For those of you interested in what the bookies make of next season, the odds are below... To finish bottom Burnley 15/8 (2.8) Leicester 6/1 (7.0) QPR 6/1 (7.0) Hull 7/1 (8.0) Crystal Palace 9/1 (10.0) West Brom 9/1 (10.0) Aston Villa 18/1 (19.0) Sunderland 20/1 (21.0) Swansea 20/1 (21.0) To get relegated Burnely 4/7 (1.57) QPR 2/1 (3.0) Hull 9/4 (3.25) Leicester 9/4 (3.25) Crystal Palace 5/2 (3.5) West Brom 5/2 (3.5) Aston Villa 7/2 (4.5) Swansea 9/2 (5.5) Sunderland 5/1 (6.0) They rate our chances of staying up as 4/11 (1.36), which incidentally is the same as Hull I can see that, from a bookmakers POV, they rate Burnley as the favourite to go straight back down, then QPR just above, then us and Hull just above that. Few other Leicester ones to pick out... Top half finish = 4/1 (5.0) Top 6 finish = 40/1 (41.0) Top 4 finish = 300/1 (301.0) Winner = 5,000/1 (5001.0) And finally, Jamie Vardy to be top goalscorer is a mere 125/1 (126.0)
I was thinking that's worth a few quid too! They are definitely "due" to go down, their signings have been odd, and Roy Keane is just a car crash waiting to happen...
Swansea are more of an appeal to me! God knows who is responsible for their transfer dealings but looks as if Bony and Michu are off and in replacement they have signed Emnes.... a player who was not good enough for Boro! Although it remains to be seen what Gomis offers, but any player released on a free from a top French club to join Swansea raises questions in my mind. Add that to all the dressing room fall outs I can see them down if not bottom.
So, who do we think will be our main rivals for relegation this season? Who will be down there in the muck with us? I could also see West Brom struggling, had a poor season, and don't really rate Irvine...
4/1 for Leicester to finish in the top half and 6/1 to finish bottom of the table. Sounds promising! What's Newcastle's odds to go down? I think they're really gonna struggle.
Newcastle are 8/1 to go down. Tempted to whack some money on us finishing bottom and/or just getting relegated, in an attempt to cushion the blow should it happen
I've know people who have tried things like that before. Apparently, it's not consolation, and the superstitious types have even been know to blame themselves! You wouldn't catch Leicester Ed betting against us! 8/1 sounds good. I fancy them more than Swansea (and us of course!)
Europe and second-season syndrome Clubs always seem to struggle with Europa League and a league campaign, for some reason. Perhaps a more tiring campaign playing Thursday - Sunday - Thursday - Sunday? Who knows... Didn't exactly seem to help the Swans last season... Lucky to stay up IMO.
Bony's goals helped Swansea stay up last year. Apparently he is off and I hear Michu has been loaned out to Napoli. Seems crazy to get rid of your two best players and not replace them. With Hull being my uni town I hope they don't go down, but when they qualified for the Europa league last season I called it. I'm far too excited for the new season!!!
