FFL Week 18 - updated

It's nice to be back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (is it F***!) I will be blunt and to the point.

I have lumped together the Christmas points from the past week and updated week 18 on the spreadsheet. This is to facilitate a smooth transition to the normallity of the football and FFL week.

A remarkable run of form from Berbatov saw him accumulate 16 points last week. Cynics pointed out that this had more to do with the opening of the transfer window than anything to do with wanting to see his side win a few games. For those unbelievers, watch his performance against Arsenal where there was more movement from his arms than his legs (this game obviously was played pre-trasnfer window!!)

Personally, I think Spurs should take the money and invest in some players who know what
a) marking is,
b) know how to tackle and
c) know how to organise that thing in football that is meant to prevent goals from being conceded.

At the moment, Joey Barton has a better defence than Spurs (and he's guilty as sin)

This gave Sid an amazing 42 points which elevated into third place. Stathi (obviously) stays on top with a more than credible 28 points helped by Santa Cruz. Lets hope this seasonally named forward stops scoring once the days get longer and the sun comes out. Rico keeps plugging away in second thanks to 17 points.

Scrooge award for lame points total is Theo with a a rather Ebeneezerly tight 9 which keeps him bottom.

Table:

Diff	Manager		Points	Defence	Midfield	Attack
	1st	Stathi	271	92	101	67
57	2nd	Rico	214	97	57	48
69	3rd	Sid	202	84	62	45
81	4th	Mike	190	57	70	63
97	5th	Nick Ath	174	73	55	34
102	6th	Nick PC	169	88	36	20
110	7th	James	161	76	49	36
126	8th	Don	145	38	18	71
133	9th	Theo	138	60	34	7

I have included the full table as we are now at the half-way point of the season. Next week is FA Cup weekend. Here's hoping Adebayor scores ten against Burnley while Fabregas is obviously rested.

The points from New Year's day onwards will be included in next week's round-up. As it stands before Santa Cruz scores a shed load against Sunderland tonight, Stathi maintains his 57 point lead at the top. James is this week's biggest mover so far with 17 points!

Finally, can I wish everyone a wonderful New Year. We have EURO 2008 on the horizon - anyone fancy a road trip to Salzburg for the 14th June Greece -Russia game? (It's a Saturday we can leave Friday)
Elsewhere, lets hope football continues to bring us joy - not just in the form of incisive, quality football not seen anywhere on this planet in the history of the game ever, ever, ever by such a young team that contains only teenagers ('trademark AFC' - as the London press keep telling us)

My hopes for the New Year include (apart from the obvious)
1) That that detestable little scrotum Eboue finally gets what he deserves. What a snidy little shit he is.

2) That Benitez keeps his job and keeps playing Kuyt

3) That football finally wakes up and stops giving very average footballers 50K+ a week contracts. Anyone see Reo-Coker on MTV Cribs? How can a player with no pace, little skill and an amazing inability to retain posession have the money to buy a holiday home in Orlando that he "uses two weeks a year" which has five bedrooms, swimming pool etc etc. Also see Antoine Sibierski (yes him) and his palatial home in Cannes as well as as Robbie Savage's amazing abode. Why? How?

4) A media realisation that some English footballers (you know who I mean!) are rather good - not WORLD class.

5) That Sam 'fat brown envelope' Allardyce keeps his job. I ma enjoying watching him squirm. Arrogant man who has an unhealthy and elevated opinion oif himself. I wouldn't mind if he did get his P45 just to see Mary Poppins have a go and send them down!

Regards, your chairman