
The Premiership Leading Scorer 2008/9
Last week saw the greatest shift in spread prices so far this season -much of it was down to injuries and movement as the transfer window slammed shut. We analyse all the market moves and the reasons for them...
PLAYER |
TEAM |
TOTAL |
SPORTING INDEX SPREAD |
BEST PRICE |
Anelka |
Chelsea |
15 |
49-52 |
2/1 |
Ronaldo |
Man Utd |
12 |
39-42 |
6/1 |
Torres |
Liverpool |
8 |
Susp |
25/1 |
Adebayor |
Arsenal |
8 |
Susp |
20/1 |
Van Persie |
Arsenal |
9 |
20-23 |
25/1 |
Berbatov |
Man Utd |
7 |
13-16 |
50/1 |
Rooney |
Man Utd |
8 |
12-15 |
50/1 |
D Bent |
Tottenham |
9 |
8-11 |
80/1 |
Keane |
Tottenham |
5 |
3-5 |
100/1 |
Defoe |
Tottenham |
9 |
Susp |
16/1 |
Owen |
Newcastle |
8 |
Susp |
33/1 |
Santa Cruz |
Blackburn |
4 |
1-3 |
150/1 |
Jo |
Everton |
3 |
1-3 |
829/1 |
Drogba |
Chelsea |
1 |
0.5-2 |
150/1 |
Alves |
Middlesboro |
4 |
0.5-2 |
250/1 |
Yakubu |
Everton |
4 |
0-1 |
999/1 |
Sporting Index Golden Boot Scoring Guide:
1st 60pts, 2nd 40pts, 3rd 30pts, 4th 25 pts,
5th 20pts, 6th 15pts, 7th 10 pts, 8th 5pts
*Table updated at 26/2/09
Moving Up...
The market makers have the 'Incredible Sulk' Nicolas Anelka (49-52) as a hot favourite to lift the Golden Boot -especially as the games are running out for his rivals. He moved up a massive 9 points in the market last week and now only Ronaldo can stop him.
Cristiano Ronaldo (39-42) -The Man Utd striker is 3 goals behind leader Anelka and 3 ahead of Bent and van Persie. In our estimations, he is guaranteed 2nd place in this contest and still has a great chance to win it! With that in mind, he is effectively 9/1 to score 4 more goals than the Chelsea man.
Robin Van Persie (20-23) has not only suffered because of his own injury this season, but also that of his main provider Cesc Fabregas. He will have plenty of opportunities now with his Arsenal striking partner Adebayor out for three weeks. He has risen 2 points in the last 2 weeks.
Man Utd striking duo Rooney (12-15) & Berbatov (13-16) are both back in the betting after being injured. The England star has scored twice, whilst the Bulgarian netted against Fulham.
Moving Down ...
On the slide is Robbie Keane (3-5) -following his return to Spurs, he has yet to score, maybe he's ready to move clubs again?
The Brazillian Jo (0.5-2) has moved clubs from Man City to Everton and made an immediate impact by scoring twice against Bolton. This saw him rise two points recently -although he will need to score at least six more league goals to make it pay for anyone following him. So punters have come to their sense and dropped their interest in him.
Non-movers and injured (suspended)...
Sporting Index might be better running a spread on how many weeks Michael Owen (Susp) will miss each season through injury! Yet again he has an ankle problem and will be out until the end of March at the earliest.
Yet again Liverpool's Fernando Torres (Susp) is injured! He is fast becoming Mersyside's answer to Darren Anderton as he spends more time on the treatment table than on the pitch.
Harry Redknapp acquired Jermain Defoe (Susp) from his old club Pompey -with the hope that his goals would pull them clear of the relegation zone. But a stress fracture to his right foot will see the England man out for at least two months and unlikely to score more than a dozen.
Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor (Susp) was down three points in the market after only one goal in the last eight league games. But after receiving a knock against Spurs, he is likely to be out for at least three weeks.
One man who is friend-less two weeks ago, but is up 5 points on the chart is Spurs striker Darren Bent (8-11). After re-signing both Defoe and Keane, it looked as though Bent would be surpluss to requirements -but now he is back and two goals against Bolton signalled his intent.
So Who Should I Back?
With 12 league games remaining, Cristiano Ronaldo (39-42) has the chance to retain his Golden Boot crown. One good game against the weaker teams could see him cut Anelka's advantage down to a single goal. They play seven of the bottom ten sides in the run-in and Ronaldo can score a hatrick against of any them!
With a very small downside, -now is the time the buy @ 42
