Eight steps to identify this season’s Golden Boot winner

Click here for the latest odds on who will be 2009-10’s top-scorer

The bookmakers seem to agree on who the 15 leading contenders to be next season’s Premier League top-scorer are: Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Robinho, Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor, Dimitar Berbatov, Jermain Defoe, Carlos Tevez, Andrey Arshavin, Frank Lampard and Roque Santa Cruz. We’ve used some trends to whittle down the 15 and leave one man standing:

Over the last decade Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (2000-01) is the only player to have won it in his first season with a new club.
That rules out: Michael Owen, Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz

The last nine winners were all playing for a Big Four side.
That rules out: Robinho, Jermain Defoe

Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player to have been Premier League top-scorer without always playing as an out-and-out striker.
That rules out: Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Andrey Arshavin

The last British top-scorer was Kevin Phillips in 1999-00.
That rules out: Wayne Rooney

Still standing: Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Robin van

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

Victory over Bulgaria could put Ireland in a great position

Ireland/Bulgaria, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

If other results go their way on Saturday then Ireland could move ten points clear of their rivals for the Group 8 play-off place with victory over Bulgaria, allowing them to travel to Italy on Wednesday with nothing to lose.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s side are already seven points clear thanks to the fact nobody besides themselves and Italy have won a game and with Dimitar Berbatov missing out for Bulgaria things have been set up nicely for Ireland to follow their rugby success with qualification to the football World Cup:

» Bulgaria have gone five games without a win and lasted tasted victory in a friendly away to Bosnia last August.

» Ireland on the other hand have lost just one of their last eight and are unbeaten in their four World Cup qualifiers, winning three.

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

Cristiano Ronaldo finally scores a goal away from home

And once again, the winger quickly followed it with a second

Last night Manchester United broke the record for consecutive Premier League clean sheets after keeping their eleventh in the 5-0 away win against West Brom but Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals also provided statistical interest:

Ronaldo’s double yesterday were the first goals he has scored away from home all season, with the previous ten all coming at Old Trafford. The last eight of his ten league goals this season have all been scored in doubles, with last night’s contribution ending a nine match league goalless streak.

Posted: January 28th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Five reasons why Wigan will finally beat Spurs on Sunday

Wigan/Spurs, 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Wigan have now faced Tottenham eight times without tasting victory but chickendinner researcher Danny Harris has found five reasons why that’s going to change on Sunday in Sky Sports’ Manchester United/Chelsea curtain-raiser. The Latics can still be backed at 2.7 on Betfair.

1. Following three wins on the bounce Wigan are top of the Premier League form table with five wins from six. Spurs in comparison have only one league win in their past six.

2. Although Spurs beat Wigan 3-1 at White Hart Lane in the FA Cup last week, beating Wigan away is another prospect. They haven’t lost in the league at the JJB since October.

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

Five reasons why Manchester United won’t beat Tottenham

Spurs/Man Utd, 5.30pm Sat, Setanta Spts 1, Best Odds, Free Bets

(Photo Credit: Martin Rickett, PA Wire)

There is more at stake for Tottenham’s players than the chance to earn the crowds’ adulation by giving Dimitar Berbatov a kick or two - they are defending an unbeaten record against the Big Four this season. Manchester United have their own proud seven-and-a-half year unbeaten streak over Spurs to protect. Of course the only way to maintain both sequences would be with a draw, which is 13/5 with 888sport and Boylesports. Here are five reasons why Spurs won’t be beaten:

1. Tottenham are unbeaten against the Big Four this season having drawn away to Arsenal and Chelsea and picked up home wins over Liverpool in both the Premier League and the Carling Cup.

2. The champions have won just one of their last eight away games in London. Besides a win against Fulham, the Red Devils have drawn twice and lost once at Chelsea, drawn and lost at Arsenal, drawn at Tottenham and lost to West Ham over the last nineteen months.

Posted: December 12th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Tottenham players prepare to welcome back Berbatov

Paddy Power open betting on who will foul the Bulgarian first

Dimitar Berbatov makes his first return to White Hart Lane as a Manchester United player and it’s not just the home fans that Paddy Power are expecting to give him a cold reception. The Irish bookmakers have opened a market on which Spurs player will be the first to foul the Bulgarian striker and while Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate have been made obvious 4/1 favourites, here are a few outsiders who may challenge:

The scapegoat - Jermaine Jenas - 11/2
When Nigel Reo-Coker visited the Boleyn Ground for the first time since leaving for Aston Villa, it was West Ham’s scapegoat Luis Boa Morte who set about making the hated ex-player’s return an unhappy one in an attempt to curry favour. Jenas is the Spurs outfield player who struggles the most to win over the supporters but that could change if he gives Berbatov some grief.

The jilted lover - Didier Zokora - 8/1

Posted: December 11th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment