S8M38: To the last

So there we have it. One game to go, one thing to be decided.

Cardiff and their weird ostrich manager finally succumbed to relegation. Colin will be mourned by many I'm sure.

The configuration of results (basically Arsenal & Man Utd failing to win (again) and Chelsea winning) means that all bar mathematically, it'll be Chelsea and Spurs completing the top 4. Order to be determined. So, really, bar a bit of prize money shuffling, the only thing we have yet to determine is whether the title will be residing on Merseyside or Manchester for the coming year.

It is both praiseworthy and asterisk-worthy of their achievements. The consistency seen is remarkable, but it should also be seen in the context of further stratification of the league. Would it be unfair to suggest that only Wolves in the top half have outperformed their expectations? The remaining "big" clubs have certainly all had poor seasons given their available resources - one such instance where the league table sort of does lie. Spurs could well finish 3rd having lost more than a third of their league games. Man Utd have been in flux since the end of the Ferguson reign and show no signs of improvement. Arsenal too are treading water, relying on elite players on unsustainable wages keep heads above water, and hopefully pile into a Europa League shaped lifeboat. Chelsea haven't had a terrible season objectively, but it's difficult to point to signs of progress to give hope for next season, especially given the impending transfer ban (for child trafficking...)  and likely loss of Hazard who has carried this team at times.

Anyway, let's see what happens - Spurs will surely have some money to spend this summer, even with the new stadium causing financial constraints. Man Utd might stumble upon a plan. Arsenal a new owner...

Let's get statty:

This week, 20 people played
Most popular predicted result: West Ham win (20/20)
Most disputed result: Cardiff vs Crystal Palace (7-5-8 split respectively)

Highest/Lowest odds: Steven Daniels 250/1
Work out your own average...

Best predictor: EuroClub Index (8/10)
Worst predictors: Brad SAllix, Adrian Daniels & Josh Gaon (5/10)
Average score: 6.25/10

Best predicted result: West Ham win (20/20)
Worst predicted result: Huddersfield vs Man Utd DRAW (0/20)

Everyone's scores:

Leaderboard (>2/3; 25/36)

For the last time this season, the predos:

Brighton vs Man City - MAN CITY
Burnley vs Arsenal - DRAW
Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth - CRYSTAL PALACE
Fulham vs Newcastle - FULHAM
Leicester vs Chelsea - CHELSEA
Liverpool vs Wolves - LIVERPOOL
Man Utd vs Cardiff - MAN UTD
Southampton vs Huddersfield - SOUTHAMPTON
Spurs vs Everton - DRAW
Watford vs West Ham - WEST HAM

Good luck guys

S8M37: Could it be all over?

I'm back folks. Had a lovely time thanks for asking. Nope I didn't watch any football. Yep that's why I had a lovely time. Yes I agree rugby is a better sport. Who's up for a switch in focus from next season?

Actually, I could see that now. You have your giants with 90+% win records (Sarries, Exeter) and your minnow relegation squabblers (likely to be London Irish next year) and your surprise packages - Newcastle this year for example. Plus the wild card levellers of league play continuing with players on international break. This is a great idea. Much less stressful.

Or tennis. We could do a Wimbledon prediction thing. I mean that's pretty much a crapshoot in the early rounds, plus loads of work for me (FA Cup 3rd round -  ain't seen nothing yet) but still.

Or 10 pin Bowling. There's some pretty competitive action going on at the local lanes. All sorts of skullduggery. That could work. Might get on Amazon and see how much a pair of my own Bowling shoes would cost...

Anything frankly, that means I don't have to sit through the tribulations of following this nonsense sometimes.

Anyways, I'm not going to rehash the last few weeks, suffice to say that if results go a particular way this weekend, it could be all done for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 18th. Which, would be slightly anticlimactic given how close things have been.

Let's get statty:

Matchday 34

This week, 19 people played

Most popular predicted result: Spurs, Burnley & Man Utd WINS (19/19)

Most disputed prediction: Southampton vs Wolves (8-5-6 split respectively)

Highest/Lowest odds: Steven Daniels (323/1)

& therefore Average Odds...

Best predictors: Josh Daniels & Andrew Feneley's Mum (9/10)

Worst predictors: Me, WhoScored.com & Adrian Daniels (5/10)

Average score: 6.37/10

Best predicted result: Spurs, Burnley & Man Utd WINS (19/19)

Worst predicted result: Newcastle & Fulham WINS (1/19 - Joseph Machta & AFM respectively)

Matchday 35

This week, 20 people played

Most popular predicted result: Bournemouth, Liverpool, Arsenal & Chelsea WINS (20/20)

Most disputed prediction: West Ham vs Leciester & Everton vs Man Utd (9-6-5 & 5-6-9 split respectively)

Highest/Lowest odds: Steven Daniels (358/1)

& therefore Average Odds...

Best predictors: Feneley double & Sam Ruback (6/10)

Worst predictors: Loads of us (3/10)

Average score: 4.25/10

Best predicted result: Liverpool WIN (20/20)

Worst predicted result: Fulham, Crystal Palace WINS & Chelsea vs Burnley DRAW (0/20)

Matchday 36

This week, 19 people played

Most popular predicted result: Liverpool & Man City WINS (19/19)

Most disputed prediction: Man Utd vs Chelsea (5-8-6 split)

Highest/Lowest odds: Steven Daniels (1583/1)

& therefore Average Odds...

Best predictors: David Brickman (6/10)

Worst predictors: Lots of you (4/10)

Average score: 4.37/10

Best predicted result: Liverpool & Man City WINS (19/19)

Worst predicted result: West Ham WIN (0/19)

Everyone's results:

Leaderboard (>2/3; 24/35)

To this week's predos:

Everton vs Burnley - EVERTON

Bournemouth vs Spurs - SPURS

West Ham vs Southampton - WEST HAM

Wolves vs Fulham - WOLVES

Cardiff vs Crystal Palace - CRYSTAL PALACE

Newcastle vs Liverpool - DRAW

Chelsea vs Watford - CHELSEA

Huddersfield vs Man Utd - MAN UTD

Arsenal vs Brighton - DRAW

Man City vs Leicester - MAN CITY

Good luck guys