Aside from my amazement that top defenders now seem to have little idea that their primary duty is to stop the ball entering their own net, and that goalkeepers may now be able to pass like Johnny Haynes and execute a Cruyff turn, but are consistently unable to prevent goals that would have had me hanging my head in shame at the top of the Sunday League fifty years ago, I wonder that among the 184 different tamperings David Elleray has been responsible for since he was put into power as a reward for preventing Chesterfield reaching an FA Cup Final he hasn't thought of doing something about the pointless bureaucracy of bookings.

Bookings, a bit like Philip Larkin's mum and dad, ucfk the game up.

Sometimes they are doled out like peanuts on a short haul flight. Other times they are used as a serious punishment. A quick winger will hit the ground dramatically as soon as he sees a full back in the hope of getting him an early booking that will then deter him from tackling. A concrete full back will consider hitting the flier early doors to deter him before the ref' is ready to administer any booking at all. It's nonsense. If then the referee comes up with a soft booking, and minutes later the booked player, caught up in an innocuous challenge for a ball, is adjudged have committed a foul, he is SENT OFF. Down to 10 men and the game as a spectacle is ruined - it'll be just attack versus defence. And as an extra bonus there is the pointless administration of recording the bookings and counting them up to 5 so persistent offenders can then be suspended at further administrative cost.

The worst aspect of the booking is the way it has come to be regarded as an occupational hazard, by players, managers and pundits. Even a proper player like Jermaine Jenas will advocate TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM. So your team looks like being caught on a quick break, you are last man just inside your own half, that Adama Traore has the ball and there's acres of space. You chop him down. Harmless free kick. You nod when Mr Atkinson waves his yellow card. He might as well wave his willy for all the notice you are taking. Five minutes later, Traore again chasing for a ball, your full back is gaining a serious close appreciation of the quality of Traore's shirt. Another harmless free kick, a second booking. Jimenez is on the ball thirty yards out, loads of runners, options everywhere, he's blocked off. Bit of a chance for Neves with a 30 yard free, but it's worth it and another booking. And the very same pundit who commented on taking one for the team notes that the cynical opposition seems to be doing a good job of cramping Wolves' crowd-pleasing style.

SO, my note to Mr Elleray and those like him, who want to tamper with the game until they can determine whether one of Jack Grealish's eyelashes was offside before he rounded the keeper and backheeled that ball into the net, is try doing something to make the game more fun to play and more enjoyable to watch. My suggestion is SCRAP BOOKINGS. If a a player commits a serious enough offence to have been worth a booking, especially if it is done to benefit his team, let Mr Atkinson wave his yellow card at that team's bench. Instead of having THREE substitutions available they are down to two, so the team suffers and if you take one for the team you literally do. Referees will still be able to send off players for one serious offence or for persistent infringements. Managers will be far less willing to instruct their players in the dark arts, if the flexibility of the team is immediately reduced. Players will have more respect for the game and opponents and, if of course, the referee waved his yellow card when a player simulated being fouled then that player would have disadvantaged his own team by cheating (a much greater risk than a potential booking for something he could easily avoid repeating).

Of course if a player commits an offence after all substitutions available have been used then that does have to carry over to the next game, so the team would be allowed only two subs next time out...... which would involve some minor administration. And yes apparently David Elleray has apparently been involved in 184 changes so far.

If you do your predictions after these specified times, they will not be accepted.

Weekend games 12 pm
Midweek games 7:30 pm

Just a reminder that you can use your   on any fixture, but its not compulsory!! Get it right and you will score double points but getting it wrong will result in -2 points, so the reward and risk are there for all!!

Aldershot 0-2 Sutton United
Bromley 0-2 Dover
Chesterfield 1-1 Hartlepool
Dag & Red 2-2 Barnet
Eastleigh 0-3 Torquay
Maidenhead United 0- 1 King's Lynn
Solihull Moors 2-1 Wrexham
Stockport 2-1 Halifax
Weymouth 1-2 Woking
Yeovil 4-0 Wealdstone

League Table After Matchday 1
Dancing = 30
Lord Snoots = 14
Spireitematt = 12
Amelia = 10
Devon = 8
St Charles = 6

After observing this "weird match" from 30 secs onwards after United scored the 1st goal from the pen spot, I must say the embarrassing events that followed were totally unacceptable from a United fan's perspective. No structure, no commitment, no passion and no pride in "playing for the shirt". All records broken for goals lost in their 1st three games of the season. Sure, Martial's red card was a factor in making this thrashing happen (I hope Lamela is retrospectively punished by the FA for his delayed dramatic collapse after being the offending party to "pull" Martial's reaction!) but Maguire was an absolute numpty in United's defence and has OGS not realised yet that Bailly's career is over at OT due to incurring too many bad injuries????? He replaced Lindelof in the starting line up and he is not good enough either but he'll be quietly chuckling after watching that nightmare by both CBs!! Pogba's concession of the 6th goal to a pk was absolutely infuriating mainly because of his smiley reaction after it and the fact he needlessly gave away the pen by not remaining on his feet!!!! Ultimately OGS picked the team, OGS has a part to play in engendering team spirit, OGS has a part to play in ensuring fitness levels are "up to scratch". He picked the wrong team!! Team spirit looks non-existent!! There is still a good number of United players who are still unfit since that humiliating result v Crystal Palace at OT! Also the matter of fact attitudes from him and a good number of players is not good enough TBF - one can understand why United stalwarts like Keane and Evra are going apoplectic after watching this shit!! Therefore OGS really must move on!! I don't believe he is the man to manage United any more. One never likes to remove a manager so early in the season but I just think this is a final confirmation that United need somebody who can motivate and manage this team far more effectively than him.

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.  

Thursday 8th October:
Friendly match:
England v Wales
England scorers:

European Championship Qualifying:
Bosnia-Herzegovina v Northern Ireland
Slovakia v Republic of Ireland
Scotland v Israel

Sunday 11th October:
UEFA Nations League:
England v Belgium (17:00)
England scorers:

Northern Ireland v Austria (19:45)
Scotland v Slovakia (19:45)
Republic of Ireland v Wales (14:00)

Wednesday 14th October:
England v Denmark
England scorers:

Norway v Northern Ireland
Scotland v Czech Republic
Finland v Republic of Ireland (17:00)
Bulgaria v Wales

Bonus match:
Monday:
League Two:
Bradford City v Harrogate Town

Table after Matchday 5:

1. themaclad = 100 pts
   
2. Baggiebob(BBB) = 89 pts
   
3. jjamez = 88 pts
   
4. theo_luddite = 86 pts
   
5. Lord Snooty = 72 pts
   
6. Beefy 1965 = 67 pts
   
7. Amelia Chaffinch = 63 pts
   
8. SHEP_HTAFC = 60 pts
   
9. St Charles Owl = 59 pts
   
10. neonfoxinthebox = 56 pts
    
11. ritchiebaby = 56 pts

Celtic started this match without Broony and Christie and were "mince" for most of the game v a very well organised and "stuffy" Saints' side. Too slow in their build up play, Frimpong also ineffective, Taylor ditto, same re Turnbull's 1st start debut in place of Broony plus a poor Edouard. Griffiths comes on in the 2nd half along with Broony and Christie and Rogic. Sparky's immediate enthusiasm and predatory instinct very apparent as soon as he came on the pitch and then BANG - the predatory striker delivers with a precious breakthrough 1st goal on 90 mins and Klimala "puts the icing on the cake" on 92 mins with a cracking 2nd goal after being fouled on the edge of the SJ pen box but carrying on regardless and advantage Klimala - GOAL!!

The Robins made it two from two on the road as they beat the Orient by 2-0; both goals coming in the first half.
Young George Lloyd got a deserved start after his performance against Tranmere and had a hand in the first goal. Perhaps even scored the first goal although it was given as an own goal. Either way the ball was touched home from about a yard out and was fully deserved on the balance of play.
Cheltenham's first half play was superb at times and Orient had no answer to the sweeping moves which surely would result in a further goal. This finally came when a great cross from the left by Will Boyle was met with a glancing header by Albion loanee Finn Azaz.
Orient did have the ball in the net during this first half but, the player was well offside and the goal was disallowed.

Again, as against Tranmere, the second half was a comparatively scrappy affair with some Orient players showing their increasing frustration by indulging in some petty fouling. At this stage the referee seemed to start losing control. In particular Orient player Cisse was, in my opinion, very lucky to remain on the field when he forcefully pushed a Robin's player to the ground with the ball already in the keeper's hands. The referee took no action although yellow cards were brandished later in the game for some petty fouling by both sides.

George Lloyd was replaced by Alfie May just before the hour and, Azaz gave way to Chris Clements 5 minutes later. Finn appeared to be injured; hopefully only a minor knock.

So a fine start by the Robins and let's hope that they can bring this form to the Jonny Rocks Stadium when we finally get to play at home.

Saints 1 Baggies 3
Goals
Robinson
Gallagher
Diangana
COYB

20 year old Finn Azaz, on loan from West Brom, has been voted by Robin's supporters as player of the month for September.
He already has one goal and one assist to his name for Cheltenham.

Long may it continue!  

v


MILLWALL 1 BRENTFORD 1



PNE 0 STOKE CITY 1



LAST SEASON

BRENTFORD 1 PRESTON NORTH END 0



BRENTFORD NEW ADDITIONS

Ivan Toney/Charlie Goode

First ever meeting between the clubs was an FA CUP tie on 14/1/1911 were we won 1-0 at Brentford, our last win at Griffin Park was 3-1 with Hume, Mellor and Procter scoring the date was 17/9/2011 since then it has basically been a tale of utter misery in West London although we did manage a draw in February 2018 even though Cunningham was sent off.

Today should have been the day some semblence of normality should have returned to football when fans or some of them would have been back in grounds however after the nonsense graph of doom the plug was pulled, personal view thin some of us will be back sooner rather than later although have taken option 3 with my preference with North End which means my cash has one towards next season which probably means when they are back this season probably won't be allowed to go.

This match was switched from Saturday to Sunday due to the Bees League cup tie on Thursday were they reversed the play off dfeat by beating soon to be relegated from the Premier League Fulham.
They put out a strong side against Fulham mind you they have a decent side no matter what side they put out.
It is less than 3 months since we last went there and lost behind closed doors in a game which we left it far too late to realise we had a chance, the scorer that day Ollie Watkins has since signed for the Villa, Raya has just signed a new contract and that just leaves Benrahma as the only one they could possibly sign before the window shuts.
To replace Watkins they have signed Ivan Toney from Peterborough whether he has the ability at Championship level we shall soon find out.
Expect Jansson and Toney to return.
As for us the laughable one game ban for Barkhuizen is a blow, will the great Dane start we'll find out tomorrow at 2pm

Preston North End make their first visit to the Brentford Community Stadium this Sunday afternoon in the last Championship game before the international break.

The Lilywhites will be looking to give themselves positive first experiences of the Bees new home, having not had many great memories of Griffin Park in the last decade!

They head to West London with new signing Emil Riis Jakobsen, who gained international clearance on Friday and can go straight into the squad for the clash against compatriot Thomas Frank’s side.



The Bees head into the fixture in excellent form, a 3-0 demolition of Premier League Fulham in the Carabao Cup on Thursday (the date being the reason the fixture moved to the Sunday), being their aperitif for their next Championship encounter.

Team News
Tom Barkhuizen misses the game through suspension, after his appeal against his red card issued versus Stoke City was dismissed by an FA Panel, but reduced from three games to just this one at the home of the Bees.

Manager Alex Neil is hoping to be able to include Daniel Johnson, however, who has missed the last few games with a groin injury, but is getting closer to a return to action.

New signing and Danish U21 international Emil Riis Jakobsen has received international clearance and is available to be included in the squad.

Darnell Fisher remains on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury and Louis Moult continues to build his fitness and is back outside on the grass after a year out with an ACL injury.

Saman Ghoddos received international clearance in time to make his Bees debut against Fulham on Thursday, while Thomas Frank also included Said Benrahma – who scored twice against the Cottagers, but Rico Henry missed out due to a low-grade hamstring issue.

Match Officials
Sunday's game sees Dean Whitestone appointed as match official. He refereed four North End games last season, including the home game with QPR - the last before lockdown in March and our home win over Charlton Athletic in late January.

The Northamptonshire official has refereed PNE games on 13 previous occasions, the first of which was at Bramall Lane back in October 2008.

He has officiated three games so far this fledgling campaign, issuing three cautions and no red cards – his last game being QPR's 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough last Saturday.

Two of the stand-out PNE games he has been in charge of, were a 3-0 victory at Barnsley in August 2009, and a 3-1 triumph on the road at Doncaster in October 2012.

The rest of Sunday's official will be made up of assistant referees Mark Russell and rob Smith, whilst the fourth official will be experienced Championship official Tim Robinson.