Results - Games 30 - 31 Aug 2008 EPL Prediction League 2008/2009

Bad weekend for everyone as banker sweeps us all. It was one of those weekends where you get to be king even if you scored only 4 points.

Kudos to hotdog for extending the lead to 5 points. Participation took a dip last weekend as we have only 14 predictions. Hopefully, that will pick up this weekend.

Housekeeping Notes:

All of this season's tables will be kept in Flickr's photoset. Click Here.


EPL Prediction League "Perfect Score" Hall Of Fame
Perfect Score = 2 correct-score predictions in a single weekend and hence the award of the full 10 points.

1) [Nobody Yet]

Marksmen Board (Number of Exact Predictions)
1 Game - hotdog, weimeng

Scoring System
3-Points for a correct outcome (Win, Lose or Draw)
1-point each for correct score on each side.

Double Entry
Later submission shall override earlier submission.

Penalty
No points for submission after kick-off. (Disqualification)

Blogspot Blackout
The EPL Prediction League will be played here but if in the event Blogger/Blogspot servers go down, we will automatically carry on the league over to my personal blog at http://jaywalk.blog-city.com. Please bookmark this or at the very least stay in touch with one of us as we will also be helping all stay in the loop via the various channels like MSN, Skype, email as well as SPUG Off-Topic Chat.

Prediction League Past Winners

Copa America 2004 - WeiMeng
EPL 2004/2005 - Friday13
EPL 2005/2006 - ianrush
World Cup 2006 - EdwinSng
EPL 2006/2007 - Voxeros
EPL 2007/2008 - Cool402
Euro 2008 - Voxeros

As usual:

1) If you have spotted a mistake, please let me know where and what so that I can amend them accordingly.
2) Please check your scores for accuracy as soon as possible before I update the table during the next round of scores. Once the table has been updated, the old table will be overwritten.
3) In case you are still seeing the old table even if I have announced a new update, please refresh your browser to reload the table.

Beer Fund Raising: 30 - 31 Aug 2008

Bad luck for the both of us as we claypot big time.

Really bad start for me to kick off the season 3.5-DN in the blink of an eye.

Hopefully this is just a minor blip in the radar as we hope to recover this week with the start of both the Serie A and Primera Liga.

- Voxeros

COOL's Saturday's Picks

• West Brom - Eat 0.5 ball (Win)
  
• Portsmouth - Eat 0.5 ball (Win)
  
• Newcastle - Eat 1.25 ball (Lose)
  
• Inter - Give 0.5 ball (Lose)
  
• Valencia - Give 0.75 ball (Win)
  

COOL's Sunday's Picks

• Tottenham - Eat 1.25 ball (Win)
  
• Aston Villa - Level ball (Draw)
  
• Numancia - Eat 1 ball (Win)
  
• Deportivo La Coruna - Eat 0.25 ball (Win)
• AS Roma - Give 0.75 ball (Lose)
  

JayWalk's Saturday's Picks:

• Espanyol - Give 0.25-Ball (Win)
  

JayWalk's Sunday's Picks

• Man City - Eat 0.25 ball (Win)
  
• AS Roma - Give 0.75 ball (Lose)
  
• Reggina - Eat 0.5 ball (Lose)
  
• Barcelona - Give 1 ball (Lose)
  
• Osasuna - Level ball (Draw)
  
• Real Betis - Give 0.5 ball (Lose)
  

COOL's Result this week: 6-1-3

COOL's Result this season: 10-1-6 > 4 UP as at 31 Aug 2008

JayWalk's Result this week: 2-1-4

JayWalk's Result this season: 2 - 1 - 7.5 -> 5.5-DN as at 31 Aug 2008

Disclaimer: This is merely to log my own results. You are welcome to follow if you like but I must warn you that you bear your own winnings or losses, whatever the outcome. I have nothing to do with your bets. Please bet responsibly and within your means. There is no absolute sure thing in football betting. If you can't afford to lose, then don't bet.

Spurs Fans Are Prepared

Got this funny comic from, fellow Spurs fan, KingMeng's blog.

Just thought I post this to kachow the hell out of Bedokian and ihawk98, whom both are fanatical Spurs fans.

Heh heh...

Image Credit: http://soccerlens.com

Fixture Focus - Spurs (31 Aug 2008)

Chelsea vs Spurs

Can we start over again please? Se-mu-la! (a term we got familiar with during NS when we needed to do things over)

It must be deja vu for Spurs fans again. Last season we also started the season with 2 losses. But a year ago, our 3rd game was a home tie against minnows Derby County and we promptly thrashed them 4-0. Well, Chelsea are not Derby, and we have to play them at fortress Stamford Bridge. We'll be lucky if we are not thrashed 4-0!

Chelsea have not been beaten at home since August 2004, which is a highly impressive record. And with Scolari's men firing on all cylinders especially Deco who has settled nicely into life in the EPL, it is not likely that Spurs will get the honor of breaking this record (although we can cross our fingers and hope for a draw).

This could get ugly and Spurs fans got to sit tight and hold on for another week as Spurs attempts to shore up our attacking needs. However, with all the late transfer activity slated to happen this weekend, I'm wondering if we will get a chance to see Berbatov on the field at the same time as (the almost confirmed signing) Pavlyuchenko?!! THIS would be an interesting strike partnership.

COYS!!!

Weekend Review - 29th August 2008

Manchester United vs Zenit St Petersburg

"...both teams cant seem to take their eyes off in the transfer market..."

-Gary, 29 August 2008

It was a rather fortunate goal from Darren Fletcher that secure a win for Man Utd. Seeing from the statistics, it seem to be an open game where both sides are attacking.

With the Super Cup to be held in France this week, Man Utd have 2 weeks of rest before facing Liverpool.

At the moment, both teams cant seem to take their eyes off the transfer market where Man Utd trying to secure Berbatov from Tottenham whereas Zenit is in two minds in keeping Arshavin. But Arshavin is in the squad to face Man Utd. Guess we shall see on the last day of the transfer windows when it closes shut on 31 Aug midnight.

Man Utd Team News: Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick, Ronaldo are still in the treatment table. Anderson, Carlos Tevez and Nani is back from Olympics, family bereavement and suspension respectively.

Zenit Team News: Danni will debut against Man Utd after his transfer move of 30 millions euro from Dynamo Moscow.

Odds and Analysis: Man Utd giving 3/4 ball handicap at 1.95. Take Man Utd to win by a single goal.

Disclaimer: This review is entirely on my own views and opinion. I didn’t point a gun at you to ask you to follow. If you want to bet on this game, do so at your own risk. Pls bet within limits. Good luck.

EPL Prediction League Match Weekend 30 - 31 Aug 2008

On Saturday, Paul Ince brings his Blackburn team to Upton Park and the Hammers will look to get things back on track at home after losing to Man City last weekend.

On Sunday, Villa will also look to get things back on track at home after suffering a surprising loss to newly promoted Stoke City when they scored a last minute goal the previous weekend. But will Liverpool prove to be too much quality this season for them?

GAME ON!

EPL05: SAT 30/08 West Ham vs Blackburn at 9:55pm SIN/HKT

EPL06: SUN 31/08 Aston Villa vs Liverpool at 10:55pm SIN/HKT

p.s. Please continue to spread the word around as many may have forgotten about the league.

Scoring System
3-Points for a correct outcome (Win, Lose or Draw)
1-point each for correct score on each side.

Double Entry
Later submission shall override earlier submission.

Penalty
Submissions after kick-off will not be admissible. (Disqualification)

Blogger/Blogspot Blackout
This Prediction League will be played here but if in the event
Blogger/Blogspot servers go down, we will automatically carry on the league over to the personal blog of Voxeros at http://jaywalk.blog-city.com. Please bookmark this or at the very least stay in touch with one of us as we will also be helping all stay in the loop via the various channels like MSN, Skype, email as well as SPUG
Off-Topic Chat.Now that we got the first week out of the way, it is time to focus on another 2 matches this coming weekend.

Results - Games 23 - 24 Aug 2008 EPL Prediction League 2008/2009

We welcome back weimeng to the league and granted that he missed the first week, he is quick to be back in the game with a 6-point haul.

Congrats to hotdog for taking the pole this week and was soooooooo close to our first Perfect-10 of the season. Better luck next time!

p.s. We finally got a couple of names on the Marksmen Board! Scroll down to see it.

Housekeeping Notes:

All of this season's tables will be kept in Flickr's photoset. Click Here.


EPL Prediction League "Perfect Score" Hall Of Fame
Perfect Score = 2 correct-score predictions in a single weekend and hence the award of the full 10 points.

1) [Nobody Yet]

Marksmen Board (Number of Exact Predictions)
1 Game - hotdog, weimeng

Scoring System
3-Points for a correct outcome (Win, Lose or Draw)
1-point each for correct score on each side.

Double Entry
Later submission shall override earlier submission.

Penalty
No points for submission after kick-off. (Disqualification)

Blogspot Blackout
The EPL Prediction League will be played here but if in the event Blogger/Blogspot servers go down, we will automatically carry on the league over to my personal blog at http://jaywalk.blog-city.com. Please bookmark this or at the very least stay in touch with one of us as we will also be helping all stay in the loop via the various channels like MSN, Skype, email as well as SPUG Off-Topic Chat.

Prediction League Past Winners

Copa America 2004 - WeiMeng
EPL 2004/2005 - Friday13
EPL 2005/2006 - ianrush
World Cup 2006 - EdwinSng
EPL 2006/2007 - Voxeros
EPL 2007/2008 - Cool402
Euro 2008 - Voxeros

As usual:

1) If you have spotted a mistake, please let me know where and what so that I can amend them accordingly.
2) Please check your scores for accuracy as soon as possible before I update the table during the next round of scores. Once the table has been updated, the old table will be overwritten.
3) In case you are still seeing the old table even if I have announced a new update, please refresh your browser to reload the table.

Weekend Outlook (25 Aug 2008)

Portsmouth vs Manchester United

"...The way I see it, I think the Berbatov deal is in the toilet. Even if the flushing lever was not pulled, I doubt if Fergie wants to stick his hand in to fish it out.

Still, the publicised pessimism may be a smoke screen to ward off Chelsea's attention as the Blues have a knack of nicking ManUtd targets just to piss us off....."

- JayWalk, 24 Aug 2008

The way I see it, I think the Berbatov deal is in the toilet. Even if the flushing lever was not pulled, I doubt if Fergie wants to stick his hand in to fish it out.

Still, the publicised pessimism may be a smoke screen to ward off Chelsea's attention as the Blues have a knack of nicking ManUtd targets just to piss us off.

Perhaps, we should also place a bid for Real Madrid's Robinho just to stir up the pot of shit?

Anyway, as expected, we got off the new season with a lead foot, drawing a goal apiece with Keegan's Toon Army. We had more chance and possession and alas the lack of striker options was just blatantly screaming at us. Already lacking strikers with the write-off of Saha, injury of Ronaldo and bereavement of Tevez's family, ManUtd operated with a make-shift attack duo of new boy Frazier Campbell and Wayne Rooney.

Campbell is one of the new crop of starlets groomed to take over the old guards of Neville, Scholes, Giggs & Co.. Names like Darron Gibson, Danny Welbeck, Pereira da Silva, Jonathan Evans and Rodrigo Possebon will be expected to start showing up on the team sheet this season as part of Fergie's continuity master plan. For those who are hoping to see Dong FangZhuo on the pitch, I am afraid that's not going to happen for another year at least, for the young Ch1nese talent is still a few rungs in the talent department from his fellow counterparts.

JayWalk The Talk: With Tevez back from the funeral, expect the fiery Argentine teaming up with Rooney upfront. Rest of the team sheet looked woeful as Giggs, Carrick, Park, Ronaldo and Hargreaves are all out due to injury. Saha is also injured but will not be used even if he is fit as Fergie has already deemed him as a write-off. Nani has this weekend to finish his suspension while Anderson will be given an extra week of rest after returning from the Olympics.

We'd be missing the services of Silvestre too as the French defender has been transferred to Arsenal earlier in the week.

Captain-designate is expected to hold the fort and Brown certainly earned a place in the Starting XI, to mark his 200th Premiership game for ManUtd, after scoring his first ever international goal for England in the mid-week game against Czech Republic. All eyes will be on John O'Shea who has been tasked to control the midfield in place of the injured Carrick.

On the Pompey side, Kanu, Nugent, Pamarot are the only reported casualties not available for selection, with Kranjcar being doubtful. Perhaps half a game with a substitution midway for the midfielder?

JayWalk The Walk: Bookies are, in my opinion overly optimistic, with ManUtd today as ManUtd's handicap is a Give 0.5-Ball at 1.875 decimal odds.

Perhaps the bookies have taken into consideration that Portsmouth is presently a tad goal-shy with no goals from them in the last 4 Premiership games, counting from last season.

The way I see it, I think it will be a repeat of last season where ManUtd opens the season with 2 consecutive draws and then slowly shifts into second gear with a string of scruffy 1-0 victories.

Still, it doesn't mean punting on Portsmouth and eat the 0.5-ball handicap. This is a precarious situation where although Portsmouth is unlikely to beat ManUtd today, like they haven't beaten any of the Top 4 last season, a draw here is a very strong possibility on the cards. However at 0.5-ball, a single winning goal from ManUtd, is enough to tip the pot to ManUtd side.

Verdict? Stay away and continue to observe ManUtd's form for now.

Disclaimer: The above views are purely my own two-cents' worth. In other words, I cannot and will not guarantee that my predictions are accurate. If you want to bet on the game, do so at your own risk. Also, please bet responsibly and within your means regardless of how "sure thing" that game may appear to be. As the old saying goes, "The Ball Is Round". Good luck.

Beer Fund Raising: 23 - 25 Aug 2008

Look like Chelsea is making their intention known in reclaiming the title back from Manchester United. Damn, if i had know, i would have punt Chelsea. Put money and take back more. Hur hur hur. Manchester United were disappointing, they have so many injuries that they have to field Frazier Campbell and Patrice Evra as make shift strikers.

Hope this week will have more luck.

COOL's Sunday's Picks

• Chelsea - Give 1.25 ball - Lose 1/2
  
• West Ham - Eat 0.25 ball - Lose
  

JayWalk's Saturday's Picks:

• Aston Villa - Give 0.5 Ball - Lose
  
• Arsenal - Give 0.75 Ball - Lose

JayWalk's Sunday's Picks

• Chelsea - Give 1.25 ball - Lose 1/2
  
• West Ham - Eat 0.25 ball - Lose

COOL's Result this week: 0-0-1.5

COOL's Result this season: 4-0-3 as at 17 Aug 2008

JayWalk's Result this week: 0 - 0 - 3.5 > 3.5-DN

JayWalk's Result this season: 0 - 0 - 3.5 > 3.5-DN as at 25 Aug 2008

Disclaimer: This is merely to log my own results. You are welcome to follow if you like but I must warn you that you bear your own winnings or losses, whatever the outcome. I have nothing to do with your bets. Please bet responsibly and within your means. There is no absolute sure thing in football betting. If you can't afford to lose, then don't bet.

Fixture Focus - Spurs (23 Aug 2008)

Tottenham Hotspur vs Sunderland AFC

Not only this is the first game on home soil since the start of the season, it is also a sort of reunion for the Spurs players. Malbranque, Tainio and Chimbonda will return to the Lane, though in the colours of red and white, not lilywhite.

After a dismal start at the Riverside Stadium (where, ironically, an ex-Spurs player, Mido, had scored against us), Spurs should be one-up this time, with home ground advantage and the "statistic" of Sunderland never won at the Lane since the start of the Premiership.

The new Spurs team (most importantly, midfield) must gel well and show its tenacity as what was demonstrated to AS Roma in the pre-season friendly. Also, our "beloved" Berbatov, though his fate in Spurs is still not known, must show us his "last burst of fire" nevertheless.

Spurs must convert this game with 3 points in order to be a true blue potential Top 4.

Outcome of the game? I would say it's a Spurs win.

COYS!