Franck Ribery 6/4 to replace Ronaldo at Manchester Utd

Will he form a beautiful partnership with Rooney and Tevez?

chickendinner are hopeful that one of the blandest ever transfer sagas is at last reaching a conclusion now that Manchester United have accepted Real Madrid’s £80 million offer for Cristiano Ronaldo.

The injection of new funds at Old Trafford should enable them to compete with their nouveau-riche rivals Manchester City and with the lengthy Kaka and Gareth Barry sagas also finished, it means that some fresh and exciting transfer stories may finally emerge.

Sky Bet religiously follow every movement made in each transfer window and they anticipate Manchester United moving quickly for Bayern Munich’s

Posted: June 11th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Manchester City are 4/7 to sign Carlos Tevez

Sky Bet expect striker to swap Old Trafford for Eastlands

Rejections from Ronaldinho and Kaka threatened to turn Manchester City into a laughing stock but following yesterday’s capture of Gareth Barry, they are being viewed as serious contenders to poach Carlos Tevez.

Mark Hughes has confirmed his interest in the Manchester United fan favourite and Sky Bet have priced him at 4/7 to move across the city.

Odds of 11/4 are available on Tevez having a change of heart and staying at Old Trafford, with a move to Liverpool 6/1 and a transfer to Real Madrid

Posted: June 3rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Everything you need to know about Man United v Arsenal

Man Utd/Arsenal, Saturday 12.45pm, Sky Sports 1, £25 Free Bet

Manchester United need just a point to claim their 11th league title in 17 years and Arsenal have won just two of their last seven games and one of their last six clashes with the league leaders. Check out the Interactive Wizard we produced with Betfair to figure out what the final score will be.

Posted: May 15th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Man United should win the Manchester derby

Man Utd/Man City, Sun 1.30pm, Sky Spts 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Photo Credit: Dave Thompson/PA Wire

There are plenty of stats which suggest that an upset could be in order on Sunday. Manchester United have won just one of their last four home games against City and just five of their last 14 league clashes with them while the visitors have won three straight league games for the first time all season and have started to remember how to win away from home. But while the pro-City stats show that the bookmakers are being stingy with odds on the home win, here are five reasons why the league leaders should triumph:

1. Manchester United have won 32 of their last 36 home league games, including 15 of the last 16.

2. Manchester City haven’t won four straight top-flight matches since November 1992. On the last two occasions that they have managed three in a row they have lost the fourth. They have also gone 14 games in all competitions without a draw.

Posted: May 8th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Ten number-based stats to help you bet on tonight’s semi

Man Utd/Arsenal, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

0 - The number of losses Manchester United have suffered in their last 23 Champions League games.

1 - The number of victories Arsenal have claimed on their last six trips to Old Trafford. They have lost the other five.

2 - The number of times that Arsenal have faced fellow Premier League opposition in the Champions League prior to this - Chelsea in 2003-04 and Liverpool last season. On both occasions they were eliminated.

Posted: April 29th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Man United’s overrated defence, John Terry’s unfortunate choice of words

Five stats about this weekend’s football

1. Four Manchester United players made the back five in the PFA team of the season despite the fact Chelsea have conceded an average of 0.59 goals a game compared to Manchester United’s 0.70 and have even kept more clean sheets - 21 to the Red Devils’ 20.

2. Middlesbrough have now lost ten consecutive Premier League away games although Arsenal’s 2-0 win yesterday marked the first time in six attempts that Arsene Wenger had got the better of Gareth Southgate.

3. Spurs have the best home defence in the Premier League having conceded just nine goals in 17 games. After their 5-2 loss to Manchester United though they have the joint-third worst defensive record on the road, shipping 32 goals in 17 games - only one less than West Brom.

Posted: April 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment