The Championship Betting: Title at the mercy of big-spending Middlesbrough

Championship / Mike Norman / 28 July 2010 / 2 Comments

Gordon Strachan has been strengthening Middlesbrough's squad throughout the summer and his side look worthy favourites to win the Championship this season

"But before I put my money where my mouth is I seriously have to consider whether my confidence stems from me wanting them to win the Championship or whether it’s from me having a genuine belief that Gordon Strachan has put together the strongest squad in the division."

In what looks another wide open Championship, Mike Norman is staying loyal to the club that he supports in his quest to find the winner. But is he letting his heart rule his head on this occasion?

Perhaps the first rule of betting that I ever learned was the one that tells you to never let your heart rule your head. This is not a rule that I was told so I stuck to it, it was a rule that - like most of us - I had to learn the hard way.

Some of the worst bets I've ever had in my life include backing England to win the 1998 World Cup - because I wanted them to, backing Colin Montgomerie (my favourite golfer) to win every Major in the late 90s - because I wanted him to, and backing Middlesbrough to win FA Cup and League Cup finals in 1997 (against Chelsea) - because I wanted them to. Backing what you want to happen rather than what you think will happen is the quickest way to the poor house and it's something I urge you all never to do - not for serious money anyway.

As you will probably have guessed Middlesbrough is the football team that I support, and right now this is giving me one of those classic heart ruling your head dilemmas.

The Boro are [7.4] favourites to win this season's Championship and I have to admit to feeling ultra confident about their chances. But before I put my money where my mouth is I seriously have to consider whether my confidence stems from me wanting them to win the Championship or whether it's from me having a genuine belief that Gordon Strachan has put together the strongest squad in the division.

It's difficult to argue against the latter when you consider Strachan's summer signings to date; Kris Boyd and Kevin Thomson from Rangers, Stephen McManus from Celtic, and Nicky Bailey from Charlton amongst others.

Boyd is the highest goalscorer in the history of the SPL and should find Championship football equally generous in presenting him with chances in front of goal. He will team up at Middlesbrough with Scott McDonald, a player who also had a fantastic record in the SPL, first with Motherwell and then with Celtic. Proven goalscorers are what Boro have lacked in recent seasons, and these two former SPL stars have the potential to form a lethal partnership in the coming months.

The rest of McBoro's squad (as they're now affectionately known) isn't too shabby either. David Wheater is a Premier League defender in all but name; Thomson, Barry Robson and Gary O'Neill provide plenty of experience and strength in the middle of the park, and new signings Bailey, Tarmo Kink and Andrew Halliday will provide width to a side that hasn't necessarily stopped strengthening yet.

Middlesbrough will take plenty of stopping in this year's Championship, but I'd like you to tell me if I'm letting my heart rule my head so please leave a comment below.

Like Newcastle and West Brom last season, relegated Burnley ([11.0]) will be aiming to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt. With the exception of Steven Fletcher, Brian Laws has managed to keep his squad intact, and with Chris Iwelumo and Martin Paterson in attack the Clarets should find scoring goals not a huge problem. Graham Alexander is one of the most experienced and dedicated midfielders in the division and he will drive his team forward at every opportunity, meaning Burnley should be in and around the play-off places all season long.

You won't find a more consistent side in the Championship than Kevin Blackwell's Sheffield United. Their last five campaigns in this division have resulted in finishes of 8th, 2nd, 9th, 3rd, and 8th which renders their title odds of [22.0] very tempting indeed, especially when you consider some of the talent they have within their ranks.

Year-long loan signing Nyron Nosworthy from Sunderland - a strong centre-back - is an excellent addition to Blackwell's squad, whilst the likes of promising striker Chad Evans, and the experienced duo of Chris Morgan and Nick Montgomery, should ensure the Blades have another Top Six Finish at least. At [7.6] to back in the Promotion market, Sheffield United make plenty of appeal.

Notts Forest ([9.0] to win the Championship), newly-promoted Leeds ([20.0]) and Roy Keane's Ipswich ([20.0]) all have the potential to be in the promotion picture, but it's big-spending Middlesbrough for me, and that's not just because I want them to win - well at least I hope it's not!

Recommended Bet

Back Middlesbrough at [7.4] in 2010/11 Winner market
Back Sheff Utd @ [7.6] in 2010/11 Promotion market

Comments (2)

1. Mike | 02 August 2010

   I too am a boro fan. I personally believe that we have a squad capable of winning promotion but strachan still needs two more full backs. Are we consistent enought to win the title?

2. Mike Norman | 02 August 2010

   Thanks for your comment Mike.

   You're right to quesiton Boro's consistency, this certainly hasn't been one of our strengths down the years. However, Strachan hasn't just changed the playing staff, he's changed around a big part of the backroom staff and I'm confident we can be consistent - providing we're good enough of course.

   Hope to see you down the Riverside some day, cheering on a title-chasing team :-)