After all the off-field distractions endured by the Scottish Premier League last season – it’ll be good to start talking about football again.

Once more the old firm of Celtic and Rangers start the campaign as favourites to lift the title. Here’s our rundown on the SPL betting chances for the 2011/12 season…

Celtic have added to their squad by signing Adam Matthews (Cardiff) and Kelvin Wilson (Nottingham Forest) on frees plus splashing out £1M for Kenyan international Victor Wanyama. Manager Neil Lennon is still trying to find a goalkeeper after Fraser Forster returned to Newcastle following his loan spell. They currently have their eye on Sunderland’s scottish keeper Craig Gordon although Gordon’s injury worries will raise doubts over the acquisition. More likely is the capture of Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa for Neil Lennon’s side.

This is an important seasaon for Neil Lennon. It is his second full season in charge of the current Scottish Cup holders. Winning the SPL is top priority for Celtic and a return to playing top European football in the Champions League.

Celtic To Win The SPL Title : best bet of 5/6 from William Hill
Neil Lennon to be next manager sacked in the SPL : best bet of 20/1 from Paddy Power

It’s all new at Rangers, with a new owner and manager in place, ahead of the 2011/12 SPL season. However, the club will want that old desire of the previous regime to still be in place in order to win the SPL title for a 4th season in a row. Ally McCoist is now in the Ibrox hot-seat after the retirement of Walter Smith. McCoist served a lengthy apprenticeship under Smith and it’ll be interesting to see how he puts his own stamp on the team plus can he cope with the added pressure of managing in the old firm melting pot.

Rangers have signed midfielder Juan Manuel Ortiz (Almeria) and are chasing Spanish pair Carlos Cuellar (Aston Villa) and Raul Rodriguez (Espanyol). There has also been a lot of paper talk of Kenny Miller (Bursaspor) making a return.

Rangers To Win The SPL Title : best bet of 11/10 from Paddy Power
Ally McCoist to be next manager sacked in the SPL : best bet of 16/1 from William Hill

Hearts are considered the ‘best of the rest’ and probably the only club capable of putting in a competitive bid to prise the SPL title away from the old firm. Rudi Skacel is currently in contract talks about extending his stay with the club and would be a massive boost to Jim Jeffries side if the talented Czech chooses to stay. Hearts have also brought in big frontman John Sutton (Motherwell) to give their attacking options an extra dimension.

Hearts To Win The SPL Title : best bet of 66/1 from Stan James
Jim Jeffries to be next manager sacked in the SPL : best bet of 8/1 from Paddy Power

Dundee United would love to rekindle the sort of form that won them the Championship back in the 80′s. United boss, Peter Houston, seems to have a fight on his hands regarding keeping his star striker David Goodwillie. The departure of winger Craig Conway to Championship side Cardiff has also weakened the Tannadice outfit. United are always difficult at home to beat and if they can improve on their results against the old firm and take more points from the bottom 6 teams they can greatly reduce the points gulf that Celtic or Rangers have over them.

Dundee United To Win The SPL Title : best bet of 150/1 from Bet365
Peter Houston to be next manager sacked in the SPL : best bet of 16/1 from William Hill

Looking at the rest of the SPL teams a top 6 finish for Aberdeen, Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Hibernian is possible. Expect to see Inverness, St. Johnstone, St. Mirren and Dunfermline in or around the relegation places.

Manchester United Team News

All looks well within the red camp, after securing their 19th league title with a 1-1 draw against Blackburn last weekend. It is likely that Manchester United will rest the majority of their first team for their final game of the season. All eyes are on the Barcelona game and Manchester United will want all their key players fit and injury free.

Barcelona Team News

Barcelona’s boss, Pep Guardiola, reckons Manchester United are similar in style to a strong Real Madrid. Last time the two teams faced each other was in the 2009 Champions League final. Champions League Final 2011 betting fans will remember Manchester United played well for the first ten minutes off that game before Barcelona dominated the remainder. This time, Guardiola is expecting a very different match. Spanish midfielder, Sergio Busquets, has been cleared to play in the Final after UEFA dismissed racial claims lodged against the player that he called Marcelo of Real Madrid a “monkey”.

Barcelona vs Manchester United Betting Odds

Barcelona are the bookies pre-match favourites in the Champions League Betting. The news that both teams will be fielding their strongest teams makes Barcelona just that bit more fanciable on the eyes for the punters. However, even with the likes of Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and co the Barcelona v Manchester United betting is on a knife’s edge and it is going to take a confident punter to predict the outcome of this game.

Champions League Final 2011 Betting Odds

Barcelona	1	1	1	6/5	27/25	10/11	10/11	19/20	1
Draw	5/2	5/2	5/2	12/5	121/50	5/2	12/5	43/20	12/5
Manchester United	11/4	14/5	11/4	5/2	69/25	3	3	11/4	14/5

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How these two players, Rooney and Drogba, perform in the run-up to the end of the season will settle whose cabinet will hold the Premiership trophy, of that I have no doubt.

Of course there are other protagonists to play their part in this unfolding story, heroes and villians, but if either Rooney or Drogba fall out of form, then the wheels of their respective clubs Premiership campaign might come careering off as well.

Rooney has hit the back of the net 21 times, so far this season in the Premiership. Football betting punters know that is title winning form. Rooney has 3 assists to his credit and has scored almost a third of Manchester United’s goals.

Drogba has scored 17 times for Chelsea and has 5 assists to his name. He also represents nearly a third of all Chelsea’s Premiership goals.

Understandably, Drogba missed most of January as he was away playing in the Africa Nations Cup with the Ivory Coast. Anelka and Lampard stepped up to the plate in Drogba’s absence. Could we say the same for Berbatov or Owen?

Now, as we close in on the business end of the season, it is apparent that Chelsea and Man Unt need their best goalscorers in peak condition. If both Rooney or Drogba got injured then Premiership betting punters should fancy Chelsea more, because they seem as if they have more cover in that department who physically put the ball in the back of the net on a consistent basis.

Ferguson has promised to ring the changes ahead of the Manchester derby, after slating his players for their poor performance in the Leeds game. Obviously, Ferguson, needs this game like a hole-in-the-head. United’s players seem to have their eyes on bigger things, much to Ferguson’s annonyance and a defeat to City will chip away at the shield of confidence that United have built around them over the years.

It is no doubt a very tricky tie for United and one which City feel they have a great chance in progressing to the Carling Cup final. It certainly has whetted the appetite for Carling Cup betting punters as to which way the outcome of both these games will go.

Manchester City v Manchester United Carling Cup Betting Odds

Manchester City	11/8	13/10	13/10	37/25	13/10	13/10	7/5	13/10	13/10
Manchester United	2	21/10	21/10	39/20	2	2	15/8	2	21/10
Draw	9/4	23/10	23/10	233/100	12/5	12/5	23/10	9/4	9/4

The other Carling Cup Semi-Final is between Blackburn and Aston Villa. Villa recently defeated Blackburn 3-1 at home in the FA Cup and sit 6th in the Premiership, just 2pts away from that much coveted 4th place finish that O’Neil and his men want so badly. Blackburn have enjoyed the break that the Carling Cup offers, from the rough and tumble of the league, and their unexpected advancement past Chelsea in the Quarter Finals proves that.

As we are writing this article we have just heard that the Blackburn v Aston Villa game has been postponed due to safety of fans visiting Ewood Park after heavy snow.

Ireland courageously took the game to France in their own backyard and really should have won the match if they hadn’t squandered their chances. As it was, the game was fast approaching penalties when Thierry Henry controlled the ball with his hand before setting-up Gallas for the crucial equaliser and ultimately sending France through 2 – 1 on aggregrate.

Henry has since admitted that, yes the ball hit his hand as he said, “The ball hit my hand and, I will be honest, the ball hit my hand. It was a handball!” But then goes onto say, “I know, the ball hit my arm, I played it, and the ref allowed it.”

No Henry, the ball did NOT hit your arm, you blatantly stopped the ball from going out by palming the ball then used your hand again to redirect the ball into a better position for you to pass to your teammate. If I was a watching NBA scout I’d be highly impressed.

But the referee nor the lineside officials never saw it – so that makes it ok in Henry’s eyes, heck it makes it ok in any professional footballers eyes – you know why? Because they all do it, they are all guilty at some point in their careers of cheating to win a decision or a game. Not only that – they are taught to “win at all costs”.

Which begs the question. Is sportsmanship dead in professional football? Remember, these players are role models to millions of kids – what messages do they send out – it’s ok to cheat as long as you get away with it.

Let’s play Devils Advocate here for a second. If an Ireland player had handled the ball in the manner that Henry did and won the game – I’d bet they would have accepted the goal and not a quibble would have been heard from any of the players, coaching staff or the Irish Association.

Now, FIFA, has egg on its face, “Fair Play” they shout from every advertising board. How can you play fair and be honest when the game is so rife with cheating from the top to the bottom. Professional Football reached a new low in Paris last night and everyone that makes a living from the sport should hang their heads in shame.

Which now brings us full circle prior to Burley’s appointment 22 months ago. Back then Scottish football was in a much more healthier state, the mood of the nation was one of optimism for the future. Today, however, after Burley’s reign, the mental state of Scottish football is more akin to depression than optimism, although the news of Burley’s exit, welcome as it was, offers some Prozac induced moment… we still have a very tough time ahead to overcome before we can escape International football’s sick list.

Who is going to lead Scottish football out of this dark place? There have been a few names thrown around for the Scotland managers job, as usual we have the likely suspects of Walter Smith (again), Grame Souness (would be good, but hardly likely to happen), Craig Levein (possibility), Gary McCallister (sounds too much like another Burley move, but knowing the SFA then this could happen) and Billy Davies (doubt he’d take it with one eye on the premiership with Forest) all big names with plenty of managerial experience except perhaps McCallister.

There are a few new names to enter the Scotland Manager betting like Darren Ferguson (ex Peterborough United boss) and Ally McCoist (Smith’s understudy at Rangers) both young and gifted and have a natural flair for bringing the best out of players. Perhaps this is the best medicine for Scotland at the moment, get someone in who has new ideas, who hasn’t been structured to the blazer mentality of the SFA. And therein lies another problem with Scottish football – those that sit in the executive boxes running the game – what chance have we of allowing a new young manager with ambition the time to sort out this mess with them above, breathing down his neck – none at all! What a right mess you’ve left us in Burley!

Next Scotland Manager Betting Odds

Craig Levein	3	3	11/4	7/4	3	9/4
Walter Smith	5/2	4	7/2	9/2	4	5
Jim Jeffries	10	6	4	9	8	10
Gary McCallister	6	5	10	8	6	13/2
Billy Davies	14	14	12	14	14	12
John Collins	8	10	6		12	14
Jimmy Calderwood	13/2	8	6	16	10	9
Darren Ferguson	16	14		16	12	17/2
Joe Jordan	14	16	20		16	6
Mark McGhee	25	25	14	12	20	20
Gordon Strachan	33	25	14	25
Alex McLeish	40	25	25			25
Graeme Souness	10	25	16	16		33
Ally McCoist	25	16	14	33	16	14
David Moyes	40	50	20	33		40
Sir Alex Ferguson	100	80	33	66	66	33

With both Gerrard and Torres injured, Liverpool m,ust look elsewhere within the team for players to win matches and that seems the sticking point, because no-one looks likely at the moment to step into their boots and deliver the performances that win matches.

The critics are obviously out for Rafa – you can get 6-1 of Rafa being given the sack from Skybet – given the spate of bad results recently. However, all teams go through sticky patches in a season, it’s just that Liverpool are going through their’s when qualification for the Champions League group stages is at its most important.

Lyon are not without their worries either. Manager, Claude Puel, will be without three of his best defenders, Jean Alain Boumsong, Mathieu Bodmer and Cleber Anderson. There has also been a high profile bust-up between the manager and the club captain, Sidney Govou, after the player was photographed falling out a nightclub two days before an important Ligue 1 fixture with St Etienne.

Of course you can always make it more interesting by getting a Free £25 Bet from Free Betting Online when selecting the outcome of the Lyon vs Liverpool Champions League Betting.

Champions league 2009-2010 Betting Odds

Lyon	11/8	13/10	11/8	17/12	7/5	11/8	13/10	7/5	11/8
Liverpool	2	2	19/10	23/10	7/5	11/8	21/10	15/8	19/10
Draw	23/10	9/4	23/10	5/2	23/10	12/5	9/4	9/4	9/4

How could you expect the grounds to be full for every home game? Do you think the top players of world football would be attracted to the clubs, if this was the scenario? Finally, how would the other teams in the league feel towards Man U and Chelsea, if they released a press statement every couple of months complaining of their predicament and their longing to be accepted into the Championship or Premiership and escape their purgatory?

Now, look at Rangers and Celtic and you can understand why these two Scottish giants are in football freefall!

It’s not just hurting the Old Firm, it’s hurting Scottish football in general. Expectancy levels in Scottish football are hurtling towards an all time low. Most football betting punters have seen this coming for a good few years. The Old Firm have a domestic stranglehold on the game which is slowly choking it to a slow and painful death.

Rangers were humiliated at Ibrox on Tuesday night, beaten 4-1 at home by an unknown Romanian side, Unirea Urziceni. This follows on from a similar, 4-1 battering home defeat from a classy Sevilla. It hurts to say this but Rangers are now seen as Champions League fodder.

The other provincial clubs in Scotland have fared no better in Europe this season.

Hearts were beaten 4-2 on aggregrate from Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Europa League play-off round.

Aberdeen were gubbed 8-1 on aggregrate by Sigma Olomouc in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.

Falkirk were beaten 2-1 on aggregrate by Vaduz in the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round.

Motherwell were trounced 6-1 on aggregrate by Steaua Bucuresti in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.

If you look at the national team, the results are hardly worth writing home about. Scotland have lost 3 of their last 4 games. They have scored only twice and conceded 7 times. Their out of the World Cup 2010 and most likely will be demoted to pot three seeds for the 2012 European Championships Qualifying groups.

Tonight, sees Celtic in action in their latest UEFA Europa League Group Stage. Already beaten away 2-1 by Hapoel Tel Aviv and drawn their home game 1-1 against Rapid Vienna. The Hoops need a victory to give Scottish football a much needed shot in the arm. German side, Hamburg, of course won’t make it easy for them. A defeat for Celtic will all but end their qualification hopes and another nail will be firmly hammered into Scottish football’s coffin.

Celtic vs Hamburg Betting Odds

Hamburg	6/4	5/4	7/5	13/8	6/4	7/5	11/8	13/10	7/5	13/10
Celtic	15/8	15/8	19/10	79/40	17/10	15/8	2	9/5	9/5	15/8
Draw	11/5	12/5	23/10	27/11	12/5	23/10	9/4	11/5	9/4	23/10

The draw has been made and some tasty ties will ensure that many football betting pundits will be licking their lips at the prospect of some great games to be had. Of course with it being a two-leg affair, it makes it even more exciting. Here we highlight the remaining teams chances and also their current betting odds for progression.

Republic of Ireland v France
Probably the best tie of the play-offs. France aren’t the side they were 4 years ago, however that said they are still a major threat to Ireland’s chances. Preferably, Ireland would have liked their home game for the second leg, nonetheless it means the Irish must score at home and keep a clean sheet to take something positive to Paris. Anything less and their qualification hopes could be in big trouble.

Ireland vs France To Qualify Betting Odds

France	4/11	1/3	6/17	1/3	2/5	2/7	2/7	1/3
Ireland	2	9/4	45/17	11/5	7/4	23/10	5/2	11/5

Portugal v Bosnia-Herzegovina
You’d think Portugal’s pedigree should see them confortably through this play-off. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Ronaldo, much like the rest of his portuguese teammates have been unimpressive and did just enough to secure a play-off place. Bosnia on the other hand have ousted Belguim and Turkey to take second place. I think Portugal will just shade it, but it’s going to be tough!

Portugal v Bosnia-Herzegovina To Qualify Betting Odds

Portugal	2/9	2/9	4/13	1/6	1/3	1/5	1/4	1/5
Bosnia-Herzegovina	3	3	37/13	7/2	9/4	3	11/4	3

Greece v Ukraine
The Ukraine virtually did a smash and grab job on Croatia to take second place in England’s qualifying group. Greece were unlucky not to qualify as group winners but in retrospect possibly underachieved in what looked like a fairly easy group. I think Ukraine will come through this one but it won’t be pretty.

Greece v Ukraine To Qualify Betting Odds

Ukraine	4/6	5/6	16/19	5/6	4/5	4/5	4/5	8/11
Greece	11/10	5/6	24/23	5/6	10/11	9/10	10/11	1

Russia v Slovenia
Slovenia will prove a tricky obstacle to overcome for the Russians. It would be highly embarrising for the Russians if they were to go out to a small country like Slovenia, which is why I expect that the Russians will have this tie finished in the first leg.

Russia v Slovenia To Qualify Betting Odds

Russia	2/11	2/9	2/7	1/6	2/7	1/5	2/9	2/9
Slovenia	7/2	3	16/5	7/2	5/2	3	3	11/4

Of course you can always make it more interesting by getting a Free £25 Bet from Free Betting Online when your picking your favourites to qualify from the European World Cup play-offs.

Arsenal (Group H) have been pitted against Dutch first timers Alkmaar, Olympiakos from Greece, and Belgian Champions Standard Liege.

Liverpool (Group E) will face French cracks Lyon, Italian club side Fiorentina and unknowns Debrecheni hailing from Hungary.

Manchester United (Group B) go head-to-head with Russian outfit CSKA Moscow, Turkey’s Besiktas and dark horses Wolfsburg from Germany.

Chelsea (Group D) have an almost Mediterranean theme with Atletico Madrid from Spain, APOEL Nicosia from Cyprus and Portuguese top-dogs Porto.

Rangers (Group G) have a chance of progression against Sevilla of Spain, German side Stuttgart and unknown Romanian outfit Unirea Urziceni.

Perhaps the glamour group is Group C which sees AC Milan, Real Madrid, Marseille and FC Zurich all drawn together.

Below we have listed early bookie odds for the eventual winners of the Champions League taking the group stages into consideration.

Champions League Betting Odds

Barcelona	4	9/2	9/2	22/5	4	4	4	7/2	4	4
Real Madrid	9/2	9/2	9/2	5	9/2	5	5	4	5	5
Chelsea	6	6	6	33/5	6	6	15/2	11/2	6	6
Manchester United	15/2	7	7	44/5	5	6	7	7	7	15/2
Arsenal	8	9	9	19/2	9	9	10	9	10	10
Liverpool	12	11	11	12	9	10	10	11	11	11
Inter Milan	12	11	14	27/2	12	11	11	11	12	12
AC Milan	25	22	20	33	22	22	18	25	25	22
Bayern Munich	25	25	25	37	28	22	25	25	28	25
Juventus	20	22	20	29	33	22	25	25	22	25
Lyon	33	33	33	39	40	40	40	28	33	40
Seville	33	40	33	49	33	33	40	33	33	40
Atletico Madrid	40	40	33	74	50	40	40	40	40	40
Wolfsburg	40	50	50	69	66	50	50	66	50	66
Stuttgart	40	66	50	99	80	50	40	66	40	66
Fiorentina	100	80	50	259	66	50	50	40	66	66
Porto	125	66	50	169	80	50	66	66	66	66
Bordeaux	80	66	50	219	50	66	50	66	80	66
Marseille	150	100	50	219	80	66	50	80	80	80
Olympiakos	100	125	125	229	150	150	100	125	100	125
AZ Alkmaar	125	125	100	319	100	100	80	100	100	100
CSKA Moscow	125	125	100	359	125	80	100	100	125	100
Rubin Kazan	200	100	100	349	150	100	125	100	125	125
Rangers	150	200	150	549	150	150	250	250	200	150
Besiktas	300	150	100	899	125	150	100	100	150	100
Dinamo Kiev	400	100	100	509	80	150	66	125	125	125
Standard Liege	200	250	150	839	200	150	150	125	200	150
Maccabi Haifa	750	500	500	999	350	400	500	500	400	500
FC Zurich	1000	500	400	999	500	500	250	250	400	750
APOEL FC	1000	1500	2000	999	500	500	500	1000	500	1000
Unirea	750	100	300	999	500	500	400	500	300	750
Debrecini	1000	1000	1000	999	750	500	500	500	500	750