AC Milan will once again kick Manchester United to the European curb

Back man on right to knock man on left out of Europe

Carlo Ancelotti’s work so far at Chelsea can’t really be faulted but we were always of the opinion that his spell as AC Milan boss was often overrated.

Two Champions League winners’ medals overshadowed a decade as boss of first Juventus and then the Rosseneri in which he only won Serie A once. And whereas his last two seasons at the San Siro saw the club fighting - and failing on one occasion - just to qualify for the Champions League, his rookie

Posted: January 11th, 2010 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

The obstacle Man United must overcome to make history

Click here for the latest odds on the new Premier League season

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

Real Madrid’s spending spree fails to impress the bookies

Barcelona remain title favourites despite Kaka and Ronaldo deals

Real Madrid look set to break the world transfer record twice in one month but the arrival of a new wave of galacticos hasn’t intimidated Barcelona.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta taunted their rivals earlier this week by claiming to be “trebly calm” and the bookmakers agree that there is no need for the reigning champions to get flustered.

Paddy Power price Barcelona as 4/5 favourites to retain the title next season, with Real Madrid not too far behind on 5/4. La Liga trends support those odds: Barcelona haven’t had a single season of isolated domestic

Posted: June 12th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Ronaldo’s likely exit opens up title race betting on Betfair

Manchester United drift, Chelsea and Liverpool close the gap

If you still fancy Manchester United to become the first team in English football history to win four successive top-flight titles then this is the time to back them.

The Red Devils’ have gone out from 2.7 to 3.0 on Betfair today after deciding to accept Real Madrid’s £80 million offer for Ronaldo, having been as low as 2.5 before their Champions League final loss to Barcelona.

Chelsea and Liverpool have both had their odds slashed in light of this morning’s events, with the Blues in to 3.55 from 3.8 and the Reds falling to 4.3 from 4.5.

Betfair are best price on Manchester United winning the title next season - click here to claim a free £25 no loss bet when opening an account with them.

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

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