Group A

BaggieVicar 19
Zimnan 17
B.B.B. 16
A.A.A. 14
Minizin 13
Twerton 10
Stairs 9
BaggieOne -2

A good week in Group with the 3rd best weekly total of the season so far. 7 players ended in double figures with 2 of them scoring season high totals and Stairs being just a point out of double figures, interestingly the table was turned upside down for the overall results with the bottom 4 in the table occupying the top 4 spots this week and the Top 4 occupying the bottom 4 places!!

BaggieVicar leads the way this week with a season's high 19 points in his season's first table topping performance. He scored on 7 games including a CR on the Bonus and two CSs. He has so far this season not played the Gamball on 5 weeks which previously had saved him points but this week it cost him 2 points as he would have score 4 for a CR. Zinman also posted his best score of the season with 17 points in 2nd spot. This week was all about his skillful ball playing, he got a max on the Bonus, a CR on the Gamball and added the Scoreball as well!! BBB was 3rd with 16 points with a very rare feat for him by scoring postive points on all his balls!!

AAA, Minizin, Twerton and Stairs were separated by just 5 points in the end. AAA managed a CR on the Gamball and 2 CSs, Minizin managed to score on 6 games but had only one CS, Twerton didn't manage any CSs to keep his score lower and Stairs just had a "meh" week in the end.

And then there is BaggieOne in last place for the second week in a row, and to boot he stuck in a -2 for the second week in a row as well!! He missed all his balls and only scored points on one game in the end - BaggieOne, you might want to stop reading at this point!!!

139 Minizin
134 Stairs
118 Twerton
116 BaggieOne
109 BaggieVicar
104 A.A.A.
93 B.B.B.
78 Zinman

Often you see players near the top struggle for a week or two but the scores are generally close to their rivals. BaggieOne has blown this out of the water and over the past two weeks alone has lost 27 points to Twerton, 26 to Minizin and 16 to Stairs, his main 3 rivals!! This now means that Minizin has extended his lead to 5 points over Stairs with Twerton now taking over 3rd place. BaggieOne is now 4th and only 7 points ahead of 5th place BaggieVicar. AAA broke the century and BBB could well do it next week. Zinman is definitely improving and now is only 15 points adrift of BBB but as we have seen at the top of the table things can change quickly if you put a good run together!!

Cheers
SCO

Group B

4eva 13
Themaclad 12
SCO 12
Salop 11
Snooty 10
Derby 9
Lady Jane 7
Amelia 0

A better than average week for Group B and a close run thing for this week's bragging rights with just 3 points separating the top 5. Two games produced a negative return and the scoreball proved elusive with just one player picking up this extra point - it could have been worse but nobody chose the Sheff U - QPR game.

After the matches 4eva posted about having a bad week - so bad that he sits on top of the table with 13 points from 6 correct predictions and 2 correct scores. He's on top by virtue of that extra scoreball with Themaclad otherwise matching 4eva's success. While two of the top 3 were getting 6 correct predictions, it was SCO who showed the importance of those balls. While 4eva and Themaclad both missed out on the main balls, SCO only scored on 3 games but matched SCO's 12 points by scorinon the gamball and maxing out his bonus. Salop sits a point further back, the other player to pick up 6 points on his bonus. Snooty rounds out the double figure scoring - he got 5 correct results but drew a blank on the correct scores.

Derby matched Snooty's 5 correct predictions but a positive gamball was largely offset by missing out on the bonus to leave him one point back. Lady Jane scored on one fewer game leaving Amelia at the foot of the table with just 2 correct predictions, neither of them her balls, to leave her on zero points for the week.

117 4eva
105 SCO
101 Snooty
87 Themaclad
86 Lady Jane
78 Salop
77 Derby
67 Amelia


4eva extends his lead at the top though SCO and Snooty both break the 100 point barrier. Some gaps are developing below the top 3 with this week seeing a few positional changes - Themaclad climbs back above Lady Jane, Salop and Derby switch places leaving Amelia at the foot of the table. My stat of the week looks at the proportion of correct results turned into correct scores. Themaclad stands out in this regard with 1 in 3 of his correct results being turned into maximums. Amelia and 4eva come in at just better than 1 in 4 while this is an area that SCO needs to improve on - he has the second most correct results but the second lowest number of correct scores. The worst performer in this reagrd is Derby - he has managed just 4 correct scores all season, that's just 1 in 10 of his correct results and just 3.3% of all the games predicted!

Zin

Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for allegedly spitting towards Leeds United fans last month.

Mejbri, 22, came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute of the Premier League match between the sides at Turf Moor on 18 October, which the Clarets won 2-0.

But the alleged incident is said to have happened 16 minutes before his introduction, while the former Manchester United player was warming up.

Lancashire Police looked into the matter after a complaint was made by a Leeds fan in the away section of the ground.

An FA statement said: "It is alleged the player acted in breach of the laws of the game and/or in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or indecent behaviour by spitting at or in the direction of Leeds United supporters around the 67th minute.

"Hannibal Mejbri has until Friday 28 November to provide a response."

BBC Sport has contacted both Burnley and Leeds for comment.

Tunisia international Mejbri joined Burnley from Manchester United in August 2024 in a deal which could eventually be worth £9.4m.

He has made 50 appearances in all competitions for the Clarets, scoring one goal.

Swansea City have sacked head coach Alan Sheehan after just over six months as the club's permanent boss.

The Irishman had what the Championship club called "two highly impressive stints in interim charge", before landing the role on a permanent basis in the latter stages of the 2024-25 season following the departure of Luke Williams.

But Sheehan, 39, has overseen just four league wins from the Swans' opening 15 matches this season.

"In the wake of a disappointing run, it is felt results and performances do not meet the standards expected at this stage of the season, and we have had to take this difficult decision," a club statement said.

"The process to appoint a new head coach is already under way. We will update supporters on this process once it has been concluded."

Results so far this season represent the club's lowest return since they were relegated from the Premier League in 2018.

Following Saturday's 4-1 loss to Ipswich Town at the Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea sit 18th in the table.

Swansea City owners Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen said: "Alan has been instrumental in helping improve the club through two periods of time. Alan has a tireless work ethic, an honest approach and a positive attitude. He has put his full effort into the job on behalf of the club.

"The club would like to place on record its thanks to Alan for all of his hard work during his time at Swansea City. We wish Alan and his family all the best for the future."

Swansea City Supporters' Trust also extended its thanks to Sheehan.

There seems to be a lot of talk about Alex Neil. What do others think? 

To me I want to give RM a proper run. It is his first appointment, and he is recognising that we need to change things and he is trying different things. 

Do I rate AN, yes he is a decent championship manager, but no more than that. I don’t find his football teams exciting. 

We continue to be on financial restrictions, so we knew that someone had to be sold. Would be have been a better side keeping Fellows and Heggem. Definitely. 

Is our owner doing a good job with wheeling and dealing, definitely. 

At the mo I think we are a top half team, but probably not good enough for the play offs, despite the league being fairly poor, yet very competitive this year. 

We also have Dike and Bany to come in, if they are ever fit enough. Plus getting Molumby back in with Mowatt will improve the side. 

So for me let RM cut his teeth and see where we end up. Rather him than AN, as long as we don’t end up in a position we did with Bruce. 

Please give me your thoughts, I have my Tin hat on already!

Norwich City have sacked head coach Liam Manning following a seventh successive home defeat, which has left them second bottom of the Championship.

The 40-year-old was appointed in June, having guided Bristol City to the play-offs last season, but lasted just 17 games.

His final match in charge was Saturday's 2-1 loss against Leicester City. They have not won in 11 and have lost eight in a row at home in league and cup.

"We have tried absolutely everything possible to work through this incredibly challenging period but, unfortunately, given the recent run of results and performances, we have been left with no choice other than to make a change at this stage," said sporting director Ben Knapper.

"Liam and his staff worked tirelessly to move our football club forward. They are all fundamentally good people and we wish them the very best in whatever comes next."

First-team coach Ryan Garry has been put in interim charge, assisted by goalkeeper coach Tony Roberts and set-piece coach Nick Stanley
There were protests outside Carrow Road following Saturday's game, with fans chanting "You're not fit to wear the shirt" and also calling for Knapper to leave the club.

It is the first time a team in the second tier of English football has ever lost their first seven home league games in a season.

Knapper added: "We very much understand the frustration and criticism from our supporters at this stage. So far, results and performances on the pitch haven't been good enough.

"We accept that responsibility, but it's now imperative that we start to repair the relationship with our supporters and do everything we can to give them something to get behind."

Manning leaves Norwich 23rd in the table, the Canaries having lost 10 of their 15 Championship games under him, including a 3-1 defeat at Ipswich, their first loss in an East Anglia derby for 16 years.

They are now looking for their fifth permanent boss since Daniel Farke - now in charge at Leeds United - left in November 2021, having twice led them to promotion to the Premier League.


Manning was recruited after Norwich decided not to give the job to former England midfielder Jack Wilshere, who was in interim charge for the final two games of last season and is now manager at Luton Town.

Manning was born in Norwich and played in their academy before switching briefly to Ipswich and then dropping into non-league football.

He began his coaching career with Belgian club Lommel and had spells in charge at MK Dons and Oxford United before joining Bristol City in November 2023.

The Norwich squad was transformed by 12 signings during the summer transfer window, but the club sold Borja Sainz, who supplied 18 goals last season, to Porto for £14.25m, and Marcelino Nunez to rivals Ipswich for £10m.

United States international Josh Sargent scored six goals in five league and cup games at the start of the campaign but has none in the past 11 - and no-one else has managed more than Mathias Kvistgaarden and Jovon Makama's three.

In his final post-match interview with BBC Radio Norfolk, Manning - who was recently given the public backing of majority shareholder Mark Attanasio - said: "I don't live my life with regrets, it's part of my journey.

"I'm learning, I'm hurting, I'm frustrated and I'm hugely disappointed, because this is a club I care deeply about.

"I didn't come here to be where we are. But we are, so I will do a lot of learning as to why."

His assistant Chris Hogg and analyst James Krause have also left the club.

2 points for correct result
4 points for correct score
2 points for each correct scorer
Correct joker doubles your score   (correct score on a joker would give you 8 points)
Wrong joker result gives you minus 2
Correct Badger gives you 2 points

The prize for winning the league is one rep point.

Cup games: In the event of a draw, it's half the points if you've predicted a draw when it gets to 90 mins and the full points if it's still a draw after extra time. Half the points will be awarded for correctly predicting the winner of the match if it goes to penalties. However, if you do predict a draw and it's a match that won't be going to a replay, you can get a possible extra point by stating which of the two teams you think will eventually win.

Random score generator: I will be using the random score generator again for those who miss predicting, so we shouldn't get some people too far behind that after missing a couple of weeks they lose all interest, because I know it's not easy getting on here every week.
To be fair to everybody, this is going to be like, say if three people in one week miss their predictions, the first one in the table will be given all 0-0, the second one down the line will get 1-0 and the third will get 0-1 and so on, like if there's four missing the 4th will get 1-1, then 5th 2-1, 6th 1-2. and if there are so many missing, might as well pack in.
And if you miss two weeks on the trot, I'll stop until you come back on again. Not doing it for half a season like I did t'other year.  


At the end of the season, the winner of group 2 and the bottom of group 1 will swap places in what is commonly known as "promotion" and "relegation". It's something that most football fans will be familiar with, unless you're a fan of Liverpool or Arsenal or one of those other fashionable clubs.

The second placed player in group 2 will then have a play off with the player who finishes second from the bottom in group 1 to decide whether they will be going up, down or staying where they are.

We're going to have two seasons in one though, just to try and make it a bit more interesting and not so long drawn out. The first season will end on the Boxing Day fixtures, with the play offs being on the dates of the Twixtmas fixtures and the NYD fixtures.

The second season will start the following week, which is usually the FA Cup 3rd round, finishing on the last game of the League One season. Then another period of relegation/promotion play off games, taking in such fixtures as the EFL play offs, FA Cup Final, UEFA finals and such like.

Each group will have it's own set of fixtures. Both groups will have the Town games, with scorers to predict as before. Then it will be a split of League One fixtures and bonus matches, hopefully around ten, eleven or twelve games per Matchday.

The random badger is restricted to three goal scorers in any of the fixtures in your group.

Here's how that will appear at the end of the fixture list. All you have to do is fill in the blanks.......


*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

Any of those will score two points if correct. No minus points for getting it wrong.

Postponed matches will only count if the match is re-played before the next Matchday is under way. Abandoned matches will be awarded half the points for the score at the time of abandonment, so 1 point if you have the correct result, 2 points if you have the correct score.

Substitute or scorer in one of the Town games:- These will be only be allowed if you change them before the match involved has kicked off.

Prediction League Archive: https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=12830

Division One table after Matchday 15:

1. jjamez = 267 pts
   
2. Baggiebob(BBB) = 261 pts
   
3. neonfoxinthebox = 238 pts
   
4. Lord Snooty = 199 pts
   
5. ritchiebaby = 199 pts
   
6. SHEP_HTAFC = 137 pts
   

Thursday 13th November:
World Cup qualifiers:
England v Serbia

Friday 14th November:
Slovakia v Northern Ireland

Saturday 15th November:
Liechtenstein v Wales (17:00)
Greece v Scotland (19:45)

League One:
Burton Albion v Blackpool
Leyton Orient v Exeter City
Lincoln City v Doncaster Rovers
Luton Town v Rotherham United
Port Vale v Wycombe Wanderers

Monday 17th November:
World Cup qualifiers:
Northern Ireland v Luxembourg

Tuesday 18th November:
Scotland v Denmark
Wales v North Macedonia

*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

1. themaclad = 260 pts
   
2. theo_luddite = 256 pts
   
3. Devongone = 230 pts
   
4. Amelia Chaffinch = 194 pts
   
5. St Charles Owl = 193 pts
   
6. WakeyTerrier = 189 pts
   

Friday 14th November:
Slovakia v Northern Ireland

Saturday 15th November:
Liechtenstein v Wales (17:00)
Greece v Scotland (19:45)

League One:
Burton Albion v Blackpool
Leyton Orient v Exeter City
Lincoln City v Doncaster Rovers
Luton Town v Rotherham United

League Two:
Grimsby Town v Chesterfield

Sunday 16th November:
World Cup qualifiers:
Albania v England (17:00)

Monday 17th November:
Northern Ireland v Luxembourg

Tuesday 18th November:
Scotland v Denmark
Wales v North Macedonia

*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

We are extremely disappointed at the decision made by an independent regulatory commission to sanction Milutin Osmajić and impose a nine-match suspension, following an incident which took place in a league fixture against Burnley on 15th February 2025.

We note that the outcome was determined on the 'Balance of Probabilities' rather than one that is 'Beyond Reasonable Doubt'.

We also note that The FA determined that this decision offers no moral judgement, was not premeditated nor any comment about his general character.

Milutin has always pleaded his innocence of the charge and continues to do so. We continue to be fully supportive of our player.

We are proud of our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policies and practices, and we reaffirm our opposition to all forms of discrimination.

#
Sets a dangerous precedent, not commenting on a scale of annoyance of 1-10, I'm at 19