On my last post (2 weeks ago) I forgot to post the picks… and since then my effort in posting updates has been almost Chelski-like.
Sarri: “Well this group of Chelsea players are lazy. They are not going about their work in the right way. “
Keeper (not) Sleeping on the Job
To solve that problem, Sarri has brought in another former player of his (is this a lazy strategy?). Higuain. A player he looked directly in the eyes at Napoli and said:
“You’re too lazy. If you don’t change your attitude, you won’t become the best centre forward in the world.”
Seems like a perfect fit!
I’m just going to try and do a bit better because I don’t have the money to splash around on a new humorist/writer/blogger/score maintainer!
Results for Last Week
Things are beginning to tighten up at the top as BE is beginning to render the ME/AM rivalry as a fight for distant 3rd and 4th!
So there was one game played this week that was a bit early. Good result for the Citizens away from home and 3 points that established them back at the top of the table. With Liverpool faltering and struggling to get a consistent defensive line it keeps things interesting. I admit that I wonder why Harry Enfield doesn’t play more and wonder even more what happens once The Ox comes back.
Joke Never Gets OldAfter 1 Game it’s Still Anyone’s to Win!
This week most of the picks are in – still waiting for a few. We did lose LS as a player this week but we’ll survive because he wasn’t very good at picking anyway! In all seriousness, I hope he just found a better way to spend his Friday’s than doing pick analysis.
Anyway, there are people that are late!
Most Expensive (and Ugliest) Watch in the World
I can’t tell what time it is on that watch but it’s late.
Weekly Comments
JE: ” Watford will probably win but I thought Everton have been crap and they may have a result in them (by luck I reckon).” I’m hoping for a win because us Watford fans don’t have much love for Everton:
Where’s the REF??
And of course,more recently:
She Deserves You.
Of course this is a key game for Mr Sila. Seems the Evertonians have expectation that are above their station (perhaps aspiring to be Newcastle?). Another loss and it’s 5 in 6
AM: ” Funny how what I want to happen vs what I think may happen, can be so far apart! GGMU 🙂 “ Thought Wales would lose then, eh? 🙂 It hasn’t been so untrue recently. I think you pick the team in red to win every week don’t you? That’s not been bad in the league recently.
BE:” Nothing to do with predictions, but for our competitors in the USA, the prize jigsaw is of Warwick, UK the home town of BE . “ In the my last post I included a completed 2000 puzzle. That puzzle is Lord Leycester hospital. If you want your own copy there’s one on ebay.
ME: “Man Pretty will scrape home by 1 goal but it will be an easy victory.” Yes, I’m sure that it will be a 1-0 thrashing?
ME: “Spurs will hammer Leicester…..hopefully:)” 1-0?
ME: “Watford to win again especially as Everton dislike their manager.” I think you got this backwards – see earlier comment!
I was going to write up some predictions or do a post on Premier League financials but I will save that for another day.
Watford are now just a few points from safety as this random chart shows.
From 0 to Safety
Results
A win for BE!
Looks like this was a good week for some. Three exacts for BE moved her well to the top of the table…..however, some people like JE seemed to lose his way but he doesn’t care because Man U keep winning!
It was looking like a solid win for BB until a Citeh 3-0 win jumped me up to tie for 1st! A better showing for KMFE and ME losing some overall points to AM.
Thanks Citeh!
Right now I’m hanging in like Watford and haven’t started the second half descent yet.
Not Much Change Here……
It didn’t help but I did love AA’s contribution..
Oh well.. there’s always next time (said every gambler ever)
So waiting on more than usual because it’s been a while with the F.A. Cup and other New Years but here are the current picks.
Some Guesses
As for the missing entries, hopefully, they’ll roll in before the games kick off. But we’re still waiting…. here’s a timely reminder.
Time to get a Fancier Watch!
Weekly Comments
JE: “Don’t know why I have put 2-1 to united. Guess I’m just keeping the faith. Liverpool – don’t know why I have put them to lose. Why not.?? .?!.” Because you’re a United fan! Of course Manchester United have become everything their fans mocked other clubs for:
They spent money like Man City They changed managers like Chelsea They go on about their history and pat triumphs like Liverpool They aim for Top 4 like Arsenal….
Couldn’t resist!
AM: “Well, this was done in a rush (oversight & NO personal reminder offered up!) “” A group reminder is not enough? ME never offers up excuses for not having the greatest weeks like. He just admits to totally guessing.
ME: “I hope all of the top teams win otherwise my predictions will be going south again.” I’m glad that you put IOTJ above the true support for the Potato Chickens.
” I have given another three games the default 2-1 … “ That’s a tactic that beats guessing! Maybe AM should try it rather than using excuses.
KMFE: “Trying the 1-0 contention — let’s see how it REALLY does in a given week…” That’s a tactic that beats guessing! Let’ hope that everyone has lost their shooting boots!
YouTube
The Football Equivalent of the ME vs AM rivalry
Analysis
Brighton v Liverpool Brighton shouldn’t lose against Liverpool at home or away.
Burnley v Fulham Burnley should win against Fulham at home or away.
Cardiff v Huddersfield Cardiff shouldn’t win against anyone at home or away. They will draw.
Chelsea v Newcastle Chelsea shouldn’t lose to Newcastle at home or away. Crystal Palace v Watford Crystal Palace could win against anyone at home or away. But they won’t unless Zaha falls over in the box twice. Everton v Bournemouth Everton could win against anyone at home or away. They will. Leicester v Southampton Leicester could win against anyone at home or away. Except Newport and Southampton isn’t Newport.
Man City v Wolves Man City shouldn’t lose to anyone at home or away.
Tottenham v Man United Everyone seems to think that now that Alex is in charge again Trafford United won’t see another loss ever. They will.
West Ham v Arsenal West Ham don’t have a real home just a giant cavern that they might win at every now and then. This is not now or then.
Man City v Wolves Tottenham v Man United West Ham v Arsenal
Results for this week (already 2 weeks into the second half of the season?!)
This week I posted some default results for BB (who was late) because he doesn’t have a fancy watch like Pep.
If I Was I Watch Influencer, I could Make A Lot of Commission if You Clicked here and Bought A Similar Watch
Anyway, just in time he posted replacement actual picks and I was ready to get good old laugh if he picked worse but the last laugh was on me as he came first!
Congratulations to BB
The overall positions have not changed too much but they are presented here.
Overall Leaders
Total Aside 1: Drones There were recent events at Gatwick which prevented a number of flights from taking off or landing impacting thousands of passengers. For some reason an excessive level of Britishness made taking out the drones only a “considered” option and not an immediately obvious and immediately exercised option. I didn’t know at the time that some of the drones may have actually been their own police drones but when they explained how hard it would be to remove the offending drones I just wondered if they could hire a few footy fans. They’d sort it.
Total Aside 2: Stupid FA Rules and Poor Enforcement
Among rules that I hate are the “new” offside rule whereby a player in an offside position not interfering with play should not be flagged offside. This was updated in 2015 to include “”Makes an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball”. Still agree with Cloughie who said, “If any one of my players isn’t interfering with play, they’re not getting paid’.
Anyway, it’s 25 years and I’m still better about the somewhat legalization of goal-hanging but it brings me to the stupidest rule implementation.
No retrospective punishment
There seems to be this belief that the FA will not retrospectively punish a player when that play has been seen by an official of the game. The recent incident between Shelvey and Pogba is an example where some punishment was deserved.
Now, the FA can review incidents that are considered “secondary to the challenge for the ball”. Why is there a condition on this? This tackle is apalling and Pogba missed the next game. I might not like Man United, I might not like Pogba but I hate that Shelvey can once again prove that despite his talents for the long pass is a thug on the field of play.
Pogba is an Ass but He Doesn’t Deserve This Assualt
And the second-half of the season officially kicks off with Watford about 67.5% safe!
But enough of that… what about this week’s predictions?
Second Half Picks
Still waiting for LS to pick or he will get 0-0 defaults.
*I usually would put up a “timely” reminder image such as Mourinho looking at his watch but I also need to maintain the gratuitous Robert Plant posting (vague-link is that LS is a Wolves fan).
Time Hasn’t Done This Plant any Favours
Weekly Comments
ME: “Is it time to sack Pep? Or will his team play properly this week? If they lose this one KMFE will not have a happy new year…. but it’s got to be a win! So happy new year to you both!” KMFE says not to get too excited though I did mention that Pep might leave at the end of the year. Any more slip ups and it will not be a happy house!
JE: “
Flew through the picks. Just typed in numbers that seemed to make sense. Zero points for me then. Actually united will win three nil. So will have some. My gut said Liverpool one arsenal two for some reason so have mentally compensated. Prob means Liverpool will win. For f::::&/£;@38!:7cks sake. They’re going to win the league aren’t they?… my worst nightmare. Why have city turned to shit? Why? I cry. Watford to smash the sheet out of the Geordie shovel of crap. Anyway much love and hope these comments are welcomed. Ps united will prob lose and will get zero points. Love ya Bruv x”
I loved this comment so much I didn’t want to edit it. It’s tough being a United fan…lol
KMFE:” I’m not loving our form (or luck) at ALL right now, but I will NOT pick against us” Confirmation of what everyone already knows!
Been a busy week this week preparing the “half-time” statistics so just the basic prediction and results this week. And what a crazy week it was! Looked like KMFE and JE were going to be a nice tidy 1-2 until a last day exact moved ME up to the fore… but not many chances for exacts this week!
Weekly Guesses
Please ignore the W/L/D indicators… they are based on my predictions rather than actual results due to user error
Weekly Results Overall
Prognosticator of the Week
There’s something impressive about picking the upset of the week as an exact and still landing somewhere in the middle of the pack. That said, no one can deny it wasn’t an unbelievably good guess! Well done LJ.
