Midweek Outlook (04 May 2011)

   Manchester United vs Schalke 04  

We had the chance to almost seal the Premier League title when we blew it wide open with a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Arsenal.

Granted that there were dubious refereeing, I won't fault them, for mistakes were made evenly on both ends. Even if the penalties were to be awarded, we would still have lost 1-2 since penalty appeals being turned down was one apiece.

This perhaps is it. The most siong week of the entire season for ManUtd. Whether we finish the season with a double or NONE at all may be decided this week.

With a depleted squad after this encounter, do we have enough legs to hold Chelsea at bay subsequently?

This weekend's game against Chelsea shall be the season finale. Whoever wins takes the title regardless of the two remaining games thereafter. We are on equal goal difference right now and if we lose this weekend, not only will Chelsea level with us on points but also edge ahead on a more superior goal difference.

We have the slight advantage here as even a draw would be in our favour but after the Arsenal defeat, I am not so sure if we can hang on to a draw. Don't forget, we now have the Jinx of the Final-Four (games).

Perhaps one of the key to this week's success or failure lies with Schalke 04's game this mid-week. Have they given up hope on the ECL like Real Madrid or are they still going to fight to the death?

The way I see it, Schalke 04 has given up on the ECL tournament already. With a 0-2 home defeat, what are the chances of scoring 3 goals at Old Trafford? Let us not forget that ManUtd recent form is 6-0-0 at home while Schalke 04 is winless away for the past 6 games.

Asian Handicap is 1.25-ball in favour of Schalke but decimal odds of 2.025 for ManUtd to beat it suggest that it will be a ManUtd victory but by a small margin. 1X2 for ManUtd to win is 1.43 confirms a strong home victory possibility.

Punters agree too that ManUtd will not go all out as only a mere 46% of the wagers feels that ManUtd will win by 2 or more goals.

The way I see it, Fergie will be conserving energy as much as possible in the mid-week tie as the game at Stamford Bridge is the bigger and more important one.

There isn't much incentive to go all gun ablazing here as a mere draw or even a slim defeat will see ManUtd through to the ECL finals.

Avoid this bet.

JayWalk's 2010/2011 Track Record to-date (03 May 2011) : P123-W63-L60

- Voxeros