Posts Tagged ‘Champions League Football’
Spurs’ need is greater than Man City’s
Results in the Premier League last weekend whittled down the Champions League hopefuls to just two clubs and they now face each other at the City of Manchester Stadium in what is effectively Champions League play-off.
The build up to the game has seen much talk of launch pads to success, and the impact a new side finishing in the top fourth could have on the Premier League.
This has been the case with Manchester City in particular. If they secured fourth they would be able to offer the world’s best players Champions League football as well exorbitant wages.
However, the amount of cash available at City means they will eventually make the top four regardless of what happens this season. Sheikh Mansour has already shown he is prepared to continually throw money at the problem until he achieves his objective. Indeed, if Harry Redknapp is to be believed City don’t hold back when it comes to the transfer market.
So even if City fall at the final hurdle this week, and the football betting odds suggest they will, it will not be a disaster. Roberto Mancini, or whoever is in charge, will have a limitless amount of money at his disposal in order to achieve his objective next season.
Spurs, meanwhile, have a lot more to lose in my opinion. Redknapp has built at talented squad at White Hart Lane and although it was expensively assembled, he knows that every player has their price and already the vultures are circling overhead, ready to pick off the likes of Luka Modric and Gareth Bale.
The last time Spurs finished fifth they were heavily tipped to push on the following year, but made a terrible start to the following season and were bottom of the league by the time the clocks went back. They can’t afford for that to happen again. Failing to make fourth now could see the team break up. City, on the other hand, would spend big to ensure they stay in the top four, meaning the door to the will be shut again, leaving Spurs back among the likes of Aston Villa and Everton, banging their heads on that glass ceiling.
Meanwhile, the World Cup 2010 odds still make England third favourites as the big kick-off looms.
Tags: Amount Of Money, Aston Villa, Champions League Football, City Of Manchester, City Of Manchester Stadium, Everto, Football Betting Odds, Harry Redknapp, Hopefuls, Hurdle, Launch Pads, Man City, Manchester City, Mansour, Modric, Roberto Mancini, Talented Squad, Team Break, Terrible Start, Vultures, White Hart Lane
Are Arsenal the real deal?
I’m sure most people expected Arsenal to beat Porto in the Champions League - the Portuguese side have an awful record in England after all. However, the manner of the 5-0 victory, achieved without talisman Cesc Fabregas, should force people to sit up and take notice.
Arsenal put in a sparkling performance against the 2004 European Champions, dominating pretty much from start to finish. Nicklas Bendtner will no doubt take most of the headlines with a face-saving hat-trick going some way towards making up for his horror show against Burnley at the weekend.
But credit also has to go to the two chief architects, Samir Nasri and Andrey Arshavin, whose probing midfield runs were instrumental in the victory and eased the pain of being without captain Fabregas.
The win caps off a satisfying few weeks for Arsene Wenger, whose side are visibly growing in confidence. Following last Saturday’s win over Burnley they will firmly believe they can take advantage of their favourable fixture list and win their first Premier league title since 2004.
After the Porto result what is stopping them going all the way in the Champions League as well?
Wenger himself has admitted he would relish the chance to avenge their heavy league defeats to Chelsea and Manchester United should they be drawn together in the next round.
Personally I feel the Champions League is a step too far. The Gunners have shown already they struggle against the top sides in the Premier league and I feel that when up against a similar side in the Europe they will fall just short. The Champions League football betting certainly suggests this will be the case.
The momentum is definitely with them in the league, however. Their win at Stoke the weekend before last was celebrated with extra vigour, not just because it was in response to Aaron Ramsey’s shocking injury but because it was seen as a rare banana skin in what is a dream of a run-in fixture list.
Local rivals Spurs and fellow fourth place chasers Man City are the only other major hiccups remaining for the Gunners and if the past few games are to go by, they shouldn’t present a problem. If this proves to be the case, then the title could be heading to Arsenal’s new Emirates Stadium for the very first time.
Meanwhile, hat-trick hero Bendtner will be hoping he can hit form in time for the World Cup.
He will be representing Denmark and while the side are unlikely to be many people’s World Cup 2010 tips they could still cause an upset.
Tags: Andrey Arshavin, Banana Skin, Burnley, Cesc Fabregas, Champions League Football, Chasers, Chief Architects, European Champions, First Premier, Fixture List, Going All The Way, Gunners, Hat Trick, Horror Show, Last Saturday, Man City, Midfield, Nasri, Vigour, Wenger
Mancini: City can eclipse United
Manchester City could one day become England’s biggest club, according to manager Roberto Mancini.
The Blues are set to take on city rivals United in the Carling Cup semi-finals and Mancini believes that the balance of power between the two sides could be set to shift.
United have won 11 Premier League titles since 1992 while City haven’t lifted a trophy since 1981.
Despite the size of the gap between the two sides, Mancini believes it can be closed one day, although he is aware that it will take some time for City to eclipse the efforts of United.
He said: “If we work well, it is possible.
“United have a big history. They have been a good team for many years.
“City can become a big team in the next year. It is most important that we get into the top four.
“That would change the situation. Surely it would be better if City were also a big club in the future because then Manchester could have two clubs in the Champions League?”
While the Italian has already stated that he wants to bring City Champions League football next season, the timing of his latest comments could be seen as a foray into mind games.
The Carling Cup semi will be his first Manchester derby and given his comments about Carlos Tevez it does seem that Mancini is trying to play Sir Alex Ferguson at his own game.
Mancini said: “I hope that Carlos can score goals because he is an ex-United player.”
“But it is important that the squad plays well. And we must not forget this match is over two games.”
For his part Sir Alex says he no issue with Tevez doing well at City.
However, with United already out of the FA Cup the side will be keen to secure a Wembley final.
Anyone looking to make a Carling Cup bet will find that Manchester United are joint favourites for the tournament, but City will fancy themselves to cause an upset across the two legs of the semi-final.
Online betting experts also fancy City to do well in the FA Cup as United and Liverpool have already been eliminated from the competition.
Tags: Alex Ferguson, Balance Of Power, Carling Cup, Champions League Football, City Champions, City Rivals, Fa Cup, Foray, Gap, League Titles, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Mind Games, Premier League, Semi Finals, Sir Alex Ferguson, Two Games, Two Legs, Will Take Some Time