Didn't really like today's earlier special (BTTS on Nott Forest-Everton, which hit in 19th minute!) but I took a small one on the Liv-Utd at same odds: 2.90, Liverpool most corners and United most booking points. I thought, Casemiro's got to be a candidate for red cards, no? Haha.

Anyway spent all my 4 $10 freechips from Arsenal+Saints promo, blanked out, so am back at nada on my USDT. Fun, though, hit 19 twice (I put all on 33+36).

Monza/Fiorentina/Udinese ALMOST happened. Damn.

Roma Juventus, if KTChampions is right, time for a home spammer on Roma, but Juve have been impressing lately (I almost forgot Moise Kean is a darkhorse striker).

But my bet today is Lecce to win. 10/1 against this Inter team isn't a bad deal, methinks.


I know I sort of apply pressure before the pools start, but to be fair, only this season and a bit of last season, but I've a feeling it's going to start to get better now that there is an intertia of sorts, especially when we had mid-season pools like the World Cup, even Nations League and AFCON!

But yeah we definitely need that rep -- you're not in it, you're don't exist haha.

And I feel like we're sort of there already. Or is it just because where I hang out in the forum?

Am I allowed to congratulate myself? After getting yellow cap, I knew it'd be too much to ask for another one but two fantastic exact scores yesterday and I'm finally, for the first time, out of the bottom and into... 49th spot! Haha. Yes I know there are 2 games left but...

I was considering not to risk another week of picks, but if Saint-loup and leea are still in good positions and can pick good scores in a tight week, I have to continue like this, no?


Liverpool beating United today would be an awesome end to the week for me, and probably the most I'm looking forward to in a long time! I do feel good about this game, but yes, we have a tough schedule coming so winning this is the only way to start it right. Why the bookies put us as favourite (slight) is hard to understand, though.


And easy game it did not turn out to be. Arsenal are close becoming a candidate for live betting now, actually. As soon as they go a goal down, pour the money on. They seem really good at it now.


If he does go, he'd actually be a quality addition to Chelsea, for sure. I know he hasn't been at his best recently, but I watch him in training and when he does come on for increasingly rare cameos, he's still the same intelligent guy I know, full of flicks and power -- something I still feel is lacking in Chelsea despite all that talent.

Hate to say it but yeah, if he moves and it's Chelsea, I think he'll be really happy there.

You're right. It's all good now on my end. When I wrote that post, most rows had been hidden (mine and Slissy in the bunch) and I couldn't open them. I could have been drunk but I don't drink much, and not usually on Sunday morning

Now that it's all open again I'm surprised to see I'm closer to Slissy than I thought -- it'll all come down do the Everton game... and if they find a way to win (Forest just equalised) then I'll just have nicked a lifesaver in this round (as we have the same answer on the United game). And that was exactly what I was hoping, Everton to win this game. For now, anything less than a win and Slissy wins this round.

Inter of course has a say if Everton win... but I don't often cheer for the blue side of Mersey but go Dyche!

Whoops, there you go. I say it's a bad bet and you get a romper. That must be their biggest win margin this season, maybe in a long time even, my memory's not that good, or it just shelves Atletico into the [1-0] category. I know they actually had high-scoring games during the winning season with Suarez, but can't recall them ever being so adventurous after.

No money on any La Liga games today unfortunately. Maaaaybe Betis if Liverpool win but 52/10? Bleh. Agree with Trofo about Valencia, they + Sevilla just make their games go blank in my mind. For the rest of this season.

I like the new format, just want to admire my stay at the top before this round ends, as Slissy will surely win. Looked at the tables, but they have some rows hidden and I can't seem to unhide them so I can't confirm but I know I was behind at least 2 points (damn you Sheffield, Napoli, etc).

What's left interesting for me after the first game today is who actually got the EPL bottom 5 team selection right... I did pick some matches well in the prediction pool, but I was more conservative for this.

To note, it shouldn't be seen as something special -- the SEC regularly gets pushback and backlash outside of Bitcoin/crypto, and usually it becomes visible when a politician decides to weigh in (and no surprise, because they're directly affected).


This is tough for me to read. No one is denying anyone safe and secure custodial arrangements -- except the banks. If you can't keep a balance sheet along with the capital required, how is that safe and secure? If I wanted (for some reason) to ask a bank to secure my Bitcoin, then I better be prepared to ask them to prove they are indeed securing it (and backing it with capital), and not using it as leverage (like FTX and everyone else did/does), no?

Yeah, I think you can block whomever you want, deny what your principles deny, but then advocating others do the same and blanketing everyone from there (yeah, depending on my ToR or VPN, I'm even some days Iranian, or Russian, or whatever, I don't check) is poor judgment, at the very least ignorant.

When do "unlawful" people ever go through straight channels anyway? That non-blacklist IP connecting to you, do you ever really know who's behind it?

Ah man KTChampions, you have disappointed me deeply for being a responsible fella. But I'm pleased to know you're in the "Happy wife, happy life" club. I am surprised that you are completely open with how much you bet though. It's no secret in my household I gamble or that I'm in Bitcoin, of course. But there are details only forum people know and my family never will haha. It's enough to know I will always put them first, but heh... how much brain space my football takes up, it goes with me to the grave (and to Bitcointalk people of course!).

Somehow after all these years of MtGox coin rumours and their potential impact on markets, I feel like even if this comes to pass, we'll be okay.

And even if there is an impact. Better now in the throes of the bear rather than on a rally. A proper purge?

Now that I know you guys can get F1 to over 20 people, I pray you all do the same favour to Champions League, Serie A and La Liga pools next season, because... where have you all been all this while? Haha.

Right then, here is my opening week strategy: Pick the first selection on Superbru pulldown for everything.

Trust me, I know how this works, because it didn't work out so far haha

W00t W00t LFC_Bitcoin and Steve, have a couple on us, am sneaking peeks at the game now, got some money riding on them so definitely want Saints to pull these 3 points. They do need to improve second half though, Foxes came close a couple of times.

On the other partner in EPL, Gooners be showing a different side to them this stage of the season, aren't they? Yeah it's only Bournemouth, all due respect, but it's still tough to come up from 2 goals behind in the second half, and then top it off with a late, late goal.

So pleased for Arteta and the rest, that they're showing up with so much grit. Too bad I lost my bet (first half win)...

Man I am so out of the pulse line I didn't even know the crap surrounding Toney is heating up... Anyway...


My position gives me the freedom of risk. I can only go up, can't imagine how I'd play if I were actually in a prize spot...


Foden plays, finally, and scores, and I knew I felt an itch to put him in but decided to keep with Haaland (all the while while actually keeping Trippier on my bench).

Is the Newcastle dream over? I did get really lucky keeping Almiron in one final game when he last scored, otherwise I'm not liking any of them right now.

Well, I'm just glad I didn't jinx them. When you let in a goal with 10+ minutes to play, it's dangerous. When you're BVB doing that, it's almost like you're pulling out the "How to lose to Bremen after going 3 goals up until 89th minute" card and reading the script out to your players.

So yeah, BVB... top of the league.

I normally wouldn't take Stuttgart at home but I wonder if destiny can help along? 68/10 today to win vs Bayern. I've seen better odds, but I'm game.

I suspected Monza-Udinese-Fiorentina acca was not going to be a bad idea... but instead I went for Lecce upset at 10/1 (is it weird my BSFL performance is somehow influencing my bet picks?).


That Kvara-however-you-spell-his-name guy is one reason why I keep spamming Georgia in Nations League, but I have a feeling his exploits with Napoli will soon reduce bookie margins on Georgia, but hopefully I can enjoy good odds from these Caucascus countries for a while now.

Lazio needs to just lie down and die =p

Speaking of guys like morvillz7z... I wonder who else are in the pools but not in BSFL? We need to start becoming mafia and pressure everyone in every pool to play everything =p

Man, the day did not start well for me at all. Picked both away teams in La Liga and EPL to win narrowly and they both do their best to lose the game quickly by giving away early goals.

Can't pretend to know much about Girona or Getafe so I admit I went for the tight away win (which I usually do when odds from bookies are extremely even, as was the case here).

I see only 3 of you went for the home win, can Girona pull off 2 goals in 2nd half?


No =)

Newcastle! Did they have to go behind so soon?


Which is why I can't find it in myself to blame TAA for anything. Yes, he gives goals away, but his contribution up front more than compensates. The blame has to fall on the CBs. Gomez especially this season, even VVD (the former I really really liked in seasons past). Midfield of course is our biggest weakness because they are supposed to be what gives the license to TAA/Robbo.

The entire issue with Liverpool squad has always been that the team's sum is always greater... 11 players playing to a capacity of 13. But you take away one piece and it falls apart. We knew this and had this problem even 3 years ago... before every piece came back again and we went on a streak that continued until our quadruple challenge.


Yeah, Klopp's banked a lot of points with me and so much goodwill and faith that I will probably be one of those who'll sink with him if it ever gets to that (and I don't think it will). I'm not even a local, but he had/has a way of putting his mark on things. Even the few match programmes I did read, particularly during our darkest days, you won't find a replacement for that.

Nunez, man. I said it too many times. I see him the way I see Firmino, not at all bothered that he isn't banging in the goals, just the way he plays is a joy. Absolute chaos as you say, and like Suarez, he didn't hit the ground running with goals and assists, but the chances he creates on/off ball, and the way he just wants to try every chance he gets? That will eventually translate into goals.

Speaking of Bobby, I read he isn't renewing his contract. I will miss him, even more than Mane...

This might veer out of topic but remember when DEXs (even those on Bitcoin like Counterparty) had this liquidity Catch 22? There's not enough users because there's not enough liquidity, there's not enough liquidity because there's not enough users... the liquidity pool model that those non-Bitcoin DEXs use seemed to have solved it.

I suspect a similar model will encourage liquidity growth in LN. Seems to me the simplest route... and I'm ready to be attacked, only saying this as a simpleton.

I jinxed this tie in another thread. Said Napoli are the only team I trust this season. And then they let me down. But you know, that's how it goes.

Didn't watch, but the game stats looked bare for Napoli (2 shots on goal). I knew it was the risky pick for BSFL but always felt like the masked man would continue his hot, hot streak. Thank Sarri, indeed...

Yeah. Super trap. Avoid money on this team. I'm just there to show up, for better or for worse (for worse, is of course, the wisdom).


Amen! We nullify Rashford because TAA has an axe to grind with his defensive reputation and will do everything to run Rashford dry. Nunez finally has his bad luck hoard spill over into a goal fest, courtesy Salah and Robbo assists. Alisson will be up for it, and Bobby turns up with a goal to remind people he's still silk.

(visions of hollow victory laugh)

Newcastle will feel the heat and want to stay in UCL spots a bit longer, while City will be tinkered beyond recognition.