Friday sees the kickoff of the English Football League season at Craven Cottage as Fulham host recently-relegated Newcastle United. Both of these sides used to be competitive Premier League sides but have fallen on harder times in recent years as they look to find their respective identities.
The Cottagers have not had the most ideal preparation for this match as they have lost last season’s Player of the Year runner up Ross McCormack in addition to hot prospect Moussa Dembele who departed for Celtic at the start of the summer. However, they have in turn spent around £7m on revamping their squad, particularly in defence where they struggled last season, with the signings of Michael Madl and Denis Odoi whilst David Button arrives as a goalkeeper.
Fulham have spent their time back in England’s second tier hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone and will be looking to make sure that is not the case this season.
Perhaps Newcastle’s best signing this summer was managing to persuade manager Rafael Benitez to stay on and guide the Toon out of the Championship. Their squad has had a bit of a turnaround this summer with attacking starlets Andros Townsend, Georginio Wijnaldum heading out the door alongside Remy Cabella.
It can be argued that they have actually improved their squad this summer with experienced Championship centre-half Grant Hanley arriving from Blackburn alongside Matt Ritchie from Bournemouth who was exceptional in the Premier League last season but has chosen to move to a supposedly bigger club. Additionally they have signed Dwight Gayle – a man who knows how to score goals in the Football League – which could turn out to be superb business.
Unsurprisingly Newcastle are the favourites for this match with Fulham having lost the thing that kept them alive last season – their potent strike force, whilst Newcastle have made good additions.
You can get the Newcastle win at 21/20 which at least nets some return, even if it is not a great amount. If you fancy something which will pay out more, I would go for the Newcastle win and over 1.5 goals at 29/20. You would expect United’s strong attack to be able to put a few passed a dodgy Fulham backline whilst this bet also allows for a Fulham goal.
See more tips here.