A glorified friendly it may be, but this could be one pre-season fixture actually worth watching.

Rarely does the Community Shield command such attention as it does this season. Both teams will be looking to lay down a marker ahead of the new season, but this year’s Premier League curtain raiser has the added spice of a local derby.

There will also be a few new faces on show for both teams with Asley Young, Phil Jones, David de Gea, Gael Clichy and Sergio Aguero all likely to feature.

And it is the last player on that list who excites me most. Aguero is a class act, and despite costing a fee in the region of £38 million, could prove to be the best piece of transfer business of the summer.

The Argentine has been a revelation in La Liga since his arrival at Atletico Madrid five years ago at the age of just 17. He has scored 74 goals in 175 appearances and is one of few players to have upstaged Barcelona on multiple occasions in fixtures against the Catalan club.

There are the inevitable concerns from some about how quickly he can adapt to the English lifestyle and the pace of the Premier League. But I don’t share them. Aguero, in my opinion, will go on to become one of, if not the, best player in the Premier League.

Paddy Power currently go 6/1 on Kun Aguero getting the first goal of the game and 2/1 on him scoring at anytime. I doubt that odds as big as this will be around for long and we should snap them up while they’re available.

For a full list of odds got to Paddy Power where you can also get a free £10 bet by clicking on the below banner.

200/1 that McIlroy hooks up with Elin Nordegren

Who said global fame and superstardom changes a man? Rory McIlroy split up with his long-term girlfriend Holly Sweeney (below) prior to the recent Open Championship, and has now, reportedly got himself a suitably more famous missus.

Reports in the ever-reliable British media claim that McIlroy hooked up with world number one tennis player Caroline Wozniacki following the conclusion of The Open Championship earlier this month.

This news came around the same time as the Northern Irishman’s management company released a statement saying: “Rory McIlroy’s long-time relationship with Holly Sweeney came to an amicable end before The Open Championship.”

Sweeney likes to practice drilling whilst watching Rory.

Comparisons have been made between McIlroy and Tiger Woods over the past few weeks, but those making their money from the 22-year-old will be hoping that the similarities end on the golf course. As his management company’s eagerness to release a statement regarding his relationship status suggests.

McIlroy has struggled a little with his form in Europe since winning the US Open but a return to the US for the upcoming US PGA Championship will suit his game. A face off against Woods on the course is on the cards following the American’s return to the game, but who will be the lady on McIlroy’s arm if he does claim his second major of the year at Atlanta Athletic Club in a fortnights time?

Bookmaker Paddy Power are offering odds of 4/5 that it will be Wozniacki, and 11/10 that he will be a single man. It is 10/1 that he will be back with Holly Sweeney, who he has already split with once this year before reacquainting.

You can get odds of 66/1 that he hooks up with Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle, 33/1 that he bags golfer Michelle Wie and 40/1 that he goes potty (Harry Potter…. get it?) over Emma Watson.

But the most interesting bet of the bunch is the 200/1 that McIlroy is dating Elin Nordegren on the final day of the US PGA. To see Tiger’s face as Nordegen runs on the green after McIlroy has just defeated him in a play-off would be priceless.

For a full list of odds got to Paddy Power where you can also get a free £10 bet by clicking on the below banner.

Despite redefining the term arrogance over the past few weeks David Haye could not use his fists to back up his mouth in Hamburg on Saturday.

Haye’s camp is trying to play up the fact that the Briton had a broken toe, claiming that it hampered his performance. But there is no getting away from the fact that the better boxer won. It may not have been the most entertaining fight but Wladimir Klitschko bossed proceedings from start to finish.

Now, Haye, with his tail between his legs, must consider his future and decide whether he will standby his promise that he would not box past his 31st birthday, or try to rebuild his reputation before retiring.

Wladimir Klitschko’s camp has said that they will not consider a rematch, but money talks and the possibility cannot be ruled out. However, a fight with older brother Vitali seems more likely.

“There’s no chance of a rematch,” Klitschko’s manager said following the fight.
“Wladimir will now move on. Vitali mentioned he would be interested in knocking Haye out.”

The bookmakers are offering odds of 1/3 that Haye makes a U-turn on his retirement decision and fights after his 31st birthday (October 13th 2011).

It is 5/1 that there is a rematch with Wladimir in 2011 and 3/1 that Haye fights Vitali before the year is out. His chances of winning any potential fight against the Klitschkos are much bigger with the bookies going 11/1 that he beats Vitali in 2011 and 12/1 that he beats Wladimir this year.

And if you think a career in Television will be Haye’s next move you can get 100/1 that he promotes Open Toe sandals in a TV advert.

Argentina are leading the way in the Copa America 2011 betting, but the hosts are not the best bet of the tournament.

It’s easy to assume that the Copa America will be a two horse race between Brazil and Argentina, and it just might. But South American football is enjoying a rich period and there are plenty of others to consider in the Copa America 2011 betting.

Firstly, remember that there were four South American teams in the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup, and it was Uruguay, not Argentina or Brazil, that progressed the furthest. Secondly, consider that while Brazil topped the South American World Cup qualifying group they did so by juts one point from Chile and Paraguay, and Argentina only just snuck into the World Cup by finishing fourth. Uruguay finished fifth and qualified for the finals by virtue of a two-legged play-off victory over Costa Rica.

However, the most important point to consider is that not all – in fact not many – of the teams competing at the Copa America are there with winning the competition as their primary objective.

The majority of South American managers, Mano Menezes (Brazil) and Sergio Batista (Argentina) included, have openly insinuated that their priorities lie in the upcoming 2014 World Cup qualifiers – or the World Cup itself in the case of Brazil. Although the players sent out onto the pitch will be fully committed to winning each match the managers will certainly be tinkering with tactics and team selection throughout the tournament.

That is apart from the Uruguayans. Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez and co. are seen as a golden generation of Uruguayan football and following their relative success at the 2010 World Cup, this Copa America is thought to be the swansong for many of the squad’s elder statesmen.

So, whilst all the football betting news will talk about Brazil and Argentina, don’t forget about Uruguay at odds of 12/1. They are the side who are going into the tournament fully committed to winning the tournament and without one eye on the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Also, no team has won more Copas than Uruguay.

One of the most exciting young managers in world football has taken on one of the most demanding jobs. Can Andre Villas-Boas tame the beast and deliver success to Stamford Bridge?

Roman Abramovich does not suffer fools gladly. Carlo Ancelotti won the league and cup double in his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge and was sacked 12 months later after failing to deliver a trophy during his second season at the helm. Villas-Boas and fans of the 33-year-old will be hoping that the owner has learned the error of his ways and will give the Portuguese plenty of time to implement his ideas and philosophies. But I wouldn’t bet on it.

Villas-Boas Specials

• Win a trophy in his first season as Chelsea manager – Evens
• Win the Champions League as Chelsea manager – 2/1
• Unbeaten in first 10 league games – 2/1
• August manager of the month – 4/1
• Still at Chelsea at end of season – 1/12
• In charge for 2012/13 season – 1/2
• To see out three-year contract – 9/4

First Defeat

• Versus Manchester United (17 Sep) – 15/8
• Unbeaten until November – 15/8
• Versus Stoke (13 Aug) – 7/2
• Versus Sunderland (10 Sep) – 11/2

He may not know it but Villas-Boas will be taking over a group of players that are proficient in taking on Giant Alien Invaders. Chelsea’s official betting partners 188Bet recently took David Luiz, Branislav Ivanovic, Paulo Ferreira and Nicolas Anelka to a disused warehouse in Battersea to play an interactive video game projected onto a 90-foot wall.

Anelka emerged victorious with the Frenchman accumulating a score of 2088.

Rory McIlroy at the US Open 2011

As Rory McIlroy cruised to his first major at Congressional last week a star was not so much as born but thrust to the forefront of the media’s gaze. His talents have been known for many a year, the US Open 2011 was just the week that everything came together for the Northern Irishman.

The 22-year-old now has the world of golf at his feet and some are even talking about him becoming the biggest sportsman on the planet. But, as I’m sure Tiger Woods will agree, the next major is always the hardest to win.

Comparisons to Woods and Jack Nicklaus have already been made but the golfing landscape is much more competitive now than it was when the American duo were at their respective peaks. McIlroy is young, but to even get close to the 18 major titles of Nicklaus, or the 14 of Woods, will require something extraordinary.

Paddy Power offer odds of 12/1 that he will surpass Nicklaus and win 19 or more majors – I’d be looking for at least 50/1 there. It’s 9/1 that he beats Woods’ current haul of 14 without going past Nicklaus’s 18, between 8 and 10 is 10/3 and it is 28/1 that he never wins another major; although you may have to wait a while to be paid out on the latter.

Focussing on the immediate future, it is 1/5 that he ends the season without another major title, 7/2 that he wins two and 22/1 that he adds both the claret jug and the USPGA trophy to his mantelpiece. You can get 100/1 that McIlroy makes a clean sweep of the majors in 2012.

One bet that is appealing is the 50/1 that Skybet are offering on McIlroy being the 1st round leader in all four majors this season – he has already led at the 18-hole stage in Augusta and at the US Open.

Finally, McIlroy has also been backed in to 4/5 to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, having been backed at a high of 269/1 on betting exchange Betfair earlier in the year. Given the current hype surrounding the youngster those odds are no surprise. But it is worth bearing in mind that Graeme McDowell’s similar achievements last season (plus his heroics at the Ryder Cup) couldn’t secure him a top three place in the public vote. McIlroy may need to win one of the remaining majors to take the award, Andy Murray and/or David Haye could yet surpass him in the public’s reckoning over the coming weeks.

Usain Bolt believes that he is good enough to play for Manchester United, but so did I, when I was 12 years old, it didn’t happen…

In a television interview in midweek the fastest man in history said: “I definitely think I’m good enough to play for Manchester United.” Although the words left his mouth without even a hint of sarcasm etched on his face I’m not sure if he wasn’t, at least slightly, on the wind up.

Regardless of his pace it would be impossible to think that the Jamaican could waltz straight into the Manchester Untied team. Even taking into account the inevitable mountain of publicity and subsequent financial gain that the move would attract for both parties.

However, by all accounts Bolt is a decent player and his pace would obviously be a huge asset to him and any team that he may go on to play for. Paddy Power have opened a betting market on which country Bolt will first be seen playing football in following his retirement form athletics.

Where will Usain Bolt first play football after retiring from athletics?

USA, MLS – 11/8
England, League Two – 5/2
England, League One – 5/1
England, The Championship – 10/1
Italy, Serie A – 18/1
Germany, Bundesliga – 18/1
France, Ligue 1 – 18/1
England, Premier League – 20/1
Spain, La Liga – 20/1

Paddy Power Free Bet

Get a £10 Paddy Power free bet when you sign up for a new Paddy Power account by clicking through the banner below.

Wayne Rooney has made no secret about getting a hair transplant, but what hairstyle will he go for next?

Getting a hair transplant at the age of 25 isn’t ideal, whoever you are. But we’re fairly sure that if its going to happen to anyone then a Premier League footballer with multiple trophies to his name and £250k going into his bank account every week is probably best placed to deal with it.

You’ve also got to commend Rooney for not hiding from the truth, people aren’t going to ignore the fact that he has miraculously grown some flowing locks over the course of the summer. The Manchester United striker posted pictures of his new hairline on Twitter (above) shortly after having the treatment.

So what next for Rooney? A Carlos Valderrama style afro, a Scott Parker side parting or a David Beckham Mohawk. Paddy Power have opened a market for Wayne Rooney’s next hairstyle betting.

Wayne Rooney’s Next Hairstyle Betting

• Side parted – 5/1
• Mohawk – 6/1
• Mop-top – 8/1
• Quiff – 8/1
• Ponytail – 10/1
• Cornrows – 12/1
• Flattop – 12/1
• Undercut – 12/1
• Afro – 14/1
• Mullet – 16/1
• Combover – 20/1
• Rat tail – 20/1
• Dreadlocks – 20/1

Paddy Power Free Bet

Get a £10 Paddy Power free bet when you sign up for a new Paddy Power account by clicking through the banner below.

Dan Collins warns against being drawn in by the romantics hoping for a Royal victory in this Saturday’s Derby…

For a long while it looked as if Henry Cecil had this year’s Derby at his mercy.  After Frankel’s astonishing Guineas win, which had to be seen to be believed, he was installed as a short priced favourite for Epsom, however the Warren Place legend opted to keep his superstar over a mile for the foreseeable future.  That decision elevated his stablemate, World Domination, who only had an impressive maiden victory to his name, to the top of the market.  His subsequent flop in the Dante at York ruled out his, and Cecil’s chances of winning the Derby, but it did set the stage for an even bigger story.

The impressive winner that day, Carlton House, is owned by none other than Her Majesty The Queen, and many feel he has a huge chance of being the first Royal Derby Winner. However, at the time of writing that story has also been thrown into doubt as Carlton House has had an 11th hour scare which could see him miss Saturday’s showpiece.  Many racing fans, and Royalists, will be distraught at this news, however far from being a romanticist, the only reason I hope he runs is I was keen to take him on anyway, and he is currently making the market for the rest of us.

As impressive as Carlton House was at York it was a very slowly run race and out of the main protagonists he appeared least inconvenienced by what turned into a sprint for home, quickening up well under Ryan Moore to see off Aidan O’Brien’s Seville by a length and a half. For what he has achieved odds of 7/4 were far too short for me, even before his injury scare, and he appears to have been priced up more on who his owners are and the expectation of a huge public gamble, rather than his actual chances of winning, which do still remain a pretty good one to be fair.

The second that day, Seville, is a horse I am very keen on and despite looking to have a bit to find with the favourite I am convinced he can do so.  Ever since his second in the Racing Post Trophy as a 2 year old I was sure he would turn out to be a Derby horse as his pedigree screamed out that he would improve on his very smart juvenile form as a 3 year old over middle distances. He is sired by the great Galileo, who himself won the Derby, and is stoutly bred on his dam side so will have no problems with the extra 2 furlongs, in fact he will thrive over it.   Many have stated that he lacks the pace to win a Derby, however I think this is folly as slow horses do not come second in Group 1 mile races as two year olds, and he outpointed almost everything in the Dante in what turned into a 5 furlong sprint.  What I do think he lacks is an instant turn of foot, and that has been his undoing in his previous two races.  As usually Ballydoyle are mob handed in the race and that should ensure the strong gallop Seville requires to show his best, and under a forceful ride from Christophe Soumillon he could take some pegging back.

For me the biggest danger to the selection is one of his stablemates in Recital.  He could easily be the most naturally talented horse in the field, already a group 1 winner, however this son of Montjeu has shown enough quirks that so many of his relatives exhibit to put me off backing him at his reasonably short odds.  He took the Derrinstown Derby Trial in comfortable fashion from yet another Aidan O’Brien inmate who re-opposes on saturday, Memphis Tennessee, however his high head carriage and tendency to hang will not have encouraged his backers, despite jockey Kieran Fallon blaming the strong head wind.

Under the same ownership but trained by French champion trainer Andre Fabre, Pour Moi is a very interesting runner whom his trainer rates as his best ever chance in the Derby.  He was visually impressive in landing a group 2 last time out quickening well to come from last to first, however the form of that race could be stronger and his odds look quite prohibitive at this stage.

Of the rest Native Khan ran a very promising Derby trial when coming home best of those that tried to follow Frankel’s frankly ludicrous fractions in the Guineas but his stamina is not assured, and Ocean War and Masked Marvel came through their trials well, but I can’t help but think they will be slightly outclassed here with the Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot perhaps being a more suitable target, especially for the latter.

So to conclude, at the current prices I feel Seville will be very hard to keep out of the frame and rates as a great each way bet at around the 6/1 mark. Aidan O’Brien’s runners often make remarkable progress from their season debuts, with recent examples being Roderic O Connor and Misty For me who took the Irish Guineas after languid displays in the English versions, and considering Seville doesn’t have much to make up with The Queen’s horse he must have a great chance of reversing form.  He should get the good gallop required and is finally running over a trip that his pedigree says will see him at his best, so hopefully Soumillon will kick for home shortly after Tattenham Corner, drawing the sting out of his rivals, and we will see Seville come out on top ending Aidan O’Brien’s 9 year Derby drought.

Recommended Bet:

Back Seville  @ 6/1 each way with Paddy Power

Get a £10 free bet by clicking on the banner below and signing up for a new Paddy Power account.

John Part looks a standout value bet as the two-time World Champion works his way back to form…

After his opening round defeat at the 2011 PDC World Championships it looked as though John Part was set to slip off the radar. Beaten by qualifier Per Laursen the Canadian was no longer a regular face in televised events as his form on the tour meant he no longer ranked high enough to qualify for major tournaments. It looked terminal for Part’s career.

But that all-time low in his form looks to have galvanised the man nicknamed Darth Maple and he is hitting back this season with some of the best darts of his career. He’s already won two PDC Pro Tour events this season whitewashing Mark Walsh and Dennis Ovens respectively in his two finals, and, more notably, defeating Phil Taylor en route his second title.

Part’s form on the floor has now secured him a place in this year’s major tournaments and he is happier than ever with his game.

“This is a whole new John Part,” the Canadian told the PDC website.

“I think I’m different now and I’m a stonger player now in some ways, and people have got to watch out.?I’m feeling really good about my scoring, I’m finishing really well and when I’m tripping up I’m just getting on with things and not letting it get to me.”

The random draw format of this tournament is a crucial factor that must be heavily considered in UK Open darts betting. While some players can be handed incredibly difficult draws others can just as easily be given a comfortable passage to the latter stages. For that reason it is worth considering form players who can be backed at bigger prices.

Part falls into that category and can be backed at odds of 66/1 with European bookmaker bwin.com where you can also get a €30 free bet by signing up for a new account through the banner below.