murf's Premiership Predictions CL Stylee Cup13/14 KNOCKOUTS

[the dude abides]

From 2nd to last it is then .... Congratulations to Shaggy365 and The Dude Abides .

I finally found the rules from a link to the UEFA CL Regulations in the references on Wikipedia. No wonder they make them hard to find (there isn't a yawn smilie)

Sorry to Eagle224,and Big Bird, not a great way to progress.
Thanks to Rookster for his Michel Platini like knowledge of UEFA though, i looked at the table and didn't have a clue who would go through.

[Rookster]

FINAL GROUP STAGE RESULTS

Group 1 - Spencer4, Minitoff, Moist von L, Colbert
Group 2 - yorkshiredragon, Ralfbergs, wizardoffire, toffeelover
Group 3 - Lucky7s, murf, DrBunker, morganb
Group 4 - Spinynorman, MickMacPaddywack, Reds 363, thebillfella
Group 5 - jeffmcgow, sportsmeister, Arabian Knight, bluenosey
Group 6 - stevefoster, nffc, darbyand, paisleypark
Group 7 - Shaggy365, The Dude Abides, Big Bird, eagle224
Group 8 - Rookster, foxinthebox2001, Brightwater, Digsby

Having checked the results for group 4, Spinynorman and MickMacPaddywack both won in the final week and both progress. (Mick thought he was already out for some reason?)

Of the qualifiers, only 3 top seeds made it through and yours truly was the only top seed to win the group. 5 of the bottom seeds made it through and 5 of the second seeds (which leaves 3 third seeded teams also got through). Group 8 was the only group which went to form where each team finished in their seed order.

Just waiting to see who will be making the draw - over to you murf.

[murf]

Kylie will be making the draw as ever (so not just here to plug her new album. Available now from all good record shops and websites, and some bad ones too. Special guest for the away teams is Tina from Corrie (this was on her bucket list....).

[murf]

KNOCKOUT -

Sets 31-36, two legged games.
Set 37 = final.
Set 38 = possible replay

All ties except the final will be knockout over two legs, home and away. Away goals counts if there is a tie and then usual tie-breakers. All draws will be totally random using the black bag with two special guests doing the draw each week as per previous seasons.

NOTE - The last 16 matches will be over two legs comprising Sets 31 and 33 - NOT set 32. The matches will be, as intended, over proper pre-planned weekend sets. Set 32 is just the rearranged games in a midweek so will NOT count for this comp.

Unless things change the sets will now be:
Sets 31 & 33 - last 16
Sets 34 - 35 - QFs
Sets 36 - 37 - SFs
Set 38 = final
Set 39 = possible replay

Kylie and Tina are in the building (video NOT being posted on Youtube). Draw imminent....

[murf]

LAST 16 DRAW

yorkshiredragon v foxinthebox2001
nffc v The Dude Abides
Lucky7s v MickMacPaddywack
jeffmcgow v Shaggy365
Rookster v Ralfbergs
murf v sportsmeister
stevefoster v Spinynorman
Spencer4 v Minitoff

Two legs over the next two weekends (Sets 31 and 33 - no midweek games).

First/Kylie drawn team at home in the first leg

[Spencer4]

Minitoff again he'll be pleased.

[murf]

Minitoff again he'll be pleased.

You had a 9-9 draw last time. Probably get selected for Sky1 on that basis.....

[Ralfbergs]

LAST 16 DRAW

Rookster v Ralfbergs

Ah, this will be a tough battle - but as Rookster was one of the players who I won in my race to win murf's knockout cup, I think it's a good sign

[Rookster]

LAST 16 DRAW

Rookster v Ralfbergs

Ah, this will be a tough battle - but as Rookster was one of the players who I won in my race to win murf's knockout cup, I think it's a good sign

Good to see the banter has started early.

The knockout cup was the equivalent of the capital one cup where I let my fringe and youth players have a run out. You sneaked a 17-16 aggregate win then but... This is the champions league and serious business. The big guns will be out and if you even dream of beating me again, you better wake up and apologise.

Good Luck

[jeffmcgow]

My scouts have already been out to look at my opponent Shaggy365 in action. Shaggy definitely favours a catenaccio style which will contrast well with my all out attacking style.

Still I'm down in 19th while Shaggy is looking good in 5th so I'm certainly the underdog.

[Ralfbergs]

LAST 16 DRAW

Rookster v Ralfbergs

Ah, this will be a tough battle - but as Rookster was one of the players who I won in my race to win murf's knockout cup, I think it's a good sign

Good to see the banter has started early.

The knockout cup was the equivalent of the capital one cup where I let my fringe and youth players have a run out. You sneaked a 17-16 aggregate win then but... This is the champions league and serious business. The big guns will be out and if you even dream of beating me again, you better wake up and apologise.

Good Luck

I'm quite interested to see how your actual team will do then if your youth team scored 16 points in two games that time . Anyway, my team takes all competitions seriously no matter what . Good luck you too!

[Mick MacPaddywack]

LAST 16 DRAW

Lucky7s v MickMacPaddywack

Hmm ... Lucky7s won Murf's Group with 13 points & drew 9-9 in his last match with Murf ... hope he's plumb tuckered out & has nothing left in the tank ...

Doubt it though ...

[Lucky7s]

LAST 16 DRAW

Lucky7s v MickMacPaddywack

Hmm ... Lucky7s won Murf's Group with 13 points & drew 9-9 in his last match with Murf ... hope he's plumb tuckered out & has nothing left in the tank ...

Doubt it though ...

Haha, well recent results have surprised even me, I only just made it through the qualifiers so I'm not counting any chickens
Let's hope it's a good honest fight, good luck!

[murf]

Don't forget to pick!

LAST 16 DRAW

yorkshiredragon v foxinthebox2001
nffc v The Dude Abides
Lucky7s v MickMacPaddywack
jeffmcgow v Shaggy365
Rookster v Ralfbergs
murf v sportsmeister
stevefoster v Spinynorman
Spencer4 v Minitoff

Two legs over the next two weekends (Sets 31 and 33 - no midweek games).

First/Kylie drawn team at home in the first leg

[murf]

Form guide for our remaining teams:

Position Points Username
1 242 murf
2 237 Rookster
3 231 Shaggy365
4 226 Spinynorman
5 225 Spencer4
6 222 Ralfbergs
7 220 yorkshiredragon
8 219 jeffmcgow
9 211 the dude abides
10 209 steve foster
11 203 Lucky7s
11 203 foxinthebox2001
13 202 nffc
14 190 Mick MacPaddywack
15 136 sportsmeister
16 79 Minitoff

Rookster v Ralfbergs is the biggest last 16 match up. Shaggy v jeffmcgow is also a top 8 match up. The lowest ranked match up is Lucky7s v MickMacPaddywack with the winners of that maybe being an appealing QF draw for somebody....

The biggest bankers (on paper) are murf v sportsmeister and Spencer4 v Minitoff but will the form book be followed???

[Ralfbergs]

Rookster v Ralfbergs is the biggest last 16 match up.

True that! I hope everyone has already bought their tickets, stadium might be sold out .

[Shaggy365]

My scouts have already been out to look at my opponent Shaggy365 in action. Shaggy definitely favours a catenaccio style which will contrast well with my all out attacking style.

Still I'm down in 19th while Shaggy is looking good in 5th so I'm certainly the underdog.

OK. So I had to go onto Wikipedia to find out what catenaccio means. I think it means I'll either score 15 points or 2 with a similar probability of either.

[foxinthebox2001]

I have been scraping by on 6's and 7's, by the law of averages I must be due a big score.

[jeffmcgow]

My scouts have already been out to look at my opponent Shaggy365 in action. Shaggy definitely favours a catenaccio style which will contrast well with my all out attacking style.

Still I'm down in 19th while Shaggy is looking good in 5th so I'm certainly the underdog.

OK. So I had to go onto Wikipedia to find out what catenaccio means. I think it means I'll either score 15 points or 2 with a similar probability of either.

I came across the term in the book "Flat Back Four" - Andy Gray I think. If I recall correctly, the style is geared towards a strong defence with the hope of nicking a goal. i.e. lots of 1-0s

I'm definitely looking forward to our encounter - I think it's going to be a close one.

Good luck!

[morganb]

Just wanted to wish everyone good luck in their quest for glory, but especially to Group 3's Lucky7s and murf (who also deserves thanks for organising)

[Ralfbergs]

My scouts have already been out to look at my opponent Shaggy365 in action. Shaggy definitely favours a catenaccio style which will contrast well with my all out attacking style.

Still I'm down in 19th while Shaggy is looking good in 5th so I'm certainly the underdog.

OK. So I had to go onto Wikipedia to find out what catenaccio means. I think it means I'll either score 15 points or 2 with a similar probability of either.

As far as I remember catenaccio was more like really organized defensive, low scoring football style, where the team has a really strong defence and rarely concedes, but doesn't score that many goals when they win either.Basically how Italy plays in their better days

[murf]

Nobody had Chelsea beating Arsenal 6-0

14 of you had them winning though, only me and nffc not seeing that coming

[Minitoff]

Minitoff again he'll be pleased.

You had a 9-9 draw last time. Probably get selected for Sky1 on that basis.....

Actually, Spencer4 beat me 9-4 a week after I made a comeback to grab a dramatic point in a 9-9 draw. So I am out for revenge. I am the lowest ranked player because I only started playing in week 19.

If that means that I am always the underdog, then so be it.

Good Luck Spencer4.

[murf]

Scores - 1st leg with 1 game to go

8 Spencer4 v 13 Minitoff
13 jeffmcgow v 11 Shaggy365
12 murf v 7 sportsmeister
11 Rookster v 5 Ralfbergs
10 Lucky7s v 8 Mick MacPaddywack
8 yorkshiredragon v 9 foxinthebox2001
7 nffc v 9 the dude abides
7 steve foster v 9 Spinynorman

[murf]

catenaccio was more like really organized defensive, low scoring football style, where the team has a really strong defence and rarely concedes, but doesn't score that many goals when they win either.

Didn't see much of that on MOTD last night!

[jeffmcgow]

Scores - 1st leg with 1 game to go

8 Spencer4 v 13 Minitoff
13 jeffmcgow v 11 Shaggy365
12 murf v 7 sportsmeister
11 Rookster v 5 Ralfbergs
10 Lucky7s v 8 Mick MacPaddywack
8 yorkshiredragon v 9 foxinthebox2001
7 nffc v 9 the dude abides
7 steve foster v 9 Spinynorman

So, I have a narrow lead over Shaggy going into the second leg. I can't help thinking though that those 11 away goals could prove crucial.

[Shaggy365]

So, I have a narrow lead over Shaggy going into the second leg. I can't help thinking though that those 11 away goals could prove crucial.

4th best score & I'm losing at half-time. Still there's plenty of time for me to flop completely.

[murf]

Scores - 1st leg with 1 game to go

8 Spencer4 v 13 Minitoff
13 jeffmcgow v 11 Shaggy365
12 murf v 7 sportsmeister
11 Rookster v 5 Ralfbergs
10 Lucky7s v 8 Mick MacPaddywack
8 yorkshiredragon v 9 foxinthebox2001
7 nffc v 9 the dude abides
7 steve foster v 9 Spinynorman

Nobody gets even a single point for predicting Stoke to win at villa so these stand as the FIRST LEG RESULTS

Midweek games (Set 32) do NOT count

Second leg is next weekend - Set 33.

[murf]

1st leg RESULTS
8 Spencer4 v 13 Minitoff
13 jeffmcgow v 11 Shaggy365
12 murf v 7 sportsmeister
11 Rookster v 5 Ralfbergs
10 Lucky7s v 8 Mick MacPaddywack
8 yorkshiredragon v 9 foxinthebox2001
7 nffc v 9 the dude abides
7 steve foster v 9 Spinynorman.

Don't forget to pick!

Second leg, reverse fixtures, this weekend, Set 33

[jeffmcgow]

Cagey start in my 2nd leg against Shaggy365. We have identical predictions for our first 6 games so I maintain a 2-point advantage.

I have a feeling though that our predictions will diverge for the other 4 matches. I'm not even confident of picking the winner in the matches at Arsenal, Liverpool and Sunderland