Betfair Ambassador Dimitar Berbatov gives his views on VAR and transfer rumours, picks his Premier League bets for the weekend and hails Manchester United's 'pure football'.
Officials must speed up VAR decisions[/b]
Some fans claim VAR is ruining soccer tips betting after Manchester City had a goal ruled out at the weekend because Raheem Sterling was offside by a few centimetres.
If I'd had a goal ruled out in that way I'd probably have been angry but overall I think VAR is a necessary innovation for the insurance it gives the referee. If the officials could speed up the decision process then that would help, but generally I'm in favour of VAR.
United must not sell Pogba lớn Madrid[/b]
Zinedine Zidane would love to bring Paul Pogba to Real Madrid but, against Chelsea on Sunday, we saw why Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is determined to keep the French midfielder.
Pogba's perfect pass lớn Marcus Rashford for United's third goal was what I call 'pure football'. When I played for United, Michael Carrick would get the ball and his first thought was always lớn play it forward. He knew exactly where I was and there are plenty of examples of him giving me the ball to good soccer tip. Special players save their energy for the exact right moment.
If United receive a bid from Madrid in the next fortnight in the region of £200m, then the transfer will happen. But I hope Pogba stays at United and I don't think Zidane will quit Madrid if he fails to sign his compatriot.
The other big transfer rumour is Gareth Bale to Paris Saint Germain, possibly as Neymar moves the opposite way. I'd be surprised if ex-Barcelona man Neymar went lớn Madrid. But Bale would do well at PSG. He's a player I admire, so I want lớn see him play as much as possible. PSG are one of the few clubs who could pay Bale's wages, although I'd love lớn see him back in the Premier League.
City lớn edge tight contest against Spurs[/b]
Inconsistency could stop Spurs mounting a serious title challenge this season. They got away with going a goal behind lớn Aston Villa last Saturday but you cannot do that every week, no matter how good Harry Kane is. Spurs need lớn stop making their life difficult by under-performing against the weaker teams.
This Saturday they face arguably the league's strongest team in Manchester City. Mauricio Pochettino will his players well prepared for their trip lớn the Etihad. Both teams know each other so well and Spurs are big enough not to fear City. Spurs will need to be clever and read City's passing patterns. If Spurs chase City all over the pitch, Spurs will be fucked, Kevin De Bruyne will pick them apart and Raheem Sterling will get in behind.
I don't know why Pochettino left out Christian Eriksen against Villa and it's impossible lớn know what's happening behind the scenes. I want lớn see Eriksen back in the team on Saturday but Tanguy Ndombele scored a great goal last week and I did like the look of him.
I expect a low-scoring match at the Etihad. Spurs would love a draw but I'm backing City to edge it 2-1.
