Route One's Daily Football News Round-Up - 5/9/2012

Enjoy our quick round-up of the football news stories making waves across the globe.

Stoke City have taken a gamble by signing free agent Michael Owen until the end of the season.

Owen has been without a club since departing Old Trafford in the summer, and the injury-prone frontman represents something of a risk a reward signing for Tony Pulis. Keep him fit, and he’ll surely reward you with goals.

"He [Pulis] has assembled a great squad that I look forward to joining," said Owen. "I'm now looking forward to contributing as much as possible to the club, and can't wait to play in front of a great set of supporters."

According to the Sun newspaper, Manchester United made an audacious £38 million deadline day swoop for Brazilian starlet Neymar.

Sir Alex Ferguson turned to the Santos marksman after a ‘reported’ falling out with Wayne Rooney.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils are set to hand a shock debut to Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt.

United have a prestigious friendly with Real Madrid next summer, and Sir Alex is set to hand Bolt – known for his pace – a spot in his squad.

The Jamaican has frequently told of his love for the club, and appeared on a lap of honour around Old Trafford before their 3-2 win against Fulham back in August.

Alessandro Del Piero has apparently rejected an offer from Southampton in order to move to Sydney FC, where he will earn a reported £1.3 million a season to become the highest-paid player in A-League history.

The red card that Tom Huddlestone picked up in his Tottenham side’s draw with Norwich has been rescinded.

Huddlestone dived into a mistimed yet not malicious lunge at the Canaries’ Jonny Howson, and referee Mark Halsey had no hesitation in thrusting the dreaded red in the burly midfielder’s direction. 

After a successful appeal though, the three-match ban has been withdrawn.

Naughty Sir Bobby Charlton has claimed that England are ‘a way off’ from having any success at the next World Cup in 2014.

As part of the 1966 squad, Charlton knows what it takes to win big on the international stage. But he is playing down Roy Hodgson’s side’s chances. "They haven't got a lot of top-quality players so you must feel it is going to be difficult to win things," he said. 

"You cannot see it happening in Brazil at the next World Cup, for instance. I have to be honest and say it's a way off.” Thanks for that Bob.

Here at Route One we try to keep you abreast of all the latest football news around the globe, so keep your peepers peeled.

Tips & Tits: The Premier League Weekend Preview (Part 2)

The latest football betting odds for this weekend’s Premier League games – we try and find the very best value for our readers. Oh, and a few lovely ladies. Enjoy!

*this week’s lady theme is: Female Sports Broadcasters*

#all odds courtesy of Sporting Bet#

Saturday September 1^st (Kick Off: 5:30PM)

Hayley McQueen - Bouncy

Man City v QPR

This must be the first game in an eternity where Man City’s opponents have garnered more column inches than them. QPR have been splashing the cash more readily than a city banker in Stringfellows – and you don’t need me to tell you how this can backfire. 

So Mark Hughes’s men will need to start chalking up some positive results – and fast. Expect Ricardo Carvalho and Julio Cesar to come in to shore up the Hoops’ backline, and they won’t have to shackle Sergio Aguero, who is still out injured. New Citeh signing Scott Sinclair will probably start on the bench (and stay there for the next nine months bar the odd cup appearance).

The Verdict: The draw is priced at 11/2, and this may seem quite ambitious, but this is the kind of game where Roberto Mancini’s boys often fail to turn up. For those that love backing the outsider, QPR are priced at 11/1! A long shot, but not completely unheard of...

Sunday September 2nd (Kick Off: 1.30PM)

Liverpool v Arsenal

Alina Artz - German

The game of the weekend this one we fancy. Liverpool have had a stumbling start to the season, but will be buoyed by the performance against Man City last weekend. You can see that Brendan Rodgers is just starting to mould the team in his own image, with teen sensation Raheem Sterling at the heart of this.

Arsene Wenger will be disappointed by the start his Arsenal side have had. Shorn of the goals of RVP, they have yet to trouble the scorers this campaign. But on the plus side they haven’t conceded either, which is usually their Achilles heel.

The Verdict: This is the scene for a classic Wenger rearguard action. Expect his side to break their goalscoring duck too. The ‘Arsenal win, Podolski first goalscorer’ double is tidy value at 16/1.

Sunday September 2nd (Kick Off: 4PM)

Newcastle v Aston Villa

Millie Clode - Why Not?

This is what is known in the trade as a ‘Home Banker’. Newcastle are formidable at St James’ Park and Villa on their travels, well, just aren’t.

Having been turned down by Clint Dempsey on Transfer Deadline Day, things are looking bleak for Paul Lambert’s side. Aside from Darren Bent, they haven’t really got a natural goal scorer. The Magpies, on the other hand, have two: in the African pairing of Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba.

The Verdict: A result and goals double of ‘Newcastle Win – Under 3.5 goals’ represents cracking value at 7/5. Newcastle with a -1 Goal Handicap at 33/20 will have punters licking their lips too.

Southampton v Man Utd

Sue Barker - English Rose

There were a few hints last weekend that Manchester United – despite conceding twice – were starting to find their feet. Robin Van Persie seems to have settled in to a similar role that he performed so well at Arsenal, and with Wayne Rooney injured he is a certain starter on Sunday.

Southampton really should have backed up their spirited performance at the Etihad on the opening day with anything other than defeat to Wigan. Pacy striker Emmanuel Mayuka will have Saints fans on the edge of their seats, but will probably have to wait for his first team bow.

The Verdict: Although Man Utd have had their troubles when travelling to Southampton – who remembers THIS – expect them to win and win well at St Mary’s this time out. Place on ‘Total Goal Band - 2 to 3’ at Evens, and even though we big him up every time here at Route One we love Shinji Kagawa. He is 6/4 to score anytime.

The Route One Home Banker Treble

Despite nothing seeming to be a banker these days, we’re going for Newcastle (A Villa), Notts Forest (Charlton) and Burnley (Brighton). A £10 stake returns £75.

The Route One Away Day Treble

We are backing Watford (at Derby), and – for the Caretaker Manager effect - Coventry (at Crewe) and Chesterfield (at Gillingham). A £10 stake returns £280.

The Weekend Preview – Value Bets in the Premier League and Beyond (Part 2)

*All odds courtesy of William Hill and Sporting Bet*

Saturday, August 25 (Kick Off 3PM)

Southampton v Wigan

Southampton will be absolutely buzzing after last Sunday’s encounter with Manchester City. Admittedly, the result wasn’t quite what they were after, but the performance did more than enough to suggest the Saints are going to feel right at home in the big league.

They’ll be looking to open their account at St Mary’s with a win, and standing in their way is a Wigan side that dies little to inspire confidence.  If their main man Victor Moses joins Chelsea in the coming days, then Roberto Martinez’s men will be right up against it.

The Verdict: We really fancy Southampton here, so the 21/20 represents a great addition to an accumulator. And whilst he didn’t start against Citeh, expect Rickie Lambert to get the nod to lead the Saints’ line, and 9/2 for him to be First Goalscorer is unmissable value.

Sunderland v Reading

Sunderland put in a ‘backs to the wall’ performance last time out against Arsenal, and secured a decent point. They’ll need to do better though if they are to see off a resistant Reading side playing their third game of the week, and one that is well marshalled by Brian McDermott.

The Black Cats will probably start with Steven Fletcher, and the Scot is capable of finding the net when given an opportunity. As is Pavel Pogrebnyak, who has already opened his account for the campaign.

The Verdict: This will be a good scrap we reckon. Both Teams to Score is a great shout if you’re working on a Goals Galore coupon (10/11), and what about this: Ian Harte to Score Anytime, 7/1. The lad still hits a mean dead-ball you know.

Tottenham v West Brom

Old Andre Villas-Boas will be hoping that the signing of Emmanuel Adebayor can rejuvenate his Spurs, who frankly looked distinctly average against Newcastle on Sunday. Another week of blending together in AVB’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation in training should have worked wonders.

West Brom sprung a bit of a shock in turning over Liverpool last weekend, but it has to be said they were good value for it. Steve Clarke has seemingly moulded them into a decent outfit – and with Romelu Lukaku leading the line, they have a real cutting edge in front of goal.

The Verdict: The bookies really don’t fancy West Brom to score first in this one. In fact, Peter Odemwingie is out as long as 9/1 - worth a flutter. And the draw price of 3/1 looks tempting too.

Saturday, August 25 (Kick Off 5:30PM)

Chelsea v Newcastle

Chelsea have got off to a flying start this season, although they were given a bit of a scare by Reading on Wednesday night. One of the components of their lively start has been Eden Hazard, who has assisted in five of his side’s six goals (two of which were penalties).

Newcastle boast the African goalscoring duo of Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse, as well as a revitalised Hatem Ben Arfa. So they are more than capable of troubling the scorer themselves. But stopping the attacking jewels in Chelsea’s crown could be a tough task.

The Verdict: We can certainly see both team’s scoring in this one, so Goals Galore exponents think on. But we’re going to be mischievous and say that Chelsea will win another penalty in this game (11/4), and that it will be converted by Frank Lampard either first (6/1) or anytime (7/4).

The Route One Home Banker Treble

We are backing Middlesbrough (Crystal Palace), Notts County (Walsall) and Morecambe (Port Vale). A £10 stake returns £70.

The Route One Away Day Double

We are backing Cardiff (at Bristol City), and Yeovil (at Scunthorpe). A £10 stake returns £75.