Thursday, 27 March 2014

Predictions Results Week 31

Sam - 15
John - 13
Ian - 10
Stephen - 10

Prediction of the Week: Sam - Manchester City 5 - 0 Fulham
League Standings



Pts
1
Stephen
226
2
John
212
3
Ian
199
4
Sam
179

Sunday, 23 March 2014

Newcastle Striking Options

Newcastle United beat Crystal with a last minute header from Pappiss Cisse, which was his first goal in open play in eleven months.  He had several spurned oppurtunities but only found the net in 93rd minute.  The worrying sign for a striker is not getting any chances, it usually means the striker is hiding from play.  Cisse on the other hand is getting chances, he is putting himself about, he isn't scoring but offside and miss after offside and miss shows that he is dertermined to score he isn't hiding.

For this reason I would start Cisse ahead of Remy, on the basis that Remy is on loan and has made it quite clear that he would like to move somewhere else at the end of the season, to possibly play in the champions league.  Pappiss Cisse however is owned by Newcastle and based on current form will not be leaving Newcastle quickly. Newcastle need to be thinking of next season and have nothing else to play for this season, lowest we can realistically finish is ninth.  

The Newcastle of this season are playing far better as a team than the Newcastle of last season, so this could yeald more goals for Cisse.  It could be looked upon as though he is playing for his future, whether that will be at Newcastle or another club. For me, this is why we should start Cisse more in our last eight games of the season if we can get him scoring again, as we could fetch a good price for him in the summer; or if he wants to stay, we will have aleviated our striking problems for next season.  

~John Robert Lavery 

Wednesday, 19 March 2014

The £100 Million Audition

David Moyes, should he be sacked or not? It is a bone of contention for many, but our own Stephen Wrigglesworth offers his two cents on this very question.

I've read more than a sane man should on the Moyes in/out debate, personally I find the current predicament highly amusing but if I think about it from an objective standpoint I really can't see how keeping Moyes any longer can pan out for the best.

I could think of five logical steps to go through before deciding on Moyes, at the top you have results/points total? failing on that front you can fall back to performances? if the performances aren't there then I would look to see any resemblance of a plan/vision he is working towards to improve said performances? dipping even further if there is not currently any visible plan then he does at least have the players working for him? Finally if none of the above can be said then does he strike you as having the attitude or confidence to begin achieving even the lowest necessary standard?

Personally I'd love to see him stay and see just how far the demise can go, objectively however I'm not sure how any club in the world could find the confidence to back Moyes with anything in the region of £100m, especially any club who has to witness week in week out the difference Moyes has made with £65m.

Admittedly it would be a disservice to Moyes to make the following comparison however I can't help but think of a certain Mark Hughes when he was given keys to the bank at both Manchester City and QPR, mindlessly spunking money all over Europe without the faintest hint of a tactical vision.

~Stephen Wrigglesworth

Monday, 17 March 2014

Prediction Results Week 30

Ian - 8
John - 7
Sam - 6
Stephen - 5

Prediction of the Week: John & Ian - Hull 0 - 2 Man City
League Standings



Pts
1
Stephen
216
2
John
199
3
Ian
189
4
Sam
164

Monday, 10 March 2014

Prediction Results Week 29

John - 5
Stephen - 4
Sam - 3
Ian - 2

Prediction of the Week: Stephen - Norwich 1 - 1 Stoke
League Standings



Pts
1
Stephen
211
2
John
192
3
Ian
181
4
Sam
158

Monday, 3 March 2014

Prediction Results Week 28

Stephen - 4
Sam - 4
John - 3
Ian - 3

Prediction of the Week: None
League Standings



Pts
1
Stephen
207
2
John
187
3
Ian
179
4
Sam
155