Yellow Fever EPL Picks 25/26

Bit slack starting this as I'm only recently back from doing some travel around UK and Europe and it's suddenly occurred that the start of the season is only a week and a half away.

Please respond here if you are in for this season, and what team you support. New entrants always welcome. 

Format will be the same as last season: 

Pick the winner and either a 1 goal margin, 2+ margin or a draw for the games played by the teams supported by participants (ie, last season we picked Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea games.
5 points for correct winner, 8 points for correct winner + margin, 8 for picking a correct draw.
Pick one player for each match, 5 points awarded if your player gets MOM. 

For MOM we'll use a different system this season - still to be decided so open to suggestions (Paul what did you use again?). Last season using the one named on premierleague.com was frustrating. It was the easiest one to find a record of but being a fan vote it was pretty much a popularity contest which meant it was always the same players even if undeserved and their team had lost and it made the a pick a bit redundant.

Deadline for each game will just be kickoff so even if you happen to miss the first game in a round you can still pick the later ones.

There will also be the usual pre-season picks. Deadline for these will be the end of the transfer window so you have a chance to see what final squads look like. 

In the rare event of a tie at the end of the season, points won on pre-season picks will be the tiebreaker (in a similar way to goal difference). If pre-season picks are also a tie, then we’ll go to the number of exact picks throughout the season (ie, the max 8 points). 

Edit: if a mod could change the title to 25/26 that would be great. I made the same mistake as last season lol.

Example prediction for anyone new is:
Arsenal vs Man United - Arsenal 2+ - Saka
Meaning, Arsenal to win by 2+ goals, and Saka for MOM.

Pre season picks will be: 
Top 6 in order (5 points for each correct placing)
Bottom 3 any order (5 points for each correct pick)
Arsenal top scorer (5 points)
Arsenal top assister (5 points)
Liverpool top scorer (5 points)
Liverpool top assister (5 points)
Chelsea top scorer (5 points)
Chelsea top assister (5 points)
PL Golden Boot (5 points)
PL Golden Gloves (5 points)
First manager to leave/sacked (5 points)
Player of the Season (10 points)
Young Player of the Season (10 points)
Manager of the Season (10 points)

That's assuming we have Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool fans again. Those picks will just be for the teams we are picking. Welcome to any suggestions of other picks to include.

Yep i back in.  Looking to defend my title.   Chelsea fan (looking forward to the season) 

I'll have a go. I guess Forest is my team as I just support where the kiwis are!

I will have another attempt at staying off the bottom.

I'll go again. Someone has to prop up the ladder. 
Gunners. 

Im in again Ajc! Thank you for being a legend and owning this for the last few seasons and now this one, you've done a fantastic job, I am so happy I've still been able to participate even though I no longer have the time to run it. If we ever run into each other, I owe you a few beers!
For the MOM system, I used the rating system on whoscored.com. It was pretty good I thought, often gives a good account of who has done well based on pure statistics, and doesn't favour the goal scorers and popular players like all the other systems seem to. 

Perfect thanks. We should really try and get a group together to watch a game - maybe when there's weekday before work game (ie a 7am kickoff or something). 
I'll spend some time having a look at whoscored and comparing it to OPTA stats which I've had a brief look it. Using one of those for the highest rated player should be better than going with the fan vote again.

i'll have a go (man city)

Sweet. Already more games to pick each week then with two new teams joining. 

I'm in again. Enjoyed it as a first timer last season. Really well run.

Will wait until next week to see if any other new club supporters join as presumably they will be added to the pre season predictions as well?

Yep will do pre-season picks for all teams entered, but deadline for those will be the end of the transfer window to give time to factor in any new players or players leaving. So don't need to get them in before the first round. 

Alright the season kicks off this weekend so time to get the picks for the first round in. With a couple of new entrants we have Man City and Nottingham Forest games to pick this season, and will add their picks to the pre-season picks too. 
For the man of the match pick we'll go back to using the highest rated player on whoscored.com which should be better than using the premierleague.com fan vote. If there is a tie on whoscored.com points will be awarded if either player was picked.
Pre season picks will be:
Top 6 exact order(5 points per correct position)
Bottom 3 any order (5 points per correct team)
Top scorer and top assister for Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City, Nottingham Forest (5 points each)
Golden Boot winner (5 points)
Golden Glove winner (5 points)
First manager to leave/sacked (10 points)
Manager of the season (10 points)
Player of the season (10 points)
Young player of the season (10 points)

Feel free to post them whenever, but deadline is the end of the transfer window to allow for any new incomings or outgoings that might change things.

Round 1:
16/08 07.00am Liverpool vs Bournemouth
17/08 04.30am Wolves vs Man City
18/08 01.00am Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
18/08 01.00am Nott Forest vs Brentford
18/08 03.30am Man United vs Arsenal

Post picks in this thread. Team to win by 1 goal or 2+ or draw and the man of the match. For the newbies, format is:
Eg. Liverpool vs Bournemouth - Liverpool 2+, Salah
Meaning Liverpool to win by 2+ goals and Salah for MOM

8 points for correct result and margin
5 points for correct winner but wrong margin
5 points for correct MOM

E.G if the result is Liverpool 2-1 Bournemouth, MOM Allison then the above pick would earn 5 points for the correct winner but wrong margin and wrong MOM. 

Deadline for each game is kickoff, so if you're a bit late and miss the first game you can still pick the rest of the round.

16/08 07.00am Liverpool vs Bournemouth: Liverpool 2+, Wirtz
17/08 04.30am Wolves vs Man City: Man City 2+, Haaland
18/08 01.00am Chelsea vs Crystal Palace: Chelsea +1, Palmer
18/08 01.00am Nott Forest vs Brentford: Draw, Wood
18/08 03.30am Man United vs Arsenal: Arsenal +1, Saka

Top 6: Arsenal, Liverpool, City, Chelsea, Spurs, Newcastle
Bottom 3: West Ham, Sunderland, Burnley
Arsenal top scorer: Gyok
Arsenal top assister: Saka
Liverpool top scorer: Salah
Liverpool top assister: Gakpo
Chelsea top scorer: Joao Pedro
Chelsea top assister: Palmer
Man City top scorer: Haaland
Man City top assister: Foden
Forest top scorer: Wood
Forest top assister: MGW
Golden boot: Gyok
Golden glove: Raya
First manager to leave/sacked: Graham Potter
Manager of the season: Arteta
Player of the season: Saka
Young player of the season: Xavi Simons

Liverpool +2, Salah
Man City +2, Haaland
Chelsea +2, Joao Pedro
Forest +1, MGW
Arsenal +1, Gyok

16/08 07.00am Liverpool 2+ Wirtz
17/08 04.30am City 2+ Haaland
18/08 01.00am Chelsea 1 Pedro
18/08 01.00am Draw  Sels
18/08 03.30am Arsenal 1 Saka

16/08 07.00am Liverpool vs Bournemouth: Liverpool 2+, Salah
17/08 04.30am Wolves vs Man City: Man City +1, Haaland
18/08 01.00am Chelsea vs Crystal Palace: Chelsea +1, Palmer
18/08 01.00am Nott Forest vs Brentford: Forest +1, Wood
18/08 03.30am Man United vs Arsenal: Arsenal +1, Havertz

Round 1:
16/08 07.00am Liverpool vs Bournemouth, Liverpool 2+ Wirtz
17/08 04.30am Wolves vs Man City, City 2+ Haaland
18/08 01.00am Chelsea vs Crystal Palace, Chelsea 1 Pedro
18/08 01.00am Nott Forest vs Brentford, Forrest 1 Gibbs White
18/08 03.30am Man United vs Arsenal, Draw Cunha

Round 1:
16/08 07.00am Liverpool vs Bournemouth, Liverpool 2+ Salah
17/08 04.30am Wolves vs Man City, City 2+ Haaland
18/08 01.00am Chelsea vs Crystal Palace, Chelsea 2+ Palmer
18/08 01.00am Nott Forest vs Brentford, Forrest 1 Wood
18/08 03.30am Man United vs Arsenal, Arsenal 1 Gabriel

16/08 07.00am Liverpool +2 vs Bournemouth, Salah
17/08 04.30am Wolves vs Man City 2+ Haaland
18/08 01.00am Chelsea +2vs Crystal Palace, palmer
18/08 01.00am Nott Forest vs Brentford, Forrest + 1 Wood
18/08 03.30am Man United vs Arsenal +2, rice

Themosseman's picks (PM'd in weekend):
16/08 07.00am Liverpool vs Bournemouth - Missed
17/08 04.30am Wolves vs Man City - Man City 2+ 
18/08 01.00am Chelsea vs Crystal Palace - Chelsea 2+
18/08 01.00am Nott Forest vs Brentford - Forest 2+
18/08 03.30am Man United vs Arsenal - Arsenal 2+

Remember Man of the Match picks in future!

Round 1 Results:
Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth - MOM Gakpo
Wolves 0-4 115 FC - MOM Haaland
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace - MOM Caicedo
Nott Forest 3-0 Brentford - MOM Wood
Man United 0-1 Arsenal - MOM Raya

Man of the match is the highest rated player on whoscored.com if anyone wants to double check.

standings R1.jpg 20.76 KB

High scoring round with most of us picking Liverpool, 115 FC and Arsenal to win. Some also picked Forest and got a couple of MOMs right. 

I count 37 for my score ajc?
Edit: No I dont! lol
You were spot on, my math was incorrect on second checking

Round 2:
23/08 07.00am West Ham vs Chelsea
23/08 23.30pm 115 FC vs Spurs
24/08 04.30am Arsenal vs Leeds
25/08 01.00am Crystal Palace vs Nott Forest
26/08 07.00am Newcastle vs Liverpool

Chelsea +2, Palmer
City +1, Cherki
Arsenal +2, Saka
Draw, Eze
Liverpool +1, Mac Allister

 

23/08 07.00am Chelsea 2+, JP
23/08 23.30pm 115 FC 2+ oscar bobb
24/08 04.30am Arsenal 2+ rice
25/08 01.00am Nott Forest 1, Wood (who else)
26/08 07.00am  Liverpool 2+ ekitike

 

Chelsea 2+ Pedro
115 fc 2+ Haaland
Arsenal 2+ Saka
Palace 1 Mateta
Liverpool 2+ Wirtz

Round 2:
23/08 07.00am West Ham vs Chelsea, Chelsea 1 Palmer
23/08 23.30pm 115 FC vs Spurs, City 2+ Reijnders
24/08 04.30am Arsenal vs Leeds, Arsenal 2+ Gyokeres
25/08 01.00am Crystal Palace vs Nott Forest, draw Wharton
26/08 07.00am Newcastle vs Liverpool Liverpool 2+ Gakpo

Round 2:
23/08 07.00am West Ham vs Chelsea: Chelsea +1, Palmer
23/08 23.30pm 115 FC vs Spurs: Man City 2+, Rodri
24/08 04.30am Arsenal vs Leeds: Arsenal 2+, Rice
25/08 01.00am Crystal Palace vs Nott Forest: Draw, Wood
26/08 07.00am Newcastle vs Liverpool: Liverpool +1, McAllister

Round 2:
23/08 07.00am West Ham vs Chelsea: Chelsea 2+, Pedro
23/08 23.30pm 115 FC vs Spurs: 115 2+, Haaland
24/08 04.30am Arsenal vs Leeds: Arsenal 2+, Saka
25/08 01.00am Crystal Palace vs Nott Forest: Forest 1, Wood
26/08 07.00am Newcastle vs Liverpool: Liverpool 2+, Ekitike

Changing my Palace-Forest MOM pick to Mateta as Eze is off to the mighty Arsenal.

Round 2:
23/08 07.00am West Ham vs Chelsea 2+, palmer
23/08 23.30pm 115 FC +1 vs Spurs, Haaland
24/08 04.30am Arsenal+2 vs Leeds, Saka
25/08 01.00am Crystal Palace vs Nott Forest + 1, MGW
26/08 07.00am Newcastle vs Liverpool 1+, Salah

Round 2:
23/08 07.00am West Ham vs Chelsea. Chelsea by 1, Palmer 
23/08 23.30pm City vs Spurs. City by 1, Haaland.
24/08 04.30am Arsenal vs Leeds. Arsenal by 1, Saka
25/08 01.00am Crystal Palace vs Nott Forest. Draw. Wood.
26/08 07.00am Newcastle vs Liverpool. Liverpool by 1, Salah

Ffs, palmer isn't even in the squad for Chelsea this morning 😅
Edit - apparently he injured himself in the warm up. 

Should void those Palmer picks like a bookie would ajc.

Voided but it's the same as picking the wrong player. The warm up was too late notice to make a change unfortunately. Also had him in my fantasy team although swapped captain to someone else this week.  

Round 2:
23/08 07.00am West Ham 1-5 Chelsea - MOM Pedro
23/08 23.30pm 115 FC 0-2 Spurs - MOM Palhinha
24/08 04.30am Arsenal 5-0 Leeds - MOM Timber
25/08 01.00am Crystal Palace 1-1 Nott Forest - MOM Lacroix
26/08 07.00am Newcastle 2-3 PGMOL - MOM Ekitike

standings R2.jpg 21.56 KB

Also note the transfer window closes at 7pm on 1st September UK time - so 6am next Tuesday 2nd September for us. Get pre-season picks in before then.

PGMOL!! Lol!!