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Quick European Football Highlights #13 2018-2019

November 29, 2018

The weekend and that means way too much European Football to keep up with. So we offer up our quick European Football Highlights for the weekend.

This weekend there is no big game with a fancy name, just a lot of good games that the ultimate football nerd will love.

Of course last weekend’s highlight was the mighty Eibar thrashing Real Madrid.

Some might call our European Football Highlights hipster football, we don’t, it’s pure sports nerd and football goodness. Give us an Eibar, Sassuolo, or Borussia Monchengladbach any day and time one.

And too much football is barely enough we like to say.

But if you have a life and can’t watch everything, we offer up our quick European Football Highlights, to help you follow the best of it, without the need to stay up for absolutely everything. With added TV times

Quick European Football Highlights – The Matches

Here are the minimum of games worth keeping an eye on in our opinion.

There are TV Times for those in Australia lucky enough with Bein Sports.

LA LIGA – RAYO VALLECANO v EIBAR
EURO KICK KICK OFF – FRIDAY NIGHT

No better way to kick off the European Football Highlights than an Eibar match. After their heroics of beating the mighty Real Madrid, they face Rayo Vallecano who sit in second last with just the one win for the season. Eibar will need to carry some of that Real match magic into this weekend as their away record is quite ordinary. A win and two draws from six away is their return, but just the four goals have been scored. Despite not winning any of their 7 home games, Rayo Vallecano have at least scored 10 goals in seven games.

Prediction: Draw 1-1
TV – Bein Sports Australia Kick Off Time – ADST Sat 6:55 – Bein Sports 2

SERIE A – FIORENTINA v JUVENTUS
EURO KICK KICK OFF – SATURDAY EVENING

To continue our 1-1 theme of European Football Highlights, we have found Fiorentina who are currently on a run of 5 draws – four of them have been 1-1. Perhaps Juventus might be a little fatigued after playing midweek in the Champions League. Wishful thinking for a team whose only blemish in the league this year has been a draw.

Prediction: Draw 1-1
TV – Bein Sports Australia Kick Off Time – ADST Sun 3:50 – Bein Sports 2

LIGUE 1 – LILLE v LYON
EURO KICK KICK OFF – SATURDAY EVENING

The first of two 4th v 2nd games of our European Football Highlights, and these two can only hope for second in a league where PSG are still 100% after 14 weekends. Lyon have taken over second from Lille with a great post PSG loss run of four wins and a draw in five games. Lille meanwhile have dropped off just a little, with two losses and a draw from their last three. Surprisingly Lille have the best overall record with 18-14, and Lyon haven’t beaten them since 2016.

Prediction: Draw 1-1
TV – Bein Sports Australia Kick Off Time – ADST Sun 17:50 – Bein Sports 2 – Delayed

BUNDESLIGA – RB LEIPZIG v BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
EURO KICK KICK OFF – SUNDAY AFTERNOON

4th v 2nd in the Bundesliga is the game of the weekend to tune in for, both of these teams still above 5th placed Bayern Munich. Monchengladbach are our favourite German team, and they are keeping leaders Dortmund honest with 5 wins from their last 6 games, but their away form is mixed with two of each result away this season. RB Leipzig have lost just twice all season, last weekend and the first weekend of the year. They also have the leanest defence in the league with just 10 goals conceded.

Prediction: Draw 1-1
TV – Bein Sports Australia Kick Off Time – ADST Mon 1:20am – Bein Sports 3

SERIE A – ROMA v INTER
EURO KICK KICK OFF – SUNDAY NIGHT

7th v 3rd in Serie A rounds off the European Football Highlights, Roma needing to start winning to get into the Champions League next season, although they will make the knockout stage, so maybe they just have to win it instead. Inter lost their crucial Champions League game midweek too, but their loss may see them out of the Champions League. Should still be entertaining despite the nine point gap between them.

Prediction: Draw 1-1
TV – Bein Sports Australia Kick Off Time – ADST Sun 6:25 – Bein Sports 3

Quick European Football Highlights – The Big 10 Multi

Here are our favourite tips from all of the European football this weekend. We try and pack as many tips in there as possible, just so we can fall one short.

REAL MADRID to beat Valencia
ATLETICO to beat Girona
BARCELONA to beat Villareal
SEVILLA to beat Alaves
LAZIO to beat Chievo
AC MILAN to beat Parma
BAYERN MUNICH to beat Werder Bremen
DORTMUND to beat Freiburg
MARSEILLE to beat Reims
PSG to beat Bordeaux

$1 for $36

Quick European Football Highlights – TV Highlights Catch Up

FULL SCHEDULE OF ALL LIVE BEIN SPORTS FOOTBALL

Missed most of the above action or couldn’t be bothered in the first place?

Follow the below Highlights shows to see the best of each competition, and impress your friends and family, with your newly acquired football knowledge.

FRANCE – 6pm – CH513
SCOTLAND – 6pm – CH514
EFL FOOTBALL LEAGUE – 6:30pm – CH514
GERMANY – 7pm – CH513
SPAIN – 8pm – CH513
ITALY – 9pm – CH513

All shows on Monday, and all repeated later, many times.

Quick European Football Highlights – The Tables

Haven’t caught up with all of the tables in a while? Why not now.

[soccer-info id=’1′ type=’table’ style=’red_light’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,F,A,G,P’ highlight=’2042||Eibar’ title=’LA LIGA TABLE’ /]

[soccer-info id=’3′ type=’table’ style=’red_light’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,F,A,G,P’ title=’BUNDESLIGA TABLE’ /]

[soccer-info id=’5′ type=’table’ style=’red_light’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,F,A,G,P’ highlight=’5681||Sassuolo’ title=’SERIE A TABLE’ /]

[soccer-info id=’6′ type=’table’ style=’red_light’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,F,A,G,P’ title=’LIGUE 1 TABLE’ /]

[soccer-info id=’4′ type=’table’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,G,P’ title=’PORTUGUESE LEAGUE’ /]

[soccer-info id=’7′ type=’table’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,G,P’ title=’DUTCH EREDIVISE’ /]

[soccer-info id=’8′ type=’table’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,G,P’ title=’BELGIAN PRO LEAGUE’ /]

[soccer-info id=’265′ type=’table’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,G,P’ title=’GREEK SUPER LEAGUE’ /]

[soccer-info id=’491′ type=’table’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,G,P’ title=’TURKISH SUPER LIG’ /]

[soccer-info id=’35’ type=’table’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,G,P’ title=’SPANISH SEGUNDA DIVISION’ /]

[soccer-info id=’24’ type=’table’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,G,P’ title=’BUNDESLIGA II TABLE’ /]

[soccer-info id=’25’ type=’table’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,G,P’ title=’SERIE B TABLE’ /]

[soccer-info id=’23’ type=’table’ columns=’#,Team,MP,W,D,L,G,P’ title=’LIGUE 2 TABLE’ /]

Premier League Predictions Week 14 – Gurgler v Own Goals

Theydon Bois

November 29, 2018

Last weekend saw one of the sweetest Own Goals in recent Premier League history in the Bournemouth v Arsenal game, so what better excuse to use that for our weekly EPL preview and our Premier League Predictions Week 14.

Every week we offer up tips, a mini preview, betting advice and an alternative view on the Premier League that we hope you enjoy.

It’s very much like BBC’s Lawro vs Somebody preview, but better. Arguably.

Premier League Predictions Week 14 – Gurgler v Own Goals

Opponent Tips Background: Who doesn’t like an own goal, and who wouldn’t want to base their Premier League Predictions Week 14 tips on each team’s own goal record.

The background on this is thanks to the great Transfermarkt website, we’ve been able to find own goals records going back as far as we like. In this case back to the 2010-11 season.

There you can find not only how many own goals each team has scored, but how each team has profited from their opponent’s gifts. The end net result is determined to choose our opponent tips this weekend. The better the net result, that team gets the tip.

For barely interesting facts, we have the full list of all team’s own goals stats at the end.

Premier League Predictions Week 14

Premier League Predictions Week 14 – The Gurgler House Tips

DRAW – Cardiff v Wolves (0-0)
MANCHESTER CITY to beat Bournemouth (2-1)
NEWCASTLE to beat West Ham (2-1)
CRYSTAL PALACE to beat Burnley (2-0)
DRAW – Huddersfield v Brighton (1-1)
LEICESTER to beat Watford (2-1)
MANCHESTER UTD to beat Southampton (2-1)
DRAW – Fulham v Chelsea (2-2)
DRAW – Arsenal v Spurs (2-2)
LIVERPOOL to beat Everton (2-0)

Premier League Predictions Week 14 – v Own Goals

Net Own Goals (Own Goals Received – Own Goals Scored) in brackets.

WOLVES (+4) to beat Cardiff (-7)
MANCHESTER CITY (+6) to beat Bournemouth (-2)
WEST HAM (+1) to beat Newcastle (-6)
BURNLEY (0) to beat Crystal Palace (-1)
HUDDERSFIELD (+6) to beat Brighton (-5)
LEICESTER (-2) to beat Watford (-3)
SOUTHAMPTON (+8) to beat Manchester Utd (0)
CHELSEA (+6) to beat Fulham (0)
ARSENAL (+5) to beat Spurs (+4)
EVERTON (+6) to beat Liverpool (+5)

Premier League Predictions Week 14 Quick Mini Preview

GAME BY GAME PREVIEW IN 50 WORDS OR SO.

CARDIFF CITY v WOLVES

The Friday night game hardly looks a classic – two teams in the bottom six for goals scored. Although Cardiff’s last home game was entertaining enough. Wolves for all of their pre season best promoted side fanfare have now lost four of their last five, and their 2-0 loss at home to Huddersfield showed their Premier League fragility for the first time. In saying that, Cardiff have half their points and are second last v 11th. Cardiff have won two of their last three at home. Interesting stat is that despite decades of head to head in lower divisions, this is the first Top Flight meeting since 1962.

BEST BET: UNDER 2.5 GOALS @ $1.59

MANCHESTER CITY v BOURNEMOUTH

Perhaps the way to beating Manchester City is to become Lyon, after they ended the Champions League first round head to heads with a draw and a win against Manchester City. Man City are scoring at three goals a game, and conceding almost every third. Bournemouth’s last three games have ended up 2-1, and they have lost them all.These sides did meet in the third division back in 98-99, one of those meetings was a draw and was the only time Bournemouth haven’t lost to Manchester City. Bournemouth have only ever scored three goals against City in eight meeting, conceding 22.

BEST BET: MANCHESTER CITY WIN 2-1 @ $11

NEWCASTLE v WEST HAM

Only Man City can better Newcastle’s current run of three straight wins, a reward for a start to the season where they played five top six teams in the first eight games. Perhaps this winning run will be used a ploy from the unpopular Newcastle owner to convince the very popular Benitez to stay on before giving him no money in January. West Ham are as gloriously unpredictable as ever. These teams have met exactly 100 times, and Newcastle hold the advantage 42 wins to 33.

BEST BET: BOTH SIDES SCORE @$1.83

CRYSTAL PALACE v BURNLEY

A meeting of two sides that have overachieved in the last couple of years, but are well in the relegation scrap this season. Crystal Palace and Burnley are 16th and 17th, Crystal Palace ahead on goal difference, despite only scoring a league low of 8 goals. Zaha is back, which means they’re likely to score more. Palace did have to play top six opponents in four straight games, and ended up with a respectable 2 draws and two decent performances. Burnley haven’t won any of their last six games, and need a win soon, as they have three top six sides waiting in December.

BEST BET: Crystal Palace to win @ $1.53

HUDDERSFIELD v BRIGHTON

Huddersfield, who looked as busted arse as any team in recent seasons have come alive, two wins and a draw catapulting them into double points and 15th. It may be two points clear of safety, but the win at Wolves showed they are well capable of avoiding the drop. Brighton are pretty poor away from home, but have beaten Newcastle in their only away win. The last 11 matches between these two sides have ended in either a home win or a draw. In fact draw is the most frequent historical result between these two sides – 12/28.

BEST BET: Double chance – Huddersfield or Draw @ $1.30

LEICESTER v WATFORD

A solid midfield battle looms with two teams in a group of sides that includes Manchester United. It could be argued that both Watford and Leicester aren’t playing much better or worse. Both sides have just one win from their last four, but Leicester are t least unbeaten. They haven’t lost a game since the awful helicopter crash. Leicester hold the edge historically, as does the home side with 10 wins in the last 13 matches.

BEST BET: Both teams to score @ $1.80

SOUTHAMPTON v MANCHESTER UNITED

Manchester United surprised a few by not being able to beat Crystal Palace at home last weekend, a side who had lost every game wince 1989 there. They did beat Young Boys in the Champions League midweek, but it has hardly convincing. Much like most of their season. Convenient to play Southampton who looks as relegation certified as any side in the last few seasons, perhaps it is the red and white stripes. Mark Hughes is surely the next manager to go, although you could make the argument for both sides. Manchester United have won 6/12 matches in the EPL since Southampton most recent promotion.

BEST BET: Over 2.5 Goals for some reason @ $1.86

FULHAM v CHELSEA

Claudio Ranieri’s appointment did the trick last weekend with a first up win over Southampton. The leaky defence still remains for now, but the goals scored at the other end excites, especially when involving Ryan Sessegnon. It is the first in a double header of games for Fulham where Ranieri meets his other two EPL sides that he managed. Chelsea suffered their first loss of the season last weekend at Wembley, so perhaps playing London rivals away could be an Achilles heel. Possibly one of the shortest distances between two sides in a derby that don’t share the same ground. Fulham have won just three of the 50 matches between the sides.

BEST BET: Double Chance – Fulham or Draw @ $5.00

ARSENAL v TOTTENHAM

The second of three derbies on Sunday, but this one is the biggest of the three and match of the weekend. And one of the best fixtures of the year. Just three points separates the two north London sides, and Spurs did Arsenal a favour last weekend by beating Chelsea, their third straight win. Arsenal bounced back to winning ways against Bournemouth last weekend, but they remain undefeated after losing their first two games of the season. It looks like a four team playoff all season for second to fourth Champions League places, whether that will include both of these teams we will see some evidence of this weekend. Arsenal hold the better of the historical record in this game, but that tightens up this decade to 8-7 with 5 draws.

BEST BET: Harry Kane to score anytime @ $1.72

LIVERPOOL v EVERTON

Signing off a triple treat of derbies is the Liverpool one, a fixture that more often than not goes the way of the red side. Everton have only beaten Liverpool once this decade, but there have been 9 draws, so that averages out at one a season. Everton also haven’t won this fixture away since 1999. While Liverpool are undefeated in the Premier League, they are coming into this match having lost to PSG in the Champions League, making it a loss against all their group opponents. There is only one point between these sides in the last six form.

EPL BETTING – SUPER PREMIER LEAGUE Week 14 MULTI

Time to make some money – here’s our best five tips rolled into one money-making machine.

DRAW – Cardiff v Wolves
MANCHESTER CITY to beat Bournemouth
CRYSTAL PALACE to beat Burnley
DRAW – Huddersfield v Brighton
DRAW – Arsenal v Spurs

$1 for $58

2018-2019 Premier League Tipping Competition Results

THE GURGLER

2018-2019 Results – 72/130 – 55% – (7 Correct Scores)

Last Week – 6/10 – (2 Correct Scores)

Best – 7/10 Week 1, 3, 4, 7

OPPOSITION

2018-2019 Results – 64/130 – 49%

Week 1 – 6/10 – Week 1 Form from last 5 seasons
Week 2 – 5/10 – Change in Market Value after Transfer Window
Week 3 – 4/10 – Red Cards from last 5 seasons
Week 4 – 7/10 – Form v Post Sir Alex Man Utd
Week 5 – 5/10 – Post International Break Form
Week 6 – 3/10 – Avoiding Russian Spies
Week 7 – 4/10 – Brexit
Week 8 – 6/10 – v Jose Mourinho
Week 9 – 4/10 – Sacked Managers / Tenure
Week 10 – 4/10 – Fighting Managers
Week 11 – 7/10 – v Leicester City
Week 12 – 4/10 – US Mid Term Elections
Week 13 – 6/10 – Claudio Ranieri

PREMIER LEAGUE TEAMS’ OWN GOAL RECORD FROM 2010-11

Team	Net	Profit	Loss
Southampton FC	8	11	-3
Manchester City	6	16	-10
Huddersfield Town	6	12	-6
Chelsea FC	6	12	-6
Everton FC	6	13	-7
Arsenal FC	5	13	-8
Liverpool FC	5	13	-8
Tottenham Hotspur	4	14	-10
Wolves	4	11	-7
West Ham United	1	8	-7
Manchester United	0	7	-7
Burnley FC	0	8	-8
Fulham FC	0	9	-9
Crystal Palace	-1	6	-7
Leicester City	-2	11	-13
AFC Bournemouth	-2	6	-8
Watford FC	-3	5	-8
Brighton	-5	6	-11
Newcastle United	-6	7	-13
Cardiff City	-7	5	-12

BLAST FROM THE PAST – WATFORD v LEICESTER

Simple, a penalty to take Leicester through to the Championship playoff final. Never mind, it happened a season later.

Champions League Matchday 5 Predictions – Gurgler v Expected Goals

Theydon Bois

November 26, 2018

The Champions League returns this week, and like most football we just can’t get enough and have our Champions League Matchday 5 Predictions ready.

And as ever we put our tips up against a unique opponent, usually based on a football statistic but sometimes not, much like our semi popular Premier League tips.

We’ll also throw in a minimum of information for a quick preview of Champions League Matchday 5 Predictions for those on the go.

Time to set the alarm and get up that little bit early in Australia, or get home early from work/the pub elsewhere in the world for Champions League Matchday 5 Predictions .

Champions League Matchday 5 Predictions

Gurgler v Expected Goals

Opponent Tips Background: The new big stat in Football is the Expected goals measure, where some some sports nerd/boffin has worked out how many goals a team should have scored from their various chances.

So if it good enough for sports nerds, we’ll also use it to get opposition tips.

We haven’t just taken the Expected Goals, but have taken the figure for the difference between the expected goals and actual goals scored. The bigger the negative difference, the more the team has scored more than expected. So lowest score wins.

There are a few N/A as Expected goals only seems to cover the top 5 leagues and Russia. So a team with NA won’t get the tip unless the other team’s XG Difference score is in the positive.

Then there’s our selections, which are based on a mixture of listening to multiple podcasts and reading way too many websites, added with ignorance to all of that with our own thoughts.

Champions League Matchday 5 Predictions – Our Tips

ATLETICO MADRID to beat Monaco
DORTMUND to beat Bruges
BARCELONA to beat PSV
SPURS to beat Inter
DRAW PSG v Liverpool
NAPOLI to beat Red Star
GALATASARAY to beat Lokomotiv Moscow
DRAW – Porto v Schalke
AJAX to beat AEK
BAYERN to beat Benfica
DRAW – Lyon v Man City
DRAW – Hoffenheim v Shakhtar Donetsk
CSKA MOSCOW to beat Viktoria Plzen
DRAW – Roma v Real Madrid
MAN UTD to beat Young Boys
JUVENTUS to beat Valencia

Champions League Matchday 5 Predictions – Expected Goals to Goals Scored

XG Difference to Goals Scored in brackets

ATLETICO MADRID (-2.84) to beat Monaco (4.31)
DORTMUND (-10.52) to beat Bruges (NA)
BARCELONA (-4.02) to beat PSV (NA)
INTER (-3.87) to beat Spurs (0.85)
PSG (-9.25) v Liverpool (0.28)
NAPOLI (-3.69) to beat Red Star (NA)
LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW (-2.61) to beat Galatasaray (NA)
PORTO (NA) to beat Schalke (6.08)
DRAW – AEK v Ajax (Both NA)
BENFICA (NA) to beat Bayern (1.72)
LYON (-2.89) to beat Man City (-1.28)
HOFFENHEIM (-0.4) to beat Shakhtar Donetsk (NA)
CSKA MOSCOW (-0.97) to beat Viktoria Plzen (NA)
ROMA (0.5) to beat Real Madrid (3.54)
YOUNG BOYS to beat Man Utd (0.51)
JUVENTUS (-1.00) to beat Valencia (9.09)

Champions League Predictions Form So Far

GURGLER
Matchday 1 – 6/16 – Terrible
Matchday 2 – 10/16 – Better
Matchday 3 – 9/16 – Less Better
Matchday 4 – 6/16 – Back to Terrible

OPPONENT
Matchday 1 – 6/16 – Current League Position
Matchday 2 – 6/16 – National Titles Won
Matchday 3 – 9/16 – Who Scored Team Rating
Matchday 4 – 8/16 – Value of Clubs

Champions League Matchday 5 – Four Games to Watch

You can’t watch everything, well actually you can if you have Optus Sport and no job or life, so we select our four games to watch for the Champions League Matchday 4 ahead.

Times in ADST for the poor souls who have to get up early.

LYON v MANCHESTER CITY (Tuesday)

Manchester City are one of the three form teams in Europe, along with Dortmund and Juventus, but for all their league dominance there is still the Champions League to be won to justify their whole football operation. This week they face Lyon, who are the only team to beat Manchester City this season from an earlier round. Lyon are currently second in Ligue 1, the highest position available for a team not called PSG.

ROMA v REAL MADRID (Tuesday)

A game that features last season’s winner and semi finalist of this very competition. Both are struggling this year, and both come into the game on the back of a shock loss in the league on the weekend. Roma are not travelling that well in Serie A, currently sitting seventh and helped Udinese out of the bottom three after a loss. Real’s loss and performance to our favourite Spanish team Eibar was quite the surprise, and leaves them in 6th place. Hiring the temp coach as a permanent hasn’t started off well. Who will recover in the Champions League is the big question.

SPURS v INTER (Wednesday)

A head to head between two sides fighting for the final qualification spot in the group after Barcelona. Spurs got a super win over Chelsea at Wembley on the weekend. Inter won too, beating Frosinone 3-0. Spurs need to win, and probably will.

PSG v LIVERPOOL (Wednesday)

Probably the biggest game of the Champions League Matchday 5, and the tightest race for the two qualification spots. Liverpool are still unbeaten in the Premier League, but have a record of two wins, two losses in the Champions League this season. PSG are going even better in the league, setting a new big European league record with a 100% start. Despite losing one less game than Liverpool, they sit behind them in the standing in 3rd. So much to play for, and some awesome talent on hand.

How to Watch Champions League in Australia

Sadly the Champions League action is now on Optus Sport.

Not that the Optus Sport coverage is that bad, when it works, but it just means another $15 a month to follow decent football.

Perhaps the addition of the Champions League might tempt some to join, it means you can watch everything and EPL.

Note: we aren’t paid or are receiving Optus for free, it is quality coverage, but are quite happy to receive it for nothing if they offer.

Champions League Matchday 5 Super Stat

Here is the current list of team’s Expected Goals v Reality Difference. Remember the worst the figure, the more goals above expectation the team has scored.

Team	XG to Goals Scored
Borussia Dortmund	-10.52
Paris Saint Germain	-9.25
Barcelona	-4.02
Inter	-3.75
Napoli	-3.69
Lyon	-2.89
Atletico Madrid	-2.84
Lokomotiv Moscow	-2.61
Manchester City	-1.28
Juventus	-1.00
CSKA Moscow	-0.97
Hoffenheim	-0.40
Liverpool	0.28
Roma	0.50
Manchester United	0.51
Tottenham	0.87
Bayern Munich	1.72
Real Madrid	3.54
Monaco	4.31
Schalke 04	6.08
Valencia	9.09
AEK Athens	#N/A
PSV Eindhoven	#N/A
FC Porto	#N/A
Ajax	#N/A
Viktoria Plzen	#N/A
BSC Young Boys	#N/A
Benfica	#N/A
Shakhtar Donetsk	#N/A
Galatasaray	#N/A
Club Bruges	#N/A
FK Crvena Zvezda	#N/A

NOMINATIONS | November 2018 Hero of the Month

admin

November 24, 2018

Summer is almost here, and so our nominations for the November 2018 Hero of the Month need to be unveiled.

As ever we launch a person, a group or thing that is usually unsung and deserving of a little more recognition.

It also counter-balances the dark cynicism of our November 2018 Jerk of the Month nominations.

So it is over to you, the loyal reader, to vote for the November 2018 Hero of the Month, and give someone or something the recognition they deserve.

November 2018 Hero of the Month Nominations

FOX CRICKET

Why such a hero?

For the first time in a long time, the summer of cricket has rolled around and we haven’t hated it with five minutes.

Sure you have to pay for it, but any true sports nerd wouldn’t have it any other way.

You could get it for free, and enjoy Michael Slater later in the summer, but you could also do a lot of other things.

Not that Fox Cricket has been that much better than Channel Nein, nor has most of the cricket been great, but importantly they are not Channel Nine and that’s all that matters.

Hero Factor – Anything other than 9/10

Magnus Carlsen, and Fabiano Caruana

Why such a hero?

Didn’t know the Chess World Championships were on? And that reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsen, and challenger Fabiano Caruana are locked in a tense record-breaking affair which has seen the first 10 matches of the 12 match series drawn.

Never before has this Championship been so close. And for making it all, let alone playing Chess for several hours at a time, we offer up a November 2018 Hero of the Month nomination.

Hero Factor – 5/10

SD Eibar

Why such a hero?

SD Eibar are a quintessential sporting team for The Gurgler. Small, obscure, and punch well and truly above their weight.

They have been in the top flight of Spanish football since 2014, and were lucky to survive their first season, as they finished in third last and were technically relegated. However financial problems for another club saw a reprieve, and they have hung around ever since.

The location of Eibar has only 27,000 people, the ground is the smallest in La Liga, from one view you can see just a hill with a few trees on it.

Their match against Real Madrid showed how much above their weight they can punch. They beat no less than the Champions League winner for the first time ever. And really pulled their pants down.

Hero Factor – 9/10

Noel Callow

Why such a hero?

Our favourite jockey of all time.

He doesn’t get many great rides, but is capable of riding a value winner for his fans and many punters.

Noel Callow is also a bit of a character, and we have even met the great man after his winning ride in the last on Melbourne Cup Day of 2006, when he signed our Best Bets book. Man of the people.

Known as The King, and we salute.

Hero Factor – 9/10

Vote Now

[socialpoll id=”2528324″]

2018 Hero of the Month Honour Roll

Here are the monthly winners of the Hero of the Month so far.

February 2018 Hero – Adebayo Akinfenwa aka The Beast

March 2018 Hero – Peter Dasent aka Play School Piano Guy

April 2018 Hero – Billy Monger & Dean Repacholi

May 2018 Hero – Netta and Bishop Michael Curry

June 2018 Hero – Marco Trungelliti

July 2018 Hero – Lee Lin Chin

August 2018 Hero – no nominations – no winner

September 2018 – John Millman and Stubby Coolers

October 2018 – Ian Kiernan and Gibraltar Football

NOMINATIONS | November 2018 Jerk of the Month

admin

November 24, 2018

Time for the November 2018 Jerk of the Month, the final round before the Jerk of the Year voting opens.

Initially there was only going to be one nomination for November 2018 Jerk of the Month, given one particular individual’s best effort to be the planet’s biggest jerk this month.

But others have demanded nomination for November 2018 Jerk of the Month in one way of another, so the full list of Jerk awaits.

As ever, vote early and vote often.

NOVEMBER 2018 JERK OF THE MONTH NOMINATIONS

Donald Trump

Why nominated for the Jerk?

Normally the POTUS receives a token nomination for his work in general, but he has been busy this month to ensure a November 2018 Jerk of the Month win.

Blaming Firefighters for the massive US fires.

Visiting the town Paradise that was wiped out in fires and forgetting the name of the place.

Trump v CNN and the doctored footage.

Thanksgiving – Thankful for Himself

No visiting troops, starting a spat with French president, everything else.

Jerk Rating: 10/10

Jarryd Hayne

Why nominated for the Jerk?

There’s probably a reason that Parramatta didn’t pick up Jarryd Hayne for next season, nor did another club want him either.

And it’s probably not because he played 2.5 good games of rugby league in 2018, but for the off field events on Grand Final night.

Perhaps Hayne’s final dream was to relive Vinnie Jones’ Mean Machine, and win a game of rugby league with fellow cons against the guards.

Jerk Rating: 10/10

Shane Warne

Why nominated for the Jerk?

Ex cricketers saying their piece about the current state of cricket is just something we have to put up with every summer, and it sure doesn’t help on the back of the sandpaper bans and the Australian team sucking at most levels.

But Shane Warne is the worst.

A hangover of the previous Channel Nein regime that attempted to ruin every summer, Warne needs to add seemingly daily commentary on Australian cricket to remind all that he is still the biggest name in Cricket Town.

He’s also nominated for a deputy of November 2018 Jerk town.

Jerk Rating: 10/10

Charles Bentley

Why nominated for the Jerk?

If you downloaded a podcast or two in Australia, then you’ve probably heard the Diamond International podcast ad with Charles Bentley.

Ads are a part of podcasting to keep great content going, but the Diamond International one is especially annoying and grating.

Trying to justify himself as the John West of Diamonds makes us want to end the podcast there and then.

Jerk Rating: 1/10

Coles/Woolworths

Why nominated for the Jerk?

For jacking up the price more than 10 cents on recyclable items to cover the 10 cent recycling refund.

Or for the awful Christmas ads that are here to stay for the next month.

Jerk Rating: 8/10

NRL

Why nominated for the Jerk?

For allowing the merry go round of coaches and players under contract. Fans hate it, but best to do nothing about it.

And for making a great idea in the Magic Weekend worse than it could have been to keep Channel Nein happy.

Jerk Rating: 8/10

VOTE NOW FOR JERK OF THE MONTH

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THE 2018 JERK OF THE MONTH HONOUR BOARD

All of the below are automatically in the running for Jerk of the Year.

Jan 2018 – David Warner

Feb 2018 – Barnaby Joyce, Anthony Mundine, Bernard Tomic

Mar 2018 – Bernard Tomic

April 2018 – Bill Cosby and MKR

May 2018 – Cricket Australia, Delta Goodrem, Todd Greenberg, Meghan Markle’s Dad

June 2018 – Optus Sport, World Cup Divers & Gus Gould

July 2018 – Neymar, Channel Seven & Todd Greenberg

August 2018 – Peter Dutton

September 2018 – Serena Williams, Phil Rothfield, Strawberry Saboteurs

October 2018 – David Warner

Quick European Football Highlights #12 2018-2019

Theydon Bois

November 21, 2018

The weekend is here and another International interruption has come and gone, and that means way too much European Football to keep up with. So we offer up our quick European Football Highlights for the weekend.

This weekend’s best fixture is Atletico v Barcelona at the top of La Liga, and there’s also a derby in Genoa.

And too much football is barely enough we like to say.

Quick European Football Highlights – The Matches

Here are the minimum of games worth keeping an eye on in our opinion.

There are TV Times for those in Australia lucky enough with Bein Sports.

LIGUE 1 – LYON v ST ETTIENNE
EURO KICK KICK OFF FRIDAY NIGHT

Some Fench action to kick off the European Football Highlights, and while it surely won’t be as exciting as the other Friday night game of Ipswich Town v West Brom, it is still 4th v 5th. The battle for the lesser Champions League places is about the only thing going at the top of Ligue 1 as PSG Continue their 100% start to the season and are already 15-16 points ahead of these two. Lyon’s 23 goals are the second most of Ligue 1, but only half of PSG’s, but they do have Memphis Depay and almost Liverpool player Nabil Fekir. St Ettienne have some interesting former EPL player in Mathieu Debuchy and former Sunderland contributor Wahbi Khazri.

Prediction: Lyon 2-1
TV – Bein Sports Australia Kick Off Time – ADST Sat 6:45 – Bein Sports 3

LA LIGA – EIBAR v REAL MADRID
EURO KICK OFF SATURDAY LUNCH KICK OFF

We kick the week as we so often do with our European Football Highlights, with our favourite Spanish team Eibar, who are always entertining. Sadly they will face the Real Madrid that is now winning, not the one who were losing to teams like never before a month ago. Eibar’s recent form follow a pattern of LWDLWD, so combine that with a refreshed Real Madrid with a new manager, the vast difference in squad value, and their unlucky 13th place on the table it sadly looks like a home loss this weekend. Although Eibar’s 10 points at home is more than Real’s seven points away.

Prediction: Real Madrid 3-1
TV – Bein Sports Australia Kick Off Time – ADST Sat 22:55 – Bein Sports 1

LA LIGA – ATLETICO MADRID v BARCELONA
EURO KICK KICK OFF SATURDAY EVENING

The big game of the weekend, 3rd v 1st in La Liga, and there is just one point in it. Atletico are on the longest current unbeaten run with nine games, which is nine more than Barcelona after their surprise 4-2 loss at home to Real Betis last start. Messi will be playing, but he faces the leanest defence in the league with just 8 goals conceded,

Prediction: Draw 1-1
TV – Bein Sports Australia Kick Off Time – ADST Sun 06:45 – Bein Sports 2

BUNDESLIGA – BAYERN MUNICH v FORTUNA DUSSELDORF
EURO KICK KICK OFF SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Not that we take any great joy in seeing Bayern Munich not winning, but it does make for a more interesting Bundesliga. Bayern are only fifth currently, after going down 3-2 in der Klassiker against Dortmund last start. The current seven point gap will be hard to close, but it is a good head start for Dortmundif Bayern finally turn it arond.

Prediction: – Bayern 4-1
TV – Bein Sports Australia Kick Off Time – ADST Sun 13:00 (Delayed) – Bein Sports 1

LA LIGA – SEVILLA v REAL VALLADOLID
EURO KICK KICK OFF SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Sevilla sit in second in La Liga, sandwiched between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, and they could well take advantage of those teams playing each other this weekend if they win. They currently have the best last six form and have won their last four at home. Real Valladolid are doing well as the best of the promoted sides, sitting in 7th, just below Real Madrid. We love a good promoted side story.

Prediction: Sevilla 2-0
TV – Bein Sports Australia Kick Off Time – ADST Mon 02:15 – Bein Sports 2

SERIE A – LAZIO v AC MILAN
EURO KICK OFF SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Lazio v AC Milan is the first leg of a great Serie A double header, this one featuring two sides who fourth and fifth. Lazio are currently fourth, a few points ahead of their city rivals in Roma, but a whopping 12 points behind Juventus, and a sizeable six points to 2nd palced Npoli. AC Miln went down to Juventus last start, and it ws all about AC Milan’s Higuain, as he missed a penalty then got sent off later in the gme as he slowly got angrier. AC Milan are living in the shadow of Inter Milan this season. Both tems have a decent but not spectcular record this year home/away,

Prediction: – Draw 1-1
TV – Bein Sports Australia Kick Off Time – ADST Mon 4:00 – Bein Sports 1

SERIE A – GENOA v SAMPDORIA
EURO KICK KICK OFF – SUNDAY EVENING

The Genoa Derby is known as the Derby della Lanterna which according to Wikipedia is derived from the Torre della Lanterna, the ancient landmark and the main lighthouse for the city’s port. Both Genovesi sides are coming into the game in poor form, three straight losses, and they sit one point apart in 12th (Sampdoria) and 14th (Genoa). So an easy one to pick then.

Prediction: Sampdoria 2-1
TV – Bein Sports Australia Kick Off Time – ADST Mon 06:30 – Bein Sports 1

Quick European Football Highlights – The Big 10 Multi

Here are our favourite tips from all of the European football this weekend. We try and pack as many tips in there as possible, just so we can fall one short.

SEVILLA to beat Valladolid
JUVENTUS to beat SPAL
ROMA to beat Udinese
INTER to beat Frosinone
NAPOLI to beat Chievo
LYON to beat St Etienne
PSG to beat Toulouse
MARSEILLE to beat Amiens
DORTMUND to beat Mainz
BAYERN MUNICH to beat Fortuna Dusseldorf

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