Barclays Premier League Betting 2009 - 2010

The new 2009/10 Barclays Premier League season shows all the hallmarks of being yet another football feast for the online betting community to sink their teeth into and will again turn out to be one of the most wagered upon sports markets during the following nine months.

Whether you're a hard core punter supplementing your income with a gamut of regular bets placed on the outcome of Premiership matches, enjoy the occasional flutter on a particular fixture that grabs your attention or have just recently discovered the whole online betting world and wish to kick things off by utilizing an online bookmaker's free bets incentive, the 2009/10 Barclays Premier League season will offer you the opportunity to really get stuck into things. And will continue to do so long after the player's fresh tans have faded and they've grown bored of their flash new motors that traditionally signal the start of the new football season.

So, with the brand-spanking new Barclays Premiership Football betting season thrust upon us it's time to cast a furtive glance at those teams who'll be making a serious play for the title come May next year. And those at the other end of the spectrum (and football food-chain) who'll be clambering to hold onto Premiership status – and all the riches and privileges that accompany inclusion. We'll also opine on who we think may be pushing for UEFA Champions League places in the end of season shake-up and delivering our verdict on the teams you should be 'watching this space' for as the latest campaign unfolds before our very eyes and ears.

Will Online Punters Parting With 2009 - 2010 Premier League Money Be Foolish

Where else do we start our 2009/10 Premiership Football Betting odyssey and search for clues as to eventual winners, losers and also-rans, than outside the gates of the City of Manchester Stadium in the North of England, and still shiny, new-ish home to Manchester City FC.

Previously linked with toilet loo roll magnate Franny Lee, Oasis' waring siblings, the Gallagher brothers and controversy-courting, roly-poly comic, Bernard Manning, Manchester's second team has endured a funny relationship with the footballing world for as long as we can recall. Beset by a series of relegations, subsequent promotions and all-round misguidance, City became a laughing stock to opposing fans during the 1990s and 2000s; right up until the club was bought by the slightly crooked ex-Taiwanese Prime Minister with an appalling human rights record, Thakswin Sinawatra. When things suddenly started looking up. Add to the equation the securing of perennial skirt-chasing ex-England manager Sven Goran Erickson as their new manager and as a devout Manchester City fan you couldn't really ask for more. But for all their 'in house' huffing and puffing, City's efforts out on the pitch didn't really muster much, despite latterly installing ex-Manchester United goal-poaching legend Mark Hughes as manager to replace the under-performing Sven.

Yet since the yo-yo-ing club was captured by Middle Eastern owners with a few quid in their building society in 2008, expectation has never been higher, and the pressure to achieve something tangible, greater. Having spent the summer snapping up just about any player they wanted (save the overture-resilient Joleon Lescott and Chelsea-till-I-die-unless-a-club-who-can-offer-me-more-wonga-personal-terms John Terry) with the promise of footballing greatness being instantly bestowed upon them (not to mention multi-million pound salaries being waved in their faces to soften the blows of departing their previous clubs) City now have to deliver this season. Boasting the world class likes of Robinho, Carlos Tevez, Emanuel Adebayour, Gareth Barry and, er, Rocky Santa-Cruz, their long-suffering fans will finally want to see dramatic results. And so will Sparky Hughes if he's to keep his job past October, as Manchester City's second coming takes shape. Freebettingonline.co.uk verdict? Fifth or sixth place finish.

Manchester United Remain 2009 - 2010 Premier League Favourites

Away from the glare of the publicity spotlight, yet only a tram ride (and bus, train, taxi and brief walk) across Manchester, and bitter rivals - and defending Premier League champs - United have been relatively silent in the summer transfer market by their own, pre-City 2009, standards. Since the flashbulb-ringing departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Madrid for a whopping world record-breaking £80 million deal, the only players coming through the Old Trafford arrival lounge is Wigan's Antonio Valencia (as the Portugueezer's 'replacement'), some little-known French bloke and someone we just can't seem to place. Michael Owen? Sounds familiar.

Respectively costing £17 million, some small change in his pocket and a complimentary gesture of goodwill from an ailing Newcastle United, and the three new recruits haven't really made much of a dent in Ferguson's coffers. We'll see exactly how long it is before he manically reaches for the Glazier's cheque book. Freebettingonline.co.uk verdict? Will be there or thereabouts again, as love them or loathe them, no other team can circumnavigate the Premier League like United when the chips are down.

At t'other end of the M57, and Liverpool will have much to say about the final destination of the 2009/10 Premier League title you can be assured. Having shelled out £17 million on Portsmouth's England defender, Glen Johnson and a further £20 million on Roma's Italy international, Alberto Aquilani during the close season - ploughing the money recouped for the protracted sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid - whilst keeping hold of unsettled midfield lynchpin Javier Mascherano and tying star striker Fernando Torres to a contract extension, manager Rafa Benitez hasn't exactly rested on his laurels. As he continues to fine tune a resurgent Liverpool team, who as we know pushed Manchester United all the way to the bitter end last term, the Spaniard must now believe that he has all the pieces in his intricate jigsaw that will finally wrestle the league title away from their near neighbours and arch North West rivals. Metaphor-mixing aside though, and we all know that the reds will ultimately rely almost exclusively on the understanding between both Torres and midfield dynamo, Steven Gerrard if Liverpool are going to regain the championship for the first time in nigh on 20 years. Providing the duo remain injury free throughout a long and arduous season. Freebettingonline.co.uk verdict? Sticking our neck out here, but Liverpool might just pip the purple-faced Ferguson's charges to the post this time of asking.

Arsenal And Chelsea Worth Online Betting Punt For 2009 - 2010 Premiership Title

Of the other two serious title contenders - and completing the so-called 'big four' - are the mention of London-centric clubs, Arsenal and Chelsea. Chelsea have made the columns of the back pages during the summer for the two main reasons, three perhaps if you include their continual linking with want-away Bayern Munich midfielder, Frank Ribery. The will-he-won't-he saga of whether or not Mr. Chelsea himself, John Terry would succumb to the filthy luca being offered by his discerning suitors at Manchester City, and the media's obsession with talking up the Blue's new man at the helm, Carlo Ancelotti as some sort of feared mafiosi figure who'll give the Machiavellian Lord Fergy of Stretford a run for his money. On the actual purchasing front, Chelsea have acquired a Russian dude called Yuri Zhirkov after handing CSKA Moscow £18 million in exchange. Which is a lot more interesting than their goalie Ross Turnbull's switch from relegated Middlesborough to Stamford Bridge a few weeks prior. Better news for Didier Drogba fans though, as he's staying put at Chelsea after being talked about in the same breath as Inter Milan (again). Must have been a holiday flight he was on. Freebettingonline.co.uk verdict? Chelsea will secure third place, denying Manchester City the honour if that makes anyone feel slightly less agrieved.

Arsenal have filled the departing Kolo Toure's large sized boots (Manchester City in case you wondered – yawn) with Thomas Vermaelen's much smaller and neater feet. We're not sure that this is a perfect fit, but the ex-Ajax academy defender will have been schooled well in the art of technique, application and discipline. And a blatant disregard for diplomacy and immediately siding with perennial malcontent Arsene Wenger when decisions don't go the Gunner's manager's way. He'll also stay on his feet when challenged and won't shy away from confrontation, having once got into a ruck with new Arsenal team mate, Robin Van Persil. Although we're told everything came out OK in the wash. Any other imminent press-stopping news emitting from the Emirate's? Er, yes. Rumours that old boy Patrick Viera is winging his way back to see out the twilight of his career just won't go away. Freebettingonline.co.uk verdict? They'll consolidate fourth place, so keeping Manchester City at bay. Although ensuring that sports journo's adopt the new phrase, the 'big five' henceforth.

Tottenham Hotspur Could Prove 2009 - 2010 Premier League Dark Horse

Ok, so who do we have left? Aston Villa and Everton will add to the sterling work they did last time around by finishing this season in approximately the same places. Or maybe swapping with one another despite Martin O'Neill grabbing a portion of out-injured-to-Christmas Stewart Downing and a healthy slice of Leed's exciting young prospect, Fabian Delph; whilst holding on to Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor. For the time being. The Toffee's meanwhile have done little to bolster their sometimes skeletal squad during the summer, save keep Manchester City target, Lescott under club curfew, and with the UEFA Europa League to contend with, might pull up some way short of fan's expectations.

Tottenham Hotspur will gel and deliver under the tutelage of Harry Redknapp, and after a few years in the wilderness by their high standards, a lively mix of creative and backs-against-the-wall players hand-picked and moulded into 'Arry's ideal could prove the dark horse in this season's Premiership race, if not exactly carving out a route to the title themselves, then at least being pivpivotal helping to decide its destination as they look to match any of the big four on their day.

Fulham - under Roy Hodgson's watch for the past 18 months - acknowledged a great campaign last time round, yet with little activity of worth in the transfer market and with UEFA Europa League considerations ahead of them where strength in depth will be key to progression, the Craven Cottagers could well splutter on the domestic front in the coming months. Stoke City may also struggle to match their impressive achievements of the 2008/09 Premier League term and could well suffer from second season syndrome if Tony Pulis doesn't keep things tight. They may have still got the goal-guaranteed likes of James Beattie on their books, but the Potter's failure to attract other big name talent to the Britannia Stadium might impinge on their overall league positioning come reckoning time.

Sunderland's new boss, Steve Bruce wasted very little time in laying out his targets for the coming season and proved as good as his word by promptly securing the services of England fringe player and blank-firing ex-Tottenham striker, Darren Bent for £10 million, while adding one of his charges from his Wigan days in the £6 million shape of Lee Cattermole. West Ham United will be more concerned with keeping their growing number of want-away players under lock and key as opposed to landing new recruits and build on what they achieved last year. Anything above the relegation zone then for Gianfranco Zola's squad then unless of course they do somehow manage to get Eidur Gudjohnsen to sign on the dotted line. That said, Carlton Cole might put his recent England exploits to good use and fire the Hammers up the table.

Portsmouth, Bolton, Hull, Birmingham And Burnley Could Struggle During 2009 - 2010 Premiership Campaign

The remaining clubs making up the numbers in the Premiership - namely Wigan Athletic, Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers, Hull City and Blackburn Rovers - will continue to do just that in our book. Portsmouth might have new investors, but with unproven management team and an underachieving squad they'll have to spend quickly and wisely to stave off a relegation dog fight, whilst Bolton under Gary Megson will fare little better regardless of some canny buys in Zat Knight, Sean Davis and Paul Robinson, and will loose the backing of the Reebok faithful if the Trotters get off to a bad start. The perma-tanned Phil Brown may need to conduct a lot more centre-circle, half-time team talks if he's to rally his limited-appeal troops this season, especially if they loose their one major asset, Michael Turner to Liverpool as mooted. They haven't added any staff to the pay roll during the summer and finishing last term with just the solitary win in 20 games doesn't instil confidence going into the new campaign.

Blackburn Rovers are a more stable ship under Sam Allardyce and all things considered are looking in good shape for the long, hard mid-table slog ahead, yet haven't replaced mutineering Roque Santa Cruz with anyone of any value since his departure, which might prove telling when everything's totted up next May. Of this group of teams, Wigan Athletic appear the most likely to cause an upset. Or at least make a game of it amongst the usual suspects, having Roberto Martinez at the tiller. The ex-Swansea City manager comes with a good record of odds-upsetting and inherits a team of rough diamonds that won't require that much edge-smoothing to create friction with the big boys and their members only club.

Premier League New Boys Wolves Might Defy 2009 - 2010 Season Odds

Finally, and turning our attentions to the newly promoted teams making the chasmic jump from the Coca Cola Championship, we think Wolverhampton Wanderers are the best equipped to make a stab at staying in such exalted company, thanks in no small part to the man-management skills of Mick McCarthy and the ambitious support of chairman Jez Moxey. They have money to spend within reason and McCarthy is a wily veteran of many footballing campaigns and knows exactly how to eek the best out of the squad he has at his disposal. Expect to see a Stoke City-like first season returning to the big time effort. Birmingham City under Alex McLeish are certainly a tight, resilient outfit comprising of a good blend of youth and experience, yet perhaps not consistent enough to plug away week in, week out and grind out the necessary results; especially if they suffer an early run of morale-sapping defeats. However Burnley look the most likely candidates to fall back through the Premier League trap-door given their lack of recent pedigree at the highest level in the English game, despite their engaging style and cup heroics against Premier League opposition last year. To maintain that form on a weekly basis is a big ask for Owen Coyle's men, but who knows?