Championship / Mike Norman / 03 August 2011 /

Mike Norman can't get enough of West Ham prior to this season's Championship commencing, but who does he fancy in addition to the Hammers as potential promotion contenders?

Winner

Two clubs dominate the Championship Winner market but whilst one - West Ham ([5.4]) - fully deserve to be amongst the favourites to top the table and make an immediate return to the Premier League, I couldn't have the other - Leicester ([5.3]) - on my mind at their current odds.

West Ham dropped out of the Premier League last season, and as I pointed out a few weeks ago, clubs in a similar position to the Hammers have an excellent record at returning at the first time of asking. In order to do so, what you must do is retain your best players - similar to what Newcastle and West Brom have done in recent seasons. West Ham have not only kept their star names, they've actually added to their squad with some quality players who possess top-flight and Championship experience, and they've also hired a vastly experienced manager in Sam Allardyce to hopefully lead them to the title.

Last season's FWA Footballer of the Year Scott Parker is rumoured to have told the club he will stay at Upton Park this season, and with England internationals Robert Green and Carlton Cole still on the books, and the excellent acquisitions of Kevin Nolan, Joey O'Brien, Matthew Taylor and Abdoulaye Faye, then the Hammers have the potential to be one of the strongest teams seen in the Championship in recent years.

If the market is right then West Ham's main opposition is expected to come from Sven-Goran Eriksson's Leicester side. The Foxes finished 10th in the Championship last season and Eriksson has invested heavily in the off-season to build a promotion-winning squad. But as Middlesbrough proved last year, trying to buy your way out of the Championship is no easy task. Only Paul Konchesky and Michael Johnson - who has played just 37 league games in five years - have come directly from the Premier League. David Nugent apart, other acquisitions such as Lee Peltier, Matthew Mills, Sean St Ledger, Neil Danns and Kasper Schmeichel don't get me excited one bit.

In my book West Ham should be [4.0] to win the title this season, and Leicester should be twice the odds they are now. I fancy the Hammers strongly.

Promotion

At [2.46] to back, I wouldn't put anyone off having a wager on West Ham in this market also. They are the standout side in the division and if they don't finish in either one of the two automatic promotion places, or in the top six to enable them a chance to win promotion via the play-offs, I'll be astonished.

At bigger prices though I like the chances of both Ipswich ([6.2]) and Reading ([6.8]), two clubs that are pretty much established now as solid Championship sides who should be capable of being in the play-off picture at least.

Ipswich - with money to spend after the sale of Conor Wickham to Sunderland - have been very active in the transfer market, bringing in a mixture of youth and experience from both the top-flight and lower divisions. Boss Paul Jewell's best addition perhaps is the free signing of midfielder Lee Bowyer from Birmingham, whilst the signings of Nathan Ellington and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas gives the Tractor Boys plenty of options in attack with proven Championship goalscorers Michael Chopra and Jason Scotland already at the club.

Reading boss Brian McDermott has one of the largest squads in the division at his disposal with no less than 43 players having official squad numbers currently assigned to them. Obviously that could change in the next few weeks, and it also means there's a lot of deadwood or inexperienced players at the club, but the Royals should be better equipped than most to deal with injuries and suspensions. If they can keep hold of star striker Shane Long to play in a team that can boast Ian Harte, Andy Griffin, Jobi McAnuff, Jimmy Kebe, Brian Howard and Simon Church, then they can definitely build on last season's excellent finish.

Remember, whoever you back you don't have to wait until the end of the season to collect. If your selection has a great start to the season then why not trade your position In-Play to guarantee a profit?

Recommend Bets

Back West Ham @ [5.4] in Championship Winner market
Back West Ham @ [2.46] in Championship Promotion market
Back Ipswich @ [6.2] in Championship Promotion market
Back Reading @ [6.8] in Championship Promotion market

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: