Beat him again 29/8/09 Results

Chelsea v Burnley
Lawro: 2-0
Tarquin: 3-0
Actual 3-0

Lawro 1, Tarquin 3

Blackburn v West Ham
Lawro: 2-1
Tarquin 1-0
Actual 0-0

Lawro -1, Tarquin -1

Bolton v Liverpool
Lawro: 0-2
Tarquin: 0-2
Actual: 2-3

Lawro 1, Tarquin 1

Stoke v Sunderland
Lawro: 1-1
Tarquin: 2-1
Actual 1-0

Lawro -1, Tarquin 1.5

Tottenham v Birmingham
Lawro: 3-1
Tarquin: 3-0
Actual: 2-1

Lawro 1, Tarquin 1

Wolves v Hull
Lawro: 2-1
Tarquin: 1-1
Actual 1-1

Lawro -1, Tarquin 3

Man Utd v Arsenal
Lawro: 1-1
Tarquin: 1-1
Actual: 2-1

Lawro -1, Tarquin -1

Portsmouth v Man City
Lawro: 1-2
Tarquin: 0-2
Actual: 0-1

Lawro 1.5, Tarquin 1

Everton v Wigan
Lawro: 2-0
Tarquin 1-0
Actual 2-1

Lawro 1, Tarquin 1.5

Aston Villa v Fulham
Lawro: 2-1
Tarquin: 1-0
Actual: 2-0

Lawro 1, Tarquin 1

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Lawro got 6 right, no perfect scores
Tarquin got 8 right, with 2 perfect scores

Lawro: 2.5
Tarquin: 11

Sweeeet!

That makes the overall standings thus:

Lawro 20, 3 perfect - 10pts
Tarquin 21, 5 perfect - 17.5 pts

*Out of 36 played

Statistical blips - Lawro was lucky

Tipping rule #1 - don't get cocky

Lawro managed to beat me last week and overtake me to boot - despite me winning the first two weeks, but never fear - a point is not much

Standings as at Round 4:

Lawro 14, 3 perfect - 7.5 pts
Tarquin 13, 3 perfect - 6.5 pts

*Out of 26 played

Anyway, onwards:

Chelsea v Burnley

Burnley are doing great - but do you really think they're going to Stamford Bridge and winning? They've won two at home, and home form is what they need, they won't be doing over teams on the road (watch me eat my words...)

Lawro: 2-0
Tarquin: 3-0

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Blackburn v West Ham

I care, so much - If you didn't know West Ham did actually win that fight 3-1, but not that it matters, it's all about going to Blackburn and I doubt the Hammers have much to threaten the stoic Blackburn side...boring

Lawro: 2-1
Tarquin 1-0

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Bolton v Liverpool

Liverpool have already matched last year's defeats, and they're definitely a weaker side without Alonso - and in that way Rafa is looking as bad as Wenger, but he's always been useless at admitting his flaws...but anyway, I digress as always - I think Liverpool still have a chance at this league thing - why? Because losing a few games to good sides is better than drawing with lower teams, if they keep the pressure on sides like Bolton they'll win and be matching Chelsea and United - look at last year, whooped United and the rest of the top 6 and they still fall four points short - meanwhile United give 6 points to the Scousers and top the table - why? Because they didn't draw for 5 months...

Oh yeah...Liverpool to win, that was my roundabout way of agreeing with Lawro

Lawro: 0-2
Tarquin: ditto

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Stoke v Sunderland

Sunderland have improved since last year, they actually have tactics now - but do I expect them to go the Brittania and do anything? Not really, Stoke are still solid at home (and yet they buy Robert Huth??) and should win

Lawro: 1-1
Tarquin: 2-1

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Tottenham v Birmingham

God love Tottenham fans, only ever focus on the short-term - 3 wins and they actually think they're in Europe (when clubs like Sunderland say it it's a joke, the yids are deadly serious) - this will be win number 4, I look forward to United's visit in two weeks (actually I hope United will still have not found their feet)

Lawro: 3-1
Tarquin: 3-0

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Wolves v Hull

Hull do always enjoy an away trip, and they don't seem to be the side that collapsed last season, while Wolves have only managed an away win over Wigan so far - oh, I can't call it, could go either way, we need more draws

Lawro: 2-1
Tarquin: 1-1

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Man Utd v Arsenal (1715 KO)

Draw.

Sorry to agree with Lawro - but I do make my mind up before I even look at his predictions (I use 'I know the Score' first)

Lawro: 1-1
Tarquin: 1-1

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SUNDAY

Portsmouth v Man City

Who exactly will be scoring for Pompey? Tommy Smith? Another Championship striker (seriously, go buy him now, he'll get a hat-trick!) meanwhile they sell their best defender to Everton and they have a worse line-up than Burnley, who at least have a balanced team unit. The jury is still out on City, but they've shown that having enough big names on the pitch provides chances, and I doubt if Pompey will be the team to really test them

Verdict: 1-2
Tarquin: 0-2

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Everton v Wigan

Surely this must be Everton's first win? - Moyes must have kicked them up the arse by now, and Lescott is now gone, it's clean break time and Wigan at home is perfect, Wigan started brightly against Villa but have since dipped - perhaps we will see if Martinez only likes it on the road.

Lawro: 2-0
Tarquin 1-0

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Aston Villa v Fulham (1600 KO)

Villa pulled off a stunner against Liverpool and showed the class they are capable of - their problem is going to be doing it regularly, well at least Europe is over with for them - on the one hand they were at home and won, while Fulham went away and lost (and yet Villa get knocked out, Fulham go through...freaky) so they'll be slightly fresher, but possibly on a downer

It could be a lethal performance or it could be tepid, Villa aren't usually great at home so I'll stick to a 1-0 victory over a tired Fulham

Lawro: 2-1
Tarquin: 1-0

Well that was fun - Lawro and I only really disagreed on two games, so if Stoke win and Wolves don't I'm happy - it's just a question of who lucks out with perfect scores

Post your own entries at the bottom...

'Celtic boss uncritical of referee'

It's really come to something when that makes a headline in football

Next up: 'Ferguson doesn't have rant at referee/players/officials/manchester city/god'

Beat Lawro 22/8/09 Results

Standings:
Lawro 6, 1 perfect -1.5pts
Tarquin 8, 2 perfect 4 points

Arsenal v Portsmouth

Lawro 2-0
Tarquin 3-0
Actual: 4-1

Lawro 1, Tarquin 1.5

Birmingham v Stoke

Lawro 1-1
Tarquin 1-0
Actual: 0-0

Lawro 2, Tarquin -1

Hull v Bolton

Lawro 1-0
Tarquin 1-1
Actual: 1-0

Lawro 3, Tarquin -1

City v Wolves

Lawro 2-0
Tarquin 3-0
Actual 1-0

Lawro 1, Tarquin 1

Sunderland v Blackburn

Lawro 2-1
Tarquin 1-0
Actual 2-1

Lawro 3, Tarquin 1

Wigan v United

Lawro 0-2
Tarquin 0-2
Actual 0-5

Lawro 1, Tarquin 1

West Ham v Tottenham (Sunday)

Lawro 1-1
Tarquin 1-2
Actual 1-2

Lawro -1, Tarquin 3

Burnley v Everton

Lawro 0-2
Tarquin 0-1
Actual 1-0

Lawro -1, Tarquin -1

Fulham v Chelsea

Lawro 1-2
Tarquin 1-1
Actual 0-2

Lawro 1, Tarquin -1

Liverpool v Villa (monday)

Lawro 2-0
Tarquin 3-1
Actual 1-3

Lawro -1, Tarquin -1

Tarquin got a measly 5 right, One perfect score = 2.5
Lawro got 7 right, Two perfect scores = 9

New Standings:

Lawro 14, 3 perfect - 7.5 pts
Tarquin 13, 3 perfect - 6.5 pts

*Out of 26 played

Beat Lawro 22/8/09

Current Standings:
Lawro 6, 1 perfect -1.5pts
Tarquin 8, 2 perfect 4 points

Arsenal v Portsmouth

Lawro 2-0
Tarquin 3-0

Surely Portsmouth are just whipping boys right now?

Birmingham v Stoke

Lawro 1-1
Tarquin 1-0

I don't expect Stoke to travel any better this year than last, but this should be a pretty tough affair between two physical sides

Hull v Bolton

Lawro 1-0
Tarquin 1-1

Will Hull finally come good at home? I doubt it, they might scrape past Bolton bt as they haven't won there in nearly a year (and that was Middlesboro) I'll plump for a draw (no draws out of 16 games yet would indicate we're due for a few)

City v Wolves

Lawro 2-0
Tarquin 3-0

City, they may not be regarded as world beaters just yet but I don't expect them to lose form for at least a month or two, I can't see Wolves getting anything here, especially as they're coming off a mid-week game and City have had a week to themselves

Sunderland v Blackburn

Lawro 2-1
Tarquin 1-0

Sticking my neck out here - I'm partly hoping Bent won't get a third goal out of three because I have yet to buy him (the various midfields needed sorting) so I'll go for a wretched display ending in a low scoring home win

Wigan v United

Lawro 0-2
Tarquin 0-2

So, United were beaten by Burnley - they did that by their goalkeeper pulling out a Jesus display and saving a penalty - fair credit to the boys, they did great, but United were still a big threat, and you would expect that out of two away games they'll come good in at least one

United did show some weakness, it's clear that the absense of match-winner Ronaldo has seriously damaged them, and Rooney alone cannot provide all the world-class talent, which is why I don't think they'll be winning the league considering how close Chelsea and Liverpool ran them last year, and they tend to start slowly, but I think they'll respond and hammer out a win at the JJB (or DW?).

West Ham v Tottenham (Sunday)

Lawro 1-1
Tarquin 1-2

London derby, Harry at Upton Park...all those important, completely superstitious things that make this sort of game interesting make it impossible to predict - I would favour a Spurs win

Burnley v Everton

Lawro 0-2
Tarquin 0-1

'Can Burnley hold off the long ball into Tim Cahill?' is the question here - Everton have quite a few problems with Arteta already out, Lescott not being adequately replaced, and less-than-spectacular forwards (I give Saha 11 days) - and the 4-0 scoreline on Thursday was quite flattering - but nevertheless, Moyes will look at how to break down Burnley and should get the win

Fulham v Chelsea

Lawro 1-2
Tarquin 1-1

Can Fulham throw the obligatory spanner in the works? I hope so, Chelsea have come from behind twice in the past week, but Fulham will be the biggest test yet - Chelsea clearly have it in them and came out in the second half against Sunderland a rejuvenated side, a sure sign Ancelotti's doing a good job - Fulham need to ensure they give no quarter to them, and they need to hope Chelsea don't get too much luck

Liverpool v Villa (monday)

Lawro 2-0
Tarquin 3-1

Difficult one, Liverpool may have torn Stoke to shreds, and it's very good that they've begun doing that in 'easy' home games that they frequently used to draw (last year the same game was 0-0) but Villa are a different kettle of fish altogether - based on the Villa we've seen so far Liverpool should be able to knock it around comfortably, but beware the famous counter-attack, Liverpool's defence isn't *that* brilliant (incidentally this was 5-0 last year)

Beat Lawro 18/8/09 Results

Sunderland v Chelsea

Lawro 1-1
Tarquin 0-1
Actual: 1-3

=1 point to Tarquin, -1 for Lawro

Wigan v Wolves

Lawro 2-1
Tarquin 2-0
Actual 0-1

=-1 point to Tarquin, -1 for Lawro

Birmingham v Portsmouth

Lawro 2-1
Tarquin 2-0
Actual 1-0

Nuts - Lawro predicts Pompey will actually score a goal and he gets rewarded for it!

=1 point to Tarquin, 1.5 for Lawro

Burnley v Manchester United

Lawro 0-2
Tarquin 0-1
Actual: 1-0

Hands up who saw that one coming? Shut up, Burnley fans

=-1 point to Tarquin, -1 for Lawro

Hull v Tottenham

Lawro 1-1
Tarquin 1-2
Actual: 1-5

=1 point to Tarquin, -1 for Lawro

Liverpool v Stoke

Lawro 2-0
Tarquin 3-0
Actual: 4-0

I told you! Every bloody time I'm one goal out!!

=1 point to Tarquin, 1 for Lawro

Lawro got two right
Tarquin got four right!

And so without further adieu, the results: 2 points for me, -1.5 for Lawro

Meaning that overall:
Tarquin moves to 4pts
Lawro slips down to -1.5pts

Overall the league as it stands is

Tarquin, 8 right, 2 perfect scores
Lawro 6 right, one perfect score

*after 16 games played

Think I might be winning slightly...

More Beat Lawro tomorrow!

Beat Lawro 18/8/09

Mid-week fixtures, let's go:

Sunderland v Chelsea

Lawro 1-1
Tarquin 0-1

Sunderland were bright against Bolton, and Chelsea just scraped past Hull and wasted chances - could go either way, but I think the individual quality in Chelsea should shine through

Wigan v Wolves

Lawro 2-1
Tarquin 2-0

Martinez's side put Villa to the sword on Saturday and I expect the same at home against Wolves

Birmingham v Portsmouth

Lawro 2-1
Tarquin 2-0

Portsmouth aren't quite Derby level yet and they could do something here, but Birmingham are too solid and organised I think to find them a threat

Burnley v Manchester United

Lawro 0-2
Tarquin 0-1

Smart money has to be on United, even if they weren't that impressive against Birmingham - Ronaldo would be a killer here, but they still have enough quality to deal with Burnley, who are pretty one-dimensional

Hull v Tottenham

Lawro 1-1
Tarquin 1-2

Two of the most unpredictable sides, how will Spurs travel? How will Hull be at home? I have no idea, Hull looked pretty solid against Chelsea, and Spurs are good at creating, so it could go either way

Liverpool v Stoke

Lawro 2-0
Tarquin 3-0

They may have already been written off but surely they can defeat Stoke at home? Going to White Hart Lane is an altogether tougher experience, I would think Gerrard or Torres could carve something out of this