Predicting away wins galore!

I have this program i wrote that does predictions. Laugh at these for this weekend in the Premiership:

Sat 15 - Sun 16 Dec 2007
1. Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea (Away)
2. Birmingham 0-1 Reading (Away)
3. Derby 0-1 M'boro (Away)
4. Fulham 3-3 Newcastle (Draw)
5. Liverpool 2-0 Man Utd (Home) (No way! after Reading?)
6. Man City 2-0 Bolton (Home)
7. Portsmouth 2-2 Tottenham (Draw)
8. Sunderland 0-2 Villa (Away)
9. West Ham 0-2 Everton (Away)
10. Wigan 0-2 Blackburn (Away)

Compare to Lawro's predictions.

Throught the wind and the rain

And boy is it windy at present. Attempts to see some football on Boxing Day have met the wall that is Premiership demand and availability. Forty quid to see the reds at Derby but little chance of a ticket! Looks like we will have to consider another match. It use to be so easy. Only for the odd cup match and a very few league was it necessary to get a ticket in advance; and two quid to get in! I am showing my age. Still the access via TV is loads better, if not free.

Feisty Football

Derby matches can be dreadful either because the football is not pretty or because the result is the wrong way. You takes you chances and I have come away from many happy but with friends supporting the opposition so celebrations have been muted and very down when they prevailed. But so much better to be there than stuck by a radio. Today's Liverpool derby was battle of penalties and still Liverpool have to concede a goal from open play; today's we scored for them. I reckon Rafa is missing his side kick - well something must explain some of the strange decisions to date but we will take the luck this time.

Anyway illness is still plaguing the family and restricting movement which is a shame as I love this time of year. Must make some firm plans very soon or I will retired before I am half way to my target!

Autumn browns

Its mad this season. Numerous 1-0 Premiership scorelines and then we get the other extreme of 7-4! It's all gone nuts.

Thoughts of visiting Elland Road today until a recent illness downed me. Try again in a few weeks or maybe I'll try mid week somewhere close.

The count down begins

The new season is nearly upon and I say bring it on!

Close season blues

We are all waiting for that news bulletin telling us our team has signed some football genius that will bring great glory next season. Who are those up for grabs? Well some names are clear but very few of interest to my club. Clearer is those who are to leave. We need at great striker, not good great. The other big three in England have a least one £20m striker of world class renown. We have good but not brilliant. We have never successfully replaced Owen or Fowler when they were at their best. Where is the next Ian Rush?

That's the way it goes

No sixth European glory. Ironic that Liverpool bossed the first half and conceded an unlucky goal, drew the second half and ultimately could be said to have deserved to win. But the scoreline matters above all other measures.
It is now that some people say it is a blessing because now changes will be made to improve the side that maybe wouldn't otherwise. But blessing? No. It is a shame and unlucky but we already know that just because you can win the Champions League it does not make you favourites for the Premiership.
We must wait a couple of months now before football truly returns, argh!!!

This one is not a dog

Jose's dog tales are hilarious! Will it persuade him to leave Blighty? Who knows but boy did I laugh. We'd miss him for his interviews and comic value but someone would replace him if...

Three three

So third year, third place...three is the magic number? So many days before we get back to football.

Oh to be in Athens on the 23rd

I very doubt I will be there as work demands but spiritually I will be with the team. Hoping and cheering but expectations low. Could God get a winner? It is possible and very fairy tale but realistically unlikely he will play unless there is extra time and penalties. Thank you Robbie.

No pies!

I had to have a hot dog, no pies!

Who ate all the pies?

Very close to Accrington is the home of Holland Pies, in Baxenden. We will probably sample some of their fare this afternoon as the mariners visiting the Stanley ground.
I think it is a mid table clash so all to play for?
Just checked, wrong, it is a match with meaning. Accrington need the points (20th place plays 15th) so here's hoping for some tense and vigorous football. Com'on you reds!

The old problem?

Think more truthful is the view that some European nations have not caught up with the UK on how to handle football fans, or rather people who behaviour badly and turn up to football matches. Roma and Italian clubs in general seem to have a problem. Fancy selling glass bottles in the stadium! We should be allowed to send our police with our supporters and each to his own.

Back of the net!

So the big man comes good. And now we get those saying England missed him. Maybe they did. He is a trier but not a master like the young Robbie. Personally I was doing one of those I must not jinx the result thing and didn't turn on the radio until it was too late.

A blip or not?

Recent results are little better than England's but the performances aren't too bad. Good enough to beat the Arsenal for a change? Possible, and so we are back to the hope and the inevitable despair.

Accrington Stanley!

Famous ever since that Ian Rush milk advert, the next destination is Accrington Stanley. You know you want to be there. And I have been to Accrington before, I even looked at houses there. I had a few dates there. So will there be one more?

How things change

Saw a match from the 80's the other day. A match I was present at: Watford 2-3 Liverpool. The two teams' managers and subs really did sit on benches! And there was no serious arguing with the referee. The football I have to say was not as good. That could of course have been blamed on the pitch but wow what a difference. As a paying at the turnstiles punter I preferred it then but as an armchair viewer it is so much better now. How times a change.

Another blank Saturday

Early exit from the FA Cup really affects the early months of a calendar year. And soon we get the Champions League back. Meanwhile in the league predictions from Footy say Liverpool will no longer finish second but barely make fourth! I cannot help thinking some of last summer's buys were picking the best of what was left on offer rather than what he really wanted. Still six months and a new season starts!

Empty Saturday

I wonder if they are off to sunny climbs? Here it is likely to be cold and clear.
The history books never talk about the players that were injured and unable to play; they record the result but fans remember these things. And I would reckon so do the pundits. But what club has ever had its ideal team out for every match? None, I would venture to say. Every team has to play a number of matches without key players, it's the luck of the draw (normally).

Anyway, my Footy program's latest predictions still has Man Utd as eventual champions by some margin, on average of current and season's form:
Man Utd 89
Liverpool 77
Arsenal 76
Chelsea 76

or based on remaining matches:
Man Utd 95
Chelsea 88
Arsenal 85
Liverpool 84


So still some interest in the other three places!

Kick'em when they're down

Nice!  And what a way to start your goal scoring, that second goal was special. Sometimes it takes a while to really settle in a new team. I've seen it take a a whole season before they click and wow! Will this be the case with Jermaine, not sure but hope so.
Now what will Arsenal make of the Old Trafford boys tomorrow? 

2 out of 3 is bad, very bad

 So will cup form spread over to League form?  Will the impressive home record stay intact?  Will I be able to enjoy Match of the Day?

Tomorrow brings us one day closer to the answer.