I touched Alan Hansen

Also...

...just a quick reminder that we're watching the Arsenal-Man Utd game at the Broomhill Tavern tomorrow night. Get there early (7-7.30pm) for a decent seat!

posted by Pete @ 5:25 pm 0 comments

Once again, it went down to the final game yesterday, but Matt got the correct outcome for the Oldham-Bolton tie, taking him a point ahead of myself to win the weekend's predictions with 19 points to my 18. Nick, I'm afraid you only scored 6 points.

FA Cup 5th Round Draw

Bolton v Derby or Fulham
WBA or Spurs v Nottm Forest
Everton v Man Utd
Charlton v Leicester
Burnley v Blackburn
Southampton v Brentford or Hartlepool
Newcastle v Chelsea (doh!)
Arsenal v Sheff Utd or West Ham

To be played on 19/20th Feb.

posted by Pete @ 5:08 pm 1 comments

Nick's FA cup predictions (more like guesses)

Saturday
Arsenal 3-0 Wolves
Brentford 1-2 Hartlepool
Burnley 1-0 Bournemouth
Blackburn 1-1 Colchester
Charlton 3-0 Yeovil
Derby 1-2 Fulham
Everton 0-0 Sunderland
Man Utd 1-2 Middlesbrough
Newcastle 2-1 Coventry
Nottm Forest 2-0 Peterborough
Reading 3-1 Leicester
Southampton 2-2 Portsmouth
West Brom 1-2 Spurs
West Ham 2-3 Sheff Utd

Sunday
Chelsea 3-0 Birmingham
Oldham 2-2 Bolton

posted by Nick @ 10:55 am 0 comments

Update on Bellamy...

Bellamy's not been picked for the FA Cup tie against Coventry (surprise surprise), and Portsmouth, Stoke & Burnley have all put in loan bids for him. I also heard Neil Warnock yesterday say on Sky that he wanted to get him on loan too. Just heard Souness give a press conference, and completely avoid the question of Bellamy, but also gave us the good news that Andy O'Brien has signed a new contract!! Woo-hoo! Apparently, he epitomises the spirit he wants in the Newcastle dressing room.
Ooh... news just in (Sky Sports News is so good!): Mark Hughes has confirmed his interest in Bellamy.

Also... next Tuesday, I think I'm gonna watch the Arsenal-Man Utd game at the Tavern again, so if anyone wants to join me, remember to get there early for a decent seat.

posted by Pete @ 10:47 am 6 comments

Matt's FA Cup predictions..

Saturday
Arsenal 2-0 Wolves
Brentford 1-0 Hartlepool
Burnley 1-0 Bournemouth
Blackburn 2-0 Colchester
Charlton 2-0 Yeovil
Derby 1-1 Fulham
Everton 1-1 Sunderland
Man Utd 2-0 Middlesbrough
Newcastle 2-0 Coventry
Nottm Forest 2-0 Peterborough
Reading 1-0 Leicester
Southampton 1-1 Portsmouth
West Brom 0-1 Spurs
West Ham 1-1 Sheff Utd

Sunday
Chelsea 2-0 Birmingham
Oldham 1-2 Bolton

posted by Matt @ 8:46 am 0 comments

F.A. Cup Fourth Round

A special FA Cup edition of weekend predictions. Did you know that the winning team in this round receives £60,000?

Saturday
Arsenal 3-1 Wolves
Brentford 0-2 Hartlepool
Burnley 0-1 Bournemouth
Blackburn 3-0 Colchester
Charlton 3-2 Yeovil
Derby 1-1 Fulham
Everton 1-1 Sunderland
Man Utd 2-1 Middlesbrough
Newcastle 3-0 Coventry
Nottm Forest 1-2 Peterborough
Reading 1-2 Leicester
Southampton 1-1 Portsmouth
West Brom 1-3 Spurs
West Ham 1-2 Sheff Utd

Sunday
Chelsea 2-0 Birmingham
Oldham 1-1 Bolton

posted by Pete @ 11:53 am 0 comments

Chelsea

I thought Chelsea were a class act last night - more than I've seen them earlier in the season. They seem to be winning games without really playing well a lot of the time, but their concentration levels and teamwork (like tracking back) was raight good last night.

V impressed by Drogba. Silly name, Lennox Lewis hair, but strong and composed.

posted by Nick @ 9:27 am 1 comments

And further news...

... Toure's got a 3 match ban for elbowing Shearer in the back! Ha ha!

posted by Pete @ 10:34 pm 0 comments

Righty ho, looks like the quadruple is still on then. As Man Utd don't seem to be able to find a decent keeper, Chelsea will be strolling through the League Cup final against Liverpool. Incidentally, I considered putting a bet on the quadruple back in November when the odds were around 200-1; they subsequently dropped to around 50-1 and now, I doubt you could get 10-1, but hey, maybe Barca will slip them up in the Champions League.

Update on the Bellamy saga: it seems Stoke have put a loan bid in for him, and also Blackburn for a season long loan. Seems his reputation is shot to pieces and noone's touching him. I have to admit, I do feel a little sorry for the fella.

posted by Pete @ 10:12 pm 0 comments

Forget necks... could there be a bigger gob in premiership football ? It's like nearly half his head. We need a new poll !

posted by Matt @ 3:18 pm 1 comments

Tonight's the Night...

Just to say, I'm gonna head over to the pub tonight about half seven to get a decent seat; I'll try and nab a table if possible.

As for predictions, even though Chelsea are favourites, I think Man Utd might actually just nick it at the end. 1-0 to United. Ooh, it's gonna be a good game.

posted by Pete @ 1:22 pm 1 comments

As for the smallest neck debate...

...is there no way we could get a definitive result? Either write to the clubs concerned and ask for an accurate measurement, or even better get in touch with the BBC - it could be a slot on Football Focus, or more likely, the perfect feature for Adrian Chiles on MOTD2.

posted by Si @ 11:46 am 1 comments

Well, it went down to the wire (and a dodgy Diouf penalty: is he possibly the most dislikeable player in the Premiership?), but last night's result put Nick on equal pegging with myself with 5 points each.

Has anyone been following the Bellamy saga? Watched his interview with Sky last night and I'm with the Welsh wonder; he's always been one of our most hard working players, and I can't imagine him feigning injury; it all sounded genuine to me. As well as this, and although I support his appointment generally, Souness has got a reputation for forcing players out he doesn't get on with personally. Let's hope they can sort it out, 'cause I wouldn't like to see Bellamy leave.

posted by Pete @ 11:15 am 3 comments

The dizzy heights...

...yes, as everyone with any sense knows, the most significant domestic competition is not the premiership - oh no, and it's not as the traditionalists would have you believe the FA Cup. Nay (or even neiiighhh!), it is the Carling Cup. Yes, the Car-ling Cup. "Why?" I hear you ask. Well, for the very same reason that Fifa 2000 is by far the best pre-2005 incarnation of that particular franchise, namely... the presence of Watford Football Club. Yes, this evening sees the 2nd leg of the semi against Liverpool, and there's still a fair amount to be played for. Never thought I would have been disappointed by a 1-0 defeat at Anfield but frankly we played our socks off whilst they were decidedly lacklustre.

Which leads me on to a question. A certain japanese Man U "fan" believes that should Watford miraculously progress then it will be a disaster for football. Is he right? Is football just about the demonstration of skill and great playmanship, or is there not truly an equal merit in the display of guts (not literally of course)? Is there not a kind of glory in the littler fish getting somewhere that isn't as such "their place"? After all, you don't hear all that much about Goliath of Gath these days. That is my question (or more accurately "those are my questions") for you.

posted by Si @ 11:13 am 1 comments

Just got back from the game; lost 1-0. We didn't really deserve anything from it; I think we had one shot on target, and the Gooners missed a hatful of chances, although Given was on top form as always.

Based on a system of 1 point for a correct result and 3 for a correct scoreline - and with one game to go tomorrow night (Bolton-Blackburn) - I'm currently in the lead with 5 points, with Nick and Matt both trailing on 4 points! Hurrah! That's mainly because I was the only one to get a correct scoreline with the Man Utd-Villa game. It shall be concluded tomorrow night.

Also, if anyone fancies joining us, myself, Hugh and Laurence are watching the second leg of the League Cup Semi-Final between Man Utd & Chelsea on Wednesday night at the Broomhill Tavern. Parkins! You should come and make it interesting seen as none of us support either club. The first leg was the best 0-0 draw I've seen in a very long time; it should be a good match.

posted by Pete @ 6:43 pm 2 comments

Does anyone fancy watching the Arsenal-Newcastle game tomorrow? It starts at 4pm; I'll be in the Broomhill Tavern.

Munro! You should definitely come!

posted by Pete @ 7:38 pm 0 comments

Matt's Weekend predictions...

posted by Matt @ 4:52 pm 1 comments

Ok, here are my predictions for the weekend's Premiership results:

Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle
Man Utd 3-1 Aston Villa
Birmingham 1-1 Fulham
Bolton 2-2 Blackburn
Everton 1-0 Charlton Athletic
Chelsea 2-0 Portsmouth
Crystal Palace 2-3 Spurs
Southampton 0-2 Liverpool
West Brom 1-1 Man City
Norwich 1-2 Middlesbrough

Any other contributors, have a go, and we'll compare success rates on Monday; the most accurate get's a fantastic prize!

posted by Pete @ 8:15 am 1 comments

Thought I'd remind us of a joyous moment.

posted by Matt @ 8:50 pm 0 comments

so please, explain this "football" to me!

(and "A game played by two teams of 11 players each on a rectangular, 100-yard-long field with goal lines and goal posts at either end, the object being to gain possession of the ball and advance it in running or passing plays across the opponent's goal line or kick it through the air between the opponent's goal posts." won't cut it ok?)

apparently, it's also called soccer?!?

posted by Ant @ 6:40 pm 4 comments

A sentimental childhood plea!

Ok, hear me out...

It is a bit geeky, but someone out there has to join me in this season's Merlin sticker collection! The album's are only about £2 and sticker packs are 35p! Bargain! I've got so many swaps and the teachers at Sharrowvale School are starting to give me funny looks when I peer through the gates at lunchtime.
Re-live those childhood memories! Start collecting today! (It's harmless fun!)

posted by Pete @ 6:28 pm 0 comments

Giant killing?

Hmmm, can't see last night's giant killing repeating itself tonight in the Exeter-Man Utd game. I'm going for 0-4 to the Red Devils.

Just to say, I've sent some invites out to people; if anyone else wants to post, let me know.

Would quite like to get some regular features started, like a prediction of weekend results on Friday, then a roundup of results on a Monday. Anyone with any more humorous feature ideas, please suggest!

posted by Pete @ 6:58 pm 10 comments

...in those tiny shorts.

Hello! And welcome to I touched Alan Hansen! For all things football shaped. Just think of us as the thinking man's 606!

I will be sending all those interested in posting an invite shortly. In the mean time, feel free to vote in the intense issue that is sweeping through all football clubs across the land: who's got the shortest neck in football?

Regards.

posted by Pete @ 7:04 pm 1 comments