United will not be shrugged off easily in Manchester derby

What’s your best bet of the weekend?
Newcastle to beat Bournemouth. Back-to-back clean sheets and a first win of the season will do wonders for morale on Tyneside, where
Rafa can lead United to a second straight success. Bournemouth are going to be difficult opponents, having started the season brightly,
but they do give up chances and if Newcastle stay compact they’ll get opportunities.

Which favourites are most vulnerable?
West Ham look shaky favourites at Huddersfield, who are also celebrating a first win of the season. Huddersfield played really well against Fulham and that win – and a first goal at home this season – was overdue. They’ve been playing well enough and now need to start getting some good fortune. West Ham can’t keep a clean sheet.

Which team could cause the biggest upset in the first round of the FA Cup?
It’s probably not a huge upset but Maidstone beating Macclesfield would still be a non-league team beating a league team. Macclesfield may not be a league team for that much longer. Maidstone are on the up in the National League having recovered from a tricky start and they defied the odds by knocking out Leyton Orient in the last qualifying round.

What’s your best bet for the Manchester derby?
United +1.25 on the Asian handicap is a great bet at odds-against. I couldn’t have City at the odds. We all thought Chelsea were certainties when United went to Stamford Bridge and nearly won. City are bullies against most teams – but Mourinho’s United aren’t most teams. They are riding their luck for sure, but they won’t be blasted out of sight.

Which team or player caught your eye in the midweek matches?
Atletico Madrid were outstanding. Having been battered 4-0 in Dortmund two weeks ago by a team who are looking more and more like the next German champions and are themselves contenders in the Champions League, Atletico did a brilliant fightback job in Madrid. They aren’t getting any younger but this year’s Champions League is wide open and they are a threat.

What’s your opinion on Wayne Rooney’s England recall?
There’s a certain irony, isn’t there? Rooney goes to six major finals with England and they do nothing; when he is dropped they reach the semi-finals of the World Cup and now they want to reward him. I don’t think England have ever done anything like this for other players – better players – but it’s a friendly, means very little, and probably isn’t worth getting worked up about.

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