Lakenheath Old Boys

We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Something a Bit Special

I've just about gotten over the disappointment of that Yorkshire Derby defeat yesterday and am looking forward to a tasty Saturday schedule in the Premiership. We start with two of the most in-form sides - Man Utd hosting Spurs at the Theater of Dreams. At 10am, we've got the current leaders Citeh visiting West Brom and then finally at 12:30, it's the two German chums Jurgen Klopp and David Wagner meeting up for the first time as managers. Join me of all the action this morning, eh?

Friday, October 27, 2017

A Friday Yorkshire Derby Special!

Happy Friday, everyone! It's a crazy end to Advisement Week here in Freetown, but I'm hoping to carve out a moment or two to watch my boys as they tackle the big Yorkshire Derby with the Evil Blades this afternoon. If you've got a chance to drop by for a cuppa and a chat, please do. Come on, you Whites!

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Which Songs Should Be Retired?


The "All Songs Considered" crew over at NPR came up with a fascinating question this week: "what songs should be retired?" By this, they mean songs that are incontrovertibly great and even beloved but, because of relentless overplaying or negative association (or both) have long ago worn out their welcomes. Here are their choices: 
1. Harry Chapin - "Cats in the Cradle"
2. Jeff Buckley - "Hallelujah"
3. Israel Kamakawiwoʻole - "Over the Rainbow"
4. John Lennon - "Imagine"
5. The Beatles - "Yesterday"
6. Pharrell - "Happy"
7. Don McLean - "American Pie"
8. Meatloaf - "Paradise By the Dashboard Lights"
9. Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Freedom"
10. Wagner - "Ride of the Valkyries"
11. The Eagles - "Hotel California"
12. Led Zeppelin - "Stairway to Heaven"
13. Queen - "Bohemian Rhapsody"
So, here's your question for a Sunday afternoon, FB music fans: what songs would you add to this list? Here's my offering - Aretha Franklin's "Respect." I can still listen to Otis Redding's' original version but, sorry Aretha, after too many movie scenes of people in cars belting out your version, yours has got to go. What about the rest of you? What songs are you retiring?

You can see the original piece here: http://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2017/10/10/556692186/hallelujah-the-songs-we-should-retire

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

League Cup Fourth Round Live!

Wahay! It's League Cup Fourth Round day, chaps! Not only that, but the suits at ESPN have seen fit to streaming the Leicester v. Leeds tie live and in color. I'll be locking myself away here at work to follow the proceedings from 2:45pm EST onward. Join me if you have a chance to drop in.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 9 Update

A very good Monday afternoon to all of you out there in LOB land. Another domestic footer weekend has spun by and mixed things up again for us in the PPP. Normal service was resumed early Saturday morning as Chelsea defeated upstarts Watford, dumping them out of the top five, with Arsenal slipping back into that slot. At the other end, though, Everton have slid into the drop zone, which cued the inevitable sacking of Ronald Koeman. For Gooner, the only one in the pool to pick Koeman to be sacked shortly after having been backed by the board, that means 2 additional points.

In the Championship, Norwich are back in the playoff slots, so that has added three or four points for several of us. However, the biggest ripple was made by Harry Kane, whose brace against Liverpool yesterday rocketed him up to the top slot with 8 goals now. He's the most popular Golden Boot pick, so that's six points for several of us.

Here are the current standings, then:

1. Swansong - 39 points
2. MOT the Hoople - 37 pts
3. Gooner71 - 34 pts
4. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 31 pts
5. Someone Said - 29 pts
6. Red Dragon - 28 pts
7. Yellows - 27 pts
8. The Saint - 25 pts
9. United We Stand - 20 pts
10. Blue Devil - 19 pts
-  The Red Devil 1FCK - 19 pts
-  Man Utd Rules - 19 pts
13. West Ham Rising - 12 pts

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Sunday Morning Premiership Footer

Morning, chaps! I'm settling in to enjoy what promises to be a fascinating morning in the Premiership. We get started momentarily with a stuttering Arsenal visiting an Everton in crisis. Then at 11am there is another big one - Spurs v. Liverpool at Wembley. Join me for all the action today.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

It's Saturday Again!

A very good Saturday morning, chaps! I hope that you've had a good week and are settling in for some Premier League footer. We start early doors with champions Chelsea v. upstarts Watford. Then it's the usual 10 am EST kickoffs, including our two beloved Uniteds. ManYoo play Huddersfield while Leeds travel to Bristol City for a key playoff spot fixture. I'll take two wins for the Uniteds in that one, how about you? Brew yourself a strong cuppa and join me, won't you?

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Champions League Wednesday!

A very good Hump Day afternoon to you all. I hope that you're cruising through the week unscathed. We've got another big, big night in the Champions League tonight, with several English teams involved. Chelsea host Roma in perhaps the biggest fixture of the night; however, I'll probably try to dial up a link to United's tie in Lisbon against Benfica. Join me if you've got a moment to drop in for a cuppa this afternoon.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Russia 2018 - European Playoffs Draw

The playoffs for the last four European slots for Russia 2018 was drawn this morning in the usual secretive FIFA backroom, and they produced some fascinating match-ups. Here's the draw in full:

Northern Ireland v. Switzerland
Croatia v. Greece
Denmark v. Republic of Ireland
Sweden v. Italy

Your thoughts, gentlemen?

Monday, October 16, 2017

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 8 Update

I hope that all of you are having a smooth start to the workweek. I'm here as usual with the weekly update on our PPP standings. We were back into the hurly-burly of the domestic game this weekend after the second interminable international break of the season. The effect of all of that was a number of points deducted from all of our accounts, as Arsenal tumbled out of the top five, replaced by Watford, Leicester dropped into the relegation zone and Leeds lost again in the Championship. Despite that, Gooner continues to top our league, having predicted a Man Citeh title run this season. They're absolutely flying right now - and so is Gooner.

Here are the current standings:

1. Gooner71 - 28 points
2. Swansong - 25 pts
3. MOT the Hoople - 24 pts
4. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 22 pts
5. Yellows - 19 pts
6. United We Stand - 18 pts
7. Red Dragon - 16 pts
8. The Saint - 15 pts
9. Red Devil 1FCK - 13 pts
10. Blue Devil - 12 pts
-  Someone Said - 12 pts
-  West Ham Rising - 12 pts
13. Man Utd Rules - 8 pts

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Still the Biggest Match of the Season

Liverpool vs Manchester United will always be the biggest match of the season in my book! Thirty-eight championship between them! Not a bad haul!
This will be United's first big match of the season. Can they continue their run? I hope so!
Palace are on NBC for a third match in a row for the visit of Chelsea. Arsenal visit Watford in the late one.
Of course, Mighty Leeds take on Jap's Chaps on ESPN3!

Join me for all the festivities!

UWS

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

THE LAST HURDLE!

So here we go!!! The last of the long and winding road to Russia is upon us. Can the USA end a very spotty qualification with success. A draw would probably be enough. A loss might even be okay but just do what you're supposed to do and beat the bottom of the table T&T.
We also have HUGE games in the other American continent. Brazil are there, Uruguay are pretty much there because of GD. So, two automatic spots and one play off spot to win tonight. Chile are 3rd but visit Brazil, Colombia and Peru are 4th and 5th play each other and finally Argentina are outside looking in! If they win, they are in. Draw and loss all hell could break lose
Join me

UWS

Monday, October 09, 2017

The Leak Eaters Meet the Bog Trotters!

It's not quite a Home International but Wales and Ireland certainly know each other well. They meet this afternoon at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and the stakes couldn't be higher. Either of these teams might qualify as group winners tonight (they would need Georgia to do them a favor in Serbia, which is unlikely), while at least one of them will end the evening with their dreams of a place in Russia well and truly over. Join me this afternoon if you're around and about.

Sunday, October 08, 2017

England's Final Qualifier

England have arrived at their final qualifier today and fortunately they don't have to do anything in Lithuania today, as they already qualified with the win on Thursday against Slovenia at Wembley. Given that there no stakes today, I'd like to see Gareth Southgate experiment a bit, perhaps with Jordan Pickford in goal, Spurs schemer Harry Winks in midfield and Marcus Rashford through the middle rather than out wide. Come on, England!

Friday, October 06, 2017

Crunch Time for the US!

It's a huge night for the US, as they take on their main rivals for qualification Panama in Orlando. Simply put, this is a must-win for Bruce Arena's boys. Panama are currently in that last automatic qualifying spot, but the US could rob them of that with a big win tonight. A draw would not be enough. We would then need a win in T&T on Tuesday and even then would need help from Mexico. And who knows if they'd be in a charitable mood.

It's all poised for a big night, gentlemen. I'm going to settle in around 7pm as the coverage starts on ESPN2 and I'll look for you then. Join me here on the LOB for the usual banter, won't you?

Thursday, October 05, 2017

England v. Slovenia Live!

It's a bright, sunny day here in Fredonia, we're on Fall Break and England are playing at Wembley this afternoon in a key World Cup qualifier - what could be better? England's qualification for Russia 2018 is not really in doubt. Gareth Southgate's side require just two points from their final two qualification matches to finish top of Group F but they can seal their place with a game to spare this evening if they beat third-place Slovenia.

I've got a buddy coming over for the match this afternoon, so I'll be on and off the blog during the match itself. However, please feel free to drop by for a chat if you're able to watch.

Tuesday, October 03, 2017

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 7 Update

A very good Tuesday to all of you PPPers out there in LOB land. As we approach the second interminable international break, it's time to check in on the standings in our game. The big winner this week is certainly Gooner, who vaulted into the top spot again after picking up 8 points from last week, largely due to Swansea's drop into relegation zone and some reshifting in the Championship table. And on Monday morning came the news that Everton FC have given Ronald Koeman a vote of confidence after their miserable home loss on Sunday. If Koeman is eventually sacked, Gooner - the only one in our pool to pick Koeman for this category - will get two more points.

So, here are our standings after seven weeks of Premiership football:

1. Gooner71 - 37 points
2. Yellows - 30 pts
3. MOT the Hoople - 28 pts
-  Swansong - 28 pts
-  United We Stand - 28 pts
6. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 27 pts
7. Red Dragon - 26 pts
8. The Saint - 20 pts
-  Someone Said - 20 pts
10. Red Devil 1FCK - 19 pts
11. Blue Devil - 16 pts
12. West Ham Rising - 15 pts
13. Man Utd Rules - 10 pts

Sunday, October 01, 2017

A Very Big Early Sunday Morning

Sunday morning is off with a bang today, with two cracking matches at the same time. In the Premiership, Arsenal kick off against Brighton on NBC Sports Network at the crack of dawn (i.e., 7am). Then 15 minutes later, the epic confrontation between my beloved and some know-nothing, also-ran Championship side from a post-industrial hell-hole starts on ESPN3. It's a shame that our loyal fans will have to brave the confines of their rattle-trap stadium in order to support the side. Still, if we can get three points, it'll be all worth it. Join me for what promises to be a legendary morning.