Players: 43 out of 49. Points scored: 289. Highest score: 10 (David Roberts and Matthew White). Average score: 6.72. Total correct scores: 42. Prediction of the Week: Brian Dunlop (USA 3-1 Ecuador).

Results: Lithuania 0-1 France (6); Scotland 2-1 Georgia (8); Greece 1-4 Turkey (0); Czech Republic 1-2 Germany (15); Republic of Ireland 1-0 Wales (10); Israel 0-0 England (1); Liechtenstein 1-4 Northern Ireland (0); Holland 0-0 Romania (1); Brazil 4-0 Chile (0); USA 3-1 Ecuador (1).

Current Top 10 …

Pos. - Team - (Predictor) - Week 29 Points - Correct Results - Correct Scores - Total Points

1. MANCHESTER CITY (Christine Butters) - 7 - 155 - 43 - 198
2. MANCHESTER UNITED (Hope Arnold) - 7 - 156 - 39 - 195
3. CHELSEA (Dave Taylor) - 9 - 154 - 34 - 188
4. WEST BROMWICH ALBION (Mark Young) - 6 - 147 - 35 - 182
5. BENGAL MUMBAI F.C. (Haresh Mirani) - 7 - 137 - 44 - 181
6. LIVERPOOL RESERVES (Saleel Sathe) - 7 - 142 - 38 - 180
7. ANKARAGÜCÜ (Matthew White) - 10 - 150 - 30 - 180
8. MILLWALL (John Collins) - 6 - 139 - 40 - 179
9. IPSWICH TOWN (Nick Watson) - 6 - 139 - 37 - 176
10. JERSEY UNITED (Mike Dufficy) - 8 - 143 - 32 - 175

“We have come to a crossroads, our football is ill,” FIFA president Sepp Blatter warned us last week. Do your homework Sepp: football is antibiotic free and fighting fit here in the Predictorship.

Christine Butters (Manchester City) - now 100 points better off than Norman No Mates - and Hope Arnold (Manchester United) maintain the status quo at the top of the table, but further ‘down down’ the pecking order Dave Taylor (Chelsea) narrows the gaping chasm by collecting nine points. It’s ‘never too late’, Dave, so ‘don’t stop’ believing until it’s mathematically impossible to snatch the title from the so-called “Manchester Two”. Note to perplexed Stateside predictors: Status Quo are an enduring beat combo from London.

A healthy average of 6.72 is spearheaded by David Roberts (Watford) and Matthew White (Ankaragücü), who both net 10 points. The long-suffering Forest fan is indebted to his Turkish wife for a 10th point, confident her countrymen would batter the Greeks in their own back yard. Nick Watson’s “big fight” did not materialise in Athens, however, so the potential for the biggest footballing fracas since a Spurs fan tried to lamp Chelsea’s Frank at the end of last week’s FA Cup quarter-final replay happily came to nothing more than a scuffle outside a kebab shop in Hackney.

Another bore draw for England, a Landon Donovan-inspired victory for the USA against Ecuador and a hat-trick for Northern Ireland’s David Healy, who has been undeniably naff for the sinking ship that is Leeds this season, were some of the “highlights” of another international week in the Predictorship, which continues to grab headlines despite some unsavoury incidents in the murky worlds of cricket (murder), rugby union (deliberate choking) and golf (endless boredom).

And now for an appeal …

At the end of this season, The Nottingham Florist will attempt to compile a table of tables, logging every point, every correct result and every correct score since the Predictorship started some eight or nine seasons ago, thus revealing the most successful player in Predictorship history.

If you have a copy of a final table from the Predictorship era, please forward it to mattwhite03@hotmail.com. Many thanks.

Question of the Week …

It’s a feat more impressive than Giampaolo Pazzini’s 28-second goal and 68-minute hat-trick in the first competitive game at the new Wembley and a fact more amazing than Vinnie Jones, Frank Leboeuf, Ralf Little and former Sex Pistols Steve Jones and Paul Cook playing together for celebrity side Hollywood United F.C. …

One player in the top four English divisions has yet to taste defeat this season. The player in question, who made his league debut in 1998 against his current club, has turned out regularly for two different teams and scored a goal at the weekend. Who is he? Answer next week …

Much as it pains me, I shall begrudgingly admit that the clips from Peyton Manning’s turn on SNL last night are at least mildly funny. The fake United Way ad (below) is pretty solid, if only because it included lots of bleeped Peyton Manning swearwords. Note also that said spot was filmed at the trusty ole soccer field at 23rd and Eleventh, site of many memorable F.C. Camena five-a-side tilts.

(I especially liked the tattoo joke.)

Players: 36 out of 49. Points scored: 190. Highest score: 8 (Simon Gold, Cathryn Harker and Steve McHugh). Average score: 5.27. Total correct scores: 31. Prediction of the Week: Scott Christie (Charlton Athletic 2-0 Newcastle United).

Results: Blackburn Rovers 1-2 West Ham United (0); Chelsea 3-0 Sheffield United (14); Manchester United 4-1 Bolton Wanderers (0); Middlesbrough 0-2 Manchester City (0); Reading 0-0 Portsmouth (1); Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Watford (6); Wigan Athletic 0-0 Fulham (3); Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool (2); Charlton Athletic 2-0 Newcastle United (1); Everton 1-0 Arsenal (4).

Current Top 10 …

Pos. - Team - (Predictor) - Week 28 Points - Correct Results - Correct Scores - Total Points

1. MANCHESTER CITY (Christine Butters) - 5 - 149 - 42 - 191
2. MANCHESTER UNITED (Hope Arnold) - 5 - 149 - 39 - 188
3. CHELSEA (Dave Taylor) - 3 - 147 - 32 - 179
4. WEST BROMWICH ALBION (Mark Young) - 6 - 142 - 34 - 176
5. BENGAL MUMBAI F.C. (Haresh Mirani) - 6 - 132 - 42 - 174
6. MILLWALL (John Collins) - 6 - 133 - 40 - 173
7. LIVERPOOL RESERVES (Saleel Sathe) - 5 - 136 - 37 - 173
8. IPSWICH TOWN (Nick Watson) - 7 - 133 - 37 - 170
9. ANKARAGÜCÜ (Matthew White) - 5 - 142 - 28 - 170
10. PETERBOROUGH UNITED (Steve McHugh) - 8 - 135 - 33 - 168

Another week gone, and still no sign of a genuine challenge to Manchester’s domination of the Predictorship. “Sisters” Christine Butters (191 points) and Hope Arnold (188) are doing it for themselves, and whatever they’re doing remains well out of Dave Taylor’s reach (179). But you knew that anyway: you’ve just looked at the table.

Simon Gold (the man with the power to know he’s indestructible), Cathryn Harker and Steve McHugh register eight points apiece, week 28’s best return, which is a jolly good show given three goalless draws, Manchester United’s destruction of Bolton and surprise away wins for the ‘Ammers and Manchester City.

Headline-grabbing news is in short supply this week, so we’ll move swiftly on to the Cup. Cue the pointless introduction …

The Predictorship Cup …

Since we met here last week, Bengal Mumbai F.C. (Haresh Mirani) have been thrown out of the Cup and the semi-final draw has been made.

Mirani’s charges failed to show up for their tie against Janet Jones’ Sheffield Wednesday (despite earlier reports of floodlight failure), much to the chagrin of the Owls, who had made a finance-busting trip to India using Janet’s fuel-guzzling, state-of-the-art private jet. Thousands of wasted air miles and a few “Delhi bellies” later, Sheffield Wednesday find themselves drawn against rank outsiders Living the Dream (Paul Bentley) in the first semi-final.

In the second mouth-watering clash, Watford (David Roberts) take on Clapton F.C. (Cathryn Harker). And yes, David somehow managed to avoid fiancée Janet in the last four. Here’s the “full” draw, with current league positions in brackets:

1. LIVING THE DREAM (Paul Bentley) (38) v SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (Janet Jones) (31)
2. WATFORD (David Roberts) (18) v CLAPTON F.C. (Cathryn Harker) (14)

Both matches take place on the weekend of 14-15 April. The winners meet in the final on 19 May.

Note: The Predictorship Cup is not some mickey mouse competition to fill the void left by excitement as most of us drift tamely towards the end of the season with nothing but pride left to play for. This is the real deal. Get with it.

Numbers of the week …

5 - predictors who finished in last season’s Top 10 who are nestling just outside the current Top 10: Steven Dunlop (currently 11th, 7th in 2005-2006), Mike Dufficy (13th, 1st), Cathryn Harker (14th, 2nd), Pete Yoder (15th, 6th) and Jill Taylor (16th, 9th).

88 - distance in metres of Tottenham ‘keeper Paul Robinson’s spectacular goal against Watford.

2,618 - toilets at the new Wembley Stadium.

Players: 37 out of 49. Points scored: 211. Highest score: 10 (Dave Taylor, Saleel Sathe). Average score: 5.70. Total correct scores: 52. Prediction of the Week: Steven Dunlop (Middlesbrough 2-2 Manchester United).

Results: Middlesbrough 2-2 Manchester United (1); Chelsea 3-3 Tottenham Hotspur (0); Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Manchester City (13); Plymouth Argyle 0-1 Watford (5); Barnsley 0-2 Sunderland (8); Hull City 2-0 Preston North End (0); Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 West Bromwich Albion (3); Leeds United 1-0 Luton Town (12); Aberdeen 1-0 Hearts (10); Celtic 0-1 Rangers (0).

Current Top 10 …

Pos. - Team - (Predictor) - Week 27 Points - Correct Results - Correct Scores - Total Points

1. MANCHESTER CITY (Christine Butters) - 5 - 145 - 41 - 186
2. MANCHESTER UNITED (Hope Arnold) - 7 - 145 - 38 - 183
3. CHELSEA (Dave Taylor) - 10 - 144 - 32 - 176
4. WEST BROMWICH ALBION (Mark Young) - 7 - 137 - 33 - 170
5. BENGAL MUMBAI F.C. (Haresh Mirani) - 2*** - 129 - 39 - 168
6. LIVERPOOL RESERVES (Saleel Sathe) - 10 - 132 - 36 - 168
7. MILLWALL (John Collins) - 2*** - 130 - 37 - 167
8. ANKARAGÜCÜ (Matthew White) - 6 - 138 - 27 - 165
9. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (Gabe Bevilacqua) - 6 - 134 - 30 - 164
10. IPSWICH TOWN (Nick Watson) - 7 - 127 - 36 - 163

*** scores still to come

Dave Taylor (Chelsea) and Saleel Sathe (Liverpool Reserves), the finest proponents of the 1-0 scoreline in the Predictorship, cashed in to the tune of 10 points apiece in week 27.

It will come as no surprise, then, that they both played it safe with 1-0 predictions in favour of Watford, Wolves, Leeds and Aberdeen, although the fifth 1-0 scoreline of the week, Rangers’ magnificent win at shortly-to-be-confirmed Scottish champions Celtic, courtesy of a strike from Ugo Ehiogu - the forgotten man of English football - eluded them both.

In fact, Janet Jones (Sheffield Wednesday) was the only one of this week’s 37 score-submitters (not allowing for the three set of predictions that are lost somewhere between India and Harlow) to go all out for a Rangers win of any sort (1-2) at Celtic. Cue the seemless link …

The Predictorship community sends its warmest congratulations and best wishes to Janet and Predictorship chairman David Roberts (Watford), who recently announced their engagement. Spookily, both are still in with a shout of winning the Predictorship Cup and could meet in the semi-finals or, better still, the showpiece final on May 19. Cue another seemless link …

The Predictorship Cup …

You can almost smell the freshly-cut grass at Wem-ber-ley! Banish the bulldozers and batten down the hatches - the line-up for the semi-finals is almost complete.

Clapton F.C. (at the expense of title-chasers Manchester United), Living the Dream and Watford have made it through to the last four, but there’s one late kick-off. An ill-timed floodlight failure at the home of Bengal Mumbai F.C. sadly means the result of their quarter-final tie against Sheffield Wednesday will not be known before we go off air. Ooh, the suspense.

1. LIVING THE DREAM (Paul Bentley) (38) 6-2 DC ADUNITED (Patrick Bevilacqua) (29)
2. BENGAL MUMBAI F.C. (Haresh Mirani) (5***) L-L SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (Janet Jones) (30)
3. WATFORD (David Roberts) (18) 7-2 WEST BERGHOLT WANDERERS (Jodie Kemp) (26)
4. CLAPTON F.C. (Cathryn Harker) (15) 8-7 MANCHESTER UNITED (Hope Arnold) (2)

Current league positions in brackets
*** provisionally 5th (scores still to come)

Quote of the week …

Suspended due to a rigorous investigation into the authenticity of The Nottingham Florist’s source for Bob Bradley quotes. It doesn’t look good. Would the real Bob Bradley please stand up.

Players: 38 out of 49. Points scored: 204. Highest score: 13 (Haresh Mirani). Average score: 5.36. Total correct scores: 45. Prediction of the Week: Hope Arnold (Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United).

Results: Arsenal 2-1 Reading (8); Fulham 1-1 Aston Villa (11); Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United (1); Manchester City 0-1 Wigan Athletic (0); Newcastle United 0-0 Middlesbrough (1); Portsmouth 0-2 Chelsea (13); Watford 2-2 Charlton Athletic (0); West Ham United 3-4 Tottenham Hotspur (0); Sheffield United 1-1 Everton (7); Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Blackburn Rovers (4).

Current Top 10 …

Pos. - Team - (Predictor) - Week 26 Points - Correct Results - Correct Scores - Total Points

1. MANCHESTER CITY (Christine Butters) - 8 - 142 - 39 - 181
2. MANCHESTER UNITED (Hope Arnold) - 7 - 140 - 36 - 176
3. BENGAL MUMBAI F.C. (Haresh Mirani) - 13 - 127 - 39 - 166
4. CHELSEA (Dave Taylor) - 3 - 138 - 28 - 166
5. MILLWALL (John Collins) - 4 - 128 - 37 - 165
6. WEST BROMWICH ALBION (Mark Young) - 5 - 132 - 31 - 163
7. JERSEY UNITED (Mike Dufficy) - 4 - 131 - 28 - 159
8. ANKARAGÜCÜ (Matthew White) - 6 - 133 - 26 - 159
9. LIVERPOOL RESERVES (Saleel Sathe) - 4 - 126 - 32 - 158
10. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (Gabe Bevilacqua) - 9 - 128 - 30 - 158

If you suffer from triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13), look away now …

Whoever said the aforementioned number 13 is unlucky is looking pretty foolish right now: Bengal Mumbai’s Predictorship rookie Haresh Mirani plays an absolute blinder to record the season’s top score (that’ll be 13) - sensational news that’s bound to demote the exquisite Shilpa Shetty to the inside pages of Mumbai’s Maharashtra Times just as soon as word gets around.

Here’s another table, this time showing the highest scores (11+) of the 2006-2007 season …

Pos. - Team - (Predictor) - Score - Week Achieved

1. Bengal Mumbai F.C. (Haresh Mirani) - 13 - Week 26
2=. Manchester City (Christine Butters) - 12 - Week 8
2=. Manchester City (Christine Butters) - 12 - Week 23
2=. Manchester City (Christine Butters) - 12 - Week 25
2=. Bengal Mumbai F.C. (Haresh Mirani) - 12 - Week 11
6=. Charlton Athletic (Nigel Birrell) - 11 - Week 9
6=. Cheltenham Town (Rob Dimery) - 11 - Week 8
6=. Purple Haze (Brian Dunlop) - 11 - Week 19
6=. West Ham United (Wendy Nathan) - 11 - Week 13
6=. West Ham United (Wendy Nathan) - 11 - Week 25
6=. Watford (David Roberts) - 11 - Week 6
6=. Seattle Gooners (Maziar Sattari) - 11 - Week 10
6=. Bunch of Losers (Michael Whitty) - 11 - Week 23
6=. West Bromwich Albion (Mark Young) - 11 - Week 22

Haresh makes a mockery of this week’s average return of 5.36 with five correct scores (the matches at Arsenal, Fulham, Portsmouth, Sheffield United and Bolton) to usurp three Christine Butters 12s and a fourth round dozen from Haresh himself from the top of the leaderboard.

As you’ll see from the first table above (which will appear here each week now that we’re fast approaching the business end of the season), Haresh’s humungous haul elevates him to within 10 points of Hope Arnold (seven points this week) and 15 of runaway leader Christine Butters (eight points). How depressing: even with 13 points to his name, Haresh remains so far off the pace you might as well dress him in a claret and blue shirt and call him West Ham United.

Gabe Bevilacqua, who enters the top 10 for the first time this season with four correct scores, and the rapidly-improving Wendy Nathan, who must be suicidal after watching the Hammers blow a 3-2 lead with two minutes to go on Sunday, are left cowering in Haresh’s gigantic shadow in this record-breaking week but still enjoy the coach ride home with nine points apiece.

The Predictorship Cup …

It’s all boiling down to the nitty gritty, with just eight teams dreaming of lifting the Predictorship Cup on May 19. Nick Watson’s over-worked, re-re-christened Drawomatic Randomizer 8 has thrown up the following quarter-final ties, which will be contested this weekend (March 10-11):

1. Living the Dream (Paul Bentley) (39) v DC Adunited (Patrick Bevilacqua) (27)
2. Bengal Mumbai F.C. (Haresh Mirani) (3) v Sheffield Wednesday (Janet Jones) (29)
3. Watford (David Roberts) (18) v West Bergholt Wanderers (Jodie Kemp) (22)
4. Clapton F.C. (Cathryn Harker) (15) v Manchester United (Hope Arnold) (2)

As always, the figures in brackets show each predictor’s current league position - but league form counts for nothing at this stage of the competition.

And one final reminder: don’t forget to vote for your favourite prediction of weeks 13-24. You’ll find the runners and riders below this post.

Quote of the Week …

We continue our “Interim Coach” Bob Bradley-athon this week, with apologies to Princeton University, which I omitted from last week’s list of soccer teams he coached.

“We feel bad for the school districts”. So do we Bob, so do we.