Couch Potato's Corner

Liam vs Lawro: Boxing Day Results

So, how did I get on in my first week against the Mighty Mark Lawrenson?

I’m in a bit of a rush today as I got home late last night from being away and I have just a couple of hours to decide how I think this afternoon’s fixtures are going to go, write up that post, do my belated predictions for the Cymru Premier festive fixtures, feed my kids, entertain my kids, wash up and go to watch Star Wars.

Busy day!

First up:

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Brighton and Hove Albion

I said: 3-1 Tottenham.

Lawro said: 3-0 Tottenham

Damn! So close to a perfect start to the weekend for me. Only one goal separating me from glory.

I’ve not seen the highlights yet but the text commentary seemed to suggest Spurs were fortunate to come away with a win from this game. So maybe I should just be happy with having correctly predicted a Tottenham win, along with Lawro, and we pick up 10 points a piece.

Aston Villa 1-0 Norwich City

I said: 2-1 to Norwich

Lawro said: 2-0 to Villa

It appears it was my heart ruling my head with this one. Sure, I tipped Villa to get a goal, but Norwich didn’t keep up their end of the bargain.

I realised when it was too late that I had forgotten all about Villa winning 5-0 at Carrow Road when making my prediction. I probably still would have stuck to it.

So Lawro correctly called a Villa win and gets ten points to my none.

He leads 20-10

Bournemouth 1-1 Arsenal

I said: 1-0 to Bournemouth

Lawro said: 2-1 to Arsenal

I had a bad feeling when Bournemouth went 1-0 up so early on in the game. It just seemed too good to be true annd my gut said they wouldn’t hang on. My gut was right.

Fortunately, Arsenal only managed the one goal. A second would have give Lawro the full 40 points from this one.

As it stands, neither of us predicted a draw so neither of us get a point.

It remains Lawro 20-10 Liam.

Chelsea 0-2 Southampton

I said: 2-1 to Chelsea

Lawro said: 2-0 to Chelsea

I am absolutely kicking myself with this one because I talked myself out of calling an away win for Southampton. My gut called this one but my head overruled it. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Only saving grace is Lawro went the same way as me so we are wrong together.

Still Lawro 20-10 up.

Crystal Palace 2-1 West Ham United

I said: 2-0 Palace

Lawro said: 2-1 West Ham

BOOM! Another ten points to me thanks to a late Palace winner. Andre’s brother Jordan threw me a frickin bone here. Even after I dissed him in my prediction… Sorry, Jordan.

Again, I’ve not yet seen if, but I understand it was beautiful.

Lawro got it so badly wrong and I draw level 20-20.

Everton 1-0 Burnley

I said: 1-1 draw

Lawro said: 2-0 to Everton

Easy come, easy go. Lawro picks up ten points by correctly calling a home win and retakes his lead 30-20.

Sheffield United 1-1 Watford

I said: 2-2 draw

Lawro said: 1-0 Watford

And he’s back in the game. Not a bang on score, but good enough for ten points to draw me on level terms again. 30-30.

Manchester United 4-1 Newcastle

I said: 1-0 to Newcastle

Lawro said: 2-0 to United

Oh, Ole. Why have I foresaken you? Well, probably because you foresoke me when you managed Cardiff, so I guess we’re about even now, yes?

Lawro had more faith in United than I did and was rewarded with another ten points to take his lead to 40-30.

Leicester City 0-4 Liverpool

I said: 2-0 Leicester

Lawro said: 2-0 Liverpool

Seriously, Leicester? What the fuck, man?

Ok, so I’m not shocked that Liverpool won. They always win. It’s the fact that they obliterated their nearest rivals so comprehensively.

I’ve not seen the highlights so I don’t know if Liverpool were just too damn strong or if Leicester didn’t give the best account of themselves.

All I know is I feel burned by how easy this was for Liverpool.

Not least because Lawro picks up an extra ten points to stretch his lead to 50-30.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 Manchester City

I said: 2-2 draw

Lawro said: 2-0 to City

GOD DAMN IT!

I needed an exact scoreline to have an hope of topping Lawro this week and in the 89^th minute I got it.

In the 92^nd minute Wolves scored again to take all three points.

Had I not had my pride riding on this I would have been thrilled with this result.

Guardiola says that title race is now over. Looking at the scores this weekend and failing to see where Liverpool are going to lose five games between now and May (coupled with City and Leicester needing to win EVERYTHING between now and then), I’d say he’s right.

Klopp won’t say so, and he mustn’t think so, but Liverpool are champions elect now. And it’s not even new year.

I digress.

Zero points a piece for either of us.

So the final score for this week is:

Liam 30-50 Lawro

Not an embarrassing pasting!

Next up! https://couchpotatoscorner.sport.blog/2019/12/28/liam-vs-lawro-28-29th-december-2019/

Liam vs Lawro: Boxing Day Fixtures

So, as a Swansea fan, I’ve got a love/hate relationship with Mark Lawrenson. Just minus the love. He would NEVER tip us to win any games in his weekly predictions column and, for a few years, we showed him. Sure, the last season he was right more than he was wrong but hey!

I’ve decided I’m going to see how easy this prediction malarky is (let’s overlook my first attempt at prediction with the Welsh Premier League https://couchpotatoscorner.sport.blog/2019/12/24/cymru-premier-league-preditions-matchday-18-how-did-i-do/ )

Each week, I am going to be pitting my wits against Lawro, based on his predictions on the BBC Sport website, where he takes on a difference celebrity each week.

As with the BBC scoring system, picking a correct results (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth ten points. The exact score is worth forty points.

So here we go!

Tottenham Hotspur vs Brighton and Hove Albion

This game contains two managers I really love. I love Jose when he first starts at a club. He’s witty, he’s charming, he’s fun. It disappoints me how grumpy he gets when things don’t go well. But he’s in loveable Jose mode now and I’m excited to see what he can do with a club that is on the up but underachieving compared to their potential. Kind of like Chelsea when he joined them.

Unlike a lot of Swansea fans, I still hold Graham Potter in high regard. It’s inevitable that he was going to go on to better things after the season he had with us last year and I don’t begrudge him that. Like it or not, Swansea will always be one of those clubs that is a stepping stone for players and managers. We just have to reap the benefits on the field when they’re with us, and reap the benefits in the bank when they leave. Like Martinez and Rodgers, I would love to see Potter succeed so that I can tell my grandkids “Swansea is where it all began for him” (sorry, Ostersunds…)

I think this is going to be entertaining, probably game one on Match of the Day. Spurs will have too much quality going forward.

Liam says: 3-1 Tottenham

Lawro says: 3-0 Tottenham

Aston Villa vs Norwich City

I don’t know if it’s heart over head for me with this one. Full disclosure, my girlfriend (although not a football fan) is from Norwich. As are her family. They’re sort of my defacto second team.

Having watched them closely on Match of the Day this year, I can’t comprehend why they’re where they are in the table. They seem an entertaining team with a lot of attacking flair. I love Pukki and Cantwell. If they can shore up at the back, they might well make a push for survival. My gut says they’re for the drop though. My gut also says Villa will be dragged down with them and today they might reinforce that point.

Liam says: 2-1 to Norwich

Lawro says: 2-0 to Villa

Bournemouth vs Arsenal

New manager for Arsenal with zero pedigree a la Ljunberg. I can’t see him having an immediate impact over results, succeeding where Freddie failed. Bournemouth have taken out United and Chelsea this season. I’m tipping them for a hat-trick.

Liam says: 1-0 to Bournemouth

Lawro says: 2-1 to Arsenal

Chelsea vs Southampton

Southampton have impressed me in recent weeks with the way they’re battling against the drop. I predict they’re going to be alright come May and foresee a real ding dong here. I like Chelsea under Lampard and the surprising success they’ve had with such a young squad. I’ve been especially pleased that Tammy Abrahams has proven me wrong when I’ve previously said the Championship was his level.

This one will go right down to the wire and only be settled by a single goal.

Liam says: 2-1 to Chelsea

Lawro says: 2-0 to Chelsea

Crystal Palace vs West Ham United

West Ham are going down in the world. They’re my outside tip to go down this year, possibly swapping places with Watford. Shame, because I like the club. Palace have Benteke and Zaha up front (and Ayew but he’s not as good as his brother) and I feel they’ll tear the Hammers apart and take a comfortable win.

Liam says: 2-0 to Palace

Lawro says: 2-1 to West Ham

Everton vs Burnley

New manager’s normally have a habit of winning their first game in charge, but I’ve a feeling that the boost of Anchelloti’s arrival will only be good for taking a draw in this game. Otherwise, I’d have been tipping an away win.

As it stands, I predict goals, just not a lot of them.

Liam says: 1-1 draw

Lawro says: 2-0 to Everton

Sheffield United vs Watford

I’ve been impressed with Watford’s resurgence over the last two games, culminating in a 2-0 win over Manchester United.

The Blades have been this season’s surprise package and are flying high as a result. They also have Oli McBurnie, who was a favourite of mine at Swansea last season. He’s only got three goals so far this season, and seems to start most games from the bench but I’m rooting for him to succeed.

I think this will be one of the games of the day in terms of entertainment with both teams really going at it.

Liam says: 2-2 draw

Lawro says: 1-0 to Watford

Manchester United vs Newcastle United

United are my first love. They’re the reason I started watching football in the first place in 1996. With the advent of the internet and the relative easy by which I can follow Swansea scores and news from afar has seen my attentions drift towards my home team, but I’ve retained an affection for the Red Devils and I love Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He was the first complicated footballer name I ever learned to spell (and pronounce) correctly, along with Peter Schmeichel. Sure, he was dead to me for a while when he managed Cardiff, but he took them down so I guess we’re good.

I’m saddened to see how far from grace United have fallen and I keep praying that Ole will drag them back up. It’s not happening though. Hopefully the board will back him for a few years to rebuild because there is no quick solution.

When I first started watching football, United vs Newcastle was the City vs Liverpool of its day. These days it’s a shadow of its former self.

On paper, United should win this. They’re United. However, Steve Bruce is doing an amazing job at St James’ Park and has led Newcastle to victory over his former club once this season. My gut says he’ll repeat the feat.

Liam says: 1-0 to Newcastle

Lawro says: 2-0 to United

Leicester City vs Liverpool

As with Norwich above, I don’t know if this is my heart talking here. I’m rooting for Leicester for the title this season. I love a good underdog story. Who doesn’t? Add to that my boy Brendan (he who led my Swans to the promised land and beyond) and Kasper Schmeichel, the son of my first footballing hero, and hell yeah I’m going to be shouting for them.

Also, as much as I admire Liverpool under Klopp, and part of me would love to see them smash some points records, that old germ of a United fan in me never wants to see them win.

So I’m going for a home win to keep the title race alive.

Liam says: 2-0 to Leicester

Lawro says: 2-0 to Liverpool

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester City

I’ve always had a soft spot for Wolves as they’re, in a roundabout sort of way, my uncle’s team. He’s not a massive football fan and when I asked him why he never went to any games in the early part of this century he quipped “they never came to see me when I was bad!” To my knowledge, he doesn’t go to see them now they’re good either.

Wolves were so unlucky against Spurs the other week and will be looking to make a statement against City. This seems the right time to play them in my eyes. Pep seems to have lost his love of the Etihad and, while they are winning most of their games, they are a big attainable scalp for a giant killer on their day.

I’m not going to go so far as to say Wolves will win, but I can see them taking a point here.

Liam says: 2-2 draw

Lawro says: 2-0 to City

So! I’ll be back here in a few days to report on how I got on and make my predictions for the next round of fixtures!

Cymru Premier League Preditions Matchday 18. How Did I Do?

Last week, I decided to try my hand at predicting the outcomes of each game in the Cymru Premier League. https://couchpotatoscorner.sport.blog/2019/12/19/cymru-premier-league-preview-and-predictions-matchday-18/

So! How did I do?

The New Saints vs Cardiff Met

What I said: 3-0 to TNS

What actually happened: 2-1 to Cardiff Met

I’m a big enough man to admit that I got this one WAY wrong.

The S4C cameras were at Park Hall for this one and, due to parental duties, I was planning to catch up with the stream on YouTube in the morning without knowing the scores. However a friend helpfully text me the half time score, which blew my prediction well out of the water, so I watched the second half live with an air of resignation, hoping TNS could find a couple of goals to allow me to salvage the pride of correctly calling a home win. They couldn’t.

I watched the first half on Saturday morning and was just struck by how disappointing the TNS performance was. For long periods in the first half I wouldn’t say Cardiff Met won the midfield battle, rather that TNS didn’t seem to have a midfield to speak off. There were far too many occasions where a defender had all the time in the world to pick a pass, only to hoof it into touch and give Met the ball back.

The Archers took the lead in the sixth minute with a really novel corner kick involving three men by the corner flag. I’ve never seen that one attempted before so I guess it was fitting that it resulted in a goal as Joel Evans flicked the cross between his legs and past Harrison.

Ten minutes later, the Saints were level with their first foray to speak of into the Met half. Adrian Cieslewicz powered his way into the box and crossed for Ryan Brobbel to fire home.

Met were to be back in front before the break when a long ball forward evaded the defence, dropping over the shoulder of Will Evans, who cooly slotted it past Harrison.

TNS were improved in the second half but struggled to create much of note. Fuller saved well from a free kick and Greg Draper spurned a decent looking chance with a heavy first touch.

The champions did have the ball in the net via Jamie Mullan but the linesman’s flag ruled it out. I have my doubts about the accuracy of the decision but there is no camera angle that adequately shows Mullan’s position when the ball was struck and no VAR so the result stands as an away win.

Met ended the game with ten men when goalscorer Joel Edwards decided to shove Keston Davies in the face in injury time. Davies got a yellow card for the hefty challenge that provoked Edwards’ reaction.

Connah’s Quay Nomads vs Bala Town

What I said: 1-1 draw.

What actually happened:: 2-1 to Connah’s Quay.

In my defence, I was correct for about eight minutes in this one. That’s something, right? Right…?

Jonny Spittle put the Lakesiders 1-0 up on five minutes, taking full advantage of Quay ‘keeper, Brass’s inability to clear the ball and knocking it home in a goal mouth scramble.

Michael Bakare drew the home side level on 67 minutes, Mike Wilde flicking on a long throw for him to apply the finish. Bakare got his brace eight minutes later, heading in Declan Poole’s cross.

Both sides had chances to add to their tally, Lewis Brass made up for his earlier error with a few smart saves to help his team to three points.

The win see’s Nomads leap frog Bala into second place, a point behind TNS following their defeat.

Aberystwyth Town vs Barry Town United

What I said: 2-1 to Aberystwyth

What actually happened: 1-0 to Barry.

Well that rounded off Friday night perfectly, leaving me with a 0% success rate.

Barry should have had a penalty in the first half when Swansea City loanee, Tom Price clearly handled in the box. Despite having what looked like an excellent view of the incident, the referee waved away the protests.

The seven time champions weren’t to be outdone though and Kyle McLaggen channeled Jurgen Klinsmann with a belly slide across the deck to head in the game’s only goal.

The results leaves Aber still just six points ahead of the drop and keeps Barry in with an outside shot at the title.

Pen-y-Bont vs Newtown

What I said: 2-1 to Newtown

What actually happened: 2-0 to Newtown.

I almost got this one right! I called an away win for Newtown. I said they’d score two goals. I just clearly had too little faith in Dave Jones in the Robins’ goal, as he dealt with the few clear chances Pen-y-Bont had. He did nearly drop one into his own net right at the end to prove me right. I would have had to have bought him a pint had he done so.

Watching the highlights on Sgorio, aside from two decent efforts from the home side, it was one way traffic all day. However, it took until ten minutes into the second half before Kieron Mills-Evans headed home from point blank range. The defender had a first half effort cleared off the line but made no mistake at the second time of asking.

Pen-y-Bont have only themselves to blame for the second goal. Why the defender attempted a pass back to his keeper, when surrounded by red shirts, only he knows. Whatever the weather, he severely undercooked what was already a suicidal idea and Shrewsbury Town loanee Lifumpa Mwandwe intercepted the ball and squared for Niall Flint to tap into the empty net.

Airbus Uk Broughton vs Cefn Druids

What I said: 2-0 to Druids

What actually happened: 1-1 draw.

Watching the highlights of this game, Airbus don’t look like a side that should be deep in relegation trouble. I went to see them play Newtown earlier on in the season and they played them off the park, coming away with a 2-0 victory. However, Newtown are pushing for top six, whereas this point only gives Airbus the slimmest of advantages in the dogfight for the drop.

Andy Owens, who looked decent against Newtown (bagging a brace that day), latched onto a defence splitting pass to fire in from the edge of the box.

Druids fought back and both teams exchanged blows but Airbus struck the woodwork twice in quick succession in the second period. First through Andy Owens, and then the clearance was struck back goalwards by Thomason, only to rebound off the frame of the goal and out for a goal kick.

Druids managed to claim a point with ten minutes to go as Jamie Davies turned and shot into the centre of the goal.

Newtown’s win over Pen-y-Bont sees them just a point behind Druids in the race for sixth spot, with four games remaining before the split. That result also see’s Airbus inch a point above the drop zone.

Carmarthen Town vs Caernarfon Town

What I said: 1-0 to Caernarfon

What actually happened: 1-0 TO CAERNARFON!

I GOT ONE RIGHT! angelic chorus

Saved the best till last here, clearly. As did Caernarfon as their winning goal came in the 91^st minute, Cai Jones heading into the ground and then knocking the ball in with his second bite.

A third successive 1-0 defeat for Carmarthen and they remain rooted to the bottom of the table. There were signs of hope for the Old Gold as Caernarfon were forced into a goalline clearance with Alex Ramsey stranded on the edge of his box.

Lee Idzi in the home goal made two magnificent saves from free kicks in either half to nearly deny the Cofis all three points.

The win sees Caernarfon just two points behind third placed Bala, with a game in hand against second bottom Pen-y-Bont to come.

Carmarthen are four points from safety but they next three games are against Pen-y-Bont twice and Airbus, so the situation could look very different come the league split.

So, how did I do?

In a word: pants.
Ok, so things improved on the second day after a woeful Saturday. I damn near got two scores spot on but the point is I only got two outcomes right out of six.

Pretty woeful stuff.

So! Should I accept that I’ll never make it as a football pundit and just quit now?

Hell no!

I’ve come to the conclusion that pundits are just often wrong with confidence and that’s how I intend to proceed.

Look out for my upcoming preview of not just the Cymru Premier festive programme, but I am also taking on Mark Lawrenson (he doesn’t know this) in Liam vs Lawro for the rest of this season (and beyond).

If you like what you’ve read and want to keep up to date with my posts, please click on the “follow” button. Also, if you could give this post a “like” I’d be very grateful.

Thank you for reading!

Cymru Premier League Preview and Predictions: Matchday 18

There are six games in the Cymru Premier League this weekend, split evenly between Friday night and Saturday afternoon.

Friday 20^th December

Connah’s Quay Nomads vs Bala Town. 19.45 kick off

The standout tie of the weekend sees second placed Bala Town travel to third placed Connah’s Quay Nomads.

Bala are the in form team in the division, having won fives games in succession since their 1-0 defeat at TNS back in October. The Lakesiders have achieved this feat without conceding a single goal in league play.

It’s a different story in the cups, where they lost to Friday’s opponents 2-0 in the semi final of the League Cup, as well as crashing out of the Welsh Cup at second tier Flint Town by the same scoreline.

The Nomads, last season’s runner up, are presently in indifferent form, having only won twice in their last six outings. Last weekend saw them lose their first game of the domestic season, 2-0 away at top six chasing Cefn Druids, and they lead the table in terms of games drawn (7).

One point separates the sides, and they boast the two stingiest defences in the league, with Bala only conceding 12 to Nomads’ 13.

Bala are the second highest scorers in the league with 39 from 17 games, and Connah’s Quay sit fourth in that ranking with 28.

I predict a low scoring draw, and will plump for 1-1.

The New Saints vs Cardiff Met. 20.00 kick off.

Live on S4C.

The Sgorio cameras will be at Park Hall when champions TNS take on last season’s Europa League Play-Off winners Cardiff Met.

Scott Ruscoe’s men sit three points clear of Bala in pole position, having won the last four league games in a row while Met’s run of one win in ten games sees them occupying 8^th spot.

Sitting six points from sixth place, with five games until the league split, the Archers have an outside chance of going at least one better than last season’s 7^th place finish, so will be hoping to better Cefn Druids’ result this weekend to keep that dream alive. It’s hard to see that happening, with TNS in free scoring form as of late, and having only conceded two goals in the last six league games.

The game is live on S4C (and via the Sgorio Facebook page should you live outside the UK), but I can’t see the game being a spectacle of anything other than TNS’s superiority. Although the last meeting in South Wales was a draw, I’m going to predict a 3-0 home win.

Aberystwyth Town vs Barry Town United. 19.45 kick off.

Neither side’s current form is anything to write home about. Aber sit in 9^th spot with a six point cushion over the relegation zone, while Barry have likely slid all the way out of the title race. Despite last season’s title challenge, Barry might well be glancing over their shoulders with seventh placed Newtown only six points adrift with fifteen up for grabs ahead of the mid season split.

While Aber are mathematically in the relegation scrap, a win on Friday, combined with how I feel results will go for the bottom three, could see them open up a nine point gap, which might well prove decisive come May.

Barry desperately need a win to arrest their slump, but I’m going to be brave and call this an Aberyswyth victory: 2-1.

Saturday 21^st December (all 14.30 kick offs)

Penybont vs Newtown

Rhys Griffiths’ Cymru Premier debutants find themselves mired in the relegation dogflight. They currently sit one place above the drop on goal difference alone.

Contrasting this, Newtown are three points off the top half of the table and come into the game having won two on the bounce.

Neither side are setting the world alight with their goalscoring prowess, each averaging roughly a goal a game, but the big difference between the sides in goals against. Newtown’s goal difference stands at minus four, compared to minus 18 for Penybont.

Last time the sides met, it was a 2-1 win to Newtown and I’d go so far as to say that scoreline will be repeated Saturday.

Airbus UK Broughton vs Cefn Druids

The Druids have the best form outside of the top two. The might only have eight wins in the league but seven of those have come in the last eight games and include impressive wins over Barry and Connah’s Quay. In fact, they are the only side in Wales to register a win over the Nomads this season.

Second bottom Airbus, on the other hand have the worst form in the league, losing their last six in succession, the worst goals for and against statistics. Even if you erase from the records their recent 12-0 away loss to TNS, their goal difference is still one worse than next best Aberyswyth (and their goal difference includes a 10-1 loss to the Saints). Their average goals against per game would still stand at 2.25.

Huw Griffiths’ charges occupy sixth spot, with Newtown breathing heavily down their necks.

I find it difficult to predict anything other than an away victory here. I’m going to be cautious though and call it 2-0 to Druids.

Carmarthen Town vs Caernarfon Town

The home team sit rock bottom in the league with only one win in their seventeen games to date. Conversely, the Cofis, in their second season back in the big time, look well placed to match last season’s fourth place finish.

Caernarfon have won four of their last five games, including the reverse of this fixture, 2-0 at the Oval.

There are signs of life in the Old Gold yet. Although they have lost the three games since their Novmember win over Cardiff Met, two of those games game against the sides currently occupying the top two spots. A Welsh Cup horror show when they shipped four goals without reply to Lee Trundle and Ammanford AFC aside, Kristian O’Leary seems to have worked wonders on the defence and the last two defeats have both been 1-0.

Should Carmarthen be able to match their recent defensive accumen with some fire power up front, they could well lift themselves clear of the drop zone. Looking at their upcoming fixtures, where they face their direct relegation rivals in the next three games, I foresee an upturn in their fortunes. But not today. I see Caernarfon taking another three points to all but consolodate a top half finish.

I’m going to be kind to Carmarthen owing to their recent defensive improvements and say it’ll finish 1-0 to Caernarfon.

So! That’s my two cents. What do you think?

Check back on Tuesday when I review how well I did in predicting the outcomes, as well as taking a look at the festive double headers.

Euro 2020 Draw Reaction: Wales

Well, as I’ve given my unsolicted reaction to Swansea’s FA draw ( https://couchpotatoscorner.sport.blog/2019/12/02/fa-cup-third-round-draw-reaction-swansea-city/ ), I might as well say a few words about Wales’ draw in the 2020 European Championship.

For those of you that are unaware, we have been drawn in Group A alongside Italy, Switzerland and Turkey.

Overall, I’m pretty damn pleased with that draw. Had you asked me beforehand who I wanted, I would have replied “Italy, Switzerland and Austria.” Turkey were the only “disappointment” for me, but it’s still a very winnable game if we turn up like we did the last three games of qualifying.

It’s a fair greater draw than the alternative, which would have been Belgium, Russia and Denmark. Yeah, we have beaten Belgium the last three times we’ve played them, and we pasted Russia in 2016 as well, but that was Pre-Robbie Martinez Belgium. A Red Devils side fused with Jack Bastard blood is an altogether different prospect.

When you also consider that Denmark have beaten us twice in very recent memory, I really did not fancy that group. I reckon we’d, at a push, have finished third, but not good enough to make it to the knock out stages.

As it stands, I think second place is well within our grasp.

I couldn’t tell you last time we played Turkey. Off the top of my head, I recall losing 6-3 out there in the France 98 Qualifiers, but I can’t think of a time after that. I’d say we’re pretty well matched.

Switzerland, I’ve maintained for years, are not as good as Wales. I’ve never understood how they regularly qualify for the majors and we don’t. What do they have that we don’t? If memory serves, we’ve defeated them the last two times we’ve met. Sure, past form counts for nothing, so I’m taking nothing for granted, but I fancy our chances.

As for Italy…they’ve won all their games in qualifying so we are expected to lose this game. With any luck, it’ll be a dead rubber as we’ll have won our opening two games. I’m not afraid of them, it’s just a healthy respect. Like I have a healthy respect for not pissing onto electric fences. We’ve beaten them before, and might just do it again as a one off.

All in all, I think we’ve an excellent chance of qualification. I’m trying not to get ahead of myself though. I’m going to be working on the mentality of 2016: I’m just happy to be here.

I remember Gareth Bale giving us the lead against Slovakia and thinking “it doesn’t get any better than this.” I was wrong and I hope by taking it one goal at a time, I’ll be wrong again.

The likelihood of us making the semis again? I’m going to rule it out here and now. Not going to happen. No way. Nuh uh. (Please God let me be wrong)

As for the rest of the draw, being an armchair Germany fan, their group makes my Spidey Senses tingle.

I am praying for Scotland to join us as they will be in the same group as England.

European Championships. England and Scotland at Wembley. Semis and final at Wembley… It takes me back to Euro 1996, which was the first time I put the telly on and saw a game of football and realised that my rugby loving parents were wrong, I did like this game.

I can’t fucking wait.

FA Cup Third Round Draw, Reaction (Swansea City)

So! Hot off the press, my beloved Swansea City have been drawn away to Queens Park Rangers in the third round of the FA Cup.

My reaction? Meh.

I said a number of years ago that being a Premier League team ruined the FA Cup for me. Gone were the days where any one of 20 teams could cause my testicles to shrink to the size of raisens. Nowadays it’s “oh, we’re playing Manchester United…again…” [yawn]

A friend’s dad nearly choked on his own spit when I said “I’m bored of being a Premier League team now. The novelty has worn off.” Two years in the Championship and it still hasn’t.

These days, about five teams could get me excited in the FA Cup and they are: Shrewsbury Town (because it’s a 45 minute drive away), Wrexham (Welsh derby, five minute drive), Telford United (55 minute drive, can park on uncle’s driveway), Norwich City (girlfriend from there. We’ve lost both times we’ve played them since we’ve been together) and Cardiff (because it’s Cardiff).

Aside from that, my nipples ain’t get perky. I’m sorry.

The draw itself isn’t a bad one. They smashed us in the league last year. We beat them on their own turf this season already, but that was before Steve won Manager of the Month and it all went to shit. It’s winnable.

Maybe we’ll get a good run again, maybe even make the Quarter Final for the third year in a row.

But I’m unlikely to get excited before round five.

Unless we draw Shrewsbury of course.

Usain Bolt On New Saints’ Radar?

Could the world’s fastest man be headed for the Cymru Premier League?

Olympic champion, Usain Bolt has made no secret of his desire to become a professional footballer.

Star athletes dreaming of a post retirement career change is nothing new, but rumours have it that Bolt could actually make the grade – his admirers include legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.

He even went so far as to have trials with A League side, Central Coast Mariners and Bundesliga giants, Borussia Dortmund. Despite some favourable feedback, no contract could be agreed with either club and in January of this year, Bolt appeared to have given up on his dream.

But Welsh champions, The New Saints, could prove to be the answer to Bolt’s prayers.

The January transfer window opens in less than a month’s time and Bolt and the Saints could well be a perfect match.

The Oswestry side have won the Cymru Premier League (recently rebranded from the Welsh Premier League) a record eight years in succession and are the league’s only full time club. Although they currently sit two points behind leaders, Connah’s Quay Nomads, few would seriously bet against them retaining the title. Even if they missed out on top spot, finishing outside the top three would be frankly unthinkable. So, the Saints can offer Bolt pretty much guaranteed European football next term. In short, a stage.

Although they aren’t a heavy hitter like the Dortmunds or the Manchester Uniteds that Bolt may have had his heart set on, they represent a pragmatic solution to his dilemma. Full time football, a real shot at glory, and a platform to show the world what he can do.

Were Bolt to sign, say, an eighteen month contract with The New Saints, that would give him the chance to set the league alight, realisitically get at least six European matches under his belt, and a clutch of medals to boot, before securing a transfer to a higher level.

The move would be great for TNS as well. Their owner, Mike Harris, is no stranger to innovation in pushing his club, and the league, forwards. Just the name, Usain Bolt, would draw supporters to their games if only to witness the novelty of an Olympic record breaker gracing the Welsh top flight. Bums on seats equals money in the bank. And if Bolt is as good as it’s rumoured he is, he could prove an invaluable asset on the pitch as well as off.

In short, Usain Bolt and TNS could be a match made in heaven.

The views expressed in this post are entirely my own.

Cavalry FC – The People’s Champions

The first ever season of the Canadian Premier League (CPL) drew to a close a few weeks back and, while I feel it had been a resounding success, one thing let it down. And that is the identity of the inaugural Champions.

Ok. So before I go too deeply into this, I need to give you a bit of background on my connection to the CPL.

As I’ve alluded to in my introduction to this blog (https://couchpotatoscorner.sport.blog/2019/12/01/example-post/), I am something of a Torontophile. It began with the Maple Leafs in the NHL before progressing to Toronto FC in the MLS. I fell in love with the MLS in 2011 when watching the MLS Review Show made 3am bottle feeding more tolerable. Earlier on this year, I stumbled across the news that Canada was launching their very own Premier League. Being the lover of the underdog that I am, I had to get in on that action.

Doing my research on the available teams, I quickly settled on York 9 FC as they’re pretty much Toronto. I state this up front because my disappointment with the identity of the champions has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that they are the Nine Stripes’ local rivals, Forge FC (from Hamilton, Ontario, just down the 105. Apparently).

No. My objection is the manner in which they “gained” the crown.

For those of you that will be unaware of the structure of the CPL, it consists of seven full time professional clubs. The clubs play each other, roughly four times a season.

Now, where it differs from European Leagues is that it has two seasons in one twelve month period. One known as the Spring Season (running from April to July) and the Fall Season (from July to October). This is the same as the Mexican and Argentine top flights.

What happens is that, at the end of the Fall Season, the two champions of each “season” then face off in a battle for surpremacy to be crowned the League Champion.

Where Canada differs from, say, Mexico or Argentina, is that in those leagues, if the same team wins both seasons, there’s no need for a grand final, because we know who the best is.

Not so in the Canadian Premier League, where in such an event, the team that is ranked second when you add the full year’s table’s together gets to play them in the final.

This is what occurred in the CPL this year. Calgary’s Cavalry FC where the outstanding team, pretty much from week one. They won eight out of the ten Spring Season match ups, before taking the Fall Season by a single point. They were first overall by six points and even took out an MLS side in the Canadian Championship (sort of their equivlent to the FA Cup, but a little more complicated than that).

Make no mistake, Calavry were THE best team in the Canadian Premier League. But, instead of being recognised as such, they were made to play a Playoff against Forge FC over two legs. A Playoff that they ultimately lost and now the history books will show Forge FC as the best team in the CPL 2019, and that’s just not true.

Now, I’m not wanting to take much away from Forge. I hate to admit it given my partisan loyalties, but they were the second best team in the league. My boys Y9 were third best and we were miles behind Forge.

You could argue that they were only one point off securing the Fall title and their rightful spot in the final. One result different across the season, and they could well have qualified as Fall Champions. But they didn’t. They finished second across the board and you don’t get anything for finishing second. Except the entire championship it appears.

I get the organisers wanted a big showpiece event to round off their first season and get a party atmosphere. I sympathise. But sporting integrity has given way to marketing. I guess that’s just the world we live in. Money talks.

But it’s fne. The trophy sucks anyway!

Who needs that when you’ve got the best dressed manager in the league.

Cavalry FC, like the Rock (Rockies…hmmm), you are The People’s Champion.

Who Am I?

Hi! And welcome to my new blog, the Couch Potato’s Corner.

My name is Liam Pritchard, I am in my 30s, from the UK and I am the world’s most unenthusiastic sports enthusiast.

The list of my half arsed passions is endless, but my first love is football (or soccer, as our North American friends know it) closely followed by ice hockey and international Rugby Union. I have a passive (which, by my standards, is saying something) interest in basket ball and have recently begun educating myself on American Football.

My passions sub-list extends to an eye-watering number of teams across the globe that I actively seek out the results for. It would take a little too long in this post to list them all but here’s a taster:

Football.

Swansea City (EFL Championship). My home team and number one guys.

Dumbarton (Scottish League One). My old local team, whom I used to regularly pay £3.50 to watch in Scottish Division Three back when I first fell in love with the beautiful game.

Borussia Monchengladbach (German Bundesliga). Another former local team I used to regularly watch. I personally believe the Bundesliga is the best league in the world.

Toronto FC (MLS). I kinda have a “thing” for Toronto, which will be explained in a later post. The city will feature heavily on this blog.

York 9 (Canadian Premier League). I’ll go into more depth of this in a very near future post.

The Welsh Premier League. Or Cymru Premier as it’s known now. I used to regularly watch TNS when I moved to Wales in 2004, as they were one mile from my front door in Llansantffraid. During this time I got to see them win the league, the League Cup, the FAW Cup and the FAW Premier Cup. Not to mention taking on the European Champions, Liverpool, in the Champions League. I spent a number of years as their mascot before becoming General Manager of Technogroup Welshpool but the less said about THAT the better.

Wrexham Ladies. I love women’s football, ever since the 2011 World Cup showed me how damn good it is. I used to run an unofficial website for the Welsh Premer League, before the FAW came along and did their own thing. Wrexham are my local team, although they aren’t in the top flight any more.

Ice Hockey.

Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL). Toronto. Duh.

Toronto Marlies (AHL). See above.

Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL). Now, hockey afficinados may well assume that my affection for this team stems from their previous affiliation to the Maple Leafs, but that was just a coincidence. Actually, we have family friends in Florida, it’s a place that I love and I remembered seeing the logo a lot when we visited in 1997, a time when I was first starting to discover the sport.

Cardiff Devils (EIHL). Ok, I’m from Swansea so it should disgust me to profess to like anything from Cardiff. But there isn’t another team in South Wales so this is the best I can get. Sue me.

Telford Tigers (EPL). Local team, a lot of my family live near the town. The first ice hockey team I’ve ever watched.

Deeside Dragons (whatever league they’re in). Ok, so they absolutely hate Telford Tigers, but they’re my new local team, they’re another Welsh team. It would be rude not to love them too.

Dusseldorf (Deutsche Eishockey Liga). They’re the closest thing hockey has to Monchengladbach.

American Football

Chicago Bears (NFL). When I was five I got a Chicago Bears uniform for Christmas for reasons I don’t understand. But hey. There we go.

Florida Gators (college football). There’s a photo of me as a baby wearing a Gators babygrow. I’m just learning the sport this year and they’ve made it a lot of fun.

Toronto Argonauts (CFL). Ok, so technically Canadian Football and American Football are different sports due to pitch size and number of downs, but I don’t do technical well.

Rugby Union.

Wales.

Whoever England are playing.

Llanelli Scarlets.

Special mentions:

Toronto Wolfpack (Rugby League). Toronto Arrows (Major League Rugby). Llanidloes Town Ladies (former Welsh Premier Women’s League badasses. I pray they one day return).

Anyway, that’s enough boring lists! What is this blog all about?

Well, like most people who engage in sports from the seat of their pants (not you, Michel Vorm, though I swear blind you have the most decorated arse in world football), I fancy myself as a bit of a journalist. In truth, I’m just full of half baked, ignorant opinions that lack coherance or substance.

This blog is really not for anyone other than myself, and anyone else who happens to be interested in the subject matter.

It’s mainly a vehicle for me to improve my knowledge about particular sports that I love as I believe the best way to learn about something is to try writing about it.

Most of what you read on here will be utter horse shit. But please feel free to call me out. I love to learn and I love a good barney over unimportant things.

Enjoy! If you can.