Player Pts CS CR GB BB SB
St Charles 19 1 7 5 -3 1
Sanjay 16 2 5 -3 3 0
A.A.A. 11 0 5 NP 3 0
Bomber 11 1 4 -3 3 1
Amelia 10 0 6 -3 3 0
Themaclad 8 1 3 -3 3 0
Twerton 6 1 4 -3 -3 0
B.B.B. 5 0 2 NP -3 0
Derby 2 0 4 -3 -3 0
Snooty 2 0 2 -3 -3 0


Decent week of scoring that pretty much mirrored the league table but with one notable exception. This week St Charles tops the table with 19 points, he was the only player that predicted the Baggies would not get a new Manager bounce and backed that up with points from 8 games in total. Sanjay continues his fine form in 2nd spot on 16 points, in a week where correct scores were hard to come by he managed 2 of them and had it not been for his, and everyone's faith in Big Sam he would have been in first place again!!

Joint 3rd is AAA and Bomber on 11 points. These two are neck and neck in the table and they couldn't be separated in their score this week. They got there in different ways with Bomber getting a CS but missing on the Gamball and AAA saving himself points by not playing the Gamball. Amelia is in 5th spot on 10 points, she scored on 6 games but got no correct scores and missed on the Gamball.

Themaclad is in 6th on 8 points for the second week in a row, he also managed a correct score and a CR Bonus but he needs to do more to get out of the bottom two. Likewise Twerton in 7th place needs to be picking up more than 6 points to close the gap on the safety line, missing on all his balls stunted his total this week. BBB is in 8th place and once again is taking an early Xmas holiday, he only scored on 2 games and he bottled the Gamball which cost him 3 points in the end!!

After a few weeks of consistency Derby drops to 9th with just 2 points, he did manage to score points on 4 games but missed on all his balls to cancel most of that gain out. Bottom this week is Lord Snooty with a dreadful -2, scoring on only 2 games, missing all his balls and putting himself precariously close to the relegation spots again.

As I said at the top, these scored mirrored the table and therefore we have not seen any positional movement in the table. What we have seen is BBB virtually losing all of the large lead he had two weeks ago, he is now only 9 points ahead of Sanjay, who in turn is now only 6 points ahead of SCO. There is then a 21 point gap down to Amelia in 4th and she is 12 points ahead of AAA in 5th with Bomber just a bit further back. At the bottom Themaclad added a couple of points to his lead over Twerton and they are both a little closer to Derby and Lord Snooty but still a couple of good weeks behind.

We now get a bit of a break, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, see you when Beefy decides we get to return!!!

Cheers
SCO


BBB 163pts
Sanjay 154
SCO 148
Amelia 127
AAA 115
Bomber 110
Snooty 100
Derby 94
Themaclad 83
Twerton 79



DD 25pts 2CS 7CR 10GB 3BB 0SB
Silver 18pts 1CS 5CR 5GB 6BB 1SB
Somerset 16pts 1CS 5CR 5GB 0BB 1SB
Zinman 14pts 0CS 6CR 0GB 3BB 1SB
Stairs 12pts 1CS 4CR 0GB 3BB 1SB
Lady Jane 11pts 0CS 5CR 5GB -3BB 1SB
Minizin 5pts 0CS 2CR 0GB 3BB 0SB
Beefy 3pts 0CS 2CR -3GB 3BB 1SB
Joker 2pts 1CS 3CR -3GB -3BB 0SB
BaggieOne 2pts 0CS 4CR -3GB -3BB 0SB

So the weekend before Christmas and we welcomed the 2nd coming.....problem was, will it be of the Messiah or of Tony Pulis? We did see a true Christmas miracle - a VAR decision in Albion's favour - but sadly this wasn't enough to prevent yet another predictable (well, for some of us) defeat.

This week's shining star is DD. A week's high of 7 correct predictions, 2 correct scores and a maximum on the gamball sees him rise above the masses on 25 points, continuing his recent improvement. Silver takes 2nd place thanks to a maximum bonus ball with Somerset close behind in 3rd, both players also scoring on the gamball. Zinman is proving to be this year's Mr Consistent with another double figure score though he failed to convert any of his 6 correct predictions intoa correct score and also lost out on 3 points by not playing the gamball. Likewise, Stairs decision not to gamble cost him points but will be happy with a 3rd consecutive week of double figure points. Lady Jane had one of her better weeks, no correct scores but points on both the gamball and scoreball.

A gap then to this week's strugglers. Minizin only scored on 2 games (one of them his bonus) but was saved from further humiliation by not playing the gamball. Beefy similarly only got 2 correct results but his positive bonus was offset by his gamball. Still, he'll be glad to be above Joker and BaggieOne both of whom netted just 2 points due to their misfiring balls.

Some big points swings this week but Zinman extends his lead at the top of the table into double figures. Minizin retains 2nd place despite his poor week but the chasing pack is closing in with Somerset and Stairs now just 6 points back. Silver climbs 2 places to 5th with DD's great week lifting him 3 places and within striking distance of the promotion places. Beefy is falling down faster than Jack Grealish in a light breeeze but stays just ahead of Joker in their private battle for mid-table mediocrity. BaggieOne and Lady Jane sit at the foot of the table as the only players yet to break 100 points for the season.

The mid-season break is upon us so Merry Christmas (well. as merry as can be given lock-down and appropriate social distancing) to all and here's hoping for a better new year.
From the 3 Wise Men plus Beefy.

Zin


Zinman 141pts
Minizin 129
Stairs 123
Somerset 123
Silver 119
DD 110
Beefy 108
Joker 105
BaggieOne 96
Lady Jane 83

Now this is a tricky match v a Buddies side that has been unbeaten in their last 7 fixtures and is playing some good football under Jim Goodwin's stewardship plus they took Rangers "scalp" in their Betfred Cup quarter-final. I think Jack Ross should rest Gogic again, cast caution to the wind and "go for it". We really need to win this game; Hibs are creating lotsa scoring opps in past matches and the manager must encourage the guys to do more of the same and demand that our strikers, particularly Nisbet, Doidgy and Boyly, start scoring more rather than scorning the goal opps and losing valuable pts in the process. Perhaps he'll field all the ex Buddies, Stephen McGinn and his brother plus Magennis, in this fixture - all them possibly motivated and with a point to prove. C'mon Hibs! We need to keep going and play positively. No slacking please!!

GGTTH

just want to wish every single person that has contributed on here
during this crap year:
a very merry Christmas
whatever your doing during this festive period
please stay safe

love you all


Kristien

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.

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.  

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

Saturday 26th December:
Barnsley v Town
Town scorers:
Barnsley scorers:

Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield Wednesday
AFC Bournemouth v Millwall postponed
Bristol City v Wycombe Wanderers
Cardiff City v Brentford
Coventry City v Stoke City
Derby County v Preston North End
Middlesbrough v Rotherham United postponed
Nottingham Forest v Birmingham City
Queens Park Rangers v Swansea City
Reading v Luton Town
Watford v Norwich City (19:45)

Tuesday 29th December:
Town v Blackburn
Town scorers:
Blackburn scorers:

Millwall v Watford (17:30) postponed
Sheffield Wednesday v Middlesbrough (19:00)
Birmingham City v Derby County
Luton Town v Bristol City
Norwich City v Queens Park Rangers
Preston North End v Coventry City
Rotherham United v Barnsley
Wycombe Wanderers v Cardiff City
Stoke City v Nottingham Forest

Wednesday 30th December:
Brentford v AFC Bournemouth (17:30)
Swansea City v Reading

Bonus matches:
Saturday:
Scottish Premiership:
Rangers v Hibernian (12:30)

Tuesday:
Premier League:
West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United (18:00)

Table after Matchday 16:

1. themaclad = 408 pts
   
2. jjamez = 402 pts
   
3. theo_luddite = 393 pts
   
4. Baggiebob(BBB) = 377 pts
   
5. neonfoxinthebox = 358 pts
   
6. Lord Snooty = 355 pts
   
7. St Charles Owl = 345 pts
   
8. Beefy 1965 = 338 pts
   
9. SHEP_HTAFC = 335 pts
   
10. ritchiebaby = 325 pts
    
11. Amelia Chaffinch = 319 pts

Celtic again showing "Jeckyl and Hyde" defensive qualities and really should've "put this game to bed" inside the first 45 mins after comfortably taking a two goal lead v a Hertz side with "has-beens" named Berra and Walker in Neilson's starting line up. Berra is a donkey with no pace!! But again weaknesses in the CB and goalie positions, with errors that needlessly allowed Hertz back into this game, that definitely have to be redressed asap although Celtic's young goalie, Hazard, redeemed himself with two "pk deciding saves" v two Hertz players, who "choked" on the pressure, and he became the hero who won the cup for Celtic after flogging two goals in this 3-3 draw - learn to punch a ball properly son or stay on your goal line! Watch Craig Gordon's face when he thought it was his "moment of footie history" for Hertz after saving Christie's pk - a sight to behold together with Hertz captain Halkett's greetin face after the final whistle - priceless lol!! Plus the tripping faces on their whole squad of players - GUTTED AFTER THEY THOUGHT THEY'D WON IT!!! Maybe there is a football god after all who does issue retribution to cheating semi-finalists - what a fitting "oh we're in with a chance" scenario to see them finally f####d up in this way lol!!
Best moments of this match? Christie's cracking opening goal, a 20 yard shot in the "postage stamp corner", was special - a bit of quality in an attractive match (but lacking real quality/class!) and nae chance for Gordon to save it!! Plus Sparky's ET goal, a strike that should've been the winner - a "poaching Hibee" and a "hammer of Hertz" down the years and his opening pk in the pen decider was also very good.
Lastly, one must comment re this Scot Cup tourney being played out in the way it was anyway. The whole compromised SFA arrangement with cup-tied players being allowed to play for the four remaining clubs was highly questionable from the very beginning and I'd call this particular domestic trophy the COVID-19 Scottish Cup - the whole scenario, with changed rules, without fans in a huge stadium and "playing in an echo chamber" is downright surreal as observed when the English FA played out their cancelled 2019-20 FA Cup tourney later on in the summer - it was so notable that I can't even remember who won it!!

Barrow 3 Cheltenham 0

Dire pitch, dire weather and dire performance.

Unlucky with the first goal awarded as a penalty. (No way Jose!}
Unlucky with the second goal just after half time when Josh Griffiths made an excellent save with the ball rebounding 25 yards out, only for a Barrow player to make a delightful curling chip which found the top angle and in. Probably Barrow's goal of the season.

Susceptible to the fast breakaway and a forward line which, since putting five past Exeter, have now gone four games without scoring.

I shall say no more.

James Morrison has been promoted from the Academy to First Team Coach.

https://www.wba.co.uk/news/mozza-and-sto...hing-staff

Head Coach - Sam Allardyce

Assistant Head Coach: Sammy Lee

First Team Coach: Robbie Stockdale

First Team Coach: James Morrison

Goalkeeping Coach: Gary Walsh

Welcome to the shrine gentlemen.

The word on the social media is that we have signed yond Danny Grant from Bohemians.