IT seems unthinkable, but the word is that the odd punter is having a tiny drink on 2015 English Premier League champion Chelsea to be relegated in 2016.
The Pensioners have had their worst start to a top flight campaign in 37 years.
But William Hill’s Tim Ashworth told SafeBookies.com that Chelsea’s blues on the paddock would need to continue before the bookie’s prices moved much for relegation.
“Chelsea is still $501 to be relegated,” Ashworth said.
“More interesting is the drift in them to make top four.
“They were $1.03 at start of season, but now they’re out to $1.67.
“Still very short, but only just.”
Chelsea only lost three games in their title winning season last term – they have already lost four in just eight games, with two wins and two draws.
In 16th and just four points ahead of the relegation zone, the pressure is mounting on manager Jose Mourinho.
The Special One watched his lacklustre team fall to Southampton, 3-1, on the weekend and was then charged by the FA with misconducts after the loss.
Mourinho said the match officials were “afraid” to call penalties for Chelsea after Radamel Falcao was booked for simulation in a challenge from Southampton keeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
“The referees are afraid to give decisions to Chelsea. Once more, we don’t get the penalty at a crucial moment in the game,” Mourinho said.
“The penalty in this game is crucial because my team, at the moment, the first negative thing that happens, they collapse.
“The penalty was a giant penalty, and after that, the team lost even more confidence.
“If (the FA) want to punish me, they can punish me. They don’t punish other managers.
“I want to say it again: referees are afraid to give decisions for Chelsea.
“The penalty was a giant penalty and the referee was afraid to give it, like everyone else is afraid to give it.”
In a statement, the FA said: “It is alleged his remarks constitute improper conduct in that they allege and/or imply bias on the part of a match official or match officials and/or bring the game into disrepute.”
The charges came after he got the kiss of death from the Chelsea board.
“The club wants to make it clear that Jose continues to have our full support,” the board said in a statement.
“As Jose has said himself, results have not been good enough and the team’s performances must improve.
“However, we believe that we have the right manager to turn this season around and that he has the squad with which to do it.”
Whatever happens, Mourinho says he’s going nowhere.
“People can say what they want. I think you should go straight to the players,” Mourinho said.
“If they tell you they don’t trust me, (that) is the only thing that can make me resign. The only thing.”
With no Premier League games due to the international break this weekend, it will be interesting to see how the Chelsea situation pans out.
At the other end of the spectrum, Ashworth said top of the table Manchester City was still the odds on title favourite, making up for a pair of losses before the weekend’s crushing 6-1 win over Newcastle.
“City started the season at fours to win the league and got as short as $1.40,” Ashworth said.
“Back to back losses saw them drift back out to $1.90, but an almighty win at weekend sees them trim to $1.73 again.”
Manuel Pellegrini’s mob had lost to both West Ham and Tottenham in their last two outings and they might have been worried about a third straight when Aleksandar Mitrovic struck the first of the game.
But that was it for the Maggies.
Sergio Aguero became the fifth player in Premier League history to strike five goals in a single game, scoring a hat trick in eight minutes between the end of the first half and start of the second.
And Kevin de Bruyne, who provided the pass for a couple of Aguero’s goals, scored his third goal in three matches in the rout.
While City is the benchmark, Ashworth said mighty Arsenal had been the big mover and were now “the shortest they have been in years”, trading at $3.40, after a crushing 3-0 win over Manchester United.
“Arsenal are the real danger here,” he said.
“The highest they’ve traded at has been $6 with WilliamHill.com.au”
The Gunners had a 20 minute purple patch against United that yielded a goal to Mesut Ozil, sandwiched between two of the best finishes you will see from Alexis Sanchez.
Ashworth said two sides had been huge movers, with both Tottenham and Everton enjoying strong starts to the season.
“Spurs are $13 into $4.50 and Everton are $26 into $9,” he said.
“There’s some sizeable interest in one of these unexpected sides gaining an elusive berth into the Champions League come season’s end.”
He said that interest had been sparked by Liverpool’s poor start to the season, the club sacking manager Brendan Rodgers only yesterday.
After leading Liverpool to second just two season’s ago, Rodgers has had a torrid time of it.
And the weekend’s 1-1 draw with Everton was clearly the final nail in the coffin, with the club stamping his marching orders just an hour after the match.
“Although this has been a difficult decision, we believe it provides us with the best opportunity for success on the pitch,” read a club statement.
“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Brendan Rodgers for the significant contribution he has made to the club and express our gratitude for his hard work and commitment.
”All of us have experienced some wonderful moments with Brendan as manager and we are confident he will enjoy a long career in the game.
“Ambition and winning are at the heart of what we want to bring to Liverpool and we believe this change gives us the best opportunity to deliver it.
“The decision to sack Rodgers was made before the Merseyside derby, but the owners did not want to disrupt preparations for the match by making an announcement before the game.
“Even a victory at Goodison Park would not have prevented Rodgers losing his job.”
The club has taken full points from just four of their 11 matches in all competitions this campaign.
Ajax manager Frank de Boer and former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti are said to be the two men Liverpool will be chasing to succeed Rodgers.
“The search for a new manager is under way and we hope to make an appointment in a decisive and timely manner,” the statement read.
Back to City and it’s incredible win over the Magpies, Ashworth said Aguero’s five goal effort at the weekend saw his price collapse into $1.90 from $4.
“Although, it is still far too early to call with injuries yet to play a part,” he said.
“Alexis Sanchez ($10) and Romelu Lukaku ($15) look the two most likely to fight it out, should Aguero have a spell on the sidelines.”
But none of those men are leading the league in goals at this point.
That honour goes to Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy, who was on target again on the weekend and now has seven goals in eight appearances. He’s a sneaky chance at $21, but a lot would have to go right for him win it.
Tottenham’s 2014-15 wunderkind Harry Kane is right off the boil and has drifted out to $34 – he has two goals this year – one of those goals was kicked into his own net against Swansea in a 2-2 draw.
That’s one goal in 685 minutes for a bloke who fired in more than 20 in the league. Talk about Sophomore slump. Look elsewhere.
2015-16 English Premier League title market
Manchester City ($1.73)
Arsenal ($3.40)
Manchester United ($8)
Chelsea ($17)
Liverpool ($51)
Tottenham ($101)
Everton ($201)
Crystal Palace ($201)
Southampton ($301)
Swansea ($501)
Leicester City ($501)
West Ham ($501)
Norwich ($751)
Stoke ($1001)
Newcastle ($1501)
Aston Villa ($1501)
Bournemouth ($1501)
West Bromwich ($2001)
Sunderland ($2001)
Watford ($2001)
Odds provided by WilliamHill.com.au
2015-16 English Premier League golden boot market
Sergio Aguero ($1.90)
Alexis Sanchez ($10)
Romelu Lukaku ($15)
Daniel Sturridge ($21)
Jamie Vardy ($21)
Anthony Martial ($21)
Diego Costa ($23)
Christian Benteke ($26)
Olivier Giroud ($26)
Graziano Pelle ($26)
Bafetimbo Gomis ($26)
Theo Walcott ($29)
Harry Kane ($34)
Wayne Rooney ($34)
Odion Ighalo ($34)
Eden Hazard ($41)
Saido Berahino ($51)
Yaya Toure ($51)
Andre Ayew ($51)
Riyad Mahrez ($51)
Odds provided by WilliamHill.com.au
