THIS WEEKS FINES
DIVISION 1
NW 20k Fine. Cannot find this player (sub). S J. Aliadiere #
DIVISION 2
SH 20k
Fine. Cannot find this player (sub). WH S. Chuveininho
TJ 20k Fine. Illegal formation
DIVISION 3
TS 20k Fine. This player cannot play (inj/susp). CF K.
Hayes
CUT PLAYERS
LU FB O.
McDaniel
LU AS
LU CM F. Fudilhao
PURCHASES FROM THE DRAFT
CA bid 308K
for 20 yo NSL 8 W named A. Gilardino (BRA)
IQ 601K for
WH 8 21
named M. Ballack (The Guy should have signed for Man
U L) (ARG)
TRADES
DT sends AA
80k
AA sends DT
W A.Lennon 8 26
AS sends AA
$725,000
AA sends AS
CM Holt 22, 9
PRESS REPORT
DIVISION 1
Alcohol Anonymous
Remember – 5 points for 1st
place, 3 for 2nd and 1 for 3rd place.
(One slight problem with the games stats – season 10 is currently out of commission. Sort it out, Peter ;))
DS are perhaps the most misunderstood player in SAEFL. They usually start low on the NSL grade – but while many teams hold on to those CF until 25 or 26 when they start to look very good, plenty of teams have sacked their 4.5 NSL 20 year old DS that will surely not make the grade.
Other teams though (and I refer to GU and NH in particular, together with AA given their defensive strength) understand the pure stopping abilities that a Defensive Sweeper offers.
So, who is the greatest DS of all time. Here, we have an amazing 16 candidates for the position. Only you can decide who will be in the all-time SAEFL side.
For the result of the Defender Poll, see below.
DS McGoo GU (from season 2 until season 9) – c157 games in all competitions; sent off only once)
An absolute legend of SAEFL, McGoo was pluched from the transfer list for a mere £155,000 in season 2. After steady progress, he soon became a key part, and then captain, of a defensively solid GU side.
Greater progress was to come when McGoo became a freak – and he stayed there for many games.
In the end, after over 150 games in all competitions (and 150 league and cup games), he eventually retired at the end of season 9.
DS Sylfar AA – (from season 4 until season 10) – c100 games in all competitions; no sending off.
When you talk about defences in SAEFL, the AA defences of seasons 5, 6, 7 and 8 spring to mind. Sylfar, together with the likes of Mills, Borgsen, Catenaccio, Sammer, Boutana and Simpson conceded so few goals overall, it was almost criminal!
Originally purchased for around £300,000, Sylfar immediately showed promise, and before long was a pillar of the side. When the likes of Mills, Sammer and lastly Simpson joined in the action, a legacy was born.
Sylfar then became a freak, with Simpson and Mills gaining EMP that most
managers would give their sys teeth for.
If it were not for Simpson, there is no doubt that Sylfar
would have picked up defender of the season, or even player of the season
awards.
Retired in season 10.
DS I. Borgsen FI/AA/EW from season 2 until c. season 9 – c100 games in all competitions; no sending off
Borgsen was the kind of performer that made a side tick over so well, that you probably didn’t need a clock to set your team by.
Playing from season 2, he soon became a 10 NSL player, and he stayed there for many seasons, helping the likes of FI and AA to championships. He will probably be best remembered for his time at the Alcies, but he helped all three sides in equal measure.
The measure of a man also comes with respect to the opposition, and although Borgy played tough, he was not sent off once in his career.
DS M. Sammer LU/AA/FI from season 3 until c. season 110 games in all competition; no sending offs.
Although not quite in the performance league of the three above defenders, Sammer makes the list for a few very good reasons. His games record speaks for itself – over 100 games in total. He was dependable – no sendings off in his career. He was a brick like player that teams love.
In the middle of his career, his NSL feel back slightly, but then Sammer regained his composure and had the audacity to end his career a freak, after picking up a 1.5 retirement bonus.
One of my only regrets as AA boss was to sell him – that that shows how I rated this DS.
DS S. Boutana OC/AR/AA/FI from season ¾? – good until season 10; c150 games in all competitions – no sending offs.
Another superb athlete – Boutana started his career with a bang, as a very high NSL youth. Surely he could not last the pace until the end of his career. Wrong! Amazingly, this DS just kept going and going, like a © Duracel battery.
Of all the clubs he was associated with, perhaps FI will be the team most associated with Bouts. At a time when AA thought he would start to slip, Bouts was sold on. The slip didn’t happen, and FI were the team to benefit.
DS J. Curtis NH - from season 1 to c. season 6; 76 games in all competitions; 1 sending off
Blotting his copy book on only 1 occasion, Curtis was an ever present in the league from almost day 1, in a NH side that conceded a few goals - but less than most in those goal crazed early years of the league.
A solid and determined lad, Curtis tailed off at the end of his career, but he will be fondly remembered by all Heath fans.
DS A. Swance IQ/TH/NH – from season 1 until season 6; 121 games in all competitions; sent off once
Of all the season 1 picks in the DS department, Swance might go down as the jewell in the crown. A solid starter at first, Ant soon became the defender from which IQ built their title-winning team.
Although he moved to TH and then NH, the Quartiles will be the team that this man will be associated with.
DS W. Altercapio TB/AA from season 10 to present; 19 games in all competitions; one sending off
Altercapio is a fiery player – but he has the same qualities that made Sylfar such a star for AA.
Originally signed by TB, he was soon swiped from Jer by me, and soon showed the class that made me smile.
This season, Altercapio has moved to the next level by becoming a freak. If he can continue and maintain his momentum, and with a number of other promising defenders around him, AA could soon have the defence of stone to rely on once again.
DS B. Foulkes NH – from season 3 to season 10 – c135 games in all competitions; sent off once
Another one man man, Foulkes was never quite seen as the star man at Heath, yet he took on the mantle from Curtis and ran with it until very recently.
His career can perhaps be seen to be tainted by Heath being relegated a few seasons back – but his performances were one of the main reasons that the club stayed in the top flight for so long.
DS J. Herrick DL/JG/PN - from season 4 until season 10; c100 games in all competitions; not sent off
Herrick was at JG for a short time in his career (traded in a deal for star AM Boateng), but he will be known for two stints in his career at DL, who he helped to glory, and at PN, who he helped make into a play-off contender.
Another one of those players that just performed the whole of his career, he was also a fair man – not getting a red card during his career.
One disappointment for Herrick may have been that he didn’t spend more time at JG – just as they became a force to be reckoned with; or that a proposed move to AA fell through. Never-the-less, an outstanding career.
DS J. Seahorn AR/AS/PN/FI – from season 1 to season 9; c60 games in all competitions; sent off twice
Seahorn started life as a small-fry 18 year old, 5 NSL DS. He was traded from AR for peanuts at a time when AR were making some (well I think) irrational decisions.
Peanuts and small-fry it may have been, but AS saw the potential, and, within two seasons, the horn had grown into a confident player that merited a starting slot in a AS side that didn’t really utilise DS in their best way (ie – no TS, TC or ENF J).
Seahorn performed very well for the three sides that he majored for. However, his career was marred by not being played week-in, week-out by any of his clubs. Otherwise the 60 games he played could well have been 80 or 90.
DS P. Neville GU – from season 4 until season 10 – c115 games in all competitions; sent off twice
Three sides spring to mind when DS are discussed (see above), and Neville served one of those clubs his whole career – GU.
Surrounded by the likes of McGoo and Nevland, Neville might not have stood out in their crowd – but he would have stood out at any other club. A very solid performer, he helped GU stay clear of relegation for many seasons.
DS Catenaccio AA/FI/IQ – from season 4 to season 9; c60 games in all competitions; sent off 7 times
Ah, the man, the legend, the myth that is Catenaccio. A great player on his day, the Cat had more than 9 lives at all his three clubs.
Plucked from obscurity by AA as a youth, Catenaccio was known for roughing up defenders. But while the likes of Borgsen and Mills were pass-masters at the old tug and pull, a sly kick here and a sneaky elbow there, Cat could never get the hang of fouling. For his sins, the lad saw red on seven occasions. Not bad at all!
Just imagine how many more games he would have played without those suspensions!
DS S. Nevland GU – from season 6 to present – c90 games in all competitions; not sent off to date
Nevland was plucked from the transfer list by GU for £255k in season 4 when he was a fresh 18 year old, 6 NSL player.
At a time when McGoo was eventually fading out to retirement, Nevland really stepped up to the plate to become a class freak.
Unfortunately though, this rock of a player was at his peak at a time that, despite their efforts, GU eventually succumbed to relegation. Now in the twilight of his career, we can only hope that this stalwart can get to the 100 game mark.
DS E. Djemba-Djemba NH – from season 8 to present; c60 games in all competitions to date
Djemba-Djemba will be remembered as Heath’s best defender at this point in their history. Not an elegant man, the DS has still played around 60 games, and, dependant on his age, he could well get to the magic 100 games marker.
DS T. FarleyJr GU – season 8 to present; c60 games played; sent off at least once
FarleyJr is now the premier defender in a GU side that will be hoping to get back to the top flight of SAEFL. Together with Woody, the GU defence is beginning to remind fans of the previous GU teams that were so hard to break down.
In the poll last week, managers were given
a choice out of Grolsch, Cat in the Hat, Jay, J. Ramone, J. Mill, S.Davidson,
Slam, Java, Topper,
So, who did you chose as the sticks king? Let’s keep you in suspense no longer. The result was:
Joint 3rd – Grolsch / Clough
2nd – Cat in the Hat
1st – J. Mill
Yes, one of only two keepers in Peter’s hall of fame, and a man that played an incredible 120 league and cup games while pretty much remaining a 10 NSL keeper the whole time, Mill is a worthy recipient of this award.
As for my own personal choice, it would have been 3rd – Clough, 2nd – Cat in the Hat, 1st – Mill.
Thanks to all who voted … now get voting for those DSs
Apocalypse
Catbel Athletic
Excelsior
From the
Excelsior Herald...
Another
league defeat. Another cup defeat.
Can the slide be stopped?
Whilst it not yet be panic stations at
F.C Inferno
3 points would be
very well received at this time... could this new tactic bring them? I think
I've never played OFF before...
InterQuartile Rangers
What is there to say?
A 6 point advantage in EMP and it's a 0-0 draw. Am I surprised? No. Once again skill has little to do with the
result.
No reds this week, but 13 yellows in 6 Div 1
games. There appears to be something
wrong with the RNG used in SAEFL.
It’s
a key game for us this week. If we win we might have a chance to stay in div1.
Let’s
see if LU can play good football and win a game.
NoShaKi WC98
The Boelewieten
The Boelewieten In Sight
Last week
we paid big for CB W. Isdom, and hope we did not
choose this name for nothing.
This weeks game against OC, and TB faced in last game against
this team a huge defeat. Well, we dont intend
to do
that again. Unless, unless, OC is planning a grudge on us, TB is keeping those
grudges still in the pocket, the first will be out against
the teams
higher on the ranking fe Jazz Greats, AA and CA ;-).
Shame i cant send W.Isdom already on
the pitch, wanting to know his stats, someone fancy a friendly?
The Jazz Greats
Tottenford Heats
DIVISION 2
Adirondak Renegades
Adirondak
Press (AP): The winning streak came to an end this week, as you expected.
Manager
Fulmer (MF): FI is a very strong opponent, and they are focused on the cup.
They are doing well in the league, but are probably out of the running for the
title. I expected they would come out strong in the cup match and they did. It
seemed like they had a grudge for us or something.
AP: Plus,
FI are very tough at home.
MF: A trip
to Fire Stadium is like a trip to Hell!!! We survived, but our
their experience and our inexperience showed. We didn't perform badly,
but FI were definitely the better side. H Ellraiser
continued his strong play with 2 goals. It would have been nice if CB Dawson
could have stayed around for more than 10 minutes, but since FI AM Cacete left in the 20th minute
AP: What
are your plans for the home leg.
MF: Well,
since Marco may read the press, I'll pass on that question for now.
AP: Lets talk about some more positive news. AR made a
significant trade this week.
MF: Yes, this
was a very significant trade for AR. I feel this was the first trade AR made
from a position of strength. In the past, we have traded away any player who
appeared to reach his peak, in the attempt to build the team for the future. I
would have liked to have kept some of those players, but the overall team was
so weak that a couple of good players by themselves wouldn't help. This time we
traded 2 established players, not because the rest of the team was weak, but
because it is strong. Both traded players were in the top 11 the first half of
the season, but have been knocked out of the top 11 by rapidly improving
youth…WH Niven by 22 yo W Ittermik and AM A Monster by 23 yo
N GoodmanJr.
AP: What
about the newly acquired players?
MF: 21 yo T. Dinning, along with 22 yo Ittermin, 21 yo Kertez, and 24 yo Hell, give AR a
strong, young stable of WHs. We currently have a
solid group of defenders, but are weak in youth. The addition of 21 yo DS D OFire, along with 22 yo DS R Hulman, acquired earlier
in the season from the transfer list, will enable us to start building our
future defense. Hopefully we can add some strong,
young talent, particularly at CB, to this defensive core.
AP: What
about 23 yo CM Geuze?
MF: Geuze came into the league quietly and did not seem to show
much promise. While he still is not a particularly strong player, especially
for a 23 year old, he showed excellent improvement at SH under the guidance of
Manager Lear. Hopefully he will continue that improvement at AR.
African Selection
Dead Scientists
Druss Legends
Englehart Storm
Grammar United
Melchester Rovers
Stannington Historical
SH Manager Len Lear is thrilled with the way his Kiddie's Corps have started the 2nd Half of the season."SH has won their 1st 2 matches to start their
2nd half and
they have done it in rather convincing fashion. I think we are starting to show
the SAEFL what SH is really going to be capable of in the future.....A
versatile side able to play a number of tactics and strategies strongly.
Another aging and I think SH will be truly there!
Lear cautioned,"It isn't going to be a bed of roses all the
way because my main concern with our lineup is that I am not sure that we have
enough depth to be able to turn our recent success into avoiding the drop.
Also, we are faced with a truly difficult opponent ,
GU in this week's match. GU plays the type of match where all of their players
stay at home and very seldom do they venture afar. This has translated into only
one loss for them this season. So, this is going to be a real test for newly
formulated SH and our Kiddie's Corps. SH is going to
playing a tactic that their Manager has only used once or twice in his entire
SAEFL career. This match vs. GU is going to be a humdinger.
The Jazz
DIVISION 3
That is the
sentiment around the club this week after yet another big loss to keep
"We
should have lost," said Manager David Thomas. "I mean what do you expect when we only
play are 3rd best possible team," he continued.
One fan had
this to say, "The gaffer has no idea how to manage. When things are bad and going to sh*t, what does he do but play crap players that are not
even fit to clean the roof gutters on my house with their tongues."
When
questioned one of the Defrosted Tunafish fans he
replied, "Too right their revolting.
I've tasted dogshit that wasn't close the
tasting as bad as the fan I ate today." The fan then turned around and
shout out, " Anyone got a toothpick?"
So the
Kickers fans are revolting against the club and taste revolting too. Something obviously needs to be done to fix
the problem with the team so that their is not a riot
and the whole of the city gets either destroyed or eaten.
Stephanie
Burrows
Aros VSK
Blue Storm FC
Defrosted TunaFish
Hard
Week ahead of DT - Got some tough games and with most my first team players
getting tired - going to need some luck here
Deo Volente
Falcons
The mysterious disappearance of the manager last week
led to an indifferent result and put Falcons in a precarious position with the
possibility of them moving swiftly into the relegation zone in the next few weeks.
With that in mind and the fact that we are playing against a stronger team this
week we will once again rest our key players and concentrate on staying out of
the red rather than try and push for a playoff spot.
P.S. The manager was found drowning his sorrows in the
local pub. The fact that
Fanatics United
I'm back
from leave, early!, and my ass-manager has been fired.
Yes, I enjoyed my holiday but to the expense of the team.
Reviewing
some of the stats of my team, I have found that some goal keepers are luckier
than others, even goal keepers at the same level of nsl have a better luck rating? Must be something new Peter
has added. Cool.
I would
like to kick Clive's butt today, but you know some dreams don't come true. The fact that F. Go can't play today is going to help I
think.
I am sure
the small stadium that Clive has is going to be full, of my fans, and I only
get 35% of that money.
I would
like to say thanks to all of you out there for supporting FU though it's
difficult time.
Fantastic eleven
macth against FU and we hope that it wont happen
again a win would be nice this time around. This will be the hardest mach of
the season for FE. Loosing our captain for the game is not making things easer.
Smoking Guns
Speedsters
Trav Spoodle
Travis
apologizes to his players for his total neglect on monitoring their fitness… I cant help but feel the side is being wasted on a slightly
distracted manager! Have a good game ya'll!!
Vitesse Arnhem