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 23rd January:
FA Cup 3rd rd replay:
Tranmere Rovers v Watford

Friday 24th January:
FA Cup 4th rd:
Northampton Town v Derby County
Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield Wednesday

Saturday 25th January:
Brentford v Leicester City (12:45)
Coventry City v Birmingham City
Portsmouth v Barnsley
West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion
Hull City v Chelsea (17:30)

Championship:
Stoke City v Swansea City

Sunday 26th January:
FA Cup:
Shrewsbury Town v Liverpool (17:00)

Monday 27th January:
AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal

Tuesday 28th January:
Championship:
Hull v Town
Town scorers:
Hull scorers:

Blackburn Rovers v Queens Park Rangers
Brentford v Nottingham Forest
Cardiff City v West Bromwich Albion
Leeds United v Millwall
Luton Town v Derby County
Wigan Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday
Reading v Bristol City

EFL Cup semi finals 2nd leg:
Aston Villa v Leicester City (Agg 1-1)

Wednesday 29th January:
Manchester City v Manchester United (Agg 3-1)

Table after Matchday 25:
neonfoxinthebox = 573 pts
jjamez = 545 pts
themaclad = 545 pts
theo_luddite = 535 pts
Baggiebob(BBB) = 513 pts
St Charles Owl = 501 pts
Lord Snooty = 477 pts
SHEP_HTAFC = 474 pts
ritchiebaby = 461 pts
Beefy 1965 = 448 pts
Amelia Chaffinch = 433 pts

Player Pts CS CR GB BB SB
B.B.B. 15 3 0 10 -3 0
A.A.A. 5 0 2 NP 3 0
Bomber 2 1 2 -3 -3 0
Derby 2 1 2 -3 -3 0
Zinman 2 0 2 NP -3 1
St Charles 1 1 1 -3 -3 1
Beefy 0 1 1 -3 -3 0
Sanjay -2 0 0 NP -3 1
Derby -6 0 0 -3 -3 0

Everyone bar one person should hang their heads in shame with this weeks miserable scores!!! I believe this is the lowest score this season and I think the lowest since I began scoring - just 19 points were scored in total and 15 of them belongs to one person!!!!! Another first for me since I have been scoring but we will get onto that one later!!

In 1st place by a mile this week is BBB with 15 points. He was the only one to score points on the gamball and he certainly benefitted from that being a CS to boot. Strangely he actually got 3 CS and zero CR predictions, not seen that before!! In 2nd spot is AAA on 5 points, no CS, nothing on the Gamball and the only player to get any points on the Bonus!!

Joint 3rd were three players, Bomber, Derby and Zinman, all on a paltry 2 points. Bomber and Derby had identical scoring, one CS each but missed on all their balls. Zinman didn’t use all his balls but his lack of courage on the Gamball kept his score positive in the end!! The only other player with a positive final score is SCO with 1 point, leaving him 6th place, that one point came from the scoreball, one of only 3 players to get that one!!

Beefy sits in 7th spot with a big fat zero, some resurgence from the mighty one!!!! He got all his balls wrong and cancelled out the CS and CR that he did get. Still he was 2 points better off than Sanjay in 8th place on minus 2!! Had he played the gamball he would have been very thankful that his point on the scoreball kept him off the minimum possible score!!

Our league leader Themaclad though didn’t even have that to lean on, he finishes last on -6!! For the first time I have seen he got absolutely every prediction wrong, missed on all his balls and managed to reach that miserable minimum possible score mark!!!!!!!

Definitely a week to forget for just about everyone and the only consolation is that only one person got a decent score so probably won’t affect the table too much!!

Cheers
SCO

   


Lady Jane   14pts 2CS 5CR -3GB 6BB 1SB
Amelia          4pts 0CS 2CR 0GB 0BB 0SB
BaggieOne    4pts 1CS 4CR -3GB -3BB 0SB
Stairs           2pts 0CS 4CR -3GB -3BB 0SB
Snooty          0pts 1CS 2CR -3GB -3BB 0SB
Twerton        0pts 1CS 2CR -3GB -3BB 0SB
Joker            -1pt 0CS 2CR -3GB -3BB 1SB
MightyBrom  -4pts 0CS 1CR -3GB -3BB 0SB


Oh dear, everyone should look away now. This was a complete car crash of a weekend in the Championship (with one honourable exception) which saw by far the lowest total points of the season so far. Just 19 points in total (previous worst was 35) and it could have been so much worse as 1 player managed to get 14 of those! No positives from the gamball, just 1 correct bonus and only the 2 scoreballs - 4 matches produced negative total points withnobody scoring anything (well, anything positive) on both the Brighton-Villa and Sheff Wed-Blackburn games.

Lady Jane is the honourable exception with a decent haul of 14 points from a nightmare set of fixtures. She may well have got herself back into the promotion fixture thanks to her 2 correct scores, including the bonus, and 5 correct results - both representing the week's high. Some way back is Amelia - just 2 correct results but a lack of balls saved her from a far worse fate - and BaggieOne who benefited from a rare correct score.Scrambling just into positive territory is Stairs with a decent 4 correct results.

Half of the Championship managed to score zero or below. Twerton and Snooty, 2 of the recent form players, failed to trouble the scorer - at least Twerton's lead in the table shouldn't suffer too much damage given the chasers' performances. Joker seems to have finally rediscovered his form from last season with a score of minus 1 - at least he can gain some consolation from being the only other player with Lady Jane to get a score ball point.

Propping up this week's table with a magnificent score of minus 4 is (not so) MightyBrom. It could have been worse as he was saved from a complete blank week by Walsall's late winner to give him his only correct result.

Zin

   

It is in the interests of democracy within these islands to release the Russia report following Johnson's GE win. We all know the document exists and grave concerns have been raised re external interference in the UK's democracy. That document has not been published for dubious reasons. It should be published now so that we can all see where things are. Surely if the UK wants to pretend it is a beacon of best practice to the world, credibility begins at home and that also means not crassly handing out tax payers money to people earning over £110,000 pa as recently suggested by officials of the Brexit Party/govt - that is a joke and an insult to swathes and swathes of poorer and vulnerable people within our population!!! The ruthless nature of this Brexit obsessed govt is epitomised in one shameless action within Johnson's Withdrawal Agreement Bill with one of the omissions covering the Dubs amendment which I recently read up on as I didn't know too much re the subject of the UK's involvement in assisting unaccompanied refugee children to find secure refuge with identified family members in the UK. So Johnson scrapped the Dubs Amendment that sought to enable such lone youngsters to come to a safe haven - NO SOONER HAD JOHNSON WON THE RECENT GENERAL ELECTION THAN HE RUTHLESSLY STRIPPED THE DUBS AMENDMENT (NAMED AFTER LORD ALF DUBS) FROM THE EU WAB. Apparently government ministers met with Lord Dubs, the initiator of the amendment, in an attempt to argue that it would weaken the government's negotiating hand in EU trade talks??? Frankly, as cynical political moves go, it doesn't get much more distasteful than this and speaks volumes about the politicians who are running the UK! As Dubs pointedly observed, it quite simply reveals a govt more than happy to "barter unaccompanied child refugees for something else", and he will fight to reinstate it in the House of Lords. However, it is hard to see past the sheer cynicism of Brexit-obsessed Tories on this issue. If the Tory govt's cynical scrapping of the amendment and the lies and harm that accompany it is what they are capable of in just a few weeks, what more harm will they inflict in the next few years?????

Just over 2 years since the big fella passed away

I heard this on the football phone in on the way home

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8IMbuB3HTw

Firstly, excuse some of the typos, i am a couple of digits down for the foreseeable and having to make do with the rest  


On Saturday, a lackluster huddersfield side return to the scene of their 5-2 hammering agains stoke to face a high flying brentford side who come fresh on the back of dismantaling of QPR, 3-1 was rather flattering to Rangers if i'm being honest. Town come into the game fresh from a 2-1 defeat against relegation rivals barnsley, a lewis o'brien goal the only bright note.



I hope town have been watching brentfords set piece manouvres as qpr were just leaving people unmarked, which I know is a massive town speciality, but considering how we have been of late defending set pieces and the amount of video evidence that is around now for teams to use, i wont be impressed if we fall foul to the same tactics.

So with the season beyond the half way stage, what is the story so far for brentford?

Well, Bees are looking to say goodbye to their home ground Griffin Park in style by winning promotion to the Premier league and so far it is looking promising, with the London based side sitting nicely in 3rd, although they are 6 points behind 2nd and only 4 above 7th as is the congestion at the top of the league. Although it's much the same at the bottom with 4 points separating town from the drop zones and 6 from midtable mediocrity, which let's face it, we'd happily take at this point. But with Derby possibly facing a 9 point deduction it could get even more interesting.

Anyways, back to Brentford. Over the summer they lost key player in neal maupay to Brighton for circa 25million and instead of splashing the cash they decided to change attacking midfielder ollie Watkins into a striking role and its safe to say it has just about worked with the former Exeter man scoring 18 goals this campaign, with more surely beckoning this weekend. He has been ably assisted by Bryan mbeumo and said benrahma who have contributed 16 goals and 9 assists between them.



Instead of signing a striker, the bees decided to strengthen their back line by signing David raya from Blackburn to go between the sticks and pontus magic hat jansson to slot in at centre half. Safe to say it has worked, with the promotion candidates having conceded the fewest goals in the league this season at 21, with a goal difference of +23, ours is - 13...

Brentford have lost one of their last five, that coming away at Millwall at the end of last year. Since then they have thrashed Bristol city away at Ashton Gate 4-0 and we all know what happened to us when we played at Ashton Gate, although it has been a regular occurrence. Town meanwhile have won 2 of the last 5, losing the rest, so it be nice to make it 3 wins and 3 loses in the last 6 come Saturday night, possibly wishful thinking.

The last time we met earlier in the season saw town snatch a 1-0 win thanks to a karlan grant strike, Brentford never really settled in to the game with town breaking up play on regular occasions, much to the annoyance of the obviously non bias commentators that were on the stream I was watching. They liked to call it the dark arts, but I think someone had been watching too much Harry Potter as Danny and nicky are nothing like Snape and dumbledore.


Danny and Nicky after the game at Griffin Park

It wouldn't surprise me if we were to go down the same niggly route this weekend with more emphasis on stopping them playing and hitting them probably both figuratively and literally and on the break, rather than trying to attack and finding ourselves cut open.

We're also over half way through the transfer window and town have been the most active of the two, well we did need to be. In fact at the time of typing Brentford had not opened the door to allow anyone in, instead opting to extend the contracts of manager Thomas Frank and reserve goalkeeper luke Daniels.

Town meanwhile have welcomed emile Smith rowe on loan, Richard stearman on free transfer from Sheffield United and Andy King on loan from Leicester, rumours also suggest that toffolo is due to be announced tomorrow, whether it will be in time for Saturday remains to be seen. On the outgoings, Ryan schofield has joined livingstone on loan and rarmani edmonds Green has joined Swindon, whilst tk has just go out on loan to Fulham, hopefully they are paying all his wages and the rest.

Going into Saturday I'd expect Smith-rowe and stearman to be in and around the starting line up, whilst I'd expected king to be involved from the bench. I fully expect there to be some changes following our recent lack luster performances. I'm not exactly expecting wholesale changes, but just enough following some poor performances.







Key players

Ollie Watkins - the winger turned striker has been mentioned before in the thread, but he probably warrants another mention. Not the greatest of threats aerially, nor the strongest of players, but has the technique to cause nightmares for defences. He's almost scored more this season than he managed in the last two seasons combined

Josh dasilva- second top Scorer for the bees, the midfielder began life as a striker in arsenals academy before moving back into a midfield berth. Having joined Brentford in 2018, it seems like this is the breakthrough season for the former gunner.

Said benrahma- the French Algerian joined the bees from nice last season having spent time out on loan at clubs like chateauroux and registered 10 goals and 14 assist for the bees last season. If I recall correctly Huddersfield were interested in the wingers signature, but elected to go down the diabenza route. Wonder if we made the right decision?



Rico Henry - highly talented left back who has been likened to Ashley Cole due to his bursting runs forward, hopefully he doesn't shoot youth players with an air soft gun... He joined the bees from Walsall in 2016 and has started to make the role his own over the last few seasons.



Now I know you all Love the played for both quiz. But you ain't getting it this time. Instead you are getting something I've taken from the town programme, I've picked a game between the two sides and will give clues to the town line up, you're just got to guess the players and result. No cheating!!!

Gk- I was getting on a bit when I played this game, but I was still the best man for the job in many a town fans eyes. I am now a coach at a championship side.

Lb- scouser by birth, scouser by nature. Equally at home on the left as I was the right. A solid if unspectacular player, I did not let anyone down. I'm still playing back down in league one.

Cb- a solid defender that lead by example, I came through the system of a Merseyside based team and clocked up just shy of 200 league appearances for the terriers.

Cb- a 'versatile' defender that originally came from these parts, but signed for the terriers after winning player of the season season at my former club. Was originally viewed as a midfielder but played my better football in defence

Rb- a home grown player that added a different dimension down the right side. Made a big impression on my debut against a 'big' club. I'm still playing in the championship

Cm- an international footballer who made 34 appearances for the terriers across two spells at the club. I struggled with injuries during my career which probably stopped me playing at the highest levels of English football. I'm now a coach at one of my former clubs

Cm- an old head to offer experience in the middle of the park, I played a season for the terriers after joining from another Yorkshire team. I had a solid career amassing over 500 appearances

Rm- I came from North of the border and have since returned there. Was used as a bit of a utility player during my time here and I've played better since I left. I play my international football for a 'smaller' nation North of a border.

Lm- I played my best football for Huddersfield and became a fan favourite during my time here. What I lacked in pace I made up with ability. I'm still on the books for a championship side

St- became a bit of an icon at town for the wrong reasons rather than the right ones. I had had a decent career up until that point being known as a robust player rather than a goal scorer

St- I scored going back to an old stomping ground. Made a career in being a prolific Scorer, my build up play has often been slated and I often lose that goalscoring touch if I work too hard out of the box.

Subs

1 - never really played at town having come as third choice with the view to moving into coaching. Coached at town for a while before being relieved of my duties. I'm now at a fellow championship club

2- only had a loan spell at town and never really did anything. I've since gone on to be a solid championship defender and a club captain

3- signed originally on loan from a premier league side before turning that move permanent, replacing a fan favourite, always looked to have the potential to be a good player but never really delivered. I now play in a foreign country.

4- signed after some good performances against town. I looked half decent for the early part of my debut but injury curtailed that. After that I didn't look like a player at all. I've since gone into footballing obscurity

5-  a whole hearted player who would give my all during a game. Never the greatest technically but my endeavour endeared m to the fans. I was relatively young when I signed for town and spent 4 years here before moving on to rejoin a former manager

Sorry for the lack of images, I'll put some up later, unless someone beats me to it...  

......strong rumours doon Leith that Celtic could be in for Boyly with a £1M bid but Sparky poss in on the deal with a loan move to ER. I'm not sure re this "trade off" if this story is true!? Also a negative rumour that there are probs for JR within the Hibs dressing. I hope this story is untrue TBF and it is just a passing "glitch"! One can "live in hope" and pray for positive momentum and confidence for the remaining part of the season.

THE MATCH

SATURDAY 18TH JANUARY 3:00PM KICK OFF

v

LAST MATCH



Well in typical Wednesday fashion, after 3 straight league defeats, we go and win at the league leaders. Leeds had the majority of the possession but Dawson didn't have to make too many saves while we only had several half chances in the first half. The second half was similar but with less for Dawson to do with Winnall missing the best chance when blasting over from 6 yards. It looked like it was heading towards a 0-0 draw until Murphy got played through by Nuhiu and finished from an angle, though there keeper should have stopped it. We then wrapped up the points in injury time when Bannan fed Reach who squared for Nuhiu to sweep into the net, game over & 3 points.

THE MATCH



Back to Hillsborough as we host Blackburn. they are in mid table but only 5 points off the playoff spots. We lost the game at Blackburn after taking the lead late before crumbling in the dying minutes and losing 2-1. They are managed by Tony Mowbray who will hope to guide them into the playoff and back into the Premier League. There best player is Bradley Dack but he is out for a long time with a serious injury and there recent form isn't good with no wins in 5 which is when we become generous and usually break that winless habit for them.

CURRENT FORM

OWLS               -                        

BLACK              -                               

THE BASTARD IN THE BLACK

JARRED GILLETT
Steven Meredith and Daniel Leach
Fourth Official : Andrew Kitchen

THE TEAM

Well we know Fletcher isn't available. Its up front where the questions are and how we set.

Think he will stick with 433 atm

Dawson
Urhoghide Iorfa Borner Fox
Bannan Hutch Luongo
Reach Nuhiu Harris

SCORE & SCORER (HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST)

2-1 Nuhiu

ATTENDANCE

22745

BML STANDINGS

Washington 16
SCO 16
Wereham 14
Imre 14
Pei 14
Stateside 10
Owlkev 9
Southey 6

OTHER GAMES OF MILD INTEREST

Bristol City v Barnsley
Derby v Hull
Millwall v Reading
Preston v Charlton
Swansea v Wigan

HDHHH

THE MUPPETT LEAGUE




KATE BECKINSALE TRIBUTE PIC





One for Washington



The thread awaits the Meggo of Statesides choice.[/b]

v



LAST TIME OUT

BLACKBURN 1 PRESTON NORTH END 1

CHARLTON ATHLETIC 2 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 2


LAST TIME AT DEEPDALE
PRESTON NORTH END 2 CHARLTON ATHLETIC 1


MACS FORM GUIDE(MAX 25)
PNE 4 CHARLTON 4

A first visit in about 4 years to the Cathedral of quality football(well it was earlier on in the season) having lost our last three home games we play a side who have lost their two away games so something will have to give.
Athletic having lost Gallagher and Kayal both who have had their loan spells ended, they have reportedly had a bid accepted for one footed Marcus Maddison from Peterbrough. At the moment they have not bolstered the squad during the window.
Athough only drawing at home to WBA last week the feel good factor had returned to the Valley with te club being sold by the ever popular Belgian chairman to a new consortium.
They managed a good point even withou both main forwards Bonne and Taylor however the loss of Gallagher will be felt.
Decent manager in Lee Bowyer who tells it straight and who expects his side to give 100% all the time. Expect a hard game

We desperately need a boost although only six points from the play offs two wins in 11 is not the best of form, have lot Bodin and Hughes for a lengthy period, have had a habit in the recent home games of playing crab like football painfully slow build up before running out of ideas and hoofing it although the second half against Norwich did suggest something better but reverted to type in Venky land last Saturday.
Need a win although would be funny if Andre Green did some damage to us after his loan period with us.

Match Officials: Charlton Athletic Home


Saturday’s clash against Charlton Athletic sees a match official taking charge of his third North End game of the season.

Dean Whitestone will be the referee for the visit of the Addicks to Deepdale. The Northamptonshire official has refereed PNE games on 11 previous occasions, the first of which was at Bramall Lane back in October 2008.

The official has taken charge of two North End fixtures so far this season, the most recent being the trip to Reading’s Madejski Stadium in October. He was also the man in the middle for August’s trip to Swansea City.

He has officiated 18 games so far this campaign, issuing 52 cautions and two red cards.
Prior to this season, he last refereed North End in October 2015 in a goalless draw with Bolton Wanderers at Deepdale.
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.

Saturday’s referee is yet to take to the field in a match involving the Addicks this season. He last officiated a game involving the side from The Valley, was in March 2019, a 0-0 draw away at Bristol Rovers.

The rest of Saturday’s third team will be made up of assistant referees Rob Merchant and Phil Dermott, whilst the fourth official will be Liverpool-based EFL official Peter Wright.

Not sure what the problem is but its been down a few days now.
A hell of a lot of crap on there but it was more up to date with news than the club website.