THE BERNIE THE BOOK COLUMN
LET’S BE FRANK. LAMPARD LIKELY FOR THE SACK AT EVERTON BY OCTOBER
FOOTBALL’S BACK and the long summer yawn can be banished for the nation’s favourite pastime. And what a season it promises to be with a World Cup in Qatar bang in the middle of it. I have to confess that I have got plenty of sympathy for our Premier League stars and I think a lot of game management to prevent burnout and muscle strains will put extra pressure on the managers, so expect headlines for all the wrong reasons and a greater reliance on squads. This is probably the real reason behind the five substitute rule, along with the big boys wanting to throw their toys out of the pram if it didn’t come in, so expect the stronger, richer teams with deeper squad strength to play to their advantage. Which leads me on to this season’s ante-posts. It’s worth reminding you of last month’s initial thoughts.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Much has been made in the press recently over the continuing troubles at Man U (I don’t buy into) and the likely success at White Hart Lane (largely in agreement) but there are only fringe markets available (top four etc.) and they hold no great attraction for me. Similarly the race for the title between Pep and Jurgen – is again of no real interest. However, I think backing the HAMMERS in the without the top six at a whopping 4/1 is a licence to print money. The 2/1 favourite is Newcastle, and to my mind is being priced up on expectation, and Leicester might be declining in their admirable efforts over the last few years. Brighton too might have reached their plateau, so the 4/1 is SUPER GREAT VALUE (a la Bullseye!!) But there is more than one way to make a profit and so to the SACK RACE, or more appropriately the first managerial casualty.
I have a strong feeling that the owners of Everton were contemplating pulling the trigger on FRANK LAMPARD last year but relented. Frank and Everton survived. But what’s happened since? Well, major signings are currently none, as I wouldn’t call James Tarkowski marque and they have lost their major goal asset, Richarlison to Spurs. A tough start, a few losses and the knives will be out
again after six games and at 7/1, he remains bang in the firing line. As alluded to, I fancy West Ham at 4/1 in the market without the big six but there is also a market on the
AUGUST 2022
season’s handicap at between 14/1 and 16/1 the field. Man City give away the most points, in some lists as much as 56 points to Bournemouth, but it usually pays to find a team that will punch above their weight and my two against the field are CRYSTAL PALACE, getting 41 points from Man City and ARSENAL who receive a 20 point start. That’s 7/1 the pair and a little bit of interest. Just for the uninitiated amongst my readers, this means for example, that Palace receive 21 points from Arsenal and the total number of teams in the handicap contest (who all receive a handicap from the favourite – Man City) is 20 teams. And so to the other leagues…
CHAMPIONSHIP It’s a tough, tough league and often despite the parachute payments from the Premier League, relegated teams can really struggle in the Championship and I can see a bleak future for perennial yo-yo club Norwich (who are joint favourites to win the Division!!) and sack the manager if he loses four consecutive games... Watford! However not so the holistic approach adopted by BURNLEY, with the inspired appointment of Man City legend Vincent Kompany and at a whopping 14/1, Burnley can not be ignored. Second preference is for Middlesborough. Added to this, I would add SHEFFIELD UNITED at 9/1.
DIVISION 1 Initial preference is for two teams who did reasonably well last season without really threatening promotion (a quick dalliance with the play-offs) and my fancies are the OWLS (Sheffield Wednesday) at 7/1 and my main pick, OXFORD UNITED at 14/1 at this embryonic time. I have no further preference for Division 1 but I think the price of 14/1 about Northampton is worth considering at this early stage along with my original fancies in Division 2 of MANSFIELD TOWN at a very generous 12/1 and finally, promotion beckons for SALFORD CITY.
SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP I have been remiss to never include events north of the border in what is traditionally (always) a shoot-out between Glasgow’s finest. Again there is a market for WITHOUT CELTIC and RANGERS and the 9/2 on offer about ABERDEEN looks great and makes plenty of appeal. My spies up North have told me of the new squad and the belief in manager Jim Goodwin and that’s good enough for me.
Good punting…
Bernie the Book 83
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