CHAMPIONSHIP
Since Christmas , I have been very keen on the chances of Sheffield Wednesday this season. They are a big club, with fantastic support and have a coach, Brian Laws, that I could not have more respect for. Unfortunately, their failure to sign a proven goalscorer, which they desperately need, is likely to be their undoing. Laws has been close to getting his man on more than one occasion, but at the end of the day, he has not had the finances behind him, to complete the deal .... a shame. ALMOST AS SOON AS I WROTE THIS, FRANCIS JEFFERS SIGNED FOR THE OWLS, MAYBE HE WILL BE THE ANSWER.
Another team in a similar boat is Crystal Palace, they have had a nine match unbeaten pre season and have some VERY talented youngsters, especially Moses, coming through, but goals are likely to be tough to come by. This is definitely a team to keep an eye on and if a striker is signed, or one emerges, then a play-off spot is not out of the question.
I am opposing Charlton, who look to be happy to sell their Premiership quality stars and sign Championship replacements, they look a very short price to me and make little appeal, although they do have a coach that knows how to get out of this division.
Just a quick word about Sheffield United, the verdict is still out on James Beattie, but the signing of Billy Sharp, could be inspired. All at Scunthorpe are convinced that he will score plenty at this level and although a repeat of last years 30 strikes, is very unlikely, a small interest at 16-1 in the top scorer market, might provide a little fun.
Martin Allen and Leicester City ....... things will probably start well, it is at the business end of things that the jury is still out on MA. I like him a lot as a person, but as I have said before, he has still to prove that he has a plan b when things go wrong, let alone plan c.
So, how about a bet ? I am keen on Watford's chances, they have kept their squad fairly intact, several articles have made much of Hameur Bouazza leaving to join Fulham this week for £4m. Two things about that, I understand that he would not have been a guaranteed starter in any case and with a first name like that, surely he should have gone to West Ham !
Marlon King is back to full fitness and has looked sharp in pre season, he is a class act at this level and could provide 20 goals. They snatched Jobi McAnuff from Palace for £1.75m and he chose them ahead of a Premiership offer.
Supporters are raving about the Brazilian, Douglas Rinaldi, whose transfer from Veronapolis has been made permanent. The Hungarian player Tamas Priskin is a raw, but real talent and will add to the goal tally, along with Darius Henderson.
In addition Matt Jackson ( Wigan) and Mark Poom ( Arsenal) have joined and will add experience to a young, talented squad.
Coach Adrian Boothroyd is held in high esteem at the club and has assembled a good team around him, feel that they have to go close.
5 points Watford to gain promotion 4.0 general quote .... Hills / Corals/Sky
DIVISION 1
Much like in the Championship, I have had a long term fancy for this division and "jumped ship" fairly late in the day. Millwall were my original choice, with Swansea my number two.
The Lions had a fantastic run from Christmas onwards last year and from bottom of the table, almost made the playoffs ! However, I have heard tale of some unrest at The New Den and the occasional bust up, fights often break out in training, but sometimes it goes a bit further and this involved two of the bigger names at the club. Anyway, I would not rule them out completely, Willie Donachie has done wonders in his short time in charge, but I have heard enough, to put me off.
This brings me to Swansea and I am confident that they will go very close. They do not need to progress too much, only missing out on the play offs by one spot and three points last season.
Roberto Martinez took over in February and was a breath of fresh air, playing decent, entertaining football and winning over the fans big time. He sold Lee Trundle in the summer, but this was a transfer that need to happen and £1m plus for a 31yo, tier 3 player, albeit a very good one, yes please !
They have replaced him with Jason Scotland, 26 goals at St Johnstone last season and Darryl Duffy from Hull City, who has already won the fan's hearts. Martinez looks to have got the mix right, making six overseas captures, including players from Spain and Holland, in addition to some promising young talent from Premiership clubs, he already had some experienced hands at his disposal.
Pre season has gone very well, they beat Levante 2-0 at the Liberty Stadium, with two goals disallowed and the crossbar scared more than once. That was a problem last season, Swansea hitting the woodwork on 33 occasions ! A little more accuracy and they could have gone much closer than 7th, they look a better all round team, this time round.
I have quite a lot of information/ views about teams in this, Division 2 and the Conference, but will keep things, solely to my selections. as I have promised to publish this on the blog and need to hold back some opinions for now.
2.5 points Swansea outright 11.0 general quote
5 points Swansea promoted 4.0 Bet365/Tote/ Boyle/ Sky
DIVISION 2
I like Milton Keynes Dons, the new stadium is ready, a 30,000 all seater and the whole club is geared up to bigger things. The team of Pa
ul ince and Ray Mathias and it is a team, have replaced Martin Allen and promotion has to be gained this season.
They have played and shone against Chelsea, West Ham and Watford in pre season and in, Leon Knight and Kevin Gallen they have two strikers who should fill their boots at this level. The experienced Colin Cameron has joined from Coventry and will help the host of promising youngsters the club has, flourish.
Simply cannot see them not improving on last year's 4th spot and they look cast iron "each way" .
2 points win Milton Keynes Dons 9.0 general
5 points promotion 3.0 Tote/ Stan James/Bet 365.
CONFERENCE / BLUE SQUARE PREMIER
I have just one bet here, it is a very short price, but is something of a banker to my eyes. In their 4 seasons in the Conference, Aldershot have finished 5-4-13-9 and would have been much higher last year, if they had not had such a dire start.
Former QPR manager Gary Waddock is now in charge and recent results have looked promising, a 5-0 win over local rivals Farnborough, was followed by a 0-0 draw with the Charlton first team and a 1-1 tie with a strong Fulham team, after which the new boss said ...
"I am extremely pleased considering the opposition that we were playing. They had players that are worth millions of pounds but we put in a performance that in spells we were the better team.
"However it counts for nothing and I have told my players that we have to start doing that for the next ten months or so. Their keeper paid off two or three really good saves after the break and we will need to be a bit more ruthless in front of goal".
This is a team that could go close and can be backed outright at around the 23.0 mark, new league sponsors Blue Square offer a 1.72 quote for them to be in the top 12 of the table, which they will do. At least 3 of the 4 promoted teams look very weak, so the Shots will not have too many to beat.
6 points Aldershot to finish in the top half 1.72 Blue Square.
Good Luck
Since Christmas , I have been very keen on the chances of Sheffield Wednesday this season. They are a big club, with fantastic support and have a coach, Brian Laws, that I could not have more respect for. Unfortunately, their failure to sign a proven goalscorer, which they desperately need, is likely to be their undoing. Laws has been close to getting his man on more than one occasion, but at the end of the day, he has not had the finances behind him, to complete the deal .... a shame. ALMOST AS SOON AS I WROTE THIS, FRANCIS JEFFERS SIGNED FOR THE OWLS, MAYBE HE WILL BE THE ANSWER.
Another team in a similar boat is Crystal Palace, they have had a nine match unbeaten pre season and have some VERY talented youngsters, especially Moses, coming through, but goals are likely to be tough to come by. This is definitely a team to keep an eye on and if a striker is signed, or one emerges, then a play-off spot is not out of the question.
I am opposing Charlton, who look to be happy to sell their Premiership quality stars and sign Championship replacements, they look a very short price to me and make little appeal, although they do have a coach that knows how to get out of this division.
Just a quick word about Sheffield United, the verdict is still out on James Beattie, but the signing of Billy Sharp, could be inspired. All at Scunthorpe are convinced that he will score plenty at this level and although a repeat of last years 30 strikes, is very unlikely, a small interest at 16-1 in the top scorer market, might provide a little fun.
Martin Allen and Leicester City ....... things will probably start well, it is at the business end of things that the jury is still out on MA. I like him a lot as a person, but as I have said before, he has still to prove that he has a plan b when things go wrong, let alone plan c.
So, how about a bet ? I am keen on Watford's chances, they have kept their squad fairly intact, several articles have made much of Hameur Bouazza leaving to join Fulham this week for £4m. Two things about that, I understand that he would not have been a guaranteed starter in any case and with a first name like that, surely he should have gone to West Ham !
Marlon King is back to full fitness and has looked sharp in pre season, he is a class act at this level and could provide 20 goals. They snatched Jobi McAnuff from Palace for £1.75m and he chose them ahead of a Premiership offer.
Supporters are raving about the Brazilian, Douglas Rinaldi, whose transfer from Veronapolis has been made permanent. The Hungarian player Tamas Priskin is a raw, but real talent and will add to the goal tally, along with Darius Henderson.
In addition Matt Jackson ( Wigan) and Mark Poom ( Arsenal) have joined and will add experience to a young, talented squad.
Coach Adrian Boothroyd is held in high esteem at the club and has assembled a good team around him, feel that they have to go close.
5 points Watford to gain promotion 4.0 general quote .... Hills / Corals/Sky
DIVISION 1
Much like in the Championship, I have had a long term fancy for this division and "jumped ship" fairly late in the day. Millwall were my original choice, with Swansea my number two.
The Lions had a fantastic run from Christmas onwards last year and from bottom of the table, almost made the playoffs ! However, I have heard tale of some unrest at The New Den and the occasional bust up, fights often break out in training, but sometimes it goes a bit further and this involved two of the bigger names at the club. Anyway, I would not rule them out completely, Willie Donachie has done wonders in his short time in charge, but I have heard enough, to put me off.
This brings me to Swansea and I am confident that they will go very close. They do not need to progress too much, only missing out on the play offs by one spot and three points last season.
Roberto Martinez took over in February and was a breath of fresh air, playing decent, entertaining football and winning over the fans big time. He sold Lee Trundle in the summer, but this was a transfer that need to happen and £1m plus for a 31yo, tier 3 player, albeit a very good one, yes please !
They have replaced him with Jason Scotland, 26 goals at St Johnstone last season and Darryl Duffy from Hull City, who has already won the fan's hearts. Martinez looks to have got the mix right, making six overseas captures, including players from Spain and Holland, in addition to some promising young talent from Premiership clubs, he already had some experienced hands at his disposal.
Pre season has gone very well, they beat Levante 2-0 at the Liberty Stadium, with two goals disallowed and the crossbar scared more than once. That was a problem last season, Swansea hitting the woodwork on 33 occasions ! A little more accuracy and they could have gone much closer than 7th, they look a better all round team, this time round.
I have quite a lot of information/ views about teams in this, Division 2 and the Conference, but will keep things, solely to my selections. as I have promised to publish this on the blog and need to hold back some opinions for now.
2.5 points Swansea outright 11.0 general quote
5 points Swansea promoted 4.0 Bet365/Tote/ Boyle/ Sky
DIVISION 2
I like Milton Keynes Dons, the new stadium is ready, a 30,000 all seater and the whole club is geared up to bigger things. The team of Pa
ul ince and Ray Mathias and it is a team, have replaced Martin Allen and promotion has to be gained this season.They have played and shone against Chelsea, West Ham and Watford in pre season and in, Leon Knight and Kevin Gallen they have two strikers who should fill their boots at this level. The experienced Colin Cameron has joined from Coventry and will help the host of promising youngsters the club has, flourish.
Simply cannot see them not improving on last year's 4th spot and they look cast iron "each way" .
2 points win Milton Keynes Dons 9.0 general
5 points promotion 3.0 Tote/ Stan James/Bet 365.
CONFERENCE / BLUE SQUARE PREMIER
I have just one bet here, it is a very short price, but is something of a banker to my eyes. In their 4 seasons in the Conference, Aldershot have finished 5-4-13-9 and would have been much higher last year, if they had not had such a dire start.
Former QPR manager Gary Waddock is now in charge and recent results have looked promising, a 5-0 win over local rivals Farnborough, was followed by a 0-0 draw with the Charlton first team and a 1-1 tie with a strong Fulham team, after which the new boss said ...
"I am extremely pleased considering the opposition that we were playing. They had players that are worth millions of pounds but we put in a performance that in spells we were the better team.
"However it counts for nothing and I have told my players that we have to start doing that for the next ten months or so. Their keeper paid off two or three really good saves after the break and we will need to be a bit more ruthless in front of goal".
This is a team that could go close and can be backed outright at around the 23.0 mark, new league sponsors Blue Square offer a 1.72 quote for them to be in the top 12 of the table, which they will do. At least 3 of the 4 promoted teams look very weak, so the Shots will not have too many to beat.
6 points Aldershot to finish in the top half 1.72 Blue Square.
Good Luck
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