Those of you who enjoy parting with money on the vague premise that more money will be handed back to you (I believe this is called betting), then this mid stage between seasons will be very important to you.

For this is the time of the year when fans of just about every football team get delusions of grandeur. It has been weeks since the last match of any note, but now the new season is within touching distance.

For the purposes of research, and not the purposes of increasing my overdraft, I have been looking into what might constitute good ‘punts’. However, should any of you be fool enough to follow my advice, please do not track me down and take out your revenge for any potential losses. Should the opposite be the case and you make a mint from me, then by all means send me a cheque to an address to be released at a later date.

'I know that Derby will struggle but a fiver each way at 80/1 (most bookies offer first four places) could turn out to be a nice little Earn-er!'


First up we have the Premiership title. These days bookies are not really risking too much on any of the obvious choices. Arsenal are probably the best bet and are available at between 12/1 and 16/1, which may seem a potential winner. The other three main candidates are almost not worth the outlay unless you are a serious gambler willing to risk your mortgage.

Liverpool to lift the title looks decent at 9/2 or, if you're lucky 5/1. As for the usual suspects, Chelsea and Manchester United, I wouldn’t even bother unless you were to make the odds sweeter by pushing it up to either side doing the double or even adding the Champions League for the BIG Treble. You can get 125/1 against Liverpool performing that feat, worth a fiver if you’re an optimistic Red. But you get around 33/1 and 40/1 against Chelsea and United respectively on the treble bet.

Such is the given monopoly of the top four sides, it seems that many betting shops and internet sites are offering attractive Premiership title odds without the Big Four. Again, it seems hardly worth betting on Spurs in this category such as the paucity of the odds. Better maybe 5/1 against the Toon army, especially given Newcastle’s recent quality signings Mark Viduka, Joey Barton and Geremi. If you’re brave or simply a fan who willing to put faith in your team then how about 25/1 for Roy Keane’s Sunderland to finish top of the also-rans?

Top Scorer bets have always gone very pear-shaped for me. It's a minefield, especially if you rather stupidly, like me, opt for the long odds rather than the ‘sure-things’. In this field of runners I would suggest the following candidates (again with average odds) Mido at 80/1 seems a good bet (I jest), but seriously, how about Dirk Kuyt at 28/1, Berbatov at 14/1 (although he may suffer given the amount of class finishers on show at White Hart Lane).

Another tip, albeit brave, would be Robert Earnshaw at Derby. I know that Derby will struggle but a fiver each way at 80/1 (most bookies offer first four places) could turn out to be a nice little Earn-er! It's worth remembering that in 2004-05, with the similarly unfancied West Brom, the Welshman managed to bag 11 goals in 18 starts, and that for a team that finished in 17th place. His goal return left him just two shy of the fourth top scorer in a season when he played less than half the matches and still finished top scorer for the Baggies! I rest my case.

Now here's a few bets that might tickle your fancy. How about:

Jermaine Defoe at 8/1 to finish top Premiership scorer at Spurs?
Niklas Bendtner at 7/1 to do likewise at Arsenal?
Robert Earnshaw at 5/6 to score seven-plus Premiership goals?
Sunderland at 9/4 to finish in top half of the table?
Wayne Rooney at 10/1 for top Premiership scorer?
Bolton at 13/2 to be relegated?
And finally 100/30 Spurs for a top four finish?

Right, now I’m off to make a bookie even more wealthy!