With the brand new Championship season all but upon us, now seems to be the perfect time for PNE.com to assess all the runners and riders in English football's second tier.
We look inside each squad to see who's in, who's out, and crucially, how they're rated by 'The Insider', who is back for the start of the new season to advise who you should be backing via PNEBetting.com.
If you like the look of our tipster's suggestions, head to PNEBetting.com now, where we're still offering the famous '£100 of free bets' deal for new subscribers.
This third part of our preview looks at the teams from Q to W.
QPR
Manager - Jim Magilton
Last Season (finishing position) - 11th
Ins: Alejandro Damian Faurlin (Instituto), Alessandro Pellicori (Avellino), Adel Taarabt (Tottenham)
Outs: Dexter Blackstock (Nottingham Forest), Damien Delaney (Ipswich), Lee Camp (Nottingham Forest), Jake Cole (Barnet), Zesh Rehman (Bradford City), Chris Arthur (Released), Reece Crowther (Released), Danny Maguire (Released), Liam Miller (Released)
Like many of their rivals for the top six, QPR have been very active in the transfer market with big money signings arriving at Loftus Road and some pounds recouped at the other end.
The R's also have a new man in the dugout in Jim Magilton and the billionaire owners of the Club will be hoping his experience of managing in the Championship will be the difference for them this year.
Premiership experience provided by the likes of Taarabt, Routledge and Helguson will give them an added edge and they also have the backing of some rather large pockets should things not be looking too rosy come the January transfer window.
The Insider Says: Magilton's men were in the running for a Play-Off position for the majority of last season and that is likely to be what they will be doing this campaign. It will all hinge on how well the former Ipswich boss can mould the undoubted talent he has at his disposal into a unit that can get points home and away. Consistency on their travels and in West London will see QPR challenge for a Play-Off position at least this year.
Verdict: Top Ten
Championship Odds: 16/1
Reading
Manager - Brendan Rodgers
Last Season (finishing position) - 4th
Ins: Ryan Bertrand, (Chelsea), Matthew Mills (Doncaster)
Outs:Kevin Doyle (Wolves), Alan Bennett (Brentford), Michael Duberry (Wycombe), Scott Golbourne (Exeter City), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolves), Danny Spence (Salisbury), Alex McCarthy (Yeovil), Gary Frewen (Released), Tom Hateley (Released), Leroy Lita (Released), Graeme Murty (Released), Sam Sodje (Released)
Another club with a new manager and one who arrived in somewhat controversial circumstances after his sudden departure from Watford after just six months in charge.
Rodgers' predecessor Steve Coppell was one of the longest serving bosses in British football and the general consensus fromthe fans and the Club was for a new approach.
The former Chelsea reserve team coach will certainly provide that and if one of the Championship's finest players Tommy Smith makes a long-rumoured switch to West Berkshire Reading will be challenging for one of the hallowed promotion spots, whether in the Play-Offs or not.
The Insider Says: One of the division's most dangerous teams for most of last season, Reading will be looking to have a similar impact on the Championship this season from September all the way through to May. Having lost the likes of Lita and Doyle, it's imperative that reinforcements are made to the strikeforce or their lack of depth in that area could tell. Nevertheless, the likes of Hunt, Mills and Long were a class apart for much of last season and that strong spine should serve them well.
Verdict: Top Ten
Championship Odds - 14/1
Scunthorpe
Manager - Nigel Adkins
Last Season (finishing position) - 6th (Div Two)
Ins: Rob Jones (Hibernian), Michael O'Connor (Crewe), Adam Boyes (York City), Josh Wright (Charlton)
Outs: Michael Lea (Chester), Joe Wilcox (Released)
The Iron emulated Leicester by returning to the Championship at the first time of asking and fully deserved their return was with impressive defeats of MK Dons and Millwall in the Play-Offs.
Hopes for the three promoted teams will have raised after all three promoted teams last season stayed up (Swansea, Doncaster and Notts Forest) suggesting the gap between the two divisions isn't as large as thought.
The towering defender Rob Jones will add strength and experience to their backline and they haven't lost their goalscoring talisman Gary Hooper so opposition sides expecting an easy ride at Glanford Park and beyond may have to think again.
The Insider Says: The success of fellow Yorkshiremen Doncaster will be the template Scunny aim to repeat however with more clubs than ever splashing the cash and the presence of more big clubs in the league Adkins' men could find the going tough. The element of surprise though could be to United's favour and with a proven ability to perform on the big stage they will be confident of succeeding in maintaining their place in the league come the seasons end. Rank outsiders for winning the league, the Iron are likely to finish in the bottom half but that's a position their fans would gladly take if offered them now.
Verdict: Bottom Third
Championship Odds - 125/1
Sheffield Utd
Manager - Kevin Blackwell
Last Season (finishing position) - 3rd
Ins: Ched Evans (Manchester City), Lee Williamson (Watford), Andy Taylor (Tranmere), Ryan France (Hull), Kyel Reid (West Ham), Keith Treacy (Blackburn), Glen Little (Reading), Kyle Walker (Tottenham)
Outs: Kyle Naughton (Tottenham), Kyle Walker (Tottenham), Adam Chapman (Oxford United), Jamie Annerson (Rotherham), Nicky Law (Rotherham), Ben Starost (Darlington), Nick Travis (Central Coast Marriners), Maxime Chanot (Released), Ugo Ehiogu(Released), Sun Jihai (Released), Danny Webber (Released)
North End's conquerors in last season's Play-Offs, the Blades have spent big this summer in order to go one better in the 2009/10 season.
PNE's former loan midfield favourite Lee Williamson will add strength and nous to an already gifted midfield and Welsh International Evans adds Premiership quality to their frontline.
Pacy full-back Naughton may have switched up to the premiership but Kevin Blackwell has spoken this week about needing more experience at this level and the likes of France and Little will certainly give them that guile.
The Insider Says: Third last season, the Blades would possibly have challenged Wolves and Birmingham City for the top two earlier than they did had James Beattie not departed for Stoke in the transfer window. The arrival of Evans will fill the gap his departure created and with that their chances of a finish in the top six at least is to be expected for Blackwell's men.
Verdict: Top Six
Championship Odds - 10/1
Sheffield Wednesday
Manager - Brian Laws
Last Season (finishing position) - 12th
Ins:Tommy Miller (Ipswich), Darren Potter (Wolves), Darren Purse (Cardiff)
Outs:Kenny Lunt (Hereford), Sam Liversedge (Released), Wade Small (Released)
Their draw at Deepdale last season pretty much sounded the death knell for the Owls' Play-Offs hopes but the signs were there that night that Brian Laws wasn't far from creating a Play-Off challenging eleven.
Buoyed by the news of key striker Marcus Tudgay's new contract, Owls fans will be anticipating a more sustained attempt on the top six after some shrewd summer signings.
The Insider Says: Championship experience runs through all of Wednesday's summer signings and with the experienced Purse appointed Club captain a top ten slot is the least pundits expect the Owls to achieve. The key signing though was that of Tudgay, the Owls hero who scored the all-important winner in the Brammall Lane derby last season, and the man who should bag the goals that will see Wednesday in amongst the race for the top six come the season's end.
Verdict: Top Ten
Championship Odds - 28/1
Swansea
Manager - Paolo Sousa
Last Season (finishing position) - 8th
Ins: Nathan Dyer (Southampton),Stephen Dobbie (Queen of the South)
Outs: Jason Scotland (Wigan), Owain Tudor Jones (Norwich City), Joe Harris (Ilkeston Town), Chris Jones (Grimsby), Kyle Graves (Released), Dennis Lawrence (Released)
While comparisons to Barcelona and Arsenal may have been slightly over the board when describing Swansea's play last season there is no doubt that they were the outstanding footballing team in the Championship.
Their lack of experience at this level may have counted against them in the end but with a new man in charge the Swans will be hoping he sees more of the same attractive football this season.
Dobbie is a shrewd signing from Scotland however they lost out in the race for Paul Anderson and they will miss the influential Gomez who followed former Swans boss Martinez to Wigan.
The Insider Says: The majority of the side is still there but much will depend on how well they cope without the likes of Gomez, Scotland and their hugely talented former manager Martinez. Ferrie Bodde was one of the Championship's finest performers before his injury last season and his form on his return could be the difference between a top six slot and mid-table.
Verdict: Top Ten
Championship Odds - 28/1
Watford
Manager - Malky Mackay
Last Season (finishing position) - 13th
Ins: Jure Travner (NK Selje), Danny Graham (Carlisle), Scott Severin (Aberdeen)
Outs: Tamas Priskin (Ipswich), Lee Williamson (Sheffield United), Theo Robinson (Huddersfield), Stuart Searle (Milton Keynes Dons), Steven Kabba (Released), Mart Poom (Released)
Graham Taylor has said that Malky Malkay almost got the Watford managers job back in December when Brendan Rodgers took over at Vicarage Road so he is not too concerned about how he will fare as the main man in the dugout.
The former Celtic and Norwich defender has faced a battle to keep hold of many of his players though this summer with the likes of Priskin, Williamson and potentially Tommy Smith leaving being chief among his concerns.
Mackay will point to the great form of his side in the second half of last season and hope that, like North End last year, they can build on that to have a similarly good start.
The Insider Says: Their position will depend greatly on the whereabouts of their talisman Tommy Smith come the end of the transfer window. If he stays and new arrivals Severin and Graham perform then the Hornets could well build on last season's mid-table finish. However with funds at a premium and the imminent sale of former North Ender Priskin damaging their threat up front a place in the top ten could be beyond them.
Verdict: Mid-table
Championship Odds - 66/1
West Brom
Manager - Roberto Di Matteo
Last Season (finishing position) - 20th (Premiership)
Ins: Simon Cox (Swindon), Reuben Reid (Rotherham), Youssouf Mulumbu (Paris St-Germain)
Outs: Sherjill MacDonald (Germinal Beerschot), Kim Do-heon (Suwon Bluewings), Paul Robinson (Bolton), Luke Daniels (Tranmere), Jared Hodgkiss (Released), Carl Hoefkens (Released), Pele (Released)
The eyes will be on new manager Roberto Di Matteo to see if he can adapt as well to the Championship as he did to the MK Dons in his debut management season last year.
Simon Cox and Reuben Reid will add firepower up front after the departure of Fortune to Celtic however their performance will come down to whether captain Jonathan Greening ignores the overtures of Fulham and stays at the Hawthorns.
The Insider Says: Favourites with pnebetting.com to win the Championship it is difficult to argue with the bookies decision when the strength of their squad is taken into account.
But the Championship is a notoriously difficult league to get out of so much will depend on how well Di Matteo adjusts to this level and whether or not key man Greening leaves or not.
Verdict: Top Six
Championship Odds - 5/1
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Click here to view Ipswich to Preston
