Saturday is Footie Day!

I've survived a bruising first week of the semester and am looking forward to settling in for a morning of the good stuff. We get started with United's trip to St. Mary's to play Soton. Ole's boys have faltered of late; can they bounce back today. Speaking of bouncing back, at 10am, my eyes will be fixed on Elland Road where I'm hoping that my Leeds boys can shrug off that penalty defeat in the League Cup to Stoke in mid-week. It's a true six-pointer against second place Swansea this afternoon. At the end of the day, we've got league leaders Liverpool on the road at Turf Moor.

Join me for a footie morning, won't you?

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 3 Update

A very good Wednesday morning to all of you out there in the PPP universe! I'm just checking in quickly with the Week 3 update. Not a lot of changes to report this week. Liverpool are still top, given their perfect record so far, so all of the Scouse supporters in the pool are sitting pretty with those 10 points. Newcastle have dropped one position within the relegation zone and are giving us all 3 or 4 points.

In the Championship, my beloved Leeds are still top after a marvelous 0-3 away win over Stoke at the weekend (not saying anything about yesterday's penalty loss - grrr!). Many of us are getting points there but none of the other promotion contenders are on our lists.

The European leagues have all kicked off now and the league leaders are a surprising lot - Sevilla, Dortmund, Lazio?! Only a couple of us picked Dortmund. Not a lot of points there.

It's all well poised for next weekend, the last set of matches until we enter the first interminable international break. Here are the current standings:

1. Blue Devil - 36 points
2. MOT the Hoople - 35 pts
3. Swansong - 28 pts
4. Someone Said - 27 pts
5. West Ham Rising - 23 pts
6. Red Dragon - 21 pts
7. Gooner71 - 18 pts
8. Yellows - 16 pts
9. The Saint - 14 pts
10. United We Stand - 12 pts
11. The Bee's Knees - 11 pts
-   Pink Kits - 11 pts
-   What's Up Wheaton Simon - 11 pts
14. Man Utd Rules - 10 pts
15. Red Devil 1FCK - 9 pts

League Cup 2nd Round Action!

Afternoon, chaps! Anyone up for a spot of the Carabao? It's 2nd Round time and my attentions will be fixed firmly on the sacred turf of Elland Road, where my beloved Leeds United will have a touch of the deja vu here as Stoke City arrive today. We thrashed them 0-3 on their patch at the weekend, so there's no reason why we shouldn't do them over again this afternoon.

Unfortunately, none of it will be on the Plus, as they've opted for the Crewe v. Villa match. Join me for all of the up to date League Cup action.

Sunday at the Beach

Kate and I are planning to have a picnic at the beach later on today. Appropriately, so are City this morning, who travel to the South Coast to meet Bournemouth. Even though it's early doors in the season, this match has high stakes attached to it, given Liverpool's big win over the Arsenal yesterday. Later on, Spurs travel to woeful Newcastle to see if they can make Stevie Bruce's life even more miserable.

Join me for the beach action!

Down to Business

We're only a couple of weeks into the season and yet it already feels as if we're right down to business. Several managers, for example, are already under pressure. Frank Lampard's Chelsea visit Carrow Road to play the upstart Norwich City side. The Blues are without a win and need a result. After that, we've got Man Utd hosting Palace. United had a winning start the first weekend, but then dropped points last weekend. How will Ole Gunnar Solskjaer respond? At the same time, my beloved Leeds United travel to Stoke, who have yet to earn any points at all from four matches this season.

Finally, there is the big one for this weekend - Liverpool v. Arsenal. Both have perfect records but something has to give today.

Join me for all the intense Premier League action today.

Championship Tuesday Madness!

It's been an exceedingly busy workday here in Fred-town, so I'm late settling in to enjoy this afternoon's Championship action. My beloved Leeds United boys are taking on Brentford at home today on the back of a glorious 0-2 win away to Wigan on Saturday. Three more points today, please, boys. Come on, you Whites! #MOT!

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 2 Update

A very happy Tuesday afternoon to all of you out there in LOBland. I'm checking in with you with the Week 2 standings. As of yesterday afternoon's crackling 1-1 draw at Molineux, we completed Week 2 of the domestic season. Liverpool replaced Man City at the top, due to City's draw with Spurs on Sunday. Liverpool and Arsenal are the only two clubs in the Premier League with perfect records. So it's all change at the top of the PPP, with the Liverpool backers in charge for the week.

Down at the bottom, Newcastle have joined the drop zone, adding three or four points to many participants' scores. In the Championship, my beloved Leeds United are sitting pretty after a rousing away win at Wigan on Saturday. WBA have joined the playoff spots also bringing several players 3 or 4 points.

In Europe, La Liga and the Bundesliga started their seasons this weekend, with Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in poll position so far after one match. Raheem Sterling continues on top of the scoring charts but has been joined by Norwich upstart Teemu Pukki on 4 goals. Several of us have also got two points for picking Kevin de Bruyne as the top in assists - he's got three so far.

So here are the current standings after two weeks:

1. Blue Devil - 37 points
2. MOT the Hoople - 32 pts
3. Swansong - 29 pts
4. Someone Said - 26 pts
5. West Ham Rising - 23 pts
6. Gooner71 - 20 pts
-   Red Dragon - 20 pts
8. The Bee's Knees - 19 pts
9. United We Stand - 16 pts
-   Yellows - 18 pts
11. Man Utd Rules - 15 pts
-   Pink Kits - 15 pts
-   The Saint - 15 pts
-   What's Up Wheaton Simon - 15 pts
15. Red Devil 1FCK - 9 pts

Monday Night Football

So, the first Monday Night Football of the season gives Manchester United the chance to jump over Liverpool and Arsenal and go top of the league...just like another certain United in the Championship
I am here recovering from my knee surgery and hoping for some company.

Join me
UW

Christian Pulisic Sunday!

I'd had a lie in through the Evil Blades v. Palace match after a late night out with the missus. I've been having a go for several weeks about their relentless hyping of Christian Pulisic, but apparently the Great American Hope is going to start for the Blues on his home debut at Stamford Bridge this afternoon. Tune in with me to see how he gets on today against Leicester.

Hurrah! It's Saturday Again!

Morning, chaps! After a bruising week at work, it's a real pleasure to settle in for a morning of the good stuff. We start early as usual with Arsenal in their first home match of the season against Burnley. They got off to a winning start last weekend; can they treat their home support to another victory in a lunch-time kickoff. Then there are the traditional 10am kickoffs, which include a full slate of Championship matches including Leeds' journey to Wigan. Liverpool visit St. Mary's to play Southampton on the NBC match. Finally, we've got the weekend's big one between Citeh and Spurs.

I'll look forward to the pleasure of your company.

League Cup 1st Round Tuesday!

We've barely gotten started with the season and somehow we're already at the First Round stage of the League Cup. This evening, my beloved Leeds United take on Salford City away. This will be chance for Marcelo Bielsa to run out some of the Academy kids and others who rarely get a match. While the League Cup isn't a priority for us this season, I'd love to see us continue our early form and notch a professional win tonight. Come on, you Leeds! #MOT!

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 1 Update!

A very good Monday afternoon, everyone. I'm taking the opportunity of a relative lull in my work schedule today to post the very provisional first week standings of our humble PPP game. Not a lot to report. City are predictably sitting on top, which about half of our pool predicted. Of our picks, Liverpool and United are safely in the European qualifying slots. None of us predicted that Watford, Chelsea or West Ham would be in the drop zone, so no points there. And only Leeds rewarded our love in the Championship playoff race.

Our reigning champion got off to a fast start by correctly predicting that Mo Salah would be the first goalscorer in our pool (of course poor Grant Hanley was the actual first Premier League goalscorer when he put one in his own net against Liverpool - needless to say, no one anticipated that). And our new player Pink Kits and I were the only ones who correctly predicted a free match hat-trick for Raheem Sterling in City's goal riot against the Hammers.

So here are those early doors standings:

1. Red Devil 1FCK - 22 points
-  What's Up Wheaton Simon - 22 pts
3. The Bee's Knees - 21 pts
-  Gooner71 - 21 pts
-  Man Utd Rules - 21 pts
-  Red Dragon - 21 pts
-  The Saint - 21 pts
-  United We Stand - 21 pts
-  Yellows - 21 pts
10. Blue Devil - 13 pts
11. Pink Kits - 9 pts
12. MOT the Hoople - 8 pts
-  Swansong - 8 pts
14. Someone Said - 7 pts
15. West Ham Rising - 3 pts

The Sunday Best

Morning, chaps! We've got our first big Sunday morning ahead of us. It all starts in a few moments with Arsenal kicking off their season with new boys Pepe and David Luiz on board at St. James' Park against Newcastle. That's followed by the biggie - United v. Chelski. NBC Sports are hyping it as the introduction of Christian Pulisic to the Premiership but it's a big match regardless. Join me for all the action here on the LOB!

Saturday is Back!

Who among us hasn't missed our Saturday morning routines? Well, Saturday is back! I'm up with the chickens as usual, with a cuppa by my side and the hopes of a new season in my head. We've got two intriguing fixtures to start our day, with Premier League champs Man City starting their title defense at St James Park. A lot of us have favored for Man City for the title again and Newcastle for the drop. At the same time, my beloved Leeds have their home opener against Nottingham Forest. We got off to a flyer at Ashton Gate last weekend. I'm hoping for more of the same today at Elland Road.

If that isn't enough of the good stuff, there is a full schedule of footer after that. Tune in with me for a good Saturday morning banter, eh?

Welcome to the New Season!

Afternoon, chaps! I'm here to enjoy the start of the 2019/2020 Premier League season and I couldn't be more excited. Our curtain raiser is Liverpool v. Norwich from Anfield. Liverpool came tantalizingly close last season, losing only one match all season but being pipped in the end by a machine-like Citeh team. Can they get off to a winning start today against last season's Championship title winners Norwich, who are becoming something of a yo-yo side.

Join me for all the new season hi-jinks on the LOB this afternoon.

Transfer Deadline Day!

A very good Thursday morning to all of you! It's Transfer Deadline Day across the Pond with the fates of several big time Charlies at stake. Will David Luiz be joining Arsenal? Will Wilfred Zaha be leaving Palace for £100 million? How about Ryan Sessegnon?

How will you club fare today? Feel free to join this thread and chatter all day long.

The First Super Sunday of the Season!

A very good Sunday morning, chaps. Things are just starting to stir at The Cottage on the first big morning of the season. Of course there is the Community Shield at 10am, with Liverpool and Citeh getting their seasons off and running. But the main event this morning is my super Leeds starting the season at Ashton Gate against Bristol City. Let's have a winning start to the season, boys. Come on, you Leeds!

The Championship Season Starts Here!

Welcome to the new season, gents! The Championship got off to a flying start yesterday with a thrilling 3-3 draw between promotion favorites Middlesboro and new boys Luton Town. Today's action gets started at 10am EST with a full slate of matches, including Barnsley v. Fulham on the Plus. I'll be in and out today getting ready for the visit of the Gooner later on this evening. But join me if you're watching today.

Premier League Forecasts

Hiya, chaps - as you're putting together your predictions for this season's PPP Game, you might find it useful to consult The Guardian's excellent series of Premier League previews. You can find the previews, starting with the Arsenal here:

Premier League Forecasts

Welcome, Davo!

Please join me in welcoming "Davo," our old LHS friend David Vansuch, who has joined our LOB circle today. We'll look forward to catching up with you here and in person over the coming months. Welcome aboard!

David Vansuch here.  Trying to figure out this contraption!