Football Focus

[Bluerevolution]

streams for most of todays games http://shadygiz.blogspot.co.uk/

[red devil]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> The first option makes it too much like the

> 'league'.

Agreed, I personally favour the 2nd option as it's more in keeping with the FA Cup i.e. a knock-out competition.

> The third option would need to consider which

> fixtures to include as presumably all 64 wouldn't

> be.

Not sure why you think all matches couldn't be included. There would be 32 matches in 3rd Round, just means more points can be scored. No reason why replays couldn't be included too. Lots of Brucie Bonus points up for grabs in the early rounds but less in the latter rounds.

> My suggestion would be to use the FA Cup from the

> 3rd round and have fixtures as:

> AvBvC

> DvE

> FvG

> HvI

> JvK

> LvM

>

> 6 winners plus two best runners up go through to

> the q/finals (i.e. 4th round) If you wait until

> the FA Cup reaches the last sixteen our Final will

> be based on just one fixture THE Final. Could

> cause complications.

If we started with the 3rd round, our final would be the 6th round (4 matches). Personally I'd like it to mirror the FA Cup, so that it ended up with 2 players going head to head predicting the actual Cup Final. If that is tied, i.e both predict the same result/score, then countback of previous points could decide winner. To avoid 'cheating', predictions can be PM'd to me, or someone else if I'm involved in the final.

> I'd also suggest the Cup winners get bonus points

> added to their League tally. Something like equal

> to the highest score by anyone in one week.

Personally I'd like to keep it totally separate, unless the general consensus is different, same applies with my other comments. 3rd round starts next weekend, so we need to decide mid-weekish...

[Alan Medic]

Your the boss and probably getting people to do predictions for 32 matches (not the 64 I said) might be a bit much.As an alternative suggestion, to allow all of the FA cup to be included (which entirely contradicts what I just wrote), why not have a knock out from the third round whereby, by the Q/finals you have 8 remaining. In the preceding rounds it's the lowest total who goes out (you decide how many are out in each round as you need to lose 5 from 13 in 3 rounds) but when you get to the qf's it's head to head?

[red devil]

That's a good compromise, bit like the Champions League*, going from a league to a knock-out competition. Would probably just omit the bottom five prior to last eight, to keep everyone interested and in with a chance...any other suggestions/thoughts?

*It was suggested at the start that the Champions League is included like the FA Cup. Similar decision needs to be made as to whether to include it in the main league or treat it as a separate competition...

[Alan Medic]

That sounds better so long as there is no 'maxxi' rule whereby you get a minimum number of points if you don't enter. If you were to include it in the league then I think it would have to be on the basis of bonus points but not literal points as there are so many fixtures and it could make the league predictions almost irrelevant thereby demeaning the league.

[red devil]

That's a good point, Maxxi could get 100 points and go to the top, and we wouldn't want that to happen would we ;-)

[????]

My view. Keep the Premiership separate - different skill but also people have got into the grove ofd doing their weekly selection, adding CL and FA Cup you'll just get drop outs, too much hassle. Just run 'em as separate competitions, if i am honest i probably won't be bothered.

[maxxi]

Back in Nov I suggested a straight-forward predicting all games rather than head to head (from 3rd round onwards) with the bottom two knocked out each round leaving 3 to contest the semis (based on 11 starters) and, with one eliminated then, two in the final.

Any ties could be decided by (for example) who came nearest to total goals scored that day or who had most correct predictions over correct sores (or vice versa as long as we knew from the off) or - if still a tie - who had nearest to the correct goal difference between winners and losers on the day. Draws could still score as in the league and if draws featured in a tie and everything else was equal then the replay could decide which player is knocked out.

However having thought it through - the predictor league would have none or few prem games on FA cup days and predicting the latter is as difficult as an ordinary weekend (always was on the pools coupon) so maybe leave it as part of the edf league...

[Jah Lush]

What Quids said.

[Otta]

red devil Wrote:

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> Football fans are ordered to sit down, allegedly

> on H&S grounds, yet football grounds are often

> used for music concerts, where fans are freely

> allowed to stand and alcohol is widely consumed.

> Let's face it, going to a football match brings

> out the worse in a lot of people, it's become

> tribal/confrontational regardless whether there

> are seats or not...

What RD said

[Otta]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20866012

So according to Bale, if you are touched at all, you have been fouled and it's fine to throw yourself to the floor...

Great player, but embarrassing himself, and doesn't seem to get it.

[Alan Medic]

The best example of diving in that game was Defoe. I'm not certain Bale dived, though I have to admire the few players who will try and stay on their feet at all costs.

[Parkdrive]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> The best example of diving in that game was Defoe.

> I'm not certain Bale dived, though I have to

> admire the few players who will try and stay on

> their feet at all costs.

Like Theo tried to before scoring with a delicious little lob.

[Alan Medic]

That was brilliant. Wonder what you will be calling him though if he doesn't sign a new contract?

[Otta]

Yep, fair play to Walcott, he didn't make the most of going down, back to his feet and a great goal.

The Spurs boss even admitted that Defoe had gone down easily, but he pointed out that he wasn't booked and Bale was, so Bale is apparently being targetted by refs. Poor boy.

And before anyone says it, yes I know a few Liverpool players have been known to swan dive, as have players from pretty much any team at one time or another. I just wish they'd man up a bit!

[Otta]

And stop cheating.

[Alan Medic]

Nasri did a fair impression of someone who'd been shot until a half second later he decided he didn't like the tackle and wanted to let the player know, more close up.

[Parkdrive]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> That was brilliant. Wonder what you will be

> calling him though if he doesn't sign a new

> contract?

Can't be repeated on here

[malumbu]

The good ? Orient?s ninth win in a row

Wigan at Villa

Walcott bucking the trend and either staying on his feet, or getting up quickly, after what were two cast iron pens. Good to see that Arsenal didn?t have to cheat this time.

The bad - Steve Clarke?s lack of ambition in team selection against Man U who were up for the taking, stopping a Man U player from scoring until the 90th minute is not a moral victory

The Ugly - (but rather amusing) the comparison of SAF with the Queen on Radio 5s Fighting Talk - always looking glum at sporting events apart from horse racing

Bale (aka Ben Stiller/Ted) for going down so softly. Oh it was his momentum says MOTD. Bollocks, his momentum was good enough to brush aside the slightest of touches. It is a physical game.

[Otta]

BBC reporting that Demba Ba is in talks with Everton, and Moyes has tweeted about the player so looks like it may happen. Can't believe other clubs haven't gone in for him, he'll be a great signing for the toffees!

[red devil]

That's surprising as Everton aren't big payers. He's apparently already had talks with QPR, which suggests it's about money, or rather his agent's commission...

[red devil]

From the BBC live feed...

"Sorry to hear about Brendan Rodgers' virus. I'm sure he's hoping it will pass. And pass. And pass. And pass. And pass. And pass..." :)

[Otta]

Hahahaha!

[Jah Lush]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> The best example of diving in that game was Defoe.

> I'm not certain Bale dived, though I have to

> admire the few players who will try and stay on

> their feet at all costs.

What Defoe did was bloody embarrassing. I've never seen him do that before so he better not do it again. I hate players diving so full credit to Walcott for staying on his feet and scoring. What he did is a good example as to what can happen if you don't take a tumble, you can carry on and put the ball in the back of the net. I hope more players will follow his example.

[Parkdrive]

Otta Wrote:

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> BBC reporting that Demba Ba is in talks with

> Everton, and Moyes has tweeted about the player so

> looks like it may happen. Can't believe other

> clubs haven't gone in for him, he'll be a great

> signing for the toffees!

It's also been reported that a "representative" of his is meeting with Chelsea. Which means he's being, or his agent(s) are being, canny by sounding out as many offers as they can. I can't help feeling he might be another one season, but he may well prove me wrong.