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, December 29, 2018

The Last Saturday of 2018

So, we have reached the last Saturday. The Premier League is at the half point and the Championship is past the half way point. Can Liverpool keep their lead and win the league for the first time in 29 years? That would be good news for our fearless leader Blue Devil. Can Leeds keep their lead and win the Championship? That would be GREAT news for our fearless leader Blue Devil!
Almost a full slate of matches today culminating in Arsenal's visit to the league leaders.  Before that one, Spurs host Wolves,  Leeds host Hull and Norwich host Derby.
Join me

UWS

Friday, December 28, 2018

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Christmas Update

Hi there, PPP friends. We've reached the half-way point of this domestic league season. Typically, the teams at the top of the league at Christmas end up top of the league at the end. That will be heartening for Liverpool, my beloved Leeds and, of course, for your fearless leader The Blue Devil. We're all top of the league at this point.

Here are the current standings as we head into the busy New Year's period:

1. Blue Devil - 36 points
2. The Saint - 29 pts
3. Swansong - 27 pts
4. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 25 pts
5. West Ham Rising - 24 pts
6. Gooner71 - 23 pts
-  Man Utd Rules - 23 pts
8. MOT the Hoople - 22 pts
-  Man Utd Rules - 22 pts
10. United We Stand - 20 pts
11. The Bee's Knees - 19 pts
12. Red Devil 1FCK - 18 pts
-  Someone Said - 18 pts
14. Red Dragon - 15 pts

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Movies of 2018

While more films are being streamed on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and the like these days, I still prefer the experience of watching a film on a giant screen in the dark surrounded by strangers. As long as theaters continue to exist, I’ll continue to make the pilgrimage. Here are some of the movies that kept me going out to the cinema in 2018:
1. Sorry to Bother You - Boots Riley has always been a really interesting provocateur. His latest project really resonates with me as someone who spent years in low-paying menial work, laboring under bastard bosses. Riley’s style has more than a touch of Spike Lee to it; indeed, this is exactly the kind of movie that Spike should be doing now. Maybe they can get together on the next project?
2. Eighth Grade - Bo Burnham’s debut is a stunner, featuring Elsie Fisher as 13 year-old Kayla Day trying desperately to navigate the treacherous waters of middle school. She gets very little help from her hapless father Mark. The pool party scene where she walks the gauntlet in a bathing suit in front of her peers is one for the ages.
3. A Quiet Place - John Krasinski’s inventive new horror film, “A Quiet Place, is clearly inspired by Jordan Peele’s effort in “Get Out.” The hook in this one is that it’s almost entirely silent, with subtitled sign language. It also exists on a really small scale. Just one family headed by Krasinski and Emily Blunt who are trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic period in which monsters who are blind and hunt by sound have taken over. The sheer contrast between the 80% of the film that is silent or quiet and the loud punctuations is truly terrifying - one of the really scary films I’ve seen recently.
4. Vice - Adam McKay’s new film is no mere standard biopic of Dick Cheney; is an agit prop tour de force that mirrors McKay’s last film, “The Big Short,” in its style and ambition. McKay’s efforts are aided mightily by a superlative cast highlighted by Christian Bale who absolutely inhabits Cheney’s persona and Sam Rockwell whose slapstick take on George W. Bush is a thing to behold. Conservatives will no doubt remain unconvinced by McKay’s take on the Bush era events, which the filmmaker ironically anticipates in an Easter Egg segment at the end of the credits. However, it’s a handy reminder to progressives at a time when some among us have grown sentimental about the Bush era figures in the Trump moment.
5. Puzzle - Marc Turteltaub’s indie film was marketed as a rom com, but it’s not really - not a lot of romance or comedy, to be fair - but just a small-scale drama about a bored housewife who takes up jigsaw puzzling with a partner she finds through an ad in a game store. The ingenious thing about the movie is that it never takes the obvious turns. Just when you think that you’re going to see romance blossom, for example, it doesn’t. Just when you think that you’ll see a triumphant tournament scene, they decide not to show it. That’s not really the point - the point is to show these lives in full focus. It’s a lovely film.
6. A Star is Born - Bradley Cooper was somehow miraculously able to squeeze something new out of a story that has now seen four iterations. Cooper is good as the aging rock star prone to excess, but it is Lady Gaga who carries the story from the moment she steps on screen belting out a version of Piaf’s “La Vie en Rose.” Cooper was right to insist that Gaga start the movie stripped of her usual artifice, which she later layers on in her 21st century pop idol guise. The musical numbers hold up and it’s a very entertaining evening at the movies.
7. A Simple Favor - I am a sucker for a good twisty thriller, and “A Simple Favor” is certainly that. Anna Kendrick plays an overambitious mom who puts the other moms in the PTA to shame. She attracts the interest of Blake Lively, a working mom who needs some extra help. From that simple premise, this noir spins off in a million different directions. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, Paul Feig goes in another direction.
8. Fahrenheit 11/9 - Michael Moore may not have the profile that he once had after back-to-back commercial successes with “Bowling for Columbine” and “Fahrenheit 9/11.” However, he continues to make important, progressive agitprop documentary films. His latest takes its title from the numerical confluence of the WTC attacks and the Trump election. The most impressive material, as usual, concerns Moore’s hometown of Flint, Michigan, his long time muse from the days of “Roger and Me.” Indeed, he might have been wiser to just make a documentary about the Flint water crisis and leave it at that.
9. The Death of Stalin - Is there any political satirist working now that is sharper than Armando Ianucci? The irascible Scots director assembled an all-star cast, including Michael Palin and Steve Buscemi, to play the Kremlin inner-circle in the immediate aftermath of the Soviet dictator’s death. Any resemblance to the current gang in the White House is purely coincidental, right?
10. Back to Burgundy - Cedric Klapisch’s lovely new film made me want to book a spring trip to Auxerre. It’s the story of three siblings raised on a vineyard in Burgundy who come together after the death of their father to keep the family business going. The harvest celebration alone is worth visiting with these characters for a couple of hours.
Notable Others:
  • Black Panther
  • Blockers
  • The Book Club
  • Get Me Roger Stone
  • Hereditary
  • Love, Simon
  • Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again
  • Tag
Still to See:
  • Black KKKlansman
  • Bohemian Rhapsody
  • Can You Ever Forgive Me?
  • Cold War
  • The Favorite
  • First Reformed
  • If Beale Street Could Talk
  • Mary Queen of Scots
  • Roma
  • The Shoplifters
Disappointments:
Isle of Dogs - When Wes Anderson’s new film came out in the spring, I was reluctant to see it. I’ve never been much for animated films, even those intended for an adult audience. But, for Wes, I’m willing to give anything a try. Unfortunately, my initial impress was correct. Five minutes into the film, I had had it with the faux Japanese theme and the silly voiceover. I bailed out.
You Were Never Really Here - Joaquin Phoenix has become more of a goofball with every performance. I appreciate that he takes risks with roles but at this point he’s a bag of Method Acting tics.
I’d love to hear about the movies that you enjoyed this year.

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Boxing Day!

Jingle bells, Tottenham smells, ManYoo runs away. Oh, what fun it is to see Leeds win on Boxing Day-ay! A very good Boxing Day morning to all of you out there in LOBland. We've got a bump crop of the good stuff ahead of us today. It all starts a bit underwhelmingly with Fulham v. Wolves. Then things pick up in the 10am EST hour with Liverpool v. Newcastle and Leicester v. Citeh. After that, it's the Arsenal away to Brighton at noon and finally an all-London clash between Watford and Chelski at 2:30. It couldn't get more jam-packed then that. So, settle into your easy chair with a cuppa and join me.

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Merry Christmas, LOBers!

A very Merry Christmas from Jurgen and from me. Hope you all have a magic day full of plum pudding and turkey and all of the pressies that you had wanted Santa to bring you.

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Bielsa Rhapsody

For Our Bob!!

Breakfast with the Leeds Boys

Greetings from Richmond, chaps! My father-in-law Charles has been kind enough to set me up with the ESPN+ link for the Villa v. Leeds match this morning on his big widescreen telly. What a treat! With Norwich winning yesterday, we need to keep up our winning ways this morning. Join me for all the action, won't you?

Saturday, December 22, 2018

The Start of Holiday Footie


The festive fixtures actually started yesterday with Liverpool winning 0-2 at Molineaux to remain top of the table. The Gunners defeated Burnley 3-1 at The EM in the early morning match. The 10 AM fixtures include Citeh vs Palace on NBCSN and Chelsea vs the Foxes on CBC. The late one promises to be intriguing as the OGS era begins at United as it's a return to Cardiff for OGS where he had a brief unsuccessful spell in charge. He should expect a hostile reception.. Join me for all the action.

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 17 Update

Somehow, the week has slipped along into Thursday and I haven't had time to update our PPP game. So, it's high time to take stock of our latest standings before he hit another whirlwind weekend in the Premier League. Well, as Jimmy Pursey of Sham 69 used to say, "Hello Mum - looks who's on Top of the Pops again!" Yes, due to Liverpool heroics against a woeful ManYoo led for the last time by Jose Mourinho, Liverpool have clung on to their slender lead at the top. That means that I maintain my lead as well. Meanwhile, my Leeds boys won again away to Bolton, while Norwich dropped two points at Bristol City, so the Whites are top as well, so I'm a very happy chappy as we near the Christmas period. Not so most of you, as Burnley dropping into the bottom three rather than early season relegation favorites Cardiff City, Southampton and Newcastle, means another big loss of points.

Here are the latest standings:

1. Blue Devil - 41 points
2. Man Utd Rules - 30 pts
-  The Saint - 30 pts
4. United We Stand - 28 pts
5. Swansong - 27 pts
6. Gooner71 - 26 pts
7. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 24 pts
8. MOT the Hoople - 23 pts
-  West Ham Rising - 23 pts
10. Yellows - 22 pts
11. Red Dragon - 20 pts
12. Someone Said - 19 pts
13. The Bee's Knees - 18 pts
14. Red Devil 1FCK - 15 pts

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

THIS IS WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR!!!.... and a Leeds History Lesson


Ole at work.... keep it up!! 
You are my Solskjaer
My Ole Solskjaer
You make me happy
When skies are grey
You're never boring
You just keep scoring
Please don't take my Solskjaer away

Take a look at this
And there is the Leeds link for Our Bob

A North London Carabao Cup Derby

It's a big night in the League Cup tonight, with a massive North London Derby on tap. On offer for the victors is a semi-final match up with Burton Albion, Citeh or Chelsea/Bournemouth. I'll be in the office buzzing about this afternoon, but I should be able to check in from time to time. Join me if you've got the chance.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Jose Walks the Plank!

Remember that whispered conversation behind a cupped hand between ManYoo chairman Ed Woodward and Old Trafford legend Bobby Charlton at Anfield on Sunday? Well, now we know what they were discussing. As of last night, Jose Mourinho was sacked and Michael Carrick has been appointed caretaker manager.

So, what next for United? They're 19 points off the top of the Premiership but are still in the last 16 of the Champions League. A Europa League spot for next year seems a real possibility, if someone can be brought in to steady the ship. So, who would you lot like to see come in as the new boss? Zidane? Potchetinno? Warnock?

Your thoughts, gents?

Monday, December 17, 2018

Happy Birthday Al-Prez!

Sunday, December 16, 2018

It's Two London Clubs at the South Coast Followed by the Big One at Anfield.






It starts with the Seagulls vs Chelsea on NBCSN and the Saints vs Gunners on NBC Gold at 8:30 AM. Then the biggest and fiercest Derby of all derbies as it's Liverpool vs United at Anfield. United desperately need a win to keep touch with the top four while Pool need a win to go top. Join us for all the action this Sunday morning. Should be quite a morning.

Saturday, December 15, 2018

An Intriguing Saturday in the Prem

What an intriguing Saturday we have ahead of us. We start at the Etihad with Citeh trying to bounce back from their loss to Chelski last week. Everton are a tricky side to play at this point, with Richarlison scoring bucketsful for them. Then at 10am, there are a load of Premiership fixtures, but I'll be focused on Bolton v. Leeds on the Plus. We finish things off with the relegation strugglers' dogfight between Newcastle and Fulham. Join me for all the fun, won't you?

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Paul Shaffer Christmas Classic

It's not the holiday season until Paul Shaffer imitates Cher singing "O Holy Night." Enjoy! 

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Books of 2018

It's that time of the year again, LOBers. As tradition has it, we take stock of the cultural artifacts that has sustained us in this crazy world over the past year during the December month. I'll start us off with my favorite books from the past year. These are not necessarily all 2018 publications; rather they are the reads that I most enjoyed during the last year:

1. Meg Wolitzer - The Female Persuasion: My favorite novel of the year is Wolitzer's sprawling narrative of college and post-college life that couldn't be any more timely. The protagonist Greer's evolution from a naive and lonely undergraduate to a leading activist in feminist circles is one that I would love to discuss in a group of friends. I really need to form that reading group with I have a spare moment one of these days (sigh)....

2. Jonathan Rauch - The Happiness Curve: Jonathan Rauch is a family friend and thus I've had the chance to chat with him about his work socially over the years. When we had dinner in March, he mentioned his upcoming book and whispered to me "you're going to like this one." He was right; his thesis in this book, which could be loosely categorized as self improvement, is that most of us struggle through our 20s, 30s and 40s but begin to blossom in our 50s. I didn't agree with everything in the book but it made me reflect deeply on the arc of my life. If you're of a certain age, I think it will for you, too.

3. Leni Zumas - Red Clocks: Zumas' latest novel is a spellbinding and nightmarish view of a possible future America. Under a draconian administration, women's reproductive rights have been eliminated and six women in the Salem, Oregon area, including a teacher struggling with fertility issues, a pregnant teacher, a homeopathic therapist, and a frustrated wife dealing with her crumbling marriage deal with the consequences.

4. Joe Hagen - Sticky Fingers: I've been a fan of Rolling Stone magazine since I was a teenager, so this exhaustive study of the magazine's founder Jann Wenner was fascinating to me. That I read it during a time of crisis for the magazine, when it was transitioning from its old bi-weekly format to a new monthly format, made this all the more pointed.

5. Michael Issikoff and David Corn - Russian Roulette: This year produced a virtual cottage industry of books detailing the chaos of the Trump White House and the investigation of its collusion with Putin's Russia around the 2016 election but this one is the best. What makes it stand out from the throng is the depth of investigative digging from two veteran reporters. If you want to make sense of this complex story for yourself, this is the book to turn to.

6. Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkenen - The Wife Between Us: I'm a sucker for a good thriller, especially when I'm on the road, as it takes my mind off work after a long day of conferencing. In recent years, I've enjoyed Stieg Larsson's trilogy, Gone Girl and Girl on a Train. If you liked those, too, you'll enjoy the twists and turns of this page-turner.

7. Tracey Thorn - Bedsit Disco Queen: I've been a huge admirer of Tracey Thorn's work over the years and I so I gobbled up this memoir. I was particularly moved by her descriptions of meeting her Everything but the Girl collaborator and partner in life Ben Watt on her first night at Hull University in 1981. As someone who has always seen their relationship, especially during Ben's health crisis in the early 90s, as an inspiration, this was a profound read for me.

8. Ann Power - Good Booty: Ann Powers has been one of the smartest writers on popular music for several decades now, from her early work for the sadly now defunct The Village Voice to her current gig as a Nashville music correspondent for NPR. In her latest book, she surveys the complex intersections between race and gender in rock music.

9. David Grann - Killers of the Flower Moon: New Yorker writer David Grann detailed a story that I had never heard of before - the role of a series of mysterious killings of Native Americans in early 20th century Oklahoma in the formation of the FBI.

10. Mary Lou Hall - Wirewalker: Hall's YAF novel dug deeply into the life of a young boy forced to navigate the treacherous waters of a dangerous urban neighborhood and his dysfunctional relationship with his drug-peddling father.

Notable Others

Anna Gavalda - Consolation
* Alice Hoffman - The Marriage of Opposites
* Anya Kamanetz - The Test 
* Amy Kaufman - Bachelor Nation
* Steve Kornacki - The Red and the Blue
* Per Petterson - I Refuse
* Michael Pollan - How to Change Your Mind
* Ganesh Sitaraman - The Crisis of the Middle Class Constitution
* Katy Tur - Unbelievable!
* Michael Wolff - Fire and Fury

Disappointment: 

David Sedaris - Calypso: I've always anticipated a new collection of Sedaris stories hoping that it will make me laugh out loud. Unfortunately, his latest is tinged with the great sadness of losing his sister Tiffany. I wasn't in the right head-space for it, but perhaps some of you might be.

I'd love to hear what you've enjoyed reading this year.


Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Premiership Plus Predictions - Week 16 Update

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Well, what a difference a weekend makes! The unusual dynamic of this season's PPP where everyone in the pool but me (Blue Devil) has chosen Man City as champions means that, when City are top, I'm on the bottom of the table. When Liverpool are on top....guess who's on Top of the Pops again! So it is this week, as City were vanquished by Chelski at the weekend and Liverpool hit Bournemouth for four. That meant a 15 point swing in fortunes for us.

In other news, Mo Salah's hat-trick put him on double figures for the season alongside Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. That added six points to MUR and UWS' total, while The Saint and Simon continued to collect those points for their Aubameyang pick. Otherwise, Huddersfield are back in the bottom three (hurrah!), which added three or four points to many totals.

So, here are the current standings:

1. Blue Devil - 39 points
2. The Saint - 34 pts
3. Man Utd Rules - 32 pts
4. United We Stand - 30 pts
5. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 29 pts
6. Swansong - 26 pts
7. Someone Said - 25 pts
8. Gooner71 - 24 pts
9. MOT the Hoople - 23 pts
10. West Ham Rising - 22 pts
11. Yellows - 21 pts
12. Red Dragon - 20 pts
13. The Bee's Knees - 19 pts
14. Red Devil 1FCK - 18 pts

Saturday, December 08, 2018

Hurrah, it's Saturday!

After a long workweek, there's nothing like a Premiership morning to soothe the nerves. First up, we've got title challenger Liverpool's road trip down south to Bournemouth. Then in the 10am hour, NBC has chosen to show us ManYoo v. Fulham. At the same time, I'll have ears to the ground for my beloved Leeds' fixture against QPR. Then later on we've got the big one - Chelski v. Citeh. And if you really need some extra footer, there's a late, late match at 2:45pm between Leicester v. Spurs. You know what to do - join me for the action, eh?

Thursday, December 06, 2018

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 15 Update

A very happy Thursday morning, chaps! I decided to hold off on updating our standings until the midweek matches had been played in the Premier League, so this update reflects two sets of matches. The picture is that many of us have lost points this weeks, particularly when it comes to the relegation slots where Cardiff and Huddersfield, two early season favorites for the drop, have jumped out. In the Championship, Derby and Villa have dropped out of contention, with another consequential loss of points for us. Fortunately, Barcelona are back on top in La Liga, so about half of our cohort picked up 2 points there.

This all means that MUR and The Saint are now locked in a titanic struggle at the top of the charts, both on 40 points. Here are the current standings:

1. Man Utd Rules - 40 points
-  The Saint - 40 pts
3. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 39 pts
4. Gooner71 - 36 pts
-  United We Stand - 36 pts
6. Red Dragon - 35 pts
-  Someone Said - 35 pts
8. MOT the Hoople - 34 pts
-  Red Devil 1FCK - 34 pts
-  Swansong - 34 pts
-  West Ham Rising - 34 pts
12. Yellows - 32 pts
13. The Bee's Knees - 28 pts
14. Blue Devil - 20 pts

Wednesday, December 05, 2018

The Nations League Chat

The draw for Euro 2020 was announced yesterday morning. Interestingly, it looked very much like any Euro draw in the past with a major power as the seeded team, one or two second tier sides, a third-tier side and a minnow in each group. This was striking, as it refutes the explicit rationale that UEFA made for its inaugural Nations League this fall - that is, that the NL would cut down on international match congestion and promote competition between teams at the same level. Those sides who were relegated from the top groups were meant to be punished with tougher draws for Euro 2020. But there is Croatia as the seeded team in a lightweight group after all. All of this begs the question again - what was the point of all of those Nations League matches this fall? Here is the Euro 2020 draw in full: 
Group A: England, Czech R., Bulgaria, Montenegro, Kosovo
Group B: Portugal, Ukraine, Serbia, Lithuania, Luxembourg
Group C: Netherlands, Germany, N. Ireland, Estonia, Belarus
Group D: Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland, Georgia, Gibraltar
Group E: Croatia, Wales, Slovakia, Hungary, Azerbaijan
Group F: Spain, Sweden, Norway, Romania, Faroe Isl., Malta
Group G: Poland, Austria, Israel, Slovenia, Macedonia, Latvia
Group H: France, Iceland, Turkey, Albania, Moldova, Andorra
Group I: Belgium, Russia, Scotland, Cyprus, Kazakhstan, S Marino
Group J: Italy, Bos-Herz, Finland, Greece, Armenia, Liechtenstein

Tuesday, December 04, 2018

FA Cup 3rd Round Draw

The draw for the 3rd Round of the FA Cup was made yesterday - can you all feel the magic in the air? It produces some really tasty fixtures, including possible road trips for both Arsenal and Spurs to non-league sides. Other intriguing fixtures include Wolves v. Liverpool, Aston Villa v. Swansea and Chelsea v. red hot Forest. Of course, Man Citeh got Rotherham at home and United got their usual tie v. Reading. I'm reasonably pleased with an away fixture with QPR,, who we have at home this weekend. 

Here is the draw in full


Bolton v. Walsall/Sunderland
Millwall v. Hull 
Gillingham v. Cardiff
Brentford v. Oxford
Not a Big Club v. Luton
Man Utd v. Reading
Everton v. Lincoln
Tranmere/Southport v. Spurs
PNE v. Doncaster
Newcastle v. Blackburn
Chelski v. Forest
Palace v. Grimsby
Derby v. Soton
Accrington Stanley (who? exactly!) v. Ipswich
Bristol City v. Hudders
Wrexham/Newport v. Leicester
Fulham v. Oldham
Shrewsbury v. Stoke
Solihull Moors/Blackpool v. Arsenal
Man City v. Rotherham
Bournemouth v. Brighton
West Ham v. Birmingham
Woking v. Watford
Burnley v. Barnsley
QPR v. Leeds
Sheffield Utd v. Barnet
Norwich v. Portsmouth
Guiseley/Fleetwood v. AFC Wimbledon
WBA v. Wigan
Boro v. Peterborough/Bradford
Wolves v. Liverpool
Villa v. Swansea

Your thoughts, gents?

Sunday, December 02, 2018

Triple Derby Day!

When was the last time we had not one, not two but three big Derby matches on one Sunday? Never, right? Well, get yourself some brekkies and settle in. We start with Chelsea v. Fulham. After that, it's Arsenal v. Spurs and then finally at 11am, it's Liverpool v. Everton. Join me for all the action!

Saturday, December 01, 2018

Extra Early Morning Footer Action

I'm getting a taste of MUR's world this morning, as I'm up at 6am Central Standard Time to watch my Leeds boys in what promises to be a titanic struggle of good vs. evil. It's a Yorkshire Derby with real consequences for the Championship table as we're currently 2nd and the Evil Blades are currently 4th. We'll need all three points to keep up the pressure on Norwich at the top.

Later on we've got the 10am kickoffs including Man City v. Bournemouth, and then the late one between United and Southampton. By then, though, I'll be doodling down the road toward WNY and home. Join me for the early morning action, won't you?