The Padcast – Paddy Power Betting Blog

Padcast: O’Neill v Mancini – Who is due the boot?

FEELING BLUE? The future looks pretty bleak for Bobby and his silly scarf [https://paddypowerblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/roberto_mancini.jpg?w=610&h=304] FEELING BLUE? The future looks pretty bleak for Bobby and his silly scarf LISTEN HERE | http://www.paddypower.com/img/the-padcast-63.mp3 [http://www.paddypower.com/img/the-padcast-63.mp3] The sack race is one of the few races nobody wants to win. It’s up there with the race to the front of the Paddy Power canteen queue on mushroom pie day. Christmas is just around the corner and there’s a few chairmen with itchy fingers looking across at the managerial guillotine. Roberto Di Matteo and Mark Hughes have already had the boot from the men in charge and now the sack race is heating up again. Roberto Mancini has come under big pressure after City were about as useful as a 20p coin in Europe, and then Manchester United crossed town to end their unbeaten home run. We talk to Mark Ogden, the Northern football correspondent from the Daily Telegraph, as City travel to Newcastle with the real risk of falling nine points off the pace by Saturday evening. It certainly isn’t all rainbows and lollipops in Sunderland either despite Martin O’Neill’s men thumping Reading 3-0. The Black Cats are just one point above the drop zone and face Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool before January 2nd. The Christmas period doesn’t look too much fun if you’re a Mackem. Martin McFadden joins the show from A Love Supreme [http://www.a-love-supreme.com/] to declare his faith in the manager and tell us his wishlist for the transfer window. After winning just three of their 16 games this season Sunderland fans aren’t in the best spirits so we tried to cheer Martin up with a bucket-load of ‘fun Sunderland stats’ about a range of things from a rope factory, a stained-glass window and the Wear bridge. then it all gets a bit depressing again when we talk about their impending trip to Old Trafford. Listen out for a smoking-hot 10/1 treble, the smartest place to put your pennies this weekend and the usual weekly cocktail of useless stats and misplaced faith in backing Southampton. * Padcast host Ciaran O Raghallaigh on Twitter [https://twitter.com/#!/Ciaran_O] * Padcast producer Josh Powell on Twitter [https://twitter.com/#!/jgpowell13] * Betting: Newcastle v Man City [http://www.paddypower.com/football/football-matches/premier-league-matches/Newcastle-v-Man-City-4565474.html?area=blog_Padcast] * Betting: Man United v Sunderland [http://www.paddypower.com/football/football-matches/premier-league-matches/Man-Utd-v-Sunderland-4565546.html?area=blog_Padcast] * Betting: Premier League coupon [http://www.paddypower.com/football/football-matches/premier-league?area=blog_Padcast] * Betting: The sack race [http://www.paddypower.com/bet/football-specials/manager-specials/Premier-League-Sack-Race-4513593.html?force_racing_css=N&area=blog_Padcast] Direct suggestions for the show, potential guests and compliments/complaints in the comments section below or to thepadcast@paddypower.com [thepadcast@paddypower.com] or follow us on twitter @paddypowerblog [http://twitter.com/paddypowerblog]. We’re also on Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Padcast/145436532179950]. If you’re particularly impressed/angered by the show, feel free to express your satisfaction/abhorrence with your friends using the sharing buttons below. That would be belting. Don’t forget to subscribe in RSS, iTunes by clicking the icon below [https://i0.wp.com/raffyjohn.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/96px-itunes_logo.png]http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/id467342436 [http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/paddypowerblog.wordpress.com/38198/]http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/paddypowerblog.wordpress.com/38198/ [https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=paddypowerblog.wordpress.com&blog=3726385&post=38198&subd=paddypowerblog&ref=&feed=1]

Gary Pallister exclusive: Alex Ferguson has to pick a number one keeper

A CITY DIVIDED: Will the red of United or the blue of City come out on top on Sunday? [https://paddypowerblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/manchester-derby-crowd.jpg?w=610] A CITY DIVIDED: Will the red of United or the blue of City come out on top on Sunday? LISTEN HERE | http://www.paddypower.com/img/the-padcast-62.mp3 [http://www.paddypower.com/img/the-padcast-62.mp3] Manchester United [http://blog.paddypower.com/?s=Manchester+United&submit=Search] are top of the league but defensively they are as flimsy than an IKEA flat-pack built without the instructions. They visit the champions Manchester City [http://blog.paddypower.com/?s=manchester+City&submit=Search] on Sunday in what, for dramatic purposes, we are dubbing a title-deciding six-pointer. Seven times in the league this season Manchester United have fallen behind only to go on to win but they’ve conceded 21 goals in just 15 games. The last time United’s defence was conceding this many goals per game was in the 1978/79 season when they finished ninth and Chelsea got relegated. What can be done to tighten up United’s back line? Can they go on to win the title by simply outscoring everybody else? One man who might have the answers is former Manchester United centre-back Gary Pallister. Gary joins the lads on the Padcast to explain how he’d tighten up United’s back line and what Ferguson needs to do in order to solve their defensive problems. Pally’s relationship with Steve Bruce at the heart of United’s defence is considered as one of the best centre-back pairings to grace the Premier League so he knows a thing or two about keeping clean sheets. Pally has three key steps to sorting out Fergie’s problems: * Pick a number one keeper * Practice defending set-pieces over and over again * Wrap Nemanja Vidic in cotton wool to stop him getting injured The United legend tells the lads who he think should replace Fergie when the manager eventually retires, which of the City forwards he’d prefer to play against and how the Manchester City fans should be patient with Roberto Mancini even if the Champions get beat on Sunday afternoon. Plus we’ve got the usual host of overly ambitious tips for the weekend’s matches and some crazy news from the world of sport. * Padcast host Ciaran O Raghallaigh on Twitter [https://twitter.com/#!/Ciaran_O] * Padcast producer Josh Powell on Twitter [https://twitter.com/#!/jgpowell13] * Betting: Manchester City v Manchester United [http://www.paddypower.com/football/football-matches/premier-league-matches/Man-City-v-Man-Utd-4538098.html?area=blog_Padcast] * Betting: Premier League coupon [http://www.paddypower.com/football/football-matches/premier-league?area=blog_Padcast] Direct suggestions for the show, potential guests and compliments/complaints in the comments section below or to thepadcast@paddypower.com [thepadcast@paddypower.com] or follow us on twitter @paddypowerblog [http://twitter.com/paddypowerblog]. We’re also on Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Padcast/145436532179950]. If you’re particularly impressed/angered by the show, feel free to express your satisfaction/abhorrence with your friends using the sharing buttons below. That would be belting. Don’t forget to subscribe in RSS, iTunes by clicking the icons below [https://i2.wp.com/www.wap2go.co.uk/images/podcast_rss_96x96.png]http://feeds.feedburner.com/PaddyPowerBettingBlogPaddyPowerPodcast [https://i0.wp.com/raffyjohn.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/96px-itunes_logo.png]http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/id467342436 [http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/paddypowerblog.wordpress.com/37399/]http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/paddypowerblog.wordpress.com/37399/ [https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=paddypowerblog.wordpress.com&blog=3726385&post=37399&subd=paddypowerblog&ref=&feed=1]

Padcast: Don’t write West Brom off just yet…

[https://paddypowerblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/steve-clarke.jpg?w=610&h=457]https://paddypowerblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/steve-clarke.jpg NO MORE BOING-BOING BAGGIES: Steve Clarke has got West Brom playing some stunning football LISTEN HERE | http://www.paddypower.com/img/the-padcast-61.mp3 [http://www.paddypower.com/img/the-padcast-61.mp3] The 3-1 defeat away to Swansea may be seen by many as the result that signals the end of West Brom’s incredible run. The Baggies have been in irresistable form that sees them up to fourth in the Premier League and the Padcast lads aren’t writing them off just yet. > ‘There are fans in their sixties, seventies and beyond that are genuinely comparing this team to the side of the late 1970s. These lads might not be as good as that, they were a phenomenal team, but it’s the first time since then that West Brom have had a Premier League team that can go to your Old Traffords and get a result’. Chris Lepkowski from the Birmingham Mail is just one of the many West Brom fans that are bouncing off the walls following the Baggies unbelievable start to the season. But he isn’t at all surprised. He joins the lads on the Padcast this week to tell us why we shouldn’t be shocked to see West Brom near the top of the table and how Steve Clarke’s tactics, training routines and team selection have got West Brom into the Champions League places. Is he dreaming of Europe next season? Quite possibly. With comparisons being drawn to Newcastle’s unbelievable year last season Chris keeps a certain realism in his expectations for what is still to come. Aside from the West Brom love-in we talk Harry Redknapp and the probable relegation of QPR, Barry Lenihan is back in the studio with his latest whacky news from around the world and we bring you a bucket-load of tips for the weekend including a stunning 11/2 treble. * Padcast host Ciaran O Raghallaigh on Twitter [https://twitter.com/#!/Ciaran_O] * Padcast producer Josh Powell on Twitter [https://twitter.com/#!/jgpowell13] * Betting: Premier League coupon [http://www.paddypower.com/football/football-matches/premier-league?area=blog_Padcast] Direct suggestions for the show, potential guests and compliments/complaints in the comments section below or to thepadcast@paddypower.com [thepadcast@paddypower.com] or follow us on twitter @paddypowerblog [http://twitter.com/paddypowerblog]. We’re also on Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Padcast/145436532179950]. If you’re particularly impressed/angered by the show, feel free to express your satisfaction/abhorrence with your friends using the sharing buttons below. That would be belting. Don’t forget to subscribe in RSS, iTunes by clicking the icons below [https://i2.wp.com/www.wap2go.co.uk/images/podcast_rss_96x96.png]http://feeds.feedburner.com/PaddyPowerBettingBlogPaddyPowerPodcast [https://i0.wp.com/raffyjohn.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/96px-itunes_logo.png]http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/id467342436 [http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/paddypowerblog.wordpress.com/36981/]http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/paddypowerblog.wordpress.com/36981/ [https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=paddypowerblog.wordpress.com&blog=3726385&post=36981&subd=paddypowerblog&ref=&feed=1]

Padcast: Rafa Benitez gets the nod as Chelsea manager

[https://paddypowerblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/inpho_00148687.jpg?w=610&h=423]https://paddypowerblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/inpho_00148687.jpg ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST: Roman offers a up a celebratory fist-bump after axing Di Matteo LISTEN HERE | http://www.paddypower.com/img/the-padcast-60.mp3 [http://www.paddypower.com/img/the-padcast-60.mp3] Roberto Di Matteo [http://blog.paddypower.com/?s=roberto+di+matteo&submit=Search] was brutally sacked by Roman Abramovich this morning and quicker than you can make a ‘fat Spanish waiter’ joke Rafa Benitez has taken the hot seat until the end of the season. The Guardian’s football reporter Dominic Fifield [https://twitter.com/domfifield] is on this week’s Padcast to throw his opinion into the mix following the brutal sacking of RDM and the future for Rafa. Bobby won an FA Cup, a Champions League and was top of the table less than a month ago, but it couldn’t save him. What can the man with the terrible goatee do to keep the boss happy? Di Matteo became the latest victim of Roman Abramovich’s brutal regime and was the eight Chelsea manager to get the boot since 2004. The Blues have spent £69million on dismissing managers in the last eight years which could have bought them four Zlatan Ibrahimovics [http://blog.paddypower.com/?s=zlatan+ibrahimovic&submit=Search] and had a bit of loose change to boot. Was it right to get rid of RDM after a couple of bad results? There’s every chance Roberto Mancini will be behind him in the queue at the job centre if Manchester City don’t start picking up results as managerial silly season begins. We look at the big Premier League game of the weekend and the New Kids on the Blog pick out their best tips of the weekend. * Padcast host Ciaran O Raghallaigh on Twitter [https://twitter.com/#!/Ciaran_O] * Padcast producer Josh Powell on Twitter [https://twitter.com/#!/jgpowell13] * Betting: Next Chelsea manager [http://www.paddypower.com/football/football-specials/manager-specials/Next-Chelsea-Manager-4504921.html?area=blog_Padcast] * Betting: Chelsea v Manchester City [http://www.paddypower.com/football/football-matches/premier-league-matches/Chelsea-v-Man-City-4480462.html?area=blog_Padcast] * Betting: Premier League coupon [http://www.paddypower.com/football/football-matches/premier-league?area=blog_Padcast] Direct suggestions for the show, potential guests and compliments/complaints in the comments section below or to thepadcast@paddypower.com [thepadcast@paddypower.com] or follow us on twitter @paddypowerblog [http://twitter.com/paddypowerblog]. We’re also on Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Padcast/145436532179950]. If you’re particularly impressed/angered by the show, feel free to express your satisfaction/abhorrence with your friends using the sharing buttons below. That would be belting. Don’t forget to subscribe in RSS, iTunes by clicking the icons below [https://i2.wp.com/www.wap2go.co.uk/images/podcast_rss_96x96.png]http://feeds.feedburner.com/PaddyPowerBettingBlogPaddyPowerPodcast [https://i0.wp.com/raffyjohn.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/96px-itunes_logo.png]http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/id467342436 [http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/paddypowerblog.wordpress.com/36403/]http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/paddypowerblog.wordpress.com/36403/ [https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=paddypowerblog.wordpress.com&blog=3726385&post=36403&subd=paddypowerblog&ref=&feed=1]

Padcast: Will Jimmy be winning matches at Celtic Park?

[https://paddypowerblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/jimmys-winning-matches.jpg?w=610&h=349]https://paddypowerblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/jimmys-winning-matches.jpgLISTEN HERE | http://www.paddypower.com/img/the-padcast-59.mp3 [http://www.paddypower.com/img/the-padcast-59.mp3] Donegal GAA Senior football manager and 2012 All-Ireland winner Jim McGuinness but you might now him as the man the song ‘Jimmy’s winning matches’ is all about. The anthem has over 750,000 views on Youtube and was heard up and down the country for most of the summer. Now he has joined Celtic as a performance consultant in a completely new role in a different sport all together. McGuinness will be joining the Hoops to help the development of young players, but what will he be bringing to the club? Chris McNulty is the sports writer for the Donegal News and joins the lads on the Padcast to explain what a good appointment this is for Neil Lennon’s squad and how the success McGuinness had in GAA can translate to football. Chris has worked with McGuinness for several years and explains what kind of manager he is and how his relationship with young players is second-to-none. With Barry Lenihan still on International duty, Josh and Ciaran go through some of the week’s stranger stories from the world of sport and look ahead to the big North London Derby on Saturday between Arsenal and Tottenham. Last week the New Kids on the Blog nailed a whopping 14/1 four-fold and they’re back with an even more adventurous 70/1 acca for this weekend’s action. * Padcast host Ciaran O Raghallaigh on Twitter [https://twitter.com/#!/Ciaran_O] * Padcast producer Josh Powell on Twitter [https://twitter.com/#!/jgpowell13] * Betting: How many trophies will Celtic win? [http://www.paddypower.com/football/uk-football/scottish-premier?ev_oc_grp_ids=484499&area=blog_Padcast] * Betting: Arsenal v Tottenham [http://www.paddypower.com/football/football-matches/premier-league-matches/Arsenal-v-Tottenham-4452050.html?area=blog_Padcast] * Betting: Premier League coupon [http://www.paddypower.com/football/football-matches/premier-league?area=blog_Padcast] Direct suggestions for the show, potential guests and compliments/complaints in the comments section below or to thepadcast@paddypower.com [thepadcast@paddypower.com] or follow us on twitter @paddypowerblog [http://twitter.com/paddypowerblog]. We’re also on Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Padcast/145436532179950]. If you’re particularly impressed/angered by the show, feel free to express your satisfaction/abhorrence with your friends using the sharing buttons below. That would be belting. Don’t forget to subscribe in RSS, iTunes by clicking the icons below [https://i2.wp.com/www.wap2go.co.uk/images/podcast_rss_96x96.png]http://feeds.feedburner.com/PaddyPowerBettingBlogPaddyPowerPodcast [https://i0.wp.com/raffyjohn.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/96px-itunes_logo.png]http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/id467342436 [http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/paddypowerblog.wordpress.com/35683/]http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/paddypowerblog.wordpress.com/35683/ [https://pixel.wp.com/b.gif?host=paddypowerblog.wordpress.com&blog=3726385&post=35683&subd=paddypowerblog&ref=&feed=1]