X11 season 45 - de rigueur Mortis

[Sits]

So half a season on, how are those compatibilities looking? Not as good as I’d hoped, is the answer:

[Sits]

Their DVs are going OK, and results are irrelevant so it doesn’t really matter. Marlemont is the most interesting as she’s gone from SE to WNW.

[pebblethefish]

results are irrelevant

.. yet you still beat me. Humph.

[Various Artist]

Their DVs are going OK, and results are irrelevant so it doesn’t really matter. Marlemont is the most interesting as she’s gone from SE to WNW.

Oh, that's interesting – she appears to have gone 'around the back' of the dial from due east to, as you say, WNW. I'm not sure I've ever seen that.

Well, I suppose I wouldn't, not being in the habit of signing Poor compat players...!

Goodness knows I turned up enough of them yesterday when evaluating at R?dfearne Island though – I belatedly twigged we were starting the season with a squad of just 14, so have for once attempted to dip into the market to add a young midfielder. Am sweating on one arriving tomorrow but fear I may well get outbid.

[Various Artist]

Meanwhile, good luck to everyone for the resumption of competitive Heineken League football in 6 hours or so when Season 58 gets underway – in what will be the biggest ever HL, now with a ladder of no fewer than 21 divisions to climb. Amazing work on the expansion, Sean. And OTFers span the full length of it, from the Premiership to HLC20!

Number one manager in the entire league right now, by the way? With a massive 18-bar rating presently putting him out in front of his nearest rival by a bar, and by everyone ranked from 3rd down by 2 full bars, it's none other than our own fantastic Mr Foxy. Having only taken over at Framley Obstreperous last October, that's a hell of an achievement.

[nmrfox]

Number one manager in the entire league right now, by the way? With a massive 18-bar rating presently putting him out in front of his nearest rival by a bar, and by everyone ranked from 3rd down by 2 full bars, it's none other than our own fantastic Mr Foxy. Having only taken over at Framley Obstreperous last October, that's a hell of an achievement.

Really??!! Wow - no idea where you found that from VA but that's really cheered me up for the weekend. That certainly calls for something celebratory tonight (after 7pm obviously, when no doubt Framley will lose their opening game).

[pebblethefish]

On a side note, any visitors to the Virtual Thons on OTF will have been gutted to find out that, in contrast to his avatar, Foxy does not have a dodgy blond perm and inane grin.

[Sean of the Shed]

Really??!! Wow - no idea where you found that from VA but that's really cheered me up for the weekend. That certainly calls for something celebratory tonight (after 7pm obviously, when no doubt Framley will lose their opening game).

Well done Foxy, I have no idea how these things are calculated in the Heineken League but I imagine something is almost certainly broken.

[Sits]

I'll just say a gracious congratulations Foxy.

[Sits]

Fucking Bruise. Anyone I’ve used it against in the past*, the karma has now bitten good and proper. After my new veteran signing in the Xpert Ladies getting one after 12 minutes of her debut, now key midfielder Ben Maassen has a three-weeker after less than ten minutes of Round 1 in the Xpert Zone.

*I no longer do, except against sexists etc.

[Sean of the Shed]

My keeper was injured in the first match of the season in the Xpert Zone. We lost the game and he is out for the next three games. I might as well write the whole season off here and now.

[jdsx]

I've just been offered the same 'recommended player' in both my OTF and Human League teams....under different names obvs. The link is https://www.xperteleven.com/playerOf...311850528&dh=2 (not sure if that link will work for everyone but I assume it will).

Don't recall that ever happening before. How does the system decide, out of hundreds of available players, who to 'recommend'...?

(The above player has the cone of greatness, should anyone have enough money to buy him/her....)

[Sits]

Your OTF and Human teams must have similar compatibility; recommended players are always Good or Excellent aren’t they?

[Hot Orange]

Has anyone ever bought a recommended player? They usually seem to be the last type of player I'd want to add to the squad - "No, I'm fine for 34-year-old defenders, thanks."

[lambers]

I think I've bidded on a few, but they've all ended up outside of my price range.

[Sits]

Berkshire Swine bought three or four in their first season, which won’t come as a surprise to any who remember my training regimen at the time.

[Various Artist]

I see the insistent terminology in-game of "bidded" is creeping out into the real world then lambers...

I think I've bid on a few (and, indeed, quite likely bought one or two), but only very early on in playing X11. I tried fine-tuning the recommendations (such as that is possible) for a few years, but I've long since turned off the recommendations altogether at my various clubs as it's simply not worth the continuing disappointment of getting excited over finding a green envelope heralding a possible academy arrival – only to discover it's, yes, yet another 34-year-old defensive recommendation.

The fundamental problem, if I remember rightly how it works, is that while the useful aspect is that they are invariably good or excellent compat, the negative is that they are either young enough or skilled enough to be worth a bid. That is, the system cannot recommend you a player who is both younger and more skilled than your current players. So, assuming you'd like to purchase a player who'll actually be an upgrade for your team, essentially it'll never suggest someone who represents that.

Thus the only time it's really worthwhile is when you're putting together a cheap squad at a new club (e.g. in HLC20 right now!) from journeymen, losers and has-beens who other managers won't look at, where it can act as a free evaluation for a potentially half-decent player.

[jdsx]

Speaking of 'bidded', I read something about Coronavirus in The Grauniad yesterday which used 'spreaded'.... The full quote: "there was insufficient knowledge about the virus or how it spreaded but governments and their scientific advisers are more clued up now."

[jdsx]

Thus the only time it's really worthwhile is when you're putting together a cheap squad at a new club (e.g. in HLC20 right now!) from journeymen, losers and has-beens who other managers won't look at, where it can act as a free evaluation for a potentially half-decent player.

Yeah I guess having sold off quite a few of my older #ChampionshipWinning players from both Four Candles and Lysistrata, maybe they think I'm short of the experienced midfielder quoted. Odd that they should come through at exactly the same time though.... Usually, by the time I get to actually look at the player, they're already well outside my price range... as indeed he/she is now...

[lambers]

I see the insistent terminology in-game of "bidded" is creeping out into the real world then lambers...

I'm one of those people that subconsciously picks up accents in person, I didn't realise until now that that happened to me online too...

[Hot Orange]

OTF Season 59 Round 9 Round-Up

OTF

---

At the halfway point of the season, St Pancras Starmers are still unbeaten at the top of the league. Surprisingly, though, they came close to suffering their first defeat of the campaign at Great Ouse Town, where they required a late equaliser from Duke Bateman to salvage a point from a 1-1 draw. Ouse move off the bottom to 9th but will be frustrated that their goal from Walton Winter wasn’t a winner. The Starmers’ lead is down to three points, and it is once again Croesoswallt Dragons in 2nd place after they saw off Dandy Town with a more-comfortable-than-it-sounds 2-1 victory. Four Candles drop to 3rd following a 0-0 draw at home to Vita Mortis, which was uneventful save for Lance Porter’s disallowed goal for the visitors. Mortis fall to 7th. The division has split into three distinct sections. The top three have a healthy lead over the rest; 4th to 7th are separated by just two points; and the bottom three are five points adrift. Dandy Town lead that middle section, just ahead of Berkshire Swine, who were 1-0 down and in trouble at home to AFC Csiki Monkeys until visiting defender Nimrod Revay was sent off ten minutes after half-time. The ten men were unable to resist the Swine surge and three goals in the final 20 minutes, including two from Bruno Dijoux, won the points, sending the Monkeys to the foot of the table. Moving up to 6th are Kernow Kensa, who eased to a 3-0 home win over Turd Division. The Turds remain 8th but with the gap to safety above them widening.

Division 1

---

Runaway leaders Zeugmaspor were a minute away from establishing a nine-point lead at the top, as Ogun Alacayir’s goal looked set to be enough to settle the clash with 2nd-placed Hideous Towns. But then young Zeugma substitute Sami Hocaoglu knocked one past his own keeper to give Hideous a draw and maintain the gap at six points. Rejects Redux missed the opportunity to dislodge Towns from 2nd as they went down to a surprise 1-0 home defeat to relegation-threatened die Ambosse, Hans-Peter Boemen netting the winner early on for the visitors in a game of few chances. Locomotiv Noj, in 4th, moved level on points with the Rejects thanks to their 2-1 home win over Eriskay Expression, a victory that was ultimately quite comfortable despite them not turning up for the first 45 minutes. Expression drop below die Ambosse to 9th. Bottom of the pile are Athletico Deva, who were beaten at Banik Roystonov. It was an eventful day for the Deva custodians. First-choice keeper Petko Kacarevic hobbled off on 26 minutes with the score still goalless, and was replaced by 20-year-old Budimir Benkovic, making the 6th appearance of his unpromising career. Benkovic conceded the opening goal within six minutes, was beaten again midway through the second half and rounded off the day by picking up a straight red in the closing minutes. It’s a mystery who went in goal then, if anyone, but Banik sportingly refused to take advantage, settling for the 2-0 win that lifts them to 5th. The two teams now below them, 7th-placed Wensleydale Blues and Whoft Fluffopolis, in 6th, fought out a 1-1 draw at The Sheep Dip, Colm Dinamoe’s free kick for the Fluffers being quickly cancelled out by Billy Mallerstang’s header.

Division 2

---

It continues to be plain sailing for Saltney Drawers. They dropped just two points in the first half of the season and remain five points clear at the top after a 2-1 win at Wednesday de la Zouch, who drop to 7th, just one point above the relegation places. Behind the Drawers, possibly with some fluff and those lost keys, Hampshire Deers made a bit of a statement with a convincing 3-1 win at Steaua Bridge, giving them a five-point advantage over their opponents. The Deers fell behind to Tomas Stabile’s early free kick, but a hat-trick from Wesley Greaves turned the game around. For Steaua, it is now two defeats in a row after their long unbeaten run, and they are ahead of 4th-placed Eintracht Midwest only on goal difference after Eintracht’s 2-0 win at Cods of War, who are now four points further back in 5th. Leo Felix’s 12th-minute header saw Heffron Hendecagon to a 1-0 home win over The Gang Play Football and moved them up to 6th. The Gang slip to 9th, below OWC Albion, who were 2-0 victors over pointless Pinewood Passers, two early goals from Rotundio Tubesock doing the damage. Rotundio Tubesock. Just giving you all the opportunity to say that name again there. You're welcome.

Division 3

---

Great Northern Railway’s perfect start to the season was never likely to be threatened by manager-free visitors Richmond P&P, and they duly eased to a 4-0 win that keeps them three points ahead of FC Gloryhammer, for whom Folkert Vroomans struck the crucial goal in a 1-0 defeat of Nieuwegein Kneebiters, who fall one place to 6th. The game between 3rd and 4th was won decisively by Brian Munchingflapjack, whose 4-1 victory keeps them above New Dresden but now with a three-point advantage. Sabah Rahimi was the star of the show with two goals. In shock news, there was a draw, bringing the division’s total to two for the first half of the season. Draw specialists Wharfedale Generals were involved, just as they were in the one previous stalemate, as they held visitors Veni Vici Vigata 0-0. VVV climb to 5th, while the Generals drop to 9th, the point not enough to keep them above revitalised Clydach Vale FC, who made it two wins on the trot with a 3-0 thrashing of The Blomstrands to take them up to 7th.

[delicatemoth]

I'm one of those people that subconsciously picks up accents in person, I didn't realise until now that that happened to me online too...

Yes, I do that. I used the phrase "I was lit" in my potted memories of Buckingham Town FC post and I never say that in meatspace.

I buy recommended players! I tried to buy one two weeks ago for Starmers but the price went too high.

[Janik]

Xpert XI official Ladies League Season 59, Matchday 5 report.

Xpert Ladies

Girls Down Under        1 - 0   Drakaina
Groznaya 89'


Division 2b

BK Pinglan              4 - 1   Mauchline Belles
Ljungqvist 13'                  Perdao 70'
Mohan 46'
Herloff 74', 78'


Division 3e

Coxy Ladies Wulpen      1 - 0   Careerwomen Blues
Kerckhoeven 55'


Division 4h

Viking South Utsira     3 - 0   Propaganda
M.Hovland 70'
N.Austrheim 74', 87'


Division 4j

Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC  3 - 0   AC Spade
Borot 10'                       Gratte (sent off) 45'
Luangpruksachat 19'
Sangaji 62'


Division 4k

Bombay Green Rockets    1 - 4   Sporting Erasmus
Wemerson 9'                     Ramfjord 2'
                                Bels?s 19', 22'
                                Rolness 91'


Division 4p

Lagermax                4 - 2   Csiki Girls
Cicortas 46'                    Woozley 20', 73'
Kiss 49', 80', 82'              Rain (sent off) 76'


Division 5:16

Rising Stars            1 - 5   Cicada WFC
Wa 35'                          Colakovic 40'
                                Lawson 67', 79'
                                Panagoulis 77', 81'


Division 5:17

LNWR Locomotive         1 - 0   FC Valkyrie
Teigland 73'
                                Lejon (sent off) 86'


Division 5:19

Ullapool Northern Star  1 - 0   FC Northern Ladies
Klovning 69'


Division 5:26

Zeugma Dostluk Spor     3 - 1   SLB Power Girls
Manookian 52', 61'              van Nisterlooy 5'
Kulakova 86'


Division 5:28

Moe Szyslak Experience  0 - 1   Menywod Maeshafn
                                Smythe 36'


Division 6:12

Twisted Sisters         3 - 0   Juventus
Bj?rkelind 32', 61'
Mikdad 87'                      Bako (sent off) 79'


Division 6:41

CF Fuego Eagles         3 - 3   Hazeldean Inchmistress
Alcaraz 12'                     Ernstr?m 7'
Kewell 28'                      Bringevik 71'
Miguel Ara?jo 74'               Barnes 76'


Division 6:42

Invisible Ladies        0 - 0   Luculenus LFC


Division 6:56

Dublin City Womens FC   3 - 1   Skills and Beauty FC
Donegal 61', 84'                H?tinen 5'
Timmermans 63'                  Oriol (sent off) 45'

As the season progresses, then need for Drakaina’s points accumulation to get rolling increases if they want to remain in the Xpert Ladies top flight for another season. A game at previously winless Girls Down Under looked like an opportunity for Etienne’s side… except there are no easy games at this level as the Aussies would prove.
Drakaina looked the better side in the opening 45 minutes, mind, with nearly 60% possession and two chances to the hosts one. But failing to score in this period of dominance proved costly as Girls Down Under upped their level considerably after the break. Dragons ‘keeper Anastasia Shkolnikova was typically superb, but she was beaten eventually as the hosts grabbed a late, late winner (that their second-half display probably merited).
The result saw the Greeks slide two places down the Xpert Ladies table to now sit seventh, three points from safety. Staying up is looking a significant task.

Maybe Drakaina should compare notes with last-ditch survival experts Mauchline Belles? That said, Jdsx’s side had had an atypically reasonable start to a campaign, with only one defeat from their opening four games ahead of their trip to BK Pinglan.
The Belles chances of adding to that looked slim in the opening half as they were chasing shadows. The Scots fell 1-0 behind on 13 minutes, and then saw an against-the-run-of-play response on 20 disallowed. When it’s not going to be your day…
Pinglan made it 2-0 in the opening minute of the second half and followed that up by raining shots on Mauchline’s net. Which made Fernanda Perdao’s goal back on 70 minutes rather unexpected. And quickly nullified as Pinglan restored their two goal advantage four minutes later, and then extended it to 4-1 a further four minutes on.
A fifth for the hosts on 81 minutes was disallowed to prevent things getting embarrassing, but it was still a heavy and painful defeat for Mauchline, who drop to seventh in the Division 2b table on the back of it. The side in fifth is two points distant.

Things have gone swimmingly so far for Coxy Ladies Wulpen following promotion last term. The Waders came into their game with Careerwomen Blues still maintaining a perfect 100% record in Division 3e play.
Wulpen didn’t look on course to make it five from five in a first half where the Blues were the better side both in terms of general play and (what) chances there were. However a bit of a half-time rocket from boss Janik seemed to do the trick as, despite still giving the ball away too much, Coxy Ladies did at least create a few chances. And, crucially, stuck one away in the 55th minute, No?mie Kerckhoeven the Jenny-on-the-spot when the ball pinballed around the Blues boxed following a corner.
That was enough for the Flanders side to claim the win and move on. Their lead at the top of 3e is only three points over Misconduct United, but the gap to third is a very handy eight points already.

Viking South Utsira are pushing hard for promotion back to Division 3 after last season’s near miss. Their latest assignment came against Propaganda.
The Blood Eagles mostly played the game on the counter attack, happy to let their visitors claim to have dominated as VSU were fully aware of the reality, i.e. the only side getting a sight of goal was them. Not that Velvet Android’s girls converted any of their three chances in the opening half, but there was to be better news after the break for Viking as all their sights of goal were put away.
The first goal came on 70 minutes and was scored by one of the defensive Hovlands, but Mette this time rather than Lina. She headed in a cross provided by Nina Austrheim, who continued her contribution by turning scorer for VSU’s second and third strikes on 74 and 87 minutes. The visitors claims that this win was unrepresentative as they had had 56% possession in the match were all so much white noise.
The good news for The Blood Eagles continued after the game as they discovered that Division 4h leaders Q.P.R Ladies had dropped their first points of the season with a 2-1 defeat. It wasn’t enough to move VSU up from second to first, but the gap has shrunk to just goal difference now.

Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC had won three of their opening four games prior to taking on AC Spade, who has lost three out of four. Straightforward for SeanoftheShed’s charges? You know what, yes it was.
The Sea Spirits comfortable day was significantly helped by scoring twice fairly early on, Tyan Borot netting a free-kick routine on 10 minutes and Thao-Ap Luangpruksachat finishing off a breakaway on 19. Spade’s Eva-Lena Gratte receiving a straight red card for a professional foul on 45 minutes was also a boon.
With the game practically in the bag The Sea Goddesses relaxed after the break, but still added another on 62 minutes when Utami Sangaji scored directly from a free-kick. That meant the final margin was 3-0, and that was enough for Kanjeng to take advantage of a slip up from previous leaders Red Dead Heads and move top of the Division 4j table on goal difference.

It’s been a tough debut to date in the fifth tier for Bombay Green Rockets; their latest assignment as they tried to acclimatise was against Sporting Erasmus.
Things started badly for HKS3’s side as they fell 1-0 down in only the second minute. However the Rockets fought back nearly immediately, M?rcia Wemerson levelling matters with 9 on the clock. This proved to be a false dawn though, which is something Rockets are to be experienced at handling. Bombay appeared taken aback by it in this case though as they were 3-1 down by the mid-point of the first half.
Things were better after the break, but still it was Erasmus who got the other goal in the game in stoppage time. 4-1 was rather harsh on a match that was only 4-5 on chances tipped away from the Green Rockets, as once again a side with their luck out on X11 took another kicking.
The Rockets remain seventh in Division 4k, but only two points from safety even now.

Another side distinctly not enjoying their post-promotion experience are Csiki Girls, who arrived at Lagermax without a point or a goal to their names this season.
Csiki’s defender Trudy Woozley had obviously had enough of seeing the forwards on her side shooting blanks as she took matters into her own hands, firing the Csiki’s ahead from a free-kick on 20 minutes. Cue wild celebrations in the away end and dugouts. Ad hoc’s side were still one to the good at the interval, but not long afterwards found themselves behind as Lagermax struck on both 46 and 49 minutes. Woozley was not to be denied though, dragging her side level again with another free-kick on 73 minutes.
Now enters the villain of the piece as just three minutes after her side drew level, Taylor Rain was unable to resist committing a second yellow-card worthy foul of the day. It never rains but it pours, I can’t stand the rain, etc. Rain had barely left the field before Lagermax made her 10 teammates pay with two strikes on 80 and 82 minutes. These were both scored by the same player, you could say defeat was sealed with a Kiss (Codruta as she is known to her mates).
Off the mark for goals is something I guess, but Csiki Girls still prop up Division 4p and sit eight points from safety already.

[Janik]

Rising Stars were having an infinitely better season than Csiki Girls prior to this round of games. No, they hadn’t scored a goal or anything, but they did have one point from a stalemate to their names. Would they be adding to that against Cicada WFC?
The first half held both promise and concern, as the game was rather open. Creating chances did hold out the hope of a first goal of the season for The Stars, and it arrived on 35 minutes through Hua Wa (Who Else?) as she finished off a breakaway move. Blamb’s side were not ahead for long though as one of the openings at the other end was converted soon after.
The match remained in the balance until a dramatic piece of bad luck struck The Ascenders on 65 minutes. This was 5 minutes after a treble change, and, you guessed it, was a red cross injury to one of their players (Pen?lope Madureira, 9 days). Within two minutes Cicada were ahead, and this seemed to prompt a mental collapse from Rising Stars as goals just kept coming, the score reaching 5-1 by the 81st minute.
The flood stopped soon after through the same method in reverse that had burst the dam initially; all subs used by Cicada, immediately followed by an injury that takes them down to 10. Way too late to matter, though.
Rising Stars stay bottom of Division 5:16. They are six points from safety currently.

After a whole bunch of negative news, it’s good to hear how LNWR Locomotive are powering through Division 5:17. The Steamers are one of the three promotion chasing sides in the section; for matchday 5 they hosted one of the rest, FC Valkyrie.
For 70-odd minutes you wouldn’t have know which side was flying along the mainline and which was chuntering along a branch as the two teams basically cancelled each other out. Chances were at a premium, The Steamers having none at all in the opening half. They did have a couple after the break, and crucially put one of them away on 73 minutes, the ever-reliable Maja Teigland delivering.
That goal appeared to break something in the head of Valkyrie’s Gunnel Lejon, who managed to get herself booked twice in seven minutes to depart the fray early on 86. She was the only player to see any sort of card all match.
That sending off eased The Steamers to a victory which kept Viktor Boskovic’s side third in Division 5:17 but did close the gap on the sides above them, who were playing each other.

All ease were pointing in one direction when Ullapool Northern Star took on FC Northern Ladies.
The two teams were not just similar in names but also in performance as there was little to chose between them. That doesn’t mean the game was chanceless, there were enough openings there per side to keep the Minchview crowd entertained, but the match remained scoreless for a long while. Not to the final whistle though. The breakthrough, when it came, went the way of Polaris, Renate Klovning unleashing a long-range rocket in the 69th minute.
Klovning’s strike proved to be enough for Delicatemoth’s girls to claim a victory that leapfrogged them over their fellow compass-point afficionados and up to third in the Division 5:19 table. The gap to the leaders is… no points at all, the top four in this section all having 10 to their names (Northern Ladies, who drop to fifth, have 9). It looks a lively promotion race in prospect.

Even this early in the campaign the match that pitted Zeugma Dostluk Spor against an SLB Power Girls side level on points with them in the nether reaches of Division 5:26 felt like an important one.
Zeugma have higher ambitions than simply surviving at this level, of course, so for them the game was about establishing they don’t belong down here and are poised to move away to more suitable climbs. Falling 1-0 down after 5 minutes and remaining like that at half-time wasn’t part of the plan, then.
AntepliEjderha and co looked around for a hero to save them – step forward Aghavni Manookian. The Armenian had scored just once for the Anatolians previously after signing towards the back end of last season, but here she struck twice in nine minutes (52 and 61) to turn the game on it’s head. Veronika Kulakova added a third late on (86) to seal the win.
It was a victory that didn’t move ZDS up any spots in the 5:26 table, but rather it kept them from losing any and sliding into the drop zone – Zeugma remain fifth, clear on just goal difference.

Menywod Maeshafn, towards the bottom of Division 5:28, were determined to enjoy the Moe Szyslak Experience, who bucked nominative determinism by being successful and up near the top of the table.
And enjoy it IsThatcherDeadYet’s side did. They go their performance exactly right for the ambience, making occasional forays in but not hanging around too long and becoming just another barfly. Or to put it another way, <50% possession, >50% chances. And also 100% of the goals in the game, Meredith Smythe firing home from close range after 36 minutes.
A very useful win, but not one that lifts Maeshafn out of the 5:28 drop zone – they remain sixth. But sixth, and only three points off the top now!

Game number two in charge of Juventus for SitsWithRemote saw the boss take his side to promotion chasers Twisted Sisters.
Traveling with the group for the first time was Lilias Cabrero, who had been signed to provide a mentor role for her younger colleagues (an old lady for the Old Lady). The fee didn’t set SWR back very much, just 51k, which is a bargain for a skill 14 player. Not that Cabrero contributed much to her first match – she was carrier off injured after just 12 minutes (15 days).
In Cabrero’s absence her new teammates did, well, average to poorly. They were not outplayed in general terms, but did ship two goals on 32 and 61 minutes. The Juve cause was not helped by a red card for young forward Tekla Bako, who had been walking a tightrope of a second yellow since the opening minute until falling off in the 79th. The Sisters added a third soon after to complete the scoring.
Juve slide down a place to sixth in the Division 6:12 table. They are now 9 points adrift of the runaway top two (a pair that includes Twisted Sister). A season of consolidation and building looks increasingly likely for the Turin club.

Given the struggles of the last season-and-a-half for Hazeldean Inchmistress, visiting second-in the-table CF Fuego Eagles could have been seen as either daunting or an opportunity for a new narrative.
The optimists were given early succour by Elinor Ernstr?m opening the scoring on 7 minutes. The pessimists were able to fight back and say “told you so!” as Fuego struck twice in response to be 2-1 up before the half-hour mark.
The game stayed at that score until an explosive period as the match enter it’s last 20 minutes or so. First Jennie Bringevik drew The Imperials level on 71 minutes, heading in Ernstr?m’s cross, only for the Eagles to grab the lead back on 74 minutes. However, just two minutes later, Kelli Barnes was teed up by Ernstr?m and Foxy265’s side were level again.
Barnes thought she had put her side in front with just minutes left to play when she had the ball in the net again on 83 minutes, only for Travis Tee to rule it out. So 3-3 it stayed, with the half full/half empty debate continuing long into the night. Hazeldean stay fourth in Division 6:41, however one feels about it though.

Invisible Ladies had surprised themselves as well as others by arriving at their game with Luculenus LFC as Division 6:42 leaders.
The San Seethrough visitors were also in the promotion mix. Indeed they sat level on points with Pebblethefish’s charges ahead of kick-off, but only in third place as two other sides also shared nine points from four games. As to the game itself, well, it was quite dull. But that was something of a success from a See Through perspective, not just because they are against spectacle (well, they are against it, but only in one sense of the word), but also down to Luculenus having the better possession and chances states. These were not even really close.
But a stalemate it stayed despite the visitors statistical weight, and also the loss to injury of Hazeldean defender Sandie Parks on 37 minutes. Parks will be out for 12 days, a period that started with Hazeldean slipping to third, now two points adrift of 6:42’s leading sides.

Another team top of their league were Dublin City Womens FC, who took on mid-table side Skills and Beauty FC.
A slow start saw Dublin fall 1-0 behind after just 5 minutes, but thereafter Mortal Joe’s side looked by far the better outfit. They were still losing though as the interval approached, and after it had gone. However they did have one new advantage from the 45th minute onwards – an extra player after Jovanna Oriol argued her way to a straight red card.
That was one turning point in the match. The other was two Dublin goals in three minutes, netted by Maurine Donegal (61) and Emma Timmermans (63). Donegal added a third late on (84 minutes) to make utterly sure as Dublin maintained their one point advantage at the summit of the Division 6:56 table.

[willie1foot]

Has anyone ever bought a recommended player? They usually seem to be the last type of player I'd want to add to the squad - "No, I'm fine for 34-year-old defenders, thanks."

You know you can set the type (GK, D, M, F) of recommended players in your settings HO? I'm not saying they'll be any better (most of the ones I get are unaffordable), but they do tend to be more compatible than most.