Transfer Deadline Day!

Hiya, boys! It's Transfer Deadline Day! For fans of the big clubs, this is an exciting moment, full of dreams of new stars. For fans of clubs such as my beloved Leeds United, it's an anxious moment, waiting to see if the bosses will sell off the crown jewels. We've already lost Sammy Saiz this month; I'm just hoping that Kemar Roofe, Kal Phillips and Jack Clarke are still at the club at the end of the day. What are your hopes and dreams for your clubs today?

Snow Day Footer

I'm late to the party this afternoon but am enjoying a productive snow day off work today. I thought I'd post a second half thread so that anyone around can join in. Cheers!

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Cup Update!

Hi there, PPPers. I'm just popping in a for a moment tonight to update our PPP game after a busy weekend of footer. The standings haven't changed since there were very few league matches on, but, given that the semi finals of the League Cup and the 4th Round of the FA Cup happened since the last update, I thought that it was high time to account for that. You'll notice a red "Out" next to any of your picks who have been knocked out of the cups.

In the League Cup, Citeh defeated Spurs, so a number of us lost points for picking them. It's Citeh and Chelsea in the final at the end of February then.

In the FA Cup, Arsenal were the big casualties, bowing out to United on Friday. Liverpool went out at the 3rd stage. Otherwise, many of the big clubs are still in the competition.

So here are the current standings:

1. Blue Devil - 43 points
2. Man Utd Rules - 33 pts
3. Swansong - 29 pts
4. Gooner71 - 28 pts
5. The Saint - 27 pts
-  West Ham Rising - 27 pts
-  MOT the Hoople - 27 pts
8. Yellows - 24 pts
9. United We Stand - 23 pts
10. The Bee's Knees - 22 pts
-  Someone Said - 22 pts
12. Red Dragon - 21 pts
-  Red Devil 1FCK - 21 pts
14. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 19 pts

A Really Late FA Cup Fourth Round Double Header Sunday

It's a really late start to the Fourth Round matches. It starts at 11 AM with Palace vs the Spurs followed by Chelsea vs Not a Big Club where Bob will be hoping that the visitors will be leaving Stamford Bridge feeling really Sarri. It's been a really exciting Fourth Round with even a few giant killings. Here's hoping that today emulates that.,

Sharon Van Etten Unpacks Her New Album on All Songs Considered

Hey there, LOB music fans. The first great album of 2019 has arrived, courtesy of singer-songwriter Sharon van Etten. Her new slow burn single, "Seventeen" is on heavy rotation on my iPod. And thanks to Eric "O% Angel" Dahlgren picking up the full disc - "Remind Me Tomorrow" - I've been enjoying a good listen in the office this afternoon. Add to that a new episode of the "All Songs Considered" pod that dropped yesterday, in which Sharon unpacks each track, and it's been an all-Sharon kind of week for me.

Check out that podcast here: https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2019/01/22/687213009/hear-sharon-van-etten-break-down-every-track-on-her-stunning-new-album

Wazza Arrest Details

Poor old Wayne Rooney. The former England international and current DC United star has had a bad month. Add to that now is a Guardian article with details of Roon's arrest at National Airport after he attempted to kick his way through a secure door, apparently thinking it was an elevator. Clearly, Roon was feeling no pain and according to reports was swearing and speaking in "broken English" during the arrest process. To be fair, though, the DC airport coppers weren't aware that Wazza's native Scouse is the equivalent of "broken English" even on the best of days.

For more hilarious details, see the Guardian piece here: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/22/wayne-rooney-arrest-public-intoxication-dc-airport

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 23 Update

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, everyone! I'm taking advantage of the federal holiday to update our PPP game. Well, another week, another Liverpool win, so the Reds are still on top, with Citeh just trying to keep up. It's clear that the title race will now be a cat and mouse one between those two sides. Below them, there is now a furious competition between Spurs, Chelski, Arsenal and a resurgent ManYoo for those remaining Champions League spots. Chelski lost ground this week but remain in fourth with Arsenal and United in hot pursuit. Mo Salah's brace against Palace lifted him to 16 goals and two goals ahead of his rivals for Golden Boot - shame about the diving, though, eh?

At the bottom of the league, Cardiff have thankfully dropped into 18th again, which means points all round for us. And things are much the same in the Championship, despite my beloved Leeds' slip up at the Brit. Europe looks the same with Barca, Dortmund and Juve all leading their respective leagues.

So, here are the standings with 15 weeks of the season left to play:

1. Blue Devil - 43 points
2. Man Utd Rules - 33 pts
3. Swansong - 29 pts
4. Gooner71 - 28 pts
5. The Saint - 27 pts
-  West Ham Rising - 27 pts
7. MOT the Hoople - 26 pts
8. Yellows - 24 pts
9. United We Stand - 23 pts
10. The Bee's Knees - 22 pts
-  Someone Said - 22 pts
12. Red Dragon - 21 pts
-  Red Devil 1FCK - 21 pts
14. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 19 pts

A Rather Snowy Saturday

Upstate New York from Buffalo to Albany is facing its first big weather event of the winter season this weekend. So, what better than to leave that shovel in the garage for the morning and settle ion for a footie fest. It all starts with Wolves v. Leicester in a few moments. At 10am, we've got league leaders Liverpool against Palace, the featured match on NBC Sports, as well as our two Uniteds playing. Finally, the late one is a biggie - Arsenal v. Chelski. Join me for a cuppa and a chat, won't you?

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 22 Update

Hiya, chaps! I'm here as usual on a Tuesday afternoon to update our PPP standings. With Citeh's 3-0 demolition of Wolves yesterday, Round 22 of the domestic season came to an end. The top end of the table is much the same, with Liverpool and Citeh both winning. However, Newcastle has dropped into bottom three now, which means a few points off for those of us who had predicted Cardiff for the drop. The big change, however, was with Harry Kane join Aubameyang and Salah at the top of the scoring chart with 14 goals. So, that means six points for about half of us. That said, HK picked up a knock against United on Sunday, so he'll be out until March.

Here are the current standings:

1. Blue Devil - 46 points
2. Gooner71 - 35 pts
3. Swansong - 32 pts
4. Man Utd Rules - 30 pts
-  The Saint 30 pts
6. MOT the Hoople - 28 pts
7. United We Stand - 27 pts
8. Red Dragon - 25 pts
-  What's Up Wheaton Simon - 25 pts
10. Someone Said - 24 pts
-  West Ham Rising - 24 pts
12. Yellows - 22 pts
13. The Bee's Knees - 19 pts
14. Red Devil 1FCK - 17 pts

RIP Phil Masinga (1970-2019)

Sad news this weekend of the death of Phil Masinga to cancer at the tragically young age of 49. Along with Lucas Radebe, Phil was part of a South African double-act signed by Howard Wilkinson in the summer of 1994. While he scored two hat-tricks in pre-season and on his debut against Chelsea, Phil never quite found a place at Elland Road, while his compatriot Radebe went on to become a 90s legend at the club. RIP Phil.

A Sunday Treat

Morning, chaps! We've got a real Sunday morning treat ahead of us this morning. No, I'm not talking about the mid-table scrum of Everton v. Bournemouth, which starts the day. I'll be skipping that one in favor of doing some chores around the house. But I'll be back with bells on for the late offering between Spurs and United. This one is the first real test for OGS' newly invigorated United side. Join me later on for a proper Premier League match.

The Return of the Prem After FA Cup Action

It's the return of the Prem this weekend , starting with a London Derby as the Hammers host the Gunners. This is followed by the Seagulls vs league leaders Liverpool on NBCSN and concludes with Chelsea vs the Toon on NBC in a return to SB for Raffa and Kenedy

Birthday Footie Friday!

It's been a brilliant birthday so far with a lovely lie in and a pancake breakfast. Now I'm settling in with the hope that my beloved Whites can bring me a birthday present with three points attached against Derby County at Elland Road this afternoon. Join me if you've got the time. Come on, you Whites! MOT!

Happy Double-Nickels, Fearless LOB Leader!

I hope your boys unload on Derby for your birthday. MOT today and all days.

Steve Coogan on WTF!

It's been a banner week for podcast listening. Hot on the heels of the Elvis Costello interview on Sodajerker that I mentioned the other day, Marc Maron posted a lengthy interview on WTF with British comic actor Steve Coogan. Much of their conversation focuses on Steve's latest turn as Stan Laurel in the Laurel and Hardy biopic, "Stan and Ollie," which I can't wait to see. Check it out!

American Fiasco Podcast by Roger Bennett

Hello Chaps, I'm going to admit that I have given up on the MIB, mostly because it's been a 30-minute trolling of Arsenal week after week. Davo like Steven Cohen before him succeeded in annoying me more than I love Roger Bennett. But rejoice, Rog has left that annoying, serial annoyance behind in a podcast titled American Fiasco where he talks to veteran Yanks from the Italia 90 team, and through to the disappointment of not qualifying for Russia '18. Lots of 30 minute episodes here. Enjoy. https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/american-fiasco

League Cup Semi-Final Time

We've reached the semi-final stage of the League Cup, the season's first serious piece of silverware, this afternoon. We're at Shite Fart Lane for Spurs v. Chelsea, an all-Premiership fixture. I'm in the office but it's quiet about so I'll be taking a sneaky peek at the match on the ESPN+ link. Join me if you're around, won't you?

Elvis Costello on Sodajerker!

I enjoyed a lovely hour in the office this afternoon listening to the latest episode of the podcast Sodajerker on Songwriting (a pod that West Ham Rising initially recommended to me) with one of my favorite songwriters, Elvis Costello. While it focuses on his 2018 release with The Imposters, "Look Now," the Sodajerker chaps have a good old natter with Declan about his oeuvre. Check it out!

Bobby Robson: More than a Manager

The Gooner tipped me off to this new documentary about former Ipswich and England manager Bobby Robson that's now streaming on Netflix, and I thought I should share with all of you. I started watching it last night, and it really is a lovely portrait of the man. It's worth your time if merely for the chance to see Ronaldo's wonder goal for Barcelona and Robson's reaction to it. Check it out!

Leeds Join the FA Cup Third Round Action!

As my beloved Leeds are experiencing the first serious promotion battle in years, the FA Cup would scarcely seem to be our first priority. Indeed, Marcelo Bielsa is likely to rest many of our starters who seemed particularly leggy during the New Year's Day loss to Forest as we take on QPR at Loftus Road. Still, I hope that the Academy kids shine today and take us through to the 4th Round stage. MOT!

The Best Day of the Footer Season!

For some, the mercenary nature of the modern game has robbed the FA Cup of its romance. Not for me. Third Round Saturday is still my favorite day of the season and I look forward to this weekend every year. So, brew up a cuppa, relax in an easy chair and join me on ESPN+ for a full day of the good stuff.

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - New Year's Update

Happy New Year, LOB pals. Before we get into the excitement of FA Cup 3rd Round weekend, I thought I'd intrude with a brief update of our PPP game, mainly to underscore that, despite Liverpool's loss to Citeh yesterday, I'm still on Top of the Pops! Yes, Liverpool's lead has dropped to four points but that's still enough to have me measuring the wall space at the Cottage.

In other good news, Harry Kane is now level with Pierre Emerick Aubameyang on 14 goals at the top of the scoring charts, so that's six points for about half of our cohort. Southampton have dropped into the bottom three, so that's three or four points for a couple of players.

So, here are the current standings:

1. Blue Devil - 46 points
2. Swansong - 32 pts
3. Gooner71 - 30 pts
-  The Saint - 30 pts
5. Man Utd Rules - 28 pts
-  Someone Said - 28 pts
-  What's Up Wheaton Simon - 28 pts
8. The Bee's Knees - 25 pts
9. West Ham Rising - 24 pts
10. MOT the Hoople - 22 pts
11. Red Dragon - 21 pts
-  Yellows - 21 pts
13. United We Stand - 20 pts
14. Red Devil 1FCK - 17 pts

DON'T MUG OFF THE FA CUP

It is the fans fault for not going to the Cup Ties. It is the managers fault for not putting out sides that want to the win the FA Cup. They would rather finish mid-table then win a trophy. I can... sort of... understand teams that don't want to be relegated but every club should go out to win the Cup. It used to be THE DAY in the sporting calendar.

Thought this BT Sport commercial was quite funny. Click on the link and take a look!

Don't Mug Off the FA Cup

UWS

A Key Title Race Match to End the Prem Holiday Footie Fixtures

  There isn't a bigger way to end the festive fixtures than a key match in the tile race, which is Citeh vs Pool. Kickoff is at 3 PM on NBCSN. Join me if you can for this massive fixture.

Half a Dozen Holiday Prem Footie Matches

  As the title states, there half a dozen Premier League Football matches being played today with some kicking off at 2:45 PM and some at 3 PM.  The televised match will be Chelsea vs Saints on NBCSN. Join  me for all the holiday action.

New Year's Day Footer!

Happy New Year to all of you in LOB land! Here's to a very successful 2019 for all of our clubs. It all starts today, as is tradition, with a full slate of the good stuff. At 7:30am, it's a mid-table battle between Everton and Leicester. Goodison will be rocking with New Year's cheer. At 10am EST, we've got the usual slate of fixtures, including a London derby between Arsenal and lowly Fulham, as well as my beloved Leeds boys kicking off against QPR away. Finally, at 12:30pm, it's Cardiff v. Spurs. As at the weekend, I'm at the mother-in-laws house, so I may be posting sporadically. Enjoy!