THE BERNIE THE BOOK COLUMN


VILLA FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE! WELL MAYBE ON HANDICAP


YES ITS BACK…After what seems like only a week, the new football season has arrived and the hopes and aspirations of football fans up and down the land will be trained on their team. As the famous saying goes…it’s the hope that kills you…how apt in betting parlance. Last year, at this time, I tipped up the chances of BURNLEY at a whopping 20/1 before a ball had been kicked and each way backers were also rewarded by the promotion of the Owls at 10/1. But what of this year??


PREMIER LEAGUE Man City are seemingly unopposable over 38 games, but odds-on is not what we are all about, especially as layers are pricing up their chances and punters are basing their bets on winning the treble last season, something fraught with danger. However most firms are running a season long handicap, where each team is allotted a number of points before we kick off…and more interestingly all teams are 16/1!!! So look at the lists. For example, with Skybet, which I have used, West Ham have a 39 point start on Man City and variable ones on each of the other 18 teams. So who do you fancy to outperform themselves?? My two against the field are ASTON VILLA (plus 31 points) and BOURNEMOUTH (plus 48 points). Each can be backed each way and are available at 16/1. Up the


Villa!!


CHAMPIONSHIP The battle out of the Championship is always tough, but this year I think that it will be pain free for LEICESTER CITY, clearly a Group 2 horse running in listed class. The general 4/1 might appear skinny, but its not, as parachute payments, great support and the acquisition of Pep’s Number 2 as manager will bring a change in attitude and a quick bounce back to the Premier League. My only other fancy,


SUNDERLAND at 25/1 to continue last year’s progression back to the big time. In the final analysis they were denied a chance of promotion by the eventual promoted team, Luton, a side they were eminently capable of matching.


PHTM AUGUST 2023


DIVISION 1 I have no real fancies this year as a preference, but if I was forced to opine it would gravitate towards BARNSLEY at 10/1.


DIVISION 2


That is not the case though in our fourth tier division. Quite how the layers can make FC Hollywood (Wrexham) such a good thing is beyond me. What is true however is that promoted teams from the National League are significantly stronger than the hitherto established teams. Largely its down to new investment,but there are other factors. Nevertheless, how they can make Wrexham 3/1 and NOTTS COUNTY 10/1 baffles me, especially as there was a whisker between them last year. Take the 10/1 for a moderate stake.


for small stakes is


Finally on football… Never let it be said that BtB is not an equal opportunities gambler, I will take profit wherever it comes from. On that basis, and as the Women’s World Cup is currently in progress down under (the Quarters don’t kick off until the 11th and the knockout rounds begin this Friday) let us cast our gaze at the runners and riders. USA have won the last two World Cups, but with an ageing squad, more professional competition and no talisman (taliswoman), they are poor value (favs) to win a third. Let us look to the highly professional European leagues for our money. My two against the field are SPAIN (11/4) and GERMANY (6/1). Both showed up well in last year’s Euros in England and were only denied by a nation’s home crowd, Spain being particularly unlucky in exiting to the Lionesses in the quarters, and I confidently expect the San Miguel to be flowing in Madrid this time around. I note the Champions League is in its embryonic stage and I have long advocated it really doesn’t start until the knockout stage next February. That should not preclude an initial stake on NAPOLI at 25/1 for next June’s centrepiece, this price will surely rapidly contract in the coming months.


Until next time and the Ryder Cup; good punting... Bernie the Book


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