English Premier
2008-09-13 - Manchester City vs Chelsea
A Sports Betting Pick by Gooner
England, Premier League
City of Manchester Stadium
Saturday 13th September 2008 - KO 17:30
Has the football world gone mad?
That's a fair question after Luxembourg won in Switzerland, Bolivia drew in Brazil, and England finally started to play attacking attractive football ...
However, even in this mad new world, I cannot comprehend why Chelsea are priced up at nearly even money to win at Manchester City on Saturday evening.
MANCHESTER CITY
OK - I know that Abu Adabhi have bought into Citeh - and they they're rumoured to have so much money that it makes Roman Abrimovich look like a pauper ... but that's all in the future. So far that money has bought one spoiled brat Brazilian who could not help his nation get past little Bolivia in midweek.
Manchester City will certainly get better, and they might be a good bet to break into the top four next season (or the season after) but all the money in the world can't bring in players during a transfer freeze.
City still have Mark Hughes in charge, City still have the majority of the squad that they had before the buyout. City will still be the same old City for the next 3-4 months.
CHELSEA
Chelsea lost Michael Essien over the international break as he ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament, and he will be a loss for Chelsea, but the Blues have strength in depth at the club.
Perhaps it'll be a chance for Chelsea to play a more expansive game, involving the likes of Joe Cole, certainly playing a more entertaining brand of football was one of the reasons that Scolari was brought into Stamford Bridge.
Didier Drogba is likely to get 45 minutes of action, which will be a big boost to Chelsea, who have looked a little light up front when reliant on ex-Gooner NIcolas Anelka.
HEAD TO HEADS
Chelsea have won this fixture on five of the last six occassions, including the last three in a row, keeping a clean sheet all three times.
Chelsea have also won the reverse fixture on five of the last six attempts - all with clean sheets - and drew the other game 0-0.
That makes Chelsea with a 10-1-1 advantage, scoring 26 goals and conceding just once.
THE VERDICT
The things that really stand out in the build-up to this fixture is the hype and hoop-la around Citeh's yet to be spent cash, and that fact that Chelsea can now be got at a price of 1.90 instead of the 1.50 to 1.60 that they were in each of the clashes for the last four seasons.
The bookmakers think that the public believes that the money will instantly transform Citeh into title contenders - and while I believe that it will happen - it's not going to work overnight.
Take Chelsea here at very good prices.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Manchester City 0-2 Chelsea
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll get on CHELSEA to win.
