ANYONE called Enzo knows they are expected to be quick out of the blocks. Especially when you’re chasing a bloke called Pep Guardiola.
The legendary Man City manager called time on his Etihad career at the end of last season, signing off with a third FA Cup win and fifth League Cup triumph.
Throw in six Premier League titles, a Champions League, a Super Cup, a Club World Cup and three of these Community Shields and that’s 20-trophy haul in 10 seasons.
Enzo Maresca, you’re on next. Keep ‘em laughing.
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To his credit the Italian has a Club World Cup and a Europa Conference title on his cv from his time at Chelsea and a Championship title win with Leicester.
Good start. He also inherits a fine squad reinforced with £116million midfielder Elliot Anderson, who looked worth every penny during his outstanding World Cup for England.
While City have been decent in pre-season, seeing off Atletico Madrid 3-1 in their last outing, champions Arsenal have looked a little jittery.
In the absence of the injured William Saliba and Jurrien Timber, not only have they let in seven in their last three games, they lost two of them to Borussia Dortmund and Real Betis.
Two significant signings have made their way to the Emirates in the shape of Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimares and Brugge winger Christos Tzolis, who has impressed so far.
Bet Balls
Leicester to win at Notts Co and over 2.5 goals is 11-1 with BetGoodwin
Sheff United to beat Birmingham 2-1 tonight is 8-1 with BetGoodwin
Burnley v West Ham draw BTTS, is 16-5 with BetGoodwin
Arsenal and Man City to be 2-2 is 11-1 with BetGoodwin
Get a 10% bonus on all winning accas – 18+ T&Cs apply
And Coral’s John Hill has not been put off by the Gunners’ iffy pre-season showing, ahead of tomorrow’s Community Shield showdown in Cardiff.
He said: “Arsenal remain the team to beat for me and the business they’ve done over the summer make them a stronger squad than last season.
“But I think it’s going to be tough for City. Enzo still has to prove himself – some Chelsea fans were not impressed with him.
“So I’m taking the Premier League winners to put down an early marker.
Arsenal can be backed at 6-4 in the 90 mins betting. There are usually goals in this game, so I’m also backing Arsenal to win 2-1 at 15-2.”
There’s nothing in the betting on these two, Arsenal 13-8 and City 6-4. Hard to get excited about either of those.
So the obvious play is the draw at a best-priced 13-5 with bet365.
The last three have been exactly that, as have six of the last nine. No 0-0s in there, so I’ll be taking the marginally better draw and BTTS at 7-2 with the same firm.
All’s well that Enz well.
Dark horse
18-1: Antoine Semenyo has been a standout performer for City in pre-season, as has new winger Christos Tzolis for the Gunners.
Both can have a say tomorrow.
If you like City to win in in 90 mins, throw in Semenyo and Tzolis to score anytime, and get a 22-1 treble with William Hill.
IN THE end Frankie Lampard’s Coventry walked it by 11 points. But this time last year you’d have collared at least 10-1 on the Sky Blues winning the Championship.
Ipswich were the bookies’ favourites at 3-1 and did go close, finishing second and obliging at just north of evens to go up.
As we all know by now, West Ham are red-hot 7-4 title favourites – and five of the last 10 Championship winners had been relegated the previous season.
So that puts the Hammers, Burnley and Wolves in the frame and all three to go up pays a best-priced 16-1 with Betway.
It’s a long time to wait for a 7-4 shot so my preference is Wolves, who were so much better in the second half of last season.
They won’t have the pressure the Hammers will and have Raul Jimenez back. And he looked a very long way from finished, terrifying England in that epic last-16 World Cup clash against Mexico.
The men from Molineux are widely-available 11-2 to win it and a solid 13-8 to go up.
Championship title odds (best odds)
7-4 West Ham
11-2 Wolves
10-1 Middlesbrough
14-1 Burnley, Southampton
16-1 Norwich
25-1 Birmingham
28-1 Sheff United
33-1 Wrexham, Millwall
SO the new season is finally here — after four weeks! – and the markets are already taking shape.
The World Cup was ultimately a marginally profitable tournament for us, with France and England both going out in the semi-finals helping to balance the book.
It could have been a much rougher ride, so we were pleased to come through it on the right side.
Now the focus switches back to domestic football, and tomorrow’’s Arsenal v Manchester City Community Shield clash should be a fascinating early test.
The Gunners have had an excellent summer in the transfer market and, as reigning champions, look likely to kick off as title favourites.
Bruno Guimarães is a quality addition from Newcastle to an already settled squad, that, crucially, Mikel Arteta is strengthening and not rebuilding this summer.
City are, though, a bit of a work in progress, with the big unknown being what comes after Pep Guardiola.
Enzo Maresca has huge shoes to fill and, despite City’s quality and spending power, there will inevitably be an adjustment period.
So we’re expecting a tight game but are siding with Arsenal to edge it.
They look the more settled side and that could make the difference. Both teams to score at 7-10 is very appealing given the attacking quality on display.
We expect goals and a competitive game, but Arsenal are our pick to lift the Community Shield. We make Gunners win and BTTS an 18-5 shot.
This weekend is also the big EFL kick-off – and in the Championship, we make relegated West Ham clear favourites at 7-4.
There’s Premier League quality throughout their squad and retaining key players such as Jarrod Bowen gives them a strong platform.
Wolves at 11-2 are the biggest threat, but Middlesbrough at 10-1 could be the value play. They have the infrastructure and everything in place to have a big season.
League One could be one of the most fascinating divisions. Leicester dropping into the third tier after back-to-back relegations is extraordinary.
They have the resources to bounce straight back, but the pressure will be enormous. Plymouth at 15-4 and Luton at 21-10 are both strong promotion contenders, while Stockport at 17-4 could be the dark horse. They came so close last season by reaching the play-offs.
League Two is notoriously difficult to call, which makes it such an interesting betting market. Crawley could be the value angle for us.
Their summer recruitment has caught the eye, including experienced goalkeeper Vito Mannone, and they could emerge as a surprise 40-1 package in the promotion race.
Each-way pays on three places and at a quarter of the odds.
TV Previews
Notts Co vs Leicester
TWO years ago Russell Martin and Leicester were in the Prem.Now the ex-Southampton manager and the Foxes are on the same side, facing a long road back from League One.
The 2016 Premier League winners have been here once before, going up as champions in 2009.
Today’s hosts Notts County came up via the play-offs, it’s a derby, so narrow away win’s the tip, as is Tommy Watson to score anytime at 19-5 with Vbet.
FORECAST: 1-2
Sheff Utd v Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM were all the rage in the Championship title betting last season after blazing up from League One.
Not so much now, with the Blues currently 25-1 to win it. Tonight’s hosts Sheffield United are 28-1 but both can be expected to make serious promotion runs.
Blades have brought in Matt Doherty and Kalvin Phillips – and can shade this.
Patrick Bamford loves scoring against City and is 23-10 with Vbet to strike anytime.
FORECAST: 2-1
Burnley v West Ham
YOU can’t even get 2-1 on the Hammers winning the Championship after last term’s relegation.
Expectations weigh heavily on a squad losing some star names but luckily they kept the biggest one, Jarrod Bowen.
Fellow relegated side Burnley are no mugs, bouncing back with 100 and 101 points the last two times they went down.
Draw at 5-2 is the call tomorrow, with Bowen to score anytime at 2-1 with Paddy Power a very solid proposition.
FORECAST: 1-1
Top Tips
Pro bet
Norwich to beat West Brom, Oxford to beat MK Dons, Northampton to beat Swindon, Grimsby to beat Exeter, Chesterfield to beat Fleetwood. Acca pays 30-1 with Coral.
Retirement bet
Preston to win at Bolton, Reading to beat Luton, Bromley to win at Barnsley, Doncaster to win at Mansfield, Stockport to win at Plymouth, Newport to beat Rochdale, Bristol Rovers to win at York, Watford to beat Southampton. Perm 1 x Acca, 8 x 7-folds, 28 x 6-folds. Acca pays 12,368-1 with Betfred.
Away day
Millwall to win at Bristol City, Stevenage at Burton, Sheff Wed at Orient, Rotherham at Cheltenham. Acca pays 49-1 with Betfred.Top draw
Charlton v Derby, Blackpool v Wigan, Tranmere v Shrewsbury, Barnet v Salford. Acca pays 126-1 with Coral.
TV Special
Leicester to win at Notts Co, Sheffield United to beat Birmingham, Burnley v West Ham draw, Arsenal v Man City draw. Acca pays 63-1 with bet365.
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