Are the Bookies right?

Not odds-on but certainly short priced with the bookies! Certainly shortened since the managers were announced and then again when the investment was formalised and announced. Fingers crossed we are challenging and the bookies are right again.

From the outside you can see why the bookies have us among the favourites. The Managers who won the league last season, and Stuart Murphy's cash injection. They've probably had a few bets on us from some of our supporters too. They're just being cautious.

However, we'll need a lot of additional signings before we can be considered as value at 6/1. There doesn't appear to be an obvious favourite, unlike the last two seasons. I just remember how good Kiddie looked last season though. We're no where near that at the moment.

We were one of the favourites in the first national league season on the basis of 3 consecutive league wins and technically got relegated so it's a No from me,but on the other hand I was a tad disappointed to be quoted as relegation fodder last season purely on the basis of our previous seasons capitulation but they were spot on

A broken clock is right twice a day.

Sounds as though the defending needs some work before we think about things like play-offs or league titles.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it is my understanding that when the bookmaker starts the book, they make an educated estimate of the odds based on the best information available.
The price then rises or falls based on customers betting pattern, not on the bookmakers sentiment. Hence if Chester supporters pile in with bets the odds fall

True for very liquid markets but Conference North I doubt there would be enough money changing hands to alter the bookies odds. 6/1 will be based solely on their judgement. Only a couple have us at 6/1 - most have us 7 or 8/1.

Bookies are right more than they are wrong, otherwise they would go out of business - and they saw through Macca's bull last season.

This is only true in part. The only type of odds betting that is directly linked to the amount of money placed is the parimutual (tote) system. The odds we are dealing with here are set odds that are based ion a combination of forecast calculation by the bookies and, to a greater or lesser degree, whether heavy betting takes place on some teams/horses/whatevers. However, bookies also bet themselves when this happens by 'laying' or hedging bets to act as cover if a heavily backed favorite wins, and as a result this may mean that while the odds will shorten, they may not do so to the extent that a parimutual//tote bet would with similar heavy backing and so in direct relation to the extra money that is being bet (but this works both ways, at race meetings it is always worth calculating likely tote payouts against what you can get with a fixed price on course bookie before you bet, although that in itself can be shear guesswork of course!).

The faves?

Oh Ok, sorry I’d just never heard that term before. Shows my age I fear!

No chance, they have lost 3 of their star men from last season. Got an average manager to take over and could lose Ironside their star striker to Stevenage and Horsfall is a target for Football League clubs as well. They may sneak into the last couple of play-off spots as they usually do but for me (I watch them more than Chester) they won't compete at the top end this season.

Many fans down there are not happy with the recruitment, especially on the coaching side.

Also any team that is seriously giving Kane Richards a lot of minutes on trial to see if he can replace Sonupe/Ngwatala is a club that is only going one way, backwards!