English Premier Odds

Founded: 1892

Nicknames: Spurs, Lilywhites

Stadium: White Heart Lanes

Capacity: 36,230

In the beginning Spurs made fans betting the totals, rather rich as their offense was based around Jurgen Klinsmann and Ilie Dumitrescu two players who new how to put the ball in the back of the net. Although it was simple for the Spurs strikers to score goals, they had a rather difficult time in the first six years of play in the new Premier League as Spurs defense had been lackluster at best.  By the 1998 season, the Lilywhites had missed relegation by a small margin and fans were beginning to fear the team may be in the second division at any moment.

However also in 1998, Spurs management made the brash decision to bring in a manager who knew what winning was all about, as they hired Arsenal legendary manager George Graham. Through Graham, online bets favoring Spurs flourished as he guided the team to League Cup championship in his first season as boss. Even though he guided the Lilywhites to a championship that first year, the club did not hit its highest point until Martin Jol took over as club manager in 2004/2005.

Jol’s first order of business was to build the Spurs into a powerhouse via youth. As a result Tottenham began to climb the rankings and never again has come close to relegation. From 2004 to 2006, the Spurs finished in fifth twice, missing Champions League qualifications in both seasons. Jol was then replaced for the 2007/2008 season by Spaniard Juande Ramos who like Graham won the League Cup.

In the early stages of the 2008 season however, Ramos had guided the Spurs to one of the worst starts in club history, as by October they only had two points. After firing Ramos, Spurs ownership brought in Harry Redknapp who guided the team from last to eighth that same season. He has been the club manager since and continues to take the team on an upward climb.

Founded: 1875

Nicknames: Rovers

Stadium: Ewood Park

Capacity: 31,154

When the Rovers joined the EPL in the early 1990s to make the league more competitive, it was their first time back in the top rankings since 1966. Sports betting enthusiast were first introduced to future hall of famer Alan Shearer in the 1992/1993 season when the Rovers signed Shearer to a 3.2 million pounds contract. Along with a few other key signings that year, the squad went from one of the worst for the last two and half decades to one fans placing a bet online could feel confident about. The squad would finish fourth in the 1992/1993 season, yet their greatest success was in the team’s second season as they finished a runner up to the dynasty known as Manchester United.  In the team’s third season they would win their only FA Carling Championship after defeating the Red Devils.

Ever since, the team has been on the bottom end of the shaft, as in 1999 they were the first and only team to ever win an FA Carling Championship and be relegated. After two years in the second division, the team regained form and returned to the EPL. In the 2001/2002 season, Blackburn won their first ever League Cup title under manager Graeme Souness and star striker Andy Cole’s guidance. From 2004 to 2008 they were led by manager Mark Hughes before he bolted for Man City. Hughes was then replaced by Paul Ince, who did not last long at all as in the 2008/2009 season the team lost six games in a row and Ince was fired. The team is now led by former Bolton and Newcastle skipper Sam Allardyce. Allardyce has been able to steer the club upward from the lower to middle echelons of the Premier League.

Founded: 1878

Nickname: The Toffees

Stadium: Goodison Park

Capacity: 40,157

Everton has been around the English Premier League since the league was founded in 1992. Through that time fans betting on the Toffees have seen the club lose more than win. For instance, the club has only been to the FA Cup final twice, once in the 1994/1995 season and once in the 2008/2009 season. Their record in those matches is one and one, as they won the FA Cup in 1995 against Manchester United the only blemish in United’s otherwise perfect first nine years of EPL play. The Toffees won the game one to nothing on a goal by the legendary Paul Rideout.  Online betting enthusiasts wagering on Everton have mainly bet against the squad, as their chief rival the Liverpool Reds, have taken up much of the success in Merseyside.

This was none more evident then this past season, as after the Toffees got off to a rather forgettable start, they made a huge run to get back into the top eight spots. The Toffees were close to qualifying for a playoff spot, however a loss to arch rival Liverpool once again put the squad out of contention. Throughout its illustrious history in Merseyside, the Everton has always been in the upper echelon of the Premier League.

Although in the beginning finishing within the top three seeds of the league, the highest seed in recent memory for the Toffees has been as the fourth seed. Aside from the 1994/1995 victory over Man United for the FA Cup, the Toffees were most recently in an FA final back in the 2008/2009 season in which they were defeated by the Chelsea Blues. As well, the club has gained a reputation not based on victories but rather the revolving door of players and personnel since they entered the EPL in 1992.

Founded: 1880

Nickname: The Blues, Citizens

Stadium: City of Manchester Stadium

Capacity: 47,405

Although joining the Premier League in 1992, fans betting upon a team from Manchester have naturally chosen city’s rival Manchester United. For years, Man City was in the lower echelon of the Premier League, finishing the highest in ninth place on an infrequent basis. During the early tenure of the club from 1992 to 2000, the Citizens were a mainstay in the basement of the league, having being relegated on numerous occasions.

Conversely by the 2000/2001 campaign when former Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan took over the squad, the club had new owners for the third time in eight years. Keegan would coach City for four years guiding the squad to 14^th place just narrowly avoiding relegation. One of the first steps Keegan took when becoming Man City manager was to sign French star Nicolas Anelka for 13 million pounds.

This was not enough to save Keegan’s job as by 2005 he was replaced by Stuart Pierce who guided the team to consecutive ninth place finishes. Pierce would be replaced two years later by legendary coach Sven-Goren Eriksson who would then be replaced by Mark Hughes. Hughes would then be replaced by present manager Roberto Mancini in the 2009/2010 season.

As seen by the revolving door of managers, fans betting online for EPL games have a better chance of picking a manager then they do of seeing Man City win the league title. Although this is perceived as the case, aside from getting Mancini as the clubs manager, Man City and their fans caught another break in 2008/2009 as the Abu Dhabi United Group purchased City. This instantly turned the team from a poor team possibly folding to one of the richest in the Premier League. Abu Dhabi furthered their commitment to making City a winner by going out and buying the contracts of former United star Carlos Tevez and Brazilian phenom Robinho.

Founded: 1874

Nickname: The Villains

Stadium: Villa Park
Capacity: 42,783

Prior to the creation of the English Premier League in 1992, Aston Villa was perhaps the best football club ever in the United Kingdom. Going into the 1992/1993 season, Villa had become a dynasty as they had won the league title 12 years in a row. However although making it to the final in the first season of the new league, they were runners up to nemesis Manchester United. Fans that lost their bet that day on a possible 13^th straight victory by the Villains were treated to some revenge the following year in the League Cup game as the Villains defeated the Red Devils three to one.

Since that victory in the 1994/1995 season, Aston Villa has had six managers and won two League Cups. This past year for instance, Aston Villa made it to the Carling Cup Premiership title game once again versus Manchester United. However similar to the inaugural championship game fans betting on a Villa victory were left disappointed as they lost the game two to one.

In 2000 then manager John Gregory helped Villa reach their first FA Cup since 1957. Unfortunately the Villains were defeated three to nothing by the Chelsea Blues. This was the peaking point of Gregory’s success with Villa as although the club still remained difficult to defeat, the loss left a foul taste in management’s mouths. As a result, Gregory and the Villains parted ways and many key players left the team.

By the 2006 season, many fans and experts alike believed the team would once again be relegated, similar to the troubles in the 1970s. Ownership then hired current manager and Celtic skipper Martin O’Leary who from the 2007/2008 season to present, has guided the football club to three consecutive sixth place finishes.

Founded: 1892
Nickname: The Magpies, The Toon

Stadium: St. James Park
Capacity: 52,339

Newcastle United was originally formed in 1881 by the Stanley Cricket Club, who needed a sport during the winter. By 1892 after a variety of name changes in an 11 year span, Newcastle United became the accepted name of the football club at St. James Park. In 1893 the Magpies went professional and by 1914 they had won three league titles.  Nevertheless fans betting on the team saw the squad relegated by 1934, before redeeming themselves by the end of the Second World War in large part due to the assistance of former offensive star Stan Seymour. Seymour became the club’s manager and signed British superstar who helped the team win the FA Cup three times in five years. Further in 1946 Newcastle set the all time record for goals scored in a game by destroying then rival, Newport County 13-0.

After 1946, the team began to regress and this was capped by the near miss of being relegated to division three football in 1992. For year when placing a bet on Newcastle it was safer to wager against then for. However, in the end of the 1992 season, the club was taken over by former player Kevin Keegan. Keegan guided the team back to the Premier League in 1993/1994.  Keegan was able to base the Magpies success around his two most offensive striker’s rookie Andy Cole and veteran Peter Beardsley.

Although having much success finishing in the top three rankings of the Premier League, Newcastle still needed help to overcome the giant task of defeating Manchester United. As a result, in the 1996/1997 season Keegan went out and signed Alan Shearer who would become the greatest player in Newcastle history. Even though the squad still has yet to win a championship, since the beginning of the Premier League, they have been on the rise. Their biggest feats along with the signing of Shearer were in 2005/2006 when they signed Michael Owen away from Liverpool and this past year when the club became runaway champions.

Founded: 1892

Nickname: The Reds

Stadium: Anfield
Capacity: 45,276

Since joining the league in 1992, no team has been able to stay in the top echelon of the English Premier League, than the Liverpool Reds. Currently led by offensive stars Fernando Torres and Steven Gerard, the Reds have been a powerhouse in Champions League Football and European Club Play since the 1992 season. Most of the team’s recent success has come under former manager Rafa Benitez.

Fans betting on the Reds could guarantee winning their wagers as the Reds won many domestic and European titles during Benitez tenure from 2004 to 2010. However all good things must come to an end, and after guiding the team to a seventh place finish this past season, Benitez was replaced in favor of Roy Hodgson.

Benitez mastery however will not soon be forgotten as many sports betting fans wagering on the Champions League trophy, will always remember Benitez debut with the club. In the 2004/2005 season in which Benitez took over at Liverpool, he was able to guide Liverpool to a League title, their first since the 2002/2003 season.

From 1992 until this past season, no team was more dominant than the Reds in terms of staying atop the league during the regular season of play. However in the 18 year existence of the EPL the accomplishments of the Reds have been better in European play than within in domestic play. For instance although appearing dominant, they have been lackluster at best since the 2005/2006 season. The club’s greatest season was nine years ago, when they won the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup.

As described earlier, Benitez was given the axe after the club finished in seventh place, their worst since he arrived. In an ironic twist, Benitez although signing a five year extension one year earlier, was the fall guy. The question now becomes, can Roy Hodgson equal or surpass Benitez success as skipper of the Liverpool Reds or will he falter?

Founded: 1905
Nickname: The Blues
Stadium: Stamford Bridge

Capacity: 42,449

Joining the EPL in the inaugural season of 1992 to 1993, the Blues are British football’s version of the Boston Red Sox. Essentially the team endured a 50 year curse between Premiership Titles, before finally breaking the curse in 2005, a year after the Red Sox broke the Curse of the Bambino. At the time fans betting on the Blues to finally break the curse were also hoping that one team in the EPL could finally defeat the Evil Empire, Manchester United. Prior to defeating the powerhouse Red Devils in 2005, the Blues had always been a runner up in the standings.

Prior to the 2000 Northbet season, the Blues had constantly struggled under a variety of different managers. However finally in 2000 the club hired Jose Mourinho to take over as Club manager and bring stability to the squad. For the eight years that Mourinho was with the Blues he was able to turn the franchise around from a giant underachiever to a team synonymous with success. After guiding the team to a shocking upset and first Premiership title in 50 years, in the 2005 season, Mourinho guided the team to a second straight championship in the 2005/2006 season.

Diehard Chelsea fans were overjoyed with Mourinho’s success. However as most sports betting enthusiast will tell you, eight years is a long time for any manager.  As a result Mourinho’s act grew thin with Chelsea management and the fans and after eight years he was replaced by Avram Grant. In a completely nostalgic moment, from the 2007/2008 season to 2009/2010 the Blues went through a revolving door of club managers. Yet in June 2009 the club found their man in Carlo Ancelotti who guides the team to another Premiership Championship and the league record for most goals scored in a season at 103.

Founded: 1878
Nickname: Red Devils
Stadium: Old Trafford
Capacity: 75,769

One of the most iconic brands in all of professional sports, Manchester United has been the safest bet for fans since the English Premier League was founded in the 1992 to 1993 season. From 1993 onward, no team has dominated the EPL the same way that United has, as they have won 11 of a possible 17 titles in that time frame. Club manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been the team’s manager for each of the 11 league championships.

Fans betting on Manchester United, a Northbet.com favorite, have come to love the Red Devils in the same light that they love the American baseball team the New York Yankees. The dominance shown by the Red Devils was none more evident from 1992 to 2001 the club registered seven of its 11 FA Carling Premiership titles. Similar to the Yankees, United has been known as the Evil Empire, as many of the stars around the globe have played at least one season for United.

This was the most evident in the club’s inaugural Northbet season in the EPL as Ferguson was able to acquire star forward Eric Cantona away from Leeds for 1.7 million pounds. Since then the club has seen any and everyone from David Beckham to Cristiano Ronaldo. In the 2001/2002 season Juan Sebastian Veron broke the single season transfer fee in British football history as he signed for 28 million pounds. The equivalent of a contract this large for the time can best be compared to the Texas Rangers contract they gave to former third baseman Alex Rodriguez for a world record of 10 years at over 250 million.

Manchester United’s greatest season thus far in the history of the team, was in the 1998 to 1999 season in which the team won all of the titles in Europe. These titles included the FA Carling Premiership, FA Cup and European Cup. To date they are the only club to accomplish the feat.

Founded: 1886
Nickname: The Gunners
Stadium: Emirates House

Capacity: 60,361

One of the most storied franchises in all of sports, fans betting on the Arsenal Gunners have come to love the team since the late 19^th century. The team was initially founded in 1886 by workers at the Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory under the name Dial Square. However 27 years later the team was renamed the Arsenal Gunners and has been that way ever since. Prior to the name change in 1913, the Gunners had joined the second division of the EPL in 1893. Yet until 1925 with the arrival of star Herbert Chapman, the team had very little success.

Under Chapman’s guidance, the Gunners won championships in the second division five times in eight years from 1930 to 1938. As well they won the FA Cup twice in that span. However, Chapman would die in 1934, taking the franchises success with him. The team would not enjoy success again until the 1980s.

Online betting fans of the Gunners did not enjoy wagering on the team during the early years of the English Premier League, as the team struggled at the best of times until 1998 when they captured their first league crown title.  Further in the inaugural season of the EPL in 1992 to 1993, to say Arsenal was poor within regular season league play would be an understatement. Nevertheless the team still qualified for the playoffs and was able to capture both the League Cup and FA Cup.

Former player George Graham who is not only legendary as a Northbet player but also as a coach guided the team to six trophies during his tenure. Some of that success came in the early days of the EPL as noted earlier the club won in 1993 and would go on to win its sixth and final title under Graham at the 1994 European Cup.

Furthermore, the Arsenal Gunners are the only team in the EPL’s existence that has remained above relegation.