By Yidob
August 16 2006

With the signings of Schevchenko and Ballack further strengthening the Premierships strongest team, the title looks to be in the bag for Chelsea for the third season running. Obviously the odds reflect this, and Chelsea are a best priced 1/2(Bet 365). We have to cast our eye down past Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United and Arsenal until we come to the lily white of Tottenham, who are best priced 80/1(various) to be crowned Premiership Champions next May………………….

Probably best to leave that alone though eh?

A bet that may interest Tottenham fans and it certainly interests me, is Tottenham to win the Premiership without the “Big 4”(Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United and Arsenal) So you’re basically banking on Spurs to cement the fifth place that we achieved last season, or better it, and no other team to improve past us. I may be a little biased but no team looks equipped to improve past Tottenham, possibly Newcastle if they can add to there forward line. For this bet, Tottenham are a best priced 13/8(Corals).

Taking a look at Relegation, not that Spurs fans need to worry about that, the favourites for the drop are not surprisingly Premiership new boys Watford(4/7 various), Sheffield United(8/13 UK Betting, Total Bet) and Reading(6/4 various). Living in Watford as I do, and taking an interest in their results and performances, I’m pretty confident that with the excellent Aidy Boothroyd at the helm, Watford can avoid the dreaded drop. For this to happen they are a best priced 6/4(Bet 365). A team that I think will struggle this season is Portsmouth, “The poor mans Chelsea” and 9/1(Corals) for Harry’s men to bite the dust looks over priced to me.

An interesting market is always the Premiership Golden Boot winner, and although he is the enemy and an arrogant so and so, Thierry Henry to win it is the banker bet of the Premiership season for me. A best priced 5/2(various) seems like great value, with the only risk being that he picks up a serious injury, and we wouldn’t wish that on Mr Arrogance would we?
A good each way shout, also in this market, is Liverpool new boy/bad boy, Craig Bellamy (20/1 Corals). I think he’ll be in for a good season, and 20/1 seems like a decent each way shout. A little further down the list we come to Tottenham’s hopefuls. New boy Berbatov(33/1 Corals), Defoe(40/1 Corals) and Captain Keano(50/1 Bet Direct, Bet 365) Out of the three I’d go each way on Robbie to carry on his superb goal scoring form from last season.

A good site for football betting is Paddy Power, and they offer a market which none of the other big guns seem to, and that is “Who will top the Premiership at the end of August?” With Tottenham’s August fixtures pitting us with a trip to Bolton on the opening day, followed by two home games against Sheffield United and Everton, Paddy Powers offering or 8/1 for Spurs to top the Premiership tree at Augusts end seems like a very fair price.

Away from the Premiership, we take a look at the F.A Cup, Carling Cup, and with Spurs now rightfully back in Europe; we look at the Uefa Cup too! After lasts seasons dismal cup showings from Martin Jols men, it’s hard to really back with much confidence. F.A Cup (16/1 Bet Direct, Bet365) Carling Cup (10/1 various) and Uefa Cup (14/1 Corals) all seem like fair prices, with my fancy, and hope, being the Uefa Cup being Tottenham’s best chance of Cup glory this season.

I’ll finish my guide to the 2006/07 season by looking at a betting market which doesn’t feature Tottenham, and it still leaves a bitter taste! Yes, it’s the Champions League. Chelsea (9/2 various) and Barcelona (4/1 various) battle it out for outright favouritism. Both look a bit short to me. England’s other representatives Man United (14/1 various) and Arsenal (16/1 various) both look a bit inferior to the top two in the betting. But, my fancy for the Champions League is a team that impressed me in the same tournament last season, and that’s Lyon (20/1 Corals, Betfred)

So there we have it, a guide to a few bets that will give us a vested interest for the up and coming season.

Yidob recommends the following eight bets for the coming season:

Tottenham without the “Big 4” 13/8 ****
Watford to avoid relegation 6/4 ****
Portsmouth to be relegated 9/1 ***
Premiership Golden Boot Winner – Thierry Henry 5/2*****
Premiership Golden Boot Winner – Craig Bellamy 20/1*** (Each Way)
Tottenham to top the Premiership (End of August) 8/1***
Tottenham to win the Uefa Cup 14/1*** (Each Way)
Lyon to win the Champions League 20/1 *** (Each Way)
A few other novelty bets that are available on this seasons betting markets are:

First Premiership player to be sent off – Edgar Davids 28/1 First Premiership hat-trick – Berbatov 22/1, Defoe 2/1, Keane 28/1 First player to reach 5 Premiership bookings – Edgar Davids – 18/1 Ground to see the most Premiership goals – White Hart Lane 8/1, Vicarage Road 20/1.

Happy punting – And may all your wagers be winning ones.

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