Welcome to EFL2010
Welcome to the Elavon Merchant Services Fantasy League (EFL) for 2010/2011 season – hopefully the first of many seasons. I will update these notes as the season progresses – and if you’re really keen you should be able to subscribe via RSS to get the updates posted to your mailbox.
Starting line-ups are in – and already we have our first casualties of “Random Roger”. Both John and Mark failed to register their starting line-ups before the deadline so have been dealt a random selection of teams – which could come back to haunt JOK in particular as he’ll be losing both Chelsea and ManUtd during the first transfer window.
Tonight’s PL fixture between ManU and Newcastle will complete the first set of EFL fixtures – although Paul Lalor’s Smack My Pitch Up have already become the first team to secure three points with a 7-0 demolition job on Gavin’s Werder Beermen based on Saturday’s results.
Full results from Week 1 and the first league table of the season should be online this evening.
WAFFL/LAM – 2010/2011 Prizes
OK – as mentioned below I cocked up somewhat on last season’s prizes – but I think I’m right for this season. So – prizes will be:
WAFFL:
| Divisional Champions | £100.00 | (3 prizes) | plus entry into LAM 2011/2012 | |
| Divisional Runners-up | £50.00 | (3 prizes) | plus entry into LAM 2011/2012 | |
| Divisional Third Place | £25.00 | (3 prizes) | plus entry into LAM 2011/2012 | |
| Cup Winners | £75.00 | (1 prize) | plus entry into LAM 2011/2012 | |
| Cup Runners-up | £50.00 | (1 prize) |
As well as the prizes listed above, the fourth placed teams from each division plus the two teams with the next best overall records for the season will qualify for free entry into the 2011/2012 Loads-A-Money season. The final LAM place is reserved for this season’s LAM champions. If the LAM champion already qualify through WAFFL league position then the final place will go to the next-best placed WAFFL team.
LAM:
| Losing Semi-Finalists | £25.00 | (2 prizes) | ||
| Runner-up | £50.00 | (1 prize) | ||
| Champions | £75.00 | (1 prize) | plus entry into LAM 2011/2012 |
WAFFL – get yer boots on!
Right – the season’s about to kick off so here’s a summary of the changes for 2010/2011.
- This season sees three divisions of 14 teams each. Not a change in itself as we had the same format last season – but what HAS changed is that I’ll be calculating new prize moneys correctly based on 42 teams (unlike last season where I paid out based on the full 48). Idiot! Final allocations will be online once I’ve worked them out.
- The old “straight knock-out” cup competition has gone. This season we will start off with a group stage where the teams are divided into 6 groups of 7 who will then play each other on a home-and-away basis. The top two from each group will qualify for the knock-out phase along with the two next-best non-qualifiers.
- All rounds in the knock-out phase will be played on a two-legged basis. If aggregate scores are level after the second leg then a single replay will take place. THERE WILL BE NO “AWAY GOALS” RULE.
- All replays will be on neutral venue – i.e. neither side will have the regular 1-goal away team handicap.
- If the replay is a draw then the result will be determined by a penalty shoot-out. Each team’s penalty score will be determined by totalling the following until a result is achieved:
- The number of goals SCORED by their Goalkeeper and Defence components during the replay fixtures.
- The number of goals SCORED by their Goalkeeper component during the original 2nd leg fixture.
- The number of goals SCORED by their Midfield component during the original 2nd leg fixture.
- The number of goals SCORED by their Goalkeeper component during the original 1st leg fixture.
- The number of goals SCORED by their Midfield component during the original 1st leg fixture.
- The idea behind the new cup format is to reduce the number of “dead” weeks. Last season, anyone knocked out in the first round of the cup had 10 blank weeks during the season – far too many.
- To accommodate the new format and minimise the number of dead weeks, the first 24 weeks of the season will see fixtures alternate between League and Cup Group matches. Matches for the Cup The knock-out phase will then double up on the same weeks as League fixtures.
- As a result of the above there is a bit of a skew with regards to the number of League matches played during each WAFFL Phase – which may affect the way you plan your selections.
- THERE WILL BE NO MOTM AWARDS THIS SEASON
- I’ve extended the deadline for starting line-ups to 12:00 noon on Saturday
Some of the above may work well – some less so. If you have suggestions for tweaks (for next season) feel free to email me or respond on this board.
Those of you in LAM should also now be able to make your starting selections etc.
Right – get on with it then.
England beaten in final again!
Who would believe it – once again England have lost in the final match of a World Cup competition! Luckily I’ve had a word with Sepp and he’s agreed to hold a few meaningless friendlies so we can finish our challenge.
Round 3 winner was Colin Weddell who just edged out Mikeb. Early leaders in Round 4 are hurley_burley1 and Maxster with 20 points each from the opening 6 games – but there is still a long way to go.
The Auckland continues to lead overall – but M_Wiseman has closed the gap to just 4 points. davepierce67 and keiron are also just about still in contention for top prize – and a couple of maximums could still haul a few of the chasers back into the running.
WCC2010 – another update!
OK – Round Two has been and gone and the £20 prize for winning the round went to M_Wiseman with 39 points, despite fierce competition from swiggy (38) and Hamish (37).
We’re now half-way through Round Three and joint-leaders for the round are Colin Weddell and kris on 22 points each.
Overall leader is still Round One winner The Auckland on 95. The Barron boys keiron (84) and kris (82) are second and third respectively with M_Wiseman (81) and swiggy (80) currently completing the top five. Still plenty of games to go – but someone needs to start closing the gap at the top pretty quick!
WCC2010 – we’re off and running!
OK – so here we are, just about a week into the 2010 World Cup and you’d have to say it’s all going along quite nicely – other than the fact that a lot of the football has been pretty dire, those damn bloody vuvuzelas are driving me up the wall – and, of course, Robert Green had to choose perhaps the worst possible moment to display Scottish tendencies and throw the ball into his own net! Hmmm.
In the Challenge we’ve now completed the first phase (doesn’t time fly when you’re enjoying yourself?) – and the winner of Round 1 is one of our American cousins – Eric Clark masquerading as The Auckland. So not only do the Yanks take our valuable World Cup points off us – Eric’s now blagged twenty of our English pounds. Outrageous!
Eric is also the current overall leader – hardly surprising as we’re just two games into Round 2. Veteran WAFFLer davepierce67 is second (and if you wonder why I describe him as “veteran”, have you seen his mugshot on Arsebook??), closely followed by irishbee, keiron and Rachel J (our top girly at this stage).
Down at the derriere it’s interesting (but not too surprising) to see a whole bunch of Scots. Says it all really. Mark Rhodes is also in amongst them – but at least he has the excuse that he’s letting Random Roger do all the work for him!
Prizes for the competition will be:
| First place: | £200 |
| Second place: | £100 |
| Third place: | £70 |
| Fourth place: | £40 |
| Fifth place: | £20 |
| Round Winners: | £20 each |
Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. Probably.
ShotsWeb Challenge – Oops! It finished!
Oh dear – just realised I never updated this page with the final results. Never mind! 
Congratulations to Maxster who won by the proverbial country mile to win the title for the second time in four years. Jet_Set_Willy and Harry Palmer finished second and thid respectively – just as they did last season.
Next season’s fixtures will be out shortly so I’ll soon be accepting registrations for the coming season. Bring it on!
WAFFL – What’s that fat bint squawking about?
OK – I think I’m finally over the pain of relegation and I’ve cleaned away the last remnants of tear-stained face-paint – so it’s time to wrap the season up following the final day’s action.
In Division One the top two (North Seabreezers and Sabiya Wanderers) were already confirmed as champions and runners-up and they are joined in next season’s Loads-A-Money by What’s Going On? and Titi Floats On.
The A-Team finished the season in winning form to top Division Two by 5 points over The Auckland. The Bastard Sons of Peter Beardsley finished third with Igrox Athletic Reserves fourth – while The Firm F.C. also qualified for LAM from this division.
Division Three honours went to Varns Vagges who pipped Logan’s Run on goal difference. Kuwait Hearts, Abu Dhabi Rovers and Bruce Almighty also qualified for Europe.
I can’t list the definitive final promotion and relegation “winners” as I’m hoping to get a few new faces in the competition next season to increase the size of each division back up to 16 – but suffice to say if there’s any way I can keep Scruffy’s BarBarians in the top flight while simultaneously denying The Bastard Sons of Peter Beardsley for the second year running I shall have no hesitation!
You should by now have received your end-of-season email. I hope you have enjoyed the season and that you will all be back for more in August. The earlier you can confirm your participation the better! If you know of any other potential mugs please send them to me!
Don’t forget the World Cup Challenge – so far we’ve got 18 entries but I’m hoping to push that up closer to 30 by the start of the tournament – which should provide a top prize of around £200.
If you’re on ArseBook why not join the newly created WAFFL group? It could be a real happening place to be if I ever work out how to use the damn thing! I think the wall is open to all so feel free to post a bit of abuse.
Thanks for taking part – enjoy the close season – and hurry back in August!
Oh yeah – and COME ON INGERLUND!!!
WAFFL – never mind the dangly bits!
Well that’s unusual! The Premier League goes into the final round of fixtures with the title race still just about open – but in WAFFL Division One after last night’s PL results completed the outstanding fixtures from Week 20 the fat lady has been up, had a warble and is now back in the bar glugging a large Gin and Tonic. Congratulations to Hamish Bruce whose North Seabreezers are four points clear to give him his first ever top-flight championship win and also earn him a place in next season’s Loads-A-Money. Sabiya Wanderers are guaranteed second place and have also qualified for LAM but the two remaining LAM places are still up for grabs. At the bottom the trap-door has slammed shut on Weddell’s Wanderers and Mesolithic Albion FC – but Scruffy’s BarBarians still have an outside chance of catching Igrox Athletic to avoid the drop after Week 20 saw them gain 3 points and a remarkable 12 goal swing over Athletic.
In Division Two the title is still up for grabs after the top two both won in Week 20. The A-Team lead the way but need a win in their final game to be sure of the title as second-placed The Auckland have a vastly superior goal difference. Both sides are assured of a place in LAM – but again the two remaining places are still up for grabs. As with Division One the two bottom teams (Manilla Magic and Jone Salat Bangkok) are already doomed to relegation but the remaining place will go down to the final day with Ibrox Reserves and The Greasy Chip Buttie both sweating it out.
For real madness we need to drop into Division Three where no less than five teams still have a theoretical chance of winning the league. Varns Vagges go into the final day as favourites as they are currently two points clear – but Abu Dhabi Rovers, Bruce Almighty, Road to Nowhere and Logan’s Run are all still within reach. At the bottom it’s between The Chairmen and DC United in the fight for the wooden spoon. Both issues could be decided by a single fixture as top team Varns Vagges face bottom club DC United on the final day.
Don’t forget – the World Cup is coming and with all the diving, cheating and beating of England that will be going on, the only thing to make it all bearable will be the WAFFL World Cup Challenge. At just 20 quid to enter it’s a no-brainer. If you have any mates with no brains, feel free to steer them in the right direction as well!
WAFFL – Week 19 completion
Last night’s Premier Leage fixture between Hull and Villa completed WAFFL Week 19 and produced a total of 13 results across the three divisions – so worthy of a brief write-up!
In Division One North Seabreezers went three points clear at the top as they completed a 6-0 demolition of Igrox Athletic while second placed Sabiya Wanderers were held to a 3-3 draw by What’s Going On? Given the current state of the in-progress games from Week20, Breezers are now probably just a single point away from clinching the title. At the bottom, Mesolithic Albion FC’s 2-1 defeat at home to Cloughie’s Red Nose pretty much slams the trapdoor shut on them. Weddell’s Wanderers kept alive their hopes of avoiding the drop with a 6-0 thrashing of Titi Floats On - leaving it as two from three out of themselves, Igrox Athletic and Scruffy’s BarBarians for the remaining relegation places.
With leaders The A-Team already having completed their fixture, The Auckland cut the gap at the top of Division Two to two points with a 4-3 win at The Greasy Chip Buttie. The only other realistic challengers for the title are Igrox Athletic Reserves who are a further three points behind with three games left to play. At the bottom, Jone Salat Bangkok lost again and now need snookers. Manilla Magic are a good bet to join them on the journey to Division Three and will almost certainly be accompanied by either The Greasy Chip Buttie or Ibrox Reserves.
Speaking of Division Three, leaders Bruce Almighty missed the chance to extend their lead when they went down 3-4 to Abu Dhabi Rovers. Logan’s Run also missed out – a win over Varns Vagges would have taken them to the top but they crashed 0-4. This division is incredibly tight and with the way things stand in the outstanding Week 20 fixtures, porobably half the teams in the division still have a realistic chance of winning the title. Things aren’t quite so close at the bottom, however, where DC United seem destined to parade the wooden spoon on their open-topped bus tour.
