A Bit of a Rubbish Saturday of Football

All of the big matches this weekend are on "Super Sunday," which means that Saturday is...well, not so super. So I'm highlighting the Leeds v. QPR clash, which is at the police-enforced insane hour of 7:15am EST. That's followed by a doddle for City at home to Hull. And then pure tosh at 10am. See you early doors, lads!

Tough Tests for United and Arsenal in the Champions League Draw

There aren't really any easy groups left in the Champions League group stage (okay, Group G looks a bit soft) but United and especially Arsenal were given no favors by the suits draws balls out of UEFA bowls at the draw yesterday. Here's the draw in full:

Group A: Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Sociedad

Group B: Real Madrid, Juventus, Galatasaray, FC Copenhagen

Group C: Benfica, Paris St Germain, Olympiakos, Anderlecht

Group D: Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, Manchester City, Viktoria Plzen

Group E: Chelsea, Schalke, Basel, Steaua Bucharest

Group F: Arsenal, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli

Group G: Porto, Atletico Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg, Austria Vienna

Group H: Barcelona, AC Milan, Ajax, Celtic

Your thoughts, gentlemen?

Trivia Time

Hi Fellas,

I was listening to Talksport coming home tonight from one of Matt's games and heard this question. I did not hear the answers but I am sure I can come up with most of them without cheating.... give it a shot... no PEEKING!!

Name the THIRTEEN English league teams that have 'ton' in their name

Good Luck

UWS

League Cup Second Round Live!

I'm back home in The Cottage between my two classes today to grab a bite to eat and enjoy at least the first half of this evening's League Cup 2nd Round fixtures, including the Mighty LUFC away to our local rivals Doncaster Rovers. Join me for a cuppa and a chat if you have the time.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 2 Update

We wrapped up Gameday 2 in the Premiership day with a really tedious 0-0 draw between two title challengers - United and Chelsea, so it's time for a quick check on our game. Well, it's change in the table, as is typical at this time of the season. Chelsea are top (albeit because they've played three matches), so those of us - and there are many - who plumped for the Blues as champions gained 10 points and those who picked City who dropped precipitously. For example, Matt is now top of the table with an impressive early point score of 45 points, due to his prediction of Chelsea, as well as picks of Barcelona (top of La Liga), Napoli (top of Serie A) and Christian Benteke as top scorer. Here is the current table:

1. Matt - 45 points
2. Someone Said - 36 pts
- Swansong - 36 pts
4. The Red Devil FCK1 - 28 pts
5. Gooner71 - 26 pts
6. Blue Devil - 25 pts
- Man Utd Rules - 25 pts
8. Chelskilad - 22 pts
9. United We Stand - 17 pts
10. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 15 pts
11. West Ham Rising - 14 pts
12. Yellows - 13 pts
13. The Red Dragon - 10 pts
- Sporting Real Salt Lake United Football Club Juniors FC - 10 pts

The First Big Clash of the Season

Join me this afternoon to watch the first clash between two big boys - United and Chelski. There are some big, big questions that will be answered - how good are Chelski? Does Roon have a role at United? We'll soon see.

An Odd Sunday

Morning, chaps! I've taken the liberty of having a lie-in - a luxury during the footer season - as the suits at the Premiership have an odd schedule for us today. Rather than the usual staggering of two or three matches at 1:30 GMT and 4 GMT, they've gone with the two matches at the same time. So at the top of the hour, we'll get both Cardiff v. Citeh and Spurs v. Swansea. Join me for the simultaneously coverage.

Back to School Footer

I'm up early to watch Fulham and the Arsenal from The Cottage, but I won't be around long. A few friends and I are hopping down the road to a local outlet mall to do some back to school shopping. So, enjoy the day's footer, lads, but enjoy me now for the early one.

Arsene's Waterloo?

Arsenal manager Arsenal Wenger enters tonight's away leg in Turkey against Fener under more scrutiny and pressure than he's ever been under at the club. Arsenal had a disastrous start to the season, losing to Villa 1-3 at home, but more significantly losing three players to injury, including Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who reputedly will take six months to recover. Will Le Boss survive this test? Join me for all of the action from 2:45pm onward.

Mini-Portland Reunion

I can attest that Mark Enderle is alive and well and still a super nice fella. He was super generous with his time while Melanie and I were in Portland. We hung at a great bar to watch the England-Scotland and amazingly were given two tickets to the Timbers-Dallas FC game by the barman. Mark admits to being a infrequent viewer of the LOB blog so say hello to an old friend.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 1 Update

An exciting first weekend of Premiership action is behind us, so it's time to take stock of the scores. What's Up Wheaton Simon and West Ham Rising are top of the pops, largely due to their risky prediction of a Manchester City title. City are off to a great start with a 4-0 win over Newcastle. Six of us - Blue Devil, MUR, Matt, Someone Said, Sporting, and Yellows - were leaping off our couches when Daniel Sturridge scored the inaugural goal of the Premiership season in Liverpool's win over Stoke Saturday morning. But no one predicted Koscielny's red card in the Arsenal v. Villa match. Moving to Europe, those who plumped for Barca added 2 points and those who picked Dortmund also got two points. Here is the current table:

1. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 22 points
2. West Ham Rising - 20 pts
3. Matt - 18 pts
4. Swansong - 15 pts
- United We Stand - 15 pts
6. Someone Said - 14 pts
7. Blue Devil - 13 pts
- Man Utd Rules - 13 pts
9. Yellows - 11 pts
10 Chelskilad - 10 pts
12. The Red Devil FCK1 - 9 pts
13. Sporting Real Salt Lake Football Club Juniors FC - 7 pts
14. Gooner71 - 6 pts

Monday Night Footie NBC Style

It's the first Monday Night Football match of the NBC era as Citeh host the Toon in a much discussed match. Join me if you can for this match on the NBC Sports Network as Citeh start the Manuel Pelligrini era. Kickoff is at 3 PM EDT.

Week #1 Continued

After a great start to the season yesterday, Week 1 continues today with two matches in the Capital.
We start off with a London derby in Southwest London as Palace host Spurs. Then we fly off to West London as Hull visit Stamford Bridge as The Special One makes his second debut

Join me

UWS

The Beginning of a New Era

Some people are up all night to get lucky but I'm up with the bleedin' chickens this morning to greet the beginning of a new era for footie watching in the USA. NBC Sports begin a three-year relationship with the Beautiful Game and Fox Soccer Channel - our home for the past decade - is no more. Join me for the beginning of what promises to be a fascinating season of a wide-open Premiership this morning.

Simon Pegg on WTF!

Simon Pegg is all over the cable telly universe this week, promoting his new film "The World's End." But five minutes on The Daily Show is no substitute for an hour and a half in Marc Maron's garage at the Cat Ranch. You can download the episode from iTunes and the other usual outlets. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Bivalve!

Please join me in wishing Bivalve Betsy a very happy birthday. Hope you're having a grand time today!

The Auld Enemy Invades Wemberley!

It may well be an absurd time to have a home international, with the Premiership season a mere three days away, but a Scotland v. England match is always full of passion. Join me from 3pm onward to follow all of the action this afternoon. Come on, the Three Lions!

A Footie Thread Only Bivalve Will Enjoy

The Red Devil recently unearthed an article that detailed an extraordinary photo shoot dating back to 2002 that the suits at the US Soccer Federation in their infinite wisdom believed was a good ideas a promo for the side's World Cup efforts in Japanorea. If you dare, you can see the full article here: http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9529241/usmnt-new-york-s-magazine-greatest-photo-shoot-history

With Bivalve's birthday coming up on Thursday, consider this an early present. Enjoy!

Trivia Time

I ran across this bit of trivia and wondered if I was the only person that was impressed by this fact: What was the only League team that Alex Ferguson's Manchester United faced, and never beat? I'll post the answer after a few days or after a correct answer.

The First Trophy of the Year

Today is the traditional start to the season in England. League Champions... MANCHESTER UNITED take on FA Cup winners... but relegated...Wigan Athletic in CHARITY(always that in my book) Shield  at Wembley Stadium

WIll the  Moyes' Boys get David his first trophy in his career? Will Wigan beat another team from Manchester under the arch.

After this match, Leeds try and keep their 100% record going as they visit Leicester City

Join me

UWS

THE BIG LEAGUE HASN'T EVEN STARTED!!!

The race for this trophy is well underway as we are already in Week #2. Will my promotion picks continue with their 100% records? Join me for more of League Football... the Premier League hasn't even started!!!

Join me

UWS

Capital One Cup Second Round Draw

The draw for the second round of the Capital One Cup was made early this morning. Bob may not be pleased about a potentially tricky tie at Donny. Here is the draw in full.

Carlisle United (3)	v	Leicester City (2)	Brunton Park, Carlisle	[show]

	Doncaster Rovers (2)	v	Leeds United (2)	Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster	[show]

	Nottingham Forest (2)	v	Millwall (2)	City Ground, Nottingham	[show]

	Sunderland (1)	v	Milton Keynes Dons (3)	Stadium of Light, Sunderland	[show]

	West Bromwich Albion (1)	v	Newport County (4)	The Hawthorns, West Bromwich	[show]

	Bristol City (3)	v	Crystal Palace (1)	Ashton Gate, Bristol	[show]

	Peterborough United (3)	v	Reading (2)	London Road, Peterborough	[show]

	Barnsley (2)	v	Southampton (1)	Oakwell, Barnsley	[show]

	Burton Albion (4)	v	Fulham (1)	Pirelli Stadium, Burton	[show]

	Burnley (2)	v	Preston North End (3)	Turf Moor, Burnley	[show]

	Liverpool (1)	v	Notts County (3)	Anfield, Liverpool	[show]

	Norwich City (1)	v	Bury (4)	Carrow Road, Norwich	[show]

	Leyton Orient (3)	v	Hull City (1)	Matchroom Stadium, Leyton	[show]

	Everton (1)	v	Stevenage (3)	Goodison Park, Liverpool	[show]

	Stoke City (1)	v	Walsall (3)	Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent	[show]

	Huddersfield Town (2)	v	Charlton Athletic (2)	John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield	[show]

	Aston Villa (1)	v	Rotherham United (3)	Villa Park, Birmingham	[show]

	Tranmere Rovers (3)	v	Bolton Wanderers (2)	Prenton Park, Tranmere	[show]

	Morecambe (4)	v	Newcastle United (1)	Globe Arena, Morecambe	[show]

	Queens Park Rangers (2)	v	Swindon Town (3)	Loftus Road, Shepherd's Bush	[show]

	Derby County (2)	v	Brentford (3)	Pride Park Stadium, Derby	[show]

	Watford (2)	v	A.F.C. Bournemouth (2)	Vicarage Road, Watford	[show]

	Yeovil Town (2)	v	Birmingham City (2)	Huish Park, Yeovil	[show]

	Accrington Stanley (4)	v	Cardiff City (1)	Crown Ground, Accrington	[show]

	West Ham United (1)	v	Cheltenham Town (4)	Boleyn Ground, West Ham	[show]

 

John Peel's Record Collection

UWS unearthed this article about a project to post on-line BBC radio DJ John Peel's encyclopedic record collection. So far about 2,000 of his more than 25,000 record collection at his home in Suffolk has been curated at the "The Space," an on-line music platform. Check it out here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-23596537

The League Cup Saga Continues...

...today with a momentous First Round tie at Elland Road between the Whites and L2's Chesterfield. I'm hoping that we can continue where we left off on Saturday with that excellent late win against Brighton. Join me from 2:45pm EST to follow all the action this afternoon. MOT!

Managerial Tirade Quiz

The Gooner is such an experienced thrower of toys from his pram that he was able to score 8/10 on this quiz of rants by managers. How'd you think you mob are going to do? TAKE THE QUIZ

League Cup First Round Live!

This year's edition of the League Cup sponsored by Capital One kicked off yesterday with Preston North End shocking Championship promotion favorites Blackpool 1-0. I'll be around this afternoon as a full slate of League Cup fixtures kicks off around 2:45 pm EST. The highlights are a Yorkshire Derby between Huddersfield and Bradford and a south-coast derby between Bournemouth and Pompey. Join me for all the action this afternoon as this season's first trophy tournament gets started.

Jason Sudeikis Stumps for NBC Sports

Kudos to Johnno for catching this advert for the upcoming NBC Sports coverage of the Premiership. If this bit featuring former SNL star Jason Sudeikis is anything to go by, we're in for a treat starting on August 17th. Enjoy!

Let the Games Begin!

Join me this morning as we get started with a brand, spanking new Championship season. It's an early start early in August but I couldn't be more excited. This gives me three weeks to enjoy the good stuff before my semester kicks into gear. We kick off the season this morning at 7:15 am with two big sides with recent Premiership memories - Burnley v. Bolton - who will both harbor desires of returning there., despite my not picking either one for promotion. Then we have the usual slate of 3pm GMT/10 am EST kick-offs, including my beloved Leeds United at home to playoff losers Brighton. Should be a cracker - don't even think of skipping out on the LOB action this morning.