Gillingham
Ground: Priestfield Stadium (10,952)
Nickname: Gills
Last Season: 21st
Latest Odds: 200/1 (Ladbrokes)
Rangers Fixtures: LOFTUS ROAD- 5TH Apr PRIESTFIELD- 27TH Aug
Lowdown: The Gills were lucky to escape relegation last season after their season collapsed after the Christmas. Andy Hessenthaler has added Iwan Roberts to his coaching team and he will be hoping that the veteran striker has enough in him to bag a few goals for the side. The Kent side will have to pull out all the stops if they’re going to have a chance in surviving in the Championship. They may survive by the skin of their teeth!
QPR MAD Prediction: Fighting Relegation
Ipswich Town
Ground: Portman Road (30,300)
Nickname: Tractor Boys, Town, Blues
Last Season: 5th
Latest Odds: 12/1 (Ladbrokes)
Rangers Fixtures: LOFTUS ROAD- 11th Dec PORTMAN ROAD- 26th Feb
Lowdown: Joe Royle’s men missed out on promotion last season through the playoffs. West Ham beat them over two legs in the semi-finals to deny the Suffolk club a chance of playing in the Premiership again. Since their relegation two seasons ago the club has restructured its finances and built a new look side under new management. It so nearly worked out last season but the club has lost Jermaine Wright (Leeds) and Marcus Bent (Everton) this close season, and despite recruiting Jason De Vos (Wigan) and Kevin Horlock (West Ham) the club will find it tough to reach last season’s heights with the current squad. Nethertheless a bunch of talented youngsters may prove crucial and Town should be challenging around the playoffs come May.
QPR MAD Prediction: Playoffs
Leeds United
Ground: Elland Road (40,024)
Nickname: Whites
Last Season: 19th Premiership (relegated)
Latest Odds: 9/1 (Ladbrokes)
Rangers Fixtures: LOFTUS ROAD- 16th Apr ELLAND ROAD- 20th Nov
Lowdown: Leeds fell from grace spectacularly last season after their finances seized up, leading to departures for big name players such as Mark Viduka, Alan Smith and Paul Robinson. Kevin Blackwell was handed the task of building a new squad from scratch, and despite his finances being severely handicapped he has recruited some quality players as they look to bounce straight back to the Premiership. Jermaine Wright (Ipswich), Paul Butler (Wolves) Julian Joachim (Coverntry) and of course are own Clarke Carlisle. Many predict the club to top the league while many also see the club struggling, neither is likely and Leeds should complete their season just outside the playoff spots.
QPR MAD Prediction: Playoff Contenders
Leicester City
Ground: Walkers Stadium (32,500)
Nickname: Foxes
Last Season: 18th Premiership (relegated)
Latest Odds: 7/1 (Ladbrokes)
Rangers Fixtures: LOFTUS ROAD- 25TH Sep WALKERS STADIUM- 3rd Jan
Lowdown: Leicester will begin the season as one of the favourites for promotion. But the Foxes have lost stars Muzzy Izzet and Paul Dickov this summer- both of whom were instrumental in their promotion to the Premiership the year before last. The Championship is one of the toughest ever this season and Mickey Adams will be looking to his new signings Danny Tiatto (Man City), Dion Dublin (Aston Villa), David Connelly (West Ham), Jason Wilcox (Leeds), Martin Keown (Arsenal) and Kevin Pressman (Sheffield Wednesday) to draw on all there experience to help plot the road to promotion. It will no doubt be a tough rollercoaster for City but a playoff place should be within there capabilities and promotion a realistic target.
QPR MAD Prediction: Playoffs
Millwall
Ground: New Den (20,146)
Nickname: Lions
Last Season: 10th, FA Cup runners-up
Latest Odds: 16/1 (Ladbrokes)
Rangers Fixtures: LOFTUS ROAD-2ND Nov NEW DEN- 5th Feb
Lowdown: Dennis Wise, armed with his assistant Ray Wilkins helped to galvanise last season’s run to the FA Cup final for the Lions and create a money-spinning trip to Europe this season despite loosing to Man Utd. Before their cup distractions took their toll, Millwall were heading for a top 6 finish. This season should see a similar position for the New Den club come May. Jody Morris (Leeds) has been added to the squad but Tim Cahill and Paul Ifill are being targeted by Premiership clubs and should either of them leave, the Lions may struggle to reach the top-half.
QPR MAD Prediction: Mid-Table
Nottingham Forest
Ground: City Ground (30,602)
Nickname: Forest
Last Season: 14th
Latest Odds: 14/1 (Ladbrokes)
Rangers Fixtures: LOFTUS ROAD- 30TH Apr CITY GROUND- 4th Dec
Lowdown: Forest reached the playoff semi-finals in 2003 but last season saw the club languishing down near the relegation zone for much of the season. That resulted in Paul Hart loosing his job and in stepped Joe Kinnear. He guided the former European champions up to 14th, which in Forest standards was a very poor season. After loosing Gareth Williams to Leicester, Forest raided the Foxes for last season’s loan player Andy Impey and Alan Rogers. With much the same squad as last season and Michael Dawson still at the club, Joe Kinnear will be plotting the road to the Premiership. Forest should end the season in or around the playoff zone and they may just make the top 6.
QPR MAD Prediction: Playoffs