2025/26 Co-Ord Round-up Part Six - 9th-12th

9th: Claymore Athletic FC (same place as last season)

Claymore probably deserved better than ninth if we look at bare numbers. Clive’s team never really found their groove, with their best unbeaten run only stretching to three games. But dig deeper and we'll see that Claymore scored two or fewer counters on 14 occasions - that's not going to get the job done. A fantastic season from Igor Thiago, Matheus Cunha chipped in too but is the Claymore financial department having too much of a say in transfers?

Star Player? Igor Thiago (17 goals)

What happened to last year's Star Player? Daniel Munoz was steady but unspectacular

10th: Garth Crooks' Team of the Week (up two places)

GC TotW finished two places better but one point worse than last season. Morgan Gibbs-White starred as Mohamed Salah faded. The boss didn't have as much time as he'd have hoped this season otherwise a top half finish might not have been out of the question. Ollie was saddled with an expensive squad when he joined and many of those names are still on the books. Some may need to be moved on so a Salah replacement can be found.

Star Player? Morgan Gibbs-White (12 goals)

What happened to last year's Star Player? The years finally started to catch up with Salah 

11th: San Dimas High School (down three places)

San Dimas fell out of their usual 8th or 9th place to 11th. Somehow won the FA Cup but scored the fewest actual goals of any team in the league. Last year I said that 'I wasn't a million miles away' and my strikers were 'too midfieldy'. The second part is true, the first less so. Injuries to Merino and Havertz didn't help the goals for column and £20m signing Giovanni Leoni was ruled out before a ball was kicked. Easy to see where improvements need to be made. 

Star Player? Sepp van der Berg (nine clean sheets)

What happened to last year's Star Player? Josko Gvardiol missed a chunk of the campaign with injury

12th: Markian United (down two places)

Markian were fourth after Week eight but a run of just two wins in 13 games from December to March killed off any hopes of a decent finish for Ian. The squad gives the feel of a team that deserved better but counters for and against were both just over average. Robin Roefs was a great buy in goal, record signing Benjamin Sesko improved over the course of the season and Rayan looks a star in the making. A cup final next season should be the least Ian aims for.

Star Player? Ferdi Kadioglu (one goal, ten cleans)

What happened to last year's Star Player? Maxence Lacroix

2025/26 Co-Ord Round-up Part Five - 13th-16th

My annual assessment of the WSFFL teams starts with the bottom four.

13th: Mega Buck Bandits (up two places on last season)

Mega Bucks were in the top half as late as Week 17 before settling into their usual late season malaise, only notching three counters or more once in the last 13 games. Dave has just one finish that doesn’t start with a 1 in the last 19 seasons. Likes to operate with a smaller squad but the midfield has a defensive look to it and Evanilson wasn't quite so effective leading the Mega Bucks frontline this year.

Star Player? Bruno Guimaraes (eight goals)

What happened to last year's Star Player? Milos Kerkez was sold and joined the champions.

14th: Nil Satis Nisi Optimum (same place)

Nil Satis have just one top ten finish in the last 15 seasons. This season did show promise until week 17, Paul's team picked up just four more points after that. Dominic Calvert-Lewin stayed fit and led the line superbly, Jeremy Doku started fulfilling his promise while the Everton defensive reliance paid dividends for a while. Options away from the blue side of Merseyside could be useful if the Toffees start to struggle.

Star Player? Dominic Calvert-Lewin (ten goals)

What happened to last year's Star Player? Vitali Mykolenko wasn't quite as effective.

15th: YTFIB (down two)

YTFIB spent the first five weeks out of the bottom three before slipping into familiar territory. Probably a bit unlucky to be this low in this table. (Julian's team were one of only two to pick up at least one counter each week.) Antoine Semenyo did his bit for the cause but we saw a bit less of Nick Pope this season and while Neco Williams had a good season in defence he needs some support.

Star Player? Antoine Semenyo (15 goals)

What happened to last year's Star Player? Jamie Vardy was relegated then went to Italy.

16th: Wheel Madrid (same place)

Bottom for the second season running but shorn of last season’s top scorer, this season’s record signing and one of his top midfield options through injury it was always looking difficult. Paul’s team also recorded the fewest clean sheets to add to the issues. The boss has yet to commit for another season and has lost this year's top scorer to relegation. Has he the appetite to put things right.

Star Player? Callum Wilson (seven goals)

What happened to last year's Star Player? Chris Wood spent most of it injured.

2025/26 - Co-Ord Round-up Part Four - the Value for Money (counters per £m) table

Same as before but with counters this time.

1	YTFIB	30	68	3.13575	21.69
2	Cheese Makers	30	96	6.84975	14.02
3	Real Muppets	30	93	8.34975	11.14
4	Mega Buck Bandits	30	63	5.8965	10.68
5	Stanley and Gracie United	30	87	8.54625	10.18
6	Aardvark Abacus	30	87	9.3585	9.30
7	The Wateringhole Society	30	104	11.44425	9.09
8	San Dimas High School	30	69	8.1675	8.45
9	Claymore Athletic FC	30	90	11.08125	8.12
10	Nil Satis Nisi Optimum	30	51	6.30825	8.08
11	Trusted By Millions	30	89	12.189	7.30
12	Garth Crooks' Team of the Week	30	62	9.477	6.54
13	The Fabulous Artisans	30	94	14.73375	6.38
14	Markian United	30	82	13.05225	6.28
15	The Cow-Faced Juniors	30	90	15.84825	5.68
16	Wheel Madrid	30	38	8.57475	4.43

A fourth straight year at the top for Julian making it seven out of the 12 seasons I've done this.

The 21.69 is toward the lower end of winning totals though. Mega Bucks notched up 33.12 counters per million in 2016/17.

Ben won it in 2017/18, now he's won the title.

2025/26 - Co-Ord Round-up Part Three - the Value for Money (pts per £m) table

Julian tops this (rather pointless) table for the fifth time in seven seasons (the sixth time in the 13 seasons I've put this together.)

1	YTFIB	30	26	3.13575	8.29
2	Real Muppets	30	60	8.34975	7.19
3	Cheese Makers	30	49	6.84975	7.15
4	Stanley and Gracie United	30	50	8.54625	5.85
5	Aardvark Abacus	30	54	9.3585	5.77
6	Mega Buck Bandits	30	34	5.8965	5.77
7	San Dimas High School	30	36	8.1675	4.41
8	The Wateringhole Society	30	50	11.44425	4.37
9	Nil Satis Nisi Optimum	30	27	6.30825	4.28
10	The Fabulous Artisans	30	62	14.73375	4.21
11	Garth Crooks' Team of the Week	30	38	9.477	4.01
12	Trusted By Millions	30	44	12.189	3.61
13	Claymore Athletic FC	30	40	11.08125	3.61
14	The Cow-Faced Juniors	30	52	15.84825	3.28
15	Markian United	30	34	13.05225	2.60
16	Wheel Madrid	30	18	8.57475	2.10

Second-sixth were all chasing down the Artisans late in the season., the bottom five might have expected more for their money.

It's the first time that all the points per million spent dips below 10. (Final Fantasy's 2014/15 total of 17.98 is unlikely to be beaten.)

The CFJs league wage bill is the highest in league history.

2025/26 - Co-Ord Round-up Part Two - The 'counters' tables

Here's the table if that was all that mattered in the game was positive 'counters'. It wouldn't be much of a game but it might be of interest.

1. The Wateringhole Society - 104 (four places higher than real table, 11 more than last year)
2. Cheese Makers - 96 (five places higher, one more)

3. The Fabulous Artisans - 94 (two places lower, 11 more)

4. Real Muppets - 93 (two places lower, three more)

=5. The Cow-Faced Juniors - 90 (one place lower, 20 fewer)

=5. Claymore Athletic FC - 90 (four places higher, 12 more)

7. Trusted By Millions - 89 (one place higher, 14 fewer)

=8. Aardvark Abacus - 87 (five places lower, three more)

=8. Stanley and Gracie United - 87 (two places lower, three more)

10. Markian United - 82 (two places higher, 18 more)

11. San Dimas High School - 69 (same place, nine fewer)

12. YTFIB - 68 (three places higher, seven more)

13. Mega Buck Bandits - 63 (same place, 16 more)

14. Garth Crooks' Team of the Week -  62 (four places lower, 17 fewer)

15. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum - 51 (one place lower, one more)

16. Wheel Madrid - 38 (same place, six fewer)

Average counters this year were around 79, a tiny bit higher than last year. You can judge your performance against that. The CFJs, Trusted and GC Totw took big hits on last year's numbers, Markian and Mega Bucks were big improvers.

Counters against certainly plays a part in deciding the league - how did that list shake out and can you feel hard done by?

=1. Real Muppets - 68

=1. The Cow-Faced Juniors - 68

3. The Fabulous Artisans - 69

=4. Aardvark Abacus - 72

=4. Garth Crooks' Team of the Week -  72

6. Wheel Madrid - 73

=7. Stanley and Gracie United - 76

=7. Trusted By Millions - 76

9. Mega Buck Bandits - 80

10. Cheese Makers - 81

11. Markian United - 82

12. San Dimas High School - 85

13. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum - 86

14. The Wateringhole Society - 89

15. Claymore Athletic FC - 92

16. YTFIB - 94

The Muppets top this list for the second year running. Clive concedes 92 counters for the second year running. Kiran's chances clearly damaged by the 89 in the against column.

WSFFL at the World Cup

It's the question on nobody's lips. Which of our teams has sent the most players to the 2026 tournament?

Aardvark Abacus (10) - Hickey (SCO), Robinson (USA), van de Ven (NED), Bergvall (SWE), Zubimendi (SPA), P.Sarr (SEN), Pickford, D. Henderson, Rogers, Watkins (ENG)

Cheese Makers (12) - Jimenez (MEX), Casemiro (BRA), Robertson (SCO), Reijnders (NED), Raya (SPA), Bobb (NOR), Mac Allister (ARG), Khusanov (UZB), Fatawu (GHA), O'Reilly, Gordon, Trafford (ENG)

Claymore Athletic (5) - Cunha, Thiago (BRA), Gomez (PAR), Munoz (COL), Sadiki (DRC)

Garth Crooks' TotW (10) - Martinelli (BRA), Kamada (JPN), Ayari (SWE), Salah (EGY), Konate (FRA), L. Martinez, Romero (ARG), Wan-Bissaka (DRC), Fernandes (POR), Mainoo (ENG)

Markian United (12) - Rayan (BRA), Kadioglu (TUR), Aaronsson (USA), Caicedo (ECU), Roefs (NED), Onana (BEL), Porro, Rodri (SPA), Cherki, Lacroix (FRA), I.Sarr (SEN), Nunes (POR)

Mega Buck Bandits (10) - Xhaka (SWI), Alisson, Guimaraes (BRA), Ake, Kluivert, Wieffer (NED), Ekdal (SWE), De Cuyper (BEL), Digne (FRA), Rice (ENG)

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum (6) - Ndoye, Okafor (SWI), Bellegarde (HAI), Patterson (SCO), Doku (BEL), Sa (POR)

Real Muppets (11) - Isidor (HAI), Talbi (MOR), Christie, Gannon-Doak (SCO), Diallo (CIV), Timber (NED), Lammens (BEL), Haaland (NOR), Ndiaye, Diarra (SEN) James (ENG)

San Dimas High School (11) - Alderete (PAR), Havertz (GER), Sangare (CIV), Tanaka (JPN), Summerville, Hato (NED), Elanga (SWE), Merino (SPA), E. Martinez (ARG), Gvardiol (CRO), Burn (ENG)

Stanley and Gracie Utd (3) - van Dijk (NED), Fernandez (ARG), Neto (POR)

The Cow-Faced Juniors (12) - Soucek (CZE), Gabriel (BRA), Mazraoui (MOR), Gross (GER), Guessand (CIV), Gyokeres (SWE), Pino (SPA), Strand Larsen (NOR), Ait-Nouri (ALG), Wissa (DRC), Livramento, Eze (ENG)

The Fabulous Artisans (8) - Woltemade, Wirtz (GER), Verbruggen (NED), Marmoush (EGY), Odegaard (NOR), Diouf (SEN), Dalot (POR), Guehi (ENG)

The Wateringhole Society (10) - Hincapie (ECU), Thiaw (GER) van Hecke, Gakpo (NED), Cucurella (SPA), Gusto, Saliba (FRA), Dias (POR), Konsa, Saka (ENG)

Trusted By Millions (6) - Gudmundsson (SWE), Trossard (BEL), M.Sarr (SEN), Danso (AUT), Anderson, Madueke (ENG)

Wheel Madrid (7) - Diop (MOR), McGinn (SCO), Lindelof, Isak (SWE), Tielemans (BEL), Wood (NZ), Spence (ENG)

YTFIB (5) - Hwang (SKO), Richards (USA), Gravenberch, Brobbey (NED), Semenyo (GHA)

The pool (18)- Riad (MOR), Gunn, Fletcher (SCO) Bayindir (TUR), Adams (USA), Angulo (ECU), Endo (JPN), Castagne (BEL), Ugarte, Bentancur (URU),  Ajer, Berge (NOR), Gueye (SEN), Lerma (COL), Silva (POR), Kovacic (CRO), Stones, J.Henderson (ENG)

Leaving the pool out of this, the Cheese, Markian and the CFJs are all sending the most players (12) to the World Cup. Ady supplies the most England players (4), while the most cosmopolitan of our teams is the CFJs who supply players to eleven different nations.

2025/26 £500k Team of the Season

(More of the same but with players from the bargain basement.)

GK - Emi Martinez (San Dimas High School)*

DEF - Marc Guehi (The Fabulous Artisans), Trevoh Chalobah (Claymore Athletic FC), Nikola Milenkovic (Cheese Makers), Reece James (Real Muppets)

MID - Harvey Barnes (The Wateringhole Society), Bruno Guimaraes (Mega Buck Bandits), Emi Buendia (Wheel Madrid), Enzo Le Fee (Mega Bucks)*

ATT - Danny Welbeck (The Cow-Faced Juniors), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Nil Satis Nisi Optimum)

Subs: Jordan Pickford (Aardvark Abacus); Alex Jimenez (CFJs); Nico O'Reilly (Cheese); Raul Jimenez (Cheese)

Martinez, Pope, Guehi, Milenkovic, Barnes and Raul Jimenez were all in last year's 15. Cheap attacking options look like a thing of the past.

* Alphabetical order in play.