Reporting from Bet Chat HQ, Northern Ireland…
England, eh?
Specifically, England’s men’s football team, eh?
I must admit to have all but given up on our World Cup hopes already prior to the 5-0 thumping of Serbia in Serbia.
I’m still far from convinced by Tuchel (even if that’s partly due to my lingering annoyance at the way Southgate was treated by a large chunk of the fanbase), and I’m far far from convinced that the hot and humid conditions will suit the players next summer. However, all is not quite lost.
That said, the bets I’m going to advise in this email aren’t affected by how England do in north and central America. So that’s good.
My value squad picks
Along with international accumulator bets, a market I do well in is the ’To make the squad’ offering, which pops up in the months before a major tournament.
Sadly, I’m banned or heavily restricted by the bookies offering the market (bet365, William Hill and Bet Victor), but that doesn’t mean I can’t try and make you some money, so here goes…
Noni Madueke – 8/11 (Bet Victor)
Madueke seems to be a bit of a Tuchel favourite and has also settled in well at Arsenal, where he should get plenty of minutes, either through injury to Saka or just general good form. I’m a big fan of the player and thought Chelsea were mad to let him go (to a rival no less!). Barring injury (and he doesn’t seem to be injury prone), he should be in the squad.
Jack Grealish – 6/4 (Bet Victor)
Grealish is as short as 4/5 elsewhere and I think that’s the correct price. He looks a player reborn at Everton, which is no real surprise given how well he thrives when he’s the main man, rather than just another Pep Guardiola attacking pawn. I’m struggling to see how he doesn’t force himself into the reckoning well before next summer.
Dan Burn – 6/4 (Bet Victor)
A regular so far under Tuchel. Although Burn is highly unlikely to be a starter, why would you not bring him as an option to chuck on upfront when we’re chasing a goal in the dying stages of a match?
Djed Spence – 11/4 (bet365)
Another big price discrepancy here, with Spence as short as 6/5 elsewhere. England don’t have many good left backs at the moment, with Myles Lewis-Skelly the shortest priced to make the squad, but he isn’t even playing first team football. Spence is, and he’s playing it for a resurgent Tottenham. He’s also really quick, which is handy.
Trevor Chalobah – 3/1 (Bet Victor)
One of Chelsea’s first choice centre backs. You may want to treat this as a bit of a hedge with Dan Burn, as I’d be surprised if both make the squad, but also very surprised if neither do.
Jordan Henderson – 4/1 (William Hill)
Like him or loathe him, Henderson has been an ever-present in Tuchel squads, and he’s also doing better than I expected back in the Premier League at Brentford. Even if it’s only for the ‘vibes’, I think 4/1 is a great price that Tuchel selects him for the big one.
Best of luck if you back those. I’d be very hopeful of an overall profit if you get on them all. As for England’s price to win the thing, I wouldn’t be touching it with a barge pole but, hey ho… we live in hope.
