UK FA Cup Betting

bwin.com are offering some interesting odds on the UK league and FA Cup competitions. Pre season sometimes offers some excellent opportunities to place early bets on the outright market as the bookmakers are unsure which teams are still active in the transfer market and which teams are sticking with the players they currently have.

Chelsea are favourites for the FA Cup jointly with Manchester United at 5.00. I would imagine that at least one of these teams will be in the final come next May. Both teams have not spent massively as in previous seasons whilst teams like Manchester City and Tottenham have strengthened. This suggests the market is a little more open this season so consider the other team’s chances before deciding on your bets.

Tottenham Hotspur are rumoured to be trying to sign two full backs from Sheffield United and this suggest Redknapp is still active in the transfer market at present. Peter Crouch is also said to be a likely purchase. Chairman Daniel Levy has spent big money in his time at the club and continues to back the manager with substantial transfer funds. Tottenham are priced at 17.00 and have a history of doing well in cup tournaments. This may well be the most attractive price of the teams at the top of the current market.

Manchester City, now backed by the foreign investors who are spending so freely at the club, have signed many excellent players like Adebayor, Bellamy, Santa-Cruz, Tevez, Barry and Given and will surely do better this season in all competitions. They also boast Robinho in their team. Whilst their team will take some time to settle, they must be value at the 12.00 to win the competition as most of these players would be playing for top sides. The price reflects uncertainty about whether or not Manchester City can break into the top echelon but with players like the above they have a good chance.

Liverpool and Arsenal are priced at 7.50 and 8.00 respectively. Liverpool tends to be better in Europe and Benetiz definitely focuses his attention on good performances in the league and champion’s league rather than the domestic cup competitions. Arsenal are again quiet in the transfer market but if players like Wilshere, Vela and Gibbs break through fully they could be a contender.

Once the earlier rounds are announced then perhaps you will enjoy the match betting that will become available once fixtures are announced. I particularly enjoy watching the real minnows of football take on some of the lower league sides in the very early rounds like on TV. You get to see players play with real passion, and you can get some good prices on cup upsets and cheer the players on. Each year one team has a run through the rounds and it is exciting to bet on them and be part of it.

It is a shame that the top teams are choosing to devalue the competitions by fielding weaker sides in cup matches. Part of the allure of the FA Cup is the huge amount of history and tradition through the years. In years gone by the FA Cup Final day was a day where families would get together and even people who were not interested in football would still watch the extended build up programme and the match.

Local pub sides are playing in the qualification rounds almost a year before the final itself. Some amazing runs through the rounds by smaller teams happen each year such is the magic of the tournament. Obviously the most likely result is a win by a top premiership side, but there are still many reasons why this tournament is an important fixture of the football season.

Hopefully by supporting either your own team or by deciding who you wish to bet on you will experience the same magic by having a sensible flutter on your own selections. Keep an eye out for my next cup feature on the league cup betting market.

By Malcolm Clarke