Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 27 Update

Before we get into another round of Premiership madness this midweek, I thought I should check in with a quick update. Not a lot has changed in the Premiership or Championship, so with Leicester still confounding expectations, the same players are at the top. However, we did get a winner in the League Cup, which added 2 points for Blue Devil and Simon - enough to see Simon break away from the pack at the top - and crushed UWS' heart, as he'd picked Liverpool to win and Citeh to lose, which would have netted him 8 points. Ah well, mate - better luck next time. Here are the latest standings:

1. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 36 points
2. Man Utd Rules - 34 pts
- Yellows - 34 pts
4. Swansong - 33 pts
5. Red Devil 1FCK - 31 pts
6. The Red Dragon - 30 pts
7. Gooner71 - 29 pts
8. Chelskilad - 28 pts
9. Blue Devil - 27 pts
10. Someone Said - 24 pts
11. United We Stand - 23 pts
- West Ham Rising - 23 pts
13. The Saint - 22 pts

The League Cup Final Live! (and some other matches)....

We needed a big Sunday after that rubbish Saturday that we suffered through yesterday. And we've got one! It all starts with United hosting Arsenal (2nd v. 6th). That's followed at 11am by this year's League Cup Final between Liverpool and Citeh, with huge implications for the PPP. Join me for a fun morning of footie banter.

Can Leicester Win the Title?

It's been a long time since Leicester v. Norwich was considered a marquee match (in fact, I'm not sure it's even been considered that). But here we are with all eyes on The Foxes this morning as they try to continue this mad dream of a season for them. Norwich have plenty to play for, as well, as they're perilously close to the drop zone. Join me if you're around this morning.

Oscars Oddity Quiz!

Who can guess the answers to the Oscar ceremonies most odd moments?

Click here to show me you like me, you really like me!

Will Ferrell on Men with Blazers Pod

With the MLS 2016 season just around the corner, I thought I'd bring your attention a cool interview that the Men with Blazers lads did with Will Ferrell. You may have seen his brief bit on their telly show but the pod interview gets more in depth about his new venture with LA Football Club, another MLS expansion club set to kick off this season. My own view is that MLS is expanding too quickly and taking on too many franchises; however, what's your view?

Arsenal Face the Ultimate CL Test!

The knock-out round of the Champions League really gets going tonight with the marquee match-up between Arsenal and Barcelona at the Emirates. Can the Arsenal backfour withstand the withering attack of Messi, Suarez and Neymar? Will the Barca backfour give up some googlies? I can't wait to find out. I'll be racing back from a tedious meeting, hopefully in time for kick-off. Join me?

FA Cup 5th Round Wrap-Up

With United's easy 0-3 win at Shrewsbury this evening, the 5th Round weekend came to a close. We still have the Hull v. Arsenal tie to settle at some point, but these are quarter-finalists:

1. Arsenal/Hull
2. Chelski
3. Crystal Palace
4. Everton
5. Man United
6. Reading
7. Watford
8. West Ham

So, here are the implications on the PPP. The following players have two sides left in:

Blue Devil, The Saint, West Ham Rising, Simon

The following players have their "winner" prediction still in:

Chelskilad, Gooner71, MUR, Red Dragon, Swansong, UWS, Yellow

The following players have their "loser" prediction still in:

Red Devil, Someone Said

Sunday in the FA Cup

With Leeds' exit at Watford yesterday afternoon, the FA Cup lost of its luster for me, of course. However, I'm here on Sunday morning dutifully watching and covering today's matches. We start  with Blackburn v. West Ham at 9am, followed sharpish with Spurs v. Palace at 10am. Then at 11am is the biggie - Chelski v. Citeh. If your spirit hasn't been crushed already, join me this morning.

Bring on the 5th Round!

Morning, chaps - I couldn't be more excited about the day's matches. We get started in a few minutes with the holders Arsenal against Hull. Then at 10am, my eyes will be on Watford v. Leeds, but there is also Reading v. WBA. We finish up at 12:15 with Bournemouth v. Everton. Join me for all the Cup banter here on the LOB.

You Be the Ref!

Alright, boys - it's time to pull on your referee's kit today. You may have seen a million YouTubed posts on social media of the Barcelona penalty taken by Leo Messi and scored by Luis Suarez at the weekend (or heard the screams of ecstasy from the likes of Ray Hudson on GolTV) in a 6-1 drubbing of Real Betis.

Yet, I've got one question for you - why was it legal? I've got a few problems with it. First, I always thought that a penalty kick was a direct free kick taken from the spot directly at goal. Of course, if the keeper saves it or if there is a rebound off the woodwork, another player is free to follow in. However, this is clearly not that case.

Second, when the kick is taken, Suarez is clearly already a mile inside the box, which would also call for re-take, in my mind.

Finally, it's a forward pass to another teammate, with only the keeper as a defensive player. How is Suarez then not offside?

I don't get it - but maybe you lot of refereeing anoraks can explain it to me. Have a look:

Quiz time -- Regional Accents of the British Isles and Ireland

Hello LOB-ers, You'll need speakers but I'm expecting near perfect scores from those of us that spent our formative years there, and the others who've spent theirs memorizing Monty Python skits and watching Masterpiece. Click here

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 26 Update

It's been a wild and woolly few days in the world of football, with another big weekend in the Premiership followed by the beginning of the knock-out round in the Champions League. Leicester are still on top; yet, it's looking increasingly likely that one of the North London sides will eventually win the title. Newcastle have dropped into the bottom three again. Most significantly, Juventus are finally on top in Serie A, which means four points extra for just about every PPPer. So, a three way tie at the top between MUR, Simon and Yellows.

Here are the current standings:

1. Man Utd Rules - 34 points
-  What's up Wheaton Simon - 34 pts
-  Yellows - 34 pts
4. Swansong - 33 pts
5. The Red Devil 1FCK -31 pts
6. Chelskilad - 30 pts
7. Gooner71 - 29 pts
-  The Red Dragon - 29 pts
9. Blue Devil - 24 pts
-  Someone Said - 24 pts
11. United We Stand - 23 pts
-  West Ham Rising - 23 pts
13. The Saint - 22 pts

The Champions League is Back!

The Champions League enters the knock-out stage today with two first leg matches, including a cracker between PSG and Chelski, two money-bags clubs who would have wanted to avoid each other at this stage. For Chelski, this one couldn't be more important, as an early exit will likely condemn them to a European-free schedule next season. Join me from 2:45 to follow this one. Cheers!

2016 Grammy Award Ceremony Live!

It's Grammy Night in Hollywood tonight, folks. Now we all know that the Grammy organization doesn't always award our favorite artists, tending to hand out trophies to those who have lined their pockets over the past year. So - expect Taylor Swift to be up at the podium quite a bit tonight. Still - every year there is a moment (sometimes two or three) that reward watching the three hour marathon, whether its Adele belting out "Rolling in the Deep" fresh from vocal surgery or Stevie Wonder jamming with Daft Punk last year. So, if you're so inclined, join me in the festivities this evening. I'll look forward to a bit of musical banter with you.

Are Leicester the Real Deal?

That's the question on the minds of all Premiership watchers this morning. Join me to find out, as they go up against possibly their sternest test to date - against Arsenal at the Emirates. Join me!

The Plot Thickens

It's a big, big weekend in the Premiership this weekend, chaps. It all starts early doors at the Stadium of Light tomorrow morning with United's trip to Sunderland. That's followed by a bunch of rubbish matches at 10am. But then we finish up with the relegation battle between Newcastle and, eep, Chelski. Loads at stake. Don't forget to join me for all the LOB banter.

FA Cup 4th Round Replays Update

With West Brom's penalty shootout win over Peterboro this evening, the FA Cup 4th Round replays came to an end. No one in the PPP had the foresight of choosing the Baggies (or Posh, for that matter) to be in the final in May. However, yesterday's win by the Hammers over Liverpool does have some implications:

* These PPPers chose Liverpool - Chelskilad, United We Stand

* This PPPer chose West Ham and is still in for the points - West Ham Rising (natch!)

And on we go...

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 25 Update

Morning, chaps - I'm here as usual on a Tuesday morning to take stock of the weekend that was in the Premiership. We're still living in the fantasy world in which Leicester City might win the title and Chelski might be relegated. So, it's the Foxes on top and Villa on the bottom, as it has been for quite some time now. A little shifting in the European qualifiers, where Spurs are now second and Citeh now fourth. Some PPPers have also picked up three points this week for Norwich replacing Newcastle in the bottom three. Here are the current standings:

1. Swansong - 39 points
2. The Red Devil 1FCK - 30 pts
3. Gooner71 - 28 pts
4. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 27 pts
5. Man Utd Rules - 26 pts
- Yellows 26 pts
7. The Red Dragon - 23 pts
- The Saint - 23 pts
9. Someone Said - 21 pts
10. Blue Devil - 20 pts
- United We Stand - 20 pts
12. Chelskilad - 19 pts
- West Ham Rising - 19 pts

Super Sunday in the Premiership!

Morning, chaps - I'm settling in at the Cottage to watch an intriguing Sunday double-header. It all starts in a  few minutes with Arsenal's trip to Bournemouth. That's followed by the big one for this weekend - United v. Chelski. Join me for the usual LOB Sunday morning banter, won't you?

Saturday, Saturday, Saturday....is Footie Day!

A good Saturday morning to all of you in LOB land. We've got a smashing day of footer ahead of us. I've been looking forward all week to the early one - second place Citeh against league leaders Leicester at the Etihad. That's followed sharply at 10am by the full slate of Premiership and Championship matches including Leeds v. Forest. Southampton v. West Ham round us off at 12:30. Join me for the usual LOB banter this morning.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game

Evening, lads - I'm back with a PPP update after the midweek madness of a full slate of Premiership and Championship matches. In this round, we saw Leicester consolidate their improbable lead at the top of the Premiership with two cracking goals from Golden Boot leader Jamie Vardy, who now has 18 goals. Cor! Here are the current standings:

1. Swansong - 33 points
2. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 30 pts
- Yellows - 30 pts
4. Man Utd Rules - 29 pts
5. Chelskilad - 26 pts
-  Gooner71 - 26 pts
-  The Red Devil 1FCK - 26 pts
8. The Red Dragon - 21 pts
9. The Saint - 18 pts
10. Blue Devil - 17 pts
11. Someone Said - 16 pts
12. United We Stand - 15 pts
-  West Ham Rising - 15 pts

Midweek Premiership Madness!

With all the political news of the past few days, I almost forgot that there is a full slate of Premiership and Championship matches on today. I'll likely be interrupted but I'm going to try to watch a bit of it from my office vantage point. On tap are Arsenal v. Soton, United v. Stoke and many, many more. Drop on by for cuppa, eh?

Transfer deadline deal generator

How to create the perfect transfer rumour

Posted by Guardian football on Monday, February 1, 2016

Transfer Deadline Day Live!

Morning, chaps - I'm posting this thread to discuss the deadline day deals that are done by all of our clubs. Feel free to chip in with your thoughts on the day's exciting events. What player would you most like at your club? Who would you most like to shed? I'll look forward to hearing from you during the day.