England: Championship Aug 16

[aliando]

Saturday 16 August 2008	Home	Draw	Away	BPP
Barnsley v Coventry City (15:00BST)	2.46	3.40	2.94	104.08 %	Details »
Hide « Barnsley v Coventry City
Burnley v Ipswich Town (15:00BST)	2.40	3.40	2.94	105.09 %	Details »
Hide « Burnley v Ipswich Town
Doncaster Rovers v Cardiff City (15:00BST)	2.44	3.40	2.88	105.12 %	Details »
Hide « Doncaster Rovers v Cardiff City
Norwich City v Blackpool (15:00BST)	2.04	3.55	4.75	98.24 %	Details »
Hide « Norwich City v Blackpool
Preston North End v Crystal Palace (15:00BST)	2.40	3.40	3.00	104.41 %	Details »
Hide « Preston North End v Crystal Palace
Reading v Plymouth Argyle (15:00BST)	1.66	3.50	6.20	104.70 %	Details »
Hide « Reading v Plymouth Argyle
Sheffield United v Queens Park Rangers (15:00BST)	2.30	3.40	3.25	103.66 %	Details »
Hide « Sheffield United v Queens Park Rangers
Southampton v Birmingham City (15:00BST)	3.10	3.40	2.40	103.34 %	Details »
Hide « Southampton v Birmingham City
Swansea City v Nottingham Forest (15:00BST)	2.28	3.40	3.30	103.57 %	Details »
Hide « Swansea City v Nottingham Forest
Watford v Charlton Athletic (15:00BST)	2.40	3.40	3.10	103.34 %	Details »
Hide « Watford v Charlton Athletic
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sheffield Wednesday (15:00BST)	1.83	3.55	5.00	102.71 %	Details »
Hide « Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sheffield Wednesday
Bristol City v Derby County (17:20BST)	2.25	3.45	3.10	105.69 %	Details »

[leecrowe007]

Norwich v Blackpool - 10/11 bet365

Home win here for me. Although both team suffered defeats in their first league games, and got shocked in the cup in midweek, I feel Norwich are still the better of the 2 teams. They were unlucky to lose at Coventry in their league game, after controlling the game for certain periods, but just not being able to get past the inspired Westwood in goals. Blackpool on the other hand got beat in the last minute against Bristol City at home, and got beat at lowly Macclesfield in the cup- Southern also got sent off so could possibly be suspended? Glenn Roeder will surely have Norwich fired up for this game and I fancy them to get their first win under their belts here.

[leecrowe007]

Southampton v Birmingham - 11/8 skybet / 8/11 DNB bet365

Birmingham outlined their Championship potential with a grinding last minute win over Sheff Utd, which is the sign of a good team. Getting off to a winnig start is vital after dropping down from the Prem, and they will push on now I think. Their team on paper is the best by far, and they should have easily too much for a Southampton team, who were dominated by cardiff in their opener. In fact they were lucky to get to the 90th minute before conceding, as it seemed Cardiff could have been 2 or 3 up by then. All the signs lead to an away win here, especially with the decent St Marys pitch which will work to Birminghams advantage I feel. Away win

[leecrowe007]

Swansea v Forest - 2.26 betfair

I think Swansea are a decent bet to win their first home game over Forest here, especially at this price about 5/4. Although Forest have spent big, 5 million of this was on 2 strikers, earnshaw (who fair enough is proven at this level) and garner (who is injured) and they looked toothless in attack against Reading, maybe because they've lost Commons who was pivotal in their success last season. Let's not forget that Swansea won League 1 comfortably last season, and Forest only got automatic promotion due to other's slip ups rather than their own play. Swansea were unlucky to lose at Charlton if the match reports are correct, and Martinez seemed pleased with how his team had played. After conceding the early goal (which could be put down to nerves or lack of concentration due to their first game at this level) Swansea played some good attacking football, and had more goal attempts than Charlton. The 2nd clinching goal only came after Swansea had been reduced to 10 men and they had to push for an equaliser. Also, Jason Scotland will surely start this game, and apparantly he looked sharp when he came on. At these odds I feel Swansea are definitely worth a nibble

[nastro 1888]

Best pick for me is Coventry @ 2.94 at Barnsley, can see chris colemans Coventry having a good season, good opening win in the league and backed up last night with cup win have sky-blues in good form.

[Mark H]

Southampton v Birmingham

Interesting times at both clubs. Southampton have gone through a complete transition with a new ownership and management team installed at St Mary's. The emphasis has been on developing youth, based on the Dutch system which manager Portvielet should know well. This has meant that the bulk of the senior squad has been discarded with only the gk, cb pairing and Stern John up front having real champtionship experience. While many of the Saints youngsters have talent it will take them time to gain the tactical awareness and physical strength needed for this league and their manager has all but admitted that. This is a big test for them early on. I've watched both of Birmingham's games so far and even at this stage it seems highly likely that they will be a top team this year. They have a wealth of attacking talent in particular and it is here that Southampton will have real problems. While the Saints back line looks reasonably solid they are dreadfully lightweight up front. It's not even clear whether last years top scorer John will be a first choice this year and without him they have no natural scorers. 1.82 dnb on the away side looks a price which will be long gone come kick off on Saturday

[SWFC_Naps.]

Wolves vs Sheff Wed, 1.83

Although Sheff Wed beat Burnley 4-1 on the opening day, both strikers who got 2 goals each are injured and will miss this game. There are also a few other worries - Hinds and Johnson suffered knocks and missed our defeat to Rotherham mid-week. The young back four looked absolutely knackered on Tuesday night and will go into this game having been run into the ground by Rotherham. Also, Peter Gilbert has handed in a transfer request which I would suspect would leave him out - wrong frame of mind and all that.

Wolves also went into ET mid-week, but won with a late header which will have given them some confidence, especially after having scored twice away at Plymouth on the opening day. Their manager will have them fired up for this to get their first win and I can honestly see us crumbling. Wednesday have a tendancy to conceed goal in the first 15 minutes, so may be worth looking into over 2.5 goals as you can always trade out if you don't have the bottle to wait..

[Spooner]

Sport	Football (Eng - Champ)
Event	Norwich v Blackpool
Selection	Norwich
Strength	10/10
Date	16/08/2008
Bookmaker/Price	Betfair @ 2.02 (Back)
Reasoning	I don't think this price will last to long, Blackpool are one of the favourites to go down this year, Started off with a 1-0 defeat at home to Bristol City. Lost 2-0 in the week to Legaue two side Macclesfield so they won't be going into this game full of confidence. Norwich haven't had a much better start, Two defeats aswell. The game against Coventry where they lost 2-0 didn't really reflect the game, Norwich missed alot of chances and also had a clear penalty turned down whilst the penatly against them was dubious. Being Norwich's first home game this season the crowd will get behind them which will lift them and they should get there first win of the season.

[WHUPUNTER]

Originally Posted by leecrowe007

Swansea v Forest - 2.26 betfair

I think Swansea are a decent bet to win their first home game over Forest here, especially at this price about 5/4. Although Forest have spent big, 5 million of this was on 2 strikers, earnshaw (who fair enough is proven at this level) and garner (who is injured) and they looked toothless in attack against Reading, maybe because they've lost Commons who was pivotal in their success last season. Let's not forget that Swansea won League 1 comfortably last season, and Forest only got automatic promotion due to other's slip ups rather than their own play. Swansea were unlucky to lose at Charlton if the match reports are correct, and Martinez seemed pleased with how his team had played. After conceding the early goal (which could be put down to nerves or lack of concentration due to their first game at this level) Swansea played some good attacking football, and had more goal attempts than Charlton. The 2nd clinching goal only came after Swansea had been reduced to 10 men and they had to push for an equaliser. Also, Jason Scotland will surely start this game, and apparantly he looked sharp when he came on. At these odds I feel Swansea are definitely worth a nibble

Comepletely agree, a chunk of my pot is going on this.

[Wolf4ever]

Originally Posted by SWFC_Naps.

Wolves vs Sheff Wed, 1.83

Although Sheff Wed beat Burnley 4-1 on the opening day, both strikers who got 2 goals each are injured and will miss this game. There are also a few other worries - Hinds and Johnson suffered knocks and missed our defeat to Rotherham mid-week. The young back four looked absolutely knackered on Tuesday night and will go into this game having been run into the ground by Rotherham. Also, Peter Gilbert has handed in a transfer request which I would suspect would leave him out - wrong frame of mind and all that.

Wolves also went into ET mid-week, but won with a late header which will have given them some confidence, especially after having scored twice away at Plymouth on the opening day. Their manager will have them fired up for this to get their first win and I can honestly see us crumbling. Wednesday have a tendancy to conceed goal in the first 15 minutes, so may be worth looking into over 2.5 goals as you can always trade out if you don't have the bottle to wait..

If Tudgay is out injured that is a massive boost for us, as he always seems to score when we meet. I still see you as a threat up front if Deon Burton plays. Leon Clarke will definately want to do well at Molineux for the stick we gave him as a Wolves player, after gesturing to us during a game!
We look full of goals going forward but very shaky at the back, so
over 2.5 goals looks a good call.

[aliando]

Sport	Football (Eng - Champ)
Event	Doncaster v Cardiff
Selection	Cardiff (Double Chance)
Strength	10/10
Date	16/08/2008
Bookmaker/Price	Ladbrokes @ 1.56 (Back)
Reasoning	Second league game in and Cardiff have certainly seemed to pick up well from the start with impressive reports from both of our first games. Following promotion via the play offs, Doncaster have also made an impressive start to the season with an opening day win at Derby. Cardiff will be rocked by the news that solid centre back Glen Loovens is heading to Celtic but Darren Purse will slot into his place. Whilst not the same quality, should be good enough to hold us until a replacement is drafted in. Alternatively, McNaughton can slide in from the right hand side and allow summer signing Miguel Commingues to take up the RB position. The BBC state cardiff have injury worries over Ledley, Rae and Capaldi - given their track record, they'll probably all play!! Either way, we should have suitable cover if they dont make it. I would expect Doncaster to survive this season, but Jones will be very wary of the team that pulled of the shock of the opening round of fixtures and should be able to instigate tactics efficient enough to earn at least a point here. We are supposedly targetting a potential promotion campaign, so if this is to be the case, these are the games we should be winning, or at least not losing. h2h stats look very impressive for us: at Doncaster, they have won just once out of 12 previous meetings (back in 1951) and have won only 4/24 meetings in total. Our last meeting was in 97/98 when we won 7-1. I would expecting 3 points here, but its Doncasters first home game of the season and the loss of Loovens is a potentially unstabling effect. Thus I'll plump again for the safety of the double chance result, which shows decent value at 1.56 with Laddies.

[impressivegol]

what are everyones thoughts on Reading? probably stuck out the most to me but i see no mention of it by anyone thus far

[adam7982]

Anyone think Coventry are a good bet tomorrow away to Barnsley?

I think Barnsley will struggle this year and Coventry are my dark horses with Morrison upfront they will get goals and 9/5 with laddies is that to big???

[Kozzin Benson]

Originally Posted by impressivegol

what are everyones thoughts on Reading? probably stuck out the most to me but i see no mention of it by anyone thus far

I think Reading will win impressivegol,i have put them in my 4 team tip at start of thread for weekend bets with liverpool,brighton & rangers.

I have always thought of reading as a solid home team especially now they have dropped down a division.

[Paul Ross]

I'm with Lee and Spooner on Norwich.

My ratings suggested the 2-0 defeat was a total farce, if anything Norwich should have won by 2 goals.

They are now at home and great opportunity against Blackpool to get their first points on the board.

If this match was in January, Norwich could well be as short as 1.60 to win this type of match.

Norwich win @ 1.97 Betfair

[kevshat]

This looks like it could be a good weekend for bets. 4 for me for Saturday.

3pts Coventry 0AH vs Barnsley 2.07 VC

As I said last week, I think Coventry will go well this season. I don't expect the same of Barnsley who with very limited resources could well struggle this season. Chris Coleman has put together a decent looking side. I really like Eastwood and Morrison up top and I'm a massive fan of Kieron Westwood between the sticks. Coventry are boosted by the return of Jay Tabb and Julian Gray for this match which should see better quality given to the strikers.

Barnsley could well be without up to 8 first team players for this match which isn't good although Gary Teale, signed on a month's loan from Derby could make his debut. Jamal Campbell-Ryce and van Homoel are among those missing for this match. Barnsley by all accounts were unlucky last Saturday but the midweek loss at Crewe doesn't look good and all it can be argued that Coventry have been lucky in both their matches thus far, winning is a habit so I'll take them on the 0AH safe in the knowledge we'll get refunded if the points are shared.

4pts Reading -0.75AH vs Plymouth 1.91 Bet1128

Reading looked a bit rusty at Forest last week but I think they'll come on for that run and be better here. I saw Plymouth at first hand on Tuesday where for most of the game they were outplayed by an honest Luton side. Paul Sturrock was especially disappointed with that result and while I expect a better performance from Argyle here I still don't think it will be enough to get anything in this match.

Reading will go back to the 1st team after resting everyone in midweek. That will mean going to Doyle and Lita up top who could be a very good pairing. Sonko and Ingimarsson look solid at the back and even though the Royals will be without their skipper again, Liam Rosenior is an able replacement. On loan Craig Cathbert looks likely to make his league debut for Plymouth here but he looked pretty poor on Tuesday night. Reading are a decent side and Coppell knows how to get out of this division and knows the importance of winning at home. I expect them to do just that here.

3pts Birmingham -0.25AH vs Southampton 1.97 Bet1128

I'm not a huge fan of backing - AH's with away sides but I'm happy enough to do it here. I just think there's a massive gulf in quality between these two sides. As a Hampshire cricket fan, I often get the local rag which focuses a lot on the Saints and I have to say the appointment of Jan Poortvliet was a very weird one. He looks like he'll take some time to get to grips with the English game. Birmingham have started the season serenely and Alex McLeish has lots of options at his disposal.

Michael Svensson is likely to return for Southampton after he was left out for the midweek cup match. He'll go into the centre of defence alongside Chris Perry. There's my first problem with Saints. Perry was crap all season for Luton last year so I can't believe he'll be much cop at St Mary's. Quincy Owusu-Abeyie could well start for the Bluenoses in this match while Stephen Kelly and Radhi Jaidi bolster their defence. Kevin Phillips will be aiming to score against his old club. I really do feel there's a gulf in class here and I'll take Birmingham to exploit that gulf and take a win home with them.

3pts Bristol City -0.25AH vs Derby 1.87 VC

Bristol City had an excellent season and I think they will go well again here. Paul Jewell probably realised last week that he has a job and a half to do. Gary Johnson made a shrewd bit of business when he brought in Nicky Maynard from Crewe and even though he missed a sitter last week it didn't cost his side. Steve Brooker looks good at the minute and City's creative players all look good. Derby have some defensive problems going into this game and might have to turn to Dean Leacock in defence. He's never really convinced me.

Bristol City have ground out a couple of wins in the opening week of the season while Derby had to endure extra time against Lincoln in midweek. Confidence is really low at Pride Park at the minute and Paul Jewell has gone on record to say his side need some time to gel. It won't be easy against Bristol City at Ashton Gate where they are usually quite strong. Johnson gets his players up for this sort of game and I think Bristol City will build on a good start with another win here.

[bowles10]

After 2 wins on the bounc, Dowie will have the boys buzzing but not sure we have enough to beat Sheffield Utd on their turf. The best factor would be to take the lead as thier fans tend to get on their back & the place becomes very hostile. I will be happy with a draw at this stage, but without a couple of big names, we are still not 100%. Wonder who will play in goal as so far both keepers have been used, i would expect Cerny as Camp came in for the cup game.

[Alan Brazil]

Barnsley v Coventry City 2.94
Kevshat said the most on this. Coleman has already improved Coventry much and Coventry also trashed Barnsley TWICE last season
Reading v Plymouth Argyle 1.66 Plymouth have lost their best players in a year.Lita and Doyle should be too much for a weakened Argyle-defence. Ibrahima Sonko (Reading KEY PLAYER to me) and Ingimarsson together keep their back in order
Sheffield United v Queens Park Rangers 2.30 I ranked the Blades the best team in championship so I go with it as QPR may have the money but not their primus motor Akos Buzsaky yet.
Watford v Charlton Athletic 3.10 Watford are much much weaker than last season
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sheffield Wednesday 1.83 Really if Wolves don't win this one against Wednesday without Sodje and Tudgay upfront I loose myfaith in them ( I ranked them second in Championship for this season)
! quote the odds from the top of this thread as I play with Finnish VEIKKAUS myself ath the moment.

& other tail ends (and I don't pick draws) :
Burnley v Ipswich Town away win
Doncaster Rovers v Cardiff City home win
Norwich City v Blackpool home win
Preston North End v Crystal Palace away win
Southampton v Birmingham City away win
Swansea City v Nottingham Forest home win
Bristol City v Derby County away win

& odd sodds from the Moneybags-league: Blackburn,Wigan,Portsmouth (Chelsea will loose their homerecord some day)

[Soloshchenko]

Preston's impressive victory away at Ipswich was no fluke: Alan Irvine has created a well drilled side and in all my years as a season ticket holder I have never seen the fitness look so good. Add to that impressive new signings Nicholson, Chaplow and Wallace and Simon Whaleys successful transition into a striker, not to mention Neil Mellor finally starting to look like the player his early promise suggested.

I am going for a home win over Palace and think PNE will be the surprise package of the CCC this year.,

[Alan Brazil]

Picks (4/5)
Barnsley v Coventry City 2.46 3.40 2.94
Reading v Plymouth Argyle 1.66 3.50 6.20
Sheffield Unitedv Queens Park Rangers 2.30
Watford v Charlton Athletic 2.40 3.40 3.10
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sheffield Wednesday 1.83 3.55 5.00

Tail ends (3/7)
Burnley v Ipswich Town away win 2.40 3.40 2.94
Doncaster Rovers v Cardiff City 2.44 3.40 2.88
Norwich City v Blackpool 2.04 3.55 4.75
Preston North End v Crystal Palace 2.40 3.40 3.00
Southampton v Birmingham City 3.10 3.40 2.40
Swansea City v Nottingham Forest 2.28 3.40 3.30
Bristol City v Derby County 2.25 3.45 3.10

7/12 16.34/12 + 1.st round 4/12 11.85/12 = 11/24 28.19/24 total
As I try to predict a winner for every Championship match I try keep up with my numbers also …

Yesterday I had 7 hits 5 misses and more importantly 4/5 from my picks.
As I had Reading and Wolves in every single coupon of mine I almost doubled my money from my bets yesterday. However IF Pompey wins today then my profit from the weekend will
jump to real hights.

SONKO SONKO, wasn’t he the key then? Ah but the best day for ages to me as Town-supporter happened in Burnley. An away win with Liam Trotter and Jordan Rhodes both scoring means 2 best of our youths
really made their breakthrough to the first team now. Just like the old days of Beattie,Wark,Butcher,Osman,
Brazil…this almost makes me weep from joy.