Monday, 27 May 2024

Predictions 2023/24

The full final predictions table








 

 

Congratulations to Myself, but some good winning streaks by Paul, Gibbo and Biopunk closed the gap over the last few weeks leaving me sweating.

Paulo having a bad season but sure he'll bounce back.
 
A lot of freak results this season, so we didn't do too bad.
 
Chris Sutton earning his salary by getting more points than us amateurs, but only just. 

This is the table if I'd treated everyone equally, Sutton and Guests included.





Fantasy Football 2023/24

The end of season "Nothing Better Than Football" Fantasy Football tables
 
FPL (Fantasy Premier League)
 

 









 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Congratulations to Mike with his 3rd win in 5 years, he's going to have to think of a new team name next season.
All pretty close at the end, 
I was in 3rd with 4 weeks to go within about 20 points but made a couple of big errors,
picking Ake over Gvardiol and captaining Haaland in the wrong weeks cost me.
Overall the first 7 were all in the top 5% of World players, and the first 15 in the top 10%.

Paul finished 26th with 2024 points, and well done to Quizland Dave who I persauded to join in for the 1st time who finished 27th with 2012 points. He's a Tottenham fan so knows nothing about football 😁
and only used transfers once and had Cancello in his team for the whole season.
 
TFF (Telegraph Fantasy Football)
 

 








 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Congratulations to Sean who snatched the win in the last week, although level on points they use goals scored to pick winner.
Commiserations to Colin who for the second season running was pipped at the end after leading 2/3rds of the season.
I had a rubbish season, started ok but faded badly

Thursday, 23 May 2024

End Of Season

Premier League over but still lots of football to come.

Leicester and Ipswich promoted, with one from Leeds and Southampton.
So the 3 teams promoted last year were all relegated, and the 3 teams previously relegated are all still in with a chance of coming straight back ... yo-yo football  😀

2 European finals still to come, no English teams involved for a change.
Atalanta very impressive in beating 'unbeatable' Leverkusen.

Once all the European finals, English play-offs, FA cup is over it's International time.
European Championship - 14th June to 14th July
Copa America - 21st June to 15th July


Loads of manager changes already

Klopp leaving by choice, replaced by Slot
Moyes leaving probably not by choice? replaced by Lopetegui
Pochettino leaving a bit of a shock, but it's Chelsea  🙄
De Zerbi leaving because he believes he's an elite manager, this season shows he's just average.
Kompany possibly going to Bayern Munich?

Ipswich up next season might be losing manager McKenna, who could be the new Graham Potter at Chelsea? Even if it does happen and he actually wins something, a year seems to be the limit at Chelsea.

Before all this it's FA Cup weekend
Last season was the first ever all Manchester final, now it's another one.

So for anyone still interested, here's the final FA Cup prediction

Man City v Man Utd

Thursday, 16 May 2024

Premier Predictions (Week 38)

Here we go, the final week of the 2023/24 season.
All game kick off on Sunday at 4pm.

The title still up for grabs, although even a die hard Hammers fan won't be expecting us to get any points at Man City.
Although it would make a great story if we did pull of a miracle, and then Sean Dyche put the kybosh on Arsenal with a defensive masterclass  😜

Top 4 sorted,
with Tottenham, Chelsea, Newcastle and Man Utd squabbling over the minor European places.
If Tottenham lose to Sheff Utd (unlikely), Chelsea could grab 5th and Man Utd would need to win the FA Cup to take the 2nd Europa League spot.

At the bottom it is still mathematically possible for Luton to overtake Nottm Forest, although they need a 12 goal swing and I can't imagine Burnley beating anyone by more than 6 goals, or Luton doing the same.

Whoever survives it will be a record low points tally to stay up.
Current record is 34 points, Forest have 29 at the moment.
The 3 promoted teams have been awful, Luton have done better than expected but the other two have been really bad.


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


Good Luck All  😀

Thanks to all the regulars for playing along again  👍

One more FA Cup prediction to come to wrap that up next week.

Will do a Euro 24 predictions in June to keep me occupied, if anyone wants to play along?

VAR

The points made by Wolves, leading to the Premier League voting on the scrapping of VAR.
 
                                                                                                                                                                           
 
Hard to disagree, the first point the main one for me
it seems nearly every time I see a goal, I'm waiting for the VAR check to rule it out for some minor infringement in the build up, or the strikers toenail being offside.
 
Remember it spoiled the enjoyment of Bowen's winning goal in last season Cup win, as it wasn't obvious on first glance if he was onside? meaning I was waiting for the inevitable VAR check.
Despite European VAR being much quicker than the English version.

When it was used in the 2018 World Cup it seemed it was a really good thing, but since putting it in the hands of our referee's it has become a nightmare.
Identical incidents are now being looked at for several minutes and being judged differently according to the opinion of the ref / VAR official at the time.

I don't think they will get rid of it, but surely time to take it out of the hands of those currently responsible?

Thursday, 9 May 2024

Premier Predictions (Week 37)

Week 37, just 2 weeks and 23 league games left in the season.
 
NBTF title still up for grabs, Paul needs two more wins to deny me  😟 

8 Games on Saturday, 1 each on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, 2 on Wednesday.

At the top Liverpool need Arsenal and Man City to lose all their remaining games, so unlikely to happen.
Arsenal go to Man Utd (not sure they would like to help City, although form says they won't have the chance to)
Man City go to Fulham, which might be difficult?
Then they go to Tottenham which recent history says might be a hard game (but will Tottenham do Arsenal a favour?).

At the bottom it's almost decided, Luton and Burnley need 2 wins each to stand a chance but looks unlikely.

Not sure what is going to happen at West Ham? news that David Moyes is being replaced by the Spanish David Moyes might cheer up some of the players, or maybe not?  🙄

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



Good Luck All   😀

Thursday, 2 May 2024

Premier Predictions (Week 36)

No time to think week 36 straight up, Friday night start
1 game Friday, 5 on Saturday, 3 on Sunday, 1 on Monday

Top 3 have winnable home games, probably too late for Liverpool.
Tottenham have to win at Liverpool to stand any chance of top 4.
At the bottom any 2 from 3 to go down, Luton have to beat now safe Everton, Burnley have a tough game at Newcastle, Forest go to relegated Sheffield.
West Ham go to Chelsea in the battle for 8th place 🙄


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



Good Luck All   😀