Macca

Here's a couple of recent podcasts from the BBC that are worth a listen... The Inside Story of the 2013-14 Ashes Whitewash ... Officially ranked as their worst ever tour to Australia - why did it go so horribly wrong? (various players from both teams relive the moments from that series) England Don't Need to Announce Vice-Captain - Michael Vaughan .... Mark Butcher & Glenn McGrath join Michael Vaughan & Eleanor Oldroyd to preview the Ashes. .

A number of us have got some catching up to do but we're running out of weeks - however, there is a total of 13 points still available. Leaderboard in the comp 8 - Clintosaurus 6 - Go the Biff 5 - Dappa Dan 3 - JV7 1 - Gorgoroth, Macca 0 - The usual suspects

An example of what I'm talking about is the Eagles going after a RB in Ajayi ... they are obviously trying to get stronger in other areas apart from QB, WR & defence. A really smart move by Philadelphia - the payoff could be huge.

I could have told you that years ago Clint.

You should be thanking McCarthy. Detroit were never tested.

Moscow & St Petersburg are 7 hours behind (AEST) but there are a number of games played where the city involved is up to 5 hours behind AEST. And that's the maximum time difference if the games listed on Wiki are accurate. In a nutshell, the games will be kicking off predominately between 10pm & 4am AEST. I'll be watching the evening games and then watching the early morning games on delay. All the round of 16, quarter finals & semi finals will be played at midnight or 4.00am ... the final will be played at 1.00am (Monday morning) All times are AEST. There's a chance I might be an hour out with those times but I'm working on what the time zone differences will be in June/July of 2018. 2018 FIFA World Cup Group Stage .

As it turns out we're playing Honduras on Saturday morning (9.00am) AEDT. The return leg in Australia will be played on Wednesday 15th Nov (8.00pm) An ideal outcome would see us score multiple goals and win in Honduras. Easier said than done though. Cahill traveled to Honduras but they're saying that he is a doubtful starter ... I reckon he'll start on the bench otherwise why take him all the way over there? Jedinak has made himself available so that's good news. The other 2-leg knockout games in Europe played next weekend offer up some interesting encounters ... Italy should progress but they face a dangerous Sweden. The other match-ups could go either way ... Croatia/Greece, Northern Ireland/Switzerland & Denmark/Ireland.

If it's spy/espionage/drama (mini-series) that is to your liking, here are some recent releases that are of good quality. From the UK ... The Night Manager & The Game. From the US ... The Assets & Rubicon In series form, Spooks (UK) & Berlin Station (US) are also very good although Spooks finished up in 2011.

Just more archaic thinking isn't it? Anyway, I've narrowed it down to 5 horses Wadda ... Humidor, Marmelo, Johannes Vermeer, Almandin & Amelie's Star (for a bit of value) All 5 into a trifecta & first 4 of some sort of configuration. Happy to take a small percentage and hope for a big dividend.

Seattle's next 4 will paint a clearer picture ... @ Arizona, vs Atlanta, @ 49ers and then vs the Eagles. If they win 3 of those 4 they'll be sitting on a record of 8 & 4. Washington aren't a bad team either but they'll probably need to get to 10 wins just to have a chance at a wild-card. At this stage I can see the 2 wild-cards coming out of the South, East & West ... probably not the North unless Detroit get their act together. 10 wins normally gets a spot but not always ... the Pats went 11 & 5 once and missed out completely. It's happened a few times like that I believe. Haven't really looked at the AFC closely but it's probably the same sort of story.

As well as Clinto's Jags. As for the Packers & Falcons, we won't be seeing a repeat of last year's NFC Championship match-up (unless a minor miracle occurs) But as you said JV, the Rams & Eagles are the standouts in the NFC ... the Saints & Vikes are both 6 & 2 as well and will take some pegging back. The Panthers, Seattle & Dallas are thereabouts but that loss by the Seahawks today could be costly. NFL Playoff Picture: Looking ahead after Week 9

That is a large oversight on my part DeeZone ... so 13 good players it is then (in my humble opinion) Best 22 always contains any number of players who may or may not be absolute starters. Any of those 13 listed players would ordinarily not be dropped because of poor form so it's a more than decent base. What we need to be a true contender are 5 or 6 players with real star quality. But competition within the ranks can bring out that star quality. Hopefully we unearth a couple more good players with our 4 draft picks.

Terrific post Big Carl - some great memories in amongst all those games listed. I'd add ... Melbourne vs Sydney MCG SF 1987 (R Flower 4 goals in a 76 pt victory) Melbourne vs Collingwood MCG SF 1988 (our backline was on top all day) On both occasions it meant that we'd advanced to a Preliminary final ... you'd take that now in a heartbeat.

Previously I've backed a few horse to win the cup and sometimes up to 5 horses with a view to tripling my total outlay. But lately I've done a trifecta and/or a first 4 with the field going for me for 3rd (trifecta) or 4th (first 4) I see Lloyd Williams has 6 runners and both Darren Weir and Irish trainer Willie Mullins have 3 runners each. The field with their barrier number's ... MELBOURNE CUP FIELD 1. Hartnell - D Lane 12 2. Almandin - F Dettori 14 3. Humidor - B ShinN 13 4. Tiberian - O Peslier 23 5. Marmelo - H Bowman 16 6. Red Cardinal - K McEvoy 24 7. Johannes Vermeer - B Melham 3 8. Bondi Beach - M Walker 1 9. Max Dynamite - Z Purton 2 10. Ventura Storm - G Boss 6 11. Who Shot Thebarman - T Berry 20 12. Wicklow Brave - S Baster 8 13. Big Duke - B Avdulla 5 14. US Army Ranger - J Spencer 22 15. Boom Time - C Parish 9 16. Gallante - M Dee 18 17. Libran - D Dunn 7 18. Nakeeta - G Schofield 19 19. Single Gaze- K O’Hara 11 20. Wall Of Fire - C Williams 15 21. Thomas Hobson - J Moreira 21 22. Rekindling - C Brown 4 23. Amelie’s Star - D Yendall 10 24. Cismontane - B Mertens 17

I was a little down on the day but got a couple of late collects ... Ace High in a trifecta & Rich Charm in the last got me out of jail. As per usual, I was close to winning tens of thousands. ha ha That was a terrific feel-good story with Rich Charm's trainer Udyta Clarke. So, it's on the Cup, The Oaks & Emirates Stakes day.

Yeah both the 1st and 2nd horses were caught out in awkward positions. Be interesting to see what they do with Ace High now ... it looks a real stayer.

Yep ... Ace High was 3 deep for a lot of the run. A commanding performance. It's a pity my first 2 picks in the 2 earlier races dipped out! .

I'd say so ... the style is a different but the message is the same.

I didn't read it that way anyway D77 ... I know plenty who have done what you've done - just part owners of various percentages. I've just never indulged. I do like frequenting the races though ... Derby day especially is a fantastic day if you've got a decent vantage point or paid for a decent seat. That's how I've done it previously, usually with just a couple of friends. I put all my bets on and then just enjoy the day. The madding crowd can please themselves.

Keenum is playing quite well and that's backed up by his numbers. It's just a bit unexpected. His QBR is 88.8 which places him 16th and he's not far off the top 10 with that rating. The Vikes almost certainly would have thought it was going to be a choice between Bradford and a returning Bridgewater. Rodgers is out indefinitely and the Lions are the Lions. However, Minnesota have got a tough 5 weeks coming up ... @ Washington, vs Rams, @ Detroit, @ Atlanta and then @ the Panthers. It's not over yet but 9 wins might win the division. The Bears could win 4 more (maybe 5) but that probably won't be enough. Much will depend on whether Detroit can get their act together. .

Decided on trifecta's in the end. I'm feeling lucky - I've got a few of your tips included@ProperDee so here's hoping. Thanks for the heads up on the 2 tips in QLD. A trifecta @ Doomben race 3 looms large. For what it's worth I'm also going to parlay up 4 races (each way on each selection) All 4 horses will run close to being favourite but I just reckon all 4 should be in the finish. But it's buyer beware ladies & gentlemen ... I'm often the world's worst tipster. Race 2 no.1 Bring Me Roses Race 3 no.5 Nieta (now there's an omen) Race 7 no.1 Ace High Race 8 no.1 Tosen Stardom Good punting to all Mac .

Houston can still win that division but they're without J J Watt as well. The Packers would need the Vikes to fall away and we'd absolutely need to defeat the Lions this week (and Hundley would need to show something) A lot of if's & but's. Too many in fact. Having said that the Lions continue to disappoint. They get opportunities and they keep blowing those chances. If someone had have told me at the start of the season that the Vikings will win the division with Case Keenum as their QB, I would have had a good laugh. But here we are.

It's just such a real shame ... the kid has shown real star quality and I hope he recovers well and recaptures his form. A non contact injury too yeah? I see that the Pats have picked up Hoyer as back up to Brady.

It's always fraught with danger including the Thursday night game in one's tips but I can't see anyone getting 3 right this week anyway ... but you never know. There may be a few 0 for 3's though ... that should be worth half a point!

Never bought into race horses although I've had a few opportunities to do so (part owner only!) I do have a first cousin who was a high profile bookmaker though ... retired now. We share the same way of thinking - percentage plays, analysis, probability factors etc. Bookies can do well unless they're not totally switched on. As for us punters, we need a good dose of luck just to break even.