"... and all the pieces matter"- Freamon

Some teams just gel. Some need more work and some just need to be disbanded because the pieces just don't work together.

Week 10 Flutter Predictions

My choices for my Super 5 accumulator are:-

• Stoke
• Ipswich
• MK Dons
• Hereford
• Dagenham & Redbridge
  

My score predictions for the Small 3 are:-

• Birmingham 0 v 2 Manchester City
• Manchester United 3 v 0 Blackburn
• Burnley 1 v 0 Hull City

Profit and Loss for Week 9

Accumulated Total Outlay	Accumulated Winnings	Profit/(Loss)
£24.80	£8.72	-£16.08

Another 4/5 for the accumulator and the score predictions were going well until Arsenal and Manchester City turned off.

Week 9 Flutter Predictions

My choices for my Super 5 accumulator are:-

• Huddersfied
• Norwich
• Rochdale
• Bournemouth
• Notts County
  

Three. It's the magic number fore my score predictions. My score predictions for the Small 3 are:-

• Spurs 3 Stoke 0
• Manchester City 3 v 0 Fulham
• West Ham 0 v 3 Arsenal
  

Profit and Loss for Week 8

Accumulated Total Outlay	Accumulated Winnings	Profit/(Loss)
£24.80	£8.72	-£16.08

Middlesborough let me and Gareth down. We both deserve better. But there is always next week. The losses are mounting but I have confidence in my ability. Ok, I undertstand, you don't!

Soccer Sequence No.11

The numbers in the Soccer Sequence below will not change. Apart from the second, the other numbers were a surprise and have contributed to improving my knowledge of the game in it's past glory. I know so little.

31, 20, 19, 19, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14

For some more number puzzles, click on Soccer Sequences.

The Way Home

I have just finished reading George Pelecanos’s new novel, The Way Home. If you have read any of his work, you will expect quality. You will not be disappointed. There are elements of his previous books; great characters that you care about, an understanding of the complexity of motive, humour and a story line that moves at a pace that gives the reader just enough time to challenge their own values. Every character has a voice that you want to listen to. This is especially true of his main character, Chris Flynn.

Pelecanos is harsh and, at times, very angry about the young man. Maybe, because Chris treads the roads that the writer has followed.

George Pelecanos is not just a great crime writer. He is a great writer.

Buy The Way Home from Amazon or your local bookshop. I bought mine from Prospero's, a lovely bookshop in Crouch End.

Week 8 Flutter Predictions

It's 12.11 and I have just placed my bet in time. My predictions for the Super 5 are:-

• Arsenal
• Manchester Utd
• Charlton
• Northampton
• Middlesborough

My score predictions for the Small 3 are:-

• Portsmouth 2 v 1 Spurs
• A Villa 0 v 2 Chelsea
• Everton 2 v 0 wolves

Don't Cry for Me, Argentina

Does anyone else have the feeling that Argentina will peak at the right time and win the World Cup Final next year? Ok , just me then.

Profit and Loss for Week 7

Accumulated Total Outlay	Accumulated Winnings	Profit/(Loss)
£21.70	£8.72	-£12.98

Unlucky. 4/5 for the accumulator and the score predictions were close. But not close enough. I have a week off this weekend with the internationals. Bad news for my local bookmaker.

Week 7 Flutter Predictions

This week, I have taken some expert advice. My predictions for the Super 5 are:-

• Arsenal
• Sheff Utd
• Millwall
• Southampton
• Chesterfield

My score predictions for the Small 3 are:-

• Arsenal 3 v 1 Blackburn
• A Villa 1 v 0 Man City
• Everton 0 v 0 Stoke

There hasn't been an 0-0 all season, so there must be one this week. It's just about choosing the right game.

Fame - I'm gonna learn how to fly

Thanks to Rob Smyth for another couple of mentions on his minute-by-minute reports in the Guardian. They are great way to follow games and have a laugh while you pretend your are working on your PC.

26 September 2009 during the MBM report on Portsmouth v Everton - 33 min "Doesn't Paul Hart look like Al Molinaro from Happy Days. Used to make nice chips," says Yannis. "And I've added two new soccer riddles, if you want to mention."

13 September 2009 before the MBM report on Fulham v Everton - Our Wire-loving friend Yannis has put up another of his Soccer Sequences. Being a simple lad, I don't have a clue what the answer is. Something to do with the number of goals scored by the top scorer in a certain league each season?