Carling Cup Quarter-finals Live!

It's a big afternoon of Carling Cup footie with Arsenal hosting Wigan and West Ham hosting ManYoo. Anyone want to bet against an Arsenal-ManYoo semi? Or that Fergie and Arsene will "play the kids" today? I thought not. Join me for all the usual LOB hijinks from 2:45pm EST.

World Cup Decision Week!

It's decision week for FIFA, with the hosts of both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to be revealed on Thursday at 4pm CET (I believe that's 10am EST). Here are the current bidders:

World Cup 2018:
Belgium and the Netherlands
England
Russia
Spain and Portugal

World Cup 2022:
Australia
Japan
Qatar
South Korea
U.S.A.

At this point, the bookies are backing Spain and Portugal for 2018 and Qatar for 2022. What's your thinking about England and the U.S.'s fortunes?

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 15

It's all change in the PPP stakes after another wild and woolly Premiership weekend that saw Manchester United grab the top spot for the first time this season. And with Dimitar "Dracula" Berbatov grabbing a hat-full on Saturday, none of us earns points on the Golden Boot slot. Here are the current standings:

1. Thomas – 31 points
2. Man Utd Rules – 24 points
3. United We Stand – 23 points
4. Someone Said – 18 points
5. Gooner71 – 16 points
6. Matthew – 16 points
7. Simon Burke – 16 points
8. Blue Devil – 12 points
9. West Ham Rising – 11 points
10.AZ Kicker – 10 points
11.Blubber Boy – 6 points

Secret Santa picks gifts for Man United fans

Spend "Cyber Monday" time wisely and treat yourself or make some Man United fan's special day with this splendid collectible. Don't believe me? Read the customer reviews.

View this in its entire awesomeness HERE

FA Cup Third Round Draw

So the FA Cup Third Round Draw has been made. We followed it on the previous thread but here is the draw in full

Burnley v Port Vale
Coventry City v Crystal Palace
Bristol City v Sheffield Wednesday
Fulham v Peterborough
Doncaster Rovers v Wolves
Brighton or FC United of Manchester v Portsmouth
Huddersfield Town v Dover Athletic
Crawley Town or Swindon v Derby County
West Ham Utd v Barnsley
Reading v West Bromwich Albion
Arsenal v Leeds United
Sheffield United v Aston Villa
Leicester City v Manchester City
Bolton Wanderers v York City
Blackburn Rovers v Queens Park Rangers
Swansea City v Colchester United
Wycombe Wanderers v Hereford United or Lincoln City
Stevenage Borough v Newcastle United
Burton Albion v Middlesbrough
Millwall v Birmingham City
Southampton v Blackpool
Watford v Hartlepool United or Yeovil Town
Chelsea v Ipswich Town
Sunderland v Notts County or Bournemouth
Scunthorpe United v Everton
Manchester United v Liverpool
Hull City v Wigan Ahtletic
Stoke City v Cardiff City
Tottenham Hotspur v Charlton or Luton Town
Preston North End v Nottingham Forest
Norwich City v Droylsden or Leyton Orient
Torquay United v Carlisle United

Ties will be played on weekend of 8/9 January 2011

Two obvious big ones for LOB... Manchester United hosts LiverSox and the Battle of the Dahlgrens with Arsenal vs Leeds Utd. Be aware Steve... we came up a cropper last year to Bob's lot!!

Your thoughts

UWS

Soccer Sunday Plus

It's already been a terrific Sunday morning of Premiership footer with Chelski slipping up at St. James' Park. Next up - the Scousesox travel to on fire Tottenham for the big match of the weekend. Join me for the action from 11 am onward on FSC. And stick around for the draw for 3rd Round of the Cup immediately following the match.

Saturday Way Hay!

It's up and at 'em early for us again tomorrow as the Gunners take on Villa from 7:45 EST on ESPN2. That's followed by the 3pm GMT kickoffs including ManYoo hosting Blackburn and Leeds away to Reading. Join me for all the usual LOB fun and games, won't you? Cheers!

Happy Thanksgiving Leftovers Day

I didn't have a moment to post yesterday, so I want to take the time to wish all of you a belated Thanksgiving greeting. What's your favorite element of the inevitable Turkey Day leftovers. To my mind, there's nothing better than a day afternoon Thanksgiving sandwich with leftover turkey, dressing and cranberry all smashed together. How about the rest of you?

Champions League - Match Day 5

Greetings from northern Virginia. It was a mixed day for the English sides yesterday, with Arsenal going down in Braga while Chelski polished off Zelina to make the knock-out stage. Today, ManYoo go north of the border to face Rangers at Ibrox while Spurs host Werder Bremen fresh from their Emirates heroics at the weekend. Join me from 2:45 EST onward for all the usual LOB fun.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 14

It was another wild and woolly weekend in the Premiership with lots of shock results. But two things stay constant - anyone in the game who banked on Blackpool getting relegated or Robin van Persie topping the scoring charts is crying in his beer over these current standings:

1. Blue Devil - 33 points
2. Gooner71 - 27 points
3. Simon Burke - 26 points
4. AZ Kicker - 22 points
5. Thomas - 20 points
6. ManUtd Rules - 18 points
7.United We Stand - 14 points
8. Someone Said - 11 points
9.West Ham Rising - 9 points
10. Matthew - 7 points
11. Blubber Boy - 4 points

Sparks Welcomes Roberto to the Cottage

It's Sunday in the Premiership. Blackburn and Villa have already kicked off but the big story is Fulham v. Citeh and Sparky Hughes going up against his old club. That starts at 11 am on FSC.

Early North London Derby!

It's a match worthy of an early wake-up - the North London derby. It's 2nd place v. 7th. You know you can't afford to miss it, so join me for the LOB banter.

England Villains XI

Gooner and I were chatting during last night's match about Fabio Capello's recent turn toward picking bad boys such as Kevin Davies for the England side. We were speculating that, if Don Fabio is going to turn the England team into an international version of Stoke or Wolves full of legbreaking defenders, midfield assassins and bash-about strikers, why not go whole hog. Here's my effort at an England Villains XI:

1. Richard Wright (Sheffield Utd) While at Everton, injured himself twice in one season in late night Merseyside boozing sessions
2. Lee Naylor (Cardiff) Worst disciplinary record in the Championship last season
3. Paul Robinson (Bolton) Legbreaking tackle led to legal action
4. Jody Craddock (Wolves) Does mixed martial arts in his spare time
5. Martin Taylor (Watford) Broke Eduardo's leg in 2008 while playing for Brum
6. Ryan Shawcross (Stoke) Broke Aaron Ramsey's ankle in February
7. Karl Henry (Wolves) two straight reds and a Bobby Zamora broken leg already this season
8. Robbie Savage (Derby) Need I say more?
9. Kevin Davies (Bolton) Committed most fouls in Premiership 2009/10
10. Joey Barton (Newcastle) Convicted twice of GBH and Common Afray
11. Rob Hulse (QPR) Judas!

I'd love to see your nominations for my Villains XI here.

England v. France

The irritating reality of having to make an honest living is getting in the way of my footie watching today, so unfortunately I won't be able to follow today's friendly at Wembley live. However, I thought I'd post a thread for those of you who will have the chance. I'm told that there will be a replay tonight on FSC so I'll be looking forward to that. Come on, England!

Zlatan Gives Marco the Bruce Lee Treatment!

In a weekend full of highlights (what about that Asamoah Gyan goal celebration - quality!), my favorite moment had to be Zlatan Ibrahimovic's XXX kung fu lunge on Marco Materazzi in the Inter v. Juve match. Call me cruel, but I'd like to see Marco getting kicked in the head on a constant loop. Enjoy!

Premiership Prediction Plus Game - Week 13

We had some real shockers in the weekend's Premiership action but strangely it hasn't affected the tables very much. Here's the latest update on the Premiership Predictions Plus game, with a tripartite powerhouse at the top:

1. Gooner71 – 24 points
2. Blue Devil – 24 points
3. Simon Burke – 24 points
4. AZ Kicker – 21 points
5. Thomas – 17 points
6. United We Stand – 16 points
7. Man Utd Rules – 11 points
8. West Ham Rising – 8 points
9. Matthew – 5 points
10.Someone Said – 5 points
11.Blubber Boy – 3 points

Super Sunday Football

Come join us for some exciting Sunday footie as Everton host Arsenal and Chelski hosts Sunderland. We can discuss Fabio Capello's interesting squad selection as England face France in a friendly on Wednesday.

Mile High Premiership Saturday

I'm dialing in from the Crowne Plaza in lovely downtown Denver, Colorado this weekend. After a bit of a drought, I'm looking forward to joining you this morning for all the good stuff, starting with United's visit to Villa Park followed by the full slate of 3pm GMT matches and finally the resurgent Liverpool. I'll look forward to the pleasure of your company.

Premiership Midweek!

It's that crazy time of the semester when the Premier League starts throwing in random slates of Premiership matches on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Today we've got Stoke v. Brum and Spurs v. Sunderland along with a full docket of Football League matches. My eyes will be on Leeds United's home match with fellow Northerners Hull City. Join me if you're enjoying a free afternoon.

Two Minutes of Silence

With Armistice Day, which remembers those who died in World War I and were buried beneath the poppy fields of Europe, coming up next Sunday, November 14, a number of artists have teamed up to release a unique single that is comprised of (you guessed it) two minutes of silence. Here's a taste.

A Great Premiership Weekend

Come join us for Spurs vs Bolton and Manchester United vs Wolves. There should be some great matches after the midweek Champions League matches.

Quiz Time

Trivia time again!
I just heard an interesting question after today's Europa League matches

Tonight, Manchester City became the 11th English team to score a 100 goals in Europe.
Name the other 10.

Good luck boys

UWS

Champions League - Matchday 4

The Champions League group stages keep rolling on despite the fact that most of us have lost interest in them. The big sides have been mopping up the competition and now need only a point or two from their last three matches to successfully qualify for the knock-out stages. Still, it's another footie Tuesday and I'll be on the LOB monitoring the events and perhaps tossing in the occasional election prediction. Who knows? Just join me.

Premiership Prediction Plus Game - Week 10

It's time to check in on our PPP Game. A quarter of the season is done, the big clubs are all clustered at the top, there are a few surprises sprinkled about the middle (Blackpool, especially) and my Golden Boot Boy Carlos Tevez is crocked. Here are the current standings:

1. Gooner71 - 28 points
2. Blue Devil - 25 points
3. Simon Burke – 24 points
4. AZ Kicker - 23 points
5. Thomas - 15 points
6. United We Stand - 12 points
7. Man Utd Rules - 9 points
8. West Ham Rising – 8 points
9. Matthew - 6 points
10. Someone Said – 5 points
11. Blubber Boy - 4 points