Premier Season 2012-13 Preview

With the Euros ended, football fans have over month to wait before the start of the English domestic season, here is a look at how the markets are shaping up.

Man City are the 13/10 (Bodog/188bet/Coral) favourites to reclaim the Premier League title. City have been quiet in the transfer market so far, but have money too spend if needed and look worthy favourites. Carlos Tevez will likely be around for the whole season this time and Robin Van Persie is a name that is being linked. City are going to be tough too beat.

Man Utd were pipped on the last day by their local rivals and will be desperate to bounce back, they are 11/4 (Bwin) for Premier League glory. Utd have so far secured the services of Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund and young Crewe striker Nick Powell (who may be spent out on loan). Paul Scholes has also promised to play another season and Utd fans will hope that a revamped midfield and a fit Nemanja Vidic can help them reclaim the title.

Third in the betting are Chelsea who will enter the season buoyed by glory in the Champions League and hopefully showing the same renewed team spirit under boss Roberto Di Matteo. Chelsea are 5/1(Coral) and have added creative midfielders Eden Hazard and Marko Marin to that solid defence, though losing Didier Drogba is a blow.

After finishing some 19 points off the pace last season Arsenal have become busy in the summer wrapping up deals for strikers Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski. The problem for Gunners fans is that once more a summer looks set to be wrecked by a wantaway star, this time Dutchman Robin Van Persie. The Gunners are 12/1 (general) to claim the Premier League title, their first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2005.

North London rivals Tottenham have decided to replace Harry Redknapp as their boss with Andre Villas Boas. Spurs are 33/1 (general) to claim the title this year and Daniel Levy will surely back his manager in the transfer market. Luka Modric seems set to leave, but with Gareth Bale signing a new deal Spurs fans will be hopeful of brighter things ahead. So too will Liverpool fans under new boss Brendan Rodgers and the Anfield side are 40/1 (BetVictor) but fans must be patient as success will not come overnight. Last season’s surprise package Newcacastle are 150/1 (general) and though a title charge is unrealistic, they seem to be under-rated in the hunt for a top four place 16/1 (general) despite just finishing four points off fourth last season.

At the other end of the market newly promoted sides Reading and Southampton are the favourites to go down (Reading are 5/4-BetVictor, Southampton are 11/8 (bet365/BetVictor). Both sides will look to follow the examples of Norwich, Swansea and QPR who all survived last season after winning promotion. Wigan had a season of two halves, terrible in the first, unplayable in the second. Martinez might find himself battling to pull of a magic trick again to keep them up and Wigan at 7/4 (paddy Power/Coral) to go down could be value if they get off to another slow start. Norwich and Swansea both lost their bosses and are fancied to struggle this season with ’second season syndrome’. The Canaries are 7/4 (sportingbet) and Swansea are 23/10 (sportingbet). Those looking for some bigger prices may want to consider West Brom (under new management) at 9/2 (general) and Stoke at 8/1 (BetVictor).

Whatever the market be sure to keep an eye out for the early value as the Cliche (not Gael) goes ’the early bird catches the worm.’

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07/07/2012     © Frixo 2024