All this Fernando Torres hype could prove contagious – Fantasy Managers are even dropping the striker back in their lineups before there’s even any assurance that he’ll figure at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Will our bookmaker friends at Paddy Power be taken in by the circus, or are their odds made with a clear head to help guide our last minute Fantasy tweaks?
Who Will Keep a Clean Sheet?
- Man United 1.90 (wol)
- Chelsea 2.10 (LIV)
- Man City 2.20 (WBA)
- Tottenham 2.30 (BOL)
- Stoke 2.30 (SUN)
- Arsenal 2.30 (new)
- Everton 2.40 (BLP)
- Aston Villa 2.40 (FUL)
The majority of teams are on even money or better this week, with Man United the exception to the rule. They face off against basement dwellers Wolves, who muster a respectable average of 1.25gsh (goals scored at home) this season thus far. Man United may boast the most reliable defence at home, but have shown some vulnerability on the road with a 1.27gca (goals conceded away) average.
Chelsea, Spurs and Man City all sit just a shade above evens. For Man City and Spurs, the story seems to be the same. Although they both possess a strong defensive record at home, Spurs sporting 0.75gch (goals conceded at home) and Man City 0.83, their opponents have managed to find the target more often than not on their travels, at least once per game on average.
Chelsea’s price comes perhaps from sensationalism more than statistics. Transfer hype and expectation will override betting trends, especially in the hours before kick-off. The stats show Chelsea at 0.64gch and Liverpool at 0.92gsa, by far the most statistically favourable fixture out of this week’s selections for a clean sheet.
The best of the rest seems to fall at Stoke and Aston Villa’s door. The latter face a Fulham side who have been formidable of late, beating Spurs, Stoke and Newcastle in their last four outings. Unfortunately all these wins have been at home, and they have mustered only a 0.75gsa average pitted against Villa’s defence – themselves looking for their first cleanie in four.
Anytime Goalscorer
- C Tevez 1.61 (WBA)
- W Rooney 1.72 (wol)
- E Dzeko 1.80 (WBA)
- R Van Persie 1.83 (new)
- D Berbatov 1.83 (wol)
- J Hernandez 1.83 (wol)
- D Bent 2.00 (FUL)
- L Saha 2.00 (BLP)
- T Cahill 2.00 (BLP)
- D Drogba 2.10 (LIV)
- F Torres 2.10 (LIV)
- J Defoe 2.25 (BOL)
- R van der Vaart 2.25 (BOL)
- M Chamakh 2.40 (new)
- K Jones 2.50 (SUN)
- R Keane 2.50 (BIR)
- N Anelka 2.50 (LIV)
Man City’s workhorse forward, Carlos Tevez, features at the top of the “Anytime Goalscorer” list this week. Trailing in the Premier League Golden Boot race to hat-trick magician Dimitar Berbatov, Tevez has been turning solid performances week in week out. West Brom have been leaking goals away this season, suffering a 2.17gca average, allowing for Tevez and his Man City partner and number two on Paddy’s odds, Edin Dzeko, to perhaps indulge themselves.
Robin Van Persie and Manchester United’s trio of forwards join Dzeko on 1.83. Van Persie has gone from strength to strength after returning to Arsenals strike force from injury. Arsenal’s impressive 1.92gsa record will be in his favour, especially as Andy Carroll’s exit could draw a somewhat deflated performance from the Toon should they fall behind early.
Dimitar Berbatov can seemingly score three one week then miss from three yards the next. It’s fortunate for Alex Ferguson then that he has the Wayne Rooney returning to form and the eager potential of Javier Hernandez to back him up. Wolves will surely take damage from one of these three strikers this week.
The only midfielder on the list this week is Asia Cup runner up Tim Cahill. After a full competition of tough matches, and a 120-minute final, Cahill could yet be rested for the clash with Blackpool clash, but, such is Everton’s current plight, it looks unlikely. Paddy find it hard to ignore his goal-threat and have him ranked top of our midfield options this weekend.
Paddy’s Scout Specials – The Gymnastic Celebration Edition
We’ve got a whole raft of Paddy specials for you this week, including a couple linked up to our most recent Scout Reports and some celebratory acrobatics.
The Clean Sheet Accumulator offers odds of 10/1 on United, Villa and Arsenal all mustering shut-outs over the Gameweek. While, if you prefer to back goals, our Scout Picks special has odds of 14/1 on one goal or more for Ashley Young, Rafael Van der Vaart and Carlos Tevez.
In the battle of the gymnastic celebrations at Upton Park, you can get an array of odds on Robbie Keane and Obafemi Martins, who were both featured in Scout Reports on Friday. Paddy are offering odds of 5/1 on Keane scoring and performing a cartwheel against Birmingham, with 18/1 on him scoring with a badge kiss.
As for Martins, you can get 9/2 on him scoring and pulling out his backflip celebration. Paddy are also offering odds of 18/1 on Martins scoring a volley and 12/1 on him notching from outside the box.
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If you’re new to this betting lark and new to Paddy Power then you can take up any of these odds and offers and get yourself a bonus. You can sign up via this site and get a free £20 when you register and bet a tenner.
Finally of course, we should state that all these offers are only available to those aged 18 and over and are subject to Paddy Power’s terms and conditions.
