Cornish Steve

http://www.toffeetalk.com/index.php?/topic/26511-predict-our-result-20142015-season/?p=419624

Leicester 2-3 Everton Barkley

You're in a time warp. And it was Norwich. That won't happen against Leicester.

Do the EL champions have to go through CL qualification rounds?

In the mane.

Don't Chelsea continue to be his sponsors? This is a loan deal, after all.

Both.

The clue is in his name: Just horsing around.

Reminds me of a David Coleman comment: "The British runner beat the world's best to claim the bronze."

Maybe we should just enjoy the fact that a potentially great young talent has joined the club and not put him under pressure before he's even played one game in the BPL. He'll have a lot to learn, will make mistakes, and may or may not work out. Who knows at this point? But let's enjoy watching the season play out and seeing how the new core of young players get along.

The number of famous British actors who starred in Z Cars is quite impressive. Among them are: Colin Welland Frank Windsor Brian Blessed James Ellis Stratford Johns Ian McShane John Thaw (Morse) Nicholas Smith (Mr. Cuthbert, Are you being served) Judy Dench (M for a while on James Bond) Joss Ackland Leonard Rossiter Windsor Davies Fulton Mackay (Porridge) Geoffrey Hughes (Keeping up appearances) Kate O'Mara Davy Jones (from the Monkees) Judy Parfitt Peter Sallis (voice of Wallace from Wallace and Gromitt) Glenda Jackson Malcolm Tierney Molly Sugden (Mrs Slocombe from Are you being served) Tom Baker (who was once Dr. Who) Ian Lavender (Corporal Pike, Dad's Army) Robert Powell Diana Dors Arthur Lowe (Captain Mainwaring, Dad's Army) John Hurt Patricia Routledge (Mrs. Bucket in Keeping up appearances) Eileen Atkins (Aunt Ruth on Doc Martin) Bernard Bresslaw (Carry On movies) John Laurie (Dad's Army) Arnold Ridley (Dad's Army) Stefanie Cole (Aunt Joan, Doc Martin) Geoffrey Palmer Wendy Richard (Miss Brahms, Are you being served) Colm Meaney (Star Trek, TNG) John Rhys-Davies (Gimli LOTR)

So how many here used to watch Z-cars?

The hell HE was going through? What about the hell SHE is going through? While I appreciate the guys dilemma, this whole article just seems to endorse extreme selfishness.

And when you do understand, you'll realize that I always get double points.

The season kicks off next weekend, so let's get the prediction game going! Hopefully, I've learned a little from doing this last season and through the World Cup, and I've listened to your feedback on a couple of potential new rules. Here's what I suggest this time around. Each week, you need to predict just two things: the final score and the first Everton goalscorer. Please use the same format each week: Home-team x-x Away team Goal-scorer For example, you might predict Leicester 1-1 Everton Lukaku Here's how points will be awarded: a) 1 point for the correct outcome (win, lose, or draw) 1 point for the correct goal difference c) 1 point for the correct number of goals scored by Everton d) 1 point for the correct number of goals scored by the opposition e) 1 point for your prediction being better than the average prediction f) 2 points for predicting the first Everton goal-scorer g) 1 point if your predicted goal-scorer scores other than the first goal h) 3 bonus points if you get everything right Here are some clarifications on these rules: - You receive 2 points if your goalscorer gets the first goal and 1 point if he gets one of the other goals. You do not get 3 points if he scores both. - If Everton fail to score, no one gets any points for predicted goalscorer and no bonus points are awarded. - You can choose "own goal" as your goalscorer, in which case it doesn't matter who from the opposing team scores that own goal. - For the technically minded, the definition of "better than the average prediction" is quite simple: (ABS[yourEvertonscore - actualEvertonscore] + ABS[youropponentscore - actualopponentscore]) < (ABS[averageEvertonscore - actualEvertonscore] + ABS[averageopponentscore - actualopponentscore]) Here are some examples. Let's say it's Everton playing at home to QPR. The final result is 2-0, with Lukaku scoring first and Naismith scoring second. If you predicted 1-0 (Lukaku), you score a+d+f = 4 points (and maybe a point for being better than average) If you predicted 2-1 (Naismith), you score a+c+g = 3 points (and maybe a point for being better than average) If you predicted 3-1 (Barkley), you score a+b = 2 points (and maybe a point for being better than average) If you predicted 2-0 (Naismith), you score a+b+c+d+e+g = 6 points If you predicted 2-0 (Lukaku), you score a+b+c+d+e+f+h = 10 points Note: all predictions must be posted here before kickoff: no exceptions. Hopefully this is a clear description of how the prediction game will work, but please feel free to ask any questions. Now let's get started with predictions for the opening game against Leicester.

Now we have a Mohammed and a Christian on the team, maybe we should be looking for a Buddha Smith? Personally, I'm not a big fan of Ben Arfa, mainly because his attitude leaves something to be desired.

A toucan selfie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHlWLXvtiUs

How can anyone say the squad is no different from last year? 1) Barry is permanent, not a loan. He can play all games in the season and against all other teams. 2) Lukaku is permenent, not a loan. He too can play all games and against all teams. 3) Barkley and Stones have proved they are first-team material (and England internationals) 4) McGeady is available for the entire season, and so is Gibson. 5) Besic is permanent and an exciting new player. 6) Galloway is permanent and gives us a positive transition from older to younger players. 7) All the key players (just waiting for McCarthy) have signed on for several years. 8) All four loan spots remain open. And we've lost no one. And the team has mostly played together now for a full year. And we have the same manager as last season. And we're playing in Europe. And we have at least two youngsters ready for first team play. As we look at the first team, how many players would we honestly prefer to replace? Very very few. We're in an exciting place.

The window isn't over yet, and the loan signings won't happen until the last minute. If you ask me, there will be one more permanent deal and at least three players on loan.

Having read first all the comments here, I was expecting hot pink with lace lining the socks. It's not quite that bad. On the other hand, it's quite amusing to see players demonstrating their macho no-nonsense pose in a far from macho kit. And whoever came up with that combination of colours - white, purple, black, and yellow - has the fashion sense of Albert Steptoe.

I can see them struggling this coming season. Last time around, they relied on a potent front line but were vulnerable at the back. That potency is diminished and you don't fix defensive frailties in an instant. And they have the CL to contend with. I'd say we have a good opportunity to take their place this season in the top four.

Come on guys. Backwards? The goal has to be continued progression so 4th must be the target.

Would it make sense for Jindrich Stanek to gain experience there?

That's it!

An impressive crowd watching the game, John.