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Is it just me or does the managerial merry-go-round revolve that quickly nowadays that the game appears to be shed experienced head coaches more quickly than the average Christmas tree drops its needles? Championship side QPR are a prime example. The board may be fronted by multi-millionaires but any business acumen they may have acquired in other fields seems to go out of the window where football is concerned. Paul Hart recently became the R’s ninth manager in two years but, significantly, has only signed a contract until the end of the season. Given Rangers‘ predeliction for change, that may yet prove optimistic. There have been some very bizarre decisions taken in boardrooms this season. Steve Gibson, chariman of Middlesbrough and a man with a reputation for his patience with managers, decided to dispense with Gareth Southgate’s services with his team just a point off the top of the table. Since Southgate’s departure, Boro have fallen away dramatically and, at the time of writing, now lie in the bottom half of the Championship a full 20 points off the pace – isn’t hindsight a wonderful thing! Then. of course, there’s the strange case of Manchester City. On the same weekend that Manchester United lost 3-0 to Fulham, Liverpool surrendered tamely at bottom club Portsmouth and Chelsea were held to a draw at struggling West Ham, City were putting four past Sunderland at Eastlands. Mark Hughes‘ reward, his P45! City chief executive Gary Cook has already admitted that Roberto Mancini had been offered Hughes‘ job the day before the Welshman was sacked but denies there has been a players’ rebellion in lieu of the decision. That hasn’t, however, put off Skybet pricing up a market on which high-profile star will be first to leave the City Of Manchester Stadium. Robinho, who has hardly endeared himself to City fans of late, is the 11-4 market leader while the oft-outspoken Craig Bellamy is a 9-2 chance with Paddy Power. The Irish firm also make former Inter boss Mancini 1-2 to still be in charge of City this time next year.

It’s been a high-octane start to the Premier League, with 355 goals scored in the 117 games played to date. This means an average goal-to-game ratio of just over 3, although you can regularly find odds of 1.90 about the Over 2.5 Goals selection with bookmakers. Has there just been an initial flurry of goals at the early stage of the season which will ultimately slow down, or is there a trend emerging where the shrewd punter can capitalise before the bookmakers start to adjust their prices?

Before the Wolves v Arsenal match last Saturday, I noticed that Stan James were offering 2.75 that there were Over 3.5 Goals. However, a cursory glance at the stats illustrates that 7 of Arsenal’s 10 league games had seen four or more goals scored. While Wolves had generally been involved in lower-scoring matches, it’s worth bearing in mind that the strong favourite to win a match will ultimately have more bearing on how a game is played out. Aside from the Gunners’ 1-0 win at Fulham (a match which could have seen many goals), every other league match involving Arsene Wenger’s team have seen at least three goals scored. As we witnessed at Molineux, the visitors ran out 4-1 winners.

Indeed, there are only six teams in the English top flight who have had more games with Under 2.5 than Over 2.5. As you might expect, this includes Stoke City and Fulham, although Manchester City are something of a surprise inclusion. A closer inspection of City’s stats reveal that four of their five home matches have seen three or more goals scored, while five of their six away games have seen two or less goals scored. This suggests that Mark Hughes’ team go for the jugular at Eastlands, although play in a more conservative fashion away from home. After last Saturday’s 3-3 draw against Burnley, they might have to revise this policy although it’s interesting nonetheless.

Naturally, it helps to be armed with as many tools as possible when it comes to beating the bookie. Firms like bet365 actually provide their customers with a comprehensive stats section and we should be taking advantage of this unusual bookmaker kindness! For example, league leaders Chelsea have scored twenty-nine goals this season, but did you realise that the Blues have only managed eight of these before half-time? Carlo Ancelotti must be reasonable at giving team-talks as his team have managed more goals (9) between the 46th and 60th minute than any other team in the division.

Manchester United are associated with scoring late goals and the stats bear this out, with 8 of their 23 managed between the 76th and 90th minute. However, to say that Arsenal have been fast out of the traps in matches this term is misleading. The Gunners seemingly like to feel their way into matches, with no goals scored before the 15th minute. However, they have the highest amount (9) between 16th and 30th minute, something which is useful for In-Play betting on their matches. On the pre-match markets, bookmakers regularly offer betting on whether the goal will be scored before or after a certain minute, so with a scarcity of goalless draws this information is very useful.

According to MP and prominent member of the All-Party Racing Group Alan Meale, there isn’t currently an alternative to the bookmakers’ levy scheme in the UK. That doesn’t, however, mean the government have stopped looking for a more popular way to fund the sport of kings which, as Meale pointed out to a conference organised by the European Paris-Mutuel Association in Brussels, has a commercial value that has failed to be exploited in the past. The PMU dominates French racing, of course, and its monopoly of on and off-course betting is secure for the foreseeable future. However, sports betting isn’t covered by the same legislation and UK bookmakers will have been encouraged by plans to open up business in this sphere, particularly to internet operators. A ruling will be made in March and that could open the way for a new licensing system by the end of the year.

One firm who are certain to be interested in developments in France is Ladbrokes. Already busy in Spain, Italy and Belgium with growing interests in China, the Harrow-based bookmakers are also exploring possible avenues in Australia. The betting license in the state of Victoria, currently owned by Tabcorp, is up for grabs in 2012 and Ladbrokes have already been making overtures to the state authority. It’s generally acknowledged that the technology used in off-track betting in Australia doesn’t bear comparison to that used in Britain and UK-based bookmakers would certainly have a strong hand if they were to pusue their interest Down Under.

Changing tack, the odds on Mark Hughes becoming the next managerial casualty in the Premier League have shortened considerably after Manchester City failed to persuade one Brazilian, Kaka, to join the club and subsequently lost another, Robinho, while on a mid-season break in Tenerife. Admittedly, Robinho’s AWOL exploits were only temporary but Hughes is under increasing pressure to justify Sheikh Mansour’s notable investment in the club and the Welshman is as short as 5-4 with skybet to lose his job before the end of the season.