Since the “Footie support group” thread was a little out of date, I thought I would start a new one each month specifically for discussing all aspects of the beautiful game, including individual member’s performances in the Straight Dope Fantasy League.
Being an exiled scouser myself, I shall take the part of Ray Stubbs (who, incidentally, is the resident alcoholic of the White Hart pub by the river in Chiswick, near Barnes Bridge station - I kid you not). Of course, this means all of you are represented by some horrific hybrid comprising Mark Lawrenson’s hair, Mick McCarthy’s nose and the basilisk eyes of Garth Crooks.
Topics this month:[ul][li]After a flattering win against The Other Side, must Liverpool give Houllier time to allow his grass-roots reorganisation to show results (like the world-beating French national team) or should we say see yer and allow another manager to reap those rewards (like the world-beating French national team)? [/li][li]The Chelski Money-Laundering Project: Dream Team, or Nightmare on Fulham Broadway?[/li][li] MUrdoch United or L’Arse for the title? The tension is absolutely bearable.[/li][li] Tottenham ‘Til I Die: You guys must be fuggin’ MENTAL. [/li][li] The Drop Zone: Sir Robbie Bobson (112) nominates himself as Toon penalty taker and A Man Called Steve takes the Borough from Middles to Distinctly Lower. Plus fox-hunting from Leicester, and the boy who cried “Wolves”. [/li][li] Nationwide/Scotland: if it’s not Cardiff or Marine AFC I scarcely give a hoot, but you guys carry on.[/li] International: The Welsh dragon requires a puff of Ventolin to get to Portugal, while England bedazzle the world with inspirational 2-1 wins against unbelievably crap teams.[/ul]Plus, Gazelle is off to a flyer in the first weekend of Month 1 of the Fantasy league. London_Calling, however, appears to have Tottenham sewn into the very fibre of his being. Who will be that elusive cheap-striker-with-80-odd-points like Beattie last season?
Kewell is, in my opinion at least, overrated. He was a good player at Leeds, but being surrounded by some very ordinary players that wasn’t too difficult. I watched the Liverpool game on Saturday and he was nothing special; a nice finish for his goal, but I don’t remember him doing anything really exciting beyond that. I rate him roughly as much as Steve McManaman in his later Liverpool days: capable of some really good moves, but not consistently enough to justify a vast price tag. Of course, he may yet prove me totally wrong.
Viduka has a mixed reputation among the Leeds fans I know. They think he’s lazy, slow and has a bad attitude, but since he still manages to knock goals in they seem willing to keep him and be happy with that.
Bosnich has vanished from the radar after his drug problems. The last I heard Portsmouth wanted to offer him a deal, probably as a reserve keeper, but couldn’t agree terms. No other club’s touched him.
One of the most interesting looking Aussie prospects seems to be Brett Emerton at Blackburn. I’ve heard good things about him, especially considering he was relatively cheap.
So no real knockout Australian players on the scene then at the moment? Say, like in the calibre of a Van Nistleroy?
Please note: I’m not searching for “feel good” platitudes by the way - we Aussies would prefer to hear the truth than some sort of “faint praise” if you know what I mean…
And further, there is no country I would prefer to see WIN the World Cup than New Zealand. And even though this is a (hopefully temporarily brief) football code digression, one of the things which amuses we Aussies endlessly is that by far the majority of we Aussies are quite happy and comfortable when New Zealand wins on the World Stage. It’s very much a sense of familial pride as it were. But I’m not sure if such magnanimity is entirely reciprocal at times.
Boo, Daddy Kewell was always my favourite non-Liverpool player at Leeds, ever since I saw him beat three players and cross for Viduka with his left foot round the back of his right leg - no player in England would try, let alone acheive, something like that. Liverpool need a “missing link”, a Pires or a Giggs, and I think Harry might be it. Unfortunately he might be another Jari Litmannen - brilliant but used poorly.
Viduka is a genuine all-round (literally) goalgetter on a par with Jimmy Floyd. If Leeds sell him they will be in big trouble.
Smirk away, Twisty, but if Cardiff can stay in the first division this season I can see them nibbling at the play-offs in future ones. Sam Hamman’s the man with the plan (not manwithaplan, you understand), Lennie Lawrence is a shrewd old dog and more and more of the valleys are coming to Ninian park on a Saturday afternoon: the potential fan base is simply enormous, like having one club in all of Birmingham or something. If Sam ever convinces the RFU to lend Cardiff the Stadium for big matches then the Premiership beckons at a very audible volume indeed.
Incidentally, I had the opportunity to see TNS play a home game in the Stadium (literally 5 mins walk from my house) against Man City last week. I declined.
FF-wise, 'tis only the first weekend, my son. Take heart - I am also counting on Phillips putting a few past Wolves this weekend.
I had a look at the overall Fantasy League table and the guys at the top had transferred players after Saturday’s matches to have more players playing on Sunday. It might be a tactic worth considering but I suspect most of us will need all six monthly transfers for injuries etc.
Great start for the Arsenal but I don’t hold out much hope once injuries and suspensions start taking their toll - the squad looks very light. The best hope is that Chelski and United take a while to bed in a first eleven and Arsenal can steal a march. Based on last season, a thirty point lead at Easter should do the trick.
A fortnight’s break for internationals now. Hopefully, Ireland don’t fuck things up this weekend against Russia as I don’t fancy my already booked trip to Switzerland in October being for nowt. Ireland have Turkey in a friendly next Tuesday so we’ll be careful not to cause them any injury, lest their chances against Ing-Er-Land be compromised;).
Comiserations, Peeeeete - aye, it was a tight old game, no doubt about it. Cracker of a goal to win it though, I would hope you were gallant enough to agree.
It a f*cking disaster and I don’t want to talk about it.
As for the title - as usual, for me it all depends on the mixture of squad strength, injuries and, as importantly, collective character – which obviously puts the Ashburton Grovellers in third spot behind ManYoo and the Launderers.
I’m keen on MoneyLaunderers FC doing to well; quality in big numbers, lots to prove (as individuals and collectively) and a squad that’s seemingly been bought specifically to mount two separate campaigns - and I’m not talking about the FA Cup.
Big question: How will John Inman mould the squad cos they could do awfully well in Europe, imho ?
Good question, LC. I think he’ll priotise Crespo, Veron and Makele for Champs League and keep the likes of Big Frankie Lamp Hard, EmManuel from Barcelona and Jimmy Floyd Facialexpression for the midweek scrap at Villa Park and the like.
Should John develop a fast counterattacking game, I would like to see the likes of Duff and Mutu trained in shouting “I’m free!” to their defence.
With the availability of a triumvirate of such prowess as Gary Doherty, David Connolly and Clinton Morrison, I’m already looking at villas in the Algarve;).
