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
Only one joker per round of games

The format will be that everybody takes part for the first round games and the round of 16. I will compile the results into a table and then the top 8 will play off against each other for the quarter finals, semis and then the final. That will be 1st in the table v 8th placed etc.

If there are tied scores in the top 8, positions will be decided on alphabetical order.

Then in the knock out competition from the quarter finals onwards, a tie will be decided by the position in the original top 8. Obviously if that's a tie as well, alphabetical order won't be used. I'll have to think of summat else. You don't need to change your name to begin with A.  

Similarly, if there's a tie for 8th and 9th, I'll have to think about it.  

I've made a democratic decision with myself and that is that in Matchday 4, I will pick a random game and ask you all to predict the total number of corners as a tie breaker. Closest one gets the nod.

Knockout stages:
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.

Sunday 20th June:
17:00:
Switzerland v Turkey
Italy v Wales
Wales scorers:

Monday 21st June:
17:00:
North Macedonia v Netherlands
Ukraine v Austria

20:00:
Finland v Belgium
Russia v Denmark

Tuesday 22nd June:
20:00
Croatia v Scotland
Scotland scorers:

Czech Republic v England
England scorers:

Wednesday 23rd June:
17:00
Slovakia v Spain
Sweden v Poland

20:00
Germany v Hungary
Portugal v France

Table after Matchday 2:

1. Devongone = 48 pts
   
2. Minizin = 38 pts
   
3. St Charles Owl = 38 pts
   
4. bomberbrown1968 = 36 pts
   
5. Baggie_One= 34 pts
   
6. jjamez = 34 pts
   
7. neonfoxinthebox = 34
   
8. theo_luddite = 34 pts
   
9. SomersetBaggie = 32 pts
   
10. Lord Snooty = 30 pts
    
11. themaclad = 30 pts
    
12. Zinman = 30 pts
    
13. hibeejim21 = 28 pts
    
14. ritchiebaby = 28 pts
    
15. SHEP_HTAFC = 28 pts
    
16. WakeyTerrier = 28 pts
    
17. 0762 = 26 pts
    
18. Stairs = 26 pts
    
19. Baggiebob(BBB) = 22 pts
    
20. Dancingwilldoit = 22 pts
    
21. spireitematt = 18 pts
    
22. Amelia Chaffinch = 12 pts
    

So lotsa Tartan Army fans still heading to London in spite of the off-putting utterances from certain English sports/health officials, the London Mayor and others, to stay away. Scotland now ranked as having nae chance v a decent England team with lotsa top class players and I must say I rate our chances as nil mainly because we don't have quality striking in our repertoire. We'll see what team the England manager, Southgate, decides to field v Scotland. On a separate note he is an England manger who made a powerful statement defending his players rights to demonstrate against racism and vilify England fans who boo his players - it cast Southgate in a positive light despite his baffling inability to differentiate between England and Britain in his first interview covering the Scotland match - what a confused fellow indeed or was he "got at" by some Tory FA clown to say that!!? And gushing on about his love of royalty and street bunting??? Part of his interview sounded like it came from a letter written by a 1950s widow from my wife's place of birth in Kent and not a modern day footie manager. Anyway, back to the footie! How does Clarke tackle a match that we really have little chance of winning and it looks like Tierney, our best player, is disappointingly not gonna make this match - as if we had enough f###### problems without losing a top class player who hasnae even picked up the injury in a preceding Scotland match!!! As an ex footie player, I'd be "kicking through walls" to get at England and telling all my fellow players what is expected of them as well - I want a typical hi-intensity British cup-tie with no holds barred and absolutely battering England for almost the full 90 mins of combat in order to try and win three precious pts that could greatly change Scotland's chances of qualifying to the next round of the Euros for the first time in footie history. However, we all know Steve Clarke doesn't do passion which is good sometimes but there are occasions where passion and hi-motivating player discussions are required - ask Sir Alex Ferguson all about that stuff eh!! In reality, Clarke will opt for a tight defensive strategy and attempt to play out a drawn match with the next group game v Croatia becoming Scotland's cup final, Clarke's view being that the right result could possibly "sneak" a third place qualification. What will be the Scotland line up?

I'd opt for this high-risk team:-

Marshall (pulled off enough decent saves v Czech Rep to be retained!), Patterson, Cooper, Gallagher, Robertson, Tominay, Forrest, McGinn, Gilmour, Armstrong, Adams

I'd luv to have an old-fashioned "clogger" (somebody like Graeme Souness) in our midfield to "stir it up" in the English mid ranks but IMO we have nobody of that stature any more. Anyway, Clarke will not pick that team! I'm 100% certain on that score. So based on Clarke's more cautious line up, I'm hoping we somehow "nick" the first goal v them and critical parts of this match are more fortuitous for Scotland than before. C'mon boys - give it all you've got, "get stuck in" and no regrets after this match.

New Morecambe boss Stephen Robinson has released eight players including long-serving Alex Kenyon and regular Stephen Hendrie as he reshapes his squad.

Yann Songo'o has also opted to leave to "pursue other opportunities".

Striker Cole Stockton has signed a new two-year contract keeping him with the club until the summer of 2023.

Toumani Diagouraga, Liam Gibson, John O'Sullivan, Kyle Letherhen and Kelvin Mellor have also been offered new deals after promotion to League One.

One-year contract extensions have also been triggered for Carlos Mendes Gomes, Aaron Wildig and Freddie Price.

In addition, loan players Ryan Cooney, Alex Denny and Brad Lyons have returned to their parent clubs, while centre-back Nat Knight-Percival joined Tranmere yesterday.

Morecambe appoint Robinson as new manager
"It's been a tough week having to make decisions on players very quickly, but we believe we have made the right decisions for the club going forward," Robinson told the club website.

"We decided to speak to each player individually; it's only fair to the players to do it that way, to let them know where they're at and allow them to move on in their careers."

Players released: Harry Davis, Mark Halstead, Alex Kenyon, Stephen Hendrie, Liam McAlinden, A-Jay Leitch-Smith, Ben Pringle and Jordan Slew.

Steve Clarke saying he's satisfied with 10 positions in his starting line up at Hampden Park tomorrow and I reckon he prob has an issue with either the goalie position or the RB place. I suspect he'll stick with Marshall in goal although there is not much difference between Gordon and the Euro quali hero. The RB position is a more interesting one in the fact that O'Donnell has not done much wrong being challenged for the position by an up n coming new prospect in Patterson. So what is his team for tomorrow, one that will hopefully win the match?

I'd opt for this one:-

Marshall, O'Donnell, Cooper, Hanley, Tierney, Robertson, McGinn, McTominay, Armstrong, Adams, Dykes

We have some very good options on the subs' bench (will he give Forrest or Fraser a start?) to change it but I think this will be close to Clarke's starting line up.

Who wants to take part in this then?

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
Only one joker per round of games

The format will be that everybody takes part for the first round games and the round of 16. I will compile the results into a table and then the top 8 will play off against each other for the quarter finals, semis and then the final. That will be 1st in the table v 8th placed etc.

If there are tied scores in the top 8, positions will be decided on alphabetical order.

Then in the knock out competition from the quarter finals onwards, a tie will be decided by the position in the original top 8. Obviously if that's a tie as well, alphabetical order won't be used. I'll have to think of summat else. You don't need to change your name to begin with A.  

Similarly, if there's a tie for 8th and 9th, I'll have to think about it.  

I've made a democratic decision with myself and that is that in Matchday 4, I will pick a random game and ask you all to predict the total number of corners as a tie breaker. Closest one gets the nod.

Wednesday 16th June:
Turkey v Wales (17:00)
Wales scorers:

Italy v Switzerland (20:00)
Finland v Russia (14:00)

Thursday 17th June:
Denmark v Belgium (17:00)
Ukraine v North Macedonia (14:00)
Netherlands v Austria (20:00)

Friday 18th June:
Croatia v Czech Republic (17:00)
England v Scotland (20:00)
England scorers:
Scotland scorers:

Sweden v Slovakia (14:00)

Saturday 19th June:
Spain v Poland (20:00)
Hungary v France (14:00)
Portugal v Germany (17:00)

Table after Matchday 1:

1. Minizin = 28 pts
   
2. St Charles Owl = 24 pts
   
3. bomberbrown1968 = 22 pts
   
4. Baggiebob(BBB) = 20 pts
   
5. Baggie_One= 20 pts
   
6. Devongone = 20 pts
   
7. Lord Snooty = 20 pts
   
8. SomersetBaggie = 20 pts
   
9. theo_luddite = 18 pts
   
10. neonfoxinthebox = 16
    
11. Stairs = 16 pts
    
12. Zinman = 16 pts
    
13. hibeejim21 = 14 pts
    
14. jjamez = 14 pts
    
15. ritchiebaby = 14 pts
    
16. WakeyTerrier = 14 pts
    
17. 0762 = 12 pts
    
18. themaclad = 12 pts
    
19. SHEP_HTAFC = 10 pts
    
20. Amelia Chaffinch = 6 pts
    
21. Dancingwilldoit = 4 pts
    
22. spireitematt = 2 pts
    

Great to see Christian Eriksen revived and stabilised after that horrible incident where he was clearly dead on the pitch after collapsing just before HT - a tremendous job by the medical staff who administered CPR and proof that this technique will save lives as long as the medics can get to the scene as quickly as poss. However, I must say I was gobsmacked to hear the UEFA decision to resume the match later in the evening esp after observing the mental state of most of the shocked Danish players during and after the desperate efforts to save Eriksen. I've never been a great fan of UEFA and this move just endorses my disregard for this footie association that spans way back to the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985 when their officials decided the "show must go on" when 100s n 100s of dead bodies were piled up on the terracing during an infamous European Cup final that diminished the importance of footie in the eyes of many observing fans who watched this scene unfold in such tragic circumstances. There are far more important things in life even though admittedly the sport is enjoyable to watch for many people in our society. I gather that UEFA had no other vacant dates to play this match. But IMO this was totally "out of order" and insensitive to this type of shocking incident!!

Well he was once talked about as a future England keeper, but then so was Jordan Pickford ........... oh is he? Blimey .........

I cannot begin to read Mr Rowe's thoughts on goalkeeping. I thought he'd got it sussed when he signed Grant Smith but ......... (he's not at the Euros with Jordan Kickford is he?)

Anyway we got Stone Loach, wonder if we can get Toadfish from Neighbours? Is that right, Toady from Neighbours?

https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=10484

All welcome to take part.  

https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=10484

All welcome to take part.  

https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=10484

All welcome to take part.