Over the past few months we have seen our fill of the national media predicting doom and gloom we do not need our local paper to follow this path.

The Daily Echo is today carrying a story claiming that the odds for Saints to be relegated have tumbled from 40/1 at the end of last season down to 4/1, whilst it is true that this is the odds currently being offered the headline of "Saints' Premier League relegation odds tumble from 40-1 to 4-1" does not reflect the betting pattern throughout the summer, indeed the actual article itself goes on to explain this which makes it slightly disconcerting as to why the paper would want to print a headline that would only stir up discontent amongst supporters.

The reality is that Saints position in the relegation betting table has barely changed since May, yes the odds have come down slightly but so has the odds for most other clubs as the market opens up as the season approaches.

Back at the end of May I did a story on the betting odds for relegation,back then we sat as 13th favourites for the drop with only the 7 clubs that finished above us considered less likely to go down, indeed on the 30th May although we were in that position a look at the major bookmakers saw a price with most of between 7/1 and 10/1.

Fast forward to today and the odds are not that much different, most firms are offering 4 or 5/1 on Saints, the only difference is that Saints have slipped down the betting table in terms of position, West Ham, Newcastle and Stoke have moved above us so that we are now 10th favourites for the drop although it has to be said their is little between the odds being offered for those 3 clubs and ourselves, Stoke who surprisingly now occupy our former position of 8th in the table are like we were back in May anywhere between 7 - 10/1 for the drop.

So the Echo headline does not fit the reality, the pattern over the summer has been fairly constant, our position and odds have changed little but what change has been gradual and has not been a tumbling as the Echo is suggesting.

Indeed in no way shape or form do the bookmakers see us as anywhere near favourites for the drop and neither do the punters as there has been no drastic shortening of odds due to money being waged on Saints to go down, in short the bookies see us exactly as they did back in May, one of a number of clubs who could finish anywhere between 8th and 17th and if we look back historically on the Premier League the reality is that sides finishing 8th rarely repeat the feat the following year whether they lose players or otherwise.

Im surprised that the Echo has put up a headline like this, usually its reporting is quite balanced and informed, despite what some supporters like to say, at the moment however Saints supporters are feeling very fragile, they need to see some positive action and that being reflected in positive news in the media, at the moment there is very little coming out of St Mary's and that is why the Echo feels the need to try and drum up some interest, but red top type headlines is not the way to do it.

Photo: Action Images

slynch added 09:55 - Aug 4 I've just put money on Saints to win the EPL at 1500:1. Bargain, there's only 20 teams. But I didn't take too many risks, I placed the bet each way.
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mgprobert added 10:01 - Aug 4 Cant let the facts or reasonable debate get in the way of a sensational headline - there are newspapers to sell, online advertising clicks to be bagged
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LostBoys added 10:04 - Aug 4 Echo reporting quite balanced? I agree it is better than earlier rubbish but the reporting consists of headlines from every newspaper and blog they have collected on the internet. i cannot see this changing while its relationship with the Club remains poor.
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Toussaint added 10:08 - Aug 4 We really don`t have as much to spend as people think,after 27 million player sales debt from last season,30 million on the new training centre. have to haggle over every fee,we are trying to rebuild a good team shopping in the bargain bucket store,so our odds have dropped.. As for the DE ,they are just going for hits,long gone are the days when the Pink was free
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SeenitallB4 added 10:32 - Aug 4 I think the headline was a paper seller but when you see the odds on other teams we are mid-table. The bookies have not got a clue, the same as the rest of us. What is worrying is the lack of movement on a centre back.
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brady100 added 10:49 - Aug 4 Not looking good, two unproven players in from Holland and potentially 3 loan signings. The two recent signings from Italy have been a disaster and now the club are trying to bring in two relative unknowns in to replace consistent premier league performers. Looks like a cheap option to me, no news on other incoming transfers as yet and time is rapidly running out. I can't see us being ready for the start of the season. Disaster.

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Fordy added 10:51 - Aug 4 @Toussaint I'm not sure this is strictly true. They had budgeted £15m for the training but it has since gone up to £30m so I think they are £15m down on that. But a certain amount will be covered by the increased tv money coming in so I don't think all those debts will have to be covered by player sales. Also, you would probably think the likes of Pelle and Tadic are on slightly lower wages than Lallana and Lambert were on so there may be savings in there as well,.

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saintmark1976 added 11:08 - Aug 4 Sorry Nick,whilst I have no time for the Echo who are factually correct on this occasion,you are not quite on the money here. I checked a couple of weeks ago and we were 13/2,now we are 4/1.On that basis our chances of the drop have increased significantly in the bookies opinion and that is why the odds have shortened.They,unlike supporters have no sentiment.They see a situation which could effect their profit and have acted accordingly. My concern is our lack of replacement signings and an ever decreasing time frame before the season starts.This,coupled with our historically slow start could I fear,see us having to play catch up.Hope I am wrong.

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corkcitysaint added 11:10 - Aug 4 I see today has us linked with Georgios Samaras (wouldn't fancy) and a left winger Demetri Mitchell from Man U. Would be a loan signing. Anybody know about this wonderkid??
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brady100 added 11:16 - Aug 4 Why on earth would we be looking at developing another clubs young player with the academy we have. You would hope this is just another silly rumour. What we need is players in who can make a real impact for the first team immediately.
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montecristo added 11:40 - Aug 4 just where do people get this idea we owed 30 million on the training ground? I suspect that this is nonsense put out by the current administration to justify not spending any money in the transfer market after promising that all proceeds would go back into players. You just cant believe anything that the club puts out, total disgrace.
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bartley41 added 11:58 - Aug 4 Your articles always seem to make sense, have you ever considered replacing Adam at the Echo?
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halftimeorange added 12:46 - Aug 4 What I fail to understand is why our local rag, which already has a doubtful relationship with the club, should feel it necessary to write provocative and antagonistic articles based on speculation. Please explain to me how a) that will endear it to the club and b) increase its circulation with shell-shocked Saints fans who would like supportive journalism. Are the manager and the players still banned from talking to the Echo? if not why does this shoddy newspaper not endeavour to get an upbeat interview. I'd like to make another point. I do believe the club has not handled its media opportunities very well. Why has there been no mention of the vast sums of money spent by fans on shirts bearing the names of players no longer with us. Saints could at least offer a free unpicking service and replace the removed name free of charge with some thing more appropriate. How about "Sucker"!

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BoondockSaint added 15:28 - Aug 4 It's not the bookies that change the odds. It's the amount bet that induces the change. The bookies make their money on the vig so they want their accounts even. All this shows is that more people are betting we go down. They'll be crying when we don't!
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hedgeend61 added 12:55 - Aug 5 Nonsense story. One major firm quoted 40/1, really? Didn't name firm though did they, as it probably wasn't true. Even today Saints are 11/2 with Coral, one of 13 teams in the PL quoted at single figure odds for relegation. Don't waste your cash even at that price, wont happen, too many poor sides in Prem
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