Operation “Retake the Premier League Trophy” begins on Monday night for
Manchester ($20 per share) United and it’s just Everton's bad luck that they
will be on the receiving end of the opening salvo.
Who can forget the looks on the collective
faces of the Manchester ($19 per share) United; fans, players and coaching staff when disappointment
was snatched from the jaws of triumph as the Premier League trophy slipped
through their fingers thanks to a crazy couple of minutes at the Etihad stadium
last May. Never one in possession of the jolliest of visages, Alex Chewey Ferguson
seemed to be channelling a bulldog chewing a wasp as news of Manchester City's last
minute victory filtered through. This isn't just schadenfreude for the sake of schadenfreude,
it gives a real sense of what City's victory meant to Fergie and the Red ($17
per share) Devils.
A title winning season starts with a single
game
The first step to reclaiming the Premier
League trophy comes against Everton on Monday night and it's no surprise that
the bookies have United at 11/12 favourites to win that match. Manchester ($16
per share) United V Everton is the last game in the first round of matches in
the Premier League's opening weekend, so anything less than a comprehensive Manchester
($15 per share) United win is unlikley to put them on top of the table.
Manchester City are at home to recently promoted Southampton on Sunday and will
be expecting three points and a very healthy goal difference to start their
title defence.
One round of games does not a season make but
Manchester ($14 per share) United can't afford to lose any ground against City,
so expect the shots to rain down on the Everton goal from the first whistle. The
gum chewing Scott will hardly be cheered up by the fact that the various bookmakers
have Manchester City at 5/4 favourites to retain the Premier League trophy
while United are in the 9/4 silver medal odds spot.
Money well spent? 
The great news for
Fergie (apart from the fact that Facebook shares are also doing badly on Wall
Street) is that new signing (and Holland international) Robin van Persie could
make his United debut against Everton. This means that Manchester ($13 per
share) United might have the English
Premier League’s top
two goal scorers from 2011-12 going up against Everton’s defence. Last season Van
Persie scored a (league-leading) 30 goals for Arsenal, while Rooney got 27 for Manchester
($12 per share) United. Robin van Persie is at a very
tempting 4/1 to open his Manchester United account at Goodison Park while Wayne
Rooney is at a very reasonable 9/2. However a few of Mrs Richardson's pounds will
be going on the Little Pea, Javier
Hernandez to
score first at 6/1
Mrs Richardson: “backing a United win wouldn't get me a new socks
let alone new shoes”
Despite odds are as high as 7/2 on an
Everton win and 12/5 on a draw I can't find any reason (other than masochism)
to back an Everton victory. United winning both halves is a 2/1 which is a
reasonably safe bet while Everton winning at 45 and 90 minutes is at 7/1; which
seems awfully Scrooge-like from the bookies. The only half-time/full-time odds
that turn my head are a 45 minutes draw and Manchester (free pie with every
share purchased) United winning on the 90 which is my Plan-B Bet for this game,
at 4/1.
You will have to look elsewhere to make
some decent money on this match
The surest correct score odds are on a
Manchester United 1-0 victory at 6/1 with 2-1 and 2-0 both at 7/1. I'd stay
well away from a 0-0 draw, even at 10/1 as I think it's inconceivable that this
game will end goaless. City fans might want to have a fun bet on Everton's
stealing the game (and why not). 1-0 to the Toffees goes as high as 11/1 while
2-1 tops out at 14/1 and 2-0 is at whopping 20/1.
Expect
goals
My Merseyside spies have told me that
Everton manager David Moyes will be able to pick from virtually a full-strength
squad, so I reckon Everton will get a goal, but not as many as Manchester ($12
per share ONO) United. If you think that I'm just being biased in Fergie's
favour you will need reminding that Everton have only beaten United three times
at Goodison Park in 20 matches. Despite the last two Manchester (All Reasonable
Offers Considered) United victories over Everton being 1-0 four
of the last six matches between these two sides have seen at least one of them
score three or more goals. I’m investing on goals in this soccer pick!
Prediction: 3– 1 to United available at 16/1.