Football / Statbunker News

GREENER’S BLOG

by

ANDY GREENUP

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

  SUNDAY 24 MAY 2009

Of the two selections given last week, we managed one winner and a small profit of 2.80 points.   The overall verdicts have now produced 38 wins from 74 selections, a strike rate of 51.4% and the profit now stands at 105.30 points.

HULL CITY LOOK FOR VILLA FAVOUR

So we’re finally there, the last day of the season.  Having already wrapped up their eleventh title in 17 years Manchester Utd will now have all eyes on the Champions League Final against Barcelona in Rome next Wednesday.  Well that’s what you’d think, but before that they have the small matter of a trip to the KC Stadium to play relegation threatened Hull City.   The Champions will most certainly field a weakened team with their main stars being rested for Rome, but although it may be weakened I still think it will be more than capable of taking all the points.  If that is the case then Phil Brown’s men will need a favour and that will have to come from Aston Villa.  Villa entertain Newcastle who require a better result than Hull if they are to survive.  Following their home draw with Villa last week, Middlesbrough now find themselves needing a miracle if they are to maintain their Premier League status.  They must beat West Ham at Upton Park and hope that other results go their way.  As I’ve already said, I feel Manchester United despite not fielding their first eleven should still be good enough to beat Hull.  They have lost only one of their last 12 away games and have conceded only five goals in those games.  They have also won eight of their last nine.  Hull on the other hand have not won any of their last 10 home games and five of those were against sides that were also in relegation trouble at the time of the game.  So as far as I’m concerned that price for Man Utd is too good to miss.  GREENER’S VERDICT - MATCH RESULT - MANCHESTER UNITED (10 PTS) @ 2.4

The other game I like is at the Stadium of Light where another relegation threatened side Sunderland take on Chelsea.  Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink has indicated that he will pick a full strength side as he wants to keep their current momentum going into next week’s FA Cup Final.  With that news Chelsea look a confident selection and at decent odds they are a very good bet.  Chelsea have won five of their last six away games, they have in fact only lost three times all season and two of those defeats came at Old Trafford and Anfield.  Sunderland have won only one of their last five, but having said that even if they lose to Chelsea I still think they will be playing Premier League football next season.  GREENER’S VERDICT - MATCH RESULT - CHELSEA (10 PTS) @ 1.98