Sports

Soccer-Premier League talking points

Published

3 years ago

November 7, 2021

Sonia Ulebor

Talking points from the Premier League weekend:

SOLSKJAER BACK IN THE DOCK

A 3-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur last week proved to be only a temporary respite for Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as defeat by Manchester City in Saturday’s derby put the Norwegian back under the spotlight.

It was not quite as spectacular as the 5-0 home thrashing by Liverpool a fortnight ago, but the way United were outclassed in every department was depressingly similar.

The ease with which City won was underlined by the 753 passes they completed — more than any visiting team to Old Trafford since Opta began recording data in 2003-04.

City were very good and United suffered for the lack of the injured Raphael Varane, but the gulf between the two clubs is as wide as it has been since Solskjaer took over.

OPEN SEASON ON PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGERS

The Christmas lights are not even up yet but already five Premier League clubs have parted ways with their managers this season and others might be looking over their shoulders.

Norwich City manager Daniel Farke had just celebrated his side’s first league win of the season when the tap on the shoulder came, ending his four-and-a-half year stint.

Less than 24 hours later Aston Villa’s Dean Smith was sacked with the club on a five-match losing run in the league.

In Farke’s case, the decision appeared to have already been made with the club’s hierarchy clearly having decided that this campaign was heading in the same direction as Farke’s previous top-flight season when Norwich ended bottom.

Smith’s exit is perhaps more surprising as Villa performed well last season and had begun this campaign solidly before a worrying loss of form.

The total of five managers jettisoned is already two more than the whole of last season.

INTERNATIONAL BREAK IS BAD TIMING FOR CONTE

Antonio Conte injected some much-needed passion into Tottenham Hotspur’s ranks in a 0-0 draw with Everton at Goodison Park and was happy enough with a solid defensive display.

He praised his sides desire and spirit but the lack of creativity and spark in attack that was so apparent under Nuno Espirito Santo was clearly evident as his side failed to manage a single shot on target.

Tottenham’s squad is not short of quality, especially in attack, and given time on the training ground Conte will surely get them firing again. So it will be frustrating for the Italian that most of his players will be on international duty for the next 10 days, denying him the chance to get his methods across.

ARSENAL REKINDLE TOP-FOUR HOPES

Few Arsenal fans would have expected the Gunners to challenge for European competition after a dreadful start to their Premier League campaign.

But the faith shown in manager Mikel Arteta by the club’s hierarchy has paid off handsomely with Arsenal now looking well-positioned to challenge for the top four.

Sunday’s 1-0 win over Watford was a scrappy one but they are now unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions and have discovered a way of grinding out results like Arsenal teams of old.

LEICESTER NEED TO PLUG LEAKY DEFENCE

Leicester City’s 1-1 draw at Leeds United meant they did not concede at least two goals in a match for only the second time in their last seven league games, but manager Brendan Rodgers will be aware that had more to do with the hosts’ finishing.

Leeds dominated possession and created a number of chances, with the best one falling to Jack Harrison who found himself unmarked with an open goal, only to send his effort over the crossbar – much to the annoyance of manager Marcelo Bielsa.

A moment of brilliance from Harvey Barnes cancelled out Raphinha’s free kick but for all their flair going forward, Leicester seem to be a bit too vulnerable at the back with pressure likely to build with each dropped point.

(Reporting by Zoran Milosavljevic, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Martyn Herman; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

Sports

Sports betting roundup: NFL and college football were all about the favourites

Published

18 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.

The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.

Trends of the Week

The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.

In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.

When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.

Upsets of the Week

The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.

Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.

Coming up

Right after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees to win the World Series, odds for the 2025 World Series were released.

The Dodgers have the best odds at +400, while the Atlanta Braves and Yankees are next at +800.

The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies round out the top five, both at +1100.

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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

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Sports

Longtime rivals Ovechkin, Crosby join Necas as NHL’s three stars of the week

Published

18 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.

Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.

The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.

Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.

Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.

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Sports

Oliveira, Mitchell named as finalists for CFL outstanding player award

Published

5 days ago

October 31, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.

Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).

Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.

Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.

Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.

Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.

The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).

The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.

The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.

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