WSFFL at the 2018 World Cup

Our four yearly look at which of our teams are sending players to the Greatest Show on Earth.

Aardvark Abacus (8) - Kompany, Batshuayi (BEL), Pickford, Rose, Trippier (ENG), Son (KOR), Matic (SER), Monreal (SPA)

Athletico Phoenix (5) - Vertonghen (BEL), Maguire, Loftus-Cheek (ENG), Soares (POR), Lindelof (SWE)

Cheese Makers (3) - Lanzini (ARG), Fellaini (BEL), Ki (KOR)

Claymore Athletic (7) - Aguero (ARG), Schmeichel (DEN), Stones (ENG), Giroud (FRA), Mario (POR), Gudmundsson (ICE), Tadic (SER)

Fred West LG XI (8) - Rojo (ARG), Courtois, Hazard (BEL), Hegazi, Salah (EGY), Alli (ENG), Lloris (FRA), Azpilicueta (SPA)

Markian Utd (6) - Fernandinho (BRA), Sanchez (COL), Kane (ENG), Sigurdsson (ICE), Krychowiak (POL), Kouyate (SEN)

Mega Bucks (2) - Zanka (DEN), Elneny (EGY)

Nil Satis (7) - Danilo (BRA), Lossl (DEN), Dier (ENG), Pogba, Mendy (FRA), Gueye (SEN), Shaqiri (SWI)

Real Muppets (12) - Caballero (ARG), Aldeweireld, De Bruyne, Dembele (BEL), Ederson (BRA), Ospina (COL), Christensen (DEN), Sterling (ENG), Okazaki (JPN), Iheanacho (NGR), Mane (SEN), Milivojevic (SER)

San Dimas (7) - Lukaku, Mignolet (BEL), Lovren (DEN), Welbeck (ENG), Kante (FRA), Rudiger (GER), Silva (SPA)

The Cow-Faced Juniors (6) - Chadli (BEL), Willian (BRA), Butland (ENG), Ozil (GER), Silva (POR), Ndiaye (SEN)

The Fabulous Artisans (6) - Firmino (BRA), Eriksen (DEN), Walker, Lingard (ENG), Hernandez (MEX), Fabianski (POL)

The Wateringhole Society (4) - Mooy (AUS), Rashford (ENG), Ndidi, Iwobi (NGR)

Trusted By Millions (12) - Otamendi (ARG), Jesus (BRA), Izquierdo (COL), Henderson, Cahill, Jones, Alexander-Arnold (ENG), Moses (NGR), Silva (POR), Mitrovic (SER), De Gea (SPA), Xhaka (SWI)

Wheel Madrid (2) - Vardy, Young (ENG)

YTFIB (7) - Ryan (AUS), Delph, Pope (ENG), Gundogan (GER), Diouf (SEN), Olsson (SWE), Benalouane (TUN)

The Pool (2) - Bednarek (POL), Carrillo (PER)

Ryan and Beef lead the way this time with 12. Perhaps their teams will be most exhausted when our new season kicks off!

Fred and Beef were joint top in 2014 and the pool had most in 2010.

2017/18 Co-Ord Round-up Part Eight - 1st-4th

1st: The Cow-Faced Juniors (up three places on last season)
Last season the CFJs probably couldn't believe they finished as low as fourth. This season they might be scratching their heads as to how they won it. There were no real superstars in the team but most of them did a job. Simply put, they had the right players on the fantasy pitch at the right time. They stuttered towards the end of the season but the challengers fell away too.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Alexis Sanchez went off the boil.

Star Player: Shkodran Mustafi (four goals, ten clean sheets)

2nd: Fred West Landscape Gardening XI (down one)
A patchy start to the season saw last year's champs bump along outside the top three for much of the campaign before a late charge threatened a repeat. They seemed to be more unlucky than most with running into opponents having an inspired day. The brilliant midfield and the bargain £11m signing of Mo Salah are likely to keep Fred at the sharp end next season too.
What happened to last year's Star Players? Eden Hazard and Dele Alli were ok without hitting last year's heights.

Star Player: Mo Salah (23 goals)

3rd: Aardvark Abacus (up seven)
After a last season's worst ever league placing Ady's team returned to form. And a bit more besides. The Aardvarks work from a base of a great defence and hope they can nick a few goals. Lacazette, Son and Tosun obliged at times and Ady claimed the FA Cup. The boss will probably be looking for an upgrade on Sandro and Batshuayi if this isn't to be a one-off.
What happened to last year's Star Players? Danny Rose was injured a lot, Son Heung-Min had a decent season.

Star Player: Nacho Monreal (four goals, 14 cleans)

4th: Real Muppets (down one)
For the second season running Ryan's team spent more than 25 weeks in the top three. And for the second season running he couldn't convert, a run of six draws in wight games between January and April doing the damage. The Muppets do have the PCMT in their cabinet though plus a fantastic keeper in Ederson and an improved Raheem Sterling. Much to look forward to.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Toby Aldeweireld missed a big chunk of the campaign through injury.

Star Player: Ederson (14 cleans, one saved penalty)

2017/18 Co-Ord Round-up Part Seven - 5th-8th

5th: The Fabulous Artisans (down three places on last season)
Yet another season where Ben's team made a slow start and did all their best work in the second part of the campaign. Disappointment in the FA Cup Final will be countered by positive thoughts about next season. Another striker is needed though as Benteke looked very much on the downgrade.
What happened to last year's Star Players? Benteke was a huge disappointment, Patrick van Aanholt didn't get as many opportunities as previously.

Star Player: Kyle Walker (16 clean sheets)

6th: Claymore Athletic FC (same place)
A second straight season for Clive without silverware but it was a misfiring end to the season that stopped Claymore finishing higher. There just three wins in the last 11 games. Sergio Aguero led from the front but more would have been expected from big money signing Serge Aurier.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Aguero made it four years in a row.

Star Player: Sergio Aguero (23 goals)

7th: San Dimas High School (up one)
My team finished in their traditional 'between fifth and ninth' position. Four straight defeats in April and May put paid to a higher finish. Antonio Rudiger was a decent replacement for Kyle Walker but there wasn't enough improvement in the squad to make a challenge. Next year?
What happened to last year's Star Player? Romelu Lukaku wasn't as effective but still the main man.

Star Player: Romelu Lukaku (14 goals)

8th: Trusted By Millions (down three)
Any hopes of a high finish this year were seen off in November and December with a run of six straight defeats. The defence is a solid as any but while Gabriel Jesus made an impression in his first full season there wasn't enough goalscoring backup from the likes of Gray and Izquierdo.
What happened to last year's Star Player? A decent return from Gary Cahill despite not always being first choice.

Star Player: Nicolas Otamendi (three goals, 16 cleans)