Month: July 2022

Tasty Treble:
1 point – Dundee Utd @ 5/2
1 point – Queen of the South @ 7/10
1 point – Stenhousemuir @ evens

Fab 4:
1 point – Forfar @ 2/1

The Rest:
1 point – Arbroath @ 19/10
1 point – Alloa @ 9/2
1 point – Annan @ 7/5
1 point – Airdrie @ 9/10

I think there is a lot of value to be found in League 2 this year as Bonnyrigg are overbacked. They take the mantle of favourites after recent romps from Cove Rangers and Kelty Hearts but they were differnt beasts. Bonnyrigg have just came up with pretty much their same team and a few more juniors. They will be decent but favourites? Not for me.

Second favourties are Stenhousemuir and very hotly tipped. Got stronger last year and have built on that team with promising signings. A lot of positivity and expectancy there, they are definitely contenders but I have a feeling they may not do quite enough to make the difference to jump straight to top spot from last seasons performance.

Dumbarton won’t be able to turn thngs around quickly enough top bounce back up as champions.

Forfar are possibly the richest team in the division and were strong last year. 6/1 is too big here. They are still a bit short up front but have expecetd signings to make, might depend how they do in the loan market. Definitely worthy of a bet at 6/1.

However Annan just pip them at same price of 6/1. They performed equally well as Forfar last season, and just missed out in the play offs. Although they don’t have the resources Forfar have, they’ve started very strongly in the cup and have the best manager in the division in Peter Murphy who continually yields a competitive side with minimal resources, and progresses a bit year on year. This year they might reach their destination.

Annan for me.

1 point – Annan @ 6/1

Dungfermline are marginal favourites in League 1 but don’t fancy them much. Fuck knows who’s in charge at East End Park but the fans have had a hellish time recently. Took them years to get out of League 1 last time and very quicky they are back down there again, and the directors seem tom continually appoint haddies in teh hot seat. Peter Grant was a head scratcher, Big Thick Yogi had some success but not enough in teh short time he was there and now…. Jake McPake. Maybe he will prove us all wrong but I don’t see anyone who rates him. So I@m ruling Dungfermline out.

Aidrie were very strong finishers last season but they’ve broke up a bit. Most significantly losing their main striker Easton, and the manager Murray, and have replaced said manager with… well, one of the players it seems. Still, I think the 9/1 on offer for them is too high. Lewis Jamieson looks to be a good signing from Saints and if they get a few breaks they could have a chance but think tehy have too much to do in a relatively strong league.

Kelty – Naw.

So it’s Falkirk or Queen of the South for me and find it hard to split them. Falkirk now have their umpteenth manager, this time auld John McGlynn who is a course and distance winner. They probably have the strongest squad and are the obvious choice. On the other hand, Queen of the South have made some good signings and have looked good in the early cup games. Willie Gibson actually made a wee difference last year when he got promoted to manager although it was too late. He will have plenty support as a bit of a favourite down there. They also have a windfall coming from their cup draw at Ibrox, if they can spend some of that well it can help their case further.

Queen of the South just shade it due to a better price and a slightly more positive outlook than the clouds of gloom hovering over Falkirk and Dungfermline the past few years. I’m not sure they are ready to clear yet.

1 point – Queen of the South 11/2

This years Championshiop can be won by one of 4 teams.

Although the favourites are predcitably the richest team in the division and have just came down from the Premiershiop, I don’t strongly fancy Dundee to come straight back up. Bowyer is a bit of a risk and there’s a lot of pressure on him in a new environment.

I prefer to look at the other three who offer some more interesting value. Find it hard to choose between the two Thistles, but Inverness’s strong finish to last season makes them just favourable over Partick. Partick have made some interesting additions but a lot of unknowns. Usual Ranges youth players on loan, that hasn’t worked out for them recently and is a bit of a punt. Definitely a strong squad capable of winning it, but the poor end to last season is concerning and will test Partick fans patience if they have a sticky start. Inverness seem a bit safer and consistent and more likely to maintain a serious challenge.

I also can’t resist putting a small saver on Arbroath – they were the best team in the league last year and 15 minutes from winning it and have retained most of their team. Yet they are 10/1. They will need a decent replacement striker for Jack Hamilton but auld Dick has proven very effective in the loan market in past seasons. If he pulls the trick again they are genuine contenders.

So it’s Inverness for me, with Arbroath as a back up.

1 point – Inverness @ 7/2
0.5 points – Arbroath 10/1

In sniffing around for season long bets in the Premiership, there is less to consider. For the winner it’sa bit of a coin toss, the more tricky bets are top 6 and relegation spots.

Taking the winners first. I don’t think either team should be much lower than evens. Which makes the Huns a good bet at 17/10. Rangers were the better out of the two sides last season in my opinion. Celtic could have got nowhere near the UEFA Cup final. A number of signings made by either side with more to come brings more uncertainty but if anything, Rangers signings look more promising so far.

What else is worth a flutter in the top league?

Top 3 finish? Hearts are rightly hot favourites, but I’m not overly keen at 11/8. Aberdeen are tempting at 4/1 but Goodwin could quickly find the Pittodrie fans turning against him if he doesn’t get off to a good start.

Top 6 prices are very stingy, a lot of overround there I think. Not worth bothering with in such an unpredictable market.

Relegation favourites are Ross County and St Mirren. Don’t really see it with Ross County who were one of the strongest finishers and have a good manager in Malky Mackay. St Mirren certainly justified as one of the favourites for relegation but don’t think they are number one choice and 3/1 isn’t attractive enough.

St Johnstone would be my first picks for relegation and can be got at 4/1 but I am more attracted to the odds on Kilmarnock who are as high as 9/1 with some bookies. Why? Seems like it is all faith in Derek McInnes. They have came out of the weakest Championship in many years by the skin of their teeth, where the second placed team got pumped by the Premiership in the play offs. There is a fair gulf in class between the two leagues. There has been little in the way of strengethening so far, I’m sure McInness will bring in more quality but there is a lot to do there. 9/1 is a huge price for the team coming up from Championship.

Picks:

2 points – Rangers @ 17/10
1 point – St Johnstone @ 4/1
0.5 points – Kilmarnock @ 9/1