Reuters Soccer Blog

Johnston snatches second in final Predictions League table

By winning 8-0, Chelsea made the end of the Premier League season a faily clear-cut affair but the finish to our Predictions League went right to the last kick. 

Paul Radford had long since wrapped up the championship but second spot was up for grabs with Patrick Johnston and Mitch Phillips neck and neck on 301. Phillips scored a high 13 points in the finale but Johnston pulled off a  14-pointer to steal the glory.

Arguments have already begun about the legitimacy of Johnston’s last entry and his very existence in the competition after moving to the relegated Asia Sports Desk during the season. 

However, a Predictions League commission, hoping to clear up the confusion quicker than a British election, has ruled in Johnston’s favour.

Well done to all who played this season, especially those who came surprisingly close to predicting Chelsea’s 8-0 victory.    

Reuters soccer blog panel final table: Paul Radford 347, Patrick Johnston 315, Mitch Phillips 314, Neil Maidment 299, Mark Meadows 270, Mike Collett 254, Simon Evans 231, Kevin Fylan 215, Julien Pretot 215, Martyn Herman 179,  Sonia Oxley 155, Asia Sports Desk (relegated) Miles Evans (relegated), Justin Palmer (relegated)

Predictions contest is wrapped up but what about the Premier League?

It’s safe to say Paul Radford has been deservedly crowned our Predictions League champion 2009/10 but what about the Premier League?

Could there be a sting in the tail for leaders Chelsea in their last game at home to Wigan on Sunday?

Stranger things have happened and Manchester United fans will have their ears glued to radios at Old Trafford against Stoke City.

Thanks to all who have played the predictions contest this year. If you want one last go then put your guesses for this Sunday’s fixtures in the comments. See you here for the World Cup!

Reuters soccer blog panel table: Paul Radford 343, Patrick Johnston 301, Mitch Phillips 301, Neil Maidment 290, Mark Meadows 263, Mike Collett 241, Simon Evans 217, Kevin Fylan 208, Julien Pretot 210, Martyn Herman 175, Asia Sports Desk 161, Sonia Oxley 151, Miles Evans (relegated), Justin Palmer (relegated)

Sunday Arsenal v Fulham Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur Chelsea v Wigan Athletic Everton v Portsmouth Hull City v Liverpool Manchester United v Stoke City West Ham United v Manchester City Wolverhampton Wanderers v Sunderland

Will Liverpool do United a favour? See what our predictions panel thinks

Liverpool will not be keen on helping Manchester United in their title bid but a victory over Chelsea on Sunday could push the Reds closer to that fourth Champions League spot.

A real dilemma for Liverpool fans, already battered and bruised by a poor season and Thursday’s Europa League semi-final elimination at the hands of Atletico Madrid.

Here is how our predictions panel sees Liverpool v Chelsea and the other fixtures in the coming week as we approach the season’s end. I’ll add in predictions as they land. If you fancy having a go then pop your guesses in the comments. Five points for the correct score, one point for the right result.

Reuters soccer blog panel table: Paul Radford 333, Patrick Johnston 295, Mitch Phillips 292, Neil Maidment 275, Mark Meadows 257, Mike Collett 230, Simon Evans 212, Kevin Fylan 204, Julien Pretot 197, Martyn Herman 175, Asia Sports Desk 161, Sonia Oxley 147, Miles Evans (relegated), Justin Palmer (relegated)

Saturday Birmingham v Burnley: Paul Radford 3-0, Patrick Johnston 2-0, Mitch Phillips 3-1, Neil Maidment 3-0, Mark Meadows 2-0, Mike Collett 2-1, Simon Evans 1-1, Kevin Fylan, 1-2 Julien Pretot 2-1, Martyn Herman, Asia Sports Desk, Sonia Oxley 1-1,

Man City v Aston Villa: Paul Radford 1-1, Patrick Johnston 2-1, Mitch Phillips 2-0, Neil Maidment 2-1, Mark Meadows 1-1, Mike Collett 2-1, Simon Evans 2-2, Kevin Fylan 4-0, Julien Pretot 2-1, Martyn Herman, Asia Sports Desk, Sonia Oxley 1-0,

Is Messi secretly playing our predictions league?

Such is the dominance of our predictions league leader that many on the Reuters soccer blog terraces are chanting –  ”Are you Messi in disguise?”

The Barcelona forward produced a mesmeric four-goal display against Arsenal just days after predictions league leader Paul Radford racked up four perfect guesses on last weekend’s Premier League fixtures.

Interestingly, he was among a flurry of panel members to correctly predict Manchester United 1-2 Chelsea.

Paul is streaks ahead as we approach the end of the season but can you outwit him and the rest of the panel? Remember it’s five points for a correct score and one for a correct result. Put your guesses in the comments section and then come back next week  and tell us how you did.

United visit local rivals Blackburn but how will they react to the Chelsea loss and being dumped out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich? Wayne Rooney looks an injury doubt again.

Below are the panel’s updated scores and Premier League fixtures to predict for the next five days.

Be a good egg and enter the Easter predictions league

While the kids are looking for Easter Eggs, the Reuters soccer blog panel will be desperately seeking some points to close the gap on leader Paul Radford.

The competition is open to everyone so if you fancy predicting this weekend’s Premier League scores then put your guesses in the comments.

It’s five points for a correct score and one for the right result. Total up your scores yourself then let us know how you’ve done.

Of course there is a rather important match on Saturday with Rooney-less Manchester United hosting Chelsea at the top of the table. Let’s make that our double-pointer.

Reuters Soccer blog panel scores: Paul Radford 301, Patrick Johnston 270, Mitch Phillips 261, Neil Maidment 248, Mark Meadows 229, Kevin Fylan 204, Simon Evans 202, Mike Collett 196, Julien Pretot 179, Martyn Herman 169, Asia Sports Desk 161,  Sonia Oxley 135

Predictions League could do with Mancini’s passion

The Premier League run-in is becoming so exciting that even stylish Italians like the usually calm Roberto Mancini are getting hot under the collar and wrestling opposition managers for the ball.

Our Premier League predictions competition needs a panel member to show similar passion or else Paul Radford will have wrapped up the title in a matter of weeks.

He had another flier last weekend although Sonia Oxley hauled herself off the bottom with an enormous 24-point tally.

Are you able to outguess our runaway leader? Predict the scores from this weekend’s Premier League fixtures and get five points for a correct score or one point for the right result. Post your guesses in the comments and then tell us how you did on Tuesday.   Reuters Soccer blog panel scores: Paul Radford 288, Patrick Johnston 259, Mitch Phillips 245, Neil Maidment 241, Mark Meadows 218, Kevin Fylan 204, Simon Evans 197, Mike Collett 188, Julien Pretot 179, Martyn Herman 164, Asia Sports Desk 151,  Sonia Oxley 131, Miles Evans 108

Saturday Birmingham v Arsenal Bolton v Man Utd Chelsea v Aston Villa Hull v Fulham Tottenham v Portsmouth West Ham v Stoke Wolverhampton v Everton

Sunday Burnley v Blackburn Liverpool v Sunderland

Will Chelsea take it easy? Our Predictions League says no

Chelsea have a rather big home match against Inter Milan looming on Tuesday but a juicy London derby at Stamford Bridge against West Ham means the Premier League title contenders are unlikely to be stepping off the gas this Saturday.

Manchester United lead the table but Chelsea have a game in hand and ex-Hammers Frank Lampard and Joe Cole certainly won’t want to slip further behind at the weekend, especially with rampant United following the humbling of AC Milan with a home game against Europa League-weary Fulham.

So what do you reckon to this weekend’s games? Remember 5 points for a correct score and one for a right result.

There are double points on offer for anyone new to the competition in 2010, so check out the fixtures and see if you can outdo our panel (who apart from leader Paul and Kevin had shockers last week).

Leave your guesses/observations in the comments below.

Reuters Soccer blog panel scores: Paul Radford 256, Patrick Johnston 233, Mitch Phillips 225, Neil Maidment 209, Mark Meadows 192, Simon Evans 186, Kevin Fylan 181, Mike Collett 165, Julien Pretot 160, Asia Sports Desk 151, Martyn Herman 145, Miles Evans 108, Sonia Oxley 107.

Predicting another great leap forward from Arsenal

Now all that Winter Sports malarkey is out of the way, we can cast all thoughts of the Couver out of our minds and get back to the serious business: the title race run-in, and the predictions league tussle that goes along with it.

Chelsea are the weekend’s main absentees, as they toil on in the FA Cup against a stoked City, so could we see another great leap forward from Arsenal?

Just a short and sweetish post from me this week, as I contend with the jet lag, so please, send us your predictions. Remember, it’s a point for every correct result, but make that five points for a correct score.

This week, I’m offering double points for anyone new to the competition in 2010. There are double points for everyone on Arsenal v Burnley too, so don’t go missing this one.

Reuters Soccer blog panel scores: Paul Radford 245, Patrick Johnston 228, Mitch Phillips 219, Neil Maidment 205, Mark Meadows 183, Simon Evans 183, Kevin Fylan 167, Mike Collett 163, Julien Pretot 160, Asia Sports Desk 151, Martyn Herman 141, Miles Evans 108, Sonia Oxley 107.

Saturday:

Arsenal v Burnley: Paul Radford 2-1, Patrick Johnston 4-1, Mitch Phillips 4-0, Neil Maidment 3-0, Mark Meadows 3-0, Simon Evans 1-2, Kevin Fylan 3-1, Mike Collett 0-1, Julien Pretot , Asia Sports Desk , Martyn Herman 3-0, Miles Evans , Sonia Oxley

UPDATE: Who can steal a march in the Predictions League?

The weekend’s Premier League action was overshadowed by the terrible injury to Arsenal’s teenage Wales international Aaron Ramsey at Stoke. We wish him all the best for his recovery.

Arsene Wenger’s shocked players managed to turn their minds back to the match and their 3-1 victory moved them to within three points of leaders Chelsea and two shy of second-placed Manchester United, who again had the prolific Wayne Rooney to thank for Sunday’s 2-1 League Cup victory over Aston Villa.

As for the predictions, it was a good week for the Asia Sports Desk and our Paris colleague Julien Pretot, who both scored nine.

Updated Reuters Soccer blog panel scores: Paul Radford 245, Patrick Johnston 228, Mitch Phillips 219, Neil Maidment 205, Mark Meadows 183, Simon Evans 183, Kevin Fylan 167, Mike Collett 163, Julien Pretot 160, Asia Sports Desk 151, Martyn Herman 141, Miles Evans 108, Sonia Oxley 99.

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THURSDAY’S ORIGINAL POST: While Manchester United are busy trying to win the League Cup against Aston Villa, leaders Chelsea will be looking to pull away from the champions in the Premier League.

UPDATE: Controversial Champions League gives way to Predictions League!

Well the fight for fourth spot in the Premier League looks like being one of the most intriguing battles in Europe as we near the latter stages of the season. Tottenham and Aston Villa won but Manchester City drew 0-0 with Liverpool in a drab game to leave it all as close as an Olympic downhill.

The Bundesliga and La Liga get more exciting thanks to Bayer Leverkusen and Cristiano Ronaldo while Inter’s lead being cut to five points has made Serie A less clear cut.

The same can not be said for our predictions league where leader Paul Radford was again joint-top scorer with 13 (full five points for Arsenal 2-0 Sunderland and Fulham 2-1 Birmingham) to streak 18 clear. But let’s not give up.

Remember one of the best manager cliches – it’s a marathon not a sprint!

Updated Reuters Soccer blog panel scores: Paul Radford 242, Patrick Johnston 224, Mitch Phillips 216, Neil Maidment 204, Mark Meadows 180, Simon Evans 176, Kevin Fylan 167, Mike Collett 159, Julien Pretot 151 , Asia Sports Desk 142, Martyn Herman 133, Miles Evans 108, Sonia Oxley 99 —————————————————

THURSDAY’S ORIGINAL POST: So what do you make of Wednesday’s Champions League controversies?