Soccer Sequence No.2

This week's Soccer Sequence is slightly easier. Try to recognise the importance of the sequence of numbers below in terms of the top English division.

35 -37 - 39 - 35 - 34 - 34 - 43 - 37 - 35 - 34

Any ideas?

No one has yet to solve Soccer Sequence No.1 correctly. Why not have another look?

Never Mind the Quality

The overall quality of the games over the weekend was poor. I know it is very early in the season but most of the games were disjointed. In the weekends big game, Arsenal missed Fabregas. Chelsea seem the team most likely to succeed this season because of their strength and experience.

Often when the quality is not great, the focus turns to referee decisions and manager rants. I am bored with both. Basic errors by players are ignored while the attention turns to the man in black. Can we please focus on the game, not the periphery.

Profit and Loss Account for Week 3

Accumulated Total Outlay	Accumulated Winnings	Profit/(Loss)
£9.30	£8.72	-£0.58

A very poor week. I predicted two results correctly for my ‘Super 5’ accumulator. I am going to keep away from away games next week.

I was even worst with my ‘Score Predictions’. I need to get back to the basics. Arsenal started their game against Manchester United very well, but did not have the experience to see the game through.

Week 3 Flutter Predictions - "The King stays the King."

After a good return last week, I have a feeling that I need to focus on away results. The odds are higher. But I'm sure I can remain a King for at least one more week.

My predictions for the Super 5 are

1. Liverpool
2. Aston Villa
3. Middlesborough
4. Sunderland
5. Notts County

My score predictions for the Small 3 are

• Bolton o v 3 Liverpool
• Stoke 0 v 1 Sunderland
• Manchester United 0 v 1 Arsenal

I'm not too sure where my last prediction came from especially with the news that Fabregas is not likely to play. His vision and tenacity will be missed. However, Manchester United's balance this season does not seem quite right. Ok, they seemed pretty good against Wigan.

Football Song and the Wire

One of the characters in the Wire is also referred to in a Premier team's famous club song. Who is the character?

Great Chip results from no chips

Enjoyed Andy Reid's exquisite chip for Sunderland, in their third round of the Carling Cup with a 4-1 win over Norwich. The chipped goal is one of the classic skills of the game. Steve Bruce noted that Reid had lost nine kilograms over the summer. If only I could learn to pass Toffs, the best Fish and Chip shop in London.

Any other great football chips?

Soccer Sequence No.1

A sequence is a set of numbers that are connected in some way. Try to recognise the importance of the sequence of numbers below in terms of the great game.

12 - 18 - 78 - 89 - 101 - 120

Any ideas?

Profit and Loss Account for Week 2

Accumulated Total Outlay	Accumulated Winnings	Profit/(Loss)
£6.20	£8.72	+£2.52

A very good weekend with my ‘Super 5’ accumulator; all five predictions were spot on and a £6.02 return from my £1 bet. Over the last two weeks, I have predicted 90% of the games correctly.

I was not so successful with my ‘Score Predictions’. Manchester City missed a bucket full of chances, Sunderland won by one goal margin, but not 1-0 and Carlton Cole gave the best through pass of his career, just when it looked like my Hammers prediction would be correct.

I am now £2.52 up on the season.

It's all Greek to me

One of the central writers of the Wire, George Pelecanos, has criticised viewers for using sub-titles to view the programme. "We wrote it so audiences would have to work at it!" he said in an interview with The Independent newspaper. Now George, please relax. I do work at it. The reason that I sometimes use subtitles is that I want to understand every angle, every nuance of each complex storyline. Using subtitles respects the importance of every sentence.

George Pelecanos

Week 2 Flutter Predictions -This is no walk around money

Last week, I was very close to a great start. Not that my local bookie seems to concern. Manchester City were my lucky team last week, so I am going with them again. My West Ham predicted score may seem strange after Tottenham's excellent start, but Upton Park is a great place for a shock result.

My predictions for the Super 5 are

1. Arsenal
2. Manchester City
3. Middlesborough
4. Norwich
5. Leeds

My score predictions for the Small 3 are

• Sunderland 1 v 0 Blackburn
• West Ham 1 v 0 Spurs
• Manchester City 3 v 0 Wolves

If you have any advice, let me know.

What I Now Know about Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes is the best English player over the last decade. No argument. Despite the hype from some parts of the media, this has not been the golden generation. Scholes, in terms of technique and vision, has been in a different league. He has the ability to control the pace of a game and change the tempo. A midfield general.

Profit and Loss Account for Week 1

Accumulated Total Outlay	Accumulated Winnings	Profit/(Loss)
£3.10	£2.70	-£0.40

I made a reasonable start with my predictions . 4/5 predictions in my ‘Super 5’ were correct. Millwall let me down by drawing at home with Carlisle. They hit the woodwork twice. This experiment may give me sleepless nights. When I have watched Millwall on TV, they have always been very well organised. But couldn't they just organise themselves to hit the net on Saturday rather than the post.

In my 'Score Predictions’, I predicted the Manchester City result correctly and won £2.70. I was also very close to predicting the other two scores. Overall, I’m 40p down. And I thought I had a brilliant week. This is going to be more difficult than I thought!

Good football with Martinez - anytime, anyplace, anywhere

At last, the Game is back. In the Premier League, there were some excellent away performances. Wigan’s performance was outstanding against the Villa. Roberto Martinez has been able to impose his passing style in a very short period of time. He is also always impressive in interviews and when discussing the game. He will go far. Villa’s Delph had a difficult debut, and after my praise for him last week, ‘What I Know’ may soon become ‘What I Don’t Know’. However, the player just needs time.

Spur's Modric showed some fantastic vision on Sunday. His flicked cross for Keane in the first half was brilliant. However, it’s a shame that once more we have a top manager criticising referees rather than focussing on the performance of their players. Liverpool will also miss Alonso.

Week 1 Flutter Predictions - I like the way that the trees are on mountains

Today is decision day. After intensive research, I am quietly confident. There is no way I' m going to lose. Unless, of course, I get the results wrong.

My predictions for the Super 5 are

1. Sheffield United
2. Manchester City
3. Manchester United
4. Newcastle
5. Millwall

My score predictions for the Small 3 are

• Blackburn 0 v 2 Manchester City
• Stoke 1 v 0 Burnley
• Manchester United 2 v 0 Birmingham

Footballers in the Wire

There is at least one character in the Wire who shares his name with an ex-footballer? I'm not too sure if they share the same personality. Who is it?

If you know any others, please let me know. Maybe, we can come up with a Wire United team.

What I Now Know about Fabian Delph

He will be the surprise young player of the year. I saw Delph play for Leeds United in a pre-season at Barnet last year. He was outstanding. His style of play reminds me of the great Jean Tigana. Tigana was a class act. As a French international, he played in one of the great midfields of all time. With Michel Platini, Luis Fernandez and Alain Giresse, 'the Magic Square' played with the flair of artists.

Now I may be going slightly over the top, having a Sky Sports, sort of moment , but Delph has some of Tigana's qualities. He has an excellent touch and has the courage to play football in difficult situations. Like Tigana, his movement around the ground is positive, intelligent and with purpose. His tackling can be rash and he needs be learn to control the tempo of a game to become a top player, but he is one to watch. And he enjoys the game.

Fabian Delph - on the right.

You wanna play games? Here are the rules.

1. Only bet on weekend games.
2. Bet £1 predicting 5 English/Scottish football games in an accumulator - 'The Big 5'.
3. Bet £2.10 predicting three Premier scores. The bet will consist of one treble, three doubles and three singles. 30p on 7 bets - 'The Small 3'.
4. Your total outlay every week will be £3.10.
5. Keep an honest account of your winnings and losses over the season.
6. Don't take it too seriously.
7. If you cannot afford to lose £3.10, don't bet.

If I don't break-even over the season, I'm never going to bet again.

"You cannot lose if you do not play." - Marla Daniels

Over the new season, I am going to test my football knowledge and judgement, by spending a few pennies on a bet every week as part of a little experiment. Hopefully, I'm more of a Clough than a McClaren, but no worries, I'm only going to bet £3.10 per week. But if I don't break-even over the season, I'm never going to have a bet again.

Having a few quid on the big game can be a bit of fun. However, if you can't afford to lose the money, JUST DON'T BET. Spend it on the weekly shop. Or give it to your wife/husband/ kids/mum. Simple.

Do I have any inside information? No - I just love football. My research tools? My daily papers, the teletext, Sky Sport, the BBC and Guardian website, comments from you and the magic hunch.

Target

Football is a great game. The skills, the goals, the misses, the creativity, the tactics, the passion, the tension, the joy. I have been watching the game for a very long time. This blog will record my thoughts every week about the great, and not so great, players and games. It would be good to hear your opinions. I will also try to help punters win a few £s in a season experiment using my extensive knowledge- well, maybe not extensive - and encourage everyone to watch HBO's 'The Wire'. Welcome to Football on the Wire (FOTW).

Poster designed using the great ' Man on the Wire' film poster.

Great film.