Selected City Tricasts: Early Preview, There's only one League Trophy

SPONSORED POST By Tamhas Woods

Two great Coaches, two superlative minds, but only one Premier League trophy – Manchester simply isn’t big enough for Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.

Not since the eve of the 2012/13 season has there been such a hotly anticipated title fight between City and their neighbours, and Pep’s revolution already appears to have significant momentum. Ilkay Gundogan and the lightning-fast Nolito are both signings that reflect a true desire from Guardiola to take City to the next level, and possibly the very stratosphere of Europe.

As a result, bookmakers have wasted no time in declaring the two Manchester clubs as front runners in Tricast markets.

The new season begins on 13th August. For the latest Man City odds, visit Betfair (Betfair Casino).

With an unrivaled war chest, City are naturally the outright favorites to finish above United – an act which should see Guardiola’s new club claim a third BPL title. As ever though, winning a title is always easier said than done, and with another new element from the capital, gamblers are set to be guessing until the very end of the upcoming season.

CITY/UNITED/CHELSEA OR ARSENAL – 33/1 CHELSEA/CITY/UNITED – 40/1

For either Manchester club to win the title with the other finishing second, and Chelsea or Arsenal to complete the top three, any combination is currently priced at around 33/1. However, with no European football for Chelsea, and the refreshing influence of Antonio Conte, odds for an immediate return of the title to West London have shortened with disquieting pace.

Naturally, so too have the odds for Chelsea finishing third or better tumbled. The acquisition of N’Golo Kante from Leicester will improve the balance between flair and workmanship, and such balance is an important element of any title winning squad – nobody can deny that it was sadly lacking at Stamford Bridge in 2015/16.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s consistent challenge for a top three berth makes them a natural consideration in any Tricast, but a notable section of the Gunners faithful have voiced discontent at the continued employment of Wenger at Ashburton Grove.

This discontent clearly affected the players at key moments in 2015/16, a season which many would argue was a huge opportunity lost for Arsene Wenger’s men. Such were Arsenal’s shortcomings last season, not even a league double over Leicester could prevent the Foxes from winning the title at what was eventually a 10-point canter.

With Arsenal the only top club apparently shying away some much-needed drastic changes, there is the ever-present danger that the Gunners will be consigned once again to that famous fourth place in May 2017.

CITY/UNITED/TOTTENHAM – 40/1 CITY/TOTTENHAM/UNITED – 50/1 CITY/CHELSEA/TOTTENHAM – 66/1

All set for another Champions League adventure, Mauricio Pochettino has an able young Tottenham squad, all of whom are at (or nearing) the peak of their playing careers. Since none of them are showing any sign of moving elsewhere in the near future, many punters will be tempted to back them for another top three finish.

By a quirk of the fixture list, there is further ammunition in favor of Tottenham. They have a home game against none other than Manchester City after Matchday 2 of the upcoming Champions League, assuming that City themselves avoid utter humiliation at the Playoff stage in August.

The match at White Hart Lane on 2nd October could be a telling one if Tottenham can successfully emulate the form of 2015/16, but in addition to the three biggest London clubs, several other Premier League teams also boast attractive prices to complete the Tricast.

CITY/UNITED/LIVERPOOL – 40/1

With a proud history and tradition, not to mention a recently stellar league record against City, Liverpool will have a psychological advantage over their Mancunian neighbors. Like Chelsea, Liverpool will also be absent from Europe, and bookmakers clearly believe that an eighth place finish for the reds last season fails to tell the whole story. CITY/UNITED/LEICESTER – 150/1

N’Golo Kante, a sheer force of nature, has swapped the blue of the incumbent for the blue of the deposed. With the champions now bereft of their midfield general, odds for any Tricast involving Leicester have lengthened drastically.

In time, the signings will come, precipitating the drastic shortening of Leicester’s odds to complete a Tricast, so gamblers must act quickly to secure a good potential payout.

CITY/UNITED/EVERTON – 250/1

The apparent complexion of Everton’s near future has changed much in the past year. Now backed by Iranian billionaire Farhad Moshiri, a very different approach to all aspects of the club’s management is expected.

Most Evertonians, in turn, expect an immediate change in form and fortune on the pitch. Again, any gamblers intending to back Everton for a top three finish would be advised strongly to do so before new manager Ronald Koeman makes the first major signing of summer 2016.

*Odds may fluctuate

Win the New Manchester City Nike Home Shirt with ManCityGifts.com

Win the New Manchester City Nike Home Shirt

This Competition is only open to UK participants, we apologise for this.

Our friends at Mancitygifts.com with the Official City Store, have launched a new competition for one lucky City fan to win the new Nike home shirt.

All you have to do to enter is go to the Mancitygifts Competition page here and answer a simple question.

Revealed at the Cityzen's weekend in early July, together with City's new manager Pep Guardiola, the new Nike home shirt has had a mixed reception.

Some fans dislike the addition of navy to the sleeves of the shirt, whilst others are unhappy that the shirt is a "template" design. The Nike Aeroswift Template has been used in almost all Nike shirts are this season, with both Portugal and France wearing the template in the 2016 European Championships final.

However many of these reservations were down to grainy images pre-launch and the shirts have got a more favorable reaction since being officially revealed.

What do you think of the new shirt? Have you bought it after changing your mind? Let us know in the comment section below.

To enter the competition go to the Mancitygifts Competition page here

Rules

Competition ends Sunday 24th July 2016 (9pm UK time)

Looking for gifts for City fans? Come check out our stock at Mancitygifts.com

Two 16 year old Players sign for Manchester City FC, Garre and Gonzalez are living their dreams

Two players have gone unnoticed due to being 16 years old, over shadowed by City's senior acquisitions. The first of the two is Benjamin Garre. His former club Velez are apparently not happy about losing their prodigy and have complained to Fifa.

Benjamin Garre will be joining Manchester City from Argentine Primera Division Velez Sarsfield, Manchester City are reported to have beaten FC Barcelona and Snubchester United to his signature. The 15 year old will join the City Football Academy after admitting on his Facebook page. "I'm going after a dream, to one of the best academies in the world, with the conviction that my football will develop". "That a club like Manchester City is interested in me makes me proud and while I understand that some may see it as wrong, it is a challenge I have to take, thinking of my career."

I can only presume he's referring to Velez Sarsfield and their fans, he spent time training at Carrington with United in 2014 but Garre decided to not join United. FC Barcelona were also reported to have been after the lad. He also spoke to Argentinian Radio station La Pelota al 10 saying: "I won't let this opportunity with City pass. Every player dreams of it. It's a gift from God. Going to Manchester City was a great opportunity. I decided with my Family it was the best place to go."

He was born January 1st 2000, is a right footed Attacking Midfielder, Orgulloso.es claim the lad has a strong physique which is unusual at such a young age and has good ball control. Being at a young age there isn't much information about him outside of Velez Sarsfield. Benjamin is the Grandson of Oscar Alfredo Garre, an Argentine Legend and Defender who won the 1986 World Cup. Benjamin Garre wore the No10 shirt for Velez Sarsfield

Get some great odds on Portugal V Wales or France V Germany with Paddy Power

The Second being Lorenzo Gonzalez from Servette saying Very happy to announce my signature in one of the biggest clubs in the world @ManCity

< data-lang="en">

Très heureux de vous annoncez ma signature dans un des plus grands clubs du monde @ManCity pic.twitter.com/GiLN6bVApK

— Lorenzo Gonzalez (@Lorenzo9Lg) July 1, 2016

Manchester City should avoid buying Everton players, Forget John Stones and give our youth a chance.

I don't think we should be buying more Everton players, it just makes no sense when we should be pushing for players to improve us. Not players who are in clubs lower down the table, especially those who are not setting the stage a light. The players we have signed from Everton haven't exactly turned out great, the only notable one would be Richard Dunne in recent years. Michael Ball, Joleon Lescott and Jack Rodwell were all underwhelming if not a total waste of money.

The only logical reason for us to target a player like John Stones, would be for the homegrown quota, that's far from a good reason to go spending the reported £50 million it would require. Even at £40 million it's ludicrous.

Especially when we have the likes of England International Defenders in Tosin Adarabioyo and Cameron Humphreys ready to step up to the first team, Defenders who have been drilled to play the Guardiola way.

I don't think we should be signing John Stones, I acknowledge we need to sign one top class experienced Center Back to replace Martin Demichelis but Stone's isn't the answer.

If it was me I'd get in 30 year old Diego Godin from Atletico Madrid on the cheap and let our young lads learn from him and Vinny.

What's your opinion, Stones? or Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, two other Center Backs we've been linked with recently?

Battle of the Somme tribute, We thank you all for the sacrifice you made

We want to thank the brave who fought and gave their lives for us against the Germans, more so for those who gave their lives in the face of certain death. True hero's and legends of war, World War I in a time when our Soldiers fought with Bayonets, with Mounted Cavalry on War Horses and the Tank in service for the first time. School boys in trenches fighting to protect us, their lives were given for the British Empire, for Great Britain.

Not forgetting those who also gave their lives in World war II, those who survived and those who contributed, we salute you.