Here we are on the eve of the new football season, and what better way to get in the mood than trying to win some cash? Just like last season we’ll be looking at the Championship down to the Conference and making our picks in the outright winners markets. With any luck we’ll do a bit better this time!
Last time out we picked 2 teams in League 2, and both of them agonisingly denied us a return. Firstly Rotherham’s patchy home form meant they couldn’t sustain a challenge, and Bury’s complete capitulation from 2nd in February to nowhere in May snatched away our each-way chances.
Looking at the transfer market, I can’t see Aldershot being as strong after the loss of Hudson and Donnelly, and it is probably too much to ask for Morecambe to improve again this season. Bradford have been installed as favourites with Peter Taylor’s revolution in full swing, and 3rd favourites Wycombe look good to mount a promotion push after making several shrewd signings. We were very close to backing Shrewsbury Town at 16/1 due to their impressive list of signings and installation of fans’ favourite Graham Turner as manager, however their lack of a top goalscorer is a worry.
Therefore we’re having half a point each-way on Port Vale at 14/1. They had a big bonus in holding onto striker Marc Richards, and have added namesake Justin Richards to help share the goals. Their defence last season was miserly and will form the basis of their push. Although there are slightly better odds elsewhere, we’ve gone with PaddyPower’s 4 places on the each-way market rather than the usual 3. For those who like to spread their interest, Northampton at 12/1 are also worth a look.
In our very own League 1 (still sounds great, doesn’t it?), Southampton have rightly been installed as favourites but are much too short to back. Sheffield Wednesday’s array of talent makes them worthy 2nd favourites, and if everything goes as expected you would imagine everybody else is fighting for 3rd downwards. However the rest of the division looks quite open and even teams like Brentford at 40/1 or Leyton Orient at 80/1 could spring a surprise and push towards the playoffs.
However they are unlikely to trouble the automatic places and so we’re going for half a point on Huddersfield Town each-way at 8/1. Only 3 places paid on this one with Coral but they definitely have the quality with good signings added to an already impressive squad.
In the Championship, Gordon Strachan’s mini-Scotland outfit are favourites followed by last season’s surprise package Nottingham Forest. However there are lots of contenders for the promotion spaces, with QPR adding quality to a squad which Neil Warnock had already invigorated, and Reading coming off the back of a brilliant end to last season.
We’re going to side with Bristol City though for our each-way chance. They finished close behind the Royals last season in 10th and have added David James, Nicky Hunt, Albert Adomah and Sam Vokes. Although they can be found at 20/1, we’ll take Blue Square’s 16/1 with the offer of 4 places.
Down to the Conference, and Luton are again favourites to win the division. They should manage to get out this time around, but big-spending Crawley will be gunning for them. Newly relegated Grimsby and Darlington are also short odds for an immediate return to the Football League but as we know, the ex-League sides often find it tough going.
However one ex-League side who can finally climb back out of non-league are York City. They finished 5th last time after being outsiders for the title at one stage, but find themselves 12/1 for the title this season. Rumours surround the future of star striker Brodie but if they can hang onto him until at least January, you can definitely see them hitting the top of the table. Again Blue Square will pay 4 places each-way.
Finally, if anybody is optimistic enough to back all of our selections, the best accumulator odds are with Coral who will pay a whopping 36854/1 on the win! You can also back that each-way, which would return 323/1 if they all come in the top 3 in their respective leagues.
