A week of Champions League football gave us headlines of high scores and scandalous tactical red cards. All this excitement was found elsewhere however, as the Premier League representatives enjoyed comfortable passage in the main – only the Gunners have their fate in the balance following a slump in Portugal.
Wayne Rooney’s spot-kick was perhaps the only event likely to influence the betting odds or our Fantasy thinking. His reaction on finding the net from 12-yards showed how much it meant; if the passion is back, you can be sure that the goals will follow. But do the cold calculations of Paddy Power take this into account?
Who Will Keep a Clean Sheet?
- Man United 1.72 (BLA)
- Everton 2.20 (WBA)
- Chelsea 2.30 (new)
- Fulham 2.37 (BIR)
- Man City 2.60 (stk)
- West Ham 2.62 (WIG)
- Bolton 2.70 (BLP)
- Tottenham 2.70 (LIV)
- Arsenal 2.80 (avl)
Off the back of two consecutive clean sheet, United not surprisingly head the table this week at home to Blackburn. The Vidic and Ferdinand partnership is set to be restored at Old Trafford but an in-form Gamst Pedersen might just have an influence. With 4 goals in 4 league games, the Norwegian will be looking to make his mark at Old Trafford and it wouldn’t be the first time having fired a brace on United’s turf back in 2005. Omens aside, you’d still have to back United as the best option for clean sheet in the Gameweek.
While Everton have been inconsistent this season, West Brom have struggled to convert their decent passing and movement of late and are in a slump. David Moyes’ men look a strong option for defensive returns this week then and Paddy have them as second favourites, offering a rather skinny price on Phil Jagielka and company to hold firm. Leighton Baines is the Mr Reliable with plenty of assist potential thrown in but “out of position” Seamus Coleman is just about hanging in there as a cheaper option.
Turmoil at Stamford Bridge has left Chelsea’s shinning start to the campaign a little dull, but if Chelsea’s injury-ravaged side can keep Andy Carroll from getting his head on matters, they should keep Chris Hughton’s side at bay. Paddy has them in third in their clean sheet rankings.
Fulham have not yet found a defensive rhythm under Mark Hughes, but Paddy favour them against a stuttering Birmingham, while the Hammers and Man City find themselves next on the list, but clean sheet prospects for both look pretty shaky for our money. Similarly, Bolton, Spurs and Arsenal all look good to take wins this week, but their defensive records have blown hot and cold and their sheets will come under threat. Tottenham’s Younes Kaboul is perhaps worth a punt – he’s matured defensively and as Werder Bremen found out, possesses a centre-forward’s finish.
Anytime Goalscorer
- Rooney 1.66 (BLA)
- Elmander 1.90 (BLP)
- Drogba 1.90 (new)
- K Davies 2.00 (BLP)
- Berbatov 2.00 (BLA)
- Hernandez 2.00 (BLA)
- Tevez 2.20 (stk)
- Saha 2.25 (WBA)
- Yakubu 2.25 (WBA)
- Cahill 2.25 (WBA)
- Bent 2.40 (wol)
- Anelka 1.90 (new)
- Nani 2.50 (BLA)
- Defoe 2.50 (LIV)
- C Cole 2.50 (WIG)
- Piquionne 2.50 (WIG)
- Gyan 2.62 (wol)
- Torres 2.62 (tot)
- Van der Vaart 2.70 (LIV)
- Chamakh 2.70 (avl)
- Van Persie 2.70 (avl)
- Chamakh 2.70 (avl)
- Chamakh 2.70 (avl)
- Chamakh 2.70 (avl)
- Balotelli 2.80 (stk)
- Dempsey 2.87 (BIR)
- Fletcher 2.87 (SUN)
Despite a lack of form and goals, Wayne Rooney is billed for something special this week against Blackburn. His supporting cast of Hernandez and Berbatov are also up there amongst the favourites as Paddy backs a convincing win for United.
Didier Drogba meanwhile could have filled his boots against Birmingham last weekend but was kept out by Ben Foster. Paddy’s odds indicate they feel that Tim Krul will be on the receiving end of his frustration this time around.
Men of the moment, Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander show very short prices that put them up there with the traditional Premier League heavyweights. Statements like “Free Scoring” and “Golden Boot contender” are rarely issued in the same sentence as one Bolton player, let alone two but times have certainly changed. With the obliging Blackpool defence at the Reebok this weekend, Paddy are clearly backing this week’s heavy Fantasy investment in the Bolton pair.
Predictably, Carlos Tevez and Darren Bent retain a high position in the rankings; they will surely be the key threats on show at the Britannia and Molineux this weekend. Fernando Torres is less fancied to perform on the road at the Lane however. Interestingly Jermaine Defoe is more fancied to find the net than the Spaniard. The same can be said for United’s Nani and Everton’s Tim Cahill, who are both heavily backed by Paddy to find the net from midfield and nestled in the Scout Picks of course.
Paddy’s Scout Specials
Our Clean Sheet Accumulator with Paddy this week offers odds of 9/1 on shutouts for United, City and Everton in the Gameweek. If you’d rather bet on goals then our Scout Picks special offers the chance to back Nani, Tim Cahill and Elmander all to score one or more goals with odds of 12/1 up for grabs.
Paddy’s Money Back Special
The refund opportunity can be found at White Hart Lane this week for the Tottenham vs Liverpool clash. If there are more than 4 goals in the game, Paddy Power will refund all losing 1st /last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast singles on the match.
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