Monday in the Prem

As of today, my campus is entering a two-week remote period, wrapping up the Fall 2020 semester. This means that I'll be working from home and will have a bit more flexibility to follow the footer. I'm still technically on the clock doing office hours today and may well have to field some phone calls and conduct some Zooms, but I'll certainly have an eye on the two fixtures we've got on hand today. First up at 12:30 is Leicester v. Fulham. No guesses as to who I'll be pulling for in that one - I hope that Vardy gets six or seven! Then at 3pm, it's West Ham v. Villa. I thought I'd post this one so that you can all chip in as you're watching today. Cheers!

A Busy Sunday

 A busy Sunday on tap for us today! United visit a very impressive looking Southampton to start us off. The big one of the day, according to the league, is Spurs visit to the Bridge. We end the day with the Gunners hosting Wolves.

Should be a good day

Join me,

UWS

The Undercards and the Big One

Morning, chaps - it's the weekend again. Today's schedule has an intriguing feel to it. The two early matches, featuring champions the champions Liverpool and second place Citeh essentially serve as an undercard for the big one - Everton v. Leeds on NBC at lunchtime. NBC know who the stars of this Premier League are - Bielsa's boys! So, I'm hoping that Liverpool can put Brighton to the sword and Citeh can wallop Burnley before I sit down to enjoy the big one. Join me for all of it.

Champions League Wednesday!

I'm settling in to enjoy this afternoon's Champions League action, with a focus on the Liverpool v. Atalanta match. Of course, today's footie action is colored by the sad news of Diego Maradona's passing. No doubt there will be a fitting tribute to the man before the match this afternoon. In any case, this is a nice relaxing way to ease our way into Thanksgiving. Enjoy me if you've got time this afternoon. Cheers!

No messin' with the Neviller

Gary Neville's phone number was hijacked, and after many annoying prank calls, he's laying down the law! Oooh, he's proper hard, innit? (very NSFW language btw) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbvu7zkXGtY

Champions League Action Resumes After the November International Break

 

It's the start of Matchday 4 in the grip stages of the CL, which is the reverse of the match day 3 fixtures. United need to pull their fingers out and get the win in a must win match after that embarrassing defeat in Turkey. Join me if you can for all the CL action

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 9 Update

A very good Tuesday to all of you out there in LOB land. With the 1-1 draw between Wolves and Southampton, we came to the end of Week 9 of the domestic season, and I thought I'd update our standings before we get into the whirlwind of the European competitions this week. With nine matches played, the top of the table is starting to look a little more normal, with Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea all in the top five. Southampton and Leicester continue to confound expectations and Arsenal, and the two Manchester clubs continue their slow starts. At the bottom, we now have two of the three promoted clubs - Fulham and WBA - alongside Sheffield United. In the Championship, Reading continue to impress, with Bournemouth in the second automatic spot. In Europe, Bayern have consolidated their position giving all of us two points, but Real Sociedad and AC Milan also continue on top of their respective leagues. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has become the first striker to hit double figures in the Premier League this season and leads the scoring charts, while Harry Kane continues to lead in assists, with 9 now. All of that means that our reigning champion MOT the Hoople leads our game alongside Swansong on 25 but there are a lot more points bouncing around our table now, with several players over 20 points and only the iconoclastic Pink Kits under 10 points. Here are our current standings: 1. MOT the Hoople - 25 points - Swansong - 25 points 3. Red Devil 1FCK - 24 pts - Red Dragon - 23 pts 5. The Bee’s Knees - 22 pts - Blue Devil - 22 pts - What’s Up Wheaton Simon - 22 pt 8. United We Stand - 21 pts 9. The Saint - 20 pts 10. West Ham Rising - 19 pts 11. Someone Said - 18 pts - Teddy Goalsevelt - 18 pts 13. Gooner71 - 16 pts - Man Utd Rules - 16 pts 15. Anfield Warriors - 11 pts 16. Pink Kits - 4 pts

Thanksgiving Break Footer Monday

Happy Monday, everyone! I'm enjoying the beginning of my Thanksgiving Break week and thought I might put a post to see if anyone else is watching. The two matches on offer today are Burnley v. Palace (I'll take a Palace away win there) and Wolves v. Soton (I'm neutral on that one). I'll likely be a bit in and out as I've got laundry, cooking and various other chores to take care of this afternoon. But I'll be checking in regularly.

Sunday's Best

We had a late night, so I'm getting to the football a bit later than usual this morning. Fortunately, they've put the rubbish on early doors and the big matches are on later on. Everton did the business against Fulham early on, much to my delight. As I type, Sheffield United are hosting West Ham. All of my attention today is focused on my beloved Leeds' match-up with Gooner's beloved Arsenal. These are the kinds of games I was anticipating with relish. Now we've got them to watch. That's followed by a top of the table clash between Liverpool and Leicester. Join me for all the Sunday action, won't you?

It's Back!

Morning, boys! After what seemed like the longest ever interminable international break, we're finally back. Our Saturday mornings are back to normal, starting with Newcastle v. Chelsea starting in a few moments. Join me for all the fun today, won't you?

England vs. Iceland...really?

I hate to be banging on about this, but I thought that the teams that could go forward in the Nations League have already been settled, and that in our group of 4, only Belgium go forward, and England, Denmark, and Iceland stay home. So why play a dead rubber, in a pandemic is my first question? Today, for instance, will we see the fringe players in the squad as a result of failing to qualify for the finals? What's going on? Maybe we'll know after 2:45pm today. See you then.

US vs. Panama.... in Vienna.

After yesterday's disappointing England loss to Belgium, there's a chance today that the USA can life our spirits. We held our own against the Welsh recently which would ordinarily make me hopeful but it looks like Coach B might start a lineup and some debutants we've not see before. I hope he gets it right. It's never fun to look second-best to CONCACAF rivals if you can call their team of baseball failures rivals. Let's get this right and beat them. See you on the blog.

Who Was Roy Keane Ranting At?

Happy Monday, everyone! Here's your quiz to start the week right, courtesy of Gooner Steve who asked me to post it here. The subject is our favorite ex-ManYoo hard man Roy Keane. The rules are simple - just click on the link below and try to figure out who Roy is giving the hairdryer treatment to in the following quotes: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/nov/13/football-quiz-who-was-roy-keane-ranting-about-in-these-quotes

Belgium vs England -- Same again boys

I'm hoping that the Three Lions are hungry enough today to do over the Belgians again. Join me here.

England v. Republic of Ireland Live!

Unlike the Nations League loyalists out there, I still enjoy the occasional international friendly match, especially against between two British sides. So, even though it's "meaningless" fixture, I'll be tuning in this afternoon hoping that Gareth Southgate's England side can put up an engaging performance in what should be a cracking match. Come on, the Three Lions!

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 8 Update

Happy Tuesday, everyone! As you may have noticed, I was a bit too busy with the General Election business last week to update our PPP standings. So, it's high time to take a look at those as we head into the last interminable international break of the calendar year. As the topsy turvy results at the weekend showed, this is still an unprecedented season in which every match can have surprises. The top of the table shows that, with Leicester sitting on top. Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea are now in the top five, so that's a bit more routine but several sides including Southampton, Palace and Everton are playing far above their stations. At the bottom, it's a bit more predictable with Burnley sharing the relegation zone with two recently promoted sides and Fulham just outside the relegation zone. The Championship also has some surprises. When did Reading become a force? I ask you! Europe has run amok as well, with Real Sociedad still atop La Liga. Four players share the Golden Boot right now, including several player's favorite Mo Salah, while Harry Kane still ruling the assist roost. That all means that our own table has been turned upside down, with West Ham Rising now on top, with Bee's Knees and Red Devil in close pursuit. 1. West Ham Rising - 27 points 2. The Bee’s Knees - 26 pts - Red Devil 1FCK - 26 pts 4. MOT the Hoople - 25 pts 5. Swansong - 24 pts 6. Anfield Warriors - 23 pts 7. The Saint - 22 pts 8. Teddy Goalsevelt - 21 pts 9. Red Dragon - 20 pts 10. Man Utd Rules - 18 pts - What’s Up Wheaton Simon - 18 pts 12. United We Stand - 17 pts 13. Blue Devil - 16 pts 14. Someone Said - 14 pts 15. Gooner71 - 13 pts 16. Pink Kits - 0 pts

Footer on a Sunday

I'm up a bit late, having to decided to have a lie in during the early one. Spurs have just pulled off a late win through Harry Kane against the Baggies, and I couldn't be happier about it. Next up on NBC Sports is the intriguing match-up between Wolves and Leicester. That's followed by the big one - Man City v. Liverpool - on Peacock. And then the Arsenal take on Villa in the late one on Peacock. Join me for the fun today, eh?

Go On, the Two Uniteds!

A very good morning, everyone! It's a morning of the Uniteds in the Premier League today. First up are Everton v. United froM Goodison Park. Everton have fallen off their early form a bit. Can United catch them in a grump mood today? Next up at 10:00am are Crystal Palace and my beloved Leeds. Based on my patented survival rubric, we only need a point from this one. But we tend to either win or lose, so who knows what will happen? If that isn't enough for you, there is Chelsea v. Sheffiled United at 12:30 and finally a London Derby on Peacock between West Ham and Fulham. Join me for all the business today, won't you?

Remember, Remember....

Happy Guy Fawkes Day, LOBers!

Midweek Champions League Action

 

If you need to take your mind off the matters of the world then what better way than a Champions League match. We start with Manchester United's trip to Istanbul where they face the supposed group makeweights, Istanbul Baseksheir. The kickoff is at 12:55 PM.  The match can be watched on TUDN, UNIMAS , or CBS Access. In the later match Chelsea host French side, Rennes at SB. Join me if you can

Election Night Special!

Monty Python's Flying Circus - Election Night Special from Matt Leahy on Vimeo.

It's a tradition around these parts. I'll be blogging my way through the evening with a cocktail (or two) by my side as we watch the returns come in order to see if our nation will survive or not. If you're similarly inclined, feel free to drop by for what hopefully will be a celebration of the end of the Trump era. GOTV!

Monday Afternoon Leeds Action!

I couldn't be more thrilled by the start to the season that my beloved Leeds United has made, with 10 big points toward Premier League survival in the first six matches. Tonight, we host a dangerous Leicester City side on the hallowed Elland Road turf. As Leicester finished fifth last season, we don't actually need anything from this match, as per my patented rubric for league survival. However, I'd love to see us win a point and, more than that, to continue the sparkling play we've shown under Marcelo Bielsa. Come on, you Whites! #MOT!

Stay Calm and Fall Back

Morning, everyone - I trust that all of you enjoyed that extra hour of sleep last night. I'm up a bit late and tuning into the last half hour of Villa v. Soton, the early offering on Peacock. Next up is the NBC Sports match of the day, Newcastle v. Everton. Then we've got the big one - Man Utd v. Arsenal - on Peacock. And if that isn't enough, Spurs host Brighton in the late afternoon. Join me through the day, won't you?