Birmingham City are 20/1 to go undefeated in League 1

There is so much excitement surrounding Birmingham City heading into the 2024/25. That’s right, the same Birmingham side that were relegated from the Championship last term. A return to League 1 after 30 years awaits them this term, but for the first time in over a decade, the fans are optimistic for the future, both short-term and long-term.

In the short-term, they are expected to have a lot of fun in the third tier. They are the clear favourites to win the league and get promoted, and as such, Betfred are offering some specials surrounding the Blues that are quite enticing.

EFL 2024/25 – Ante-Post PYP’s

Owners Knighthead Capital Management promised that they would transform the club as they aim to take Birmingham back to the Premier League. Their first season didn’t go according to script. Six managers and a relegation that the Blues had been flirting with for a decade.

As their fate was sealed against Norwich City in May, despite winning 1-0, there was no moping. The fans filled the pubs with joy, looking ahead to the new League 1 campaign. Chairman Tom Wagner has instilled belief in the fans that this is the dawning of a new era, and that is why this relegation was nowhere near as bad as it would have been under the last owners, Birmingham Sports Holdings Limited, who brought upon the club points deductions, transfer bans and EFL-imposed business plans.

Wagner and co clearly know what they are doing off the pitch. This has been shown already in the investment that has been poured into St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park, as well as the various training grounds. The stadium had been neglected for a long time when he arrived, and now it has been brought into the 21st century.

And considering there are plans in motion for a new ‘sports quarter’ to be built down the road, including a new stadium for the club which is being aimed for completion in 2030, you have to give them credit for putting in so much care and attention for a place that hasn’t got a long-term future – I’m not crying.

The fans have bought into it. Over 18,000 season tickets have been sold for the new campaign, the highest number in over a decade, and the first home game of the season against Reading is a sell-out, despite being shown live on Sky Sports. We feel as though this could be the beginning of an incredible journey.

Wagner also promised that they would build a team in the third tier that would be capable of making the step back up to the Championship. Over £12m has been invested in the squad over the summer, and according to transfermarkt, the League 1 transfer record has been broken twice by the Blues in the form of Icelandic attacking midfielder Willum Willumsson (Go Ahead Eagles) and defender Christoph Klarer (Darmstadt).

League 1 Odds

This recruitment drive has been to aid new manager, Chris Davies, the tools required to get Birmingham back to the second tier at the first attempt. Davies’ appointment was a breath of fresh air. The club had veered away from names or extensive experience at Championship level to hand an opportunity to a brilliant young coach, looking to forge his pathway in management.

Davies has an excellent coaching background having assisted both Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou, and with the football we have seen from his team over the course of pre-season, he seems to have a perfect blend of both their styles.

Another huge statement of intent was tying down Krystian Bielik to a new contract after there were doubts he would stick around, following his original loan move to Blues after Derby County dropped into League 1 two summers ago. The new club captain will play an integral role this year and beyond, and he admitted that it was Davies who convinced him to stay.

There is a growing feeling among outsiders that Birmingham are assembling the strongest squad ever to be seen in League 1, which has people thinking they could be about to have an incredible year and break some records.

Football Odds

Birmingham to get 100+ points @ 7/2

With the calibre of players that they have in League 1, many think Birmingham can record at least 100 points this term, and some believe they can surpass Wolverhampton Wanderers’ record of 103 in 2013/14. Plymouth Argyle posted 101 points as champions two years ago, and Birmingham’s squad on paper looks to be far stronger than what the Pilgrims had, so it could be a fair bet this season.

Alfie May to score 30+ goals @ 4/1

He may not have been one of the record signings this summer but he might just be the best of the lot (if their pursuit of last year’s star player Jay Stansfield on a permanent doesn’t pay off). Alfie May was the top goalscorer in League 1 last year with 23 for Charlton Athletic, who finished 16th.

Before that he was with Cheltenham Town and was equally as prolific for them in the third tier, and they were also a bottom-half side. May might be 31 but he says himself that he feels much younger and when you watch him play you’re inclined to agree.

He has been an excellent marksman at this level for three years, and this looks set to continue as he joins the promotion favourites, where he is currently surrounded by international talent. The fans are already looking forward to watching him in league action after he netted five in six pre-season matches, including a brace against West Bromwich Albion last time out.

Should he translate that form into the new campaign, he is on track to score well over 30 goals, so this special does look appetising.

Another appealing market involving May’s goalscoring prowess is a special that has Birmingham to win the league, with May finishing as the clear top goalscorer in the league at 8/1.

Birmingham to go undefeated in the league @ 20/1

This does feel like a pipe dream because to go undefeated in a season is such a difficult task, but it would be somewhat befitting for Birmingham to accomplish this feat as their front of shirt sponsor is of course Undefeated, an American streetwear brand. Now that would be an excellent marketing tool.

At 20/1, it might look an appealing price, but League 1 after all is one of the toughest leagues around, no matter how good your squad is. Davies is also untested as a manager which will also make this particular achievement difficult. He is highly regarded in the game as a coach but becoming a manager is a different level altogether.

Such a task will be difficult but when it comes to football, nothing is truly ever out of the equation – *cough* Leicester City’s 5000/1 Premier League title win.

I can see the appeal because Birmingham have been catching a lot of eyes over the course of the summer with their transfer business and the general positivity around the place. ITVX are even making documentary about it, which has sprung up out of nowhere.

The excitement is the highest it has been in B9 for years and you can’t help but get the feeling that this could be a very special year on the pitch for a club that has had to go through a lot over the past 13 years. As our famous anthem Keep Right On goes – “there’ll be joys and sorrows too.” There have been plenty of the latter over the years, now it feels like the start of what could be one of the most joyous periods in Birmingham City’s history.

As always we “Keep Right On to the end of the road.” Bring on Reading this Saturday – the dawning of a new era.

Offers

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