Mighty Whites Aren’t So Mighty
First up is the Championship, where Leeds are the favourites to win at 3/1, which I personally think is too short. The Whites were disappointing last season, where they had automatic promotion in their own hands, but they ended up throwing it away and eventually lost in the playoff-final to Southampton.
This season things don’t look too different at Elland Road. They’ve kept Daniel Farke at the helm, and they’ve not lost too many of their key players, keeping the likes Gnonto and Piroe; however, there are still a few weeks left in the transfer window, so they could still depart the club. My main doubt against Leeds is the mentality of their players, especially when their backs are against the wall. When the chips were down last season, they gave way far too easily and lost their heads. I could see the being in contention again, but then failing away when it matters.
We’ll Be Taking Our Hats Off At The End Of The Season
The value for the league winners in the Championship this season looks to be with Luton Town for me, who currently are 9/1 at the time of writing. Despite being relegated from the Premier League, they were able to hold their own in a lot of games, and they’ve kept a lot of their squad together with those who have experienced the Championship before, which will be a massive plus.
However, the main reason I fancy them is with their manager, Rob Edwards. I really rate him, and he was able to get The Hatters promoted after coming into the job halfway through the season. With some more experience under his belt this time around, he knows what it takes to go up, and I think that will count for a lot.
Some market leaders like Leeds, Burnley, Sheffield United, and Middlesbrough all have questions to answer, so Luton makes the most sense to me.
An Anxious Season For Argyle
When it comes to relegation in the Championship, I think Plymouth Argyle will really struggle. Though they did well to stay in the league last season, their form seemed to dip when they lost their manager, Steve Schumacher, who had guided them to the Championship from League One.
There was a lot of head-scratching going on in May when the Green Army decided to appoint Wayne Rooney as their new manager. The jury is still out on Rooney as a manager. He did a good job at Derby Country when they had financial difficulties, but his last job at Birmingham City is seen as a failure.
When he took charge of The Blues last September, they were sixth in the league, and when he left, they were down towards the relegation zone. Like quite a few punters, I don’t think it’s going to work at Plymouth, and I am not sure their squad is made for the Championship. Though 2/1 might look a bit skinny for some, I do think it’s going to be a very long season for Argyle fans.
Another Case Of The Blues For Birmingham
Moving on to League One, Birmingham City are heavily fancied by many to go straight back up and win the league. They find themselves at the top of the betting at 7/4 with Rhino. Though they’ve got wealthy owners who’ve been splashing around the cash this summer, I am not convinced with their manager, Chris Davies, who is very inexperienced. It’s going to be a big ask to get them straight back up in first managerial job.
Huddersfield Can Head Back Up
I think the value could be with Huddersfield Town, who are 12/1 to win League One. The Terriers finally got relegated last season after having a close season at the lower levels of the Championship. Things haven’t gone right for them since they got relegated from the Premier League in 2019, and it’s finally a good opportunity for the club to reset.
The owners have brought in Michael Duff as their manager, which looks to be a good appointment. He’s got proven experience in League One, as he got Barnsley to the play-off final in 2023. His last job was at Swansea, but I think he had excuses because the players had been used to playing a different brand of football under their previous manager Russell Martin, so it was always going to be much of a transition.
Huddersfield have been quite fortunate and have been able to keep hold of several of their players, like Josh Koroma and Michal Helik, who should be too good for League One. I’m expecting them to make a bold bid for promotion and get back to the Championship.
Rovers To Retain The Feel Good Factor
League Two out of the three EFL divisions looks to be the most open, with MK Dons the 13/2 favourites to take the title. Last season, The Dons were hovering around the top spots for the majority of the season, but they came up short in the play-off final. They are likely to be there or thereabouts again, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they did something similar.
I like the chances of Doncaster Rovers, who are 8/1 to win the title. After being in the relegation zone at the beginning of last season, their manager Grant McCann turned them around, and they went on a 12-game unbeaten run that saw them fly up the league and grab a play-off spot in fifth. Sometimes momentum like that can carry on into the following season with that feel-good vibe. They are the wildcard in the pack in League Two this season.
EFL 2024-25 Outright Selections
Championship
Luton Town To Win The Championship (9/1)
Plymouth Argyle To Be Relegated (2/1)
League One
Huddersfield Town To Win League One (12/1)
League Two
Doncaster Rovers To Win League Two (8/1)