English Premier League 2012 Betting

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New Season - New Thread

Who can set the Over/Under of # of different Andy Carroll Hairstyles during the pcoming season? I say 4.5

[jimbob04]

sweet cant wait

[Choppa]

The EPL season is just 5 days away!

Opening weekend matches and Sportingbet markets:

Blackburn ($2.00) vs Wolves ($3.40) - draw ($3.25)
Fulham ($2.10) vs Aston Villa ($3.20) - draw ($3.20)
Liverpool ($1.40) vs Sunderland ($7.50) - draw ($4.00)
QPR ($2.30) vs Bolton ($2.80) - draw ($3.20)
Spurs ($1.80) vs Everton ($4.00) - draw ($3.40)
Wigan ($2.00) vs Norwich ($3.40) - draw ($3.25)
Newcastle ($4.20) vs Arsenal ($1.75) - draw ($3.40)
Stoke ($5.00) vs Chelsea ($1.60) - draw ($3.60)
West Brom ($6.50) vs Man Utd ($1.44) - draw ($4.00)
Man City ($1.20) vs Swansea ($12.00) - draw ($5.50)

The locks so far appear to be Liverpool and Man City. Don't think Man Utd is value away to West Brom, and can see Newcastle and Everton getting results.

Looking forward to the upcoming season, we could have as many as 5 contenders for the title this season (Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal); and plenty of potential contenders for relegation. Bring it on...

[luckyshades]

I love the Premier League - but it's getting a little bit LOL.

I think it's getting close to the time where they need a European Super League - because the EPL just doesn't have that much excitement for teams outside of Utd, City and Chelsea.

I guess I'm 'lucky' in some respect that Blackburn are likely to be fighting to avoid relegation again - because it at least gives me some reason to really get involved and care.

But take a team like Aston Villa or Everton. The absolute best they can realistically hope for is 4th or 5th. They know they probably aren't in any danger of relegation, but also can't win the title. I guess they can hope for a good cup run - but really, how exciting could it possibly be to cheer for one of those teams ??

And it's pretty much the same around Europe. Scotland has the big 2, Spain has 2, Italy 2 or 3, Germany and France are a little bit more open but not much. The gap between the elite and the rest is getting too wide.

Yes I know there is always going to be strong sides (in any sport) and weaker sides, but at least in the NRL or NBA or baseball you can get the odd 'Cindarella story'. Before a ball is kicked you can say with absolute certainty that Utd, City or Chelsea will win in England, Rangers or Celtic will win Scotland, Real or Barca will win in Spain, AC Milan, Roma, Inter Milan or Juve will win Italy etc etc.

It's just losing some of the intrigue (unless you support one of those elite sides) and really ask any Man Utd fan and they would prefer watching their team play Inter, Schalke and Barca than Rovers, Bolton and Wigan.

[Choppa]

fwiw, I expect Villa to fight a relegation battle this season.

Competitions that do not possess a salary cap and draft system (or other form of competition controls) are almost always more likely to result in an inequity. Given that the majority of soccer/football leagues possess neither, we get what we have - competitions with a couple of dominant players, and a ton of also-rans.

Fortunately, with the concept of relegation and promotion in a lot of leagues, it gives back at least some level of interest, and a firm goal for many of the also-rans, particularly in a competition such as the EPL, where so much money is at stake.

If you think about it, in any given AFL or NRL season, there are typically only 2 or 3 genuine chances - the upside for both competitions is that these sides typically rotate.

As for this season's EPL - I think that any one of 5 sides could win the title this season, and I'm hoping that this will be an accurate prediction.

[Choppa]

Liverpool eh....so HOF. Chelsea also dropped points already; Man Utd about to take on West Brom.

[berry1]

anyone got fantasy teams on the premierleague site? would be keen to start a league if others are with a bit of a wager thrown in. obvs starting one at the beginning of the season would have been ideal but it doesnt make much difference

[Choppa]

anyone got fantasy teams on the premierleague site? would be keen to start a league if others are with a bit of a wager thrown in. obvs starting one at the beginning of the season would have been ideal but it doesnt make much difference

I had considered starting something up prior to the season starting but felt it would not get the necessary number of starters required. If there is interest (flag it in this thread if you are) in the next week, then maybe we can have a crack at it.

[Choppa]

3rd round of action (already) of EPL action, taking the following multi from tonight's matches:

Liverpool/Chelsea/Sunderland/Blackburn

Liverpool, if they're worth a damn, must beat Bolton at home; Chelsea should be good enough to beat Norwich at home; and think both Sunderland (away to Swansea) and Blackburn (home to Everton in Brett Emerton's farewell appearance before he joins Sydney FC) represent good value.

Price is at $15.13 on Sportingbet, but you should be able to do better on Betfair.

[Choppa]

I hate to say it this early on, but I'm calling Blackburn as doomed to relegation already...