1st: Fred West Landscape Gardening XI (up one place on last season)
A second title in three years for Fred who ran out winners by a comfortable four points. The Gardeners took the lead in week seven and apart from a three week wobble held it through to the finish. Mo Salah led the line again but their were also valuable contributions from Eden Hazard and Cesar Azpilicueta plus timely ones from the likes of Lucas Moura and Salomon Rondon. They'll be the team to catch again, but will it be without Hazard?
What happened to last year's Star Player? Mo Salah didn't seem quite as on the pace but was still Fred's main man.
Star Player: Mo Salah (20 goals)
2nd: Aardvark Abacus (up one place)
The Aardvarks followed up last year's FA Cup win with a first Charity Shield triumph and gave Fred a scare towards the end of the season with a 13-game unbeaten run. Alexandre Lacazette and Son Heung-Min provided goals, Diogo Jota was a great addition but Ady's team has strong defensive foundations. That could be tested next year with Vincent Kompany departed and question marks about Kieran Trippier's future.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Nacho Monreal was injured in the autumn and never quite nailed down a regular starting place after that.
Star Player: Jordan Pickford (12 cleans, two saved penalties)
3rd: Athletico Phoenix (up eight places)
The Phoenix were another team who made a poor start this season. Nine points after ten games and only the Artisans beneath them gave no clue as to what was to happen next. There were only three more defeats but a few draws denied Brian the chance of the top prize. Virgil van Dijk and Harry Maguire inspired the team from the back, Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse have lit up the midfield but Fred, Gonzalo Higuain and Anthony Martial have largely been big money flops
What happened to last year's Star Player? Jan Vertonghen missed a chunk of the season with a hamstring injury.
Star Player: Virgil van Dijk (four goals, 19 cleans)
4th: Real Muppets (same place)
A third straight top four finish for Ryan but there were too many defeats (13) for a proper tilt at the title. There are some proper players in this team, Ederson, Raheem Sterling, Sadio Mane, Kevin De Bruyne and the more unsung Luka Milivojevic. Like a lot of teams the final piece might be a 15+ goals a season striker. Outside of that the boss isn't really one for too much tinkering with the line-up.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Ederson took a share of the award this time too.
Star Players: Sadio Mane (19 goals) and Ederson (19 cleans)
Tuesday 4 June 2019
Monday 3 June 2019
2018/19 Co-Ord Round-up Part Seven - 5th-8th
5th: The Wateringhole Society (Up 11 places on last season)
Quite a recovery for Kiran after last year's bottom place finish. The Wateringhole didn't drop out of the top five after week nine and spent nearly half the season in third. Raul Jimenez and Bernd Leno were great use of the draft picks, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Andre Schurrle also made an impression. With Christian Pulisic already in the bank for next season can they do it again?
What happened to last year's Star Player? Marcus Rashford was a bit further down the list after scoring eight goals.
Star Player: Nathan Ake (three goals, 10 cleans)
6th: The Fabulous Artisans (down one place)
Ben's team are notorious slow starters but took that to the extreme this season. After ten games they were five points adrift at the bottom with one win to their name. Then, something clicked. A great run took them to the fringes of the top three before falling away late on. Lucas Digne was a great addition to the squad but the team may need more if they're to threaten the very top of the table.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Kyle Walker was top man again.
Star Player: Kyle Walker (one goal, 16 cleans)
7th: Nil Satis Nisi Optimum (up six places)
A first top half finish for Paul for nine seasons was built on Rui Patricio and Matt Doherty's efforts. Paul's top draft pick Andrei Yarmolenko was looking good before his injury too. There are doubts about whether the likes of Mkhitaryan, Pogba, Mendy and Townsend will be at the club next season but they'll generate good money and the boss has never been afraid to spend.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Marcos Alonso made it back to back awards.
Star Player: Marcos Alonso (two goals, 14 cleans)
8th: San Dimas High School (down one place)
San Dimas topped the league for the first time in 16 seasons and brought the PCMT back to Tesco Car Park Stadium but the second half of the season saw a bit of a slide set in and a last week win was needed to grab eighth place. I still need to be better in the transfer market, Eric Bailly hasn't repaid his £17m fee, and with Romelu Lukaku pushing for a move it won't be easy to replace his goals.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Romelu Lukaku didn't have his best season but still managed 13 goals.
Star Player: Antonio Rudiger (one goal, 14 cleans)
Quite a recovery for Kiran after last year's bottom place finish. The Wateringhole didn't drop out of the top five after week nine and spent nearly half the season in third. Raul Jimenez and Bernd Leno were great use of the draft picks, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Andre Schurrle also made an impression. With Christian Pulisic already in the bank for next season can they do it again?
What happened to last year's Star Player? Marcus Rashford was a bit further down the list after scoring eight goals.
Star Player: Nathan Ake (three goals, 10 cleans)
6th: The Fabulous Artisans (down one place)
Ben's team are notorious slow starters but took that to the extreme this season. After ten games they were five points adrift at the bottom with one win to their name. Then, something clicked. A great run took them to the fringes of the top three before falling away late on. Lucas Digne was a great addition to the squad but the team may need more if they're to threaten the very top of the table.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Kyle Walker was top man again.
Star Player: Kyle Walker (one goal, 16 cleans)
7th: Nil Satis Nisi Optimum (up six places)
A first top half finish for Paul for nine seasons was built on Rui Patricio and Matt Doherty's efforts. Paul's top draft pick Andrei Yarmolenko was looking good before his injury too. There are doubts about whether the likes of Mkhitaryan, Pogba, Mendy and Townsend will be at the club next season but they'll generate good money and the boss has never been afraid to spend.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Marcos Alonso made it back to back awards.
Star Player: Marcos Alonso (two goals, 14 cleans)
8th: San Dimas High School (down one place)
San Dimas topped the league for the first time in 16 seasons and brought the PCMT back to Tesco Car Park Stadium but the second half of the season saw a bit of a slide set in and a last week win was needed to grab eighth place. I still need to be better in the transfer market, Eric Bailly hasn't repaid his £17m fee, and with Romelu Lukaku pushing for a move it won't be easy to replace his goals.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Romelu Lukaku didn't have his best season but still managed 13 goals.
Star Player: Antonio Rudiger (one goal, 14 cleans)
Sunday 2 June 2019
2018/19 Co-Ord Round-up Part Six - 9th-12th
9th: Claymore Athletic FC (down three places on last season)
Clive dropped out of the top half for the first time in nine seasons but added the FA Cup to his mantelpiece. Sergio Aguero led the line again but not enough Swordsmen backed him up to provide a high league finish. The boss's summer priority might be to extend Youri Tielemans' contract and build from there.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Sergio Aguero was this year's star player. That's five seasons in a row.
Star Player: Sergio Aguero (22 goals)
10th: Wheel Madrid (up five places)
A season in three parts. A decent start culminated in a PCMT Final appearance (but defeat), then there was a poor run through the winter before a late top half push was denied in the last week of the season. With a team built around Vardy, Luiz, Perez, Wilson, Matip and Maddison, a couple more signings and Paul could push on next year.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Jamie Vardy was this year's star player.
Star Player: Jamie Vardy (17 goals)
11th: The Cow-Faced Juniors (down ten places)
A dreadful title defence and defeat in the FA Cup Final for a fifth time. It wasn't a season to remember for the Cows. Most of the problem lies at the forwards' door. Morata, Abraham and Carillo went out on loan, Alexis Sanchez might have well as, which left Fernando Llorente and Ali Jahanbaksh. Chris and Co have the Mesut Ozil conundrum to solve too. It won't be an overnight rebuild.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Shkodran Mustafi had a pretty decent return of 11 counters.
Star Player: Aymeric Laporte (two goals, 18 cleans)
12th: Cheese Makers (same place)
A third consecutive 12th place for Matthew who spent the last half of the season bouncing between tenth and 14th. Manuel Lanzini missed just about all season through injury and draft pick Fabinho provided stability not goals. Glenn Murray and Troy Deeney are still chipping in but might need an upgrade soon. Andrew Robertson's success proves the boss can find a star - he needs more.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Glenn Murray provided another eight goals for the cause.
Star Player: Andrew Robertson (18 cleans)
2018/19 Co-Ord Round-up Part Five - 13th-16th
My annual assessment of the WSFFL teams starts with the bottom four.
13th: Mega Buck Bandits (down three places on last season)
I thought Dave might be a dark horse this season. Shows what I know. Record signing P-E Aubameyang has been a huge hit and draft pick Alisson has had an excellent first season, Outside of that though, Wilf Zaha might be the only other player to have lived up to expectations.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Age and injury reduced Antonio Valencia to a bit-part role.
Star Player: Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (20 goals)
14th: Trusted By Millions (down six places)
Beef's team continued their fall from the previous season. David De Gea looked a shadow of his former self and strikers Gray, Jesus, Richarlison and Mitrovic could never nail down a consistent run of form. And then you have Ben Mee and Conor Coady scoring seven own goals between them!
What happened to last year's Star Player? Nicolas Otamendi provided eight cleans, less than half last year's return.
Star Player: Trent Alexander-Arnold (one goal, 14 cleans)
15th: Markian United (down six places)
It was all looking good after week 21 when the team were sixth in the table. They didn't win again and failed to score in their last six matches. Injuries to Kane and Carroll (among others) didn't help but the joint bosses need to play the market better and look to put their best (fittest?) team out more regularly.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Harry Kane missed a chunk of the season but was still the talisman.
Star Player: Harry Kane (17 goals)
16th: YTFIB (down two places)
Julian dropped into his traditional bottom place in Week 14 and stayed there. His Number One draft pick Naby Keita didn't provide much and the front line was lightweight at best. Ricardo Pereira, Joe Gomez, David Brooks and Ilkay Gundogan carried the team to just avoid some unwanted records.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Nick Pope picked up a shoulder injury that wrecked his season.
Star Player: Ricardo Pereira (one goal, ten cleans)
13th: Mega Buck Bandits (down three places on last season)
I thought Dave might be a dark horse this season. Shows what I know. Record signing P-E Aubameyang has been a huge hit and draft pick Alisson has had an excellent first season, Outside of that though, Wilf Zaha might be the only other player to have lived up to expectations.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Age and injury reduced Antonio Valencia to a bit-part role.
Star Player: Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (20 goals)
14th: Trusted By Millions (down six places)
Beef's team continued their fall from the previous season. David De Gea looked a shadow of his former self and strikers Gray, Jesus, Richarlison and Mitrovic could never nail down a consistent run of form. And then you have Ben Mee and Conor Coady scoring seven own goals between them!
What happened to last year's Star Player? Nicolas Otamendi provided eight cleans, less than half last year's return.
Star Player: Trent Alexander-Arnold (one goal, 14 cleans)
15th: Markian United (down six places)
It was all looking good after week 21 when the team were sixth in the table. They didn't win again and failed to score in their last six matches. Injuries to Kane and Carroll (among others) didn't help but the joint bosses need to play the market better and look to put their best (fittest?) team out more regularly.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Harry Kane missed a chunk of the season but was still the talisman.
Star Player: Harry Kane (17 goals)
16th: YTFIB (down two places)
Julian dropped into his traditional bottom place in Week 14 and stayed there. His Number One draft pick Naby Keita didn't provide much and the front line was lightweight at best. Ricardo Pereira, Joe Gomez, David Brooks and Ilkay Gundogan carried the team to just avoid some unwanted records.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Nick Pope picked up a shoulder injury that wrecked his season.
Star Player: Ricardo Pereira (one goal, ten cleans)
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