Exit stage right

I am guessing that whatever happens in tonight's match it is the Europa League for Liverpool. Ah, well, the only way is up.

This season has already passed its zenith

Okay one match doesn't make a season but it may save one because other than this one result nothing to shout about for any fellow red fan.

Rocking Robins 2-1

Waddon Road, or what is now Abbey Business Stadium, is small, neat, and in a nice residential area slightly north of central Cheltenham. Twenty quid to get in isn't cheap but the seats were good and we got in and out easy enough. And we had a roof over us - this time to protect us from the sun!

Grimsby on top in the first half but couldn't maintain their dominance, or put a second one past the Robbins' keeper. The proverbial match of two halves.

Bring on the new season

Well plans are afoot for the next game; friendlies ignored. And a mere five weeks to wait. Starting with a new ground for me but in the south; lower division of course. So counting the Saturdays!

Watch this space.

What a Deva

This stadium is small but does have ample parking around the ground (£3.00). I joined the away fans behind the southern end goal. The stand was nominally seated but everyone stood up during the football. Catering in this stand was outside the ground. Less than 3,000 watched the drawn match and nearly half of this crowd were away fans who certainly out sang the homers.



Less than 20 years old the ground is now at the end of a retail park and can be reached without going inot Chester at all. The stadium announcer, bizarrely a Man Utd fan, was easily heard but I couldn't see any scoreboard. Ticket prices on the day were all a tenner, dropped in an effort to persuade more locals in I think; Chester also in real danger of being relegated like Grimsby.

What a Gigg!

Gigg Lane is a late twenty century affair. A capacity of 11,000 was nearly filled for the local derby against Rochdale I saw. The tea was more expensive and hotter than at PNE up at £1.60.
I drove to the ground and parked some 15 minutes walk from the ground no problem, well actually I was lucky to drop on a place that close. Most side roads require resident permits. Getting out meant a 40 minute shuffle for the first 2 miles but otherwise fine!

The football was good and the crowd lively and the atmosphere friendly enough for such an important local tie. I sat with locals in south stand; in an unreserved seat.  I noticed some others changed seats at half time. Definite 7 out of 10, I would go again.

Goal fest at Deepdale

Deepdale is now a tidy Championship ground with all four sides renewed though it appears one side is not quite finished. Amazing I saw a goal in the first few minutes, a penalty but boded well for further entertainment as Ipswich were playing well. And so it was, I enjoyed a match with five gaols the lion's share going to the home side.

There is little to distinguish the ground from many others save maybe the portraits of famous players made in the seats at each end; Shankly and Alan Kelly; and of course of Sir Tom Finney where I sat. Outside the National Football Museum is part of the set-up and worth a visit.
The tea cost £1.50 and my seat £21.50. I arrived on foot after being dropped off by good lady but parking is possible. Buses to the centre are available and the rail station is on the west coast mainline so well connected.

Draws yes, but not where predicted

31 Jan 09
 1. Arsenal: 0 West Ham: 0 - Wrong
 2. Villa: 0 Wigan: 0 - Wrong
 3. Bolton: 3 Tottenham: 2 - Wrong
 4. Fulham: 3 Portsmouth: 1 - Wrong
 5. Hull: 2 WBA: 2 - Wrong
 6. Man Utd: 1 Everton: 0 - Correct result!
 7. M'boro: 0 Blackburn: 0 - Wrong
 8. Stoke: 1 Man City: 0 - Wrong
1 Feb 09
 1. Liverpool: 2 Chelsea: 0 - Wrong
 2. Newcastle: 1 Sunderland: 1 - Correct result!

A bad set of predictions then!

The Reds draws continue

31 Jan 09
1. 3:00pm Arsenal 2-0 West Ham (Home win)
2. 3:00pm Villa 1-0 Wigan (Home win)
3. 3:00pm Bolton 1-1 Tottenham (Draw)
4. 3:00pm Fulham 1-1 Portsmouth (Draw)
5. 3:00pm Hull 0-2 WBA (Away win)
6. 3:00pm Man Utd 2-0 Everton (Home win)
7. 3:00pm M'boro 0-1 Blackburn (Away win)
8. 3:00pm Stoke 0-2 Man City (Away win)
1 Feb 09
1. 4:00pm Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea (Draw)
2. 1:30pm Newcastle 2-2 Sunderland (Draw)

And a rare prediction for L2

1. Accrington 2-2 Brentford (Draw)
2. Aldershot 0-1 Wycombe (Away win)
3. Bournem'th 0-0 Chester (Draw)
4. Bradford 3-2 Dagenham (Home win)
5. Darlington 2-0 Rochdale (Home win)
6. Exeter 2-0 Lincoln (Home win)
7. Gillingham 4-0 Chesterfld (Home win)
8. Luton 2-0 Barnet (Home win)
9. Macclesf'd 1-3 Bury (Away win)
10. Notts Co. 2-2 Morecambe (Draw)
11. Port Vale 0-2 Grimsby (Away win)
12. Shrewsbury 2-0 Rotherham (Home win)

Well, if true some of my relations will be vary happy - c'mon you Mariners?!

ANy better this weekend?

Well Lawro says: predictions.

While Footy has:
Saturday 6th Dec
1. 12:45pm Fulham 3-2 Man City (Home win)
2. 3:00pm Arsenal 1-0 Wigan (Home win)
3. 3:00pm Blackburn 0-2 Liverpool (Away win)
4. 3:00pm Bolton 0-2 Chelsea (Away win)
5. 3:00pm Hull 0-2 M'boro (Away win)
6. 3:00pm Newcastle 2-0 Stoke (Home win)
7. 5:30pm Man Utd 5-0 Sunderland (Home win)
Sunday 7th Dec.
8. 3:00pm WBA 0-2 Portsmouth (Away win)
9. 4:00pm Everton 0-0 Villa (Draw)
Monday 8th Dec.
10. 8:00pm West Ham 0-1 Tottenham (Away win)

And the fun (tension) continues

Lawro's Predictions
Saturday Oct 25
Everton v Man Utd (12:00) 1-1
Sunderland v Newcastle (12:45) 2-2
West Brom v Hull (15:00) 2-0
Blackburn v M'bro (17:30) 2-0

Sunday Oct 26
Chelsea v Liverpool (13:30) 0-0
Man City v Stoke (15:00) 2-0
Tottenham v Bolton (15:00) 2-0
Wigan v Aston Villa (15:00) 1-2
West Ham v Arsenal (16:00) 0-2
Portsmouth v Fulham (17:00) 2-1

Footy's predictions
Sat 25 Oct 2008
12:00pm Everton 0-2 Man Utd (Away win)
12:45pm Sunderland 2-0 Newcastle (Home win)
3:00pm WBA 0-1 Hull (Away win)
5:30pm Blackburn 2-0 M'boro (Home win)

Sun 26 Oct 2008
1:30pm Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool (Draw)
3:00pm Man City 4-0 Stoke (Home win)
3:00pm Tottenham 2-3 Bolton (Away win)
3:00pm Wigan 0-2 Villa (Away win)
3:00pm Wigan 3-2 Newcastle (Home win)
4:00pm West Ham 2-4 Arsenal (Away win)
5:00pm Portsmouth 2-0 Fulham (Home win)

How did we do?

Sat 04 Oct 2008
1. Blackburn: 0 Man Utd: 2 (Me - spot on)
2. Sunderland: 1 Arsenal: 1 (Both wrong)
3. WBA: 1 Fulham: 0 (Both wrong)
4. Wigan: 0 M'boro: 1 (Both wrong)

7:16 PM, Sun 05 Oct 2008
1. Chelsea: 2 Villa: 0 (Lawro - correct result)
2. Everton: 2 Newcastle: 2 (Both wrong)
3. Man City: 2 Liverpool: 3 (Me - correct result)
4. Portsmouth: 2 Stoke: 1 (Both correct result)
5. Tottenham: 0 Hull: 1 (Me spot on!)
6. West Ham: 1 Bolton: 3 (Both wrong)

Footy: 4 out of 10 correct results, 2 spot on!
Lawro: 2 out of 10 correct results

Better off with a flip of a coin! But no - it would need three sides so I beat the monkey with a three sided coin; home win, draw or away win. He would have got 3.34 results correct.

Lawro's Prediction for comparison

In full here.

Sat 04 Oct 2008
1. 3:00pm Blackburn 2-2 Man Utd - major difference!
2. 3:00pm Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal (Away win)
3. 3:00pm WBA 1-1 Fulham (Draw)
4. 3:00pm Wigan 2-1 M'boro (Home win)

Sun 05 Oct 2008
1. 3:00pm Chelsea 2-1 Villa - major difference!
2. 3:00pm Everton 2-0 Newcastle (Home win)
3. 3:00pm Man City 1-1 Liverpool - major difference!
4. 3:00pm Portsmouth 2-0 Stoke (Home win)
5. 3:00pm Tottenham 2-0 Hull - major difference!
6. 3:00pm West Ham 2-0 Bolton (Home win)

Hmm, interesting, a few major differences of opinion. His predictions were done Thursday so after the Champions League matches. Chelsea had a few injuries so Mark's prediction seems optimistic for blues fans. And both Manchester teams drawing is different. So who will be more accurate Footy or Lawro?

First Footy Predictions of 2008

Sat 04 Oct 2008
1. 3:00pm Blackburn 0-2 Man Utd (Away win)
2. 3:00pm Man City 0-2 Liverpool (Away win)
3. 3:00pm Sunderland 0-4 Arsenal (Away win)
4. 3:00pm WBA 0-0 Fulham (Draw)
5. 3:00pm Wigan 2-1 M'boro (Home win)
Sun 05 Oct 2008
1. 3:00pm Chelsea 0-0 Villa (Draw)
2. 3:00pm Everton 1-0 Newcastle (Home win)
3. 3:00pm Portsmouth 3-2 Stoke (Home win)
4. 3:00pm Tottenham 0-1 Hull (Away win)
5. 3:00pm West Ham 2-1 Bolton (Home win)

Will it manage better than the monkey with the coin - low hopes to be honest.

Christie Park - Morecambe 1-1 Grimsby

If you've seen this ground on TV (like I had) the reality isn't as impressive. Still a nice lower league ground with stands on three sides and a chance to stand! Away visitors car park was under used as most probably joined us on the local roads. As seems usual in Lancashire we had entertainment from local kids dancing before the match in the form of the Shrimpettes.

Game was usual fare. Annoyingly my tea didn't come with any milk? The half time presentation was awful - who was that guy? Still we were bathed in sun - actually no we weren't because we have a roof over us for a change. Anyway another one on the list.

Get in there!

Now that's what I call a football match. About time on two counts, the result and a decent performance this season. Usual mind games from Sir F before hand. I wonder if he thinks it worked?

The Mancs are coming to town

Never much enjoyed this fixture.  It doesn't usually end well and too often includes some controversy against us.  I fear a dour nil-nil draw ruined by a later winner for them.

Back but not firing

I reckon many of the clubs with players in either or both the Euro Championship or the Olympics will continue suffering for a few weeks to come yet. It's the points that matter; oh, ad it is a marathon not a sprint - I believe ;-).

It'scoming back

At last we have something to save us from the endless repeats on TV - football is back. i even listened to Championship football yesterday. Nice one Liliwhites.