Coca-Cola Championship 5th August

[kevshat]

4 more for me this week.

3pts Colchester +1 AH vs Birmingham 1.91 Pointbet

Birmingham have lots of new signings who will take a bit of time to gel, most people turning up at St Andrews tomorrow sitting in the home end will expect a straight forward home win. I don't. Colchester will be bang up for this match and we saw against Chelsea last season what they can do. Birmingham ain't Chelsea and at worst I think we'll get our cash returned here. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Col U take something home with them from here though.

4pts Cardiff 0 AH vs Barnsley 2.08 Ladbrokes

Cardiff have had a good pre-season and the signing of Michael Chopra looks to be a good one. It often works out that strikers score against old clubs so he may well score in this. Barnsley are without Nardiello for this game and may find life a bit tough initially in this division. They drew their last 5 home matches in League 1 last season so an improvement is needed. I fancy Cardiff to win the match but at such good odds I'll play safe and keep the refund on the draw on our side too.

3pts Southampton 0 AH vs Derby 2.04 Ladbrokes

George Burley will be eager for his Saints side to get one over his past employers here. He's signed very well in pre-season and they are sure to be up there at the top come May. Derby have only signed Steve Howard from Luton and although he'll score them goals I just think Southampton are the stronger side. Again at good odds with the draw giving us our money back I'm happy to take Saints on the AH.

5pts 12 or more corners in Luton vs Leicester match 2.10 Blue Square

Neither of these hold anything back in the attacking stakes, both play a fairly open attractive game which often leads to a few corners. Last years 2 matches between the sides averaged 13 corners and a repeat of that sees us home and dry. Throughout the whole of last season both sides matches averaged over 10 corners so we should see plenty here.

[bowles10]

Originally Posted by hornet_18

Trust me, I hope I eat my words too. I like going to QPR, we have a good record against you and its another local match. Although the bottle throwing last time wasnt nice.

Thing is at the end of last season you started tanking and it didnt look pretty. Hopefully things'll turn around for you because its nice to see the local clubs (apart from the scum) doing relatively well. You're giving a young, inexperienced manager a chance, we did that and it hasnt gone too badly. Maybe lightening can strike twice? But if you want to do well you've got to get rid of that curry-eating, diving, cheating, scummy, selfish, overrated, floppy haired left winger of yours

the player you refer to - lee cook will be a star this season. Wait & see.

anyway the bottle missed so whats the problem think another fine is coming our way for that soon!

[kevshat]

Originally Posted by bowles10

anyway the bottle missed so whats the problem

Another thing your lot can't do right

[hornet_18]

Originally Posted by kevshat(BPP)

Another thing your lot can't do right

Anyway, Ive just taken another scan over the ins/outs and looking at Burnley they've bought in two good strikers for Championship Level Andy Gray and Steve Jones. Without Shittu (Ive heard he's good but dont really know that much about him) you may not be able to control that firepower. You havent really changed your squad. But dont worry about the first match. We lost 2-1 to Preston in the first game in one of the worst matches ever last season and then were 3-1 down to Plymouth away in the 2nd game before we ended up drawing that game 3-3 and it turned our season around.

This first week will throw out strange results because some teams need time to gel. I think Brum may struggle just because theyve bought in a whole new squad and you can never tell. Wait till 5or6 games in and then everything will start to be revealed.

[kevshat]

Are you going to be watching a proper football match on the box tomorrow? See how football is meant to be played? Refresh your memory a bit like?

Try not to shed too many tears as we look better and better as the match goes on

[hornet_18]

Originally Posted by kevster

I'm with Steve here all the way. Birmingham have made some shrewd signings whilst holding on to most of their Prem squad. Colchester will struggle in this division and Birmingham will win this comfortably. I also think 1.5 with Coral is good value.

Been looking at this more and more and to be honest, the more I look at it, the worse value it seems.

Colchester were very organised last year. They lost their manager, yes, but they still have pretty much the same core in the side. They lost Danns a key player, but replaced him with Johnnie Jackson who if played in centre mid will be an excellent signing (watford had him on 3month loan and on left midfield he was woeful, in centre mid he was awesome). They also signed Jamie Cureton who I think is a good player at this level. For Reading he was great, then he moved to Japan which was strange but I think he can find his form.

Birmingham have 8 new signings to fit into the side. One of which is Danns from Colchester who will be kicked off the park. Cameron Jerome is overrated and doesnt contribute anything to the side for 89mins of the game. Stephen Kelly is pretty average and all these youngsters with no experience will need time to bed themselves into first team football. Also, Steve Bruce is tactically inept.

I like the AH bet on Colchester and feel they could shock a few people tomorrow.

[hornet_18]

Originally Posted by kevshat(BPP)

Are you going to be watching a proper football match on the box tomorrow? See how football is meant to be played? Refresh your memory a bit like?

Try not to shed too many tears as we look better and better as the match goes on

Ill be watching, dont you worry. I wont be shedding a tear if you win. At least I know that even if we're bottom of the Premiership, we're still looking down on you

[kevshat]

Originally Posted by hornet_18

I like the AH bet on Colchester and feel they could shock a few people tomorrow.

Triffic! Couldn't you have posted this 15 mins ago? I wouldn't have been cursed then cos I wouldn't have placed the bet!

This won't happen very often but we agree. I think it's crap value.

Last season Palace came down and we went there 1st game of the season. All the papers that day was full of Jordan saying how he guaranteed Palace to be promoted and all that shite, their programme welcomed us to our "cup final" and we beat them 2-1

I'm sure Brum won't be as gobby as Jordan was but they could easily employ the mindset of oh we've turned up so this is won.

[hornet_18]

Ive never had a worse start to the season. We play crap against Preston and you beat Palace

Alls well that ends well I guess . And we beat Palace in our cup (semi) final

[kevshat]

We done the double over Palace

[hornet_18]

Tempted for a cheeky small trixie on Southend, Cardiff and Burnley just for 1pt each (overall 4pts) just for opening day fun.

Also think I may put 1pt on Chopra to score just because I like him because he played for us

GL

[Zozo the Duke]

I know that there are much bigger experts in this league here, and i know that most of the stuff is already said, but if someone wants to know here is my pick:

Birmingham - Colchester

Pick: Birmongham (-1) AH
Odds: 1.98 @ Pinnacle
Stake: 8/10


Birmingham are one of the main contenders for promotion this year. They brought some decent players and among them is Danns the best Colchester player past year. They still got Forsell, DJ Campbell and the addition of Jerome upfront will make the best forward line in the league. With support from Izzet, Dunn and they got experienced and good defenders at the back in the new signings from Bolton, NGotty and Jaidi and Kelly from Tottenham is making Birmingham strongest team on the paper in Championship.

Colchester main goal is not to relegate, but they will have huge troubles this season. They lost their best player Danns who signed for Birmingham and their manager who went to manage Hull.

All on all I expect dominance of the home side and they will give their best to play next season in the premier league again. They certainly have potential to do that. Win in the first match will, for sure, give them a huge boost, and they could not wish for better opponent for this. Colchester is team that do not posses enough quality to play in this league. Everything except of home win will be surprise, but still this is first round and many upsets are happening. That is the only reason why I am not going with even higher stakes.

[adythom]

I'd be very careful backing any relegated side if I were you!

especially so early in the season! and also against a newly promoted side in Brums case! this is a cup final for Colchester! Brum may find motivation and lack of patience from the crowd a problem!

one to miss this -IMO! though I must admit it does look good on paper!

[hornet_18]

Ive given a big warning just above but to be honest Birmingham does look good on paper so Im not surprised so many people are on it.

Question for Bowles10 though. What's Shittu actually like because apparently we matched WBAs bid yesterday and he wants to come to us because he'll play in the Premiership and wont have to relocate.

Cheers

[bowles10]

for some reason, think there may be some 0-0's today in this league.

narrowed down to

Plymouth v Wolves
Southend v Stoke
Coventry v Sunderland
Burnley v QPR

gonna have no goalscorer as own goals dont count, a small yankee.

[PIPMEL]

Foxes looking for a flyer........



Leicester City manager Rob Kelly is determined to avoid the mistakes of last year. The Midlands side started very poorly and that dictated their season long problems.

The team looks much more balanced, has had a good pre season and look set to challenge for, at least, a playoff place.

Today they travel to Luton Town, scene of one of their better performances last season (2-1 win), the home team had a good first season in the Championship, but faded in the later stages. They conceded 35 goals in the second half of the season and that is relegation form.

Luton have lost their two star players in Steve Howard and Kevin Nicholls, the squad lacks depth and these losses may mean a season of struggle. They have signed Adam Boyd from Hartlepool for a large fee, he is a player I like a lot, but he suffered with injury last season and may take time to come to terms with the Championship.

Leicester come with a lot of confidence and have sold out their away supporters allocation. Think they will make a winning start to the season and expect to see these two at opposite ends of the table come May.

On the level ball asian handicap they look a solid wager.

3 points Leicester City level ball asian line 2.12

www.ubet2win.blogspot.com

[DamirJ]

Sport	Football (Eng - Champ)
Event	Luton vs Leicester
Selection	Lay Leicester to win (Lay)
Strength	10/10
Date	05/08/2006
Bookmaker/Price	Betfair @ 3.05 (Lay)
Reasoning	Luton Town played very good last season reaching 10th position in the end of the season. Now, it will be very hard to acieve this again. Stewe Howard and Kevin Nicholls are transfered to another clubs, so Luton lost creative and attacking part of the line-up. On the other hand, Leicester is also going to have hard season, they shouldn't battle for relegation but won't win promotion too.

[bowles10]

Originally Posted by hornet_18

Ive given a big warning just above but to be honest Birmingham does look good on paper so Im not surprised so many people are on it.

Question for Bowles10 though. What's Shittu actually like because apparently we matched WBAs bid yesterday and he wants to come to us because he'll play in the Premiership and wont have to relocate.

Cheers

Hornet, he is a big fella who makes the odd mistake on the deck, covers ground really quickly & remember knows Carlisle well from their days at Rangers. Excellent in the air & scores fair share of goals from corners

[typicalleedsfan]

Surprised not many people have mentioned BURNLEY - home to QPR who are in disarray, key players left, a few injuries, poor form at end of last season.
Burnley solid side, Andy Gray and Alan Mahon excellent signings for this level
Evens on Ladbrokes shop coupon

[hornet_18]

Originally Posted by hornet_18

Southend to beat Stoke @ 2.38 1-0 (probably) @ 8 - with Pulis in charge at Stoke again they will be hard to break down. However, I expect Southend to keep winning until they lose momentum from last seasons Championship winning campaign. It will also be interesting to see how Freddie Eastwood fairs in this division so a first scorer bet on him might be worthwhile @ 6 after he has scored over 20 in both of the last two seasons.

GL

I didnt put any money on Freddie Eastwood first scorer but I hope somebody else did!