Hi and hello football fans, it's your old pal Roko the Football Guy! In case you missed part one of the last Monday Hangover of this season here is the link - PART ONE.

Lets get straight in to part two.

Football Guy v Mark Lawrenson

So as we've come to the end of the season, it would only be right if we checked in for the last time with Lawro to see how badly he lost to me in our predictions battle.

This Week

Football Guy - PS 1 CR 6 WR 4

Lawro           - PS 0 CR 7 WR 3

Yet more end of season honorsfor your pal the Football Guy, I officially wrapped up my "League of Dork's" title for a 3rd straight season. Just like with Lawro though, it had been in the bag for quite some time!

I was a little bit gutted I could not make it a treble as I came runner up in the Croatian supporters section on Fantasy Premier League, but it was an improvement on last season when I came 3rd.

My overall points total was down on last season but I did end up recording my highest finish coming in at 3,511th which I'm pretty happy with. Would be great to crack the top 1000 next season.

There has been some rumors that a Oleole league might be started next season on fantasy premier league and I officially am throwing my hat in to it if it comes!

Thanks

All that remains is for me to thank everyone who has read the blog over the course of the season - With out you guiys there would be no point!!!!!!

Stay tuned, as latter today I will have my first summer post....... It will give you a rough idea of some of the type of stuff I will be writing about...

Anyways,

Take care

Football Guy

Hi all, it's a miserable morning here in London, the rain is falling and my bed is calling me to stay. Unfortunately I have to to work. Mind you, I say "I have to", it's not because if I don't they will fire me, there actually very flexible about the hours you work as long as it's more than 14 per week, it's just that if I don't go in I wont get paid....... Shame isn't it..... Well at least I'm not in the situation Shay Given was before he left Newcastle -(read at the bottom of the page)

Shay Given -

"They made me do things I didn't want to do"

What kind off things? I really think he needs to elaborate on this! Maybe they asked him to clean the showers after Fabricio Collocini had used them? That would REALLY be something nobody would want to do!

Any idea's people? Please do let me know.

Football Guy v Mark Lawrenson

Check out Lawro's picks here - Time to unleash another butt kicking on the former tashed wonder!

Manchester City v Middlesbrough

Intresting stat for this game - Middlesbrough have won more Premier League matches against Manchester City than any other club; 11.

Now you all know how much I like stats and will read in to them when making my picks, it's just than Boro have not won a game in over two months and City have won their last three  home games.

Do I think Boro will get their 12th win over City in the Premiership this weekend? No way!

Football Guy's verdict 2-0

Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa

It seems like Villa always play their weekend games before Arsenal meaning they always get the chance to put the pressure on the Gunners with a win, now I know that Blackburn are unbeaten under Fat Sam but I feel that Arsenal have the trickier game this weekend as they travel to North London rivals Tottenham on Sunday.

This will be another perfect chance for Villa to pile more pressure on Arsenal in that race for fourth place.

Football Guy's verdict 1-1

Chelsea v Hull

This is the first game this season Hull will be playing starting in the bottom half of the league. Their fairytale season is only a couple more defeats in a row away from turning in to a real nightmare.

This clash pits the Premier League's strongest attack (Chelsea, 44 goals scored) with the weakest defence (Hull, 46 conceded).

With that in mind, what do you think i will be predicting?

Football Guy's verdict 3-0

Everton v Bolton

Wow, imagine Fat Sam was still in charge of Bolton, this game would be a right eyesore..... Thankfully Bolton under Gary Megson don't play nearly as putrid football.

Everton remind me of a girl who, is not that bad looking but acts like a real tart because it get's her laid, when in actual fact she could be a lot classier and still get laid, I guess I'm asking a little too much of David Moyes and his boys to show a little more class than a club skank.

Football Guy's verdict 1-0

Sunderland v Stoke

Big game for both teams, with Sunderland having a BIG chance to put some distance between themselves and the drop zone.

The fact is Stoke are still yet to win an away game in the Premiership and until they do I can't back them to win, Rory Delap long throw or no Rory Delap long throw.

For the benefit of Premier league football I hope Suderland win this one.

Football Guy's verdict 2-1

West Brom v Newcastle

West Brom got an important point at Hull last week and then were comfortably beaten by Burnley who, seem to have no problems dispatching Premier league teams in the cups this season (jury is out on West Brom being a premier league team).

Interesting to see two players who left Newcastle in the transfer window take pot shots at their former team (Shay Given and Charles N'Zogbia) Now insomnia I can understand, but Shay always struck me as a stand up guy who stuck with Newcastle much longer than most people thought he would. I don't seem to remember too many soundbites from Shay in the past 12 years so things must be rotten there if HE'S taking trash.

Football guy's verdict 2-1

Wigan v Fulham

I was out for a few drink with my buddy Neill, most of you will know him as "I'm not from Leeds" who post comments on here from time to time. Now he swore blindly to me that Man United were playing Fulham this weekend...... Really wish I had bet some cash on that statement.

For all of Fulham's good points this season they still have failed to win a single game away from the Cottage all season adn I don;t see that changing tomorrow.

Football guy's verdict 2-0

Portsmouth v Liverpool

I was surprised at the amount of stick I heard Rafa got from Liverpool fans over his decision to start Fernando Torres midweek against Everton. I know he's injury prone but so what? It's a Derby match! You've got to go out and try to win it and that means playing your best players right? I know if Arsenal were playing Spurs in the same situation I'd want Wenger to play his strongest team.

For some reason I feel Pompey can get something from this game, maybe Peter Crough has one of those "I'm going to prove to you what your missing now you bastards" games and scores the perfect hat-trick (left foot, right foot, header) like he did against Arsenal a few seasons ago...... Or maybe I'm talking out of my backside.... That's probably it.

Portsmouth 0-1 Liverpool

Tottenham v Arsenal

7 November 1999 - That was the last time Spurs beat Arsenal in a league match..... Wow..... That's almost 10 years and it's not like Spurs have been in and out of the Premiership in that time, they have played twice a season ever season since then. I think that might me Tottenham's only league victory over Arsene Wenger.

Don't forget that Arsenal had a similar record over Chelsea until Chelsea beat them in the Champions league quarter finals back in 2004 and then didn't lose to them for the next couple of seasons. Well Tottenham beat Arsenal last season in the League cup semi final and have not lost to them since, granted it's only been one match, but it was a match Arsenal should have won considering they were 4-2 up with two  minutes to go.

For those of you who like betting, back Adebayor to score in this one, he always seems to score against Spurs and has something like 24 in his last 3 matches against Arsenal's North London rivals.

Football Guy's verdict 2-2

West Ham v Manchester United

West Ham's last three games against Big Four opposition have been - 0-0 Anfield, 1-1 Stamford Bridge, 0-0 Emirates.

Their last defeat to a Big Four team was at Old Trafford losing 2-0, coincidentally, three days after losing 2-0 at home to Arsenal.

Will United make it 13 games without conceding? I think so, will they win? Shock Horror!

Football guy's verdict 0-0

Take care

Football Guy 

Hi all, due to yesterday being the last day of the transfer window and all the SNOW we've had in London, I decided to postpone the Monday Hangover 24 hours or so, kind of like the FA postponed the transfer window shut time, but before we get to the meat and drink of the hangover, let me fill you in on my weekend.

What a busy weekend I ended up having. First off I got rather drunk on Friday night on 99p IPA (Can't get enough of the Green King), which lead to me quite groggy Saturday morning and me calling in work to cancel a shift I had planned for Saturday afternoon (told them I had a migraine which was not a million miles from the truth). So I decided to meet up with one of The Sport Boys (the one who hardly ever write for them) and watch the Arsenal v West Ham game on Irish Setanta...... Boy was I bored, West Ham had no ambition and Arsenal had no creativity or fan support by the sound of it which reminds me - WHATS WRONG WITH YOU BLOODY ARSENAL FANS? MAKE SOME NOISE! - I go to Arsenal games as often as I can get tickets/afford them and when I'm at the game I try to make some noise yet very few people there seem to care, they look at you as if you have just told them you have some highly contagious flesh-eating virus that will be caught by anyone within ear-shot, I've heard baby farts louder than the crowd at the Emirates on Saturday, poor.... So anyway, to get over that I went to a house party on Saturday night, got pissed, stayed over, slept in a sofa bed, broken the said sofa bed (was not alone), woke up, had pancakes made for me, then had them ruined by having nasty whipped cream put on them, tried Fanta Zero (tastes like baboon piss), went home.

- Football Guy, full of class.....

Anyway, on to Sunday night, was off to watch the Super Bowl (I do every year) and this year I was watching it in the LSE (London School of Economics) halls which a bunch of... students and took full advantage of the student bar they had there. I also had a rather large bet on the Arizona Cardinals+6.5. By halftime the student bar was shut and the nearest shop was a five minute walk away, no problem right? WRONG... Little did I know that there was a blizzard coming down outside! It took me a good 15 minutes to walk what would have been five and to make matters worse, the bag I was carrying my booze in split and I had no gloves on so I had to carry some ice cold beers with my bare hands in a blizzard.... I'm thankful I can still type. So to cut a long story short I continued to drink, won my bet and played in the snow all Monday like a hungover child.... Good Times!

Football Guy v Mark Lawrenson

Neither myself nor Mark had a particularly good week... In fact we were both poor, but unfortunately I was slightly worse.

This Week

Football Guy - PS 1 CR 3 WR 7

Lawro           - PS 1 CR 4 WR 6

Hello all, today's post marks the first time I've posted every day in a week so I hope you've enjoyed the read. Don't have much more to say so I'll get on to this weeks picks.

Stoke v Manchester City

Stoke despite being 19th in the league boast quite a good home record and in contrast City have quite a poor away record.

City though finally seem to have gathered some momentum and are unbeaten in their last four league games. They also will have been boosted by Craig Bellamy's fine debut performance and I'm sure with his price tag at only 6.6m a lot of fantasy football owners will be looking at picking him up.

City are looking for the 5th consecutive victory over Stoke.

Football Guy's verdict 1-1

Arsenal v West Ham

Who would have thought Carlton Cole would end January being the Premier Leagues hottest striker..... Not I, thought the fact is he has six goals in his last six league games.... Not bad at all.

This is a must win game for Arsenal who midweek slipped to five points of a top four place and with at least one of Liverpool and Chelsea guaranteed to drop points this weekend these are three points Arsenal can ill afford to throw away.

Football Guy's verdict 2-0

Aston Villa v Wigan

Villa are showing no sings of stopping their good run of form which has seen them march right in to the thick of the title race. 

Heskey get's a to play against his former team and when you consider the amount of times ex-players score against their former employees (see Craig Bellamy midweek) the signs look good for Villa.

Having said that I don't think Wigan will be pushovers but I think by hook or by crook Villa will take this one.

Football Guy's verdict 2-1

Bolton v Tottenham

Bolton dropped two massive point midweek against Blackburn which would have seen them leap frog Spurs in the table.

Bolton's home form should al so be a concern for them as they are the only team in the league yet to score double figures at home this season.

Spurs seem set on buying back as many ex players as possible which has me asking - What's Sir Les up to these days?

Football Guy's verdict 1-1

Fulham v Portsmouth

Pompey where just not meant to beat Villa on Tuesday night, they had 17 corners and 9 shots on target to Villa's 1 yet lost the game 0-1 and despite how hard Tony Adams try's things just don't seem to be going his way.

Fulham have only one defeat at home this season and are one of only five team's yet to conceded double figures at home, although Tottenham are also one of those team's so I'm not sure how important that stat really is.

Football Guy's verdict 2-0

Hull v West Brom

Hull are now without a win since early December and you feel that if they fail to beat West Brom at home they will be in real trouble.

West Brom on the other hand have only managed four goals on their travels this season and yet remarkably that's not the worst in the league (see Fulham).

I'm thinking of getting rid of Giovanni from my fantasy team this week and if I do watch out for a two goals one  assist performance from the little Brazilian.

Football Guy's verdict 2-1

Middlesbrough v Blackburn

Boro have go to win sooner or later right? That last league win in early November at Villa park seems a long, long, long, long time ago.

Blackburn managed to scrape a point from a game they looked dead and buried in midweek, but since a similar thing happened to them a few week ago against Manchester City I'm sure they wont care too much.

Football Guy's verdict 1-1

Manchester United v Everton

I believe this was originally meant to be the Monday night game, but with Everton needing a replay in the FA Cup it's been switched to Saturday evening.

Can United make it 12 games without conceding? They might be helped if Tim Cahill can't play after coming of midweek late on against Arsenal with what looked like a pulled muscle (or it could have been time wasting cramp, who knows?)

For the good of the league it would be better if Everton could snatch a point at Old Trafford as United seem poised to take the league by the scruff of the neck.

Football Guy's verdict 1-0

Newcastle v Sunderland

After getting rid of Kenwyn Jones from my fantasy team midweek I'm half tempted to bring him straight back for this one.

Nothing like a good old North-East Battle to watch whilst eating your Sunday roast.

Newcastle need the three points slightly more than Sunderland, will they get them is another question.

Football Guy's verdict 2-1

Liverpool v Chelsea

As an Arsenal fan, I will be rooting for a draw in this one and as it's a game between the "Big Four" I'm pretty sure Lawro's going to say draw (he usually does).

Both teams have been wildly inconsistent of late and both know a defeat here would seriously dent their title hopes.

Chelsea have only mustered one point from their four "Big Four" matches this season.... Very poor indeed.

Football Guy's verdict 1-1

Check out Lawro's predictions here.

Take care

Football Guy

Hello all, never underestimate how important a good sleep is. I finally had one for the first time in a couple of night and I feel all the better for it!

Now, before I get on to the predictions I would like to quickly clear up a few issues from yesterday, first of all it seems that Lawro DID in  the end do a preview as was pointed out to me by the Sportboy in the comments section yesterday. Now I can categorically tell you that when I looked on the BBC's football home page yesterday at 11.00am (the time I started writing) it was nowhere to be found! And that's a fact...

Secondly, I hate being write about something I wish to be wrong about.... Do you follow?.... Yesterday I questioned my OWN decision to drop Kenwyn Jones from my fantasy team in favor of Jason Roberts..... Turns out I was right to question my silly decision, I still fell Jason Roberts will do me good but I think I should have dropped Zaki for him.... I guess time will tell.

Thirdly, Congratulations to Manchester United for setting a new record of 11 games without a conceding. What makes this run all the more impressive is the fact United have used about 10 different players at the back due to injury and suspension with only Nemanja Vidic being ever present. Speaking of Vidic, I was thinking about him last night and came to the conclusion that in a year with no real stand out attacking performances (e.g. Ronaldo's 42 goals last season), is Nemanja Vidic in pole position for PFA and FW Player of the Year? If I had a vote in the matter he would get it from me and I will say this, even if you don't agree the Vidic should definitely win I would ask you to give me a case for a player who is 100% definitely more deserving..... I might have to wait a while.

Chelsea v Middlesbrough

Boro have not won a league game since the 9th of November.... That's quite a long time and spans 10 matches, I'm pretty sure we can add one more to that list.

Chelsea on the other hand have no clean sheet in their last six league and cup games and have been on a very uninspiring run of form and to be honest, it's quite difficult to give you a good case as to why I think they will win this match but it basically comes down to this - Boro are currently POO and until otherwise notified I'm backing against them!

Football Guy's verdict 2-0

Manchester City v Newcastle

Not been the best 10 days or so for young Robinho, firstly he up's and leaves training which ended up netting him a £300k fine and this morning we find out he's been arrested over an alleged sex assault,as I said.... Not the best 10 days or so.

All you really need to know about the Toon army's changes of a win tonight are that they have claimed just two points and scored two goals in their last five visits to Manchester City and with only one fit striker don't expect that form to get any better.

Football Guy's verdict 3-0

Wigan v Liverpool

Wigan might need a few games to adjust to life without Heskey and Palacios and Liverpool really need to take advantage of this. 

Should be interesting to see how Wigan Egyptian boys hook up up front and I'm sure Steve Bruce will be hoping that the Zaki/Mido partnership can be as effective as the Heskey/Zaki one was.

Wigan have also never beaten a "big four" club EVER.

Football Guy's verdict 0-1

Blackburn v Bolton

Fat Sam host a second former club in as many league games and will no doubt be hoping for for a similar outcome to the 3-0 home win he enjoyed last time against Newcastle.

I'd be quite happy with that too as it would mean two goals for the latest addition to the "Better than Milan 89" fantasy football team which has won two title's in as many years!

I don't really think Blackburn are any better than Bolton but I have to go with the form team here.

Football Guy's verdict 2-1

Everton v Arsenal

I fear for Arsenal in this game, They were saved last season turning round a 0-1 deficit at half-time with some Eduardo heroics.

Everton welcome back Fellaini from suspension and I can see him scoring from a set piece as he is about 5in taller than any Arsenal player and defending crosses is definitely not their strong point.

Having said that the Gunners have been on a good run of form and will really need Adebayor and Van Persie to lead from the front if they are to keep pace with the four teams ahead of them.

Football Guy's verdict 1-1

West Ham v Hull City

Five straight league defeats for Hull..... Worrying times. I think they will be fighting for their Premiership lives before the season is out.

By contrast, West Ham have been on quite a good run of late and are unbeaten in their last four league games winning three of them.

I think they will notch up another one tonight despite the fact Hull have a 100% winning record in London this season.

Football Guy's verdict 2-1

Take care

Football Guy

 

Argh, do I feel terrible. I have a nose that wont stop running and a throat that's as sore as Manucho's eye. Needless to say I would love to stay in bed today but I have to go to work later (hopefully they send me home).

Anyway, enough about my problems, let's focus on the positive. I would like to extend a BIG thank you to all my readers as for the first time last week I had a 1000+ visitor day! Again thanks so much, obviously I like writing, but it would be pretty pointless if no one out there read it so I'm very pleased to see the rate the visitor are growing at.

I will keep you informed on other such landmark figures as and when they come up, but until then let's get on with the football.

Craig Bellamy

So it seem the Welshman who look's a little like an Orc has finally found another club to call home. Reports this morning are saying that West Ham have agrred a fee with Manchester City thought to be around £14m.

Now despite what people may think about his attitude and personality, I've always thought him to be a top player (when fit). I'm not entirely sure how wise it is to buy a player who's approaching 30 and has a history of injury problems.

I'm also not really sure why City think they need him, because as far as I can tell scoring goals is not their biggest problem. I suppose that when you have basically unlimited funds to spend Hughes is taking full advantage and bringing in players he wants to work with, I just think they have more pressing matters to sort out rather than their attack.

Ledley King

Whilst were on the subject of injury prone players I think it's only fitting that Ledley "man-o-glass" King should pop up with another spell in the treatment room.

Now I know he's their captain and I also know that when fit he is a top player, but sooner or later Spurs he to draw the line and get rid of him. What's the point having a player who struggles to play one game every two weeks?

It's a shame for all parties involved, I guess it's a bit like a relationship where despite the fact that the boy and girl still love each other, they have come to realize after years of being together that it's just not working and both have to move on.

Football Guy v Mark Lawrenson

So far this weekend Lawro's had the misfortune of having more correct scores than me but scoring less points due to having no perfect scores. There's still one game left, but both me and Lawro have 1-0 Liverpool win so it wont effect things very much.

This Week

Football Guy - PS 1 CR 5 WR 4

Lawro           - PS 0 CR 6 WR 3

Players you wish you had made captain but never would

1. Robert Koren    - 16pts
2. Pablo Zabaleta -15pts
3. Chris Brunt       - 13pts
4. Jason Roberts  - 12pts (have been banging on about him for a few weeks now,yet still have not got him myself in fantasy football)
5. Carlton Cole     - 12pts

The Cristiano Ronaldo award for fantasy excellence

1. Robert Koren - 16pts

There seem to be a trend developing here where these no-mark players pop up with super weeks and win this award. Just so you know, it took Koren the previous EIGHT weeks to score the same amount of points he did this weekend.

Gareth Bale watch 

So as it turns out I was wrong twice about Football's biggest Jinx. In last weeks Monday hangover I said it was 23 league games without victory for Bale and I predicted on Friday night that it would end this weekend.

Wrong on both accounts, as it turns out it is now 21 league game without ever tasting victory and it actually equals Gilles Barnes record set last season with Derby.

Not a goo omen for Spurs and their fight for survival that their players are equaling records set by players of the worst team in Premirship history.

Winners and Losers

Winners

Fans who stay till the end

There is a very annoying trend in football these days for fan's to leave up to 10 minutes early for some games to beat the traffic..... What complete front-bottoms!

For those of you who leave early you missed seven goals this weekend and all baring Jason Roberts second were very important goals. Shame on you.

Losers

Mike Dean

Yep, the man from the Wirral. Nothing to do with the red he gave to Ashley Young, that was the right decision.

It's to do with him missing James Milner's hand touching the ball for the first goal, giving a penalty that was outside the box for the second goal and then failing to give Sunderland what looked like a stone wall pen.... Shame on you.

Final Thoughts

As I'm ill and have to get ready to go to work I'm cutting this Monday hangover a little short. I hope work send me home and I hope I feel better soon.

Take care 

Football Guy

Hi all, it's time for another late night weekend preview due to work.... As I said last week, you will have to bear with me until I get used to this last work routine.

Anyway, I don;t really have much to talk about so I think we should get straight to it.

Blackburn v Newcastle

So apparently "mean" Joe Kinnear wants to snap up Nigel Quashie...... So... your in the midst of a relegation fight... I know what I'll do to solve the problem, I'll buy a man who's already been relegated FOUR time from the Premiership in his career..... Smart move Joe, why not just walk in to the away end this Saturday at Ewood Park and take a BIG GIANT PISS on all the Newcastle faithful.

There's no chance in hell I'm backing Newcastle to win this one now, couple that with that fact I'm sure Fat Sam will be out for a bit of revenge after being fired from St James last season. Needless to say I think home win

Football Guy's verdict 2-0

Bolton v Manchester United

United don't seem to want to conceded at the moment and there's no reason to think they will start at the Reebok. They also have the chance to go top of the league, although it might only be until Monday night.

Even so it could be an ominous sign for the rest of the title chasers as I don;t think United have played anywhere near their best football this season so far.

Bolton have a good run of games after this one and I don't think will be too upset by a defeat from one of their neighbors.

Football Guy's verdict 0-2

Chelsea v Stoke

I know Stoke have done pretty well against the "Big Four" this season, but Chelsea really need this one and I think they will get it.

They were as poor as I've seen them since Abramovich took over last Sunday at Old Trafford and they need a performance.

I don;t this Stoke's bully-boy tactics will work very well at the Bridge and since that's the only way they know how to play Chelsea should be fine

Football Guy's verdict 2-0

Manchester City v Wigan

Kaka... £100m.....£500k a week..... Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the era of "the death of football as we know it".

OK, that might be a slight over the top, but I do think that we could be starting down a path from which there will be no turning back. I shall discuss this in a column in a few weeks.

I don't think Wigan have too much to worry about this season and since their out of the FA Cup I would say there season is pretty much over. As long as they don;t go in to total meltdown they should easily avoid the drop.

Football Guy's verdict 3-1

Sunderland v Aston Villa

I'm waiting for Villa's one real weakness to show it's self yet there seems to be no sign of it. I'm talking about the fact they have a pretty small squad and surely so timely injuries should put a stop to their fight for a top four finish.

Sunderland, please let Kenwyn Jones score for my Fantasy Team... Please!!!

Football Guy's verdict 1-2

West Brom v Middlesbrough

The proverbial six-pointer. It seems like Boro's last win came in a by-gone era when football was played with a orange leather ball and you could not only smoke in bar, but at work in hospital and at church too.

West Brom could move out of the bottom three this weekend if results go their way, but I think they should not worry about that and concentrate on picking up what could be a vital three points against a team they might well end up going down with.

Football Guy's verdict 1-1

Hull v Arsenal

Call me a pessimist, but despite the fact Hull are in their worst run of form this season I still fear for Arsenal's chances tomorrow. Maybe it's just because I still have nightmares of Giovanni's thunder strike at the Emirates, or the fact I just don't trust my beloved Gooners to go and get a result they really need.

Fantasy Football note - With Silvestre and Gallas out for the next couple of weeks it might be a good time to snap out Johan Djourou who will be filling in for them for the time being.

Football Guy's verdict 1-1

West Ham v Fulham

Probably the worst London derby this season. Although now I've said that there will surely be plenty of goals and loads to talk about.

Fulham are hunting only the second win from 12 meetings with the Hammers in this league and since you know how much I like trends it might give you a bit of an idea what my verdict will be.

Fantasy Football note - It might be a good idea to start signing some Fulham players in the next couple of weeks as they have no one nut two games to make up and that mean two chances to pick up extra point of what I like to call "double bubble".

Football Guy's verdict 1-1

Tottenham v Portsmouth

So Jermain Defoe didn't have to wait long for a chance to stick it too the fan's who apparently threatened his life.... You stay classy Jermain.

Who's knows anymore what result Spurs might conjure, although I will say I think this could be the week Gareth Bale get's his virgin league win for Spurs.

Football Guy's verdict 2-1

Liverpool v Everton

So Rafa has apparently turned down a new contract offer from Liverpool sighting lack of control as the reason. I don't blame him, as he say's in the link, he is judged by results on the pitch and ultimately responsible if things go wrong so he dosent want anyone else messing with his system.

Everton not only are missing a attack force, but are now missing half of the partnership that is filling in for them. Fellaini will most certainly be missed.

Football Guy's verdict 1-0

Take care 

Football Guy

I want you all to ask yourselves a question - How many times can I tell the person in charge of me at work to F-Off and get away with it?

If the answer is 10+ you have reached Wayne Rooney proportions of contempt for officials and should probably keep on abusing your diplomatic immunity-like status. For those of you who missed yesterdays clash at Old Trafford, you missed a masterclass in refereeing scared/or blatant favoritism towards Wayne Rooney.

Lampard and Bosingwa both get booked for their first fouls of the game, yet Master Rooney kept on fouling and fouling and swearing and swearing and Howard Webb did nothing other than "have a word". How many words do you need Howard?!?! How many times can one player clearly swear at you and you do nothing about it?!?!

Webb finally saw fit to book Rooney just after United had opened up a two goal lead (Hmm). Now I watched this game with a good friend of mine who's a United fan and even he was embarrassed with Rooney's behavior and Webb's lack of balls to do anything more than tap him on the wrist about it.

Now, before you get the wrong idea, I'm not taking anything away from the United performance (or Chelsea's lack of one). United deserved their win and I thought old man Giggs was as good as I've seen him in a couple of years in the first half. Drogba on the other hand was possibly as bad as I've seen him since arriving at Chelsea, I don't want to read anything more than needs be in to Snoop-Drogs showing, but it certainly had the look of a man who's heart might be elsewhere, although must give a bit of credit to young Johnny Evans who deputized flawlessly for the Merk-meister general. 

Speaking of Rio, I think it's time he went all Brazilian on us and dropped the Ferdinand part. Rio is all we need, nice quick and simple. None of this Les Ferdinand's cousin, Archduke Franz Ferdinand's great grandson or even sire of the bloodline of Ferdinand II of Aragon. Just plain and simple Rio,on the back of the shit - 

Rio

  5

Weekend in Pictures

• Don't worry, your still top
• Middlesbrough not wanting to let Downing go
• Gareth and Ricky obviously went to the same managerial school
• Unhappy Lescott
• David and Phil - Offside?
• Big Phil with Brother Phil
• Disappointment
• Edwin I'm sure had a stiffy
• I love you Wayne, please don't swear at me...

Football Guy v Mark Lawrenson

In a weekend where only eight Premiership games took place, me and Lawro and differing results that ended up and the same outcome.

This Week

Football Guy - PS 1 CR 6 WR 2

Lawro           - PS 2 CR 4 WR 4

Players you wish you had not made captain

1. Frank Lampard       - 1pt
2. Emanuel Adebayor - 2pts
3. Ashley Young          - 2pts
4. Didier Drogba         - 2pts 

Players you should have made captain

1. Nemanja Vidic      - 15pts
2. Mikel Arteta         - 11pts
3. Dimitar Berbatov - 11pts
4. Robin Van Persie - 9pts
5. Michael Owen      - 8pts

Players you wish you had made captain but never would

1. Maynor Figueroa  - 15pts (I never knew his name was Maynor...AWESOME) 
2. Curtis Davis          - 11pts
3. Marouane Fellaini - 9pts

The Cristiano Ronaldo award for fantasy excellence

Well as United and Wigan both square off on Wednesday, this gameweek is not over just yet, but if Vidic keeps a clean sheet against Wigan he's going to be pretty hard to catch.

Gareth Bale watch

It's been a while, in fact the last time Bale started a League game for Spurs was back in the middle of November (lost away to Fulham). So was it really suprising the Spurs lost yesterday? The most Jinxed man in football strikes again! I believe that 23 league starts in his Tottenham Career and ZERO wins from those starts.... Oh dear...

Winners and Losers

Winners

Marouane Fellaini

Not only does he score a clearly offside goal, but he also escapes what is obviously a red card for elbowing a Hull defender not once, but twice in the face. Fast forward to 3.50m here to view the incident and judge for yourself. I might email that to the FA as I have a feeling their not going to charge him with misconduct despite the evidence against him (insert hair joke).

Sir Alex Ferguson 

Marouane Fellaini

Well despite being a winner this week, Fellaini has the misfortune of also being a loser. I know he should have been sent off, but karma was obviously working against him after that as he was booked rather harshly for a high boot which resulted in a suspension and means he misses both League and FA Cup games against Liverpool

It's quite amazing that a player who has only played 20 games could have already amassed 10 yellow cards. Now consider the injuy problems Everton have up front have been largely  overshadowed by Fellaini and Cahill's performances as makeshift front men, you can see why he will be missed for those two games.

Phil Scolari

Big Phil's record against the other "Big Four" now stands at - Played 4 Won 0 Drawn 1 Lost 3 - Not very good to say the least.

Big Phil is going to be under some Big pressure if things don't start to change soon. But is it all his fault? Unlike his predecessors under Abramovich, Scolari has not been able to spend the massive amounts of ££££ they have. I know he brought in Deco and Bosingwa but it's not really his team and I think he should be given time to change this largely (been there done that team) who need some new blood and some width that is not Malouda.

Maradona

Unfortunately for the great one, he might have been the biggest loser of all. Having to sit in the freezing cold at Stoke and watch what could barely be described as Football for over an hour and a half could not have been a very pleasant experience.

I'm sure he won't be in a rush to go check out Mascherano's form again.

Final Thoughts

If as Alan Hansen said on MOTD "Arsenal should be very worried about Aston Villa, who I think will keep on winning". Does that mean since they are only five points behind Liverpool and will "keep on winning" that they are in the title race?

Take care

Football Guy