Carling Cup Betting: Who will be this season's Burnley?

Carling Cup / Mike Norman / 30 July 2009 / Leave a comment

Can Sheffield Wednesday repeat these 1991 scenes by winning the 2009/10 Carling Cup?

With Premier League clubs fielding under-strength teams in recent years, the door is open for a 'lesser' club to reach the latter stages of the Carling Cup. "Mystical" Mike Norman names his three to follow this season.

In around two week's time the first round of this season's Carling Cup will have been concluded... and with it, a few clubs will be well on their way to replicating what 'little' Burnley did last season.

I'm talking of course about a big priced, not so fashionable football club getting to the latter stages of England's least prestigious major club competition, and in the process, offering us value-seeking punters a chance to lock in some nice profits before the semi-finals are even underway.

What makes this competition such an attractive betting proposition is the increase in tendency for Premier League clubs (and I'm not just talking about the Big Four here) to field weak teams. Such is the priority to remain a top-flight club, to stay in contention for European qualification, or even maintain a title challenge; managers up and down the country will seemingly sacrifice a minor piece of silverware if it means longer-term success is achieved.

True, a Premier League club is very likely to win the Carling Cup this season. But what is also likely is that - just like Burnley and Wycombe Wanderers in the last few years - a club from the lower divisions will reach the last four. And from a back-to-lay perspective, fingers crossed it's one of these three.

West Brom ([120.0]) to win the 2009/10 Carling Cup)

Unlike Middlesbrough and Newcastle (who were also relegated last season), Albion didn't receive a bye into the second round of the competition, meaning they face a potential banana skin away to Bury in round one.

But what I like about the Baggies is that they have a new manager in Roberto Di Matteo who has a self-confessed love affair with English cup competitions. As a Chelsea player he lifted the FA Cup twice as well as the League Cup, and you just know he will be bursting blood vessels in his attempt to have another good cup run in his first 'big' managerial role.

Matteo has a large squad at his disposal, so with a bit of luck in the draw, Albion are well equipped to sail through the first few rounds of the Carling Cup... and you never know... they could easily reach the last four.

Preston ([160.0])

A home tie against Morecambe in round one has presented Alan Irvine's men with a great chance of getting their cup run off to a convincing start. And just like Burnley last season, Preston's success can be built on hard work and togetherness rather than ability alone.

With a relatively small squad to work with by Championship standards, Irvine will be expecting compatriots Callum Davidson, Barry Nicholson and Ross Wallace to provide a mix of experience and skill required to combine a good cup run with decent league form. Preston's League Cup history doesn't auger well (the fourth round is the furthest they've ever reached), but history is there to be rewritten... and this season presents just as good a chance as any.

Sheffied Wednesday ([300.0])

With a seemingly straightforward home tie against Rochdale in round one, a good cup tradition, and a decent squad that contains the likes of Darren Purse, Tommy Miller and Francis Jeffers, then Sheff Wed are too big to miss at [300.0].

Even Owls manager Brian Laws has an excellent record in this competition having won it twice as a player with Nottingham Forest in 1989 and 1990. Now in his third year at Hillsborough, Laws will be determined to start bringing success back to this popular Yorkshire club, and what better way to start than having a great cup run in this season's Carling Cup?

Tags: Alan Irvine, Brian Laws, Bury, Carling Cup, Carling Cup Bettng, Preston, Roberto Di Matteo, Sheffield Wednesday, West Brom