Pre-season betting odds

[Marked Ox]

Skybet laughably have us down as 8/1 to get promotion. Based on what exactly? Like most teams we've only signed a couple of players and losing mostly rubbish from last season's squad admittedly (excluding Ryan Ledson obviously) although we still have Jon Obika. So lots of squad building still to go like many others.

I'm sure most of the odds are stupid as well as who thinks theirs is about right or utterly wrong for whatever reason?

 

[DearneValleyRover]

We are 10/1 and don’t have a manager yet so not very realistic but most of the odds are short

 

[joethegill]

I think I read we're favourites for relegation again which is nice.

 

[Bottega Don]

I think I read we're favourites for relegation again which is nice.

3rd favourites which makes sense really considering you finished not that far from the drop.

 

[Craig]

5/2 second favourites for promotion based entirely on us being a Championship club last season.

We've made no new signings as of yet and have appointed an inexperienced manager who has never worked in English football. They've clearly just pulled these odds out of their arses.

 

[joethegill]

3rd favourites which makes sense really considering you finished not that far from the drop.

Closer in points to the top half than the bottom 4, but it doesn't really matter. The odds are generally not particularly accurate in terms of finishing positions over the years.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

I would expect us to win the league as we are clearly a very rich and powerful club now.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Luton 16/1 5th favourites.

Position wise might not be too far wrong, but still think that's a bit short ahead of the likes of Peterborough, Bradford and Shrewsbury.

 

[Don Tonberry]

4/1 on us (3rd favourites behind Sunderland and Barnsley) is no value whatsoever. Most of our signings are to fill out a weak squad in terms of numbers and/or complete unknowns.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

Luton 16/1 5th favourites.

Position wise might not be too far wrong.

It will be

 

[joethegill]

Hard to know what to expect from Luton. I know they scored a hell of a lot last season, but the majority of their forward line has tried in this league before without being overly impressive. If they're relying on the 'score one more than you' policy again this year then there's no guarantee they'll find it as easy. Either that or it'll work great and I'll look stupid.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Hard to know what to expect from Luton. I know they scored a hell of a lot last season, but the majority of their forward line has tried in this league before without being overly impressive. If they're relying on the 'score one more than you' policy again this year then there's no guarantee they'll find it as easy. Either that or it'll work great and I'll look stupid.

I don't really have 'hard' expectations. I think the top 2 is unrealistic, but not the top 6. I'd be more than happy with a top 10 place with a flirtation with the play offs, missing out in the last couple of weeks. Would keep it exciting enough. There is no point us getting promoted as we don't have a new stadium to move into.

We've moved on a couple of defenders, but I'd expect most of our back line to be:
Jack Stacey - Sonny Bradley - Alan Sheehan - Dan Potts. I'd say injuries aside our defence is pretty strong - Stacey will only improve further; Potts has had Championship bids for him; Bradley is our big marquee signing so far and Sheehan is such an important player at both ends of the field. There was some interest in Jack Baldwin, who will probably leave Peterborough, before we signed Sonny Bradley. I don't there would be room to sign him now with Glen Rea as a reserve centre half and other youngsters as 4th/5th choice.

Midfield wise, perhaps there's room to manoeuvre in the diamond. Could depend a lot on Alan McCormack, but whether we can get 30-40 games out of him remains to be seen - also another year older. Andrew Shinnie I reckon will do better in L1 than L2.

I can't see any reason why Danny Hylton can't step up - he's scored 50 goals in 2 seasons. James Collins and Elliot Lee have also played at this level before too, but unproven. Harry Cornick is raw but now has a full pre season ahead of him.

No doubt we'll improve in a couple of areas before August. Still early days.
.

 

[joethegill]

This is how William Hill have it:

View attachment 1529767276532.png
I don't mind us being low on expectation, but that's just stupid

 

[Pugwash]

I have had a little punt on the Cods gaining promtion at 14/1. Interesting new manager, he certainly talked the talk at a 'meet the fans' evening. Best question from the floor was from an old girl, "are you going to behave yourself NOW Joey". He will not be putting on his boots for us though.

A couple of potentially good signings, Craig Morgan from Wigan and Jason Holt from Rangers should give us a bit more bite in the team.

 

[bantamigo]

Would imagine apart from Sunderland, Barnsley and Burton who are automatic favourites due to them being relegated the rest are dictated by which fanbase are deluded enough to think they’re definitely going up and have stuck money on it. Not really surprised to see Luton up there judging from a few posts on here.

 

[Shrew_fan]

I reckon we'll be amongst the favorites for relegation, as we were last season.

Even though I didn't think we'd struggle last season, we surpassed the expectations of even our most optimistic/deluded fans. Problem now being is that last season has raised expectations, coupled with the fact that our 'success' (we didn't actually win anything!) has seen some of our better out of contract performers to move on to bigger teams in the same division (Ogogo, Brown to Cov City, Rodman to Bristol Rovers) and our manager jump ship to the level above. I would certainly take a boring mid-table position now as I'm sure would John Askey, who is on a hiding to nothing following on from Paul Hurst.

Our best hope is that Askey can 'do a Hurst' and unearth some non-league gems, coupled with some good loanees and have us half competitive - he must have something about him getting Macc promoted on a shoestring......

 

[Shrew_fan]

I can't see any reason why Danny Hylton can't step up - he's scored 50 goals in 2 seasons. James Collins and Elliot Lee have also played at this level before too, but unproven. Harry Cornick is raw but now has a full pre season ahead of him.

In our experience Collins is a great L2 striker but struggles at L1 level as he just doesn't have the speed of body or mind. Will be interesting to see how he does next season for you...

 

[Kenneth E End]

In our experience Collins is a great L2 striker but struggles at L1 level as he just doesn't have the speed of body or mind. Will be interesting to see how he does next season for you...

I had a similar inkling; I dare say he’s probably in a more attacking side than when he was at Shrewsbury? He’s got 3 more years on his deal so he needs to step up!

 

[Shrew_fan]

I guess - though whether you'll be as attacking in L1 is yet to be seen. That said he is nailed on to score against us!

 

[BelizeHatter]

I have my doubts about us at this level. Prob because we know nothing about it having been away ten years. We've played and beaten teams in the last few years but week in week out is gonna be very different. It's gonna be a slog every game and we have some weak spots right now and Collins is prob one.