It’s that time again (nearly). If you’ve had four years of anguish that your favourite song didn’t even make it past the opening stage in 2015, there’ll soon be the chance to put things right.
Our crack team of terrible web designers (er – CtSO) and some willing guinea pigs are already testing the technology. I propose we use the same format as last time – a mass free-for-all of 205 songs in random one-v-ones (the Baguette Dilemma Round), leading to a last 32 knockout stage. But if anyone has any better ideas, the comments are open below…
GOK WAN ACOLYTE
I liked the Baguette Dilemma format last time and I’m sure that it probably demonstrates some aspect of Games Theory to do a forced choice ranking (dredging up memories of my economics degree from 35+ years ago).
But do we need to go through all this palaver when the answer is so clearly Terminus?
29 April 2019
TWo fat feet
Who dares wake me at this time …
29 April 2019
Huddersfield’s very own Steve malkmus
Are we to expect rows over seedings as per the pale imitations of this illustrious tournament?
1 May 2019
Schoon
I am very excited about this. Thanks CtSO. Anyone know which channel it will be on?
3 May 2019
Transit full of keith
I’ll be watching the highlights in full Umberstone Covert replica kit.
3 May 2019
parsfan
I wonder what the odds are of none of the Scottish related ones qualifying?
3 May 2019
A no-rosette situation
***Chris: please feel free to delete this if you’re pre-emptively tired of controversy. I’m using a pseudonym, though you can work out who I am easily enough. ***
I found it sad that in 2015 a handful of people voted a ridiculous number of times (CtSO’s description, with stats suggesting tens of thousands, FFS). Well, no, that would be impressive if it were driven by enthusiasm, but seemingly it was not. Sad, as in regrettable, and sad, as in pitiable. So I applaud the design of the tournament where their efforts made little difference. I suggest that Chatteris should be given a guaranteed wildcard place in the knockouts (while still collecting stats, which will probably justify that place). It might irk the extremists, and it could save electricity.
I don’t have any suggestions on how to avoid the ballot stuffing that was suspected in the quarter-finals (which left a sour taste in many mouths — heed this, narky blerts).
I’m quite keen on FWIC, but here’s a spoiler: even I don’t think it should win. I’m sure that it won’t win, unless there’s a counter-insurgency campaign (which I’m probably capable of organising, but it just isn’t part of the game’s appeal). Vote once per knockout contest, that’s the deal.
3 May 2019
EXXO
Errm, I was determined to try to ignore this, but that is bad twatty bullshit. The instructions for the first round last time said “vote as often as you like”. They literally said: VOTE. AS. MUCH. AND. AS. OFTEN. AS. YOU. LIKE. Some of us did, taking up the challenge in the spirit of sheer absurdity and enthusiasm which was the only way to take it. And enjoyed doing it. But then, weirdly, we got panned for it. And four years later, we’re still getting panned for it.
4 May 2019
Steve Blackmore
Bob Wilson
Fred Titmus Len Ganley Bob Todd Hedley Verity
Ted Moult Dean Friedman Dickie Davies
Adam Boyle Tommy Walsh Jim Reeves
4 May 2019
Steve Blackmore
A formidable Biccies eleven I think you’ll agree. Nothing should get past the centre back pairing of Ganley and Todd. Any personnel/formation changes welcome.
4 May 2019
ERIC OLTHWAITE
“They literally said: VOTE. AS. MUCH. AND. AS. OFTEN. AS. YOU. LIKE. Some of us did, taking up the challenge in the spirit of acting like an arse with too much time on their hands. And enjoyed acting like an arse. But then, weirdly, we got panned for trying to screw with the results of the vote. And four years later, we’re still getting panned for acting like an arse.”
Fixed it for you. Do try to see it as most others do. Self-centeredness isn’t a good look. See also, charging around venues like a wild-eyed speedfreak barging people out of the way. It’s about time your behaviour was called out.
5 May 2019
Chris The Siteowner
OK, points made from both sides. Let’s leave it there please.
5 May 2019
dr desperate
Good plan. (Though perhaps, to avoid any hint of chicanery, might I suggest CtSO engage the services of one of his local IT firms with psephological experience – isn’t there one called Cambridge Analytica?)
5 May 2019
The harbinger of nothing
Having not discovered this site at the time of the previous LF Cup, and being keen to take part this time, I’d just like to offer up the view that I think it would be better if each person could only vote once. I didn’t realise that hadn’t been the case before. It’s never going to be perfect as people could use two different email addresses or whatever, but it would be a more representative result. It would also not potentially sully my enjoyment of it, knowing that my favourite song may lose out in part because I have neither the time nor the inclination to vote for it hundreds of times.
5 May 2019
Bobby Svarc
“wild-eyed speed freak” that’s funny.
5 May 2019
The donkey centre half
Does this mean that if people are not happy with the voting system they will be Swerving The Lux Familiar?
6 May 2019
Gubba lookalike
All this bickering whilst I’m still contemplating with astonishment that it’s already getting on for 4 years since the last LFC.
6 May 2019
mister tubbs
Perhaps it’s time to bring in VAR, I’m sure someone like Clive Thomas could do the honours, assuming he’s still alive?
7 May 2019
Cream cheese anD chives
I would rather Jack Taylor. He looked like a ref and ,if he were still with us, could do a brilliant Len Ganley stance I am sure. Clive Thomas seemed even then to want to be a part of every story.
7 May 2019
Schoon
What about a weighting system? We can probably guess the top 12 or so songs, but if they were inversely weighted by popularity e.g visits to their lyric page then not only would CtSO’s time be wasted but we might get the Multitude vs ITMA final we all dream of.
8 May 2019
Steveee
On current form Every time a Bell rings could be favourite.
20 May 2019
transit full of keith
Well, it’s solidly the fourth best song on ‘Hedge Cut’.
21 May 2019
PETER MCORNITHOLOGIST
come on Doreen .
21 May 2019
GORDON BURNS
I’m always torn between lyrics/tune/live. A different winner in each.
22 May 2019
bryan hobson
My favourite Hmhb song is off the first album, namely 99% of gargoyles look like Bob Todd, Always makes me laugh every time I hear it.
22 May 2019
Steveee
4th, this is a new era, the world is changing sorry Fred Titmuss.
24 May 2019
The donkey centre half
How much longer will we be held in this state of anticipation?
27 May 2019
Chris The Siteowner
Haha, sorry, it was only right to wait for the season to finish before we hold a big tournament.
27 May 2019
Compton Mofo
When are the fixtures out? Will there be a downloadable dry-stone wallchart?
28 May 2019
The donkey centre Half
Ooh, please can we have little league ladders like you used to get in Shoot? Then we can hang them on the wall and have arguments with family / workmates over who knocked them off the wall or who has moved Albion Rovers into the English Second Division.
28 May 2019
paul f
And reshuffle them religiously for the first few weeks of the season (including working the positions out yourself for the first week as the papers wouldn’t publish any tables until at least three games in) before realising you really couldn’t be arsed doing it all season. Until the next season when you’d start all over again.
29 May 2019
dr desperate
See also Cricket World Cup wallcharts.
29 May 2019
Gipton Teenager
Eee, I’m fair shivering with anticip…
29 May 2019
parsfan
…ation
29 May 2019
Chris The Siteowner
Right, I’ve booked a holiday for the end of June/start of July, and I don’t want the Baguette Dilemma Round ending while I’m away, so I think it needs to end on 7 July. So shall we kick it off on 7 June?
30 May 2019
Gipton Teenager
Do we get to see all the songs parade around the stadium in a garish opening ceremony?
30 May 2019
Cream cheese and chives
And glossy companion guide with a profile of each song? Underdog songs could have vaguely patronising references and celebrities could be asked their opinions because it is widely acknowledged that celebrities know everything.
30 May 2019
Gipton Teenager
Preferably celebrities who have been victims of the Curse, so they can be made to say anything and they can’t sue.
31 May 2019
Featureless tv producer steve
7 June is approachong quickly. I’m not sure that’s enough time to get my voting finger into proper shape.
31 May 2019
Featureless tv producer steve
Approaching, dammit. My editor quit in a huff last week.
31 May 2019
Gipton Teenager
Is that like some new kind of Uber thing Steve? (I haven’t forgotten about that pint)
31 May 2019
Lux inferior
As a precursor to the main event (and an opportunity to test the technology), how about a mini-tournament – the Fucks Familiar Cup? Twelve runners & riders for the Baguette Dilemma round:
Fred Titmus
Jim Reeves
Sealclubbing (ACD version)
Fear My Wraith
Vatican Broadside
Stavanger Töestub
Trad Arr. Tune
Bogus Official
Bad Wools
Gwatkin
Renfield
Every Time A Bell Rings
Top four into the semis. My money’s on a Bad Wools v Bell Rings final.
2 June 2019
Chris The Siteowner
Oo’eck, not a different contest. Hard enough getting this one set up. Seems like one of those things that might work well as a Twitter tournament if someone’s so inclined. (It’d be Gwatkin for me)
2 June 2019
dr desperate
My vote goes to Upon Westminster Bridge.
3 June 2019
Lux inferior
Good spot Doc. Fuck.
3 June 2019
Excavating Rita
Tour Jacket contains an F-off. Does that count? Could be a dark horse.
4 June 2019
Jodie Mudd
There are rules?
5 June 2019
Chris The Siteowner
…and off we go.
6 June 2019