the festive period. The unbeaten run is bound to come to an end at some stage and the Black Cats could be the side to do it.

Verdict: Sunderland to win (11/1)

Value bet: 2-3 goals (10/11)

Newcastle United v Manchester City

With the Carlos Tevez situation now resolved, City would seem to be a much calmer place to be but Monday’s defeat to Everton was unexpected and a real set-back to the club’s chances of lifting the Premier League trophy this season. But Newcastle have also steadied their ship with the appointment of a new manager in Alan Pardew and began the new era by beating Liverpool. We expect that success to continue at what is sure to be a freezing St James’ Park on Boxing Day as the Magpies continue to defy the critics who felt they would go straight back down this season.

Verdict: Newcastle win (11/5)

Value bet: Newcastle to win 2-0 (12/1)

Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest

Boro cannot seem to string two wins together and the introduction of the legendary Tony Mowbray as Gordon Strachan’s successor has had no impact whatsoever on results. But on what will be a cold day in the north east, the Riverside outfit might be able to sneak this one against a Forest side who are pushing for a play-off place. It is true that crowds have dropped off at the Riverside and there is a lack of confidence among the home players but one or two good results could easily turns things around and what better way to start than on Bowing Day.

Verdict: Boro win (6/4)

Value bet: Boro half time / full-time (7/2).

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Five potential shocks…

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Birmingham take on a Tottenham side flying high after three successive Premier League victories, including the sensational come-from-behind win away at Arsenal (Birmingham 21/20 – match betting).

But Blues have already beaten Chelsea and held Liverpool to a goalless draw at St Andrew’s and they could pull off a shock victory against Harry Redknapp’s men on Saturday.

Alex McLeish’s side rarely lose at home and they will be buoyed by their Carling Cup derby victory over Aston Villa on Wednesday night.

Spurs wins tend to come in clusters and, although they are capable of beating anyone on their day, this could be where the current run comes to an end.

Bolton are unbeaten in five top-flight games, with three wins and two draws, and Owen Coyle’s men are tipped to take all three points from their clash with Manchester City at Eastlands (Bolton 11/2 – match betting).

City have yet to find the consistency that wins titles and they appear vulnerable at times and Bolton currently have the wind in their sales with 15 goals in their last five Premier League matches.

This one could be tight but momentum is key in any sport and a narrow win for the visitors could be on the cards.

Before the start of the season, tipping Blackpool to beat Manchester United would have seemed a ridiculous thing to do but the Seasiders have been the surprise team of the campaign to date while the Red Devils just cannot win away from home (Blackpool 7/1 – match betting).

Ian Holloway’s men have won two and drawn one of the past three home games while United have already recorded six away draws.

The wintry conditions look set to continue this weekend and it might just be the perfect time for the Premier League minnows to pull off one of the biggest results in their recent history.

Ipswich began the season well but have plummeted down the table in recent weeks with four successive Championship defeats.

But Wednesday night’s Carling Cup victory over West Brom will have given the club a boost and they are tipped to finally take three league points with a narrow victory over high-flying Swansea (Ipswich 6/4 – match betting).

The Swans have hit a rocky patch with just one win in four but they are still just three points off an automatic promotion place and well-placed to challenge for a spot in the big time.

However Roy Keane’s men should take this one and begin their ascent towards the right end of the standings.

Charlton are favourites to travel to Rochdale and return with the spoils but Dale have only lost twice at Spotland this term and could cause an upset against the League One second-place team.

The hosts have drawn their last three league games but are tipped to go one better and shock a Charlton side looking to get back in the Premier League after three years away from the limelight (Rochdale 17/10 – match betting).

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