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Soccer Betting
English League One Futures
Here is a betting guide to the upcoming English League One season. It outlines the best outright bets for the Coca Cola League 1 in 2006-2007, lists important team news, coaching changes, transfers and analyses each team's prospects for the year ahead. Read the guide and profit from gambling on English football.
Blackpool
Last season Blackpool spent a lot of time flirting with the relegation zone before finally finishing in 19th spot, two places and two points clear of the drop.
It was the opening poor run of results that saw first-time manager Colin Hendry sacked, replaced by current manager Simon "Larry" Grayson in November 2005.
During the close season Latvian businessman Valery Belokon invested a "substantial" amount of money in the club, predominately for team strengthening. It is this investment that has probably persuaded the bookies to rate them in 7th spot to get promotion and 8th spot to win the league. But of course, it all depends on how much the "substantial" sum is and how wisely Grayson invests it that will define Blackpool's chances
Players out: L. Pogliacomi, S. Anderson, T. Butler, M. Shaw, R.Edwards, D. Warrender.
Players in: R. Evans, P. Tierney, M. Jackson, A. Forbes, W. Hoolahan (season loan from Livingstone)
My prediction: Bottom-half finish..
Best odds:
To win league - 23.0 Paddy Power
Promotion - 7.5 SportingOdds, Paddy Power, BlueSQ
Bournemouth
Despite the Cherries selling off their ground last year in order to clear some debts, manager Sean O'Driscoll still hasn't bought any players, instead he has gone for untested teenagers without a league game between them.
It could be an interesting season for Cherries fans as they battle relegation all season.
Players out: J. O'Connor, A. Griffiths, J. Whisken
Players in: D. Hollands, D. Taylor, T. Khalil, C. Platt
My prediction: Relegation candidates.
Best odds:
To win league - 67.0 SportingOdds, William Hill, Coral, VCBet, Bet365, BetFred
Promotion - 26.0 Ladbrokes
Bradford City
A fairly solid 2005/2006 season saw Bradford finish in a respectable 11th place. From this you would think Bradford would be looking to move onwards and upwards, a play off place perhaps. But things look to be taking a turn for the worse for the Bantams after an investment deal fell through.
The proposed deal between Julian Rhodes and Peter Etherington, would have seen Etherington acquire a 50% stake in the club. The deal has now fallen through, and Bradford's financial commitments mean they have to seek an alternative injection of cash as soon as possible. This could have a dramatic effect on how Bradford perform in the forthcoming season.
Players out: D. Holloway, L. Crooks, A. Cooke, O. Morrison, T. Kearney, S. Claridge, D. Cadamateri, R. Petta
Players in: J. Johnson (loan), E. Johnson, M. Clark
My prediction: Will struggle to grab a top half spot.
Best odds:
To win league - 34.0 SkyBet
Promotion - 10.0 William Hill
Brentford
Brentford are a club in crisis. After finishing in 3rd spot last season they lost out on promotion in the playoffs. Now, instead of regrouping to repeat last season's efforts it looks like the wheels have fallen off at Griffin Park. Influential manager, Martin Allen has departed to take over at MK Dons and new manager Leroy Rosenior is struggling to keep hold of important players
Players out: S. Sodje, M. Turner, J. Tabb, M. Dobson, M. Gayle, E. Hutchinson, I. Rankin
Players in: A. Griffiths, J. Koffour, C. Moore, T. Pinault, M. Heywood (on loan)
My prediction: Will avoid relegation - just.
Best odds:
To win league - 29.0 eXtrabet
Promotion - 10.0 SkyBet
Brighton & Hove Albion
Relegated from the Championship as bottom club last season, the Seagulls face a tough prospect as they look to bounce back at the first go.
With the bookies making them 9th favourites to be promoted and 7th favourites to win the league, manager Mark McGhee faces an uphill struggle.
Players out: J. Dodd, A. Nicolas, M. McCammon, C. McPhee, F. Turienzo, S. Carole, J. Dodd
Players in: A. Revell
My prediction: Mid-table obscurity
Best odds:
To win league - 23.0 BetDirect, eXtrabet
Promotion - 8.0 SkyBet, Totesport
Bristol City
Along with Nottingham Forest, Bristol City are favourites to get automatic promotion this season. It's hard to split City and Forest at the moment, and I believe the two teams will split the automatic promotions spots, though who will actually win the league is a harder one to call.
Players out: S. Phillips, D. Partridge (on loan), M. Heywood (on loan)
Players in: L. Fontaine, J. McCombie, P. Jevons, C. Weale, E. Showunmi
My prediction: Automatic promotion
Best odds:
To win league - 7.0 Coral, BetFred
Promotion - 2.75 William Hill, Coral, BetFred
Carlisle United
Carlisle should be flying high as they look for their third successive promotion. However, they won't find things quite so easy in what looks like a very tight division to call.
Paul Simpson, the manager who guided them to their last two promotions has left the club after Preston North End snapped him up, so Neil McDonald is the new man at the reigns and he faces the daunting task of living up to Simpson's legacy.
Money and squad are both a little thin on the ground in Cumbria so realistically a season of consolidation and strengthening would be more sensible, whether the fans and board would settle for that is another matter.
Players out: B. McGill, L. Andrews
Players in: K. Gall, D. Raven
My prediction: Mid-table.
Best odds:
To win league - 29.0 eXtrabet
Promotion - 10.0 Stan James
Cheltenham Town
Promoted from League Two via the playoffs, Cheltenham could find themselves a little out of their depth this season.
With seemingly little money to spend, manager John Ward looks like he will be placing a lot of faith in last years squad, though how long this will last will depend entirely on how the season starts for them.
Players out: S. Musgrave, M Taylor.
Players in: None so far.
My prediction: Relegation Candidates.
Best odds:
To win league - 101.0 Bet365, BetFred
Promotion - 29.0 Stan James, BetFred
Chesterfield
By February 4 last season, Chesterfield were in 7th spot and looking for a playoff spot, then a sudden string of losses saw them slide right out of contention, finally finishing in 16th place.
No money and little chance of finding any, and a string of injuries in pre-season, means Chesterfield could be lucky to finish as high as 16th again.
Players out: C. Heath, T. N'Toya, C. Muggleton
Players in: P. Picken, P. Shaw, K. Hurst (on loan)
My prediction: Relegation.
Best odds:
To win league - 101.0 eXtrabet
Promotion - 23.0 Stan James
Crewe Alexandra
Recent years have seen Crewe as something of a yo-yo club, and last season was no different as they dropped out of the Championship.
However, Crewe have the longest-serving league manager in Dario Gradi, a man who knows exactly what he needs to do on his limited budget.
Players out: J. Cochrane, S. Foster, S. Jones, K. Lunt, C. McCready, R. Walker
Players in: J. Baudet, N. Cox, D. Kempson
My prediction: Playoff candidates.
Best odds:
To win league - 26.0 eXtrabet
Promotion - 8.0 SkyBet
Doncaster
Doncaster could be the dark horses of the league this year. They certainly have the squad to mount a serious promotion challenge, and manager Dave Penney has spent wisely over the past season or so.
The club also have a new stadium as well, so fans, manager and players will all be looking to impress visitors.
Players out: M. McIndoe, M. Albrighton, L. Fortune-West, S. Marples, J. McSporran, D. Mulligan, N. Roberts, R. Ravenhill.
Players in: J. O'Connor, B. Dyer, K. Horlock, A. Lockwood
My prediction: Playoff candidates - but could grab automatic slot if Forest or Bristol City slip up.
Best odds:
To win league - 26.0 eXtrabet
Promotion - 4.0 SportingOdds
Gillingham Town
Despite bringing in six players so far lack of money means the best Gillingham can look forward to this season is a shot at the playoffs. Manager Ronnie Jepson knows it's a long shot though and realistically a mid-table finish will be a good season at the Priestfield Stadium.
Players out: J. Brown, D. Byfield, P. Crichton, G. Grant, C. Hope, R. Rose, J. Wallis
Players in: M. Bentley, D. Jupp, K. Jack, D. McDonald, G. Mulligan, G. Ndumbu-Nsungu
My prediction: Mid-table obscurity.
Best odds:
To win league - 29.0 eXtrabet
Promotion - 8.0 William Hill, Coral, Paddy Power, Bet365, Stan James
Huddersfield Town
Peter Jackson has to pick his side up and motivate them after their playoff semi-final defeat to rivals Barnsley last season. Jackson has the qualities as a manager to do this and his squad has the qualities required as well.
Players out: Phil Senior, Tony Carrs, Junior Mendes
Players in: Matt Glennon (goalkeeper), Luke Beckett (striker)
My prediction: Playoffs.
Best odds:
To win league - 15.0 SportingOdds, BetFred
Promotion - 5.5 BetFred
Leyton Orient
Martin Ling got Orient promoted at the end of last season and will be looking to make it two in a row. It's going to be an uphill struggle though. There has been very little transfer activity at the club and though they might flirt with the playoff spots I can only see a top-half finish for them this time round.
Players out: G. Zakuani
Players in: W. Corden, D. Partridge (on loan)
My prediction: Top-half finish.
Best odds:
To win league - 50.0 Expekt.com
Promotion - 15.0 Ladbrokes, BetFred
Millwall
After relegation from the Championship last season Nigel Spackman is the new man in charge at the Lion's Den and he faces a real battle to guide the Lions back at the first time of asking.
It's a big ask of Spackman and I don't think he has the experience or the buying power to get Millwall promoted this season - mid-table is his best hope.
Players out: B. Hayles, A. Marshall
Players in: T. Brighton, D. Byfield, G. Grant, A. Cotterill, C. Day, D. McInnes, F. Morais, L. Pidgeley, R. Shaw, Z. Whitbread
My prediction: Mid-table obscurity.
Best odds:
To win league - 15.0 BetFred
Promotion - 5.5 SportingOdds, BetFred
Northampton Town
Northampton will be looking forward to getting started in League One after a successful promotion campaign last season. However, their promotion has not been trouble free after finishing as runners up in Divison Two.
No sooner had the celebratory champagne been quaffed, than manager Colin Calderwood left the club to take charge of team affairs at League One rivals Nottingham Forest.
New manager John Gorman now faces the task of cementing the Cobblers in Division One and building a team for promotion.
Players out: D. Rowson, G. Johnson, M. Gearing, J. Lee, L. Graham, J. Hand, J. Low, M. Smith, A. Westwood
Players in: A. Holt, S. Aiston, J. Burnell
My prediction: Bottom half finish.
Best odds:
To win league - 34.0 SkyBet
Promotion - 13.0 Coral
Nottingham Forest
Forest are currently favourites with the bookies to win the league, though regularly swapping this position with Bristol City. They do look good prospects to get promotion.
A poor start last season saw manager Gary Megson leave in February and his replacements, Frank Barlow and Ian McParland then took the side to the verge of the playoffs, though they seemed to lose their nerve at the final hurdle.
Colin Calderwood is the new man in charge for the 2006/2007 season. He has been successful in charge at Northampton, but only time will tell whether or not he has what it takes to guide Forest back up the leagues.
Players out: P. Gerrard, G. Taylor, P. Evans, E. Bopp, E. Dadi, A. Rogers
Players in: P. Smith.
My prediction: Automatic promotion.
Best odds:
To win league - 6.0 BetFred
Promotion - 2.5 BetFred
Oldham Athletic
Manager Ronnie Moore left during the break, the club citing "financial reasons" for his departure. John Sheridan is his replacement, and he has little, if any money to work with as he tries to improve on the Latics 14th spot finish last season.
Players out: G, Branston, R. Butcher, C. Day, T. Forbes, D. Hall, G. Owen (on loan)
Players in: M. Dabo, G. McDonald, C. Rocastle, L. Pogliacomi, N. Wood.
My prediction: To flirt with relegation before settling for a bottom half finish.
Best odds:
To win league - 29.0 eXtrabet
Promotion - 8.5 BlueSQ.
Port Vale
Vale manager, Martin Foyle has been working hard over the summer to improve his squad, and despite a limited budget he looks to have picked up a couple of bargains along the way.
The squad certainly has the potential to improve on last year's 13th place, but doesn't look to have the strength to put in a serious challenge for automatic promotion or the playoffs.
Players out: J. Brain, M. Cummins, H.Sam
Players in: P. Harsley, C, Miles, A, Sodje, J. Talbot, R. Walker, D. Whittaker
My prediction: Top-half finish.
Best odds:
To win league - 67.0 eXtrabet
Promotion - 15.0 Ladbrokes, Stan James
Rotherham United
Manager Alan Knill pulled off a minor miracle to keep Rotherham in League One last season. It just isn't going to happen this season as the club has been hit with a 10 point deduction for going into administration.
It would have been difficult enough to see the Millers staying up this time around but I can see no way they can overcome the 10-point deficit and League Two beckons.
Players out: M. Butler, J, Campbell-Ryce, P. Gilchrist, P. McLaren, A. Monkhouse, J. Mullin, P. Shaw
Players in: J. Cochrane, D. Facey, P. Mills, R. Partridge, I, Sharps, S. Wiseman (on loan)
My prediction: Certainties for relegation.
Best odds:
To win league - 251.0 eXtrabet
Promotion - 41.0 William Hill, Coral, BlueSQ, Stan James
Scunthorpe United
The Irons managed a respectable 12th place finish last season, but I really can't see them coming close to it this time around.
Manager Brian Laws has cleared out several players, but those he is bringing in won't be filling the Scunthorpe fans with awe. Their hopes are that Billy Sharp can repeat his 23 league goals from last season - he needs to, to avoid relegation.
Players out: W. Corden, T, Johnson, P. Musslewhite, R. Ryan, N. Stanton
Players in: R. Calliste, D. Mulligan, J. Murphy,
My prediction: Relegation candidates.
Best odds:
To win league - 67.0 SportingOdds, William Hill, BetFred
Promotion - 21.0 Stan James, BetFred
Swansea City
There will be a huge weight of expectation on manager Kenney Jackett this season after making the playoff final last season and losing to Barnsley.
So far Jackett has been thwarted in his bid to strengthen his squad, but he needs to do something before the season gets into full swing if he is to deliver the improvement both the board and fans will be demanding.
Players out: S. Ricketts, A. Forbes, L. Thorpe
Players in: D. Pratley
My prediction: Playoffs again.
Best odds:
To win league - 15.0 Paddy Power
Promotion - 5.0 SportingOdds, Bet365
Tranmere Rovers
Ronnie Moore is the new man in charge, replacing Brian Little who managed to guide Tranmere to an 18th place finish last season, just avoiding relegation.
There have been some sweeping changes to the squad as well with plenty of players already coming and going. It could be an interesting season for Liverpool's third team.
Players out: S. Aiston, D. Facey, I. Sharps, J. Fowler, P. Martin, M. Jackson
Players in: K. Ellison, C. McReady, P. McLaren, J. Mullin, C. Shuker, R. Stockdale, G. Ward
My prediction: Will just miss out on playoffs.
Best odds:
To win league - 26.0 BetFred
Promotion - 8.5 BetFred
Yeovil Town
Last season's 15th place finish represented Yeovil's highest ever league position, but despite this there have been sweeping changes Huish Park.
Manager Steve Thompson has 'given up' his managerial duties, but stays on as a coach. This leaves new boss Russell Slade the unrealistic task of improving on last season with what has to be one of the smallest squads in this league.
Players out: M. Rose, D. Williams, C. Miles, A. Lockwood, C. Weale, P. Jeavons, K. Gall, S. Reed, R. Cullingford
Players in: D. Behcet, C. Cohen, T. Forbes, W. Gray, JP Kamudimba, S. Mildenhall
My prediction: Lucky to avoid relegation.
Best odds:
To win league - 67.0 SportingOdds, VCBet, Bet365, BetFred
Promotion - 21.0 Coral, Stan James, BetFred
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