Coca-Cola League Championship 20-22nd Jan

[keemanan]

oops , just seen you posted this up last night bosman

[bosman]

Now I'm waiting what's happen at Coventry, sacking manager is a short-term solution, deep crisis is not only his fault. I'm still on Plymouth, but till Sutarday can change my mind.

[sports-investor]

Plenty to get stuck into in this weekends fixtures. Not sure quite what I'll shortlist, but going through the fixtures:
Wolves v Cardiff: Cardiff were thrashed 4-0 last night, but they rarely get thrashed and rarely score themselves. Team news will be important here, but assuming Craddock and Breen are fit, I'll be looking at the unders here. Henry and Olofinjana are doing quite well in the middle of the park, but they don't have too many goalcorers at the moment, and Cardiff usually keep it tight. This is one that I'll need to take a longer look at though - just first impressions.

Burnley v Noriwch: above evens for the home side on the Asian lines is definite value here. Already noises about the gaffer from Noriwch fans - no Earnshaw, a bunch of prima donas who don't look up for the fight at what is always a tough away fixture.

Palace - Hull: Can't argue with palace's recent form, and they do look like they have goals in them now. Hull concede a few, so Palace look a reasonable bet, but I probably wouldn't take it at those odds.

Ipswich v Colchester: Eye on the overs here, even though Ipswich aren't involved in as many at this stage of the season, as they were before - their opponents don't know how to play any other way. A fair few decent goalscorers on display as well.

Leeds West Brom: Just enough in the odds for me to look at the away side - Leeds have been dire, will take a look at team news before I get involved though, and I'd probably take the .25 handicap.

Luton Barnsley: leaving this one alone. Barnsley are quite rubbish away from home, and Luton are usually not a bad home side - but not feeling good about this one, at all.

Preston Stoke: Best left alone, again. Think Sidibe and Pericard can cause the Preston back four some trouble and I like Pulis' side, but without Carrick they don't have as many goals in them (think he had 8 or 9 assists in his short time - not as much creative play coming out of the rest). Wouldn't touch Preston at those odds - is this one where the draw presents value? maybe.

QPR - Saints: Very dependent on team news, I'll stay away for now.

Wednesday - Sunderland: Might have a look at the away side - but team news will be important, once more. The defensive crisis has to let up sometimes - doesn't it?

Southend Deby: Wouldn't touch this one - Southend have beaten Man U, Southampton and West Brom at home already. If a one goal Derby win is priced at above 3.7 that might tempt me, however.

Leicester v Birmingham: The visitors should come through, minus over-confidence. But not enough conviction here to go with the away side. Probably stay away, unless i look at the .25 handicap.

plymouth coventry: micky sacked, will wait and watch here.

[bosman]

Hard times for Norwich, Earnshaw out, not enough money to buy replecemant.

Peter Grant has confirmed that Robert Earnshaw is out of action for a number of months and is unlikely to figure again this season.
The news comes as a big blow for Grant as the Welsh striker has been the only real goal threat this season, scoring 17 goals. The Norwich boss feared the worst after Earnshaw fell down in agony with the groin injury last Thursday and these fears seem to have become a reality.
Grant said: "Unfortunately this is going to be a case of months rather than weeks for Earnie. He had an operation on Tuesday and the injury is similar of that suffered by Robert Green, where the ligament has come away from the bone."

Former Norwich keeper Green was out of action for five months after he picked up his injury in an England B international. Anything like this amount of time out for Earnshaw will see the 25-year-old unavailable for selection until June - a month after the season's end.

Norwich's remaining recognised strikers have only netted nine goals between them this season. This includes three apiece for veteran Dion Dublin, Darren Huckerby and new boy Chris Brown. However Huckerby tends to perform at his best when playing wide left and all of Brown's goals were in the colours of former club Sunderland.

Grant will begin his search for someone to replace his star man for the remainder of the season. With little money at his disposal he may have to delve into the loan market to attempt to find someone who can score the goals to ensure that the Canaries are still a Championship side upon Earnshaw's return.

They have already relegation fear.

Norwich City chairman Roger Munby yesterday admitted the club would be foolish to ignore the potential impact of Championship relegation.

Munby's reality check came on the day Norwich announced a 3.6% increase on season ticket prices for the 2007/08 season.

The Canaries' chairman described a drop into English's football third tier as an 'absolute worst case scenario', but revealed Norwich must plan for the inevitable financial implications.

“It's a fearful prospect,” he said. “However, if we chose to ignore it the club would be burying its head in the sand. No one can accuse us of being complacent and it is not something anyone would want to stomach.

“People point to the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa many years ago and Notts Forest more recently. Ultimately a club settles at a level. It's my belief that is the Premier League - which is a view shared by the manager.

“If we were relegated then, of course, we would have to assess how many tickets we could sell and the overall detrimental impact on our commercial activity.

“The club is undeniably going through a crossroads at this moment in time but we will resolve this and come through the other side.”

With Norwich currently languishing in 17th place, Munby confirmed the club could also have to budget for a potential estimated £6 million loss in Premiership parachute payments next season following the Canaries 2005 top flight relegation.

“Undeniably that is an issue we must address,” he said. “It would have a cost impact throughout the club because we need to balance our costs and manage them according to our revenues. At the same time I believe we have other areas of the business which are capable of growth, which is a testament to the work going on at the club.

“Some might say we are obsessed with off-the-pitch activities - and we are - but solely for the reputation and the profitability that those bring to the club. You can call it financial scenario planning. We must budget for a variety of situations.”

Norwich would also miss out on a share of next season's re-negotiated Premiership broadcasting deal should Peter Grant's squad fail to mount a late Championship promotion push.

Munby refused to be drawn on whether the club would be forced to cash in on prized asset Robert Earnshaw.

“It's a hypothetical question,” he said. “The board would not intervene in that matter - it would be for Robert, his advisors and Peter Grant to discuss. Ultimately the decision rests with the player, as was the case with Dean Ashton who felt his future lay elsewhere.

“Should Robert wish to leave in the future the board can assure everyone we would firstly negotiate the best deal we could for the club and, secondly, the money we receive would be invested on bringing in the best replacements.”

Burnley looks better and better now.

[keemanan]

It does indeed , plus Norwich have only ever won once at Turf Moor , Burnley absolutley gubbed them at their place too , earlier in the season. i fancy Akimbiyi to notch a goal against one of his old teams , evens or there abouts is a cracking price.

Still aint doing Plymouth mind , I hate any external factor as you never know which way it'll turn the team

[bromsgrovegreen]

good stuff folks,after reading all the above my coupon fancies burnley and luton have been confirmed.
something just seems wrong at norwich,even with worthington leaving things havent improved at all and the earnshaw news is a massive blow of course

barnsley are very very average imo the worst side in the champiionship and after a good weeks rest luton should have too much

[kompressaur]

lovely stuff lads and i love the lay in of sports-investor. these leagues are there to be raped imo as you meet so many fools on the way to gambling at good oods.

[Bigkegman]

Early thoughts are Palace, Birmingham, Luton, Southampton & Derby. At work so cant get into many stat sites.

Derby could be popular as already mention by a few. Birmingham will be flying on cloud 9.

Have there been any major signings in this division ? - need to check

[bosman]

Short preview of the round:

Wolverhampton v Cardiff - what should I say, betting on Wolves games should be forbidden, it's like predicting the next Lotto numbers, no bet

Burnley v Norwich - Burnley are no world beaters, but Norwich just lost their topscorer Earnshaw, bad atmosphere, thinking about relegation, I'll try Barnsley here

Crystal Palace v Hull - not much to say, Palace in form ,should win it

Ipswich v Colchester - it's a derby,normally I would say no bet, but not this time. It's so sad, that so traditional old club like Ipswich Town is now just poor Championship side. I remember them trashing our Polish club Widzew Lodz in UEFA Cup in 1980 5:0,
( good times, one of the first matches I remember, I was only 8 ).
O.K., now they are nothing special, but looking at Colchester away form (2-4-8),
I see a narrow home win. (Don't follow me,this is a sentimental one

Leeds v West Brom - must take a look closer, but on the first look away win with nice odds

Luton v Barnsley - statistic is against me, but I see home win here

Preston v Stoke - I don't put my money on it, but fancy home win

QPR v Southampton - should be away win, but I don't trust Southampton on the road

Sheff Wed v Sunderland - no bet

Southend v Derby already written what I think about this one, away win

Leicester v Birmingham - looks like away win, but I don't know why, see here a danger of draw...

Plymouth v Coventry - a difficult one, all arguments on Plymouth, Coventry sacked manager this week, in crisis, out of form, Plymouth made today a good singing - striker Fallon from Swansea, but...firstly, we have enough time,to take a look closer, the match is on Monday, secondly, it's always noy so easy to betting against the teams sacking their managers, you never don't know the effects.

Good luck to all.

[Frodo]

Bosman I'd check your statistics again mate. On 30.9.06 - Luton beat Barnsley 2-1 at Barnsley.

[slick]

Leicester v Birmingham has been postponed, sad really as i fancied the away here for once.

Reports say its due to high winds but that sounds like a load of bollox as everywhere's calmed down before today and it looks like an excuse to me as no doubt the pitch is still not ship shape and they don't want even more points docking if thats the case after last weeks farce.

[Quandram]

Originally Posted by slick

Leicester v Birmingham has been postponed, sad really as i fancied the away here for once.

Reports say its due to high winds but that sounds like a load of bollox as everywhere's calmed down before today and it looks like an excuse to me as no doubt the pitch is still not ship shape and they don't want even more points docking if thats the case after last weeks farce.

Slick the game's at Leicester (not birmingham) and it's off because a building next to the ground collapsed and it isn't cleared up yet.

[slick]

I'll let em off then
ffs i need to lay of this whiskey as i thought Wryly ole Bruce was trying it on. its a Man U thing that makes me see Red so to speak and god knows why i thought Birmingham were playing at home.

[keemanan]

Just about sums it up for me too bosman . I was gonna jump on brum as well slick , gutted

I'd love to be more confident about WBA chances but that away day record , 19th 'best' in the division has me backing off. They do well against the poorer teams but mostly at home . They have beaten Leeds 3-1 and 4-2 already this year so I'm risking a point on them to treble them . Leeds beat Coventry last time and will be lifted by that , this is another fly in the oitment: from teamtalk:

Striker John Hartson and midfielder Jason Koumas will be forced to miss the fixture as they serve one-match suspensions.

Paul McShane is in contention following a one-match ban though a question mark lingers over the availability of Martin Albrechtsen, who continues to be troubled by a groin problem.

A foot injury means Curtis Davies could also miss the Elland Road encounter.

Mowbray said: "We have got to change the team around because Jason Koumas and John Hartson have been prominent over the last couple of weeks. We are still waiting on Curtis Davies and Martin Albrechtsen to see whether they will make it."

Huge outs for WBA and for me the final straw , it's a swerve now

[keemanan]

I'm going to plum for Luton today , I had a look at their last few games :

29-Dec-06	A	Birmingham	D	2-2	(1-1)	Vine 44, Feeney 77	24642
01-Jan-07	H	Cardiff City	D	0-0	(0-0)	Bell s/o 71	8004
12-Jan-07	A	West Brom	L	2-3	(-)	Keane 60, Feeney 70	19927

Not at all bad that , plus some nice encouraging team developments

Matthew Spring is expected to make his second debut for Luton against Barnsley after rejoining the club from Watford.

The 27-year-old midfielder returns to the Hatters in a deal worth up to £300,000 - two-and-a-half years after he left Kenilworth Road - after spells with Leeds and the Hornets.

Luton also welcome back defensive duo Leon Barnett and Kevin Foley for the vital home game against their fellow strugglers.

Barnett returns after missing the 3-2 defeat at West Brom last Friday through suspension, while Foley has shaken off a heel problem and will be available.

Midfielder David Bell should recover from bruised ribs in time to feature, but long-term injury victims Markus Heikkinen (gashed leg), Paul Underwood (illness) and Sam Parkin (ankle) remain sidelined along with young forward Calvin Andrew (knee).

Goalkeeper Dean Kiely plays the final game of his loan spell from Portsmouth.

Barnsley haven't won away since mid August and 'boast' the worst record in the division having taken points in only 3 away games this term.1 goal in 6 games is telling too . I believe Luton to be much better than their position suggests , they just had a freakish run of defeats when they had to travel the length of the country to and fro for a while.

Luton 1.90 7/10