Professional odds compiler Owen Goulding returns to LFW ahead of the new season, looking ahead to Saturday's trip to Charlton and for value elsewhere on your weekend coupon.
QPR face a London derby for their opening return to the Championship and as always, a baptism of fire awaits.
This is a tough division to get out of and as Wigan found out last season, a tough one to stay in. Rangers' squad as it stands looks mid table to me (ignoring Charlie who will be gone by end of transfer window). It's quite an interesting proposition with the additions of exciting players such as Tjarron Chery and Jay Emmanuel Thomas, and hard workers such as Ben Gladwin and Massimo Luongo. Hard working players have been few and far between in recent times at Loftus Road so I for one am looking forward to seeing how we fare.
Charlton have bought in numbers over the summer and will be eyeing a top half finish but this will depend how the new signings gel. Their pre-season has been much more productive than QPR's though and for this reason I expect them to take all three points on Saturday. It will be close but anyone who noticed my message board post last week about the 12/5 that was available on a Charlton victory will have noted you can get no bigger than 2/1 now.
QPR are marginal favourites which is more indicative of where they have come from than where they are both going. At 2/1 I'd struggle to get interested though, and as people who follow my previews know (hello to both of you) I like to keep my powder dry early doors generally. If looking for a bet, I would suggest a little interest in Chery to score at anytime at 9/2 with Betway. Playing just off the front with excellent set piece ability, its worth an interest.
Recommended bet: Charlton v QPR - Chery to Score at Anytime - 9/2 Betway
Elsewhere my bet of the weekend comes in the Championship where Bristol City may struggle to put a full squad out as it stands. Steve Cotterill is very reluctant to enter the transfer market at the moment and so they will go to Hillsborough light in numbers and inexperienced at this level. Wednesday have invested wisely and 13/10 seems a very backable price for the home side.
Bet of Weekend: Sheff Wed to beat Bristol City @ 13/10 Boylesports.
For those looking at Ante-Post offerings - season bets I think are worth an interest are…
Middlesbrough to win Championship Outright - 6/1 EW Skybet and Bristol City to be relegated is worth an interest at 8/1 generally.
Big Price Goalscorers: Alex Gilbey (Colchester United) and Vincent Sasso (Sheff Wed) are both big price scorers who should be followed in the coming weeks.
Football is back!! - Happy Punting!