Can anyone stop the Fulham juggernaut?
// function the_post_thumbnail( $size = 'post-thumbnail', $attr = '' ) { echo get_the_post_thumbnail(); //} ?>In the age of the Premier League, Fulham have been identified as the perennial yo-yo side, with plenty of seasons both in the top flight and in the Championship under their belt.
Following a painstaking relegation under the stewardship of Scott Parker last season, many felt that the Cottagers would push for promotion again this season but had doubts over the relative strength of the current squad.
Change proved to be key for the West Londoners, as Parker departed to take over at Bournemouth and Fulham appointed Marco Silva in his place.
The maverick Portuguese manager has impressed in spells at Hull, Watford and Everton but has never really put down a marker in terms of results at a club.
However, with 30 games played in the Championship this season, Fulham sit 6 points clear of the chasing pack at the top of the table and Silva’s influence has been laid bare for all to see.
A remarkable 78 goals have been scored by Fulham in the league this season, almost 30 more than any other side and their attacking talents seemingly know no bounds.
In addition, they have the joint-best defensive record in the league this term too – the perfect formula for winning the league and gaining promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
For Fulham, cashing in from here will be key and although they have some tricky fixtures between now and the end of the season, the momentum looks to be with the Craven Cottage outfit.
Marco Silva’s side are currently 1.10 to be promoted back to the Premier League this season and something dramatic would have to happen to stop the Fulham juggernaut, who also come in at a rather short 1.25 (odds boosted with the bet365 current promotion) to win the Championship title.
Despite having suffered a few poor results in recent weeks, Bournemouth are another side that have banged the goals in this term.
The aforementioned Scott Parker is at the helm, and he looks to have inspired confidence throughout his Cherries side, and they currently sit 2nd in the table.
Having been an established Premier League side for the majority of the mid 2010’s, Bournemouth look eager to return and they are well fancied at 1.55 to go up this year.
West Bromwich Albion are the perennial yo-yo team, with promotions and relegations seemingly par for the course every season at the Hawthorns.
They haven’t been at their fluent best in the Championship this term, but they are a side packed with quality and endeavour.
At 4.50 to go up, the Baggies clearly have work to do this season, but they are very capable of putting a run together at the right time.
Defying pre-season predictions, Blackburn Rovers find themselves very much in the mix to return to the top-flight.
Rovers won the Premier league title back in 1994/95 and despite some consistency in terms of their top flight position for most of the 1990’s and 2000’s, they have slipped back into the Championship seamlessly over the past few seasons.
They currently reside in the play off places in the table and at 4.50 to go all the way and get promoted this term, Rovers look a decent outside bet this term.
Punters chasing value could well be attracted by the likes of Middlesbrough and QPR, priced at 4.50 and 6.00 respectively.