Championship Tip: West Ham

Although the bookies can’t choose between the top two in the Championship betting, one looks much more likely to succeed than the other. On the one hand, Leicester City have Sven-Goran Eriksson and bags of money. It sounds like a combination that could work. The Foxes will almost certainly give a few sides a real pasting when it all clicks into place on a good day, but are they really going to be consistent over a 46 game season? Debatable.

On the other hand we have a West Ham Utd side which seems to tick all the boxes. Forget the brand of football, based on CV alone, Sam Allardyce is still one of the best English managers of the past decade. The criticisms of his direct tactical approach have often seemed harsh in the Premier League, given his success at Bolton in particular which was impressive by any means. That same style should be particularly effective in a division renowned for his combative nature. Sure, it may intially upset a few purists at Upton Park too, but they will all be happy soon enough if the league table tells a favourable story.

The summer purchases have been nothing short of outstanding for a side adjusting to relegation. Kevin Nolan could be the pick of the lot. His 17 league goals from midfield in 2009-10 fired Newcastle to the title and earned the former Trotter his status as Championship Player of the Year. Then, back in the Premiership, Nolan was announced as the club’s captain and had another great season keeping his side comfortably in mid-table, notching another 12 league goals in the process. The Toon Army were not happy to see the 29-year-old leave this summer to re-unite with Allardyce. Newcastle’s loss will surely be West Ham’s gain.

Another arrival with bags of top flight experience is Matt Taylor who has signed from Bolton. Abdoulaye Faye was a key component for Stoke as they established themselves in the Premier League. Most recently, Irish international Joey O’Brien signed on the dotted line on Saturday to add further options in either midfield or at right-back.

The mass exodus that inevitably followed relegation has been coped with admirably and there may well be some quality remaining from last season, based on the current squad list. Admittedly big names have gone and the likes of Scott Parker will surely follow. But Mark Noble, Freddie Sears, James Tomkins - these are young English players who should flourish at this level.

The Championship is rightly regarded as a competitive league but only one team currently oozes the class that sets them apart as a cut above the rest. West Ham should be backed to win the league at a best price 9/2 with Boylesports.