No wonder the FA Cup is dying on its feet. It is organised by the myopic and certainly geriatric and creakingly patriarchal FA and presented by the out-of-touch and very suburban maiden aunt we fondly call Beeb as she shuffles into her dotage.

Brilliantly they chose to present the draw for the "exciting" first round proper of the FA Cup from stately old Bradford City and ended up in a room of tightly-panelled middle-aged men from around the country, trying hard to evince the odd smile. To head proceedings Auntie Beeb wheeled out fourth-rate miniature presenter Kelly Somers to rehearse her perfectly researched one-line factettes about any club which happened to hove into view.

The problem is the FA has designed its flagship event to leave the dock with a whimper rather than a stunning aurora of galaxy-busting fireworks. The Cup launches on 34 non-league names, some very small indeed, joining giants like Accrington, Morecambe and Bromley. They might draw Wrexham or even Birmingham, we struggle to keep breathing as the lack on excitement mounts and clunky balls flop from a velvet bag to pair perhaps a non-entity against a wannabe or a has been.

Forty games are scheduled, so unexciting that many newspapers next day do not even report the draw, despite the interest of the 80 towns and cities involved. And, of course, to top up that mild absence of interest the FA finds itself then left with 40 clubs of varying levels of decay pitched into a second round designed simply to add 20 clubs to the 44 clubs from the Premier League and Championship, so far absolved from competing (with precious little jusitification). So the Third Round, with the competition, already well under way, is meant to sprinkle the magic dust about and and pitch the odd set of disregarded losers in against a club full of over-paid superstars, which will then have the arrogance to bench most of its stars and give the finger to an expectant crowd.

Apparently this lunatic arrangement saves the BIG clubs from two rounds of games, but in truth it is simply an unusual sleight of hand designed to destroy most of the magic. Small clubs who have fought their way through several rounds of qualifying have precious little chance of getting near a big name.

If ALL the EFL clubs and the Premier League Clubs entered the draw at the FIRST ROUND STAGE and the FA added just 2 more qualifying non-leaguers one round less of the competition would be played and the small clubs would have a better than one in seven chance of drawing a very big name opponent. The excitement of the First Round Draw would then make tiny Kelly Somers redundant and even Auntie Beeb might recognise the need for a Celeb' or three and a bit of American-style razzamatazz.

The big clubs would only have to agree to play one more game to revive this dying competition. Do the maths - 128 clubs in the first round (36 non-league and 92 league), 64 in a newly exciting second round, 32 only by the third round (where currently we overload on 64), 16 in the 4th, then 8, 4, 2. Move the excitement to the beginning of the competition like any other MAJOR sporting event. Excitement is at its peak when everything is to play for, and imagine the delirium in Horsham if they had been able to draw Man City away instead of Chesterfield.

2 points for correct result
4 points for correct score
2 points for each correct scorer
Correct joker doubles your score   (correct score on a joker would give you 8 points)
Wrong joker result gives you minus 2
Correct Badger gives you 2 points

The prize for winning the league is one rep point.

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. However, if you do predict a draw and it's a match that won't be going to a replay, you can get a possible extra point by stating which of the two teams you think will eventually win.

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.  


At the end of the season, the winner of group 2 and the bottom of group 1 will swap places in what is commonly known as "promotion" and "relegation". It's something that most football fans will be familiar with, unless you're a fan of Liverpool or Arsenal or one of those other fashionable clubs.

The second placed player in group 2 will then have a play off with the player who finishes second from the bottom in group 1 to decide whether they will be going up, down or staying where they are.

We're going to have two seasons in one though, just to try and make it a bit more interesting and not so long drawn out. The first season will end on the Boxing Day fixtures, with the play offs being on the dates of the Twixtmas fixtures and the NYD fixtures.

The second season will start the following week, which is usually the FA Cup 3rd round, finishing on the last game of the League One season. Then another period of relegation/promotion play off games, taking in such fixtures as the EFL play offs, FA Cup Final, UEFA finals and such like.

Each group will have it's own set of fixtures. Both groups will have the Town games, with scorers to predict as before. Then it will be a split of League One fixtures and bonus matches, hopefully around ten, eleven or twelve games per Matchday.

The random badger is restricted to three goal scorers in any of the fixtures in your group.

Here's how that will appear at the end of the fixture list. All you have to do is fill in the blanks.......


*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

Any of those will score two points if correct. No minus points for getting it wrong.

Postponed matches will only count if the match is re-played before the next Matchday is under way. Abandoned matches will be awarded half the points for the score at the time of abandonment, so 1 point if you have the correct result, 2 points if you have the correct score.

Substitute or scorer in one of the Town games:- These will be only be allowed if you change them before the match involved has kicked off.

Prediction League Archive: https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=12830



Division One table after Matchday 10:

1. themaclad = 177 pts
   
2. St Charles Owl = 170 pts
   
3. Baggiebob(BBB) = 167 pts
   
4. jjamez = 165 pts
   
5. SHEP_HTAFC = 149 pts
   
6. Lord Snooty = 144 pts
   

Thursday 17th October:
Shrewsbury Town v Exeter City (20:00)

Saturday 19th October:
Town v Bristol Rovers:
Town scorers:
Rovers scorers:

Reading v Crawley Town (12:30)
Wycombe Wanderers v Peterborough United (12:30)
Blackpool v Barnsley
Bolton Wanderers v Burton Albion
Cambridge United v Wigan Athletic
Charlton Athletic v Stockport County
Lincoln City v Birmingham City
Mansfield Town v Stevenage
Northampton Town v Leyton Orient
Rotherham United v Wrexham

Tuesday 22nd October:
Wrexham v Town
Town scorers:
Wrexham scorers:

Bonus matches:
Saturday:
Championship:
Oxford United v West Bromwich Albion (12:30)
Preston North End v Coventry City (12:30)
Sheffield Wednesday v Burnley

Monday:
Premier League:
Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace (20:00)


*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

1. neonfoxinthebox = 197 pts
   
2. theo_luddite = 190 pts
   
3. Devongone = 189 pts
   
4. ritchiebaby = 175 pts
   
5. WakeyTerrier = 155 pts
   
6. Amelia Chaffinch = 136 pts
   

Saturday 19th October:
Town v Bristol Rovers:
Town scorers:
Rovers scorers:

Tuesday 22nd October:
Wrexham v Town
Town scorers:
Wrexham scorers:

Barnsley v Charlton Athletic
Birmingham City v Bolton Wanderers
Bristol Rovers v Shrewsbury Town
Burton Albion v Wycombe Wanderers
Crawley Town v Lincoln City
Exeter City v Reading
Leyton Orient v Rotherham United
Peterborough United v Blackpool
Stevenage v Cambridge United
Stockport County v Northampton Town
Wigan Athletic v Mansfield Town

Bonus matches:
Friday:
Championship:
Leeds United v Sheffield United (20:00)

League Two:
Newport County v Chesterfield (20:00)

Saturday:
Scottish Premiership:
Dundee United v Hibernian

Sunday:
Premier League:
Liverpool v Chelsea (16:30)

*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

Town injury news:- As far as I know, Koroma is out for the next few weeks, as are Helik and Hodge. Nicholls is as well, but none of you put him down to score anyway.

Ward, Healy and Kane are now back in action.

I was watching us playing Notts County and suddenly wondered if that was the smallest side Chesterfield had fielded during my lifetime (1952 on). Jatta, their centre forward towered over our back four - no wonder he scored with a header, especially as our young keeper didn't seem keen to exercise his giant hands on coming for crosses. We didn't start Banks so Metcalfe looked our most physically capable midfielder and Berry, whose skill I like very much, looked our most robust forward threat. Madden looked tiny up against their defenders, Markanday doesn't look much for head tennis, and even Dobra, cocky as ever, looked to be getting a crick in his neck from looking upwards.

Amazingly, statistics show we won more aerial challenges than our opponents. Even more amazingly I found myself fantasising about bringing Grimes on.

At times I thought we played some nice stuff and showed good skills, but there were also periods when we looked like Year 1 taking on the post-pubescent 4th Form. And the penalty we conceded was a first for me too (yes since 1952). I've never before seen three players all handle the ball, whether accidentally or deliberately. If it hadn't resulted in a penalty it would have looked ridiculous. It looked like a dramatisation of the point at which rugby was invented.

County's permanent gangly deathwish of trying to pass out from the back whatever the situation baffled me almost as much as the all-subbuteo team we fielded.

I'm not sure about our young keeper either. If you are fourth choice at Newcastle and you stay rooted to your line when a corner curls across your six-yard area which is manned by vertically-challenged defenders up against a 6'5" centre forward I can't help questioning your future ..........

Still a point's a point, however tall.

Stairs was kind enough to send me a few old Albion pictures this week, so I've had a crack at sticking some colour into them and am sticking them up here along with other old Baggies pictures and mementos that come to hand. Everyone's welcome to contribute if they've got old photos or keepsakes of their own!

https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/2024/...1946-2024/

Peter Cormack was a Hibs legend who had a huge element of charisma about him - well known to an older generation of Hibs fan who witnessed some of his great moments with HFC, including that famous 2-0 win (and his cracking goal!) v Real Madrid (the great Puskas et al wearing their strikingly impressive gold strips!) in the 1960s, before heading south in 1972 to play in the English 1st division. Great times and a great football career. RIP.

Very sad news tonight!! The ex-First Minister for Scotland passed away during a visit to Macedonia. Alex had his great moments as a past Scottish political icon/First Minister who played a big part in promoting the quest for Scotland to finally attain her own self-determination. His last comment today on X was so fitting and directed at the Brit Govt - "Scotland is a country, not a county"!!! Spot on Alex, and defiant to the end esp in the face of Britnat-Brexit attempts to undermine the political status of Scotland and the current Scottish Govt!! How sad that he never witnessed indy happening and a huge irony that he passed away not long after the death of Alistair Darling, who played a huge part in the unionist Bitter Together assault/debates of 2014 against Scotland (and received his token knighthood from his southern unionist paymasters for "doing the deed" against his own country!!!), thereby stymying the Yes quest for Scotindy. SAOR ALBA! RIP Ecky!!

This year's event is being held in Aberdeen, Scotland once again. It looks as though, having hosted it in the past 3 years, they're getting to keep it. The games start on Saturday 12 October.

There are 39 teams divided into the following 5 Groups. The top 3 in each Group progress to the last 16, with the best-placed 4th team making up the numbers. 2 knockout games will take place on Friday 18 October to decide the Semi-finallists, who will then play 2 games during the following day to decide the Medal Places.

Group A – Canada, Czechia, England, Hungary, Latvia, New Zealand, Philippines, Türkiye
Group B – Australia, India, Ireland, Italy, Nigeria, Poland, Puerto Rico, Sweden
Group C – Brazil, Spain, Hong Kong, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Chinese Taipei, United States
Group D – Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia
Group E – Belgium, Finland, Germany, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Switzerland, Ukraine, Wales

England's team are Andrew Woolston (Skip), Lesley Gregory (3rd), Martin Gregory (2nd) and Kirsty Balfour (Lead), who is from my local ice rink, even my local club.
Ireland are represented by John Wilson (Skip), Alison Fyfe (3rd), Craig Whyte (2nd) and Jen Ward (Lead).
Scotland are keeping it in the family with Neil Kennedy (Skip), Margaret Agnew (3rd), John Agnew (2nd) and Sheila Kennedy (Lead).
Wales have Garry Coombs (Skip), Laura Beever (3rd), Rhys Phillips (2nd) and Judith Glazier (Lead).

England play Latvia at 8am on Saturday and Phillippines at 12 noon on Sunday. Ireland play Puerto Rico at 4pm on Saturday, then Nigeria and Australia on Sunday at 8am and 8pm respectively. Scotland open their campaign against Romania at 4pm on Saturday, followed by Hong Kong at 8am on Sunday. Wales play Ukraine at 8.30pm on Saturday and Germany at 8pm on Sunday.

Amazingly, I've got photographs of all the Home Nations' players, which I'll post tomorrow.

Saturday 12 October 2024

Chesterfield 3-1 Notts County
Barrow 4-0 Morecambe
Cheltenham 2-2 Swindon
Doncaster 1-1 Crewe
Gillingham 2-0 Accrington
Harrogate 2-1 Newport
MK Dons 1-1 Port Vale
Salford City 1-0 Grimsby
Tranmere 1-0 Bradford City
Wimbledon 3-0 Carlisle


League Table After Match day 10

Devon - 213
Dancing - 192
Spireitematt - 176
Lord Snoots - 173
Maclad - 172
Amelia - 161
SaltergateBorn - 154
St Charles - 140

Group A

Themaclad 9
Amelia 9
Twerton 7
A.A.A. 5
Minizin 5
Zinman 1

And another poor week this week with no one getting into double figures, not helped by a whitewash on the Gamball and only one player getting anything positive on the Bonus. Unfortunately for the rest of the Group A players, the one player to score points on the Bonus was the leader Themaclad, who along with Amelia ended in first place on 9 points. He managed a CS to go with is bonus, while Amelia had 2 CSs but missed on all her balls, including the dreaded Scoreball being played on a 0-0 draw so even that cost her a point and the outright lead for herself this week.

She wasn't the only one to put her scoreball on the Swansea game, Twerton was also docked a point so finished 3rd with 7 points. AAA and Minizin tied with 5 points each. AAA was the first player to choose not to play the Gamball and it was the right move for him and saved him a point as he got it wrong anyway. Minizin did manage a CS and 2CRs but missed on his Bonus and Gamball.

Zinman's woes continued again, this time he ended with just a single point and finished bottom for the 4th week out of 7 and in the bottom 2 for the 6th week so far!!! We can now see why he was part of the decision to remove promotion and relegation this season!!!

81 Themaclad
69 Twerton
47 Amelia
44 AAA
43 Minizin
30 Zinman

Themaclad increases his lead over Twerton to 22 points, and Twerton is now matching this gap from himself to 3rd placed, a spot now occupied by a resurgent Amelia!! The two Zins occupy the two bottom spots with 13 points separating them.

Group B

SCO 10
Derby 9
Lady Jane 7
BaggieOne 6
Snooty 5
BBB -1
Stairs -no show -2

Well it was better than last week but only just as Group B recorded their second lowest total of the season, not helped by Stairs' absence (I hope this was forgetfulness rather than something more serious). Only 1 game produced a negative score with Swansea's failure to beat Stoke blowing a couple of bonus balls. Tip for future weeks - I suggest we all wait for Lady Jane to post her predictions and then copy her gamball - once again she got this game spot-on, her 3rd gamball maximum and so far she only only 2 failures on this ball.

However it's not Lady J but SCO who tops the table this week scraping double figures from just 2 correct predictions. He was helped by them both being correct scores and one of them being the bonus. Derby had a more normal week, 2 correct scores from his 4 correct results but held back by his ball failures. Lady Jane scored 8 points from her gamball but minus 1 from the rest to sit in 3rd spot. BaggieOne also got the gamball result right but lost a point on his scoreball to sit 1 point ahead of Snooty.

BBB had something of a nightmare with just 1 correct result and a scoreball - not enough to avoid a minus score but he was saved from bottom spot by Stairs' absence.

80 Lady Jane
61 Derby
52 Snooty
51 SCO
48 BBB
47 Stairs
45 BaggieOne

Lady Jane maintains her healthy lead at the top with Derby edging clear of the rest in 2nd place. The rest are covered by just 7 points with a bit of shuffling this week - Snooty and SCO both climbing 2 places, BBB dropping 2 and Stairs falling from 3rd to 6th after his no-show. Lady Jane's mastery of the gamball is shown from the 30 points she has gained from it so far - nobody else is in double figures and 3 players are negative. Stairs non appearance gave him his season's best gamball score!

Thought it might be interesting to take a look at the standings with regards to the end of season Play Offs where the overall Champion will be decided. If the season ended today here is how it would look:

Group Winners (Bye into Semis)
1. Themaclad (81 points)
2. Lady Jane (80)

Playoff spots (3 v 6 and 4 v 5)
3. Twerton (69)
4. Derby (61)
5. Lord Snooty (52)
6. SCO (51)

Eliminated
7. BBB (3 points off the POs)
8. Stairs (4)
9. Amelia (4)
10. BaggieOne (6)
11. AAA (7)
12. Minizin (8)
13. Zinman (21)

So while the current group leaders are building a nice lead, the trailing pack are all single digit points off getting into the play offs, with one notable exception in Zinman who is an unhealthy 21 points adrift of a post season run!!! We will post this every so often so that everyone can get focussed on the task at hand!!

Cheers
Zin & SCO