Midweek Outlook (20 Sep 2011)

   Leeds United vs Manchester United  

We kick off the start of the Carling Cup tournament travelling to Elland Road to face Leeds. Who can forget Leeds during their heydays? Leeds' exports to us in the likes of Ferdinand, Smith and of course Cantona has served us handsomely over the years. This is on top of other top names like Bowyer, Woodgate, Martyn, Viduka and Kewell that went out and serve their respective new masters well.

Leeds are a pale shadow of themselves after failing to keep their financials in order. An over zealous attempt to keep up with the big boys, having tasted European top tier competition, had left them hollow on the inside. A vicious cycle was thus sparked with Leeds having to sell key players in order to stay afloat. Without key players, Leeds can't perform as well as they are expected to, resulting in lower revenues and again. Lower revenues means selling of more key players (they are worth more) to stop the bleeding. Rinse. Repeat.

ManUtd should be sending in the veteran's brigade for this mid-week clash as the so-called B-team has stuttered on their season's debut drawing with Benfica at the ECL. I would expect Carrick, Giggs and Park to be on the pitch. Lindegaard should be between the sticks while Berbatov, Macheda and Owen will be vying for the 2 available spots up front.

There is a lot of talk about Paul Pogba making an appearance today but I can't be too much bothered to be watching him. Show me something first before I give him my attention.

Rest of the squad will be a mix pot of noobs and vets as the subsequent weekend game is against newly promoted Stoke City which doesn't require as much resting of key players as they did in preparation against Chelsea.

Asian Handicap is making ManUtd, the away team, give a 1.25 ball handicap and a decimal odds of 2.025 to beat it. 1X2 payout for a ManUtd victory is 1.49 and so in layman's speak. ManUtd to win.

Form-wise, some warned that Leeds has won all of their last 3 home games but it should also be highlighted that none of them are against the top tier side of the English competition.

ManUtd's B-team will break Leeds' home winning streak today. The bet is whether it'd be by a goal or not.

After watching B-team's sluggish start to the new season, I'd expect them to carry on in the 1st-2nd gear stages for the next couple of weeks.

No bet on ManUtd this week.

JayWalk's 2011/2012 Track Record to-date (20 Sep 2011) : P28-W16-L12

- Voxeros