James opens up a gap.........

See told you! JN has opened up a 10 point gap at the top of the FFL League after the New Year / FA Cup period. Indeed, JN's haul of 14 points was more than mine over the past 2 weeks!
In effect my team's misifiring coupled with Sid and Nick Ach scoring 25 and 16 respectively has had a consertina effect with 5 points separating second to fourth place.
Top score this week has gone to Rico with a mamoth 29 with a significant contribution of eight points from Arsenal's Justin Hoyte. That's right, Hoyte. Not only is he flying the flag for Englishmen everywhere in that French quarter of London known as 'Eeeslintonne' but he has given Rico's team some hope for the rest of the season. Only 48 points behind top spot!

Top scoring individual was not Mr Deflection despite a hattrick against Macclesfield. That honour was reserved for Thierry Henry with 12 points. As much as his return looks to have revitalised Arsenal, it could just be what allows Sid to make an FFL title challenge.
Elsewhere, Stathi is still rooted after a 10 point haul but this is not low enough to give him the 'Tesco Value Award' for budget points total as that has gone to yours truly with a pathetic 6!

Here is the table and as I stated last week, please check your scores and email me any mistakes.

		Total Points	Diff
1st	James	229
2nd	Mike	219	10
3rd	Nick Ach	218	11
4th	Sid	214	15
5th	Nick Ath	194	35
6th	Rico	181	48
7th	Donald	176	53
8th	Theo	173	56
9th	Steve	146	83
10th	Stathi	119	110

One transfer to note but THREE attenpts to get the same player:

I bid Francis for Kieron Dyer but never had a prayer once Rico and James were in the running.
James bid Nolan for Dyer but was beaten to it by Rico who has given up the talents of Joe Cole for the aforementioned injury prone 'billy big boots' of Tyneside!

That's it for the week and I can't post this without saying how I thoroughly enjoyed Arsenal's recent scouse bashing! The 6-3 game really rammed it home why Gerrard has been played on the right by Benitez - because even against a bunch of kids he was totally dominated in the middle when he hasn't got at least two players helping him in the middle. It was so embarrasing for 'Stevie G' that I was sure the interviewer was going to ask him at the end of the game whether it was dark in Fabregas' pocket!!!!

So long for this week. (Nick when are you back from Egypt?????????)