Carling Cup Betting

There is absolutely no doubt that Manchester City will be Premier League Champions before long. When they do win it then that will obviously mean Chelsea and Manchester United not winning it. But yet you simply cannot imagine both of these clubs finishing outside the top four. So where does that leave Liverpool and Arsenal? Scrapping for the final place and hoping that all goes well and that Tottenham and Aston Villa don’t make anymore progress.

I always felt that Mark Hughes was fortunate to have the City job. He was in the right place at the right time and was a choice of the previous owners. But where were his credentials for a job of such magnitude? Managing Blackburn Rovers and Wales and doing a good job at both of them is hardly the proper qualifications for the job that he had at Eastlands.

A lot of people say that how can a manager get the proper experience if no one gives them the chance? But put yourself into the shoes of the owners and then ask yourself if you would take that risk……I know that I wouldn’t. Manchester City play neighbours Manchester United in the Carling Cup this week and the football betting will increase for that game of that there is no doubt.

After losing to Leeds Utd in the FA Cup then United may put more into this competition. Another cup exit will hardly do wonders for their confidence and I am certain that Alex Ferguson would love to keep City down for a while longer. Seeing them lift a trophy this season will add fresh impetus to the City charge and seeing as they have drawn Scunthorpe in the 4th round of the FA Cup then they could be set for a good run in that competition as well.

The other semi-final features an equally intriguing tie with Blackburn Rovers against Aston Villa. Big Sam could well pull this off despite Aston Villa having a very successful season so far. Both of these managers have had success in the Carling Cup in recent seasons but even though I think Villa should be favourites, I think that Blackburn have the potential to cause an upset over two legs.

It is amazing how certain clubs devalue this competition but then spring to life when they reach the last four. Personally if Manchester City knock United out of this competition then that could mean that Ferguson’s men may miss out on a trophy this season as the league and Champions League are far from certainties. In fact I would make United underdogs to win the league and even bigger underdogs to lift the Champions League so it is not beyond the realm of possibility for them to finish trophy less this season.

They just may have peaked with their 2008 double of league and European Cup and losing Ronaldo had a far bigger impact on the balance of the team than Ferguson would dare admit.

Carl “The Dean” Sampson
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