N&R Weekly Predictions

Believe this is week 34.

Nobby

Stoke v Norwich HOME Yes
Reading v QPR HOME No
Man C v West Ham HOME Yes

Stake: £2
Potential Winnings £13.65
Balance £5.27

Ready
Aston V v Sunderland DRAW No
Southampton v WBA HOME No
Chelsea v Swansea HOME Yes

Stake £2
Potential Winnings £16.50
Balance £-19.56

N&R Cup Quarter Final Draw

The Quarter Final draw has been made for the prestigious N&R Cup. A hand picked shiny cup is the prize to the final winner, a prize to be cherished we think you'll agree. Here it goes:

N&R Cup Quarter Final Draw

Tim Harris v Richard Nathan

Luke Sloan v Ricky Wood
Neil Addington v Ryan Saveall
John McGowan v Peter Godfrey
So there you have it. The ties to be played over this weekend, week 38.

N&R Cup 4th Round Results

In week 36 the N&R Cup progressed another round and this is what happened:

N&R Cup 4th Round Results:

Luke Sloan 96-72  Aaron Bardon

Tim Harris 91-84  Ian Kennett

Peter Godfrey 73-55 Neil Reynolds

Kate Chillman 79-94 Ricky Wood

Andrew Shepherd 71-80 John McGowan

Lee Baughan 78-84 Neil Addington

Dan Weeks 76-79 Ryan Saveall

Richard Nathan 99-84 Ben Guarino

Some very high scoring games as we woudl expect in a bumper points week. In the top of the table clash Luke beat Aaron 06-72 and in the other big game Razor pipped Ben 99-84.

 

In the Champion v Champion tie, it was Ricky that came out on top giving Kate the slip 94-79 and he goes into the Quarter Final draw. Sav after beating his wife (metaphorically of course) in the last round then saw off (metaphorically of course) colleague Dan Weeks.  

Tim Harris, Godders, John Mc and Neil Addington will be the other managers in the hat for the next round.

Photograph of the week

At least Jose Bosingwa finds relegation funny.

Luke leads!

N&R Division 2 - Week 36

A new Div 2 leader after Moral Hazard and Monster Smash having shared it since week 14 succumb to The Sloan Rangers. In his first season Luke leapt to top place in week 36 and edges clear of Moral Hazard by 6 points.

Monster Smash find themselves 18 behind the leader and tied with Jager Bombers, and another manager in his rookie year, for 3rd.

Mobotinho are up to 5th as Addington Bears drop. Anfield Second XI climb a place whilst stwike him centuwion vewy woughly lose ground.

It's tight but the sole purpose here is promotion and the top 12 are 19 ahead of From SE6 to SB04 and 57 ahead of Chillers Champions.

Brox hit 11 week high

N&R Division 1 - Week 36

1, 2, 3 same but Brox Banditos moves up to 4th with Too Big to Fail 6th and Blue Euro Champs the sandwich in between.

Loads of Roubles fall out of the top 8 to 10th with Woody's Round Up up to 8th and currently in the prized position.

Armitage Shanks was a climber as was RVP's Red Army.

The same 12 occupy the grey zone. John Terry loves a choc ice the closest to the escape route.

Rich Richards gets Rich

Week 36 - MoW

Richard Richards and Mark Gregory both hit centuries in the busy week 36. Richard hitting the biggest score of 108, and therefore collecting a fiver. Mark scored 103 and then there were 13 managers all scoring more than 90.

Razor continued his good run of form with 99, Mitesh also managed a 99.

Paul Hodges hit a sublime 98 and Luke Sloan went top of Div 2 with 96. Chris Wright also scored 96.

Brett, Paul Long and Lee Horne owned a 95, Neil Wallis a Ricky 94, Soooozie and Dan Duboux 92 and Tim Harris 91.

nd

The week's lowest score, although that has to be said in context was 33 and was scored by Chris Minchell.

The final day of the League's 1 & 2 season in pictures

It was an exciting and emotional rollercoaster of a day in Leagues 1 and 2 as relegation and promotion issues were decided. Meanwhile in Prem, Man U are Champions with a month of the season left!

Barnet get relegated with record points and the manager of the Bees Edgar Davids is left to consider his future. Asked whether playing in non-League would be a comedown for a man capped 76 times by the Netherlands he replied: "What do you mean comedown? "I am not one who polishes his medals. It is what it is and you are where you are. If you have to go to the Conference, you go to the Conference."

Torquay United stay up under caretaker manager Alan Knill, who has been in charge since manager Martin Ling (ex of Southend parish) was put on long term sick with stress. Ling was this morning sacked to the suprise of everyone. Nice.

Pre-season favourites Rotherham United beat Aldershot at the unlikely titled New York Stadium 2-0 to grab the last League 2 promotion spot and send the Shots out of the league. I have a soft spot for Aldershot as it was there that I saw my first ever football game.

If you didn't see the end to the Brentford v Doncaster game, then google it now.Brentford hit the bar from an injury time penalty that would have given them automatic promotion to The Championship. The balled bounced out and from that Doncaster went up the other end of the pitch and scored. This gave Donny not only promotion but the title and it left Griffin Park (2 sides anyway) in absolute shock.

Who has won the Premier League?

Quiz: Name the individuals who represent 1 winner from the countries listed above.

Best weekly scores

Week 36 scores meant that Richard Richards got his 2nd score in our top 10 Best weekly score list, unfortunately for him they were not the highest score we have seen this season. That was 119 by Steve Black and Paul Long.

Top 10 Best weekly scores:
1= Steve Black, week 21, 119 points
1= Paul Long, week 21, 119 points
3= Brett Davey, week 21, 110 points
3= Richard Richards, week 21, 110 points
5. Graham Ward, week 21, 109 points
6. Richard Richards, week 36, 108 points
7= Alastair Bigg, week 21, 107 points
7= John McGowan, week 21, 107 points
9. Richard Nathan, week 21, 106 points
10. Mitesh Patel, week 21, 105 points
Up to week 36

Week 36 overview

Big points week. The headlines were grabbed by newly re-crowned Champions Man Utd after they beat Aston Villa on Monday night. This after City lost at Spurs on Sunday.

Chelsea letting in a 97th minute equaliser at Anfield on Sunday may well come back to bite them on the arm.... ouch!

Monday 22nd April 2013
Man Utd 3-0 Aston Villa

Sunday 21st April 2013
Liverpool 2-2 Chelsea
Tottenham 3-1 Man City

Saturday 20th April 2013
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Norwich 2-1 Reading
QPR 0-2 Stoke
Sunderland 1-0 Everton
Swansea 0-0 Southampton
West Brom 1-1 Newcastle
West Ham 2-0 Wigan

Wednesday 17th April 2013
Fulham 0-3 Chelsea
Man City 1-0 Wigan
West Ham 2-2 Man Utd

Tuesday 16th April 2013
Arsenal 0-0 Everton

Woah.. Ready is back, Ready is back.. Woah..

You may have seen a slightly tanned, dapper, shortish, handsome fellla around the London Market Place these past couple of weeks. If you have, then please say hello. I believe the ladies amongst you can give him a hug.

Ready started at Towergate on April 2nd. Welcome back mate.

So good they named it twice

Week 35 - MoW

How about that? The boy from the Big Apple sweeps to week 35's MoW. A fiver for Tony Murray after a 57 point week. More surprising was Francey in 2nd spot with 45.

Graham Ward scored 43 on the back of his MoW performance last week and Alastair Bigg, Johnnie McGowan, Chris Minchell (his best score since week 27) and Danny Rose all scored 41.

Other scores that caught my eye in their summer dresses were Rosie (34), Kirstie (33), Kate (32), Soozie (29), Sarah (23) and Hilary (22).

Henry notched the week's lowest score with 10.

Bigg week

N&R Division 1 - Week 35
It has to be Sav's title to lose with Ollympic Games now 41 points ahead of Guinness & eggs. Gooner win league is just a point behind in 3rd,

Too Big to Fail moves up to 4th from 6th, Brox banditos are up from 7th to 5th and We are the Darts and Blue Euro Champs both slip up.

Loads of Roubles are back into 8th with OJ's Red & White Army and Woody's Round Up both just 3 behind.

Jager squad are also in close proximity to the prize worthy top 8.

The relegation battle is struggling to produce any excitement with This game should be played on paper 26 points above the fray.

Smash and Hazard tied

N&R Division 2 - Week 35

6 weeks to go and Monster Smash and Moral Hazard now tie at the top of Div 2. I t has been 7 weeks since Monster Smash was last on top.

Ben and Aaron will be silly to think it is between the two of them for the shiny winners trophy as Sloan Rangers are just 6 points in arrears.

Promotion for these 3, in fact probably the top 7 or 8 is a given but silverware always looks nice on a desk - especially when presented on a warm summer's night in London by Nobby & Ready!

Elsewhere in the top 8 stwike him centuwion vewy woughly and Anfield Second XI swap places and Aniseed Twists move into 10th.

The only team that looks like it might break into the steady top 12 (it's been unchanged since week 31) is From SE6 to SB04.

At the bottom Cobra jump above Morgan & Hannah's Newco and Kings of Leon Osman also climb a place.

Forest Green Gingers reamin rooted to the bottom.

N&R Weekly Predictions

Nobby's pot is gradually being whittled down. But still it is bigger than Ready's!

Nobby

Fulham v Arsenal AWAY Yes

West Ham v Wigan AWAY No

Sunderland v Everton DRAW No

Stake £2

Potential Winnings £35.37

Balance £7.27

Ready

Swansea v Southampton HOME No

WBA v Newcastle HOME No

Norwich v Reading HOME Yes

Stake £2

Potential Winnings £19.32

Balance £-17.56

Week 35 overview

Sadly this week was all about what happened in the seats at Millwall and the streets at Newcastle.

Sunday 14th April 2013 - Premier League
Stoke 0-2 Man Utd
Newcastle 0-3 Sunderland

Saturday 13th April 2013 - Premier League
Arsenal 3-1 Norwich
Aston Villa 1-1 Fulham
Everton 2-0 QPR
Reading 0-0 Liverpool
Southampton 1-1 West Ham

Saturday 13th April 2013 - FA Cup
Wigan 2-0 Millwall

Sunday 14th April 2013 - FA Cup
Man C 2-1 Chelsea

Man U's title in numbers

- The Old Trafford club's 20th title is more than any side in England, with Liverpool (18) and Arsenal (13) closest behind them. Chelsea have four top-flight titles while Manchester City have won the league three times.

- The victory represents Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's 13th Premier League title and the 49th piece of silverware he has won in his career.

- Manchester United have scored 78 league goals so far this season, which is 12 more than any other club.

- The Red Devils also have the best shot conversion rate this term, converting 19.8% of attempts on goal.

- Only Manchester City (30) have conceded fewer goals than United this season (35), while only City (15) have kept more clean sheets than their local rivals (13).

- Manchester United striker Robin van Persie's hat-trick against Villa took his tally to 24 for the season and made him the Premier League's leading scorer.

- The Dutch international has hit the woodwork more often than any other Premier League player this term (seven).

- Of goalkeepers to have made more than 10 appearances this season, only Swansea's Gerhard Tremmel (82%) has a better save percentage than United's David De Gea (76%).

- Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez has the best minutes per goal ratio of all regular players this season (one goal every 97 minutes).

- Ryan Giggs has 13 league winners medals, Paul Scholes 11.

- Even John O'Shea has 5!!

- United are the only team yet to concede a penalty this season; the last team to go through a Premier League campaign without conceding one was Arsenal in 1999-2000. Not surprising that stat really!

- Sir Alex Ferguson's side have taken 84 points from 34 games this season, with the top-flight record at this stage being the 85 accrued by Chelsea in both 2004-05 and 2005-06.

- In terms of goals scored, United this season (78) are someway short of their own Premier League record after 34 games (87 in 1999-2000).

Photograph of the week 1

Arsenal fans look away now. RVP scored a first half hat-trick and Man Utd win their 20th league title, van Persie's first.

Photograph of the week 2

Every time this scum bag walks out onto a football pitch in England, a little piece of the beautiful game dies.

G Force

Week 34 - MoW
Graham Ward picked up his 2nd MoW of the season with a 46 points score in week 34. Dan Weeks was next best with 41, Dewbs hit a 39 and Chillers and Neil Wallis 38.
Rosie walked away with a 37 and Soozie, Godders, Barry Paull and Kennett also pocketed a 36.   The lowest weekly score was 14 - Kirsty and Sarah shared the honours.

Sav me up

N&R Division 1 - Week 34

7 weeks left and Ollympic Games have opened up their lead to 52 points and the top 6 remained unchanged although OJ's Red & White Army slip back in above Woody's Round Up in 8th.

I would say all the way down to Boys on tour in 19th have varying chances of making the top 8. Close.

The bottom 12 are getting isolated. Bingo is getting more pulled into the dogfight and talking of such we have yet to see anyone in the bottom 12 really look like they are going to put a run together for safety.

Morally close

N&R Division 2 - Week 34

Moral Hazard still top but just 33 points separate the top 4 teams and with the games now coming a bit more thicker and faster more weekly points will be scored.

In 12th Bardzo lubię nie musieć nic lead Nobby's From SE6 to SB04 by 15 points but then there is a gap to Chillers and then an even bigger gap to Dan's Dribblers in 15th.

The 12 promotion places look to be between 14 teams.

At the bottom Forest Green Gingers has the overall worst score. Pete is just 9 points off The No Hopers in Div 1. Remember the Penultimate Lowest Score wins a cash prize - heaven knows why, but it does.

N&R Cup 4th Round Draw

I've had my lunch, and now to draw the N&R Cup 4th Round. Gary Lineker wasn't available so I've asked the best looking bird in the office (you will have to take my word for it) to jiggle the balls and pull them out. Here we go:

N&R Cup 4th Round Draw:

Luke Sloan v Aaron Bardon

Tim Harris v Ian Kennett

Peter Godfrey v Neil Reynolds

Kate Chillman v Ricky Wood
Andrew Shepherd v John McGowan
Lee Baughan v Neil Addington
Dan Weeks v Ryan Saveall
Richard Nathan v Ben Guarino

So there you have it and the ties will be played this week, which is week 36.

The most interesting tie of the round is last year's N&R Cup winner Kate playing last year's N&R League Champion Ricky. Ryan, fresh from knocking off his wife (oo-er) now goes to colleague Dan Weeks.

Double hopers Luke Sloan and Aaron Bardon meet and another cracking tie should be Razor at home to Ben.

Good luck all.

Photograph of the week

Cardiff City won promotion to the Premier League after holding Charlton to a 0-0 draw in South Wales last night. The Bluebirds Dragons will join big Welsh rivals Swansea in England's elite division meaning that the EPL now has two Welsh football teams and a third in Gareth Bale.

Week 34 in overview

It was Paulo's first game in charge and he lost, 'Arry looks resigned to the drop and City closed the gap in the title race to just 54 points.

Monday 8th April 2013
Man Utd 1-2 Man City

Sunday 7th April 2013
QPR 1-1 Wigan
Chelsea 2-1 Sunderland
Newcastle 1-0 Fulham
Tottenham 2-2 Everton
Liverpool 0-0 West Ham

Saturday 6th April 2013
Norwich 2-2 Swansea
Stoke 1-3 Aston Villa
West Brom 1-2 Arsenal
Reading 0-2 Southampton

WARNING: To Millwall fans going to the Watford game

Millwall fans to resume fierce rivalry with Millwall fans against Watford

Millwall fans have warned Millwall fans that there will be trouble if they see any Millwall fans at tonights game against Watford.

Trouble flared in Millwalls FA Cup semi-final defeat by Wigan on Saturday after Millwall fans infiltrated the Millwall end, leading to battles between the one set of supporters.

Police fear that the animosity Millwall fans have for Millwall fans could spark a repeat of Saturdays violence.

We would urge Millwall fans to avoid any areas that Millwall fans may congregate, said a police spokesperson.

We will do all we can to keep Millwall fans and Millwall fans apart, but we cant rule out the added complication of Millwall fans turning up.

Millwall hooligan Mark McKenzie was amongst a number of troublemakers who have been issuing themselves with warnings ahead of this evenings Championship fixture against Watford.

In a text message to himself, he said: If I go to the game tonight then Im telling me now its going to kick off.

Mr McKenzie then ran down several alleyways before leaving a message on his voicemail in which he sang: Im going to kick my own f@+?ing head in.

Season ticket holder John Reeves was also keen to issue himself with threats of violence and to warn that he would almost certainly be travelling home in an ambulance.

Staring at his reflection in a shop window and making throat-cutting gestures, he chanted: I dont like me, I dont care.

Come on then! Come on

Chaaaarrrrrrge!

Road to Wembley - Citeh go through to final

Manchester City became our final 2012/13 Road to Wembley side after they dispatched Chelsea in a close semi-final game on Sunday at Wembley.

Manchester City will meet Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final after winning an enthralling Wembley encounter with Chelsea.


The 2011 winners looked on course for a comfortable victory as goals either side of half-time from Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero gave them the lead their dominance deserved.

Chelsea, to their great credit given their recent arduous schedule, somehow summoned up reserves of strength and resilience after DEMBA BA's stunning goal set up a grandstand finish that could have forced extra time.

Photograph of the week

Sunderland see what they acquired when Paulo Di Canio celebrates with a Mourinho-esque knee slide as Adam Johnson scores Sudnerland's 2nd goal in a 3-0 win at deadly rivals Newcastle.

N&R Cup 3rd Round Results

In Week 33 the coveted N&R Cup was played out. These are the 3rd Round results.

N&R Cup 3rd Round Results

Brett Davey 55-61 Lee Baughan

Peter Godfrey 48-45 P&C Long

Luke Sloan 65-50 Geoff McCormick

Neville White 30-58 Dan Weeks

Mark Gregory 50-59 Ben Guarino

Tim Harris 53-44 Alex Boswell
John McGowan 51-50 Graham Ward
Barry Paull 45-56 Neil Reynolds

Ryan Saveall 68-54 Soozie Saveall

Aaron Bardon 50-44 Neil Bixby

Neil Addington 48-46 Dan Duboux
Richard Nathan 53-51 Richard Richards

Ricky Wood 56-45 Mark Dewberry

Andrew Shepherd 55-33 James Stiff

Ian Kennett 61-54 Lee Horne

Kate Chillman 52-50 Neil Wallis

The big game was the local derby between Sav and Sooz, with the old man winning out. Apparently the wager was that young Olly has to wear a Spurs kit now until his next birthday.

In a number of close games Kate just beat Neil Wallis, Neil Addington beat Dan Duboux, Aaron saw off the challenge from Bix and John McGowan beat Graham by just a point.

Ben G won away at Mark Gregory's and Godders beat Pau Long.

In the battle of the Richards it was Nathan that beat Richards and in the top of the table clash Luke beat Geoff.

The 3rd Round draw later this week.

N&R Weekly Predictions

The Saints didn't go marching in for Keith

Nobby

Reading v Liverpool AWAY No
Aston V v Fulham HOME No
Newcastle v Sunderland HOME No

Stake £2
Potential Winnings £13.45
Balance £9.27

Ready
Arsenal v Norwich HOME Yes
Everton v QPR HOME Yes
Southampton v West Ham HOME No

Stake £2
Potential Winnings £7.04
Balance £-15.56

Saveall & Turner share the week's prize

Week 33 - MoW
Joint MoW winners in week 33. Sav and Andi Turner, the Bluefin boys swept the fiver with 68 points a piece. It was Sav's 2nd MoW award this season and Andi's first.

Wenners and Luke made 65, Mitesh and Paul Hodges 63 and Ken 62.

The week's worst score was Stouty with 19.

Top 8 already up?

N&R Division 2 - Week 33
Just 4 points between Moral Hazard and The Sloan Rangers into 2nd with Monster Smash falling to 3rd, his lowest position since November!

Addington Bears and Jager Bombers are still in with a chance of the Div 2 title, and the I would say the top 8 to include Mobotinho, Anfield Second XI and stwike him centuwion vewy woughly all look as good as promoted.

Forest Green Gingers are rock bottom 103 points behind the team above him, who are Cobra.

Woody perking up

N&R Division 1 - Week 33
46 points the lead with which Ollympic Games heads Guinness & eggs in week 33. Gooner win league 3rd and a big gal then to the pack led by We are the Darts.

Outside the top 8 Loads of Roubles slip out as Woodys Round Up make it into the prize places for the first time since early January.

The relegation 12 remain the same.

N&R Weekly Predictions

A blank week

Nobby

Reading v Southampton AWAY Yes

Liverpool v West Ham HOME No

Tottenham v Everton HOME No

Stake £2

Potential Winnings £11.44

Balance £11.27

Ready

Chelsea v Sunderland HOME Yes
Newcastle v Fulham HOME Yes

Liverpool v West Ham HOME No

Stake £2

Potential Winnings £7.56

Balance £-13.56

Quotes of the week

"Talk about racism? That is absolutely stupid, stupid and ridiculous. The people who know me can change that idea quickly. When I was in England my best friends were Trevor Sinclair and Chris Powell, the Charlton manager - they can tell you everything about my character."

Paulo Di Canio explaining his unusual habit of pushing his right arm into the air like a salute.  

"Fed up with the money tweets, get over it,"

QPR defender Chris Samba has obviously got over the fact himself that he is pocketing a £100,000 a week.

"One of the reasons I never retired from the England team is because, if there's ever an opportunity to play for them again, I'm available,"

David Beckham at almost 38 still hopeful in adding more England caps to his 115.

 

"The race for the top four will be up until the end of the season but we are in the top four with a game in hand, we are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the Europa League quarter-finals, so it is a great season so far."

Rafa Benitez ingratiating himself further to Blues fans

"I have been a manager for 33 years and these last 12 months have been the hardest. I have given it my best shot, but, being honest, we haven't been good enough in the final third of the pitch."
Neil Warnock announcing that he has had enough at Leeds before the board agreed with him.

Week 33 overview

The Easter program saw Martin O'Neill get the boot following Brian McDermott the week before as foreign owners push the seat eject button.

5 managers have been sacked this season in the Premier League. All by foreign owners.

Sun 31 Mar 2013 - Premier League

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool

Sat 30 Mar 2013 - Premier League
Sunderland 0 - 1 Man Utd
Arsenal 4 - 1 Reading
Man City 4 - 0 Newcastle
Southampton 2 - 1 Chelsea
Swansea 1 - 2 Tottenham
West Ham 3 - 1West Brom
Wigan 1 - 0 Norwich
Everton 1 - 0 Stoke

Mon 1 April 2013 - FA Cup
Chelsea 1 - 0 Man Utd

N&R Weekly Predictions

One wrong each. Nobby still in credit.

Nobby

Arsenal v Reading HOME Yes

Southampton v Chelsea DRAW No

Wigan v Norwich HOME Yes

Stake £2

Potential Winnings £17.55

Balance £13.27

Ready
Sunderland v Man U v AWAY Yes
Man C v Newcastle HOME Yes
Southampton v Chelsea AWAY No

Stake £2
Potential Winnings £8.30
Balance £-11.56

Phototgraph of the week

Wow. Lose to the champions elect and get the sack. And it's not even a World Cup summer for Martin O'Neill to take his place on the sofa alongside Alan Shearer.

PDC drives up in his Maserati from being parked outside Upton Park for a few weeks. Looks like the West Ham job is going to stay with Big Sam so Paulo cuts the Swindon badge from his scarf and signs on the dotted line for Sunderland resulting in David Miliband resigning. 6 games left.