Fantasy Premier League 2018/19

I'll be playing fantasy sports leagues for the new season again! Here are details of my leagues - feel free to join and drop me a comment below and let me know your team names!

EA Sports Fantasy Premier League
League Name: Ham Butty League
League Code: 657250-144460

Dream Team Classic
League Name: Back Of The Inter-Net
League Pin: SG3UKC4W

Sky Sports Fantasy Football
League Name: Grim Reapers
League Pin: 8383905

Superbru Premier League Fantasy
Pool Name: Bananas
Pool Code: packduds

Horse Racing Predictions - 21st July

I'm watching the racing from Newbury, Market Rasen and Newmarket on ITV today, so I thought I'd do my e/w predictions for Newmarket, Ripon, Newbury, Market Rasen and Cartmel. I'd normally do wins as well, but I don't have the time...

NEWMARKET
14:15 - No More Regrets
14:45 - Melodic Motion
15:25 - Tawaafoq
16:00 - Keepers Choice
16:35 - Brexit Time
17:10 - Hakeem
17:40 - Dancetaria (WIN)

RIPON
14:20 - Associate Rock
14:55 - Silver Dust
15:30 - Winged Spur
16:05 - Benadalid
16:40 - Acrux
17:15 - Be Perfect
17:50 - Loulin

NEWBURY
13:50 - Desert Encounter
14:25 - Couer De Lion
15:00 - Yafta
15:35 - Society Queen
16:10 - Chatham House
16:45 - Flying North
17:20 - Top Score

MARKET RASEN
13:35 - Stole The Show
14:05 - Linganno Felice
14:40 - Collodi
15:15 - Sumkindofking
15:50 - Voodoo Doll
16:25 - Our Three Sons
17:00 - Old Salt

CARTMEL
13:55 - Mac Tottie
14:30 - Innocent Touch
15:05 - Beeno
15:40 - Reverse The Charge
16:15 - Bentons Lad
16:50 - Dun Faw Good
17:25 - Undefined Beauty

Don't forget to have a go at the ITV7 for a chance to win £50k! http://itv7.itv.com

World Cup Final Predictions - 15th July

I'm really excited for today's final! And I really, really, REALLY hope Croatia win. They deserve the win so much more than France do.

France have got through, but they haven't done it in style and their wins are definitely nothing to shout about.

But Croatia tried and tried and tried and got all the way to the final.

My prediction for today is...

France 1-2 Croatia

Good luck, Croatia! May the best team win!

World Cup Third & Fourth Playoff Predictions - 14th July

Well, it's a game of pride today really. Trying to finish 3rd instead of 4th with the main prize already lost. Again, I was disappointed to see England out, but glad to see they got so far, we should be proud of them for once! We got a lot further than previous World Cup winners Germany and favourites Spain, Portugal, Argentina etc.

As or today's match though, I think Belgium will win. But I hope England prove me wrong!

My score prediction for today is...

Belgium 2-1 England

Good luck, England!

Liverpool Summer Transfers

Well, with all the excitement of the World Cup, I've neglected to post about Liverpool!

Well, we haven't had a lot of new players in thus far. Keita has finally arrived and I'm looking forward to watching him in action when the new season starts.

And Fabinho is interesting, I'm interesting to see his partnership at the back with Van Dijk and wondering who else will be partnering them at the back.

And now Shaqiri joining us is exciting. Seeing Shaqiri play at previous World Cups, I always hoped we'd buy him. He always got bought into my teams in FIFA on the XBox 360/PS4. I think he can be a great addition as the playmaker for Salah, Mane and Firmino. I'm glad to see he's signed on!

The goalkeeper situation is still a bit up in the air. Loads of speculation, but nothing doing so far. At the start of last season, I thought Karius was even worse than Mignolet, but as the season progressed, I noticed a major improvement. Only to be let down in the Champions League final. I'm undecided as to my opinion on him. I don't know if Klopp should stick with him or find a replacement. I think the majority of fans have lost faith though, so as much for himself as for the team, maybe we should be looking at a replacement.

Sports Competition #8

Not strictly a win this time, but I entered a competition with @MapeiUKLtd and although I didn't win, because they liked my England supporter's photo, they sent me two footballs for the boys...

Horse Racing Predictions - 13th July

I'm watching the racing from Newmarket on ITV today, so I thought I'd do my e/w predictions for Newmarket, Ascot & York. I'd normally do wins as well, but I don't have the time...

NEWMARKET
13:50 - War Glory
14:25 - Main Edition
15:00 - Desert Wind
15:35 - Threading
16:10 - Nayef Road
16:45 - Hamada
17:20 - Ripp Orf

ASCOT
14:15 - Enough Already
14:50 - I Am A Dreamer
15:25 - Hawkerland
16:00 - White Chocolate
16:35 - Only Spoofing
17:10 - Hateya
17:40 - Dark Alliance

YORK
14:05 - Diamond Oasis
14:40 - Framley Garth
15:15 - Pretty Baby
15:50 - Maifalki
16:25 - Oberyn Martell
17:00 - Henley
17:30 - Byrons Choice

Don't forget to have a go at the ITV7 for a chance to win £50k! http://itv7.itv.com

World Cup Final

Well, I hoped to see England in the final, but it's France vs Croatia.

Croatia have been my favourite underdog team since the days of Davor Suker and I think they played brilliantly against England in the semi-final and thoroughly deserve their place in the final, and I am totally hoping they win it!

Luka Modric has been an outstanding playmaker and score one of the goals of the tournament in my opinion. Vida has been excellent defensively too. And Perisic is amazing in front of the goal.

But France certainly have a lot of quality in their squad. But in my opinion, I can't see them winning it. Croatia are going to really want it, and while France have done well, their style of play has been nothing to shout about and Croatia are really going to take the game to them which might just catch them out!

Mbappe has been the ultimate star for France in my opinion. Griezmann hasn't really lived up to the expectations. They're a decent team overall though, a lot of class. I think if they played like they could, they would win, but judging by their performances so far, I think Croatia will prove to creative and too challenging for them.

 

Long before the World Cup started, I did a 50p bet on Croatia with PaddyPower - I can currently cash out for £4.60, but if they win I'll get £16.50!

I'm really looking forward to the final. The third & fourth place playoff between Belgium and England should be a good watch too, if slightly disappointing as an England fan.

Sports Competition Win #7

I won a Cofra t-shirt and football from @mammothworkwear on Twitter for guessing the closest minute of the first goal scored...

Sports Competition Win #6

I won a Brazil football shirt signed by Jason Derulo from @ChartShowTV...

Sports Competition Win #5

I did well predicting the England vs Tunisia football game in a competition on Twitter. I won 3 Puma Fischer football kits, a football & bag from @fischerfixings...

World Cup Predictions - 11th July

Last semi-final match today. Very excited for today's match with the prospect of England reaching the World Cup final! I think England will win, but it will be a tough match. I think England will win it in extra time. My 90 minutes score prediction is...

Croatia 1-1 England

I was shocked to see Belgium get beaten yesterday. They were often the stronger team throughout the match, but just didn't manage to get a goal. I don't think France played amazingly, just Belgium didn't really play like they wanted to stay in it. On a good day, I still think Belgium would beat France. I'm hoping the final will be France vs England!

COME ON ENGLAND!

World Cup Predictions - 10th July

Well, the World Cup is quickly drawing to its conclusion as today is the first of the semi-final matches. I think Belgium will win. My score prediction is...

France 2-3 Belgium

I'm looking forward to tonight's match and even moreso, to tomorrow's match as England are actually in the semi-finals of the World Cup!!!!!

Sports Competition Win #4

I won a Lebron James Miami Heat jersey from @UKASSNI. Here's my eldest son showing it off (as it's his)...

World Cup Predictions - 7th July

Last two matches of the quarter finals today and I'm hoping they're just as exciting as yesterday's matches! I think England and Croatia will win, but with Sweden's defensive line-up, and Russia's zest for winning in their home country, anything could happen! Here are my score predictions for today...

Sweden 1-2 England

 Russia 2-3 Croatia

As for yesterday's matches, they went as I expected they would. Uruguay really missed the presence of Cavani alongside Suarez and nothing came of their opportunities, not a single goal, with France taking a decisive victory over them.

As a Brazil supporter, I was disappointed to see them knocked out, but not at all surprised and I totally expected Belgium to win. Belgium were much the better team, and for a while now, to me, have looked like favourites to win the World Cup. Brazil looked much a better team in the second half replacing Willian with Firmino and Gabriel Jesus with Douglas Costa, it's just a shame they didn't also substitute Neymar who was rubbish for the whole tournament, aside from his despicable rollings around and blatant diving, his zest for being the star man, in my opinion, in large part why they lost. He was always wanting to take it on himself instead of making the sensible decision and passing. Also, he lost the ball to the opposition countless times. And still the fans shouted his name and still the presenters/commentators heaped praise on him. I think he was extremely disappointing. Had Firmino & Douglas Costa been on from the start with Coutinho feeding the ball to them, I think Belgium would have had a challenge on their hands!

World Cup Predictions - 6th July

I am really, really looking forward to the quarter final matches. I'm particularly looking forward to the Brazil vs Belgium match! I think France and Belgium will win (though I hope Brazil win). Though I wouldn't be surprised to see Uruguay cause an upset! Here are my score predictions for today...

Uruguay 2-3 France

 Brazil 1-2 Belgium

Best Goals Of The Last 16

Well, there may have only been 8 matches, but there were definitely some fantastic goals! Here are my favourite 5 goals of the last 16...

1. Inui (Japan) vs Belgium

2. Di Maria (Argentina) vs France

3. Haraguchi (Japan) vs Belgium

4. Pavard (France) vs Argentina

5. Vertonghen (Belgium) vs Japan

World Cup Quarter Finals

Well, the 2018 World Cup has been one full of shocks & surprises - but extremely entertaining with it!

We've lost 2014 WC winners Germany as well as bigger teams such as Spain, Portugal & Argentina who were tipped to go further.

There have been some great goals and VAR has caused a lot of controversy too.

And England won a penalty shootout AND are in the quarter finals! Did we just get zapped off to a parallel universe?!

 

The last 8 games are France vs Uruguay, Russia vs Croatia, Brazil vs Belgium and England vs Sweden. I would personally love to see the two teams I support in the WC final - England vs Brazil.

However, I think France, Croatia, Belgium and England will go through to the semi finals. I've not been ultimately convinced by Brazil this time (much to my disappointment), and think Belgium will really take the game to them. Though Belgium too, have been hit and miss, just barely scraping through to the quarters against Japan. I was devastated for Japan, they played so well and gave it their all!

Thought the way it's been going this time around, I wouldn't at all be surprised to see Russia, Uruguay & Sweden in the semi finals instead!

Can England Reach The Quarter Finals?

Well, all of us England supporters are probably feeling hopeful that we should be able to make it to the quarter finals, we've played well so far, and surely we have a really good chance at beating Colombia?!

I've watched all of Colombia's matches and they just haven't been the same team that played in the last World Cup. They do keep on and keep trying though and I think by no means will England get an 'easy' win, but I think we should get a comfortable win.

I predict a 3-1 win for us, but I wouldn't be surprised if Colombia opened the scoring, but then we'll respond well and win the game. First scorer Quintero, anytime scorers Kane & Lingard. 1-1 half time score. We'll see...

Good luck, England! 

World Cup Predictions - 3rd July

Last two matches of the last 16 today. I think Switzerland and England will win today. Here are my score predictions for today...

Sweden 1-2 Switzerland

 Colombia 1-3 England

As for yesterday's matches... Another win for Brazil, though not entirely convincing again, but a decent enough win. Mexico had a great go at it, but couldn't manage a goal. Glad to see Brazil through, but they really need to step up their game.

And Belgium vs Japan... what a game! Like for like in the first half. Then within minutes of the second half, Japan went 2-0 up, but then Belgium got 2 back as well. Still Japan seemed to be doing the better of the two teams, despite their relative unknowns compared to Belgium. Then the free kick in extra time for Japan - so close! But it led to a counter from Belgium who managed to squeeze one past at the last moment to clinch the win. You have to really, really feel sorry for Japan, they played so well, and I feel they would have deserved the win so much more than Belgium, they really played amazingly!

World Cup Predictions - 2nd July

Another two matches from the last 16. I think Brazil and Belgium will win today. Here are my score predictions for today...

Brazil 4-2 Mexico

 Belgium 5-1 Japan

As for yesterday's matches... Spain vs Russia - what a shock there. I didn't see the whole match, but I saw the last half of extra time and the penalties. Absolutely brilliant from Russia, but what a disappointing way to be knocked out of the World Cup for Spain?! I really hate it when a match goes to penalties to settle it.

And the Croatia vs Denmark match... Again, I hate seeing such an important match settled by penalties. I was actually hoping Croatia would win, they're one of my underdog favourites and have been since the days of Davor Suker, so I was glad to see them win, but did feel disappointed for Denmark as they did so well, especially Schmeichel following in his Father's footsteps. He saved that 'would-be' winning penalty from Modric in extra time quite spectacularly.

World Cup Predictions - 1st July

Another two matches from the last 16. I think Spain and Croatia will be going through to the quarter finals. Here are my score predictions for today...

Spain 3-1 Russia

 Croatia 2-1 Denmark

Yesterday's matches... France vs Argentina... What a match!! Thoroughly enjoyed this one, absolutely magnificent game! An early penalty struck well by Griezmann, an absolute stunner from Pavard and then two brilliant goals from Mbappe led to France getting a close win over Argentina. Di Maria's goal for Argentina was nothing short of brilliant though, followed up by Mercado's goal and a very late goal from Aguero in extra time, left them just one goal short of a draw and taking it to extra time. And so France are through to the quarters.

And as for Uruguay vs Portugal, not quite as full of goals as the other match yesterday, but absolutely thrilling nonetheless! A great link up between Suarez and Cavani led to the first goal in the game very early on for Uruguay, an absolutely brilliant goal taken by Cavani. Pepe equalised with an header in the second half before Cavani slammed home another brilliant goal to win the game for Uruguay taking them through to face France in the quarter finals.