Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 9 Update

Now that we're through the 4th Round of the League Cup, it's time to take stock of our game. The big losers this week were Manchester City who were dumped out at home by Newcastle. It was a good week for Alan Pardew's side, as they lifted themselves out of the relegation zone at the weekend, thus dumping their Northeast rivals Sunderland into the dropzone. Otherwise it's much the same picture at the top with Chelski well out in front and Southampton and West Ham overperforming. Here are the current standings:

1. Blue Devil - 35 points
2. Chelskilad - 30 pts
3. STRose - 29 pts
4. Swansong - 27 pts
5. The Red Dragon - 25 pts
6. Gooner71 - 18 pts
7. Someone Said - 17 pts
- Yellows - 17 pts
9. The Red Devil 1FCK - 16 pts
10. United We Stand - 15 pts
- What's Up Wheaton Simon - 15 pts
12. West Ham Rising - 12 pts
13. Man Utd Rules - 11 pts

Capital One Cup Fourth Round

This week is devoted to 4th Round fixtures in the Capital One Cup. The matches will have some major implications for our PPP game, as several contestants have predicted teams that are still in the tournament. Join me from 2:45 pm for all the second-tier cup action, won't you?

Fall Back in Blighty

 It's Fall Back in Blighty, which means a much needed extra hour of kip. The big match is United vs Chelsea at OT and a test to see how far United have come under the LVG philosophy. We start with Burnley vs Everton on NBCSN and the Spuds vs the Toon on a link. The opening acts are followed by United vs Chelsea on the local NBC affiliate at high noon.

Thank Goodness its Saturday!

After a long week, I feel as if someone has kicked me in the face, but I'm hoping to bounce back this weekend with some rest and lashings of Premiership and Championship footer. I slept in through most of the early one, which saw the Hammers shock Citeh with a 2-1 win. I'm now setting up to watch the 10am match-up between Sunderland and Arsenal while following the rest of the matches on Soccer Saturday. Join me if you're around.

The UKIP Calypso Fracas

The former BBC Radio 1 disc jockey has gotten himself embroiled in the big cultural controversy of the week in Blighty, by releasing and then withdrawing a little ditty called "UKIP Calypso," that features Read promoting the far-right, anti-immigrant politics of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and its leader Nigel Farage, all in the worst faux-West Indian accent since Sting's stint with The Police. I won't post the YouTube clip because I don't want it to get any more hits than it deserves (you can find yourselves), but I wanted to alert you to what's going on across The Pond this week.

Your thoughts, gents?

More Champions League Matchday 3 Action!

I'm back on Wednesday afternoon to follow more Champions League action. No question about what is the marquee match-up today - Real Madrid's visit to Anfield to play Liverpool. These two old venerable teams haven't met for five years and they're in quite different places now. Real continue to be the Galacticos, with a rampant front line led by Cristiano Ronaldo, while Liverpool without Luis Suarez are a shadow of even their wannabe status last season. Should be a fascinating afternoon. Make sure to join me from 2:45pm onward.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 8 Update!

It seems like several weeks since we've checked in on the PPP, so long was the interminable international break. The Premiership made its comeback over the weekend, but not a lot has changed in Blighty or on the Continent. Chelski are running away with league, QPR are busy sticking the ball in their own net at the other end of the table. Bayern, Juve and Barca are still atop their various leagues. So, here is the largely unchanged status of the PPP:

1. Blue Devil - 33 points
2. Chelskilad - 33 pts
3. STrose - 32 pts
4. Gooner71 - 27 pts
5. Swansong - 26 pts
6. The Red Dragon - 25 pts
7. Yellows - 23 pts
8. West Ham Rising - 19 pts
9. The Red Devil 1FCK - 18 pts
- United We Stand - 18 pts
11. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 16 pts
12. Man Utd Rules - 15 pts
13. Someone Said - 12 pts

Champions League Matchday 3

The Champions League fires its way back into our living rooms (and offices) this afternoon with Gameday 3. Citeh are already 0-2 up in the early kickoff in Russia. The others all start at quarter of three EST as usual. I'll be racing off to a meeting in a few minutes but I'm hoping to be back in time for at least the second half. See you then!

United Visit the Hawthorns!

Week Eight of the Premiership rounds up this afternoon with United's visit to the Hawthorns to take on the Boing Boing Baggies. I'm only around for a bit of the first half before an irritating meeting, but I thought I'd set up the thread and go from there. Enjoy!

Two Sunday Prem Matches

It's back to the usual Sunday schedule with two Premier League Football matches. It starts with QPR vs Liverpool followed by Stoke vs Swansea.

The Return of Prem Footie

It's the return of Prem footie after an international break and it starts with Citeh vs the Spuds. Citeh embarrassed the Spuds with  a 6-0 win last season/ The next televised match is Palace vs Chelsea . Palace recorded a 1-0 victory vs Chelsea last season, which was basically  the beginning of the end of Chelsea's title hopes.  Will Chelsea get revenge and maintain their hughe lead at the top. THere is not a late match today.

24 Hours in Rotherham

In an epic update on the Gene Kelly/Frank Sinatra classic "On the Town," my beloved LUFC have a rare Friday evening out in scenic Rotherham. Enjoy the nightlife, lads - but only after you've dispatched the home side in devastating fashion. Join me for all the pre-weekend action starting at 2:45pm EST.

The Neverending International Break

It used to be that footballers lined up for their club sides on Saturday at 3pm, then for their international sides on a Wednesday night at 7:45pm and then they were back in action for their clubs at the following weekend. It used to be so simple, then. Today - we've got the neverending international break, today featuring the likes of Wales v. Cyprus and Iceland v. Netherlands. Join me if you're still awake.

Woy's Boys Spend 24 Hours in Tallinn

Morning, everyone. Welcome to another day of random France '16 qualifiers. At high noon, England take on Estonia in their medieval capital - Tallinn. Let's hope that Woy and the squad didn't get a bowl of dodgy borscht last night and are ready to turn out a professional outing. So far, so good in the qualifying campaign - two played, two won, seven goals scored, none conceded. Let's keep it going. Join me, won't you?

The Path to Paris Continues

It's another day of Euro 2016 qualifiers. The highlights should be the Jocks vs the Georgians at noon on FS2. You can also watch the Republic of  Ireland vs Gibraltar on ESPN3.com. In the 2:45 kickoffs, Finland vs Greece is on FS2 and the highlight must be Poland vs Germany on ESPN3. com. It should be exciting.

On the Path to Paris!

Morning, chaps! Today begins the second set of fixtures in the qualifying rounds of Euro 2016. Holders Spain take on Slovakia, Sweden meet Russia but all eyes will be on England as they host mighty San Marino at Wemberley this afternoon at 2:45pm EST. I'll be marooned in the office this afternoon but I'll be using my new access to Fox Sports 2Go (courtesy of the Gooner) to avoid the usual dodgy links. Join me for all the action, won't you?

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 7 Update

As we're heading into another interminable international break, it's high time to take a look at the standings in our humble predictions game. Chelski are still on the top, due to their big win over the Arsenal on Sunday. But United have somehow sneaked into the top four again. QPR and Palace are still mired at the bottom, and Norwich and Forest are flying high in the Championship. Things have settled down on the Continent with Bayern, Juve and Barca on top. So here's the current picture:

1. Blue Devil - 36 points
2. STrose - 32 pts
3. Chelskilad - 31 pts
4. Gooner71 - 27 pts
5. The Red Dragon - 25 pts
6. Swansong - 24 pts
7. Yellows - 22 pts
8. The Red Devil 1FCK - 17 pts
9. West Ham Rising - 16 pts
- What's Up Wheaton Simon - 16 pts
11. Someone Said - 15 pts
12. Man Utd Rules - 14 pts
- United We Stand - 14 pts

A Bloody Early Marathon Sunday

I'm up before the crack of dawn as there are four fixtures before we head into the international break. It starts with a noon kickoff at OT as United hosted the Toffees (7AM EDT). There is a double header at 9:05 as Cesc faces his former Gunners teammates as Chelsea host the Gunners while the Spuds hosts Pochettino's former club , the Saints.  It concludes with another London Derby at 1115 as as the Hammers host Evil QPR in a return to Upton Park for Rio and " Butterfingers Green."

A Visit from Not a Terribly Big Club

It's Derby Day in Yorkshire and Darko's boys are ready for action. Join me early doors for El Classico. It's Leeds v. Not a Big Club. You wouldn't miss it now, would you?

Footie Trivia Question of the Week

Here's a footie brain teaser to take us all into a well-earned weekend:

"Danny Welbeck became the sixth English player to score a hat-trick in the Champions League this week when he notched three for his new club Arsenal against hapless Galatasaray. Name the other five."

(Bonus points if you can name the clubs involved!)

Good luck, lads!