The obstacle Man United must overcome to make history

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Manchester United remain marginal favourites to win their 19th league title next season despite losing Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. To confirm their place as the country’s most successful side in history, they must become the first English team to win four successive titles. How hard can it be?

FOURTH SEASON SYNDROME

Huddersfield (1926-27)
The first ever team to win three successive top-flight titles were toppled by Newcastle when they attempted to win a fourth in 1926-27. The Terriers started poorly, winning just three of their first 12 games but by March they were joint-top. Newcastle had a better goal average and a game in hand but Jack Chaplin’s side were in a good position - they still had to play Newcastle and in the previous three seasons they had saved their best form for the final stages of the season. However, they won just three of their final 11 games and lost 1-0 at Newcastle, meaning they finished the campaign five points behind the Magpies in second. Huddersfield haven’t won the title since.

Arsenal (1935-36)
Herbert Chapman won the first two of Huddersfield’s three straight titles and tragically died while on course to deliver the second of Arsenal’s trio. They sealed the second under Joe Shaw and then the third under George Allison but were slow out of the blocks in season four. A good run in late 1935 saw

Posted: July 10th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

There’s more chance of Angelina Jolie becoming US President than…

Click here to claim a £25 free bet with Paddy Power

chickendinner were pretty shocked to find Paddy Power offering odds of just 20/1 that Angelina Jolie becoming US President before she dies. That means that the Irish bookies believe there is more chance of that happening than:

» Padraig Harrington retaining the USPGA Championship (28/1)

» Portsmouth finishing bottom of the Premier League (22/1)

» Bayern Munich or Juventus winning the Champions League (22/1)

» Robin van Persie or Carlos Tevez winning the PFA Player of the Year (22/1, 25/1)

» Madonna adopting her next child from England (33/1)

Posted: July 9th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Ronaldo’s likely exit opens up title race betting on Betfair

Manchester United drift, Chelsea and Liverpool close the gap

If you still fancy Manchester United to become the first team in English football history to win four successive top-flight titles then this is the time to back them.

The Red Devils’ have gone out from 2.7 to 3.0 on Betfair today after deciding to accept Real Madrid’s £80 million offer for Ronaldo, having been as low as 2.5 before their Champions League final loss to Barcelona.

Chelsea and Liverpool have both had their odds slashed in light of this morning’s events, with the Blues in to 3.55 from 3.8 and the Reds falling to 4.3 from 4.5.

Betfair are best price on Manchester United winning the title next season - click here to claim a free £25 no loss bet when opening an account with them.

Posted: June 11th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

68 statistics about this year’s Champions League final

Barcelona/Manchester Utd, Weds 7.45pm, ITV1, £25 no loss Bet

It’s the ultimate Champions League Final as the two winners of the best two leagues in Europe face off in Rome. Check out the interactive wizard that we have produced with Betfair which features 68 statistics about the match.

Posted: May 26th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Everything you need to know about Hull v Manchester Utd

Hull/Man Utd, Sunday 4pm, Sky Sports 3, £25 No Loss Bet

Try not to get too upset but this is the final Premier League interactive wizard we are producing with Betfair this season, although there are still Champions League and FA Cup Final ones to come. It features dozens of player-specific statistics and superfacts about the 38th and most important match of Hull’s Premier League existence. Click here to check it out now!

Posted: May 22nd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Five reasons why Shakhtar Donetsk will lift the UEFA Cup

Shakhtar/Werder Bremen, 7.45pm, ITV4, Free Bets, Best Odds

None of the teams who worked tirelessly throughout last season to earn a place in the UEFA Cup could be bothered with actually trying to win it so it’s been left to two Champions League dropouts to scrap for the right to be the final ever winners of the competition. While that doesn’t sound too exciting, the teams are so closely matched that the bookies can’t decide on a favourite, setting both at 10/11 to win outright. Here’s why we fancy Shakhtar to win in 90 minutes at 2.78 on Betfair:

1. Shakhtar have won nine of their last ten matches in all competitions, drawing the other.

2. Werder Bremen on the other hand have lacked consistency, winning just four of their last eleven.

Posted: May 20th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment