Aug 27 2010
Bet Against Wayne Rooney Becoming the Gary Birtles of His Generation
by JP Shaw
Filed under: Fulham, xxxxxxx, Manchester City, Manchester United, West Ham, Betting, Blackpool
Just when it’s raining everywhere else Wayne Rooney is enduring a goal drought.
I refused to believe the men from the Met when they promised us a barbeque summer. I don’t even have a barbeque. And I refuse to believe Rooney will not score against West Ham this weekend, in fact I wouldn’t rule out any United player scoring, that’s Manchester United player or West Ham United player via an own goal.
Last season Rooney scored 34 goals, with own goals chipping in for United from various sources, usually in the guise of opposition players. Aside from Rooney last season only the laid back Bulgarian (Dimitar Berbatov with 12) mustered more than the opposition’s helping hand (10 ogs) proving that if Rooney isn’t on form then neither are United.
Our quick-tempered World Cup flop is currently suffering from a crisis of confidence. You have to go back to March to find the last time he hit the net. His confidence is so low right now that he won’t take yes for an answer.
Back in the 1980s Gary Birtles, arriving at Old Trafford as a Nottingham Forest European Cup winner with a £1.25 million price tag on his head, endured an 11-month goalless run. About that time the Mary Rose, a 16th century English battleship was raised fom the sea, the joke doing the rounds mentioned that a survivor was found. His first words were: “Has Gary Birtles scored for United yet?”
Eleven months without a goal for a striker is the sort of form that would destroy most players, or if you’re Emile Heskey, seal your place in the England set up.
Stan James quote Rooney at 8-13 to end his drought against West Ham on Saturday, which, unlike his recent attempts, can’t be missed. Other firms go just 4-7.
United’s neighbours City are now 13-2 to win the Premier League title – and 11-8 to finish above United, after swatting xxxxxxx aside with surprising ease on Monday.
It’s amazing how much a team can improve with a cash injection of £400 million.
My pick of the coupon this weekend has to be Fulham after their impressive display against United last week in what turned out to be a hugely entertaining encounter.
The Cottagers travel to Bloomfield Road, scene of Blackpool’s triumphant 4-0 win over Wigan on the opening day of the season.
The Latics disastrous start has seen them ship ten goals in two Premier League games. Someone asked me when Wigan kick off this weekend. The answer is, about every 10 minutes.
Blackpool’s match last weekend, a chastening 6-0 thrashing by Arsenal, is a score more indicative of what’s in store for them in the future.
For this season at least.
The Tangerines have hardly taken the transfer market by storm. They haven’t so much as made a dent on the money they’ve pocketed for joining the Premier League. Such a windfall sets newly promoted teams a poser. Should they decide to hold on to the money, which would mean they will be down by Christmas. Or they could use, say, £30 milion of it to strengthen the squad, which would mean they will stay up until Easter.
Blackpool are 16-1 with Hills to finish in the top half of the Premier League table, no great bet considering they only just finished in the top half of the Championship table.
I used to get a tangerine at the bottom of my bed on Christmas morning. Nothing else, just a tangerine. Ian Holloway‘s Tangerines are evens to be bottom of the table on Christmas Day and evens to be bottom on the last day of the season with Coral.
Despite my cynicism I have to say well done to Holloway’s boys for reaching the Promised Land. For Didier Drogba and the rest of the Premier League hot-shots, Bloomfield Road this season will be Pleasureland.
Fulham are 11-8 with Boylesports to return to London with all three points.
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