Having previously enjoyed success in the Champions League at Wembley in 1992, Barcelona fans will be hoping that this season sees their side repeat history as they look to win the coveted Champions League trophy again.

With Pep Guardiola’s side arguably the most talented on the planet, a claim that can be backed up by the fact that a large chunk of their squad provided the backbone of Spain’s World Cup winning team, few would bet against the Champions league odds of history repeating itself, with Barca winning the competition in style at Wembley again.

Having shown themselves to be beatable last season after Inter adopted an approach that was successful in strangling the creativity of Barca’s talented crop of players, Guardiola knows that this season he will be expected to ensure that he guides his squad to success in the competition.

In order to do this, Guardiola spent the summer attempting to persuade Arsenal to surrender their prize asset, Cesc Fabregas. However, despite failing to achieve this (even with the support of the entire Barcalona squad, who gave daily announcements proclaiming that Fabregas must be allowed to join the Catalan outfit), he will be aware that his squad is still more than capable of winning the Champions League this season.

Their chances of winning the European Cup have been further enhanced by their success in replacing Yaya Toure with defensive shield Javier Mascherano, as well as the replacement of the underachieving Ibrahimovic with the excellent David Villa.

With this in mind, many of those assessing Football betting odds are confident that this season will see Barcelona end their campaign crowned as deserved European Champions, much to the displeasure of rival coach Jose Mourinho.

So on Friday England’s bid to win back the faith of a nation begins against Bulgaria. Rightly or wrongly John Terry and Frank Lampard have been two of the most common receivers of ridicule from the England boo boys. Fans believe that those players who pull on the white shirt see it as a burden and don’t care for their country compared with their clubs. The fact that both, at a time when every one associated with the national team are under the spotlight have  bowed out of the Euro 2012 qualifiers (the only realistic way of making supporters forget about the World Cup) will not do anything to improve their reputations with three lions followers.

That both Chelsea men are injured is more then just a little coincidental. I am not suggesting that either man is faking an injury but more questioning if it was impossible for both men to of played a part. After all John Terry is renowned for playing through the pain barrier. He has been struggling with a hamstring injury since pre season but that has not prevented him taking part in all three of Chelsea’s Premiership wins and I bet you he will be fit and ready for the trip to West Ham in two weeks time.

Frank Lampard, a man who has an impeccable record for the number of consecutive games he has played has apparently been in the need for a hernia operation. Again I guess it is ironic that his treatment happens in an international break where the diagnosis is that he will be back for the Upton Park fixture.

I am not blaming Chelsea. Chelsea, like any football club runs like a business. It is their right to protect their prize assets and expect club matters to be put first; after all they pay the wages. However John Terry and Frank Lampard are big enough stars to, if they really wanted to play on Friday and on a week Tuesday, if they really cared about helping Fabio Capello in his time of need, if they were hurt so much by what happened in South Africa they would of insisted on playing without fear of upsetting Carlo Ancelotti. After all if they can play through the pain at Stamford Bridge what’s the difference when it comes to Wembley.

Just remember this in two years time when suddenly Terry and Lampard care again because they want another European championship on their CV.

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has defended his decision to field a weakened Blackpool team against MK Dons in their Carling Cup tie. He has also stood by his choice to miss the game entirely, instead choosing to go on a scouting mission to watch Sheffield Wednesday’s Marcus Tudgay.

Despite picking a second string side, The Seasiders were still expected to progress past League One Dons. Things didn’t go to plan however and Blackpool went down 4-3 in extra time to boost MK Dons chances in the Carling Cup betting.

The straight talking coach defended his selection saying: “With the greatest respect to MK Dons, the team I put out there, the players needed a game, that game has gone and we are out of the cup. Was I bothered? No. That was the strongest team I could risk after last Saturday and what I have got this Saturday.”

Holloway chose to watch potential transfer target Tudgay end up on the losing side as Scunthorpe beat Sheffield Wednesday, although the striker did manage to score a penalty for his team.

With the current squad far from Premiership standard, Holloway’s primary mission is recruitment. It looks as though Blackpool will have the same plan when they enter the FA Cup and this is likely to severely dent their chances in the FA Cup betting. Their only objective this season is survival in the Premier League.

The truth is that Blackpool don’t have the ability to compete on three fronts this season. It’s going to be a mammoth task for the club just to stay at the top table. This defeat could be a blessing in disguise for the Tangerine Army.

Tottenham
It was hard to predict what Spurs wanted out of today’s draw. Like any competiton Harry Redknapp will want to progress as far as he can so would not have been crying if Group A was kinder to him. At the same time Tottenham as a football club want to make every moment of being part of Europe’s elite competition count. So I think they got the right balance. Spurs will welcome the reigning European champion to White Heat Lane while feeling they can genuinely compete with Werder Breman and Fc Twente for the runner up spot.
Not that I am saying Inter Milan are unbeatable. The Italian giants for a long time failed to make an impression in this tournament, that was until Jose Mourinho came along. The group ensures that Rafa Benitez makes a quick return to England. Benitez’z tactics will suit Seria A better then it did the Premiership but his defensive/negative style will make Spurs believe that they can make chances in both games.
Arsenal
Okay so Braga did beat Celtic and Seville in qualifying but in general group H couldn’t have been kinder for Arsenal.
Yes Arsene Wenger will sit in his press conference tomorrow and stress Arsenal face three long away trips but he would have that whoever he was drawn to face. The truth is 9 points is often enough to get you to the knockout stages, 10 guarantees it and I can’t see anything other then the Gunners recording three comfortable home wins.
The only way Arsenal will not qualify is if they are complacent but the fact that they share the record with Real Madrid for the amount of consecutive appearances in the last 16 at worse indicates that they will make light work of the group stages. Tougher opponents lie in wait.

Manchester United/ Rangers
The obvious highlight from Group C is the two battle of Britain clashes it serves up. The truth is though despite being a fellow Scott Sir Alex will be more bother about having to go to Valencia then the two games with the Scottish champions.
Manchester United and Valencia will start off as favourites to progress (despite Valencia losing their star names in the summer).
The atmosphere will ensure that winning at Ibrox will not be easy, the same will apply to going to Turkey to have to face Bursaspor but Walter Smith’s problem, like all Scottish sides, is that their away form in Europe is abysmal. I cannot see Rangers winning in Turkey, yet alone Spain all England. That would mean Rangers having to win all three home games. They are simply not good enough.

Chelsea
So this is Chelsea’s latest attempt to win the holy grail which always guarantees drama, not that I can there being to much of that in group F where I don’t think Chelsea will have to move out of second gear to progress to the knockout stages.
Like Arsenal, on paper Chelsea will expect to will all three of their home games comfortably which will ensure they have the luxury of dropping a couple of points away from home.

Blackburn vs Arsenal

None of the top  three won at Ewood Park last year so this would be a tricky trip for any side but more so for Arsenal. Blackburn offer a style of football which Arsene Wenger finds insulting to the beautiful game. More importantly the Frenchman is aware that all of Blackburn’s strengths remain Arsenal’s weaknesses. Blackburn like to bully their opponents while knocking the ball long and high. While Chelsea and Man United have had the character to deal with this style over the years, to often this kind of fixture has separated Arsenal from being champions.

With the way Blackburn play I can’t see Arsenal keeping a clean sheet. Luckily for the Gunners I cannot seem them not scoring either.

Prediction- Blackburn2-3 Arsenal

Blackpool vs Fulham

So Bloomfield road is finally ready to host Premiership football. Ian Holloway will view Fulham as ideal opponents. Fulham obviously boast better players but in the past few years have not been positive enough away from home. Mark Hughes will be looking to change that and there is no reason why Fulham can’t take the game to the home side.

However I think the atmosphere will be brilliant at Bloomfield Road and not for the first time this season I think will push Blackpool on to get a result.

Prediction- Blackpool 2- 2 Fulham

Chelsea vs Stoke

I don’t want to take anything away from Chelsea, to score 6 in one game is a one off, when you do it two games in a role there is more to it. Throw in the fact that Chelsea were doing the same at the end of the last campaign it is clear that this side has it in them to steamroll you. If they are two goals up at half time or three up with half an hour to go they are capable of running away with the match. I do not believe it is a sign that the champions are going to run away with the tile, even the most die hard Chelsea fan will admit the fixture list has been kind to them. It was a good time to face West Brom, definitely a good time to travel to Wigan, this weekend a good time to face a pointless Stoke (although after last weekend they should of at least got a draw against Spurs) and unless West Ham pull off a shock at Old Trafford in two weeks time it will be a good time to go to Upton Park.

Twelve goals in two games will obviously help Chelsea’s goal difference column (something that played a big part in last years title race) but more importantly it may give them a psychological advantage before a ball has been kicked. Teams over the last few years had done a better job of going to one of the big four and being ambitious. With Chelsea’s dominance I hope it does not get back to the Man United 1999- 2001 era when teams were beaten in the tunnel.

The odds for a 6-0 win at Stamford Bride are allot smaller then at any other ground this weekend. I am going just for 4 against Stoke, which I guess means there is a crisis looming and that the champions are losing their touch.

Chelsea 4- 0 Stoke

Manchester United Vs West Ham

I thought and still do that Avram Grant is a good appointment for West Ham. What every one at Upton Park must have is patience, especially with their next two fixtures being Man United then Chelsea.

They always say you look at the spine of a team, when I do that for the Hammers it is not that bad. Rob Green was never good enough for the World Cup but is not as bad as every one is making out. The same can be said for Matthew Upson. Scott Parker in midfield has earned interest from some of the top sides while Carlton Cole before his injury problems was earning a reputation for himself. What West Ham seem to lack (and it’s been evident in their first two games) is a lack of character to get a result at Old Trafford.

Just like Stoke and West Brom I think West Ham cannot afford to concede an early goal.

It may be Man United’s turn to record a big win.

Man United 5-0 West Ham

Tottenham VS Wigan

I am struggling to find positive for Wigan fans for their trip to Whit Heart Lane. You have just conceded 4 to Blackpool at home, then 6 to Chelsea, now you go to a ground where you let in 9 last year.

The reality is if Spurs play anything like they have done in their last two home games then they will make plenty of chances. Wigan’s only hope is that they do not take them. I think Spurs will.

Tottenham 4-0 Wigan

Wolves VS Newcastle

Only Sunderland fans would not have enjoyed Newcastle’s result last Sunday to welcome premiership football back to St James’ Park. I said all along that Newcastle’s passionate home fans could be a key factor in their fight against relegation, away from home is a different story. The jury is still out on if Newcastle have the battling qualities to get a result at places like Wolves, something which eluded them in their last top flight campaign.

Like Newcastle Wolves won’t win too many games away, so each fixture at Molineux will be key. Mick McCarthy has done a terrific job with the Midlands club but Wolves still do not take as many chances as they make.

Wolves 1-1 Newcastle

Aston Villa VS Everton

Last Saturday evening the last thing David Moyes would have wanted is a trip to Villa Park where Kevin MacDonald was doing a pretty good job of putting himself in pole position for the vacant Aston Villa managerial job. Twenty four hours later Villa were heading back from Newcastle with their tails between their legs after a 6 – 0 drumming.

Another loss this Sunday and Randy Learner will surely look elsewhere for a new manager, even if MacDonald is the cheaper option. David Moyes will be desperate to get a win to get Everton out of their traditional sloppy start to a season.

Aston Villa 1-2 Everton

Bolton VS Birmingham

I may have offended Birmingham fans last week when I predicted that their game with Blackburn would serve up nothing more than a physical, scrappy draw. So guess what I am going for this week? To be fair this is more of a reflection on Bolton’s style of play and Alex MCleish would probably take the point that I predict he will get.

Bolton 0 – 0 Birmingham

Liverpool VS West Brom

Nothing against West Brom but Roy Hodgson will be relieved to have this kind of fixture. His opening two weeks at Anfield have seen Liverpool have to play Arsenal, Man City and certain players are point blankly refusing to play for the club.

If Liverpool really want to lift the mood around the club and genuinely believe that a top four finish is realistic they have to identify this game as a comfortable win.

It will be interesting to see if Roberto DI Matteo sticks to his footballing principles of playing an attractive passing style. When he did that at Stanford Bridge he was left embarrassed. The Baggies might feel they will have more joy up against Liverpool’s defence but deep down won’t hold out too much hope of getting anything out of it.

Liverpool 4-0 West Brom

Sunderland VS Man City

We all believed that it would take time for all of Man City’’s signings to get to know each other and gel. They responded by comfortably beating Liverpool 3-0, I hate to see how good they are when they supposedly have gotten to know each other and gelled as a team.

If City want to be genuine title contenders though this is the kind of game they have to win. Sunderland is a tough place to go and at the Stadium of Light you need grit and determination as much as individual quality to come away with the 3 points.

Sunderland 1-2 Man City

Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne has rejoined Wolves on a season-long loan deal. The youngster enjoyed a spell at Molinuex in the last campaign and will be looking to make an impact once again.

The England Under-21 star also had a brief loan spell at the club in 2008, so is no stranger to life in Wolverhampton. Having failed to break into the Chelsea first team as yet, Mancienne will look to continue his progression as a player this season.

He will want to play plenty of football and he should get this at Wolves. He made 33 appearances for the club last season after all, both as a defender and a midfielder for Mick McCarthy.

Mancienne has only played six times for Chelsea, so you can see why he is keen to move away for some football. He clearly has a great deal of talent, he just isn’t getting the chance to use it at Stamford Bridge.

Fabio Capello has called him up to the full England squad in the past, so he will want to make sure he is putting himself out there for more international recognition. You can follow his progress this season with Betsplayer.com.

He joins Wolves in time to be in their squad for the game with Newcastle on Saturday and will be hoping to help McCarthy’s men continue their excellent start to the season.
So far, they have beaten Stoke and drawn at Everton, so Mancienne is certainly entering a confident dressing room as he begins his third spell as a Wolves player.

Having signed eight new players this summer, Steve Bruce has admitted that his ventures into the transfer window have seen his side’s early season form suffer.

With Bruce blaming the fact his side need time to gel together as a reason for a lack of early season success, he should be mindful that his side are not the only one to have undergone serious surgery this summer.

With new boys Blackpool having had to bring in players after losing many of their squad after their playoff success yet still enjoying a pretty good start to the season against the predictions of those who regularly bet football money.

Then,  mega-rich Manchester City having seemingly already moulded their rapidly assembled squad into a cohesive unit, a claim backed up by the fact that having faced rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool they have failed to concede a goal, Bruce may need to start looking at his ability to gel the squad quickly, rather than blaming his new signings.

Whilst he has shown he has the ability to get the best out of his players, shown by his role in helping Darren Bent to turn around his career following a disastrous time at Spurs, Bruce will be well aware that this season will require his Sunderland side to improve upon last season’s position.  The Premier League odds are betting them to do better anyway.

The Black Cats are now seen by their ambitious fans as potential contenders for a place in the Europa league, and the ambitious crowd at Sunderland remains as keen as ever to ensure that this season sees their side continue their aim of establishing themselves as the number one club in the North East of England. However, with Newcastle seeking to re-establish themselves as a serious Premier League side sooner rather than later, Bruce will be hopeful that his team gels together in the near future.

With the new 2010-11 La Liga season about to start this coming weekend, most of the attention has been focused on Jose Mourinho, the new manager of Real Madrid. With the beginning of a brand new season comes the release of new 2010-11 soccer jerseys, including the new Real Madrid home shirt. Real Madrid have not lived up to their usual expectations in recent years and considering how much money they spent on players last summer, many would say that they have failed in their quest so far.

The appointment of Jose Mourinho as manager is quite a different prospect, however. Mourinho has been successful at every single club he has managed, including Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan.  Those wearing the new Real Madrid shirt now have a real winner in their camp and no-one would bet against him making a massive difference to the team.

It’s no secret that Jose Mourinho wants to have full control over his team and that at Real Madrid, managers are not give this luxury. This season, however, it is believed that Mourinho will have full control over his team selections and signings, but only time will tell if this is true or not.  He will want to ensure that each player wearing a Real Madrid shirt is a player he can trust in his squad.

There have been some changes to those wearing the new Real Madrid home jersey this coming season. Older and influential players such as Raul and Guti have left the club, which might actually work in Mourinho’s favour, as they would have had a lot of say in previous seasons with other managers; something The Special One may not have taken kindly to. Madrid have brought in four new players so far, including Mourinho’s old favourite at Porto and Chelsea, Ricardo Carvalho.  Two of Germany’s young stars at the World Cup, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira, have signed and finally, Argentina’s Angel di Maria, has also joined.

This suggests that the manager wanted a bit more experience at the back, but also wanted to look to the future with his three other signings. When you consider these signings and the fact that the players who have left were no longer first team regulars, the Real Madrid squad has certainly improved. When you also consider that the club still has Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema in the squad, there is no question that Real Madrid could in fact be a huge threat in both La Liga and in the Champions’ League this season. It would be harsh if Mourinho was not given time to improve the Madrid giants, but given his track record, will he even need much time?

Written by Danny Watson, a sports journalist who writes about football kits.

With the Premier League enjoying a goal glut of record proportions following Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over Liverpool, experts are scratching their heads in an effort to understand what has been the catalyst for the goal rush.

Although Chelsea did not exactly shock the footballing world with their demolition of minnows Wigan and West Brom, results such as the 6-0 scoreline secured by newly promoted Newcastle United over Aston Villa, a side expected to be challenging for a place in Europe, and Blackpool’s 4-0 annihilation of Wigan on the opening day of the season, have led experts to question the current level of Premier League defending.
However, it could be argued that the introduction of Blackpool, Newcastle and West Brom – a trio of attacking sides who have no proven ability to rely upon a stingy defence – may have contributed to the amount of goals scored this season.

Previously, clubs that have been promoted have often chosen to employ far more defensive tactics, something that has helped to see the rise of the widely despised 4-5-1 formation in the Premier League. However, with the managers of these clubs appearing to decide to stick with the attacking formations and tactics that saw them successfully achieve promotion last season, it could be a different story this time around. The Betfair football odds certainly suggest we’re in for some captivating games this weekend, and it will be interesting to see if this trend continues.

While this strategy may leave pundits such as Alan Hansen outraged at the lack of defensive nous the clubs are displaying, ordinary fans of the Premier League, as well as supporters of lower league sides, will not be complaining if we continue to enjoy weekends as exciting as the one we have just watched.

Meanwhile, in the Championship, the Notts Forest betting suggests they could be joining the big boys next season.

The side have not got off to the best of starts, but they will be confident of challenging for promotion.

Nearly every young Geordie boy dreams of following in the footsteps of Alan Shearer and wearing the number nine for Newcastle United.

Andy Carroll realised that dream at the beginning of the season when he was given the hallowed shirt at the beginning of the season by his manager Chris Hughton. This was a brave move by Hughton, putting a lot of pressure on a striker who has only played one full season in a Newcastle shirt. He did look an exciting prospect last term when he was his side’s joint top scorer with 17 goals as Newcastle secured promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

The 21-year-old looked a little lost in his team’s opening Premier League defeat against Manchester United, leaving a few people unconvinced of his ability to score regularly in this league. It’s fair to say those doubters will have been silenced by Carroll’s performance in his last match as Newcastle ran out 6-0 winners against Aston Villa to really announce their return to the Premiership. Carroll scored a quality hat-trick against a decent Villa defence, albeit one that was having an off day, to secure Newcastle’s biggest home win in 11 years. Some people had made Newcastle betting tips for relegation, but they are at least going to put up a fight.

Carroll’s hat-trick was watched by his boyhood hero Shearer. His first goal came after Villa failed to clear a corner and the big striker thumped home a left footed finish. The second was another case of being in the right place at the right time after a long ball forward. He sealed his hat-trick after good link up play with Xisco followed by a calm finish in the last minute of the match.

Taking home the match ball in the second game of the season will fill Carroll with confidence for the long campaign ahead. With Newcastle not splashing much cash around in this transfer window it looks as though Carroll will be his club’s number one striker. The Betfairfootball odds suggest he will be the side’s top scorer.

If the side are going to re-establish themselves into England’s top flight then Carroll’s goals are going to be essential to their success. When you look at Hughton’s other options up front it’s not easy to see who else will be able to score ten plus goals in this division. If the new number nine keeps producing performances like he did against Villa then Newcastle will have a great chance of surviving this campaign.