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

Will Grayson drop down a division to manage Leeds?

Blackpool boss is 1/20 with Sky Bet to succeed McAllister

When chickendinner were informed that Gary McAllister had been sacked as Leeds manager yesterday, the name Gus Poyet immediately sprung to mind as to who was most likely to succeed him. However, while the former Elland Road number two was the initial frontrunner, he has been overtaken in the betting by Blackpool boss Simon Grayson, who is now 1/20 with Sky Bet.

If Grayson took the job it would mean stepping down a league after taking Blackpool into the Championship two seasons ago, where they now lie 16th. chickendinner could think of plenty of players who have stepped down a league or two in an attempt to prolong their carrers - Chris Coleman, Lee Carsley and Kevin Phillips for example - but it’s not so common for managers to make such a move.

Posted: December 22nd, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Fashion news: the 3pm kick-off is making a comeback

None of tomorrow’s five Premier League games are on TV!

With the Manchester derby and Chelsea/Arsenal both televised on Sunday and Liverpool held off until Monday, there are no games deemed worthy of the hallowed lunchtime or early evening slots taking place on Saturday, meaning that all five fixtures will kick off at the once-fashionable time of 3pm. Rather than leaving you confused about what to expect from tomorrow’s games, chickendinner has previewed every game to help you decide who to put on your accumulators:

Aston Villa v Fulham
It would be typical of Villa to go from beating Arsenal and drawing with Manchester United to losing at home to Fulham so victory in this game would go a long way to establishing their credentials for sustaining a top-four push. However, Martin O’Neill’s side have won none of their four home games against top-half sides this season, drawing three and losing one. Fulham are no longer pushovers away from home as last weekend’s draw at Anfield showed and they have lost just one of their last seven Premier League games. Last season, the home side won both of these encounters but before that they drew five successive clashes and a draw (11/4 with Paddy Power) could be on the cards again.

Middlesbrough v Newcastle

Posted: November 28th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment