English Championship Correct Score Predictions: Week One 7/8/09
A look at the opening fixtures for the English Championship 09/10 season. How will the newly promoted/relegated teams fare against the Championships established sides?
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NOTE: These matches have now been played. For this weeks predictions, click here.
It’s that time of year again when towns and cities from Barnsley to Blackpool, Sheffield to Swansea look forward to an exciting new season of Championship football. By May, three sides will find themselves catapulted to the riches of the Premiership, with lucrative ties against Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea – although for three more teams, there is the altogether less enticing prospect of Englands third tier, with matches against Leyton Orient, Southend and Gillingham.
This year, the Championship welcomes Newcastle, Middlesbrough and West Bromich Albion from the Premiership; three teams with realistic hopes of a swift return. It also sees the entrance of Scunthorpe, Leicester and Peterborough, who will be determined to hold their own in the higher division. Amongst others, Reading, Sheffield United and Preston will look to improve on last years final positions, and secure a possible promotion.
The first week fixtures, to be played Friday 7th, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th of August have paired up some big name ties; several to be televised in what should be a positive advertisement for the league. If you’re looking for betting suggestions in advance of the big kick off, look no further.
Friday, 7 August 2009
Middlesbrough vs Sheff Utd
Two of the leagues biggest sides battle it out at the Riverside. Boro will be depleted by the sales of Mido and Stuart Downing, whilst United are boosted by the signings of several players with Premiership experience. Verdict: 1-1
Saturday, 8 August 2009
Cardiff vs. Scunthorpe
New boys Scunthorpe take on last years sixth placed team Cardiff at the City Stadium. Both teams will be looking for a good start; Cardiff to improve on last seasons finish, Scunthorpe to avoid relegation back to League One. Verdict: 2-0
Crystal Palace vs. Plymouth
Plymouth narrowly avoided relegation last season, and their dealings in the transfer market suggest another unhappy season for their fans. Palace meanwhile will look to improve on a disappointing 15th place under the stewardship of the experienced Neil Warnock. Verdict: 2-0.
Derby vs. Peterborough
League One runners-up Peterborough visit Pride Park to meet Nigel Cloughs Derby, the team which finished 18th last season. Verdict: 1-0.
Leicester vs. Swansea
League One Champions Leicester face a Swansea side who last season narrowly missed out on the play-offs. Leicester have been the more active in the transfer market, as both sides look to build on last years momentum. Verdict: 1-1.
Preston vs. Bristol City
Last years sixth and tenth place teams meet at Deepdale, with City looking to be the most changed side. Preston will be looking to build on last years success in an attempt to reach the Premiership. Verdict: 2-1.
QPR vs. Blackpool
Two of last seasons mid-table teams meet, largely unchanged at Loftus Road. Verdict: 2-1.
Reading vs. Nottm Forest
Reading, who narrowly missed out to a return to top-flight football last season, face what should be much changed Nottingham Forest side. Reading will be without Leroy Lita, but will hope to start the season with a win against last seasons 19th placed side. Verdict: 2-0.
Sheff Wed vs. Barnsley
Two Yorkshire sides battle it out at Hillsborough, with local pride at stake along with three points. Wednesday will be looking to improve on last seasons 12th place finish. Verdict: 2-0.
Watford vs. Doncaster
These two teams finished 13th and 14th respectively, and their summer dealings have done little to suggest that there will be much change this year. Verdict: 0-0.
West Brom vs. Newcastle
Two sides relegated from the Premiership last season face familiar opposition. Newcastle have already lost Martins and Owen, and are looking like a club in turmoil. West Brom too have trimmed their wage bill, but are experienced Championship campaigners. Verdict: 2-0.
Sunday, 9 August 2009
Coventry vs. Ipswich
Ipswich visit the Ricoh Arena pitching themselves against last seasons 17th placed side. Ipswich finished narrowly outside the play-offs, and will look to push on this season. Verdict: 0-1.
With the 2009/10 season over, read about the World Cup here.
Emmie
10 Comments
So your considered opinion is in fact based almost entirely on where the teams finished last season.
Sceptic, in answer to your question, this being the first game of the season means that there is no previous ‘form’ to work from. League standings last year are a consideration, as are dealings in the transfer market. Home advantage is taken into account; last years corresponding fixtures; injuries/suspensions and managerial changes. Unfortunately, I can only provide a brief overview of each game due to time constraints, and without prior matches to discuss, I decided that the points above would suffice.
Chelsea for life
“Plymouth narrowly avoided relegation last season, and their dealings in the transfer market suggest another unhappy season for their fans.” Are you sure? Can you explain precisely *why*, with video evidence, Kari Arnason, Reda Johnson, Carl Fletcher, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Alan Judge are poor signings?
You do *know* we’ve been taken over by a Japanese-American consortium, prepared to kick the club on with the investment the lack of was the prime reason for our failure last season, don’t you? You wouldn’t *dream* of knocking out predictions without basic research like that, would you?
Certainly JBE. I’ll start with manager Paul Sturrocks quote ‘I THINK we’ll do better than last year.’ Hardly inspires confidence. Secondly – Bradley Wright Phillips. Currently expected to be out of action until Christmas. Alan Judge is on loan, as he was for the last 17 games of last season – doesn’t really make a big change. Arnason – released by Danish side AGF Aarhus after spells in Sweden and the States. Admittedly an international, but for a country of 300,000. Johnson – a 21 year old defender signed from Amiens for an undisclosed fee. Amiens were relegated last year. I stand by my verdict.
1) Luggy specialises in understatement. If he’s saying he thinks we’ll do better than last term, then that is a *very confident sign.
2) BWP is expected to be back in six weeks – not sure where you got Christmas from.
3) If you’ve ever seen Judge play (no, telly doesn’t count), you’ll understand why so many Argyle fans regard his committing for the season as the best news we could have had. It was largely thanks to his input that we pulled ourselves out of the slump we were in.
4) Arnason and Johnson were pursued by *several* other CCC clubs – both signings are coups.
5) Thank God for soccerbase
Jim – it’s always going to be a highly objective subject – especially where club loyalties enter the equation. One set of fans ’star buy’ is another ones ‘transfer turkey’. Feel free to come back at 5pm and gloat should my prediction be incorrect
Seen the highlights? Heard about Rory’s stand-out performance? 2-0 Palace – pshaw.
Not at all confident for us at Gillingham on Tuesday, though. Presumably you’ll put your indepth knowledge on the line for the League Cup ties? I’m going with a couple of mates to see Exeter-QPR and tragically I predict a Grecians win – they were unlucky to concede late at Leeds a man light and QPR were pedestrian at best yesterday. Other upsets could occur at Rotherham (v Derby); Notts County (v Doncaster); Coventry (v Hartlepool); Shrewsbury (v Ipswich); Brentford (v Bristol City). And just for the left-field factor, how about Dagenham & Redbridge to win at Cardiff with a Paul Benson special?
Jim, credit where credit is due, I hear it was a solid performance. As a gambling man, I don’t do Cup ties and international friendlies…they are too unpredictable because of the additional variables. My premiership predictions are already up though, and next weeks championship preview is pending publication.With the benefit of a weeks form, I hope they’ll be a little bit more accurate!
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