The Carling Cup final between Manchester Utd & Tottenham Hotspur on March 1st

[82GAMESTER]

With Paddy Power paying out on a Man Utd domestic treble already, are too many people being duped into thinking that a Man Utd team, minus a number of their best 11, who are exepected to be wrapped cotton wool for the mega bucks champions league last 16 second leg with Inter Milan, will be strong enough to keep Spurs quiet in the final of the Carling Cup? Last season Spurs ignored their terrible form in the league to put five past an under strength Arsenal side in the semis then beat Chelsea in the final, Man Utd have failed to lift the league cup after four out of five of their last appearences in the final, Spurs will have won the trophy three times in ten years if they can show up that form. Spurs have made the Carling Cup final on March 1st a priority, Man Utd will not have the same need to win the game that Spurs will, Spurs only realistic chance of a silverware and European qualification is the Carling Cup. Man Utd and all the furore accompanying them at present due to their record breaking league form, existance in four competitions still, plus hype over a possible quintuplet, coupled with Spurs lowly position, mean that it's a certainty there's going to be value out there on Spurs not folding as easily as prices might suggest. I have just been taking a look at some early prices on the game, Spurs 9/2 (5.5) to win the game in 90 mins with Victor Chandler or 21/10 (3.1) to lift the trophy with Betfair, there's likey to be more tempting odds closer to kick off and Man Utd might well be worth laying then. The fact I backed Spurs at double figure odds on the antepost pre-season, to retain their title has nothing to do with my opinion and neither does me being a Spurs fan!

[RudolphUcker]

The fact I backed Spurs in double figure odds on the antepost pre-season to retain their title has nothing to do with my opinion and neither does me being a Spurs fan!

You 'n' me both Gamester!

COYS

[Hutch]

I reckon it'll be goalless until quite late in the game, man united will bring on some 'better' players and sneak a late one.

Although the fact that I've just predicted that means of course it won't happen :d

[RudolphUcker]

I've just looked at the odds and VC are quoting Spurs at 5.5 to win

Surely that's a bet at those odds, even if you decided to lay it off just before kick-off?

[82GAMESTER]

If you look at the Premier League transfer spending stakes over the last two or three years, Spurs are Man Utd's closest rivals, Spurs will be fielding their best side against Utd, Roman Pavlyuchenko the competitions top scorer whom has scored in every single game in every single round of the competition so far is looking set to start the game. I can invisage it being a close game, Spurs will create chances and they have the firepower to stand a fair chance of finishing the game in 90 minutes against some of Man Utd's 'weaker' players, though I think the game may well go beyond the 90 minutes mark and into extra time.

[AmeliesDad]

Does anyone get the Gambling Online mag? This is basically what is written there. Spurs are likely to up their game and go close if nto win it, but the bookies know this too so the odds aren't great and you'd have to go for a win in the 90 minutes.