lookersstandandy

Anyone like AL's suit?

In the 3rd edition of ‘Predictors in Focus’, we’ll take a look at one of the Godfathers of Prediction League. @DavidCollinge, has participated in all but one of Prediction League’s 7 seasons. His trophy cabinet & achievements read; - Premier League Champion 2011/12 - Premier League Champion 2013/14 - 3rd in Premier League / Qualified for Europe 2017/18 He has however never gone beyond the 2nd round of the OWTB PL Cup and rumours are rife that he is under pressure to deliver a Wembley final for his fans. The Collinge family’s involvement in football dates as far back as the 1920’s, when his great uncle Ernest – who was born in Blackley – played for Port Vale and was famous for scoring the Valiants winner at Old Trafford in a 2nd division game in 1922. By comparison, Latics were in division 1 during this period. Football runs deep in the Collinge family name. These days, when @DavidCollinge isn’t polishing his trophies, he can found revealing pearls of wisdom at Surrey Street in Glossop and sharing a drink with another Prediction League participant, @GlossopLatic. Sadly, David’s midas touch hasn’t yet rubbed off on GL. This season's Prediction League is expected to be one of the toughest yet, but just like death and taxes, @DavidCollinge is sure to feature.

I wonder if Mr. Lemsagam’s former Agency, or Agent contacts have had anything to do with Tope’s move to France?

The 2nd edition of this season’s series of ‘Predictors in Focus’ sees us nip back over the right side of the M62 & 'straight outta Crompton'. The story actually takes a detour further afield, to South Africa no less. @jorvik_latic, named so because of a Viking like appearance and a beard that is comparable only with Uncle Albert from Only Fools & Horses, began life in Oldham, but spent his formative years in the sun-drenched Oasis – not the southern branch of Latics fans – that is the rainbow nation. Sadly for @jorvik_latic, this sojourn happened to coincide with Latics’ most successful period. He returned just in time to see us spend 2 decades anchored to the 3rd tier. In fact, many have blamed him personally for our demise. @jorvik_latic joined Prediction League in 2015/16. His first season was relatively successful for a rookie. He finished a comfortable 14th in the Premier League, won his Cup Group and progressed to the Quarter Finals. The Predicting community began talking him up, expecting big things from him over the immediate future. The bookies even shortened their odds accordingly. Alas, he’s never really lived up to the hype. It’s all been a bit, well limp, ever since. @maddog will tell you more if you wish to hear it. 113 points scored in both 2016/17 and 2017/18, has witnessed @jorvik_latic cling on to Premier League existence by the skin of his teeth in successive seasons. A bit like Latics in the final throws of the Corney era, one ponders whether this coming season will see him finally slip through the trap door, or will – using his South African connections – an injection of #frenchlads from nowhere near France, finally see him live up to the promise he once showed? We’ll find out soon enough. Best of luck to @jorvik_latic this coming season.

They get a bit funny about it at MI5.

I work right next to Fetter Lane.... and I'm free on the 22nd Aug. If it gets heard, I'm gonna turn up.....

This is brilliant. I love that we’ve flushed out one of Prediction League’s silent rivalries. It must smart to see your derby Predictor exchange places with you in this season’s Premier League, LaticsPete. I look forward to watching you attempt to restore ‘normality’ over the coming season. Best of luck to you both.

Today, begins the first in this season’s series of ‘Predictors in Focus’. We begin, not too far away from the voluptuous bosom of Oldham, in Milnrow, Rochdale. There are some fantastic personalities, with lively opinions, colourful language, flowery prose or just too much bloody time on their hands, who frequent the OWTB community. Then there are others, who are much less likely to seek attention. The philosophers. The contemplators. The fixers. Without them and their free thinking and mind expanding ways, we’d all descend into anarchy. @milnrow latics can often be seen in a pensive pose walking up Windy Hill, along the Rochdale canal or riding the only fully working cotton mill steam engine in the world, in Newhey at the Ellenroad Steam Museum, while pondering his next OWTB Prediction. Whatever the distraction, it’s certainly begun to pay dividends this last 12 months. The early days were a different story however. @milnrow latics joined Prediction League in 2015/16. Finishing 24th in the league standings – a season before Promotion/Relegation was introduced – and going out in the Cup in the group stages bottom of his group. Yes, his early foray into Prediction League was largely uneventful. 2nd season syndrome even took its course. In 2016/17 as ML, as he is known amongst friends, seemed to go backwards, finishing 17th in the Championship & going out in the OWTB cup next to bottom of his group, while deploying some experimental Predictions and tactics. Some of the locals back in Milnrow were calling for his head. In what has drawn comparisons with Joe Royle’s early years as Latics boss, you’d be forgiven for discarding our quiet but contemplative compatriot as a serious contender. Discard no more! After 2 seasons of working it out, tinkering, finding the right blend, ML accumulated joint 4th highest number of points in 2017/18 Prediction League & won his Cup group - alas going out in the 2nd round - at the same time as fending off @oafcmetty in a tight League run in – and thereby demonstrating nerves of steel – to finish 2nd in the Championship, achieving automatic promotion to this coming season’s Premier League. Congrats ML.

Good on him. As a lower league footballer, his income would unlikely outstrip that of a successful corporate retail manager over the course of comparitive employments. Seems a very mature decision to have taken.

I assume that's a rhetorical question....?

...but plenty of pig's heads. There are lot more similarities to David Cameron and @24hoursfromtulsehill than first meets the eye.

I'm sure you can find agreeable way for him to pay. Where there's a will.....

OWTB 2018/19 rules thread now open in the Prediction League Forum; with some important news of changes to beneficiaries. This season, OWTB will replace Playershare [@Dave_Og - no excuses now] and Dr Kershaw's will be replaced by Roy Castle Lung Cancer foundation in memory of @opinions4u.

Right then @Crusoe, are you signing up or what? Let's be having you.... Pay the £10 entrance fee via PayPal to stevie_j@owtb.co.uk (Please note the underscore) with your OWTB username in the comments box and your name will appear in the sign up Predictor List below;

I guess it depends on what his Chairman allows him to spend....

Baxter. If those two could stay fit..... and out of trouble.... they could tear up a lot of defences in League 2.

Brilliant news. I think the competition would be greatly enhanced by more of OWTB's regularly contributors, well, contributing.....

In the Final edition of tactics & mind games, I thought we'd have a look at what happens when you're in direct competition with another Predictor, either in the OWTB Cup, in the Play Offs, or battling for position in the league. If you decide to go with an Early Prediction, what's stopping your competitor seeing your Prediction and hedging their bets? If you therefore decide to go with a Late Prediction, what happens if you fail to get your Prediction in on time? Here, for the Scunthorpe (a) fixture, which also doubled up as the OWTB 2nd round, we witness @GravityGrave attempting to gain an advantage on his opponent @stevesidg by employing the Late Prediction. Unfortunately, because of the paucity of a decent 4G signal in the backwater that is Scunthorpe, it didn't go through until 2:56pm. This is something that all Predictors should be even more mindful of this coming season, especially at places like Forest Green, where carrier pigeon is still the main form of communication amongst locals. In another example of what could've been, here @yarddog73 Predicted the Charlton (a) attendance to within 1 of the actual number, only to learn that the Prediction landed on OWTB at 3:01pm, even from Sarf Landan; For the less experienced Predictor, do be on the look out for the more unscrupulous amongst us, who will place a Dummy Prediction, complete with the intention of employing the Late Amendment. In what was possibly the most amusing and yet heartbreaking moment of the 2017/18 campaign, @aidan_latics an experienced Predictor of some 4 seasons, under the pressure and strain of his first chance at silverware in the OWTB Cup Final replay no less, employed the Dummy Post/Late Amendment combo and edited it incorrectly, leaving a FT score of 0-0, with it being 1-0 to Latics at HT after an Eoin Doyle goal. Prediction null & void. No points scored. Cup final lost. To add insult to injury, Latics relegated. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. FYI, the 2nd leg of Play Off games, sees Predictions made via PM to admin to ensure no foul play. This season see's the introduction of the email to text message reminder service. If you think this will help you, please read the following post; What you waiting for? Sign up now. Pay the £10 entrance fee via PayPal to stevie_j@owtb.co.uk (Please note the underscore) with your OWTB username in the comments box and your name will appear in the sign up Predictor List below;

We lost 2-0. Trevor Morley scored one of them. They were still angry about the 6-0.

Boxing Day, 1991. Midday KO. Upton Park. Football League we’re taking the p1ss. Think we got on a Barlow’s coach about 4am. Was pretty tasty on the streets around East London that day too. Horrible lot.

Cristian Montano, Head of Integrity.

2 weeks tomorrow, the season kicks off.... What sort of Predictor will you be? Can you be objective, or do Royal Blue tinted glasses cloud your judgement? To borrow a phrase from other threads, will you be a #WalktheLeaguePredictor, a #RealisticPredictor or a #ConsolidationPredictor? In this episode of tactic and mind games, I thought we'd have a look at how those with a positive or pessimistic disposition fared in the most recent campaign. In the Premier League, one of Prediction League's ever present's, @Bristolatic, was the most positive Predictor in the division. He Predicted 39 wins, 7 draws and 0 losses in his 46 games. This would've returned 124 points. Maybe somewhat unsurprisingly, @Bristolatic was relegated from the Premier League. Will he see fit to change his Predicting tactic for the forthcoming campaign, or stick to his guns now we are League 2? The most pessimistic Predictor in the Premier League, was another of the ever Present's, @Stevie_J, who Predicted 13 wins, 7 draws and 25 defeats - the equivalent of 46 points - forgetting to post a Prediction on 1 occasion. @Stevie_J finished 4th. However, @Hometownclub, who was the Premier League winner, Predicted 14 wins, 23 draw and only 9 losses / 65 points, proving you can be successful balancing objectivity & tinted bins. In the Championship, the most pessimistic Predictor was @singe who's record was 3 wins, 22 draws, 16 losses, forgetting on 5 occasions. Equivalent of 31 points. He won the Championship. The most positive Predictor was @HarryBosch, who Predicted 36 wins, 6 draws and 4 losses / 114 points. @HarryBosch was relegated to League One. The most realistic - in terms of points Latics actually achieved - were @Oafc1895 W11 D16 L15 P49 and @Benja, W12 D15 L17 P51. @Oafc1895 finished in Play Offs, going out at the S/F stage to @oafcmetty. @Benja finished 13th, narrowly avoiding being relegated to League One. It's not quite as straight forward as meets the eye is it? Sign up now to show how good you are at Predicting. Pay the £10 entrance fee via PayPal to stevie_j@owtb.co.uk (Please note the underscore) with your OWTB username in the comments box and your name will appear in the signed up Predictor List below;

Ha. It's not subsided after all this time then? You're right, he should've buried that chance at Wembley. We wouldn't have then gone down. I was gutted when he got the job in front of Ritchie and then subsequently started moving out Royle's players for his/Harvey's.... ...but Ian Stott has to take a lot of blame for his appointment and his running of the club following relegation. The Premier League had changed the way football was being run/governed and teams earned money. He was trying to run it like he had done prior to this moment. He needed to do everything he could to get us back in it. He didn't even try.

Quite remarkable. I PM’d him last season when drumming up participation in Prediction League for which he’d been a part of before, not - at that stage knowing of his circumstances. His response - realising I didn’t know, but clearly appreciating my sincerity, was so softly delivered. I felt terrible but instantly respected him. I didn’t know him personally, but wish I had. My thoughts with his family & friends.

What year would that’ve been....?