Saturday Morning - Wahay!

I'm back in The Cottage after seemingly weeks on the road. I had a terrific Thanksgiving at Gooner Central, but I'm happy to be in my favorite chair getting set to watch the morning's fare. The big one is Aaron Ramsey's return to Cardiff during the season of his life. So pull up a chair and join me on the LOB for some serious football chatter.

Giggsy Turns the Big Four OH!

I am taking a break from yard work and household chores to commemorate Giggsy's fortieth birthday. It's quite a feat that he still starts for United  at such an advanced age and a reminder that one of the greatest players ever to wear the United shirt and the player with the most United appearances is still going strong. A much more significant event than any Black Friday event.

A Tricky CL Fixture

Manchester United face a tricky away fixture at the Bayer Arena. Hopefully, I won't need a cure for a migrane after this match. United need to get something out of this match or else they may not be guaranteed qualification to the knockout stages. Should bean interesting afternoon.

A Manc Sunday

It should be an interesting Sunday as we start with Citeh  vs Spurs followed by the Red Dragons vs the Red Devils. Should be  a jolly good show.

Ferry Across the Mersey... well Stanley Park

Footer is back and with a corker.... Liverpool across the Stanley to Goodison for their derby. What a start to the day. Inside 8 minutes it is 1-1. Everton equalizing immediately. The next big one is Arsenal v Sotton.... winner be top
Join me
UWS

A Day of Reckoning

It's a day of reckoning for some big European sides as we've reached the last chance saloon for the tickets to Brazil next summer. Big time Charlies such as France are right up against it after losing their first legs. It's also another day of reckoning for Roy Hodgson's England, who face a far superior German side. Can the new look England live with the Germans or are we destined for another early knock-out round exit next summer? Tune in from 3pm on Fox Sports 1 to find out.

World Cup 2014 UEFA Playoffs Live!

We're nearing the final hurdle of the qualifying rounds for next summer's footer fest in Brasil today with the first leg of the UEFA zone play-offs. Here's what's on offer this afternoon: 


Greece v. Romania (2pm EST)
Iceland v. Croatia (2pm)
Portugal v. Sweden (2:45pm)
Ukraine v. France (2:45pm)

Also on offer this afternoon is England's friendly at Wembley with Chile - that's on Fox Sports 1. So - take the afternoon off and join me here for all of the action and the usual LOB nattering. 

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 11 Update

As we approach the last international break of the season, it's time to take stock of the Premiership Plus Predictions Game standings. Week 11 brought another shake up with wins for United over Arsenal and Southampton, who again confounded expectations and rejoined the top five. That means dropped points for all of us, save table-topper West Ham Rising. Here are the current rankings:

1. West Ham Rising - 33 points
2. Man Utd Rules - 27 pts
3. United We Stand - 23 pts
4. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 22 pts
5. Yellows - 21 pts
6. Someone Said - 20 pts
7. Matt - 19 pts
8. The Red Dragon - 18 pts
9. The Blue Devil - 17 pts
10. Gooner71 - 16 pts
- Swansong - 16 pts
12. Sporting Real Salt Lake United Football Club Juniors FC - 15 pts
- Chelskilad - 15 pts
14. Red Devil FCK1 - 7 pts

Gary Numan Alert!

Crikey! You know that 80s nostalgia is back in full force when there is a Gary Numan sighting. This week's "All Songs Considered" Live In Concert podcast features the electronica pioneer with a full band at something called the "Mount Oasis Festival." And it's scary sounding enough that I didn't think I could risk playing it in the office this afternoon. Lock up the dogs, crank it to "Eleven!" and enjoy!

A Better Sunday ?

It's a  bloody early start to the Sunday matches and I could not go back to sleep, so here I am. It's starting with Spurs vs Newcastle. Sunderland vs Citeh and Swansea vs Stoke kick off at 9:05 then the match of the weekend is United vs the Gunners which kicks off at 10:10.  A great way to end the Prem action following the international break.

A blah Saturday ?

There was not an early match today and it doesn't look like the best of matches either. The first televised match is Chelsea vs West Brom followed  by Norwich vs West Ham. The match of the weekend  will be Man United vs Arsenal tomorrow at OT. Come Join me if you can before we start the international break.

Trivia Time

I have come up with a trivia question all by myself.

Name the last four different clubs that have been Champions of England and retained their title?

Can you get all four?

UWS

No "early doors" in this cliche quiz?

OK, so you academic types didn't cotton to the all bizniz-quiz about ManYoo's sponsors? How about this cliché quiz? I'm 13/15, "there or thereabouts." < TAKE THE QUIZ

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 10 Update

It's that time again, chaps. Our weekly standings show another slight shift and a return to normality with Spurs and Citeh again creeping into the top five - and showering us with points in the consequence. Sergio Aguero now shares the Golden Boot prize with Daniel Sturridge on 8 goals, to the benefit of West Ham Rising, who has extended his lead from last week to two points now. Here are the current standings:

1. West Ham Rising - 30 points
2. United We Stand - 28 pts
3. Man United Rules - 24 pts
- What's Up Wheaton Simon - 24 pts
- Yellows - 24 pts
6. Sporting Real Salt Lake United Football Club Juniors FC - 23 pts
7. The Red Dragon - 22 pts
8. Blue Devil - 21 pts
- Someone Said - 21 pts
10. Gooner71 - 19 pts
- Matt - 19 pts
- Swansong - 19 pts
13. Chelskilad - 17 pts
14. Red Devil FCK1 - 11 pts

Man U sponsor quiz

Evidently this quiz is easier than an Ashley Young tumble into the box. "Are you David Gill in disguise" it asked after I got 9/10. TAKE THE QUIZ

ANYONE CAN BEAT ANYONE!!

Only ten games gone and it is proved any team can beat any team!!

Your thoughts

UWS

Fall Back Sunday

Hopefully , we were able to take advantage of the time change and get an extra hour of sleep. We start with Eevrton vs Spurs followed by the first ever top flight Leek Derby. Sounds like an interesting Sunday.

A Fall Premier Saturday

It's hard to believe that it's already November , but here it is. The early match is Newcastle vs Chelsea . Due to the time change in Europe, the next matches are at  11 AM. The televised match is Fulham vs Manchester United. The late match is Arsenal vs Liverpool. Join me if you can.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 9 Update

Greetings from Nashville, where I'm attending the History of Education Society Annual Meeting this week. Sorry about the delay in getting this update out to you. The bad news is that, with Southampton and Everton performing above their natural levels, we all took a hit on the points this week. Here are the current standings:

1. West Ham Rising - 24 points
2. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 23 pts
3. Man Utd Rules - 21 pts
- United We Stand - 21 pts
5. Yellows - 20 pts
6. The Red Dragon - 19 pts
7. Blue Devil - 18 pts
- Someone Said - 18 pts
9. Gooner71 - 16 pts
- Matt - 16 pts
- Sporting Real Salt Lake United Football Club Juniors FC - 16 pts
- Swansong - 16 pts
13. Chelskilad - 13 pts
14. The Red Devil FCK1 - 8 pts