We suppose it’s the Rafa Benitez effect, but once the former Real Madrid manager agreed to stay on Tyneside for next season, Newcastle’s odds of being promoted and the odds of winning the Championship outright both shortened significantly.
On SkyBet Newcastle are 4/6 odds on to get promoted with Aston Villa and Norwich next at 100/30.
So the three relegated clubs are favorites to get immediately promoted – so much for it being difficult to get out of the Championship that we keep hearing about.
A confident looking Rafa Benitez
To win the Championship outright Newcastle are 9/4 favorites with Aston Villa and Norwich next in line at 9/1.
Betting website Oddschecker has this to say on Newcastle:
“The Rafa Benitez affect has seen the odds for Newcastle winning the Championship drop from 9-2 to 5-2 to become the shortest pre-season Championship favorites ever.”
While this may look too short, Benitez’s management experience is a cut above the rest and the players at his disposal will be of a similar ilk.”
“Our users obviously think the same as Newcastle to win the Championship is one of our most popular bets today and almost certainly will be going forward.”
But we cannot be over-confident either – and we’re sure Rafa will not allow that to happen – he’s too experienced and too professional for that.
And if any player doesn’t give 100% either in training or during a game, they will be dropped.
Newcastle cannot afford any mistakes in this coming season and it’s a very important season for us – there’s no doubt about that.
We can afford to stay down for one season but not for two.
Comments welcome.
24 comments so far
G
Jun 17, 2016 at 4:02 PM
Comment #1Pretty certain QPR were the favourites last season? Leicester were 5000 to 1 for the prem too. Bookies dont always call it right.
Small World
Jun 17, 2016 at 4:08 PM
Comment #2….no pressure there then.
derekm
Jun 17, 2016 at 4:37 PM
Comment #3Rafa will know how much he has at his disposal from the sale of Winaldum and Sissoko soon, then he has to build a squad that will get us up, NOT to keep us in the premier league. Its delusional to think any player worth his salt will join NUFC in the chanpionship if they know they are good enough now, no matter how big the Rafa effect may appear to be. Cherry pick the championship opposition, give Armstrong a run behind Mitro and Perez, keep Colback Tiote and Townsend ( if possible ) add a right back and a battle hardened central defender we should be fine. let Krul go – Elliott proved his worth along with Darlow.
Jib
Jun 17, 2016 at 4:39 PM
Comment #4Spoke to a Boro supporter at Palma airport on Monday pm . He’d put £500 on NUFC at 12/5
G
Jun 17, 2016 at 4:56 PM
Comment #5@4, if you met a smoggie with £500 he was either a dealer or a pimp mate.
SPRINGY
Jun 17, 2016 at 4:56 PM
Comment #6for me i hope the likes of saivet and thauvin get the chance to showrafa whether they are worth a shot….i dont think they really had a chance to show what they are about..they might not be up to it…but they have talent,just whether its suited to this league is different matter…the odds were to be expected tbh…us or villa were probably going to be favourites…lets hope they dont buckle under the pressure.
G
Jun 17, 2016 at 4:59 PM
Comment #7Just a thought on Saivet, we never did try him on the wing? May suit him in the champo? Thauvan can do one as far as I’m concerned.
Jib
Jun 17, 2016 at 5:12 PM
Comment #8G
He was OK
Hated the Mackems more than any Geordie I’ve met !
Rotonda heights
Jun 17, 2016 at 5:21 PM
Comment #9on last thread it’s funny how ” these 5 players will definitely leave” very quickly became very likely will leave. many of them although not regulars could just sit on their contracts.
Munster Mag
Jun 17, 2016 at 5:54 PM
Comment #10From what I have seen of Saivet I think offers possibilities – for this league anyway.
WWSBRD
Jun 17, 2016 at 6:13 PM
Comment #11Biggest club in the league, best manager by a mile, big budget and (currently at least) a solid basis for a squad no great surprise with our odds
GeordieTwo
Jun 17, 2016 at 6:56 PM
Comment #12Talk is always cheap. It’s what happens on the pitch that matters. We should be heavily favoured to go back up but every club will be out for our scalp.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 17, 2016 at 7:08 PM
Comment #13Jib,
They hate us even more!
GeordieTwo
Jun 17, 2016 at 7:12 PM
Comment #14I’ve folded my Thong of Despair and put it away. That win saved the tournament for England. Why Roy started with the same lineup that got the draw was beyond me. Much better second half. I don’t want to see Sterling again. He was hopeless. Go with Vardy and Sturridge with Rashford off the bench.
G
Jun 17, 2016 at 7:16 PM
Comment #15Wow, Croatia, Czech Republic, mental. Suspended disqualification?
Jail for Ashley
Jun 17, 2016 at 7:29 PM
Comment #16G,
Eh?
G
Jun 17, 2016 at 7:47 PM
Comment #17Flares at the match, officials injured, crowd violence. It took me back to my Army days in the 80s NI. Was a good game till it kicked off in the crowd.
martoon
Jun 17, 2016 at 7:58 PM
Comment #18G @4 Lol
G @17 – I can’t understand the Croatian fans. They were still winning 2 – 1 when it all kicked off. They were probably responsible for their team only getting a draw!
Jail for Ashley
Jun 17, 2016 at 8:25 PM
Comment #19Considering 2/3 of teams qualify for the next round you’ve got to be pretty shite not to make it through. I hope Wales beat Russia mind.
ShirebrookToon
Jun 17, 2016 at 8:26 PM
Comment #20Wtf were the Croatian fans thinking!!
ShirebrookToon
Jun 17, 2016 at 8:39 PM
Comment #21Spain 2-0 up
Jail for Ashley
Jun 17, 2016 at 8:41 PM
Comment #22What’s to stop Kremlin backed Russia ‘fans’ dressed up as Croatians, Germans etc to start setting flares off all over the place, that Putin is a lunatic on par with Il Jong.
G
Jun 17, 2016 at 8:49 PM
Comment #23@22, thats an insane theory… so much so, it might actually be plausable! Unlikely, but far from impossible.
carl
Jun 17, 2016 at 8:56 PM
Comment #24Jail
Eh?