England: Championship Antepost 08/09

[bowles10]

Originally Posted by Matt

and QPR as faves with Dowie

i agree with the Dowie comment & a decent striker wouldnt go amiss, however our defence looks very strong & is the biggest around ! Damien Delaney at left back broke into the republic of ireland squad this summer, Fitz hall & Kaspar Gorkss will make a decent centre back partnership with damion stewart & matt Connolly providing the support. Peter Ramage & some italian lad will fight it out for the RB slot. 2 decent goalies in Cerny & Camp will be hard to beat also.

Midfield, once Buzacky & Vine return, we have Rowlands, new signing Parejo from Real Madrid & Lee Cook has returned.

Up front, this is where we are weak but goals will come from midfield also.

Betting wise, we should be 16/1 ish.

Normally a team is up there who starts around the 33/1 mark, so looking at Coventry (decent manager in Coleman & with Eastwood / Morrison leading the attack could be a force)

Notts Forest are another team & at 33/1 could be worth an ew shout. they could be the Bristol City this year & be up there all season. May have a punt just to lay them off later.

Derby also look big at 16/1 after relegation last year, this will be much more down Jewell's alley.

The last 2 will be well supported with near on 30k watching every week which helps!

[Rockman]

Its been quite a while since i posted here.

Why no one looking at sheffield united,southampton and preston for promotion bet.

This 3 teams are well capable to be promoted.

[1882]

Originally Posted by Rockman

Its been quite a while since i posted here.

Why no one looking at sheffield united,southampton and preston for promotion bet.

This 3 teams are well capable to be promoted.

I`d have to disagree with Preston and Southampton here. Preston I think will be safe but I can see it being a tough season. Southampton struggled last season and only just managed to stay up and I can see them struggling this season. Sheff Utd on the otherhand maybe, saw them at the backend of last season and was impressed. They looked like a team that could be hard to beat this season especially if sharp and beattie can carry on as they ended last season.

[1882]

I`m still liking Robert Earnshaw for top scorer this season at around the 22/1 mark. The lack of football last season is a worry but he`s shown how good he is at this level. He`s going to be a defo starter this season with the amount spent on him. I`d be wary of backing Phillips though this season. Theres no doubting what a fantastic player he is but he has openly admitted he`s unable to play week in week out this season.

[aliando]

Originally Posted by 1882

I`m still liking Robert Earnshaw for top scorer this season at around the 22/1 mark. The lack of football last season is a worry but he`s shown how good he is at this level. He`s going to be a defo starter this season with the amount spent on him. I`d be wary of backing Phillips though this season. Theres no doubting what a fantastic player he is but he has openly admitted he`s unable to play week in week out this season.

cant say i'm too confident in this bet - earnie did well initially at the city for 2 reasons: he was fast and people didn't know how to stop him. In the play-off final versus QPR he was absent whilst on the field and much has been the same at all clubs he has been with since plus the national side. Simple matter is that defenders now know how to handle him and he hasnt enough of a game to improve imo. The lack of matches in recent seasons will not help this factor.

I imagine he'll get games at forest and he will net a reasonable figure but cant see him being up there, personally.


Would be good if he could spark the old form that had so much promise, for Wales sakes!

[aliando]

unsure where to place cardiff in the final standings, mainly as this is one the most unpredictable leagues going. On paper, the 3 relegated teams should be up there, along with those teams that appear to have strengthened including QPR, palace, sheff utd, wolves, ipswich, charlton and coventry - surprised to see such big odds on teams like bristol, swansea and burnley and would expect them to finish higher in the table than the ante-post odds suggest.

imo, cardiff should be mixed in with the teams above - but it'll be a lottery as to which order they end up in.

Goalkeeper position looks a hell of a lot more stable now, with enckleman made permanent and challenged by man utd's Tom Heaton who's on a season long loan. For me, this was my biggest pre-season concern last year and only when schmeicel came in did we seem to improve as a team.

Defensively looks ok atm, but will depend on whether Glenn Loovens stays - hopefully Rangers crashing out of europe will postpone their interest (and may be less attractive without european football behind them). His partnership with Richard Johnson took off last year and looks very important for our progression. McNaughton remains and he was solid last year, although he may switch to left back this year with Miguel Commingues coming in from Swindon. Miguel has done well in pre-season and is a right back, whereas I'm still not entirely sure about Tony Capaldi at left back - likely that migual will have to bide his time to enter the first team, but at least we have some needed cover. Purse remains on the pay roll and is decent enough 3rd choice centre back and youngster Darren Denehy has been brought in from Everton (not sure about him but everton wanted to hold on to him, apparently...).

Midfield has taken a knock with the loss of Aaon Ramsey to arsenal, but in fairness, jones used him fairly sparingly, so he may not be missed as much as first thought. Rae and McPhail look set to renew their midfield partnership and whilst i was critical of them in the past when we slumped, they seem to be part of a bigger midfield that works well as a whole. Riccy Scimeca should hopefully feature more this term after overcoming long term injury that kept him out for much of last season. Wings seem covered by Ledley on the left and Whittingham switching to right with Parry also able to play both as cover/rotation plus mark kennedy has joined for further depth. Jon Brown is the next young player coming through the academy that should get some pitch time this term, but he's not in the same mould as aaron ramsey - although if he does as well as ledley, he'll be very welcome!

Up front continues to give us headaches, although less so now. Fowler has gone to sit on blackburns injury table, whilst Ridsdale has managed to fcuk up hasslebainks contract and its likely to cost the club. Again. Basically, JFH had a clause stating he would get a second year contract if he played x number of games, which he did - Ridsdale at some point verbally agreed that this would be removed but never thought to actually change the contract (twat!). JFH was escorted from the ground on the first day of training (great way to treat a player who helped us reach the cup final) and the fight continues. As for those at the club, Thompson remoins on the transfer list as he has done for 2 years now, but continues to have the odd good game and stays in the 1st team squad. He's now joined by Ross McCormack and Jay Boothroyd. McCormack looks to the bargain of the summer at just £100k from Motherwell, he's scored a couple of times in pre-season and seems to have settled quickly - I'm hoping for big things from him this term. Bothroyd seems to be a gamble though and a signing that could prove fantastic or embarressing. Simply put, Cardiff have failed on several decent signings (boyd from rangers, Cooper from Dallas) and bothroyd was not that rated by wolves. Before he signed, there was talk that we were looking for 2 more strikers - that seems to have gone quiet atm, but ridsdale will get more flack if another striker does not arrive.




Whilst the ante post odds on cardiff are high, they do reflect the chances of cardiff finishing in the top 3 - I'd be looking for a play-off finish this term for 3 reasons. Firstly, We have a much stronger squad than last year - selling a few youngsters for big cash has allowed us to actually sign a few more players to ensure we have quality cover at all positions now. Secondly, our league form dipped as the fa cup run gathered pace - nice as it was, it would be more interesting to have a full run at the championship this time. Thirdly, its the last season to be played at Ninian Park - the new stadium will be open ready for August 2009 - when the ground is busy and the city fans are vocal, it makes for an entirely different atmosphere and fans are pretty much all behind Dave Jones and the players now (same cant be said for ridsdale though).

The only negative that may play a part this year is the continuing off the field problems surrounding our debts. Sam Hammams name continues to keep cropping up and the thought of ridsdale being our hope here fills me with dread. Whilst we have won our court hearings, they have drained a significant amount of money from the coppers (monies paid out in court costs all went to people with connections to the city board) plus ridsdale's £1/2million bonus, plus his huge wages, plus he's alledgedly made a fcuk up of selling the ground Ninian Park is on. A takeover from David Sullivan (cardiff fan who promised to buy cardiff the moment he got birmingham promoted to the premiership) would be gratefully recieved imo.



Overall, the only person I really, really, really wouldnt want to lose is Dave Jones - he's been fantastic for us and, for me, is the reason for our success. If we dont look like promotion material, I'm sure there'll be bigger clubs coming in for him at some point.

[WHUPUNTER]

WHUPUNTER's Preview

I can see the Championship being contested mainly by 4 clubs Birmingham, Derby, Sheff Utd and Reading. Birmingham were unlucky to drop down from the Premier League in my opinion, I think their away form badly let them down whereas their home form was decent and no one had it easy there last season. McFadden and Larsson have stayed whilst strikers Phillips and Bent add to the positives and I can see them being right up there come the end. The same with Derby, who had a dreadful last season in the Prem, winning only one game. Manager Paul Jewell was brought in mid season to tighten things and build mainly for this season, which he has. Kommons has been signed from rivals Forest whilst Ellington, and Dickinson should bring goals. Jewell's experience of the league is vital and I can see them having a big season. Sheffield Utd started slowly last time around under Bryan Robson before having a fine end to the season under Kevin Blackwell and being unlucky to miss out on the play offs. Winger Cotterill and striker Darius Henderson are shrewd buys. Reading have largely kept the same squad which narrowly missed out on last day survival in the Prem last season. Kitson and Shorey will be sorely missed but the quality is there and manager Coppell knows this league inside out and should be confident of guiding his side to an instant return. I can also see Burnley having a decent season at huge odds. Highly rated Chris Eagles has joined from Man Utd for £1.2M while prolific scorer Martin Paterson has signed from Scunthorpe for a similar amount. They shocked a few last term with wins at the top sides so be warned. Blackpool, Barnsley and Southampton will all struggle after failing to improve on last seasons squads.

Top 4:

1st Birmingham
2nd Derby
3rd Sheff Utd
4th Reading

One to watch:

Burnley

Relegation Candidates:

Barnsley
Blackpool
Southampton

[bowles10]

I have ended up with 5 without taking into account my own team who i rarely bet on.

To win

Birmingham look obvious candidates, they have been there before & done it. Alex Mcleish has managed at the highest level in Scotland & should be one of the better managers in this league. Signing Phillips & Bent will no doubt give them an edge up front & supported by the likes of McSheffrey, Mcfadden, Larrson & Forsell, i can see them being top scorer's also. They may have to sort thier defence out but have enough firepower to overcome teams much like WBA did last year.
Reading i think will push Birmingham all the way. The club is set up very well & now the big names of Kitson & Shorey have departed, coppell can get on with his job in the usual quite, steely way he does things. Buoyed by a decent support base, they again can be challenging for promotion.

Each way

There are always teams in this league that surprise odds wise, it was bristol City & Hull last season. This year, Coventry & Notts Forest are the 2 teams i would want on my side. Forest could be anything but have invested 2.5m in Earnshaw who is proven at this level. Again, the club will be well supported & have been waiting for the bounce back to the big time for a few years now. Calderwood seems to be doing a good job there & they will be top 10 easily. I like Chris Coleman & feel he was unlucky to be sacked from Fulham, i dont think it will be long before he is touted again for the premier league, & his dealings in the transfer market may see Coventry pushing up the league this season.

Relegation

A journey too far for Doncaster i feel, they could be the scunthorpe of last year. Sure they will enjoy it but this league is so hard. Blackpool have lost a number of players & they look certs to be bottom 6 & i feel they will disappear this season. Southampton will again find it tough & teams that just stay up find it difficult again the following year.

Top scorer

A long list of decent players in the championship now. must have to look at the top teams but also pen takers also. Ebanks-Blake is one for sure, but i have to see who the pen takers are before making a choice from Earnshaw, phillips, Ebanks-Blake, Morrison.

[WHUPUNTER]

Bowles, im not just saying it because ive seen todays results but I was close to putting Doncaster under my 'One to watch'. Even though they step up a division, the style of Football they play should keep them out of trouble. Sean O'Driscoll is shrewd and knows his way around and Darren Byfield could turn out to be a brilliant signing. They are positive and will go at teams and I wish I had some of the huge odds offered before today on them gaining promoition. I dont know what they are now but its still worth punting on them and I wouldnt put anyone off the bet.

[fintron]

Bowles, how is Damion Stewert getting on for you down there? Colin Todd signed him for us as a raw youngster with promise, but he got a chance in the side because of injuries and took it with both hands. He clearly learned a lot off the experienced David Wetherall. Just wondered what the QPR fans made of him?

[Martin]

can anyone tell me who was in corals group c championship betting?

[bowles10]

Originally Posted by fintron

Bowles, how is Damion Stewert getting on for you down there? Colin Todd signed him for us as a raw youngster with promise, but he got a chance in the side because of injuries and took it with both hands. He clearly learned a lot off the experienced David Wetherall. Just wondered what the QPR fans made of him?

some like him, some dont. He won me some money last season, scoring 5 goals before xmas all being 1st goalscorer. I tipped him up at 40's on here & managed 2 returns on him.

He is good alongside a decent centre half. He may be down the pecking order now with the likes of Gorkks, Hall, Connolly & Ramage all fighting for 2 places. He played last night after suspension & i can see him being around the side all season dipping in / out when required. I like his attitude as he never seems to moan about not being in the starting 11 & gives his all. I actually met him last season as we gave him MoM at a game I was at, so presented the trophy, but he said very little to use to be honest & seemed overawed by the 10 drunk blokes on a stag do!

[boyd]

Originally Posted by Martin

can anyone tell me who was in corals group c championship betting?

Ipswich (12-5), Norwich (3-1), Cardiff (7-2), Bristol C (4-1), Swansea (7-1) and Plymouth (9-1). Prices may have changed slightly but they're the prices in the Racing Post football season preview.

[Martin]

thanks