Congratulations, Man Utd Rules!

 

A hearty congratulations to Man Utd. Rules, who is our 2021/2022 PPP champion! MUR becomes the first of our circle to win the title three times, by edging out Swansong and Teddy Goalsevelt by one point, due to his choice of Real Madrid to claim the Champions League. Pink Kits picked up 2 points for correctly guessing that Mo Salah would be awarded the PFA Player of the Year, while Teddy, Simon and Yellows got 2 points for Phil Foden's PFA Young Player of The Year Award. But it wasn't enough to knock MUR off his perch. The vaunted LOB Shield will thus be winging its way to North Carolina - enjoy it, David! 

So, here are our final standings: 

1. Man Utd Rules - 51 points

2. Swansong - 50 pts

-  Teddy Goalesvelt - 50 pts

4. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 48 pts

5. The Bee's Knees - 46 pts

6. Someone Said - 44 pts

7. MOT the Hoople - 42 pts

8. Gooner71 - 34 pts

9. Red Dragon - 33 pts

10. Pink Kits - 30 pts

-  United We Stand - 30 pts

12. Yellows - 29 pts

13. The Saint - 27 pts

14. West Ham Rising - 23 pts

15. Blue Devil - 20 pts

16. Red Devil 1FCK - 19 pts

End of Season Quiz Time

Now that we’ve had time to absorb that last thrilling day of the Premier League season, it’s quiz time. I got 7/15 on this, which I thought was as poor as the Leeds season, but the Guardian wonks rated it as “very nice.” 

Give it a whirl here: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/may/27/premier-league-2021-22-review-big-quiz-season

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 38 Update

 

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Was that an incredible last day of the season or what? Top and bottom of the table went down to the wire at the Etihad and at Brentford. In the end, Man City emerged with a back-to-back titles and my beloved Leeds somehow pulled off a Houdini act, winning away at Brentford, while Newcastle did us a favor at Burnley. 

So, where does that leave us at the end of the regular season? Swansong is looking to hang on to his narrow, two-point lead at the top in order to emulate Man City with back-to-back wins. The Championship Play-off is moot, as none of us picked either Huddersfield or Luton to be promoted, so those points are, sadly, lost. Similarly, the four points up for grabs for the Europa League last week were lost as none of us backed either Rangers or the eventual winner Eintracht Frankfurt. So, that leaves the Champions League Final next Saturday. Several of us, including Liverpool supporter Teddy Goalesvelt, have backed the Reds to win, so that will be crucial to the final standings. Finally, we have the PFA Awards, which are worth four points, so that also be a factor. 

Here are the standings at the end of the domestic season: 

1. Swansong - 50 points 

2. Teddy Goalesvelt - 48 pts

3. The Bee's Knees - 46 pts

- What's Up Wheaton Simon - 46 pts

5. Someone Said - 44 pts

6. Man Utd Rules - 43 pts

7. MOT the Hoople - 42 pts

8. Gooner71 - 34 pts

9. Red Dragon - 33 pts

10. United We Stand - 29 pts

11. Pink Kits - 28 pts

12. The Saint - 27 pts

-  Yellows - 27 pts

14. West Ham Rising - 23 pts

15. Blue Devil - 20 pts

16. Red Devil 1FCK

The End of the Road

 

Good morning, chaps! The wonks at NBC are calling today "Championship Sunday," and are naturally focusing on the top of the table with Villa on NBC and Liverpool v. Wolves on USA. They're also tossing the Champions League with Arsenal v. Everton on CNBC. 

But of course I'll be concentrating on the other end of the table, the two matches consigned to The Cock. I'll be watching my beloved Leeds United who are away to Brentford, while I'll also have an eye on Burnley's home match with Newcastle. The recipe for our safety is simple but could be illusive - we need to do better than Burnley to stay up. That could mean that we score a seemingly improbable win against the Bees but still go down because Burnley win as well. So, we'll need some help from the Magpies. 

Join me for the emotional rollercoaster. 

Thursday in the Basement

 

Afternoon, chaps - I'm settling in to enjoy today's relegation battles. It's all on the line as Everton host Palace and Burnley travel to Villa Park. Join me for all of the bottom of the table action. 

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 37 Update

 

Happy Hump Day, everyone! We're breezing into the final furlong of this long footer with just a few matters to sort out now. With Liverpool's win at Southampton yesterday, we now know that we'll have battles on the final day on Sunday at both the top and bottom of the Premier League. Liverpool will need a miracle to overtake Man City, who are a point ahead and face already relegated Norwich on Sunday; however, if City drop a clanger, it will completely turn our table upside down. If City hang on, though, the final run-in will be between our current title holder Swansong, who has a three-point lead over Teddy Goalesvelt and a four-point lead over two players - The Bee's Knees and What's Up Wheaton Simon. 

So, what's left? We have the Europa League Final tonight but no one picked either Frankfurt or Rangers, so no points will be up for grabs in that one. We've got the Champions League Final on Saturday, May 28th, which will feature Liverpool and Real Madrid. Six points are on the line for those of us who chose either side

The Championship Play-off Semi-finals concluded with Huddersfield and Forest emerging as finalists. A number of us chose Forest for that third promotion spot, so there are four points on the line for that Play-off Final on Sunday, May 29th. 

Then after that, the final points will come down to the Golden Boot, Golden Glove and Assist categories along with the PFA Awards to be announced at some point in late May. 

So here are the current standings going into the last round of matches: 

1. Swansong - 50 points

2. Teddy Goalesvelt - 48 pts

3. The Bee's Knees - 47 pts

-  What's Up Wheaton Simon - 47 pts

5. Someone Said - 44 pts

-  Man Utd Rules - 44 pts

7. MOT the Hoople - 42 pts

8. Gooner71 - 34 pts

9. Red Dragon - 33 pts

10. United We Stand - 30 pts

11. Pink Kits - 28 pts

12. The Saint - 27 pts

13. Yellows - 26 pts

-  West Ham Rising - 23 pts

15. Blue Devil - 19 pts

-  Red Devil 1FCK - 19 pts

A BIG SUNDAY IN THE PREM

 So a big a day in the Battle of the Drop has already started. Burnley being Burnley and sadly Spurs being Spursy. I was worried things would be flat in this early morning kick off. Of course, Bob wants a boat load of goals for Spurs and Steve wants a Burnley win. Coming up to half time, neither are pleased

Join me

UWS

It's FA Cup Final Day!

 

Morning, chaps! The FA Cup has lost some of its lustre over the years, but not in my heart. I still have memories of getting up early on Cup Final day and relishing every moment of the build-up: the players having breakfast, Morecambe and Wise hamming it up, the Goal of the Season competition, the players on the bus heading to Wembley to have a first touch of the pitch. It was a spectacle. There will be very little of today, sadly, as Chelsea meet Liverpool. 

Before that, we've got the undercard match of Sheffield Utd v. Forest in the first leg of the Championship playoff semi-final. I'll be rooting for Forest of course. Join me for all the end-of-season action. 

A Momentous Mid-Week

 

Afternoon, chaps! It's another huge day for my beloved Leeds United. With only three matches left, the job ahead is clear - we need to get one more point than Burnley. Today, we host ancient rivals Chelsea at the sacred Elland Road ground. I'm counting on the Blues being slightly distracted by this weekend's Cup Final date with Liverpool and Tommy Tuchel fielding an understrength side, and I think we're capable of getting a point. It's likely to be a scrappy effort, with none of the Bielsa flair but actual points are worth more to us than style points now. So, come on, you Whites! #MOT! 

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 35 Update

 

Happy Tuesday, everyone. I'm here as usual with an update on our PPP standings. Only a few changes to note, as we head into the business end of the season. Sadly, with Everton win's away to Leicester on Sunday, my beloved Leeds United dropped into the relegation zone for the first time since September. No one had the temerity to pick us for the drop, so no points added for that one. The Championship season wrapped up on Saturday, with Fulham and Bournemouth automatically promoted and Forest, Huddersfield, Sheffield United and Luton in the playoff spots. 

Liverpool and Real are now in the Champions League Final, with Man City and Villareal crashing out. A number of lost potential points there. Frankfurt are in the Europa League Final, with West Ham and Leipzig out - more points lost. Fortunately, Ederson caught up with Alisson on 20 clean sheets, so that's two points added for a number of us. 

All of that means that our current champion Swansong has hung on to a three-point lead at the top of our chart. Here are the current standings: 

1. Swansong - 50 points

2. The Bee's Knees - 47 pts

3. Tedd Goalesevelt - 46 pts

4. Man Utd Rules - 41 pts

5. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 39 pts

6. Gooner71 - 37 pts

7. Someone Said - 36 pts

8. MOT the Hoople - 34 pts

9. Red Dragon - 31 pts

10. United We Stand - 28 pts

11. The Saint - 27 pts

12. Yellows - 26 pts

13. Pink Kits - 25 pts

-  West Ham Rising - 25 pts

15. Blue Devil - 19 pts

-  Red Devil - 19 pts

Another Dahlgren Derby Day!

 

Morning, everyone! It's another big Dahlgren Derby Day in the Premier League. I'll be honest - I don't expect much for my beloved Leeds United today, as the Arsenal need this win as much as we do in order to continue their quest for a Champions League spot. At the same time, Leicester will be hosting Everton; a loss for the Toffees is worth almost as much as a win at the Emirates. 

Join me to white knuckle this one along with me. Come on, you Leeds - MOT!!

Another Nervy Saturday

 

Morning, chaps! I took advantage of the unusual schedule this morning to have a lovely lie-in. It's another nervy morning in the Premier League for your's truly, as a number of our relegation rivals play. We start at 10am with Chelsea v. Wolves on USA but more importantly Burnley v. Villa, which I'll be watching on The Cock. At 12:30, United visit the South Coast to take on Brighton. Finally, at 2:45, there is a big one on NBC between Liverpool and Spurs. 

Join me for a nervy watch, eh? 

Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 34 Update

 

Happy Hump Day, PPPers! I'm back with our weekly check-in on our game table. There are three big changes to account for this week. First, Burnley improbably and maddening recent run of form has pulled them out of the bottom three, which means that most of us lost three or four points right off the bat. Next, Alisson is now all alone, having pulled ahead of Man City's Ederson in the Golden Glove competition, so those who chose the City keeper have lost a couple of points. Finally, Man City crashed out of the Champions League this afternoon in the Bernabeu, so about half of us lost our CL pick. So, the Champions League Final is also a final clash between Man U Rules who chose Real and Liverpool fan Teddy Goalesevelt who obvious went with his beloved Reds. 

So, with only a few weeks left, Swansong has pulled out to a five point lead. Here is the current table: 

1. Swansong - 50 points

2. The Bee's Knees - 47 pts

3. Teddy Goalesevelt - 46 pts

4. Man U Rules - 45 pts

5. What's Up Wheaton Simon - 39 pts

6. Gooner71 - 37 pts

7. Someone Said - 36 pts

8. MOT the Hoople - 34 pts

9. Red Dragon - 31 pts

10. The Saint - 27 pts

11. United We Stand - 26 pts

12. Pink Kits - 25 pts

-  West Ham Rising - 25 pts

14. Yellows - 24 pts

15. Blue Devil - 19 pts

16. Red Devil 1FCK - 17 pts

Sunday in the Relegation Zone

 

I'm settling in to follow this morning's critical clash between Everton and Chelsea. There's no way around it - Everton cannot win this morning. They've got two matches in hand - win those two and they would be above both Burnley and my beloved Leeds on 35 points. Join me to gut this one out, eh?