Save that My Soul's Imaginary Sight

In the Observer yesterday, David James of Portsmouth wrote about the best saves he had ever seen. His favourite was Gregory Coupet for Lyon against Barcelona. After finding it on youtube, I can see why. Talk about using your head when faced with a back pass. Do you know of a better save?

Week 13 Flutter Predictions

My choices for my Super 5 accumulator are:-

• Manchester City
• Manchester United
• West Ham
• Newcastle
• QPR

My score predictions for the Small 3 are:-

• Arsenal 1 v 0 Chelsea
• Everton 0 v 2 Liverpool
• Villa 2 v 0 Spurs

Crisis Management

I praised two managers in early August; Wigan's Martinez and Hart of Portsmouth. On Saturday, Martinez suffered a 9-1 defeat and, this evening, Paul Hart has left his job at Portsmouth. I can surely pick them! I still think Martinez will eventually manage a top club and Hart deserved more time.

Great Footballers from Sverdlovskaya Oblast

Thanks to the brilliant service from the guys at lijit, I get to know where my blog readers are located.

Last week, I had a hit from Sverdlovskaya Oblast, Yekaterinburg in Russia. What a great name! Now everyone knows that an 'oblast' is a federal state and that Sverdlovskaya is probably the most populous oblast within Asian Russia ( ok, everyone knows, thanks to wikipedia). But are there any famous footballers from the area?

Has it Started Yet?

Great guide to the qualifers of the 2010 World Cup on the Guardian website. The site's choice of the key players is a bit too predictable.

Who do you think will be the Star of South Africa?

Profit and Loss for Week for Week 12

Accumulated Total Outlay	Accumulated Winnings	Profit/(Loss)
£34.10	£11.72	-£22.38

At last. a correct score. With a £3.00 return, I'm still 10p down for the week.

Hugo, I Don't

The controversy about France v Ireland's World Cup play-off, took the focus away from a possible star of next year's World Cup. Hugo Lloris was brilliant. His decision-making was outstanding throughout both legs of the play-off.

The game always needs a prominent player named Hugo, especially one looks like he has just skipped his ancient philosophy class because he knows that everything that he needs to learn, can be discovered in a game of football. As Albert Camus said in his first post match interview to Garth Crooks, "All that I know most surely about morality and obligations, I owe to football".

Week 12 Flutter Predictions

My choices for my Super 5 accumulator are:-

• Chelsea
• Middlesborough
• West Brom
• Millwall
• Notts County

My score predictions for the Small 3 are:-

• Sunderland 1 v 0 Arsenal
• Manchester United 1 v 0 Everton
• Bolton 2 v 1 Blackburn

En la Pista, Amigo

Guillem Balague is always worth listening to on Revista de La Liga, one of the best football programmes on TV. He knows the Spanish league inside out and is always willing to give his opinion. Wouldn't be nice if we could have a similar magazine type programme on the other great football leagues of the world?

Profit and Loss for Week for Week 11

Accumulated Total Outlay	Accumulated Winnings	Profit/(Loss)
£31.00	£8.72	-£22.28

4/5 for my accumulator once more. A last minute goal by Burnley againast Machester City let me down. I'm starting to feel the pressure.

Soccer Sequence No.13

"Gold, always believe in your soul........You're indestructible." They were in 1908. I hope 2010 can be added to the sequence below. Can you spot the sequence link?

1894, 1901, 1908, 1912, 1931, 1973, 1976, 1980

For some more number puzzles, click on Soccer Sequences.

Why you should start Watching the Wire

The opening scene from the Wire is an indication to the extraordinary depth of the writing and acting. And the programme gets better. Watch the sample below and then buy the box set. And enjoy.

Soccer Sequence No.12

This is not what it seems. Think carefully before committing yourself on the link between these numbers


1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984


For some more number puzzles, click on Soccer Sequences.

Week 11 Flutter Predictions

My choices for my Super 5 accumulator are:-

• Aston Villa
• Manchester City
• Spurs
• Arsenal
• Newcastle
  

My score predictions for the Small 3 are:-

• Manchester City 3 v 0 Burnley
• Wigan 2 v 0 Fulham
• West Ham 0 v 1 Everton

Soccer in the Soul

Wherever you go in the world, it's only a matter of time before you come across a game of football. And whoever is playing, I find it impossible to walk by. The new book by Tom Watt, 'A Beautiful Game', reflects and celebrates the beauty of the game. It's a cracking book. Buy and enjoy.

A Beautiful Game: Football Through the of the World's Greatest Players. foreword Arsène Wegner - Introduction David Beckham

Profit and Loss for Week 10

Accumulated Total Outlay	Accumulated Winnings	Profit/(Loss)
£27.90	£8.72	-£19.18

Poor week on the accumulator but I was unlucky with one of the score predictions - if only Owen had taken that last minute chance.