THOMPSON IS IN TROUBLE, CHARLIE BROWN
It’s not really the start of the Fantasy League without a last-minute panic, now is it? So this year’s spanner in the works was Steve Paul’s late withdrawal from the Fantasy League. Steve, last year’s wooden spoonist with Viola’s Pier, has cited family reasons for quitting the WSFFL management, so we wish him well in getting things sorted.
This left us with an unexpected vacancy on the eve of the new season, so step forward new manager Peter Thompson. A colleague of certain WSFFL managers in the Sunday night quiz Team “Super Sam’s Lethal Left Foot” at the Windmill, and practically related to the Big Man for his sins (His fiancée is Rich’s girlfriend Penny’s sister), Pete has come into the league with both eyes open, and has accepted the not inconsiderable challenge of turning around this team’s fortunes. He’s renamed them “Thommo’s Titans” (joke here about the Titanic maybe inappropriate) and has already been busy dipping into the pool.
Good luck to Pete, and also to the other new manager Ceri Bevan, who had a more organised takeover of her team (more below).
WE ALL GET CASH FROM CHAOS
Well, another WSFFL Fantasy Football season kicked off with our traditional curtain-raiser, namely the AGM/Auction at the Great Western Pub on Monday 11 August. A bit of a chaotic affair this year, for some reason, but we got through it all – and through all the grub too! Once again, thanks are due to Paul Saleh for organising the venue and food. Cheers Paul!
The salient points from the AGM were;
- Apologies for absence were received from Julian, who had double-booked himself and had to play tennis, and Dean, who couldn’t get a flight (t’uh!). Fred and Ady were late – no surprise there.
- We welcomed a new manager into the game, namely Ceri Bevan, who takes over Andrew Mercer’s Short Straw Rovers team after Andrew decided to resign at the end of last season (another Bevan, and another girl!). Ceri has renamed her team Final Fantasy XI. I made a rather lame joke about her team name and was ignored like the dog I am.
- This year’s subscription rate was unanimously voted in at £9. There are 3 outstanding subs, namely Messrs. Winterburn, Perfitt and our new guy Pete Thompson. Beef, you’ve agreed to pay me when we go to Reading this coming weekend, but could Julian and Pete contact me ASAP to sort out payment.
- Rich Timms’ rule change proposal to do away with the current recategorisation process was voted in. The way that this will work going forward is as follows;
· All players will remain in their current positions in our game until 31 December 2003.
· All players will then be re-assessed as to their positions in our game, in accordance with the details on the official Premier League website, www.premierleague.com. Any players who are subsequently recategorised as a result of this reassessment will be advised to their managers by 1 January 2004. The revised position will apply from that date.
· Future recats will only take place in the Summer going forward, again in accordance with www.premierleague.com , and will be advised to the managers in question before the AGM.
- Trusted By Millions boss Andy Perfitt collected his FA Cup runners-up plaque, then promptly left it behind! I know Rodney Marsh used to chuck his runners-up medals away, Beef, but come on…
BUT WE’RE ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS
Both of the new managers achieved positive results on the opening day of the season. Ceri’s Final Fantasy XI gained a useful 2-2 draw against Claymore Athletic, with 2 of her debutants Berger and Howard scoring for her. However her achievements were eclipsed by young Mr. Thompson; after only a couple of days working with his new squad, Pete inspired them to a 1-0 win over Mega Buck Bandits, with veteran Les Ferdinand getting the decisive goal. This earns Pete’s Thommo’s Titans squad the Performance of The Week, plus the £100,000 that goes with it. Well done son!
Topping the table after the opening game is the 22 Legged Groove Machine, who beat a blank-sheet Fred West XI team 5-0, after Fred learned that teams don’t carry forward from one season to the next. Champion’s Kylie Bumcheeks make it a pair of Rich’s at the top, with their 5-1 demolition of Prettier Than You putting them second in the table.
There were opening day wins also for San Dimas, who must be hoping for a change of fortunes with their revitalised midfield, over Nil Satis; ever-dangerous Aardvark Abacus, who pipped last year’s comeback kids Real Muppets 2-1; and York’s Returning Glory, who beat another blank-sheet team in Elland Road Big Boys. Guys, you wanted to play the game, so play it!
The other game, between Boston Rock and Trusted By Millions, ended in an exciting 3-3 draw. Both these teams, who harbour silverware hopes this season, will be relieved not to lose the season opener. Well, I know I am, anyway Beef!
TRANSFER NEWS
Deals done since the AGM/ auction (and a fair amount there have been, too) are as follows;
Player From To Fee
Nathan Blake (A) Pool York’s Returning Glory £500K
Brian Deane (A) Pool York’s Returning Glory £500K
Gerry Taggart (D) Pool York’s Returning Glory £500K
Jody Craddock (D) Pool Ex-Viola’s Pier squad £500K*
Paul Telfer (D) Pool Ex-Viola’s Pier squad £500K*
Ian Walker (G) Pool Ex-Viola’s Pier squad £500K*
*signed by the administrator to ensure the squad is legal is all positions
Kevin Horlock (M) Prettier Than You West Ham United £300K
Matt Elliott (D) Pool York’s Returning Glory £500K
George Ndah (A) Pool York’s Returning Glory £500K
Sergei Rebrov (A) Pool York’s Returning Glory £500K
Jamie McClen (M) Real Muppets Pool £250K
Rhys Evans (G) Real Muppets Swindon Town £0K
Andrew Davis (D) Pool Real Muppets £500K
Darren Huckerby (A) Pool Thommo’s Titans £500K
Alex Rae (M) Pool Thommo’s Titans £500K
Lee Naylor (D) Pool Thommo’s Titans £500K
Steve Staunton (D) Thommo’s Titans Coventry City £0K
Nick Barmby (M) 22 Legged Groove Machine Pool £2m
Mark Kinsella (M) 22 Legged Groove Machine Pool £250K
Jamie Redknapp (M) Pool 22 Legged Groove Machine £500K
Nigel Quashie (M) Pool 22 Legged Groove Machine £500K
Peter Whittingham (D) Pool 22 Legged Groove Machine £500K
Amdy Faye (M) Pool Prettier Than You £500K
Martin Grainger (D) Final Fantasy XI Pool £250K
Oyvind Leonhardsen (M) Final Fantasy XI Released £0K
John Curtis (D) Pool Final Fantasy XI £500K
Dean Marney (M) Pool Final Fantasy XI £500K
Jonathan Fortune (D) Nil Satis Nisi Optimum Pool £250K
Jonatan Johansson (A) Nil Satis Nisi Optimum Pool £250K
Yves Makaba Makalamby (G) 22 Legged Groove Machine Pool £250K
Ian Bennett (G) 22 Legged Groove Machine Pool £250K
Shaka Hislop (G) Pool 22 Legged Groove Machine £500K
Jurgen Macho (G) Pool 22 Legged Groove Machine £500K
Alou Diarra (M) Final Fantasy XI Pool £250K
Jinichi Inamoto (M) Pool Final Fantasy XI £500K
Christiano Ronaldo (A) 48 Hour Rule Real Muppets £16.7m
Don’t forget that the players highlighted are subject to the pool “cooling off” period. Any managers interested in buying them can bid until 8 p.m. on Monday 25 August 2003, after which time they go into the pool proper and are readily available. All bids to me please.
THE FF£100,000 QUESTION
“It’s up for grabs now!” was Brian Moore’s famous quote during a dramatic footballing moment. What was up for grabs?
Guesses to swindonsheriff@aol.com, or to (01793) 527783 by close of play on Saturday 23 August 2003. First one out of the hat after that date gets the dosh!
WSFFL RESULTS
Week 1, W/E 16 August 2003
Final Fantasy XI 2-2 Claymore Athletic FC
Howard Henry
Berger Marlet 25,780
Kylie Bumcheeks 5-1 Prettier Than You
Shearer 2 Higginbotham
Emerton
Amoruso
Beattie 44,082
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 1-2 San Dimas High School
Pires Distin
Veron 29,358
Real Muppets 1-2 Aardvark Abacus
Viduka Scholes
Anelka 26,270
Trusted By Millions 3-3 You Know Your Boston Rock FC
Barry Dunn
Owen Rio Ferdinand
Phillips Smith 38,014
22 Legged Groove Machine 5-0 Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
Cunningham
Sommeil
Thompson
Saha
Iversen 67,647
Thommo’s Titans 1-0 Mega Buck Bandits
Les Ferdinand (1) 36,766
York’s Returning Glory 1-0 Elland Road Big Boys
Radzinski 31,261
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