A Tuesday in June

Whoever thought we'd ever see a Tuesday in late June so packed full of league football? Yes, football is back and both our Uniteds are in action today - Manchester United in the Premier League away to Brighton and my beloved Leeds boys in Championship at home to lowly Hull City. I'm hoping for three big points for both of our sides.

Join me for all the action this afternoon.

A Sunday Hodgepodge

A very happy Sunday morning, everybody! We've got a variety of morsels to watch this morning. It all starts with some Restart FA Cup action, with Arsenal traveling to Steel City to meet the Blades. I'm hoping that the Gunners will stuff them 0--10, of course.

That's followed by Leicester v. Chelski at 11am EST and Newcastle v. Citeh at 1:30pm. If you want a better class of football, there are a couple of added Championship fixtures today featuring playoff wannabes such as Sheffield Wednesday and Forest. If you'd prefer some low level Prem action, switch over to NBC Sports Network at 11:30 for Watford v. Southampton. And join me for all the fun!

Another Saturday of Restart Football

Morning, chaps! I made the executive decision to have a bit of a lie in through the first half of the early one this morning - advantage me. It's 0-0, of course, between Villa and Wolves at the interval. Only one goal in half a dozen Championship matches, too, with Charlton 1-0 up over QPR.

Of course, the main focus of my attention this morning will be the big one in the Championship at 10am EST - my beloved Leeds against their main promotion rivals Fulham. A win against the Cottagers at Elland Road would be a huge step forward toward the Premier League promised land.

After that one, we've also got an FA Cup semi-final clash between Norwich and United to enjoy. It should be a fine morning of Restart football. Join me, eh?

The Championship is Where It's At!

Let's be honest, chaps - with the exception of yesterday's Chelski v. Citeh match, the Premier League matches since the restart have been a been of a damp squib. Not so, the Championship, though. We had some rip roarers last weekend and I'm looking forward to more this weekend.

It all starts today with what promises to be a cracker. It's fourth place Brentford v. table topper WBA. As you can imagine, I'll be hoping for a draw, which would give us a chance to pip the Baggies for the top position with a big win against Fulham tomorrow.

Join me for all of the action on ESPN+ and here on the LOB!

THIRTY YEARS OF HURT....well...not for me!

I made sure I posted the smallest picture I could find.... Congratulations to Liverpool for winning their first League Championship since 1990. I know how all of their fans feel.... back in 1993 I was feeling the same way after 26 years of hurt! It has been a wonderful 30 years of 13 titles to NONE. I know it couldn't go on forever!
1990 League Champs... Liverpool
1990 FA Cup Winners...Manchester United
1990 Second Tier Winners....Leeds United

Same again in 2020????

Titles...United still on their perch
United 20
Liverpool 19
Arsenal 13

Liverpool are on the Premier League winners list... equal with Blackburn and Leicester!!

Tom posted this on Instagram
19*....congrats Liverpool :)

A LOT of things have happened since

30 Years of Hurt

UWS

Battle for Champions League

So.... will any of these games get better? United vs United on NBCSN for the opening match followed by Liverpool hosting Crystal Palace(the last team to win at Anfield in the league). Join me for these matches plus a few more matches

COME ON MAN U
COME ON MAN U
COME ON MAN U

Join me

UWS

A Tuesday Premier League Double Header , but with More progress Needed

It's a Tuesday Premier League double header  starting with the Foxes vs the Seagulls, kicking off at 1 PM and concluding with the Spurs vs the Hammers kicking off at 3:15 PM. Based on a nasty incident yesterday at the Etihad, there is still plenty of room for improvement. Join me if you can of rall the action and banter

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 30 Update!

Yes, chaps - with the resumption of play this past week, the PPP is back in effect! Nothing much changed in the picture this week, but it's been three weeks since we checked in on the the standings, so I thought I'd post them here.

Of course, despite the drab Merseyside Derby on Sunday, Liverpool are running away with the title and should have that wrapped up within the week, barring a dramatic collapse. Two of the other Champions League slots - Citeh and Leicester - look similarly set. Which leaves that last couple of slots - the final CL slot and the Europa League slot - to compete for. Right now, Chelsea are in the final CL slot and United in the EL slot, but Wolves, Sheffield United, Palace and Arsenal will push them in the last eight matches starting today.

At the bottom, Norwich are all but down, which leaves Villa and Bournemouth scrambling to escape the drop, with Watford and West Ham just above them.

In the Championship, that depressing Sunday morning loss for my beloved Leeds boys didn't do that much damage, as Brentford did us a favor with Fulham on Saturday; however, it does mean that we drop to second on goal difference to WBA. That Saturday morning clash with the Cottagers does look like a crucial one for us now.

In Europe, Bayern have been crowned champions, and Barcelona and Juve will likely join them. Jamie Vardy continues at the top of the scoring charts on 19 goals, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in hot pursuit on 17 goals. Kevin de Bruyne continues to be the assist champ on 16.

So, all of that means that our current champions MOT the Hoople continues at the top, albeit with a slightly more narrow lead this week from Swansong. Here are the current standings:

1. MOT the Hoople - 43 points
2. Swansong - 39 pts
3. Blue Devil - 35 pts
4. Someone Said - 34 pts
5. Man Utd Rules - 28 pts
6. West Ham Rising - 27 pts
7. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 24 pts
8. Gooner71 - 23 pts
9. Yellows - 21 pts
10. Red Devil 1FCK - 20 pts
11. The Bee's Knees - 19 pts
-   Pink Kits - 19 pts
-   United We Stand - 19 pts
14. Red Dragon - 18 pts
15. The Saint -16 pts

The Leeds Boys are Back!

The last time my beloved Leeds United took to the field, it was back in mid-March, when we mullered our country cousins Huddersfield. The boys are back in action today, away to Cardiff City. The stakes for this unusual summer run-in to the season are relatively simple: we need 18 points (i.e., 6 wins) from the last 9 matches. Three points today would be an excellent start in that campaign. Come on, you Leeds! #MOT!

At Home with the Footer

Morning, chaps! We've got our weekend routines back, yes. But it's odd because for the first time all of us are in the same boat, watching from home, instead of our watching our English cousins at the stadiums. Ah well, it is what it is for the time being. I'm not going to question it. We've got chock a block footer today.

It is, however, Kate and my fifth anniversary. Five years ago today we were all together in Richmond. So I'll be on husband duty a bit today, as well.

Let's enjoy some footer, eh?

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS!

So this is my FIRST FULL DAY of retirement and I get to watch my beloved Manchester United play again for the first time since the day before I went to work! Last time out, United won away from home in the Europa League 5-0... let's hope they can do the same today away from in the Premier League! United's first opponent.. Jose and his Spurs.... Can United hit the ground running?
COME ON MAN U
COME ON MAN U
COME ON MAN U

First up, the Canaries host the Saints... will Norwich give themselves hope?

Join me,

UWS

RIP Dame Vera Lynn

Sad news out of Blighty today of the death of Dame Vera Lynn. Growing up in Britain, I found that Dame Vera was a constant presence and a national treasure. She's best known for the World War II anthem "We'll Meet Again," which contains these iconic lyrics:

"We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when.
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day."

I still get a bit choked up when I hear a group of WWII era Britons singing that one. RIP Dame Vera!


Both Songs

Football is Back! Well....sort of....

Waking up this morning, it feels a bit like Cup Final Day or the start of a major summer tournament. I've decided to take the day off work and am starting the day with the 606 podcast from yesterday previewing the day's action. Yes, Premier League football is back today, albeit with no fans in the stadium. In order to accommodate fans will be desperate to see their favorite teams from the comforts of their quarantined homes, every match will be shown live on terrestrial television in the UK for the first time. In the States, we'll reap the benefits starting this afternoon with all of those matches on NBC Sports or the NBC network. Bring on the football! 

Dele Alli - What a Numpty!

News out of Blighty today that Spurs bad boy Dele Alli has received a one-match ban for posting a Snapchat mocking COVID-19. In response, Dele has blamed the friend who passed the Snapchat on to authorities for his "betrayal." What an idiot!

Read more here: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jun/11/tottenham-dele-alli-banned-for-one-game-over-coronavirus-video-fa-manchester-united

Friday Quiz - Boastful Quotes *link fixed*

Hiya chaps, Here's an amusing quiz for Friday. I beg your pardon, Brian, What?

New JHJ Music!

I just wanted to spread the word that LOB favorites Johnny Hates Jazz have some new music coming along this week. The new album "Wide Awake" is due out on August 14th but the lead single "Spirit of Love" is being released this week. Mike and Clark say of it that, "We wanted 'Spirit of Love' to be an homage to some of the music of the 70s we grew up listening to. Back then, it was common-place for huge hits to have not only great melodies and cool grooves, but also possess thought-provoking, socially-conscious lyrics." The tune definitely has a Steely Dan vibe to these ears, although Mike might disagree with me on that, but it retains that 80s pop sheen that has defined JHJ's music. Great stuff, boys - I can't wait to hear the full album later in the summer!

Spirit of Love video