"The older Rooney gets the deeper he drops and with it goes his potency of finding the net. His performance in midweek for England was mediocre - not for the first time, it must be said – and the stats show he’s scored just two goals in his 13 games in all competitions."
Lay Wayne Rooney to score at any time @ 2.3211/8
David Moyes' Manchester United head to West Brom on Saturday afternoon with their season all-but over. With no motivation to get a result, Lewis Jones predicts another Red Devils slip-up and has some strong views on Wayne Rooney.....
West Brom v Manchester United
Saturday March 8th, 12:45
Live on BT Sport 1
West Brom
It's fair to say that Pepe Mel's tenure has yet to really take off. Six games into life at the Baggies and the new boss has yet to taste victory in the hot-seat and has taken West Brom's draw tally to a staggering 13.
Three of those were very creditable results, against Chelsea, Everton and Liverpool, but it's the fact they've only taken one point from relegation six-pointers against Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Fulham that will be more worrying for people involved with the club.
What hasn't helped Mel is the way other clubs, who were in much bigger trouble than the Baggies, have responded to managerial changes.
Tony Pulis has revitalised Palace and they now sit three points above the dreaded drop zone while Sunderland are also now a much tougher proposition under Gus Poyet, who led them to Wembley last week.
Scoring goals has been the main problem at home for West Brom. They've scored just 16 all season and it's a good job a backline, led by Gareth McCauley, has stood strong at the other end, conceding just 16 in 14 games.
Usually a visit from Manchester United would be the last thing they need, but considering their record against the big boys and United's inconsistency, the squad may see this as a decent opportunity to start rediscovering that winning feeling.
Manchester United
If United don't turnaround their 2-0 deficit to Olympiakos in the Champions League, then it's fair to say that their season will be over before the middle of March. It's been one to forget for David Moyes.
They currently sit seventh in the Premier League and are 12 points behind Manchester City, who are in fourth and occupy the final Champions League place. It's hard to believe this is the same side that ran away with the Premier League title last season under Sir Alex Ferguson.
This fixture ended 5-5 last season in the highest scoring draw in Premier League history and was also Ferguson's final game in charge as United boss.
Results have been more prosperous away from home rather than at Old Trafford, but not by much. In their last away day, goals from Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie saw off Crystal Palace but to say it was convincing would be farfetched.
Match Odds
The Baggies have drawn 1-1 at home to three of the top four this season and only narrowly went down 2-3 to Man City, which does bode well for punters, like myself, who continue to take on Manchester United at every opportunity possible.
Despite their poor form, the defensive tactics and the lack of confidence, the market for a Manchester United game still is heavily skewed, wrongly, in their favour.
To my delight, United are trading at a ridiculously short 1.845/6 for this clash against the limited but hard to beat Baggies.
Teams can now get results against the Red Devils by out-working and out-battling them - as proved by Olympiakos - and West Brom certainly have enough midfield energy through Yousef Mulumbu and James Morrison to get about United in the same way that the Greeks did.
The hosts do look about the right price at 5.14/1 considering their woeful record of winning just four games in the Premier League all season but the draw at 3.7511/4 certainly has some scope as does laying United outright at short odds with one eye on trading out of the bet in-running.
If pushed, I'd rather lay United than back the draw.
Anytime Goalscorer
Rooney has scored six goals in his last five Premier League starts against West Brom but those thinking of backing him to notch first should think again and strike a lay.
The England forward, despite signing a new improved five-year-deal at United, has looked a shadow of his former self this season. The older he gets the deeper he drops and with it goes his potency of finding the net.
His performance in midweek for England was mediocre - not for the first time, it must be said - and the stats show he's scored just two goals in his 13 games in all competitions.
With that in mind, I was quite surprised to see him trading so short at 2.35/4 to score at any time against the Midlands side, who, as I've already mentioned, have a solid make-up defensively at home.
The beauty of Betfair is that we can act as a bookmaker in these incidences and lay that price for all it's worth.
It's also bound to trade shorter nearer kick-off as the United followers pile on Rooney.
Recommended Bets
Lay Manchester United @ 1.845/6
Lay Wayne Rooney to score at any time @ 2.3211/8
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