Lakenheath Old Boys

We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

The Big Thaw!


After last weekend's fixture list was decimated by the Big Chill in Britain, it's a blessing to have a full slate of the Beautiful Game today. It all starts in a moment with Liverpool visiting Stoke in a must-win match for Rafa and co. Join me, won't you?

289 Comments:

Blogger The Blue Devil said...

My predictions for today's matches:

Stoke 1 Pool 0
Chelski 2 Sunderland 0
United 2 Burnley 0
Spurs 4 Hull 0
Wolves 1 Wigan 1
Everton 1 Citeh 4

I'm currently second in the standings. Hoping for a good day.

7:40 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Liverpool are decimated today with no Torres, Gerrard or Yossi today. So it's Kuyt and Ngog up front with the thuggish Mascherano back in midfield alongside Lucas.

Not a lot of attacking quality there.

7:44 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Right - the ESPN coverage has started, the coffee is brewed, so we're off!

7:47 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I wouldn't ordinarily be backing Stoke, but I've adopted an "Anyone But Pool" stance for this season.

7:48 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Lovely, open match in the first minutes with a lot of cut and thrust.

7:49 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The first free kick opportunity for Stoke comes to nothing but the Liverpool back four, especially Skrtel, look really rattled.

7:55 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

If anything, Stoke have the more potent threats up front, particularly the in-form Tuncay. That's to say nothing of the patented Delap long throws and Hugh bombing in for the set pieces. It's not going to be an easy afternoon for the Reds, for sure.

7:57 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Hey Bob, I am here too
Good morning

I agree with you... any one but Pool!

Oooh, Pepe makes a meal of a cross

7:57 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Little bits of decent football from Liverpool here and there...

8:02 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Morning, Davey! How are you?

8:03 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Is Max Rodriguez in the the squad?

8:03 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

I'm good. How about you?
Glad there is a three day weekend! I do have to start my college stuff on Tuesday. I have to teach two nights a week for 75 minutes instead of one for 2 hours and 45 minutes

8:05 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Nope - no sign of him. And no Aquilani either. What does that lad have to do to get a game. You'd think without the services of Gerrard and Benayoun, he'd be in the side.

8:05 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I've just finished my two-week January seminar. Now I've got a week off (with some scattered workshops) before the semester starts on the 25th.

8:06 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Did you enjoy my Spot the Ball competition?

8:07 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Sorry - I've just had a look at the Liverpool squad and Maxi is on the bench.

8:08 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Abdul al Faye seems to have a problem with his thigh here and it looks like Liam Lawrence will take his place.

8:09 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Nope - it's actually Rory Delap trotting off. That's a shock. Al Faye is still off the pitch getting treatment.

8:10 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

I just turned on a SS link on VSS. Working great

Penalty? No, yellow for diving!

8:11 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Lucas goes down in the box like a sack of spuds and the ref's not having any of it. It's earned him a yellow.

8:11 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

No I didn't enjoy Spot the Ball!

8:12 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Now it is Al Faye coming off and Andy Wilkinson coming on. Big changes for Stoke in this first half.

8:12 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Who does your lot have today?

8:13 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

No love for Cristiano any more?

8:13 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Yes but definitely not THAT way!

8:14 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

It's Exeter away for us today. I'll demand nothing less than three points. Norwich are getting a wee bit too close for comfort.

8:14 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Rafa and Sammy Lee don't look happy.

8:15 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

SS are saying that Sol Campbell is a no brainer!
Isn't he really fat and couldn't hack it at Notts County. I don't get it!

8:15 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I don't get the Sol Campbell move either. He walked out of Arsenal yonks ago because he had gotten too slow to compete. What is Arsene thinking?

I also don't get the Patrick Vieira move to Citeh. They don't need him.

8:17 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Agreed

8:18 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Just noticed
Everton 1 Citeh 4 !!!!!!!

You are a Citeh fan!

8:18 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Jeff is the only one that agrees with us. Everyone on the panel are pro Sol

8:20 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

This game has gotten boring all of a sudden.

8:22 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I'm not a fan; I just had a chance to watch them a lot in the UK and they are flying at the moment, especially Bellamy and Tevez.

8:23 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I also predicted a United win today too, didn't you notice?

8:24 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Did you see this vid of an Italian celebrating a couple of Milan goals against United?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2010/jan/14/youtube-sport-clips

8:26 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

I did... I wouldn't! We have been hopeless for a while!

8:29 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Couldn't Stoke supply a red towel!
Why are they using Citeh towels?

8:30 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

That bloke on the video was you on Jan 3

8:31 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I'm still watching the hockey fight here... good quality...

8:32 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Mama Mia! What a reaction from those blokes.

8:34 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Half-time... thank God!
Not too good. Long may it continue for Costa

8:35 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Nearly half time now. And we need it to revive ourselves. It all started brightly enough but there hasn't been a lot of quality on display.

0-0 at the Britannia.

8:35 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Off we go in the second half.
COME ON CITY, COME ON CITY

8:51 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I liked the comment at half time from Robbie Mustoe that Rafa had fielded a "team of fullbacks."

8:52 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Good one

8:54 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Nice free kick opportunity given up by the thuggish Masch.

8:57 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Free kick hit wide

STRUTH
Kenny Burns,the ex Forest player,is as big as house!

8:58 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

I didn't know that Burns was a striking partner of Trevor Francis at Birmingham. He was a center back at Forest.

9:01 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Tuncay had a half chance there but he scuffed his shot.

9:01 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Is Kenny Burns on SS? I'm waiting until 10 to switch it on.

9:02 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Bugger!!

Costa have scored!!


Yes, SS is on. There are links for 3 but there was one that was at noon

9:03 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bugger - head wound Kryakos has somehow bundled the ball into the Stoke net and Pool are 0-1 up. How do they get so lucky?

9:03 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Alan Smith on SS said it was a lucky award of a free kick for the goal

9:05 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh, Tuncay should have scored there. Just couldn't keep his header down.

9:07 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I agree with Smithy. That was a light foul.

9:07 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Is Owen EVER going to get a game?

1415: Man Utd v Burnley line-ups:
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Brown, Jonny Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney.
Subs: Kuszczak, Owen, Anderson, Park, Fabio Da Silva, Rafael Da Silva, Diouf.
Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Edgar, Duff, Jordan, Alexander, McDonald, Eagles, Elliott, Nugent, Steven Fletcher.
Subs: Penny, Kalvenes, Gudjonsson, Eckersley, Blake, Thompson, Guerrero.

9:19 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Nani and Scholes in the Midfield.
Not sure

9:20 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I think the answer to that is "no."

9:20 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

ooh, free header but right at Pepe

9:21 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Here comes Maxi....!

9:22 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Costa take on Spurs this Wednesday

9:23 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Score an OG Maxi Pad

9:24 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Come on City
Come on City

9:26 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Stoke really pouring it on now in the last ten minutes. Can Liverpool hang on?

9:30 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

On comes Aqualani

9:33 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

What a scramble in the box!!!

9:35 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STOKE SCORE!

9:35 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

GOAL! Yes!!!!!!!

Huth right at the death with a priceless header and Rafa is sick as a parrot.

9:35 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Sorry it was Higginbotham with the header and Huth stabbed it in at the back post.

9:36 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

ooh, almost a winner!!

Five minutes of added time

9:36 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Five minutes of injury time to come. If Stoke were to score again here, I'd get 15 points.

9:36 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Free kick chance... come on Stoke!

9:36 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

off the wall!

9:37 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Reina picks up a yellow for time wasting. Corner to come....

9:39 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

another scramble in the box!

9:40 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

STRUTH!!
of the post by Kuyt

9:41 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - how did that not go in from Kuyt. Liverpool nearly grabbed the winner.

9:41 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Big Phil reacts to the miss

9:42 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

YES
It is over... two more points gone

9:42 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

And that's it. "Not a classic" as the commentator puts it but plenty of full blooded action at both ends.

Does a point help Liverpool? Probably not much.

9:42 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Now for United to take on Burnley
The link from VSS is not loading!

9:53 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

United
Three defeats in seven!
Yikes!

9:55 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

I hope the link starts working from OT!

9:58 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

COME ON SUNDERLAND

9:59 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

ATDHE link seems to working
No match yet but...fingers crossed

9:59 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

YES.. the atdhe link working strong!

COME ON MANU COME ON MANU COME ON MANU

United attacking the Stetford End in the second half

10:00 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Bugger.. it just paused.... don't do this to me

10:01 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

vss link now working

Young Fergie is already losing for Preston

10:02 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Free kick chance for United

10:04 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Nani or Valencia to take... puts it in the box and Berba heads one over. It was off a defender but no corner given

10:05 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Right - I'm back after a quick kip on the couch.

Come on, you Whites!

10:06 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

ooh, cross by Valencia was scrambled away. Roon then tries an overhead kick

10:07 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

MK Dons take the lead at Hartlepool

Exeter beating Leeds... oh dear

10:07 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bugger! We're 0-1 down! What's going on? Ever since Old Trafford, we've been rubbish. Did you put a hex on us?

10:07 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

This is their sticky patch of the season

10:07 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

ooh, Burnley break and almost score!
It was three against one!

10:08 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Chelsea score at the Bridge... it was coming

Anelka with the goal

10:08 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

GOAL! Nic Anelka rounds the keeper for an easy tap in. 1-0 Chelski!

10:09 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Why didn't that fall to a Sunderland man

10:10 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Mangerless QPR losing at Blackpool
Hart was sacked in the week

10:11 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Fergie Jr's boys are 2-0 down!

10:11 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Just lost my United link

10:12 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bugger - now Charlton have taken the lead. They're on 52 points now.

10:14 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Reading losing to Forest

10:15 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Still no luck with United link

10:15 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Exeter still in total control. What is going on? We haven't had a sniff yet!

10:16 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Norwich beating Colchester

10:16 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bugger! Norwich have taken the lead. They're on 54 points now. Not good!

10:17 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Got a United link... finally

10:18 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Two nil to the Blues

Malouda with the goal



Nani hopeless for United

10:18 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

2-0 Chelski! Great goal by Malouda.

10:19 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That's my prediction for the Blues - they can go to sleep right about now.

10:19 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Owen stretching

10:20 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Burnley are giving it a go!

10:20 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

United just aren't that good!
I really thought that we were better than this

We have had three good performances this season and that is it.
One of them was a loss to Chelsea. We deserved to win that one

10:21 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

JUST LOST THE LINK AGAIN!

10:22 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Nice goal by Cashley

Three nil

10:23 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Crikey! Cashley pokes in Chelski's third! They are rampant!

10:23 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Burnley almost score again!

10:23 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Merse is predicting a cricket score at Stamford Bridge.

10:25 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

United don't seem to have a clue... what is up!

10:26 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oooh, Becchio nearly equalizes with a header. Finally we're dragging ourselves back into this one.

10:26 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

He thinks Chelsea will score HUNDREDS?

10:27 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Charlie thinks Burnley have been the better side - do you agree?

10:28 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Well, they have not been second best

10:30 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Sounds like Berba just missed a sitter.

10:30 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

ooh, Berba goes close but should have scored
Valencia has been United's dangerman

Roon is not in form again

10:31 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Have you got your shirt off?

10:32 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Not yet. Should I?

10:33 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Chelsea almost get number four!
Wow, do they miss Drogs

10:33 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Scholes could have been in the book but the Ref is being nice
Chance for Burnley to get it in the box. Comes to nothing


IT IS FOUR!!!
LAMPS

10:34 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Chelski are 4-0 up! Lamps with the fourth.

10:34 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

United had gotten close with GD and now this!

10:35 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Stevie Bruce is not happy.

10:35 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Berbs with a useless header

Made by Valencia again

He is a good player

10:35 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Chelsea are going to get double figures!

10:36 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Now Belletti's trying to score from forty-five yards!

10:37 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Just lost the link again

10:39 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Leeds getting any closer

Maybe you guys should have lost at OT and concentrated on the league!

10:40 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Celtic tie it up with Falkirk

10:41 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Not really. We've had a couple of half chances and Exeter have taken the foot off the gas.

I actually might agree with you. I'm not sure another high profile Cup match at Shite Fart Lane next weekend is exactly what we need.

10:44 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

I don't know which one I am for frustrated with. The link that keeps going out and then has the ad in front of it or actually watching United's performance

10:44 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

I don't understand why United are playing like this.

10:45 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

And we've got the Johnstone's Paint Trophy match against Carlisle in midweek!

10:45 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Ipswich are back in it. First goal for Stern John for the Tractor Boys.

10:46 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Forest are two up against Reading
Forest fans singing "are you watching Liverpool"

10:46 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Norwich are 2-0 up now and cruising it. Bugger!

10:47 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

The Tractor Roys tie it up with Coventry

The East Anglians have gone two up at Colchester... this is a match that would have been on Match of the Week

10:47 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Wigan have got a penalty and a Wolves player has been sent off.

10:48 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh, Rodallega has had his pen saved by Hahnemann!

10:48 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Pen to Wigan and Wolves are down to ten men... saved... rebound missed

10:48 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Half time at the Bridge and OT

Impressive by the Blues and NOT by the REDS

10:49 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Half time at Exeter. 1-0. Not happy.

10:49 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Peterboro down to nine men and one nil down

10:50 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

My lot STILL haven't scored against Burnley all season!

10:54 AM  
Blogger gooner71 said...

Plenty of time BDB. Good Lord, have S'land just laid down or what? That's a shockingly inept scoreline when you consider that the meat of the Chelsea team are dodging bullets in Angola.

Thanks for that link Davey. That guy validates my behavior in front of the TV week-in, week-out!

11:00 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Morning Steve

11:01 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

My United link is acting up again!

Rafa complaining about the ref.. are you Fergie in disguise!

11:04 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Morning, Gooner. Thanks for the well wishes. I've still got the lucky Leeds shirt on and hopeful for the second half.

11:04 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

GET IT OFF!!!!

11:05 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Rafa is being a plonker!


How many people were in the stands?
27,000 people!

11:05 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Chelski are back out and searching for #5. As Gooner mentioned, Sunderland have given up the ghost long ago.

11:06 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Alright, alright. It's coming off.

11:06 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Notts Forest fans are singing "Are you watching Liverpool?" as they stroll it against Reading today.

11:08 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

STill no bloody link

Anelka goes so close

11:09 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Wow - Nic Anelka nearly gets his brace with a rocket off the bar!

11:09 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Pictures back at OT

PLEASE STAY

11:10 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Norwich are three up

They are making up for the seven on the opening day

11:11 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Bollocks with Chelsea's fifth

11:12 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Norwich are 0-3 up!

11:12 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Ballack - free header - 5-0!

11:12 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Useless from Rooney

Evra sets him up and he hits it miles over!

11:13 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Cambridge losing at home

11:13 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

BRING ON MICHAEL OWEN!

11:13 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The drums are going again at Blackpool!

11:14 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Jeff is sick as a parrot - Hartlepool are 3-0 down.

11:14 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Very frustrating day for the link!

11:15 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Beckford's just been booked. Come on!

11:15 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Where is the United onslaught?

Both Uniteds


I have waited long enough


It's LEEDS TIME!


Sunderland score.
Chelsea old boy

11:16 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Zenden's got a consolation goal back for Sunderland. Cech barely moved for the shot.

11:16 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

And now Bradley Johnson has been booked. Come on - stop fouling and start scoring you lot!

11:17 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Ipswich are in the lead now.

11:17 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Berba misses another chance

11:17 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Ipswich are winning

11:18 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Just over half an hour to go at OT

11:19 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I can't believe I predicted 4-0 Spurs. It's still 0-0 there at SFL.

11:19 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Corner to United

11:19 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Brown whiffs at the cross

11:19 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

link pauses again!!111
I am about to throw the computer out the window!

11:20 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Goal at Wolves

Wigan are one up

11:20 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Sunderland are actually starting to try to play. Why did they wait for sixty minutes to show up?

11:20 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Now Micky Doyle has been booked at Exeter. So we're leading in yellow cards then.

11:22 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

I hate to keep mentioning it but my link freezes every 30 seconds or goes out completely

SIX for Chelsea

11:24 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Leeds "not creating much" according to the SS reporter.

11:24 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

United score - now it's time for the other United to score. Come on!

11:25 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Deadlock broken at OT... YES!!!!!!

Berba gets the goal... of course I missed it!!!

ABOUT BLOODY TIME!!

Now let's have the other United to get one

11:25 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Well - that's good news. The guy who scored for Wycombe against us last week has pegged back Charlton this week. That helps a bit.

11:27 AM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Okay that is the turning point of the day

United take the lead, Charlton give a goal back and now it is Leeds time

11:27 AM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

JB sticks a header just over. We've just replaced Mickey Doyle with Jon Howson. Now's the time, lads!

11:28 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home