Ten games left and, with apologies to our champions, I think five teams have a shot at the title. Fred could well have a say in who his successor is though. Here's a rundown of where the top six still have to play each other - in other words, the possible 'title deciders' we have to come.
League Week Number: 21, W/C 3 March
The Fabulous Artisans v Claymore Athletic FC
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v Trusted By Millions
League Week Number: 22, W/C 17 March
The Fabulous Artisans v Athletico Phoenix
League Week Number: 23, W/C 24 March
Trusted By Millions v The Fabulous Artisans
League Week Number: 24, W/C 31 March
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v The Fabulous Artisans
League Week Number: 25, W/C 7 April
Claymore Athletic FC v Trusted By Millions
The Fabulous Artisans v Aardvark Abacus
League Week Number: 26, W/C 14 April
Athletico Phoenix v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
League Week Number: 29, W/C 5 May
Athletico Phoenix v Claymore Athletic FC
The next five weeks couldn't be tougher for Ben's Artisans. Looks like the Aardvarks have got through the worst of their fixtures though.
I'm sure we'll revisit this as the contenders thin out over the next few weeks.
Tuesday 28 February 2012
Sunday 26 February 2012
Week 20 Results
The top five all win - the title's for one of them to win as we enter the final third of the season.
Aardvark Abacus 4 v 2 Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
Claymore Athletic FC 4 v 1 You Know Your Boston Rock FC
Mega Buck Bandits v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum (match postponed)
Real Muppets 3 v 1 York’s Returning Glory
San Dimas High School 1 v 4 Athletico Phoenix
The Cheese Makers 0 v 2 The Fabulous Artisans
The Dead Parrots 1 v 0 Final Fantasy XI
Trusted By Millions 5 v 1 The Cow-Faced Juniors
Two-thirds of the season gone and the phoney title war is now developing into a five team pitched battle. The Artisans halted their recent poor run and keep their two-point advantage with a 2-0 win over the Cheese Makers. Mario Balotelli's delicate half-volley on the half-hour broke the deadlock and James Collins' clean completed the scoring. Matt's mid-season blip is putting his bid for a top-half finish under threat. Claymore are still the team in hot pursuit after demolishing Boston Rock 4-1. Two goals in four minutes, a curling shot from David Luiz and one from Sergio Aguero after a Paul Robinson flap at a corner, in four minutes after time had Clive in control but Frank Lampard arrived unmarked at the far post to pull one back with 11 minutes left. Maybe in previous seasons that would have led to a Claymore wobble but this team has backbone and Luiz and last season's player of the year Branislav Ivanovic put a gloss on the victory.
The Aardvarks came from behind to stay third and probably deal the fatal blow to Fred's chances of retaining the title. Emmanuel Adebayor's spot-kick for Ady was levelled by Didier Drogba's header and the evergreen Ryan Giggs poked Fred ahead in injury time but it was a defensive response of three cleans from Kompany, Cuellar and Shotton that won the points for the Aardavrks. Athletico Phoenix are also on 36 points after a comeback victory over San Dimas. Pavel Pogrebnyak's cool finish on debut got me off to a great start but the game swung in Brian's favour either side of half-time. James Morrison nodded in on 41 minutes, Robin van Persie brilliant curled home two minutes later which changed my team talk somewhat. That team-talk clearly went well as Tomas Rosicky got his first for a couple of years six minutes later to put the Phoenix in control.
Trusted brushed aside the CFJs challenge 5-1. Recent signing Papiss Cisse stabbed Beef into the lead on six minutes beat it was nine minutes from time before Edin Dzeko doubled the lead. Grant Holt's smart turn and shot pulled one back for Chris two minutes later but Beef had three cleans to finish his opponents off. Turning our attention to the bottom of the table a third straight win for Ryan lifts him out of last place for the first time since week six. Paul Scholes opened the scoring then Jonas Gutierrez's screamer made it 2-0 after 18 minutes. Peter Crouch pulled one back for Julian before the break but the last score of the game was Ashley Cole's clean to make it 3-1 in the Muppets' favour.
If anything the foot of the table is closer than the top with eight points covering the bottom ten. The Dead Parrots edged Final Fantasy 1-0 by virtue of bagging one more clean and it's Ceri's team that are our new table-proppers. The Mega Bucks/Nil Satis game was postponed due to oooh... let's say a power failure due to a faulty generator.
Aardvark Abacus 4 v 2 Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
Claymore Athletic FC 4 v 1 You Know Your Boston Rock FC
Mega Buck Bandits v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum (match postponed)
Real Muppets 3 v 1 York’s Returning Glory
San Dimas High School 1 v 4 Athletico Phoenix
The Cheese Makers 0 v 2 The Fabulous Artisans
The Dead Parrots 1 v 0 Final Fantasy XI
Trusted By Millions 5 v 1 The Cow-Faced Juniors
Two-thirds of the season gone and the phoney title war is now developing into a five team pitched battle. The Artisans halted their recent poor run and keep their two-point advantage with a 2-0 win over the Cheese Makers. Mario Balotelli's delicate half-volley on the half-hour broke the deadlock and James Collins' clean completed the scoring. Matt's mid-season blip is putting his bid for a top-half finish under threat. Claymore are still the team in hot pursuit after demolishing Boston Rock 4-1. Two goals in four minutes, a curling shot from David Luiz and one from Sergio Aguero after a Paul Robinson flap at a corner, in four minutes after time had Clive in control but Frank Lampard arrived unmarked at the far post to pull one back with 11 minutes left. Maybe in previous seasons that would have led to a Claymore wobble but this team has backbone and Luiz and last season's player of the year Branislav Ivanovic put a gloss on the victory.
The Aardvarks came from behind to stay third and probably deal the fatal blow to Fred's chances of retaining the title. Emmanuel Adebayor's spot-kick for Ady was levelled by Didier Drogba's header and the evergreen Ryan Giggs poked Fred ahead in injury time but it was a defensive response of three cleans from Kompany, Cuellar and Shotton that won the points for the Aardavrks. Athletico Phoenix are also on 36 points after a comeback victory over San Dimas. Pavel Pogrebnyak's cool finish on debut got me off to a great start but the game swung in Brian's favour either side of half-time. James Morrison nodded in on 41 minutes, Robin van Persie brilliant curled home two minutes later which changed my team talk somewhat. That team-talk clearly went well as Tomas Rosicky got his first for a couple of years six minutes later to put the Phoenix in control.
Trusted brushed aside the CFJs challenge 5-1. Recent signing Papiss Cisse stabbed Beef into the lead on six minutes beat it was nine minutes from time before Edin Dzeko doubled the lead. Grant Holt's smart turn and shot pulled one back for Chris two minutes later but Beef had three cleans to finish his opponents off. Turning our attention to the bottom of the table a third straight win for Ryan lifts him out of last place for the first time since week six. Paul Scholes opened the scoring then Jonas Gutierrez's screamer made it 2-0 after 18 minutes. Peter Crouch pulled one back for Julian before the break but the last score of the game was Ashley Cole's clean to make it 3-1 in the Muppets' favour.
If anything the foot of the table is closer than the top with eight points covering the bottom ten. The Dead Parrots edged Final Fantasy 1-0 by virtue of bagging one more clean and it's Ceri's team that are our new table-proppers. The Mega Bucks/Nil Satis game was postponed due to oooh... let's say a power failure due to a faulty generator.
Wednesday 15 February 2012
The title race - How many points needed to win?
This year's title race is bubbling up nicely with the entire top half of the table within ten points of the pace-setting Artisans.
Looking back over the last ten years, the league has been won with between 55 and 69 points. The average number of points to win a 30 game season is around 63-64*. I'm not sure any team will reach those heights this season but what do you think?
Do you have a number in mind that you think will win the league? The Cheese Makers and Boston Rock will have to win ten out of their last 11 to have a chance by my reckoning but are the rest of the top half still in the race?
If you need a helping hand working it out take a look at the WSFFL fixture list to see who has still to play who. And if you're really bored here's the Premier League fixture list so you guess what our results might be.
The comments box is below - I look forward to hearing from you.
The Co-ordinator
*Mean average 63.7, Mode average 63, Median average 63.5 for any maths pedants out there.
Looking back over the last ten years, the league has been won with between 55 and 69 points. The average number of points to win a 30 game season is around 63-64*. I'm not sure any team will reach those heights this season but what do you think?
Do you have a number in mind that you think will win the league? The Cheese Makers and Boston Rock will have to win ten out of their last 11 to have a chance by my reckoning but are the rest of the top half still in the race?
If you need a helping hand working it out take a look at the WSFFL fixture list to see who has still to play who. And if you're really bored here's the Premier League fixture list so you guess what our results might be.
The comments box is below - I look forward to hearing from you.
The Co-ordinator
*Mean average 63.7, Mode average 63, Median average 63.5 for any maths pedants out there.
Sunday 12 February 2012
Week 19 Results
Looks like we've got ourselves a good, old-fashioned title race.
Claymore Athletic FC 2 v 0 Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
Final Fantasy XI 1 v 0 York’s Returning Glory
Mega Buck Bandits 1 v 4 Aardvark Abacus
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 4 v 0 You Know Your Boston Rock FC
Real Muppets 2 v 1 The Cheese Makers
The Cow-Faced Juniors 5 v 2 The Fabulous Artisans
The Dead Parrots 1 v 3 San Dimas High School
Trusted By Millions 2 v 2 Athletico Phoenix
Are the Artisans going through their 'blip' or is Ben's team on the slide? The CFJs inflicted Ben's third defeat in a row, two weeks after knocking the Artisans out of the Cup, with a 5-2 win. A curious first half at Drove Stadium saw Danny Graham give the CFJs the lead and then two own goals. Chris went two up when Chris Dempsey's shot went in off Thomas Sorensen's back but the Artisans halved the deficit when Junior Hoilett's shot took a huge deflection off of Nedum Onuoha. After the break it was all Chris's team with two for Graham Holt and Graham adding his second late on. It was a brace from Wayne Rooney that saw Clive past reigning champions Fred West. Rooney's two goals in four minutes straight after half-time means Claymore have narrowed the gap to two points, the closest it's been since week nine.
The incredible bouncing Aardvarks are on the up this week and into third place. Ady turned over brother Dave's improving Mega Bucks despite falling behind to Steven Fletcher's goal. Anthony Pilkington has been one of the season's bargain buys and he must be in line for '£500k team of the season' honours after getting the equaliser. Emanuel Adebayor found the net for the Aardvarks too and Ady will hope he can go on a run to keep him bang in the title picture. Athletico and Trusted played out a hard-fought draw to stay fourth and fifth respectively. Beef had goals from Nico Kranjcar and Ryan Shawcross but just as he was congratulating himself on shutting out Robin van Persie Brian levelled through cleans from Phil Neville and Pablo Zabaleta.
The bottom of the table is getting as tight as the top. The Muppets picked up a second straight league win for the first time this season but stay bottom. Ryan's team had fallen behind to the Cheese Makers when Benoit Assou-Ekotto scored from an acute angle early on but goals from Joleon Lescott and new man James McClean earned the Muppets all three points. Final Fantasy stay out of the clutches of the foot of the table after a solitary goal beat York's. A Gary Caldwell header winning the game and sucking Julian's team into the scrap at the bottom.
Like the Muppets, Nil Satis were another team securing a second straight league win for the first time this season with a 4-0 battering of Boston Rock. Recent signing Steven Pienaar opened the scoring on five minutes and it was also a first of the season for Denis Stracqualursi 20 minutes from tame. Aaron Ramsey and John Heitinga finished off a tame showing from Sheriff's men who are now three games without a win in the league. San Dimas came out on top of the mid-table match-up with the Dead Parrots. Yakubu opened the scoring for Dean, his third this season against his former club, but Peter Odemwingie secured all the points for me with a hat-trick.
Claymore Athletic FC 2 v 0 Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
Final Fantasy XI 1 v 0 York’s Returning Glory
Mega Buck Bandits 1 v 4 Aardvark Abacus
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 4 v 0 You Know Your Boston Rock FC
Real Muppets 2 v 1 The Cheese Makers
The Cow-Faced Juniors 5 v 2 The Fabulous Artisans
The Dead Parrots 1 v 3 San Dimas High School
Trusted By Millions 2 v 2 Athletico Phoenix
Are the Artisans going through their 'blip' or is Ben's team on the slide? The CFJs inflicted Ben's third defeat in a row, two weeks after knocking the Artisans out of the Cup, with a 5-2 win. A curious first half at Drove Stadium saw Danny Graham give the CFJs the lead and then two own goals. Chris went two up when Chris Dempsey's shot went in off Thomas Sorensen's back but the Artisans halved the deficit when Junior Hoilett's shot took a huge deflection off of Nedum Onuoha. After the break it was all Chris's team with two for Graham Holt and Graham adding his second late on. It was a brace from Wayne Rooney that saw Clive past reigning champions Fred West. Rooney's two goals in four minutes straight after half-time means Claymore have narrowed the gap to two points, the closest it's been since week nine.
The incredible bouncing Aardvarks are on the up this week and into third place. Ady turned over brother Dave's improving Mega Bucks despite falling behind to Steven Fletcher's goal. Anthony Pilkington has been one of the season's bargain buys and he must be in line for '£500k team of the season' honours after getting the equaliser. Emanuel Adebayor found the net for the Aardvarks too and Ady will hope he can go on a run to keep him bang in the title picture. Athletico and Trusted played out a hard-fought draw to stay fourth and fifth respectively. Beef had goals from Nico Kranjcar and Ryan Shawcross but just as he was congratulating himself on shutting out Robin van Persie Brian levelled through cleans from Phil Neville and Pablo Zabaleta.
The bottom of the table is getting as tight as the top. The Muppets picked up a second straight league win for the first time this season but stay bottom. Ryan's team had fallen behind to the Cheese Makers when Benoit Assou-Ekotto scored from an acute angle early on but goals from Joleon Lescott and new man James McClean earned the Muppets all three points. Final Fantasy stay out of the clutches of the foot of the table after a solitary goal beat York's. A Gary Caldwell header winning the game and sucking Julian's team into the scrap at the bottom.
Like the Muppets, Nil Satis were another team securing a second straight league win for the first time this season with a 4-0 battering of Boston Rock. Recent signing Steven Pienaar opened the scoring on five minutes and it was also a first of the season for Denis Stracqualursi 20 minutes from tame. Aaron Ramsey and John Heitinga finished off a tame showing from Sheriff's men who are now three games without a win in the league. San Dimas came out on top of the mid-table match-up with the Dead Parrots. Yakubu opened the scoring for Dean, his third this season against his former club, but Peter Odemwingie secured all the points for me with a hat-trick.
Monday 6 February 2012
Week 18 results
Ben's lead now down to five points.
Athletico Phoenix 3 v 2 Aardvark Abacus
Final Fantasy XI 1 v 4 Trusted By Millions
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI 1 v 1 The Cheese Makers
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 2 v 1 The Dead Parrots
The Cow-Faced Juniors 2 v 3 Claymore Athletic FC
The Fabulous Artisans 1 v 3 Real Muppets
York’s Returning Glory 0 v 4 Mega Buck Bandits
You Know Your Boston Rock FC 1 v 1 San Dimas High School
The Artisans lead has been trimmed to five after a defeat to the bottom-placed Muppets. Robbie Keane gave Ben the lead but James McLean (who looks a heck of a spot by Ryan) equalised and two cleans gave the Muppets the points. Claymore are unbeaten in all competitions since November and three penalties saw them past the CFJs, despite a Jonny Evans own goal, and into second place. The two teams meet again in the Cup semis next month.
The Phoenix are third, on the same points as Clive's team, after a Robin van Persie hat-trick gave them the edge over the Aardvarks. The result drops Ady from 2nd to 5th which shows how close it all is at the top. Trusted are fourth after late goals from Dzeko and Hernandez saw off Final Fantasy.
The middle of the table was packed with draws. A Kolarov clean gave Fred a point after a belting Juan Mata volley had put The Cheese Makers ahead. Boston Rock were denied maximum points by a clean too. Kyle Walker grabbed the clean for me to cancel Andrew Surman's goal for Sheriff.
Goals from Zamora and Arteta have lifted Nil Satis a place up the table after securing a win against the Parrots. Mega Bucks made it ten points out of 12 with a four-clean sheet tonking of York's.
Athletico Phoenix 3 v 2 Aardvark Abacus
Final Fantasy XI 1 v 4 Trusted By Millions
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI 1 v 1 The Cheese Makers
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 2 v 1 The Dead Parrots
The Cow-Faced Juniors 2 v 3 Claymore Athletic FC
The Fabulous Artisans 1 v 3 Real Muppets
York’s Returning Glory 0 v 4 Mega Buck Bandits
You Know Your Boston Rock FC 1 v 1 San Dimas High School
The Artisans lead has been trimmed to five after a defeat to the bottom-placed Muppets. Robbie Keane gave Ben the lead but James McLean (who looks a heck of a spot by Ryan) equalised and two cleans gave the Muppets the points. Claymore are unbeaten in all competitions since November and three penalties saw them past the CFJs, despite a Jonny Evans own goal, and into second place. The two teams meet again in the Cup semis next month.
The Phoenix are third, on the same points as Clive's team, after a Robin van Persie hat-trick gave them the edge over the Aardvarks. The result drops Ady from 2nd to 5th which shows how close it all is at the top. Trusted are fourth after late goals from Dzeko and Hernandez saw off Final Fantasy.
The middle of the table was packed with draws. A Kolarov clean gave Fred a point after a belting Juan Mata volley had put The Cheese Makers ahead. Boston Rock were denied maximum points by a clean too. Kyle Walker grabbed the clean for me to cancel Andrew Surman's goal for Sheriff.
Goals from Zamora and Arteta have lifted Nil Satis a place up the table after securing a win against the Parrots. Mega Bucks made it ten points out of 12 with a four-clean sheet tonking of York's.
FA Cup semi-final draw
Beef and Ady had the honour of the draw which came out like this...
The Cow-Faced Juniors v Claymore Athletic FC
You Know Your Boston Rock FC v Real Muppets
Games to be played w/c 10 March
The Cow-Faced Juniors v Claymore Athletic FC
You Know Your Boston Rock FC v Real Muppets
Games to be played w/c 10 March
Wednesday 1 February 2012
FA Cup quarter-final results
Congrats to the winners. Ben's treble dream comes to an end.
Claymore Athletic FC 3 v 2 Trusted By Millions
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 1 v 3 You Know Your Boston Rock FC
The Cow-Faced Juniors 3 v 1 The Fabulous Artisans
York's Returning Glory 1 v 4 Real Muppets
The league-leading Artisans have already got one pot in the bag this year but they won't be adding the FA Cup to their sideboard this season after going down to the CFJs. Chris' two outstanding performers of the season, Gareth Bale and Clint Dempsey, got the goals that mean Ben can concentrate on the league.
Boston Rock have the scent of another Cup Final in their nostrils. Sheriff's men overwhelmed Nil Satis with three goals in a fourteen minute burst either side of half-time. Scott Sinclair's smart shot on the turn broke the deadlock, Darren Bent added a second before the break and even Andy Carroll notched one after half-time.
Claymore came from two goals down to beat Trusted. Beef was two up by half-time through an excellent Sessegnon header and a Javier Hernandez penalty but cleans from Howard, Bardsley and Evans saw Clive through.
It was another clean sheet comeback for the Muppets against York's. Craig Bellamy opened the scoring for Julian on the hour but Ryan had clan sheets from Reina, Vermaelen, Koscielny and Agger to see him through.
Of our semi-finalists only the CFJs haven't previously won the Cup and they've been beaten in two finals. The draw will be at the auction on Monday.
Claymore Athletic FC 3 v 2 Trusted By Millions
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum 1 v 3 You Know Your Boston Rock FC
The Cow-Faced Juniors 3 v 1 The Fabulous Artisans
York's Returning Glory 1 v 4 Real Muppets
The league-leading Artisans have already got one pot in the bag this year but they won't be adding the FA Cup to their sideboard this season after going down to the CFJs. Chris' two outstanding performers of the season, Gareth Bale and Clint Dempsey, got the goals that mean Ben can concentrate on the league.
Boston Rock have the scent of another Cup Final in their nostrils. Sheriff's men overwhelmed Nil Satis with three goals in a fourteen minute burst either side of half-time. Scott Sinclair's smart shot on the turn broke the deadlock, Darren Bent added a second before the break and even Andy Carroll notched one after half-time.
Claymore came from two goals down to beat Trusted. Beef was two up by half-time through an excellent Sessegnon header and a Javier Hernandez penalty but cleans from Howard, Bardsley and Evans saw Clive through.
It was another clean sheet comeback for the Muppets against York's. Craig Bellamy opened the scoring for Julian on the hour but Ryan had clan sheets from Reina, Vermaelen, Koscielny and Agger to see him through.
Of our semi-finalists only the CFJs haven't previously won the Cup and they've been beaten in two finals. The draw will be at the auction on Monday.
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