Boro clinched the loan signing of Mark Roberts late last week in a deal which could be made permanent in January for a four figure fee. Roberts impressed Graham Westley in the recent 1-1 draw between Stevenage and Northwich, a game which he impressed alongside Will Antwi. It's been well documented that Boro's main weakness [. Click to continue reading...

Former FC Haka striker Toni Lehtinen has signed for Levadiakos, according to the Greek daily Sportday. His contract will run until the end of the 2009-2010 season, with an option for a further year, and he will earn around €80,000 a year. Lehtinen has been at Haka since 2003, and has played 104 league games, scoring [. Click to continue reading...

For me the initial raison d'etre behind collecting and analysing football statistics was to help my football betting. I reasoned that shot statistics would be especially useful in identifying which teams had been unlucky and therefore underestimated by the oddsmakers. As time went on I became more interested in what the data revealed about teams, players and strategies, rather than using it as a predictive tool. Click to continue reading...

Boro Reserves were beaten 3-0 at London Road this afternoon by Peterborough United Reserves in their second reserve game of the season. Boro drew their first reserve game of the season 1-1 at home against Wycombe Wanderers. First team players like Callum Willock, Ed Upson, Peter Vincenti and Michael Jordan were in the team, but couldn't help prevent a [. Click to continue reading...

Fryatt...gratuitous Leicester picture #1



Shot Differential

Team Shots For Shots Against Shot_Diff League Position Leeds Utd 87 45 +42 6 Peterborough 82 47 +35 12 Leicester City 55 27 +28 3 Oldham 56 39 +17 1 Walsall 67 52 +15 10 Huddersfield 52 47 +5 17 Tranmere 48 43 +5 13 Brighton 45 40 +5 8 Millwall 35 31 +4 7 Northampton 38 35 +3 20 Bristol Rovers 56 55 +1 15 Hereford 61 65 -4 21 MK Dons 52 56 -4 5 Swindon 47 52 -5 11 Hartlepool 42 47 -5 14 Colchester 24 30 -6 16 Southend 52 60 -8 22 Leyton Orient 57 66 -9 9 Yeovil 39 50 -11 19 Carlisle 52 66 -14 2 Stockport 32 51 -19 18 Crewe 63 84 -21 23 Scunthorpe 49 75 -26 4 Cheltenham 52 80 -28 24


Shot Efficiency

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Southend United crashed out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with a humiliating home defeat to one of their biggest rivals.

Orient capitalised on gaps all over the park, especially in the second half, and Blues were made to pay for their lack of man-marking on several occasions.

Steve Tilson has a big job on his hands sealing up the massive space Blues allowed the visitors to enjoy. Click to continue reading...

Notable arrivals: Andy Johnson (Everton), Fredrik Stoor (Rosenborg), Bobby Zamora (West Ham), John Pantsil (West Ham), Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough), Zoltan Gera (West Brom), David Stockdale (Darlington). Notable departures: Collins John (NEC Nijmegen), Gabriel Zakuani (Peterborough), Steven Davis (Rangers), Eddie Johnson. Click to continue reading...

Bakari Koné... not actual size

Premiership -- Paul Robinson has had a wretched start to his Blackburn career. The Premiership's second worst goalkeeper last season, is off to an even worse beginning to the 2008/9 campaign. So far, 31 shots faced - 7 goals conceded. Leaving aside Robinson (as Fabio Capello should have) Blackburn have been playing well. Click to continue reading...

Southend United's player of the year last season, Nicky Bailey, has moved to Charlton Athletic in a deal worth up to £750,000.

The midfielder tied up the deal this afternoon after putting pen-to-paper on a 3-year deal with the Addicks.

The initial fee is thought to be around £375,000 with add-ons subject to Athletic getting promoted/Bailey's appearances/goals. Click to continue reading...

Soccerword's League One Predictions
1. Leeds
2. Huddersfield
3. Leicester City
4. Brighton & Hove Albion
5. Colchester
6. Scunthorpe
7. Oldham
8. Carlisle
9. Peterborough
10. Northampton
11. MK Dons
12. Southend
13.

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longpier.com is proud to announce its latest initiative, giving Southend United fans a chance to have their say straight after the game against Peterborough.

It starts at 6pm Saturday night, giving fans enough time to get home and log-on.

Here's a guide:

What is Longpier Live? Click to continue reading...

Southend United have strengthened their squad by signing Ipswich left back Dan Harding on a 6-month loan and Bristol City winger Kevin Betsy for a nominal fee.

The two players go straight into the squad to face Peterborough on Saturday. Harding - who's 24 - says he's taken the decision to drop down a division to get some first team football and the move is likely to be made permanent in January, if the player performs well. Click to continue reading...

Earlier in the week Premiership Talk clued readers into one of Old Trafford's brightest youngsters, Fraizer Campbell. After two more preseason friendlies, however, the secret is out about the next great youth prospect: Rafael da Silva. Rafael and his identical twin Fabio signed for United over a year ago, but the inability to get a work permit means that they haven't been playing (outside of training) since their days at Fluminese. Click to continue reading...

Earlier in the week Premiership Talk clued readers into one of Old Trafford's brightest youngsters, Fraizer Campbell. After two more preseason friendlies, however, the secret is out about the next great youth prospect: Rafael da Silva. Rafael and his identical twin Fabio signed for United over a year ago, but the inability to get a work permit means that they haven't been playing (outside of training) since their days at Fluminese. Click to continue reading...

NEWS UPDATE

Southend United chairman Ron Martin will be sending out a statement to fans ahead of Saturday's opening League One game against Peterborough.

Martin told longpier.com that he will outline his thoughts and plans in a lengthy email and club website article in the next 48 hours. Click to continue reading...

Manchester United won 2-0 in a friendly against Peterborough on Monday, in a game which saw promising débuts, familiar faces, and Reserve team action. The match was reported on here and here. "VIDEO: Highlights Of Peterborough vs United" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia. Click to continue reading...

Fergie faced off with Fergie junior, in what looks like an annual affair of family reunions, as United's boys beat Peterborough 2-0. I must first say a big, big sorry for not being here when the club paid its tribute to one of United's and the modern era's greatest professionals in Ole Gunnar [.. Click to continue reading...

Pre-season games can often look like an exercise in going through the motions in preparation for the real thing, and with United failing to sign any big names this summer many supporters will no doubt be slightly frustrated at the club's inability to find a new striker.

It does seem a bit ridiculous that Fergie hasn't been able to get his man thus far given the success of last season and money in the bank. Click to continue reading...

Manchester United travelled down to face Sir Alex's Ferguson's son's team, Peterborough, winning with a rather generous 2-0 scoreline. Whilst this was another good opportunity for our lads to get to match fitness, the main talk revolved around the appearance of our Brazilian twins, who we've been hearing trickles of news about every 6 months or [. Click to continue reading...

2008-09 Pre season match: Manchester United are meeting Peterborough a friendly match Monday August 04th Watch the highlights and LIVESTREAM here Pre-register at the NEW football site 11×2 today!   Click to continue reading...

This morning's Champions League third qualifying round draw paired Liverpool with Belgians Standard Liege. Here's your essential guide:

1) Like Liverpool, Standard Liege are known as ‘The Reds' because of their home strip.

2) The club was formed in 1900 by a group of the College of Saint-Servais in Liege. Click to continue reading...

Boro were comfortably beaten 2-0 in what was their most disappointing display of pre-season so far. After a tough week which has seen Boro play 4 games in quick succession the team looked tired and were chasing shadows for most of the second half. They started well though continuing where they left off on Saturday with [. Click to continue reading...

George Boyd's Peterborough United are the next visitors to Broadhall Way on Tuesday night. Posh will be looking to build on an impressive 4-1 victory over a youthful Liverpool XI, while Boro will be looking to bounce back after being beaten on Saturday by Championship side QPR. With Hendon (A) on Thursday I expect that Westley will again field a [. Click to continue reading...

Coca Cola leagues The third in a series of blogs looking at the goings on in the Coca Cola leagues...if you're not into that sort of thing, do join us anyway...it's a magical land of goalmouth scrambles and ageing old footballers looking for a last pay packet. I'll buy you a Toffee Crisp if you come along for the ride. Click to continue reading...

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At this stage, obviously doesn't mean that much - and in some senses, puts additional pressure and enhances the performance of other teams - but it does show what the experts who put their money where their mouth is are saying as of now.

June 17: Various Betting Firms Offering Championship Odds: QPR - - Various Championship Betting Odds - QPR as Favourites


Meanwhile Today's Guardian: - Meanwhile the odds for the new season are also beginning to firm up: what will be your ante-post bets for the year ahead? Click to continue reading...

Upsets left right and centre in today's FA Cup action. But what was the biggest shock?Coventry somehow managed to obliterate Blackburn 4-1, whilst League One Huddersfield beat Birmingham 2-1. Special mention should also go to Sheffield United who booted out Bolton with a 1-0 win lowly and injury ravaged Oldham, who beat Everton 1-0 at [. Click to continue reading...