Betting
Blog
1st
August 2007 - Pre Season Bets
With
the arrival of the new season just a few days away with the Scottish
divisions kicking off their campaign first followed a week later
by the English divisions it's time to put up our pre season predictions.
English
Premiership - With the introduction of more world class
players to Manchester United we feel that they will again be slightly
too strong for Chelsea in what looks like another two horse race.
Prediction: Manchester
United: Best Price 11/8.
Championship
-
As ever the championship proves to be such a hard league to predict
which is why it has also become a great spectacle to watch. Although
Charlton are favourites for the division we feel that the loss
of some of their key players will inevitably take it's toll, we
think Charlton in the playoffs at best. The one side that has
been going about their signings rather quietly is Wolves who have
got in some great young talent to beef up their squad. We can
see some real value in backing Wolves to win the Championship.
Prediction: Wolverhampton Wanders: Best
Price 15/2
League
1 -
With an exciting climax to the end of last season Nottingham Forest
were left devasted losing out to Yeovil in the secong leg at the
City ground in the play off's. We believe that Forest have swallowed
that bitter pill and will be run away leaders of League one by
some distance. Some good signings in the closed season will bring
some needed experience to the already talented squad. Watch them
steam roll ahead!! Prediction: Nottingham
Forest: Best Price 9/2
League
2
- Well it would seem that a timely cash injection for Peterborough
was just what the doctor ordered and no time was wasted in bringing
in a whole host of summer signings. Because of this we cant see
anyone touching Peterborough this campaign although we predict
they will be off to a slightly slower start until they find their
feet. After that they will get to the top and stay there! Peterborough
for top scorers as well. Prediction:
Peterborough United: Best Price 4/1
We
will be placing a £10 win Yankee for the above selections
for the coming season. Good luck in whatever choices you make
throughout the leagues. One things for sure, it's going to be
another fantastic season across the divisions!
2007/08
Premiership Preview
Last year's campaign was one of the most enthralling and competitive
seasons for a few years. Man Utd eventually won the title by 6
points with Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal making up the top quartet.
Will this year be as interesting? My guess is without a doubt,
yes. Teams have strengthened again this year but with some real
quality signings, not just cheap foreign imports but players with
pedigree and potential such as Liverpool’s Fernando Torres
and Chelsea’s Florent Malouda. This piece will run you through
the major players for the coveted title (with a few surprise inclusions)
and the teams who may have to fight tooth and nail to stay up.
Manchester
United - 5/4
Where better to start than with last seasons Champions. Sir Alex
has been relatively busy in the transfer window this year with
England midfielder Owen Hargreaves being the major signing. He
is a player who will do all the leg work in the team, tracking
back and protecting his defenders. This will allow Scholes, Carrick
and the more centrally located Giggs to maraud forward and to
add to an already impressive attack. Two fairly unknown quantities
are the youngsters from Sporting and Porto, Nani and Anderson.
These have cost Utd a combined fee somewhere in the region of
£25m-£35m, so they must have a lot of potential. Utd
assistant Carlos Quiroz will have no doubt watched these players
on many occasions to splash out the sorts of figures that have
been banded around. They are both attacking midfielders and although
they may not be an instant hit, they may warm up to the Premierships
fast pace and then take the league by storm ala Cristiano Ronaldo.
Overall Man Utd have a huge chance of retaining their title, providing
the main two players Rooney and Ronaldo have another relatively
injury free campaign. This for me is my main concern. They are
by no means a one man band but lets face it, the two R’s
made all the difference for Utd last season.
Liverpool
– 6/1
It is probably best to start with saying that Liverpool are one
of my strong fancies for a good title challenge this season, although
6/1 isn’t massive – it is still a bet that I will be
placing. Liverpool have made plenty of signings so far and quality
ones at that. We all know Torres’ pedigree and is potentially
a special player. He literally carried Althletico Madrid for several
seasons, taking the captains armband aged just 19. Ryan Babel
is another quality signing. Anyone who saw this lad in the U21’s
European Championship knows what he can do, we mustn’t forget
that he also has 14 full international caps, netting 4 times.
Benayoun and Ukrainian Vornin seem to have settled in well too,
especially the latter, he has been named LFC man of the match
twice out of his three pre season friendly appearances scoring
twice. I think what is more important than the signings is the
hunger shown by all of the players. They have been quoted as saying
how important the opening weeks of the season are. This is where
Liverpool have slipped up recently. The Premiership cannot be
won in the first 10 fixtures but it can be lost. In summary –
Liverpool are a good bet at better odds than Man Utd and Chelsea,
with for me – similar potential.
Chelsea
– 13/8
Jose Mourinho is never one to shy away from the media spotlight,
even when the team is in L.A on their pre season tour he still
manages to put his two penneth in. He recently said that all of
the pressure is on Man Utd and Liverpool this season as they have
been the “spending clubs”. While this may be true I
do not whole heartedly agree. Chelsea have the reputation of being
up there with the “world’s elite” and rightly so
– after winning back to back League titles, but last season
they lost their title and got knocked out of the Champions League
at the semi-final stage yet again. Make no mistake they are under
pressure too. The addition of Frenchman Florent Malouda will certainly
help their cause, especially if Robben does leave “the bridge”.
Ex Reading midfielder Steve Sidwell has also been added to the
squad, although I fail to see where he will fit in with Lampard,
Ballack, Essien and Makele. Chelsea will be chomping at the bit
to regain their title and this is what makes them so dangerous.
Obviously they too have an excellent chance of regaining it and
it will be up to the rest to stop them.
Arsenal
– 9/1
Not many peoples fancy this season, but this can be such a huge
advantage for the Gunners. After losing Henry and Ljungberg, many
people have written of their chances of winning the league –
this can be dangerous. Arsenal will be playing with little pressure
this season, they have been quoted as being in a “transitional
period” which will only push them on to be stronger and pressure
free. Croatian International new boy Da Silva may or may not work
out, but one man who will step up and be counted for is Van Persie.
He was missing for a lot of the season last year and will be looking
to make amends. He will be first choice up front in my opinion
and is one for your Fantasy Football teams. The young players
at Arsenal had a good shot in the first team last year with all
of the injuries – this too is an advantage for the Gunners.
Whilst they do have a chance at winning the league, I feel they
MAY fall short. The squad is very thin with not too many new signings,
an injury to Gilberto or Fabregas could be detrimental to their
challenge.
Tottenham
– 100/1
Spurs will not win the Premiership this season, BUT they are a
cracking bet for “without the big 4” at 11/8. They have
a very youthful and skilful squad, the addition of Darren Bent
and Gareth Bale will be huge. Spurs’ weakest position for
quite a while has been left back. Bale who has gone to Spurs with
a big reputation will make this position his own and do very well.
Dimitar Berbatov was awesome last year, his first season at Spurs
and in the Premiership and he scored 25 goals in all competitions.
That is truly outstanding, now he is in his second season you
would expect him to be even better. For me, worth a good punt
for 5th place betting and if they do make 4th or 3rd which is
likely – you will still win.
The
relegation battle is often more exciting than the actual title
race, we’ve seen plenty of last day survival games recently.
Wigan were very lucky not to be relegated to the Championship
last season, instead the plucky Sheffield Utd took the drop. It
may be different this year, Paul Jewell has now left the JJB and
he will be missed more so than if Heskey, Baines and Scharner
were all to leave. He has proven in the past he is an excellent
manager and you have to wonder whether Chris Hutchings can keep
them up. At 5/4 to be relegated you’d have to be mad not
to back it. Derby have to be an obvious choice to go back down,
I can not see them having the ability or the squad to stay up,
however 1/2 is hardly a price to be jumped upon. The final relegation
place isn’t so simple. It would have to be a toss up between
Fulham (2/1) and Birmingham (5/6), only a minor preference for
the former.
