Tottenham’s reward for their stoppage-time win over Lyon in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 is a two-legged tie with Internazionale, which begins this week at White Hart Lane.
Andre Villas-Boas’ side are in good form of late and football betting news pundits believe that they can make the top four this season, earn safe passage to the Champions League group stage and do battle with the best teams Europe has to offer.
Before then, however, there is the small matter of winning the Europa League – a genuine prospect for AVB’s men who have taken Europe by storm this season.
Having successfully navigated through a tough group stage, Spurs slipped past the Ligue 1 outfit thanks to Moussa Dembele’s late strike in the Stade Gerland. All great teams need a slice of luck like this, yet, up against Inter, they may not need quite as much.
For Inter are currently in a real slump in Serie A and many fans who bet on football expect manager, Andrea Stramaccioni, to restrict players from European action in order to concentrate on the league. Two weeks ago they were lucky to come away with a home 1-1 draw against city rivals AC Milan and in mid February lost 4-1 to fellow-Euro chasers Fiorentina.
Of course, Inter still pack a punch, with Rodrigo Palacio likely to pop up with a goal at any time, while Javier Zanetti is more than capable of structuring their midfield.
Yet Spurs should not be too worried about Inter this week. Three years ago, the teams met in Champions League competition and the Italian giants’ experience was just enough to topple Tottenham’s youthful exuberance.
Three years on and Spurs have grown from a team new to Europe to one capable of challenging for trophies and with Gareth Bale, Emmanuel Adebayor, Dembele and young Lewis Holtby they have a mix of talent, experience and determination that should see them through to the quarters.
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
Sunday, 24 February 2013
Bradford’s Adventure comes to an Uncomfortable End
Bradford City fans had dared to dream the impossible dream; they believed that after a remarkable run to Wembley, the Bantams could overhaul one more giant and lift the League Cup.
Given they had already dumped Wigan, Aston Villa and Arsenal out of the competition, the idea of Yorkshire club beating Swansea was suddenly not such a fanciful one.
Sadly for the 32,000 fans that travelled down from West Yorkshire, the yawning gap between League Two and the Premier League was ruthlessly exposed, though that only served to show how impressive Bradford’s achievements were in making it to the final in the first place.
What made this year’s final special, however, was that whoever won, there would be a fantastic story behind it.
Ten years ago Swansea were battling to stay in the football league, but their remarkable rise – done without a billionaire benefactor yet still playing attractive, highly skilled football – was capped with their first major trophy in 100 years.
Michael Laudrup can rightly take credit for what the team has done this season, but so can Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers, visionary managers whose philosophy re-built and re-moulded the football club into something the fans would have scarcely imagined a decade ago.
The big question is now - just how far can they go? They already have a European place in the bag and are on course for their highest top-flight finish for more than 30 years.
Keeping Laudrup at the helm could be their first challenge given apparent interest from Real Madrid. But looking at how they seamlessly moved on from Martinez and Rodgers, I highly doubt the Dane’s departure would stop the Swansea fairytale from continuing on a while yet.
While Swansea may be on their way to the Europa League, fans of the competition will need to find an alternative club to bet on this season. Visit the Europa League betting website for the latest from Europe: http://betting.betfair.com/football/capital-one-cup/
Given they had already dumped Wigan, Aston Villa and Arsenal out of the competition, the idea of Yorkshire club beating Swansea was suddenly not such a fanciful one.
Sadly for the 32,000 fans that travelled down from West Yorkshire, the yawning gap between League Two and the Premier League was ruthlessly exposed, though that only served to show how impressive Bradford’s achievements were in making it to the final in the first place.
What made this year’s final special, however, was that whoever won, there would be a fantastic story behind it.
Ten years ago Swansea were battling to stay in the football league, but their remarkable rise – done without a billionaire benefactor yet still playing attractive, highly skilled football – was capped with their first major trophy in 100 years.
Michael Laudrup can rightly take credit for what the team has done this season, but so can Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers, visionary managers whose philosophy re-built and re-moulded the football club into something the fans would have scarcely imagined a decade ago.
The big question is now - just how far can they go? They already have a European place in the bag and are on course for their highest top-flight finish for more than 30 years.
Keeping Laudrup at the helm could be their first challenge given apparent interest from Real Madrid. But looking at how they seamlessly moved on from Martinez and Rodgers, I highly doubt the Dane’s departure would stop the Swansea fairytale from continuing on a while yet.
While Swansea may be on their way to the Europa League, fans of the competition will need to find an alternative club to bet on this season. Visit the Europa League betting website for the latest from Europe: http://betting.betfair.com/football/capital-one-cup/
Monday, 18 February 2013
Moyes contract adds to uncertainty
Everton boss David Moyes’ decision to yet again put off contract talks suggests his tenure at Goodison Park may well be coming to an end.
The Scot’s current deal with the Blues expires at the end of the season and he has continually put off talks over a new one, citing a desire to receive assurances from the board regarding finance and investment.
Moyes has worked wonders during his 11 years on Merseyside, turning the club from relegation fodder to regular European challengers, all on a meagre budget that has often forced him to sell his best players.
The former Preston boss can rightly feel like he cannot do anymore at the club without some backing from the club’s hierarchy.
"I want to see how we do in the cups, I want to see how we do in the league, and it's more than likely I won't make a decision until the end of the season," Moyes was quoted as saying on Betfair Football last week.
Chairman Bill Kenwright has been open in his desire to sell the club, saying he simply does not have any spare cash, with any the club does have all going to the manager.
However, he has been saying that for more than five years now and with no new buyer on the horizon, it seems unlikely Moyes will receive the assurances he needs in order to commit himself to the club once more.
It isn’t just a case of Moyes jumping ship, however, as his potential new sides also come with caveats.
Chelsea and Manchester United are two names frequently mentioned in Betfair markets, but would the Red Devils go for Moyes, a boss who has never managed in the Champions League? And would Moyes want to make the move to Chelsea, despite all the extra financial backing he would get, given the job insecurity it would bring? Moyes calls all the shots at Goodison Park with no interference from the board, something he would certainly not get at Stamford Bridge.
Rumours over the weekend suggested Arsenal may be a destination, with the pressure growing on Arsene Wenger.
Given we are entering the final three months of the season, we won’t have to wait long to find out whether Moyes' time on Merseyside is coming to an end. But speak to plenty of Everton fans and they are already bracing themselves for his departure.
The Scot’s current deal with the Blues expires at the end of the season and he has continually put off talks over a new one, citing a desire to receive assurances from the board regarding finance and investment.
Moyes has worked wonders during his 11 years on Merseyside, turning the club from relegation fodder to regular European challengers, all on a meagre budget that has often forced him to sell his best players.
The former Preston boss can rightly feel like he cannot do anymore at the club without some backing from the club’s hierarchy.
"I want to see how we do in the cups, I want to see how we do in the league, and it's more than likely I won't make a decision until the end of the season," Moyes was quoted as saying on Betfair Football last week.
Chairman Bill Kenwright has been open in his desire to sell the club, saying he simply does not have any spare cash, with any the club does have all going to the manager.
However, he has been saying that for more than five years now and with no new buyer on the horizon, it seems unlikely Moyes will receive the assurances he needs in order to commit himself to the club once more.
It isn’t just a case of Moyes jumping ship, however, as his potential new sides also come with caveats.
Chelsea and Manchester United are two names frequently mentioned in Betfair markets, but would the Red Devils go for Moyes, a boss who has never managed in the Champions League? And would Moyes want to make the move to Chelsea, despite all the extra financial backing he would get, given the job insecurity it would bring? Moyes calls all the shots at Goodison Park with no interference from the board, something he would certainly not get at Stamford Bridge.
Rumours over the weekend suggested Arsenal may be a destination, with the pressure growing on Arsene Wenger.
Given we are entering the final three months of the season, we won’t have to wait long to find out whether Moyes' time on Merseyside is coming to an end. But speak to plenty of Everton fans and they are already bracing themselves for his departure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)