Route One's Daily Football News Round-Up - 20/9/2012

We find the latest football news stories making the headlines, so you don’t have to. 

Pic courtesy of Totally Cool Pix

A debut double from Oscar was not enough for his new Chelsea team-mates, as they were held to a 2-2 draw with Juventus.

It was defensive lapses from Mikel and John Terry that allowed the Italian club to pinch a point in this Champions League Group E curtain raiser, after the £25 million Brazilian had given his side a two goal cushion.

A rare Michael Carrick strike was enough for Manchester United to claim a narrow 1-0 win against Galatasaray in Group H.

Despite the result it was a night to forget for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men, for whom Nani missed a penalty, and the Turkish side will be disappointed not to have taken at least a point home with them.

They were denied a spot kick of their own when Nemanja Vidic bundled Umut Bulup to the ground, and went on to hit the woodwork three times. A close shave for United then, who will have been buoyed by the first appearance for eleven months of Darren Fletcher.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has confirmed that his top goalscorer Demba Ba could leave the club in January.

The Senegalese marksman has a £7m buy-out clause in his contract, and talks over a new deal have yet to surface. Vultures from across Europe will be getting ready to swoop.

"There is that clause in his contract and it makes us vulnerable," Pardew said. "It's still open in the next window."

In the Championship, Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday played out a rip-roaring Yorkshire derby, with the Terriers taking the plaudits 3-1.

Both sides were reduced to ten men in this feisty encounter, with the result seeing Simon Grayson’s men leap into sixth place.

Elsewhere, Leicester City beat Burnley 2-1 and Wolves took the spoils following a 2-0 win at Ipswich.

England women’s team qualified for the 2013 European Championships following their 3-0 victory over Croatia.

Hope Powell’s ladies secured automatic qualification with goals from their captain Casey Stoner, Eni Aluko and Jill Scott. They finished top of Group Six, following an exceptional campaign in which they remained unbeaten.

The Daily Football News Round-Up

He does look quite sad here

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

Spanish sources have claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo is unhappy at Real Madrid, which has alerted the attention of both Manchester clubs and french big spenders PSG.

Ronaldo scored twice in Madrid’s win over Granada at the weekend, but failed to celebrate with any pomp or vigour.

Afterwards, he is reported to have said: “I am sad and the people at the club know about it. It’s about professional issues. I can’t say any more.”

Meanwhile, Ashley Cole will miss England’s first World Cup Qualifying match against Moldova this Friday through injury.

The Chelsea lothario picked up an ankle knock in Friday’s Super Cup humbling against Atletico Madrid. Everton’s Leighton Baines is tipped to deputise. 

Joining Cole on the sidelines will be Andy Carroll, who tweaked a hamstring on his West Ham debut on Saturday, but there was good news for John Terry, who was able to take part in full training despite having been troubled by a neck injury recently.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has been given a two-match touchline ban for tickling the arm of an Assistant Referee.

The silver-haired assassin did not contest the FA’s misconduct charge, after he was rapped for stroking Peter Kirkup for awarding opponents Tottenham a throw-in. 

Pardew will miss the Magpies’ away fixture at Everton and the home tie against Norwich City. Assistant boss John Carver is expected to take charge.

Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg have forked out an incredible £64 million for the double signing of Hulk and Axel Witsel.

Hulk, the beefy Porto winger, was tipped to join Chelsea this summer, but after the window closed the Russian side quickly swooped with a £32 million deal. Creative midfielder Witsel joins from Benfica for a similar fee.

Wolves have terminated the contract of their Assistant Manager Terry Connor with immediate effect.

Connor had a stint in charge of the West Midlands club at the tail-end of last season, picking up only four points from 13 games in charge. He’s been moved aside following the appointment of new manager Stale Solbakken.

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

The Best Value Betting for the nPower Championship 2012/13

Ah yes, the nPower Championship. This is, without doubt, Route One’s favourite division anywhere across the globe. 

There is sometimes silky football, more often there is blood and sand football played on the edge, but always there is the knowledge that any side can beat any other on their day in this division. Which is what makes betting here a bit of a gamble, if you’ll pardon the pun. But we’ll try our best:

Winner & Promotion

 

Again, we must look at the fortunes of the three relegated teams as a starting point. Bolton (7/1, Paddy Power) look a decent punt for a title shove – they’ve brought in Keith Andrews, Matt Mills and Andy Lonergan, but perhaps the best news for the Trotters is the return from long term injuries of Lee Chung-Yong, Stuart Holden and Tyrone Mears. With the exciting Marvin Sordell leading the line, expect Owen Coyle’s eye catching football to get results this campaign.

Blackburn are 12/1 for the title with Coral, and those look fair odds. But Steve Kean has held onto his job by the skin of his teeth, and made perhaps the Championship signing of the summer in Danny Murphy. Alongside Dickson Etuhu in midfield, with the exciting Fabio Nunes on the flank and Nuno Gomes up top, take the 4/1 at William Hill for promotion back to the Promised Land.

With short odds of 5/2 for promotion, Wolves look unbackable (could be a word?). It looks like they are set to lose their prized assets in Steven Fletcher and Matt Jarvis, with Michael Kightly already having left for pastures new. With an unknown quantity in charge in the shape of Stale Solbakken, this could be a season too early for the West Midlands outfit.

For fans of the value punt, both Cardiff (4/1, Paddy) and Birmingham (6/1, Paddy) look decent prices. The Bluebirds (or are they Redbirds now?) have brought in Craig Bellamy – who still looks hungry for success, Heidar Helguson and the talented youngster Jordan Mutch. Combined with the existing midfield of Arron Gunnarsson, Peter Whittingham and Stephen McPhail, this could be the season that Cardiff crack the Premiership nut.

Birmingham have exceptional young manager Lee Clark, and superb youngster Jack Butland between the sticks. Having kept the majority of their squad from last season, the Blues are a good shout for a Play Off spot.

Relegation

 

*All best relegation odds provided by Paddy Power*

Barnsley (11/8) are the hot tip from the bookmakers to be rooted to the bottom of the table come next May. They’ve lost a whole heap of players, including veteran goal poacher Andy Gray, and replaced these with an injury-riddled Egyptian. Yep, step forward Mido. Hard to see how the Tykes can stay up.

When your only signing of the summer is Jody Morris, you know you are in for a tricky season. This is why a whole heap of money has been piled onto Bristol City (5/2). The Robins struggled royally last season, and things look just as bleak for the forthcoming campaign.

Huddersfield (4/1) are a decent young man side with a safe pair of hands at the helm in Simon Grayson, but much will depend on the final destination of Jordan Rhodes as to the success or otherwise of the Terriers.

And Peterborough (2/1) will hope that their goal power will be enough to keep them safe. As fans of the ‘Both Teams to Score’ coupon will know so well, goals tend to fly in at London Road on a regular basis – at both ends. 

Top Goalscorer

 

Here at Route One we reckon you can perm one from six for this prize. Jermaine Beckford (20/1, Coral) will benefit from a full season under Nigel Pearson’s tutelage, and with exciting wingers Ben Marshall and Anthony Knockeart providing the ammunition, expect JB to bulge the net on twenty or more occasions.

Ross McCormack (20/1) and Marvin Emnes (25/1, Paddy Power) are both proven Championship goalscorers, and young scamps Marvin Sordell (25/1) and Charlie Austin (20/1) certainly have goals in them. 

And keep an eye on the Steven Fletcher (14/1, William Hill) situation too – if he stays at Wolves, well, he certainly knows where the net is.