Saints are at the wrong end of all the bookmakers tables of betting odds for the coming season after a barren few weeks in the transfer market. Here we look at a few of the odds concerning Saints

It has to be said that when the first tables of odds for the favourites to be relegated from the Premier League were compiled that Saints were at best third from the top of the shortest odds to be relegated in the coming season, in truth this was only to be expected, with over two months to go before the season those first tables were based on little else other than a clubs record the previous season, Reading were every bookies favourites to go down despite winning the Championship.

Over the course of the summer the odds started to change as clubs made signings and their intentions for the season became clearer, Saints settled in as second in the table and Reading as stated remained firmly at the top, however in the last week or so that has changed, Saints lack of summer signings after an initial flurry have elevated us above the Berkshire club and in the bookies eyes and those of the punters we are the club they feel is a certainty to go down to the Championship come next May. The odds at the moment for Saints to go down are 11/8,

More worryingly though are the odds for Nigel Adkins to be the first manager out of a job in the Premier, at the start of the summer he was around 6th or 7th favourite to be first out of the door, something you would expect given that early tables would simply make the bosses of the clubs that struggled in the premier last season favourites and add the promoted clubs etc.

But in recent weeks Nigel's odds have shortened considerably, a month or so ago you were looking at odds of around 14/1, even a couple of weeks ago 12/1, but now the longest odds are 8/1 making him third favourite behind Mikail Laudrup and Sam Allardyce, there is little between the three, indeed in some bookies Nigel is shorter odds than both, 3/1 at Stan James, which is half that of any price you can get on the other two.

Now i dont profess to know much about betting, but I do know that its driven by several factors, one being money placed, another being the bookies own information about the situation, clearly for Adkins to come in on price so steeply, the bookies feel something in the air, it could just be that they feel the lack of signings is a big factor, I certainly hope so and that its nothing more than a hunch on their part, but when it comes to odds, bookies do get it right more often than they get it wrong and that is a worry.      

On a less serious note Rickie Lambert to be top scorer in the Premier is 66/1 at most bookies although if you fancy a punt on that you can get as much as 80/1 if you shop around, numerically Rickie is around 34th favourite to top score for the coming season, Tadanari Lee is surprisingly next favourite in Saints terms at 125/1, although that figure is quoted for both Adam Lallana & Billy Sharp at some companies, although most list them both at 150/1.

For those that feel that Saints are going to surprise a few people, as you would expect our odds for a top 8 finish are fairly decent, 12/1 to be exact only Reading & Wigan having as long a odds.    

Photo: Action Images

SanMarco added 10:36 - Aug 15 I think these odds are about right based on our current squad. I feel very uneasy about the fact that we are going to Man C. without at least strengthening the centre of defence. I know that some people are drawing the conclusion that NC wants to sack NA and the lack of strengthening will get him the early season failure that will enable this - but surely NC is ruthless enough not to need such excuses? If we get to the close of the window without properly strengthening then it doesn't look good - whatever the 'in Nigel we trust brigade' have to say.

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slynch added 10:37 - Aug 15 The bookies want your money. The odds are raised to tempt you to bet on a loosing bet. The bookies have to take a realistic view and like (most) Saints supporters they know Saints will win the EPL as Adkins has said. . . He's not been wrong about much so far, now has he?
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StSaint added 13:31 - Aug 15 If we are favourites to go down then it follows that our manager is going to be one of the favourites to get the sack. I wouldn't read too much into that. There seems to be a fair bit of panic about not signing a centre back. Firstly; there is still plenty of time before the window shuts and most of the business gets done at the end of the window and secondly; surely we should be applauding a prudent approach. You only have to look at the horror show down the road to realise that we need to be careful about splashing money on high wages. I would rather we signed young players on reasonable salaries, planned for the future and got relegated than went crazy and risked oblivion.

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SaintNick added 14:59 - Aug 15 stsaint, it doesnt neccessary follow that as favourites to be relegated that their manager will be one of the favourites for the sack, Reading have been favourites with us, yet their manager hasnt been one of the favourites to be sacked, likewise roberto martinez at wigan, the club are one of the favourites to go down, he is only 11th favourite to get the sack, only five weeks ago Corals were offering 40/1 on Adkins being the first to go, today they opened with him at 8/1 but have since shortened the price three times and he is now 7/2. I agree with what you say about signing players on reasonable salaries etc, but thts not what you usually get at the end of the transfer window

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SanMarco added 17:33 - Aug 15 "...only five weeks ago Corals were offering 40/1 on Adkins being the first to go, today they opened with him at 8/1 but have since shortened the price three times and he is now 7/2..." Is that part about today really true?? If it is I really don't like the sound of it... I agree with StSaint in terms of reasonable salaries etc but I also feel that going into Man City (toughest game we have had in many years) and Wigan (one of those home games that we surely must see as a realistic win chance) without strengthening in central defence is risky or even foolhardy. Why would a low price/acceptable salary not available now necessarily appear on deadline day? You could argue the opposite and say that if we have no points and a negative goal difference of god knows what then we might be seen as desperate and therefore held to ransom by selling clubs...

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redandwhitedee added 17:51 - Aug 15 Well fortunately the uk has the least knowledgable bookies in the world.. With a bit of luck they'll all do just as well as they did this time last year... Simple response is.. Who cares.. Its football. If we stay up, great if we go down.. So what. Its a game. The global economy is in the toilet and everybody is moaning because our club has only spent abt 9 million pounds in a few weeks. Whatever are we going to do ?

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Whatsforpud added 10:42 - Aug 16 We keep hearing about the lack of summer signings. We have actually signed four players - over a third of the team. There was a lot of talk last season that if promoted, we should follow the Norwich and Swansea approach of largely going with what we have got, and strengthening the odd position, but not follow the QPR example by replacing most of the team. However, I do agree that we need an experience centre back (just one), as a back up, or to take over from, Fonte. We should not have sent out Martin on a season's loan before getting someone in.

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