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Stoke City Now The Value Call
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22/04/08
The Championship is now between West Brom and Stoke City with just two games left. West Brom are 1/4 with Paddy Power whilst Stoke City are 7/2 with Totesport.
West Brom have a two point lead and a much better goal difference than Stoke so Stoke need to get three more points than West Brom over the next two games. West Brom have to play Southampton at home and QPR away. Southampton are poor away from home so that should be a West Brom win. QPR are good at home and should be able to get at least a draw from that game.
This leaves Stoke needing to win both their games to stand half a chance of winning the league. Stoke have to travel to Colchester before taking on Leicester at home. Colchester have the worst home record in the league and Stoke have overcome the poor away form they experienced around February. They should win that game. Leicester are very inconsistent and are actually in better form than Stoke at the moment. Stoke should get at least a draw but even if they win it might not be enough if West Brom pick up four points from their two games.
West Brom are probably going to win the Championship but if you are backing them at 1/4 they would need to win this in four out of five runnings. With that considered the value has to be with Stoke at 7/2.
Back Stoke City to win the Championship at 7/2 with Totesport
31/12/07
The championship race is hotting up. There is no outstanding team and they can all beat each other on their day. Charlton are inconsistent but overpriced at 11/1 with Bet 365.
The Addicks have 3 home games to come and a table topper away at Watford, Were they to beat Watford this price would be slashed. Current favourites are West Brom at a best price of 1/1 with Stan James and a drifting Watford at 9/2 with Totesport.
Advised : Charlton at 11/1 with Bet 365 at time of writing.
24/09/07
It is not uncommon for teams relegated from the Premiership to go straight back up the next season, although not too many of them do so as winners of the Championship as they often fill the runners up berth.
The teams that have been relegated can vary greatly from those in complete disarray to those who were just plain unlucky. Each team needs studying closely with particular attention being paid to transfers in and out, changes of manager and financial status of the club.
This Season
Although Watford had a somewhat disastrous cameo in the Premiership last season it gave them the opportunity to plan for their relegation and they have started the season well. One of the key reasons why they will do well this season is the return of Marlon King who scored 21 goals in their playoff winning season in 05/06.
It was lack of goals that was Watfords biggest problem last season and losing Marlon King for practically the whole season was a major blow for them. Aidy Boothroyd has a well organised team capable of scoring goals and they will take all the beating this season. Watford can be backed for the Championship at 4/1 with Bet365.
Charlton have also started well having being relegated last season and losing top scorer Darren Bent has not had such a big impact as most people expected.
Having dropped down from the Premiership where he failed to show the promise he had shown in the lower leagues, Andy Reid now seems to be the driving force for the Addicks and Charlton will need to hope he can stay fit for most of the season to give them as good a chance as possible to push for promotion. Charlton are best price 5/1 with Stan James to win the Championship.
Other contenders include West Brom at 11/2 with Betfred and Wolves who are 10/1 with Bet Direct. Both sides are lacking the class of the two favourites and will probably be the two sides that fight out the Playoffs final.
2 pts on Watford to win the Championship @ 4/1 with Bet 365 |