STOKE CITY BETTING TIPS 2009/10 PREMIER LEAGUE

The Potters defied all odds last year, with some popular UK bookmakers even paying out on their relegation in the first week of the Premiership season. They got stronger as the league went on and Rory Delap's long throws will be whispered about for decades to come.This year, Stoke will be better prepared and they have a solid team full of scrappy players like Danny Higginbotham, Dave Kitson and Matthew Etherington. James Beattie was an inspired signing and he will be looking to bang in the goals all season. If he stays healthy, and they can string together some results away from home, then I think they could very well be likely candidates for a top-half finish. The bookies don't agree though. Stoke are 1/9 to finish in the bottom half and an enticing 5/1 to finish in the top half. I feel as though that's a solid bet, and I think Stoke are a progressive club ready to install themselves as an established Premier League side. Should they finish anywhere higher than 12th, you're looking at a 9/2 payout, another 12th place finish and it'll be a 5/1 price. Lower than 12th place is the favoured outcome, listed at 2/7. If you really want to put together a cheeky bet, why not try James Beattie as Premier League top scorer at 80/1?Even to avoid relegation, Stoke are listed at 1/4 and that's pretty easy money. I expect the price to drop if they win the first two matches of the season.