X11 season 45 - de rigueur Mortis

[Antepli Ejderha]

Two have joined the MLX now taking the Turkey quota up to 3.

[SouthdownRebel]

I really can't, but thanks.

All the same, it's nice to see you looking in here Kev. Hope all's well mate.

[Various Artist]

Kevchenko? He used to hang out with Smallcaps, right? Whatever happened to him?

Smallcaps still runs teams iirc.

I heard he eloped with that Velvet Android dude. Haven't seen him around here in ages.

[Various Artist]

P.S. AE, you know Wouter D is Smallcaps, who indeed still has a whole bunch of teams (like the Kneebiters, IKK, Lokomotiv Leiden, Märkische Mädels...) right?!

[Sits]

OTF's Xpert Eleven experience is in for an explosive week:

OTF kicks off (13th)
Heineken kicks off (17th)
Brythonnic final round (17th)
and of course MLX about to be unleashed.

[Various Artist]

I've been rather appreciating having so many teams in their close seasons, it makes setting up for games so much easier. United Underground aren't even playing a match this week.

[Sean of the Shed]

OTF's Xpert Eleven experience is in for an explosive week:

OTF kicks off (13th)
Heineken kicks off (17th)
Brythonnic final round (17th)
and of course MLX about to be unleashed.

And the Chaos Cartel CR is due on Monday for Etienne and myself. I'm quite hopeful of a good one with 8 x 17 and 4 x 16 DVs.

[Antepli Ejderha]

P.S. AE, you know Wouter D is Smallcaps, who indeed still has a whole bunch of teams (like the Kneebiters, IKK, Lokomotiv Leiden, Märkische Mädels...) right?!

Yep. I'm guessing my attempt at humour didn't come off. Again.

[Sits]

I got it. If it helps.

[Sits]

Fenerbahçe news just in, from my new best mate Tudor in the Xpert Zone:

>CPI_46, 2017-11-12: Hi!

I recive this message from X11 Crew: "Hi, he made some nice transfers yes. I can´t see him being connected to any other user and also the selling teams are different all the time. So I can´t see any dodgy transfer at the time."

But.. I don't wanna play with any cheater. I will sack Sel_ayan and the team will be dissolved.

He's surprised and impressed me. The manager has already been sacked. Wow.

[SouthdownRebel]

Antep, any word from the third of your potential MLX recruits? Two are in, but I think one needed to either go VIP or increase his quota?

[Antepli Ejderha]

No news SDR I'll message him.

I'm impressed with the Xpert Zone decision, not just the sacking but dissolving the team. Chapeau to the admin.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Messaged him and posted on the form SDR as well as asking one of the two new managers if they know of anyone else.

[Janik]

X11 Ladies League season 49, matchday 13 report. On final approach.

Division 3e

Spicks Killiettes 	1 - 3	Viking South Utsira
Dahlqvist 25'			A.Austrheim 15'
				Fudida (pen) 77'
				Cubillas (O.G.) 84'


Division 4h

The Housewives 		1 - 1	Drakaina
Webber 46'			Mourne 28'


Division 5:17

LNWR Locomotive		1 - 1	Sunhilla Ladies FC
Ryman 68'			Strängby 26'


Division 5:18

Warrior Girls		2 - 2	Coxy Ladies Wulpen
Suter 13'			Madjarevic 24', 37'
Sterling 46'


Division 5:21

Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC	3 - 0	Witches of Chiswick
Farisy 8'
Prins 40'
Dalmiya 46'

Solent Sirens		0 - 1	Aspull Academicals
				Narraway 61'
Utstumo (sent off) 77'


Division 5:31

Csiki Girls		3 - 1	Vasas Femina FC
Gränsmark 26', 74'		Zagallo 55'
Solas 46'


Division 6:41

FC Saik 		1 - 0	Invisible Ladies
Ennis 86'


Division 6:55

Menywod Maeshafn	2 - 0	FR Timmer
Barker 17'
Lydell 61'


Division 6:57

Dublin City Womens FC	1 - 0	Dash Dolls
de Faria 34'

The battle for the Division 3e play-off place was pretty fraught ahead of the penultimate round of games, and it involved both Viking South Utsira and their round 13 hosts, Spicks Killiettes.
Viking had a two point advantage of Killiettes, but were also aware of the -2 GD only they trailed Lincoln City Ladies by. Could that be closed? Well, the game had to be won first, though that was aided by a strangely unfocused performance from the home side. The Blood Eagles appeared to take advantage when Asta Austrheim put them ahead on the quarter-hour, but then didn’t back this up and conceded a sloppy equaliser.
Manager Velvet Android may have been beginning to fret as heavy pressure went unrewarded following this, but then, finally, on 77 minutes referee Laura Norder gifted Utsira the opportunity with a penalty, which is not the sort of chance that Manuças Fudida turns down. Killiettes scored again seven minutes later, but this time it was in their own net as Remei Cubillas’ unfortunate mishap sealed the game.
That was the good news for VSU. The bad was that 3-1 was not going to be enough to close the goal difference gap if Lincoln also won. Which they did. It makes next Tuesday’s clash of the two sides a play-off for entering the play-off, but where a draw goes against The Blood Eagles.

Drakaina copped something of a break as they travelled to The House (or similar, it’s a FFS name) with the hosts demob happy having already claimed the title.
However the hosts remained a very strong side despite probably being more after development than the result. So it was a positive Dragons dressing room when they sat down with a 1-0 lead, courtesy of Fionulla Mourne’s 28th minute strike. The advantage only lasted for seconds after the break, but following that there were no more goals as Etienne’s side held on for a valuable (and rare this season) away point.
The Division 4h table is rather volatile ahead of the final round of matches, and Drakaina are right in the middle of it. They sit fourth, two points behind the play-off place and only one ahead of the drop zone. If the two sides ahead of the Greeks were both to lose, then the play-off is possible. However if the two sides behind them were both to win (and one of them doing so is a pre-requisite of the two sides ahead losing) then only victory at Consett Vixens will be enough. The good news here is that Consett have finished bottom and have an appalling home record (0-1-5). The bad is that Drakaina’s away form is nearly as weak (0-2-4, and that includes the point this week). It’s going to be tense.

There was probably a smattering of tension, or more like apprehension around Mollington Street before LNWR Locomotive’s match with Sunhilla Ladies FC. This was because the only way The Steamers could be dragged into the Division 5:17 relegation battle was with a heavy defeat here, seeing as they began the match with a six point and +10 GD cushion on sixth-placed Sunhilla. 3-0 or 4-0 to the visitors, and suddenly staying up would not have been the foregone conclusion it had long seemed.
The first half did little to calm home nerves, as Viktor Boskovic’s side found themselves 1-0 down, having not managed a shot. However a stronger second half saw Locomotive take charge of the game, and level midway through it through Lisa Ryman. This seemed to knock the stuffing out of Sunhilla, the match drifting to its end at one each.
And with that, LNWR’s final position of fifth in the Division was confirmed.

Coxy Ladies Wulpen held a two point and good goal difference advantage over their nearest promotion rivals when they took the field at a Warrior Girls side that were looking for a result to guarantee survival.
The Waders suffered an early blow when their hosts went ahead, but soon responded with two strikes from Ursula Madjarevic putting Janik’s side ahead before half-time. If the manager was feeling comfortable, this didn’t last for long as Warrior Girls equalised immediately after the restart. The game then ramped up into an end-to-end spectacular, with the teams exchanging chances. No further goals were added until the 84th minute when Warrior Girls struck... and Hans Grüber disallowed it!
A very valuable point, then, as the goal difference advantage keeps Wulpen top of Division 5:18 by +5 GD ahead of the final round of games. A round in which they play Kilwinning FC, who have collected just two points all season. A win should be enough, anything less and it’s probably the play-offs. There will be tension at the Curlew’s Nest on Tuesday.

[Janik]

The final OTF derby of the season was all about Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC as they retained a realistic shot at promotion whilst Witches of Chiswick were marking time have already gone down.
Once again my game viewer doesn’t want to open a match that does involve one of my sides [can anyone explain this, btw?], so it’s the overview rather than the full derby take I’m afraid. It was a pretty one-sided affair, truth be told. The Sea Spirits created a string of chances, and turned them into goals regularly enough, beginning with Tia Farisy heading in an 8th minute corner.
Cindy Prins doubled the advantage in similar fashion before the interval, with Diksha Dalmiya latching on to a Diana Doom through ball to complete the scoring after the break. The Bewitched didn’t manage a shot in the entire match. Wiblflibl has a bit of a job on his hands raising his side’s confidence for next season.
The win left Kanjeng in with a very realistic shot of at least the play-offs. Indeed if they beat fifth-placed (and safe) Flick of the Wrist, then they are certain of second place at worst, despite currently sitting third in the table. That is because the top two sides, Victorious Secret and Spandex FC, who are both two points ahead of the Sea Goddesses, play each other. If Kanjeng not only win, but do so by two goals, then that would almost certainly give them the title if the top two played out a stalemate. However, only a win will do, clearly so as two sides are two points distant. The situation is therefore pretty straightforward for SeanoftheShed and his players. Though probably not Farisy, as she suffered a 10-day injury that will likely keep her from this key match. Which is a blow, as her 11 goals this season make here Division 5:21’s top scorer.
Elsewhere in the same section, Solent Sirens were going through the motions against fellow relegated side Aspull Academicals.
This was obviously a chance for a rare win, and The Sirens went after it as they had lots of the ball. Lots and lots of the ball. 64% of it in the first half, for example. But they did next to nothing with it! Just one shot all game for Andrew7610’s side. Aspull were much more efficient, creating four chances and taking one just past the hour mark. Any chance Solent had of recovering disappeared on 77 minutes when Ragnhild Utstumo saw her second yellow card of the game.
Defeat saw Solent drop below Aspull into seventh place. Chiswick, meanwhile, have now been confirmed as finishing bottom. They play Aspull last, looking to avoid going a full league season without a win.

Csiki Girls meeting with Vasas Femina FC was a must win for the A kertem side, as they found themselves four points adrift of safety at the opening whistle.
Vasas Femina were hardly the ideal opponents as they knew a win would clinch their place in the play-offs. However Csiki Girls dug deep, and played their preferred counter-attacking game to perfection. They had little of the ball, but made maximal use of what they got. Emelie Gränsmark opened the scoring from range on 26 minutes, and, following Vasas having an ‘equaliser’ disallowed on the stroke of half-time, Solange Solas doubled the advantage soon afterwards.
The visitors pulled one back on 55 minutes, making for a nervous time for the Csiki’s fans, up until Gränsmark burst clear to put his side back two clear with 74 on the clock. And that was all she wrote on this one.
It still might not have been enough if 47 RONIN GIRLS had won their game. But they didn’t, going down 1-0, which means Csiki Girls are now within one point of safety. However they are still hoping for a miracle – RONIN’s final game is against Division 5:31’s bottom outfit Farkaslányok (managerless). It’s fairly forlorn, but all Ad Hoc and co can hope for is a mess up by RONIN and winning their game against seventh-placed All For One.

A point was all Invisible Ladies required from their game with FC Saik for safety to be achieved.
Pebblethefish’s side went about it strongly, having the better of possession in the first half and chances in both. However The See Throughs form has nosedived since the first meeting of the sides, with just one win outside a couple of zombie kills to speak of, and when it rains it pours on X11. Therefore it made perfect sense for FC Saik’s one second-half chance to result in a late winner. The San Seethrough crowd left with the opposition’s name on their lips.
It all adds up to a big climax in the Division 6:41 drop zone. Tagalog Ladies are currently sixth on 15 points, but playing the local pointless zombies. It has to be assumed that they will win, and probably by at least four goals, which will turn goal difference in their favour. FC Saik, who have 16 points, will therefore need to win their match at third-placed but nothing-to-play-for Future Girls. If they do, then Invisible Ladies will be under pressure to put away relegated (by actively managed) Rotnäset BK. They should, but if they don’t and Tagalog and Saik both win, then even a draw might see a season which opened with such promise somehow end in relegation.

A damaging defeat in week 12 had seen Menywod Maeshafn slip back from top to third. There was every chance their promotion push could be over with anything other than a win against relegation-battling FR Timmer.
Maeshafn’s response? Pressure, what pressure?? It was complete dominance from IsThatcherDeadYet’s side, with the only slight disappointment being that the scoreboard could have moved rather more. As it was the eight chances that were created led to two goals, Katherine Barker nodding the opener on 17 minutes and Ellinor Lydell making it two on a breakaway after 61. Barker’s goal was the first of the 18 year-old’s career.
It leaves Maeshafn third ahead of the final day, three points behind leaders ZFK Nase Taksi and two adrift of Ricipetti F.C, but, notably, with the best goal difference of the three. Nase Taksi take on FR Timmer, who now have to win to have a hope of staying up, whilst Maeshafn have some control of their destiny as they take on Ricipetti directly. A win means a play-off at least, and might, just might, give them the title.

It looks like being a case of soon near and yet so far for Dublin City Womens FC. They did what they had to do in week 13 by seeing off Dash Dolls, but, despite that technically keeping them in the hunt for the play-offs, circumstances are not looking hopeful.
Getting the win over Dash was pretty hard work for Mortal Joe’s girls, particularly when midfielder Ana Isabel Carreto went down with an 11-day injury after only 16 minutes play. However one shouldn’t write off Carreto’s replacement Manuela de Faria, as it was she who opened the scoring on 34 minutes.
One just wouldn’t become two, and there was even a scare when the Dolls had the ball in the Dublin net in the second half. This was ruled out though, meaning the game finished 1-0. It kept Dublin third in Division 6:57, but three points adrift of Slingers City Ladies. It leaves Dublin looking for a win on the final day against Black Widows, who are the champions elect and technically need a point to be sure of the title (in reality they are already there with a 3 points and +12 GD gap on Slingers). Oh and Slingers to lose to a decent but not spectacular mid-table side. And Dublin to overturn a five goal GD advantage that Sligners also hold. As I said, so near (Dublin have 10 wins from 13 games this season), but surely ultimately just short of success.

[Sits]

I messaged the Human League managers to see if any VIPs could help tide MLX over the cusp; one said he'd have loved to but had no quota. Not heard any more.

As the Admin of a "normal" league it hadn't struck me how tough recruitment was in a VIP league these days, especially one demanding a fixed number of members.

It won't help this time but would it be pragmatic in future to look at either 60 or 56 teams?

8:8:8:8
7:7:7:7

or

7:7:7:7
7:7:7:7

Does the game allow those for a CL format? I realise it would play havoc with the extra "friendly" comps but perhaps it's the lesser of two evils.

[Sits]

Hours before the start of the new OTF season, has there been much wheeler-dealing?

GJT's Pinewood Passers have splurged a mighty 15.5m on 29/15 Horse Headers Speed midfielder Keith Edghill. One of the biggest OTF buys ever I would imagine.

Joe's Tønder BK threw a cool 6.7m at 23/10 FK midfielder Hans Biskúpsf Jørður

DM's Clerkenwell Excelsior have had a busy window bringing in five for about 5.5m, as have Brian Munchingflapjack who brought in four for 8m

Otherwise a 3, a couple of 2s and a crop of 1s. Interestingly* apart from Joe's biggie, the top flight only added 17 and 18 year olds.

*or not, as the case may be

[Janik]

Interestingly* apart from Joe's biggie, the top flight only added 17 and 18 year olds.

*or not, as the case may be

No, I think it is interesting. It means that OTF's strongest teams are mostly conveyor belt efforts, sustaining themselves by developing their own youths products or at worst buying U20s and developing those. Whether this system is the most effective, or these teams are simply the strongest because their managers have more time to devote to the game is open to question. But it does seem notable that wheeler-dealing is not much of a factor amongst the top flight. Indeed having searched through, the ten clubs between them have signed just 11 players as what I would consider immediate 1st XI teamers intended for the long-term* in the entire of 2017. That is a period that covers three complete cycles, and another half-season (the one underway last Christmas) and pre-season (just ending). Buying players in is extremely rare, though only one pre-season transfer is still on the low side, I guess. However it is also worth noting that the most active club on this front (with a whopping 3 acquisitions) currently have a shiny great cup adorning their team's page...

* - my definition of this being players of at least 20 who cost at least 2m, as those younger than that tend to be development projects rather than immediate starters, and older players who come in at under that price are either squad filler, stop-gap solutions to injury/suspension problems or veterans brought in as mentors to keep average ages up.

[Various Artist]

Yep. I'm guessing my attempt at humour didn't come off. Again.

Aargh, sorry AE. I was just checking, you know!

[Various Artist]

Fenerbahçe news just in, from my new best mate Tudor in the Xpert Zone:

>CPI_46, 2017-11-12: Hi!
I recive this message from X11 Crew: "Hi, he made some nice transfers yes. I can´t see him being connected to any other user and also the selling teams are different all the time. So I can´t see any dodgy transfer at the time."
But.. I don't wanna play with any cheater. I will sack Sel_ayan and the team will be dissolved.

He's surprised and impressed me. The manager has already been sacked. Wow.

Crikey. Genuinely quite dumbfounded at that. Well done indeed for your perseverance Sits, great going.

Now let's just hope CPI doesn't 'do a Zdan' on us and backtrack on dissolving the club.

It won't help this time but would it be pragmatic in future to look at either 60 or 56 teams?
8:8:8:8
7:7:7:7
or
7:7:7:7
7:7:7:7
Does the game allow those for a CL format? I realise it would play havoc with the extra "friendly" comps but perhaps it's the lesser of two evils.

It would also play havoc with the Kevchenko Cup, for which 64 teams is a perfect setup. I'd also hate to see us lose clubs from MLX because we've got a remarkably stable set of 'franchises' overall, with the vast majority of the 64 clubs having survived (through however many changes of manager, or none) since either the foundation of the league or its expansion to 8 x 8 divisions.

[Various Artist]

The final OTF derby of the season was all about Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC as they retained a realistic shot at promotion whilst Witches of Chiswick were marking time have already gone down.
Once again my game viewer doesn’t want to open a match that does involve one of my sides [can anyone explain this, btw?]

That is indeed bizarre, it sounds very random to me. What's it doing, just showing a blank window, a whirling 'in progress' timer that never gets anywhere, or what?

[Various Artist]

Hours before the start of the new OTF season, has there been much wheeler-dealing?

GJT's Pinewood Passers have splurged a mighty 15.5m on 29/15 Horse Headers Speed midfielder Keith Edghill. One of the biggest OTF buys ever I would imagine.

Joe's Tønder BK threw a cool 6.7m at 23/10 FK midfielder Hans Biskúpsf Jørður

DM's Clerkenwell Excelsior have had a busy window bringing in five for about 5.5m, as have Brian Munchingflapjack who brought in four for 8m

Otherwise a 3, a couple of 2s and a crop of 1s. Interestingly* apart from Joe's biggie, the top flight only added 17 and 18 year olds.

*or not, as the case may be

Janik's analysis here is as interesting as his Xpert Ladies roundups (er, that's a compliment, by the way) – I guess those of us who are well-established in the league have learnt similar techniques of squad building and youth player production from each other so have fallen into a similar pattern of slow development. It'll be very interesting to see whether there's another close title race this coming season.

That's an eyeopening splurge from the Passers, meanwhile. GJT must've been saving up for a good while there, blimey. Am highly intrigued to see if big-money Keith Edghill can fire them to promotion – or if he'll be another Rhys Ingleby, signed by Inca for Beachcombers Utd for over 16.5m econs as a 25/12 with FK, Swoosh, Horse, Speed and Burglar. Now a 28/14 for their successor identity of Brutal Deluxe Redux, Ingleby has a blistering 45 goals and 11 assists from his 53 appearances over the past three seasons... all of them spent pootling around in midtable in Division 3.


Cor – Mr Edghill certainly looks up for it, at any rate:

[Antepli Ejderha]

Fenerbahçe do appear to be blocked for any managerial takeover. Shortly before being sacked they added another youth bargain. The most interesting thing that the admin said is that he referred it on and was told there was no evidence.

In other developments I've got a third recruit for the MLX, just waiting on SDR to approve him.

Finally it's the start of the OTF League today, and division one has some big names. Relegation but with some decent development values would not be a disaster for us. I've bought a veteran midfielder to bring up the average age but he'll take 14 games to come up to speed.

[andrew7610]

With an hour to go before the OTF season kicks off, die Ambosse sit second in Division 2 on alphabetical basis. I suspect this is as good as it is likely to get for me this season.

[Wouter D]

100% conversion rate for the Kneebiters. That's extremely unlikely to last.