Gianluca Vialli emerges as the 3/1 second favourite for the Newcastle job

Chelsea legend backed to take over at St James’ Park

An e-mail from Sky Bet dropped into the chickendinner inbox this morning revealing that Gianluca Vialli has emerged from nowhere to become the 3/1 second favourite to be appointed Newcastle’s new manager.

The former Chelsea boss hasn’t coached for seven years since an unsuccessful stint at Watford but long absences didn’t stop the Magpies from appointing Kevin Keegan and Joe Kinnear.

Reports in this morning’s papers suggested the Italian was being earmarked by potential owners to work as director of football in a “dream team” with director-of-football despiser Alan Shearer - who is still the 4/11 favourite.

However, perhaps sensing that Shearer wouldn’t be too happy about having someone operating above him, punters have backed Vialli for the main job.

Posted: July 9th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Back Cardiff and Watford to score over 2.5 goals tonight

Bet365 are offering 19/20 on a high-scoring game at Ninian Park

Tonight sees an intriguing battle between fortress and form side as Watford, the best team in the Championship over the last six games, travel to Cardiff, who have lost just twice at home in over a year.

Cardiff are unbeaten in eleven home games, of which they have won eight, but Watford have triumphed on each of their last three visits to the Welsh capital and haven’t lost in eight meetings with Dave Jones’ side. It’s difficult to back Brendan Rodgers’ side outright when the Bluebirds have been so impressive at home but you can cover both the draw and away win on the double chance at 1059/1000 with Ladbrokes.

Posted: March 18th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

A good omen for Everton, another Charlton collapse

Five stats about this weekend’s football

1. Everton have lost just one of their last seventeen games, with their only defeat over that period coming away to Manchester United. The last four teams to knock Middlesbrough out of the FA Cup have reached the final (and lost), meaning that Everton could be the team to end the Red Devils sextuple bid in the semis.

2. Arsenal have failed to score in their last three home league games but they have managed eight in their three cup games at the Emirates over the same period, winning each game to nil. The only team to have scored against the Gunners in their last eight games was West Brom.

3. Fulham’s 4-0 home loss to Manchester United was the first time since last April that they have been beaten by more than one goal at Craven Cottage.

4. Charlton’s 3-2 loss at home to Watford at the weekend marked the third time in seven games that they had led at half-time only to end up being beaten.

5. Now that they have rediscovered some form, Wolves look likely to become the sixth team in six seasons to win automatic promotion a year after finishing just outside the play-offs in either seventh or eighth.

Posted: March 9th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Coventry look to cause an upset away from the cameras

Previews of Tuesday and Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth round replays

Anyone who saw the initial West Ham/Middlesbrough game will be baffled by ITV’s decision to televise that replay over Blackburn’s potentially dangerous trip to Coventry. Even the clubs were caught off-guard by the decision to move the match for the public’s pleasure, judging by West Ham’s failure to warn fans the date could change and Middlesbrough’s decision to send tickets out saying the game was on Tuesday. Here are all the key statistics about the first three replays:

Coventry v Blackburn (Tuesday 7.45pm)
ITV’s decision to ignore this tie could prove wise however as only one goal has been scored over the course of Blackburn’s last four away games. Paddy Power and Ladbrokes offer 23/10 on the game requiring extra-time and that looks enticing. Sam Allardyce’s side have won just one of their last eight away games - and that was away to Blyth Spartans - but at the same time they unbeaten in four, with three of those finishing 0-0. Coventry have lost just one of their last nine home games and knocked Blackburn out of the FA Cup last season.

Fulham v Swansea (Tuesday, 8pm)

Posted: February 24th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Statistics on all four televised FA Cup fifth round games

Will we see more Tic Tac adverts than goals this time around?

Fulham, Chelsea and Manchester United may be under pressure to avoid FA Cup giantkillings but that is nothing compared to the scrutiny ITV’s coverage will suffer following their Merseyside derby blunder. Here’s our guide to the four games that will be shown on TV, subject to further “technical problems”:

Swansea v Fulham (12.45pm, Saturday, ITV1)
The last time these two sides met in 1997, they were both competing in the fourth tier of English football. Despite not winning away from home in the league all season, Fulham have won on the road in the last two rounds of the FA Cup. However, Swansea are unbeaten in fifteen games, nine of which have been draws, so Fulham’s best chance might be to take the game to a replay. Three of the last five meetings between the two sides in Wales have finished 2-2, which is 16/1 on 888sport, while both sides won one each 2-1.

Watford v Chelsea (5.30pm, Saturday, Setanta Sports 1)
It’s Lampard versus Lampard at Vicarage Road this weekend as the Chelsea midfielder comes up against the team where his dad works as a football consultant for former Blues reserve manager Brendan Rodgers. Chelsea have failed to win either of their two previous FA Cup away games against Watford, drawing one and losing one. Even if that record ends, it could be worth betting on the visitors conceding for the eighth straight cup match. The Hornets have lost just three of their last ten home games and have only failed to fire in one of those. Bet365 offer evens on both teams scoring.

Everton v Aston Villa (2.30pm, Sunday, Setanta Sports 1)

Posted: February 13th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Hull need to get back on track with another win in London

West Ham/Hull, 8pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

West Ham have been in great form since Christmas while Hull have been in freefall. That should mean that the 4/5 odds on the home win is good value but the East London club have never been too well acquainted with the term “easy three points” in the past:

FORM GUIDE
West Ham are on their first four league match unbeaten run in fourteen months while Hull are bottom of the form league having lost their last five, the first time they have gone on such a run since 1998, when they were in League Two. Twenty years have passed since the Tigers last lost six league games in succession however.

WEST HAM VERSUS PROMOTED SIDES
Gianfranco Zola’s side have lost two of their three games against promoted sides this season although both of those came away from home. Last season West Ham won two and drew one of their three home games against newcomers but the year before they lost at home by Reading and Watford.

HULL VERSUS LONDONERS

Posted: January 28th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment