It’s been an exciting few years for Chelsea bettors and it doesn’t look like that will change anytime soon.
We’re five games into the new season, but it doesn’t seem like we’re even close to knowing if this team will be a total hit or a total disaster until May. Bookmakers, even those at Canada’s top sportsbooks, are in the dark right now. So if you’re expecting a big change in either direction, now is the time to bet.
As of now, the Blues are the fourth most likely to finish in the top four, meaning the bookmakers prefer them over Tottenham, Newcastle and Aston Villa. It is a huge show of faith in the players we have brought in and the managers we have appointed, as they all look more established and stable. After three league games, they are all already ahead of us in the table.
But what about the odds going into the next international break? The upcoming fixtures offer a good chance to move up the table. Next weekend they face Bournemouth, then West Ham, Brighton and Nottingham Forest before the October break.
There are some really interesting teams competing. All of them (except maybe Forest) look like teams on the rise who will give us serious competition for a European spot this season. If we can get through that race and give them a run for their money, we can confidently aim for a Champions League spot.
But if we do badly there, even the best bookmakers will start to seriously discount our chances of finishing in the top four. After that, things get really messy. If we can prove ourselves against the strong, mid-table teams, then we will have our next test against some of the Champions League contenders. Liverpool, Newcastle, Man Utd and Arsenal have all shown serious performances that will test us to the limit.
It’s a great opportunity for Enzo Maresca to show the league what he’s made of. By then, he’ll have had plenty of time to sort out his system and integrate the latest deadline-day signings.
By the time the final whistle blows for Arsenal’s regular season fixture, it will be mid-November and our season will have truly taken shape.
