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

Chelsea’s decision to appoint Carlo Ancelotti gains support

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Here at chickendinner we aren’t convinced that Carlo Ancelotti is the right man to guide Chelsea back into title contention but it appears that punters disagree with us.

Before news of the Italian’s appointment broke, the Blues were 4.2 to win the title but by the close of play they had been backed in to 3.85, although they have dropped back a bit this morning.

Chelsea, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Ajax, AZ, Marseille, Bayern Munich, Schalke and Wolfsburg have already made managerial changes for the coming season but the famed merry-go-round is going to gather even more momentum over the coming week. Juventus, Celtic, Portsmouth and Sunderland are already looking for a new boss and Roma, Lazio and Wigan look set to join them.

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Posted: June 2nd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

FC Twente could finally get a result on the road in Europe

Schuper Schteve McClaren prepares his troops to face Marseille

The second coming of Steve McClaren, who was written off as a failure and forced to work abroad, has gone from strength to strength and his Dutch side FC Twente are now unbeaten in fourteen domestic games, of which they have won ten, and stand an outside chance of winning the Eredivisie.

The one area where drastic improvement is still required is European away games, of which they have lost their last eight, and the trip to Marseille tonight offers them a good chance of doing that. The visitors can be backed at 5/1 with Sky Bet while the draw is 11/4 with Ladbrokes .

Posted: February 19th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Liverpool can pip Atletico and win Group D

PSV/Liverpool, 7.45pm, ITV4, Best Odds, Free Bets

In order to win Group D tonight, Liverpool need to win in Holland by a margin two goals better than that of Atletico Madrid in Marseille or, more plausibly, hope the Spanish side slip up. Here’s why that is a strong possibility:

Why Liverpool should beat PSV fairly comfortably
Liverpool made two trips to Eindhoven in the 2006-07 season and on both occasions they shut the Dutch side out. Their second away game there finished 3-0 and they scored three against them at Anfield earlier this season in a 3-1 triumph. PSV have lost four of their five Champions League games this year and lost 3-0 at home to Atletico Madrid.

Why Atletico Madrid could be held by Marseille

Posted: December 9th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Liverpool will finally beat Marseille at Anfield

Liverpool/Marseille, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2, Best Odds, Free Bets

Rafael Benitez will tonight become Liverpool’s most experienced European boss of all time by taking charge of his 66th game as Reds boss, going one greater than Bill Shankly. The Spaniard can also equal Bob Paisley’s record for most European wins as Liverpool boss with victory and while they have failed to win their last two home games against Marseille, it will be third time lucky tonight:

MARSEILLE DON’T WIN AWAY
Since Marseille won 1-0 at Anfield last October, they have lost six consecutive away games in the Champions League and UEFA Cup (excluding qualifiers). After losing their opening three games in this year’s competition, Marseille appeared to turn the corner by beating PSV 3-0 but since then they have lost at home to Lorient and drawn with Lille in Ligue 1.

FINAL HOME GROUP GAMES

Posted: November 26th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment