Slaven Bilic is now odds-on to take charge of Portsmouth

The final remaining Premier League vacancy may soon be filled*

Croatia boss Slaven Bilic is now the 4/5 favourite with Sky Bet to be named Portsmouth’s next manager after his agent confirmed the club had been in contact yesterday.

The prospect of a move increased further today when Andrea Gicic, a Croatian journalist and friend of Bilic, revealed that he would consider doing a Guus Hiddink-style job share until the World Cup qualifiers ended.

The former West Ham and Everton defender is highly-rated in the UK because of his team’s respectable performance at Euro 2008, which they qualified for at England’s expense. The fact that Croatia are struggling to even make the play-offs this time around is apparently irrelevant.

*Technically the Wigan post is still vacant, but it won’t be for long

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

Five reasons why Spain will beat Fabio Capello’s England

Spain/England, Wednesday 9pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

England have won five consecutive away games and Spain have lost their last two matches in Seville but despite those good omens, it’s difficult to see anyone beating the Euro 2008 winners right now. Boylesports are offering 6/5 and here are five reasons why that price is unbelievably generous:

1. Spain are unbeaten in 28 internationals, of which they have won 25. They haven’t lost since a 1-0 friendly loss to Romania in November 2006.

2. That incredible unbeaten run started with a 1-0 victory over England two years ago at Old Trafford.

3. Spain have also triumphed 1-0 in each of their last two home games against England.

4. England have failed to even score in four of their last five meetings with Spain whereas the hosts have scored in every home game over the last two-and-a-half years.

5. Fabio Capello was beaten on his last trip to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium when Sevilla conquered his Real Madrid side 2-1 two seasons ago.

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

France pay the price for sticking with Domenech

Les Bleus’ World Cup prospects are getting worse by the week

France’s 0-0 draw at home to Uruguay last night means that they have now won just six of their sixteen matches since November last year. That doesn’t bode well considering Italy went eighteen games unbeaten prior to the 2006 World Cup and Brazil won six and drew won of their final seven games before lifting the trophy in 2002.

Head coach Raymond Domenech’s sacking appeared a mere formality after they suffered group stage elimination at Euro 2008 but he was surprisingly kept on. Prior to last night’s game there was a threat that the game would be called off if Uruguary booed France’s national anthem but the only jeering heard came from the French fans in the direction of Domenech and his players.

Check out our graph of just how much France’s World Cup odds with Betfair have drifted over the last three months after the jump:

Posted: November 23rd, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Real Madrid should win La Liga again

Past trends indicate three in a row for Calderon and co

Once the sangria induced hangovers have cleared, Spain’s footballing fraternity will have to stop basking in their Euro 2008 glory and look forward to kicking lumps out of each other in the new La Liga season. Because we care so much, here’s a guide to just about everything that’s going to happen.

Click here to place your bets

To find trends and research results, head to the chickendinner stats centre

» Real Madrid have secured successive La Liga titles but not since 1990-1994 (Barcelona) have any Primera Liga side managed to retain the championship three years in a row. However, the last time Real Madrid won consecutive league titles, they went on to win five in succession – 1985-1990.

» chickendinner superfact: Celta Vigo finished sixth in 2005/06 and were relegated the very next season. Real Zaragoza ended the 2006/07 season in sixth position and also found themselves relegated a year later. That spells bad news for Racing Santander who were this year’s sixth placed side.

» In four of the past five seasons, the side that finished fourth in La Liga went on to struggle in the next campaign, finishing tenth or lower and on one occasion being relegated. Atletico Madrid may be in for a long season.

Posted: August 29th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment