Norwich

Congratulations to Norwich on their promotion back to the Premier league :)
Paul Lambert has performed miracles since arriving there and should be manager of the season.
At the start of last season Norwich had just been relegated into the third tier and were beaten 7-1 at home by Lambert's Colchester on the opening day, Norwich quickly tapped him up (which they were later fined for) to become their new manager, which has got to be one of the best decisions ever unless your a Colchester fan.
Norwich might even go up as champions if QPR get their points deduction? which will make Longy happy :)

Arse

So Arsenal's most high profile fan has bitten the dust.
It was rumoured that the American's were alerted to the world hide'n'seek champions whereabouts after he was heard cheering Arsenal's win over Man Utd, and they realised no one in their right mind would be doing that? so it was worth investigating.

I'm a bit annoyed that the sad death of boxing legend Henry Cooper has been overshadowed by this, when I was a kid everyone liked our 'enery :(

Championship Update

All a bit clearer in the Championship now.
Cardiff and Norwich play tomorrow and if either win Swansea will drop out of the race for automatic promotion.
Reading join 2 of the above 3 in the play off's with either Forest or Leeds, Leeds will need a miracle set of results to make it.

QPR - 88 (+40) - (H) Leeds
Norwich - 80 (+24) - (A) Portsmouth, (H) Coventry
Cardiff - 79 (+25) - (H) Middlesbrough, (A) Burnley
Swansea - 77 (+23) - (H) Sheff Utd
Reading - 74 (+25) - (H) Derby
Nottm F - 72 (+16) - (A) C Palace
Leeds - 69 (+10) - (A) QPR

QPR are champions as long as the FA don't give them a points deduction for their use of "third party" player Alejandro Faurlin for over a year.
Considering Rangers manager Wanker Warnock was very vocal about West Ham deserving a points deduction after the Tevez affair which prompted the rules to be changed allowing for a possible 15 point deduction it would seem only fair to hit Rangers with the full penalty to show Warnock they were listening to him ... hahaha :)

On the same subject it was nice to see Sheffield United relegated obviously having wasted the £30 million they screwed out of the Hammers.
Forgive and forget? ... not a f***ing chance :)
Sadly Scunthorpe are also down along with Preston.

Predictions (Week 33)

Not many weeks left and the title and relegation is still in the balance.
Arsenal could do Chelsea a favour by beating United although on recent form this looks unlikely, Chelsea usually beat Tottenham and now Torres has finally broken his duck the floodgates should open.
West Ham are unlikely to get anything from Man City but need to make this their last possible defeat this season if they are to survive.

Saturday
Blackburn v Bolton 1-1
Blackpool v Stoke 2-2
Sunderland v Fulham 1-1
West Brom v Aston Villa 2-0
Wigan v Everton 0-2
Chelsea v Tottenham 3-1

Sunday
Birmingham v Wolves 2-1
Liverpool v Newcastle 2-0
Arsenal v Man Utd 1-2
Man City v West Ham 2-0

Champions League

The Champions? League Semi's both finished as 2-0 wins for the away teams so the odds are on for a repeat of the 2009 final between Barcelona and Man Utd.
Hopefully it will be a better game than the last one where Man Utd just looked like frightened rabbits and let Barcelona take them apart.

Man Utd totally overran Schalke who looked a shadow of the side that hammered Inter Milan in the previous round and but for some terrible finishing and heroics from goalie Manuel Neuer could have hit double figures, maybe Fergie will be looking at Neuer as a replacement for Van Der Sar?

Barcelona may be the best team in the world at the moment and Messi is the best player in the world but this display showed the unlikeable side of them diving, whining, acting etc they don't need to do it.
Sergio Biscuits throwing himself to the floor with the imaginary facial injury was a disgrace as was after every Madrid tackle seeing the Barca players hit the floor with multiple rolls and then surrounding the ref waving their imaginary cards.
I love the way they pass the ball and Messi's skill is amazing but after this performance I really hope they don't win the cup.

The Championship

Who's going up from Division 2 (as I call it) to the Premier league next season?
2 games to go and nothing is absolutely certain.
QPR are very nearly there only 2 defeats for them and 2 wins each from Norwich and Cardiff with lots of goals will deny them.
I have to admit to hoping Norwich go up for the football related reason of .. I like the colours :), Welsh pair Cardiff and Swansea are still in with a chance although the Swans need a miracle.
Play off places are between the top 3 and Swansea, and 2 from Reading, Nottm Forest, Millwall, Burnley, Leeds, Hull and Leicester.

Fixtures Remaining

QPR - 85 (+38) - (A) Watford, (H) Leeds
Norwich - 80 (+24) - (A) Portsmouth, (H) Coventry
Cardiff - 79 (+25) - (H) Middlesbrough, (A) Burnley
Swansea - 74 (+21) - (A) Millwall, (H) Sheff Utd
Reading - 73 (+25) - (A) Coventry, (H) Derby
Nottm F - 69 (+12) - (H) Scunthorpe, (A) C Palace
Millwall - 67 (+17) - (H) Swansea, (A) Barnsley
Burnley - 67 (+5) - (A) Leeds, (H) Cardiff
Leeds - 66 (+9) - (H) Burnley, (A) QPR
Hull - 64 (+4) - (H) C Palace, (A) Bristol C
Leicester - 63 (+3) - (A) Doncaster, (H) Ipswich

At the bottom Preston are already down, and Sheff U (Shame haha) and Scunthorpe are needing miracles both 6 points and a lot of goals behind Doncaster and Palace.

Coming up from Npower division 1 (Division 3) are Brighton with any 2 from Southampton, Huddersfield, Peterborough, MK Dons, Bournemouth, Leyton Orient, Rochdale and Exeter.

Thought I'd take a look at this lot as there is always an outside chance :) the Hammers could be playing this lot next season :(

Chelsea v West Ham Live(ish)

Luckily we get ESPN so I'm sitting here watching the game live on the box praying for miracles :)

Upson is out which is probably a bonus, Parker being out isn't so good, Freddie Sears being back is good news and no Keane = no loss.
No Torres starting for Chelsea which causes mixed emotions as he looks like he'll never score but sod's law says he will probably find the net against us.
Amazed to see the rain pouring down as we've got blue skies and sunshine here in Southend which isn't that far away?
Bridge ignores knobhead as expected which will probably be the story on the news.
Hopefully Phil Dowd isn't part of the syndicate of refs who have put a large bet on the Hammers going down and will ref fairly (I won't hold my breath).

First 10 minutes - West Ham playing like strangers looks bad for the rest of the match, first dodgy refs decision as Hitzlesperger is booked after a Kalou dive.

To Be Updated ...

Rest of the first half - West Ham playing pretty well after the bad start several chances and Cole seems up for it.
43 minutes and Wank Lampard scores :( hopefully a lightning bolt will take him out like it has the floodlights :)

To Be Updated ...

70 minutes gone still 1-0, Mark Noble injured sadly, the rain has made the passing game impossible for both sides.
West Ham still looking dangerous but Chelsea go closest when Sideshow Bob hit the bar. Keane's just missed a sitter f'kin Spuds reject.

To Be Updated ...

FUCK!! I knew it, should have put money on it :(

To Be Updated ...

3-0 as predicted but feel for the Hammers who weren't that bad, Gabbidon Sears and Spector all did well after coming in, we missed Parker and Noble's injury didn't help, the waterlogged pitch had a part in the last 2 goals but obviously Chelsea deserved the win but with better finishing it could have been closer.

Predictions (Week 32)

Bonus games this week, and I'm trying reverse psychology in one of the matches :)
Chances are the bottom 3 could be getting cut adrift, hopefully the shock results kick in and it all gets tight again :)
It's about time Torres was injured again, I think he's played more games in a row for Chelsea than he ever managed for Liverpool and I just know the b'stard is gonna score this week :(

Saturday
Man Utd v Everton 2-1
Aston Villa v Stoke 2-1
Blackpool v Newcastle 2-2
Liverpool v Birmingham 2-0
Sunderland v Wigan 1-1
Tottenham v West Brom 3-1
Wolves v Fulham 1-1
Chelsea v West Ham 3-0

Sunday
Bolton v Arsenal 1-2

Monday
Blackburn v Man City 1-1

Tuesday
Stoke v Wolves 3-1

Wednesday
Fulham v Bolton 1-0

Doom And Gloom

Predictions (Week 31)

A mixed league program this week with the FA Cup Semi's causing a few re-arrangements.
In the cup I fancy a Rooneyless United to be stronger than a Tevezless City and Bolton are without Daniel Sturridge but should beat Stoke.

As for the Premier league Nine games this week with Chelsea, Arsenal and Birmingham playing twice and Man City, Bolton, Fulham, Stoke and Wolves not playing at all.
West Ham have yet another must win game, Tottenham must win against Arsenal to put pressure on City and Arsenal could see their season collapse even more if they fail to win this week.

Saturday
Birmingham v Sunderland 2-1
Blackpool v Wigan 1-1
Everton v Blackburn 2-0
West Brom v Chelsea 1-1
West Ham v Aston Villa 2-1
Sunday
Arsenal v Liverpool 1-1
Tuesday
Newcastle v Man Utd 0-2
Wednesday
Chelsea v Birmingham 2-1
Tottenham v Arsenal 2-1

The current Lee v Longy score is 9-8 to me, tense stuff :)

Predictions (Week 30)

Just 7 premier league weekends to go, the relegation battle is the best for years and the title is Man Utd's to lose.
Chelsea and Man U probably have other things on their mind so might come unstuck on Saturday but Tottenham can concentrate on the league now, Torres probably won't have a better chance to break his expensive duck against Wigan but might not play?
Hopefully Bolton will be thinking about next week cup semi and take it easy against the Hammers :)

Saturday
Wolves v Everton 1-1
Blackburn v Birmingham 2-1
Bolton v West Ham 1-1
Chelsea v Wigan 2-1
Man Utd v Fulham 1-1
Sunderland v West Brom 0-0
Tottenham v Stoke 1-1
Sunday
Blackpool v Arsenal 1-2
Aston Villa v Newcastle 1-0
Monday
Liverpool v Man City 0-1

Something Wrong?

Can't help thinking that West Ham keep forgetting something important in their match preparations?
I'm sure Fergie and other managers haven't forgotten.

Predictions (Week 29)

A few good games this week West Ham V Man U obviously, can't see us winning 4-0 again but Man U's defensive problems and our attacking options give every chance of a few goals (at both ends), a bit annoyed today when an Arsenal fan came up to me and said "come on the Hammers" we'll win for us not to help his lot :(
West Brom v Liverpool is interesting because of Roy Hodgson, be nice for Roy if he can put one over on them :)
Made these predictions a couple of weeks ago and not so confident of a Wolves win after Kevin Doyle's injury which could de-rail Wolves recent impressive form.

Saturday
West Ham v Man Utd 2-1
Birmingham v Bolton 1-0
Everton v Aston Villa 2-0
Newcastle v Wolves 0-1
Stoke v Chelsea 1-1
West Brom v Liverpool 1-0
Wigan v Tottenham 1-0
Arsenal v Blackburn 2-1
Sunday
Fulham v Blackpool 2-2
Man City v Sunderland 3-0

Challenge scores - Lee 8 Longy 7 Draws 3

Mike Ashley

This guy seems to be disliked by everyone including me, but I've just read how much of his own money he's put into Newcastle and you have to wonder why the Geordie's still don't like the bloke?
Yes he was the man who fired Chris Hughton after he did a decent job getting Newcastle back into the premier league and mid table this season which stunk, after also getting rid of Sam Allardyce who was possibly their best managerial appointment since Bobby Robson. Also it's rumoured his sports company pay minimum wage to it's employee's with the Thatcherist option of "if you don't like it fuck off".
But his one redeeming factor is he's given Newcastle £140 million in interest free loans since taking over which considering they were in deep shit when he took over has probably kept them afloat, so if I was a Toon fan I might give the guy a break? despite the fact that he's a big fat cockney cunt :)

England

Probably enough shown by the new(ish) players in the 2 games this week to feel there is something to look forward to for England fans.
And possibly time to say "thank you and goodbye" to a few of those players who have let us down in the past, Parker, Wilshere and Young have showed that Gerrard, Lampard and Barry wouldn't really be missed and I'm sure with a few games together Cahill and Jagielka would be as good as Terry and Ferdinand.
Ashley Cole still edges Leighton Baines, Rooney (on form) is better than the rest but all the other positions are up for grabs.
Darren Bent is the nearest thing we have to another Michael Owen so should be given a run, Andy Carroll is promising but probably needs another full season.
I still think we need to find a right back as Glenn Johnson still only looks good going forward and rubbish as a defender which has been the story since he was at West Ham!

Legend

Paulo Di Canio.
I Stole this quote about his goal at Old Trafford when Barthez tried to bluff him into believing he was offside, classic stuff :)
"He tried to distract me but I was cleverer than him. I finished with the ball in the net and then the referee can say 'sorry Paolo offside' if he wants. I scored and then waited to see."
Di Canio's stream of consciousness as he recalled the goal that secured a 1-0 victory is rivalled only by his memories of the celebrations that followed - with 9,000 away fans delirious in the away end.
"The celebration was amazing. 9,000 people, 9,000 people! The celebration was incredible. The emotion as I ran to the corner flag was I felt in my body that a million West Ham fans were there on the pitch. In this moment, I felt like people all around the world were with me. I felt like a warrior that had no fear of dying. This is the perfect moment to die. Nothing can be better than this. The adrenalin rush through my veins, around my body was something else. This was the defining moment of my life. It was incredible, I didn't feel anything bad. No pain, no bad thoughts. It was like I was invincible. You know what I mean?"

WTF

What the fuck does WTF mean?

OK probably my own fault for not checking but I had planned my Saturday around watching F1 qualifying followed by an afternoon of watching the England v Wales game, so I turn on the TV and find that it ain't on telly :(
Yes it's on Sky which I don't have and have no plans to ever have 'cos I'm not giving money to Murdoch but it's an England qualifier why on earth should it be restricted to the prawn sandwich munching rich people and not the commoners who are the real football supporters?
Also pissed off that I turned down free rail and match tickets up to Manchester to go and watch Southend at Stockport from a mate who couldn't go because England were playing today :(

This will be the second time in this competition that the England game isn't even being shown as highlights tonight after most people missed the earlier qualifier away to Switzerland which was a great result but none of my footie mates saw the game so it doesn't even rate a mention when you get into an England debate.

Something I always think about when the Sky problem comes up is boxing, back in the days when all the big bouts were on terrestrial telly even your granny could tell you who the best British boxers were and who was the heavyweight champion, nowadays even Boxing fans have to think hard about it.
David Haye must dream of the adulation given to the likes of Frank Bruno in the old days, despite getting himself on multiple chat shows most people don't realise he's a world champion?
The Sky money may be great for football but if this is a growing trend the public are going to lose interest.

Must Have Missed That

I like Mark Noble but has he never read the news? asked about the weekends game he lavished praise on Wayne Bridge and said that he expected Wayne to get a call from "Mr Capello", in a week that Capello just re-instated John Terry as the England captain I can't really see that happening.

Going Down?

8 Games to go and only 8 points separate the bottom 12, and only 6 points between Sunderland in 9th and the drop zone.
As a Hammer I should have been pissed off that Wigan Stoke and Wolves won while we dropped 2 points at the Spuds, but it brings teams like Villa and Newcastle back into the mix so it's not such a bad thing.
This is entertainment :)

09 Sunderland 30 -4 38
10 Stoke 30 -2 37
11 Newcastle 30 -1 36
12 Fulham 30 0 35
13 Blackburn 30 -12 33
14 Aston Villa 30 -14 33
15 Blackpool 30 -15 33
16 West Brom 30 -15 33
17 West Ham 30 -13 32
18 Wolves 30 -14 32
19 Birmingham 29 -13 31
20 Wigan 30 -22 30

Arrivederci Millwall

Nick Perry's 1990 play about a Millwall fan and his mates going to the 1982 World Cup in Spain, The main character Billy has just lost his brother in the Falklands so is out for revenge.
Not a classic, but watchable because it brings back memories of the era :)
It's out on DVD soon and is being sold as the play that inspired "the football factory" which isn't a great recommendation!! although the best character in that was also called Billy.

Thanks to "keepsonburnin" for uploading this