Five shock early Golden Boot challengers
Who'd have thought that Bologna and Frankfurt front men would be among the most prolific in Europe in the opening few weeks of the campaign? We've scanned the continent to praise five of the surprise Golden Boot challengers, and look at the odds offered on them lasting the pace...
Florent Malouda
Until he finally started receiving credit in the second half of last season, there was a danger that Malouda would go down as the most underrated player of the Roman Abramovich era at Chelsea. Now the Frenchman has scored six goals in five Premier League starts from out wide, his first blank coming against Manchester City on Saturday, to emerge as a [25.0] outsider to be top goalscorer.
Nilmar
While nobody has questioned the Brazil striker's talent, few saw him as capable of challenging the likes of David Villa, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the Pichichi Trophy, especially after netting a decent yet undaunting 11 in his first season at Villarreal. The [21.0] shot has scored four already though to stand one clear of all rivals and has a game in hand against Malaga this evening.
Marco Di Vaio
The 34-year-old has always been prolific and was one shy of the Capocannoniere with 24 in 2008-09, level with Diego Milito who earned a move to Inter for his exploits, so the only shock is that Di Vaio continues to excel even in his twilight years, and at an expected struggler in Bologna. He's scored four of their six goals in an impressive opening and is in to [14.0] to outscore Samuel Eto'o and co.
Theofanis Gekas
How the Greek forward was only given one minute on the pitch after joining Portsmouth in 2009 will forever remain a mystery given his goalscoring record either side of that disastrous loan. The man who was Bundesliga top scorer with Bochum in 2006-07 was unable to keep Hertha Berlin up last season but is [19.0] to regain his crown having already struck four times since signing for Frankfurt.
Jamie Mackie
With eight goals in eight Championship appearances for QPR, the Wimbledon trainee has already equalled the tally he managed in 42 starts for Plymouth at the same level last year. The 25-year-old is the [7.0] favourite to be Championship top goalscorer and while his remarkable form may prove unsustainable, he's already seven clear of hotly-tipped duo Kris Boyd ([23.0]) and Craig Bellamy ([40.0]).
Did you back any of these players in pre-season? Fancy any to win their respective Golden Boots? Have your say below...
Published: 27 Sep 2010
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