...hem to stay up at Evens.
West Ham United
The largest deal of the transfer window was Dean Ashtons 7.25 million arrival from Norwich City. Following his seven goals last season for the Canaries, then fighting a losing battle against Premiership relegation, Ashton is seen as the man who can fire West Ham into Europe this term.
Another striker, Yaniv Katan, joined from Maccabi Haifa for 100,000 while Deportivo defender Lionel Scaloni has signed a loan deal with the club. If you are fond of speculative punts, striker Marlon Harewood, with six goals in his last 12 Premiership matches, is available at 40/1 to top the Premiership goal scoring charts at the end of the season.
Wigan Athletic
Wigan have had a remarkable first season in the premiership. They are fifth in the table, one place above former Champions Arsenal, just three points adrift of a Champions league spot and a place in the Carling Cup final secured.
Paul Jewell has worked wonders at the JJB Stadium and it is not surprising chairman Dave Whelan has sanctioned a 2 million move for Brann defender Paul Scharner, the free transfer of midfielder David Thompson and loan arrivals for Liverpools Neil Mellor and Tottenham Hotspurs Reto Ziegler.
It would be foolish to bet against the Latics qualifying for Europe next season but at present they are the only side in the top 10 with a minus goal difference. They are 300/1 outsiders to win the premiership in the without Chelsea market.
...more...dad & Tobago 1500/1
Sweden 40/1
Second favourites England earned a favourable draw with two relatively weak opponents in Paraguay and first-time qualifiers Trinidad & Tobago. The final round of fixtures pits them against Sweden who they have not beaten in 11 matches. The two european sides will qualify from this group.
GROUP C
Argentina 8/1
Ivory Coast 100/1
Serbia & Montenegro 125/1
Holland 14/1
A tough group and one of two "Group of Deaths" in the opening stage of the tournament. Group favourites Argentina failed to qualify for the second round in 2002, finishing third behind Sweden and England but will be expected to progress along with Holland. Both Serbia & Montenegro and the Ivory Coast will provide stern opposition and it would not be a surprise to see one of them qualify ahead of a perceived favourite.
GROUP D
Mexico 50/1
iran 500/1
Angola 500/1
Portugal 20/1
top seed Mexico can be backed at larger odds than non-seeded Portugal but apart from who will finish first or second, this group should b...more
...tivational Speakers in the country so he is paid big time to show up at events. Here is the kicker He was in Detroit appearing that week to talk to
some group. Oh, another thing I just remembered, The Steelers were in the Super Bowl! Nice Terry, way to support your team.ASS!
People talk about todays athlete and how it is only about the money and how the athlete of yester-year did it for The Love of the Game Well Jerome Bettis, modern athlete, showed up to play the game he loved while Bradshaw and Montana, wellyou know.<...more
...le, in which he insinuated that the referee's were responsible for their loss to the World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. I sincerely hope they levy the largest fine possible on his plump "wallet". Because the statement is not true. The Seattle seahawks had just as much chance to win that game as did the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it was a battle of coaching and Holmgren was definitely out coached by Cowher. In the waning minutes of both halves of the game, Holmgren was managing the clock like it was a pre-season contest, not the Super Bowl. Constant mistakes which ground away the clock and his teams chance to win. His kicker missed field goals, field goals that super bowl champ's MUST make, just ask the New England Patriots. His best receiver dropped nearly every pass thrown his way. His MVP of the league running back never saw the inside of the end zone. Holmgren started the game passing, yet when crunch time rolled around and the clock was going away, he thought it was a good time to start running the ball for 3 and 4 yard gains. Yet Holmgren takes the low road and calls the ref's out and points his finger of blame in their faces.
On the other side of the field Coach Cowher was planning his work and working his plan, devising plays that totally caught the seahawks off guard, including the Rothlisbe...more