Hello,
Well, after reviewing my pics (blog can found in August 2008), it seems I am doing ok. With 5 games to go, let's have a look.
Top 4 - My Pics (* = correct)
1 - Manchester United (*)
2 - Chelsea (3rd)
3 - Liverpool (2nd)
4 - Arsenal (*)
Upper
5 - Aston Villa (*)
6 - Everton (*)
7 - Tottenham (10th)
8 - Manchester City (9th)
9 - Portsmouth (14th)
10 - West Ham (8th)
Lower
11 - Wigan (*)
12 - Middlesbrough (18th)
13 - Sunderland (15th)
14 - Newcastle (19th)
15 - Blackburn (16th)
16 - Bolton (13th)
17 - West Brom (20)
Religated
18 - Fulham (7th)
19 - Stoke (12th)
20 - Hull (17th)
So, I feel like my pics are not so bad and many can turn out to be perfect pics.
Bad Pics
18 - Fulham (7th) - had them religated but they have turn it around
19 - Stoke (12th) - probably will avoid religation
09 - Portsmouth (14th) - thought they would keep in the top half; still kinda possible
07 - Tottenham (10th) - two years in a row, I had more faith in them...not gonna happen again.
03 - Liverpool (2nd) - surprised me so far; it would take a huge turn for my 2nd/3rd to be right.
Overall
- 5 correct right now
- 6 within the ballpark and could happen with some luck
- one must pick ONE promoted team to stay up. I picked WEST BROM but it seems like STOKE will survive.
- Hull is fading fast so hopefully one of my religated picks will come true.
We will check back to see how I did at the end of the season.
Thanks,
Derek
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Websites & EPL Soccer
Hello,
Long time no BLOG.
I have begun the process of moving DEREKNEWMANDESIGNS from Arishost to Namesecure. I have been with Arishost for years but the quality has been going down to the point where I do not receive emails from my forms at times. Namesecure it very good and never seems to go down. Thanks to Arishost and I look forward to working with Namesecure. So, for a bit, my server will be moved to ALYZEREEFJR.COM until my own server space can be acquired.
So, let's talk soccer. Fun couple weeks. I managed to get onto ESPN soccer chat w/ Derek Rae. I do not spend a lot of time memorizing every single player on every team but I do understand the game, how it is played and what managers are thinking (I think). Here is the chat:
Derek (St. Thomas, Ontario): It almost appeared like Fergie played "The Special One's" game against him by the way he fielded the team. Specifically Burba up alone and kept Rooney off till late. Your thoughts on that? Thanks...PS: United out played them on the whole.
Derek Rae: (6:18 PM ET ) I agree with your assessment, Derek. United were certainly the better side over the piece and will be disappointed only in the fact that they didn't find the net.
Two weeks later, I got on a big program called FOOTBALL MATTERS on SETANTA SPORTS. With tons of emails on their table, they picked mine to read:
Great program. As a fan, I believe every team on a run like United needs a reality check. No team can go an entire season without a beating like they got on the weekend. I think United will pick themselves up and grow from this experience. Also, there is no evidence AT ALL that a team with the quality of United (not to mention the manager) will start losing games left and right. As a fan, I am actually glad this game happened with United 7 points in first (with a game at hand) rather than a Champions' League game or a FA Cup game. Cheers - Derek (St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada)
There is line in there which, after the defeat at the cottage, seems lacking: Also, there is no evidence AT ALL that a team with the quality of United (not to mention the manager) will start losing games left and right. Hmm...well, I guess there is evidence now. For me, the big mistake for Sir Alex was leaving Rooney on the bench. That guy makes things happen and sparks the team. Check on United's official site and see the stats when he starts compared to when he does not start. I know he is hot headed and needs to work on that but he makes a big difference as he terrorizes defences. Tevez played very well but the thing I notice in that game, similar to last year's FA Cup defeat was Ronaldo being body checked all game w/ no cards coming out. The referee needs to keep a closer eye on this situation. Yes, Ronaldo has a reputation but he is not the same player today as we was three years ago. The man is getting checked like it is a hockey game or something.
Makes for a great title finish.
Till next time,
DND
Long time no BLOG.
I have begun the process of moving DEREKNEWMANDESIGNS from Arishost to Namesecure. I have been with Arishost for years but the quality has been going down to the point where I do not receive emails from my forms at times. Namesecure it very good and never seems to go down. Thanks to Arishost and I look forward to working with Namesecure. So, for a bit, my server will be moved to ALYZEREEFJR.COM until my own server space can be acquired.
So, let's talk soccer. Fun couple weeks. I managed to get onto ESPN soccer chat w/ Derek Rae. I do not spend a lot of time memorizing every single player on every team but I do understand the game, how it is played and what managers are thinking (I think). Here is the chat:
Derek (St. Thomas, Ontario): It almost appeared like Fergie played "The Special One's" game against him by the way he fielded the team. Specifically Burba up alone and kept Rooney off till late. Your thoughts on that? Thanks...PS: United out played them on the whole.
Derek Rae: (6:18 PM ET ) I agree with your assessment, Derek. United were certainly the better side over the piece and will be disappointed only in the fact that they didn't find the net.
Two weeks later, I got on a big program called FOOTBALL MATTERS on SETANTA SPORTS. With tons of emails on their table, they picked mine to read:
Great program. As a fan, I believe every team on a run like United needs a reality check. No team can go an entire season without a beating like they got on the weekend. I think United will pick themselves up and grow from this experience. Also, there is no evidence AT ALL that a team with the quality of United (not to mention the manager) will start losing games left and right. As a fan, I am actually glad this game happened with United 7 points in first (with a game at hand) rather than a Champions' League game or a FA Cup game. Cheers - Derek (St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada)
There is line in there which, after the defeat at the cottage, seems lacking: Also, there is no evidence AT ALL that a team with the quality of United (not to mention the manager) will start losing games left and right. Hmm...well, I guess there is evidence now. For me, the big mistake for Sir Alex was leaving Rooney on the bench. That guy makes things happen and sparks the team. Check on United's official site and see the stats when he starts compared to when he does not start. I know he is hot headed and needs to work on that but he makes a big difference as he terrorizes defences. Tevez played very well but the thing I notice in that game, similar to last year's FA Cup defeat was Ronaldo being body checked all game w/ no cards coming out. The referee needs to keep a closer eye on this situation. Yes, Ronaldo has a reputation but he is not the same player today as we was three years ago. The man is getting checked like it is a hockey game or something.
Makes for a great title finish.
Till next time,
DND
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Weird Website Stuff
Hello,
Three weeks ago, I noticed that something was weird with my website. On the main navigation, the JASONCOSTUME link had some noise above it. I was switching everything over to a new computer (and faster computer) so I did not have a chance till yesterday to fix it.
I opened the PS file and had a look. On the PS file, no problem. On the EXPORT TO WEB screen, no noise but once it exported, there is was. I went through the layers trying to see if there was a problem there...nothing. I am pretty careful and tidy when it comes to keeping PS layers clean and easy to read. So I decided to crop that link out and re-export separately...and it worked. Now the site is clean.
Working with computers for the last 7 years, weird things happen.
Speaking of the Jason costume, halloween was a lot of fun. I had a chance to wear it to one of my last days at the Sudbury Action Centre For Youth. The youth really like the costume and I had a chance to have some fun. It is a lot of fun seeing people drive by or stopping at the tracks. I stand there motionless and, when I spot some people pointing, turn my head VERY slowly. I think people need to smile and have fun with days like Halloween more. Although, the older I get, the more wearing it hurts.
I will be getting some digital shots from James Hodgins soon and they will be featured online.
See you next time,
Derek
Three weeks ago, I noticed that something was weird with my website. On the main navigation, the JASONCOSTUME link had some noise above it. I was switching everything over to a new computer (and faster computer) so I did not have a chance till yesterday to fix it.
I opened the PS file and had a look. On the PS file, no problem. On the EXPORT TO WEB screen, no noise but once it exported, there is was. I went through the layers trying to see if there was a problem there...nothing. I am pretty careful and tidy when it comes to keeping PS layers clean and easy to read. So I decided to crop that link out and re-export separately...and it worked. Now the site is clean.
Working with computers for the last 7 years, weird things happen.
Speaking of the Jason costume, halloween was a lot of fun. I had a chance to wear it to one of my last days at the Sudbury Action Centre For Youth. The youth really like the costume and I had a chance to have some fun. It is a lot of fun seeing people drive by or stopping at the tracks. I stand there motionless and, when I spot some people pointing, turn my head VERY slowly. I think people need to smile and have fun with days like Halloween more. Although, the older I get, the more wearing it hurts.
I will be getting some digital shots from James Hodgins soon and they will be featured online.
See you next time,
Derek
Monday, September 22, 2008
Darn Foot
Hello,
My whole life, I have had a problem with my right ankle/foot. It affects my drumming sometimes and I have been lucky playing soccer all summer...up until last Monday. I jumped up for a ball and landed wrong. There was a crack and the guy I challenged stopped and asked me if I was ok. At first, I was ok but then it started to swell a bit. Had trouble walking for 2 days and the pain lasted a full week. Now, a week later, I am starting to feel normal and am hopefull that BMO will still happen.
Maybe.
Hopefully.
Darn foot.
Derek
My whole life, I have had a problem with my right ankle/foot. It affects my drumming sometimes and I have been lucky playing soccer all summer...up until last Monday. I jumped up for a ball and landed wrong. There was a crack and the guy I challenged stopped and asked me if I was ok. At first, I was ok but then it started to swell a bit. Had trouble walking for 2 days and the pain lasted a full week. Now, a week later, I am starting to feel normal and am hopefull that BMO will still happen.
Maybe.
Hopefully.
Darn foot.
Derek
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
LU Magazine, Burbatov and BMO
Hello,
First off, some exciting news as I will be featuring in LU MAGAZINE. I have already been interviewed and the LU crew is coming to interview some of the youth I work with on Friday. For SUDBURY ACTION CENTER FOR YOUTH, I hope I can get the front cover. The magazine would reach people who the majority probably do not know about the centre. I hope it helps with fundraising.
So I feel better about United's chances of winning hardware this season with the signing of Burbatov. I think he will help inject some class and style to the front line, especially Rooney. I am looking forward to how this pairing will turn out. Chelsea has looked more human lately and I think it should be a good couple weeks with Liverpool (7:30am, arg) and Chelsea coming up. With my new "must work Tuesday nights from 4-8", I will miss some Champions League games including (I think) the one against Celtic at Old Trafford. Blah.
So BMO is booked...a bunch of us are heading to play a pick-up game at BMO FIELD in Toronto. When Matt suggested this, I was like "you can rent BMO?" As it turns out, he was right and, after some confusion and complaining, I was able to book it for October 4th. Should be a good time and an excuse to go to the Bier Market. Good times.
Scored two wonder goals against the youth, one header and one, left foot curling shot. The other one...let's not talk about that one ;)
See you next time,
Derek
First off, some exciting news as I will be featuring in LU MAGAZINE. I have already been interviewed and the LU crew is coming to interview some of the youth I work with on Friday. For SUDBURY ACTION CENTER FOR YOUTH, I hope I can get the front cover. The magazine would reach people who the majority probably do not know about the centre. I hope it helps with fundraising.
So I feel better about United's chances of winning hardware this season with the signing of Burbatov. I think he will help inject some class and style to the front line, especially Rooney. I am looking forward to how this pairing will turn out. Chelsea has looked more human lately and I think it should be a good couple weeks with Liverpool (7:30am, arg) and Chelsea coming up. With my new "must work Tuesday nights from 4-8", I will miss some Champions League games including (I think) the one against Celtic at Old Trafford. Blah.
So BMO is booked...a bunch of us are heading to play a pick-up game at BMO FIELD in Toronto. When Matt suggested this, I was like "you can rent BMO?" As it turns out, he was right and, after some confusion and complaining, I was able to book it for October 4th. Should be a good time and an excuse to go to the Bier Market. Good times.
Scored two wonder goals against the youth, one header and one, left foot curling shot. The other one...let's not talk about that one ;)
See you next time,
Derek
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
EPL Predictions
Hello,
Over the years, I have had pretty good records with pools so here goes for this year. Comment, bash me, whatever.
1 - Manchester United: especially if we sign Burbatov
2 - Chelsea: powerful team but too many new players for one season; next year though...
3 - Liverpool: more signings than Arsenal who has a very young team
4 - Arsenal: no moves = 4th
5 - Aston Villa: good team but Everton made no moves plus ManCity bad owner
6 - Everton: I really like this team...solid
7 - Tottenham: bad year last year and will not be able to make up enough ground for CL.
8 - Manchester City: not sure about this one; owner might be in jail thus no one gets paid
9 - Portsmouth: will take time for Crouch to fit in
10 - West Ham: another solid mid table team; 1-2 more good players=5th ot 6th
11 - Wigan: solid mid table team
12 - Middlesbrough: another ok mid table team
13 - Sunderland: put in place a solid 5 year plan...will improve.
14 - Newcastle: needs focus from management and coach
15 - Blackburn: it is going to be a long season for this team
16 - Bolton: with so many bad teams, Bolton should be able to stay up
17 - West Brom: my new team to survive pick.
18 - Fulham: happy trails to Fulham
19 - Stoke: bad team
20 - Hull: this city has heart but that is about it.
So there you go.
My faith in Manchester United may be misplaced as Chelsea, under new management and tons of awesome new players (plus Terry, Drogdba) could mean the end of United but I think teams and fans underestimate United's defence, especially if Neville gets back to form quickly. If United gets Burbatov from the Spurs, it will finally allow Rooney to get open (who is constantly double or triple teamed; or alone up front) and it could be his best season to date. If United signs Burbatov, I expect 5-9 more goals from Rooney if he stays healthy. Maybe more. Add Ronaldo to that mix with Tevez and Nani (let's not forget Giggs and Scholes) and suddenly you have a team to watch.
Anyway, there you go.
In May, we will look back.
Cheers.
Derek
Over the years, I have had pretty good records with pools so here goes for this year. Comment, bash me, whatever.
1 - Manchester United: especially if we sign Burbatov
2 - Chelsea: powerful team but too many new players for one season; next year though...
3 - Liverpool: more signings than Arsenal who has a very young team
4 - Arsenal: no moves = 4th
5 - Aston Villa: good team but Everton made no moves plus ManCity bad owner
6 - Everton: I really like this team...solid
7 - Tottenham: bad year last year and will not be able to make up enough ground for CL.
8 - Manchester City: not sure about this one; owner might be in jail thus no one gets paid
9 - Portsmouth: will take time for Crouch to fit in
10 - West Ham: another solid mid table team; 1-2 more good players=5th ot 6th
11 - Wigan: solid mid table team
12 - Middlesbrough: another ok mid table team
13 - Sunderland: put in place a solid 5 year plan...will improve.
14 - Newcastle: needs focus from management and coach
15 - Blackburn: it is going to be a long season for this team
16 - Bolton: with so many bad teams, Bolton should be able to stay up
17 - West Brom: my new team to survive pick.
18 - Fulham: happy trails to Fulham
19 - Stoke: bad team
20 - Hull: this city has heart but that is about it.
So there you go.
My faith in Manchester United may be misplaced as Chelsea, under new management and tons of awesome new players (plus Terry, Drogdba) could mean the end of United but I think teams and fans underestimate United's defence, especially if Neville gets back to form quickly. If United gets Burbatov from the Spurs, it will finally allow Rooney to get open (who is constantly double or triple teamed; or alone up front) and it could be his best season to date. If United signs Burbatov, I expect 5-9 more goals from Rooney if he stays healthy. Maybe more. Add Ronaldo to that mix with Tevez and Nani (let's not forget Giggs and Scholes) and suddenly you have a team to watch.
Anyway, there you go.
In May, we will look back.
Cheers.
Derek
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Contract...I Signed A Contract?
Hello,
Ok, as a United fan, I will give my opinion of the Ronaldo contract/Real Madrid situation. First off, I personally think that all sports do things like this to keep their name in the papers/media on the off-season. Look at the Bret Favre situation. Ridiculous. That being said, if the situation is real, I am siding with the "you have a contract, suck it up" side. I think Ronaldo has the right to say I would love to play for Real Madrid in the future and I think he has the right to ask out of his contract. He has earned it but once the team says "no", I think the athlete should refrain from making any further comments. No one put a gun to his head and made him sign the contract and I think it is disrespectful to the owners (who pay him), the manager (who had made him better) and the team who, without them, he would not be the superstar he is.
Tomorrow is the MLS All-Star Game and if the Toronto FC fans do show up and wear black, I will be disappointed. That is not venue to take a stand and they are really ruining it for other fans, some of whom might only be there to see Beckham and not a real soccer fan. This game is important for North American soccer and the atmosphere plays a BIG part of soccer games. To TFC and soccer fans/supporters: let’s show baseball, basketball and especially hockey fans why this is the world’s game and the best game in the world. Scream, sing and chant. Save your protests till the right and appropriate time.
Only a couple weeks till EPL is underway. Ironically, I am out of town and so is another one of our the guys who watch it so my brother is all alone to watch his NEWCASTLE UNITED go down to MANCHESTER UNITED at Old Trafford. I will be in Ottawa watching the game.
Till next time.
Derek
Ok, as a United fan, I will give my opinion of the Ronaldo contract/Real Madrid situation. First off, I personally think that all sports do things like this to keep their name in the papers/media on the off-season. Look at the Bret Favre situation. Ridiculous. That being said, if the situation is real, I am siding with the "you have a contract, suck it up" side. I think Ronaldo has the right to say I would love to play for Real Madrid in the future and I think he has the right to ask out of his contract. He has earned it but once the team says "no", I think the athlete should refrain from making any further comments. No one put a gun to his head and made him sign the contract and I think it is disrespectful to the owners (who pay him), the manager (who had made him better) and the team who, without them, he would not be the superstar he is.
Tomorrow is the MLS All-Star Game and if the Toronto FC fans do show up and wear black, I will be disappointed. That is not venue to take a stand and they are really ruining it for other fans, some of whom might only be there to see Beckham and not a real soccer fan. This game is important for North American soccer and the atmosphere plays a BIG part of soccer games. To TFC and soccer fans/supporters: let’s show baseball, basketball and especially hockey fans why this is the world’s game and the best game in the world. Scream, sing and chant. Save your protests till the right and appropriate time.
Only a couple weeks till EPL is underway. Ironically, I am out of town and so is another one of our the guys who watch it so my brother is all alone to watch his NEWCASTLE UNITED go down to MANCHESTER UNITED at Old Trafford. I will be in Ottawa watching the game.
Till next time.
Derek
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
