Weekend Tips

It is finally here. The final day of the Premier League season is upon us and what a day it will be. I cannot remember a time when the title, top four places and relegation issues will all be decided on the final day. It is going to be very tense and exciting afternoon, which will involve many twists and turns. A full 10 matches all kicking of at 3pm for the only time during the season. Personally I cannot wait. 

Also this weekend we have huge Challenge Cup Quarter-final action and Saturday racing from Ascot, Haydock, Nottingham and Lingfield. 

Last weekend my bet of the day came through as Chelsea beat Liverpool. It was all going as I had predicted, a 3-0 win for Chelsea, until Andy Carroll came on and changed the game. Luckily they hung on and I collected the winnings. 

Football:

It is written in the stars?
Hughes heads back to the Ethiad

So many massive games this weekend. Only four of the ten games, have no effect on the title, Champions League places and relegation. It is difficult to know where to start. Although I will start will the title race. Personally I can not see anything other then a Manchester City win over relegation threatened Queens Park Rangers. At home, with the team they have and the way they are playing it is difficult to see how they will not win. However we have seen some incredible things this season in the division. City are @ 1/8 (SkyBet) to win this one, 8/1(SkyBet) the draw and a massive 14/1 (SkyBet) for the unthinkable QPR win. Roberto Mancini must be expecting to win this one although another interesting element is that of current QPR manager, and former Manchester City manager, Mark Hughes (left). Sacked by City, Hughes says he is not motivated by revenge, although you can bet he would love to deny City winning the title as well as keeping QPR up. Also players such as Nedum Onuoha, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joey Barton going back to their former club. It is almost written in the stars that a team managed by Hughes will deny City with a goal scored by an ex-city player. This is without doubt Sir Alex Ferguson's dream. It seems far-fetched but you never never know. 

Ferguson hoping for an incredible day 

Meanwhile Sir Alex Ferguson's (right) Manchester United are travelling to Sunderland. This is potentially a difficult one. Sunderland have been poor of late, as they appear to be thinking about their holidays. Although final day of the season, final home game and hosting United they may just be up for it. I expect United to win @2/5 (SkyBet) as I think they will attack Sunderland from the off, although they have been wasteful in front of goal. If you fancy Sunderland here you will get 13/2 (SkyBet) or the draw @7/2 (SkyBet). I think United will just win this one 2-1. 

The race for top four it now at the final stage. Chelsea have dropped out of the running which leaves Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle United to battle it out for 3rd/4th/5th. However with the possibility of Chelsea winning the Champions League it is now made it even more important to finish third as to guarantee that Champions League place. Arsenal travel to take on West Brom in Roy Hodgson final game in charge. Tottenham are at home to Fulham and Newcastle face a very tough trip to in-form Everton. Arsenal are an unbelievably short, 1/66 (SkyBet) to finish sunday in the top four, Tottenham are 1/8 (SkyBet) and Newcastle are 9/2 (SkyBet).

Hodgson hoping for perfect send off

The bookies seems certain that Arsenal will come third however I am not sure. I think the game against West Brom is going to be very very hard. I have made this one my bet of the day. I honestly believe that West Brom @4/1 (SkyBet) will win this one, if Tottenham and Newcastle United can take advantage is another issue. For me Arsenal showed their weaknesses last week against Norwich and I can see West Brom doing to Arsenal what they did to Chelsea and pick up a 1-0 win. It is Roy Hodgson's (right) last game and so a big performance is expected, on top of this they are also the home side which is a plus for them. For me this is a good bet. I think Arsene Wenger will be very very worried about this one. The bookies go Arsenal @8/13 (SkyBet) and the draw is at @3/1 (SkyBet).

Finally for me Bolton are looking a cert for relegation. Even if QPR fail to get anything from the Ethiad, Bolton will have to win at Stoke. Stoke in truth have nothing to play for and people will remember what Wigan did their last year. However the way Bolton have been playing I cannot see it. Last week was huge, to throw away a 2 goal lead at home to West Brom was the final nail in the coffin for me.

Bolton are 4/11 (SkyBet) to go down with QPR @11/5 (SkyBet)

Bet of the Day: West Brom @4/1(SkyBet) to beat Arsenal. 

Longshot of the game: Hollywood script bet - QPR to draw at Manchester City @8/1 (SkyBet)

Accumulator: Chelsea, Swansea, Norwich and Wigan @ 14/1 (SkyBet)

Horse-Racing:

Win bet:  Beachfire @11/2(SkyBet) in the 3.45 @ Lingfield 

Each-way bet: Hawkeyethenoo @12/1(SkyBet) in the 3.25 @Ascot

Rugby League:

Leeds Rhinos won as expectedly last night as they beat Leigh 60-12 to progress to the semi-finals. Today it is the massive game between St Helens and Wigan Warriors. This one is very very tough to call. Both on form, both with terrific players. St Helens are  @11/8 (SkyBet) and Wigan are @10/11(SkyBet) I think St Helens will edge it, I predict 24-20. On Sunday, I expect Huddersfield Giants @1/33 (SkyBet) to progress with a home win over London Broncos @8/1 (SkyBet) and Catalan Dragons @8/11(SkyBet) to beat Warrington Wolves @11/10 (SkyBet). This one is going to be a great game. Catalan in France are very very tough, not many teams go to the south of France and come back with anything another then defeat. 

United on the brink as City go down without a fight

Arteta's strike all but end City title hopes

Hopless, Useless, Gutless and Clueless. Four words that sum up Manchester City's 1-0 defeat against Arsenal. Having seen Manchester United win earlier City knew that they had to win. As a result you would expect to see a hunger and fight in City's display. This was their time to really stand up and show their qualities as a title winning side. However in reality as soon as the game began City looked a beaten team. The players looked as if they had conceded the title already. In truth Arsenal could have won the game long before Mikel Arteta's strike 10 minutes from the end. Arsenal dominated and no one could argue with the result. It was just incredible to witness such a lack of gile and will from a team challenging for the title. So much had been written and said about this Manchester City side but yesterday showed a stark reality about the team.

It seems as with some horses when they are in front it's ok however once they are passed the horse will not fight and come back. To me it showed a real lack of backbone from City. It seems they have no ability to dig in a get the result needed. Manchester United have done that on countless occasions, and one of the reasons for it is a team spirit. Manchester United are a team, unlike City who are a group of individuals.

Mancini left with much to ponder

Yesterdays performances of Gareth Barry, James Milner, Jolean Lescott, Samir Nasri and Mario Balotelli were abysmal. More worrying for me is that 3 of those are English and many would say will be in the Euro's. Barry's dreadful pass that gave Arsenal their goal and summed up another miserable display from him in that central role.

 Despite having spent over 200 million to me Roberto Mancini (left) I look at Manchester city and see no team. Until this is rectified they will not win the League. To win the league over a 38 game Premier League season is very tough and only if you are together will you have a chance. Although I must admit City's demise in the last few months has surprised me. I did think at Christmas that it would go to the wire and that meeting between the two on April the 30th be crucial. However with 5 games to go the likelihood of this is slim. Many will say they are second and that is an improvement but for me Mancini has not built the sort of squad that money should. City have over-paid for many players of which they have not delivered the goods, the likes of Edin Dzeko who cost 27 million a fine case in point. The Carlos Tevez affair and Balotelli's continuous off the field antics do nothing for the togetherness of a team. As a result Mancini should take plenty of the blame.

Another sure sign of my point is that if Mancini is sacked, as I think he will be, then a new manager will want to get rid of many of the squad and bring in many new players. Now I know people will say "well all new managers like to do that, put their mark on the team" although I do not think that would happen if Sir Alex Ferguson left United at the end of the season. Having said this if Mancini stays I am sure he will do the same, although I never did and still do not think he is the right man. 

A criticism of Jose Mourinho is that, he only has success because he is with top clubs and has a huge budget. This is true to an extent although the manager still has to build a team and mould them into a way of playing to be successful. This is why Mourinho is superior to Mancini. I am sure that if Mourinho was appointed when Mark Hughes was sacked or before that, Manchester City would have won the title. It may not have been pretty but I am sure they would have won. For me Mancini has no one to blame. He can not complain of lack of funds or support that for sure. He picks the team, he buys the players and he will take the blame. Mario Balotelli is the key here. Mancini signed this man, he knew exactly what he was like and it has cost him. When a man with the statue of Jose Mourinho refers to a player as 'unmanageable' it is obvious that the player is a trouble maker. He is not popular amount the City players it is clear. At half time yesterday Balotelli was down injured with the physio yet every Manchester City player walked straight past, not a word. Also the reaction of Joe Hart to his sending off, said it all.

I doubt Manchester United can believe how easy it has been, as City have collasped. Yes, United have put the pressure on and gone on that traditional United of winning game after game from March onwards. They have played well and been inspired but the likes of Giggs and the returned Paul Scholes. But for City the disappearance of David Silva, so masterful early on in the year is a real problem. As United have got stronger City have got weaker and weaker.

For me this season in the Premier League has been incredibly exciting and it is not finished yet. Although it must be the poorest in terms of quality Premier League ever. The English teams ventures into Europe this season prove this fact. United knocked out in the groups and then embarrassed by Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League. I know Chelsea are in the Semi-Finals some how, although the game with Barcelona will really test their new found confidence. This Manchester United team is  the weakest I can remember. This is a team relying on two players of 36+ age. This fact makes it even more galling that City have failed. In truth despite having without doubt the strongest squad of players in the division the reality is that City do not deserve to win the league.

Mourinho Masterclass

Mourinho has plenty to smile about

This man is by far the best manager around. He tactically out thinks and outwits opponents. The victory over Barcelona and Chelsea was masterful. He found a way to defeat the reigning champions which no one saw possible. 

He has recieved much criticism from some over his so called 'boring' tactics however who's name is on the cup. The Barcelona game highlighted his class compared to that of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal who decided to play Barcelona at their game and suffered as a result. Jose Mourinho (above) had a plan and it was executed to perfection by his loyal team. Also he doesnt have the players to play expansive open football at Inter Milan so he has to come up with a way of winning with a good but not great Champions League team but who were 100% committed. The way he has won the Champions league with 10 players over 28 is remarkable. By his own omissions he said the players are older so do not have the pace for expansive football. However the pace of Barcelona have is frighting and so how he manage to calm and kill the game was an intriguing and masterful watch. 

His achievement at Inter should not be underestimated. In two years at Inter he has won two League titles, one Coppa Italia and one Supercoppa Intaliana as well as the Champions League. This year he completed the historic treble (Serie A, Coppa Italia, Champions League) and this was the first time this had ever been achieved by an Italian side. It was also Inter's first ever Champions League title. The last time they won the tournament was back in 1965 when it was the old European Cup. Previous manager Roberto Mancini had plenty of domestic success however never got Inter anywhere near winning the Champions League, and were regularly defeated in the 2nd round comfortably. 

Mourinho's Inter played the classic Italian way of soaking up pressure then hitting on the break with a clinical finish, a throwback to great past Italian teams. Also like those teams, once Inter went 1-0 up you never really saw Bayern scoring, Inter were comfortable on the whole. It now seems certain he will be taking the Real Madrid job. He is the only one to sort out Real Madrid and all of the egos. Stopping Barcelona will be so difficult as of the might of Barcelona now with Villa and possibly Fabregas. However it will be incredible to see how he will attempt to defeat them over a 38 game season and if he can unite a broken Real. There is no doubt he is currently the best in the world and many fans would want him in charge of their team. He is the master without a doubt.