What are the odds David De Gea starts fewer than 30 matches this season after his Wembley wobble? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day

By Derek McGovern in Betting Blog

Published 23:00 08/08/11

• 

The Community Shield reinforced the belief that Manchester United don’t know they are beaten until the final whistle sounds.

Unless they’re playing Barcelona, when they know they’re beaten when the first whistle sounds.

The line-up that completed the comeback victory against Manchester City had an average age of just 23.

That doesn’t take into account Wayne Rooney’s hair, which is just three months old.

You could have picked 11 United names for their man-of-the-match, but only one United name for City’s man-of-the-match. Stand up David De Gea.

On the evidence of his dive for Edin Dzeko’s goal, De Gea could soon be De Goner.

Hills offer 6-4 that he makes fewer than 30 starts this season – and 10-11 for more than 32 starts.

That makes me laugh more than his dive did.

**
BET OF THE DAY

I went to the doctor and said, "I'm sick and tired of finishing crosswords so quickly.

He told me to not get two down.

Get on Crystal Palace to beat Crawley at 10-11 with Hills.

**

England have drifted in the Rugby World Cup outright market after their ­uninspiring 23-19 victory over Wales in their opening warm-up match.

A great deal of fuss was made about England’s controversial all-black strip, essentially as it was identical to their old kit, except much darker.

Twickenham bigwigs pooh-poohed the notion they were trying to imitate the All Blacks.

Any similarities ended when the match started.

The England hierarchy did say they intend to perform their own version of the Haka in next week‘s return match. It will be a mixture of some Morris dancing with a bit of moon -walking thrown in.

William Hill make Manu Tuilagi 3-1 to start England’s World Cup opener against Argentina on September 10 after his impressive debut.

Mike Tindall is an ­alternative, but it seems his best days are behind him. He’s married.

His last few games suggest you’d find a better centre in a box of chocolates.

The All Blacks (New Zealand, not England) are now a best price of 4-6 to lift the trophy.

**

Two words you wouldn’t expect to see together in the same sentence - ‘sexy’ and ‘politician’.

It’s basically a contradiction in terms, just like honest lawyer, holy war and adult male.

I’m pretty certain no such entity as a sexy politician exists.

I therefore find it confusing that Ladbrokes are offering odds on which MP will top the sexymp.co.uk rankings.

Actually, I find politics itself confusing.

I heard the cabinet was going to get the bench to table a motion when the chair has the floor.

So when did furniture begin to govern us?

In fact, we’re not being governed by anyone just now, as everyone in charge is on holiday - George Osbourne is in Disneyland visiting his economist.

The favourite to top the sexy MP rankings is Conservative MP Penny Mourdaunt, at evens.

I’ve never seen nor heard of Ms Mourdaunt, but now I’m understandably keen to take a look at her.

I typed in the name Penny Mourdant on Google and it responded with the question, “Who the hell is Penny Mourdant?”

Fellow Tory MP Louise Mensch, third at 7-4, would get my vote.

Not that women should be judged on looks. Let’s not forget cooking.

Mensch was a member of the select committee awarded an audience with the Murdochs recently - and with looks like hers you could see why.

Ladbrokes bets: To top sexymp.co.uk at end of Parliamentary recess: Penny Mourdaunt - Evens, Charlotte Leslie – 6/4, Louise Mensch – 7/4, Luciana Berger – 2/1, Dominic Raab – 2/1, Stella Creasy – 3/1, Esther McVey – 4/1, Caroline Noakes – 4/1, Anna Soubry – 5/1 Rebecca Harris.

Fancy winning £3,000 for FREE this month? Play Mirror Football Streak for your chance to win cash prizes! Start predicting now!