THIS IS THE END, BEAUTIFUL FRIEND
It is with regret, and after many months of deliberation and serious thought, that I wish to inform you all of my decision to quit the WSFFL coordinatorship post at the end of this season.
As you all know, this course of action has been on my mind for some time. Indeed, it was only the enthusiasm expressed at the January transfer window auction, plus ideas generated on how to limit my time without detracting from the essence of the league, that stopped me from making this announcement at that time. However, since then I’ve given more much thought to this situation, and I’ve come to realise that, quite simply, I don’t want to do it any more. More and more it’s becoming a drudge, taking up valuable time which I’d prefer spent elsewhere, and I honestly can’t see how I’ll have any time for it at all once the baby comes along. I’ve always been of the mind that if I’m enthusiastic about something, I try to do it to the absolute best of my ability, and frankly if I can’t do that with WSFFL, then I’d rather not do it at all.
This is also coupled with an increasing disillusionment in the current state of English football in general, and the Premiership in particular. To my mind, money has totally spoiled it all – teams are too short-termist in their plans and strategies, players too full of their own self-importance, and games too full of the fear of losing, that the entertainment is gone. I rant more in the article below, but that’s the bottom line.
However, my fondest wish is that the WSFFL can continue, at least in some shape or form, and if so then Rachel and I would gladly wish to continue as active managers in that league. So here’s a heartfelt plea – if anyone wants to take on the coordinator reins for next season, please get in touch and we can discuss this further. Ryan had already volunteered to take over the team finances aspect and Peej the recats, so that’s a good 1/3 of the donkey work already farmed out. We essentially need someone who can book in the teams, work out the scores, keep the tables, squads and transfers up to date, and send a newsletter (of some shape or form) out to the managership. So, is there anyone out there?
THERE IS NO FUTURE IN ENGLAND'S DREAMING
England manager Steve McClaren is a petulant child for walking out of the post-Andorra game press conference, and he should be removed from his post forthwith. Furthermore, the core of his team are overpaid nancy-boy prima donnas who have no business pulling on an England shirt, and should all be dropped.
There, got that off my chest! Now for some (hopefully) reasoned views. McClaren is becoming another Tony Blair– a slimy grinning yes-man, who was appointed on a wave of optimism, but has proven to be nothing but a crushing disappointment, spineless and devoid of ideas, passion and craft. I’m almost thinking that Allardyce might have been preferable, and you all know what I think of him… at least his teams seem to want to play for him. I mean, let’s face it, a run of 5 games without a win, stemmed by a paltry 3-0 win over Andorra (population 70,000, so that’s like England playing Chippenham) is simply a disgrace, with the players at England’s disposal.
And as for the players – my father-in-law (who’s really into conspiracy theories and usually shouts “they’ve been bought off!” at refs who make bad decisions) put forward a theory on this. That being, that the Premiership is such a big deal these days, so that when players go off to International duty, they are warned on pain of death by their club managers not to come back injured. Hence they only play at ½ or 2/3 capacity for their countries, for fear of picking up an injury. After the last few England games, I think he might have something there...
I think however it’s also about the core of the England team being pretty much guaranteed their places, and so not wanting or needing to put the effort in. The Coles, Lampards, Gerrards, Rooneys et al only know they have to show up and they’ll play, and that’s wrong. So I say, pick the players in form, put these so-called “world class” performers under pressure to actually deliver a world class performance every now and then, or drop them! There’s certainly quality waiting in the wings – “Ted” Nugent played like he meant it when he came on against Andorra, and did you see David Bentley’s sparkling performance for the U21’s last Saturday?
Honestly, if this is the best the Premiership and the England team have to offer, no wonder I’m getting so disillusioned with the game…
MOST NIGHTS WERE CRYSTAL CLEAR BUT TONIGHT IT’S LIKE WE’RE STUCK BETWEEN STATIONS
Yet again the Premiership fixture list is having a ha ha game with WSFFL, so I’ve needed to amend the forthcoming WSFFL FA Cup Final date. So Ryan and Julian, please note – the WSFFL FA Cup Final between York’s Returning Glory and Real Muppets will be played over the fixtures of this coming weekend, Week 25, Friday 6 and Saturday 7 April 2007. This game will now double up with the scheduled league fixtures and will not be played on a stand-alone weekend. Which also means that yes, this Friday evening’s fixtures between Man City and Charlton, and Everton and Fulham, DO count towards this weekend’s fixtures.
I’ve made this decision because my originally slated date for the Cup Final, Easter Monday 9 April, now only features 6 Premiership fixtures. The next fixture list, that of Week 26, Saturday April 14th and Sunday April 15th, only has 8 fixtures, which means that Blackburn, Chelsea, Manchester United and Watford do not play.
I didn’t think it fair to have what’s supposed to be one of the WSFFL’s showpiece games on a part-fixture weekend, so I’ve brought it forward rather than postponing it. The regular WSFFL league fixtures scheduled for that 8-fixture weekend, however, will go ahead as planned despite the 4 missing teams, as will the FA Cup Final replay if needed. If anyone therefore feels they are disadvantaged by those missing teams and need to postpone their games, you know what to do, folks.
Sorry about this but I’ve only just found out. All I can say is, a big slimy middle finger up to the Premiership fixture computer, and yet another reason why I’m fed up with all this…
TALL TALL TALL, I WANNA BE TALL TALL TALL
However, one thing I have enjoyed about this season’s WSFFL has been the (relative) rise of the underdog, and in particular the success of York’s Returning Glory after so many years of obscurity. So, I’m pleased to report that York’s won again this weekend – and how! A first ever Premiership hat-trick from the league’s tallest outfield player Peter Crouch contributed to a mighty 7-0 win for York’s over Eleven Imaginary Boys, Julian rightly receiving this week’s POTW £500,000 for the magnitude of his win. So well done Jools!
At the top, Trusted By Millions and Aardvark Abacus continue to blaze a trail and battle it out for the title. Both won handsomely this weekend – Trusted beating Final Fantasy XI by 3-0, featuring a splendid Nico Kranjcar effort, to stay one point clear of Aardvark, who overcame San Dimas 4-0 with goals from Gallas, Scholes, Park and Keane.
These 2 boys are breaking clear. Prettier Than You stay 3rd following a 1-1 draw with lowly Dead Parrots (who nearly got the POTW for this), but are 2 points back off the Abacus. Real Muppets are 3 points further back after a 2-2 stalemate with Nil Satis, Joleon Lescott getting a late equaliser for Paul’s team. And the 22 Legged Groove Machine rise to 5th place, a further 2 points adrift, despite only drawing themselves this weekend, 2-2 with Thommo’s Titans thanks to a late equaliser from sub Salomon Kalou.
Elsewhere, there were wins for Mega Buck Bandits, Pascal Chimbonda giving them a 1-0 win over Fred Werst LGXI; and for Boston Rock, 2-0 over Claymore Athletic FC with goals from Darren Bent and Paulo Ferreira.
TRANSFER NEWS
None!
THE FF£100,000 QUESTION
So, I made reference above to Crouch being the Premiership’s tallest outfield player. So who, then, is actually the tallest player in the Premiership?
Answers to me by close of play Saturday 7 April 2007. As usual, first correct one out of the metaphorical hat gets the dosh.
The East Fife trialist was none other than the definitive James Bond, Sir Sean Connery. “I played for Bonnyrigg Rose” says Sir Sean, “and I was offered a trial by East Fife. That’s the truth.” True also is that subsequent James Bond, Pierce Brosnan, is a Cowdenbeath supporter. I’m full of useless info, me…
I got 3 correct guesses, from Peej, Rachel and Ceri. Final Fantasy XI won the dosh, so well done Ceri!
I also got a wrong ‘un from Clive, who went for Blades fan Sean Bean. Bit of a way to go from Sheffield for a trial, Clive-lad?
SHORTS
· The March 2007 Manager of the Month is a shared effort between the two title combatants. Both Aardvark Abacus and Trusted By Millions have chosen exactly the right time to hit form, as they both notched up 3 wins during March. So Messrs. Ady Bevan and Andy Perfitt, you share this month’s Manager of the Month award and are therefore both £250,000 richer. Well done guys.
WSFFL RESULTS;
Week 24, W/E 31 March 2007
Eleven Imaginary Boys 0-7 York’s Returning Glory
Crouch 3
Luke Young
El Karkouri
Ian Pearce
Craig Moore 24,312
Mega Buck Bandits 1-0 Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
Chimbonda (1) 36,067
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 2-2 Real Muppets
Zamora (1) Agger
Lescott Abdoulaye Faye 43,958
Prettier Than You 1-1 The Dead Parrots
Meite (1) Kevin Davies 36,457
San Dimas High School 0-4 Aardvark Abacus
(2) Gallas
Scholes
Park
Robbie Keane 52,004
Thommo’s Titans 2-2 22 Legged Groove Machine
Carrick (1) Solskjaer
Ball Kalou 26,500
Trusted By Millions 3-0 Final Fantasy XI
Ben Haim (1)
Kranjcar
Dawson 76,098
You Know Your Boston Rock FC 2-0 Claymore Athletic FC
Darren Bent (1)
Ferreira 34,977
Performance of the Week: York’s Returning Glory
THE 2006/07 WSFFL LEAGUE TABLE
| ||||||||||
As at Monday 2 April 2007
| ||||||||||
Team
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
Diff
|
Pts
| ||
1
|
Trusted By Millions
|
24
|
13
|
6
|
5
|
56
|
33
|
23
|
45
| |
2
|
Aardvark Abacus
|
24
|
13
|
5
|
6
|
60
|
34
|
26
|
44
| |
3
|
Prettier Than You
|
24
|
12
|
6
|
6
|
37
|
33
|
4
|
42
| |
4
|
Real Muppets
|
24
|
11
|
6
|
7
|
53
|
39
|
14
|
39
| |
5
|
22 Legged Groove Machine
|
24
|
10
|
7
|
7
|
34
|
32
|
2
|
37
| |
6
|
San Dimas High School
|
24
|
11
|
4
|
9
|
35
|
43
|
-8
|
37
| |
7
|
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
|
24
|
10
|
6
|
8
|
54
|
45
|
9
|
36
| |
8
|
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
|
24
|
10
|
6
|
8
|
49
|
48
|
1
|
36
| |
9
|
You Know Your Boston Rock FC
|
24
|
10
|
5
|
9
|
51
|
47
|
4
|
35
| |
10
|
Mega Buck Bandits
|
24
|
9
|
5
|
10
|
37
|
35
|
2
|
32
| |
11
|
Claymore Athletic FC
|
24
|
8
|
5
|
11
|
46
|
50
|
-4
|
29
| |
12
|
Final Fantasy XI
|
24
|
8
|
5
|
11
|
38
|
43
|
-5
|
29
| |
13
|
Eleven Imaginary Boys
|
24
|
7
|
7
|
10
|
31
|
43
|
-12
|
28
| |
14
|
Thommo's Titans
|
24
|
5
|
7
|
12
|
32
|
43
|
-11
|
22
| |
15
|
York's Returning Glory
|
24
|
7
|
1
|
16
|
34
|
52
|
-18
|
22
| |
16
|
The Dead Parrots
|
24
|
4
|
7
|
13
|
27
|
54
|
-27
|
19
| |
TOTAL
|
384
|
148
|
88
|
148
|
674
|
674
|
0
|
532
| ||
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