Celebrations!
Red Bull's Mark Webber celebrated his 34th birthday today (Friday), which is especially exciting since he's leading the World Championship. Meanwhile, it's the 300th Grand Prix for Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, which is the most of any Formula 1 driver ever, and he's still going strong!
This race, Michael Schumacher is demoted 10 grid places after his actions in Hungary. He didn't turn up to Barrichello's 300th race celebrations yesterday evening, which was probably a good thing as it avoided questions. The most awkward questions would be about how he apologized to his ex-teammate: by text!
The most intriguing thing about this race is how close the points are between the top five drivers: Webber has 161, but fifth-placed Alonso has 141. That's a difference of only 20 points, where a victory gets you 25 points. Anything could happen. Anyone could win, and three of the five drivers - Hamilton, Button and Alonso – have won a world championship. The other two are in super-fast Red Bulls!
The weather looks to be all over the place this weekend. We've seen pouring rain and sunshine already in Friday practice. With changeable weather, things seem to be in Schumacher's favour, so he may well be able to take back his lost positions. I predict that he will finish in Q2 and end up amongst the new teams' drivers.
Chandhok was again up in the BBC commentary box for practice 1 and 2. It must be a bit disappointing not to race, although it gives Yamamoto a chance. Next week he will be in Korea in a Red Bull! Not for the race, which is in October, but in their show car around the new track. As a former Red Bull Junior Team member, he has represented them before.
The biggest event of today was the red flags in Practice 2, caused, apparently, by kids climbing a fence around the circuit. In the end, Alonso went fastest in both sessions. More to come tomorrow.
Random Interesting Point: Only two drivers have not had a single retirement this season: Alonso and Massa, two drivers in the same team. Ferrari are winning the reliability contest.
27/08/2010
24/08/2010
Mark Lawrenson Predictions: Episode 2
Prediction vs Reality
Predictions here
Correct predictions are in bold.
Mark's winner prediction success rate: 4/10
Mark's score prediction success rate: 1/10
There have been four games in the Barclays Premier League so far ending in a 6-0 win: Chelsea have two, Arsenal and Newcastle have one each.
Mark Lawrenson, meanwhile, has a 40% winner prediction success rate overall, and a 10% score prediction success rate overall.
Next weekend: F1 is back with the Belgian Grand Prix from Spa! And there's another weekend of Premier League football.
Predictions here
Correct predictions are in bold.
| Home Team | Away Team | Predicted winner | Predicted score | Actual winner | Actual score |
| Arsenal | Blackpool | Arsenal | 3-0 | Arsenal | 6-0 |
| Birmingham | Blackburn | Birmingham | 2-1 | Birmingham | 2-1 |
| Everton | Wolverhampton | Everton | 2-0 | Draw | 1-1 |
| Stoke | Tottenham | Draw | 1-1 | Tottenham | 1-2 |
| West Brom | Sunderland | Draw | 1-1 | West Brom | 1-0 |
| West Ham | Bolton | West Ham | 2-0 | Bolton | 1-3 |
| Wigan | Chelsea | Chelsea | 0-2 | Chelsea | 0-6 |
| Newcastle | Aston Villa | Newcastle | 3-0 | Newcastle | 6-0 |
| Fulham | Man Utd | Man Utd | 0-2 | Draw | 2-2 |
| Man City | Liverpool | Draw | 1-1 | Man City | 3-0 |
Mark's score prediction success rate: 1/10
There have been four games in the Barclays Premier League so far ending in a 6-0 win: Chelsea have two, Arsenal and Newcastle have one each.
Mark Lawrenson, meanwhile, has a 40% winner prediction success rate overall, and a 10% score prediction success rate overall.
Next weekend: F1 is back with the Belgian Grand Prix from Spa! And there's another weekend of Premier League football.
16/08/2010
Mark Lawrenson Premier League Prediction Results
Prediction vs Reality
Predictions here
Mark Lawrenson is a BBC football pundit who makes weekly predictions on the results of football matches, so he really ought to get these things right. Correct predictions are in bold.
Mark's winner prediction success rate: 4/10
Mark's score prediction success rate: 1/10
My favourite football team in the whole world (Manchester United, are you surprised?) won their game 3 – 0, with a great performance from a long-time player Paul Scholes. Other teams who did well this weekend were Chelsea and Blackpool – who beat Wigan by a great margin and were the surprise win.
Mark Lawrenson so-far has a 10% score prediction success rate, and a 40% winner prediction success rate. While scores are hard to get right, I hope his winner predictions improve.
Next week: more Premier League football.
Predictions here
Mark Lawrenson is a BBC football pundit who makes weekly predictions on the results of football matches, so he really ought to get these things right. Correct predictions are in bold.
| Home Team | Away Team | Predicted winner | Predicted score | Actual winner | Actual score |
| Tottenham Hotspur | Manchester City | Spurs | 2-1 | Draw | 0-0 |
| Aston Villa | West Ham United | Villa | 2-0 | Villa | 3-0 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Everton | Draw | 1-1 | Blackburn | 1-0 |
| Bolton | Fulham | Bolton | 2-1 | Draw | 0-0 |
| Sunderland | Birmingham City | Sunderland | 1-0 | Draw | 2-2 |
| Wigan | Blackpool | Wigan | 2-1 | Blackpool | 0-4 |
| Wolverhampton | Stoke | Draw | 1-1 | Wolves | 2-1 |
| Chelsea | West Bromwich Albion | Chelsea | 3-0 | Chelsea | 6-0 |
| Liverpool | Arsenal | Draw | 1-1 | Draw | 1-1 |
| Manchester United | Newcastle | Man Utd | 2-0 | Man Utd | 3-0 |
Mark's score prediction success rate: 1/10
My favourite football team in the whole world (Manchester United, are you surprised?) won their game 3 – 0, with a great performance from a long-time player Paul Scholes. Other teams who did well this weekend were Chelsea and Blackpool – who beat Wigan by a great margin and were the surprise win.
Mark Lawrenson so-far has a 10% score prediction success rate, and a 40% winner prediction success rate. While scores are hard to get right, I hope his winner predictions improve.
Next week: more Premier League football.
14/08/2010
New Premier League Rules
Today the English (and Welsh) Premier League - one of the best football leagues in the world - kicks off. Naturally, I've been flicking through the handbook (PDF), inspired by an article in yesterday's Metro. It seems that a new rule is coming into effect this season to limit squad sizes.
Each team is limited to 25 over-21-year-old players, eight of which must be 'homegrown', although they are allowed more; that is, have been registered at an English or Welsh squad under the age of 21 for at least three years. The teams are also allowed an unlimited amount of under-21s.
I am not sure what happens if a squad has less than 25 over-21s available to them (for example Arsenal has only 22 over-21s, and Chelsea have 21). I believe that then they do not have to worry so much about the quota, but there is a limit of up to 17 foreign players (ie: who aren't 'homegrown'). So Chelsea, who only have five homegrown over-21s, are okay because they also only have 16 foreigners.
Probably a better way of wording the rule is: there are twenty-five squad places available. There is a limit of up to seventeen non-homegrown players on each squad, and under 21 players are not included in this count so a team can have as many as they like.
Manchester United are a big squad, with 43 players of which 15 are under 21s. There are fewer foreign players than Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal or Manchester City, and plenty of homegrown talent to choose from. However, some of the less-well-know homegrown players (they have 15 to choose from) may be lost.
Sources are: Metro, Premier League website.
Each team is limited to 25 over-21-year-old players, eight of which must be 'homegrown', although they are allowed more; that is, have been registered at an English or Welsh squad under the age of 21 for at least three years. The teams are also allowed an unlimited amount of under-21s.
I am not sure what happens if a squad has less than 25 over-21s available to them (for example Arsenal has only 22 over-21s, and Chelsea have 21). I believe that then they do not have to worry so much about the quota, but there is a limit of up to 17 foreign players (ie: who aren't 'homegrown'). So Chelsea, who only have five homegrown over-21s, are okay because they also only have 16 foreigners.
Probably a better way of wording the rule is: there are twenty-five squad places available. There is a limit of up to seventeen non-homegrown players on each squad, and under 21 players are not included in this count so a team can have as many as they like.
Manchester United are a big squad, with 43 players of which 15 are under 21s. There are fewer foreign players than Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal or Manchester City, and plenty of homegrown talent to choose from. However, some of the less-well-know homegrown players (they have 15 to choose from) may be lost.
Sources are: Metro, Premier League website.
12/08/2010
English Premier League 2010/11 Season Preview
August 14th – this Saturday – is the first day of the English Premier League 2010/11 season. I have debated over it, and finally decided that I'll post on the football as well. [At the very least it will give me something to blog about over the winter when there's no Formula 1]
All twenty teams will be playing over the weekend, and I'll be covering various statistics. The usual ones should be:
All twenty teams will be playing over the weekend, and I'll be covering various statistics. The usual ones should be:
- Average goals per game (over one weekend)
- Average cards per game (over one weekend)
- Top goalscorer (of the weekend)
- Total goals (whole season)
- Total yellow cards (whole season)
- Total red cards (whole season)
11/08/2010
Euro 2012 Qualifying: EST vs FRO summary
FIFA World Ranking points
Remember the formula? In this case, I=2.5 as it's a continental qualifier, and C=1 for all the Euro 2012 matches.
For Estonia, T (strength of opponent) = (200-118)/100 = 0.82, and for the Faroe Islands, T=1.06.
Since the match was a victory for Estonia, they get 2.5*82*3=615 points, and Faroe Islands get no points.
Match summary
The Faroe Islands started well, scoring a goal through Edmundsson in the 28th minute. It didn't stop him getting booked, however, with three yellow cards for his team in the first half. Estonia, meanwhile, also had opportunities on goal, but were less violent in their challenges. It's not easy to tell exactly which team played better when you can only read the UEFA MatchCentre commentary – which is nowhere near as good as FIFA's MatchCast from the World Cup.
In the second half, there were an incredible two last-minute goals from Estonia's Saag and several substitutions. Faroe Islands received a fourth yellow card. The game ended 2-1 to Estonia.
Remember the formula? In this case, I=2.5 as it's a continental qualifier, and C=1 for all the Euro 2012 matches.
For Estonia, T (strength of opponent) = (200-118)/100 = 0.82, and for the Faroe Islands, T=1.06.
Since the match was a victory for Estonia, they get 2.5*82*3=615 points, and Faroe Islands get no points.
Match summary
The Faroe Islands started well, scoring a goal through Edmundsson in the 28th minute. It didn't stop him getting booked, however, with three yellow cards for his team in the first half. Estonia, meanwhile, also had opportunities on goal, but were less violent in their challenges. It's not easy to tell exactly which team played better when you can only read the UEFA MatchCentre commentary – which is nowhere near as good as FIFA's MatchCast from the World Cup.
In the second half, there were an incredible two last-minute goals from Estonia's Saag and several substitutions. Faroe Islands received a fourth yellow card. The game ended 2-1 to Estonia.
Euro 2012 Qualifying: EST vs FRO preview
Team: Estonia
World (European) Rank: 94 (43)
Players: 24
Team: Faroe Islands
World (European) Rank: 118 (48)
Players: 20
In European rank, these teams aren't much different, but world rank places them much further apart. While the Faroe Islanders have chosen sixteen players from their local league, the Estonians have mostly selected from abroad, with only three of their twenty-four playing in Estonia. Two of the squad members, however, are not signed up with any club.
This islanders are managed by Republic of Ireland footballer Brian Kerr, who previously managed his home side (but didn't get them into Euro 2008).
According to the UEFA website, Estonia's record against the Faroe Islands is won three, drawn one, lost one. I'm predicting them to win again this time, especially since it's a home game.
Edited for new FIFA rankings (Aug 11) and correct FIFA Trigramme for Faroe Islands
World (European) Rank: 94 (43)
Players: 24
Team: Faroe Islands
World (European) Rank: 118 (48)
Players: 20
In European rank, these teams aren't much different, but world rank places them much further apart. While the Faroe Islanders have chosen sixteen players from their local league, the Estonians have mostly selected from abroad, with only three of their twenty-four playing in Estonia. Two of the squad members, however, are not signed up with any club.
This islanders are managed by Republic of Ireland footballer Brian Kerr, who previously managed his home side (but didn't get them into Euro 2008).
According to the UEFA website, Estonia's record against the Faroe Islands is won three, drawn one, lost one. I'm predicting them to win again this time, especially since it's a home game.
Edited for new FIFA rankings (Aug 11) and correct FIFA Trigramme for Faroe Islands
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