N&R Weekly Bet

Week 7, and at last some wonga for Nobs.

Nobby:
Man City v Everton HOME - CORRECT
Wigan v Spurs AWAY - CORRECT
Liverpool v Wolves HOME - CORRECT

£2 stake. Winning potential £7.66. Winnings £7.66

Ready:
Chelsea v Swansea HOME - CORRECT
Wigan v Spurs AWAY - CORRECT
West Brom v Fulham DRAW - CORRECT

£2 stake. Winning potential £14.98. Winnings £14.98

Running total:
Ready £33.74 (positive)
Nobby £1.76 (positive)

Ready however wins again, and it was his biggest of the season. In fact the little pit bull has only got one result wrong since we started! Well, at least I am now in the black.

Photograph of the week

A photograph of a mofdern day footballer. Arrogant, spoilt, moey grabbing prick. Malcolm Allison will be turning in his grave.

Week 5 review

Arshavin scored a fortunate goal to give Arsenal a 1-0 win over the Swans at a nervy Emirates, meanwhile United ran riot at the Reebok winning 5-0. Rooney getting a hat trick.

Aguero also got 3 as Citeh thrashed Wigan, Stoke beat Liverpool at the Brittania, Chelsea won at Sunderland. Terry and Sturridge scoring.

Adebayor scored on his debut for Spurs as they won at Wolves 2-0. Everton and Villa shared the points at Goodison.

On Sunday Norwich lost to WBA at home to an Odemwingie goal, and Fulham and Blackburn drew 1-1. On Monday Joey Barton played for QPR against former club Newcastle in a goalless draw.

Photograph of the week

We have a fair number of Palace and Brigthon fans on here but it was the Eagles who won the bragging rights in the first derby (see below) for 6 years. Palace won 3-1 and are the first team to take 3 points at Brighton's sparkling new stadium. A bitter pill to swallow for Seagulls fans.

In the media

Have you ever wondered why Crystal Palace and Brighton are rivals? I know I have. Well this is why:

"Most of football's great rivalries involve clubs thrown together either by geography – Arsenal and Tottenham, say, or Dundee United and, er, Dundee – or by years of high-profile, high-intensity competition for the game's biggest prizes – which explains Liverpool's ongoing ding-dong with Manchester United, or Real Madrid's with Barcelona. The rivalry between Crystal Palace and Brighton falls into neither of those categories"

Click here to read more.

Road to Wembley - Linnetts walk on

Our boys Runcorn Linnetts have been moving quite nicely through the rounds of the FA Cup as they look to make the final in 8 months time!

Remember in the Extra Preliminary Round they took two games to knock out our first picks AFC Liverpool, then in the Preliminary Round proper they drew away at Mossley AFC 0-0.

Runcorn: Mottram, Murphy, Fitzsimmons, Savva (Bodie, 65), Lawton, Ellison, Towey(Hardwick, 69), Holland, Prescott (Atherton, 58), Whyte (C), Pearson. Subs not used: Webb, O’Reilly, Dykes, Rigby.
Attendance: 228

Then in the replay at the sexily titled Millbank Linnetts Stadium they saw of near neighbours 4-0 and marched in to the 1st qualifying round of this year’s FA Cup with Budweiser. Two goals in each half, all coming from different players, reflected a game that they controlled throughout.

SEAN PEARSON scored the first from the spot, then KEVIN TOWEY's low shot from a tight angle took a deflection off the desperate Nick Swirad, and looped straight over Mossley ‘keeper Martin Pearson into the roof of the net for the second.

Just after the break CHRIS DYKES was rewarded for his own industriousness with a simple header into an empty net. Runcorn added a fourth and it came on 77 minutes courtesy of ROB BODIE.

Runcorn: Mottram, Murphy, Fitzsimmons (O’Reilly, 84), Savva, Lawton, Ellison, Towey (Webb, 78), Dykes (Bodie, 69), Atherton, Whyte (C), Pearson. Subs not used: Holland, Hewitt, Park
Attendance: 269

The reward was a trip to Blackpool to play Squires Gate in the 1st Qualifying Round.

Despite being outplayed for long periods the Linnetts hung on bravely despite hanging by the thinnest of threads, which included a penalty save by Mottram in the Runcorn goal. The Road to Wembley for the Linnets is proving to be a long and winding one as, for the third time this season, they needed a replay if they were to progress but the hoards of travelling Runcorn fans would have enjoyed the replay....

Runcorn: Mottram, Murphy, Fitzsimmons, Bodie, Lawton, Ellison (Webb, 81), Towey (Prescott, 61), Holland, Atherton (Black, 80), Whyte (C), Pearson. Subs not used: O’Reilly, Park, Dykes.
Attendance: 179

.... because in an exciting and close game ROB WHYTE flicked in a second half cross and their prize is another away trip, this time to Tyne & Wear to play Hebburn Town, who play in Division 2 of the Northern League (one level down in the football pyramid from Runcorn).

Meanwhile the Linnetts are the last NW Counties League team left in this years FA Cup. The tie takes place on Saturday at Hebburn Sports & Social Ground.

Congratulations

To Greg Foulger and his stunning bride Sandra Londoño, who got married in the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas on Saturday 17th September.

In an incredible coincidence they were staying at the Mandarin Oriental the night before as was I, but I missed them for a late night drink as I was losing my shirt at the black jack table down the strip.

The very best of luck to you both.

League Cup Draws - week 7

As well as the N&R Cup - probably the fantasy leagues most famous cup competition (current holder: Neville White), this year we are going to introduce two N&R League Cup competitions. Traditionally these cups carry a sponsor so we asked the Milk Board if they'd sponsor us and they said no, Johnstone Paints said not on your nelly, Coca Cola said bugger off, we asked Carling and Budweiser and they looked at our beer bellies and politely declined as well.

So, who do we get to sponsor a down market insurance fantasy league cup? Easy. Light and Bitter and Light and Lager. Contracts have been signed, and we have our first ever sponsored N&R FL competition.

So, enough of the fluff, the draw for the preliminary rounds has been made and I can announce them as follows:

Light & Bitter (Div 1) Preliminary Round
How about Bollocks v Two points, two flats, and a packet of gravel
Keep the faith v Boys on tour
To Elland Back v Guinness & eggs

Light & lager (Div 2) Preliminary Round
Planet Kilpo v Non- Calculated Risk
Frank & Beans v Hammer Nation
We are all Keith Lemon v Brighton Blues

The points will be calculated based on week 7's games and the winners will enter the 1st Round proper. Good luck all.

N&R Weekly Bet

Week 5, here we go.

Nobby:
Arsenal v Swansea HOME - CORRECT
Everton v Aston V HOME - WRONG
Man C v Wigan HOME - CORRECT

£2 stake. Winning potential £5.53. Winnings £0

Ready:
Arsenal v Swansea HOME - CORRECT
Man C v Wiagn HOME - CORRECT
Bolton v Man U AWAY - CORRECT
£2 stake. Winning potential £4.93. Winnings £4.93

Running total:
Ready £23.69 (positive)
Nobby £8 (negative)

10 years ago today....

I was walking back from lunch with a client just by the steps to the Lloyds Building in the city when we heard a few whispers that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center in New York City. The whispers got more frantic and we walked into a nearby office and watched the tragic drama unfold on a television.

My client had a sister in New York and was desperate for news of her, while I thought about my colleagues that occupied 8 of the top floors in the No. 2 South Tower. 176 of whom sadly lost their lives, 2,606 altogether at the WTC site and 2,977 in total not including the 19 cowardly hijackers.

That terrible day still doesn't seem real, it was so horrific that even the most creative of film writer hadn't thought of a plot so deplorable.

In 1996 I came pretty close to working in that South Tower but someone upstairs was looking out for me because it didn't happen, but still I had spent quite a bit time on the 105th floor before 9/11 watching out of the window at the helicopters and clouds gliding silently below.

What happened on that awful Tuesday morning stunned me like everyone else and I thought I realised the magnitude of it all, but I didn't fully until I moved to the U.S. a year later. Almost everyone I have ever met, particularly in NYC has a story of that day to tell. Some are happy to talk about it, some are not.

Today will be a day of reflection and pride as the National September 11 Memorial opens where the Twin Towers once stood.

Week 4

There were no Premiership games this weekend because of the European Championship Qualifiers and other Internationals.

I am on a crazy travel schedule the next two weeks which includes London, Majorca, Las Vegas and Chicago so the next couple of weeks of scores might be a bit late and Ready is in Thailand getting serviced.

I will have my Blackberry though and will be processing transfer requests.

Photograph of the week

Owen Hargreaves signed a one-year deal for Man City on a pay as you play deal but, after being restricted to just four appearances in the last three seasons, accepts he is short of match fitness and will miss City's next few games!

Ready pops

Manager of the Week - week 3
Ready jumped from a relegation place to 7th in week 3 all because of his 76 point haul - the best of the season so far, and hardly surprising given the amount of goals. Brett Davey scored a very healthy 70, this on the back of last week's winning score.

League leader Ian Kennett scored 69, a good score whichever way you look at it. A 69ner also for Alex Boswell.

Hilary and Huw Thomas both smacked a 68, Millwall fan Andrew Shepherd scored 65, Steve Black 63 and Mark Gregory, Johnny McGowan and Michael Stout hit 62.

Other scorers of note (good and bad) were Peter Godfrey 59, the Man U packed Mark Simmons' side hit 55, John Hardiman 50, Tim Harris 47, Mark Sterry 46, Giles Crowley 40, Graham Ward 37, Nobby 26 and Danny Rose who somehow managed 9 points, this despite his whole team being full of Arse's..

Life of Ian

N&R Division 1 - week 3 update
Ian Kennett has had more false starts than Usian Bolt and is often seen rubbing his head and kicking the nearest bin in his office after beating the gun. This time around we hope that Ian's Two points, two flats and a packet of gravel can stay the pace after they hit top of Div 1 in week 3. 69 points propelled him 4 places and he leads Paris Eagles by 7 points, who were previously top.

In 3rd is Woodys Round Up and 4th Guinness & eggs. Bingo is 5th and up to 6th, a climb of 20 places is Travelodge Kettles.

In 7th is Ready's Hannoi Utd, who knows all about kettles and in 8th and the final prized place is ThE DrEaM FacTorY, another climber.

Room with a view and Socceroos are the biggest fallers in week 3 but Tanus Terriers and CHAMP19NS both made good ground.

Ted Striker's XI drop to bottom.

Pure skill

N&R Division 2 - week 3 update
Pure Irish are romping away with Div 2 after 3 weeks. 27 points is hardly romping but it is a good effort averaging 55 points at this point of the season. At this rate Hills will end up with over 2,200 points and probably a world record.

Up to 2nd is previous champion, although it was before the war, Brett Davey and his Alchees Lubes. Last week's MoW had another great 7 days and moves up from 6th. 3rd is another ex-champ (the 2nd Division has 5 in total) 2Infinity & beyond a point ahead of Full Metal Jacket.

5th are the No Hopers, a bit of nose-bleed territory for Michael in fact. Likewise my old mucker Alex and Megan & Hannah's Bears in 6th.

Luis & Carroll's Adventures in Wonderland slips to 7th, but Conan's Destroyers are upto 8th and the other promotion places are filled by Morgan's Machines, Gooner Go Up, Kiwi Fantastic, Kings of Leon Osman and Hammer Nation, who has only previously been in a place that began with a '3'!

Sons of Pitches was a big faller, Barceloner moved up a few spots as did Muddy's Mavericks.

Lazarus United are in the Penultimate Place position and Arsene Still Knows are bottom. Ooh I'd 8 2 be bottom!

Transfer deadline

Maybe not the big sums of money spent this time around than in the past, mind you the majority of the signings were 'undisclosed' - how annoying is that? There were some interesting moves though. Here are my favourite 7 transfer deals in no particular order:

1) Craig Bellamy Man City to Liverpool - Free
Bellamy's memories of his last time at Liverpool were marred by a golf club and John Arne Riise's head. Howeverhe will give the Reds great options from the bench.

2)Yossi Benayoun Chelsea to Liverpool - Loan
I've always liked Benayoun and I think he will give Arsenal a goalscoring threat from midfield. Different player to Nasri but I think he will be a success. More so than Arteta.

3) Joey Barton Newcastle to QPR - Free
Watch the fireworks fly between Warnock and Barton if this goes wrong. Barton though has a lot to prove and with SWP, Luke Young and Armand Traore he adds vital experience to a team that looked certs for relegation the other week.

4) Scott Parker West Ham to Tottenham - £5m
A snip at 5 mill. Parker would have been in one of the top 6's teams now if it wasn't for that ill-advised move from Charlton to Chelsea to sit in their reserves and some bad injuries.

5) Peter Crouch Tottenham to Stoke - £12m
A break through signing for Stoke. Hopefully they just fling long balls to him, because that is not what he is best at but if I was a Stoke fan, and I know a few, then I'd be chuffed with Crouchy.

6) Owen Hargreaves Unattached to Man City - Free
Did City do this just to piss off Man Utd? A fully fit Hargreaves would be an England regular, but will he ever be the same player again?

7) Bryan Ruiz Twente to Fulham - £10.6m
Ruiz has scored goals wherever he has played. He is a good build and fit and could just be right for the Premiership.

To see all the Premiership's clubs in's and out's see here.

Please check the Daily Telegraph website for an updated player list and I endeavour to include one in next week's email.