Manchester United is considered one of the top European Football teams in the world but they are no longer in first place in the Premier League and they are not the favorites to win the Champions League. Is Manchester United now vulnerable in sports betting odds?
Manchester United trails Manchester City for first place in the Premier League but they host their rival this week so United could regain first place in the table with a win. It may not happen though as Manchester City looks as good as they have in a long time. Sunday’s match at Old Trafford has United listed at even money on the three-way soccer betting line while Manchester City is +250 and the Draw at +225. United hasn’t been that great in the Champions League either but manager Alex Ferguson is not worried.
Ferguson Confident
Not only is Ferguson not worried about his squad, he believes his team is catching up to Barcelona. United has lost the Champions League final in two of the last three years to Barcelona so Ferguson’s comments are somewhat strange. "We've introduced some young players to the club this season who have tremendous ability and a great energy and spirit about them.” Ferguson said, “So I think we're making great strides towards that level Barcelona have reached these past two or three years.”
Champions League Odds
Barcelona is the favorite in sports betting to win the Champions League at just under 3-1. Real Madrid is the second choice at 5-1 while Manchester United is 8-1. Bayern Munich is also a contender with odds of 9-1. Ferguson believes that Bayern is a huge threat. "The fact Bayern are going to have the final on their own ground is a big incentive for them," said Ferguson, "They haven't lost many goals, they've been very strong defensively, so you'd have to look at them as one of the teams that will be challenging to be there in the final.”
United Still Favored in Premier League
Don’t get too down on Manchester United just yet. They are still the favorite in soccer futures at about 2-1 to win the Premier League. Manchester City is the second choice at 3-1 while Chelsea is the third choice at about 4-1. Sunday’s game between Manchester United and Manchester City should tell us a lot about whether or not United is still a deserving favorite to win the league.
Manchester United trails Manchester City for first place in the Premier League but they host their rival this week so United could regain first place in the table with a win. It may not happen though as Manchester City looks as good as they have in a long time. Sunday’s match at Old Trafford has United listed at even money on the three-way soccer betting line while Manchester City is +250 and the Draw at +225. United hasn’t been that great in the Champions League either but manager Alex Ferguson is not worried.
Ferguson Confident
Not only is Ferguson not worried about his squad, he believes his team is catching up to Barcelona. United has lost the Champions League final in two of the last three years to Barcelona so Ferguson’s comments are somewhat strange. "We've introduced some young players to the club this season who have tremendous ability and a great energy and spirit about them.” Ferguson said, “So I think we're making great strides towards that level Barcelona have reached these past two or three years.”
Champions League Odds
Barcelona is the favorite in sports betting to win the Champions League at just under 3-1. Real Madrid is the second choice at 5-1 while Manchester United is 8-1. Bayern Munich is also a contender with odds of 9-1. Ferguson believes that Bayern is a huge threat. "The fact Bayern are going to have the final on their own ground is a big incentive for them," said Ferguson, "They haven't lost many goals, they've been very strong defensively, so you'd have to look at them as one of the teams that will be challenging to be there in the final.”
United Still Favored in Premier League
Don’t get too down on Manchester United just yet. They are still the favorite in soccer futures at about 2-1 to win the Premier League. Manchester City is the second choice at 3-1 while Chelsea is the third choice at about 4-1. Sunday’s game between Manchester United and Manchester City should tell us a lot about whether or not United is still a deserving favorite to win the league.
Manchester United haven't found a worthy replacement after the retirement of Paul Scholes. There were lot of talks linking Wesley Sneijder with a move to Old Trafford during the summer, but they didn't materialize.
The Red Devils could have found their man in the form of Bruno Soriano who plays in the Spanish La Liga for Villarreal. It is understood that United are keeping a close eye on this man who plays as left-back as well as in the centre of the field.
Bruno, 27, has been with the Yellow Submarine his entire professional career and is highly rated in Spain as a holding mid-fielder who provides those amazing passes. Getting recognized in a league dominate by players like Iniesta, Xavi, Fabregas and Alonso means Bruno Soriano has surely got something in him.
As Juan Carlos Garrido said, "I am convinced that Bruno is today the best man in La Liga for his position in the pitch."
Manchester United may possibly bring him to Old Trafford when the January transfer window opens. Though Villarreal have not formally received an offer for him from any clubs yet.
Villarreal have so far managed just one win from the opening six La Liga fixtures and have lost two successive Champions League games. I think Bruno Soriano may consider coming to the Premier League if United comes calling to win some trophies before he gets too old to play football.
Its never a surprise when Manchester United are linked with young talented players. The latest in this list is Dutch player, Ricky van Wolfswinkel who currently plays for Sporting Lisbon.
Sir Alex's assistant Mike Phelan too admitted the club is keen on 22-year-old Dutchman. He moved to Portugal this summer from Utecht and has netted six goals in last six games, which is impressive.
Phelan was quoted in a Portuguese saying, "We have obviously known Van Wolfswinkel for a long time. He is a young striker, very talented, who has been growing in the last few seasons."
Were United attractted by his goal scoring ability? Is Sir Alex planning to bring a new Chicharito at Old Trafford in the form of Ricky van Wolfswinkel? What do you think?
Tom Cleverley has signed a new four-year deal which will see the midfielder stay at Old Trafford until the end of the 2014/15 season.
The 22-year-old, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury, is a product of the Manchester United Academy, having arrived at Old Trafford at the age of 12, and his recent performances for the first team have seen him called into the full England squad.
Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted that Cleverley has put to paper on a new contract, saying:
The 22-year-old, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury, is a product of the Manchester United Academy, having arrived at Old Trafford at the age of 12, and his recent performances for the first team have seen him called into the full England squad.
Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted that Cleverley has put to paper on a new contract, saying:
Tom is one of the brightest prospects in the English game. For a young boy, he has a good footballing brain which, when coupled with his energy and ability, makes for a player with a fine future ahead of him.After signing new deal, Tom Cleverley said:
"It’s the United way to encourage our young players to make their mark in the first team and Tom has grabbed that chance with both hands.
It’s been a fantastic start to the season for me, breaking into the first team and getting an England call-up. Having grown up at the club, I’d love to be able to make a contribution to United winning more trophies. We have a squad with great ability and I can’t wait to get started again.
Manchester United star Ryan Giggs has won the Golden Foot 2011 Award. He was announced as the winner last night at a glittering event in Monte Carlo.
The Golden Foot is an annual award honouring footballers aged 29 or over who "stand out for their sport results (both as single players and with their team), for their personality and for the esteem of the public and football experts."
Prince Albert II of Monaco presented the trophy to Giggs after he came out highest in the record number of votes cast on the competition's website. Giggs' rivals for the 2011 award included David Beckham, Gianluigi Buffon, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o, Iker Casillas, Javier Zanetti, Carles Puyol, Raul, and Xavi.
The 37-year-old will have a permanent mould of his feet put on Monte Carlo’s ‘champions promenade’, which includes some of the biggest names in footballing history such as Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane and Alfredo Di Stefano.
After receiving the trophy, Giggs paid tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson by calling him the greatest manager. "Sir Alex is the best manager and it's great to have had him there throughout my career", Giggs said.
On winning the award and on his thoughts about retirement, he said,
"It's a great honour to win such an award and to have my footprints alongside some of the greatest football players is a real privilege. I have been fortunate to play alongside great players, play for the greatest manager and play for the best club in the world. At the moment I am still enjoying my football so I have not thought about what I will do when I finish, but if it all finished tomorrow I could say that I have had a fantastic career and wouldn't swap it with anybody."
Congrats Giggsy!
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