Tottenham have become so associated with snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in recent years, it has given rise to a term. Spursy.

When a team fails to fulfil their potential for one reason or another it is viewed as ‘Spursy’ behaviour. Naturally it follows that when Tottenham do this it is considered very ‘Spursy’ indeed.

Examples of this supposed phenomenon are numerous but to highlight just one, in the early spring of 2019, the North London giants went to Stamford Bridge and succumbed to a 2-0 loss, their second defeat in a matter of days.

Finding themselves now nine points behind league leaders Liverpool, and suddenly outsiders in the Premier League title odds, the home fans delighted in evoking their rival’s late collapse in 2015/16 that led to Leicester’s fairy tale success. 

“It’s happened again,” they noisily crowed as one. “Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happened again.”

Of course we cannot expect a chant from the terraces to include a full context of any given situation so let’s put that right.

In Mauricio Pochettino’s final season with the club, he guided them to a top four finish and all while reaching a Champions League final. With a squad that cost substantially more, Chelsea eventually pipped Spurs to third place by a single, solitary point. 

Chelsea didn’t reach a Champions League final that year. They weren’t even in the competition.

Add in a deep run in the League Cup and unquestionably it amounted to a decent, successful campaign for Spurs, especially when their back-story is acknowledged. 

For the large part of 2018/19, Tottenham played their home games at Wembley, due to their new stadium being completed and the exorbitant cost of that venture additionally impacted on Pochettino’s recruitment, or lack of.

That summer, Spurs were the only club across Europe’s big five leagues not to make a single transfer.

For the record, Chelsea bolstered their squad that season to the tune of £182m, bringing in Kepa Arrizabalaga, the then most expensive keeper in the world, and furnishing their midfield with Jorginho, Kovocic and the US superstar Christian Pulisic. 

A single, solitary point.

Talking of points, it should be quite clear by now what kind of one is being made here, and to extend on it let’s recount that ‘collapse’ in 2016 and the failure it was widely believed to be.

Cesc Fabregas on the title race between Leicester & Tottenham. pic.twitter.com/j3Kg2qYmpH

— Sky Sports Retro (@SkySportsRetro) September 17, 2022

Trailing Leicester for the entirety of the season, Spurs managed to get close enough to make a title race out of proceedings only to win just two of their last seven games. How very Spursy, right?

But where were Manchester City during this period? Or Liverpool, or Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United? Miles off, that’s where. Hopelessly adrift and never in the running.

In the five years leading up to that campaign, Tottenham spent a full third less than Liverpool and a quarter of a billion less than Chelsea, City or United, this despite being in receipt of a £80m windfall from selling Gareth Bale. 

Yet it was down to them to chase Leicester down, and by putting themselves in the spotlight for doing so, only them who got flak for falling short. In terms or perception, and reputation, Spurs sure got a raw deal in 2016. 

Furthermore, it can be argued that Tottenham’s reputation as a whole, for being persistent under-achievers, is unjust and ill-founded. 

Since reviving themselves from a period of mid-table obscurity under Harry Redknapp around 2010, a club that for an awfully long time were known as a ‘cup team’ have only once failed to finish outside of the top six.

That’s the same as Chelsea and Manchester United. Arsenal have done so twice. 

Moreover, their average league placing in those 13 years is 4.4. In the 18 years prior to that, stretching back to the Premier League’s forming, it was 10.1.

When compared to both their peers and their former selves therefore, the modern-day Tottenham can more than hold their heads up high with a sustained consistency that genuinely impresses.

Indeed, Manchester City aside, every other big club have endured an annus horribilis in the past decade, a season where everything unravels and they plummet out of contention. But Spurs haven’t.

Not even when they veer into crisis; not even when their flailing boss is favourite in the next Premier League manager to be sacked odds and the squad is nearly at the point of mutiny. They remain competitive and in contention. 

There is a lot to be said for that.

📅 Manchester City 4-3 Tottenham, #OTD in 2019:

⏰⚽️0⃣4⃣ Sterling
⏰⚽️0⃣7⃣ Son
⏰⚽️1⃣0⃣ Son
⏰⚽️1⃣1⃣ Bernardo Silva
⏰⚽️2⃣1⃣ Sterling
⏰⚽️5⃣9⃣ Agüero
⏰⚽️7⃣3⃣ Llorente #UCL pic.twitter.com/YbetYcjqk7

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 17, 2021

It almost goes without saying that an absence of silverware is the elephant in this particular room. Tottenham last won the league in 1961 and last won any honour in 2008.

But anyone who claims Spurs are under-achievers, who make cheap jibes about their ‘Spursy’ ways, have it all wrong. This is a club that has been punching its weight for some considerable time.

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

Just a few short years after his departure to Celtic, it was already an established trope that Manchester United were desperately in need of a ‘Roy Keane figure’ in the middle of the park.

By the time Casemiro joined last August, for a fee reportedly worth £70m, including add-ons, it had become one of the most enduring cliches in British football.

In between the Irishman’s reign and the arrival of the multiple Champions League-winning Brazilian, the Red Devils turned to an array of midfielders to boss the Old Trafford centre-circle, usually to little avail.

As the club flailed and floundered post-Ferguson, the sight of Marouane Fellaini churning up the turf gave their struggles a comedic edge. In later years Fred and Scott McTominay forged a partnership that was less than the sum of its parts.

And throughout this time, United lost their fear factor and lost too often at home, those two things not entirely being unrelated.

In 2020/21, under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United lost six times all season, with all six defeats suffered on familiar soil, one of which was an absolute pasting courtesy of Tottenham.

At a ground that was once mythicised as a ‘Theatre of Dreams’; a ground that used to reduce opponent’s legs to jelly and have managers set their sides up as a 5-4-1, it was now routine for visiting teams to impose themselves, stamping their authority on proceedings and nowhere was this more shocking to see than in midfield, an area that used to see Keane – along with Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes – rule the roost for many a year.

Casemiro has unquestionably changed all of this, if not single-handedly then certainly doing more than most in helping the Reds reclaim a status and stature that appeared to be long gone.

From making his debut at Southampton in late-August, United have lost only once across all competitions at home while in a broader context his influence and importance to Erik Ten Hag’s nascent creation is undeniable in a statistical sense. 

In the 20 league games in which he’s featured, United have averaged 1.9 points-per-90. In the seven he’s missed, that notably dips to 1.2.

Yet it is too simplistic to suggest that a player who may well become one of the best midfielders in Premier League history has been responsible for adding bite into United’s engine-room, along with displaying leadership qualities that was previously sorely lacking. 

Where United have also fallen short in recent years is providing creativity from deep, with passes from ‘McFred’ and company far too predictable and too often astray. 

Here, the former Real Madrid man has really come into his own, blessed with that rare ability to conjure up a through-ball even if deprived of space or time. 

Within the United set-up only keeper David De Gea has contributed more accurate long balls than the 31-year-old this term, his class regularly setting Marcus Rashford free and altering the live betting odds in a flash.

Factor in too his presence, not to mention a vast wealth of experience of playing at the very highest level, and Casemiro is looking like a steal at £70m.

He has transformed the mentality, application, and regard of a major club that was recently on its knees. That is priceless.

Assuming the players are fit and available 14 months from now – and assuming of course that the Three Lions successfully qualify - it is entirely possible to predict the bulk of Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad.

By forging a clear identity in recent years the manager has ensured that, to extent, it picks itself

There is always one player though who stands out in the season leading up to a major tournament, who makes themselves impossible to omit.

These five have every chance of being that player who gatecrashes the party. 

Morgan Gibbs-White

The 23-year-old has shone in an otherwise tumultuous season for newly-promoted Nottingham Forest, carving out five assists and averaging two key passes per 90. 

At £42.5m the former Wolves schemer was the most expensive of Forest’s multitude of summer signings but Steve Cooper wanted him badly, recognizing from their time working together at England youth levels what a serious talent he is.

This season he is proving that to everyone else.

Should the player continue to be instrumental in the top-flight he can very conceivably jump the queue and provide international cover for the likes of Jude Bellingham.

 Solly March

A continuation of excellence is also needed from the Brighton winger whose elevation this term feels so pronounced and surprising it could be dismissed as an outlier.

A reliable performer for so many years at the Amex, March has become a real favourite of the football betting online community for his ability to conjure up a goal or assist, 13 all told with several games still to play.

Frankly, there has not been a more consistent and impactful wide-man in the Premier League post-Qatar and should that bleed into 2023/24 then international recognition awaits for a 28-year-old who probably felt his moment had passed.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis

Highly-rated at Manchester City, the youngster was loaned out to Burnley last summer to gain invaluable experience in the Championship. He has passed each test with flying colours. 

A crucial factor in the Clarets gaining promotion, Harwood-Bellis’ ball-playing attributes from the back allies perfectly with Vincent Kompany’s ethos and there is nothing stopping him from fully realizing his potential bar an enforced return to his parent club, whereupon he will no doubt struggle to get first-team action. 

Should Burnley find the ways and means to secure the 21-year-old he might well be fast-tracked into the Three Lions set-up, where top-class centre-backs are hardly abundant.

Folarin Balogun 

An uninspiring loan move to Middlesbrough last year didn’t bode well for the Arsenal prospect but a subsequent temporary spell at Reims has seen him explode, with 18 goals seeing him out-score everyone in Ligue 1 but for Kylian Mbappe. 

Regularly featuring in our European football tips, Balogun has proven on the continent that he can be a prolific presence at the highest levels.

Now comes the harder part of heading back to Arsenal and proving himself all over again.

If the 21-year-old is successful in this venture, then challenging Ivan Toney and co for an England spot is the natural next step. 

James McAtee 

“They’re all David Silva clones.”

That was Gary Neville on commentary, after seeing McAtee come on for Manchester City against Everton late in 2021, the youngster’s ball retention and movement reminiscent of the Spanish maestro. 

A loan move to Sheffield United was designed to quicken McAtee’s development and that it surely has, with the attacking midfielder really impressing in the Championship. A terrific solo goal against Blackpool perhaps being the highlight.

Unquestionably, McAtee’s future includes an England cap or many, but the timescale is hazy right now. Where he ends up next season will inform that greatly.

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

Over Easter weekend, and with seven games to spare, Burnley secured an immediate return to the Premier League having constructed a campaign so imperious and impressive it has led some to claim they have been one of the best teams to ever compete in a second tier. 

That is a debate for another time but certainly there is no questioning their dominance and consistency, losing only twice all season and – to date – out-scoring their nearest rival Sheffield United by a full 18 goals.

No side have conceded fewer times. No side has come close to matching them for well-drilled verve or attacking intent. From the get-go, the Clarets have bossed the Championship betting and for very good reason. They have been a class above. 

It has been a model of excellence overseen by Vincent Kompany who arrived at Turf Moor last June to mixed reviews and raised eyebrows. 

At Anderlecht the former Manchester City colossus had hardly pulled up trees, leading the Belgian side to consecutive top four finishes but frankly, given the club’s stature, that was to be expected. 

Furthermore, the style of football that Kompany favours – a patient, possession-based approach that has understandably drawn comparisons to what is adhered to by his manager and mentor at City, Pep Guardiola – felt like an ill-fit for a club that had been comprehensively Sean Dyched over a period of ten years. 

Last season, as Burnley finally succumbed to gravity after regularly finding themselves favourites in the Premier League relegation betting, they had an overall possession average of 41.3% as they relied more and more on direct forays and physical fare.

Could a fairly inexperienced and unproven coach implement a seismic culture change at an institution that appeared to be so set in its ways? That alone felt like one hell of a challenge.

What helped Kompany was ironically a situation that on paper looked like a big problem as relegation prompted a summer-long exodus of established stars. 

In total 13 senior players departed and with funds limited despite making £67.3m in sales, the incoming gaffer turned to the loans market and affordable players from Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League to craft what was essentially a new team from scratch.

Leaning on his old contacts at the Etihad, Arijanet Muric and Taylor Harwood-Bellis were brought in, giving Kompany a ball-playing keeper and a ball-playing centre-back to form a foundation for his plans. 

Alongside Harwood-Bellis, fellow loanee Jordan Beyer has been a rock and to their left Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen a revelation.

Wingers Manuel Benson, Anass Zaroury and Nathan Tella meanwhile have all been integral and brilliant, the latter borrowed from Southampton, the other two recruited for just £6.5m combined. 

With such an influx of youngsters under his spell, Kompany now had the legs to put in the hard yards, endless running being a crucial element of his blueprint. He also now had players willing to buy in wholly to his philosophy.

Vincent Kompany’s first season in charge for Burnley: 25W 12D 2L

Promoted to the Premier League…and there are still seven games left to play 😱👏 pic.twitter.com/dFEhDL3WW1

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) April 7, 2023

Setting them up as a 4-2-3-1 and training them twice a day, sometimes until seven in the evening, the real work could begin.

What Burnley have produced this season has been little short of breath-taking, artfully deconstructing opponents on a weekly basis and winning plaudits by the bucketful.

“That team could easily play in the Premier League now.” That’s what a dazzled Neil Warnock said in February after his Huddersfield side lost to them 3-0. Elsewhere, Clarets fans have widely acclaimed their gaffer a genius. 

And now they have confirmed their top-flight status a conversation can be had about what we can expect from Kompany’s Clarets and moreover, to what extent they’ll prosper.

Will they be a Norwich, superb in the Championship, but a punchbag among the elite? Or will they do a Brentford, continuing their development and evolving into a formidable outfit who do considerably more than hold their own?

It’s a conjecture that leads us only to negatives but that’s only because the many positives have been there for all to see this season. Burnley pass and probe in a manner that will suit the Premier League and they will thrive in that regard.

Furthermore, they are not a high-risk-high-reward collective, pressing ferociously from the front, as they’ve been portrayed by some. 

Instead, they reserve their pressing for the middle-third, happy to stand off and keep their shape when sides have the ball in their own half. Again, this will serve them well. All the same, tweaks will for sure have to be made. 

This term they have averaged 63% possession and they cannot expect the same next August against much better opponents.

That means a successful deployment of a low block is paramount, an option that would have definitely helped when Burnley lost to both Manchester giants in the cups this season. 

And prior to executing that, and enjoying their Premier League adventure next year, the forthcoming transfer window will be key. 

We all watched spellbound last summer as Nottingham Forest embarked on a crazy recruitment drive to compensate for losing so many of their loan stars.

 

 

 

 

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With the real risk of the same predicament occurring at Turf Moor a more sensible approach must be applied, or else disrupt the clear identity that Kompany has already forged.

Beyond these details however, it is exciting times in this historic enclave of Lancashire. They’re heading back to the top with a fantastically put-together team and very possibly a genius at the helm. The Premier League will be lucky to have them.

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

A reasonable argument can be made that residing in the Premier League is glory enough, it being one of the most exclusive, lucrative and glamorous institutions in world sport.

To compete among the elite of English football is a substantial achievement for any club, not least a club such as Bournemouth who only 15 years ago very nearly went to the wall as they spiralled down into League Two.

Factoring in also their modest resources and the Cherries’ sustained stint in the top-flight, across six of the last eight seasons, equates to a minor miracle.

We take it for granted through familiarity. We really shouldn’t.

Then there’s Brentford who, under Thomas Frank and courtesy of some outstanding work done behind the scenes, gained entry to the highest echelon for the first time in 74 years and just two years later find themselves featuring in the Premier League top four odds for much of 2022/23. 

Bees fans are presently enjoying their best life, feeling inordinate pride at witnessing their side take on, and better, football’s aristocracy.

But of course, though these are bona fide success stories there is another kind of success, one not aligned to status or league standings.

Instead it is a success that propels the game forward, giving each and every one of us hope, hope that when realised become memories that are treasured forever. 

It is cups won. Days out at Wembley. Filling every back page of newspapers with blown-up photographs of our team drenched in club-coloured confetti. 

Sadly, for Brentford, formed in 1889, these special days have thus far eluded them with only defunct or highly obscure trophies on their honours roll.

There’s the Ealing Hospital Cup, attained in 1910. They are the three time winners of the London Challenge Cup. Bizarrely, on their Wikipedia page, there is even acknowledgement of a Middlesex Junior Cup triumph a few years into their existence.

Bournemouth too have not a single FA Cup or League Cup final appearance to reminisce on, though there have been plenty of promotions giving them plenty of joy.

In terms of knock-out glory the best they can muster is lifting the Papa Johns Trophy in an earlier incarnation of the tournament way back in 1984.

The final was played out at Boothferry Park, Hull, in front of 6,500 die-hards. And they are not alone either in being historically starved of success.

Those bitter, if distant, rivals Brighton and Crystal Palace have both experienced heartbreak in FA Cup finals, the Eagles twice-over, the Seagulls once in 1983.

Those if-onlys aside there have only been league accomplishments to recall most fondly from their back catalogue. Indeed, Palace can be construed as the biggest club in England yet to win the league or any form of major competition.

With none of these quartet in real danger of threatening the Premier League title odds anytime soon let’s hope therefore that one of them successfully navigates a path through a domestic competition in the not-too-distant future.

Let’s hope their fans get to see their captain lift a trophy, a sight they will treasure forever. It will have been a long time coming. Their entire history, in fact.

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

Manchester United’s genuine and long-standing interest in Harry Kane dates back to Louis Van Gaal’s period in charge when the Dutchman instructed his board to sign the 22-year-old at any cost.

A couple of summers later, the Reds revved up for another bid but this time their manager reportedly told the club’s hierarchy to save their money. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believed the centre-forward role at Old Trafford was reserved for Mason Greenwood for several years to come.

For non-footballing reasons this has not transpired of course and even a courtesy glance at United’s current squad reveals a desperate need for a natural born finisher.

After spending large sums addressing their defensive and midfield issues last summer the resulting budgetary restrictions meant Erik Ten Hag had to settle for bringing in Wout Weghorst on loan this January and though the Burnley man is a grafter he is anything but prolific, failing to score so far in the league. 

He is a first-choice number nine for Manchester United who barely features in the football betting online. These two things are very rarely exclusive. 

Elsewhere, Anthony Martial is perennially injury prone and though Marcus Rashford more than compensates for his team-mates’ shortcomings it could be argued that United are overly reliant on his firepower.

Besides, the bulk of his 15 Premier League goals have come from the left anyway.

All of which leaves us with one of the most open secrets in football. That come the season’s end, when the transfer window is ajar, Manchester United intend to go all-in for a world class striker. 

Names in the frame include Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Goncalo Ramos of Benfica but in reality little has changed in nigh-on seven years now. Harry Kane is the player they most crave, and this time they might well get him. 

The reasons for this are self-evident, with the now 29-year-old proving once again this term that he is unquestionably one of the best Premier League strikers since the competition’s inception, indeed one of the very best of all time full stop. 

With 23 goals in 30 league appearances to date in 2022/23 it means the three-time Golden Boot winner has smashed the 20-goal barrier in six of his last nine campaigns and this astounding consistency recently saw him crowned Tottenham’s record goal-scorer.

Kane is also England’s captain and the status that comes with that matters to a club of United’s standing. 

Moreover, he goes a long way to completing the model being put in place by Ten Hag who now has a defence he trusts and an engine-room powered by Casemiro. He is the proverbial final piece in an expensively-assembled jigsaw. 

Regarding the forward’s availability, the needle has moved since Manchester City tried to move mountains to sign him 18 months ago though the £100m-plus price will no doubt remain the same. 

It is unlikely that Spurs fans will be able to muster the same level of hostility to the move while from the player’s perspective, if he was frustrated with his lot back in 2021 it can only be imagined how exasperated he’s been by yet another season of turmoil in North London.

It’s a season that has seen another manager depart and Kane score 41.8% of his team’s goals just to keep them in the top four reckoning.

He will jump at the chance of success, to ultimately align silverware with his substantial personal achievements. 

The betting markets believe there is every chance that next term Harry Kane will be scoring on an almost weekly basis in red. At this juncture it feels nailed on.

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

So far this season twelve top-flight managers have been sacked and with nearly half the league circling the relegation drain don’t be surprised if we see further dismissals before the campaign is out. 

Presently, Nottingham Forest’s Steve Cooper is short-priced in the next Premier League manager to be sacked odds while West Ham’s David Moyes is not far behind him.

It is perfectly conceivable that one of these highly regarded, vastly experienced coaches could be jettisoned at this late juncture as desperation kicks in and chairmen resort to drastic action.

Elsewhere, and somewhat remarkably given his pedigree and achievements, Jurgen Klopp is also being backed to depart Anfield this summer and factoring in too, Chelsea’s search for Graham Potter’s successor this illustrates that it’s not only near the bottom where seismic changes are afoot.

Indeed, from top four contenders right down to the doomed and the damned, 2022/23 has been a tumultuous year in the Premier League with stability and continuity seemingly treasured traits of the past. We should not expect that to deviate anytime soon. 

Combining the expected replacing of interim gaffers, and a couple of likely managerial reshuffles, it is perfectly possible that seven new faces will be inhabiting dug-outs come August. 

Therefore, with the vogue these days to target young, up-and-coming coaches, instead of the finished article, perhaps it’s pertinent that we run the rule over a new generation of managers who have been greatly impressing on foreign fields.

Tactically astute and blessed with innate man-management skills, this coterie of emerging coaches may well ultimately prove to be the next Klopp, the next Conte. Moreover, their futures could well reside on our shores, in time becoming as familiar to us as the current established fare.

Julian Nagelsmann

Julian Nagelsmann is an obvious name to begin with in this regard, but also an exception to much of the criteria, the German former centre-back already well-known and widely considered an elite coach having spent just shy of two years at Bayern Munich.

Prior to guiding Die Roten to yet another league title in his first season in charge, Nagelsmann made his reputation at Hoffenheim, elevating them from seasonal struggles to a first ever Champions League adventure, before moving upwards to RB Leipzig where he turned the recently founded club into a formidable, high-pressing construction.

In 2018 he led Leipzig to a Champions League semi final against PSG, coached at the time by Thomas Tuchel who has now taken his residency at Bayern. 

Though Nagelsmann is already fast-tracking his way to greatness – and unquestionably is the most talented coach highlighted here – his age has Chelsea’s number one choice considered an emerging talent, rather than an established one.

At just 35 years old – a full three years younger than Thiago Silva – he is still learning, still homing his craft.

Ruben Amorim

The same can be said of Ruben Amorim who has to date blazed a managerial trail in Portugal, first with Braga and in recent seasons with Sporting. 

Guiding the former, against all expectation, to domestic cup success in 2020 placed the 38-year-old firmly on the radar of European football's behemoths, and subsequent glories with Sporting has only strengthened his standing.

In his first season at the helm in Lisbon, Amorim led the Lions to their first league title for nearly two decades and did so while propagating an attractive, possession-based style of play that was easy on the eye.

Naturally then, the ex-Benfica midfielder has become a much sought after proposition and intriguingly he revealed last February that Premier League clubs have been in touch, those clubs believed to be Chelsea and Tottenham.

It would not remotely surprise if Amorim’s model of a back three, double pivot, and lightning quick attackers is not implemented in the English top-flight soon.

Matthias Jaissle

Another coaching wonderkid on the continent who is reputedly interesting English giants is Red Bull Salzburg’s Matthias Jaissle, who has hugely impressed since taking the reins in Austria. 

By moulding a bold, attacking and successful set-up so quickly into his first big managerial gig, Jaissle has seen his reputation soar and it must be said that Salzburg has been a superb breeding ground for notable coaches in recent times, previously presided over by Marco Rose and Jessie Marsch.

Granted, at just 34 and with scant experience at the highest level, this summer may be too soon in his development to make a big move to England.

But with Crystal Palace beginning to look a safe punt in the Premier League betting to avoid the drop, and in need of a fresh approach post-Hodgson it’s not too mischievous to link the two.

Budding Championship Bosses

Of course, it is not only across the channel where managerial acumen and promise is found.

Middlesbrough v Burnley

Sheffield United v Wigan

Millwall v Luton

Blackburn v Norwich

Reading v Birmingham

Watford v Huddersfield

Here is my latest @888sport blog previewing the big matches taking place in the EFL Championship on Good Fridayhttps://t.co/H5Xc2TeoPH

— Tony Incenzo - my 50th football season (@TonyIncenzo) April 5, 2023

In the Championship, Vincent Kompany and Michael Carrick have both proven this season they are Premier League bosses to be, the former with Burnley having secured promotion with the Clarets this week but surely even bigger and better things await elsewhere. 

As for Carrick, so fundamental have been the improvements put in place at Middlesbrough that it feels like only a matter of time before a top-flight club swoops, recruiting one of the new generation of coaches whose rise through the levels excites.

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

Chelsea vs Newcastle United Tips

Frank Lampard’s unsuccessful second stint in charge of Chelsea comes to an end on Sunday.

A lap of honour in front of the Stamford Bridge faithful will have little optimism, other than the relief that this brutal season is over.

Newcastle have secured their place in the Champions League for next season. Eddie Howe has done an exceptional job at the club, and they will be keen to finish this football betting season on a high. 

Praise has been flying in for Howe from all angles. Words like ‘genius’ have been thrown about. He is a St James’ Park legend already, having plucked them from relegation candidates and taken them to the top four.

This squad is much improved by the investment, but it is still a phenomenal turn around. Howe admitted this wasn’t their goal when the season began.

"[Our expectation this term] certainly wasn't top four. I think you always hope, you always believe and you have to dream.

"But we didn't feel that we were ready for that. After last season's battle with relegation it was whether we could consolidate and become a better team.

"To not have that flirtation with relegation and try to give it a go, it's just been incredible."

This weekend, Newcastle have a great opportunity to secure their 20th win of the campaign. Only Manchester City have lost fewer games. No team has conceded fewer goals.

Howe was known for entertaining football previously, but he has brought toughness and defensive solidity to Newcastle, making them an incredibly hard team to beat.

Chelsea, in contrast, are a shambles. Lampard is without several important players, and a good portion of this squad will be leaving over the summer.

A woeful season is set to end with another defeat. Take the Magpies to win at 7/5.

Bet on Chelsea at 888Sport

888Sport provides all the latest Chelsea betting odds for the 2022-23 season.

The Blues are in a state of transition both at boardroom level and with the first-team squad, making them an interesting betting prospect this season.

Find everything from Chelsea top four odds to Champions League betting and Premier League weekly tips at 888Sport. The latest Chelsea prediction will be updated on this page throughout the 2022-23 season.

Chelsea Outright Betting 2022-23

The Todd Boehly era has started off with a string of high-profile transfer pursuits. For all their activity (some successful, some not) in the transfer market, Chelsea outright betting looks very similar to how it did at the beginning of the window.

The Blues are neck-and-neck with Tottenham in Premier League winner odds, and sit at 4/6 to finish in the top four.

Thomas Tuchel’s side are 12/1 to lift the Champions League, a slightly shorter price than Barcelona but behind Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Liverpool and Manchester City.

They get some love in EFL Cup and FA Cup outright markets, with bookmakers clearly appreciating Tuchel’s record of reaching finals. Chelsea were runners-up in both domestic cups last season.

Player outright betting is pretty quiet for the Blues. New signing Raheem Sterling is their Golden Boot favourite, but even he’s way out at 33/1. Sterling at 20/1 and Mason Mount at 25/1 are Chelsea’s leading candidates in PFA Player of the Year betting.

Callum Hudson-Odoi is the top Chelsea name for Young Player of the Year, but there’s no value on the England international at 20s. His future at the club remains uncertain and he’s fallen out of favour under Tuchel.

One market to keep an eye on is the first Premier League manager to be sacked. Some have speculated that Tuchel could be out the door if Chelsea start slowly under their demanding new owners.

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

Man City vs Man United Tips

Winners of the League Cup and top-four finishers in the Premier League, Manchester United can complete a domestic cup double this weekend.

They are massive FA Cup betting underdogs for the clash with Manchester City at Wembley, however, with the Red Devils out at 3/1 to lift the trophy.

Erik ten Hag has seen his team be hammered by City and recorded a win against them this season.

United have ended their league campaign on a positive note, winning four in a row to hold off Liverpool’s push. Champions League qualification was secured.

United’s success in the meeting at Old Trafford centred around letting City tap the ball around.

The Premier League champions had a shade above 70% possession, but United were a threat throughout in transition with Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes both getting on the scoresheet.

The gameplan will be similar here. Rather than playing City at their game, United can lean on their defence, limit space behind for Erling Haaland, and hope that packing the midfield can restrict City’s ability to create chances.

It is still a longshot for the Red Devils to avoid defeat inside 90 minutes at Wembley, however.

City’s last two matches can be written off, given that the Premier League title was already secured. Prior to that, they had won 15 domestic matches in a row. 

Look for ten Hag to tweak his setup here. Anthony Martial was rested at the weekend, readying him for a start as the leader of the attack (he’s a great price at 7/2 to score anytime).

Fred could partner Casemiro in midfield. Naturally, ten Hag needs to make changes against this City team, but he clearly learned from the 6-3 loss.

There is a world where United can frustrate City, and score a goal on the break. Perhaps they win in 90 minutes, perhaps their pace on the counter is more influential when fatigue sets in.

United fans should be considering a Red Devils win in extra time at 25/1.

Bet on Manchester United at 888Sport

Find all the Manchester United odds for the 2022-23 season at 888Sport. Erik ten Hag’s first season in charge at Old Trafford brings fresh expectation, and eyes will be on the latest Manchester United betting throughout the campaign.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo opt to stay and power the Red Devils to a top four finish? Could United collect their first silverware since the 2016-17 campaign?

888Sport has you covered for everything from goalscorer wagers to Manchester United outright betting markets.

Manchester United Outright Betting 2022-23

Manchester United outright betting firmly places them fifth in Premier League winner odds – the Red Devils have a preseason price of 25/1, well behind Chelsea at 13/1 and Tottenham at 14s.

Erik ten Hag is clearly ambitious, but a title push is well out of the Red Devils’ reach this season.

Being a top four team would be a success after a woeful 2021-22 campaign. United are as long as 17/10 for such a finish, residing at longer odds than Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal. They are, however, in at 2/5 for a top six finish.

When it comes to player outright betting, Cristiano Ronaldo’s 14/1 is the shortest price in the Golden Boot market, while the Portuguese is also the club’s favourite to win PFA Player of the Year at 16/1.

Neither represent value given the uncertainty over Ronaldo’s future and his performances last season.

Ten Hag may look to the cups as a chance to get some early silverware under his belt, and bookies consider United a solid candidate to lift the EFL Cup or FA Cup this term.

Ending their relative trophy drought would be a strong start to ten Hag’s Old Trafford tenure. 888Sport will be covering Manchester United predictions and picks here throughout the 2022-23 season. 

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

It is one of the most enduring myths in football, a fallacy that nobody really questions, so often it is stated. 

A team gains a two-goal advantage and when they inevitably must defend at some point, perhaps concede a chance or two, it’s routinely trotted out, from a commentator who might even believe it. That 2-0 is the most dangerous lead of them all.

Of course, before we debunk this long-standing misnomer we must acknowledge that it only exists because it skirts the very edge of logic.

There is no point in highlighting that a single-goal advantage is precarious because that’s undeniable and obvious. Adding a goal though, well that raises eyebrows. That grabs attention.

Moreover, it is never mentioned when a superior side goes two up. It’s why you’ll rarely hear it said at the Etihad these days and why it was never uttered at Old Trafford throughout Manchester United’s long era of dominance.

Indeed, at no time during Sir Alex Ferguson’s 27 year reign did the Reds lose from a two goal lead. It happened in 1984, then next at Leicester City in 2014.Even accepting the gulf in class that was often prevalent when United played, that huge expanse of time partly proves that having a two-goal cushion is actually a huge positive and not cause for trepidation, yet still the fallacy persists, one incidentally that is not exclusively a British misconception. 

In the Czech Republic, fearing a two-goal advantage is called Csaplar’s Trap, after a particularly superstitious coach. Down under in Australia, the expression has been popularized by Johnny Warren, a well-known broadcaster.

Across football, and across the decades, it is a paranoid slice of doom-mongering that has become entrenched in our thinking and we all know exactly when it will make an appearance. We anticipate it. We cringe in expectation. 

A team prominent in the Premier League relegation odds will go in front against a better side and they scrap with every fibre to preserve their lead. But then they ‘dare’ to score again and now complacency is a concern. Now they’re in peril.

🗣 "Two nil up is a good lead but it's a dangerous one."

Trent Alexander-Arnold says Liverpool can't be complacent with their 2-0 lead over Villarreal in the Champions League semi-final pic.twitter.com/fJeYKdBxsC

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 3, 2022

Thank goodness therefore for Opta stats who in 2016 conclusively disproved this old wives’ tale and then some. 

Responding to a tweet by Gary Lineker, pondering this line of thinking, Opta calculated that in the Premier League’s existence there had been 1061 occasions when a team was two goals up at half-time. Only 22 of those teams went on to lose the game.

This equates to 2.1%, a meagre tally that allows for the very occasional implosion but also external factors such as a sending off or a late spate of injuries. 

Within that scant number there is little evidence that complacency kicks in when a team goes two-up. Frankly, 98 times out of 100, the winning side is on easy street, at risk at most of ending up with a solitary point instead of the three.

So the next time you’ve taken a punt on an unfancied team in the football betting online and they extend on their lead against the odds, don’t panic. 

And absolutely ignore the commentator when he trots out a well-worn cliché, that defies all reasonable logic.

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