Butch

My condolences to his family. Cheers, Butch

Dear Friends, Here are the latest BPL Prediction League standings after the disappointing 0-2 reverse at Villa Park. CONGRATS this time go to Nick White; well done, mate! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BPL Standings 2007-2008 EPL Season Chelsea Supporters' Registry ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Name Gp St Sb FS Pe Sc TG Pr Bo To Cu Av Rt Ch ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 01 Butch 05 9 3 0 2 0 0 5 15 138 877 175 180 na 02 Terje 02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 335 168 170 na 03 Dan Harkin 04 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 661 165 169 na 04 Ossie13 05 9 3 0 2 0 0 5 15 138 762 152 157 na 05 SergeyMS 05 8 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 106 761 152 157 na 06 Nick White 05 11 2 0 2 0 0 5 65 198 750 150 155 na 07 Loz 05 8 2 0 2 0 0 5 0 103 699 140 145 na 08 Crystalballs 05 8 2 0 4 0 0 5 0 101 693 139 144 na 09 TT 05 9 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 118 679 136 141 na 10 MadMac 05 9 4 0 4 0 0 0 30 156 671 134 139 na 11 Kwadwo A 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 138 138 139 na 12 Coombsie 04 9 2 0 4 0 0 5 0 111 535 134 138 na 13 Yogic 02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 266 133 135 na 14 Wycliffe 02 8 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 106 389 130 133 na 15 Tim W 04 9 2 0 2 0 0 5 0 113 509 127 131 na 16 Lukasz 03 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 379 126 129 na 17 Jumat Tobi 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 126 126 127 na 18 TrubishBob 02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 246 123 125 na 19 Pauly 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 123 123 124 na 20 TeaBarBoy 02 8 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 106 242 121 123 na 21 Mike O 02 8 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 106 222 111 113 na 22 Derek Dove 04 7 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 86 427 107 111 na 23 Ajibola O 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 108 108 109 na 24 Oke 01 8 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 106 106 106 107 na 25 Ridwan 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 105 105 106 na 26 Christan A 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 88 88 89 na 27 Kayode 01 7 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 86 86 86 87 na 28 Unni 01 8 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 84 84 84 85 na 29 Usman A 02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 161 81 83 na 30 John Berry 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 81 81 82 na 31 Aina Moses 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 76 76 77 na 32 Elias 01 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 70 70 70 71 na ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Winners' Circle ------------------------------ 01 Butch 2 02 Nick White 1 03 SergeyMS 1 04 TT 1 ------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------- Rank Score Predictor(s) -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 240 Butch (Liverpool ? away ? EPL) 2 218 TT (Portsmouth ? home- EPL) 3 208 Butch (Birmingham - home - EPL) SergeyMS (Reading ? home ? EPL) 4 205 Dan Harkin (Liverpool ? away ? EPL) SergeyMS (Liverpool ? away ? EPL) -------------------------------------------------------------- Cheers, Butch

Dear Friends, Here are the BPL standings after the 1-0 home win over Portsmouth in the EPL. CONGRATS this time go to TT; well done mate. Never saw THAT one coming! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BPL Standings 2007-2008 EPL Season Chelsea Supporters' Registry ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Name Gp St Sb FS Pe Sc TG Pr Bo To Cu Av Rt Ch ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 01 Butch 04 9 3 15 2 5 5 10 15 168 739 185 189 na 02 Terje 02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 335 168 170 na 03 Dan Harkin 04 10 3 15 4 5 0 5 0 151 661 165 169 na 04 SergeyMS 04 8 2 15 4 5 0 5 0 121 655 164 168 na 05 Ossie13 04 10 2 15 4 5 0 5 0 141 624 156 160 na 06 Loz 04 10 3 15 2 5 5 10 30 193 596 149 153 na 07 Crystalballs 04 9 2 15 4 5 10 5 0 141 592 148 152 na 08 TT 04 10 4 15 2 5 0 10 50 218 561 140 144 na 09 Coombsie 03 9 1 15 2 0 0 10 0 123 424 141 144 na 10 Wycliffe 02 10 3 15 2 0 0 5 0 148 283 142 144 na 11 Nick White 04 8 2 15 4 5 0 5 0 121 552 138 142 na 12 Kwadwo A 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 138 138 139 na 13 TeaBarBoy 01 9 1 15 4 5 10 10 0 136 136 136 137 na 14 Tim W 03 9 2 15 2 0 5 10 0 138 396 132 135 na 15 Yogic 02 9 4 15 2 0 5 0 0 148 266 133 135 na 16 MadMac 04 8 1 15 2 0 20 10 0 133 515 129 133 na 17 Lukasz 03 8 4 15 2 0 0 10 0 143 379 126 129 na 18 Jumat Tobi 01 9 2 15 4 0 0 5 0 126 126 126 127 na 19 TrubishBob 02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 246 123 125 na 20 Pauly 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 123 123 124 na 21 Derek Dove 03 8 1 15 2 0 0 10 0 113 341 114 117 na 22 Mike O 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 116 116 117 na 23 Ajibola O 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 108 108 109 na 24 Ridwan 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 105 105 106 na 25 Christan A 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 88 88 89 na 26 Usman A 02 6 1 15 4 0 0 0 0 81 161 81 83 na 27 John Berry 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 81 81 82 na 28 Aina Moses 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 76 76 77 na ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Winners' Circle ------------------------------ 01 Butch 2 02 SergeyMS 1 03 TT 1 ------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------- Rank Score Predictor(s) -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 240 Butch (Liverpool ? away ? EPL) 2 218 TT (Portsmouth ? home- EPL) 3 208 Butch (Birmingham - home - EPL) SergeyMS (Reading ? home ? EPL) 4 205 Dan Harkin (Liverpool ? away ? EPL) SergeyMS (Liverpool ? away ? EPL) -------------------------------------------------------------- Cheers, Butch

A central defense with Alex and Terry against a forward line with any speed in it at all is asking for trouble. If we were playing a physical, long ball side, okay maybe. Ben Haim just needs more games for us. I also think he needs a bit more cover in front of him so he isn't isolated like he was against Torres. Maka or Essien need to play in midfield, although Mikel certainly makes us more fluid in the middle. Over to you, Jose. I agree about Joe Cole though. We can't afford to let him go stale. Same goes for Sheva. These players need some minutes under their belt, even if it is just a few minutes. Otherwise, we can just give up on them. Joe was such an important player for us two seasons ago. I don't want this to become another Guddy-Jimmy, Willie-JT, Duffer-Robben situation, i.e. a good thing that just shockingly fades away. Cheers, Butch

Of course, I didn't think you were, Brit. I was just having a bit of a debate with you (as a representative of fellow fans who seem to have the same opinion as you do). I have high hopes (and expectations) for Jose and I'd like to see him win the tactical battle with Benitez. Matches (results) between us have been close, BUT we rarely have the upper hand in matches, especially at Anfield where they are always "threatening" to run riot. Mainly though, I reiterate that we just look slow, and if it is due to us looking for chinks in their armor, then I believe we need to rethink our tactics because not only are we slow, we also rarely threaten their goal. If we were a lesser side, I wouldn't mind so much, but we aspire to much more. Make no mistake, it was a lucky draw! Cheers, Butch (PS> Outnumbered? I thought we had 11 men on the pitch! This is precisely what I am disappointed with!)

Brit, I think you misunderstood my post. I didn't expect to roll over them. But I do expect us to match them in the intensity level stakes. We were slower to the ball. Is that an away team thing? Should it be? Even at Anfield? Why should it be that Liverpool are able to close us down and we just allow them to time and again? Are there not ways to work around or combat this tactic? For if there isn't, I think we should add this to our arsenal pronto! Do they not always play like that against us? Have Jose and team not seen this before? That is what I'm disappointed about. Cheers, Butch

Won't restate what has already been said. My main disappointment was that we were slower to the ball than Liverpool were. They, more than most, having given us reason to want to beat them; yet, whenever we play them, and especially at Anfield, we seem slower out the blocks. I just can't understand this. I knew this was going to be a tough match (I predicted a 1-1 draw with Liverpool scoring first, funnily enough), however, I was also confident that Jose would be very keen for us to win. Sure, we played a more attacking, gung-ho 4-4-2, but overall, we were a little disappointing going forward. But the point was a good one in the end. Liverpool HAD to win this and they didn't. Mentally, they must be shot. Cheers, Butch

Dear Friends, Here are the latest BPL Standings 2007 after the away draw at Liverpool in the EPL. CONGRATS this time go to yours truly; yippeeee! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BPL Standings 2007-2008 EPL Season Chelsea Supporters' Registry ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Name Gp St Sb FS Pe Sc TG Pr Bo To Cu Av Rt Ch ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 01 Butch 03 10 4 30 0 0 5 15 50 240 571 190 193 na 02 SergeyMS 03 9 4 30 0 0 0 15 30 205 534 178 181 na 03 Dan Harkin 03 9 4 30 0 0 0 15 30 205 510 170 173 na 04 Terje 02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 335 168 170 na 05 Ossie13 03 10 2 30 0 0 0 10 15 175 483 161 164 na 06 Crystalballs 03 9 2 30 0 0 5 10 0 155 451 150 153 na 07 Coombsie 02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 301 151 153 na 08 Nick White 03 9 3 0 0 0 10 0 0 130 431 144 147 na 09 Kwadwo A. 01 10 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 138 138 138 139 na 10 Loz 03 9 3 30 0 0 0 5 0 155 403 134 137 na 11 Wycliffe 01 8 2 30 0 0 0 5 0 135 135 135 136 na 12 Tim W 02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 258 129 131 na 13 MadMac 03 10 4 0 2 5 0 5 0 148 382 127 130 na 14 TrubishBob 02 9 2 0 2 5 0 5 0 118 246 123 125 na 15 Pauly 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 123 123 124 na 16 Lukasz 02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 236 118 120 na 17 Yogic 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 118 118 119 na 18 TT 03 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 110 343 114 117 na 19 Mike O 01 9 3 0 4 0 0 0 0 116 116 116 117 na 20 Derek Dove 02 9 1 0 2 0 0 10 0 108 228 114 116 na 21 Ajibola O 01 8 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 108 108 108 109 na 22 Ridwan 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 105 105 106 na 23 Christan A 01 7 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 88 88 88 89 na 24 John Berry 01 6 2 0 4 5 0 0 0 81 81 81 82 na 25 Usman A 01 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 80 80 80 81 na 26 Aina Moses 01 6 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 76 76 76 77 na ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Winners' Circle ------------------------------ 01 Butch 2 02 SergeyMS 1 ------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------- Rank Score Predictor(s) -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 240 Butch (Liverpool ? away ? EPL) 2 208 Butch (Birmingham - home - EPL) SergeyMS (Reading ? home ? EPL) 3 205 Dan Harkin (Liverpool ? away ? EPL) SergeyMS (Liverpool ? away ? EPL) -------------------------------------------------------------- Cheers, Butch

Then maybe you should check in your SPAM box. I often lose many e-mails because of faulty SPAM filtering. Cheers, Butch

Seconded...I can see your good wife isn't getting any help with the kids, Loz! Cheers, Butch

Clearly you don't check your e-mails, Sergey, for I've replied twice already that the deadline for the Long-term Predictions is midnight London time of December 31! Cheers, Butch

Dear Friends, Here are the latest BPL standings after the 2-1 away win over Reading in the EPL. CONGRATS this time go to SergeyMS; well done, mate! Also, apologies to those whose predictions came in late and thus were not processed. By the way, I know what you're doing TT: giving the rest of us a bit of hope and yourself a bit of excitement! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BPL Standings 2007-2008 EPL Season Chelsea Supporters' Registry ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Name Gp St Sb FS Pe Sc TG Pr Bo To Cu Av Rt Ch ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 01 Terje 02 9 3 15 0 10 5 0 15 165 335 168 170 na 02 Butch 02 8 3 0 2 5 5 5 0 123 331 166 168 na 03 SergeyMS 02 9 4 15 2 10 0 5 50 208 329 165 167 na 04 Ossie13 02 9 2 30 0 5 0 10 30 185 308 154 156 na 05 Dan Harkin 02 10 3 15 0 10 0 0 30 185 305 153 155 na 06 Coombsie 02 9 4 15 2 0 5 0 0 148 301 151 153 na 07 Nick White 02 10 3 15 2 5 0 0 0 148 301 151 153 na 08 Crystalballs 02 9 3 15 2 0 0 10 0 143 296 148 150 na 09 Tim W 02 9 3 15 0 10 0 0 0 145 258 129 131 na 10 TrubishBob 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 128 128 129 na 11 Loz 02 8 3 15 0 5 0 0 0 130 248 124 126 na 12 Pauly 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 123 123 124 na 13 Derek Dove 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 120 120 121 na 14 Lukasz 02 8 2 15 4 5 0 0 0 116 236 118 120 na 15 MadMac 02 8 3 15 2 5 5 0 0 133 234 117 119 na 16 TT 02 8 2 15 0 5 10 0 0 130 233 117 119 na 17 Yogic 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 118 118 119 na 18 Ridwan 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 105 105 106 na ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Winners' Circle ------------------------------ 01 Butch 1 02 SergeyMS 1 ------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------- Rank Score Predictor(s) -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 208 Butch (Birmingham - home - EPL) SergeyMS (Reading ? home ? EPL) -------------------------------------------------------------- Cheers, Butch

Dear Friends, Here are the BPL 2007 Regular Season standings after the first game of the season, the 3-2 home win over Birmingham City. CONGRATS this time go to yours truly; woo-hoo! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BPL Standings 2007-2008 EPL Season Chelsea Supporters' Registry ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Name Gp St Sb FS Pe Sc TG Pr Bo To Cu Av Rt Ch ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 01 Butch 01 10 3 15 2 5 5 5 50 208 208 208 209 na 02 Terje 01 10 2 15 0 5 0 0 30 170 170 170 171 na 03 Coombsie 01 9 2 15 2 10 0 5 15 153 153 153 154 na 04 Crystalballs 01 10 2 15 2 0 5 0 15 153 153 153 154 na 05 Nick White 01 8 2 15 2 5 20 0 15 153 153 153 154 na 06 TrubishBob 01 8 2 15 2 5 10 0 0 128 128 128 129 na 07 Ossie13 01 9 2 15 2 0 0 0 0 123 123 123 124 na 08 Pauly 01 8 1 15 2 5 0 15 0 123 123 123 124 na 09 SergeyMS 01 9 2 15 4 0 0 0 0 121 121 121 122 na 10 Dan Harkin 01 8 2 15 0 0 5 0 0 120 120 120 121 na 11 Derek Dove 01 7 2 15 0 5 10 0 0 120 120 120 121 na 12 Lukasz 01 8 2 15 0 5 0 0 0 120 120 120 121 na 13 Loz 01 9 1 15 2 5 0 0 0 118 118 118 119 na 14 Yogic 01 7 2 15 2 5 10 0 0 118 118 118 119 na 15 Tim W 01 8 1 15 2 5 5 0 0 113 113 113 114 na 16 Ridwan 01 6 1 15 0 0 10 10 0 105 105 105 106 na 17 TT 01 7 2 15 2 0 0 0 0 103 103 103 104 na 18 MadMac 01 8 1 15 4 0 0 0 0 101 101 101 102 na ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Winners' Circle ------------------------------ 01 Butch 1 ------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------- Rank Score Predictor(s) -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 208 Butch (Birmingham - home - EPL) -------------------------------------------------------------- Cheers, Butch

Dear Friends, Apologies to all for the tardy posting of this first set of standings. As previously indicated, this won't count in the season proper, but it is good exercise for any of you newbies out there, as well as a chance for those regulars who want to get back in the swing of things. There is only one change to the BPL, and that is the addition of 2nd and 3rd place bonuses, 30 and 15 points, respectively, for the "matchly" (he-he) entries. This was only designed to make the BPL more dynamic, in other words for those of you who aren't named TT or Ossie13 . Anyway, here it is, and CONGRATS go to Ossie13 this time: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BPL Standings 2007 EPL Season ***COMMUNITY SHIELD*** Chelsea Supporters' Registry ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Name Gp St Sb FS Pe TG Sc Pr Bo To Cu Av Rt Ch ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 01 Ossie13 01 8 2 30 0 0 0 10 50 190 190 190 191 na 02 TT 01 8 2 0 0 20 0 0 30 150 150 150 151 na 03 SergeyMS 01 8 3 0 2 0 0 5 15 128 128 128 129 na 04 Derek Dove 01 7 3 0 2 0 0 10 0 108 108 108 109 na 05 Tim W 01 9 1 0 2 0 0 5 0 103 103 103 104 na 06 Loz 01 7 1 0 2 5 5 10 0 98 98 98 99 na 07 Yahya Touray 01 7 1 0 2 5 0 0 0 83 83 83 84 na 08 MadMac 01 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 80 80 80 81 na 09 Nick White 01 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 80 80 80 81 na 10 Crystalballs 01 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 70 70 70 71 na ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Winners' Circle ------------------------------ 01 Ossie 1 ------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------- Rank Score Predictor(s) -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 190 Ossie13 (Man Utd - CC) -------------------------------------------------------------- Cheers, Butch

It's not a case of needing money from the Robben deal to go ahead with the Alves deal. I think it is more that Robben's departure opens a squad vacancy for an in-coming player. Hang on a minute, I hear you say, but the two do not play in the same position! I know, but we have many "adaptable" players who can play in "wide" positions, e.g. SWP, Joe and Malouda who can play either side, i.e. also left side opening a slot for Alves on the right if we need it. Also, if Robben leaves, we will likely be playing 4-4-2 diamond a lot more than if he stayed, and in that formation a quality attacking right full back to complement Ash or Bridgey on the left will be crucial. Johno is good attacking, but his positional sense in defense leaves a lot to be desired. Cheers, Butch

TT, didn't I tell you we're starting in April? What's with the predictions ? Thanks to all for sending in your predictions for the Charity Shield. The BPL season proper begins with the first match of the EPL. I will however post the results of the trial predictions for the Charity Shield to illustrate the ONLY change for this season: apart from the winning prediction receiving a 50-point bonus, the second and third-placed predictions will also be receiving bonuses - 30 points for second place and 15 points for third place. My thinking is that with the large number of predictions being sent in, more than one person should feel they've done well! It also makes the BPL a little more dynamic. I mean, anything to keep TT on his toes, eh? And I'd like to thank PR, Loz and Mod for the technical support in making this competition available for another year! Cheers, Butch

I mean, c'mon people, don't you know that the magical week is after the Charity Shield and before our first game of the season?! THAT is when all our players are going to shake off their injuries, Sheva is going to regain his form, and the team are REALLY going to work on their wide, attacking game Seriously though, I imagine we won't be the only side still getting our bearings in the early season. Cheers, Butch

"She`s not Nadia, but Alina Kabaeva." And I think she's 11. Brian? Cheers, Butch

TT, we're starting a little late this year, April 2008 to be exact. See you then! Cheers, Butch

You're showing your age, Just! Cheers, Butch

I'm afraid I don't quite agree. Yes, initially they may be back ups. BUT, if that is all they are going to aspire to it would be a disappointment. The ONLY way they are going to improve and play to or beyond their potential is for them to want to beat what's ahead of them. That means Pizarro needs to want to displace Drogba or Sheva, Sidwell needs to want to displace Lampard and Essien, and Ben needs to want to replace Terry or Carvalho. Otherwise they'll be almost useless to us. Cheers, Butch

You be right, oh ruud one... Cheers, Butch

I have heard from a few sources, including Peter Kenyon and Alex himself, as to the distinct possibility that Alex will be playing for Chelsea next season. The sticking point is the work permit. I think either (a) we are working feverishly to secure that, or ( it's done and dusted and we're just waiting to announce. I don't claim to have Star's insider knowledge, but my feeling is this is about 70-80% done. By the way, missed the England-Brazil match; did Alex play and how did he do? Cheers, Butch

Thank goodness you interjected, Loz. I was just about to let all hell break loose . Cheers, Butch

The reasons why Benni is a good option is that: (a) he would allow us to play in a similar way to when we play with Drogba up top; and (B) he knows Jose and vice versa. (A) would mean we wouldn't need to be making wholesale changes to the way we play when Drogba goes to the ACN (someone said Benni has retired from international football; anyone care to confirm?). (B) would mean he could fit in more quickly than most other players due to already understanding Jose's way of doing things (being a bit simplistic here because obviously there are a lot more things he will have to learn but still in a relative sense it would be less than other options). So my feeling is that he would be a good option to have. However, I also know that Blackburn would be loathe to sell him so he won't come cheap. It will all depend how much we really wanted him. I'm thinking his price could be in the region of 12-15 million quid. If we've offered 10 million quid less than what Dembele is valued at, what must he be valued at? Cheers, Butch