The Premiership Home Stretch

I'm up and about after a trillion hours of sleep and emerging from the fog of illness. I hope you'll join me this morning as we enter the final stretch of the Premiership season. With three matches to come, every kick is vital. We start with the 3pm GMT kickoffs, including Newcastle v. Palace. Then we end up the day at the Emirates with Arsenal v. Norwich.

Men in Blazers Goal of the Season Survey

The Men in Blazers lads did a special episode on the Goals of the Season this week and have continued the conversation on their website. You can see their top ten and vote for your favorite here:

http://www.nbcsports.com/MIBGOTS

And of course, make sure to mention your favorite goal here!

Europa League Semi Final Thursday!

I've carved out a couple of hours in the office this afternoon to follow the Europa League semi-final first leg battle between Villareal and Liverpool. If any of you have some time to drop by for a cuppa, please join me.

Champions League Semi Final 1st Leg Wrap-Up

If you were like me and didn't have a chance to catch any of the Champions League semi-final action because of a busy work schedule this week, well, at least we didn't miss a lot of goals. Indeed, Niguez Saul's scorcher for Atletico against Bayern was the only goal in 180 minutes of first leg action. That sets things up delicately for the second legs next week.

Here are the PPPers who are still in the hunt for the 8 points in the Champions League:

Real Madrid - Gooner71, Yellows
Bayern - United We Stand, West Ham Rising

Your thoughts, gents?

Premiership Plus Predictions - Week 35 Update

Evening, chaps - I hope you've had a good start to the workweek. I'm here with the usual weekly checkin on our PPP scores and rankings. It was a lively week in domestic footer but the table remained largely the same. The top five are the same and the top six in the Championship are the same. Barca, Bayern and Juve are tops in their respective leagues. So, the only movement was Sunderland leapfrogging over Norwich, sending the Canaries into the danger zone. Hence, the scores and rankings were only changed slightly. However, United's big Cup win does mean that Blue Devil, Chelskilad, Red Dragon, The Saint, and Yellows could pick up 8 points for choosing United to win the Cup. That could be crucial in a tight race. Here are the current standings:

1. Swansong - 37 points
2. The Red Devil 1FCK - 34 pts
3. Man Utd Rules - 32 pts
4. Chelskilad - 27 pts
- Yellows - 27 pts
6. Blue Devil - 26 pts
- Gooner71 - 26 pts
8 The Red Dragon - 25 pts
- What's up Wheaton Simon - 25 pts
10. Someone Said - 24 pts
- United We Stand - 24 pts
12. West Ham Rising - 23 pts
13. The Saint - 22 pts

Another Crazy Sunday Morning

Morning, chaps - we've got a slightly later than usual to proceedings today but plenty of crazy domestic footie action on offer. We start at the Stadium of Light where Sunderland will be scrapping for every point with Arsenal for Premiership survival. Later we got title favorites Leicester trying to capture another precious win toward the end for he season. Oh - and there's a small matter of a Wembley semi-final between Watford and Palace. Join me?

Wahay! It's Saturday Morning!

Welcome to Saturday morning, chaps! And what a Saturday it is. We start with a key match in the case for Champions League spots - Citeh hosting WBA at the Etihad. Then there are the 10am EST kickoffs, including Liverpool v. Newcastle and Leeds away to Hull. Then we finish the day at Wemberley with the FA Cup semi-final between United and Everton. Join me for the fun and games here on the LOB.

Nick Hornby on Bullseye!

Just a quick heads-up that Nick Hornby, the LOB's favorite novelist, is interviewed this week on the NPR podcast "Bullseye" by host Jesse Thorn. Of course, Nick's was busy in 2015, with his latest novel "Funny Girl" about a 60s era comedienne in the vein of Lucille Ball, and an excellent screenplay for the film Oscar-nominated "Brooklyn." So, there's a lot to talk about. You can download Bullseye from iTunes or your favorite podcast platform.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 34 Update

With Spurs' stonking 0-4 win at the Britannia Stadium, we're through the 34th set of fixtures. Before we get into the series of make-up matches this week, let's take a quick look at the standings. Much of the picture is the same: Leicester on top, Villa on the bottom. At this point, with only four matches left, it's fairly clear that none of us is getting the 10 points for predicting the champions, as no one was prescient enough to pick either Leicester or Spurs. So, it's likely to come down to the various cup competitions that are still to be decided. With Barca and Dortmund knocked out last week, many of us are out of the Champions League and Europa League. No points as well for Golden Boot - Harry Kane now on 24 goals, two ahead of his next challenger - Vardy on 22. Here are the current standings:

1. Swansong - 34 points
2. Man Utd Rules - 32 pts
3. The Red Devil 1FCK - 31 pts
4. Gooner71 - 30 pts
- Yellow - 30 pts
6. The Red Dragon - 29 pts
7. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 28 pts
8. Chelskilad - 27 pts
9. Blue Devil - 26 pts
10. Someone Said - 24 pts
- United We Stand - 24 pts
12. West Ham Rising - 23 pts
- The Saint - 22 pts

Battles at the Top of the Table

Who would have thought that Leicester v. West Ham would be a top of the table clash at this point of the season - that's how crazy this season has been. We start at the King Power Stadium today, as the Foxes are four matches away from a historic title. West Ham are still in the mix for a European spot. Later we get Arsenal trying to firm up their Champions League spot against Palace. It should be an absorbing morning - join me here on the LOB!

Thank Goodness It's the Weekend!

After a long week at work, it's a pleasure to settle in at The Cottage to watch some of the good stuff. And good it certainly is today. We start with the relegation dogfight of the season - Norwich v. Sunderland. This one should settle that last relegation spot in the Premiership. That's followed by the 10am matches, including ManYoo hosting recently relegated Villa. Then we end up with Chelski v. Citeh at the end of the day. Join me for all the fun and games.

European Wrap-Up

Due to a heavier than usual work week, I was barely able to watch any of the European action this week. But there were a fair few shocks involved. The week started out with some heroics from Citeh against PSG, with the Ginger Winger notching the winner that put them through to the semis. The big shock, though, was current champions Barca crashing out to Atletico at the quarterfinal stage. Wow!

The best match of the week, though, was arguably Liverpool's astounding come from behind win against heavily favored Dortmund at Anfield.

All of this means that many of us went crashing out of both of the Champions League and the Europa League due to heavy betting on Barca and Dortmund. In pole position now are Gooner, who plumped for Real Madrid in the CL and Someone Said (Sevilla) and especially Yellows, who is still in the CL with Real and the Europa with Liverpool. Should be a thrilling end to the season. See you in the morning!

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 33 Update

Morning, chaps - as usual I'm here on Tuesday to update our PPP game. This one is easy peasy lemon squeasy. Nothing changed this weekend. Not a sausage. Bugger all. So here are the unchanged standings with five matches in the Premiership to go:

1. Man Utd Rules - 34 points
2. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 32 pts
3. The Red Devil 1FCK - 31 pts
- Swansong - 31 pts
5. Gooner71 - 30 pts
6. Yellows - 29 pts
7. The Red Dragon - 28 pts
8. Blue Devil - 26 pts
- Chelskilad - 26 pts
10. Someone Said - 25 pts
11. United We Stand - 24 pts
12. The Saint - 23 pts
- West Ham Rising - 23 pts

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Ben Watt Sodajerker on Songwriting Podcast!

Just a quick alert that Ben Watt, one half of one of my most beloved Brit bands Everything But the Girl, was interviewed this past week on the Sodajerker on Songwriting pod. Shout out to WHR for hipping me to Sodajerker - they're two Scouse songwriters who interview the best and brightest of Brit songwriters about their craft. It's a fascinating discussion that ranges from Ben's solo debut "North Marine Drive" to his latest disc. You can find it on your favorite podcast platform.

Leicester on the Brink

Leicester City are on the brink of doing something no football fan thought possible at the beginning of the season. Claudio Ranieri has taken a relegation threatened side and turned them into likely champions. This morning, they take on third-bottom Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Immediately following that, we've got second-place Spurs hosting fifth-place United. A lot can happen in the space of one morning in the Premiership. Make sure to join me for all of it.

 It's good to be back home after a long week and it starts with a cracker : The Hammers vs the Gunners. It's the final London Derby  that will be played at Upton Park. Today's fixtures are the reverse of those played on the opening day of the season.

Champions League Quarter Final Wednesday!

Afternoon, chaps! I'm on hand this afternoon to have a sneaky peek at this afternoon's CL action from the office. We've got a couple of smashing match-ups - Wolfsburg v. Real and PSG v. Citeh. Join me if you've got a moment or two for a cuppa and a chat.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 32 Update

Hiya, boys. What a weekend in the Premiership! That Norwich v. Newcastle match, eh? I was glued to it, of course. The action changed things once again for us at the PPP. Yes, Leicester are still top, but plucky ManYoo are back up in the top five again, adding points to just about all of us. With six matches to go (plus the cup finals), MUR is back up on top, just edging out current shield holder Simon and the two Fredonians (Red Devil and Swansong). Here are the current standings:

1. Man Utd Rules - 34 points
2. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 32 pts
3. The Red Devil 1FCK - 31 pts
- Swansong - 31 pts
5. Gooner71 - 30 pts
6. Yellows - 29 pts
7. The Red Dragon - 28 pts
8. Blue Devil - 26 pts
- Chelskilad - 26 pts
10. Someone Said - 25 pts
11. United We Stand - 24 pts
12. The Saint - 23 pts
- West Ham Rising - 23 pts

Soccer Sunday Morning

Morning, chaps - we've got another couple of intriguing match-ups in the Premiership today. We start with the title favorites now - yes, Leicester City. Can they continue their fantasy season against the Saints? That's followed by the key European slot match-up between United and Everton. Join me for all the fun and games today.

Back at it in the Premiership!

After a particularly long and irrelevant international break, we're finally back at it in the Premiership this morning. We start with Aston Villa v. Chelski, two teams who have had disappointing seasons. Villa start their first match since parting ways with Remi Garde, while Chelski have come into Villa Park with an experimental new side. After that one, we've got Arsenal v. Watford at 10am. Join me for all of the Premiership action here on the LOB this morning.