Premiership Plus Predictions Game - 2019/2020 Call-out!

Hi there, chaps! Believe it or not, it's that time again. Even though we've barely recovered from the Gold Cup, Copa America and Women's World Cup, the summer close season is rapidly coming to an end. with only a few days until the 2019/2020 domestic season starts with a full Championship program next weekend starting with Luton v. Boro on Friday and the traditional curtain-raiser The Community Shield Game between Liverpool and Man City at Wembley on Sunday, So, it's time for all of you to consult your crystal balls again. Our pal MOT the Hoople is, of course, the current holder of the vaunted LOB Shield, which we'll all be challenging for this season.

With thanks to MUR, I've got one new category for you to consider this season (Premiership Leader in Assists). Here's the basic set-up. 

2019/2020 Premiership Plus Predictions Game: 

1. Premiership Champions - 10 points
2. European Qualifiers (Choose #s 2-5 in the Premiership) - 4 points each plus a bonus point for the correct order)
3. Relegated sides - 3 points each plus bonus point for correct order
4. Promoted sides - 3 points each plus bonus point for correct order
5. League Cup winner - 6 points
6. League Cup loser - 2 points
7. FA Cup winner - 8 points
8. FA Cup winner - 2 points
9. Europa Cup winner - 4 points
10. Champions League winner - 6 points
11. La Liga champions - 2 points
12. Bundesliga champions - 2 points
13. Serie A champions - 2 points
14. Premiership top scorer - 6 points
15. Premiership leader in assists - 4 points
16. First Goalscorer in the Premiership (2 points for actual first goalscorer; 1 point for first goalscorer in the PPP pool)
17. First Player to Get a Red Card (including two yellow cards) in the Premiership - (2 points for actual player; 1 point for first player in the PPP pool) 
18. First Player to Score a Hat-trick in the Premier League - (2 points for actual player; 1 point for first player in the PPP pool)
19. First Premiership Player to Get an FA Ban for an Off-Pitch Incident - 2 points
20. First Premiership Player to Get a Second Yellow Card for a Silly Offense - 2 points
21. First Premiership Manager to Get a "Vote of Confidence" (shortly before getting the sack) - 2 points
22. First Premiership Manager to Get Sacked in the Premiership - 2 points
23. First Two Premiership Managers to Get into a Touchline Fight - 2 points
24. Player of the Year (based on the player awarded by the Professional Footballer's Association (PFA) - 2 points 
25. Young Player of the year (based on the player awarded by the PFA) - 2 points

Please get me your predictions in the above categories either by replying to this email (remember not to "Reply All") or on the LOB blogsite by Friday morning, August 9, if you'd like to be part of this year's game (yes, that will give you one week to judge the potential Championship promotion favorites). I'll be updating the standings weekly throughout the season both on the LOB blogsite and here by email. Please let me know if there is a better email at which to reach you. 

Good luck to all of you this season!

The Classic Kits!

As a way of heralding the introduction of the new season's kits, the footie writers at The Guardian took the time to choose their favorite kits of all time. They range from Arsenal's late 80s kit to (somewhat improbably), the early 90s Sheffield United kit. Surely some mistake was made in leaving out the classic Revie era "smiley face" Leeds kit.

You can read the article here:
The Classic Kits

Harry Maguire Joins United!

The big-time Premiership transfer news is coming thick and fast these days. Earlier this morning, Atletico Madrid agreed to terms to bring in Kieran Trippier from Spurs for the princely sum of £20 million. But the big move of the day is surely England center back Harry Maguire joining United. Is this the missing link to a big challenge by United for the title and other trophies?

Your thoughts on these moves and others, gents?

What Are Your Hopes for the New Season?

While we're officially in the dog days of summer, believe it or not, we're only a month away from the beginning of new season (and three weeks, if you count the Championship!). So, it's time to dream about the new season for our clubs. What do you expect and, more importantly, what do you hope for your club in the new season? What deals would you like to see? Who do you want to flog and who do you want to see brought in? Would you like a new manager? And where you do you see your club in a year's time?

I'll start. My beloved LUFC of course missed out on promotion by collapsing in the second leg against Derby at Elland Road. We were in the top two for much of the season but faltered in the end, which showed that we were lacking depth in the squad that was exposed in the run-in. That means we'll need to bring in some serious talent. Some of that has started. The biggest move of the summer so far is the loan deal for Helder Costa from Wolves. We've also secured the services of Jack Harrison from Citeh. At the same time, a training pitch bust-up has cost us Pontus Jansson, who has gone off to Championship rivals Brentford. And most notably, we flogged young Jack Clarke to Spurs, who turned around and loaned him back to us for the season. A mixed bag, really. I suspect that we'll be in a similar position come the end of the season. Probably good enough to secure a play-off spot but not good enough to be promoted automatically.

What about the rest of you lot - I'd love to hear from you.

WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!

Yesterday, England became the first country to be World Champions in Football, Rugby and Cricket after yesterday's thrilling win against New Zealand! If you haven't seen the highlights you should take look. NZ scored 241 and England replied with 241. So, they went to a Super Over.... a penalty shoot out of sort. England scored 15 in their one over and NZ scored 15. England won on tie breaker of hitting more boundaries.... SO EXCITING

Not just football on LOB

A Day of Two Big Finals!

For the first time in footballing history, the US Women's and Men's national teams are involved in major finals. First up, it's the US Women's team in their World Cup Final against the Netherlands. Later tonight, the US Men's team take on mighty Mexico in the Gold Cup Final.

Join me for all of the big final action here on the LOB today!

US v. Jamaica Gold Cup Semi-Final Live!

The US Women's team did the business against England in their semi-final yesterday. Tonight, it's the Men's turn, in a Gold Cup semi-final with Jamaica. Win and both men's and women's teams will be in finals at the weekend - not sure that has ever happened before. So, let's win one on 4th of July eve.

Join me on the LOB for the patriotic festivities tonight.

WWC Semi-final! USA v. England!

It's a day of divided loyalties today in the Women's World Cup, with the world champions USA taking on the old colonial enemy England in the semi-final. Ordinarily I'd be for England - as I did when England played the US in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. However, I don't know this England team and have no affinity for them. So, I'll be donning a tri-cornered hat and dumping some tea into Lake Erie for Megan Rapinoe and co. Go on, you Yanks!