The bookies are a strange bunch when it comes to pricing up certain markets and their odds for finishing top four and the next manager to leave are proof of that.
Jose Mourinho remains the second favourite behind Steve Bruce (7/4) to be the next manager to leave their post.
Now, let’s analyse that a little.
Mourinho (6/1) is seen as more likely to leave Tottenham than Sam Allardyce (13/2), who is set to be relegated with West Brom, than Mikel Arteta (25/1) who is likely to guide Arsenal to their worse position in 20 years or more and Paul Heckingbottom (14/1), who is only an interim manager at Sheffield United and almost certain to be replaced in the near future.
Considering that Tottenham is fifth and in a cup final, that really is an achievement to only have Steve Bruce at lower odds.
What of top-four? What are the chances that Spurs can finish in a Champions League place?
The odds are not outrageous at 4/1 but certainly a lot higher than Chelsea at 4/5, Liverpool at 4/5, Leicester City at 1/3 and Man Utd at 1/25.
Remember, Spurs are just two points behind Chelsea in fourth and ahead of Liverpool with just 8 games to play. They are also seven points behind the Foxes, who must still play Tottenham, Chelsea and West Ham and eight points adrift of United who also have a tricky run-in which includes a game against us.
But let’s for argument sake leave Leicester and United out of the picture, it is still a little skewed when Chelsea and Liverpool are both odds on and neither team is in any better situation than us right now.
The only reasoning in the disparity in the odds that I can think of, is confidence. The bookies obviously have far more confidence that either Liverpool or Chelsea will have a better run in than us and I suppose if you ignore the humiliation Chelsea suffered at the hands of West Brom yesterday and that Liverpool were everyone’s whipping boys until recently that the odds are justified.
Did I mention that both Liverpool and Chelsea have Champions League commitments as well? No, I never, what’s the point, fixture congestion will not affect them, not if the odds are accurate.
Agreed!
Sorry I didn’t mean literally kids I meant inexperienced in the PL they are not experienced as Toby, instead of Sanchez he could have played Toby basically what I meant Toby should have started that game cheers.
My preference for CBs is Rodon and Toby. With Tanganga and Reguillon as FBs.
If we play with a back three, put Toby as the right CB, Tanganga in the middle, Rodon as left CB. Then play Aurier as right wing back where he can get forward and be protected by Tanganga behind him.
I would also prefer Lloris to go long and quickly by default especially after an opponent’s attack has just been foiled and they have several players deep in our half. Son and Moura can successfully take on individual defenders at speed and bring Harry into play for the killer strike. Sadly most of our moves from the back are hesitant and ponderous and almost invariably founder against the massed organised defences that were given time to form.
Tanganga and Rodon are not kids. Rodon had Lukaku in his pocket for most Wales’ recent game. Inexperienced maybe but then they should have been given more game time. Playing Sanchez game after game instead of Rodon is baffling.
I fully expected, now they’ve done their little job of chucking game after game and not inteferring in Citys 7th title year, that Liverpool would finish strong to ensure their top 4 place. So that’s one certain place, 7 points is a big drop for Leicester so Chelsea are the only team that can be replaced in the CL places. How this side is even close to Chelsea and 4th is one for the ages, they shouldn’t do it, and they likely won’t do it, and that will be for the best, probably even for Levy who will HAVE to spend to give anyone a game in Europe’s elite. This lot struggled vs part timers and got walloped by Zagreb.
The fans might lift the players and get us to top 4. Stop laughing at the back.
Took me two seasons to realise the New White Hart Lane is not a shrine to football, more of a mausoleum for THFC’s past. There used to be a football club down there. Funnily, I can us winning the League Cup. That makes three League Cup’s in thirty years. Lincoln City would have been proud. Another hollow echo to a grand but long fading past. Bless you Bill Nick. RIP THFC.
He handles failure less well than most, just look at his last 5 years. Now lets see how good his therapist really is; I recommend sitting in a sunny quiet spot and cuddling a bank statement.
If you watched Mourinho today I would say the bookies are very right 100% Mourinho’s body language looked like today that he gave up and can’t wait to get out at least that is how it looked like to me and fielding kids with no experience of Pl the likes of Tanganga and Rodon without Alderweireld was his mistake he can’t blame the kids and his interview post the match he was exactly doing that indirectly and for me is the 1st time I blame Mourinho for the loss of the 2 points today.
Allardyce and Heckingbottom will have a chance in the championship
The Ar$e fans seem to want to give Arteta time
Newcastle are a law unto themselves and are just a toxic mess.
Spurs are heading that way
The fans coming back to the stadium will be the tipping point