SPUG EPL Prediction League - Match Weekend 04 - 05 Nov 2006

Another week in the wilderness as we bravely soldier on with the game away from SPUG. Anyone has any idea what's going on with SPUG? Sekali tell me SPUG also sold to SPH for $7million. hahahaha...

Anyway, weimeng finally stopped acting blur and provided me with this week's games

So it's game ON!

p.s. Don't forget to continue to seek out the missing players to get them over.

EPL19: SAT 04/11 Fulham vs Everton on ESPN at 08:45pm SIN/HKT

EPL20: SUN 05/11 West Ham United vs Arsenal on ESPN at 09:30pm SIN/HKT

Good luck and good game!

SPUG EPL Prediction League - Match Weekend 28 - 29 Oct 2006

You know it's a worrying sign when people stop asking when SPUG servers are going to be back up. Perhaps, it was a good decision to mirror the game on this blog since the beginning of the season and to push on with the prediction from here. Sure we are currently down to half strength with the participants over here (since the other half didn't read my "fine print" since the start of the season), it could have been worse if we held out hoping that SPUG server would only be down for a short while.

Anyway, please continue to spread the word around via other forms of communications other than SPUG Forums.

Coming back to the game, TheSaint888 continues to hang on to the lead but the gap is closed up by yet another point this weekend by me. While I am pursuing TheSaint888, the rest of the guys are closing in on me as well.

Congrats to Necroastr and Everton for being the only 6-pointers for this weekend.

p.s. I guess by now, everybody knows I sucked at picking the right games to prediction. Sorry for the confusion over Sunday's game. Can weimeng email me the fixtures from now on or at the very least just place it in the comments here for pickup?


SPUG EPL Prediction League "Perfect Score" Hall Of Fame
Perfect Score = 2 correct-score predictions in a single weekend and hence the award of the full 10 points.

1) Bedokian (24 Sep 2006)
2) TheSaint888 (24 Sep 2006)
3) Voxeros (24 Sep 2006)
4) Cha_Dum_Yen (24 Sep 2006)

Scoring System
3-Points for a correct outcome (Win, Lose or Draw)
1-point each for correct score on each side.

Double Entry
Later submission shall override earlier submission.

Penalty
No points for submission after kick-off. (Disqualification)

SPUG Blackout
Also, this is a mirror for the SPUG Server where the actual prediction game is being carried out at http://www.spug.net/showthread.php?t=85183. In the event SPUG server goes down, we will automatically carry on the prediction game at this blog site.

As usual:

1) If you have spotted a mistake, please let me know where and what so that I can amend them accordingly.
2) Please check your scores for accuracy as soon as possible before I update the table during the next round of scores. Once the table has been updated, the old table will be overwritten.
3) In case you are still seeing the old table even if I have announced a new update, please refresh your browser to reload the table.

Weekend Outlook (28 Oct 2006)

Bolton Wanderers vs Manchester United

"... Perhaps Liverpool are spending too much time in mid-table that they are starting to believe they are indeed a mere mid-table outfit. ..."

- JayWalk, 28 Oct 2006

"Incoming cross from the left corner of the penalty box to the right of the 6-yard box. He traps it in mid-air with his right foot and with a deftly flick to his left, he easily loses his marker in the process. Without even a sliver of hesitation, he curled the ball into the top corner of the goal in the far corner, beating the helpless goalkeeper."

Sounds like a play from the likes of Ronaldihno, Maradona or Ronaldo but surprisingly, it came from Rio Ferdinand. I would have been less surprised had it be Cristiano Ronaldo or Ryan Giggs. However, before anyone thinks that I was totally floored by that display and have a 180 degree u-turn over my opinion of the bumbling defender, the answer is still "NO". Not yet anyway.

We beat Liverpool not because we were the better team but more rather, it was a Liverpool side who started the race with a flat tyre. Riise was totally fooled by Ferdinand with the latter's "deftly flick" but ahhh... the spin I put in the words to make Ferdinand to be of God-like stature when in actual fact it was a mistake on the part of Riise, that I would put it as schoolboy standards. Hyypia too, looked way past his expiry date as the Liverpool defense rolled over and played dead.

Perhaps Liverpool are spending too much time in mid-table that they are starting to believe they are indeed a mere mid-table outfit. Perhaps it's time to review our usual Top 4 suspects as Liverpool no longer look like an automatic candidate. Perhaps, we should start monitoring the likes of Spurs and Aston Villa with Bolton and Portsmouth with an outside chance as dark horses for the 4th candidate.

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

Speaking of Bolton, there are a few records coming into this game today. Bolton has yet to be defeated at home this season and more impressively, yet to concede a goal at home. ManUtd, on the other hand, has been undefeated away although I can't say they are equally impressive with the clean sheets, no thanks to bumbling careless defenders.

OK, who is in the mood for some trivia? If John O'Shea plays, it will be his 150th appearance. Alan Smith is 26 today and Edwin van der Sar will be 36 tomorrow. If this game ends in a draw, it will be ManUtd's 1000th in their entire history.

JayWalk The Talk: Heinze is almost certain to return to the Starting XI after a satisfactory performance during midweek against Crewe. We are definitely going to see Scholes play as the midfielder has a knack of scoring against Bolton. 7 in the last 10 meetings. Giggs and Solksjaer both have 4 goals against Bolton but I think the latter will take the bench to make way for Saha.

The team sheet for Bolton looked pretty bad at a time when ManUtd are slowly returning to full strength. Captain Nolan is on a 3-match suspension while Faye, Anelka and Diouf are all doubtful. Fortune is certain to miss a return to his former club with an injury picked up during midweek. Bolton's current good form will have to be attributed to the fine showing of their Finnish goalkeeper Jaaskalainen. If the goalie is in good enough shape to start today, then we really have a good fight on our hands. Otherwise, it will be Walker in goal, marking his 400th career league starts. Not a good day for celebration for Walker. Not against ManUtd, anyway.

JayWalk The Walk: ManUtd have not lost at Reebok Stadium in their last 6 visits but it doesn't automatically means that they are going to win. Bookies are making ManUtd give up a 0.5-ball handicap but assigned a 1.9 decimal odds to beat it. This is a game between a team with the best scoring record in the Premiership against a team with the best defensive record in the Premiership. I am almost certain that ManUtd will have Bolton's clean sheet erased but the real question that would decide if we win this punt would be if ManUtd themselves are able to keep a cleansheet?

This is going be a very tight game and I think this will be an "Unders" game i.e. less than 2.5 goals. Chelsea will be certain to collect 3 points this weekend and so ManUtd cannot afford to drop points today if they want to hang on to the lead. A loss would not only relinquish our pole position but also allow Bolton to beat us down to 3rd. Still, I think it is unlikely that we will be defeated today.

I'd go for a victory but scale back my wager to guard against a banana-peel draw.

Disclaimer: The above views are purely my own two-cents' worth. In other words, I cannot and will not guarantee that my predictions are accurate. If you want to bet on the game, do so at your own risk. Also, please bet responsibly and within your means regardless of how "sure thing" that game may appear to be. As the old saying goes, "The Ball Is Round". Good luck.

Midweek Roundup (26 Oct 2006)

It was a close call for ManUtd as we scraped past a valiant Crewe Alexandra to advance to the next round of the Carling Cup. We were almost headed for penalties before debutant Lee scored the winner in extra-time to save us the blushes.

However, before anyone panicked and set off the alarms, allow me to assure you that everything is fine. To struggle is expected as we had 6 youngsters in the Starting XI and the remaining 5 first team players who are on the road to full recovery. The 3 subs that we used subsequently were also reserves which would mean that we were never in danger. Otherwise, Fergie would have thrown in first team players at the critical moment to bail us out.

So there. It's all good on the Manchester front.

To be honest, I would rather this be a tight game than a 5-0 rout. A stroll in the park does nothing to aid players like Heinze, Silvestre and Smith as far as their match fitness is concerned.

As for the debutants, nothing beats them going through a baptism of fire than a match that pushes them a notch higher. Granted that a proper EPL or ECL match would make an even better baptism of fire, let's just say that the Carling Cup is a slightly softer and more controlled approach that would help prevent anybody getting burnt (no pun intended) in case it gets too hot in the kitchen.

We will be playing away again to Southend United on November 7/8 in the Fourth Round. Hopefully, things will get a little bit smooth en route to the finals.

Looking at the immediate future, the key players were well rested ahead of the clash against Bolton Wanderers this weekend. This will be a match between a team with the best scoring record and a team with the best defensive record.

More to come in the next Weekend Outlook.

Stay tuned.

Midweek Outlook (25 Oct 2006)

Crewe Alexandra vs Manchester United

"... putting a coffee cup in front of the annual team photo is just unthinkable..."

- JayWalk, 25 Oct 2006

It's time for us to defend the League Cup and it is ironic that the cup that we have so often overlooked as a Mickey Mouse Cup turned out to be so important to us last year. Can you imagine another season of the team photo without any silverware? Oh the horror!!

Traditionally, the cup (League Cup, Milk Cup, Worthington Cup, CocaCola Cup, GodKnowsWhatOtherName Cup) has been our opportunity to rest our key players as well as the blood the new ones. In a way, it would be a showcase of our youngsters who have risen through the ranks from academy apprenticeship to B team reserves and finally a first team debut. However, given that the FA Cup, ECL and EPL are no longer as easy as we have had during our heydays, the League Cup has somewhat become more important to us again. Call it an insurance policy if you would but putting a coffee cup in front of the annual team photo is just unthinkable. No?

Our opponent today is Crewe Alexandra, currenly floating aimlessly in midtable of Nationwide League 1. As remote and unknown this team is, I have been watching them closely since the late 70s when they were still in the old Division 4 alongside Wimbledon FC. I can't explain why this is so but every Monday when I flip the paper to read the league table standings, I'd be sure to check on how Crewe is doing.

Anyway, before anyone thinks that I am some kind of authority as far as accessing them, I am not. All I know is that they reached today's 3rd Round after scalping Wigan 2-0 last month. Period. Sorry.

JayWalk The Talk: Although I have said earlier that Fergie often uses the League Cup to blood new youngsters, I would however think that half of the places today, would be set aside for recently-recovered players. As such, I would expect Heinze, Neville, Smith, Solksjaer and Silvestre to feature today.

Youngsters-wise, David Jones would definitely be right at the top with Ritchie Jones, Lee, Shawcross, Burns and Gray, making up the rest of the list of newbies that maybe given a spot in the limelight.

JayWalk The Walk: Both Spurs and ManUtd are playing away and a 1.25-ball handicap deficit. Only difference is that the decimal odds points to ManUtd to beat it and Spurs to lose it at 1.825. While ordinarily, I would stay away from punts of this nature involving an untested team in a tournament that ManUtd don't take seriously, I would have to make exception today on account of the fact that there are too much fire power in the squad list as a result of the newly-recovered players using it to gain match-fitness.

Crewe will be coming into this game with a mindset that they are expected to lose. As bad as it sounds, the management at Crewe won't be too upset for today's gate receipts from a full capacity of 8,800 is already a victory for them.

Take ManUtd and give the 1.25-ball handicap.

Disclaimer: The above views are purely my own two-cents' worth. In other words, I cannot and will not guarantee that my predictions are accurate. If you want to bet on the game, do so at your own risk. Also, please bet responsibly and within your means regardless of how "sure thing" that game may appear to be. As the old saying goes, "The Ball Is Round". Good luck.

SPUG EPL Prediction League - Match Weekend 28 - 29 Oct 2006

Well, it appears that SPUG server may not return online so soon. As such, the SPUG EPL Prediction League shall carrying on here for another week.

To avoid confusion, all submissions this weekend are to be done here, even if SPUG server return before kick-off. Easier for me to tally all the submissions without needing to run all over the place.

Good luck and good predictions!

p.s. If you can get more people back here, the merrier we will be.

EPL17: SAT 28/10 Bolton Wanderers vs Manchester United on ESPN at 9:55pm SIN/HKT

EPL18: SUN 29/10 Arsenal vs Everton on ESPN at 09:25pm SIN/HKT

EPL18: SUN 29/10 West Ham United vs Blackburn Rovers on ESPN at 11:55pm SIN/HKT

*IMPORTANT* Please note the change of match for Sunday.

Good luck and good game!

SPUG EPL Prediction League - Match Weekend 21 - 22 Oct 2006

SPUG server is down again this weekend causing a EPL Prediction blackout over there and kicking the mirror here into action. Unfortunately we weren't able to get everybody back here. Obviously nobody paid attention to the small print at the bottom. Oh well...

As a future precaution, you may email your predictions to be at jay[dot]walk[at]yahoo[dot]com. As long as there is a valid time stamp, the submission is admissible.

Speaking of time stamp, Everton's Chelsea-Portsmouth prediction has been thrown out as the submission was done 23 minutes after kick-off.

Necroastr and Cool402 came within a whisker of the Perfect-10 alas as easy as it may look, it really isn't. TheSaint888 hangs on to his lead but the rest of us are closing in cutting his 10-point lead to 6.

Help spread the word around. Hopefully, we can get more people back here or to have SPUG back online, whichever's sooner.


SPUG EPL Prediction League "Perfect Score" Hall Of Fame
Perfect Score = 2 correct-score predictions in a single weekend and hence the award of the full 10 points.

1) Bedokian (24 Sep 2006)
2) TheSaint888 (24 Sep 2006)
3) Voxeros (24 Sep 2006)
4) Cha_Dum_Yen (24 Sep 2006)

Scoring System
3-Points for a correct outcome (Win, Lose or Draw)
1-point each for correct score on each side.

Double Entry
Later submission shall override earlier submission.

Penalty
No points for submission after kick-off. (Disqualification)

SPUG Blackout
Also, this is a mirror for the SPUG Server where the actual prediction game is being carried out at http://www.spug.net/showthread.php?t=85183. In the event SPUG server goes down, we will automatically carry on the prediction game at this blog site.

As usual:

1) If you have spotted a mistake, please let me know where and what so that I can amend them accordingly.
2) Please check your scores for accuracy as soon as possible before I update the table during the next round of scores. Once the table has been updated, the old table will be overwritten.
3) In case you are still seeing the old table even if I have announced a new update, please refresh your browser to reload the table.

Manchester United 2 - 0 Liverpool

Liverpool never stood a chance against us and we knew it even before the starting whistle when the submitted team sheet revealed that Liverpool was going to play a 3-6 1 formation. 9 defenders and 1 lone striker!!

Have you no pride, Liverpool!!?? WTF??

It was certainly a mistake not to play Crouch as defender. If I were Benitez, I would have put Crouch next to the goal post. With a smaller goal, more difficult for the opposition to score right?


Other than that, I can't see any other use for Crouch.

p.s. Ok lah... just joking lah. Tongue in cheek with a pinch of salt ok?

Weekend Outlook (22 Oct 2006)

Manchester United vs Liverpool

"...Liverpool won't be able to get their first away win here at Old Trafford..."

- JayWalk, 21 Oct 2006

Despite the fact that this is a once a week gig with the occasional midweek preview to squeeze in, the load however is still pretty hectic, especially when I am traveling on business.

Anyway, coming back to the team, we have been on form of late with dominating football. A pre-requisite for a title contender. Looking at the last EPL game against Wigan, we started off slowly with a goal down early and a possession of 19% vs 81% at the 20-minute mark. We were glad to finally see Rooney return to form as we reverse the pitch control and finish the game with an impressive 68% possession reversal and a 3-goal reply to win 3-1 and take the 3-points.

Midweek form was just as impressive as we dominated the field again on home soil with a 58% possession. The real numbers however, lies on the shots attempted (20 with 10 on goal) against FC Copenhagen's meek 10 (with only 3 on goal). We were all over them and they didn't stand a chance against us. In fact, the 3-0 win was a flattering scoreline for FC Copenhangen had their keeper not pulled some impressive saves.

On the horizon, we have the Carling Cup in midweek with ManUtd having the better luck of the draw playing away to Nationwide League 1 minnows Crewe Alexandra while Liverpool have the tougher of the 2 fixtures against Steve Coppell's Reading.

JayWalk The Talk: Rooney's return to form is most welcome to the Red Devils but it's a shame not to have him on the score sheet. This game will be Rooney's 100th appearance but only a mere shadow of Scholes 500th this Sunday as well.

Neville and Heinze are expected to get back on the starting sheet to relief an exhausted back 4 while Giggs will be challenging for a spot for the left flank. Park remained on the injured list while Silvestre is back in training, albeit not ready for first-team action yet.

Form, statistic-wise, is an impressive 3 wins in the last 3 games, chalking up 8 goals and conceding only 1. Liverpool, on the other hand, has an awful away form as they are still in search for their first away win of the season. Liverpool is 1-1-1 in their last 3 games scoring 2 and conceding 3 goals.

On the Liverpool side, Gerrard has made a remarkable recovery to be in time for his 350th appearance against the Red Devils. The front would be further boosted with the availability of Kuyt and Bellamy. Fowler and Kewell, however, are still on the injured list without a foreseeable date of return yet.

Dudek may be charged for the melee during a reserve game against Everton. Fortunately for him, a punishment as high as a 5-game suspension will only take place after November. However, it would still be Reina ahead of the Pole in between the sticks on Sunday.

JayWalk The Walk: Bookies are placing a 1/2-ball handicap in favour of Liverpool and a decimal odds of 2.025 for ManUtd to beat it. What that means in English is perhaps while Liverppol won't be able to get their first away win here at Old Trafford, it looked pretty much, from the bookies' research department, that a draw is a most probably outcome.

While my sentiments choose to disagree with the bookies, it must be said that it is my own analysis against the bookies' formidable team of sports mathematicians, of which I was once offered a position with one of the bookmakers in Australia.

Perhaps, we should, for once, just watch the game as it is without the silhouette of money clouding over the beautiful game.

Hands off this game.

Disclaimer: The above views are purely my own two-cents' worth. In other words, I cannot and will not guarantee that my predictions are accurate. If you want to bet on the game, do so at your own risk. Also, please bet responsibly and within your means regardless of how "sure thing" that game may appear to be. As the old saying goes, "The Ball Is Round". Good luck.

SPUG EPL Prediction League - Match Weekend 21 - 22 Oct 2006

Looks like the SPUG server is down and I am taking the liberty of continuing the predictions over here.

Do place your submissions in the comments section here like we did during the World Cup 2006. I will transfer all the predictions over to SPUG when the server is back up.

EPL15: SAT 21/10 Chelsea vs Portsmouth on ESPN at 9:55pm SIN/HKT

EPL16: SUN 22/10 Reading vs Arsenal on ESPN at 10:55pm SIN/HKT

Good luck and good game!

Midweek Outlook (17 Oct 2006)

Manchester United vs FC Copenhagen

"...We may see key players rested or at the very least put on the bench and still win this game....."

- JayWalk, 17 Oct 2006

A win tonight and it's qualification for us. What better advantage then to play against the weakest team in the group at home? The win against Wigan during the weekend was a morale-boosting one especially when we see Rooney returning to form.

The bad news is that we have a Liverpool crunch game this coming Sunday. However, I won't be too worried given the crappy form that Benitez' boys are currently going through. Heck, I don't even know if they'll be able to make it past Bordeaux away in this midweek's ECL fixture. Also, playing this game at Old Trafford will help us a bit along the way too.

The fact that Fergie played Rooney in the Wigan game comes to show us his confidence towards tonight's game. We may see key players rested or at the very least put on the bench and still win this game.

JayWalk The Talk: Neville and Ronaldo were seen training on Monday and as such, I am confident to say that both of them should be available for selection, while Park, Heinze and Silvestre remained out.

Even with a full squad to choose from, Fergie would opt for squad rotation and partly to save up for the Liverpool game. While I don't think keyplayers will be omitted, I think some may be put on the bench and be called into action, just in case something goes wrong against FC Copenhagen.

JayWalk The Walk: Bookies are putting ManUtd to give up 1.75-ball and a decimal odds of 1.85 to beat that. If this were a game where ManUtd goes all out 100%, I would have gladly put my wager on them scoring 3 or more goals. However, knowing the fact that they will be saving up ahead of Sunday's game against Liverpool, I am not so confident anymore.

I say just stay away and enjoy the game on it's own.

Disclaimer: The above views are purely my own two-cents' worth. In other words, I cannot and will not guarantee that my predictions are accurate. If you want to bet on the game, do so at your own risk. Also, please bet responsibly and within your means regardless of how "sure thing" that game may appear to be. As the old saying goes, "The Ball Is Round". Good luck.

SPUG EPL Prediction League - Match Weekend 14 - 15 Oct 2006

As a result of my itchy fingers to change my prediction at the last minute, I dropped 4 points to allow weimeng and limyengchuan to catch me to tie at second spot.

However, full credits goes to TheSaint888 for a weekend well played to score 9 points and pull 10 points away from us at the top.

If only he continue to follow ianrush predictions like last season.

Damn....



SPUG EPL Prediction League "Perfect Score" Hall Of Fame
Perfect Score = 2 correct-score predictions in a single weekend and hence the award of the full 10 points.

1) Bedokian (24 Sep 2006)
2) TheSaint888 (24 Sep 2006)
3) Voxeros (24 Sep 2006)
4) Cha_Dum_Yen (24 Sep 2006)

Scoring System
3-Points for a correct outcome (Win, Lose or Draw)
1-point each for correct score on each side.

Double Entry
Later submission shall override earlier submission.

Penalty
No points for submission after kick-off. (Disqualification)

SPUG Blackout
Also, this is a mirror for the SPUG Server where the actual prediction game is being carried out at http://www.spug.net/showthread.php?t=85183. In the event SPUG server goes down, we will automatically carry on the prediction game at this blog site.

As usual:

1) If you have spotted a mistake, please let me know where and what so that I can amend them accordingly.
2) Please check your scores for accuracy as soon as possible before I update the table during the next round of scores. Once the table has been updated, the old table will be overwritten.
3) In case you are still seeing the old table even if I have announced a new update, please refresh your browser to reload the table.

Weekend Outlook (14 Oct 2006)

Wigan Athletic vs Manchester United

"...And speaking of the Neville, I have a feeling that he may score today...."

- JayWalk, 14 Oct 2006

While I must admit that the 2 goals scored by Solksjaer during the last game against Newcastle were hardly spectacular, we must look beyond the surface and analyse the stats. 62% possession and 11 shots on goal against 3 from Newcastle is what I would like to see from ManUtd.

The keyword here is domination.

If we continue to play like that we would be able to banish any thoughts from any teams thinking that they can come into the match and hope to get something from it. Something that we were facing last season and an identical situation currently bogging Chelsea at the moment.

Granted that Solksajaer's first goal was a gifted rebound and the second came off him as a result of a deflection to wrong-foot Shay Given, one must also take into consideration the numerous times Ronaldo hit the woodwork. If you ask me, I think the unluckiness more or less evens out the flukes.

In a way, we are lucky to meet Wigan this weekend for if it had been a relatively weaker team, we would be faced with the disadvantage of having more exhausted players who just returned from international duty. Fortunately for us, Wigan do have had quite a number of players called up.

Further up the horizon, we have ManUtd playing home to FC Copenhagen in midweek as the ECL marches on. A win there and ManUtd will be assured of a place in the Second Round. A subsequent single point either from Celtic or Benfica thereafter, would guarantee the top spot in the table and a favourable seeding in the next round.

We have seen Fergie sacrificed the Reading game ahead of the Benfica clash. Will he do it again, just so the ensure qualification as early as possible?

There have been rumours that Rooney may be rested this weekend ahead of the ECL fixture but here is what I think the problem is. Rooney have been out of sorts as a result of the 3-match suspension. He needs all the games he can get to regain match fitness. Resting him today may just undermine his efforts to get back to 100% quickly.

So perhaps, when the starting sheet is announced, we will figure out how Fergie intends to pan out this week's games.

JayWalk The Talk: Rooney has a good scoring record against Wigan. 4 goals in the last 3 games that these 2 teams played each other and I certainly hope to see him on the pitch today. Forget about physical exertion from midweek, Rooney is a player that will go stronger with more games. Besides, Saha is out injured and we are pretty short on strikers at the moment. Speaking of injuries, we are still missing Giggs, Park, Heinze and Silvestre. That means we would likely to see Ronaldo and Fletcher charging the flanks while Vidic would, at the expense of Brown, partner Evra. Bumbling Ferdinand continues to keep his place with Neville as well.

And speaking of the Neville, I have a feeling that he may score today.

Wigan on the other hand has a relatively clean sheet of health. That would certainly please Jewell but I doubt if they are able to take anything from this game except a small deficit in the goal difference department.

JayWalk The Walk: Perhaps the bookies are feeling guilty for taking too much money of late that they are offering ManUtd to give a mere 1-ball handicap. Ahh... but do not fooled by the mirage in front of you as Wigan are much stronger that you would have thought. Granted that they won only 1 games in the last 5. Granted that they only won 2 in the their last 11 home games. Granted that we won all of 3 last encounters with two 4-0 victories to boot. Wigan mustn't be taken for granted. No pun intended.

Decimal odds is 2.025 for ManUtd to beat the handicap and I think ManUtd would probably win this by a single goal. As such, most likely we will be headed for a draw (handicap-wise) and get our money back. I say go for ManUtd as a win is very likely i.e. we can't lose and hope for the extra goal to secure that payout.

Disclaimer: The above views are purely my own two-cents' worth. In other words, I cannot and will not guarantee that my predictions are accurate. If you want to bet on the game, do so at your own risk. Also, please bet responsibly and within your means regardless of how "sure thing" that game may appear to be. As the old saying goes, "The Ball Is Round". Good luck.

SPUG EPL Prediction League - Match Weekend 14 - 15 Oct 2006

Urrrgghh... enough of the disruptive international fixtures already!! Let's get back to business with EPL this weekend. However, most of the top teams will be slightly affected as most of their players would have been involved in international duties leaving the lesser clubs having a better rested team. Watch out!

Submit your predictions over at http://www.spug.net/showthread.php?t=85183 .

Sign up for a SPUG account if you haven't.

EPL13: SAT 14/10 Liverpool vs Blackburn on ESPN at 10pm SIN/HKT

EPL14: SUN 15/10 Newcastle vs Bolton on ESPN at 11pm SIN/HKT

Good luck and good game!

SPUG EPL Prediction League - Match Weekend 30 Sep - 01 Oct 2006

Is it me or are West Ham's much hyped Argentinian pair overrated? Mascherano failed to get off the bench and Tevez was better off on the bench.

There has been talks of this pair of imports parking at West Ham for the first season before going to other clubs, presumably Chelsea, for a profit. As it is now, I doubt if Chelsea want them and West Ham would find themselves in the big financial shithole with a pair of exorbitant wages.

Anyway, welcome back Uryth!

Congrats to TheSaint888 for the second week at the top. It could have been me, if only West Ham could equalised.

Oh well, better luck next week.



SPUG EPL Prediction League "Perfect Score" Hall Of Fame
Perfect Score = 2 correct-score predictions in a single weekend and hence the award of the full 10 points.

1) Bedokian (24 Sep 2006)
2) TheSaint888 (24 Sep 2006)
3) Voxeros (24 Sep 2006)
4) Cha_Dum_Yen (24 Sep 2006)

Scoring System
3-Points for a correct outcome (Win, Lose or Draw)
1-point each for correct score on each side.

Double Entry
Later submission shall override earlier submission.

Penalty
No points for submission after kick-off. (Disqualification)

SPUG Blackout
Also, this is a mirror for the SPUG Server where the actual prediction game is being carried out at http://www.spug.net/showthread.php?t=85183. In the event SPUG server goes down, we will automatically carry on the prediction game at this blog site.

As usual:

1) If you have spotted a mistake, please let me know where and what so that I can amend them accordingly.
2) Please check your scores for accuracy as soon as possible before I update the table during the next round of scores. Once the table has been updated, the old table will be overwritten.
3) In case you are still seeing the old table even if I have announced a new update, please refresh your browser to reload the table.