Sky Sports | Shows | Soccer AM | Max Rushden

Max's Blog

Judgement day

Max finds making football predictions a tricky task

Last updated: 17th April 2009

Max: mixed results

I guess that's why football is the best thing ever, because you just don't know what's going to happen.

Max Rushden
Quotes of the week

Before the season starts one thing pundits get asked to do is predict every possible outcome of every possible competition.

Then when the season ends, everyone goes on holiday and forgets about their predictions - unless somehow, someone's got one thing spot on, and then they go on and on and on about it.

About two weeks into my Soccer AM career I got an email asking for all sorts of predictions for the season ahead. I can't even remember what they were right now but it turns out someone has saved them so let's take a look and see how close or, more likely, how wildly off target I was with them.

So here is Max judging himself on his own predictions.

Question: Who will win the Premier League?

Max said: Manchester United

Prediction rating: 9/10

I suppose it was a pretty obvious shout, so not much credit for this - but better than going for Chelsea or Arsenal. Though it's not in the bag I reckon I'll stick by it. If I'm honest, I'd rather Liverpool won - just to mix it up a bit.

Question:Who will get the Champions League spots?

Max said: Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool

Prediction rating: 9/10

Once again, a no brainer really. Anyone who did guess Villa would be up there deserves some credit but Arsenal are probably as good as anyone else right now. Again, I'd have welcomed someone new breaking into the top four.

Question: Who will finish Fifth?

Max said: Spurs

Prediction rating: 5/10

Hmmm, yes. This guess didn't work out so well. I suppose, if something truly remarkable was to happen, they might make it (Max checks league tables) if they get 18 more points.

But seriously, this was a poor prediction - the first eight games didn't help much. I saw a stat the other day that showed if Harry had been in charge from the start, and they'd maintained the record he's put together (so pretty hypothetical then), they'd be level with Everton.

So I claim a moral victory.

Question:Which Three teams will be relegated?

Max said:Stoke City, Hull City, West Ham

Prediction rating: 2/10

Currently, West Ham have 44 points, Stoke 36, and Hull 34, so pretty terrible predicting from me, really.

West Ham have definitely surprised me. I'm delighted for Gianfranco Zola who's got the Hammers playing really good football.

Credit to Stoke and Hull - perhaps more so Hull, because they've surprised some really big teams. They could still drop into it, but I really hope they don't - especially because their skipper, Ian Ashbee, learnt everything there is to know about football at Cambridge.

I feel for Stoke because everyone has a go at them for their style of play, but when you go up to the Premier League, first things first, survive - then worry about how wonderfully you pass the ball.

In conclusion, these predictions were bad.

Question:Surprise package (team)?

Max said: West Brom

Prediction rating: 1/10

Err, well I'm surprised they're down there...a bit. I just really hope that they stick with Tony Mowbray if they do down. They play good stuff and it looks like quite a few Championship clubs who show patience with their manager are seeing the results this season.

Question:Surprise package (player)?

Max said: Ryan Babel / Darren Bent

Prediction rating: 1/10

Well, one of these guys needs to do something heroic if I can turn around the abject nature of these predictions!

Bent has actually scored a few this season, and Babbel looks dangerous at times...

Question:Best buy this summer?

Max said: Modric and Sky getting Dion Dublin

Prediction rating: 7/10 (Modric) 10/10 (Dublin)

Modric has actually been a quality purchase. Yes, it took him ages to get going but now he looks like a brilliant footballer - his finish, and whole performance, against Chelsea a couple of weeks back was superb. So I'm pleased with myself for that one.

As for Dion, there's only one word to describe him: legend. And now he's invited me to play football with him! He can do no wrong.

Question:Who will win our Golden Shoe?

Max said: Jermaine Beckford (Leeds)

Prediction rating: 10/10

Well look at the table:

Player	Team	Goals	Games	Ratio
Jermaine Beckford	Leeds United	24	31	0.77
Rickie Lambert	Bristol Rovers	25	41	0.6
Gary Hooper	Scunthorpe United	24	40	0.6
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake	Wolves	24	40	0.6

Jermaine is flying. Well done Max. About time I got one right.

Question: Who will be the first crew member to take one for the team & why?

Max said: Rocket, for a female indiscretion

Prediction rating: 7/10

I think it was Graham who actually was first to take one for the team. In fact, I'm not sure if Rocket has had to take one for the team once... but that's mainly because his indiscretions aren't broadcastable, certainly not the ones in his mind, anyway.

Conclusion

Barring a remarkable set of results in the next few weeks, I've done pretty badly. But I reckon if anyone else was prepared to put their predictions up for scrutiny come May they'd be in a similar spot.

If I had a spot on the show like Jerry Springer's final thought, I'd do it now and I'd sit on the corner of a desk, in a suit, and say the following: "I guess that's why football is the best thing ever, because you just don't know what's going to happen."

Then I'd go and become Mayor of Cincinnati, or whatever he did.

Have a good week.

See you Saturday...