Season 5 - Week 6
As Hannibal said "Don't you love it when a plan comes together?" And as Gibbo says "don't you love it even more when someone else's plan falls apart horribly?". Sorry Paul Kinsella but we don't like winners in this country and we like it even less when someone is trouncing us in their first season. Paul's strategy looked foolproof on paper, pick some outrageous long-shots, develop a big lead and then pick bankers for the rest of the season to secure the title, except it's not that easy to pick bankers, especially when Chelsea are shorn of Drogba and Lampard. Okay you're still riding high (and considerably higher than me) but I offer no apologies for taking enjoyment out of the wheels coming firmly off your wagon.
David Rosser on the other hand, has all four wheels firmly attached to his wagon (with bolts, nuts, superglue and double sided sticky tape) and has stormed into the lead with an outrageous Bristol City away pick. I guess the top 5 would all view themselves as 'in with a chance', but I think an all-time record performance will be required to win the league. It should be noted that of the top 5 only Nick Kelly is not a risk taker. The other four have all got there with a combination of away wins and draws.
At the other end, don't we all love a valiant loser and poor old Tony seems to go from bad to worse, he's tried picking long-shots, he's tried picking mid-shots (which I define as 1.8-2.2 range) and this week he also tried picking bankers (I mean Liverpool were nailed on to win, weren't they?) - but all to no avail and his stay in top-flight predicting looks to be coming to an end.
The Pele League £13,569
Success 7/10
An admirable effort to win money was surprisingly undone by three bankers, the failures of Chelsea, Liverpool and Hartlepool were disappointing in a week when everything else went the way of the Premier League Pickers. Nick Kelly's inexorable march towards the title (he is the only person left with a 100 percent record) is only being challenged by Matt Gibbons and latterly Tim Lines' return to form. Tony Southworth is now £3+ adrift at the bottom and needs a miracle return to form, the demise of this ever-present top-flight predictor is sad for both fans and foes alike. Good wins though for Paul Drury and Matt Haywood have dragged almost everyone else into a relegation battle, a mere £1.31 separates Nick Lines in 4th from a relegation spot, and there are a plethora of top flight luminaries who may yet join Tony in the walk of shame into the Maradona league.
The Maradona League £159,492
Success 7/10
An even more impressive effort to win an epic £159k was this time let down by some more adventurous picking, Gurd's home banker can be counted as unlucky and you can see the logic behind the Tottenham Arsenal draw and backing Everton's home form against Man U, but ultimately this league paid for it's aggressive picking strategy. Impressive picks by David Rosser and Richard Ingham were wasted by the profligacy of the other pickers. Those two are rewarded though with a promotion buffer, ahead of the impressive but ultimately unlucky (to be in the same league as Rosser and Ingham) Ben Gould.
Wrigley, Gurd and Cornwall suffer for their poor-picking and they now make up the bottom three. Strikingly similar to the Premier League though there is one poor sap well adrift at the bottom (poor old Cornwall last week it was sinking, now it is adrift) and a number of others caught in a relegation battle. Good wins for Holland and Dunk has given them (limited) breathing space.
The Gary Lineker League £27,954
Success 3/10
It would appear that the Leadership of this league comes with a curse, whoever is leading picks a loser the next week. Currently Shakespeare heads the way, taking advantage of slips from Reeve, Lewis and Virdi. Pilkington's win takes him back into contention for promotion, and Gibbons and Clare can't be sure of whether to look up (less that £1.50 from promotion) or down (less than £2.50 from relegation). A good win for Rodgers pulls Ross Jones back into a relegation dogfight. Continuing the theme from the top two leagues, there is one chap who has only picked one winner and Nik Simms looks to be in Dire Straits (money worth nothing and picks are twee)
The Paul Dickov League £129,163
Success 6/10
Another bold attempt to win big money (£129k) comes unstuck due to home bankers not coming in and a smattering of 'value betting'. We'll revisit the idea of value betting in a second, but firstly first is occupied by the yo-yo that is Andrew Wickett, by picking more aggressively he ensures that when he wins he wins big, but of course this strategy can sometimes lead to a string of losers, but for now he proudly resides in top spot and looks well set for promotion (as he did last year of course). Hickey's slip (unluckily Huddersfield at home did look a sure thing) allows Tim Hughes (who managed to avoid the multiple home banker slip-ups) to close the gap. Positive figures all the way down to 7th makes this an open and exciting league.
Matt Britcliffe remains close to the relegation zone following a value bet. This is a concept stolen from poker, and can be spectacularly successful. By picking Blackburn away at Chelsea he presumably did not think that they would win it more often than not, but simply that they would win it more often than 1 time in 8 (thus over the course of a predicting career representing value). Now I'm not adverse to value bets per se, I certainly think that often the 2.30 bet will come in more than half as often as the 1.65 bet (thus gaining over time). I do however, think that this may be a step too far - for two reasons.
Firstly we play 10 week seasons, and any bet above 5.00 will statistically come in once a season and thus would not be enough to repay prior losses, the chances of not picking a winner and getting relegated exceed the chances of a glory season. Secondly we are playing to win money (lest we forget) and 7 weeks in 8 you are scuppering your leagues chances. This is not a 'dig' at Matt Britcliffe as many people have adopted this strategy, but barring the last week of the season I personally think that the strategy is not a sound one.
The Jason 'pineapple' Lee League £1,111
Success 2/8
Well after that lengthy diatribe I have little to say about this poor performance. There were seven bets of under 2.00 and only one came in. This allowed Daniel Lewis to fly up to second and Ben Drury to pull out of the relegation zone. Tim Cutler remains firmly entrenched at the bottom, but as he is only £3.41 off promotion, there still remains everything to play for. Julia Ingham is sadly heading in the opposite direction to Richard Ingham and the gloating must surely soon become intolerable!
Finally a mention to Simon Callan in the holding league who picked his first winner, well done.
Subscribe to Weekend Predictor Analysis
Invite your friends to play Weekend Predictor
Analysis Archive
- Season 57 - Week 10 - End of season
- Season 56 - Week 7 - Season End
- Season 55 - Week 10
- Season 53 - Week 10
- Season 48 - Week 10 End of Season
- The lane finale - Season 44 - Week 10
- The same ole story at white hart lane - Week 9
- Spurs are gonna finish above Aresnal shock!! - Week 8
- Chelsea fall to Palace!! Big sam masterplan! - Week 4
- In Arsene we dont trust anymore - Week 2
- Here we go again - Season 44 - Week 1
- Oh Virdi what have you done!! Again - Season 43 - Week 10
- King Zlatan does it again - Week 9
- More FA cup shocks - Week 8
- Liverpool do it again. Why didn't I go again? - Week 6
- Fa cup giant killings abound - Week 5
- Arsene wenger, arsenal hooligan - Week 4
- FA CUP WEEK, short and not so sweet - Week 2
- WINNERS AND LOSERS - Season 44 - Week 10
- Merry Christmas! - Week 9
- Goals goals goals - Week 7
- Halfway house - Week 5
- OCH AYE THE NOPE!! 3-0 BUT NOT GREAT! - Week 4
- OK ITS WEEK 3 & CALM DOWN CALM DOWN - Week 3
- BETTER LATE THAN NEVER - Week 2
- YES WE ARE BACK!! OMG ITS BEEN TOO LONG - Season 42 - Week 1
- THE LAST HURDLE ? BYE BYE HOLLYWOOD! - Season 40 - Week 10
- Well Done Leicester & Burnley - Week 9
- OH DEAR SPURS! - Week 8
- Why is it all about the ref? - Week 7
- Tut Tut Tustian - Week 6
- Leicester do it again - Week 5
- We're gonna win the euros!!!! - Week 4
- Leicester just keep rolling along - Week 3
- Fa Cup gets to semis - Week 2
- First round of analysis cup produces a few shocks - Season 40 - Week 1
- Winners and losers & Analysis cup first round draw - Season 39 - Week 10
- Fa Cup - Week 9
- Raheem Sterlings chicken arms - Week 8
- You cannot tame those shrews - Week 6
- Stop the press! Chelsea win!! - Week 5
- Premiership title race hots up - Week 4
- The magic of the cup - Week 3
- Back to normal - Week 2
- Christmas - Week 1
- One week to go in this season - Week 9
- Jose goes forth (He wishes!) - Week 8
- Funny old world - Week 6
- Chelsea lose again - Week 4
- ONLY A MATTER OF TIME - Week 3
- CHELSEA? MOUR LIKE ALL AT SEA - Week 2
- ITS OFFICIAL. I'M BACK - Season 38 - Week 1
- Champions - Season 37 - Week 10
- The Final countdown - Season 36 - Week 10
- Picking madness - Week 8
- Chelsea champs - Week 7
- FA CUP SEMI WEEK - Week 6
- HALFWAY WEEK - Week 5
- International week - Week 3
- Was it a bird was it a plane? - Week 2
- A new season dawns - Week 1
- The Final Countdown!! - Season 35 - Week 10
- Season 35 - Week 9
- Season 35 - Week 8
- Bradford do it again - Week 7
- Kane for England!! - Week 6
- All square at the battle of Stamford Bridge - Week 5
- THERE'S ONLY ONE GARETH HEDGES THERE'S ONLY ONE GARETH HEDGES - Week 4
- Man City who are they? - Week 3
- Season 35 - Week 2
- Season 34 - Week 10
- Christmas starts - Week 6
- Halfway There - Week 5
- CALL THAT A CUP FINAL???? - Week 4
- Analysis cup semi final - Week 3
- Analysis cup quarter final and week 2 round up
- Season 34 - Week 1
- ANALYSIS CUP RND 2 - ROUND UP WEEK 10 - Season 33 - Week 10
- ANALYSIS CUP SHOCKS IN ROUND 1 - Week 9
- Presenting the first ever.... Analysis Cup! - Week 8
- The Saints are still marching on - Week 7
- Underdog Sunday - Week 6
- A Villa Thrilla a One Nil a! - Week 5
- Manchester Nil - Week 3
- Bit of Anal ysis - Season 33 - Week 2
- OOPS........ HE DID IT AGAIN!! - Week 9
- Press: Man City player of the year - Dwight Gayle - Week 8
- Dey Didn't Do Dat Did Dey? - Week 7
- Liverpool champions elect - Week 6
- THOSE BLOODY FOXES GET EVERYWHERE - Week 4
- YET ANOTHER CHANGE AT THE TOP. LIVERPOOL MAKE THEIR MOVE - Week 3
- ROONEY FROM THE HALFWAY LINE ...WELL ALMOST BUT HE'S NOT BECKHAM IS HE - Week 2
- A NEW MINI SEASON - Season 32 - Week 1
- My Oh My What A Weekend!!! - Season 31 - Week 10
- ON MY HEAD SON! SORRY WHAT WAS THAT MR PARDEW? - Week 9
- The wheels have come off - Week 7
- Pete thinks its all over - trouble is it weren't - Week 6
- AND THEN THERE WAS ONE - Week 5
- ANAL CIST - Week 4
- Man u blues - Week 3
- Three table toppers in one weekend - Week 2
- Season 31 - Week 1
- This is the end - Season 30 - Week 10
- Dear Santa - Week 8
- The Man United transition continues - Week 7
- An apology - Week 6
- Welcome Back Viewers - Normal service is resumed - Week 3
- Season 30 - Week 1
- Season 29 - Week 10
- Spurs Spurs Spurs......Oh Dear...... - Week 8
- Take a bow Ross Jones! - Week 7
- Well what a funny old game it is - Week 6
- Summer is over - Week 5
- Just a quickie! - Week 4
- Should I stay or should I go? - Week 3
- Back in the groove - Week 2
- WE ARE BACK -F***ING YES!!!!!!!!! -Season 29 - Week 1
- Welcome to THE END! - Season 28 - Week 10
- Well where do I start? - Week 9
- Championship the new Premiership? - Week 8
- Season 28 - Week 7
- Fangs for the memories - Week 6
- SPRING HAS SPRUNG - Week 5
- Lots of winners - Week 4
- Its still winter - Week 3
- Weather Alert: A huge cloud of whoopass is hovering over Britain just topiss us all off even more!!!!! - Week 2
- LAST ORDERS AT THE BAR!! THE LAST SEASON OF THE SEASON. Season 28 - Week 1
- LADIES & GENTLEMEN WELCOME TO THE WEEKEND PREDICTOR OSCARS - Season 27 - Week 10
- LAST CHANCE SALOON - Week 9
- Welsh Barca come good at Wembley - Week 8
- CUP SHOCKS & CUP NO SHOCKS - Week 7
- What is it with these huge winning picks this season? - Week 6
- HALFWAY HOUSE - Week 5
- COME YOU LEEDS!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Week 4
- Southampton..seriously what is going on? - Week 3
- Capital One Cup. Bradford v Swansea final???....can't wait!!!! - Week 2
- HAPPY NEW YEAR! - Week 10
- MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE - Week 9
- How far is it from Japan to Elland road? - Week 8
- What a Ding Dong Do!! - Week 7
- The welsh Barca strike again - Week 6
- Season 26 - Week 5
- Season 26 - Week 4
- Computer trouble and some!! - Week 3
- Fa cup week. A few shocks but no fireworks!! - Week 2
- WHAT A DING DONG DO.!! - Week 1
- Season 25 End Report
- A BIG FANFARE...DE DE DE DE DE DA DA DE DER.....A WINNER IN LINEKER LEAGUE - Week 9
- WHERE HAVE ALL THE PICKERS GONE? - Week 8
- HAVE YOU EVER CHEERED SO LOUD THAT A LITTLE BIT OF WEE COMES OUT??????JUST ME THEN.. - Week 7
- OH NO GIBBO YOUR RECORDS TAKEN A FATAL BLOW - Week 6
- FOR GOODNESS SAKE, DO THE HIPPY HIPPY (HAND) SHAKE - Week 5
- 1P OR NOT 1P THAT IS THE QUESTION? - Week 4
- Double My Fee - Week 3
- It's getting better - Week 2
- WELL IT WAS A START...OF SORTS - Season 25 - Week 1
- Season 24 conclusion - Week 10
- Squeaky Bum Time!! - Week 9
- Barca 2nd best. Hope for everyone! - Week 8
- Shocks & big winning picks - Week 7
- Goal line technology or just glasses!! - Week 6
- That was the week that was - Week 5
- Title Under Locke & Key?? - Week 4
- Locke secures big win - Week 3
- Get well Muamba - Week 2
- The season so far - Week 3
- Nerves at the top - Week 9
- An intense battle - Week 8
- Season 22 - Week 6
- Locke & Jones on fire - Week 2
- Dunk wins second title in 3 years - Season 21, Week 10
- Season 21 - Week 9
- Season 21 - Week 8
- Booth closes as Dunk and Rosser lose - Week 7
- Dunk forges on, Rosser lurks ominously - Week 6
- Dunk powers clear - Week 5
- Have you seen Kean slam dunk Dunk - Week 3
- Don't knock Locke, Lewis in the race - Week 2
- Season 21 - Week 1 - Derby joy for Blackley and Kennedy
- Cup 2011 - Kennedy wins the cup
- Season 20 - Week 10 - Delahunt delighted, Davies distraight
- Davies powers clear - Week 8
- Imrie takes the lead - Week 7
- Leaders slip up to give hope to the pack - Week 6
- Big point scoring week but can anyone catch Davies? - Week 5
- Season 20 - Week 4
- Season 20 - Week 3
- Dunk champion, Weston wins Pele League, Season 19 - Week 10
- Season 19 - Week 9
- Dunk slip, Dineen done good, Segovia surges and Delahunt still in the.... chasing pack - Week 8
- Dunk slams Forest, Delahunt hopes borne out by Bournemouth - Week 7
- Dunk marches on but can Delahunt him down - Week 6
- Kennedy's Athletic victory sees him sprint up the league - Week 5
- Pele League shows how it's done - Week 4
- Dunk and Cook predict not so super Sunday - Week 3
- Locke gets off to a safe start - Week 2
- Ewart lifts the Weekend Predictor title - Season 18 - Week 10
- Season 18 - Week 9
- Season 18 - Week 8
- Season 18 - Week 7
- Season 18 - Week 6
- Season 18 - Week 5
- Season 18 - Week 4
- Season 18 - Week 3
- Season 18 - Week 2
- Season 18 - Week 1
- Season 17 - Week 10
- Season 17 - Week 9
- Season 17 - Week 8
- Season 17 - Week 7
- Season 17 - Week 6
- Season 17 - Week 5
- Season 17 - Week 4
- Season 17 - Week 3
- Season 17 - Week 2
- Season 17 - Week 1
- Season 16 - Week 10
- Season 16 - Week 9
- Season 16 - Week 8
- Season 16 - Week 7
- Season 16 - Week 6
- Season 16 - Week 5
- Season 16 - Week 3
- Season 16 - Week 2
- Season 15 - Week 9
- Season 15 - Week 8
- Season 15 - Week 7
- Season 15 - Week 5
- Season 15 - Week 4
- Season 15 - Week 3
- Season 15 - Week 2
- Season 15 - Week 1
- Season 14 - Week 10
- Season 14 - Week 9
- Season 14 - Week 8
- Season 14 - Week 7
- Season 14 - Week 6
- Season 14 - Week 5
- Season 14 - Week 4
- Season 14 - Week 3
- Season 14 - Week 2
- Season 14 - Week 1
- Season 13 - Week 10
- Season 13 - Week 9
- Season 13 - Week 8
- Season 13 - Week 7
- Season 13 - Week 6
- Season 13 - Week 5
- Season 13 - Week 4
- Season 13 - Week 3
- Season 13 - Week 2
- Season 13 - Week 1
- Season 12 - Week 9
- Season 12 - Week 8
- Season 12 - Week 7
- Season 12 - Week 6
- Season 12 - Week 5
- Season 12 - Week 3
- Season 12 - Week 2
- Season 12 - Week 1
- Season 11 - Final Week
- Season 11 - Week 9
- Season 11 - Week 8
- Season 11 - Week 7
- Season 11 - Week 5
- Season 11 - Week 4
- Season 11 - Week 2
- Season 11 - Week 1
- Season 10 - Week 8
- Season 10 - Week 7
- Season 10 - Week 6
- Season 10 - Week 5
- Season 10 - Week 4
- Season 10 - Week 3
- Season 10 - Week 2
- Season 10
- Season 9 - Finale
- Season 9 - Week 9
- Season 9 - Week 8
- Season 9 - Week 6
- Season 9 Week 4
- Season 9 Week 3
- Season 9 - Week 2
- Season 9 - Week 1
- Season 8 - Week 10
- Season 8 - Week 9
- Season 8 - Week 8
- Season 8 - Week 7
- Season 8 - Week 4
- Season 8 - Week 3
- Season 8 - Week 1
- Season 7 - Week 9
- Season 7 - Week 8
- Season 7 - Week 7
- Season 7 - Week 6
- Season 7 - Week 5
- Season 7 - Week 4
- Season 7 - Week 3
- Season 7 - Week 2
- Season 7 - Week 1
- Season 6 - Week 10
- Season 6 - Week 9
- Season 6 - Week 8
- Season 6 - Week 7
- Season 6 - Week 6
- Season 6 - Week 5
- Season 6 - Week 4
- Season 6 - Week 3
- Season 6 - Week 2
- Season 6 - Week 1
- Season 5 - Week 10
- Season 5 - Week 9
- Season 5 - Week 8
- Season 5 - Week 7
- Season 5 - Week 6
- Season 5 - Week 5
- Season 5 - Week 4
- Season 5 - Week 3
- Season 5 - Week 2
- Season 5 - Week 1
- Cup 07 Results - Final
- Cup 07 Results - Semis
- Cup 07 Results
- Cup 07 Results
- Cup 07 Results
- Season 4 - Week 10
- Season 4 - Week 9
- Season 4 - Week 8
- Season 4 - Week 7
- Season 4 - Week 6
- Season 4 - Week 5
- Season 4 - Week 4
- Season 4 - Week 3
- Season 4 - Week 2
- Season 4 - Week 1
- Season 3 - Week 10
- Season 3 - Week 8
- Season 3 - Week 7
- Season 3 - Week 6
- Season 3 - Week 5
- Season 3 - Week 4
- Season 3 - Week 3
- Season 3 - Week 2
