EPL Prediction League Match Weekend 26- 27 Apr 2009

Please take note that for this coming weekend, all games selected are on Saturday:

EPL59: SAT 26/4 Everton vs Manchester City at 09:55pm SIN/HKT

EPL60: SAT 26/4 West Brom vs Sunderland at 09:55pm SIN/HKT

GAME ON!

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.

Results - Games 18 - 19 Apr 2009 EPL Prediction League 2008/2009

Just a little explanation to do with regards to the deleted comment in the prediction posts.

I placed a last minute prediction at 21:56 on Saturday, just mere minutes prior to the 22:00 kick off. It was deleted by accident thinking that I did not make the whistle.

As it turned out, I did make the starting whistle and lost 4 points had I not tinkle with it.

Bad itchy hands! Bad! Bad!

Anyway congrats to hotdog for notching another one on the Marksmen Board to co-lead and everton for pulling away at the top with only a handful of games to go.


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) redherring (20 Oct 2008)
2) weiming (19 Jan 2009)

Marksmen Board (Number of Exact Predictions)
8 Games - delay, weimeng, hotdog
7 Games - everton
5 Games - ihawk98, ianrush, voxeros, necroastr
4 Games - david.hvp, limyengchuan, redherring, edwinsng
3 Games - cool402
2 Games - Bedokian
1 Game - cha dum yen

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 (19 Apr 2009)

Manchester United vs Everton

"...If there is one word to describe ManUtd now and it probably would be 'grit'...."

- JayWalk, 19 Apr 2009

If there is one word to describe ManUtd now and it probably would be "grit".

We were in trouble a week ago letting two precious away goals into our own net, leaving us with no choice but only a win in the return if we wish to continue this campaign.

Something of a colossal task considering no English club has ever won on Porto's home soil.

Guess what? We did exactly that.

Granted they were the more aggressive side, we had more possession and put that 1 ball into the net where it counts.

1-0.

We made Porto history and we are through to the semi-finals.

Looking ahead, we have two league games following today's FA Cup semi-finals against Everton.

Time to make that ultimate sacrifice perhaps? To me it is pure naive to dream of chasing the Quintuple. It reeks of pure arrogance and especially disrespect for the smaller clubs who are no less formidable.

Had this been Scotland then yes, maybe. But certainly not England where the lowliest club in the league table can wipe you on the floor when you are not careful. Just ask Liverpool about Bradford City.

JayWalk The Talk: So anyway, Fergie has openly declared a second team for today resting Van dar Sar, Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs, Carrick and even Berbatov, although the striker may be slotted in later to get a bit of match fitness.

Still, we are still pretty strong with Neville, Rafael, Ferdinand and Vidic remain in the back room and Tevez up front and possibly with Rooney and Berbatov sharing the other striker spot. I don't think Federico "Of The Month" Macheda will be featuring as much as we would love to. The middle should be the familiar second-team of Park, Nani, and Anderson.

On the Everton end, they are slightly lacking in fire power with Jo cup tied with Yobo and Vaughan just back from injuries.

JayWalk The Walk: Bookies are thinking of a ManUtd win as the Red Devils are traditionally very strong in the semi-finals. Somehow the gods always smile on them at this stage. So for them, it's always exit before the Quarter-Finals or exit at the Finals either as winners or runner-up. Just never at Semi-Finals stage.

The handicap of 0.75-ball at 2.05 to beat it is indicative of a slim Red Devil win but high risk possibility of a draw. However the punter public seem to see otherwise with the wager pot at 80% in favour of ManUtd booking their ticket to Wembley in 90 minutes.

I say give Moyes the due respect as one of the up and coming great managers like Fergie endorsed him.

It will be a hard earned 1-0 victory as we win the half pot at the final whistle.

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.

Fixture Focus - Spurs (19 April 2009)

Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United

The Magpies would be coming down to London - once their boogey place, to face ours truly Tottenham Hotspur at the Lane. The Toon Army needed a big boost up along the table to ensure survival, while Spurs also needed more points in order to cement "mathematical chance" of either going back to Europe and/or rid itself from that "relative possibility" of a relegation.

Newcastle would be playing with almost the full squad, with even Martins, who is not really fit, playing in upon the request of the Newcastle venerable Alan Shearer. And Viduka would be back. 

Spurs may see the comeback of Defoe after his long injury spell, plus Palacios from his suspension. However, Jenas and Pavlyuchenko may be doubtful.

This is a game touted to be the "make or break" for Shearer (in fact, for the remaining 5 games after this one). But being professional footballers, and quoting from the Godfather:

"It's not personal, it's strictly business"

COYS!!!!!

Midweek Review (15 April 2009)

Porto vs Manchester United

"Now we are back to our 1-goal-game victory again..."

-Gary, 15 April 2009

So Federico Macheda rescued us once again. And now we are back to our 1-goal-game victory again.

Coming back to Porto game, we have to win in order to qualify for the semi-final. And Man Utd have to be the first English club to do so.

A tall order to call, even though Man Utd are unbeaten in the competition since 2007. Even a nil-nil draw will also kick Man Utd out to concentrate on FA Cup and Premier League.

Porto Team News: Full team to choose from.

Man Utd Team News: Rio Ferdinand is on a late fitness test. Edwin van der Sar will be back between the sticks.

Odds and Analysis: Man Utd is giving 0.5 ball handicap. Take Man Utd.

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 18- 19 Apr 2009

EPL57: SAT 18/4 Aston Villa vs West Ham at 09:55pm SIN/HKT

EPL58: SUN 19/4 Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle at 08:25pm SIN/HKT

GAME ON!

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.

Results - Games 11 - 12 Apr 2009 EPL Prediction League 2008/2009

Looks like we heading down to the wire with 6 games to go and yet no clear cut leader in the league as this point.

Kudos to everton's solitary point in the goal bonus to enable him to tie first place with weiming.

I, other hand, is back within strike zone, albeit a little far, to come in at Joint-Fifth.


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) redherring (20 Oct 2008)
2) weiming (19 Jan 2009)

Marksmen Board (Number of Exact Predictions)
8 Games - delay, weimeng
7 Games - hotdog, everton
5 Games - ihawk98, ianrush, voxeros, necroastr
4 Games - david.hvp, limyengchuan, redherring, edwinsng
3 Games - cool402
2 Games - Bedokian
1 Game - cha dum yen

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.

Fixture Focus - Spurs (11 April 2009)

Spurs vs West Ham

Aside from losing our concentration last week near the end of the Blackburn match, Spurs have had a tremendous league run recently that have seen us cementing our spot in mid table.  West Ham are currently in 7th position and looking like strong candidates for European football next season.  So with this in mind, I am expecting an open game for both teams to play flowing football.

Defoe is out for another week which means the Hammers will have to content with the likes of Keane and Pavlyuchenko in the front.  We will miss the services of Palacios in the midfield as his presence did give our midfield a bit of steel in recent games (and hence our solid string of results that included wins against Villa and Chelsea).  This worries me a tad as the Hammers do have spirited midfielders that join in the attack like Mark Noble.

Yet with Gomes in great form lately, I will look forward to a home win for us tonight.

COYS!!!

Weekend Outlook (11 Apr 2009)

Sunderland vs Manchester United

"...Move aside Ronaldo, we may have a new Cantona on our hands!..."

- JayWalk, 11 Apr 2009

I saw the last goal against Aston Villa last week and I was in awe.

It was so beautiful I peed my pants. Macheda is a keeper!

Move aside Ronaldo! We may have a new Cantona on our hands!

So anyway, this is about the time we need to rekindle the fire in the belly. We were jaded in recent weeks and were made to pay dearly.

Back-to-back league defeats and leaking 10 goals in the last 5 games is really worrisome. We have the strength and skill to beat any team in the world but we just don't have the sharpness for the kill. Why? Why? Some one tell me why!!

We are in trouble for leaking 2 away goal at Old Trafford to Porto. We need to win the return leg in Portugal to qualify as we essentially killed off the option for the away draw to advance. Problem is that English clubs have a very very poor record against Porto on their own soil.

Siao Liao.

JayWalk The Talk: Rooney should still feature despite rib injury. Cause for a bit of concern as I wonder if it is so dire that we can't afford to rest him?

Not sure if Van dar Sar will be rested ahead of the return leg and feature Foster as today's goalie?

Ferdinand is sorely missed as 3 of the last 4 goals were conceded via an unmarked player in the 6-yard box from crosses. We cannot afford such defensive lapses. Evans is also not available and so I think we will see O'Shea starting at the back also.

JayWalk The Walk: Despite home ground advantage, Sunderland still get a 1-ball handicap at 2.00 decimal odds. Punter's pot is 80% in favour of ManUtd beating the 1-ball handicap but down from 85% a day ago. Looks like there is a shift in the wagers but not that I would be too concerned about since we are still in the 80% mark.

Sunderland has never beaten ManUtd in the last 13 meetings and I doubt it will happen today. Roy Keane is no longer around and Sunderland if you ask me, is doomed to relegation zone after today.

Take ManUtd and give the 1-ball.

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.

EPL Prediction League Match Weekend 11 - 12 April 2009

EPL 55: Liverpool vs Blackburn at 7.40pm SIN/HKT

EPL 56: Aston Villa vs Everton at 8.55pm SIN/HKT

Game on!

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.