X11 season 45 - de rigueur Mortis

[Antepli Ejderha]

Sans Culottes managed to avoid relegation from the Xpert Zone on goal difference after managing a dramatic draw. Seasoned Xpert Zone watchers will be pleased that boost abusers PSG were pipped to the title by Kattflon Utd.

Congratulations on that. We got relegated and I expect to be leaving the Xpert Zone when my extra quota runs out tomorrow. I've got one official mens and one official ladies plus six in private leagues.

[Etienne]

You should have played 4-4-2, AE.

[Antepli Ejderha]

You should have played 4-4-2, AE.

As every single team in the league is a zombie run by an inactivated manager perhaps it's not much of an achievement. I think I'll follow your advice in a few weeks one the development values are sorted out.

[Sits]

Well done on the survival Etienne. And bad luck VA as I noticed Tiree missed joining you again on GD only. SDR’s Tobermory also stayed in the tiny “safe” zone with them.

Noirs will join them back in the Pro Zone after doing that annoying thing where they never lead the division at all until the final moments. Didn’t annoy me, clearly.

[nmrfox]

Ghastly St Michael finish a comfortable third in their Comfort Division and will be interesting to see how they cope in the Beginner Zone. First season with the squad so pretty pleased though the 6 points dropped when the manager buggered off on holiday to the West Indies and forgot to set tactics proved pivotal as we only finished 4 points off the leaders.

[Antepli Ejderha]

http://www.xperteleven.com/leagueCha...D=1721811&dh=2

Some interesting comments and debate going on in the scribble of the Brythonnic run by VA. I'm resisting the urge to post a reply to MoonMcDoG who is making LukeR look like the voice of reason.

[Sean of the Shed]

Moon McDog is a vile tedious prick.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Moon McDog is a vile tedious prick.

Couldn't agree more Sean. Makes me realise how lucky we are on here that these kind of shits don't stick around.

[nmrfox]

Moon McDog is a vile tedious prick.

Indeed. He even has a team with the hilarious name of Inter Yermaw. Comic brilliance and so original.

[SouthdownRebel]

Wow. I'd (apparently unthinkingly) accepted a friend request from him a while back as he's in a couple of other leagues with me. Suffice to say I've just undone that.

[Sits]

As I've just mentioned on the Scribble, by strange coincidence someone I'd accused of white supremacist views managed to mention Muslims in his denial too.

In Aussie parlance, Moon McDog is a grub. Reminds me why the Human League is important. VA is he a former Cunning Stunts manager? You did a good job pretending to be sorry for sacking the manager of Go Nads.

[SouthdownRebel]

Moving on, the change report at FC Tobermory has meant a season's reprieve for veteran goalkeeper Glen Farclas. At 37 I felt sure he'd lose skill value again but he's still a 12-bar and won't be retiring either. The decline of Roy Al Brackla in defence means he's actually the one who will make way. By playing our young Swedish rising star, Mack Myra, in a starting spot we can still keep the average age a touch below 30. This gives Farclas the opportunity to hit 350 appearances next season, providing he can appear in 20 fixtures, which is pleasing. Meanwhile, we can build the transfer fund for another season, which increases our chances of getting a good replacement.

We're going to have to look at the midfield next season as well though, where Ben Rinnes, Tam Navulin and Dal Whinnie are all 32/33 so we'll need to address average age here as well.

The youth academy has been kind as well - 18/5 hulk defender Chorlton Burnside ensures the conveyor keeps running smoothly at the back.

[Sits]

At Noirs de Bigorre, despite a lacklustre CR all I need to do is sell the 21/9 striker Hilding Häggkvist - cashing in in case he doesn't jump next season - and get a 17yo replacement. So with luck stash a little cash.

[Janik]

X11 Ladies League matchday 5 report. We welcome (back) to Antepli Ejderha.

Division 2b

Viking South Utsira	1 - 0	Fair Maidens of FISO
B.Kvalvik 76'


Division 4h

Ventus United 		4 - 0	Drakaina
Christiansen 7', 36'
Jake 51'
Cole 74'


Division 4i

Lightning Girls FC 	0 - 2	Coxy Ladies Wulpen
				Mahony 51', 60'


Division 4k

Bolton Ladies College 	1 - 0	Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC
Carew 67'


Division 5:16

Victorians Ladies 	0 - 2	LNWR Locomotive
				Vergueiro (pen) 44'
				Heart 51'


Division 6:4

Fantasy Factory 	0 - 4	Erbil
				James 18', 38'
				Sharpe 65', 76'				


Division 6:39

FC Saturn United 	0 - 2	Sockford Emollient
				Bjerkefors 81'
				True 86'


Division 6:41

Hoj			0 - 4	Invisible Ladies
				van der Kwast 20'
				Carr 22', 81', 92'


Division 6:42

Pegasus Girls 		0 - 3	Witches of Chiswick
				Altstrand 3'
Ågren (sent off) 82'		Mormont 6'
				Herrlin 33'

Solent Sirens		0 - 3	Twin Peaks Owls
				Greenacre 28', 50'
				Bobeanu 80'


Division 6:56

Maltese Sharks 		2 - 3	Menywod Maeshafn
Moore 87'			van Hijde (pen) 7', 82'
Stene 90'			Makovetskaya 75'


Division 6:57

El Bastardo Ladies 	0 - 3	Dublin City Womens FC
				Dunganstown 14', 77'
Sjöö (missed pen) 73'		Isabel Carreto 89'
				Ryding (sent off) 66'


Division 6:62

Brazier 		0 - 5	Csiki Girls
				McInns 11', 38', 44'
				Solas 25', 30'


Division 7:27

Källby IF Dam 		0 - 3	girls de charneca
				Lúcia Lucas 4'
				Haywood 11'
				S Nascimento 33'

Viking South Utsira upturn in form was put to the test by the Fair Maidens of FISO.
The visitors sat bottom of the table, but that was solely down to a lack of goals as their own defence is solid. They had, in fact, conceded just two in their opening four games but had only netted one at the other end hence their league position. Could The Blood Eagles break them down? For most of the match the answer was ‘no’ with Velvet Android’s side not even getting in range to shoot. However they continued to chance their arm and dream, and in the 76th minute got their reward Lurdes Quental fed Bergljot Kvalvik who coolly slotted home the winner with would prove Viking’s only goal attempt of the day. Exactly the sort of rub that the Fair Maidens have clearly been labouring under this season.
If winning when you are not playing well is the mark of Champions then the rest of Division 2b ought to take notice. And soon, as though VSU remain third they are now within one point of the play-off spot and four of the leadership.

Back-to-back wins had got Drakaina’s campaign underway. Making it three on the spin would mean winning at Ventus United.
Erm, nope. I think the best way to sum this one up is to forget it. It was definitely not The Dragons day. Yes, the hosts were better, but not the four goals ahead of Etienne’s side that the final score indicates.
Despite the goal difference hit, Drakaina remained fifth in Division 4h. Their advantage on sixth was cut to just a single point, though.

Fate gave Coxy Ladies Wulpen a good chance of winning three on the bounce as opponents Lightning Girls FC were on the point of sacking their manager in absentia.
The unled hosts did hold The Waders off until the interval, but just when the travelling fans were beginning to get slightly concerned up popped Moreen Mahony to strike twice in fairly quick succession. Her first was a trademark direct free-kick, the second a breakaway.
And that was that. Janik’s side climb to fourth in Division 4i, but more importantly than the position Wulpen are now four points from the top, two from the play-off spot and a healthy five clear of the drop zone.

A sadly familiar tale keeps repeating itself for Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC this season, with the latest instalment occuring at Bolton Ladies College.
Once again The Sea Spirits were competitive and totally involved in the game, having more of the ball and a good share of the chances, but also once again the opening goal went against SeanoftheShed’s girls. When confidence is low, as is understandably the case at Kanjeng currently, that can prove to be enough. It was so here.
The Division 4k table is beginning to look pretty bleak for The Sea Goddesses. They are currently rooted to the bottom, and are now also five points from safety. Kanjeng face Bethanys Binos next, who are the side they need to close the gap on, which is therefore a huge game.

Victory for LNWR Locomotive was vitally important as they faced managerless Victorians Ladies.
Going into a match knowing you must and ought to win can add extra pressure, particularly when the opening goal refuses to come quickly. There was therefore a lot on Adozinda Vergueiro’s shoulders when she stepped up to take a 44th minute penalty. One wouldn’t have known it as Vergueiro dinked it cheekily home. A second soon after half-time from Phrigit Heart made sure of the points, with just a brief flurry with a disallowed Victorians goal disturbing The Steamers coast to victory.
The Division 5:16 table shows the value of the win, as even with it Viktor Boskovic’s girls are only up to sixth, still a point from safety.

[Janik]

Erbil are competing at the other end of their section. Their latest challenge was against Fantasy Factory.
The most interesting thing about the hosts was their branding, which is all over the place: a denim jacket for a shirt and a badge with a cat, wielding a sword. Standing on top of a unicorn. In front of a rainbow. All that wasn’t enough to distract attention away from Erbil’s Footballing dominance. Two Mellissa James strikes had Jdsx’s side comfortably clear by the interval, and a further brace from Rosaline Sharpe in the second-half maintained their average of four goals per game, whilst almost by-the-by wrapping up another three points.
Erbil still boast a 100% winning record, and are three points clear of second spot in Division 6:4, which is increasingly looking like a two-horse race.

Division 6:39 is also turning into a head-to-head battle for the title, with Sockford Emollient one of the sides going for it. Not even out-of-this-world opponents like FC Saturn United could dent Sockford’s quest.
The journey to Saturn takes a while though, with the Framleyshire fans having to be patient as their side took until the second-half to even fashion a chance. And once these began to appear there was another long pause as the goal grew gradually larger in the viewport window.
As with any space mission, most of the action was packed into the last few minutes. Terese Bjerkefors fired the opener from long range on 81 minutes (her first career goal as well) and Lise True nodding in a second from a more attainable distance five minutes later.
The win kept Foxy265’s side on the heels of the 6:39 leaders, the gap staying stable at just two points. Sockford’s advantage on third is a very handy five points.

Zombie despatch was the task for Invisible Ladies, who took on Hoj.
The hurled first flying disc to find its target was hurled by Alva van der Kwast as she opened the scoring after 20 minutes. That seemed to sate van der Kwast’s scoring appetite as she then deferred to Charlene Carr for the day’s other three goals, setting up her skipper on 22, 81 and 92 minutes.
There was good news for The See-Throughs from elsewhere in Division 6:41 as the leaders lost their 100% record with an unexpected home defeat. That means that Pebblethefish’s side are now within two points of the summit, and the same off the play-off spot. The next visitors to the San Seethrough are the deposed former leaders...

Witches of Chiswick’s visit to managerless Pegasus Girls represented a chance for The Bewitched to climb out of the Division 6:41 drop zone.
Part one of achieving that was to win the game, and that was pretty well sorted by the 6th minute as Wiblflibl’s side were two to the good at this stage through Sarah Altstrand’s direct free-kick and a debut goal for newly acquired young forward Lyanna Mormont (20/6, signed for 47,700) .
Johanna Herrlin added a third on 33 minutes which might have opened the floodgates on other days, but here they jarred shut at three despite many more Chiswick chances. Not even the hosts going down to ten when Elvira Ågren was shown a straight red on 82 minutes could jimmy things loose, partly as four minutes later a 13-day knock for Natalie Mercier combined with all Witches subs being used made it 10-a-side. So it finished 3-0.
Elsewhere in the same section Solent Sirens hosted a top-of-the-table clash as they welcomed Twin Peaks Owls.
The Sirens came into the game two points adrift of the 100% leaders. Hopes of overturning that margin were fading from nearly the opening whistle as the visitors took control of the game. It was only one at the interval, but a second soon after left Andrew7610’s charges with a mountain to climb, one that became insuperable when Twin Peaks made it three after 80 minutes.
That defeat saw Solent slip back to third in the table as Zenit Odenplan Ladies moved past them. That was good news for Chiswick though as Zenit had beaten Mariebergs IK to take the spot from Solent and this allowed The Bewitched to climb to fourth, two points clear of the drop zone.

It’s been a good season so far for Menywod Maeshafn, who were looking to keep their run going at Maltese Sharks.
The first half was a fairly quiet affair with just Elodie van Hijde’s 7th minute penalty and a disallowed strike from Hannah Palmgren to enliven it. The match then exploded into life after the break, with the sides trading chances in a manner more reminiscent of basketball game. Both ‘keepers did well to keep the score at 1-0 until the last fifteen minutes, but eventually the sheer weight of chances had to take its toll. It was 2-0 to the visitors on 75 minutes when Roza Makovetskaya, having gone 50 appearances for Maeshafn without scoring broke her duck on the 51st. When van Hijde slotted home a direct free-kick to make it three on 82 manager IsThatcherDeadYet could sit back and relax. Or so he thought. However the Sharks hadn’t given up, pulling one back on 87 minutes and another on 90 to make stoppage time rather more lively than had looked likely with 5 minutes to play.
The dramatic comeback was left incomplete however, the win moving Maeshafn three points clear at the top of Division 6:56.

Despite the name, there was very little spikiness in Dublin City Womens FC’s opponents El Bastardo Ladies.
That was mostly because there is no manager to guide them. Dublin have Mortal Joe directing operations, and his side looked to be on for a cruise when Brady Dunganstown fired them ahead on 14 minutes, one of a number of first half chances.
The pressure continued after the break, with the second surely just around the corner, barring any dramatic game changing incidents. Such as, I don’t know, Dublin’s Vivian Ryding picking up a straight red card in the 66th minute. Seven minutes later referee Luke Bribe struck again to gift the hosts a penalty, which, if it had gone in, would have dramatically changed the match. If. It didn’t though, Patrícia Inácio seeing off Frida Sjöö’s effort.
That scare convinced Dublin they needed more of a cushion, Dunganstown and Ana Isabel Carreto obliging with strikes on 77 and 89 minutes. Those confirmed the three points, but that wasn’t enough to lift Dublin any higher than fifth in the Division 6:57 standings. However it is a rather false fifth, as the Irish side are closer in points to the leaders (four points) than the side who sit one place beneath them (five).

Top against bottom as Csiki Girls got to warm themselves up on Brazier.
The Csiki’s were not up against much in such a directionless foe, to the point where Ad Hoc’s side only had to play for 45 minutes. During that opening period it was Csiki Girls forwards Saoirse McInns and Solange Solas who stole the show. McInns opened the scoring after 11 minutes and would go on to net a hattrick with further strikes on 38 and 44 minutes, with Solas adding two of her own after 25 and 30 minutes respectively.
No further chances were fashioned after the interval as the Csiki’s opted for a spot of tea instead, knowing they already possessed Division 6:62’s best goal difference. And it’s best record as well, their 4-1-0 summary putting Csiki Girls three points clear of second and four ahead of third.

And finally our first ever visit to girls de charneca, who presumably will be incorporated into the Zeugma franchise come next season.
The last acts under the old moniker may well be to win promotion from Division 7:27, if results such as easily beating promotion rivals Källby IF Dam are repeated, as happened in AntepliEjderha’s first game in charge. If charneca’s defenders chip in with goals it will be a clear boon to that pursuit and they did so here, twice inside in the opening 11 minutes in fact as Ana Lúcia Lucas and Peg Haywood registered. Lúcia Lucas’ strike was her first career goal in her 60th appearance, a ratio that Haywood also roughly keeps up as her strike was her third ever in her 187th game.
Livia S Nascimento made it three after 33 minutes, and though AE’s side had more chances following that there were no more goals to be had. Still the three that were achieved were enough to flip the sides around, charneca leapfrogging Källby to sit second in the table, two points adrift of the leaders and four clear of fourth.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Great roundup Janik, chapeau to you sir.

I will of course bring my current team into the Zeugma franchise at the end of the season and yes I am expecting promotion, that's because not only is every team a zombie not a single manager in my division is real as all are from deactivated accounts.

I've started the rebuild by getting rid of about half of the squad I inherited, they've either been sacked or transfer listed, and bought in two players so far with three more to come. I'm aiming only for development values this season as I'm pretty sure we'll get promoted regardless.

[Etienne]

Zalec Zmaj win an uneventful Kevchenko MLX Cup final 1-0, never letting the Turtles create a chance. We have been desperately short of cash so hopefully that gives us a nice cheque. It might be enough to win us team of the month too (we were second beforehand) with one league game to go.

[nmrfox]

Congrats Etienne.

6 single jumps in Ghastly St Michael's CR and midfielder Spartacus Williams announces his retirement. However the youth academy has chugged out a more than adequate replacement; 17/4 Bennett Beaglehole with a powerful shot, free kick, speed and best of all, the cone of brilliance.

[Etienne]

Sans Culottes had 8 single jumps and 2 doubles. Proudhon lost a bar but didn't announce his retirement. We only have 13 players, so we have put a couple of bids out but the Xpert Zone is pretty unforgiving for giving squad players a run out.

[Sits]

Many congrats Etienne, brilliant five star win.

[Sits]

Meanwhile how's this for a grandstand finish for Lincolnshire Curly Coats this evening in Division 3b of the Golden League? I could do with some of Etienne's five stars here:

[Etienne]

The official leagues at least offer the bonus that you can get extra dv in the playoffs

[Sean of the Shed]

Not Bothered Buzzards go into the final round with a home game against second place AFC Hindley with a two point lead over them. We fully expected to be going into the game needing to win, but a shock draw for them in the previous round of matches means a draw will be sufficient.
If they go into the game with their best starting line up then you would have to make them the favourites, but at least we have more than sufficient funds to be able to go into the game offering the full bonus. To be honest I don't fancy us in a play off with that young side, and fortunately we aren't that desperate for anyone to get a DV boost, an advantage of having a squad that is 83.3% hard trainers.
Also if we did make it to Division 4 next season we would be spending most of it punching way above our weight.

[Sits]

Look forward to seeing those Buzzards in five or six seasons.

[SouthdownRebel]

Well played Etienne, congratulations. I'm not sure about the econs, but the VIP prize should now be with you as I've had a notification that it's been sent.