Blades should be a cut above; SPECIALS.Byline: Dan Childs NEWCASTLE and Middlesbrough dominate Totesport's top northern club betting but the value lies with 9-2 third favourites Sheffield United, who have the necessary funds and the determination to bounce back strongly from their recent playoff final defeat, writes Dan Childs. Nine clubs are represented in Totesport's northern regional betting but punters can immediately put a line through Preston (9-1), Sheffield Wednesday (10-1), Doncaster (20-1), Barnsley (33-1), Blackpool (40-1) and Scunthorpe (40-1), who are all likely to be competing in the lower half of the table. Promotion is the aim for Newcastle and Middlesbrough but they have lost some of their best players and the rebuilding process could be painfully slow. Sheffield United are in the process of building rather than dismantling their team and their no-nonsense style is well suited to Championship football. A bold promotion bid is on the cards for Kevin Blackwell's men and that could be enough to see off their regional competition. Reading, QPR QPR Queens Park Rangers (football club) QPR Quarterly Progress Report QPR Quadrature Partial Response QPR Quarterly Performance Review QPR Question, Persuade, Refer (suicide prevention program) and Crystal Palace are regarded as the most likely contenders to be the south's top dogs, but the value may lie with 12-1 outsiders Watford. Malky Mackay Malcolm George Mackay (born 19 February, 1972 in Bellshill) is a professional Scottish footballer who plays as a centre-back. He currently plays for Watford, where he is also a member of the first-team coaching staff. has inherited plenty of talent from his predecessor Brendan Rodgers and his team look overpriced to accumulate the most points in a fairly uncompetitive section. QPR have been installed as Totesport's 7-2 favourites to win Group B - but the best price are 5-1 shots Cardiff, who look like genuine promotion contenders. Ipswich Roy Keane Roy Maurice Keane (born 10 August, 1971 in Mayfield, Cork City, Ireland) is an Irish former professional footballer and the current manager of English Premier League club Sunderland. Reputation suffered last season but his Leicester Nigel Pearson Nigel Graham Pearson (born August 21, 1963 in Nottingham) is an English former football player. Playing career Pearson played as a defender for Shrewsbury Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough. Quickly restored the club's second-tier Middlesbrough Gareth Southgate Has received great support from owner Newcastle Chris Hughton Poor record as caretaker-boss last the boss? steely approach can make Ipswich much tougher to beat Record P2 W2 L0 D0 status but this season offers a truer test of his ability Record P55 W31 L7 D17 Steve Gibson and will need to repay it with a top-six finish Record P137 W38 L58 D41 term and is unlikely to turn the club's fortunes around Record P4 W0 L4 D0 Who's Nottingham Forest Billy Davies Steadied the ship at the end of last term and his no-nonsense approach should reap further rewards Record P22 W8 L8 D6 Peterborough Darren Ferguson Back-to-back promotions have established him as one of the brightest young managers Record P125 W68 L30 D27 Plymouth Paul Sturrock Invariably in·var·i·a·ble adj. Not changing or subject to change; constant. in·var  i·a·bil gets the maximum out of his
players but has a mixed record in the transfer market Record P79 W24 L36
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Preston Alan Irvine Worked wonders by getting Preston into last season's play-offs. Crucial to the club's future success Record P84 W36 L31 D17 |
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