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Well, one thing about the GB Olympic football team which we do know, and that is the fact that Stuart Pearce has the honour of leading the team, while England women boss Hope Powell gets to take charge of the GB Women’s team at next year’s Olympics. The controversy over this decision to unite the home nations into one team for the Olympics continue to rage on. The Scottish, Welsh and Irish Football Associations are opposed because their independence as soccer nations they feel, is being threatened, even though FIFA has said that a Great British team at the Olympics will not effect any current individual standings. Anyway, the men’s team will be made up of players aged 23 and under, while three over age players will be allowed to be selected. So with this in mind, we went looking for some football betting markets involving the GB Olympic soccer team, and there are some good odds available at Stan James for players who you may suppose will make the squad. This will be the first time since the 1972 Olympics that GB have entered the football discipline, winning the Gold Medal in the 1904, 1908 and 1912 games. So just who will Stuart Pearce take with him to the Olympic football tournament? Well, as far as the old hands are concerned, those three spots which are available for players over 24 years old, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs seem the most likely to fill a couple of those places. Becks, playing with the LA Galaxy, is 6/5 at Stan James to make it to the Great Britain squad, after publicly announcing that he would love to be a part of it all. He would certainly help with marketing the 2012 London Olympics, and raising the domestic profile. Manchester United’s evergreen winger Ryan Giggs is at 5/1 with Stan James to make the squad as well.

One of the problems which club managers, like Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are having, is that some of their young stars could be involved at the Olympic tournament as well, which would give no summer break to those who would be involved at Euro 2012 as well. Players like Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere, and United’s defensive duo of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones would have a pretty busy summer if selected for both events. The clubs cannot stop one of their players from attending the GB squad if selected by Stuart Pearce, and only really Tottenham’s Harry Redknapp has vocally supported any of his players who wanted to appear at the Olympics. This of course would most likely be Gareth Bale who is priced at 5/4 to make the Olympic squad with Stan James. Of course, only England and potentially the Republic of Ireland would have players at Euro 2012 and the Olympics. So for the likes of Wales’ Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale, this unique chance to play at the Olympics as an eligible player will likely be taken. Current England keeper Joe Hart is currently priced 5/4 to make the squad, along with James Milner at 7/2. Wayne Rooney, who would qualify and over age player is priced at 8/1 at Stan James, but there has been no word about his level of interest. You can’t imagine Sir Alex Ferguson being too thrilled about him having another busy summer. Another of the veteran crew who is on the list, is Chelsea’s Frank Lampard, who is right out at 20/1 to be selected. Other names on the coupon at Stan James to make the GB Olympic team is Michael Mancienne at 3/1, Barry Bannan at 7/1 and Tom Huddlestone at 5/2. So it will be interesting to see what Stuart Pearce does with his team selection. Whoever he picks there is bound to be some controversy and flash points in the media, but there is a chance at picking up a nice bit of profit in this market.

Stan James offer up to £150 in free bets for new customers registering an account with them. The highly popular bookie gives new account holders a great chance at some free betting money. When you sign up and place your first £10 bet, the bookie will match that with a free bet to the value of £10. Then, the more you bet, the more free bets that you will be in line to get. For example, your first £20 gets a free bet to the same value and so on, up to £50, which is when you will have earned £150 in free bets with Stan James. Check out their great site for more details.

Premier League Champions Manchester United will be looking to get their title charge back on track, after last weekend’s disappointing defeat against Liverpool. In Saturday’s evening kick-off on Saturday, United will know exactly where they stand, with leaders Chelsea playing earlier in the day against Bolton. A win for Chelsea would send them five points clear of the current Champions, and put more pressure on Alex Ferguson and his troops to perform.

Manchester United’s defence could be severely weakened for the weekend game, as more than half of their starting defence could be missing, with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic absent from the line up. Both have calf injuries, and Old Trafford stalwart Gary Neville is also unavailable due to being suspended. The injury problems for Alex Ferguson do not end there, as Ryan Giggs is still doubtful, and workhorses Darren Fletcher and Owen Hargreaves are still not ready to take part in any action.

But, if Alex Ferguson is bemoaning his luck, then he should look across the Lancashire border to see the problems that Blackburn are having. The dreaded swine flu decided to have an outbreak at the club, and it latest victim is striker Jason Roberts. Top scorer David Dunn was also suspected of having the virus, but made an appearance during Blackburn’s midweek Carling Cup win over Barnsley. Chris Samba will probably miss the trip to Old Trafford after losing a lot of weight, and was the player suffering most from the symptoms. David Dunn will be Rover’s key player going forward, but more likely than not, they will approach the game with defence in mind, looking to hit United on the break. Dunn is Blackburn’s top scorer with 5 league goals, while Wayne Rooney leads the way for the Reds with 7.

Manchester United’s hopes of retaining the Premier League title were dealt a blow at Anfield last Sunday, when a wounded Liverpool bounced back into form in impressive style, outplaying and outperforming their Old Trafford rivals all over the park. The defeat cost United top spot in the league, and now the enforced disarray at the back will leave Ferguson with some head scratching. Although it does not happen to often, Manchester United are usually resilient when having to pick themselves up from a defeat. They did it last year in style after Liverpool thumped them 4-1, still having more than enough in the tank to go on and take the Premier League crown.

Even with the injuries and missing players, Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn are unlikely to cause much of a problem to Manchester United, as they have only won once at Old Trafford in fifteen Premier League games played there. The odds are definitely stacked against them, simply because the strength in depth that United have at their disposal. United were able to field an entirely different side in their Carling Cup match in the week, from the one that lost to Liverpool in the league. Adversely, Blackburn ran with a lot of their first team in their Carling Cup match.

In the Premier League, Blackburn are struggling down in 16th with just 10 points to their name. They have been bad on their travels, which will see their odds stretched at the bookies, as they have lost all four games away, conceding 16 goals in the process this season. Their record away from Ewood Park stretches much further back than that though, for they are actually on a streak of losing nine consecutive away games. Their previous games saw them concede five against Chelsea last weekend, and it seems a long way to bounce back for Blackburn from such a heavy league defeat, and to have to go back into the lions den at Old Trafford will probably spell another defeat for Allardyce’s men.

Manchester United to win: 2/11 at Expekt
Draw: 6/1 at Bet365
Blackburn to win: 21/1 at ExtraBet

Betting Advice: Are Manchester United wounded enough at the back to offer Blackburn a glimmer of hope? The Red Devil’s defence, has not looked as ship shape as it has done in previous seasons. A full strength Blackburn may have taken some heart from the fact that United will be missing key players, but with just three goals scored on their travels so far this season, it is hard to see anything other than a field day for the home side.
Blackburn +1 Asian Handicap: 14/5 at Bet365
Wayne Rooney anytime scorer: 10/11 at BetFred
David Dunn anytime scorer: 7/1 at BlueSquare

Manchester United go on the road in Wednesday’s Champions League fixture, and it is one of the longest trips that they’ll ever have faced. They head off to the cold of Russia to face the ‘Army Men’ of CSKA Moscow. Having come through two tough enough opening fixtures of the Champions League, Alex Ferguson’s men will more likely than not be ready for the challenge ahead. United top of both their Champions League group and the Premier League, have been grinding out results, more than looking at their free flowing dominant best. Either way a win is a win, and they will be out to solidify their position at the top.

A 2-1 win over Wolfsburg and a 1-0 victory of Besiktas has put United in control of Group B. They haven’t faced any of their group rivals before in the Champions League, but that has not stopped their progress. CSKA Moscow are sitting in third with three points, following a heavy Match Day One defeat away to Wolfsburg, and then picking up a 2-1 win over rock bottom Besiktas. CSKA are nearing the end of their domestic league season, so they have plenty of match fitness, but are sitting in fourth, a long way back of leaders Rubin Kazan. It is probably going to be one of those games that are more enduring as opposed to any great shows of excitement.

That though, is a key factor of success in Europe, the ability to go to difficult places and bring something back. That is what United did exactly in their Match Day One game away at Besiktas, and is something they have always been good at doing. With Chelsea collecting their second consecutive away defeat in the Premier League, United went back to the top of the pile on the weekend, and that will bring some confidence with being in a position they are used to. One thing that they won’t be used to however, is the fact that they will be playing on an artificial pitch on Wednesday night. This could be a factor, as the home side will of course be used to things like the accelerate bounce of the ball. This is the same pitch upon which the national side have played their games, and some of United’s England internationals will have see it before.

That however does not make for an entire team being comfortable on it. United will be without two big names, that of Ryan Giggs and striker Wayne Rooney. Ji-Sung Park, Evra and Darren Fletcher have all missed out on the trip as well. This will be a big test for Rio Ferdinand, whose form, or lack thereof has been highlighted over the past couple of weeks. He will need to be on his toes, as the Russian side are no slouches. Moscow have lost only once in their last five games, and have conceded very little. They could be a really tough team to break down, but United will get hope from the fact that Wolfsburg put three past CSKA in the first round of matches.

Wolfsburg have a more potent strike force than United, and take Rooney out of the equation and United will have to rely on someone else to step up. While blessed with plenty of attacking options, especially from midfield, will they have the strong enough presence up front, in somewhat hostile surrounding, to take maximum points from the Russians?

CSKA Moscow to win: 11/4 at BetFred
Draw: 23/10 at Bet365
Manchester United to win: 6/5 at SkyBet

Betting Advice: Maybe not the toughest game that United faces in this years Group stage, for that will likely be against Wolfsburg. But it is certainly a very uncomfortable one. With Rooney missing and the artificial pitch, initial thoughts would be for a draw, which both sides would be fairly happy with. But you won’t often see United trying to play cautiously for a draw from the get go. They will come under some pressure, but is there anyone else more experienced than United at grinding out results and coming through awkward games with a positive?
Manchester United to win 1-0: 13/2 at 888Sport