We now know all of the Rs opponents for next season, with Bristol City remaining in the division and Doncaster Rovers joining - thanks to a thrilling win over Leeds. Championship clubs for '08-'09 with early title odds... (holy crap we're second favorites! ) http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/coca-cola-championship/win-market Birmingham City 6/1 QPR 8/1 (as low as 6/1 on William Hill) Reading 8/1 Sheffield Utd 10/1 Crystal Palace 12/1 Derby County 14/1 Watford 14/1 Wolves 16/1 Ipswich 16/1 Charlton 20/1 Bristol City 20/1 Cardiff 20/1 Nottingham Forest 25/1 Norwich 33/1 Southampton 33/1 Preston 33/1 Coventry 33/1 Swansea 40/1 Plymouth 40/1 Doncaster Rovers 50/1 Sheffield Weds 50/1 Burnley 66/1 Blackpool 100/1 Barnsley 100/1
Congrats to Hull for getting out and Doncaster for getting in. They have us favorite over every team that was in the division last season or got promoted. We're behind one relegated team, even with another, and ahead of the third. I expect we'll strengthen the squad, but... Dowie, Cerny, Ramage, and some kid from Italy who doesn't even have a first-team appearance for his second division club? This puts us ahead of teams with parachute payments from the last couple of relegations? We may have finished in good enough form to put us in the playoff hunt, but nowhere near title form. They must be expecting more spending the rest of the summer than I'd thought... or, more accurately, they think the bettors expect it. Southampton 33 to 1, Forest 25 to 1, Charlton 20 to 1, Wolves 14 to 1, but QPR 8 to 1? Who'd have thunk it?
I would be really, really surprised if we went straight up. Playoffs are a more relaistic possibility - depending on signings, how Dowie pans out and health.