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Rachel Yankey: Player Profile

Rachel Yankey is the sixth-most capped England player of all-time
Estimations of Yankey’s net worth fall between $1 million and $5 million
Read below for more on the former Arsenal and Lionesses star

From shaving her head to play on a boys’ team as a child to breaking records for England and Arsenal, Rachel Yankey is an iconic figure in the women’s game.

Yankey played through eras, seeing the development and professionalisation of the sport. All-conquering Arsenal teams were always favoured in online betting, and Yankey’s presence was a key reason.

For England, she became the most famous female footballer in the country in the first decade of this century, and appeared in BBC’s Academy Masterclasses series.

The face of the women’s game in England, Yankey was more than a star player when searching for football odds today. She was an influential figure on and off the pitch.

Who is Rachel Yankey?

Rachel Yankey is a former footballer who represented England on a then-record 129 occasions.

Yankey spent the majority of her playing career in the English league system, though she also had two relatively short stints on the other side of the Atlantic with Laval Dynamites and New Jersey Wildcats.

As a child, Yankey had to sneak into a boys’ team by shaving her head. An inductee of the London Youth Games Hall of Fame, she was a standout talent even from a young age and ascended to senior football at just 16.

It wasn’t long before she became the first professional female footballer in the country. Even before Yankey was 20, she was asserting her presence in the senior game.

The quick feet and rare talent made Yankey a dangerous threat from the flank. It didn’t take long for England to take notice, as she made her senior debut in 1997.

Former Clubs

Rachel Yankey started her club career with Arsenal Ladies. Under the unparalleled Vik Akers, Yankey was an integral player, winning trophies and attracting plaudits from around the sport.

While her goal scoring record shows she wasn’t a great first scorer bet in any football prediction, Yankey was a persistent nuisance for opposing defences.

Canadian team Laval Dynamites enjoyed Yankey’s presence in 2000. It was only a short loan, however, and the London-born forward returned to England for a few successful seasons in west London with Fulham before a one-year stint with Birmingham.

Along with England teammate Rachel Unitt, Yankey then spent a few months with the New Jersey Wildcats.

The pair helped the team from Middlesex County win the W-League, but after seasons of travelling and moving between clubs, Yankey once again settled with Arsenal and Akers.

She saw out the rest of her club career with the Gunners, aside from a brief loan to Notts County in 2016.

Arsenal Ladies - 1996-2000
Laval Dynamites - 2000
Fulham Ladies - 2000-2004
Birmingham Ladies - 2004-2005
New Jersey Wildcats - 2005
Arsenal Ladies - 2005-2016
Notts County Ladies (loan) - 2016

Net Worth

Money has poured into women’s football since Rachel Yankey’s retirement.

While data is limited on whether Yankey was one of the highest paid female footballers, it’s certain that her salary was far off the figures we often associate with football.

Estimations of Yankey’s net worth are all over the place. Some fall around $1 million while others provide a range going as high as $5 million. In truth, there’s not much information to go on with this.

The same goes for Alex Scott net worth and many other female footballers. Net worth estimates are never more than just that, but the data is particularly vague when it comes to women in football both past and present.

Steph Houghton, Fran Kirby and other current England stars also are given little more than a wide range like the $1 million to $5 million that many sites run with for Yankey.

England Career

Debuting against Scotland in 1997, Yankey was a stalwart of the England Women’s team for well over a decade. In 2009, she was part of a group of 17 players who became the first to earn central contracts from the Football Association.

A blip followed in her England career just a few months later, as Hope Powell made the controversial decision to leave the Arsenal star out of the World Cup squad.

When Yankey’s form bounced back at club level, though, she regained a place in the England squad and became a regular starter under Powell.

In July 2010, Yankey was just the second English woman to reach 100 caps. A couple of years later, she overtook the record for most caps set by Gillian Coultard and in 2013, Yankey surpassed Peter Shilton’s total to become the most capped English player.

Mark Sampson omitted Yankey from his first squad in 2013, effectively ending her international career.

London Bees Management

Yankey joined the London Bees as first team coach in 2018. When Luke Swindlehurst departed a few months later, Yankey was promoted to the role of head coach, though she only stayed in the job until May 2019.

In a statement on Twitter, the former Lioness explained her decision to turn down the club’s offer, "After much consideration, I decided not to accept the offer from London Bees to manage the first team next season.

"I stepped in to help the club when they needed me and I cannot thank the players and coaching staff enough for their support and willingness to learn.

"We changed many things for the better and I am proud of all the players for being brave enough to expand their comfort zones. I wish all of you the best of luck for the future."

Career Honours

Arsenal – National Premier League (1996-97, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10), FA Cup (1998, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014), Premier League Cup (1998, 1999, 2007, 2008), UEFA Cup (2007), WSL (2011, 2012)
Fulham – National Premier League (2002-03), FA Cup (2002, 2003), Premier League Cup (2002, 2003)
New Jersey Wildcats – W-League (2005)
Awarded an OBE in the 2014 New Years’ Honours

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 10th December 2021

December 10, 2021

Women's World Cup

By Sam Cox

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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

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Most Famous MLS Players – Biggest Names In Major League Soccer History

Some of the world’s most famous players have plied their trade in MLS
Often appearing in the twilight of their careers, these legends have had a mixed impact on the league
Read below for our compilation of the 10 most famous MLS players of all-time

Although yet to rival Europe’s top leagues on the field or as a subject of online betting, MLS has gone from strength to strength in the 21st century.

The sport and league are growing stateside, and much of the increase in viewership can be attributed to the ability to attract big-name talent.

While the standard has unquestionably improved since Carlos Valderrama was lighting up the early seasons of Major League Soccer, the league’s marketability has also soared.

The suggestion of elite talent moving to MLS is no longer far-fetched, even if it usually occurs in the final few years of their career.

These 10 stars have all played for MLS franchises, albeit with a large range of relevance from a football betting online perspective.

David Beckham

We all know that David Beckham net worth is a huge figure. Beckham was a business as much a footballer, one of the first of the modern era to turn himself into a brand.

While questioned by some, Beckham’s status as one of the world’s most marketable athlete made him the perfect acquisition for MLS. He made the move to America earlier than many of his fellow stars, arriving at the Galaxy in 2007.

The former England captain made over 100 appearances for the Los Angeles franchise, adding two MLS Cups and two Supporters’ Shields to an already stacked trophy cabinet.

Beckham’s involvement with the league didn’t end when he departed in 2012. He exercised his option for an expansion franchise in 2014, and saw Inter Miami make their debut in MLS in 2020.

Frank Lampard

Even though injuries impacted Frank Lampard’s short stay in the Big Apple, the former England international still managed to play an important role for New York City FC.

Lampard starred as NYCFC reached the playoffs in just their second season, and he scored the franchise’s first ever hat-trick.

Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer added a 2015 MLS All-Star selection and an MLS Player of the Month award to his loaded CV.

Andrea Pirlo

Paired with David Villa and Frank Lampard at New York City FC in 2015, Andrea Pirlo played the final three seasons of his illustrious career in MLS.

While the trio didn’t enjoy soccer prediction glory, Pirlo’s presence only helped to elevate the profile of the sport in New York.

An All-Star in 2016, l'architetto showed his class in Major League Soccer with his trademark incisive passing and unmatched reading of the game.

Steven Gerrard

England’s fourth-most capped player looked a strong contender to become a one-club man. That possibility was ended when Steven Gerrard made the surprise decision to sign with LA Galaxy in January 2015.

Gerrard had touched on the difficulties of playing in MLS, including the lengthy plane trips for away matches and changing altitude across the country.

It wasn’t a great surprise when he opted to leave the club after Los Angeles’ playoff shootout loss to the Rapids in 2016.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Cringey comments and meme-esque persona aside, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is unquestionably one of MLS’ most famous and greatest players.

Ibrahimovic followed in the footsteps of Gerrard and Beckham when he joined LA Galaxy in 2018. He enjoyed incredible success, scoring 53 times in 58 matches, earning two selections to the MLS Best XI.

Unlike many of his superstar predecessors in MLS, though, the outspoken Swede didn’t call it a day after his spell in the States.

Instead, he returned to Italy with Milan, proving he can still perform at the highest level in Europe.

Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry joined New York Red Bulls in 2010, just three years after David Beckham signed with LA Galaxy. Henry had won everything in Europe, and clearly still had plenty to offer when he made it to MLS.

The Red Bulls won the Supporters’ Shield during Henry’s spell, and he was named to the MLS Best XI on three occasions.

While unable to bring a first MLS Cup to the franchise, Henry put the club on the map. Just like Beckham, his relationship with the league has extended past his playing days into a managerial stint with Montreal Impact.

Wayne Rooney

It was no great surprise when Wayne Rooney headed to MLS to join D.C. United. The last few seasons in England had been underwhelming for the former teenage prodigy.

Once he got to the capital, though, Rooney flourished. He was superb for the Black-and-Red, resulting in a selection to the MLS Best XI in 2018 and winning club MVP in the same season.

A goal from the halfway line went viral, and Rooney brought moments of magic to Audi Field, but D.C. United fell at the first round of the playoffs in both of his seasons.

David Villa

Part of the headline-grabbing trio at New York City FC, David Villa was the franchise’s first ever player. He spent time at their sister club in Melbourne before debuting at the start of the 2015 season.

Winning league MVP in 2016, the sharp-shooting Spaniard lit up MLS in a manner that few have done in the league’s history.

Prolific throughout, Villa finished with 80 goals in 126 NYCFC appearances before joining Vissel Kobe in 2019.

Gonzalo Higuain

One of the highest paid MLS players in 2021, Gonzalo Higuain had long been rumoured as a target for MLS franchises when he finally made the move to Inter Miami in 2020.

The Argentina international had unsuccessful loans with Milan and Chelsea before hopping on a plane to Florida.

It’s fair to say he’s been a bit of a disappointment with The Herons, scoring just 13 times in 39 appearances.

Didier Drogba

After his heroics to win the 2012 Champions League with Chelsea, Didier Drogba went on a bit of a world tour. Stints in China, Turkey and a return to Chelsea were followed by a short spell with the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Ivorian was prolific in Canada. Scoring 11 goals in 11 appearances in his first season, the Whitecaps made it to the Conference semifinals in 2015, but didn’t reach the postseason in 2016.

Drogba spent several months as a free agent after leaving Vancouver, ultimately signing with Phoenix Rising in the USL and becoming a minority owner.

FIRST PUBLISHED: 10th December 2021

December 10, 2021

Football

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Landon Donovan Net Worth - MLS Legend Estimated Wealth

Landon Donovan is the USMNT’s joint-leading scorer and ranks second all-time in caps
Donovan is the current manager of USL franchise San Diego Loyal
With an estimated net worth of $14 million, Donovan has enjoyed a lucrative soccer career

USMNT star and LA Galaxy legend Landon Donovan was the face of Major League Soccer. His impact on the growth of soccer stateside cannot be overstated.

Successful from an individual and team perspective, Donovan’s presence was always a major factor to consider in sports betting.

The California-born forward possesses records for club and country. Only one player has scored more MLS goals than his tally of 145, and he’s tied with Clint Dempsey for the most USMNT goals of all-time.

Cobi Jones is the only player with more caps for the Stars and Stripes, and he’s 12th in MLS appearances by outfield players.

You don’t have to be a committed MLS fan to know who Landon Donovan is. Even if only occasionally looking at the latest football odds, his name will at least ring familiar.

Net Worth

Thought to have a net worth in the region of $14 million, Landon Donovan wasn’t always one of the highest paid MLS players, but he was healthily compensated for his services by the LA Galaxy.

Earning over $12 million between 2010 and 2014, Donovan belonged among the league’s elite on the field and his salary reflected those contributions.

Of course, these earnings were not all he accumulated. Playing in a big market like Los Angeles, Donovan was an ideal athlete for brands to partner with in California and beyond.

A long-time partnership with Nike was just part of Donovan’s endorsement portfolio.

While some may have pondered if MLS is struggling, Donovan’s deals with Gatorade, Heineken and others contradicted such a notion. He was a brand in his own right, a nationally respected figure.

When dealing with such large net worth figures, however, it’s always beneficial to have a comparison.

The $14 million in Donovan’s estimate is an alien number to most people. A quick glance at his peers shows he did particularly well financially.

Cobi Jones, who has the most appearances in USMNT history, is believed to have a net worth of just $3 million. Guesstimates vary for Michael Bradley, with most falling between $9 million and $13 million.

Finishing his career roughly a decade before Donovan, Claudio Reyna comes in at a similar number to Jones despite spending the majority of his playing days in Europe.

Former Clubs

Starting out at Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen, Landon Donovan was with Leverkusen II in 1999-2000, scoring nine goals in 28 starts.

He struggled to make an impression with the first team, however, and while he was with the club for five years, he spent several seasons on loan with the San Jose Earthquakes.

Once his spell in Germany was clearly coming to a conclusion, LA Galaxy traded Carlos Ruiz to FC Dallas to put them in position to land Donovan.

That’s exactly what they achieved in 2005, signing the forward to a multi-year contract and making him the highest-paid American player in the league.

During his decorated time in southern California, Donovan went on three offseason loans.

Spending a few weeks of 2009 with Bayern Munich and having two stints with Everton, he once again tested himself in Europe before announcing his first retirement in 2014.

An injury crisis in the second half of the 2016 season led to Donovan making a comeback for Galaxy.

He called it a day at the end of the playoffs, but made another return with Club León in 2018. The Mexican club terminated his contract in June of that year.

Bayer Leverkusen II 1999 - 2001: 29 appearances, nine goals
Bayer Leverkusen 1999 - 2005: nine appearances, zero goals
San Jose Earthquakes (loan) 2001 - 2004: 109 appearances, 43 goals
LA Galaxy 2005 - 2016: 317 appearances, 141 goals
Bayern Munich (loan) 2009: seven appearances, zero goals
Everton (loan) 2010: 13 appearances, two goals
Everton (loan) 2012: nine appearances, zero goals
Club Leon 2018: eight appearances, zero goals

International Career

Representing the USA at under-17, under-20 and under-23 levels, it was inevitable Donovan would progress into the senior team.

He made his full debut in 2000, and was starring on the international stage just a couple of years later, winning Best Young Player at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

Criticism followed when he and the USMNT disappointed at the 2006 World Cup, but Donovan bounced back to lead the team to the 2007 Gold Cup.

Impressing at the 2010 World Cup as the USA suffered heartbreak in the last 16, Donovan was then subject of some controversial decisions by Jürgen Klinsmann.

Disagreement between Klinsmann and Donovan threatened an unceremonious end to his international career. A friendly was arranged against Ecuador in 2014, however, providing the nation’s joint-leading goal scorer a proper send-off.

Statue

LA Galaxy unveiled a Landon Donovan statue in October 2021. Donovan was also inducted to the franchise’s Ring Of Honor, and a mural honouring the USMNT icon was produced at Bonita Street Elementary School.

Speaking at the ceremony, Donovan said, “Every time I came here, I tried to give more than I was taking.

"I tried to give everything to this club because that’s what I wanted to do, I was appreciative and grateful that I had this opportunity. I hope you guys felt that. I always wanted to give more than I took.”

The statue is located at Galaxy’s Legends Plaza, an area the franchise introduced in 2019. David Beckham was the first Galaxy player to receive a statue at the Plaza.

Club Honours

Donovan has won the MLS Cup on six occasions, a record that no one else can match.

There are a couple of Supporters’ Shields to add to that collection too, with Donovan leading Galaxy to soccer prediction dominance.

San Jose Earthquakes – MLS Cup (2001, 2003)
LA Galaxy – MLS Cup (2005, 2011, 2012, 2014), Supporters’ Shield (2010, 2011)

Individual Awards

Four-time US Soccer Athlete of the Year
Five-time Best MLS ESPY Player of the Year
Seven-time Honda Player of the Year
2013 Gold Cup MVP
2009 MLS MVP
Seven-time MLS Best XI
13-time MLS All-Star
2008 MLS Golden Boot

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 10th December 2021

December 10, 2021

888Business

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Dave Whelan Net Worth - How Much Is Wigan Legend Worth?

Dave Whelan is the former owner of Wigan Athletic
Whelan is also a former footballer himself, playing for Blackburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra
It’s believed Whelan’s net worth is in the region of $210 million

Tales of the broken leg to celebrations of Wigan’s historic FA Cup win, Dave Whelan has been a prominent figure in English football in the 21st century.

First featuring in sports betting as a player before becoming an owner several decades later, Whelan made an extremely successful transition from footballer to businessman.

The wealth amassed through his decades in business allowed Whelan to buy his hometown club Wigan Athletic in the 1990s.

How Much Is Dave Whelan Worth?

Net Worth
Wigan Athletic
Statue
Broken Leg
JJB Sports
Manchester United Takeover

Whelan oversaw Wigan’s football odds today outlook change during his tenure, bringing historic success and worldwide attention to The Latics.

Also a former owner of the Wigan Warriors, Whelan sold his stake in the rugby league club in 2007.

Never afraid to voice an opinion, controversy has never been far away for the Bradford-born entrepreneur. He has been outspoken politically and involved in several scandals throughout his years involved in professional sport.

Net Worth

Dave Whelan’s net worth is roughly $210 million. Starting out at a market stall, Whelan built a business empire in the years following his retirement from football.

Playing for Blackburn and Crewe between 1956 and 1966, Whelan was hardly raking in the cash during his playing days.

Footballer’s salaries in that era were incomparable to the riches they accumulate now. Whelan chose to retire from the sport to focus on his grocery business.

Whelan Discount Stores followed a template of American grocery outlets, and Whelan developed from a market stall to a high-profile chain around the north of England which eventually sold to Morrisons for over £1 million in the late-1970s.

This came a few years after he bought a fishing and sports store in Wigan called JJ Bradburn’s.

Under the brand name JJB Sports, Whelan opened several other shops through the 1970s, focusing on sports clothing. They were the second-largest sports shop in the country within a couple of decades.

At the centre of a lot of controversy, and with Whelan rarely making himself a popular figure, he stepped down as chairman in 2005 and sold over £50 million worth of shares in 2007. The rest of his stake was sold a few months later.

In 2009, he bought back JJB’s nationwide chain. With the company struggling, he founded DW Sports Fitness, though the business went into administration in 2020.

Wigan Athletic

Whelan bought Wigan Athletic with an ambitious plan to take the third-tier team to the Premier League.

It was an aspiration Whelan achieved in 2005, with the relative minnows matching up with a star-studded Chelsea in their first ever top flight match.

Runners-up in the League Cup in their first season in the Premier League, Whelan’s team suffered a heavy defeat to Manchester United, but reaching the final was a taste of what was to come.

Whelan’s investment had helped The Tics reach the top level of English football. While their budgets were still dwarfed by their Premier League foes, they continued to recruit well.

There were some near-misses with relegation, but the club gradually consolidated in the Premier League.

Former player Roberto Martinez returned to the club as manager, bringing exciting football and some great results. Martinez was one of several Spaniards introduced to the club through Whelan’s business connections in the late-1990s.

Already a club legend, he cemented his and the team’s place in the history books with a dramatic FA Cup final win over a heavily favoured Manchester City team. It’s one of the greatest FA Cup predictions upsets of all-time.

The highest of highs was followed by a low point when The Latics were relegated to the Championship just a few days later.

Wigan enjoyed their first ever European jaunt in 2013-14 while playing in the second tier. Martinez left the club, though, and The Tics cycled through managers.

Ultimately relegated to League One at the end of 2014-15, Whelan stepped down as chairman, passing the duties on to his grandson.

Statue

Dave Whelan unveiled a statue of himself outside Wigan’s stadium in 2016. The club’s former chairman is holding the FA Cup and described it as a "great way of saying 'thank you'".

Speaking at the event that revealed the statue, Whelan said, “The statue itself is wonderful and Sean has done a brilliant job; the likeness surprised me so much and it perfectly captures my favourite memory with the football club when we won the FA Cup at Wembley, after the FA had given me permission to lead the team out.”

Broken Leg

Playing for Blackburn in the 1960 FA Cup final, Dave Whelan broke his leg due to a challenge from Wolves winger Norman Deeley. With Whelan taken off at half-time, Rovers eventually lost the match 3-0.

Whelan’s tendency to bring up the injury at even the slightest opportunity has been the subject of mockery over the last decade or so.

Fittingly, when Whelan’s Wigan made it to the FA Cup final 53 years later, it was a player who had just returned from a broken leg who scored the winning goal.

Ben Watson was Wigan’s hero that day, and Whelan finally got his hands on the trophy. "It was meant to be. It was just meant to be,” Watson said, reflecting on the most famous moment of his career.

JJB Sports

Dave Whelan developed JJB Sports from a Wigan-based fishing and sports store.

He expanded, building a chain of sports clothing and equipment outlets. They were a brand recognised around the country when he sold his shares in 2007.

When JJB hit troubled waters a couple of years later, though, Whelan dived back into the world of retail while overseeing operations of a club featuring in Premier League predictions.

Purchasing back a nationwide group of fitness clubs and stores, Whelan founded DW Sports Fitness, which obviously took his initials and became the sponsor of Wigan Athletic.

Manchester United Takeover

On the cusp of buying Manchester United for under £12 million in the 1980s, Dave Whelan pulled out of the deal in fear of the impact it could have on his sports chain.

A conversation with his wife changed his mind on the prospective purchase.

Speaking to MEN, Whelan explained, “Later I went home and said to my wife Patricia that I’d pulled off a good deal to buy Manchester United. £11.5m was a lot of money then. She said ‘what?’.

“I was in JJB and expanding so she said, ‘do you think all the people in London, Liverpool, Birmingham will come and shop at your stores when you own Manchester United – the greatest enemy the teams they support have?’.

“I said ‘you might have a point’. So instead I went back to Martin Edwards and Manchester United and said the deal is done but told him that if he floated Manchester United on the stock market, he would get a lot more than £11.5m.

“He rang me back four days later and asked if he could be let off the hook with the deal because he wanted to go on the market and I said ok. I would have done the deal but I thought he hadn’t thought it through.”

Whelan recognises the mistake from a financial perspective, but he’s not regretting the decision to hear the best football chants at his beloved Wigan over Old Trafford.

He said, “If I’m talking wealth, Manchester United was the deal. But if I’m talking about doing things for your town and community then I’m very happy with what I have done here in Wigan as it is a good story.”

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 10th December 2021

December 10, 2021

888Business

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Computer Prediction | How Do Computer Betting Predictions Work?

Computer predictions are becoming an increasingly popular means to simulate sporting events
Bettors can look to these outputs when placing their wagers
How seriously should we take computer predictions?

Every few weeks we are welcomed with the latest computer prediction for whatever sporting event is in the centre of the news cycle.

Projected Premier League tables to predicted Super Bowl scores, these supercomputer outputs are met with debate, analysis and sometimes mockery.

When placing a bet, though, gamblers should be looking at any means to enhance their knowledge.

Landing winners requires good fortune, of course, but making well-informed decisions is crucial too, and absorbing the latest computer prediction outputs is a part of that.

Some are sceptical of computer predictions. To others, it nears gospel, a gold-standard of sporting foresight. The truth is likely somewhere in between.

The unpredictability of sport is what makes it so enticing to billions around the world.

It makes nailing a football prediction particularly challenging, and means even with all the data and the most powerful computers in the world, projections are going to swing and miss at times.

Why Are Computer Predictions Useful

While we may all want to believe in our own eye test and analysis, computer processing is obviously a more objective, powerful way to forecast sport.

The computer predictions that attract headlines for the Premier League and other big competitions contain reams of data and information. It’s a way of combining thousands of factors from advanced statistics to injury records and historical trends.

This is a tool that bettors and fans alike can contemplate either as part of their own debate or when pondering upcoming football betting decisions.

Of course, this isn’t limited to the Premier League and its peers in Europe. A quick Google search can find supercomputer predictions for all manner of sports, with many offering a weekly look at the upcoming NFL games.

Sites like CricViz are a must for cricket fans. While WinViz has attracted some high-profile critics, it’s a useful tool for gamblers to keep an eye on the state of the game at any given moment.

From NFL and the NBA to World Series favourites and Grand Slam winners in golf and tennis, there will be thousands of simulations being run.

Alongside the standard betting picks, computer predictions are a foundation of sports betting around the world in the 2020s.

Betting Picks With Computer Predictions

Whether concocting your own mathematical prediction or borrowing some projections from elsewhere, many bettors will lean into data analysis for their betting picks. It makes good sense to use all the tools at your disposal.

Computers have enhanced so much of our daily lives, they are a part of things we don’t even consider, so it would be foolish to overlook their use when it comes to betting decisions.

Sports fans have their own means of picking their wagers. Where some may trust their hunch or have a love for BTTS markets, there are other supporters who will take a more clinical, analytical approach, diving deep into the numbers to make a well-informed choice.

While this isn’t a fool proof way to secure wins, it’s a popular option among the sports betting community.

The more data that is available, the more people can throw into their simulations. Many will boast of tested formulae to beat the bookies.

There are no guarantees in sport. Even the most successful computer predictions will fall short, but those with a history of success can gain the trust of bettors around the world.

Ultimately, bettors will be looking to weigh up a variety of factors when placing their wagers. That’s been the case as long as gambling has been around. It’s easy to throw away the output of supercomputers as clickbait, but it has value to punters.

Each gambler will place a different significance on such projections – it’s up to each individual to choose what they trust when placing their bets.

Premier League Supercomputer Prediction

While these predictions are fluid as more information is learned about teams throughout a campaign, there are often common themes throughout different computer projections.

The 2021-22 season is set to be a thriller, as the Premier League odds suggest, but some simulations claim the title race will be face less interesting than it seems.

There is always a healthy margin for error in such estimations. No computer had Leicester as title winners before their 5000/1 triumph, with many expecting them to drop off even at the halfway point.

Not many computer predictions gave the Patriots a chance when they trailed the Falcons 28-3 in Super Bowl LI.

Regardless of if you take such calculations with a pinch of salt or consider them integral, it’s always an intriguing point of debate.

On that note, here’s one computer forecast for the 2021-22 Premier League table from October. It’s great news for Chelsea, but not so good for Norwich, Southampton and Burnley.

Chelsea, 99 points
Liverpool, 89 points
Manchester City, 76 points
Brentford, 74 points
Manchester United, 70 points
West Ham, 70 points
Everton, 69 points
Brighton & Hove Albion, 63 points
Aston Villa, 53 points
Wolverhampton Wanderers, 52 points
Leicester City, 45 points
Tottenham, 43 points
Arsenal, 43 points
Crystal Palace, 42 points
Watford, 36 points
Leeds United, 33 points
Newcastle United, 29 points
Burnley, 23 points
Southampton, 21 points
Norwich, 14 points

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 10th December 2021

December 10, 2021

Football

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The 10 Best Football Cities Around The World

There’s a lot to consider when selecting the best football cities around the world
Team success and passionate rivalries are crucial
Read below for our group of the top 10 football cities on the planet

Anyone who keeps track of online betting will have their own views on the best football cities around the world.

This is a subjective category, and people will use different credentials to evaluate what makes a footballing city ‘great’.

This isn’t purely about filling the biggest stadiums in the world, nor is it a tally of silverware. Rivalry and success matters, of course, yet this is an evaluation of a city beyond the numbers.

We are looking for cities that live and breathe the sport, and a few areas immediately come to mind when this topic is brought up.

Featuring some of the most famous clubs in football betting odds, here are our top 10 football cities around the world.

Istanbul

Turkey’s ‘Big Three’ are all from Istanbul, combining for 57 titles since the Turkish Süper Lig was founded in 1959.

Add in İstanbul Başakşehir, and that number moves to 58. The dominance of Istanbul across Turkish football cannot be overstated.

These clubs are not just foes on the field either. There is a fierce rivalry between each of the Big Three, and the The Intercontinental Derby is one of the most intense contests in world football.

Fenerbahce and Galatasaray have Graeme Souness to thank for their rivalry jumping to another level of footballing hatred. While three is often a crowd, Besiktas are hardly friendly with their city neighbours either.

Not many cities can come close to how Istanbul feels about its football teams.

Krakow

If your derby is called the ‘Holy War’, there’s a good chance the city is pretty serious about its football.

Wisla Krakow and Cracovia first played each other in 1908, and it has long been one of Europe’s most aggressive rivalries.

With a long history of violence between fans and the police, the Holy War divides a city. The stadiums are less than a mile apart, yet the rivalry is often brutal in nature.

Hutnik Kraków should also be mentioned, as they also hold a bitter friction with Wisla Krakow and Cracovia despite spending a lot of time outside of the top flight in recent decades.

Manchester

The Manchester derby is often talked down as a modern creation after years of disparity.

There’s some truth in that, of course, and the relationship between United and City cannot be compared to many of the other city duels on this list.

Manchester is a truly football mad city, though. That much is clear.

Currently with seven teams in the Football League, Greater Manchester has long been a hotbed of professional clubs far beyond the riches of City and persistent attention on Old Trafford.

Glasgow

Glasgow is the home of Scotland’s largest stadia and has four teams in the Scottish Football League.

The Old Firm Derby deservedly sits alongside the Superclásico, Intercontinental Derby and others among the fiercest rivalries in the sport.

Celtic or Rangers have combined to win 106 league titles, and you have to go all the way back to 1985 for the last time any other team lifted the trophy.

While the hostile atmospheres of Ibrox and Celtic Park are what first comes to mind with football in Glasgow, it would be a mistake not to mention Queen’s Park and Partick Thistle, who have contributed to the city’s deep football history.

Buenos Aires

There’s a strong case for the Superclásico to be regarded atop the list of the biggest football rivalries.

River Plate and Boca Juniors are the names recognised worldwide, yet they are just two of an astonishing 24 professional teams in Buenos Aires.

River and Boca are the two most successful teams in Argentinian football, combining for 71 league titles and 10 Copa Libertadores crowns.

While clearly owners of the most packed trophy cabinets, their achievements are supplemented by the glories of San Lorenzo, Huracán and numerous other clubs who have won the Argentine league title and/or lifted continental hardware.

The derbies are just as plentiful as the silverware in Argentina’s capital. It’s got a football obsession only a handful of cities can come close to.

Seville

While two of the most successful football clubs do battle in El Clasico, no rivalry in Spanish football comes close to that of the Seville derby between Real Betis and Sevilla.

Like many local derbies, the historic context of this duel involves a split at Sevilla, which led directly to the founding of Real Betis.

El Gran Derbi first took place in 1915, and Sevilla holds a comfortable advantage in the record books with 64 wins to Betis’ 39.

It’s only a 10-minute drive between the two stadia. The whole of Seville is taken over on derby day. The larger cities of Madrid and Barcelona may have had more success, but neither can compare to the passion in Seville.

Sao Paulo

Palmeiras, Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Santos. What more is there to add?

Sure, Santos is actually a few miles outside the city, but the expanding metropolis has effectively engulfed the club to be included alongside the other Sao Paulo megapowers.

When it comes to local rivalries, we can take our pick from a few here.

The Paulista Derby, the Clássico Majestoso and The Kings' Clash are competed between combinations of Palmeiras, Corinthians and Sao Paulo, while Santos shares the Clássico Alvi-negro, San-São and Clássico da Saudade with Corinthians, Sao Paulo and Palmeiras respectively.

Tens of millions support this quartet all over Brazil. Over 12 million call Sao Paulo home, and there’s no question it’s one of the world’s best football cities.

Athens

Greece’s ‘Big Three’ are located within a stone’s throw of each other.

Olympiacos might be in Piraeus, but they are just a 20-minute drive from AEK Athens’ stadium and a similar distance from Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, home of Panathinaikos.

Even with the emergence of PAOK, the trio remain dominant in Greek football. They have combined for 77 of 84 Super League crowns and regularly occupy the top three spots in the table.

Controversy has only intensified the feelings between Athens’ three superpowers over the last few decades. Taking in the atmosphere when these teams meet is one for any football fan’s bucket list.

Lisbon

Sporting have never finished lower than seventh. Benfica have never finished lower than sixth. The two Lisbon clubs are prevalent in European football prediction tips each weekend.

Belenenses are one of two clubs outside Portugal’s traditional Big Three to have won a league title, taking Lisbon’s tally to 57.

The Leões and As Águias share the dérbi de Lisboa, the biggest rivalry in Portugese football.

First played in 1907, it’s been relatively level throughout the last century-plus. Benfica’s 86 wins is only 10 more than Sporting have accumulated.

Milan

It’s usually capital cities that are in the reckoning here, but Milan bucks that trend with two of Europe’s giants.

Inter and AC have cohabited since 1947, though don’t let that distract from what is a bitter relationship between Italy’s second and third-most successful clubs.

They have combined for 37 titles, with Inter’s triumph under Antonio Conte edging them just ahead with 19 Scudetti.

Other than Turin, no other city in Italy has amassed more than 10 league titles, and between them, Inter and AC have lifted the European Cup/Champions League on nine occasions.

December 10, 2021

Football

By Sam Cox

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Javier Hernandez Net Worth - How Much Is Mexican Striker Worth?

Javier Hernandez is Mexico’s all-time leading scorer
Hernandez is widely known as Chicharito and currently plays for LA Galaxy
Read below for financial estimates on Javier Hernandez's net worth

Javier Hernandez has starred on both sides of the Atlantic in club and international action.

Despite already being a Mexico international, it was in Premier League Odds action that he shot to prominence, signing for Manchester United in 2010.

How Much Does 'Chicharito' Make?

Salary
Net Worth
Former Clubs
Mexico Career
Wife
Nickname

Hernandez has enjoyed a couple of stints in the Premier League along with two spells in La Liga and a pair of campaigns in the Bundesliga.

Prolific throughout his career, Chicharito continues to rack up the goals in MLS for LA Galaxy.

While his style of play is a bit of a throwback to poachers of previous eras, he’s carved a role at numerous clubs, and is also a good bet to score in football odds.

Salary

Javier Hernandez is one of the highest paid MLS players. Only his Mexico teammate and Los Angeles rival Carlos Vela has a bigger cap hit in 2021.

Hernandez has a $6 million salary. This is marginally more than Gonzalo Higuain, who is third in the salary charts, and way more than the majority of the league.

Only 10 players in MLS in 2021 are earning more than $3 million. Nobody else at LA Galaxy is on over $2 million. Jonathan dos Santos and Kevin Cabral are Chicharito’s only teammates earning over $940,000 in 2021.

To give greater context to these earnings, though, it’s important to consider where this salary lands compared to other leagues.

For instance, 98 Premier League players are on more than Hernandez per year when his salary is converted to pounds.

He’s earning only a shade more than Newcastle flop Joelinton and less than Brighton veteran Adam Lallana, Arsenal youngster Gabriel Martinelli and Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley.

Net Worth

Javier Hernandez is thought to have a net worth of around $30 million. Playing for two of the world’s biggest clubs and enjoying a lengthy career, he’s had a long time to amass money through salaries and endorsements.

This estimate puts Hernandez a long way clear of former Manchester United teammate Dimitar Berbatov, who has a net worth just under $20 million.

Celebritynetworth.com also projects fellow MLS star Gonzalo Higuain to have a much smaller net worth at $16 million.

Hernandez’s cosy financial position financially also dwarfs Megan Rapinoe net worth. He might not be the biggest name of his generation, but there’s no doubt he has made the most of his playing career financially.

With a massive profile in the USA and Mexico, Hernandez has been a very marketable player since signing with Manchester United.

He will have earned plenty from his partnership with Nike and will be handsomely compensated by Adidas since switching to the three stripes in 2017.

Former Clubs

Born in Guadalajara, Javier Hernandez started his professional career with his hometown club. He took time to really make an impression at the club, yet still managed to catch the eye of a Manchester United scout.

The Red Devils were going to wait before a potential move, though the upcoming World Cup forced their hand, and he penned a deal to join the club in April 2010.

A loan at Real Madrid followed in 2014-15 after several good seasons at Old Trafford.

Upon returning from that temporary spell in the Spanish capital, Hernandez was sold to Bayer Leverkusen for an undisclosed fee.

He flourished in his two seasons with Die Werkself before returning to Premier League predictions with West Ham. While the fee was undisclosed, it was widely reported as a then club record.

Injuries and general dysfunction with the team limited Chicharito’s success in east London. He departed for Sevilla in 2019, signing a three-year contract.

Just a few months into that deal his second spell in La Liga proved to be even shorter than his first. He signed with LA Galaxy in January 2020.

Guadalajara 2006 - 2010: 80 appearances, 29 goals
Manchester United 2010 - 2016: 157 appearances, 59 goals
Real Madrid 2014 - 15: 33 appearances, 9 goals
Bayer Leverkusen 2015 - 16: 76 appearances, 39 goals
West Ham 2017 - 2019: 63 appearances, 17 goals
Sevilla 2019: 15 appearances, 3 goals
LA Galaxy 2020 - present: 33 appearances, 19 goals

Mexico Career

Javier Hernandez has over 100 caps for Mexico. He’s the country’s all-time leading goal scorer and has twice lifted silverware with El Tri, winning the 2011 Gold Cup and the CONCACAF Cup in 2015.

Integral in many very competitive Mexico sides, Chicharito won MVP and the Golden Boot at the 2011 Gold Cup and was named CONCACAF Men’s Player of the Year in 2015.

For the 2010s, he was included in the IFFHS CONCACAF Men’s Team of the Decade.

Alongside continental success, Hernandez has also played in three World Cups for El Tri.

Only 52 players have scored more goals in international play, and he will likely climb into the top 10 most capped Mexico players before he hangs up his boots.

Wife

Javier Hernandez is married to model and travel blogger Sarah Kohan.

There have been reports that the relationship is nearing its end, however, with TMZ claiming that Kohan failed divorce papers in 2021.

Hernandez hasn’t spoken publicly about their relationship, but he has opened up in interviews about his struggles with depression and the impact of his grandfather’s death.

While he didn’t mention Kohan by name, he spoke about his personal life in a conversation with The Ringer.

Hernandez said, “I wasn’t the best partner I needed to be, I wasn’t the greatest dad that I wanted to be. I wasn’t a great friend. I wasn’t the great human being I wanted to be.”

Speaking about the pressure of fame, he added, “People always identified me not by me, but something else. I played a character because that’s what we ask of famous people.

“I’ve always been very sensitive. A lot of times I tried to hide it. I realised I had to…I’m not the tallest. I’m not very big. I’m not very stereotypically masculine. We see a man cry, we think he’s weak, but we are all human.”

Nickname

A lot of football fans will best know Javier Hernandez by the nickname ‘Chicharito’. This means ‘little pea’ in Spanish.

His father Javier Hernandez Gutierrez was known as ‘El Chicaro’ or ‘The Pea’, as a nod to his green eyes. The progression from there is obvious, with the diminutive Hernandez junior picking up the name ‘little pea’ from a young age.

While nicknames are usually reserved for chants and headlines, Chicharito has reached a different level.

Even playing in some of the biggest leagues in the world, Mexico’s all-time leading scorer has had ‘Chicharito’ on the back of his shirts instead of Hernandez.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 9th December 2021

December 9, 2021

888Business

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Christian Eriksen Net Worth - Denmark Legend Estimated Wealth

Christian Eriksen is a Danish international worth around $25 million
Eriksen terrifyingly collapsed during a match at Euro 2020
Find out estimated figures on Christian Eriksen net worth & salary here

Christian Eriksen has long been one of the better creative midfielders in Europe.

Playing for Ajax, Tottenham and now Serie A odds juggernaut Inter, Eriksen is an immensely gifted passer and long-shot taker.

How Much Does Eriksen Make?

Net Worth
Salary
Collapse
Wife
Former Clubs
Career Honours

With over a decade clocked as a professional, Eriksen has been appreciated across Europe as a player, but it was in the summer of 2021 that he became an international news story after horrifyingly collapsing on the pitch during Euro 2020.

Thanks to the heroic actions of many at the ground that day, Eriksen survived and he’s looking towards a return to football.

Net Worth

Christian Eriksen’s net worth is believed to be around $25 million.

The best part of a decade on Premier League wage bills will have made up a lot of that figure, and the move to Italy to join Inter brought a similarly hefty salary.

Career earnings are not always available for footballers. Eriksen’s exact wages are not available at Inter, and the case was the same during his stint with Ajax.

A long-running partnership with Nike supplements the considerable wages paid by his clubs. Eriksen has been seen in a variety of boots from the company, including the Nike Mercurial Vapor 14.

To give some further context to Eriksen’s net worth, he comes in at a similar figure to former Spurs teammate Heung-Min Son.

Several sites claim Eriksen’s current teammate Lautaro Martinez has a much smaller net worth, however, while fellow Dane Simon Kjaer is in the $30 million region.

Salary

According to SalarySport.com, Christian Eriksen has a weekly wage of £228,000. This work’s out to an annual salary just shy of £12 million.

The same website claims that Eriksen was on just under £80,000 at Tottenham, a figure that won’t come as much of a surprise given Spurs’ strict wage structure.

If the £228,000 per week is correct, that gives a pretty strong indication of why he swapped north London for Milan.

Only 15 Premier League players in 2021-22 are earning more than Eriksen per week, with that wage coming in above Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane.

The Dane started just 17 Serie A matches for Inter as they won their 19th Scudetto in 2020-21.

According to FootballTransfers.com, Eriksen is Inter’s highest-paid player, with an annual salary of £3 million more than second-highest earner Alexis Sanchez and over double what Marcelo Brozovic and Lautaro Martinez are receiving.

Collapse

Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s opening group match of Euro 2020. Eriksen’s teammates and the match officials reacted quickly.

He received CPR and defibrillation on the field before being stretched off and taken to hospital. The match was suspended for over an hour and was controversially restarted.

News came through from the local hospital that Eriksen was awake and stable, and the following day it was confirmed by team doctor Morten Boesen that Eriksen had suffered a cardiac arrest, which drew comparisons in English football to the terrifying scenes when Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the pitch back in 2012.

Three days after the incident, Eriksen posted a selfie from his hospital bed with a brief update and support for his teammates.

He said, “Big thanks for your sweet and amazing greetings and messages from all around the world. It means a lot to me and my family.

"I'm fine - under the circumstances. I still have to go through some examinations at the hospital, but I feel okay. Now, I will cheer on the boys on the Denmark team in the next matches. Play for all of Denmark.”

The Inter midfielder was fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator due to ‘rhythm disturbances’ as described by Boesen. Following a successful operation, he paid his teammates a visit before heading home to recover.

In December 2021, it was reported that Eriksen had begun training with his former team Odense.

Currently banned from playing in Serie A because of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, Inter are apparently open to letting him leave the club, but it’s unclear what the future holds for the Dane at this point.

A spokesperson for Odense said, “Eriksen reached out to us, and he is now training by himself. It’s natural for him since he played here in his youth and lives around the corner. We are very happy to be able to provide training facilities for him.”

The actions of the people involved on that frightening day in Copenhagen saved Eriksen’s life.

Simon Kjaer and Anthony Taylor attracted specific praise in the hours and days that followed, while Kjaer, the UEFA medical officers, the on-site medical team and Boesen and Denmark’s physio Morten Skjoldager were all honoured with the UEFA President’s award in August 2021.

Wife

Christian Eriksen’s girlfriend is Sabrina Kvist Jensen. They have a son and a daughter together, and unlike some celebrity couples, they are keen to keep their private life as just that.

Jensen was in the ground when Eriksen collapsed at Euro 2020 and was comforted by his teammates.

It was reported in the following days that Jensen believed Eriksen had died on the field, but Kasper Schemichel told her he was still breathing.

Former Clubs

While English fans will best-remember Eriksen’s influence in Premier League predictions, he was already an established star in the Eredivisie with Ajax.

Recording over 160 appearances for the Dutch club, Eriksen earned several accolades during his time in Amsterdam.

Individual awards were picked up along the way as Ajax topped football betting in three straight years for Eriksen to record a threepeat.

With Spurs in the midst of a summer 2013 spending spree, the north London club splashed £11 million on Eriksen in what proved to be a bargain transfer.

He made over 300 appearances for the club, and was twice named Spurs’ Player of the Year. A runner-up finish in the Champions League was the highlight of his stint with the Lilywhites.

As his contract was running down, Spurs and Eriksen were unable to agree a new deal. With a transfer seemingly inevitable, Inter landed Eriksen on a lucrative long-term contract, and he won Serie A in his second full season in Milan.

Ajax 2009 - 2013: 162 appearances, 32 goals
Tottenham 2013 - 2020: 305 appearances, 69 goals
Inter 2019 - present: 60 appearances, 8 goals

Career Honours

Playing for three of Europe’s biggest clubs, Eriksen has often been on teams that sit among the favourites in sports betting.

While his Spurs stretch was without silverware, he has accumulated plenty of other medals in his senior career.

Ajax – Eredivisie (2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13), KNVB Cup (2009-10)
Inter – Serie A (2020-21)
Four-time Danish Footballer of the Year
Two-time Tottenham Player of the Year

December 9, 2021

888Business

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International Hurdle Trends | Cheltenham Tips

The International Hurdle is run over two miles and a furlong and is one of the most valuable hurdle races of the season at Cheltenham Racecourse.

The contest is part of ‘The Road To Cheltenham’, a series of four races that is made up of the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November, the Grade 2 Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock Park in January and of course the big one - the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The International Hurdle was run as the Cheltenham Trial Hurdle from 1963 until 1977 before the name was changed to the Bula Hurdle, after the top-class Cheltenham winner.

A three-time winner of the contest was Relkeel, who gained successive victories in the International Hurdle in 1997 and 1998 for the late David Nicholson.

Relkeel went on to complete his hat-trick in 1999 for Nicholson’s understudy and successor - Alan King. The gelding now has a race named after him on the Saturday of the International.

The race has of course provided a whole host of pointers for the Champion Hurdle, and down the years some smart horses have won this race at Cheltenham.

In more recent times Rooster Booster claimed victory in 2002 before going on to land victory in the 2003 Champion Hurdle, while Nigel Twiston-Davies’ The New One won three runnings of the race and My Tent Or Yours was another notable winner.

A summary of the Cheltenham Results 2021 can be found HERE.

International Hurdle Winners

2020 - Song For Someone 6/1 (Tom Symonds/Aidan Coleman)
2019 - Call Me Lord 2/1 (Nicky Henderson/James Bowen)
2018 - Brain Power 7/1 (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville)
2017 - My Tent Or Yours 5/1 (Nicky Henderson/Barry Geraghty)
2016 - The New One 13/8 (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Richard Johnson)
2015 - Old Guard 7/1 (Paul Nicholls/Sam Twiston-Davies)
2014 - The New One 4/7 (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Sam Twiston-Davies)
2013 - The New One 2/5 (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Sam Twiston-Davies)
2012 - Zarkandar 6/5 (Paul Nicholls/Ruby Walsh)
2011 - Grandouet 5/2 (Nicky Henderson/Barry Geraghty)

International Hurdle Statistics

Age: 7 of the last 10 winners were aged between 4 and 6.
Price: 6 of the last 10 favourites/joint favourites have won, 9/10 winners came from the top three in the horse racing odds.
Last Run: 8 of the last 10 winners won their last race before the International Hurdle, 9/10 winners ran within the last 35 days. 3/10 winners ran in the Greatwood Hurdle (Cheltenham) on their last run, three of the three won.
Previous Course Form: 10/10 winners had at least two previous runs at Cheltenham, 7/10 winners had at least one previous victory at Cheltenham.
Previous Distance Form: 10/10 winners had at least five previous runs over 15-17 furlongs, 10/10 had at least two previous wins over 15-17 furlongs.
Previous Hurdle Form: 10/10 winners had at least seven runs over hurdles, 10/10 winners had at least three wins over hurdles, 10/10 winners had at least four wins over hurdles.
Rating: 9/10 winners were rated 157 or higher.
Graded Wins: 7/10 winners had at least one previous win in a Grade 1 race, 10/10 winners had at least one win in a Grade 1-3 race.
Season Form: 10/10 winners had at least one run that season, 8/10 winners had at least one win that season.

Leading Trainers

Nicky Henderson is the leading trainer in this race in the modern era. His six winners are made up of: Geos (2000), Binocular (2008), Grandouet (2011), My Tent Or Yours (2017), Brain Power (2018) and Call Me Lord (2019).

To check out who the Seven Barrows genius may saddle this year, check out our Nicky Henderson Stable Tour.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has landed this race four times in total. Khyber Kim (2009) and The New One (2013, 2014, 2016).

Paul Nicholls has three winners to his name with Rigmarole (2003), Zarkandar (2012) and Old Guard (2013), while Philip Hobbs is also a triple winner with Rooster Booster (2002), Detroit City (2006) and Menorah 2010.

The only new kid on the block out of the current crop of National Hunt has been Tom Symonds who trained Song For Someone to win the December showpiece in 2020.

Leading Jockeys

Richard Johnson is the most successful jockey to date in the International, having ridden six winners in all: Relkeel (1997, 1999), Rooster Booster (2002), Detroit City (2006), Menorah (2010), The New One (2016).

Of the current jockeys, Sam Twiston-Davies stands on a total of three victories, while Paddy Brennan is on two. The past three renewals have heralded three new International alumni in the shape of Nico De Boinville, James Bowen and Aidan Coleman.

International Hurdle 'Trial' Races

Some of the key race trials for this are the Coral Hurdle at Ascot, the Greatwood Hurdle at the Cheltenham November meeting and the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

Starting Prices

Over the last 20 renewals, 13 winners were favourite or joint-favourite and backing the market leader blindly would have returned you a profit of £8.00.

If you are a punter who follows a trainer to the hilt in these kinds of races, then there are some interesting statistics for you over the last 20 runnings of this race.

Nick Henderson leads the way with 6 winners from his 18 runners this century (+£19.50), while Nigel Twiston-Davies (4-12, +£6.60) and Paul Nicholls (3-15, +£21.20) have also shown a profit at SP.

Alan King (0-5), Evan Williams (0-5) and Dan Skelton (0-4) are trainers on the International Hurdle cold list.

Our 888sport antepost horse racing tip for the International Hurdle on December 12th is Sceau Royal @ 5/2

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 9th December 2021

December 9, 2021

Horse Racing

By Steve Mullington

https://twitter.com/mulldog">

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Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.

Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?

He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.

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Chelsea Player Ratings | Chelsea vs Leeds Player Ratings

Chelsea are one of the firm favourites for this season’s title, and here’s why
Find out which Blues stars are shining, and who is under-performing
We calculate the Chelsea average player ratings for the entire 2021/22 season

Chelsea are looking like the real deal under Thomas Tuchel. They’re hard to beat and with a squad packed with world class talent they were naturally tipped in our Premier League predictions to seriously challenge for the title this season.

But if the team continues to impress, how are the players individually faring?

To determine this, we compiled every match rating for every player so far in 2021/22, to give supporters the chance to find out who is pulling their weight, and who should be consigned to the bench!

Providing Chelsea vs opponents ratings for every single Premier League match not only separates the superstars from the also-rans but helps us make better, informed choices in our Premier League Odds too.

So, what are you waiting for? See who is being brilliant in blue, and hoovering up the Man of the Match awards into the bargain, with the most comprehensive Chelsea player ratings breakdown on the internet.

Chelsea Player Rating vs West Ham

Find our West Ham vs Chelsea player ratings for the Premier League match on 4th December 2021 below:

Edouard Mendy 5
Thiago Silva 7
Andreas Christensen 6
Toni Rudiger 7
Reece James 7
Ruben Loftus-Cheek 8
Jorginho 5
Marcos Alonso 5
Mason Mount 9
Kai Havertz 6
Hakim Ziyech 7

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Watford

Find our Watford vs Chelsea player ratings for the Premier League match on 1st December 2021 below:

Edouard Mendy 7
Cesar Azpilicueta 5
Trevoh Chalobah 6
Andreas Christensen 6
Toni Rudiger 6
Saul Niguez 4
Ruben Loftus-Cheek 6
Marcos Alonso 5
Mason Mount 8
Kai Havertz 7
Christian Pulisic 6

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Manchester United

Find our Chelsea vs Man United player ratings for the Premier League match on 28th November 2021 below:

Edouard Mendy 6
Trevoh Chalobah 7
Thiago Silva 7
Toni Rudiger 7
Reece James 6
Jorginho 6
Ruben Loftus-Cheek 6
Marcos Alonso 6
Hakim Ziyech 6
Callum Hudson-Odoi 4
Timo Werner 4

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Leicester City

Find our Leicester vs Chelsea player ratings for the Premier League match on 20th November 2021 below:

Edouard Mendy 6
Trevoh Chalobah 7
Thiago Silva 9
Toni Rudiger 8
Reece James 7
Jorginho 7
N’Golo Kante 8
Ben Chilwell 7
Mason Mount 6
Kai Havertz 5
Christian Pulisic 8

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Burnley

Find our Chelsea vs Burnley player ratings for the Premier League match on 6th November 2021 below:

Edouard Mendy 7
Thiago Silva 7
Andreas Christensen 7
Toni Rudiger 7
Reece James 8
Ben Chilwell 7
N’Golo Kante 7
Jorginho 8
Callum Hudson-Odoi 7
Kai Havertz 8
Ross Barkley 8

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Newcastle

Find our Newcastle vs Chelsea player ratings for the Premier League match on 30th October 2021 below:

Edouard Mendy 6
Andreas Christensen 7
Toni Rudiger 7
Thiago Silva 7
Reece James 9
N’Golo Kante 6
Jorginho 8
Ben Chilwell 6
Hakim Ziyech 6
Kai Havertz 7
Callum Hudson-Odoi 7

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Norwich City

Find our Chelsea vs Norwich player ratings for the Premier League match on 23rd October 2021 below:

Edouard Mendy 8
Thiago Silva 8
Toni Rudiger 8
Trevoh Chalobah 8
Ben Chilwell 9
Mateo Kovacic 8
Jorginho 9
Reece James 8
Mason Mount 9
Kai Havertz 6
Callum Hudson-Odoi 9

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Brentford

Find our Brentford vs Chelsea player ratings for the Premier League match on 16th October 2021 below:

Edouard Mendy 9
Cesar Azpilicueta 6
Malang Sarr 8
Trevoh Chalobah 8
Andreas Christensen 7
Mateo Kovacic 5
N’Golo Kante 7
Ben Chilwell 7
Ruben Loftus-Cheek 6
Timo Werner 5
Romelu Lukaku 5

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Southampton

Find our Chelsea v Southampton player ratings for the Premier League match on 2nd October 2021 below:

Edouard Mendy 6
Trevoh Chalobah 9
Thiago Silva 6
Toni Rudiger 7
Cesar Azpilicueta 8
Ruben Loftus-Cheek 8
Mateo Kovacic 7
Ben Chilwell 6
Timo Werner 9
Callum Hudson-Odoi 8
Romelu Lukaku 6

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Manchester City

Find our Chelsea v Man City player ratings for the Premier League match on 25th September 2021 below:

Edouard Mendy 8
Cesar Azpilicueta 7
Andreas Christensen 7
Toni Rudiger 7
Reece James 5
Jorginho 4
N’Golo Kante 5
Mateo Kovacic 5
Marcos Alonso 3
Timo Werner 4
Romelu Lukaku 4

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Tottenham

Find our Spurs vs Chelsea player ratings for the Premier League match on 19th September 2021 below:

Kepa Arrizabalaga 7
Andreas Christensen 8
Toni Rudiger 7
Thiago Silva 8
Cesar Azpilicueta 7
Jorginho 7
Mateo Kovacic 7
Marcos Alonso 8
Mason Mount 6
Kai Havertz 6
Romelu Lukaku 6

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Aston Villa

Find our Chelsea v Aston Villa player ratings for the Premier League match on 11th September 2021 below:

Edouard Mendy 9
Trevoh Chalobah 7
Thiago Silva 8
Toni Rudiger 7
Callum Hudson-Odoi 7
Mateo Kovacic 8
Saul Niguez 5
Marcos Alonso 6
Hakim Ziyech 7
Romelu Lukaku 8
Kai Havertz 6

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Liverpool

Find our Liverpool vs Chelsea player ratings for the Premier League match on 28th August 2021 below:

Edouard Mendy 7
Cesar Azpilicueta 9
Andreas Christensen 8
Toni Rudiger 7
Reece James 5
Jorginho 7
N’Golo Kante 8
Marcos Alonso 6
Mason Mount 7
Kai Havertz 6
Romelu Lukaku 6

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Find our Arsenal vs Chelsea player ratings for the Premier League match on 22nd August 2021 below:

Edouard Mendy 7
Reece James 9
Andreas Christensen 8
Toni Rudiger 7
Cesar Azpilicueta 7
Jorginho 7
Mateo Kovacic 7
Marcos Alonso 8
Mason Mount 7
Kai Havertz 7
Romelu Lukaku 8

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Crystal Palace

Find our Chelsea vs Crystal Palace player ratings for the Premier League match on 14th August 2021 below:

Edouard Mendy 6
Trevor Chalobah 8
Andreas Christensen 7
Toni Rudiger 7
Cesar Azpilicueta 7
Jorginho 8
Mateo Kovacic 7
Marcos Alonso 9
Mason Mount 8
Christian Pulisic 8
Timo Werner 6

Chelsea Average Player Rating

From the figures above we are not just able to determine which players have excelled for the Blues in every Premier League fixture, but also who has shone week in, week out, truly earning their Chelsea player salaries.

Antonio Rudiger, for example, has been a model of consistency, never dipping below a 7/10. Marcos Alonso, by comparison, has been erratic, putting in a tremendous 9-star performance but also posting a 3/10 against Man City.

These recorded scores can help fans work out who is doing Thomas Tuchel proud in 2021/22 and who is not.

Chelsea Man of the Match Awards

According to the sports betting Chelsea are among the favourites win this season’s Premier League crown but for the Blues to beat out Liverpool and Man City they’re going to need key men to stand up and stand out.

So far, it’s the players below who are doing precisely that. Follow our player ratings for Chelsea in the coming months and see who ranks as the best performing star for each league fixture.

Edouard Mendy - 3
Reece James - 3
Mason Mount - 2
Thiago Silva - 2
Marcos Alonso - 2
Ben Chilwell - 1
Timo Werner - 1
Cesar Azpilicueta - 1

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

December 9, 2021

Premier League

By Stephen Tudor

https://twitter.com/SteTudor123">

Body

Stephen Tudor is a freelance football writer and sports enthusiast who only knows slightly less about the beautiful game than you do.

A contributor to FourFourTwo and Forbes, he is a Manchester City fan who was taken to Maine Road as a child because his grandad predicted they would one day be good.

Stephen Tudor

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