Managerial Merry Go Round

Arne Slot the latest managerial sacking? I thought with a League title and Champions League qualification he might have got more time.
They have been poor this season by the high standards of his first season, but losing players like Diaz, Jota, Nunes, Arnold would make any team struggle. I don't know if he was the driving force behind the players brought in for an eye watering £460m last summer but apart from a few bright moments none of them have lived up to the price tags.
Star player Salah doesn't seem to have shown any form since signing his mega money deal last year. Maybe Isak should have been avoided after going on strike at Newcastle showing he has a dubious character.
With Jabby Alonso now signing for Chelsea I thought he would get more time.
Iraola seems to be favourite but got the impression he was leaving Bournemouth because he wanted to go back home to Spain, but money talks.
So many managers who have done great things at smaller clubs with limited budgets have failed when they've gone to big clubs, thinking of Frank, Amorim, Potter and many others.
Iraola had a terrible start at Bournemouth but they held their nerve and he turned them around, would he get the same treatment at Liverpool where one bad result usually turns the fans against their managers.

Relegation

Relegated, so who is saying goodbye?

No doubt the vultures will be after Bowen, Fernandes, Summerville and Diouf.
Maybe now Bowen's been overlooked for England, the Dyer family might persaude him to stay.
Castellanos has been pretty good so someone will probably pick him up.
Love Soucek but I guess he'll be off, same with Wilson and Areola.
Disasi and Traore on loan so will go back to their clubs.

Hoping we get rid of Kilman, Pablo, Magassa and Todibo who haven't done much so won't be missed.
On loan players Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Fullkrug and Cornet should also go.

Hopefully the up and coming players will get a chance next season, don't expect many of the regulars to still be there. Maybe a chance for Kante, Earthy, Orford, Ajala, Fearon, Marshall, Kodua, Mayers and Golambeckis to get some game time if they stay.
Not sure about manager Nuno Santo as he's not that inspiring, so don't know if we'll get a new guy although I can't think who?


For West Ham fans, Next seasons Championship trips

London - Charlton, Millwall, QPR, Watford
East - Lincoln, Norwich
South - Portsmouth, Southampton
West - Bristol City, Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham
Midlands - Birmingham, Derby, Stoke, West Brom, Wolves
North - Blackburn, Bolton, Burnley, Middlesborough, Preston, Sheff Utd

Premier Predictions (Week 38)

Final week of the season, all games kick off at 4pm on Sunday

Arsenal are champions, Man City 2nd, Man Utd 3rd, Liverpool or Villa 4th
Still a few things to sort but obviously it's praying for a miracle time at the bottom.
Tottenham need a point at home to Everton, West Ham need to beat Leeds to have a chance.
Would be absolutely gutted if Tottenham lost and we failed to beat Leeds 🙄

Congratulations to Aston Villa for winning the Europa League last night

Predictions table is also sorted, Paul is this years Champion.
Disappointing season as Biopunk and Gibbo seem to have disappeared leaving just 3 of us.
Missing Bio as he's been a supporter of this blog since the start (2010), don't know him away from here so no idea if he's OK or just got bored with it?

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

Good Luck All  😀


Will probably do a World Cup version, even if it's just for my own entertaiment

Football Round Up

Arsenal win the League for the first time since 2003/2004.

Relegation down to the last game, Tottenham need a point vs Everton, West Ham have to beat Leeds and pray  🙏

European places very complicated. If Aston Villa win the Europa league but then lose to Man City on Sunday and Liverpool win it means 6th place gets a Champions League place (currently Bournemouth or possibly Brighton).
Other comps I'm not sure about, Bournemouth Brighton Brentford Chelsea and Sunderland still in with a chance, Crystal Palace get Europa league if they win next weeks Conference League.

Looks like Guardiola is leaving Man City at the end of season, Enzo Maresca tipped to take over which makes complete sense.
Former Man City coach, with 3 trophies in 2 years, rated by everyone except the Chelsea owners.

Chelsea have lined up Shabby Alonso as their next temporary manager, wish him luck but should get a bank boost and maybe be available for Liverpool sometime next season when Slot gets thrown under the bus by more players 🙄

Iraola and Glasner both leaving at end of season, Maybe Silva as well? plus might be some less expected?

Although if West Ham get relegated I'll be more interested in Lincoln, Millwall, Charlton and possibly Stockport

Championship play off game is still undecided, should have been Southampton vs Hull but the Saints have been expelled for spying so now it's going to be Middlesborough vs Hull. Although Southampton have appealed so might change?

My local club Southend win the FA Trophy on Sunday at Wembley, their first proper trophy ever.
Two days later and they sack manager Kevin Maher ????
It's always been said Southend hate success, everytime they've been doing well they've either sold off the best players or sacked managers. Maybe Guardiola was looking for a new challenge  😀

Premier Predictions (Week 37)

Didn't realise they had moved the Villa Liverpool game to Friday until today.
Makes sense as Villa play the Europa League final on Wednesday.

Bonus game this week with the FA Cup Final on Saturday (90 minute score to count).
So that's 1 game Friday, 1 Saturday, 6 on Sunday, 1 Monday, 2 on Tuesday.

At the top Arsenal should beat Burnley, meaning Man City would need to win at 16 game unbeaten Bournemouth to stay in with a chance. Even if they do Arsenal play Palace who have their Euro final 3 days later so will probably play a reserve side.
At the bottom West Ham go to Newcastle needing a win, not impossible? as we have 3 wins and 2 draws from the last 7 visits. Then hope Chelsea do us a favour on Tuesday. 🙏

Sunday a big day for me as the West Ham game is at 17:30, and Southend play Wealdstone at Wembley at 16:30 in the FA Trophy final. 4 Wembley visits in 13 years after never playing there before.
Giving this a miss as I seem to be a curse on them, 2 trips to the Millennium Cardiff and 2 to Wembley and they've lost all of them, won the finals I didn't go to. Plus I hate new Wembley  😩


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


Good Luck All  😀

Premier Predictions (Week 36)

Extra game this week with the long delayed City Palace game finally being played.
5 games Saturday, 4 on Sunday, 1 on Monday and 1 on Wednesday

Bournemouth, Brentford and Brighton play Saturday chasing 6th place, or 5th if Villa play like last week.

Liverpool play serial losers Chelsea, maybe they need someone like Maresca who made them World champs but they weren't happy with that. Could be a good choice for any out of work manager who wants to earn £20m for 3 months work.

Really can't see West Ham doing Man City any favours, but I will keep hoping 😟
Man City have 2 home games to keep the title interesting.

Europe - Arsenal make the final against PSG, will need a miracle but as Chelsea did it you never know?

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

Good Luck All  😀

Premier Predictions (Week 35)

Week 35 spread over 4 days
One game Friday, 4 games Saturday, 3 games Sunday, 2 games Monday.

At the top Arsenal play first at home, Man City play away on Monday.
At the bottom Tottenham, West Ham and Forest have difficult away games.
Man Utd v Liverpool a battle for 3rd place.

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

Good Luck All  😀

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  😀