User tools SmallNormal Text SizeLargePrintBookmark the SiteEmail this Page

CHAMP PROSPECTS #3

Posted on: Fri 05 Aug 2005

We assess the prospects for five more of Rangers' rivals in this season's Championship.

This time we turn our attentions to Millwall, Norwich, Plymouth, Preston and Reading.

Could one of this bunch finish top of the table? Will one of these teams have a shocker and find themselves staring relegation in the face?

 MILLWALL

Advertisement

Home: The New Den Capacity: 20,146

Manager: Colin Lee

Last season: 14th

QPR Fixtures: New Den: Sep 27; Loftus Road: Feb 11

Superhoopsbet.co.uk odds:
Champions: 80/1; relegated: 5/2

Players in: Sammy Igoe (Swindon, undisclosed)

Players out: Dennis Wise (Southampton, free), Peter Sweeney (Stoke,undisclosed), Joe Dolan (Leyton Orient, free), Danny Dichio (Preston, £160,000), Paul Ifill (Sheff Utd £ 800,000), Darren Ward (C Palace, £ 1.1m), Kevin Muscat (released)

One look at the 'in' and 'out' lists should be indiocation enough that Millwall face a far tougher season. Boardroom wrangles and the bizarre appointment/dissmissal of Steve Claridge only serve to heighten the sense that there is trouble brewing at the New Den. Relegation could be on the cards.

Editor's prediction: Struggles ahead


 NORWICH CITY

Home: Carrow Road Capacity: 24,500

Manager: Nigel Worthington

Last season: 19th, Premiership

QPR Fixtures: Loftus Road: Oct 22; Carrow Road: Apr 17

Superhoopsbet.co.uk odds: 
Champions: 11/2; relegated: 50/1

Players in: Matthieu Louis-Jean (Nottm Forest, undisclosed), Peter Thorne (Cardiff, undisclosed), Jurgen Colin (PSV Eindhoven £250,000), Andy Hughes (Reading, undisclosed), Jason Jarrett (Wigan, free)

Players out: Gary Holt (Nottm Forest, undisclosed), Thomas Helveg (M'gladbach £ 135,000), Marc Edworthy (Derby, free), Phil Mulryne (Cardiff, free), Mathias Svensson Elfsborg, £100,000), Mathias Jonson (Djurgardens, £700,000)

With key players such as Dean Ashton, Darren Huckerby and Robert Green staying put, the Canaries will be one of the teams to beat this season. With the canny addition of impressive Championship players such as Peter Thorne and Andy Hughes, City have the credentials to bounce straight back and if they are lucky with injuries could well top the pile.

Editor's prediction: Automatic promotion


 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

Home: Home Park Capacity: 20,134

Manager: Bobby Williamson

Last season: 17th

QPR Fixtures: Loftus Road: Oct 18; Home Park: Nov 19

Superhoopsbet.co.uk odds:
Champions: 100/1; relegated: 5/2

Players in: Rufus Brevett (West Ham, free), Taribo West (Al-Arabi, undisclosed), Bojan Djordjic (Rangers, free), Anthony Barness (Bolton, free)

Players out: Matt Villis (Torquay, free), David Worrell (Rotherham, free), Graham Coughlan (Sheff Wed, undisclosed), Peter Gilbert (Leicester £200,000)

Plymouth struggled a little more than they may have expected last season, dicing with relegation whilst their fellow new boys QPR eyed the play-offs. But with some imaginative signings they could climb the table and avoid the sweat of a late scramble away from the drop zone

Editor's prediction: Lower mid-table


 PRESTON NORTH END

Home: Deepdale Capacity: 21,412

Manager: Billy Davies

Last season: 5th

QPR Fixtures: Deepdale: Oct 15; Loftus Road: Nov 22;

Superhoopsbet.co.uk odds: 
Champions: 18/1; relegated: 14/1

Players in: Dave Hibbert (Port Vale, undisclosed), Joe Anyinsah (Bristol C, undisclosed), Danny Dichio (Millwall £160,000)

Players out: Eddie Lewis (Leeds, free), Simon Lynch (Dundee, undisclosed)

The Lillywhites caught everyone by surprise with a surge in to the play-offs and a narrow defeat at the Millennium Stadium. A team without stars guided by the pragmatic Billy Davies will be boosted by the addition of Danny Dichio, but they will do well to repeat their successes of 04-05.

Editor's prediction: No glory this year


 READING

Home: Madejski Stadium Capacity: 24,200

Manager: Steve Coppell

Last season: 7th

QPR Fixtures: Loftus Road: Nov 5; Madejski Stadium: Apr 30

Superhoopsbet.co.uk odds: 
Champions: 20/1 ; relegated: 12/1

Players in: Steve Hunt (Brentford, free), Leroy Lita (Bristol C £1m), Chris Makin (Leicester, free), Kevin Doyle (Cork City, undisclosed), Shane Long (Cork City, undisclosed)

Players out: Nick Forster (Ipswich, free), Paul Brooker (Brentford, free), Lloyd Owusu (Brentford, free), Andy Hughes (Norwich, undisclosed), Dean Morgan (Luton, free), Shaun Goater (Southend, free) Ricky Newman (Brentford, free)

Almost permanently on the fringes of the play-offs, the Royals are always here or thereabouts without ever quite having enough to break the shackles. Plenty of players have come and gone during the summer and it remains to be seen how quickly this new squad gels. But the addition of Leroy Lita and Chris Makin suggests good times ahead.

Editor's prediction: Play-off fringes again

So that's five more teams dealt with! Next time we bring you the final six half-dozen Coca Cola Championship teams and assess their prospects for 2005-06.

Part One: Brighton - Crystal Palace

Part Two: Derby - Luton

 News Archive
Display Stories From Week

QPR business finder is powered by city-visitor.com & cityvisitor.co.uk

All materials on this website © Queens Park Rangers Football Club & FL Interactive Ltd.

Photographs © Back Page Images and QPR FC.

CEOP - Report Abuse

Part of the Club Player network

Company Details

All rights reserved save as per website Terms of Use. Privacy Statement. Subscription terms and conditions.

Accessibility.

For all advertising and sponsorship enquiries, please click here