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

Sunderland keep up their bid to be relegated at Portsmouth

2008-09: The season where nobody can be bothered to survive

The table above shows the average number of points each Premier League club have taken from their last 11 games, with an unprecedented seven clubs all taking less than a point a game. That includes each of the bottom five, who seem to be doing everything in their power to be relegated, while Aston Villa and Wigan are plodding along with very little left to play for.

This is a far cry from the last five seasons, where no more than four teams have averaged under a point a game from matchday 27 onwards. In the last two campaigns, first West Ham and then Fulham have produced some of their best ever form to save themselves from their certain relegation:

2006-07

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

Positive signs for Liverpool, Rangers poised for the SPL

Five stats about this weekend’s football

1. Victory over West Brom guarantees Liverpool their best points finish (83 possibly rising to 86) since taking 90 in 1987-88.

2. Barring a very unlikely set of results next week, it is also likely to be the first time in 19 seasons that Liverpool have finished the season with the strongest goal difference in the division.

3. Nine teams have failed to beat a Big Four side in the Premier League this season, an improvement on last season’s 11 and Sunderland still have a chance to strike themselves off that list against Chelsea next weekend.

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

Stats for all of this weekend’s Premier League matches

For Man Utd/Arsenal stats, check out our Correct Score wizard

Baffled by Sky’s decision to broadcast a nothing match between Chelsea and Blackburn over games that will have a huge impact on the relegation battle and the race for seventh, we’ve decided to instead publish a stat for every league match taking place this weekend:

Bolton v Hull
Gary Megson’s side are unbeaten at home to sides below them in the table and have won their final league game at the Reebok in three of the last four years.

Everton v West Ham
The Toffees have lost just one of their last 13 home games in all competitions while West Ham haven’t beaten a top-six side all season.

Middlesbrough v Aston Villa

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

Paddy Power offer Stoke fans free ice cream for staying up

Bookmakers make amends for “relegating” Stoke after one game

Paddy Power paid out on Stoke being relegated after they lost their first Premier League match 3-1 at Bolton, justifying the decision by saying that “if you’re getting tonked by Bolton on the opening day you’re going to struggle”.

However, after being proven spectacularly wrong they have decided to head down to the Britannia Stadium for the Potters’ final home game of the season against Wigan to serve 8,000 scoops of “humble pie flavoured” ice cream.

Click here to claim a £25 bet with Paddy Power. Stoke fans can back their side to win the league next season at 3000/1, although we don’t see them paying out early on that one!

Posted: May 14th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Manchester United can close to within a point of the title

Wigan/Manchester Utd, 8pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Steve Bruce has made his annual “we won’t roll over against Manchester United speech” - a speech he probably wouldn’t have to make if it didn’t keep happening - but to say the bookmakers are unconvinced would be an understatement. With the home win available at 14.5 on Betfair, even the most optimistic of Liverpool fans won’t be holding out too much hope. Here are five stats about tonight’s game:

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1. Wigan have lost all eight of their meetings with Manchester United.

2. Steve Bruce’s side have lost just two of their last 12 games at the JJB but have won just two of their last 15 league games.

3. The Latics have taken just one point from their four home games against the top five sides (two points from nine games overall) and they conceded four times against both Arsenal and Aston Villa.

Posted: May 13th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment