Champions League Matchday 2 Live!

Crikey! It's another big European night in the Champions League, chaps. The marquee match up tonight is surely PSG v. Barca, but there is also Citeh hosting Roma at the Etihad and Chelski away to Sporting Lisbon. There is also a packed Championship schedule. So, join me on the LOB for the usual mid-week banter, won't you?

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 6 Update

Six matchdays in and we're finally settling in to the usual pattern. Chelsea are still on top, but they've now been joined in the Champions League spots by City and Arsenal. QPR and Burnley are in the relegation spots. Barca, Bayern and Juve are on top in Spain, Germany and Italy. There are still a few surprises around - Southampton in second and Newcastle in nineteenth, for example. But we're back in the points this week. Here are the current standings:

1. Blue Devil - 37 points
2. STrose - 33 pts
3. Chelskilad - 32 pts
4. The Red Dragon - 29 pts
5. Swansong - 26 pts
6. Gooner71 - 24 pts
7. United We Stand - 19 pts
8. West Ham Rising - 18 pts
- Yellows - 18 pts
10. The Red Devil 1FCK - 16 pts
- Someone Said - 16 pts
- What's Up Wheaton Simon - 16 pts
13. Man Utd Rules - 15 pts

Derby Day in the Premiership!

Whoever scheduled this day of Premiership fixtures must be having a birthday. It starts and ends with a bang. We've got the Merseyside Derby early doors and then end the day with the North London Derby. Strangely, it's 11th v. 14th in this year's topsy turvy Premiership. Still - it's the Merseyside, innit? You know you're going to watch it - join me here for some LOB banter.

Capital One Cup - Third Round Live!

Somehow I've carved out a couple of hours in the office this afternoon to follow the evening's Capital One Third Round fixtures live. We already saw some thrillers yesterday, including a 2-2 extra time and penalties win for Liverpool that involved no less than 30 spot kicks! Let's hope for more of the same this afternoon in match-ups such as Chelski v. Bolton and Spurs v. Forest. I'll be around from 2:45 pm EST onward. I hope you'll join me.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 5 Update

Sometimes football gives and sometimes it takes away. One more week in and we're no closer to the usual pattern in the Premiership and the various European leagues. Sure - Chelski are top of the pops. But what on earth are Southampton, Villa, and Swansea doing cluttering the top of the table? What is going on at St. James' Park? And who the hell are Paderborn? In any case, all of this nonsense is playing havoc with our points. Here are the current standings:

1. Blue Devil - 21 points
- STrose - 21 pts
3. Chelskilad - 18 pts
4. Man Utd Rules - 15 pts
- Swansong - 15 pts
- What's Up Wheaton Simon - 15 pts
7. The Red Dragon - 13 pts
8. West Ham Rising - 12 pts
9. Gooner71 - 11 pts
10. Someone Said - 10 pts
11. United We Stand - 8 pts
12. The Red Devil 1FCK - 6 pts
13. Yellows - 5 pts

Two Superb Sunday Double Headers

 There are two double headers his Sunday and the main match of the early matches is the Foxes vs Man United while the big one late is Citeh vs Chelski . The winner of the late match should give us an idea as to who will  be the early front runner for the title . There is also Spurs vs the Baggies and Everton vs Palace if you prefer those matches.

Wahey - It's Saturday Again!

I've had a bit of a lie-in due to the crap nature of the early one between QPR and Stoke and now I'm fully refreshed and ready to watch a couple of Premiership matches with you lot. First up after the crapness is Villa v. Arsenal (perhaps some revenge for that opening day win from last year?) and that's followed by another run-out for our friend Balo for Liverpool in the late one. Join me, won't you?

Aye!

Scottish voters are going to the polls today to decide whether to remain tied to the British crown or to become an independent country - and I'm glued to the Guardian coverage. I'm supporting the "Yes" campaign, largely due to its promise for creating a more social democratic nation not tied to the neo-liberal imperatives of Downing Street. I'd love to hear your two cents. Join the conversation here!

Champions League - Matchday 1 Live!

Afternoon, chaps - the Champions League is back! We start with a bang today with Arsenal away to Dortmund. We also have a full slate of Championship fixtures to follow, including my beloved LUFC away to Bournemouth. If you're taking the afternoon off, join me here on the LOB, won't you?

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 4 Update

What on earth is European football coming to these days? Villa, Swansea and Southampton in the top four? Fulham on the bottom of the Championship? Leverkusen leading the Bundesliga? Any way you slice it, the unpredictable season is playing havoc on our scores. If it weren't for Chelsea being on top and Diego Costa running riot, none of us would have any points at all. As it is, here are the current standings:

1. Blue Devil - 24 points
2. STrose - 23 pts
3. Chelskilad - 21 pts
4. The Red Dragon - 16 pts
- Swansong - 16 pts
6. United We Stand - 15 pts
- What's Up Wheaton Simon - 15 pts
8. Yellows - 13 pts
9. Gooner71 - 11 pts
10. The Red Devil 1FCK - 10 pts
11. West Ham Rising - 8 pts
- Someone Said - 8 pts
13. Man Utd Rules - 4 pts

Can United Get Back on Track?

United in 16th; Villa in 2nd? There's surely something wrong with this picture. Well - United have a chance to get back on track with a brand new line-up and a tasty home fixture with lowly QPR. A win would vault them back up into the top half. Join me this morning to see all the action on the LOB!

Welcome Back, Premiership!

I feel like Gabe Kaplan walking back into a classroom full of Sweathogs this morning as I take up my usual position in the captain's chair in The Cottage. We're back after an extra long international break. And it's with a bang, with Leeds kicking off at Birmingham City at 7:15am followed shortly by a biggie - Arsenal v. Citeh. Join me for another action-packed weekend of fun here on the LOB!

Switzerland v. England Live!

Good afternoon, chaps! I'm about to head into a tedious meeting in a moment but I'll be raring to go around 2:45pm EST as England start their Euro '16 with a bang away to Switzerland. In a group that includes Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and San Marino, this is the toughest fixture of the qualifying round. Make no mistake - this new Switzerland are no mugs. I'd take a draw before kick-off and I'm almost sure that Woy would, too. Join me this afternoon for all the important action here on the LOB.

The Long Road to Euro 2016 Begins!

The qualifiers for Euro 2016 start this afternoon, chaps, and I couldn't be more excited. Only hosts France are assured a place as of today. England kick off their campaign against the potentially dangerous Switzerland (and without the services of Daniel Sturridge). However, today, we've got Germany v. Scotland, which starts at 2:45pm EST. Join me to follow all the matches this afternoon.

A Day of International Football

It's a day of ill-advised friendlies to prepare for next week's vital European Championship qualifiers. England take on Norway this afternoon, with Wayne Rooney leading the team for the first time. There are some other surprises in the line-up, including the presence of John Stones debuting at right back. Join me around 2:45pm EST for all the dodgy link action, won't you?

The Summer Big Buys

The summer transfer window has slammed shut now and it's time to reflect on all the wheeling and dealing. How did you club do? Which club got the best value for their pound? Who's the most overpriced? In case you've missed out, these are some of the big summer moves:

Arsenal - Alexis Sanchez (from Barcelona) for £28 million
                Danny Welbeck (from United) for £16 million
                Calum Chambers (from Southampton) for £16 million
                Matthieu Debuchy (from Newcastle) for £12 million

Chelsea - Diego Costa (from Atletico) for £32 million
                Cesc Fabregas (from Barcelona) for £30 million
                Loic Remy (from Newcastle) for £10.5 million

Everton - Romelu Lukaku (from Chelsea) for £28 million

Liverpool - Adam Lallana (from Southampton) for £25 million
                   Mario Balotelli (from AC Milan) for £16 million
                   Lazar Markovic (from Benfica) for £20 million
                   Dejan Lovren (from Southampton) for £20 million

Man City - Eliaquim Mangala (from Porto) for £32 million

Man Utd - Angel di Maria (from Real) for £60 million
                  Rodamel Falcao (from Monaco) on loan
                  Ander Herrera (from Bilbao) for £29 million
                  Luke Shaw (from Southampton) for £27 million 
                  Marcos Rojo (from Sporting) for £16 million
                  Daley Blind (from Ajax) for £13.8 million

Your thoughts, gents?

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 3 Update!

With the international break upon us, it's time to take stock of the weekend we just witnessed. Chelsea have regained the lead from Spurs, to the good fortune of four of us. Palace and Burnley continue to give us lots of points at the bottom. But wait a minute! Swansea and Villa in the top four?! That cannot continue. And take a look at the European leagues, where the likes of Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan sit atop their respective tables - no points there either. Ah well - here are the current standings.

1. Blue Devil - 28 points
2. STrose - 26 pts
3. Chelskilad - 24 pts
4. Swansong - 23 pts
5. Yellows - 18 pts
6. The Red Dragon - 17 pts
7. United We Stand - 15 pts
8. West Ham Rising - 13 pts
9. Gooner71 - 12 pts
10. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 10 pts
11. Man Utd Rules - 9 pts
- The Red Devil FCK1 - 9 pts
13. Someone Said - 6 pts