h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I will take that bet.

B

**has just noticed that Egon has predicted Philly Neville to score first**

Would this be the same Phil Neville who averages one goal every 100 games?

http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=5827

B

Everton 0-1 Man Utd (van nistlerooy)
West Ham 1-2 Blackburn (dickov)
Portsmouth 0-2 Tottenham (defoe)
Fulham 1-0 Birmingham (mcbride)
Sunderland 0-0 Charlton

He's obviously making a play for the most outrageous or brave selection of the season. And if it comes off; then I think we've got our winner for the badge

Would this be the same Phil Neville who averages one goal every 100 games?

but neville's not going to play anything near 100 matches for everton, so the odds are a lot better!

i think...

**ponders soccerbase**

Does Phil Neville really have 52 international caps? Isn't that considered to be rather a lot?

B

52 caps is only five less than Gazza...

There's always the law of the returning ex to confound the goalscoring stats - although, me, I thought I'd go for Rooney rather than Neville.

Good for you, B! I'll take a cheque as usual.

I think I've made a good bid for the Most Outrageous Prediction prize in the current issue of 'When Saturday Comes', by predicting that Bradford City will win a cup tie this season. We last did so in 2001, and managed to lose at home to Rushden, Notts County and - er - Accrington Stanley in last season's cups.

Does this include the Vans Trophy?

B

Yes, although we only sunk into a low enough division to qualify for the Vans Trophy last season. And what an impact we made - Bantams 1, Stanley 2.

Everton v Man Utd 2-2 (Rooney)
West Ham v Blackburn 0-1 (Gray)
Portsmouth v Tottenham 1-2 (Defoe)
Fulham v Birmingham 1-2 (Forsell)
Sunderland v Charlton 1-1 Stead)

Just noticed the rule about all postings being final. Does this mean that I have to hope for a last minute move of Ronaldinhio to Tampa Bay Devils, or will I be allowed one typo this early in the season?
SBE

Generally if you correct a typo straight away, GD will be gentlemanly and overlook it.

If you do something asinine which you leave for a day or two until someone takes the p*ss out of you, then that's final.

B

Would helpif i knew what team Gray was playing for this season.

I blew it big style this week, been concentrating on the cricket too much this week.

The Pools Panel requests pan out as follows:

MacKay:
Everton 1-0 Man Utd
West Ham 2-0 Blackburn
Portsmouth 1-1 Tottenham
Fulham 0-1 Birmingham
Sunderland 2-2 Charlton
with no scorer points

Bottletop:
Everton 2-1 Man Utd
West Ham 2-2 Blackburn
Portsmouth 0-1 Tottenham
Fulham 1-0 Birmingham
Sunderland 3-2 Charlton
with no scorer points

So here we are. It's the start of a new season, and a familiar face is near the top of the table

* waves to Ormy *

However, the real story is how one of our prodigal sons who has returned has stormed to the top with a truly remarkable 16 points, straight out of the blocks

Well done SBE

(And I'm quite proud of my pair of Full Houses as well )

--------------

Results:

Everton 0-2 Man Utd (van NISTELROOY, Rooney)

West Ham 3-1 Blackburn (TODD, Sheringham, Reo-Coker, Etherington)

Portsmouth 0-2 Tottenham (GRIFFIN, Defoe)

Fulham 0-0 Birmingham (--)

Sunderland 1-3 Charlton (BENT, Gray, Murphy)

--------------

Points:

summerbayexile - 16 points (West Ham result, scorer & 1st scorer; Portsmouth result & scorer; Fulham full house ; Sunderland result, scorer & 1st scorer)

GreyDesk - 10 points (Everton full house ; Sunderland full house )

me[Andy]g - 9 points (Everton result, scorer & 1st scorer; Portsmouth result & scorer; Fulham result)

Ormondroyd - 8 points (Everton result & scorer; West Ham result; Portsmouth result & score)

riotact - 8 points (Everton result, scorer & 1st scorer; Portsmouth result, score & scorer)

Owlatron - 6 points (Everton scorer; Portsmouth result; Sunderland result & scorer)

Number Six - 5 points (Everton result & scorer; Fulham result)

Orcus - 5 points (Everton result; Sunderland result & scorer)

Egon - 4 points (Portsmouth result; Fulham result)

Yakusmaximus - 4 points (Everton scorer; West Ham result; Portsmouth result & scorer)

Master B - 3 points (Everton result; West Ham result; Portsmouth scorer)

Bottletop - 2 points (Portsmouth result)

Demon Drawer - 2 points (Portsmouth result)

McKay The Disorganised - 2 points (West Ham result)

meisere - 2 points (Everton result)

Thanks for remembering GD

No thanks for the predictions

In the interests of fair play I can only claim a truly remarkable 15 points as Sheringham wasn't first scorer in the Hammers win.
Still - a brilliant performance nevertheless
SBE

, sbe, both for a superb opening performance and for your honesty. Hope you'll stick around for the rest of the season!

yes, great going sbe, you gentleman you.

may i be permitted to open the same sterile childish query i think we've seen a dozen times about griffin's OG?

i thought not.