Some expert advice for the weekend’s activities from Sporting Index

In case you hadn’t noticed, all the cool kids are making their ritual viewing of Soccer Saturday a little more interesting with the help of spread betting. Our friends at Sporting Index are the go-to-guys for this money making art, and they have kindly provided previews of two of this weekend’s big clashes…

Stoke/ Manchester Utd
The Red Devils follow their derby triumph with a trip to the Britannia Stadium, where the Potters lost just four games last season. The comparisons drawn between Stoke’s home and Burnley’s Turf Moor are extremely welcome to sellers of United’s win index spread, as the Clarets, of course, defeated United there earlier in the season. Spread punters who followed the progress of Tony Pulis’s first top-flight season will remember, however, that United were one of the several clubs to leave the Britannia with three points, thanks only to a late Carlos Tevez goal. Chelsea are the only other member of the Big Four to play there so far this season and also required a last gasp winner. Buyers of the time of the last match goal will hope for a similar spread make-up on Saturday.

Fulham/ Arsenal
Due to their demolition jobs on Everton, Portsmouth and Wigan

Stoke reserve admits he will chase compensation if others do

Former Sheffield United player Michael Tonge has revealed he would contemplate joining a legal claim against West Ham if some of his ex-teammates hold his hand. He said:

“I’m just waiting to see what comes of it. I’m not taking it upon myself to make a claim, but might consider joining one.”

The midfielder is back in the Premier League now with Stoke - and one has to wonder who he will blame if the Potters go down this summer - but Tony Pulis obviously doesn’t rate him too highly as he has started just one league game.

Tonge also showed ignorance of the situation by stating that Carlos Tevez’ goal on the final day at Old Trafford kept West Ham up

We’re not the only ones who thought Belgian’s new deal was a joke

Ritchie de Laet, who has only played twelve professional games (none of which were for previous club Stoke) has spoken out about his dream move to Old Trafford:

“I’m really shocked, to be honest,” he said.

“We have talked about it for two weeks and, at first, I didn’t think it would go through.

“I first heard about their interest when my agent rang and said do you fancy Manchester United? I thought he was joking.

The Belgian is realistic about chances of making the team, saying that at the very minimum he will get Manchester Utd on his CV. A bit like the groundsman. And the chap who sells hot dogs in the Stretford End…

Quote of the day, however, goes to Tony Pulis for his cute assessment of his Stoke’s transfer policy:

“We are not at Crufts, we are at Battersea Dog’s Home. We go looking for strays, get them in and cuddle them.”

Arsenal boss moves the goalposts to defend his team

Tony Pulis yesterday responded to Arsene Wenger’s criticism of Stoke’s aggressiveness by reminding the Frenchman that the only player sent off in the Potters 2-1 win last Saturday was wearing an Arsenal shirt. So in his latest desperate attempt to defend his team, Wenger replied by boasting:

“You can look at the fair play table. Who is top? Arsenal Football Club”

The problem with that claim is that, unless Arsenal have received a fax with updated standings, the last accessible version of the Fair Play Table reflects only the first six games. At that point, the Gunners had picked up just six yellows but in the five games since they have collected twelve yellows and one red.

When you consider that Chelsea, third in the last published standings after being handed eight yellows, have received just five since, there is a strong chance they will top the table when it is next updated.

Of course there is a method to Wenger’s rambling though. If he merely stated the facts, that Arsenal have got dirtier as the season has progressed, they might not receive as much sympathy from whoever referees Saturday’s game with Manchester United.

Stoke boss quotes Abraham Lincoln in website riposte

“Most Managers up and down the country are very protective of their Football Clubs and that protection is usually at its height in “after game interviews”, where we defend our team’s performances and our players’ mistakes in every way possible - from blaming referees not seeing players’ indiscretions and so on. We have every angle covered.

In Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday evening Mr Wenger talked openly about Arsenal’s encounter with Stoke, as being a “typical English encounter”. He commended my team’s organisation, my team’s commitment and confessed that on the day Stoke City thoroughly deserved to win the game. Very open and very honest.

Over the weekend Arsenal have been criticised by the media over their commitment to not only our game, but also previous games they have been involved in.

In London 48 hours later and 150 miles away from Stoke-on-Trent, Mr Wenger changed tact and has tried to rewrite history.

Modern coaching techniques proving less popular than ever

Following Arsenal’s sorry performance at the Britannia Stadium, Arsene Wenger has sounded like a man who is full of excuses but lacking in solutions. For the first time, Wenger’s status in north London is being seriously questioned, and this may have more to do with the current managerial climate of the Premiership than his shortcomings.

With his strict diets, motivational handouts and precisely designed training ground routine, the French Professor is the poster child for modern coaching techniques. Over the past few months, however, the new school of coaching appears to have become very old fashioned, while the traditional managers are enjoying a renaissance.

Think about it: Luis Aragones won the European Championships, Sir Alex picked up silverware here and in Moscow, Harry “just fucking run around” Redknapp and Joe Kinnear are