In Roman's world...........

First Grant, now Ten Cate.

It seems that Mr Abramovich has pressed 'reset' on his real life game of Football Manager!!!!

Still got unlimited funds though!

By the way, both had four year contracts and will need payment for three of those years each - approx. £5m each!!!!

Also, to add to post below...........

We can also use the follwing link.

EURO 2008 FFL

It is from the same people who run the league one.

I don't mind running it with regular updates.

Forget the auction. We just choose our teams, send them to me and I'll set up a spreadsheet. Transfers to work in the same way as per stated.

What do you think????

Euro 2008 Fantasy League

It has to be done. It's a different format but it's just a bit of fun:

Register here.

Fat Spanish Waiter gets his excuses in early........

I can’t believe that he is quoted as saying:

"It's more difficult because after two years of Chelsea winning the league and spending big money, United needed to do the same," Benítez said. "They started spending big money and Arsenal were also spending big money on young players. We are trying to do the same but because they are continuing to spend big money, it makes it more difficult to catch up ... We will try to do our best and the key for me is to not talk about the title."

LINK TO ARTICLE

How can he say Arsenal spend BIG???

Click on this link. It tells you what Rafael Beneathus has spent. As you scan through try to refrain from using expletives. 'Oh My God' will suffice!!!!

Below is a (LONG) list of his buys.

Even playing Championship Manager nobody buys this many players!

(* denotes players who have been good buys IMO while ^ denotes a steaming pile of shit)

Alonso*
Josemi^
Garcia
Sissoko^
Agger*
Nunez^
Pellegrino^
Gonzalez^
Kuyt^
Bellamy^
Crouch
Aurelio^
Pennant^
Arbeloa
Fowler^^^^^
Mascherano*
Reina*
Anderson
Paletta^
Padelli
Roque
Peltier
Nabil El Zhar
Brouwer
Hansen
Flynn
Insua
Duran
Huth
Idrizaj
Antwi
Carsson
Kromkamp^
Morientes^
Barragan
Anderson
Ajdarevic
Zenden
Lucas
Veronin^
Simon
Nemeth
Mihailov
San Jose
Kacaniklic
Pacheco
Purie
Alexandrov
Torres***
Benayoun^
Babel
Awang
Amoo
Bouzanis – Greek Aussie goalkeeper
Pouriez
Skrtel

And finally, anyone remember those Burt Reynolds films, Cannonball Run?

Well it is clear that Benitez was also star of the films:

Captain Chaos - future manager of Liverpool!

Man Utd v Spurs: a classic

So I was talking to Mighty Mouse the other day about Spurs references in film. I was specifically referring to In Bruges, with Colin Farrell. In the film, Farrell's character is having the concept of Pergatory explained to him in a museum by his more cultured partner, who has to reduce it to the simple notion of 'not really shit but not good either'. Suddenly enlightened, Farrell replies 'You mean like Tottenham?'

So to make up for it, here's something more flattering.

This 'hero' will get it loads next season.............

can he cope????

Mister Chelsea............Mister Penalty!

Couldn't happen to a 'nicer' man.

Fate and destiny.

I was thinking about 'heroes' penalty last night. To me his arrogance and ego got the better of him and it showed Average Grant for what he is - average.

What manager would have a centre-back taking the FIFTH penalty?

Why did he go up. Mister Chelsea eh? Sorry but some of these players it's all about me, me, me. Incidentally I think Ronaldo falls into this category as well.

Could Terry takling the penalty be the reason why 'Le Sulk' was moody in the walk up to his penalty?

Poetic justice anyway.

Drogba finally got his due. Would have taken a penalty - proabably the fifth!

As for the 'people's hero' having watched the match again at 1am (without the stress and Stathi with his finger on speed dial for Chase Farm) I am certain he spits on Tevez during the red card incident.

Karma can work quite quickly sometimes!!!

Still buzzing.

So that's how they can bid for Eto'o, Ronaldinho etc etc

I make it 27 kits in three seasons!!!!

FFL update

Instead of marking coursework I have been updating FFL. Now that's commitment for you!

(in reality I was trying in vain to find a cheap flight to Moscow. I then thought that if I update FFL then footballing gods will shine on me!!! I've got a ticket but can't afford the £800 flight. Fucking UEFA. WHY MOSCOW????????)

Anyway. It was all over a long time ago. An unbelievable score by Stathi (and still racking up the points)

Forget the 469 record. The man has annihilated the top score and broken through the 500 points barrier with ease.

Here are the updated scores:

Diff			Total Points
	1st	Stathi	522
96	2nd	Rico	426
107	3rd	Mike	415
134	4th	Sid	388
184	5th	James	338
198	6th	Nick Ath	324
232	7th	Don	290
233	8th	Nick PC	289
238	9th	Theo	284

A special mention to James who in this period of non-updates has outscored everyone and lifted him into mid-table (mediocrity).

Just a statto observation but both Rico and myself would have won the FFL in every other year bar this and 2005 with current scores. Stathi you have raised the bar. (unlike Riise who couldn't get his header over the bar - still hilarious now!!!!)

Regards your Chairman

PS

I'm coming back from holiday on the 21st August, which is a Thursday. I am therefore throwing a date into the ring to have next season's auction on the weekend of Friday 22nd - Sunday 24th.

Any other opinions on when will next year's FFL auction take place and where?

The bidding starts in earnest.

Is anybody there....

...not that I'm at all interested in FFL scores but it does seem to have gone a little quiet over the past few weeks?

Ooops!

Instead of saying 'seal cull hunt' this poor news reporter got it horribly wrong!!!

And lets not forget, I got an 84 day ban for using this word!!!!!!

FFL Week 30

So close. So, so close.

It is all about records in this season procession of the 12th Dwight Yorke Cup.

Stathi currently stands on 466 points. A mere Rooney goal away from equalling the all-time record - and there are still weeks to go before the end of the season. What's more, he is also over 100 points ahead of his nearest 'challenger'.

What a boring season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well done.

Here is this week's table:

	1st	Stathi	466
103	2nd	Rico	363
121	3rd	Mike	345
152	4th	Sid	314
203	5th	James	263
204	6th	Nick Ath	262
219	7th	Nick PC	247
229	8th	Don	237
243	9th	Theo	223

I haven't even bothered checking for transfers. Just let me know if I missed one!!!

Regards from your chairman who is still grinning like a Chesire Cat after last week - especially as I had the pleasure of sitting next to a scouser at the game. Do you think his ears still ache????? 'Viva Ronaldo'

Gutted.................

Having watched Sky Sports News this morning, I was aghast when they showed this morning's papers and in one of them it claimed that Liverpool manager Rafael Beneathus was on his way to Barcelona.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Rafa must stay.

The Rafalution must be allowed to run its course.

Great teams have great captains....................

Not always true, but it helps.


But it does beg the question, why is William Gallas STILL the Arsenal skipper? Especailly when he came out with the following:

Asked by a French newspaper who his buddies were at Arsenal, Gallas said: "Mates? Well, they are more like acquaintances. At Arsenal there is Theo Walcott but he is very young."

He then went on to say who his real buds are. "Really, it's the guys at Chelsea like Frank Lampard, John Terry, Wayne Bridge and Joe Cole. It always gives me pleasure to see them again. We all have our own lives but when we see each other - especially Terry - we always like to spend some time talking together."

Nice one, William.

Does this say more about Gallas or Wenger who, lets not forget at the beginning of the season claimed he would use Gilberto, Gallas and Toure as his captain

"The captain last year was Gilberto and there is no reason to take it away from him. At the moment in some games it is Gallas and some games it is Kolo because I feel that the centre back position is the best one from which to captain the team. Those three will be leaders of the team for the season and whoever plays will captain the team. We are a very young side and the experienced players have a big part to play. That is why I try to multiply the influence of the big players."

Hmmmm. Amazing how the London press have not jumped on this, especially after Gallas' cry baby antics against Birmingham and his 'captain's display' against Chelsea.' There was also the public criticism of Theo Walcott for being "too predictable" in his style of play. And now the above quote. But we shouldn't expect the London-based media to rock the boat of the world's youngest and greatest football team ever, ever in the history of the world ever (TM), should we?

For me, Toure should be captain. Been there longer than Gallas. Has been Arsenal's most consistent and best player for the last few years (Henry included) and is close enough in age to younger members of the team while also having the necessary experience. Bit of a smack in the face for Kolo not being made captain imo. But then at Dubaibury they do say 'In Wenger We Trust'!!!!!!!!!!! (they also say 'Hleb is better than Best' - MOTWYW!)

FFL Week 29 / 30

In a week that saw United only score once against Derby, Arsenal drop more points, an 8-goal thriller at the Lane, Ashley Cole showing us all (again!) why he is football's biggest C-U-N-T, and Ronaldo edge closer to not only top scorer in the league, PFA player of the year, Football Writers Player of the Year, the Ballo D'Or and the European Golden Boot the biggest news is that our very own Mr Marneros closes in on the record FFL score.

As the title has never really been in doubt it has been all about records and as it stands (midweek scores included) Stathi is just 21 points from usurping my 469 record tally. Gutted!

However, this is undeniably an amazing acheivement. Well done mate. But it is joing the double title club which must really be pleasing! One more and you can join the hat-trick club!

I will happy to see those 21 points reached via Rooney scoring a double hat-trick and Wes Brown keeping a clean sheet on this "super douper no-it-wasn't-planned-in-advance-double-header- between-the-top-four-so-late-in-the-season weekend"

Also, I have news. I BEAT THE FA! As some of you know I was banned for a ridiculous 84 days for calling a ref an expletive......twice. I got my paper work in order wrote a 2000 word appeal letter, spoke to fellow managers who wrote letters in my defence, commitee members from other clubs also did the same, and I organised a petition. In all 12 documents amounting to over 8000 words AND I WON. Nothing "frivolous about my appeal!"

I am back on the training ground and back in charge of the team. GET IN!

Here is the table:

KOPA LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Panthea	19	15	1	2	65	17	48	49
2	Aris	19	15	3	1	73	20	53	48
3	Brotherhood	21	10	5	6	44	43	1	35

Sorry, wrong one!

	1st	Stathi	448
90	2nd	Rico	358
110	3rd	Mike	338
137	4th	Sid	311
190	5th	Nick Ath	258
192	6th	James	256
208	7th	Nick PC	240
215	8th	Don	233
237	9th	Theo	211

Battle for second is still on as is the battle for fifth!

No transfers to report.

What would you do?

You have won a prize that gives you 10 minutes with this 'gentle'man.


What do you do?

Prediction Time

In a fit of boredom I sat down and worked through the score predictor on the BBC website. Obviously still plenty of games to play and if my FFL score is anything to go by then I will be way off base...hopefully. Because the alarming result is that I see the wrong half of North London parading the Premiership trophy this season. For the record:

1st Arsenal 87pts
2nd Man Utd 83pts
3rd Chelsea 82pts
4th Liverpool 74pts
-------------------
Bolton to join Fulham and Derby in the Vauxhaull conference next season.

Like I said, lets hope I'm wrong - but lets also see what the rest of you think!

Ouch? or Ecstasy?

Arsenal's league fixtures for the next month or so.

Home to Boro : 15 March
Away to Chelsea : 23 March
Away to Bolton : 29 March
Home to Liverpool : 02 April
Home to Liverpool : 05 April
Away to Liverpool : 09 April
Away to Man Utd : 13 April

Two ways to look at it:

1) Fuck, fuck, fuck, shit fuck....................BANG (smash head on the desk), fuck, fuck fuck.

or

2) Bring it on. If they are going to do it, do it properly. none of this playing yak farmers from belgium in a Euro Cup final, or even getting a bye into the next round!!!!!

If Arsenal get through that unscathed and by that I mean in with shout of the title and qualify for the Champions League semis then look out for a platinum DVD boxset etc etc.

Mouthwatering for the rest of us. Don't know about the Arsenal and Liverpool fans are thinking. If it was United, I'd be bricking it!

FFL Week 28

Scores as they stand before the midweek games. They will be added to THIS week's scores.

Stathi closes in on his second title and the highest ever score. Rico pulls away in second place.

Diff			Total Points
	1st	Stathi	420
74	2nd	Rico	346
94	3rd	Mike	326
121	4th	Sid	299
166	5th	James	254
176	6th	Nick Ath	244
182	7th	Nick PC	238
194	8th	Don	226
230	9th	Theo	190

Transfers:

Unfortunately one manager tried to buy another manager's player. I won't expose them!

Foreigner quota for FA Cup

Not a bad idea......................

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3543013.ece

But can't see the FA's public relations spokesman (AKA Arsene Wenger) agreeing to it though!