Stockport away Tuesday night. They've won nine on the trot. They were probably thinking about us when they should have been getting on with hammering Dover.

We've had to get rid of our most successful manager in years, they've gone for a former player who seems to have the midas touch. By contrast we either have no one, or a team which is going to step up and continue as if nothing had happened.

Stockport must feel they need to win, for their fans and to prove their run is the real deal. They've spent the money. They have a good team. Several players who should be playing several rungs up the EFL. Beat us and they go four points clear and nullify our game in hand.

By contrast a draw would leave us a point behind with our precious game in hand, a card we get to play on Saturday at Weymouth, whilst all our close rivals scramble towards Wembley in the Trophy from which Covid luckily despatched us.

Win Choosday and Satday we'd be five points clear on the same games as County. Draw and win and the gap's down to two points. Lose on Choosday we have to come back with a win on Satday, or Halifax down to Wrexham will be chomping at our second-placed heels. Lose twice and everyone will see the distress signals, we'll be hoping we can stay in the top seven, and maybe we should be toddling down the road to see Russ Penn at Kiddy about taking over, because after Sunday there's no point even ringing Boreham Wood.

The next few days are pivotal to our season.

Dear Mr Parker,

You may be the best-dressed manager in football, but I'm afraid you need to apply some of your dress-sense to team selection the next time the FA Cup comes round. Anybody on this site who has noted my very ordinary predictive abilities will assure you that my insight falls way short of clairvoyance, but when I saw the eleven you had selected to represent Bournemouth trot out against Boreham Wood just one simple thought passed through my mind, if Boreham Wood can get a goal they'll win.

You clearly haven't bothered watching any National League football. Perhaps you were too busy on Oxford Street or Savile Row. Anyway your introduction has been a harsh one. Boreham Wood have a physically strong side, which can also play and which is exceptionally well-organised. Against them you sent out a set of players, who were not only clearly unfamiliar with playing together, but also in physical match-ups were going to lose out all over the field. You fielded a wing back too young and frail to consider shaving without his dad's presence to face a side known for its use of its own experienced wing backs. Up front you offered no threat whatsoever to Wood's big back three, and though out wide Charles was able to mount the merest semblance of a threat, he had nowhere to go and no one to go with him. In midfield your Bournemouth never looked like matching their opponent's solid experience and at the back Boden's hard work, backed up by the dangerous Ty Marsh and midfielders bursting forward were too much for a ponderously disorganised defence. Fielding a keeper, who neither filled his jumper, nor his role was your final masterstroke.

The better side won. They had to work hard to do it, but they were required to span a gulf of three entire divisions. The team you fielded was almost a calculated insult to the entire National League. The truth is any of the teams in the top half of that League would have been in with an excellent chance of doing what Boreham Wood did so effectively. Though your players lost the match out on the pitch you need to take on board that you lost it way before the kick-off. Luke Garrard expressed a desire to shadow you in your job. I think a little humble pie might be in order and a few days of you shadowing him would not go amiss. Earlier in the day a team you hope will finish below you in the Championship was capable of wiping the floor with a cup-holding Premier League team. That defeat you suffered will haunt even the players you chose not to put on the field and was a dire introduction to your club for new players, just as their success will increase the threat Forest pose.

You have now built a huge squad. Future opposition ought to fear you. Unfortunately none of them will. Boreham Wood have illustrated your extreme vulnerability.

THE MATCH

TUESDAY 8TH FEBRUARY KO 7:45 PM

v

LAST MATCH



It finally happened, we actually beat Burton Albion. We started ok but the game went scrappy with not too many chances being created. The from a well worked corner, NML's cross come shot was parried and Byers turned in from close range, them Storey was denied from another corner. Onto the 2nd half and the pattern remained with only one or two chances. We then sealed the game when Sow deflected Bannan's shot with 10 mins to go. Burton had several chance late on but we kept them out for our 3rd win in a row.

NEXT MATCH



Back to Hillsborough and Wigan are the visitors. Wigan are 2nd in the table and are in a great position just 6 points behind Rotherham with 3 games in hand and 4 games in hand of third placed MK Dons. Barring a spectacular collapse they should be playing in the Championship next season. Will Keane (14) & Callum Lang (12) are the strikers proppelling them to the Championship. Leam Richardson is the man in charge since 2020, he is obviously doing a great job, maybe DC should give him a call??

CURRENT FORM  ]

OWLS               -                                               

WIGAN            -                                 

EFL STOOGES

DOES IT MATTER THERE ALL CORRUPT  

TIM ROBINSON
Nigel Lugg and Mark Dwyer
Fourth Official : Samuel Barrott

THE TEAM

Peacock-Farrell
Palmer Hutch Storey
NML Dele Bannan Byers Johnson
Sow Kamberi

SCORE & SCORER (HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST)

1-1 Sow


ATTENDANCE

21112

BML STANDINGS

SCO 11
Pei 9
Wereham 9
Kev 8
Maddix 6
Wash 4
Imre 4
SS 3

OTHER GAMES OF MILD INTEREST

Accrington Stanley v Oxford United
AFC Wimbledon v Rotherham United
Cheltenham Town v Sunderland
Crewe Alexandra v Plymouth Argyle
Doncaster Rovers v Ipswich Town

AAAAA

THE MUPPETT LEAGUE




KATE BECKINSALE TRIBUTE PIC

2 points for a correct result
4 points for a correct score
2 points for each correct scorer
Correct joker doubles your score      
Wrong joker result gives you minus 2
Correct Random Badger gives you 2 points

The random badger is used for any random prediction used once in each matchday sequence. For instance, a scorer at a particular match, the number of red cards in the matches or yellow cards or own goals or owt you want really within reason, I do need to be able to check whether it's correct or not. Please don't put stuff like....."Commentator says...."  
The joker   is played for one match in each sequence and if correct you get double points. So if you've predicted 1-0 and it finishes 2-0, you get 4 pts, but if you've predicted 2-0, that's 8 pts. But if you get it wrong, it's minus 2.
Jokers and badgers are optional. You don't have to play one if you don't want.


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. Similarly with the badger, if your random prediction is affected by this, it'll be half the points.

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.  

NEW FOR THIS SEASON: End of season Play Offs.

The one who finishes top of the league will still be champion, but after the season finishes there will be Play Offs between the top 4, with 1st v 4th and 2nd v 3rd. This will take in stuff like the EFL Play Offs, FA Cup Final, final day of Prima Donna League, European Finals etc. It will be one matchday for the semis and one for the Final. It will be the individual scores for each matchday against the allotted opponent, with some kind of tie breaker for a drawn match.
So last season's matches would've been Baggiebob(BBB) v theo_luddite and jjamez v St Charles Owl and would've given a bit more to play for towards the back end of the season.
The prize for winning will be enormous. Another rep point.

We now have an Appeals Committee set up, consisting of me, myself and I. All appeals must be made before the next Matchday kicks off.

Saturday 12th February:
Town v Sheff Utd (12:30)
Town scorers:
Sheff U scorers:

Barnsley v Queens Park Rangers
Birmingham City v Luton Town
Blackpool v AFC Bournemouth
Hull City v Fulham
Middlesbrough v Derby County
Millwall v Cardiff City
Nottingham Forest v Stoke City
Peterborough United v Preston North End
Reading v Coventry City

Sunday 13th February:
Swansea City v Bristol City (13:00)

Monday 14th February:
West Bromwich Albion v Blackburn Rovers

Tuesday 15th February:
Cardiff City v Coventry City
Millwall v Queens Park Rangers
Sheffield United v Hull City

Wednesday 16th February:
Peterborough United v Reading

Bonus matches:
Sunday:
League One:
Sheffield Wednesday v Rotherham United (12:00)

Scottish Cup rd 5:
Arbroath v Hibernian (12:30)

Table after Matchday 28:

1. Baggiebob(BBB) = 668 pts
   
2. jjamez = 635 pts
   
3. Lord Snooty = 620 pts
   
4. St Charles Owl = 604 pts
   
5. theo_luddite = 604 pts
   
6. themaclad = 598 pts
   
7. neonfoxinthebox = 584 pts
   
8. SHEP_HTAFC = 548 pts
   
9. WakeyTerrier = 512 pts
   
10. ritchiebaby = 508 pts
    
11. Amelia Chaffinch = 469 pts

Grimsby 2-0 King's Lynn
Notts County 2-1 Barnet
Southend 2-0 Bromley
Stockport 1-2 Chesterfield
Wealdstone 0-3 Yeovil


League Table After Matchday 35

St Charles = 390
Lord Snoots = 382
Amelia = 374
Devon = 374
Dancing = 358
Spireitematt = 330

Celtic improve on their GD and Tom Rogic denied his 1st Hoops' "hat trick" by the Motherwell goal post in a very impressive display of attacking footie. The 1st half performance was especially notable for the high quality of expansive footie and commitment to win a match. Celtic definitely "on the charge" and gonna hold that "top of the league" position no matter what!

....with back to back trophy wins, the 1st time since 1984!!! Eddie Jones trying to "play mind games" preceding this match and insisting Scotland were the favourites this time. Gregor Townsend having none of it and urging his troops to perform regardless. Scotland taking the lead and then losing it to England, but passed the test with a crucial penalty try and conversion to win the match "at the death". It's a pity we didn't "win it in style" at the end rather than it being a nerve-jangling finale for the fans - GOT THERE IN THE END AND A POSITIVE START TO SCOTLAND'S SIX NATIONS CAMPAIGN!! Well done!

WHAT'S THE BETTING BRUCEY HASN'T GOT THE SQUAD IN THIS WEEKEND TO GET TO KNOW THEM, HEAR THEIR GRIEVANCES AND MAYBE COME UP WITH A FEW MOVES ON THE TRAINING GROUND.

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THIS HAPPENING? OR HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON THE MATTER? 

Premier League

Sanjay        10pts 2CS 3CR -3GB 6BB 1SB
Snooty        10pts 1CS 4CR -3GB 6BB 1SB
BBB              9pts 2CS 3CR -3GB 6BB 0SB
SCO              8pts 1CS 3CR 5GB -3BB 0SB
Silver            6pts 1CS 2CR -3GB 6BB 1SB
Derby            4pts 2CS 3CR -3GB -3BB 0SB
BaggieOne    1pt  0CS 3CR -3GB -3BB 1SB
Minizin          0pts 1CS 2CR -3GB -3BB 0SB
AAA              -1pt No submission

A difficult week with only one positive gamball and a maximum of 4 correct result predictions. An oddity on the bonus with 4 players getting the result correct with every one of them a correct score. 3 of the games garnered 60 points - the problem was the other 7 which produced minus 13! Nobody predicted a Cardiff win nor a Preston draw.

A struggle to get to double figures with only 2 players managing it - step forward Sanjay and Snooty. Snooty was the one with 4 correct results but only one correct score - his bonus, while Sanjay tops the table for the 2nd week running and keeps his sudden improvement going with 2 of his 3 correct predictions being spot on, including his bonus. BBB matched Sanjay's predictions except for missing out on the score ball, denying him a share of top spot.

SCO was the only player to predict a gamball draw but didn't get a lot else. That gamball was enough to give him 4th spot. Silver only got 2 predictions correct but was thankful for his only correct score being a bonus maximum to lift him into mid-table. Derby had a rare bad week, cursed by my comments last week he missed out on all his balls, though with nobody really scoring well his position at the top of the overall table shouldn't be threatened. BaggieOne reverted to the BaggieOne from earlier in the season but was kept off the foot of the table by Minizin, tempted into playing his gamball and losing out again to score a magnificent, and amusing, nil points.

No show from AAA again.

Derby 233
Silver 196
SCO 193
BBB 187
Sanjay 182
Minizin 169
Snooty 146
BaggieOne 144
AAA 79

In such a low scoring week, as expected there isn't much change in the overall standings. Snooty and BaggieOne swop places as the only positional change though Sanjay is getting ever closer to the leaders - over the last 4 weeks he's scored 20 points more than anyone else to ease any fears of relegation. Minizin may still have a gap over those below him, but it continues to reduce!

Zin


Championship

Themaclad  19pts 1CS 5CR 5GB 6BB 0SB
Zinman        13pts 1CS 4CR NPGB 3BB 0SB
Stairs            9pts 2CS 2CR NPGB -3BB 0SB
Amelia          9pts 2CS 1CR -3GB 6BB 0SB
Dingle          8pts 0CS 5CR -3GB 3BB 0SB
Blue Baggie  6pts 2CS 2CR -3GB -3BB 0SB
Twerton        4pts 2CS 1CR -3GB -3BB 0SB
Salop            3pts 0CS 3CR NPGB -3BB 0SB
Lady Jane    2pts 1CS 2CR -3GB -3BB 0SB

An up and down week in the Championship this week.  Like the PL there was only one positive score on the Gamball and those productive points games Zinman was referring to garnered 61 points in the Championship.  Interestingly no one picked up the Scoreball point this week but the Bonus saw two spot on predictions and scored positive points in the end overall.

Themaclad continues his excellent form, leading the way with 19 points with a maximum on the Bonus and the only CR on the Gamball.  Zinman must have had a nose bleed this week, first time in a while he has made the top 2, could this be the start of his push for promotion?  Stairs and Amelia share 3rd spot with 9 points, Stairs scored on more games but Amelia threw in a spot on Bonus.

Dingle is 5th with 8 points, he scored on half the games but his score was kept down by not getting any spot on.  Blue is 6th with 6 points, thats what happens to your score when you miss on all the balls!!  Twerton had a disappointing week with only 4 points despite getting 2 correct scores.  Salop finished on 3 points with no correct scores and nothing from his balls.  In last place is Lady Jane, her slump continues as it has since she stormed into 3rd place a few weeks ago.

202 - Stairs
196 - Blue Baggie
184 - Themaclad
171 - Salop
169 - Zinman
167 - Lady Jane
158 - Dingle
138 - Amelia
116 - Twerton

The top two retain their respective positions but Themaclads superb form has seen him go from a candidate for the bottom three to the top three!!  Salop drops one place and Zinamn gained one to be right behind him now.  Lady Jane dropped 2 spots after another poor week.  Dingle, Amelia and Twerton remain in the bottom 3 spots.

Interesting stat time - in the Championship, the Scoreball has now gained the most points for players with 91 points and has overtaken the Gamball which has 89 points won.  The Bonus has had a couple of good weeks but still sits on -24 for the season so far!!

Cheers
SCO

PS - apologies for the tardiness in getting these results up, of course I simply knew that WBA would switch managers this week and that would take all the attention on here.  So I figured I would wait and let you get the elation of Ismael departing and the horror of Bruce coming in to replace him out of your systems!!!!

Aldershot 2-0 Barnet
Altrincham 0-3 Woking
Chesterfield 1-3 Dag & Red
Halifax 0-1 Bromley
King's Lynn 2-3 Weymouth
Maidenhead United 2-0 Eastleigh
Notts County 2-1 Grimsby
Stockport 6-0 Dover
Torquay 1-3 Wrexham
Yeovil 0-4 Solihull Moors

League Table After Matchday 34

St Charles = 378
Lord Snoots = 376
Devon = 366
Amelia = 360
Dancing = 340
Spireitematt = 328