Premier League Title 2010/11

Premier League Title 2010/11

Late July early August is always put your money where your mouth is time for the massive community that bet on the Premier League. So who are the main runners and riders this time round and who'll end up on top of the pile? The traditional 'big four' were shaken up a bit last year and look to be again this time round with Man City and Spurs challenging the traditional order of things.

History has shown that a fat cheque book and an impatient billionaire can win you the league although it's difficult to get instant success through this route and usually takes a manager or 2 to get there, just ask Claudio Ranieri. Chelsea did 'buy' the trophy in only 2 years for Abramovich, the question is can the new super rich club Man City match that timescale? Lifting the trophy this season looks to be a bit beyond them if the odds makers are to be believed with Betfair showing them as third favourites currently offered at 6.0.

The favourites for the title according to Betfair are Chelsea, sitting at the top of the odds table (or should that be bottom?) at 2.78 currently offered. For a long time in the 09/10 season it looked like a three horse race with Arsenal and Man Utd in the fight but in the closing weeks the West Londoners class showed through as they pulled away from the pack. The critics will tell you about an ageing side with minimal activity in the summer transfer market and both Cech and Drogba absent for the start of the season but this sounds a lot more like desperate searching for reasons they won't succeed than real evidence.

Sir Alex Ferguson however will never be out of the title race as long as he's at the helm at Man Utd and season 25 is a nice round number. The Red Devils are at 3.8 to secure Fergie his 12th title with punters favourite Betfair not bad value given their obvious class and iconic manager. Much like the favourites though Man Utd too haven't spent much this summer however missing out by a point last season will make the squad even hungrier to win back what they believe to be by rights their title this time round.

Third favourites City then, the money men, 100 million plus looks to be the money spent this summer picking up some of the world's best players. The biggest names in world football don't just come for a giant pay-check though (although it helps!) players want medals to look back on in retirement. The bank balance will look pretty impressive having played in any of five or six of Europe's top flights. Can City deliver silverware this season then? The main difference between Man City now and Chelsea of 2005 could well be the manager. Mourinho had the already won the title in his head before a ball was kicked and the rest was merely a formality for the special one. Will Mancini be able to do the same? Odds of 6.0 at Betfair seem about right as Man City would need not just one but 2 giants of world football to open the door for them before they can slip through it. The smart money may even be on Mancini to win the sack race this year rather than the title race

Making up what may be the new 'big four' are Arsenal, with odds of 8.0 and another having not strengthened big and Wenger won't have done enough to improve from last season standing still is probably also beyond them. A better outside bet might well be Spurs at 40.0 on Betfair the league is almost certainly beyond them but at 4.0 a top four finish could turn out to be smart money.

30th July 2010

Related: Betfair Football News

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