United face real test at Leicester, before City and Chelsea lock horns on Super Sunday
Friday 19 September 2014 13:53, UK
What a brilliant couple of weeks this is for sports fans.
The Champions League kicked off this week, we have a blockbuster Super Sunday for you this weekend, it’s Lewis Hamilton v Nico Rosberg in Singapore and then all eyes will be on Gleneagles next week for the Ryder Cup.
What a week for Scotland. I notice that despite all the hype and momentum the 'Yes' vote is still a big outsider with Sky Bet with the Scots currently 2/9 to vote 'No' to independence today.
The 'no' vote given to Billy Horschel for the Ryder Cup Team by Tom Watson looks set to haunt the US skipper for the next ten days. He hasn't stopped winning big tournaments since and I wonder if the USA would be shorter than 7/4 with Sky Bet if the bang in-form Horschel was in the line-up. Europe are 2/5 to retain the trophy.
It's always a risk to have the great tournament at this time of year, as Celtic Manor well know, and let's hope this weather holds for Gleneagles next week. The setting will be spectacular.
There's some value to be had in the Top Points Scorer for Europe market. For starters, Sky Bet will give you your money back on this market if USA win the Ryder Cup.
Rory McIlroy is the 4/1 favourite and bound to be backed off the boards but he looked tired to me at the Tour Championship and will need to be handled carefully by Paul McGinley. Ian Poulter is bound to be popular too at 7/1. Henrik Stenson looks a better bet at 8/1. The Swede remains in tremendous form, suited by all the formats at a Ryder Cup and his length plus accuracy will be crucial round Gleneagles, which looks set to play pretty soft.
Buzz
It surely can't match Medinah's drama but next Sunday is still bound to be a thriller. The same looks guaranteed this weekend with two brilliant games on Super Sunday.
First, we get a second look at the new-look Manchester United, then two favourites to win the Premier League will go head-to-head at the Etihad: Manchester City v Chelsea.
Last weekend there was a totally different feel about Old Trafford. The buzz and excitement was back.
United were as good as QPR were disappointing but the biggest plus point has to be Angel Di Maria. United have signed a superstar. Pace has been the biggest missing ingredient for Manchester United of late and Di Maria provided that in spades. He was quick, direct and skilful.
One pass with the outside of his foot in to Robin van Persie in the second half was off the charts. It seemed infectious as Di Maria also seems to have quickened everything around him as others seemed to be injecting pace in to their passing and movement. It's very early days but the pedestrian and predictable United we saw in the first three games seems to have been rapidly replaced by a team with pace and purpose.
It was great to have Patrick Kluivert in the Sky studio to give us an insight in to the thinking of Louis van Gaal. Kluivert was adamant that the Manchester United manager would eventually switch back to having three at the back. I'm not so sure. He was also convinced that in United's strongest team Robin van Persie and Falcao would be the strikers with Wayne Rooney at the top of a diamond in behind.
We will learn a lot more about Manchester United on Sunday because Leicester will give them a real test at the King Power.
Leicester have been one of the stories of the season so far and did well to back up their encouraging displays against Everton, Chelsea and Arsenal with three points at the Britannia Stadium. They rode their luck against Stoke but not many sides will win there this season.
Leonardo Ulloa was in my list of players to catch the eye from the first three games and he was the match winner last weekend. Ulloa will be a real handful for United's back three/four.
Statement
I can't wait for the game that follows: Manchester City v Chelsea. Chelsea go in to the game as Sky Bet's title favourites at 8/11 with City out to 10/3 to retain their crown. If Chelsea win on Sunday and open a gap at the top, they will shorten dramatically again.
They won this fixture last season on Monday Night Football with one of the performances of the season: A 'Mourinho Masterclass'. They are 17/10 for a repeat. City 6/4 for revenge. It's the kind of fixture in which Chelsea excel - they were the only unbeaten team in Premier League meetings between last season’s top four teams, conceding only two goals in those six games.
This time around Chelsea go in to the big game as the only remaining side in England with a 100 per cent League record. The champions will be determined to stop that and what a perfect stage to make a statement of their own.
Diego Costa has made a major statement by becoming the first player in Premier League history to score seven goals in his first four games. Only Wayne Rooney (eight in 2011-12) has scored more in the opening four games of a Premier League season.
If Costa scores on Sunday - he is 5/4 with Sky Bet to do so - he would become just the third player after Jose Antonio Reyes in 2004-05 and Rooney to score in their clubs' opening five Premier League games of a season.
Sergio Aguero didn't score in all five but still managed eight goals in his first five games for Manchester City. The two star strikers go head-to-head at the Etihad - plus the two title favourites, Lampard against Chelsea and so much more. It's some prospect. See you at 12.30pm on Sky Sports 1.
