The Euro 2020 Draw!

The Draw has been completed! Lots of questions still be answered but here is the draw

UEFA EURO 2020 group stage

Group A: Turkey, Italy, Wales, Switzerland 

Group B: Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Russia 

Group C: Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria, Play-off winner D (A)* 

Group D: England, Croatia, Play-off winner C, Czech Republic 

Group E: Spain, Sweden, Poland, Play-off winner B 

Group F: Play-off winner A (D)*, Portugal, France, Germany

*Play-off Winner A is allocated to Group F and Play-off Winner D to Group C. If Romania qualify as Path A winners, they will play in Group C and Play-off Winner D will be switched to Group F. The play-off winners will be known in March 2020.

• Path A: Iceland v Romania | Bulgaria v Hungary.
• Path B: Bosnia and Herzegovina v Northern Ireland | Slovakia v Republic of Ireland.
• Path C: Scotland v Israel | Norway v Serbia.
• Path D: Georgia v Belarus | North Macedonia v Kosovo.

Article Reactions

Back Home with the Prem

I enjoyed my time in Austin, but it's a pleasure to be back in my easy chair for a Saturday morning of the good stuff. We start in a few minutes with the early one from St James' Park with Newcastle hosting Man City. That's followed by the usual 3pm GMT kickoffs, including Spurs v. Bournemouth on NBC Sports, Liverpool v. Brighton on the Gold and Leeds v. Boro in my heart. Later on, we've got Soton v. Watford on the box. Join me for all the fun this morning from the vantage point of your favorite easy chair, won't you?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, LOBers! Fancy a slice of my pie?

Champions League Turkey Gobble Gobble

I'm taking a break from Thanksgiving cooking and checking in on the second half of the Liverpool v. Napoli CL match. Liverpool are 0-1 down through a Dries Martens goal in the first half. Join me if you're watching on TNT.

A Spot of Thanksgiving Break Footer

A very good Tuesday afternoon, chaps! I'm luxuriating on the first day of my Thanksgiving break and looking forward to watching my beloved Leeds boys this afternoon. Last time out, we did the business against Luton away; today, it's Reading away and I would take another 1-2 win right from the off, ta very much. Come on, you Leeds boys! MOT!

The Evil Blades vs United

It's the only show in town today. It's the Evil Blades vs United today.The winner moves up to fifth place, so there's a lot at stake today.  Come join me for this important match.

Early Morning Footie On the Road

Morning, chaps - I'm up with the chickens in my Austin hotel room this morning in order to follow the footer. I'll be taking a wee break (sssshhhh!) from conference doings to enjoy a relaxing morning in front of the telly. First up is newly minted Spurs manager Jose Mourinho's first test in a Londonderry with West Ham. Then we've got the usual 3pm GMT kick-offs, which today include my beloved Leeds kicking off at Kenilworth Road against Luton Town. The late one is a corker - Man City v. Chelsea. Should be fun - join me?

A full explanation of the Euro 2020 play offs

Twenty teams have qualified for Euro 2020. The four remaining spots will come from the playoffs. Nations League results have been used to determine which teams are in the playoffs. If you look at my diagram, Iceland was the only League A team not to automatically qualify for the Euros. That leaves three vacancies in League A. Since there were only four League B teams that failed to qualify for the Euros we go to Path C. If you look at the four circled teams , one will play Scotland at Hampden Park. The other three will go to Path A with the lowest seeded team playing away to Iceland and the higher seeded of the remaining two hosting the other. The draw for that will take place tomorrow at 6 AM EAST. Here are the playoffs we already know :

 Path B : Bosnia vs Northern Ireland
                 Slovakia vs Republic of Ireland

Path C : Norway vs Serbia

Path D : Georgia vs Belarus
                North Macedonia vs Kosovo

Any questions ?

US at Cayman Islands (Cuba)

Alrighty, Let's watch the USA cruz by Cuba.

England Wrap Up Their Euro 2020 Campaign

While they have their detractors and skeptics, even on this blog, the current England team are, IMHO, the best certainly since Bobby Robson's side that made it to the 1990 World Cup semi-final stage, but perhaps even since Alf Ramsay's 1970 side that gave Pele's Brazil a good game. They have simply sailed through this qualifying campaign for Euro 2020, with one hiccup away to the Czech Republic. Today, they wrap up that campaign away to Kosovo. Come on, England!

England vs Monte in Euro Qualifying

It's a full day of Euro qualifiers and the match of interest is England vs Montenegro on Plus  with kickoff at 2:45 PM..It's very simple, England win and they are not just through, but they also win the group. Otherwise they will have to  get a result in the Pristine City on Sunday. The other match of interest in the group is the Cezchs vs Kosovars on ESPN News. The winner is in a great position to finish second and all but qualify for the Euros while the loser will need to qualify in the playoffs in March. Join me for this crucial day of action

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 12 Update

Hiya, LOBers! I hope that you're having a good Tuesday. I'm here as usual to update our PPP standings. The top six continues to confound our efforts, with Leicester City now up to second ahead of the traditional big boys Chelsea and Man City and Sheffield United cluttering up the fifth spot. Come on, people!

In the relegation fight, our old East Anglian friends Norwich City are now bottom, which helps out a few who plumped the Canaries to go back down this season. The honeymoon appears to be over for Pukki and co. In the Championship, we are as we were last week, so no changes. Similarly, Barca, Juve and Borussia are still top of their leagues.

Foxes fox in the box Jamie Vardy is still on top of the scoring charts, now on 11 goals from 12 and Kevin de Bruyne rules the roost in assists.

So, here are the standing heading into the last interminable international break of the year:

1. MOT the Hoople - 31 points
2. Someone Said - 29 pts
3. West Ham Rising - 28 pts
4. Swansong - 26 pts
-   Blue Devil - 26 pts
6. Pink Kits - 23 pts
7. Yellows - 18 pts
8. Man Utd Rules - 18 pts
9. The Saint - 14 pts
10. The Bee's Knees - 13 pts
-   Red Dragon - 13 pts
-   United We Stand - 13 pts
13. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 12 pts
14. Gooner71 - 11 pts
-   Red Devil 1FCK - 11 pts

The We Hate Manchester United Derby

So, this one is between the two teams that went head to head last season for the Title. This was supposed to be #1 vs #2 but it is #1 vs #4! Will City get closer? Will Liverpool extend their lead?
Hopefully it is good one...unlike the nil niller last season at Anfield.
As I stated, both of these do have another thing in common....they both hate Manchester United.  United host Brighton today in the first match of the day. Can United build on their midweek performance? I would normally be very confident of a home win.... not this season!

Join me

UWS

A Wintry Saturday

Morning, chaps! It's a bitter cold weekend here in WNY, so there's nothing better than to settle in by the fire and enjoy some of the good stuff from across The Pond. First up is a London Derby between Frank Lampard's in-form Chelski and Crystal Palace. That's followed at 10am by the usual slate of kickoffs including Spurs v. Sheffield United on NBC Sports and my beloved Leeds United against Blackburn in the Championship. Finally, the late one is Leicester v. Arsenal - a battle for the top four.

Join me for all the proceedings here on the LOB!

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 11 Update

Happy Guy Fawke's Day, everyone! It's time again to check in with our PPP Game standings. Not a lot has changed in the past week - the top six are the same, the bottom three are the same and most of the same players are the same in the Championship promotion race, with the addition of Forest. And Jamie Vardy is still the top goalscorer in the Premier League.

So, what's new? Well, Barca have knocked Granada off their temporary perch so a lot of us gained two points there. That's it in a nutshell. So, with 11 weeks gone, here are our standings:

1. West Ham Rising - 36 points
2. MOT the Hoople - 35 pts
3. Swansong - 33 pts
4. Blue Devil - 32 pts
5. Someone Said - 25 pts
6. Yellows - 20 pts
7. United We Stand - 19 pts
-  The Saint - 19 pts
9. Pink Kits - 17 pts
-   Red Dragon - 17 pts
-   What's Up Wheaton Simon - 17 pts
12. Gooner71 - 15 pts
-   Man Utd Rules - 15 pts
14. The Bee's Knees - 12 pts
15. Red Devil 1FCK - 11 pts

A Fall Back Sunday Doubleheader

It's a Fall Back Sunday doubleheader of Prem football. It starts with to surprise teams as 9th placed Palace host the 4th place Foxes. Then it concludes with two teams that are unexpectedly struggling as it's the Toffees just one spot above the drop zone hosting the 13th placed Spurs. If you're not busy then join me for all the Prem action, well rested with that extra hour of sleep.

A Quality Saturday

A very good Saturday morning to you chaps. It was a pleasure having an extra hour to lie in this morning. But I'm up and at 'em now looking forward to what looks like a quality day of Premier League footie. It all starts with Bournemouth v. United at 8:30 am EST. Then we've got the usual slate of 3pm GMT matches at 11am EST. That includes City v. Soton on NBC Sports and Wolves v. Arsenal on CNBC. I'll have my eye on my beloved Leeds United v. QPR at Elland Road, but, sadly, no coverage on the Plus today. Finally, the late one kicks off at 1:30pm and features Watford and Chelsea.

Come on and join me, eh?