THE MATCH

TUESDAY 20TH AUGUST 7:45PM KICK OFF

v

[b]LAST MATCH



Our first defeat of the season with only ourselves to blame as we couldn't break down the 10 men of Millwall. It was a quiet first half until they scored with there first attempt as Westwood went wandering when he didn't have to and Smith headed home. We then got a helping hand from the ref who sent Wallace off, harsh imo. We went onto dominate the 2nd half but we didn't have our shooting boots on as Millwall defended well and we weren't clinical enough in front of goal. A disappointing way to lose our first game of the season but it is only 3 games.

THE MATCH



Our first midweek game of the season sees us host another of the promoted team as Luton make the trip north. Luton started with a 3-3 draw with Middlesboro but have lost to Cardiff and West Brom since, a tough start by anyone's standard. We played these in Cup last season, drawing 0-0 at Hillsborough before we won 1-0 at Kenilworth Road. Hard to know what there level is as they have played 3 good team so far, but it is a chance for us to get back to winning ways after the weekend defeat.

CURRENT FORM

OWLS               -                    

LUTON              -                 

THE BASTARD IN THE BLACK

DAVID WEBB
Assistants: Jonathan Hunt and Philip Dermott
Fourth Official: Tony Harrington

THE TEAM

Think Bannan will start and Odubajo will probably come in for Iorfa as we are at home. Will Fessi make a re-appearance in the squad?

My starting line-up:
Westwood
Odubajo Lees Borner Reach
Lee Luongo Bannan
Murphy Fletcher Harris

SCORE & SCORER (HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST)

2-1 Reach

ATTENDANCE

22561

BML STANDINGS

Stateside 2
Southey 2
Owlkev 2
Washington 1

OTHER GAMES OF MILD INTEREST

Birmingham City v Barnsley
Derby County v Bristol City
Hull City v Blackburn Rovers
Middlesbrough v Wigan Athletic
Bolton v Doncaster

HHHHA

THE MUPPETT LEAGUE



KATE BECKINSALE TRIBUTE PIC





One for Washington



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

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.  

Saturday 24th August:
Town v Reading
Town scorers:
Reading scorers:

Derby County v West Bromwich Albion (12:30)
Barnsley v Luton Town
Blackburn Rovers v Cardiff City
Charlton Athletic v Brentford
Fulham v Nottingham Forest
Hull City v Bristol City
Middlesbrough v Millwall
Preston North End v Sheffield Wednesday
Queens Park Rangers v Wigan Athletic
Stoke City v Leeds United

Sunday 25th August:
Swansea City v Birmingham City (12:00)

EFL Cup:
Tuesday 27th August:
Burton Albion v Morecambe
Grimsby Town v Macclesfield Town
Rochdale v Carlisle United
Southend United v Milton Keynes Dons

Table after Matchday 3:
St Charles Owl = 65 pts
jjamez = 63 pts
neonfoxinthebox = 61 pts
themaclad = 59 pts
Baggiebob(BBB) = 55 pts
SHEP_HTAFC = 53 pts
Lord Snooty = 50 pts
Amelia Chaffinch = 48 pts
theo_luddite = 47 pts
ritchiebaby = 44 pts
Beefy 1965 = 37 pts

Did anybody watch that last secs winning goal by City v Spurs that was eventually disallowed by this controversial rule of any hand ball, deliberate or otherwise, that was exposed during the women's World Cup in France??? It was a ridiculous decision and it is gonna ruin footie as a true spectacle and source of entertainment! I suspect that this rule will be "kicked into touch" sooner rather than later as a matter of course!! Referees should be allowed to judge whether the old rule of hand ball applies or not and not this ill thought out garbage!

Not the worst draw TBH but it is a pity that Hibs don't have home advantage. Killie currently seem to be in the same "flat" situation under a different manager. So it will be an interesting confrontation when the quarter-final tie is played sometime at the end of September.

Another home draw for The Hoops and what a good draw that is with Celtic definitely hot favourites to reach another semi-final and remain unbeaten in domestic cup ties for over 3 years!!

I’m concerned at the quality and consistency of Sam Johnstone who certainly isn’t anywhere near the standard of Ben Foster. Yes, he has some decent stops but all too often he lets in a goal that he should have stopped.

At Forest any keeper worth their salt would have saved that near post shot but it squirmed under him and yesterday he should have at least known a cross was coming in and been prepared for a possible header on goal but he stands still like a statue making zero effort to save the goal.

If Bond isn’t good enough yet, I think we should be looking for a new Championship experienced keeper in the January window. Johnstone could be the difference between getting promotion or mid-table finish come next May.

i know it`s nothing to do with West Brom(or is it)
as you may be aware Bury FC could well be kicked out of the league come Friday
Big deal you may say
but to lose a football league club when the greed league is getting richer aint fair
would it be too much to ask for the premier league rich sides to maybe donate some of their riches to keep this club in business
i`m sure they can afford it

doubt it will happen though

So Huddersfield Town are the first Club to sack their Manager.

Hardly surprising as they only won one game under his tenure.
Makes SuperPulis look like a world beater.

Can't understand how a former Manager of Borussia Dortmund can be so inept in our Premiership.

What went wrong Amelia and Snooty?

I must say I'm not totally surprised by this revelation and the nature of the meeting between all team members and coaching staff to assess how on earth a Scotland team could lose such a World Cup tie v Argentina when three goals ahead and with about 15 mins remaining. Of course the proceedings could become heated!!! The team was given additional financial support to prepare properly in France for a decent period and in recognition of their achievement to qualify for a World Cup tourney! What a screw up! What a "dampener" to end the tournament in such a way and certain Scotland players were deserving of the criticism albeit in private. I also find this media/press report of Kerr's preceding evening meal "with a few drinks" as the usual mischief that is typical of press behaviour these days!! Trying to "stir it up" when, in fact, a few harsh words would likely be uttered following an unacceptable "screw up" by a Scotland team that should've been in total control of their own destiny when leading by three goals to nil and on course to attain a wee bit of success after a difficult and relatively unlucky World Cup campaign in France. Was Shelley Kerr disappointed? I'll bet she was! Could she have done more during the course of that Argentina match? I think she could have "changed it" esp towards the end of that match, which was far too "open" from her point of view. But that is down to coaching/tactical "nous" and having suitable players on the subs' bench to influence the course of a footie match. IMO she never had a plan B mentality about her and just looked powerless/"frozen" on the touch line as this match unfolded and became one of the most remembered World Cup Scotland matches but for all the wrong reasons!!