
In partnership with SetantaBet, 7Cantonas.com brings you “Tonge’s Tips”, a look ahead to the Premier League games in the 2012/13 season with a bit of a twist. Just like last season, Alan, the 7Cantonas team and the good fellows over at GGMU and United Rant are going head to head in their predictions, and want you, our readers, to join in.
Alan After the dismantling and easier victory than I thought at Newcastle (which should have built confidence) we move onto Stoke. I can’t envisage any real problems here and see this as another chance to move ourselves forwards. Stoke seem to only have one way of playing and if we can keep the ball and move it swiftly in their half of the field, we will win comfortably!
I am going to tip up Man Utd 3 Stoke City 0 (7/1 with Setanta Bet)
For the bonus bet, I will focus on the Hawthorns. If my memory serves me correct, West Brom had City in trouble here last year and I will tip up some more of the same (fingers crossed!)
I am going to suggest West Brom 2 Man City 1 (14/1 with Setanta Bet)
Mart 3pm football returns to Old Trafford on Saturday as United play host to Stoke City. It seems like a lifetime since United put Newcastle to the sword in an excellent 3-0 win and the reds will be looking to pick up 3 points in a straightforward home win.
Stoke are always dangerous from set plays and no doubt if De Gea plays they will be putting him under pressure at any opportunity. If United play the quick tempo game they played against Newcastle then I don’t see Stoke being able to live with them.
I’m backing United to pick up the three points in a 3-0 win (7/1 with Setanta Bet)
In what will be a tasty affair at White Hart Lane sees Chelsea travel to face Spurs. Spurs lost out on their Champions League space when Chelsea won the Champions League in May and they will be looking for revenge. Chelsea have been in good form and sit at the top of the league but I think Spurs will be too much for Chelsea and I’m backing them to win 2-1 (8/1 with Setanta Bet)
Ed The international break is that period when Manchester United fans think of better things to come, after the season was once again disrupted by World Cup qualification. Mercifully, the break has seemingly aided United’s cause, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad fuller, and healthier, for Stoke City’s visit to Old Trafford this weekend than at almost any time in the past two seasons.
Injuries have been a causal factor in United’s two Premier League defeats to date, as has a seemingly ever-changing tactical approach which is rarely conductive to consistency. Yet, with all Ferguson’s players bar Nemanja Vidić, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, available for the Potters’ visit, United could field something approaching his full strength side this weekend.
Tony Pullis’ side presents another test of Ferguson’s sometimes fragile back-four, although United rarely struggle against the Midlanders. In eighth Premier League encounters between the two sides over the past four years, United has triumphed on seven occasions. The Midlanders haven’t emerged victorious from a visit to Old Trafford in 36 years, when Alan Bloor headed home an 87th minute winner, and Stoke hasn’t even gained a point in Manchester since 1980.
On the opposing bench could be former United player Michael Owen, who has had a groin strain, but may be held in reserve. The striker scored 17 goals in 52 games for United over three years and claims that he is “desperate” to play in the fixture.
None of this bodes well for the visitors, whose infamous physical approach is far meeker away from the Britannia. It should be a comfortable 3-0 win to Manchester United at Old Trafford (7/1 with Setanta Bet)
Elsewhere the game of the weekend is Tottenham Hotspur versus Chelsea at White Hart Lane, with Andre Villas-Boas’ north Londoners taking on the Portuguese manager’s former charges. And it will be interesting to see how Chelsea cope without (still) captain John Terry, who begins a four match ban for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand. 2-1 to Spurs (8/1 with Setanta Bet)
Setanta Bet are offering a £5 free bet to the first person who posts a prediction that beats the team, and the scoring is as follows :
*One point for a correct score
*One point for a correct result
*One point for a correct bonus prediction (the bonus prediction cannot be just a result)
The first reader, weekly, to post a set of predictions that score higher than Alan or the bloggers will win the £5 free bet with SetantaBet.
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Tonge’s Tips, presented by Setanta Bet & 7 Cantonas
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United 2-0 Stoke
Bonus: WBA 1-1 City
My tip: United-Stoke 2-0.
Bonus tip: West Brom-Man.City 1-3.
COME ON UNITED!!!