Footie Riddler of the Week...Part 2

Which English team has spent the most total seasons in the top flight without ever being crowned Champions?
Who and how many years?

Footie Riddler of the Week

The footie punditry world is aflutter this week over Carlos Tevez's "toys out of the pram" antics against Bayern on Tuesday, with a lot of the hacks claiming that this has never happened before. Tosh. Here's a riddler on another celebrity bad boy from yore:

"My legendary disciplinary problems started in 1987 when I punched a teammate Bruno Martini in the face. In 1988, I got a six game ban for breaking Michel Der Zakarian's leg. In January 1989 during a friendly game against Torpedo Moscow I kicked the ball at the crowd, then ripped off and threw away my shirt after being substituted. Finally in 1990, I was banned from my international side after referring to the manager as a "c--t" on national telly. Who am I?"

Champions League Gameday 2!

The Champions League is back today. Unfortunately, it's another busy teaching Tuesday for me, so I won't be around. The Manc clubs are up today, so if you're around, chip in a few comments and I'll look forward to catching with them tonight. I'm hoping to skive a bit tomorrow and watch the London duo in action.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 6

With the Canaries' win today over Sunderland, we've reached the end of Round 6 of the Premiership (or Round 8 of the Championship). Here are the current standings:

1. Simon Burke – 31 pts
2. United We Stand – 26 pts
- Yellows – 26 pts
4. Gooner71 – 24 pts
5. AZ Kicker – 21 pts
- Thomas – 21 pts
7. Matthew – 19 pts
8. Blue Devil – 20 pts
9. Someone Said – 14 pts
10. Man Utd Rules – 11 pts
11. West Ham Rising – 9 points

Up Early for the Footie

Saturday has rolled around again and it's got some tasty morsels for us today. We start and end the day with the Manchester clubs who have been dominating the Premiership this season, Citeh v. Everton on ESPN2 as the early one and United away to Stoke as the late one. In between there are the usual 3pm GMT kickoffs with Chelski, Liverpool and Arsenal all in action. Join me for all the usual LOB nattering.

The Bounce Back!

After that humiliating mid-week match against the team that dare not speak its name, the mighty Whites are looking for a big bounce back in the Championship as they travel to the south coast to meet up with old friends Gus Poyet and Kasper Ankergren. I'll miss much of the first half but I'll be around for the second half action. Join me if you're around this afternoon.

The Carling Cup 3rd Round Hangover

I woke up still battered and bruised from that Elland Road drubbing yesterday. However, there are a number of tasty Carling Cup fixtures on tap today, so time marches on, eh? I'll be around in the office this afternoon monitoring the action. Drop on by for a cuppa, won't you?

Same Again, Please!

Remember last time? The Paddy head wound? JB roasting Rio for the winner. Ah, yes. Sweet memories indeed. I'll be teaching today, so I'll miss the festivities at Elland Road but I'll take 1-0 again.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 5

What a kooky, looney weekend of English footer action we just witnessed. It's definitely upset the applecart in the PPP stakes. Here are the latest standings:

1. Simon Burke – 29 pts
2. United We Stand – 26 pts
3. Gooner71 – 20 pts
4. AZ Kicker – 19 pts
- Matthew – 19 pts
- Thomas – 19 pts
- Yellows – 19 pts
- Blue Devil – 19 pts
9. Man Utd Rules – 14 pts
10. Someone Said – 11 pts
11. West Ham Rising – 6 points

Sunday's Big Match Ups

So, who is going to be the first to blink. Both Manchester clubs have been perfect so far this season. Everything Citeh can do, United can do better. Hope it continues
Just like a few week back, neighbors meet neighbors as Fulham host Citeh while United host Chelsea. Will Manchester kick London's butt again?

Join me for these two matches as well Spurs hosting Liverpool and Sunderland playing Stoke

Join me

UWS

There's Gonna Be A Nasty Accident!

Board up your windows, East Enders, as someone is definitely going home in an effing ambulance today as West Ham go into the Lion's Den of Millwall for a match that WHR once said should never be played. Should get lively. That's followed in short with Arsenal's trip to Blackburn. The big boys may be playing on Sunday, but it's a fascinating day in English footer. Join me for all the usual LOB coverage.

Footie Riddler of the Week

Sadly, I'm going to be busy this afternoon as the Group Stage of the Europa League kicks off, so I thought I'd post a particularly tricky question related to the history of the tournament:

"Which club has the best record in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (the fore-runner of the fore-runner of the EL) with three wins but, strangely, has never won either the UEFA Cup or the Europa League?"

Good luck, chaps!

Champions League Gameday 1!

Don't mention the war today as the long road to Munich starts here with the two London clubs facing off against German opposition (Chelski host Leverkusen while the Arse are away at Dortmund) today in Gameday 1 of the Champions League. Unfortunately, I'll be away from the computer teaching during much of it. But I'll look forward to reading your comments here. Enjoy!

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 4

It's been a couple of weeks since we had an update of the Premiership Predictions Game and the latest round of games brought a whole boatload of new points for many participants. That's left us with a four way tie at the top. Here are the latest standings:

1. Blue Devil – 23 pts
- Gooner71 – 23 pts
- Simon Burke – 23 pts
- Yellows – 23 pts
5. Thomas – 22 pts
- United We Stand – 22 pts
7. AZ Kicker – 18 pts
- Matthew – 18 pts
9. Man Utd Rules – 14 pts
- Someone Said – 14 pts
11.West Ham Rising – 10 points

It's...Back!

The Premiership returns after what seems like an eternal international break. Sadly, though, I'll be out of commission today, as I'll be down in western Pennsylvania doing our annual ATV benefit ride for the Belize trip. But I thought I'd start you lot off on what looks to be a quite epic day of the footer. Enjoy it, lads!

Nick Lowe Guest DJ's All Songs Considered

This week's All Songs Considered pod features a superb guest DJ spot by one of the greatest English singer-songwriters of the past generation - Nick Lowe. You can download it from iTunes and the usual sources.

Enjoy!

Footie Riddler of the Week

I'm reviving the Footie Trivia section of the LOB today as I came across a terrific question on the Guardian Football Weekly pod:

"Who is the only player to have scored more than 100 Premiership goals at a single stadium?" (Name the player and the stadium, please).

Good luck, chaps!

The LOB GOP Debate Drinking Game

Join me tonight for the only way I know to maintain my sanity whilst doing my civic duty and watching the GOP debate - with a few drinks on hand. It's Rick Perry's first turn at the dance, so it could get feisty. Here are the rules:

Take a swig of your favorite beer whenever:

* A candidate tips his/her hat to "the Job Creators."

* Rick Perry reminds the audience that he's from Texas.

* Newt Gingrich complains about the MSNBC hosts' "Gotcha Questions."

* Mitt Romney says the phrase "career politicians."

* Ron Paul threatens to burn down the Federal Reserve building.

Take a shot of your favorite spirit whenever:

* The MSNBC moderators ask the candidates if they believe in evolution.

* Michelle Bachmann claims that she has received a message from God.

* Rick Santorum tells people not to Google "Santorum" (seriously - do Google "Santorum!")

* Herman Cain blames Obama for the jobs crisis.

* Jon Huntsman gets a chance to speak.

Bottoms up if the issue of education comes up or anyone proposes a stimulus plan that would actually add jobs to the economy.

• Feel free to add your own rules!

The debate starts at 8pm on MSNBC - see you there!

England v. Wales Live!

It's another big day of Euro 2012 qualifiers and I'll be taking advantage of my last free afternoon until Thanksgiving to follow them. After the terrific results on Friday, England merely need two more wins for qualification. I'm hoping for a good, solid professional job against the Welsh this afternoon. Join me for all the action!

That's What He Said!

Happy Labor Day, LOBers! I thought it was appropriate to post this quiz of former boss of "The Office" Michael Scott's sayings in order to underscore the sheer absurdity of the workplace. To play the game, cut and paste the following link into your browser:

http://www.tbs.com/stories/story/0,,249154,00.html?wide=1

(Warning - this is very difficult; I only got 3 out of 8 right!)

U.S. v. Costa Rica Live!

Well, we were having just a bit too much Dahlgren fun this afternoon to catch the goings-on from Sofia, but we're settling in now with a growler full of fresh "Black Hops" beer from EBC for the U.S. v. Costa Rica late one out of Carson City tonight. If you're around and about tonight and keen for some more international action, join us. Come on, you boys!

The Euros Continue

So, after just three games in Premier League, everyone is off to play for their countries. We will be all concentrating on the big one in Bulgaria. England hope to do the same with this lot as they did at Wembley... a 4-0 win!
At the same time, we'd all love to see the Welsh get something off of Montenegro!
Join me and follow it all

COME ON ENGURLUND!!!!!!!!!


UWS

What a Performance Ten Years Ago Today!!!

Can you believe it has been TEN YEARS since this night in Munich. I wasn't able to watch it live but I have seen the highlights many times. Have a look

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au0YthcBGUg&feature=related


I still don't know how to add a link


Enjoy,

UWS