Best Of Bets

Tag: Ipswich Town

  • Next Permanent Chelsea Manager Odds; McKenna, De Zerbi, Amorim Latest

    Next Permanent Chelsea Manager Odds; McKenna, De Zerbi, Amorim Latest

    Not even a week removed from the end of the Premier League season, managerial speculation is rife, headlined by the in-demand Kieran McKenna.

    After the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino from Chelsea, the Blues have wasted no time in seeking a replacement and the Ipswich Town boss is hot property.

    However, following Roberto De Zerbi‘s departure from Brighton, the Italian is also being heavily tipped in the markets.

     

    Ipswich rise

    Having catapulted Ipswich from League One to the top tier in space of two seasons, Kieran McKenna is reportedly a wanted man by Chelsea.

    Formerly part of Manchester United’s coaching staff under both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the 38-year-old left Old Trafford for Suffolk in December 2021.

    Taking the reins at Portman Road, McKenna led Ipswich to 11th in League One, and the season after guided the Tractor Boys to automatic promotion back to the Championship.

     

    Against the odds this season, Ipswich then won back-to-back promotions to end a 22-year exodus from the Premier League.

    Fresh from being scooping the League Managers Association’s top gong, moves on Wednesday have picked up, and McKenna is the new favourite to take over at Chelsea around 5/2 with Unibet.

    Yet, despite near frenzied speculation, McKenna may yet elect to stay for one more season in Suffolk, given he has little to lose to his reputation.

    Brighton also have their own designs, as short as 6/4 with some bookies to take over.

     

    Brighton link rekindled

    The other leading contender to take the helm at Stamford Bridge is Roberto De Zerbi.

    With more than a dose of irony, Chelsea being strongly linked with the Seagulls is becoming a narrative, certainly in the managerial department.

    It was De Zerbi who took over at Brighton in September 2022, following Graham Potter’s decision to leave the club for his ill-fated tenure in West London.

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    During his time with former club Sassuolo in Italy, De Zerbi transformed the fortunes of the Emilia-Romagna outfit, at one time pushing for a European place.

    Previously linked with filling the shoes of Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, De Zerbi would tick a lot of boxes with Chelsea fans.

    If a move for McKenna does not pan out, his 21/10 odds with SpreadEx could shorten further.

     

    Outsiders

    Of the longer prices that could fill the Chelsea void, might Ruben Amorim be the latest Portuguese manager to make the jump to the Premier League?

    Primed to follow in the footsteps of Jose Mourinho from Porto in 2004, Amorim this past term led Sporting Clube de Portugal to their first league title in four years.

    Like both McKenna and De Zerbi, the former international’s approach has earned plaudits across Europe, a 9/1 shot with BetUK for the post.

    One longer shot that appears unlikely but is perhaps worth merit, Cesc Fabregas appears destined for a Premier League return at some point, now as steward.

    Having led Como to Serie A this season, the former Arsenal and Chelsea man is the latest ex midfielder to switch to the dugout.

    Any move at this time looks unlikely, and Cesc himself is likely to want a crack at the Italian top tier, but punters can back Fabregas to take the reins at 10/1 with BetVictor.

  • Sky Bet Championship | Crunch weekend ahead for Leeds and Ipswich

    Sky Bet Championship | Crunch weekend ahead for Leeds and Ipswich

    After a sensational campaign, the Sky Bet Championship season is nearing a climax, with both Leeds United and Ipswich Town set for a crunch weekend.

    After Leicester City thrashed Southampton 5-0 on Tuesday evening, the Foxes – after a sizeable wobble – are now just one win away from a Premier League return.

    Below them in second and third, the battle for the final automatic spot is reaching boiling point, with Leeds involved in another multi-goal thriller at Middlesbrough the evening before.

    That result has left the Whites a point ahead of Ipswich having played a game more.

    The Tractor Boys still hold destiny in their own hands, but the coming weekend looks set to be a pivotal one, with both rivals on the road.

     

    Points on the board

    As Leeds play before Ipswich on Friday night, Daniel Farke’s men have the chance to open up a four-point advantage.

    Travelling to the capital to face a relegation-threatened QPR, come the final whistle at Loftus Road, the Whites will have just one more game to play to Ipswich’s three.

    Psychology has been a huge narrative in the promotion race this term, and this weekend that pattern is ramped up.

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    Though Leeds have a difficult final outing against Southampton, the Saints’ defeat to Leicester has all but ended their top-two hopes.

    Final day a week on Saturday could leave the door wide open for Leeds, if Russell Martin rests his squad for the play-offs.

    For Ipswich, having come from the pits of despair in League One only last season to the verge of first top-flight return in 22 years, anxiety levels are peaking in Suffolk.

     

    Dykes-Fabio double

    Such a vintage season this has been in England’s second tier, it is as tight at the bottom as it is at the top.

    Indeed, approaching this weekend, there is a genuine seven-way fight to avoid the drop and one of said teams is QPR.

    With Rotherham long gone and Millwall and Watford looking to be safe on 53 points, the west Londoners sit on 50pts with Stoke, just three points off Sheffield Wednesday in 21st spot.

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    Still very much an unpredictable outfit, QPR are scrapping for at least a point here and will be dogged opposition, and we are backing them to find the net.

    If a 10/11 Both Teams to Score lay is too short, perhaps Lyndon Dykes can be looked to by punters, having netted in his last two home games, with Leeds having shipped six in their last four.

    For one really long punt, Leeds remain uncertain from set-pieces and QPR veteran centre-back Steve Cook has been on the scoresheet twice in the last six also.

    Cook is a whacking 22/1 with Unibet to score.

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    Ipswich’s trip to the KC Stadium is no less a daunting one, with Hull still with hopes of snatching a play-off spot.

    Fabio Carvalho was a transfer target for the Suffolk club in January, but having missed out, they face an in-form and firing forward.

    The Portuguese netted at Elland Road earlier this month, and has five in his last six.

    We are looking to combine both Dykes and Carvalho in a tasty-looking double, and both can be snapped up to score anytime at 17/1 with BetUK.

    On penultimate weekend, it is sure to be another rollercoaster ride in the Champo.