Premier League
/ Lee Dixon / 05 August 2011 / Leave a Comment
Lee Dixon has given Darren Bent the thumbs-up in the top goalscorer market
"Bent is one of those players who on occasions, you won’t really notice for virtually the whole match but then somehow manages to grab a brace out of nowhere and walks off with the plaudits. And I like the sort of goals he scores."
The ever-popular Premier League top goalscorer is wide open this year but Lee Dixon likes the look of Wayne Rooney, Darren Bent and the man they're all still talking about.
Wayne Rooney
As discussed in my preview of the Premier League winner market that I'm in the Manchester United camp. Central to so much of what they do is that man Wayne Rooney. He had a tough first half of the season last time out with a slight loss of form, injuries and issues over a new contract. But he overcame all three, finishing the campaign in style and I'm expecting a big season from the United number 10 this time round. He creates goals, he scores goals, makes the team tick and I think he'll enjoy playing alongside Ashley Young. Rooney will get plenty of minutes on the pitch because, as other players in the squad are rotated for one reason or another, he seems to be the one player Sir Alex doesn't like to be without; he could also be on penalty duty again. I don't think Rooney will go out and score 30 goals this season but he could get 23-25 and that could end up being enough.
Darren Bent
My strongest selection. He's a player who has been at different clubs, under different managers and played in different systems. But one thing remains constant wherever he goes: he always scores goals. Sunderland never really recovered from losing him in January last year and though he wasn't quite as prolific as some would have expected when he first moved to Villa, he did still score a few. With half a season at Villa Park under his belt and having done pre-season with the squad he'll feel far more at ease this year. Bent is one of those players who on occasions, you won't really notice for virtually the whole match but then somehow manages to grab a brace out of nowhere and walks off with the plaudits. And I like the sort of goals he scores. He sniffs out chances, takes gambles, makes clever runs and is always searching for that one opening that will hand him the opportunity to do what he does best.
Carlos Tevez
A slightly odd choice I know, but hear me out. Tevez has said he wants to leave City on numerous occasions and a deal to his old club Corinthians looked be on the cards a few weeks ago before falling through. A solution that is satisfactory to the player, City and his future club may yet be found before the transfer window closes but what if that doesn't happen? Haven't we been here before with Tevez looking like he's played his last game for the club? He's such a volatile character that it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if he just turned around and said he wanted to stay after all. If that were to happen we'd be exactly where we were this time last year. He'd probably remain the team captain and very much the main man, the talisman of the side. And if that were to happen, you wouldn't be seeing much of the [42.0] currently on offer about the Argentinian finishing as top scorer. He'd go off as one of the favourites. You're taking a leap of faith here but at the current price it's worth having a dabble. If he stays you can lay him off at a shorter price before a ball is kicked in anger or after he's scored a few and just before the January transfer window opens. Just in case he changes his mind once again...
Recommended bets:
3 pts Back Wayne Rooney @ [9.4]
4pts Back Darren Bent @ [14.5]
1pt Back-to-lay Carlos Tevez @ [42.0]
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