Kenton Schweppes

Thanks, Kenton! It's great to be back with a far more united club than last time. The difference for us between this season and last time around is the lack of expectation. Don't get me wrong, there are half a dozen clubs that I feel are running out of time and luck. The likes of Watford, Newcastle, Brighton, Bournemouth, Leicester, Crystal Palace, and Southampton could all find themselves going down if a manager or big name player leaves.
You're right, I think we have the weakest sides in the division. Probably along with Watford the bookies have got it right with the relegation odds. Still, once again, everyone is writing us off. You know how that feels. I see us as very similar to you and Brighton when you both went up so see no reason why we can't.
I still think we need some additional Premier League experience but I like the fact Warnock has gone for young and hungry players in the form of Josh Murphy and Bobby Reid. I think he's a manager that is keen to prove people wrong about his ability as a Premier League manager too.

Derby have agreed a fee for jack marriott with peterborough and are also interested in waghorn from ipswich. 
They previously signed harry wilson and mason mount on loan and josefzoon from brentford. As i said before lampard is an unknown in managerial terms but i have had a dabble ew at 14/1 with skybet 1/5 1,2,3,4
16 available but only 3 places.

Who let the dogs out?
Dogs are barking and loud
 

why is mourinho scared of playing attacking football? is he worried if man utd slip up they will give wrong impression and he will be under scrutiny. there is something funny going on here. last week against liverpool he set up like a scared rat and let's not forget lukaku has not scored for man utd in two of last games. he is not in form in my opinion and add to the fact that pogba, fellaini and rashford are injured it seem they are lacking depth and creativity. i think huddersfield is going to be very motivated here and could hold their own for long periods in this match. i am going to have a bet on huddersfield to win outright and 1-0 scoreline.

Fancying Fulham today at Ipswich, I know Ipswich have had a good start but I can't see them lasting the pace. Fulham will come good and rise up the table before long. Took them a while to get going last season too. Think they will shade it too but at 11/10 can'take be ignored.
Doncaster travel to Wimbledon who are struggling on the goal front although Doncaster haven't made a blistering start or anything, they can score. Think they might shade it today at 17/10.
My other two selection are Blackpool and Peterborough who are taking on teams who have had the lowest shot tallies in the whole league set up. My work colleague is a season ticket holder at Oldham and she says they're crap. Blackpool will win this at 6/5 and Peterborough who have made a great start are 13/8.
Fulham 11/10 Doncaster 17/10 Blackpool 6/5 and Peterborough 13/8 

That's exactly why I fancy us to do something this season! Huddersfield's success has scarred me... but in a positive way!

I've been sitting all morning going over the fixtures in England and i'm almost coming up with the same picks as you @Kenton Schweppes 
Brentford, Cardiff, Bury and Mansfield are the ones that are jumping out at me. 4 fold pays a tidy 38.00.  Double chance 4 fold pays 3.58.
 

Well just remember what we did last season, everyone backed us to go down....even you Stevie mate lol.

Totally agree about us, Kenton. Nobody is even backing us to make the play-offs. Every predictions table I have seen has got us finishing outside the top 10 which I find staggering given that we have a strong spine to our team, more depth than last season, and Warnock still in charge. The only exit of any note was McGregor. I can't even say Whittingham will be a big loss on the quality front. Loved the guy but he was hardly having an impact in games any more and that's even when he was playing.
Ward looks like a great addition and Damour could be the buy of the summer if he continues his pre-season form. Provided we win our home games and draw our away games that's all we want. Bar the odd result here and there. So I'd take a draw today but really think we should be looking to win.
We are 2.45 for the win today and Zohore is 2.60 as an anytime scorer.

As there is nothing to really go on, form wise, it's a bit difficult to make an educated prediction. Small stakes on what I think might happen today, so here goes,
Cardiff City 7/5 at Burton. Burton are up against it again this season and have been handed a tough assignment against Cardiff. Warnock is a wiley old type and if anyone knows how to win promotion and get teams playing well it's him. Think Cardiff will have a decent season, I've backed them in my ante post bet for promotion and think they'll get off with a win today.
Brentford are now a solid Championship side and they are up at Sheffield United today who seem to have a few injuries to key players. Wilder hasn't managed at this level so I just wonder how he'll go. Fancy Brentford today.
Bury are priced at 21/10 at home to Walsall, am I missing something here? I fancy Bury to do well this time and Lee Clark has made some decent signings, they have some decent goalscoring strikers Ajose and Beckford, Harry Bunn joined yesterday from my team Huddersfield, he will do well for them.  The loss of Vaughan is a big one but the 900k will allow a few signings to come in.
Finally Exeter are decently priced at home to Cambridge. Losing last year's play off finalists and they'll be in the shake up again.
Cardiff, Brentford, Bury and Exeter.
 

edited now

some more
 
sheff utd v brentford - first half both teams to score
fulham v norwich - first half both teams to score
shrewsbury v northampton - first half both teams to score
forest green v barnet - first half both teams to score
accrington v colchester - first half both teams to score
 
£10 returns £30.000
 

Hartlepool v Dover
When looking at the first set of matches all you can really go on is how you think both teams are going to get on during the season. I don't really think friendlies offer much of a guide, because playing for 3 points is very different from playing against some Football League sides U21's or a team from lower in the pyramid.  If you have read my ante-post preview then you will know I think Dover are an outside bet for going down this season and Hartlepool really should be looking at the play-offs. Without Ricky Miller you really do wonder where the goals are going to come from at Dover this season, and Hartlepool look to have a very good attacking line-up headed by Padraig Almond. I think the home side would be odds on for this game if it were later in the season so William Hills' 6/5 appeals.
Sutton United v Leyton Orient
The other relegated side Leyton Orient kick the season off as this game is live on BT Sport on Saturday lunchtime. Orient seem to be adding to their squad everyday at the moment as they try and get the strength of depth they need to compete at the top end of the table. They have put a decent looking first 11 together, but it worries me that it has all been a bit of a rush and this is a very tricky game to start their season with. Now I certainly think Sutton have been over-rated in the ante-post markets, but their home form was so good last season. They only lost 4 times and conceded just 25 goals in the process. This will also be Orient's first ever competitive game on a 3G pitch which could be an issue, especially given how strong Sutton were on it last season. Orient are being backed and that means Sutton are drifting and aren't far away from being 2/1 with Marathon which looks a value play.
Spennymoor v Stockport
As mentioned in my ante-post preview I think Spennymoor could go well this season. They would have got closer to Blyth, but for a very busy schedule and they are a well funded side. They kick their first ever season at this level by playing the biggest club (supporter wise) at this level in Stockport. This is the 5th season that County have been at this level and they haven't even been in the play-offs yet. I think they should do this season, but Spennymoor could sneak in there as well and at over 2/1 with Marathon the home side look a value bet.
Bognor Regis v Bath
I think the home side are really going to struggle this season. They were promoted via the play-offs from the Ryman Premier last season, but then their manager left them the next day to join Eastbourne. They then hired one of the players who decided at the end of June that he wasn't able to do the job combined with his everyday job. I think they might be a bit under prepared coming into the season and like I say I think they are set for a season of struggle this season anyway. Bath on the other-hand look set to be at the other end of the table and they look to have their strongest side since being back at this level. The play-offs look a reasonable target and at 33/20 (Marathon) I am happy to take them to get their season off to a flyer.

Anything can happen in this league but you can't really look much past Mansfield Town if I'm honest, anyone who finishes above then will have won promotion. Steve Evans is a canny operator he will have them up.
Just a word on Notts County, if they can bring in a few players to add to their squad under Kevin Nolan I think they could well mare the play offs. Jon Stead and Ameobi look like they will sign new deals, player of the season Milsom is still with them, Alan Smith too. I also have read they are in negotiations  with a player from Forest Green. Their squad seems to be aging but Kevin Nolan knows his shit.

Well, that went well from a punting perspective! 
Well done to Huddersfield, I'm sure they won't care how they did it!

I hope you didn't listen to me! 
Congratulations @Kenton Schweppes, enjoy the Premier League forum next season buddy! Going to miss you in here bar your cameo appearances for the cup competitions! 

Yep, well done @Kenton Schweppes, strange how a team doesn't score a goal in the 3 matches, but can still go through!
Not much different to Albion not scoring from open play in the last 3 games, and losing the title to an 89th minute selection.
its a funny old game sometimes
Congratulations, you were by far the better team over the season & deserved it more than Reading.

Yeah, on curent form we appear to run out of steam, conceded 9 in the last 3 scoring only once, struggling to see where the goals will come from and how we will keep them out to win a game over 2 legs. Ever since the Newcastle home defeat which knocked us about after playing so so well but ended up being mugged by a very street wise Newcastle we've been so inconsistent. I mean we lost at Bristol City 4-0 but battered Norwich 3-0.
I'm not confident at all and I do fear for us. Bit of a stat for you here, we've had 8 previous play off semi home legs and never won one. The way we are leaking goals at the minute I'd see what price over 2.5 is.

God Stevie mate you won't have had an easier 3 points this season, you looked way better than we did and if Warnock gets his targets in the summer you'll be going for promotion next season no doubt about that and I'll be backing you in my pre-season patent. I like that Zohore, we could do with someone like him. Decent following too, 500, a few dressed as bananas. You're the only team to do the double over us this season too.
I must say if anyone wants to back us, Huddersfield, to win the play offs, I'd say don'the bother we've nose dived of late, we look a shadow of our former selves.

Think it might be a draw tomorrow, two teams just playing out a dead rubber, we'll be looking to avoid Fulham so won't be going full tilt. As I said, probably be a few changes from us tomorrow like last week in readiness for the play offs, although I expect a few of the absentees from last week just to maintain match fitness and sharpness.

After today....we're all a bit concerned. Think whatever happens it's been a decent season but it will be cold comfort if we fail to even qualify for the play offs after being there practically from day one. I'm hoping we'll qualify and we'll take it from there. Aside from the 98/99 season this is the closest we've ever come to regaining our top flight place since we left in 1972. I'm hoping we don't go into the final fixture against your lot needing a win to secure our place in the end of season shake up.
Them 3 Town players you mention are all club legends.

@Kenton SchweppesImpossible for you to not be in the playoffs surely? Need to lose all 3 and Leeds win both. I'm Leeds born and bred (bar 18 years in London  ) but I'm glad they're not potentially going up this season as they just wouldn't be ready. Depending on the transfer market in the summer, I think they're a good bet for promotion next season though.  

If that was on a game of Football Manager we'd all be saying it was scripted! Pritchard is a quality player. Norwich's squad overall should be challenging for automatic promotion. I had them tipped as a top 6 finisher before the season started. In fact, I think I had them and Newcastle as top two. Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how that result affects Newcastle's mentality. Easy to forget they still haven't sealed promotion yet.
@Kenton Schweppes, what's the mood amongst Huddersfield fans like at the moment? I should point out, Kenton was adamant before the season started that the Terriers would be in the mix. I tipped them to struggle and I am happy to admit I have been proven wrong. I've got a soft spot for Huddersfield after they, along with Alloa, were one of the first clubs I managed on the old Championship Manager games. In the days of Andy Booth, Iffy Onuora, and Jon Dyson!

A packed week with league and cup action across the board. The FA Cup Semi Finals take place this weekend so this might be one for Premier League thread contributors such as @sajtion, @andrewcalo, @Mindfulness, @Sir Puntalot, @betcatalog, @AndreBR, @mrclubbie, @neilovan, @Judeksi, @KikoCy, @Bett, @zemo91, @sm0kez, @Bronxie, @Duuc, @Dylan Lynch, and @WinningAdvice.
Elsewhere, there is still a lot to be decided. @Tiffy already celebrating promotion to the Premier League. Can they seal the title now? @Kenton Schweppes will be hoping his boys can end their season on a high. Is it too late to catch Newcastle? Other Championship lads on here such as @canaries91, @CloughandTaylor, and @rangers234 will all be hoping their sides can notch up crucial wins.
@skyblues88, can your boys end the season positively?
What about others that contribute to this thread regularly? @allyhibs, @salmonman, @allthethings, @Icongene, @Tanktop, @waynecoyne, @kulikTS, @KingSoccertips, and @MuineBheag? Any thoughts here guys?

My picks for Easter Monday are:
- READING:   Rotherham already relegated. Reading should be them comfortably to cement their play off place.
- BRIGHTON:   Brighton to capitalise on Newcastle's failure to beat Leeds and edge closer towards the title. 
- SCUNTHORPE:   Home win for Scunthorpe to keep their play off place and relegate Chesterfield in the process.