Mancini’s fast starters will give Jussi a hard time

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For today’s bet we’re chasing big odds and tip-toeing our way into an exotic market that rewards bravery: the half-time correct score. The match in question is Manchester City versus Bolton.

The Citizens continue to look a bit rubbish on the road but they almost always do the business at Eastlands, winning seven on the spin and going unbeaten there all season.

Roberto Mancini and his scarf have graced the dugout at three home league

Posted: February 9th, 2010 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Revenge is on the cards for Man City and Carlos Tevez

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Who would have thought it: the new-and-improved Newcastle rediscovered their old habit of disappointing to deliver a blow to the chickendinner wallet last night. Not to worry, we’ve found another team who aren’t exactly famous for their reliability to try to get back on track.

It’s been years since there was a Carling Cup semi-final clash as eagerly anticipated as tonight’s Manchester derby at Eastlands and we’re betting on Manchester City’s utter desperation to take home the trophy, and the likelihood of them fielding a stronger team, being enough to ensure that they

Posted: January 19th, 2010 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Manchester City are now evens to sign John Terry

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John Terry is now evens to be at Manchester City by the time the transfer window shuts after the Citizens last night confirmed the capture of another Big Four player, Carlos Tevez.

Sky Bet still make Chelsea 8/11 favourites to keep the England captain, who has on numerous occasions in the past vowed never to leave Stamford Bridge, but are offering their shortest price yet on the 28-year-old moving.

Posted: July 14th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 3 Comments

Eight steps to identify this season’s Golden Boot winner

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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

Five reasons why it’s not worth backing Manchester City to be the best of the rest

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chickendinner aren’t stupid enough to say that Man City have no chance of a top-five finish - after all they could have Robinho, Samuel Eto’o and Carlos Tevez up-front. They should have challenged for fifth last year though but ended up closer to West Brom than Arsenal, so the odds of 5/4 with Bet365 on them being best of the rest this season seem far too short. Here’s why we think you’d be better off backing Everton or maybe even Spurs:

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1. Manchester City are still yet to finish any higher than eighth in the Premier League, a feat they achieved under Stuart Pearce in 2004-05.

2. Since Blackburn’s title win in 1994-95, just four sides have ended the season as the best of the rest: Newcastle, Leeds, Tottenham and Everton. Spurs and Everton are the only two to have done it in the last five years.

Posted: July 9th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 6 Comments

John Terry is 5/2 to move to Manchester City this summer

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Photo Credit: Carl Court, PA Wire

Sky Bet have priced Manchester City at 5/2 to sign John Terry this summer despite Carlo Ancelotti’s claim this morning that he will be at Chelsea forever.

The online bookmakers are still fairly sure that the England captain will stay at Stamford Bridge though and have priced that possibility at 1/5. One player who seems certain to choose City over the Blues however is Carlos Tevez, who is 1/7 to move to Eastlands and 4/1 to join Chelsea.

The most open transfer special available on Sky Bet surrounds versatile Turkish forward Tuncay. The Middlesbrough man is 5/1 to stay at Riverside and is the same price to join Chelsea, Liverpool or City. As if it wasn’t already close, Sunderland are right behind at 6/1, with Spurs 7/1 and Aston Villa 9/1.

UPDATE: The Chelsea captain has now been cut to 2/1 to join City and is 4/11 to stay put

Posted: July 6th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment