With all the pressure reportedly on AVB, can he pull out the home win, and make us a few quid too…
After starting the week licking his wounds after a 6-0 shellacking from Man City, the week got worse for Tottenham boss Andre Villas Boas as he became the new favourite in the Premier League sack race at 11/10. The not-too-huge hurdle of Tromso away was negotiated on Thursday night and now he faces the arrival of Manchester United on Sunday to White Hart Lane.
Would a defeat never mind a heavy one, see him booted out? It seems hard to believe but the Portuguese gaffer will be determined that his players put in a performance and that means that at 9/5, Spurs are a very decent home bet today.
Of course, the reason that price is so large can be explained in a few ways. For one, their record against United is appalling. They’ve managed a few draws down the years, and they won at Old Trafford last year 3-2, but the last Spurs win at home to the Red Devils was in May 2001.
Add in United’s recent unbeaten run, stretching back almost two months, and their price of 6/4 looks pretty nifty too. The draw, at 23/10, is also a decent bet as United have had a habit of getting a share of the spoils away from home, just as they did last week at Cardiff.
One of the many sticks used to beat AVB with this week was the lack of goals Spurs have mustered this term. Just nine in the league, and just six from open play, means that United to win to nil at 10/3 is a great bet if you fancy the visitors while Tottenham to go under 0.5 goals at 21/10 doesn’t look too shabby either.
Traditionally this game is a high-scoring affair but we just can’t see it this time around, especially if Robin van Persie doesn’t make it into the team. We usually like to back four or more goals but the draw, with less than 2.5 goals scored, at 14/5 could be the bet of the day.
And, considering it was his big day on Friday, you can back 40-year-old Ryan Giggs to score at any time at 13/2. It’s the sentimental choice but it just might work…
