Premier Predictions (Week 34)

Just 7 Premier League games this week so I've added the 2 FA Cup Semi Finals
(90 Minute score to count on those)

All a bit spread out this week, 1 game on Friday, 6 on Saturday, 1 on Sunday, 1 on Monday

Another big week at the bottom, Forest play Friday and a win could make them safe?
Tottenham go to relegated Wolves, West Ham play Everton so not ideal.
Arsenal could go top again at home to out of form Newcastle.


Sunderland v Nottm Forest
Fulham v Aston Villa
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
West Ham v Everton
Wolves v Tottenham
Man City v Southampton (FAC)
Arsenal v Newcastle
Chelsea v Leeds (FAC)
Man Utd v Brentford

Good Luck All  😀

5 weeks left and Paul's 4 in front, still not over

Premier Predictions (Week 33)

A 13 game week, going with the FPL layout as the 3 extra games are the ones that should have been played on the following weekend due to the FA Cup semi finals.

So that is 5 games on Saturday, 4 on Sunday, 1 on Monday, 1 on Tuesday and 2 on Wednesday.

Obviously the big game is Sunday where an Arsenal win would put them in prime position to win the league, a City win could see them top after Wednesday's game.
At the bottom Forest and Leeds have winnable home games, Tottenham take on Brighton at home with West Ham going to Palace on Monday, and could be back in the bottom 3 by then 😧
Euro spots very tight with 3 points between 6th Chelsea and 11th Bournemouth.


Brentford v Fulham
Leeds v Wolves
Newcastle v Bournemouth
Tottenham v Brighton
Chelsea v Man Utd
*
Aston Villa v Sunderland
Everton v Liverpool
Nottm Forest v Burnley
Man City v Arsenal
*
Crystal Palace v West Ham
*
Brighton v Chelsea
*
Bournemouth v Leeds
Burnley v Man City

Good Luck All  😀

Europe

Two amazing games between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, PSG taking care of Liverpool.
Arsenal boring their way through to meet Athletico Madrid.

I know it's claimed the Premier League is the best league, and Arsenal are still in it thanks to a favourable draw, but Bayern, PSG and Real Madrid are far better than the rest and it's a shame they all had to meet each other before the final.

Things look good for France in the World Cup as Mbappe and Olise are brilliant.

Premier Predictions (Week 32)

Premier League is back
1 game Friday, 4 games Saturday, 4 games Sunday, 1 game Monday

Big one Friday, slightly knackered West Ham vs In-form well rested Wolves, a must win.
Arsenal and Liverpool play Saturday, mixed fortunes in Europe.
Another new Tottenham manager the highly overrated De Zerbi, slightly better option than Redknapp I suppose? 🤔
Man City at Chelsea, will see if they have enough to challenge Arsenal.

Random thought - For the last year I've thought Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is the best player in the world, but most people can't spell his name so he doesn't get mentioned as much as Messi/Ronaldo 😀


West Ham v Wolves
*
Arsenal v Bournemouth
Brentford v Everton
Burnley v Brighton
Liverpool v Fulham
*
Crystal Palace v Newcastle
Nottm Forest v Aston Villa
Sunderland v Tottenham
Chelsea v Man City
*
Man Utd v Leeds

Good Luck All  😀

FA Cup Predictions 2026 (6th Round)

FA Cup Quarter Finals
3 on Saturday, 1 on Sunday

Man City Liverpool the big match, Chelsea and Arsenal should have it easier?
Sunday's game big for both, but with both in relegation trouble will they go with first XI's? I really hope so.
Gutted that I agreed to go to my son's on Sunday for Easter dinner, just realised it clashes with the match and they don't have BT Sport. Need to find an excuse??

(90 minute score as usual)

Man City v Liverpool
Chelsea v Port Vale
Southampton v Arsenal
West Ham v Leeds

Good Luck All  😀

Premier Predictions (Week 31)

Mixed bag this week before another International break
8 Premier league games + the League Cup Final - 2 games postponed
(Result at 90+ minutes to count, no extra time)
One game Friday, 4 games Saturday, 4 games on Sunday

Four 'Champions' League teams now concentrating on the league + maybe Forest, Palace or Villa?
Arsenal and Liverpool safely through, Chelsea and Man City out with a whimper, Newcastle looked good for the first half against Barcelona but fell apart in the 2nd half, Tottenham actually won a game but were out of it after 20 minutes last week.

Big relegation battle at Tottenham, North East derby and a few hard to pick others

Bournemouth v Man Utd
*
Brighton v Liverpool
Fulham v Burnley
Everton v Chelsea
Leeds v Brentford
*
Newcastle v Sunderland
Aston Villa v West Ham
Tottenham v Nottm Forest
Arsenal v Man City (LC)

Good Luck All  😀

8 weeks to go and Paul has a 5 game lead, my 2 low scoring wins have delayed the inevitable, but I don't hold out much hope 😐

The Adventures Of My Avatar

About 20 years ago I decided to use the Smoking Skull as my avatar.
A couple of years back Paul did me an AI version, recently decided to try it myself and was quite pleased with the result 👍
Sent that off to my son in America (who has access to better software than me) with a few ideas
He came back with many 8 second clips (have to pay for longer ones), and have joined them in a compilation video
First draft so will hopefully improve over time, but I was happy 😀

The Remix (added scenes)

Premier Predictions (Week 30)

In the middle of all these European games we have a Premier League weekend.
5 games Saturday, 4 on Sunday, 1 on Monday

Most games have been unpredictable this season (as our scores have proved), and due to midweek results this lot are as well.

Everton's away form might give Arsenal problems?
Usually dread Man City coming to Stratford, Haaland likes playing us with 7 goals in his last 3 games against us, but with them needing an unlikely masterclass to overturn Madrid maybe they'll not be at it?
Forest have Euro games against tough opponents so might have problems against unpredictable Fulham.
Was hoping Liverpool would go goal crazy at home to Tottenham, but seeing them in midweek looks unlikely even against the worst team in the league.

Bad week for the English teams in the 'Champions' League last 16
Tottenham, Chelsea and Man City all got thrashed, Liverpool toothless but only lost by one.
Arsenal needing a dubious last minute penalty for a draw, some credit to Newcastle who were unlucky to only draw with Barcelona.
Obviously someone forgot to tell the rest that the Premier League is the best in the World 🙄


Burnley v Bournemouth
Sunderland v Brighton
Arsenal v Everton
Chelsea v Newcastle
West Ham v Man City
*
Crystal Palace v Leeds
Man Utd v Aston Villa
Nottm Forest v Fulham
Liverpool v Tottenham
*
Brentford v Wolves


Good Luck All  😀

Favourite Moment

 

FA Cup Predictions 2026 (5th Round)

FA Cup 5th Round  🏆

Possible shocks? but unlikely
Can Wolves beat Liverpool twice in a week, all depends how serious Liverpoo take it.
Same goes for West Ham, Man City, Leeds who all have other things to fight for.
Chelsea might have to play a first XI away at Wrexham, Arsenal should win easily.
One game Friday, 3 on Saturday, 3 on Sunday, 1 on Monday.

Usual Cup rules - 90 minute scores count (not ET or Penalties)

Wolves v Liverpool
Mansfield v Arsenal
Wrexham v Chelsea
Newcastle v Man City
Fulham v Southampton
Port Vale v Sunderland
Leeds v Norwich
West Ham v Brentford

Good luck all (or just Paulo)  😀

Premier Predictions (Week 29)

Midweek games - 4 on Tuesday, 5 on Wednesday, 1 on Thursday

Arsenal go to Brighton who have found a bit of form.
Man City are at home to Forest and I hope will do us a favour.
Man Utd at Newcastle which on current form looks like an away win?
West Ham go to Fulham which used to be a good place to get a win, but London games have been a disaster this season.
Thursday's game should be interesting.
Will Rosenior, Pereira and Tudor survive the week 😆

Annoyed with TNT, I get it as part of the Virgin package and they are supposed to be covering all games this week. But one isn't being shown the Fulham v West Ham one grrrrr...  😡


Bournemouth v Brentford
Everton v Burnley
Leeds v Sunderland
Wolves v Liverpool
*
Aston Villa v Chelsea
Brighton v Arsenal
Fulham v West Ham
Man City v Nottm Forest
Newcastle v Man Utd
*
Tottenham v Crystal Palace

Good Luck All  😀

Premier Predictions (Week 28)

Friday start this week
1 game Friday, 5 games Saturday, 4 games Sunday

At the top Arsenal face Chelsea, Man City go to in-form Leeds.
At the bottom Forest go to Brighton, Tottenham go to Fulham.
West Ham travel to Liverpool, where they have won once in my lifetime ..... 🙄


Wolves v Aston Villa
*
Bournemouth v Sunderland
Burnley v Brentford
Liverpool v West Ham
Newcastle v Everton
Leeds v Man City
*
Brighton v Nottm Forest
Fulham v Tottenham
Man Utd v Crystal Palace
Arsenal v Chelsea

Good Luck All  😀

Premier Predictions (Week 27)

5 games Saturday, 4 on Sunday, 1 on Monday

North London derby, relegation candidates Tottenham at home to title hopefuls Arsenal.
Man City home to Newcastle after their 5,000 mile round trip to thrash Qariabag 6-1.
West Ham with the chance to put pressure on Forest who travelled to Turkey and have to play Liverpool.
Monday in-form Man Utd go to Everton who don't seem to like their new stadium.

Aston Villa v Leeds
Brentford v Brighton
Chelsea v Burnley
West Ham v Bournemouth
Man City v Newcastle
*
Crystal Palace v Wolves
Nottm Forest v Liverpool
Sunderland v Fulham
Tottenham v Arsenal
*
Everton v Man Utd


Good Luck All  😀

FA Cup Predictions 2026 (4th Round)

Later in the year than normal, here the FA Cup 4th Round  🏆
Usual rules - 90 minute scores only, so draws possible

2 games Friday, 8 on Saturday, 5 on Sunday, 1 on Monday

2 all Premier games on Saturday night
The one non league team left Macclesfield play Brentford on Monday.
A few possible shocks, hopefully not in our first ever trip to Burton.
Maybe at Hull, Grimsby, Stoke, Burnley?


Hull v Chelsea
Wrexham v Ipswich
Burton v West Ham
Burnley v Mansfield
Man City v Salford
Norwich v West Brom
Port Vale v Bristol C
Southampton v Leicester
Aston Villa v Newcastle
Liverpool v Brighton
Birmingham v Leeds
Grimsby v Wolves
Oxford Utd v Sunderland
Stoke v Fulham
Arsenal v Wigan
Macclesfield v Brentford


Good Luck All  😀

Premier Predictions (Week 26)

Midweek games for Week 26
A bit of a messed up week as it goes on for 8 days due to a re-arranged game in the following week.
So that is 4 games on Tuesday 10th, 5 games on Wednesday 11th, 1 game on Thursday 12th + 1 game on Wednesday 18th
In the middle of this is the FA Cup 4th Round (separate post for that).
Hope that's clear?

Arsenal with the chance to pull further clear with 2 away games, or possibly City could put the pressure on?
At the bottom We (West Ham) usually beat Man Utd at home, but they are flying under Carrick so not feeling confident.
Really need 6 wins from the last 13 games, and 8 of those are against top 10 teams 🙄
Forest take on Wolves, and Palace are at home to Burnley so the gap could get bigger. 😞


Chelsea v Leeds
Everton v Bournemouth
Tottenham v Newcastle
West Ham v Man Utd
*
Aston Villa v Brighton
Crystal Palace v Burnley
Man City v Fulham
Nottm Forest v Wolves
Sunderland v Liverpool
*
Brentford v Arsenal
*
Wolves v Arsenal


Good Luck All  😀

Premier Predictions (Week 25)

Friday night start this week
So that's 1 game Friday, 7 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday

Liverpool v Man City would normally be the big game, but more a battle for top 4 this year.
Arsenal with a chance of stretching their lead, unless the usual February crumble is on?
Burnley v Hammers a chance to catch up a few points on Leeds and Forest who play each other on Friday.


Leeds v Nottm Forest
*
Man Utd v Tottenham
Arsenal v Sunderland
Bournemouth v Aston Villa
Burnley v West Ham
Fulham v Everton
Wolves v Chelsea
Newcastle v Brentford
*
Brighton v Crystal Palace
Liverpool v Man City


Good Luck All   😀

Premier Predictions (Week 24)

5 games on Saturday, 4 on Sunday, 1 on Monday
Last set of games before the transfer window closes.
Another chance of freak results this week? but most of the games are hard to call. 

Hoping the far East betting syndicates fancy an upset at Chelsea 😉

3 teams clear at the top, Villa at home the others away.
At the bottom a 5 point gap and the 2 teams West Ham might catch play each other.

Brighton v Everton
Leeds v Arsenal
Wolves v Bournemouth
Chelsea v West Ham
Liverpool v Newcastle
*
Aston Villa v Brentford
Man Utd v Fulham
Nottm Forest v Crystal Palace
Tottenham v Man City
*
Sunderland v Burnley


Good Luck All  😀

West Ham Thoughts

West Ham Thoughts  🤔

You have to wonder who decides what players we need in transfer windows?
Being linked with Tottenham 3rd choice keeper and Chelsea's injured 2nd choice makes no sense while we already have 11 keepers on the books, and Areola has been really good this season in front of an awful defence.

Surely a Dawson style defender is needed, Mavrapanos and Todibo have good moments but keep switching off.
Julio sent back to Brighton after starting just one game all season, surely better than Kilman who has been pretty useless.

Players in so far - Tatty looks like a trier but a fit Wilson seems like a better option, Pablo is a bit raw but might improve?
Lamadrid hasn't played for 3 months so no idea if he's going to add anything.
Traore might be a good signing for £1m, but his best position is where Bowen plays so don't think he'll start many games unless they push Bowen into the middle which is a waste.

No idea what the story was with Ward Prowse, Nuno really didn't like him? must have been something that happened at Forest last season.
Loaning him to Burnley doesn't make much sense unless he really is now that bad that he thinks he will harm Burnley.

Has been obvious for a while that Paqueta didn't want to be here, so hopefully they will take the money, as he'll be worthless if we drop.

Fullkrug was a bad signing, interested to see if he stays fit at Milan and we might get some money back.

Sensible that Rodrigues has gone, World Cup winner limited to 3 starts and a few substitute minutes, shouldn't have loaned Alvarez out.

Shame that Earthy and Marshall have been loaned out again, although at least they will get game time which wasn't really happening for us.

I know Nuno has given game time to some of the youngsters like Scarles, Mayers and Kante, but as the U-21's are having another great season surely players like Adiele, Ajala, Fearon, Orford, Golambeckis, Briggs etc might be better options than over priced untried imports that they seem to be looking at?

Have to dream we can get something at Chelsea, then Burnley away, Man U and Bournemouth at home. Need at least 9 points to be in with a chance of staying up  🙄

Premier Predictions (Week 23)

In the middle of the two final Euro group games we have Week 23.
5 games on Saturday, 4 on Sunday, 1 on Monday.

Stuttering Man City vs new improved Wolves could be interesting, a month ago it was a home banker but now not so sure.
Another possible is fired up Man Utd at Arsenal?
Just hoping West Ham have some confidence now? and avoid another defeat against the Mackems.
Can't see any definite winners this week, but would probably miss them anyway 🙄


West Ham v Sunderland
Burnley v Tottenham
Fulham v Brighton
Man City v Wolves
Bournemouth v Liverpool
*
Brentford v Nottm Forest
Crystal Palace v Chelsea
Newcastle v Aston Villa
Arsenal v Man Utd
*
Everton v Leeds

 

Good Luck All  😀

AFCON

I don't usually watch these games, but have watched a lot this time around.
The overall standard of football was really good even from the lesser known teams, Some great games and great goals. Something that impressed me with most of the games was the lack of play acting and going down easily, although the North Africans (Morocco, Egypt, Algeria) sadly did a lot of it.
The stadiums were great, and I was surprised how much rain fell in nearly all the games.
The referees in the early stages were really good, not so much in the last few games.
VAR was nearly as slow as the English version, and did ruin a lot of moments

Senegal and Nigeria looked the best teams, but Nigeria didn't really turn up in the semi final and lost on penalties to Morocco which was a shame.

The final was fairly quiet for 90 minutes, then all hell broke loose in injury time.
Within minutes Senegal scored but was immediately disallowed because Hakimi fell over after a light touch, then Morocco get a corner and Diaz falls over after a slight touch from West Ham's Diouf and the ref gives a penalty after a VAR review. Senegal go mad and after lots of pushing and shoving they are told to walk off the pitch in protest.
Sadio Mane remains trying to act as peacemeker and eventually they come back.
The penalty is finally taken in the 24th minute of injury time by Real Madrid's Spanish striker Diaz, who tries a stupid panenka straight into Mendy's hands.
Pape Gueye scored a brilliant goal in extra time to win it for Senegal.