Bleacher Report - Wayne Rooney

Portsmouth v Manchester United Football Online Preview

Sports Betting Review — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:24:05 -0500

Portsmouth v Manchester United

28 November, 2009
Fratton Park
Kick-Off: 1500 GMT

Manchester United

The Red Devils travel south for this Portsmouth - Manchester United clash, having ended their 23 game unbeaten run at Old Trafford in the Champions League on Wednesday night, after a 1-0 loss to Besiktas.

The result came as a bit of a shock, but given the side Sir Alex Ferguson decided to field, it's hardly fair to expect Man Utd would have put up their normal figures against an in-form Besiktas side.

Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda spearheaded the Manchester United attack, to give a good indication of the caliber of line-up Ferguson elected to go with. And in spite of the number of youths in the squad, Man U still looked the sharper of the two sides.

Despite the loss, Manchester United have their focus on the Premier League at present, including this Man Utd v Portsmouth tie, knowing that they have successfully qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League.

In the Premiership, things have been going smoothly for the Red Devils as they carved up a poor Everton side on Saturday. Darren Fletcher's wondergoal set the pace as United won 3-0.

With Sir Alex Ferguson undoubtedly calling up his best squad for this Manchester United v Portsmouth match, the Red Devils will look to avoid any repeat of Wednesday night at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth

Portsmouth's inability to record wins is starting to put a real cloud of doubt over the clubs aspirations of maintaining their Premier League status.

The club sits dead last in the Premier League and has only won two matches this season Pompey is the first of the twenty Premier League sides to have recorded double digits in the loss column.

Still, ahead of this Portsmouth v Man Utd match, their play of late has been much improved given the club lost its first seven matches, although again, the club have been unable to rack up three points as they have lost their last two matches.

In their most recent match against Stoke, Portsmouth showed signs of life, but could not get on the score sheet as Stoke eventually won 1-0.

Ricardo Fuller got the only goal of the game for Stoke in the 74th minute, but Portsmouth blew a golden opportunity to take the lead only eight minutes into the match when Kevin-Prince Boateng failed to convert from the spot.

With Avram Grant replacing Paul Hart as new manager, the former Chelsea boss will look to turn the club's fate around having already been their technical director in the 2006/07 season.

This Portsmouth v Manchester United clash could be the perfect chance for Grant to show his aspirations for the side in the coming months.

Prediction

Portsmouth drew with United in the Community Shield last season, and beat them 1-0 in the Sixth Round of the 2008 FA Cup—the year that Portsmouth went on to win the competition.

However, both Man U v Portsmouth league matches last season ended with United victories; 2-0 at Old Trafford and 1-0 at Fratton Park.

All things considered, Manchester United should definitely be comfortable favourites to win on Saturday.

Portsmouth vs Man Utd Prediction: Portsmouth 0 - Man U 2

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Plus check out our Aston Villa - Tottenham Betting Preview too.

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Manchester United-Besiktas: Football Online Previe

Sports Betting Review — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:25:01 -0500

Manchester United-Besiktas

November 25, 2009

Old Trafford

Kick-Off: 19:45 GMT

Manchester United

It's Man Utd - Besiktas at Old Trafford on Wednesday, with the Red Devils knowing that the final two matches of the group stage are nothing more than a formality.

Still, despite the situation, Manchester United will be heavy favourites to increase their lead at the top of Group B on Wednesday, and to potentially clinch first place in the group.

A first place finish would be optimum for Man U, who would then avoid playing any of the other first place finishers from the group stage.

As far as form is concerned, United proved on Saturday evening that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the way the team has been playing as of late. They strolled to an easy 3-0 victory over Everton and rarely gave the visitors a sniff.

Darren Fletcher scored one of the goals of the season with a magnificent side volley that grazed the top of Tim Howard’s goalpost and went straight into the back of the net.

Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia also scored for United in the win, and each will be hoping to carry their form into this Manchester United-Besiktas football clash.

Besiktas

Besiktas sit at the bottom of Group B, with only one point collected from the first four matches. The club has only scored one goal in the competition, which came in a 2-1 loss to CSKA Moscow.

Besiktas will aim to finish third in the group, as they would require against Manchester United and then another win at home against CSKA, while relying on a number of other results in order to qualify.

Domestically, however, Besiktas are one of the hottest teams in Europe.

The reigning champions of the Turkish Super Lig started horribly this season, but have now strung together six consecutive victories to claw their way back into the hunt.

They currently sit four points adrift of league leaders Fenerbahce, who they obliterated 3-0 on Saturday.

Prediction

Manchester United won the first meeting between these two sides by a score of 1-0 in Turkey.

Besiktas are really hitting their stride right now, but against Manchester United at Old Trafford, a win is unlikely for the Turkish side.

Manchester United-Besiktas Prediction : Manchester United 2, Besiktas 0

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Plus check out our Chelsea vs Porto Betting Preview as well.

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EPL Review: Spurs Humiliate Wigan, Gunners Title Hopes Fade, and Chelsea Roll On

Willie Gannon — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:29:09 -0500

The last time we had Premiership action, it finished with a David Ngog dive. Then we were bestowed with "the hand of Gaul" as France beat Ireland in the playoffs for the World Cup. So it was with great trepidation that we went back into the full scale battle that is the EPL. Chelsea once again showed that they are the team to beat this year, Arsenal's title credentials were left in tatters, and Liverpool continued to stumble.

Chelsea 4-0 Wolves

The Pensioners were without a number of first team players as they entertained Wolves at Stamford Bridge. If there was ever a game that was a simple paint by the numbers exercise, then this was it. Chelsea was so superior to Mick McCarthy's side that you almost thought they were playing a different sport.

Florent Malouda got the first goal of the game after his 40 yard run to outside the Wolves box, his strike would still be travelling today if it was not for the net, it was that powerful. Michael Essien then scored a brace as Ancellotti took the shackles off the Ghanaian in Lampard's absence. Essien is a truly phenomenal midfielder, one of the few exponents operating today that can do absolutely everything, brilliantly. Chelsea have not even seen what he is capable of bar the odd time he is allowed to play.

Joe Cole also scored his first goal this season after coming back from an awful injury. Exactly what Fabio Capello needed him to do. While the most famous teenager never to have played came on for Nicolas Anelka and looked decent, Gael Kakuta.

Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City

Liverpool's run without a win now stretched to ten games...Rafa is coming under further pressure, but at least Manchester City did not win. If that particular scenario had occured then the ground the Spaniard walks upon would have become even shakier.

Two players carried off in the first ten minutes did not help matters, but Liverpool still went on to dominate a strangely subdued City who lacked any kind of ambition. Liverpool need to win against Debrechen in the Champions League this week, but with their destiny out of their own hands it remains to be seen if Fernando Torres will play, or if he will return against Everton next week, which could be a make or break game for the Reds.

Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal

The Black Cats have been the surprise side this season. Drawing away to United and beating Liverpool, Steve Bruce's team were always going to be a difficult proposition for an Arsenal team missing the influential Robin van Persie. Without the Dutchman in the team it was difficult to see where the goals were going to come from.

Arsenal was pretty mute for the entire game while Sunderland were well deserving of all three points. Andy Reid received a standing ovation when he was substituted half way through the second half and one must wonder what kind of influence he might have had in Paris on Wednesday.

As it was, Darren Bent scored the solitary goal and if Arsenal fans face the truth, it pretty much ends their title challenge this year. And it will be completely over if they do not take all three points against Chelsea next week.

Tottenham Hotspur 9-1 Wigan

The surprise result of the weekend. Especially when you consider that this Wigan team have beaten both Chelsea and Aston Villa in recent weeks.

Spurs were always favourites to win this game and taking their 1-0 lead into the second half the game was poised on a knife edge. Eight second half goals battered Wigan into submission and Jermaine Defoe bagged five of those. It was a truly phenomenal performance by a team obviously enjoying life at the moment.

The result moves Spurs five points clear of Liverpool in the battle for fourth.

Elsewhere:

Hull came from two down against West Ham to lead 3-2 before succumbing to a Da Costa equalizer. The 3-3 result wasn't really what either under pressure manager wanted, but it was a damn sight better than losing.

David Dunn scored and inspired Blackburn's 2-0 win over Bolton at the Reebok. It was accomplished without Big Sam who had undergone a minor heart operation in the build up to the game. Get well soon.

Aston Villa had John Carew to thank as he scored four minutes from time to salvage a 1-1 draw away to Burnley . The Clarets have had a number of good results recently and Owen Coyle deserves much credit. Don't be surprised to see him mentioned as one half of the new Scotland set up.

Birmingham beat Fulham 1-0 . Quite possibly the worst ever game in Premiership history.

Stoke continued their good start to the season with a 1-0 win over lowly Portsmouth . Due mainly to Thomas Sorenson, who has been the best 'keeper in the EPL over the last 12 months, especially when you consider who he has to play with.

And finally...Manchester United hammered Everton 3-0 at Old Trafford . The result was never in question, but the implications of how far Everton are off the top four could could back to haunt them. Young Jack Rodwell is being chased by every manager who is half decent, and Manchester United are no exception. He could be moving to Old Trafford in January. The Red Devils application form was devastating to say the least.

10 Statements after Gameday 13.

1) The Arsenal-Chelsea match next week is a cup final for the Gunners.

2) As I've said before, Spurs can expose anyone. Outside the top four.

3) The Aston Villa-Spurs match next week is massive for both clubs ambitions this year.

4) The race for fourth includes: Villa, Man City, Spurs, and Liverpool. The Reds are the clear favourites but both Spurs and City will spend heavily in January if they are in good positions.

5) Who will be go first? Rafa or Hughes?

6) Gael Kakuta was the most famous footballer never to have played. He looks good.

7) England has serious problems outside their first XI.

8) Any team that buys Matthew Upson for £15 million needs their head examined.

9) Ruud van Nistelrooy, available in January. But where will he go? Back to United? Liverpool? Spurs, if they sell Keane? Arsenal?

10) Who will win the World Cup? Some might say that France's name is on the cup after Wednesday...

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