Per recent discussions with Mike, the proposed scoring system to determine the Ultimate Oracle Prize (14,500,000 USD) will be as follows:
For the league (Premiere):
Correct Prediction - Points
1st Place = 6pts
2nd Place = 5pts
3rd Place = 4pts
4th Place = 3pts
5th - 17th Place = 2pts
18,19,20th Place = 4pts
Prediction Deadline = Saturday August 14th
Top Scorer = 4pts
Balon d'Or (2009-2010) = 4pts
Barca - Real Madrid Derbies = 2pts per derby
Champions League Final Four = 4pt each
Champions League Winner = 6pts
Winner of Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 = 4pts each
Other pts to be determined by consensus throughout the season.
Other interested Oracles (not Mike or Jon) comment on this post for approval.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Summer transfer hopes and desires
So to start off on our postings I have decided to talk about the future summer transfers, or who I hope to see move at least. First of all let me say the summer transfer window is in one way the most exciting time of the year, as every fan can imagine his team being attached to the biggest players. Usually this is a bunch of bullocks, however, and if it seems that certain players are named with at least a dozen teams, and if you are Tottenham, you are interested with every player anyone has every heard of. Obviously the majority of the rumors seem to be to increase interest in the player and to later be able to charge a higher transfer fee due to the wild 'competition' going on in the background for a player. Or of course higher wages for the player in question. I imagine it is much more boring and civilized with it being quite clear from the get go who is really going to sign who. But that is for the managers, agents and board directors to know, as a fan we only get to read the rumors and salivate at the thought of Villa and Torres together, either at Liverpool, or the latest crazy rumor, Chelsea. Or guffaw the ridiculous claims of Torres going to Man U, or even that Yaya Toure would leave Barca for Arsenal after just winning the treble. But the magic of the transfer window is that for every three year draw out signing, like Ronaldo, there is a sudden shock as all of a sudden Man City have Robinho on their squad, or Berbatov joins Man U the last hour possible. Not that either of those two transfers have turned out terribly well, at least compared to the prices paid. So, on to the potential transfers I would love to see, and who is most likely leaving.
David Villa- clearly leaving Valencia I would say, they have debt, EVERY team in the world with money, and some without, want him, and it has been rumored he will leave for a while now. I would love to see him at Barcelona to take over from Eto'o leaving or Henry in the long run, but unlike the other big clubs Barca have been very quiet about thier signings. Lets hope he doesn't join Real Madrid.
Carlos Tevez- Very happy he didn't stay at Man U, they really should have signed him up a couple months ago, but now their loss, someone else's gain. Let's hope it is Man City. They need a big name player to up thier status (sorry Robinho isn't consistent enough to count as one), who will then help draw more big name players and show the world they mean business. Tevez is a good player to start with, he gives 100% and doesn't have the attitude of a Robinho if he gets playing time. Of course how Hughes is going to use Robinho, Tevez, Santa Cruz and Eto'o in one strikeforce, and give them all playing time, is beyond me. Can't see it happening, but I guess most likely they are assuming they won't get all of the above. I would sell Robinho to Chelsea, then turn around and get Eto'o and Santa Cruz with that cash, and have them with Tevez up front. And regarding Chelsea being interested, a good purchase for Chelsea, but honestly Tevez would then sit the bench a lot again, exactly the reason he left Man U, so I hope he doesn't go there.
Torres- Will stay, but if somehow Gillette and Hicks let him go, the ownership of the team will have to sell quickly. If he leaves it will signal the downwards direction of Liverpool next season as they will be seen as a selling team and superstars won't join them.
Mascherano- Not sure about him, everyone and thier mother are attached with him lately. In one way he would do well at Barca, but they seem to have a bunch of youngsters coming through and with Busquets and Toure, can't see him needed or adding a great deal. Real Madrid could use him but they surely can't have enough money to get Kaka, Ronaldo, Villa, Alonso, AND Mascherano, who they are all linked with or bought already. My guess is he will stay.
Alonso- Might go to Real Madrid, can't see Liverpool being willing to let him to go a rival like Chelsea.
Ribery- Will stay this season, leave next summer to Real Madrid. Bayern just want TOO much money, like more than Ronaldo money. Unless they cut their demands in half, he will stay.
David Villa- clearly leaving Valencia I would say, they have debt, EVERY team in the world with money, and some without, want him, and it has been rumored he will leave for a while now. I would love to see him at Barcelona to take over from Eto'o leaving or Henry in the long run, but unlike the other big clubs Barca have been very quiet about thier signings. Lets hope he doesn't join Real Madrid.
Carlos Tevez- Very happy he didn't stay at Man U, they really should have signed him up a couple months ago, but now their loss, someone else's gain. Let's hope it is Man City. They need a big name player to up thier status (sorry Robinho isn't consistent enough to count as one), who will then help draw more big name players and show the world they mean business. Tevez is a good player to start with, he gives 100% and doesn't have the attitude of a Robinho if he gets playing time. Of course how Hughes is going to use Robinho, Tevez, Santa Cruz and Eto'o in one strikeforce, and give them all playing time, is beyond me. Can't see it happening, but I guess most likely they are assuming they won't get all of the above. I would sell Robinho to Chelsea, then turn around and get Eto'o and Santa Cruz with that cash, and have them with Tevez up front. And regarding Chelsea being interested, a good purchase for Chelsea, but honestly Tevez would then sit the bench a lot again, exactly the reason he left Man U, so I hope he doesn't go there.
Torres- Will stay, but if somehow Gillette and Hicks let him go, the ownership of the team will have to sell quickly. If he leaves it will signal the downwards direction of Liverpool next season as they will be seen as a selling team and superstars won't join them.
Mascherano- Not sure about him, everyone and thier mother are attached with him lately. In one way he would do well at Barca, but they seem to have a bunch of youngsters coming through and with Busquets and Toure, can't see him needed or adding a great deal. Real Madrid could use him but they surely can't have enough money to get Kaka, Ronaldo, Villa, Alonso, AND Mascherano, who they are all linked with or bought already. My guess is he will stay.
Alonso- Might go to Real Madrid, can't see Liverpool being willing to let him to go a rival like Chelsea.
Ribery- Will stay this season, leave next summer to Real Madrid. Bayern just want TOO much money, like more than Ronaldo money. Unless they cut their demands in half, he will stay.
A place to debate the weeks football
This site is a place for Jon and Mike to debate over who's football knowledge is greater and who has better prophetic abilities, or pure luck, as the case may be. It is open to thoughts about the game and what is going on regarding form, tactics, transfer rumors, or scores, or pretty much anything to do with football. Before the season begins a full list of the end of season rankings will be posted by each blogger, to be viewed and scored at the end of the season. Also each week the scores for the games in the premiership, and potentially other big matches, i.e. Real Madrid vs. Barca, will be guessed beforehand, and correct predictions, as well as specific scores will go towards points for each blogger. The total for the end of season rankings will be weighted, but the majority of points up for grabs will come from the week to week predictions. If no predictions are made, and no good excuse like lack of electricity or internet, or being held for ransom by kidnappers is available, then you automatically get 0 points for that week, essentially meaning you got all predictions wrong for the week in question. The main point of this site is to have a place to go and put your thoughts on the happenings in football in the world. It also is a good chance to have every claim written down so that in the future it can be easy to point out our horrible guesses and claims, say about Man U dropping out of the top four to then see them clearly win the Premiershp again. In other words, an easy way to mock each other, or to prove our knowledge of football is far superior to each other. Friends that we know and that are also interested in football are free to join after asking, as are other football interested people, as long as the topic stays on football and doesn't turn into the classic BBC debate with posters just calling each other names, or going off on how Man U will soon save the world from an apocaliptic future due to thier absolute brilliance in all things and the fact that you are a supporter.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)