2003/2004 - Newsletter 18 (8 February 2004)

BEATEN AND BLOODY AND I WAS SICK DOWN MY SHIRT

Aardvark Abacus top the table again this weekend following a favour delivered to them by former groundshare tenants the 22 Legged Groove Machine, who won a bruising encounter with former table-toppers Claymore Athletic FC. Gus Poyet had the courage (or lack of sense) to go in head-first where the boots were flying and score a dramatic last-minute winner for the Groovers, to win the match 3-2 and knock Clive off top slot.

So Aardvark go top again after cantering past York’s Returning Glory by 3-0, but a developing chasing pack is keeping things very interesting at the top. Two points back from Claymore sit San Dimas High School, who beat a fading Kylie Bumcheeks 3-1, with Kylies’ once-feared strikers either misfiring (Shearer) or sat on their own bumcheeks (Beattie). The Groove Machine are 4^th, one point behind the High School, and 2 points further back in 5^th and 6^th are resurgent Boston Rock, 3-1 winners over Thommo’s Titans, and Elland Road Big Boys, who beat Real Muppets 3-0.

Prettier Than You, still bottom, nevertheless close in on 15^th placed Nil Satis by virtue of opening up a huge can of whoop-ass over them, with a 5-0 victory. With Thommo and Yorks both also losing, things are just as interesting and undecided at the bottom as at the top.

As for POTW, I’ve decided that Rach and the Big Man’s performances are both equally worthy of note, so the £100,000 for this week goes to both!

TRANSFER NEWS

Player                         From                                       To                                           Fee

Fabien Barthez (G)   Final Fantasy XI                     Pool                                         £5m

John Curtis (D)           Pool                                         Final Fantasy XI                     £500K

Mario Jardel (A)       Mega Buck Bandits                Pool                                         £3.05m

Henrik Pedersen (A)   Pool                                         Mega Buck Bandits                £500K

Marc-Sebastian Pelzer (D)  Nil Satis Nisi Optimum          Pool                             £1.3m

Oleg Luzhny (D)       Nil Satis Nisi Optimum          Pool                                         £1.7m

Svetoslav Todorov (A)          Nil Satis Nisi Optimum          Pool                             £2m

Didier Domi (D)         Pool                                         Nil Satis Nisi Optimum          £500K

Lee Clark (M)             Real Muppets                          Claymore Athletic FC            £3.75m

Leon Osman (M)       Claymore Athletic FC            Pool                                         £250K

Alexis Nicholas (M)   Pool                                         22 Legged Groove Machine   £500K

TRANSFER NEWS (continued)

Don’t forget that the players highlighted are subject to the pool “cooling off” period. Any managers interested in buying them can bid until 5 p.m. tomorrow, Monday 9 February 2004, after which time they go into the pool proper and are readily available. All bids to me please.

Why such a short pool cooling-down period? Well, that’s to prepare for tomorrow night’s Auction Evening, where there’s an open pool. Simple as that.

THE FF£100,000 QUESTION

Which major Italian international recently spent a day manning petrol pumps as part of a job-swap TV show?

Guesses by close of play on Saturday 14 February 2004. First correct one out of the hat after that date gets the dosh!

Kenny Dalglish, then boss of Newcastle United, paid Boca Juniors £2,763,958 for Nolberto Solano, now of course of Aardvark Abacus (and Aston Villa), in 1998. Odd sum. And yes, he does play the trumpet…

The rollover cash went to Dean, so Elland Road Big Boys are £200,000 richer. Congrats cobber, and commiserations to Pete, Ryan, Clive and Dave who also guessed correctly.

SHORTS

·      A final reminder; The WSFFL Fantasy Footy Social Evening/ January Transfer Window Auction will take place tomorrow night, Monday, 9^th February, at Dave and Ceri’s place, 6 Westmorland Road (just off Groundwell Road in town). Kick off 7.30 p.m. for an 8 p.m. start. I’ll try and do an agenda before tomorrow. Hope to see y’all there!

WSFFL RESULTS;

FA Cup Quarter Final Second Replay, W/E 7 February 2004

Aardvark Abacus                                  5-0     Real Muppets

Robbie Keane 2

Hasselbaink

Gallas

Michael Svensson                                                                                                       28,307

WSFFL RESULTS;

Week 20, W/E 7 February 2004

Aardvark Abacus                                  3-0     York’s Returning Glory

Robbie Keane 2                                       (2)

Hasselbaink                                                                                                                46,967

Fred West Landscape Gardening XI  2-2     Final Fantasy XI

Van Nistelrooy 2                                     (1)      Djorkaeff

                                                                           Bergkamp                                         39,171

Mega Buck Bandits                               1-3     Trusted By Millions

Hunt                                                         (1)      Gerrard

                                                                           Angel

                                                                           Barry                                                36,107

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum                         0-5     Prettier Than You

                                                                           Dunne

                                                                           Kilbane

                                                                           Higginbotham

                                                                           O’Shea (OG)

                                                                           Pearce                                               29,392

Real Muppets                                        0-3     Elland Road Big Boys

                                                                           Cudicini

                                                                           Tuore

                                                                           Le Saux                                            40,190

San Dimas High School                        3-1     Kylie Bumcheeks

Samuel                                                     (1)      Hyypia

Knight

Distin                                                                                                                          41,255

Thommo’s Titans                                  1-3     You Know Your Boston Rock FC

Les Ferdinand                                                    Glen Johnson

                                                                           Jenas

                                                                           Defoe                                               31,821

22 Legged Groove Machine                 3-2     Claymore Athletic FC

Saha 2                                                      (3)      Berkovic

Poyet                                                                  Henry                                               52,125

Performances of the Week: 22 Legged Groove Machine/ Prettier Than You