Footy updates 2025/24

Recent midweek games (international break):

Whitstable 4 Bearsted 2
Early days but looking good: 

Gillingham 0 Wycombe 3 (EFL Trophy)
Wycombe have greater priorities than this competition

Bayern Munich Women 3 Arsenal Women 2 (Champions League)
This was on Disney+ so I'm unable to explain how European Champions Arsenal threw away a two goal lead.

Port Vale 0 Wycombe 0

zzz

Tottenham Women 0 Arsenal Women 0

Shot shy Gunners squander an opportunity to get closer to the league leaders

Whitstable 3 Stansfeld 3

Two goals down after 30 minutes to the bottom of the table team, this was a disaster in the making. But a fightback culminating in a 97th minute equaliser made it less so. Bit of a shock though

Arsenal Women 2 Real Madrid Women 1

We came from behind to rescue a faltering campaign

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My forecasts for this weekend: (and ChatGPT's):

Charlton 1 Southampton 1 CGPT: 2-1

Ipswich 2 Wrexham 1 CGPT: 2-1

Wycombe 2 Lincoln 2 CGPT: 1-1

Arsenal 2 Tottenham 1 CGPT: 2-0

Footy updates 2025/23

How did my forecasts fare this weekend? (And ChatGPT's)

Arsenal Women 2 Chelsea Women 2 CGPT: 1-2 Result: 1-1

Arsenal suffered from two refereeing decisions but stay in the hunt for the league title

Tottenham 0 Manchester United 0 CGPT: 2-1 Result: 2-2

Spurs pretty good away but completely unpredictable at home

Wycombe 1 Leyton Orient 1 CGPT: 2-1 Result: 4-1

Signs of improvement

Swansea 1 Ipswich 2 CGPT: 1-1 Result: 1-4

We seem to have got a settled team and are getting the rewards

Wrexham 1 Charlton 2 CGPT: 1-1 Result: 1-0

Disappointing, dropping below Ipswich

Infinity 0 Whitstable Town 3 (FA Vase 2nd round - Whitstable are the holders) CGPT: 1-3 Result: 1-2

Into the 3rd round

Sunderland 0  Arsenal 1 CGPT: 0-3 Result: 2-2

Disappointing to concede equaliser in the last minute but still top of the table

Correct results: 4 out of 7 (ChatGPT: 2)

Correct scores: 0 out of 7 (ChatGPT:0 )

Match score this season so far: usedtobecroquetman 3 Chat GPT 2

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Upcoming midweek games (international break):

Whitstable v Bearsted

Gillingham v Wycombe (EFL Trophy)

Bayern Munich Women v Arsenal Women (Champions League)

Footy updates 2025/22

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Recent matches:

Slavia Prague 0 Arsenal 3

Charlton 1 West Brom 0

Ipswich 1 Watford 1

Tottenham 4 FC Copenhagen 0

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My forecasts for this weekend: (and ChatGPT's):

Arsenal Women 2 Chelsea Women 2 CGPT: 1-2

Tottenham 0 Manchester United 0 CGPT: 2-1

Wycombe 1 Leyton Orient 1 CGPT: 2-1

Swansea 1 Ipswich 2 CGPT: 1-1

Wrexham 1 Charlton 2 CGPT: 1-1

Infinity 0 Whitstable Town 3 (FA Vase 2nd round - Whitstable are the holders) CGPT: 1-3

Sunderland 0  Arsenal 1 CGPT: 0-3

Footy updates 2025/21

How did my forecasts fare this weekend? (And ChatGPT's)

Burnley 0 Arsenal 3 CGPT: 1-3 Result: 0-2
Juggernaut

Charlton 1 Swansea 1 CGPT: 2-1 Result: 1-1
Solid

QPR 1 Ipswich 1 CGPT: 2-1 Result: 1-4
Climbing the table

Wycombe 1 Plymouth 0 CGPT: 2-2 Result: 2-0
Despite a late red card for Wycombe, they progress to the 2nd round of the FA Cup

Fisher 1 Whitstable 4 CGPT: 0-3 Result: 1-2
3 points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand

Tottenham 1 Chelsea 1 CGPT: 1-2 Result: 0-1
Spurs continue their inconsistency

Leicester Women 0 Arsenal Women 2 CGPT: 1-3 Result: 1-4

There are only 5 points covering the top 5 so all is not lost yet

Correct results: 5 out of 7 (ChatGPT: 4)

Correct scores: 1 out of 7 (ChatGPT: 0)

Match score this season so far: usedtobecroquetman 2 Chat GPT 2

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Upcoming midweek games:

Slavia Prague v Arsenal

Charlton v West Brom

Ipswich v Watford

Tottenham v FC Copenhagen

Footy updates 2025/20

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Recent matches:

EFL Cup 4th round:

Wycombe 1 Fulham 1 (Fulham won on penalties)
An excellent effort against a Premier League team

Arsenal 2 Brighton 0

Really nice to see a 15yo and a 17yo make their first starts

Newcastle 2 Tottenham 0

Spurs' first away defeat of the season

The draw for the quarter finals: Arsenal v Crystal Palace

Also a match I didn't expect (it's apparently in the Challenge Cup, whatever that is):

Whitstable 2 Bearsted 3
Bearsted are Whitstable's main challengers for the league title

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My forecasts for this weekend: (and ChatGPT's):

Burnley 0 Arsenal 3 CGPT: 1-3

Charlton 1 Swansea 1 CGPT: 2-1

QPR 1 Ipswich 1 CGPT: 2-1

Wycombe 1 Plymouth 0 CGPT: 2-2

Fisher 1 Whitstable 4 CGPT: 0-3

Tottenham 1 Chelsea 1 CGPT: 1-2

**EDIT - The Womens Super League is back after an international break

Leicester Women 0 Arsenal Women 2 CGPT: 1-3

Footy updates 2025/19

How did my forecasts fare this weekend? (And ChatGPT's)

Ipswich 1 West Brom 1 CGPT: 2-1 Result: 1-0
Only the second clean sheet of the season; that says everything. More needed

Hull 2 Charlton 1 CGPT: 2-1 Result: 1-1
A late equaliser for Charlton

Wycombe 1 Huddersfield 1 CGPT: 1-1 Result: 3-0
A very early red card for Huddersfield helps Wycombe further away from the relegation zone

Whitstable 2 Holmesdale 1 CGPT: 3-1 Result: 5-0 [attendance: 578]
2 goals for D Grant and 2 for 38yo Joe Healy (described on Wikipedia as a "former footballer")

Arsenal 2 Crystal Palace 1 CGPT: 3-0 Result: 1-0
The juggernaut rolls on

Everton 1 Tottenham 1 CGPT: 2-1 Result: 0-3

Impressive away form. 3rd in the table, 5 points behind the Gunners

Correct results: 2 out of 6 (ChatGPT: 3)

Correct scores: 0 out of 6 (ChatGPT: 0)

Match score this season so far: usedtobecroquetman 1 Chat GPT 2

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Upcoming midweek games (all EFL Cup 4th round):

Wycombe v Fulham

Arsenal v Brighton

Newcastle v Tottenham

Footy updates 2025/18

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Recent matches:

Snodland Town 1 Whitstable Town 5
Up to 2nd in the table

Ipswich 0 Charlton 3
Shocker. What has happened to Ipswich? And it's maybe Charlton who are promotion candidates

Arsenal 4 Atletico Madrid 0
Thrilling win against a tricky opponent

Monaco 0 Tottenham 0

Snoozefest

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My forecasts for this weekend: (and ChatGPT's):

Ipswich 1 West Brom 1 CGPT: 2-1

Hull 2 Charlton 1 CGPT: 2-1

Wycombe 1 Huddersfield 1 CGPT: 1-1

Whitstable 2 Holmesdale 1 CGPT: 3-1

Arsenal 2 Crystal Palace 1 CGPT: 3-0

Everton 1 Tottenham 1 CGPT: 2-1

Footy updates 2025/17

How did my forecasts fare this weekend? (And ChatGPT's)

Middlesbrough 1 Ipswich 1 CGPT: 1-1 Result: 2-1
Top of the table Middlesbrough show Ipswich that control trounces flair

Charlton 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0 CGPT: 1-2 Result: 2-1
Wednesday are a basket case; I'd expect ChatGPT to know that 

Blackpool 1 Wycombe 2  CGPT: 1-2 Result: 1-1
113th minute equaliser keeps the Chairboys out of the relegation zone

Erith & Belvedere 1  Whitstable Town 2  CGPT: 1-2 Result: 0-1
Up to 5th; games in hand 

Fulham 0 Arsenal 1 CGPT: 0-2 Result: 0-1
Top of the table 

Tottenham 2 Aston Villa 0  CGPT: 2-1 Result: 1-2
Bit of a shocker really; Spurs 6th 

Correct results: 3 out of 6 (ChatGPT: 2)

Correct scores: 1 out of 6 (ChatGPT: 0)

Match score this season so far: usedtobecroquetman 1 Chat GPT 1

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Upcoming midweek games:

Snodland Town v Whitstable Town 

Ipswich v Charlton 

Arsenal v Atletico Madrid 

Monaco v Tottenham 

Footy updates 2025/16

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Recent matches (international break for the men):

Arsenal Women 1 Lyon 2 (Champions League match day 1 of 6)

Forgotten how to defend.

Wigan 0 Wycombe 1
Out of the relegation zone

Wealdstone 5 Whitstable 1 (FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round)
A great run to get this far. Now they can concentrate on the League: win all their games in hand and they'll be top!

Arsenal Women 1 Brighton Women 0
Every game's a struggle at the moment 

Holmesdale 0 Whitstable 4 (Kent Senior Trophy 1st round)
Town are three time winners of this competition and were beaten finalists last year

Benfica Women 0  Arsenal Women 2 (Champions League match day 2 of 6)
More like it. I've seen an estimate that 10 (possibly even 9) points from the 6 games should get you into at least the playoffs for the knockout rounds. So Arsenal need 7 points from the remaining 4 games. Winning all those 4 games might get them into the top 4 and automatic qualification for the knockouts

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My forecasts for this weekend: (and ChatGPT's)

Middlesbrough 1 Ipswich 1 CGPT: 1-1

Charlton 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0 CGPT: 1-2

Blackpool 1 Wycombe 2  CGPT: 1-2

Erith & Belvedere 1  Whitstable Town 2  CGPT: 1-2

Fulham 0 Arsenal 1 CGPT: 0-2

Tottenham 2 Aston Villa 0  CGPT: 2-1

Footy updates 2025/6

A weekend to forget for our favourite teams.

Ipswich Town, recently (and briefly) of the Premier League, pre-season favourites to win the Championship, languish in 20th place after a 106th minute (of 90) equaliser at home to lowly (21st place) Derby County, meaning they have just 3 points from 4 games and are already 9 points adrift of the leaders. Boosted financially by £100 million in Premier League prize money and £40 parachute payments, they have made 11 signings in the summer transfer window, some of those on loan; that's a whole new team! Most of them have yet to play any minutes and all will need time to settle in so perhaps it's too early for us fans to panic. Obviously the club decided the remnants of the relegated squad, after some key departures as a result of relegation release clauses in their contracts, needed a complete overhaul. We can only hope recruitment has been a success.

In the same division Charlton Athletic, possibly one of the pre-season relegation favourites after promotion from League One, are four places and one point above Ipswich. They lost away at QPR on Saturday but, unlike Ipswich, they do at least have a win under their belt. If they can maintain this early season form maybe they can survive.

Down one division, Wycombe Wanderers are firmly stuck in the relegation places with just two points from six games. This is their fifth season in League One after one season in the Championship and will have expected to be challenging for the playoff places after achieving that in two of the previous seasons including last year. At least they are still in the Carabao Cup, in which they play away to Wigan Athletic, also of League One but in mid table, in a couple of weeks time.

Our two Premier League teams also join the Carabao Cup in the third round. Arsenal are away to Port Vale, who are one of only two teams below Wycombe in League One; Tottenham are at home to Doncaster Rovers, currently 5th in League One. Both had disappointing results at the weekend. Tottenham's probably comes in the "shocking" category, losing 1-0 at home to Bournemouth, who had 20 shots (6 on target) against Tottenham's 5 (1 on target) despite Spurs having 61% possession. In the previous game they won away at Manchester City convincingly, a situation reminiscent of last season, when they lost 2-1 at home to Ipswich followed immediately by a 4-0 win away to Manchester City. There's a word for this: spursy. It's hard to understand and must be infuriating for their die-hard fans. At least they've got a new signing on the way: Xavi Simons, who they stole from under the nose of Chelsea.

I was most disappointed with Arsenal. With a bunch of top-class new signings, away to a Liverpool team which has been shipping goals (albeit while still winning), I expected a statement win. I had hoped that manager Mikel Arteta would have had the courage to select 18yo Ethan Nwaneri to replace semi-injured (on the bench) Martin Odegaard. Nwaneri is an attacking creative player and could have taken the fight to our opponents from the beginning and linked up with new striker Gyokeres, but instead he went for the 'safe' option of Mikel Merino, who is undoubtedly more solid and capable of pressing the opposing midfield hard. The result was a sterile game in which Arsenal passed the ball around between their defenders, effectively saying "we hold what we have" and wanting not to lose. Which they eventually did with an extremely impressive Liverpool goal direct from a free kick. If he keeps on making passive selections like this, we will once again fail to win the league.

Both are still in the top four though:

It's an international weekend next, so no more updates on your favourite teams for a couple of weeks.

Footy updates 2025/5

As you can see, our two North London favourites are leading the way in the Premier League, albeit after just two matches. The Gunners hammered newly promoted Leeds United with two goals from new boy Viktor Gyökeres, two from the League's best right back Jurien Timber and an exciting Premier League debut for 15yo Max Dowman, who won a penalty and, later tis week, will return to school in year 11.

Tottenham had the easier task, away to a disjointed Manchester City, but a win's a win!

Elsewhere, news is simply awful. So bad I can't bring myself to show the tables. Charlton lost at home to one of the promotion favourites Leicester City. At least they have 4 points in the bag so no panic yet. The other promotion favourites Ipswich Town slipped to a defeat away to Preston and now have just 2 points after 3 games. It's not what we were hoping for. They are still making signings but they seem to be based on development and future resale value rather than improving the starting eleven.

Wycombe scrambled a 90th minute equaliser against Reading and both of them slid into the relegation zone at this early stage. Things can only get better.

Footy updates 2025/4

The mighty Wycombe Wanderers have had many ups and downs in their recent history. Managers came and went, promotion/relegation and some memorable nights under the lights. Notably a FA Cup semi final against Liverpool at Villa Park in 2001. We woz there! They've had some pretty decent managers on occasions - Martin O'Neill in the 1990s got them into the Football League, Gareth Ainsworth achieved promotion to League One in 2018 and to the heights of the Championship two years later. That lasted just one season before relegation and Ainsworth led them to the playoffs a season later, after which he left to become manager at Queen's Park Rangers. His successor Matt Bloomfield, like Ainsworth a Wycombe player legend, made them into a good side again and they competed (unsuccessfully, losing to blog favourites Charlton Athletic) in the playoffs again. Bloomfield left to become manager at Luton. They have started this season disastrously. Defeat at home to Exeter on Tuesday followed two defeats and a draw, leaving them one place above the relegation places. They are at home to fellow strugglers Reading on Saturday - a relegation six-pointer this early in the season?

Wycombe probably need to be better at holding onto good managers.

But the news of the day involves two clubs we are following on this blog series. 24 hours ago, it looked as if England star and chess champion Eberechi Eze was on his way to sign for Tottenham Hotspur. He'd have been a great signing for them but, in typical Daniel Levy style, Spurs apparently wanted to squeeze a few extra pence off the transfer fee. Meanwhile Arsenal's star striker Kai Havertz suffered a knee injury which it looks like would mean him missing a few months of the season. Sporting Director Andrea Berta leapt into action and clinched a deal to take Eze from Crystal Palace and out from under Tottenham's noses. It has to be confirmed but, as I write this, Eze has been left out of Palace's Europa Conference League team tonight, so he is expected to take a medical at Arsenal tomorrow. Oh joy😂

Footy updates 2025/3

How many times have we Arsenal fans seen the team dominating possession and other stats in a game and then not win? Over the last few seasons, far too many. Yesterday, away to Manchester United, the opposite:

This is very un-Arsenal. Only 39% possession, only completing 74% of their passes, not what we'd expect. But only two metrics matter: goals conceded: 0, points gained: 3. Suck it up, critics! Defences win titles.

As for the Tractor Boys, yep Southampton are our nemesis, said it before. Two games, two draws. Badly needing some top level signings, not confident about promotion. I need cheering up.

For Charlton, a home win and an away draw is a great start after promotion through the playoffs. As for Wycombe, one point from three league matches is not promising.

I suppose I am obliged to mention Spurs. Good start to their Premier League campaign but we know Burnley are going to be bottom of the table so don't get too excited! Next up is away to Man City, we'll talk again after that.

Four Generals and an Admiral

Some years ago we lived in High Wycombe. Ever since, my sons and I have - with more or less consistency and enthusiasm - supported, or at least taken occasional interest in, the local football team, Wycombe Wanderers.

Gareth Ainsworth's seven years as manager of the club makes him the longest serving manager in the professional leagues in England. He works fantastically well with the players, using a group of long serving senior players, who he calls his "four generals", to create and maintain squad unity. Vital given that, having very little cash, the club has each year had to bed in a group of loan players.

The latest loan player is a 19 year old striker Admiral Muskwe, a Zimbabwean International from Leicester. I've never heard of anyone called Admiral although I often given that moniker to my friend Tony, in honour of his service in the Royal Navy (although not quite at that rank).

Apparently there was a burst of popularity for this name in the USA for a few years around 1900, perhaps due to the Spanish-American War, but close to zero since then. Admiral as a baby's name was ranked number 11,433 in 2017 according to babycenter.com, although number 394 in 1898. I found a site listing the 50 most popular baby names in Africa but no Admiral. Sadly, I have no further info. If you know of anyone called Admiral, please let me (and my hundreds of readers) know.

Other names which boomed in popularity after the Spanish-American War included Maine, Manila and Havana (all girls). Could have been worse, for example Guam.

I've not heard of anyone being named St Austell. Except for the Saint, of course.

Anyway, the boy played really well in today's 4-1 victory in the FA Cup. Here he is, speaking during the period last May when football was inactive.

Three remarkable days

Monday July 13th, 2020. Wembley Stadium, London.

Wycombe Wanderers, a club with no reserve team, no under 23 team, no money. A team of loanees, free transfers and journeymen. Fleetwood Town, silky purveyors of possession football. The Final of the League One play offs. Winner gets promoted to the Championship. Loser slinks away gutted.

Do Wycombe have a chance? They have a charismatic rock star manager, Gareth Ainsworth. The longest serving manager in the top four tiers of English professional football. Previously a Wycombe player. Known as Wild Thing.

 

And Adebayo Akinfenwa, a 38 year old weight lifting centre forward. Known as The Beast.

9th minute: Wycombe score from a Joe Jacobsen deadly corner. 1-0.

57th minute: Fleetwood score. 1-1.

79th minute: Wycombe score with a Joe Jacobsen penalty. It couldn't happen, could it?

11 minutes of intense pressure from Fleetwood.

Full time: Wycombe, with 24% possession, are the winners. Remarkable. Spirit counts.

Wednesday July 15th, 2020. Emirates Stadium, London.

Arsenal, languishing in 10th place in the Premier League. A team of kids and has-beens. Liverpool, newly crowned champions of the Premier League, 20 points ahead of the rest, proud purveyors of heavy metal football. Winner gets pride, loser slinks away gutted.

Do Arsenal have a chance? They have a young manager in his first managerial job, Mikel Arteta. Previously an Arsenal player.

20th minute: Liverpool score, as expected. 1-0

32nd minute: chaos in the Liverpool defence, Arsenal score. Alex Lacazette. 1-1

44th minute: more Liverpool chaos, Arsenal score. Reiss Nelson. 2-1.

46 minutes of intense pressure from Liverpool.

Full time: Arsenal, with 31% possession, are the winners. Remarkable. Spirit counts.

Saturday July 18th, 2020. Wembley Stadium, London.

Arsenal, languishing in 10th place in the Premier League. A team of kids and has-beens. Manchester City, FA Cup holders, silky purveyors of possession football. FA Cup Semi Final. Winner gets to the Final of the FA Cup, loser slinks away gutted.

Do Arsenal have a chance? They have a young manager in his first managerial job, Mikel Arteta. Previously an Arsenal player.

And a deadly striker from Gabon, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.

19th minute: Arsenal breakaway. Aubameyang scores. 1-0

71st minute: Arsenal breakaway again. Aubameyang scores. 2-0

19 minutes of intense pressure from Manchester City.

Full time: Arsenal, with 29% possession, are the winners. Remarkable. Spirit counts.

The Cold Blooded Hearts

How many football managers are rock stars? Or even look like rock stars? There are plenty who fancy themselves as style icons but not so many with rugged rock star hair, hairy chest and smoldering looks (think Rod Stewart). So all hail Gareth Ainsworth, long-serving manager of the mighty Wycombe Wanderers, aka the Chairboys. He is the longest serving manager, at 7½ years, in the top four divisions of English football (the average tenure is about 20 minutes).

Ainsworth is lead singer and songwriter of The Cold Blooded Hearts. Their latest effort The Wanderer is available on Spotify. It's cheesy country and western stuff. Great for a night out in High Wycombe (ask my sons about that).

Everyone has a nickname in football. His is Wild Thing.

Adebayo Akinfenwa is another wild thing. Also, like Ainsworth, a cult figure. He is Wycombe's centre forward (the modern usage "striker" might be a bit of a misnomer for him) and the word "figure" is apt; he weighs in at 16 stone (101 Kg), so says the purveyor of truth known as Wikipedia, and can bench press (whatever that means) 200 Kg. He roams around the football field like King Kong. Sprinting is not his thing but frightening opposing defenders (and sometimes his own teammates) definitely is. You have to play the ball to his feet. Do not expect him to jump. Do not expect him to run in behind defenders. Get the ball onto his chest and he will hold it up until teammates arrive to help him out i.e. take the ball from him and plonk it in the net. Don't expect him to run to the corner flag to join in the celebrations. But when his team scored the decisive goal tonight, even he was part of a huge scrum of flailing Wycombe bodies. I pitied whoever was underneath him; they may not be ready for next Monday's final.

Wycombe Wanderers are in League One and tonight  they fought their way through to the Play Off Final at Wembley Stadium. In normal times I'd definitely be up for the trip there. Unfortunately fans are not allowed at the moment. Boris, could you make an exception?

Somehow The Chairboys (High Wycombe is a furniture town) seems a rather feeble moniker for this burly group of lads. We really need something more gritty. Suggestions?