For most 2016 was a pretty bad year. If your favourite chart topper from the hit parade pegged out or your democratic vote had as much use, you will be pleased to see the back of it. Likewise in this corner of Gambling News, although for better reasons.
The year was all about setting a platform for profitable 2017 and we are delighted to see the end of it because we’re on course for some good winners. Doncaster in League Two advised at 3 to be promoted, are sitting pretty; Newcastle are strong in the Championship at 15-8 while Blue was our colour for the Premier League title after Chelsea had their only wobble of the season. Then there’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic at 11 to be top scorer in the section. He’s one behind Diego Costa.
Bury to be relegated from League One
Here’s a late Christmas present. Bury have lost 14 of their last 17 in all competitions. They have plummeted down the section to fifth bottom. And yet you can still get 3.5 (Ladbrokes) that they drop. It’s a terrific wager as the price simply does not reflect the turmoil, lack of confidence and malaise sweeping through the club. Remember, for Bury to survive there have to be four worse teams than them this term. Now, granted Oldham, Coventry, Chesterfield and Shrewsbury are pretty bad but they have not hit the self-destruct button quite as emphatically as poor Bury. Lump on.
Aston Villa to be promoted
A look at the league table showing Villa in ninth position, five points off the play-off spots and with a goal difference of just plus three does not exactly scream that they are about to go on an unstoppable run to glory. Still, we don’t need them to do that. We need them to show continued improvement under the astute stewardship of Steve Bruce and then peak in the playoffs in May. They are 7 (at Green Listed Bookmakers Paddy Power, William Hill) to get up. What we like about them is that their form (in terms of goals expectancy conceded and scored) puts them around fourth. And with Bruce expected to bring in reinforcements in January, we think they’re on to a good thing.,
Sheffield Wednesday are also underrated and we’ve seen 6.5 with 32Red about them being promoted but we are not sure whether that’s a genuine price or not. If you can get it, fill your boots and let us know.
Burnley, Hull and Swansea for the drop
Hull and Swansea are as good as gone. Hull are as short as 1.12 and Swansea as skinny as 1.5. The Welsh club have sacked Bob Bradley a couple of weeks too late. They needed Sam Allardyce to rescue them and they are left trying to find an expert firefighter. There isn’t one. Burnley are fighting an admirable fight but statistically they are consistently allowing teams to create oodles of chances, something which they have so far got away with. That luck could run out. So the 6 (Skybet) you can get that Burnley join Hull and Swansea in a relegation treble is a solid wager. We’ll also take the 34 (Skybet) that Leicester go down with Swansea and Hull. The Foxes may be champions but they just don’t try hard enough in games. They can’t suddenly decide to turn it on.
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