M36: Is this where the title is won?

It's a rare thing to have genuine empathy for a football manager (and no, winning your umpteenth trophy on Football Manager doesn't count), but it happened to me this week. And of all the managers to choose...I had to empathise with David Moyes. Gutted.

You see, earlier this season, I too received my P45 from my football club. The similarities somewhat end there, but I know the shock that comes when your services are definitively no longer required, even though you've been expecting this news for quite some time. Of course, I was technically made redundant, and reasonably so given that I'd actually not set foot in the Emirates as a member of staff in over 2 years. So 1-0 me. Although Moyes has apparently £4.5-10m reasons to dispute that score.

I actually hate that argument, and made that point to (Liverpool supporter &) England Scrum Half Danny Care who invited others to mock the idea that Moyes should be pitied for failing so abjectly as a result of his payoff. I know it's ultimately banter, but for me, an elite athlete knows full well that financial windfall is no substitute for professional acclaim and Moyes will likely be devastated that he failed so spectacularly. It's not his fault that some ginger Americans and a bloke called Ed decided he was worth a hell of a lot more than he was worth, and in all honesty, once tapped up by Fergie, he couldn't really refuse the offer. Plus, you need Bendtnerian levels of self-belief to operate in that world, so he probably thought he would be a success - easy enough as it was on the outside to know that this particular experiment would end in failure in Stratford & Surrey, and mirth everywhere else.

Anyway, Giggsy's picking up the pieces for the rest of the season, and I for one hope he does really, really well. Like DiMatteo well, so they have to keep him on for the first half of next season and balls that up too. Speaking of ballsing stuff up, Sunderland managed to kill Chelsea's hopes of a title win, end Mourinho's unbeaten home record & really, really wind up the man who always sits next to Dr Eva Carneiro and smarms her with his Iberian smarm. She ain't interested buddy....

Liverpool won their nth game on the bounce and could as good as win the title this weekend if other results go their way. I would say it's unlikely, but they've been pretty hot at home, as have Palace who host Man City. Elsewhere...well, it's mainly quite dull, but Charlie Adam will likely have his biannual kick-a-Spurs-player game, so that's something to look forward to on MOTD.

'Nuff waffle. Let's get statty.

This week, 21 people played
Most popular predicted results: Spurs, Liverpool & Man City WINS (21/21)
Most disputed result: Everton vs Man Utd (8-7-6 split)

Highest odds: Doron (welcome back) 2706/1
Lowest odds: Me, 896/1
Average odds: 1386/1

Best predictor: Jonny Chernick (7/10)
Worst predictors: Charlie & Gaj (4/10)
Average score: 5.26/10

Best predicted results: Spurs, Liverpool & Man City WINS (21/21)
Worst predicted result: Sunderland WIN (0/21)

Everyone's results:

The leaderboard (23/34 weeks - 1 week was cancelled):

To this week's predos:

Southampton vs Everton - DRAW
Fulham vs Hull - FULHAM
Stoke vs Spurs - SPURS
Swansea vs Aston Villa - SWANSEA
WBA vs West Ham - DRAW
Man Utd vs Norwich - MAN UTD
Sunderland vs Cardiff - SUNDERLAND (and game of the season too....)
Liverpool vs Chelsea - DRAW
Crystal Palace vs Man City - MAN CITY
Arsenal vs Newcastle - ARSENAL

Total odds: 2355/1 (PaddyPower)

Good luck guys.

M26 (finally), M34 Results & M35 Predos

Back in January, there were a couple of fixtures that were postponed due to snow, so as you may recall, I delayed the results blog for that week. Those games were replayed in midweek, and by being played out of turn, took extra significance in the title race, the contest for 4th place and the relegation battle.

As we now know - it was a successful evening for the little guy. Everton's recent run was halted by Crystal Palace...themselves on a bit of a charge who are essentially safe for the first time in their history. Meanwhile in Manchester, a late Mannone error turned a superb Sunderland result into a thoroughly valuable point, whilst taking all the wind out of Man City's sails. Advantage Liverpool.

M26 results:

19 people played
Most predicted result: Man City WIN (19/19)
Most disputed result: Hull vs Southampton & Newcastle vs Spurs (3-7-9 & 3-9-7 respectively)

Highest odds: Josh Daniels, 8152/1
Lowest odds: Me, 1151/1
Average odds: 3333/1

Best predictor: Gaj Thiru (7/10)
Worst predictor: 5 of yous (2/10)
Average score:  3.53/10

Everyone's scores:

and to M34...hurdle overcome by Liverpool on an emotional day for everyone involved. They rode their luck somewhat, but it looks like Chelsea's trip to Anfield will determine who become this season's champions. All other games were like a George Graham wet dream (sorrryyyyyy) with Cardiff pulling off a shock win at Southampton to keep their flame of hope flickering - sorry boys, that one's over....and Fulham grabbing a vital win to really stick Norwich in it. Finally, a brilliant game at the Hawthorns saw Spurs come back from 3-0 down to take a point, with the what-if factor being a poor penalty from Lance Corporal Adebayor.

This week, 21 people played
Most predicted result: Everton & Southampton WINS (20/21)
Most disputed result: Liverpool vs Man City (9-7-5)

Highest odds: Feneley 2889/1
Lowest odds: Steven Daniels 369/1
Average odds: 1031/1

Best predictor: Doron Salomon (8/9)
Worst predictor: Gaj Thiru (3/9)
Average score: 5.52/9

Best predicted result: Everton WIN (20/21)
Worst predicted result: Cardiff WIN (0/21)

Everyone's results:

To the leaderboard:

Unbelievable Jeff! A new leader after all this time...a Liverpool-esque charge. Also, a couple of family rivals take a twist too....with 4 weeks to play...let's see how these pan out.

To this week's predos:

Spurs vs Fulham - SPURS
Aston Villa vs Southampton - SOUTHAMPTON
Cardiff vs Stoke - CARDIFF
Newcastle vs Swansea - NEWCASTLE
West Ham vs Crystal Palace - CRYSTAL PALACE
Chelsea vs Sunderland - CHELSEA
Norwich vs Liverpool - LIVERPOOL
Hull vs Arsenal - ARSENAL
Everton vs Man Utd - DRAW
Man City vs WBA - MAN CITY

Total odds: 896/1 (PaddyPower)

Good luck guys!

M33 Results, M34 & FA Cup SF Predos

A lot to get through this week, so no preamble, other than to say I reckon Liverpool will drop points against Man City & Chelsea, and Everton will drop points against Manchesters City & United, so I expect the top 4 to stay the same, although the order to change. At the bottom, Cardiff and Sunderland are doomed, and it's winner takes all from Fulham vs Norwich, especially if the winner is Fulham.

Let's get statty:

This week, 23 people played
Most popular predicted result: Chelsea, Man City & Spurs WINS (23/23)
Most disputed result: Hull vs Swansea (9-8-6 split)

Highest odds: Sam Ruback 10,032/1
Lowest odds: Me, 767/1
Average odds: 1400/1

Best predictors: EuroClub Index, WhoScored.com, Fink Tank, Doron Salomon, Steven Daniels, Adrian Daniels (7/10)
Worst predictors: Andrew Feneley & Sam Ruback (4/10)
Average score: 5.76/10

Best predicted result: Chelsea, Man City & Spurs WINS (23/23)
Worst predicted result: Fulham & WBA WINS (2/23)

Everyone's results:

Leaderboard - qualifying number is 22/32 weeks (>2/3)

To turn to all things FA Cup:

Due to replays confusing the rounds, it's been difficult to decide when to update the FA Cup graphs. Therefore, I've decided that since everything's now up to date, and there can be no further replays, I'll publish a full chart now.

So, no real breakdown in terms of shock results etc, but a graph of everyone's scores for each round and then, obviously, their overall score:

The Gaon love affair with the old queen of English football continues, and by my reckoning, he's guaranteed himself some money already. How much, and who else joins him is still very open.

To that end, the semi-final predictions:

Wigan vs Arsenal - ARSENAL

Hull vs Sheffield Utd - HULL

And this week's Premier League games:

Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa - PALACE

Fulham vs Norwich - FULHAM

Southampton vs Cardiff - SOUTHAMPTON

Stoke vs Newcastle - STOKE

Sunderland vs Everton - EVERTON

WBA vs Spurs - SPURS

Liverpool vs Man City - MAN CITY

Swansea vs Chelsea - CHELSEA

Arsenal vs West Ham - ARSENAL

Total odds: 443/1 (PaddyPower)

Finally, we've now started the new Tax year and whilst cleaning up the Impossibilitee books, my auditors have found that there are a few payments still outstanding. Can those (and you know who you are) who elected to pay (and have not yet done so)  for the PL game please pay their £10, and those who are playing the FA Cup game pay their £3 - the easiest way is paypal (ccdaniels65@gmail.com) but if this won't work for you, contact me directly and we can sort out another method. I'd rather not chase people as it's less Corinthian than I'd hoped this blog would be so if you opted in earlier in the season, please honour that now.

Good luck folks, and I'll see you all next week, assuming I haven't hung myself with a Wigan-shaped noose.

M32 Results, M33 Predos - Viva John Terry, Viva Flamini, Mersey Merriment

As a rule, it's pretty bad form to dole it out and refuse to take it back. At the end of the day, it's just a game and people can take it too far.

That said, anyone who doesn't find this image funny is either 1) Jose Mourinho, 2) a member of the Bridge Terry family or 3) both.

#

I'll freely admit my dislike of Chelsea. It's not to do with the money - I have nothing against Man City, PSG or anyone else like that. Sure, I'd like to see a more equal footing, but that's as subjective as it is 'Corinthian' - my club has benefited from 20+ years of Premier League money so compared to say, Wrexham, I've got nothing to moan about.

It's not even to do with pantomime villain Moaninho or  His Royal Cashleyness. It's mainly due to the imbecilic Dzhonny-come-latelies who wouldn't know Kerry Dixon from Lee Dizon, or Emile Zola from Gianfranco Zola. Those who have, in less than 10 years, become worse than the worst Man Utd or Liverpool supporter for the whinging and moaning. It's also to do with JT (Captain, Leader, Utter Mug) being a FKW. 

Anyway, I digress. I just had to write all that as I might have glossed over a rather good performance by them a few weeks ago due to some technological issues. But John Terry once ran over a puppy so it  was just karma.

The rather unexpected result in SouthEast London means that the title race really is a 3 way fight (although City are still my favourites, as they have been all season; I ain't no Robbie Savage) with Liverpool taking top place after requiring only 90 seconds to defeat Spurs on Sunday. The Moyesiah faced down his aerial critics with a comfortable win, followed up by a decent showing against FC Bayern Munchen. Everton continued their quest to sneak into 4th spot (hopefully that'll be put to bed this weekend), whilst Southampton thanked Newcastle for driving the length of the country (probably flew) with a shpanking. J-Rod done good, whilst that Lallana lad looks nailed on to spend his summer taking Samba classes from natives, once he sorts his hair out.

The best moment of the weekend however, was the chest bump between Solksjaer and his assistant after the late equaliser to the late 'winner' - a moment so brilliant even Pepe Mel came over to congratulate him. Never really understood the chest bump if I'm honest - doesn't seem like the kind of thing I'd do in the heat of the moment...but then I'm pretty sure I'd never whip my shirt off either. Or kick an advertising hoarding with joy. Weirdos.

'Nuff chat. Let's get statty.

This week, 17 people played
Most predicted result: Chelsea WIN (17/17)
Most disputed result: Arsenal vs Man City (3-4-10 split)

Highest odds: The Feneleys with a bacchanalian 12,652/1. Glad to see it takes drinking your bodyweight in Lincolnshire ale to knock my brother out of this spot.
Lowest odds: Steven Daniels, 344/1
Average odds: 3845/1 (1643/1 without the anomalous odds above)

Best predictor: Nathan Daniels (8/10)...perfect aside from the collective failures
Worst predictors: Josh Daniels & David Dinkin (4/10)
Average score: 5.88/10

Best predicted results: Everton & Liverpool WINS (16/17)
Worst predicted results: Crystal Palace & West Ham WINS (0/17)

Everyone's results:

And the leaderboard, for those who have playe 21/30 available weeks (I know we're on week 32....1 was ignored as too few matches played, 1 still is to be completed due to postponements):

Dinkin is the big loser, ceding his "Best Human" imaginary crown to Menachem who stays still as a result of his absence. In fact, too much standing still folks - I expect, nay, demand higher participation numbers this week. I'm also hugely impressed by the length of this tail, to abuse a cricketing term. Compared to season 1, the number of those now predicting >50% correctly is huge. Pats on the back all round.

To this week's predos:

Man City vs Southampton - MAN CITY

Hull vs Swansea - HULL

Cardiff vs Crystal Palace - DRAW

Newcastle vs Man Utd - MAN UTD

Aston Villa vs Fulham - ASTON VILLA

Norwich vs WBA - NORWICH

Chelsea vs Stoke - CHELSEA

Everton vs Arsenal - ARSENAL

West Ham vs Liverpool - LIVERPOOL

Spurs vs Sunderland - SPURS

Total odds: 767/1 (PaddyPower)

Grand National bonus: Rocky Creek/Battle Group - both good shouts for an each way bet

(Disclaimer on the above - I know the square root of bugger all about horseracing. I have, however, made money on each of the last 3 Grand Nationals. So there.)

1 final thought for today - one of us has done good this week. This website/game/community has inspired an app (only available on iPhone currently) - Fooguru. If you have an iPhone - download the free app, and let's get an Impossibilitee league set up there for the World Cup. Unfortuantely, sucking up in this fashion does not get you bonus points - however, if anyone else feels like creating something, then let's do it. I think a nice range of Impossibilitee memorabilia should do well on Ebay!

Good luck, folks