City deal scares bookies

BOOKMAKERS have been running for cover after the dramatic events at Manchester City, or Middle Eastlands as the stadium is now known.

The price on Mark Hughes’s men winning the Premier League this season has been slashed to 66-1 from more than seven times those odds.

And, more realistically, City are now 9-4 favourites to be the top club outside the big four of United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

As City’s new owners, the mega-rich Abu Dhabi United Group For Development and Investment, reveal the full nature of their ambitions, so the odds-layers cut the Blues for a whole host of achievements.

Among these are City’s quote of 6-1 about landing a trophy this season.

And if City’s owners are serious about making them the best side in the world sooner rather than later – money being no object – then Ladbrokes’ 16-1 about them winning the Premier League within the next three seasons could start to look rather generous.

City have endured so many false dawns in the last 40 years that a little caution is advised as money is no guarantee of success.

It will be interesting to see what happens if there is no immediate sign of progress and how much time the excellent Mark Hughes is given to produce the goods.

But one thing is for certain, the landscape of the Premier League has been completely altered by these latest developments because, if reports are to be believed, not even Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich can compete with the Abu Dhabi chiefs when it comes to spending clout.

Heady times, indeed, if you are a City fan.




NICK Faldo’s controversial decision to give Ian Poulter a wild card into the European team at the expense of Darren Clarke has prompted a rush to back the US for the Ryder Cup.



The proven record and recent form of Clarke seemed likely to get him into the team, but Faldo opted for youth – and patriotic punters were not impressed.

Europe can be backed at 5-6, which seems more than fair given the superior players in their side.

But the US are a best-priced 11-8 and, if recent betting trends are anything to go by, that offer is likely to vanish before the competition starts in Kentucky two weeks on Friday.

Sergio Garcia is 5-1 favourite to win most points for Europe, while Poulter is 16-1 and the other wild card pick, Paul Casey, is 10-1.




ANDY Murray takes on Argentine teenage sensation Juan Martin del Potro in the US Open tonight, aiming to justify odds of 8-15 about securing a place in the semi-finals.



Murray, 10-1 to win the whole shebang, will need to be at his best, however, as del Potro is on a roll after winning his last 23 matches. Odds of 17-10 about the Argentine look a little generous to me.




RECOMMENDATION: Juan Martin del Potro to beat Andy Murray, 17-10 (VC Bet).