THERE'S A PARTY GOING ON OVER THERE, SEE THE TEMPERATURE IN HERE IS RISING
Date for your diaries; don’t forget the September Transfer Window Auction, taking place round ours. Start time 8.00 p.m. prompt. I’ll send a full list of players to go “under the hammer” on Friday 1st, so if you can’t make it and want to proxy bid for anyone, please let me know. There’s been a recent clutch of players signed (Anelka, Kuyt, Martins) and with the possibility of more to come (who knows, maybe Hargreaves – England’s best player in World Cup 2006, remember – plus Tevez?), this is definitely a team-strengthening opportunity you won't want to miss. So please join us for the squabble!
PLENTY SMILES AND PLENTY FROWNS
And here’s another vintage Woodentops lyric for those of you who remember them; also to commemorate the fact that I’m off to see the ‘Tops do a reunion gig in London on the 13th! Yay!
Anyway, the Paul Cartmell Memorial Trophy First Round games produced no draws (hooray!), and smiles for unfancied teams Nil Satis and the Groove Machine, whilst their victims Claymore and the Imaginary Boys were left frowning. Paul continued his cracking start with a 4-1 win over Prov, Bobby Zamora again on the scoresheet, but the Groovers took an arguably bigger scalp, a Kanu brace putting Claymore to the sword in a 3-1 win, and earning the Big Man the POTW half a mill. Well done Rich!
The other winner from the “lower” half of the draw was Final Fantasy XI, whose improved line-up beat Prettier Than You 3-1 in the girly pillowfight part 1, Andrew Johnson showing the firepower Ceri missed last season with a deft finish. Hostilities are resumed in 2 weeks time when the girls meet again in the league. Fresh pillows, please!
Otherwise, the “top” half of the draw were all winners; Boston Rock and San Dimas both went “nap” this weekend, knocking 5 past their opponents Real Muppets and Mega Bucks respectively. A superb Didier Drogba individual effort was the highlight of Fred West’s 3-0 win over Thommo’s Titans. And last years finalists Aardvark and Trusted both came through in single goal victories; Sol Campbell the late saviour for Ady in a tight win over the Dead Parrots, and Angel netting for Beef in their win over York’s, for whom Peter Crouch was on the bench. D’oh!!
THE PAST IS YOUR PRESENT, THE FUTURE IS MINE
After tipping Final Fantasy XI for a top 5 finish, I’ve been thinking about how the WSFFL league will go this year. So, in a similar vein to one I did for season 2004/05, here’s a pre-season preview (well, “one game gone” preview)! My guess for the final table is this (last year’s positions in brackets);
1. (2) TRUSTED BY MILLIONS
2. (6) CLAYMORE ATHLETIC FC
3. (5) SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL
4. (1) YOU KNOW YOUR BOSTON ROCK FC
5. (14) FINAL FANTASY XI
6. (3) AARDVARK ABACUS
7. (9) 22 LEGGED GROOVE MACHINE
8. (4) FRED WEST LANDSCAPE GARDENING XI
9. (8) PRETTIER THAN YOU
10. (10) REAL MUPPETS
11. (11) NIL SATIS NISI OPTIMUM
12. (16) YORK’S RETURNING GLORY
13. (7) ELEVEN IMAGINARY BOYS
14. (15) THOMMO’S TITANS
15. (12) THE DEAD PARROTS
16. (13) MEGA BUCK BANDITS
“You think I’ll finish where?”, I hear you cry? Okay, here’s why. People think I always tip Trusted, in order to “jinx” them, but that’s not true. You don’t buy the best finisher in European football (Shevchenko) and not expect an improvement – and seeing as Beef finished 2nd last year, the only way is up! Claymore haven’t made any major Summer buys, but will be buoyed by Henry staying with Arsenal, and Van Nistelrooy’s move to Real Madrid, putting the onus on Rooney to get Man U’s goals. As for San Dimas, they’ll continue their Terry-powered improvement, particularly when Dean Ashton returns from injury, and if Walcott sees some action for Arsenal.
I can’t see myself, Boston Rock FC, repeating last year’s successes. Darren Bent may struggle in his sophomore year in the Premiership, and Rosicky will need time to settle before becoming a complete replacement for the free-scoring Pires. Final Fantasy, however, will take a large step forward. With Ballack added to Nolan, Pedersen, Garcia and Francis, I reckon Ceri has the best midfield in the league – add Andrew Johnson’s return and Dave Kitson’s judicious recruitment to that, and she’s guaranteed goals every game. Top Bevan as well, as I think Aardvark aren’t as strong as usual this year, and despite numerous Chelsea clean sheets, may struggle to rack up the goals in their usual rampaging manner.
The Groove Machine will be propped up by Saha and Kanu’s goals, and may step up this season. Fred West will miss Van Nistelrooy – I don’t think Berbatov will provide Ruud’s sheer volume of goals, so Fred may slip back. Prettier Than You will have a season of mid-table consolidation while Rach beds in some promising midfielders (Young, N’Zogbia, Jagielka).
Real Muppets, having missed out on Sheva, need a striker at the September auction to progress. Nil Satis will again repeat their lower-mid table status, unless Reyes leaves Arsenal, in which case they may slip back, but York’s will take a step up thanks to their much-improved strike force of Hasselbaink, Hulse and Crouch.
Eleven Imaginary Boys may slip back this year as Prov comes to terms with the loss of Shearer’s goals. Thommo’s youngsters still need a season or two before they start coming good. The Parrots will struggle unless Duff and Diop start to find the net as per a couple of seasons ago. And finally, I’m tipping Mega Bucks to finish bottom. McCarthy, Heskey and Roberts don’t have enough goals in them, as they come to terms with their new Premiership surroundings. Sorry Dave!
But anyway, what are you waiting for? Go and prove me wrong… or right!!!
GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON TO LOVE YOU
As you know, I have been known to occasionally deviate from the business of WSFFL and use this newsletter to publicise things I think you should all know about, particularly in the area of rock music. This is one of those times!
The mighty SEAFOOD are playing a gig in Swindon! They’re booked to play the Brunel Rooms – that’s right, the Brunel Rooms – on Friday 29th September. Tickets are a snip at only £5.50 (we got ours from Bristol Ticket Shop online, as Rach couldn’t find any tix from the Brunel Rooms’ usual agent, Sumo’s). Rach and I saw da ‘Food in Southampton last month (our 21st time!) and despite the departure of founding member Kev, can report that they’re in as fine spiky form as ever. So, if you only go to one rock gig this year - make it this one!!!
TRANSFER NEWS
Player From To Fee
Jordan Stewart (D) Final Fantasy XI Pool £250K
Aaron Mokoena (D) Pool Final Fantasy XI £500K
Lloyd Doyley (D) Pool Final Fantasy XI £500K
Sun Jihai (D) YKY Boston Rock FC Pool £250K
Matt Derbyshire (A) Pool YKY Boston Rock FC £500K
Philippe Christanval (D) Pool Thommo’s Titans £500K
Steven Bywater (G) 22 Legged Groove Machine Derby County £500K
(undisclosed therefore refund)
Ugo Ehiogu (D) 22 Legged Groove Machine Pool £2.75m
Noe Pamarot (D) Pool 22 Legged Groove Machine £500K
Don’t forget that the players highlighted are now subject to the pool “cooling off” period, Any managers interested in buying them can bid until close of play Saturday 2 September 2006, after which time they go into the pool proper and are readily available. All bids to me please.
THE FF£100,000 QUESTION
And here’s another World Cup question…
What was unusual about the playing of the National Anthems before the Togo-South Korea Group G game?
Answers to me by close of play Saturday 2 September 2006. As usual, first correct one out of the metaphorical hat gets the dosh.
Errant ref Graham Poll’s 3 yellow card mistake was due to him noting one of Croatian Simunic’s yellow cards against the Australian left-back. A simple mistake really, I mean, one team was in a yellow kit, and one was in very similar red/white checks…
I got 3 correct replies, from Peej, Clive and Rich. The 22 Legged Groove Machine were first out of the hat, so the Big Man walks off with the first quiz hundred grand of this season to go with his POTW. Well done Dick!
SHORTS
· After a short first month for WSFFL, it’s already August Manager of the Month time. And of the 3 managers with 100% records over the 2 games this month, I’m ignoring Fred and Peej’s claims (sorry boys) and am giving the MOTM and the £250,000 that goes with it to Paul Saleh of Nil Satis Nisi Optimum. A 5-goal performance against double-winners Boston Rock was followed up with another 4-goal salvo in the Cup this weekend. So well done Paul, you’re the Manager of the Month!
· So, what was it with Blackburn Rovers and Final Fantasy XI winger Morton Gamst Pedersen just having “GAMST” on the back of his shirt during the Chelsea game at the weekend? It’s not like there isn’t enough space to write Pedersen; his teammate Zurab had “KHIZANISHVILI” on his shirt. Have the Blackburn staff forgotten how to spell Pedersen?
· And while we’re on the subject, what actually is West Ham’s new Ghanaian right-back’s name? John PAINTSIL or John PANTSIL? Watching Sky Soccer Saturday on the opening day, presenter Jeff Stelling said John had spoken to him and was at pains to stress it was Paintsil; “he’s not pants”, quipped Stelling. However watching the Liverpool – West Ham game at the weekend, John had “Pantsil” on his shirt, and the TV caption spelled it in “Pantsil” too. Confused? Me too!
WSFFL RESULTS;
PCMT First Round, W/E 26 August 2006
Aardvark Abacus 1-0 The Dead Parrots
Campbell (2) 24,834
Claymore Athletic FC 1-3 22 Legged Groove Machine
Bullard (1) Kanu 2
Hall 40,699
Eleven Imaginary Boys 1-4 Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Barton Zamora
Lescott
Yobo
Primus 23,638
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI 3-0 Thommo’s Titans
Silvestre (1)
Giggs
Drogba 35,141
Prettier Than You 1-3 Final Fantasy XI
Luke Moore (2) Francis
Andrew Johnson
Davenport (OG) 35,540
San Dimas High School 5-1 Mega Buck Bandits
Queudrue (1) Heskey
Scharner
Terry
Todorov
Stefanovic 43,965
Trusted By Millions 1-0 York’s Returning Glory
Angel (1) 19,453
You Know Your Boston Rock FC 5-1 Real Muppets
Darren Bent 2 Agger
Lampard
Ridgewell
Micah Richards 19,398
Performance of the Week: 22 Legged Groove Machine
THE 2006/07 WSFFL LEAGUE TABLE
| ||||||||||
As at Sunday 20 August 2006
| ||||||||||
Team
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
Diff
|
Pts
| ||
1
|
Claymore Athletic FC
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
1
|
5
|
3
| |
2
|
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
3
|
2
|
3
| |
3
|
San Dimas High School
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
3
| |
4
|
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
3
| |
5
|
Mega Buck Bandits
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
3
| |
6
|
Prettier Than You
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
3
| |
7
|
Aardvark Abacus
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
1
| |
8
|
The Dead Parrots
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
1
| |
9
|
Final Fantasy XI
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
1
| |
10
|
22 Legged Groove Machine
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
1
| |
11
|
Trusted By Millions
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
-1
|
0
| |
12
|
York's Returning Glory
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
-1
|
0
| |
13
|
Eleven Imaginary Boys
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
-1
|
0
| |
14
|
Thommo's Titans
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
-1
|
0
| |
15
|
You Know Your Boston Rock FC
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
5
|
-2
|
0
| |
16
|
Real Muppets
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
6
|
-5
|
0
| |
TOTAL
|
16
|
6
|
4
|
6
|
37
|
37
|
0
|
22
| ||
No comments:
Post a Comment