League Cup Fourth Round Action Halloween Style

There is more League Cup Action today as there three all EPL contests. The marquee match is a rematch of Sunday as Chelsea host United. I hope the Blues get the same treatment as I will during my annual visit to the Urologist. Fingers up

the Blues.This match does not have nearly the significance that the EPL contest did on Sunday and may even be seen as an unneeded extra match, but I am sure both teams will go all out to win.I expect a lot of changes from both sides from that contest on Sunday.The other contests are Norwich vs Spurs and Liverpool vs Swansea as Brendan Rodgers and Joe Allen welcome their old mates to Anfield. If these matches come anywhere close to as entertaining as those incredible matches then we are in for a real treat.

Footie Comic Quiz

The Guardian has a fun quiz for those of us that remember reading the footy comics. Click here

League Cup 4th Round Live!

One of the highlights so far in this young season for me was watching Leeds take apart high-flying Everton in the 3rd Round of the League Cup. It's 4th Round time, chaps - and the Mighty Whites have earned themselves a home fixture with woeful Southampton. Should be a passport to the 5th Round, you say? Not so fast! We just tanked one against woeful Charlton on Saturday, so nothing is safe with Evil Neil's side. Should be a gripping afternoon, then. I'll be in and out, checking the scores during my breaks. Chip in if you're around and about.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 9 Update

Before we get into the hurly burly of the Carling Cup 4th Round tomorrow, it's time to have a quick check on our PPP game. Things have shifted ever so slightly in terms of the table, with Spurs up into the CL slots and Soton dropping into the relegation zone again. However, with Dembe Ba still on top of the GBB stakes, AZ Kicker still rules the roost. As for tomorrow, all but Gooner and MUR are still in the Carling Cup. Here are the current standings:

1. AZ Kicker - 28 points
2. Matthew - 21 pts
3. Someone Said - 17 pts
4. Blue Devil - 14 pts
5. Thomas - 13 pts
- West Ham Rising - 13 pts
7. ManUtd Rules - 11 pts
8. The Red Devil FCK1 - 10 pts
9. Chelskilad - 9 pts
10. Gooner71 - 6 pts
- United We Stand - 6 pts
12. Simon Burke - 4pts.

NBC Secures Premiership Rights

Thanks to UWS for alerting us about a new deal under which the NBC/Universal networks have secured the rights to show the English Premiership starting next season as part of a three-year $250 million deal. I thought I'd move it off the archaic platform of email onto this forum where we can all chip in. Of course, this raises a lot of issues for football fans who have grown accustomed to getting our weekend fix of the beautiful game through the Fox Soccer Channel, including:

* Can FSC survive this blow to their coverage?
* Will NBC continue the practice of respecting the coverage, including using the English commentary track?
* Will the NBC deal grow the game in this country?

I've got mixed feelings about the deal. There is a lot right about the FSC coverage at the moment, including live coverage of matches via the English feed. At the same point, we shouldn't romanticize FSC, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch. We've often criticized FSC coverage, including their practice of turning down the crowd noise track and missing the kickoffs in favor of inane ads for zit creams. I'm hopeful that having the matches on basic cable (or network) telly will increase the audience for the game in this country (I'm already seeing the effect of ESPN coverage on American sports fan friends). At the same time, I always worry about change and I wouldn't be surprised if NBC tried to "Americanize" the coverage - always a mistake.

More information here: http://epltalk.com/2012/10/28/nbc-universal-confirms-acquisition-of-premier-league-rights-in-us-from-2013-16/

 Your thoughts, gentlemen?

A Very Super Sunday

Let's be honest - yesterday was a bit rubbish in the Premiership, with two of the Championship favorites struggling their way to unconvincing 1-0 wins. I'm hoping for much better from what promises to be a very super Sunday. It all starts in moments with the Merseyside Derby, still one of the most important matches of the season. This year it has added spice with Everton flying high and Brendan Rogers and Liverpool under fire. Then it's all eyes at the top of the table as Manchester United travel to Stamford Bridge to meet the league leaders. Join me if you like football at all.

The Weekend in the Premiership

Welcome to the weekend in the Premiership, chaps. I'm taking the opportunity to have an extra lie-in after several late nights this week, so I'm skipping the relegation dogfight between Norwich and Villa. But I'll be around for the regular 3pm GMT kick-offs. Join me then...or Now!

Champions League Plus

It's another big day in European footie, with gameday 2 of the Champions League along with a full slate of Championship matches. As usual I'll miss it all but I thought I'd post a thread for all of you lucky enough to catch it. Enjoy!

A Sunday Northeast Derby

Sunderland hosts Newcastle followed by Evil QPR

vs Everton. Come join us!

Saturday in the Prem

It's another cracking day in the Premiership. I'm up early to catch what promises to be a fascinating opener with Andre Villas Boas returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time since he was sacked last season. Along with the usual 10am EST kick-offs, FSC will be focusing on United v. Stoke. Then we've got Norwich v. Arsenal as the late one. Join me for all the usual LOB coverage this morning.

Leeds United v. Not a Big Club

Afternoon, chaps. I've over at the office cracking on with some research projects this afternoon. But don't think that that means that I've forgotten my beloved Leeds who travel to the notorious death trap Hillsborough to see off some not very big club in the bottom half of the Championship and heading back to League 1 where they belong. Join me from 2:45EST for all the action!

Peter Gabriel Guest DJs All Songs Considered!

To mark the 25th anniversary of his classic "So" album, the former Genesis front man guest DJs the "All Songs" Pod, with predictably unpredictable results. Download the episode from iTunes and your usual sources.

If it's Tuesday...it must be 2014 World Cup Qualifiers!

It's another day of important World Cup qualifiers today, as England travel to Poland looking for a big away win. It would also be helpful if Ukraine were to nick a couple of points off Montenegro in their home fixture. Alas, I'll be teaching this afternoon, so I'll be in and out checking the scores on my breaks. However, I will be around later tonight as the US take on Guatemala in a "must-draw" match. See you then!

The Nikki and Sara Show

It's been a long time since I watched MTV and even longer since I was excited about the news about a new MTV show. No - the suits at MTV haven't decided to return to the 80s policy of playing videos, sadly. However, this fall they'll start airing what promises to be a smart "Daily Show" style comedy and discussion magazine about music news featuring two NYC based comics Nikki Glaser and Sara Schaefer. I first came across Glaser and Schaefer on their "You Had to Be There" podcast; indeed, this show is part of a trend of turning pods into telly (e.g., "This American Life," "Comedy Bang Bang" and Marc Maron's upcoming show on IFC). "The Nikki and Sara" is scheduled to air once a week at 11pm and might give Jon Stewart a much-needed kick up the arse. No schedule yet as to the premiere date but stay tuned....

Antigua v. U.S. Live!

I've made a quick change from my lucky England shirt into my lucky U.S. kit in preparation for tonight's qualifier in Antigua and Barbuda. The action starts around 7pm EST and I'll be on a dodgy link as I don't have any telly coverage of the match here in WNY. Join me for more goals!

Come on, England!

If it's a Friday, England are playing a World Cup 2014 qualifier against a minnow, right? For once, that's working out for me, as I've got the day off today for our Fall Break. Add that to FSC's decision to pull their heads out of their arses and show the England U-21s against Serbia at 1pm and the senior side against mighty San Marino at 3pm and we're set for a good old afternoon, aren't we? I do realize that some of you wage-slaves will be working today, but if you have a moment to drop by and have a natter about England, please join me.

The LOB Vice Presidential Debate Drinking Game!

I'm settling in for the Vice Presidential Debate in my time honored style - with MSNBC on the box and a drink at my side. My plan to pre-game the event in order to be able to stomach the whole charade, a couple of cocktails in by kick-off time. If you'd like to join me, here are the rules:

Take a sip of your favorite libation, whenever someone mentions:

* Scranton, Pennsylvania
* The 47%
* Privatizing Social Security
* Killing Osama bin Laden
* The middle class tax cuts
* General Motors still being alive
* Firing Big Bird
* Unemployment being above/below 8&
* Iran's nuclear program
* Planned Parenthood/birth control/abortion

Take a full gulp whenever:

* Ryan lies out of his ass
* Biden pokes his finger toward him
* Either candidate ignores moderator Martha Raddatz

Chug the rest of your drink if:

* Ryan reminds Biden of plagiarizing Neil Kinnock
* Biden reminds Ryan of his secret love for Ayn Rand
* Anyone mentions education

Cheers!

LOB Book Club - Fall Edition?

I don't often suggest an LOB Book Club discussion during the most heated point of a fall semester for me. However, given that there are two recently published books that I'm really keen to read - and that seem like perfect LOB Book Club choices - I'm forced to make an exception. The first is Michael Chabon's latest novel Telegraph Avenue, which features the very Hornbyesque setting of a used record store in Oakland, California owned by two longtime friends and bandmates. The second is Zadie Smith's new novel NW, which is, quite naturally, about a group of people who populate her native "North West" quadrant of London - an area that Gooner and I are intimately familiar with. I'm up for reading either one or both here if there is a groundswell of interest. Let me know what you think.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 7 Update

Before we get into the interminable international break to come, it's time to take stock of our predictions game again. Week 7 brought the usual thrills and spills in English footer but it didn't do a lot to shake things up in our table. Chelski and AZ Kicker are still top of the pops, with Matthew still picking up a valuable 6 points from Dembe Ba's 6 goals in the Premiership. Here are the current standings:

1. AZ Kicker - 22 points
2. Matthew - 20 pts
3. Someone Said - 13 pts
4. Chelskilad - 12 pts
- Man Utd Rules - 12 pts
6. Blue Devil - 11 pts
- Gooner71 - 11 pts
8. United We Stand - 9 pts
9. Simon Buke - 8 pts
- The Red Devil - 8 pts
11. Thomas - 7 pts
12. West Ham Rising - 6 pts

John Cale Guest DJs All Songs Considered

The "All Songs Considered" pod this week features a fascinating conversation with Velvet Underground veteran John Cale ranging from his time with the Velvets and Andy Warhol, his study of minimalism and his love of Snoop. You can download it from iTunes and the other usual sources.

A Big Battle of Uniteds...and some other games

Join me for a slate of four games on this Sunday morning. Our first game on FSC is a ho-hum affair as Fulham visit St. Mary's. The middle matches are Liverpool vs Stoke and Spurs hosting Villa. The main course of the day is the visit of Manchester United to St. James' Park to play Newcastle United. Which United will win?  I haven't a good feeling about this one.. hope the boys in red prove me wrong

Join me
UWS

Another Cracking Premierxhip Weekend

I've got the special treat this weekend of sharing another great slate of English domestic footer with the Gooner alongside. We start with the current champions Citeh, who have dipped in form this year. Then it's the current table toppers Chelski against Norwich. We finish then with the Arsenal in a local derby with the Happy Hammers. Join us for all the action. Cheers!

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 6 Update

Another busy day in European footie has brought us to the end of Round Six of the PPP Game. Chelski and AZ Kicker are top of the charts, while Matthew has picked up six points for predicting Golden Boot leader Dembe Ba (currently on six Prem goals). Finally, condolences to AZ and Gooner as they exited the League Cup with Citeh last week.

Here are the current standings:

1. AZ Kicker - 19 points
2. Matthew - 17 pts
3. Someone Said - 12 pts
4. Blue Devil - 11 pts
- Man Utd - 11 pts
- Thomas - 11 pts
7. Chelskilad - 9 pts
- The Red Devil - 9 pts
- United We Stand - 9 pts
10. Gooner71 - 8 pts
11. Simon Burke - 7 pts
- West Ham Rising - 3 pts

A Monday Night London Derby as West Hosts East

It's a Monday night London Derby between two teams that have rarely met in recent years. The last meetings occurred in 2004 in the Championship when the home team won each time. The previous meeting before that was in April 1996 when QPR won 3-0 despite being relegated weeks later. I hope history reverses itself and WHR comes home to a Hammers victory. Rob Green will be on the bench vs his former team as he has lost his place to Julio Cesar. It's also a battle of the witless managers as Fat Sam and Sparky renew acquaintances, but it will be a London Derby instead of a Lancashire Derby.