Dudu Didn't

Watched the Arsenal v Olympiakos game last night. Can anyone let explain why the Brazilian footballer Alexandro Silva de Sousa's nickname is Dudu?

What I Now Know about football radio phone-ins.

They don't want to talk about football. Over the last week, I have heard about 20 calls on a variety of football phone-ins. With the exception of two callers, the others focussed on referees who robbed their team, managers who couldn't manage and directors who did not invest enough. I cannot remember the last time I heard a caller talk about a great young player they had just seen. Wouldn't it be good to return to anlaysing the game - both the good and the bad - rather than the what happens on the periphery?

Profit and Loss for Week 6

Accumulated Total Outlay	Accumulated Winnings	Profit/(Loss)
£18.60	£8.72	-£9.88

I now know how Roy Keane feels. It's not my fault that the teams don't know what the results should be. I would lose my temper but I need to stay cool, calm and reflective. Next week I'm going to get the advice of other football fans - the power of the collective.

Soccer Sequence No.10

Here is a relatively easy sequence. I'm sure you will not be at a loss in finding the connection.

1980, 1995, 2000, 2006


If you find this too easy, try the other Soccer Sequences.

Week 6 Flutter Predictions

No aways. No aways. No aways. Back to the code. My predictions for the Super 5 are:-

• Tottenham Hotspur
• Liverpool
• West Brom
• Tranmere
• Charlton

My score predictions for the Small 3 are:-

• Fulham 0 v 2 Arsenal
• Liverpool 3 v 0 Hull City
• Sunderland 2 v 0 Wolves

Soccer Sequence No.9

These numbers represent true quality. But can you explain the link.

1959, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969

Profit and Loss for Week 5

Accumulated Total Outlay	Accumulated Winnings	Profit/(Loss)
£15.50	£8.72	-£6.78

So near yet so far. I felt like Mark Hughes over the weekend. I know I could have done better. And I know I really can't blame anyone else. My score predictions were reasonable. In fact I was very unlucky. But unlucky doesn't pay the bills. My accumulator has finally convinced me that I need to stick way from aways.

Soccer Sequence No.8

You may no longer trust 'Dictum meum pactum' from a City slicker but you can still trust a goat from the east.

37, 42, 42, 37, 42, 39, 40, 31, 18, 41, 29, 39, 34, 41, 29, 34, 27, 22, 0, 17, 22

What is the football connection of the numbers above?


If you find this too easy, try the other Soccer Sequences.

Soccer Sequence No.7

Sometimes the mind forgets the truth. Sometimes numbers hide the impact. Identify the link between these numbers.

9 and 13, 13 and 13, 12 and 5, 10 and 12, 12 and 16, 12 and 10.

For some more number puzzles, click on Soccer Sequences.

Week 5 Flutter Predictions - "A man must have a code."

This week, I'm going to try to stick to my principles. Stick to homes for the Super 5. But Sunderland look good and Ipswich are underachieving. Forget the code, lets go with the heart. My predictions for the Super 5 are:-

• Arsenal
• Sunderland
• Liverpool
• Newcastle
• Ipswich

My score predictions for the Small 3 are:-

• West Ham 1 v 2 Liverpool
• Wolves 2 v 0 Fulham
• Chelsea 2 v 0 Spurs

Unconfirmed Reports

Thanks to Rob Smyth , a Guardian newspaper journalist, for his two mentions of my blog .

1st September 2009 on 'Transfer Deadline Day' -

• "No one has got my first Soccer Sequence yet," says Yannis. "Any ideas?" England caps during which Peter Shilton made filthy howlers? No, I have no idea.
• "Yannis's sequence (12.25pm)" says John Al. "I'll eat my hat if it's not the 1966 World Cup final goals." It can't be - there are six times there, and we all know England won 3-2.
• "Not sure about the first two numbers in Yannis's sequence ( but are the last four the average age of Sam Allardyce's Bolton squads?" honks Dean Ande .
• "I am absolutely certain that Yannis' second sequence is the last ten birthdays Kanu celebrated," honks Steven Ec.
• "John Al is correct," says Yannis.

12th September 2009 during the MBM report on Spurs v Manchester United game - "Some links, while u wait Here are some football riddles for you to solve."

Soccer Sequence No.6

Can you identify the football connection between the two sets of numbers.

Set A : 0,0,1,1,1,1,1,0,0

Set B : 1,1,1,0,1,1,1,1,1

What I Now Know about Robinho

He is a better player than Ronaldo. Ok, please pick yourself up from the floor so that I can clarify my opinion. In terms of vision and awareness, I think Robinho is a better player. Of course, Ronaldo is a brilliant player and has a number of advantages over Robinho. He is faster and stronger, works harder and is more focussed. He is a better header and has a better shot. Ronaldo is a more effective player. However, if I needed to bet on either player to see and pick a pass, my money would be on Robinho.

His press in England hasn't been great, but it has been fair. However, it is often forgotten that at 25 , he has won 4 Championship medals in two different countries. In his first season in the Premier League, he scored 14 goals in 31 appearances. Barcelona's interest in him is because Robinho is a very good player.

Profit and Loss for Week 4

Accumulated Total Outlay	Accumulated Winnings	Profit/(Loss)
£12.40	£8.72	-£3.68

An improvement from last week and two good attempts for my ‘Score Predictions’. However, this is not good enough and I'm starting to feel the pressure. I fancied Manchester City to win by a 2 goal margin but not 4-2.

Soccer Sequence No.5

Some of you are just too good. So I have added my Messi of 'Soccer Sequences'. In my opinion this is very, very difficult.

32, 30, 27, 26, 25, 21, 29, 26, 21, 29, 24

If you find this too difficult, try my other Soccer Sequences first.

Soccer Sequence No.4

Please note that this week's Soccer Sequence may change in the near future. Of the numbers below, the 4th number in the sequence may change; but probably will not. The others are fixed but may be overtaken. Confused? Me too.

49, 48, 44, 40, 30, 30, 30, 29, 28, 27

Good luck. And why not try my other Soccer Sequences.

Week 4 Flutter Predictions - "Maybe we won."

Last week was very poor. I blame over confidence. What I need is Capello to keep my feet on the ground. But this could be a Maradona moment - as a manager rather than a player. You need to keep a level head in this game.

My predictions for the Super 5 are

• Liverpool
• Crystal Palace
• West Brom
• Tranmere
• Notts County

My score predictions for the Small 3 are

• Liverpool 2 v 0 Burnley
• Stoke 0 v 0 Chelsea
• Manchester City 2 v 0 Arsenal

Stringing us along?

Idris Elba is to star in a new BBC crime drama. The Hackney born actor played a key role in the Wire, as Stringer, a dealer with wider aspirations than his environment. The new six part series will be called Luther. The programme will be transmitted next year. The series is being written by Neil Cross, lead writer on Spooks.

No Flutter this week

As there are no Premier games this week, I will not be having a bet. I am sticking to the rules. After last weeks performance, this is probably a very good decision.

Soccer Sequence No.3

Time does fly by when you are having fun. Today's Soccer Sequence focuses on the importance of timing. Try to identify the event the following numbers relate to.

10 for 15, 20 for 9.

What I Now Know about Valeron

He is a true galáctico. I watched Real Madrid kick off their season against Deportivo on the weekend with their numerous superstars including Raúl , Benzema, Kaka and of course , Ronaldo. All very good players. But it was Juan Carlos Valerón Santana who stood out. A proper player. The Deportivo la Coruna’s midfielder was once described as ‘Spain's Zidane, only better’ and on Saturday showed glimpses of his outstanding touch, passing ability and vision. His goal was a pearl. Ok, he missed a sitter but at 34, he is a player to appreciate. Enjoy. There is only one Juan.