The 10 Greatest One-Season Wonders In Premier League History

Some of the greatest footballers of all-time have played in the Premier League. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry and Steven Gerrard have all thrived on the big stage.

The players on this list do not fall into that bracket but all 10 enjoyed a high level of success in England’s top flight for a short period of time.

Greatest One Season Wonders:

The obvious one is Michu. He was unplayable at times during his debut season at Swansea City but he failed to repeat those 2012/13 goal scoring exploits the following year.

However, there are plenty of contenders to rival his standing as the best one season wonder in Premier League history. So, here are our rankings…

10) Nikica Jelavic

Okay, so this is more of a half season wonder but Jelavic deserves a spot on this list for his impact in his maiden campaign at Goodison Park.

Having paid £5.5 million for the Croatian, Everton were expecting big things from Jelavic and he immediately hit the ground running, scoring nine goals in 13 Premier League games.


Despite adding two FA Cup goals in only three appearances, Jelavic returned the following campaign and something was different. He just wasn’t the same player anymore.

Jelavic scored a combined 15 goals in 69 appearances over the next two seasons before the Croatia international departed for Hull City.

9) Benjani

Benjani took a while to hit his stride but the Zimbabwean took the Premier League by storm in 2007/08, scoring an incredible 12 goals in just 23 appearances.

That campaign was enough to earn Benjani a move to Manchester City though he struggled to make an impact at the Etihad Stadium and soon found himself in and out of the team.

In fact, Benjani scored just seven more Premier League goals in the five seasons following his breakout campaign – which shows just how wonderful that one season was.

According to former Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, Benjani didn’t even want to join Man City. That would at least explain the reason for Benjani’s poor performances…

8) Asamoah Gyan

Gyan was one of the stars of the 2010 World Cup, notching three goals for his native Ghana before crashing out on penalties in the quarter-finals.

However, his performances in South Africa earned him a move to Sunderland – reportedly for a club record fee of around £13 million.

Asamoah Gyan
Photo credit: Scott Heppell / AP Photo


In his debut season, Gyan continued his fine run of form. The Ghana star notched 10 goals while providing four assists in 34 games to become an instant hit at the Stadium of Light.

Bizarrely, Gyan decided to leave at the end of his first season in the Premier League and so we will never know whether he could have replicated that impressive return.

7) Michael Ricketts

Ricketts was pivotal in Bolton’s promotion to the Premier League, having scored a number of important goals en route to the playoff final.

In fact, his impact was so great that he was called up to the England squad for a friendly against the Netherlands in 2002 though his form had taken a turn for the worse.


While Ricketts managed 12 Premier League goals that season, the last of those goals came in January and his confidence was shattered by the end of the campaign.

Many believed that a switch to Middlesbrough in 2003 could reignite his career but those hopes were dashed and Ricketts became just another Football League journeyman.

6) Andy Johnson

Johnson netted a sensational 21 goals in the 2004/05 Premier League campaign, with only a certain Thierry Henry scoring more over the course of the season.

Plying his trade for Crystal Palace, his goal scoring exploits were all the more impressive as the Eagles were hardly what you’d call top four betting favourites.

After a very brief spell in the England squad, Johnson earned himself a move to Everton but it didn’t really work out for him at Goodison Park.

If you were being critical, 11 of Johnson’s 21 goals in that epic season were penalties but it would be harsh to rank him any lower on this list of the Premier League’s best one season wonders.

5) Amr Zaki

Like Jelavic, Zaki is another who should probably rank in the ‘half season wonder’ category. But, such was his impact on the premier League, we’re going with the Egypt forward at number five.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan instantly got carried away and compared Zaki to the Premier League all-time record goal scorer Alan Shearer. That was the start of his downfall.

Zaki scored 11 goals before the end of 2008, including a sensational striker against Liverpool that wouldn’t look out of place on a list of the best ever Premier League goals.

However, he failed to score in the second half of the campaign before the Egyptian was sent out on loan to Hull City. 

4) Roque Santa Cruz

When Santa Cruz joined Blackburn Rovers from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2007, nobody expected the Paraguayan to set the world on fire.

However, expectations quickly changed as he notched 23 goals in all competitions in his debut season, including 19 in the Premier League.


Santa Cruz scored just four league goals the following season but that didn’t stop the big-spending Manchester City from splashing out an estimated £17.5 million on him.

After managing just three goals in 20 Premier League appearances over two years at the club, Santa Cruz found himself out on loan before joining Malaga in 2013.

3) Marcus Stewart

Stewart was outstanding for Ipswich in 2000/01, notching an incredible 19 Premier League goals – only Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink managed more that season.

In fact, Stewart’s goals helped the Tractor Boys qualify for the UEFA Cup in their first season since securing promotion back to the Premier League.

Ipswich were relegated the following campaign but Stewart moved to Sunderland in a bid to preserve his top flight career.

Unfortunately for him, he failed to inspire confidence at the Stadium of Light and the Black Cats were also relegated. Stewart never played in the Premier League again.

2) Robinho

Manchester City sent shockwaves across Europe when they announced the signing of Robinho from Real Madrid for a British record transfer fee of £32.5 million.

In his debut season, Robinho was outstanding. The Brazilian was at the heart of City’s early progress and he finished the 2008/09 season as the club’s top scorer in all competitions.

Robinho
Photo credit: Fabian Bimmer / AP Photo


Unfortunately, he failed to find the net in the whole of his second season at the Etihad Stadium and featured just 10 times. That would signal the end of his time at the club.

Nowadays, Robinho are challenging at the summit of Premier League Odds odds. It would have been interesting to see whether the Brazilian would shine in this City side…

1) Michu

And now for the man who needs no introduction: Michu is undoubtedly the Premier League’s ultimate one season wonder.

Having joined Swansea for just £2 million, Michu exceeded all expectations at the Liberty Stadium during his first campaign in the Premier League.


The former Rayo Vallecano striker picked up where he left off in La Liga, notching 18 goals in 35 matches whilst earning a call up to the Spain national team.

Unfortunately, Michu suffered a number of injury problems in his second season and could only manage two goals in 17 games before signing with Serie A giants Napoli.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alastair Grant / AP Photo*

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 17th August 2020

August 17, 2020
Premier League

By Alex McMahon

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Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible. 
 

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Betting Tips: Helpful Guides For Sports Betting

Whether you are new to sports betting or fancy yourself as an expert sport tipster, there are always ways to maximise and enhance your sports betting experience.

Some punters choose to follow a specific betting strategy while others prefer to focus on a certain sport.

The most important thing to do before looking at sports betting tips is to familiarise yourself with the competition that you are betting on.

For that, you need a simple, helpful guide to betting on sport and that is where we come in. Here, you can find sports betting tips guides for every major sport.

Whether you are looking for football betting tips or searching for the latest snooker betting tips, 888sport is the place to be for cutting edge news, informative insight and daily betting expert betting tips.

Top Sport Betting Tips:

May 27, 2021
Betting tips

By Alex McMahon

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Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible. 
 

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Handball Betting Tips: Essential Guide For Anyone Looking To Bet On Handball

Traditionally regarded as a European sport, handball is becoming incredibly popular with modern sports betting fans.

Handball is now popular in schools across the United Kingdom and that has contributed to a rise in the sport’s status. The best handball betting tips can be found on a number of websites, including here at 888sport.

If you are looking for handball betting tips today, this is the place to be. With the biggest handball competitions covered, 888sport is the place to be.

Handball Betting Guide

First created in Denmark in the early 1900s, handball is a relatively simple sport to follow and understand. There are seven players on each handball team – six outfielders and a goalkeeper.

An important handball betting tip to remember is that teams are allowed to name seven substitutes and they can be used on a rolling basis.

As long as you touch the ball with any body part above the knee, anything goes. Players must score from outside the goalkeeper’s area but there are few rules compared to other sports.

Handball Betting Tips

To get the most out of your handball betting experience, you need to know the top handball tips and tricks. First and foremost, learning the rules of the sport is an absolute must before placing a bet on handball.

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Handball is a simple enough game to follow and the best way is to watch handball online to enhance your knowledge. This, as well as reading handball news and statistics, can give you the edge when it comes to handball betting.

Furthermore, make sure you fully understand the handball betting markets before getting invested in the sport. There are a limited number of handball odds with most bookmakers but it is vital to find the right market for you.

Keeping track of in-play handball betting odds is another interesting option, both for betting experts and newbies to the sport. Sometimes you can find favourable odds during a match, particularly if a handball favourite falls behind early on.

Handball tricks look incredible when they are pulled off and the best handball players in the world often put on a show week in, week out.

Even the greatest handball players struggle at times though and pulling off the top handball tricks and tips does not mean consistent success.

Handball Tips & Strategy

The best handball tips are often the simplest. Taking your time when assessing the latest handball odds may seem like a given but it is even more important for a sport like handball.

Games come thick and fast and fatigue can play a major part in handball betting. One of our top handball strategies is to check schedules and try to predict one step ahead. The latest handball news can help with monitoring injuries, fixtures and more.

The easiest way to bet on handball is to back a team to win a match but that isn’t the only handball market. The key to success in sports betting is to find a market that works for you and that is no different with handball.

If you enjoy success betting on over/under total goals, then stick with that. If you prefer to focus on player performance, then stick with that. Making the most of your handball betting skill is an absolute must. You can even branch out into placing accumulators and spread betting.

Throw yourself into the handball world – watching as many handball games as possible can give you a greater insight into the sport. Following handball news is one thing but enhancing your own handball knowledge is more important.

Handball betting strategy is important to success, just as it is in every sport. With the right research and a bit of luck, you could become a handball betting expert.

With daily handball betting odds available on most major leagues, it is important to find a market that works for you.

If you are looking to bet on handball, it is well worth looking at the various handball betting markets that are widely available on most matches.

As well as the traditional outright winner markets, these are just a few of the most popular handball betting markets:

  • Half-Time/Full-Time

  • Match Odds

  • Over/Under Goals

  • Handicap

  • Accumulators

Betting on handball has never been easier and this is a great time to get involved in one of the most exciting and entertaining sports on the planet.

With handball being introduced in more schools across the United Kingdom, it might be a matter of time until Team Great Britain are regarded as one of the top handball nations in the world.

According to the latest figures, Paris SG are the wealthiest handball team on the planet and they are certainly a team to follow in handball betting odds.

It doesn’t correlate to unprecedented success though as, just like the soccer team, Paris SG are yet to win the handball Champions League.

Punters can find today’s handball tips on the biggest matches around the world. Handball is still very much a European sport but the likes of Brazil and Argentina have started to make strides on the international stage.

Handball News

One of our main pieces of advice is to find a reliable handball news website. Injuries can have an adverse impact in sport and keeping up to date with breaking news is a must.

Furthermore, you can keep an eye on any handball odds trends. The best handball teams on the planet will be well favoured in the betting but monitoring handball oddschecker moves can give you an edge.

https://www.888sport.com/blog/football-prediction

As is the case with most sports betting, we strongly recommend familiarising yourself with the rules and regulations before placing a bet on handball.

It is a fairly simple sport to get to grips with though so it shouldn’t take too long to master – whether you’re a sports betting expert or a novice.

Tips on handball are different to football betting tips. While most sport fans could probably give a tip on a big football match, handball requires a specialist knowledge of the sport.

Handball Statistics For Tips

There are a plethora of statistics available to punters who wish to learn more about betting on handball. These could be the difference between success and failure when it comes to handball betting.

Analysing a team’s form is crucial – but you can go into more detail than that. Some teams have a much stronger home record than on the road and you can often find favourable odds on handball due to this.

Meanwhile, you may see a specific player is going through a purple patch and studying the statistics can help you to find the best daily handball tips on upcoming matches.

Handball statistics websites are few and far between but the best ones are well worth a look ahead of your next handball bet. You can find handball tipsters on social media but be sure to do your own research before taking any handball betting tips as gospel.

*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

August 17, 2020
Betting tips

By Alex McMahon

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Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible. 
 

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Horse Racing Preview: York Ebor Meeting 2020

The Ebor Festival is a four-day racing festival that takes place this week at York Racecourse (Weds 19th August – Saturday 22nd August). It was first established in 1843 with the inaugural running of the Ebor Handicap.

Originally a 3-day race meeting, but now a 4-day one, the Ebor Festival features the Juddmonte International, the Yorkshire Oaks, Nunthorpe Stakes and of course the Ebor Handicap itself.

All of the races attract plenty of betting interest from the general public, especially on the online betting platforms. Here is what you can expect to see on each day of the York Ebor meeting:

DAY 1 - JUDDMONTE DAY (WEDNESDAY)

Coronation Cup and Coral-Eclipse winner Ghaiyyath is understandably all the rage for the Juddmonte International and it will require a herculean effort from one of his rivals to lower his colours on the opening day.

Charlie Appleby openly admits that Ghaiyyath is the best middle-distance horse he has trained, and barring accidents, he looks like one of the bankers of the week.

Haydock scorer Rhythm Master can be a major force in the Acomb Stakes, while Highland Chief is a decent each-way pick in the Great Voltigeur.

DAY 2 - YORKSHIRE OAKS DAY (THURSDAY)

  • 1.45 pm Lowther Stakes

  • 2.15 pm Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sales

  • 2.45 pm Clipper Logistics Stakes

  • 3.15 pm Darley Yorkshire Oaks (British Champion Series)

  • 3.45 pm British EBF and Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes

  • 4.20 pm EBF Stallions Nursery Handicap

  • 4.50 pm British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Stakes

As the Thompson Twins will testify, you need Love on your side when it comes to having a wager on the Yorkshire Oaks, and the dual Classic heroine is going to take some stopping in Thursday’s feature race. Naturally she’s very short in the horse racing odds.

Following her impressive victory in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, Aidan O'Brien's filly was even more dominant in the Oaks at Epsom and she is now a leading contender for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October.

O'Brien has also entered his Oaks runner-up Ennistymon, as well as the multiple Group One winner Magical. What are the odds on an O’Brien 1-2-3? 

Royal Ascot scorer Blue Mist can play a leading role in the Clipper Logistics Stakes, while Kevin Ryan’s Hala Hala Hala is an interesting runner in the Lowther.

DAY 3 - NUNTHORPE DAY (FRIDAY)

  • 1.45 pm Sky Bet Stakes

  • 2.15 pm Lonsdale Cup (British Champions Series)

  • 2.45 pm Gimcrack Stakes

  • 3.15 pm Nunthorpe Stakes (British Champions Series)

  • 3.45 pm EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes

  • 4.20 pm EBF Fillies' Stakes

  • 4.50 pm Sky Bet Mile

Last year’s hero Battaash heads the betting in a field of ten for the five furlong dash- the Nunthorpe, one of the most eagerly awaited races of the week.

Battaash broke the track record for five furlongs on the Knavesmire 12 months ago and he finally got that dreaded York monkey off his back on his third attempt.

The six-year-old gelding comes to York on the back of demolishing his own best time at Glorious Goodwood in the King George Stakes, a race he has won four years on the trot.

The last time a three-year-old has been victorious in the Nunthorpe Stakes was back in 2011 (Margot Did), but young gun Art Power is certainly a serious contender this year.

Tim Easterby's sprinter has progressed through the handicap ranks, and then made his breakthrough at Group level last time out in the Lacken Stakes at Naas.

The way he brushed aside the useful Millisle by two and a half lengths made many people sit up and pay attention.

Two-year-old winners of the Nunthorpe are even rarer birds, but American trainer Wesley Ward believes that his Golden Pal can put in a Kingsgate Native-like performance and blitz them all away down the Knavesmire.

A narrow defeat to The Lir Jet in the Norfolk Stakes, plus a massive 24lb pull in the weights over Battaash, tell us that the US-raider cannot be underestimated.

Her Majesty The Queen can taste success with her horse Tactical in the Gimcrack Stakes, while Dashing Willoughby can outstay his rivals in the Lonsdale Cup.

DAY 4 - EBOR DAY (SATURDAY)

  • 1.50 pm Strensall Stakes

  • 2.25 pm Melrose Stakes

  • 3.00 pm City of York Stakes

  • 3.40 pm The Ebor Handicap

  • 4.10 pm Julia Graves Roses Stakes

  • 4.40 pm Sky Bet Stakes

  • 5.10 pm Apprentice Stakes

The Ebor, a 1m 6f handicap for horses aged four or more, is the highlight on the final day of the meeting and it is always a very popular betting heat with punters given the size of the field every year.

Trainer Alan King earmarked this race as far back as October last year for his gelding Trueshan, after he beat Hamish at Newbury.

Up to now it’s been so far, so good, for the four-year-old and he showed he is still a horse on the up when he outstayed his rivals in the Listed Tapster Stakes at Haydock.

However, he is a pretty ground dependent horse and you should probably give him a big swerve if the weather conditions for Saturday are predicted to be dry.

Roger Varian’s Fujaira Prince made light work of dispatching a decent enough field in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot and has to be a live contender once more in the Ebor. Andrea Atzeni teams up with him again and at this stage, he has to be on any shortlist.

David O’Meara is no stranger to a winner or two on the Knavesmire and his Eagles By Day may just be the key piece in the Ebor Puzzle.

Owned by York Races sponsors Clipper Logistics, the four-year-old is coming into his own in these staying races.

He landed the John Smith’s Silver Stakes at York last month before finishing just over five lengths behind Stradivarius in the Goodwood Cup. At this stage in proceedings Eagles By Day is one of our long range Ebor Festival tips.

Ebor Tips At 888sport

If you are looking for horse racing tips from York this week, then look no further than this blog. We will publish our daily betting tips here EVERY single day during The Ebor Festival.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo*

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 16th August 2020

August 16, 2020
Horse Racing

By Steve Mullington

Steve Mullington
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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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    Leeds United Transfers News: Ex-Leeds Forward Urges Club To Sign Ollie Watkins

    Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has suggested that Leeds should make Brentford forward Ollie Watkins their top transfer target this summer.

    Ahead of their return to the Premier League, Leeds are in dire need of attacking players in order to challenge Patrick Bamford’s goal scoring exploits.

    Watkins scored 26 goals in 49 appearances last season and is widely regarded as one of the top prospects outside the Premier League.

    Speaking to the Football Insider, Whelan revealed: “When you look at his age, his attributes and the season that he has had, anywhere in and around the £18 million region would be a good price.

    “He is a really, really special player. He has been converted from a winger into a centre-forward and that is not easy to do.

    “That is a difficult task because you need a different skill set but he can hold the ball, he has pace, strength and is clinical in front of goal.”

    The Athletic recently confirmed that the 24-year-old’s contract with Brentford does indeed contain a buy-out clause that can be triggered for £18 million.

    Given the hype surrounding Watkins, that figure could be an absolute steal though Leeds may need to fend off interest from Crystal Palace and Southampton.

    Matty Longstaff Would Be Superb Signing

    The Leeds United transfers news wagon keeps on rolling and former Newcastle United star Matty Longstaff is the latest player to be linked with a switch to Elland Road.

    Reports from earlier this month suggested that the Yorkshire club were considering a move but nothing materialised at the time – however the wheels of motion are now in place.

    According to The Chronicle, Newcastle are still hopeful of coming to an agreement with the 20-year-old midfielder though Longstaff is demanding a significant increase in wages.

    Leeds, along with Serie A outfit Udinese, are interested in acquiring Longstaff this summer but the decision will ultimately be down to the midfielder.

    Harry Wilson Would Be Great Fit At Elland Road

    Former Premier League striker Darren Bent has suggested that Marcelo Bielsa should move for Harry Wilson ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.

    Having spent last season on loan at AFC Bournemouth, the Liverpool star could be deemed surplus at Anfield if Leeds can match their £15 million price tag.

    Bent knows what it takes to succeed in England’s top flight and stated that “Leeds could be the perfect landing spot” for the 23-year-old should he leave Liverpool this summer.

    *Credit for the main photo belongs to Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo*

    August 15, 2020
    News

    By Alex McMahon

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    Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

    He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

    As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible. 
     

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    Leeds United Transfers News: Leeds Will Face Stiff Competition For Emi Martinez’s Signature

    Leeds United may miss out on Arsenal goalkeeper Emi Martinez this summer after the Gunners shot stopper revealed that 10 clubs have enquired about his services.

    Martinez was excellent in the absence of Arsenal number one Bernd Leno in the second half of last season, helping the club to FA Cup glory.

    Having spent 10 years at the Emirates Stadium, Martinez has never been given a fair run in the side and, with Leno expected to return to his starting role, he has decided to consider a move elsewhere.

    Speaking to The Sun, Martinez said: “I am in the sights of 10 teams in Europe. But I can’t say who those clubs are, because it’s nothing concrete.”

    “I still do not have the clear situation with Arsenal, when I have it when I return I will make the best decision for my career.”

    Leeds have been linked with the Gunners goalkeeper for some time now but Martinez has indicated that he would prefer a switch to La Liga.

    Only time will tell but this Leeds United transfer rumour may not have the legs to go the distance – barring a football betting miracle.

    Barcelona To Consider Bielsa After UCL Exit?

    Tony Cascarino has claimed that Barcelona should make Marcelo Bielsa their new manager after the La Liga side crashed out of the Champions League on Friday night.

    Having suffered an embarrassing 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich, Quique Setien’s position at Camp Nou is untenable and Barca are rumoured to be on the lookout for his replacement.

    Bielsa has been linked with the Barcelona job in the past and his close relationship with fellow Argentinian Lionel Messi will do his status no harm whatsoever with the Camp Nou hierarchy.

    Speaking on TalkSport, Cascarino stated: “If you said to me tomorrow, ‘who would I want to take?’ Sorry Leeds fans, but I would be after Bielsa every day of the week.

    “I could see it working. He’s all about that Barcelona type of football, the way they play, that hunger, the emphasis on young players.

    “Barcelona can attract the very best players in the world and, if they could do that, I’d want a manager of his ilk.”

    Leeds Join Chase For 22-year-old Eberechi Eze

    According to reports, Leeds United director of football Victor Orta has named Queens Park Rangers midfielder Eberechi Eze as a summer transfer target.

    Eze has drawn interest after a superb 2019/20 Championship campaign, with the 22-year-old notching 14 goals and eight assists.

    With rumours suggesting that Eze is already on England manager Gareth Southgate’s radar, a move to the Premier League could be on the cards.

    *Credit for the main photo belongs to Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP Photo*

    August 15, 2020
    News

    By Alex McMahon

    Alex McMahon Sport
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    Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

    He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

    As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible. 
     

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    Best Premier League Home Kits: Who Has The Best EPL Shirt? (2021)

    With a shorter gap between seasons than usual, Premier League kits have been coming out thick and fast. Teams finished the 2019/20 campaign in their 2020/21 attire in some cases.

    This time of year is usually the start of the next season. In 2020, the Premier League news in August is kits releases and transfer rumours.

    Premier League Kits: Ranked (2021)

    1. Liverpool

    2. Arsenal

    3. Southampton

    4. Wolverhampton Wanderers

    5. Tottenham Hotspur

    6. Everton

    7. Brighton & Hove Albion

    8. West Ham United

    9. Sheffield United

    10. Crystal Palace

    11. Leicester City

    12. Chelsea

    13. Aston Villa

    14. Newcastle United

    15. Manchester City

    16. West Bromwich Albion

    17. Manchester United

    *Leeds, Burnley and Fulham hadn’t released their kits at the time of writing*

    It’s not just online betting that we do at 888sport.

    As we await the start of next season, as fans scour the internet for transfer updates, we have taken a look at the home Premier League kits released for the 2020-21 season – they are ranked below.

    1) Liverpool

    A kit worthy of the Premier League champions. Others in this ranking will be criticised for their simplicity, but it works nicely for this Liverpool jersey.

    The touch of colour around the collar and sleeves elevates it from boring to brilliant. They’re going to feature regularly in Premier League predictions next season and look good while doing so.

    2) Arsenal

    After nailing the throwback banana away shirt for last season, Adidas have been bold again for this year’s home kit. The pattern is eye-catching without going overboard.

    Adding ‘Fly Better’ to the Emirates sponsor is the main criticism of this one, but that’s not down to the manufacturers. Hopes are high in the red half of north London – will they return to the top four in this cracker?

    3) Southampton

    Who doesn’t love a sash? Southampton have veered away from their usual stripes for a sash this year, a rare sighting in the world of Premier League shirts.

    It isn’t the best sashed kit we’ve ever seen, but having something a bit different earns bonus points here and earns third place.

    4) Wolverhampton Wanderers

    Unsure about the sleeves, and once again the sponsor is intrusive, but this Wolves kit is above average by Premier League standards.

    Wolves have become a prominent football betting team in recent seasons and will be eyeing up a top six spot without the burden of Europa League football in 2020-21.

    5) Tottenham Hotspur

    This Spurs kit has split opinion. The collar feels like it belongs on a concept rather than an actual Premier League shirt, and the angled line on the sleeve will not be to everyone’s taste.

    Once again, though, Nike have at least tried something here. Kits that divide opinion are better than the bland stuff we so often get in the Premier League.

    6) Everton

    Hummel always deliver. It’s not as outlandish as some others here, but the patterned blue just works. The Hummel logo along the shoulders always adds something.

    Cazoo, a company that sells used cars, could go down as one of the best Premier League sponsors. The bold white text enhances the shirt. Everton won’t be making much noise in Premier League Odds, but this shirt will still be a popular one.

    7) Brighton & Hove Albion

    The white pinstripes on the blue looks smart, and the polo-shirt style collar is a nice change up.

    As is often the case with a striped shirt, though, the way they fit around the sponsor looks clumsy. The gold Nike swoosh and trim down the sides is a nice touch.

    8) West Ham United

    Sometimes sticking to the basics works. West Ham will be happy if they’re mid-table next season, just as they are in these Premier League kit rankings.

    It’s nothing special. Umbro played it safe.

    9) Sheffield United

    This was a hard one to rank. The way the stripes stop as they near the shoulders is a bit odd.

    The red and black around the sleeves looks really good, and the wide black collar saves the Adidas shoulder stripes from looking too out of place.

    10) Crystal Palace

    Going for wide stripes that stop when they reach the club badge, Puma have done a decent job with Palace’s kit.

    Like the Eagles on the pitch, this is okay and nothing more.

    11) Leicester City

    The next three are all bland. Leicester’s shirt is just a standard, template-ish Adidas effort.

    The gold and white bands around the sleeve make it a little more interesting, which is about all it has going for it.

    12) Chelsea

    The away kit is a belter, but Chelsea’s home kit is ordinary. The pattern is too subtle to be noticeable.

    Their new sponsorship deal with Three mobile has already been taken advantage of on social media – it’s one of the better sponsors in the Premier League at the moment.

    13) Aston Villa

    Kappa have produced some great kits. Unfortunately for Aston Villa, this is not one of them.

    It’s not ugly, but it’s not exciting either. It’s just the sort of default kit you would expect for Villa. There’s nothing special, nothing memorable, about this one.

    14) Newcastle United

    Pretty standard from Puma, this. Newcastle’s iconic black and white stripes are rarely ugly, but with a big, bright blue sponsor, and uninventive design, this is uninspiring.

    Luckily the football of Allan Saint-Maximin will brighten up their matches.

    15) Manchester City

    They might be among the favourites in our outright winner odds, but Manchester City’s home kit leaves plenty to be desired.

    Perhaps the mosaic pattern will grow on people. The fact the back of the shirt doesn’t have the pattern doesn’t help its appeal.

    16) West Bromwich Albion

    While kits with a twist have been applauded, this one just doesn’t work. West Brom’s traditional stripes have been replaced with what appears to be a barcode.

    The Ideal Boilers sponsorship is pretty meh, though at least it provokes memories of the famous mascot.

    17) Manchester United

    Their football might be beautiful, but their shirts certainly aren’t. There are school bus vibes with this Manchester United shirt. The pattern is ambitious from Adidas but ultimately rubbish.

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will hope his team surge in top four betting – it will need to be a spectacular season to make up for this kit. The overbearing Chevrolet logo deserves a mention, too, rivalling Newcastle for the worst front sponsor in the league.

    *Credit for the main photo belongs to Rui Vieira / AP Photo*

     

    FIRST PUBLISHED: 15th August 2020

    December 30, 2020
    Premier League
    Body

    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.

    Sam Cox

    Champions League: Would A European Super League Work?

    The concept of a European Super League is not a new one. It is, perhaps, becoming more likely.

    As recently as 2018, leaked documents suggested a more clearcut plan for a Super League than ever before. The idea has been floated in the past, but this gave a proper sighting of what Europe’s top clubs have in mind.

    A European Super League would take a similar shape to domestic leagues, while ruining them. The top 18 or 20 teams in Europe, those who draw the greatest television audiences, would play each other in a league season.

    European Super League: Talking Points

    1. High Quality Football

    2. Collateral Damage

    3. Revenue Lures Owners

    4. Trial In Lisbon?

    European competitions, as a result, would lose relevance and the domestic leagues would take a potentially fatal hit.

    Champions League betting may no longer be a thing. Europe’s elite would be in their own closed-door playground away from the riff-raff of the slightly less wealthy.

    It is about money. There will be some who want to paint a different picture, but it is misleading to claim this is about anything other than wealth.

    It’s no surprise the owners want more revenue, and maybe the richest men involved will get they want. What is telling, though, is how managers have responded. Both Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have spoken out against a potential Super League.

    High Quality Football

    The ultra-cynical could argue that Klopp and Guardiola are happy playing in domestic leagues because it’s easier to win. That’s a particularly mean-spirited evaluation.

    Guardiola’s comments were more nuanced than a crude thumbs down – he spoke of how it will damage the leagues, how removing the biggest sides will hurt everyone else.

    Perhaps the only feasible upside to a European Super League would be the uptick in quality. Fewer matches seeing Manchester City play a mid-table Premier League team off the pitch is fine.

    The Champions League is fun – it’s understandable if some want more of a good thing.

    The novelty is part of the excitement of the Champions League. Seeing City play PSG every few weeks will quickly take the shine off it, and while the gap in quality might be smaller, the weaker teams in the Super League will still be far inferior to the best.

    Forcing all of the best players in the world into a Super League, trying to concentrate the talent, should increase the quality of the matches, but how quickly would that become repetitive without local rivalries, without cup competitions, without European qualification and relegation?

    The teams featuring in Champions League predictions playing each other every week sounds better than the reality might be.

    Collateral Damage

    This would not be an isolated endeavour, either. Such a breakaway from the biggest clubs would harm all the teams they leave behind.

    La Liga without Barcelona and Real Madrid, and possibly Atletico too, would not survive in its current form. With the money concentrated greater still at the top clubs, the others will struggle to survive.

    Talk of Champions League restructure risks increasing the gap between the richest and the rest, but a Super League would be much worse.

    The impact would go beyond the top flight teams, too. Revenue sharing is insufficient at the moment, but the cash injection into domestic football would crumble.

    For instance, the financial reward for promotion from the Championship would plummet, and the parachute payments would shrink markedly.

    If the wealthiest, most marketable teams leave even the flawed notion of their money helping the rest of the teams around them vanishes. It would see the teams outside the Super League fade quickly, unable to compete.

    Options to bet on football could soon disappear. Football around Europe would not be the same, and clubs could go out of business.

    Revenue Lures Owners

    Whether a European Super League will work depends largely on the owners.

    For all the opposition of former players and managers, the decisions will be made by those at the very top. If enough owners and boards are keen on it, it’s likely to happen.

    The figures are stark. Each club, per the leaked documents, could land nearly half a billion pounds per season. That’s five times the amount that Champions League winners receive from UEFA.

    To lean into cliché: Money Talks. Football is one of the world’s best examples of this. Teams with enough money can attract players. If wealth decides the future of football, a Super League is seemingly inevitable.

    The most obvious way for this not to happen would be a boycott. Owners and directors could lose momentum for this ambitious, unpopular project if people like Guardiola and Klopp said they would not be involved.

    The draw of a Super League is much less if the best managers and top players turn it down. That would, of course, mean those players and managers are risking a loss of earnings.

    A player opting out of the Super League is unlikely to land a comparable contract elsewhere. Could this be where the people who make the sport so successful draw the line? Would Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland reject a Super League?

    Trial In Lisbon?

    The Champions League Lisbon tournament has potentially given a taster of what a Super League would look like.

    An alternate reality of superstars playing each other in a fabricated environment might be exciting in these unique circumstances, but is it what players and managers really want?

    Of course, plans for a Super League will involve fans, but the atmosphere will be different. Away fans will be rarer – a European away day isn’t the same when it’s for a routine league fixture, travelling to a city your team play in often.

    Would European Super League work
    Photo credit: Miguel Morenatti / AP Photo

    There are so many reasons that a European Super League is terrible. High-profile people have already spoken against it.

    It is an idea centred on making more money for the ultra-rich. Owners of the top clubs have little interest in closing the gap between football’s haves and have-nots.

    Barring significant opposition from the real stars of the show, the Super League seems like a sadly inevitable progression.

    *Credit for the main photo belongs to Kerstin Joensson / AP Photo*

     

    April 19, 2021
    Champions League
    Body

    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.

    Sam Cox
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