Today’s EPL Fixtures

 

Saturday, 24th November 2007

Newcastle vs Liverpool [Live on ESPN CH 812: 8.40pm Malaysian time]
Predicted Newcastle to turn it up at home, at least a draw

Bolton vs. Manchester United [Live on ESPN CH 812: 11.00pm Malaysian time]
Shebby predicted Man U will be held back. Not likely, me thinks …

Arsenal vs Wigan [Live on Starsports CH 813: 11.00pm Malaysian time]
Arsenal missing key players but even the reserves can beat Wigan blind-folded

Derby vs Chelsea [Live on Starsports CH 813:1.10pm Malaysian time]
Drogba unleashed

The EPL Fantasy Football Guide to Week 10

Lotsa craziness in store for this weekend’s EPL games, and we’ve already been served a juicy appetizer of Martin Jol-being-sacked.

Everyone already knew that the Dutchman’s head was on the chopping block. That’s the easy prediction. So who’s next in the firing line? Chris Hutchings? Steve Bruce? Or perhaps that forgettable Derby manager?

I’d first like to indulge on the repercussions of European club football:

So how did our Week 6 Home Underdog fare?

BOLTON WANDERERS 1 – TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS 1

Home Underdog for EPL Week 6

Our last post on the home underdog demonstrated that the home underdog ain’t a little puppy you can mess around with.

Here’s the unanimous (and only!) home underdog vs big team of the week:

Bolton Wanderers – Tottenham Hotspurs

And our predictions?

Cantona Kickems: 2-3
raZor^r3dz: 2-2
Small Potato: 1-2

Logically, most of us have to go Tottenham’s way … but tell you what, I will buy Reebok merch if Bolton wins.

GO BOLTON! STAND UP TO THE BULLIES.

Day Job and the EPL Fantasy Football Guide to Week 6

Go where? GoFloyd! Here

This blog is dedicated to the man who re-energized the Barclays English Premier League, the man who re-ignited the passions of football for EPL fans across the world – Jose Mourinho. May you spend your 25 million wisely! (And don’t breathe too closely behind Martin Jol’s back)

Please don’t ask me why Avram Grant’s face is splashed across this entry – don’t take anything away from my Mourinho dedication; I just wanted to show you how scary this guy looks.

with Mourinho leaving, I am obliged to say that the Chelski era has ended sooner than expected. I anticipate that this is the beginning of the end for the Londoners – Roman Abramovich is continuously learning the hard way that money can’t buy him love:

1. Departed with 50% of his wealth as part of his divorce settlement
2. Losing Moanrinho and another 25 million pounds (little love there)
3. Expect Drogba, Lampard, Carvalho, Ferreira and Malouda to lead the way out of Stamford Bridge.

Biomechanics in Fantasy Football

There is an interesting article in Slate about the growing trend of baseball fans preferring to analyze player biomechanics – rather than player stats — to determine the outcome of a game. Will this approach determine how fantasy football enthusiasts, game predictors, and fans are able to enhance their game or player predictions?

To pick a quote from the said article …

“To you, this may seem no less (and perhaps even more) lame than gabbing about fantasy stats. But to me, this sort of physiological analysis is a more engaging way to look at the game than just reading lists of numbers. And I’m not alone: There’s been an explosion of interest lately in “mechanics”—the elemental physical movements that go into an athletic skill.”

Middlesbrough 2 – Newcastle 2

Bolton drew with Middlesbrough with their typical brand of scrappy English football.

What’s that? … Bolton is now called Newcastle?

Shut up and Touch the Monkey

The Astro EPL schedule is out, with the game predictions to follow on Friday afternoon. I’m all pumped up to discuss the latest midweek EPL headliners, some which may be significant to your YFF lineup:

Yakubu (10.81) is our numero uno talk of the town. His imminent departure from Middlesbrough will leave Gareth Southgate with one of the worst strikeforces in the Barclays English Premier League, consisting of huff-and-puff Mido (8.98), Tuncay Sanli (if you say “who?”, I say “don’t bother”), Dong-Gook Lee and Jeremie Aliadiere (pronounced Ah-Lee-Ah-Dee-Yeh). Feel free to add the Teesiders as another lousy team for this week (but don’t expect Newcastle to win that easily away from home).

I’m sickintired of hearin bout this Gabriel Heinze. I’m not even gonna bother listing his price in order to save you the trouble. Here’s the LATEST news on him. Moving on…

Did someone say Leroy Lita??

Yup, word is that he’s back from the freak injury and he’s an el cheapo at 7.88. No, I ain’t gonna vouch for him to go loco

The Charity Shield Curse

Manchester City 1 Manchester United 0

Everyone’s been talking about the charity shield curse, and now I’m a believer. First of all, bravo to Man City for executing the perfect smash-and-grab. The only positive that the Red Devils can take from this game was that they dominated yet another game this season but with little to show for their efforts. Here’s our football commentary for the Sunday Doubleheaders:

“That’s two shots on goal for nani!”
“ridiculous…that guy is such a joker.”
“yelloh..yeah! teach them a lesson.”
“nani, he’s green…” “noooh. that’s not penalty!”
“Lampat will miss lah…”
“just like charity shield…”
“reina will save one…”
“…”
“damn.”

Other headlines:

1. “I prefer the whore that is your sister” – Materazzi reveals Zidane insult
2. Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1 – Big game prediction spot on. NOT A PENALTY! Rob Style sniffin Kawfee monie…

A pretty sweet cherry

What a bummer.

First, Here’s our football commentary during the midweek games:

“What ah Crackah!!”

“Nugent biting behind our central defenders..”

“dahmnnnn…lampat scored.”

“Aiyoh. Aiyohhhhhhh!”

It has not been the kind of start that Manchester United had been hoping for. Nowhere close. My prediction of a 3-1 victory was admittedly bias, and having Jussi in my fantasy footie squad was a factor in my Bolton vs Fulham reverse.

Red Devils fans will have to move on from this nightmare and most of them will be eagerly anticipating the African Nations Cup – many more months away fellas!

Time for the midweek EPL and fantasy football roundup: