Swansong Hoists the LOB Shield!

Many hearty congratulations again to Swansong who is the winner of this year's Premiership Plus Predictions Game and current holder of the LOB Shield. Here he is pictured in his Swansea City kit and surrounded by his proud family with the vaunted trophy. 

In just three weeks time, we'll kick off the 2021/2022 edition of the PPP and Swansong will try to hold off the challenge of the rest of us who will be gunning for the win and the Shield. Until then....
 

Congratulations, Teddy Goalesvelt!

Hearty congratulations go out to Teddy Goalesvelt who has held off the challenge of United We Stand to claim The Lancer Cup winning this summer's Euro 2020/1 Predictions Game! In the end, Teddy posted an impressive 63 points, just topping United We Stand's 61 at the final hurdle. 

Only one of us - The Bee's Knees - was able to claim the 10 points for Italy as European Champions, while none of us were able to claim the 8 points for Golden Boot, which is shared by Cristiano Ronaldo and Patrik Schick. Nor did anyone predict that Jordan Pickford would claim the Golden Glove or that his Italian compatriot Gianluigi Donnarumma would be named Tournament MVP. 

As someone who firmly believes in the seamless and peaceful transfer of power, I'll be relinquishing my control over The Lancer Cup and mailing it off to Teddy in my old stomping grounds in Gainesville, FL. Teddy will be the holder of the Cup until the conclusion of the Qatar 2022 World Cup next December. Enjoy it, Teddy! 

Here are the final standings: 

1. Teddy Goalesvelt - 63 points

2. United We Stand - 61 pts

3. The Bee's Knees - 57 pts

-  Yellows - 57 pts

5. Man Utd Rules - 55 pts

6. Swansong - 52 - pts

7. Red Dragon - 51 pts

- What's Up Wheaton Simon - 51 pts

9. Gooner71 - 48 pts

- Red Devil 1FCK - 48 pts

11. Anfield Warriots - 47 pts

12. Blue Devil - 45 pts

13. The Saint - 42 pts

14. West Ham Rising - 39 pts

 

THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

July 11th, 2021.....England.....our England will play in a major final for the first time in 55 years!!! I am still in a kind of haze since Wednesday! I still cannot believe it but it is very much deserved! England vs Italy is a dream final for me and especially for my dear brother Tony. He would have absolutely been in dreamland for this final....I like to think he actually had something to do with it! I would like to think he would love to have his little brother enjoy the win!

COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!

Get in the mood

Join me

UWS

Euro 2020/1 Predictions Game - Semi-final Update

I've barely come down from the thrilling extra time win for England in that semi-final last night, but it's time again to take stock of our Predictions Game. As a result of the wins for Italy and England, I've assigned six points for those two sides. Many of us predicted England in the final and one or two picked Italy without England. Only United We Stand picked both sides, so he's jumped up into second place right behind Teddy Goalesevelt as a result of those twelve added points. 

So, what's left to sort out? We're still looking for the First Hat-trick, and Harry Kane is the only England or Italian player that anyone chose. That would be two points if that happens (and my head will explode with delight if it does!) 

We're still looking for the First Red Card in the pool and only West Ham can win those two points if Italian hatchet man Giorgio Chiellini gets sent off on Sunday (and wouldn't that be lovely!). 

Sadly, the one point for The First Match to go to Penalties in the pool is gone, as no one guessed England-Italy for that one. 

Also, no one got the points for Golden Glove, which has gone to England's #1 Jordan Pickford for five clean sheets in the tournament. 

That all means that it's down to a final tussle between Teddy Goalesvelt, who is on 63 points and United We Stand who is on 61. If Italy win on Sunday, Kane fails to score and Kane fails to be named MVP, Teddy will win by those two points, as he guessed France to win, Romelu Lukaku to be Golden Boot and Kylian Mbappe to be MVP. 

If, however, England win (10 points), Kane scores a goal and ties for Golden Boot (8 points) or Kane gets the MVP (also 8 points), UWS will lift the coveted Lancer Cup for the first time. 

Here are the current standings: 

1. Teddy Goalesvelt - 63 points 

2. United We Stand - 61 pts

3. Yellows - 57 pts

4. Man United Rules - 55 pts

5. Swansong - 52 pts

6. Red Dragon - 51 pts

- What's Up Wheaton Simon - 51 pts

8. Gooner71 - 48 pts

- Red Devil 1FCK - 48 pts

10 Anfield Warriors - 47 pts

- The Bee's Knees - 47 pts

12. Blue Devil - 45 pts

13. The Saint - 42 pts

14. West Ham Rising - 39 pts

 

IT IS ENGLAND'S TIME!!!!!

 Euro 2020 Semi Final #2...the one we all wanted!! 

COME ON ENGLAND...MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!

I get to watch the match with Kathy, the boys and Bob!!

To get in the mood

THREE LIONS

UWS

Euro 2020/1 - Semi-final 1 - Italy v. Spain

Afternoon, chaps! I'm settling in to enjoy the first semi-final between Italy and Spain. As the ESPN crew are dealing with right now, this one has a history going back to the USA '94 that should make it a spicy affair. We can relax today and just enjoy what should be an entertaining match that hopefully will go the full distance through extra and penalties, with loads of goals and thrills. 

Join me for all the fun, won't you? 
 

Euro 2020/1 Predictions Game - Quarterfinal Update

Hiya, Euro fans! I've barely recovered from the shock of a 4-0 win over Ukraine in Rome on Saturday night but it's time to take stock of our standings before we jump into semifinal action tomorrow. At this point, no one has guessed more than two of the semifinalists, mainly because no one expected Denmark to get this far and few guessed that Spain would. so the maximum points added this time are eight (4x2). In the Golden Boot Race, several of the front-runners (Cristiano Ronaldo, Patrik Schick, Romelu Lukaku) are now out of the tournament, so that leaves an opening for Harry Kane, Ciro Immobile and Raheem Sterling who are all on three goals with at least one match to come. 

We're still looking for the First Red Card in the pool and the First Match to go to Pens in the pool, which will add one point and the First Hat-trick, which would add two points. 

So, these are the current standings with Teddy Goalesvelt holding a commanding lead with three matches to play: 

1. Teddy Goalsevelt - 57 points 

2. Yellows - 51 pts

3. Man Utd Rules - 49 pts

-  United We Stand - 49 pts

5. Red Devil 1FCK - 48 pts

6. Swansong - 46 pts

7. Red Dragon - 45 pts

-  What's Up Wheaton Simon - 45 pts

9. Gooner71 - 42 pts

-  The Saint - 42 pts

11. Anfield Warriors - 41 pts

-  The Bee's Knees - 41 pts

13. Blue Devil - 39 pts

-  West Ham Rising - 39 pts

 

Come on, England!

Morning, chaps! It's Quarterfinal day for England. The Three Lions are in Rome this evening to meet Ukraine, with a semi-final berth against either Czech Republic or Denmark on Wednesday at Wembley at stake. The last time England were in this position in the European Championships, Steve and I were at Wembley with our mum and dad to see a Stuart Pearson penalty see off Spain in the Quarterfinals of Euro '96. Let's hope it's another big win for the boys today. 

Before the big match, there is the undercard affair between the Czechs and Danes to enjoy. Join me to roar on the boys today, won't you? 

 

Euro 2020/1 - The Quarterfinals Begin!

Alright, boys - it's time to settle in for the Quarterfinals over the next two days, culminating in that England v. Ukraine match in Rome tomorrow afternoon. Today's matches are on the supposed tough sid of the draw. First up is Spain v. Switzerland. This was meant to be a cross-Pyrenees match between Spain and favorites France, but the Swiss made cuckoo clocks out Mbappe and co. in that incredible 3-3 match ending in penalties. 

Following that is the big one - Belgium v. Italy. The Italians had been in great form through the group stage, but really struggled against Austria and could easily have suffered an early exit. Belgium similarly made heavy weather with Portugal in the last round, relying on one long-range effort from Thorgan Hazard to go through and losing their talisman Kevin de Bruyne in the effort. 

Join me for all of the action.