Football Trophy Accumulator Tip

Following the two week break for international football, we enter the hectic run-in to the club season when all the major silverware comes up for grabs. Man United may not be without their problems, but two domestic trophies are still well within their reach. In Europe, Barcelona look a class apart in the Champions League and in the Europa League Porto will take some stopping. I’m backing Man Utd to do the League and Cup double in England and for the Spanish and Portuguese sides to claim their respective European trophies at mouthwatering accumulated odds of 22/1 with bet365.

If we start at home we’ll see that Alex Ferguson’s problems look like they can be overcome. It is true that defensively United have recently struggled with the absence of Rio Ferdinand, most notably when Nemanja Vidic has also been out. But still they sit atop the Premier League, with their primary pursuers Arsenal continuously failing to take advantage of the leaders’ slip-ups.

Admittedly Chelsea are in more ominous form, but a nine point gap at the start of April really should be insurmountable. A look at the remaining league fixtures only adds to the sense that United will get over the line, even if it’s in ultimately unconvincing fashion. The danger games appear to be an away trip to the Emirates, and a home match with Chelsea, both at the start of May. I suspect United will probably be able to afford draws, or even a loss by that late stage, due to the kind nature of their fixtures up till then. Ferguson is surely far too wily a campaigner to let such a dominant position slip, especially with the experience of Giggs and Scholes still to call upon.

If United do win the league then I think there’s every chance they will head to Wembley to emulate Chelsea’s double of last season. The all-Manchester FA Cup semi-final has been billed as the ‘real’ final, such is the confidence that the winner won’t be stopped by either Bolton or Stoke. I think this is somewhat disrespectful to two decent Premier League sides but there’s no doubt that strong favouritism would be justified. As for City, I just don’t see them as a side ready to claim United’s mantle any time soon. Mancini has struggled to create a potent attacking force with Balotelli continuing to make headlines for all the wrong reasons. The recent news that Micah Richards will be ruled out for a month or so is a blow at the other end, particularly following the suspension of Kolo Toure. In other words I think United are really well placed for glory on two fronts.

In the Champions League Barcelona look irresistable and the big question is who can stop them? Second favourites Real Madrid are potential opponents in the final four but the Catalans still rule the roost in La Liga. The 5-0 hammering dished out by Messi, Villa et al was a major indication that Jose Mourinho has a way to go before he can rightfully claim his side as the best. If Barca make the final they are likely to face Man Utd, Chelsea or Inter, who defeated them last year. None of them are at their peaks and I just can’t see Guardiola’s formidable football side slipping up again.

Porto may have unearthed the ‘new Mourinho’ in the guise of coach Andre Villas Boas. In December they set the club record of 36 unbeaten games across all competitions, and have won 10 games in Europe alone, already this season. The bookies had regarded Man City and Liverpool as the other main rivals for the Europa League trophy, but after both crashed out in the last round, the door has well and truly opened for Porto.