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X11 season 45 - de rigueur Mortis

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    There is a recruitment thread up in the football forum. If any of you can think someone who might want to have a go then maybe push them over to it.

    Comment


      Originally posted by Various Artist View Post
      Forgot to confirm to both you and SdR that I did write back to the manager I mentioned before, Magritte, to let him know those vacancies (MLX/THL clubs temporarily run by SdR Jr) were now open, but alas haven't heard back and it looks like you've not had applications from him. Was worth a go anyway I thought, and you never know he may get around to it yet...
      No problem in terms of MLX - somebody else applied for the vacancy about an hour after we had that exchange about Magritte, so it's probably just as well he didn't seem to apply!

      Comment


        The Romsey Rovers manager looks like he's about to quit too, judging by his last PR. Hopefully he won't relegate ZZ first.

        Comment


          Just as the X11 Ladies Cup R2, L2 matches happen, it’s time for the League Matchday 3 report! Obviously.


          Code:
          Division 1a
          
          Mighty Aphrodite 	1 - 1	Viking South Utsira
          Sætre 52'			Fudida 41'
          
          
          Division 4i
          
          Drakaina		4 - 2	Liverpool FCL
          Mourne 51', 86'			Gabbiadini 44'
          Winter 64'			Bringsli 75'
          Petit 91'
          
          Immortal Angels 	2 - 4	Coxy Ladies Wulpen
          Chrillzmeister 12'		Eva van Sttenberghe 8'
          Bryant 63'			Noémie Kerckhoeven 38', 49'
          Townshend (sent off) 79'	Carey 88'
          
          
          Division 5:16
          
          Cataluna Cats 		1 - 4	Erbil
          Featherstone 78'		Solaun 6', 8'
          Bennett (sent off) 92'		Hinton 76'
          				Brundin 83'
          
          
          Division 5:20
          
          Sockford Emollient	2 - 0	Dynamo Dynamite
          Batistuta 83'
          Duggan 85'			Gay (sent off) 82'
          
          
          Division 5:21
          
          Belle Ends 		0 - 1	Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC
          				Luangpruksachat 12'
          
          Red Dead Heads 		3 - 1	Solent Sirens
          Milet 9'			de Beauvoir 44'
          Eðvarðsdottir 30', 69'
          
          
          Division 5:28
          
          Samurai 		2 - 0	Menywod Maeshafn
          Emanuel 26'
          Kurotsu 65'
          
          
          Division 5:31
          
          Csiki Girls		2 - 0	Universitatea Cluj
          Igreja 29'
          Austin 78'
          
          
          Division 6:33
          
          LNWR Locomotive		0 - 2	Warriors FC
          				Jardel 55'
          Philipsson (sent off) 90'	Bencatel 57'
          
          
          Division 6:36
          
          Brasselir FF 		0 - 3	Ullapool Northern Star
          				Wendel 3'
          				Menashi (pen) 22'
          				Barkho 74'
          
          Division 6:39
          
          Invisible Ladies	3 - 0	FC Saik
          van der Kwast 10'
          Paul 57'
          Carr 61'
          Street (sent off) 72'
          
          
          Division 6:40
          
          Witches of Chiswick	1 - 0	Rotnäset BK
          Matzuoka 88'
          
          
          Division 6:53
          
          MONTPELLIER HERAULT S C	2 - 3	Zeugma Dostluk Spor
          Vareille 65'			Áláfinesse 32'
          Payet 80'			Forsyth 69'
          				Raquel Pedroso 92'
          
          
          Division 6:56
          
          Aherla Ladies 		0 - 2	Dublin City WFC
          				Dunganstown 35'
          				Cruz 40'
          A familiar foe awaited Viking South Utsira in week 3 as they travelled down to Greece to take on mythic warriors in Mighty Aphrodite. Just The Blood Eagles sort of game, in fact.
          The match was a suitably hard-fought affair for two such belligerent sides, with quarter neither taken nor given. Hosts Aphrodite had more possession, but chances were split 50/50. Viking were the first to turn an opportunity into a goal, Manuças Fudida heading home shortly before the break, but the hosts came back soon after it to level.
          The match ended on a somewhat sour note as a poorly timed challenge from an Aphrodite player left Blood Eagles’ defender Loba Deparvada writhing in a heap. She was unable to play any further part, and will be out for 14 days in fact. That left VSU with just 10 players, manager Velvet Android having gone down his typical of making all three changes by the hour mark, but fortunately the short-handed period was brief, just a handful of minutes in stoppage time and no scoreline damage was done. The draw was Viking slip a place to fourth in the Division 1a table, which is very tight – VSU’s four points to date is exactly midway between leaders Spearwives of Ygritte and The Blood Eagles opponents in this one, Mighty Aphrodite, who currently occupy bottom spot.

          There were goals galore in the two Division 4i matches featuring OTFers. One of these encounters was Drakaina against Liverpool FCL, which was a must win for both as they looked to kick-start their seasons.
          It was the visitors who were on top, and clearly so, in the opening half and deservedly took a one goal lead into the break thanks to a late strike. That prompted some teacup throwing from Dragons boss Etienne, who must have been relieved it was only one and made his team fully aware that another 45 minutes like that was plain unacceptable.
          Was it the shouting that inspired an improved showing? Or was it anger at the 14 day injury sustained by skipper Roseanne Beattie four minutes into the half? It may have been the later that was the catalyst, because within two minutes of Beattie departing on a stretcher it was 1-1 as Fionulla Mourne headed in a corner. And then on 64 minutes the turn-around was complete, Grace Winter repeating the dose as she rose to meet a flag-kick.
          However Liverpool were not done either, and they levelled themselves on 75 minutes. The match hung in the balance, with another goal seeming likely. It was just a question of which end, and from our perspective it turned out to be the right one when Mourne blasted in her second of the day from distance. That goal was timed at 86 minutes, but the points were not secure until Sandrine Petit made it four in stoppage time.
          Could Coxy Ladies Wulpen and Immortal Angels[ match that as they squared up at Deep Space. Yes, they could. In fact, if anything, there was even more incident in this one.
          The game got off to a wild start as Eva van Sttenberghe nodded The Waders in front on 8 minutes, only for the Angels to respond just 4 minutes later. It looked like the hosts had turned in right around when the same player struck again on 18 minutes, only for referee Warren Peace to indicate he wasn’t satisfied with the effort. Neither was Peace enamoured by Zara Carey’s try four minutes further down the line.
          The last major action of the opening half saw Janik’s side edge back in front when Noémie Kerckhoeven seized on a loose ball after a corner and fired home. To show this was no fluke, Kerckhoeven struck again from a corner soon after the break, though this time it was cleaner as she rose majestically to plant a header firmly past Bridget Alker.
          That gave Wulpen some breathing space, which came in handy when Immortal Angels pulled one back on 63 minutes. This lead to some franctic play as Coxy Ladies attempted to hang on, which was calmed somewhat when The Angels Alison Townshend picked up a second yellow card on 79 minutes. Wulpen took advantage of the gap created, combined with the hosts need to push on to earn a corner from which they netted a decisive fourth in the 88th minute. Zara Carey was Jane-on-the-spot this time, the ball dropping to her from a flick on to turn in.
          And that was the end of that. The win lifts Wulpen up to second in the table, level on points with leaders Tartan Tawties, but behind on goal difference. Drakaina, meanwhile, stay sixth, but are now four points ahead of the (pointless) bottom two, and only behind fifth on GD. And indeed only behind the Tartan Tawties and Coxy Ladies by three points.

          Erbil were looking to keep their good start after promotion going when they visited a Cataluna Cats side that has fond the opening matches harder going.
          This match conformed to the form patterns inside the opening 10 minutes, two set-pieces goals from Alanza Solaun, one a header from a corner and the other a finish off a free-kick routine, putting Jdsx’s side in command. Cataluna thought they had pulled one back later in the half, only to see if chalked off.
          Caroline Hinton made it three on 76 minutes when she let fly from 35 yards. Cataluna responded with a direct free-kick two minutes later, but that was a false dawn as another long shot, this one from Sandra Brundin, once again made the margin three on 83. That proved the final straw for the hosts Anna Bennett, who got herself booked on 88 minutes and then sent-off on 92.
          Victory kept Erbil second in Division 5:16, two points behind the leaders.

          The transition to the sixth tier hadn’t gone quite as smoothly for Sockford Emollient, though the Gatorsharks couldn’t have been characterised as struggling prior to their game against Dynamo Dynamite.
          The visitors approach could best be described as ‘robust’. They earned their first booking of the match after just seconds for a foul on Sockford skipper Maryam Nogueira, which came in with such force that Nogueira was forced from the action and will spend 9 days on the treatment table. It would be but the first of many ‘heavy’ fouls that verged on the dirty.
          Given the approach, ref Seymour Red probably quite enjoyed shaking his head and saying ‘no goal’ when Dynamo had the ball in the Emollient net on 16 minutes. That was part of a pretty even first half with the sides creating a (genuine) chance a piece. The second was rather different, as The Gatorsharks dominated. Chances came and went, but all the time Dynamo were accumulating cards. This eventually cost them, when the fouling carousel worked to an extent, but it failed on 82 minutes when Jenna Gay committed her second bookable foul of the afternoon.
          8 minutes plus stoppages against 10 players? Would it be enough for Foxy265’s side? The answer was yes, more than enough. In fact it took just 60 seconds for the hosts to break the deadlock, Alexia Batistuta heading home a cross. Gay was still trooping round the edge of the John Spencer Street pitch when this happened, with the Framleyshire public making it very clear the goal was all her fault. She will be glad she hurried as a result, because just two minutes later it was 2-0 and game over following another header, this one from Toni Duggan.
          Two wins and a defeat is good enough for third in the Division 5:20 standings, Sockford sitting just a point behind leaders Girls Aloud.

          Comment


            Week 3 and Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC were taking on the very punny Belle Ends.
            The match would feature nearly the perfect away performance from The Sea Spirits. They took the lead early, Thao-Ap Luangpruksachat spotting the Ends ‘keeper off her line and floating it over her on 12 mintues, and then held their opponents at arm’s-length for the rest of the 90 minutes. Yes, another goal would have made the remaining time easier on manager SeanoftheShed’s nerves, but his players told him afterwards they were always comfortable and in control at 1-0.
            Solent Sirens were on the road to face another side in Red Dead Heads who, like The Sirens, had picked up just one point in their opening two games.
            That made a win crucial for either side. Unfortunately for Sirens’ boss Andrwe7610, it was the hosts who appeared the most prepared to claim it. They were one up after 9 minutes and two to the good by the half-hour. Simone de Beauvoir did pull one back completely against the run of play on 44 minutes, her shot from distance nestling perfectly in the bottom corner, but this was mostly whistling into the wind as Red Dead Heads took more command after it rather than less. They added one more to make the final tally 3-1.
            Despite going into the Belle Ends game as Division 5:21 leaders, and registering another win to make it three from three, The Sea Goddesses actually lost a spot in the standings. They now sit second to Mawzeni on goal difference. It’s looking trickier for Solent though. Their clear defeat leaves them bottom of the stack, though just two points from safety at this stage.

            The opening two rounds brought a win and a draw for Menywod Maeshafn. What would they get at Samurai on Matchday 3?
            The completion of the set, it turned out. The hosts were not massively better than IsThatcherDeadYet’s girls, but they were somewhat better. Indeed the final score of 2-0 thanks to goals midway through each half was a pretty accurate summation of the 90 minutes. Once the opener had gone in it was curtains for the Welsh side, seeing as they wouldn’t manage a shot all game.
            The defeat sees Maeshafn drop a number of places down the Division 5:28 table, from second to fifth. They are now two points behind the new leaders, and only one clear of the drop zone.

            And what of Csiki Girls? They were looking to back up two opening draws with their first maximum point haul against Universitatea Cluj.
            There are some days when it all just clicks. This was one of those for Ad Hoc’s side. Not even the disruption of losing stalwart defender Inger Wiking to a nasty 16-day injury lay-off and having her replaced by a kid (18/6 Deb Beck) was going to stop them, or even slow the Csiki’s down in fact. It was only 9 minutes after Wiking’s knock when Carlota Igreja was on hand to fire in from Afton Sheerin’s lay-off.
            Csiki Girls continued to make all the running after that, and it was only a matter of time before one became two. The sands eventually ran out for Cluj on 78 minutes, defender Bethany Austin crunching home a rare strike from distance.
            The win sent Csiki Girls soaring up the Division 5:31 table, from sixth to third. On points they sit equidistant behind the top two, and the bottom three, the gap to each standing at two.

            Both LNWR Locomotive and Warriors FC came into their game at Mollington Street having registered a win and a draw in their opening two league games.
            Unfortunately The Steamers either had a rather denuded squad, or manager Viktor Boskovic forgot to give the team instructions, as they had only one sub. Given how close the match was in general play, I’m going with the former – an injury/suspension crisis.
            Locomotive were the side on the back foot in most of the game. However a strong defensive performance was restricting the Warriors chances, up until approaching the hour when they scored twice in three minutes to effectively kill things off in one go. To complete a bad day, defender Diana Philipsson picked up two yellow cards in the last fifteen minutes to get first go in the showers.
            The Division 6:33 table shows the impact of this result. The two sides were neck-and-neck at the opening whistle, but after it Warriors are top and The Steamers sit sixth!

            After two defeats from two in the league (though the news has been better in the Cup) what Ullapool Northern Star needed was a very winnable league game. And that is what they got at Brasselir FF, who are now actively managed but still somewhat weak.
            Delicatemoth’s side went for their hosts from the first whistle, and were a goal up inside 180 seconds when Vanja Wendel headed home. Sonia Menashi was denied a second on 11 minutes by referee George Buske, but he made it up to Menashi 11 minutes after that by awarding a spot kick that she dinked cheekily home. Chances kept coming for Star throughout the rest of the game, though only one more goal was added. That came courtesy of Zebela Barkho on 74 minutes from a long-range shot.
            The win lifted Ullapool up to fifth in the Division 6:36 table.

            One match that seems to have happened repeatedly over recent seasons is Invisible Ladies against FC Saik. We got another instalment of a ‘rivalry’ The See-Throughs have mostly dominated in this round of matches.
            It would be another game in the series that cleaved in Invisible’s favour. Alva van der Kwast opened the scoring after 10 minutes, Chelsea Paul making it two for Pebblethefish’s side on 57. Charlene Carr added a third for The See-Throughs on 61 in what was proving a completely uncontroversial match. That was before referee Al Beback intervened, though. He had shown no cards prior to the 72nd minute, when Linette Street caught an opponent. Yes it was a foul, and yes it was probably worth a card, but the straight red left Street and her teammates open-mouthed in astonishment.
            Despite playing a fifth of the game against 10 players, Saik couldn’t close the gap, the match ending 3-0. The win saw the sides swap places in the lower reaches of the Division 6:39 table, with Invisible now sixth.

            Witches of Chiswick (1 win, 1 defeat) faced Rotnäset BK (played 2, won 2) looking to keep themselves in touch with the early leaders in Division 6:40.
            There was very little in the match in the way of incident. In fact, there would be just two shots all game. Rotnäset had the first in the opening half, and missed. The Bewitched had to wait until 88 minutes to get their opportunity. It fell to Tomiko Matzuoka, who coolly picked her spot for the win.
            There was a black cloud on the day for Chiswick manager Wiblflibl however, Johanna Herrlin picking up an 11-day knock in stoppage time. That left only 10 ten fit Witches on the park, but there was no time for this to matter.
            Victory saw Chiswick climb up to third in the table. And narrow defeat saw Rotnäset also gain a place, oddly enough. Both sit three points behind Papperhavna, the only perfect side left in this section.

            Division 6:53 leaders Zeugma Dostluk Spor were up against a difficult challenge as they made their way to Stade de la Mosson to face MONTPELLIER HERAULT S C.
            An annoying case of a broke Caps Lock key aside, MONTPELLIER are a decent outfit. However it was the visitors who held the upper hand in the opening 45 minutes, the dominance being given substance by an opening goal after 32 minutes by Merdaleiro Áláfinesse.
            Shaking the South-of-France side off wouldn’t be that easy, as they fought back to level on 65 minutes. No matter. Antepli Ejderha’s girls simply pushed again, and restored their advantage four minutes later when Rachel Forsyth found the target.
            Still the pesky hosts wouldn’t quite, drawing level again on 80 minutes. What Zeugma needed was to leave their next go-ahead goal so late that a response wasn’t possible. See and done said Ana Raquel Pedroso, as she netted the winner 2 minutes into stoppage time.
            The win keeps Zeugma top of the pile, naturally enough seeing as they are the only 100%ers in this section.

            And we end with a top-of-the-table clash from Division 6:56 that pitted Dublin City WFC up against leaders Aherla Ladies.
            A trip to the side currently heading the way could fazed some teams, but not Mortal Joe’s girls. Rather, they took the fight straight to Aherla with a strong, powerful and considered first half performance. One that looked like it had got it’s reward in the 29th minute when Veronica Kåmark steered home, but was robust enough to absorb the blow of that being chalked off to still net twice prior to the interval thanks to Brady Dunganstown (35 minutes) and Rita Cruz (40).
            With the advantage that gave them, Dublin’s attitude after the break was to ask Aherla “What have you got?” The response was a little more threatening than the opening half, but not much more. Certainly not enough to register on the scoresheet.
            So we have new leaders in Dublin, who are the only side with a perfect record in this section. They are also the only side yet to concede a goal this season. All very impressive.

            Comment


              Tobermory did not deserve to win today, only our opponents bad fortune with injuries to their goalkeeper (pre-existing) and the all-rounder who replaced him (during the match) saved us from relegation - two shots for, seven against, we win 2-1.

              Comment


                Sans Culottes needed to win our last game, and either Kattflon and Flame Utd draw (allowing us to leapfrog both of them) or Husaria to fail to win. All three results were in the balance for much of the day, but in the end they all went our way.

                Comment


                  Well,done both of you. Also to VA who rejoins the top flight with Etienne, and Foxy's Ghastly St. Michael come up from Beginner.

                  Hopefully Tobermory and Noirs will share the same Pro Zone again next season.

                  Comment


                    Just been informed that Kanjeng Ratu Kidul are Team of the Month in the Xpert Ladies. That's a nice little birthday present.

                    Comment


                      Congratulations Sean and Happy Birthday. In the OTF Noj took the monthly prize.

                      Meanwhile, Noirs de Bigorre's DVs at season's end:

                      Casanova 23/10: 17

                      Bredmar 36/12: 6
                      Ullathorpe 33/14: 11
                      Tokoto 27/13: 16
                      Trabelsi 22/10: 14
                      Beleta 18/6: 18

                      Roma 35/14: 5
                      Eilts 34/13: 7
                      Pintassilgo 34/14: 8 RETIRING
                      Debord 29/16: 14
                      Chisholm 25/11: 17
                      Veloso 22/9: 17
                      Maassen 19/6: 16

                      de Couserans 19/6: 16
                      Famungkas 17/4: 16

                      Looks like a lot of pressure on the shoulders of the under-30s there.

                      Comment


                        Oscar Gineste pulled off a wonderful piece of showboating in his last game, with a lovely trick that made his opponent look like a right nincompoop. The highlight was shown widely on the television, and as a result Oscar Gineste's form increases.

                        One of the better random events. I particularly enjoyed the use of "a right nincompoop".

                        Belated congrats, meanwhile, to VA on UU's latest piece of silverware.

                        Comment


                          And over at Hideous Towns:

                          Edwin Zeeberg failed a breathalyser test after the police pulled him over for drink driving. Due to this, he was ridiculed at the club and lost some form in the process.

                          Oh, Edwin. So disappointing. Still, it's good to see that his team-mates aren't making excuses for him.

                          Comment


                            Originally posted by Hot Orange View Post
                            And over at Hideous Towns:

                            Edwin Zeeberg failed a breathalyser test after the police pulled him over for drink driving. Due to this, he was ridiculed at the club and lost some form in the process.

                            Oh, Edwin. So disappointing. Still, it's good to see that his team-mates aren't making excuses for him.
                            Sorry to hear that, HO. Could this possibly explain the long-running Zeeberg Quandary, do you think??

                            Comment


                              Originally posted by Various Artist View Post
                              Heh, OK jdsx that's a good batch of questions, not to mention a goodly collection of question marks.

                              Firstly, subs do get to take penalties, if they're sufficiently high up the list of takers set on one's tactics screen... or, failing that, if the shootout simply goes on long enough to get down to them! If you look at today's game, you'll see a sub of mine took – and scored – our vital fourth kick.

                              Secondly, free-kickers aren't automatically better at penalties in X11, no: they're entirely discrete abilities within the game. (...er, probably. No-one knows for sure how player attributes are linked in hidden ways, of course.) I'd suggest having a read of the official Rules to see what they say about penalty takers; but in short, age, skill level and I believe current form are all factors. And then there's the Cool special quality (the ice cube), which in theory does render a player better at pens.

                              Beyond that point, however, it's different strokes for different folks, at different times, depending upon permutations of all these variables as well as good old gut instinct. In this Cup Final I fielded 23/12 MF Ulysses Upminster for the full 120 minutes as I thought he could do at least as good a job during the game as the retiring 34/14 Graham Goodge Street; unlike GGS he was in phenomenal form ahead of it... although not so much after, alas. But I brought the latter on for him in time for the shootout as Goodge Street has both skill and experience on him, plus was in decently good form and on a green arrow: all of which combined made me feel Graham was still a better bet to step up to the plate if it came to the crunch, even though he hadn't played at all lately as his career winds down.

                              There's definite room for manoeuvre and for alternative interpretations, though. For instance, from the outside I would indeed consider Gotham's kick takers today "strange" as you put it since I personally wouldn't have had their keeper higher than about sixth choice from their lineup in this final, let alone first. But then I wouldn't have had their third-choice taker Boy Wonder higher than fifth, either – yet today he was the one who scored his kick for them, whereas my second taker missed his, so what do I know? Bear in mind that they've won previous shootouts, so their manager Rmy will likely have gauged his choices on how his players have actually performed in this situation, as opposed to mere theoretics. Certainly I've relegated and promoted players within the penalties list at more than one team of mine before now due to their failures or successes from the spot. Rmy may also have juggled his order due to certain players' current form.

                              And then there's the Cool SQ – but again there's a judgement to be made on how much difference that makes, when one is deciding the order of takers. It didn't affect either side today since Gotham don't have any players with it and Underground's only outfield player with it is 24/12 MF Hugo Highgate, whose age and skill meant he'd still have been last to take a shot of the 11 on the field for the shootout, so it wasn't a factor for me right now. Crucially perhaps, though, our goalkeeper Larry Leyton also has it...!
                              Thanks for the full answer, VA! Sorry for all the question marks!! Nearly as annoying as too many exclamation marks!! Hehehe!!!!

                              Anyway, I'm sure when I first joined xpert 11 I read somewhere (not in the official rules) that FKers were better at penalties. Although I might be making that up of course!!

                              Ah yes it was in here: http://www.freewebs.com/leftblank/xpert11guideIV.pdf

                              Could be complete BS of course!!!

                              Comment


                                Was concerned to see the brevity of this thread, then went back to the first page of Games and found the earlier one which began at the end of Season 27, and happens to coincide with the recruitment push which brought in the Swine, Pinewood Passers and Diss and Franchised (now Hideous Towns).

                                At the time Wouter kindly listed all four OTF divisions, ranked by value pre-Season 28. Makes you realise how much turnover we've seen in those five years:

                                Division 3:
                                1. Brutal Deluxe - 31 570 869 econ
                                2. Sporting Slough - 27 217 369 econ
                                3. Walking Heads - 18 972 928 econ
                                ----------------------------------------
                                4. Mid-Table Security FC - 17 812 547 econ
                                5. Berkshire Swine - 16 199 629 econ
                                6. The Hoolahan Paradox - 14 359 823 econ
                                7. Pinewood Passers - 13 075 901 econ
                                8. Diss and Franchised - 12 792 826 econ

                                Division 2:
                                1. Chester Drawers - 35 972 057 econ
                                2. AFC Brooklyn - 32 977 339 econ
                                3. AtleticoEire - 24 161 970 econ
                                ---------------------------------------------
                                4. PS Hollihaka - 23 077 222 econ
                                5. Thorntree Star - 22 494 066 econ
                                ---------------------------------------------
                                6. Completely Unfamiliar - 21 038 517 econ
                                7. Heffron Hotspur - 20 910 036 econ
                                8. Hornville - 12 194 346 econ

                                Division 1:
                                1. The Weakest - 79 675 367 econ
                                2. Victorious Secret - 65 861 876 econ
                                3. Zeugmaspor - 47 648 663 econ
                                ---------------------------------------------
                                4. Banik Roystonov - 47 133 657 econ
                                5. Steaua Bridge - 46 166 874 econ
                                ---------------------------------------------
                                6. Athletico Deva - 41 816 350 econ
                                7. AFC Csiki Monkeys - 33 476 307 econ
                                8. Bournemouth Rejects - 14 409 132 econ

                                OTF:
                                1. Wharfedale Generals - 83 435 064 econ
                                ---------------------------------------------
                                2. Arctic Insects - 74 947 758 econ
                                3. AFC Purgatory - 73 251 743 econ
                                4. Fourth Lanark - 71 906 662 econ
                                5. Cardiff Dragons - 70 289 583 econ
                                6. Dandy Town - 69 243 600 econ
                                ---------------------------------------------
                                7. Nieuwegein Kneebiters - 61 697 083 econ
                                8. Great Ouse Town - 37 676 895 econ
                                9. Les Incoherents - 25 288 832 econ

                                Comment


                                  Congratulations to Lokomotiv Noj and Wensleydale Blues on their first ever silverware (apart from Team of the Months!)

                                  Comment


                                    Very disappointed in VA. He just signed a keeper in the Heineken called Lincoln Cougar and decided to call him Erik Lamb instead. Why would anybody want to change a player's name from Lincoln Cougar?

                                    Comment


                                      X11 Ladies Cup, Round 2.


                                      Code:
                                      Csiki Girls		2 - 0	Bristol Spartans WFC
                                      Granheim 76'
                                      Gränsmark (pen) 78'
                                      
                                      Bristol Spartans WFC	1 - 1	Csiki Girls
                                      Passalis (pen) 80'		Woozley 89'
                                      
                                      Csiki Girls win 3-1 on aggregate
                                      
                                      
                                      Corpulent FC		0 - 1	Viking South Utsira
                                      				Jönsson 33'
                                      
                                      Viking South Utsira	1 - 1	Corpulent FC
                                      B.Kvalvik 18'			Zorro 45'
                                      
                                      Viking win 2-1 on aggregate
                                      
                                      
                                      Coxy Ladies Wulpen	5 - 0	Hammer Girls DF
                                      Bjerre Nielsen 4'
                                      Carey 11'
                                      Løvberg (O.G.) 51'
                                      Wostijn 65'
                                      Beyen 82'
                                      
                                      Hammer Girls DF		0 - 3	Coxy Ladies Wulpen
                                      				Madjarevic 62', 89'
                                      				Mahony 84'
                                      
                                      Wulpen win 8-0 on aggregate
                                      
                                      
                                      Honey Badgers		0 - 1	Sockford Emollient
                                      				True 23'
                                      
                                      Sockford Emollient	0 - 2	Honey Badgers
                                      				Watanabe 47'
                                      				Baino 75'
                                      
                                      Honey Badgers win 2-1 on aggregate
                                      
                                      
                                      Invisible Ladies	0 - 4	SC Heerenveen
                                      				Neil 22'
                                      				Frisk 42', 50'
                                      				Lauwers 55'
                                      
                                      SC Heerenveen		4 - 1	Invisible Ladies
                                      Neil 10', 81', 89'		Nádasdy 86'
                                      Nunn 64'
                                      
                                      Heerenvenn win 8-1 on aggregate
                                      
                                      
                                      Janes Addiction		0 - 1	Erbil
                                      				Brundin 17'
                                      
                                      Erbil			2 - 1	Janes Addiction
                                      Solaun 66'			Hemmings 63'
                                      Hinton 82'
                                      
                                      Erbil win 3-1 on aggregate
                                      
                                      
                                      IFK Penny Lane		0 - 1	Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC
                                      				Azeite 24'
                                      
                                      Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC	2 - 0	IFK Penny Lane
                                      Azeite 57'
                                      Farisy 73'
                                      
                                      Kanjeng win 3-0 on aggregate
                                      
                                      
                                      IK Sleipner Dam		0 - 3	Ullapool Northern Star
                                      				Menashi 51'
                                      				Wendel 64'
                                      				Sehlstedt 77'
                                      				Sehlstedt (sent off) 83'
                                      
                                      Ullapool Northern Star	1 - 1	IK Sleipner Dam
                                      Andersson 29'			Pook (pen) 22'
                                      
                                      Ullapool win 4-1 on aggregate
                                      
                                      
                                      Solent Sirens		1 - 4	Homemaker Blues
                                      de Beauvoir 52'			de Faria 7'
                                      				Manfield 54'
                                      				Allwood 87'
                                      				Davidson 89'
                                      
                                      Homemaker Blues		3 - 0	Solent Sirens
                                      Corbett 1'
                                      Allwood 28'
                                      Fleetwood 82'
                                      
                                      Blues win 7-1 on aggregate
                                      
                                      
                                      AS Steaua		0 - 0	Drakaina
                                      
                                      			 	Vulturescu (sent off ) 81'
                                      
                                      Drakaina		1 - 0	AS Steaua
                                      Susanna Barry 27'
                                      
                                      Drakaina win 1-0 on aggregate
                                      
                                      
                                      As Tricolores FC	2 - 1	LNWR Locomotive
                                      Morbyd  59'			Philipsson 84'
                                      Connelly (pen) 66'
                                      
                                      LNWR Locomotive		1 - 1	As Tricolores FC
                                      Severinsson 59'			Hofvander(O.G.) 33'
                                      
                                      Tricolores win 3-2 on aggregate
                                      Csiki Girls faced tricky opponents when taking on Bristol Spartans WFC, who currently operate in Division 4, one tier higher up the pyramid than Ad Hoc’s side.
                                      The matches would be a good test of how far the Csiki’s could go. Would they match the Spartans? Or even, just possibly, dominate them? Well it didn’t quite go that far in the opening leg at A kertem, but The Csiki’s were clearly the superior side even if the score was still level after 75 minutes.
                                      It only remained that way for a few seconds longer, the deadlock being broken by Csiki Girl’s new signing Elly Granheim, who was making her debut a handful of days after being brought in for a little under half-a-mil. Having scored once, the Csiki’s tails were up and in the next attack they were awarded another clear opportunity when Al Reddy pointed to the spot. The responsibility went to a more experienced Csiki Girl, Emelie Gränsmark, who made no mistake with what proved the final goalmouth action of the opening leg.
                                      The clear target for the return match was an away goal that would leave Bristol needing to score four. In the absence of that a clean sheet would do, and that was Csiki Girls held up until the 80th minute. However at that point Tony Nolan pointed to the spot, which resulted in the Spartans suddenly being within a goal.
                                      The Csiki’s hadn’t managed a shot at that point, but now, faced with the possibility of conceding another and therefore being taken to extra-time, they began to probe. This lead to a direct free-kick in shooting range on 89 minutes, Trudy Woozley took responsibility and the atmosphere The Coliseum crowd were generating went pop in an instant.
                                      Few goals can change a situation as much as this, Bristol going from needing to score once in a handful of minutes to force extra time to needing three to avoid immediately elimination. That is what is called a key strike. It earned Csiki Girls a shot at Cam Hotspurs of Division 2b, better known under their previous name of Dursley Town. They still have the same manager as in that incarceration. First leg at A kertem.

                                      The Cup provided a break from the rarefied air of the second tier for Viking South Utsira as they sampled the somewhat staler fug that surrounds Division 5:1’s Corpulent FC.
                                      The Blood Eagles were on top in the first leg at Camp Smöret (which translates from Swedish to English as The Butter Camp), but not as much as one would maybe expect the Norwegian Warrior Maidens to be. Perhaps they were thrown by the gluttony around them, so different to their ascetic approach on their austere North Sea rocks. Whatever the cause Velvet Android’s side came away with just a 1-0 win, courtesy of Moa Jönsson’s 33rd minute direct free-kick, and a vague feeling of nausea.
                                      It was just as tight in the return as Corpulent proved to be stubbornly hard to shift. Bergljot Kvalvik gave The Blood Eagles the lead on 18 minutes, which made it 2-0 on aggregate, but a goal back on the stroke of half-time as a long range shot crept past Monike Austrheim put the tie right back in the balance. Suddenly away goals favoured Corpulent, as if they could get another it wouldn’t just level the tie on aggregate but actually put the visitors ahead. Stress flowed around the Ragnar Rock stands as the scoreline remained unchanged through the second-half, up until Frank Redkard finally blew for Full-Time after the longest 45 minutes in recent VSU history.
                                      The Utsiran public will be hoping for something a little less stressful when their side take on Division 4l side Dial L for Ladies in Round 3, the first leg on the road.

                                      Coxy Ladies Wulpen were substantially helped in their opening leg against Hammer Girls DF by the opposition manager having gone delinquent.
                                      Never look a gift horse and all that, and Janik’s side definitely didn’t as Nanna Bjerre Nielsen and Zara Carey struck after 4 and 11 minutes respectively. Just two by the interval was a slightly disappointing return given how on top The Waders had been in the opening half, but it did mean they kept playing further into the game. And that meant more chances (it got up to 14 in total by the end), and eventually further goals from Charlotte Beyen, Aurelie Wostijn and an own goal by Hammer’s Signy Løvberg. Following that, the second leg should be a formality, even if Hammer Girls boss does waltz back into the club.
                                      Which, as it turned out, he didn’t, an absence that allowed The Waders to play all their U21 players for the full 90 minutes, including newest addition Jessica Kabasele (MF 16/5). The mix of vets and kids were on top in the opening half without making much of it, but picked things up after the break as the side got used to playing together. Ursula Madjarevic opened the scoring on the night after 62 minutes and would go on to add a third late on. In between Moreen Mahony had a gola chalked off by referee Al Reddy, which so enraged her that she nearly ripped the net with a long range screamer with six minutes to play.
                                      Next up for The Waders will be matches against Babuskare of Division 3g. The first leg is in Flanders.

                                      An all-sixth tier encounter pitted Sockford Emollient against Division 5:32’s Honey Badgers.
                                      The coaches rolled out of Framleyshire for the opening leg. It proved to be a pretty nip-and-tuck game, the hosts controlling possession but Foxy265’s charges looking the more likely to score with their ~40% possession. That impression was confirmed midway through the first half when Toni Duggan’s pass opened up the Badgers defence and allowed strike partner Lise True to race clear and net the day’s only goal.
                                      1-0 away from home is a good lead, but not a decisive one. It also leaves a manager unclear whether to try and grind it out or go for more. Particularly as the tactical flexibility to change mid-stream is missing from X11. If the message from the management was positive, this wasn’t put into practice by the Gatorsharks players as they sat back and allowed Honey Badgers to dictate the match.
                                      That would prove very costly as first the visitors drew level on aggregate (and away goals) on 47 minutes and then struck a killer blow with a second on the night after 75. That left Sockford needing two to turn it back around, goals they never looked like getting as a winnable tie slipped away.

                                      Let’s just say Invisible Ladies draw, against SC Heerenveen of Division 3c was ‘challenging’. Particularly so with The See-Throughs coming into the opening leg on the back of some dicey league results.
                                      Any chance Pebblethefish’s side had involved avoiding an away goal at The San Seethrough. That died midway through the first half as Heerenveen took the lead, something they added to at regular intervals up until the 55th minute when they decided that four was enough.
                                      The return match in Frisia looked a daunting prospect, so when The See-Throughs sat down at half-time just trailing by a goal, it was with a satisfied if very tired air. Chasing the ball around is physically trying, and the hosts had had two-thirds of the possession. Would the visitors tire? Well, yes, they would, Heerenveen scoring on the hour and twice in the last ten minutes. However they would also get an uplifting consolation strike in those dying minutes, Beáta Nádasdy heading home an 86th minute corner. A good memory, from an overall tough two games.

                                      Comment


                                        Erbil were up against a side from the same level of themselves in Division 5:22 outfit Janes Addiction, who are apparently both moonlighting and gender swapping to play in the X11 Ladies.
                                        Erbil were much the higher seeds despite the team’s shared league status, ranking at 56 to their opponents 568, so the opening match took place at St Andrews. It proved to be an even and cagey affair. Erbil dominated possession, holding 61% in the first half and 59% in the second, but created few chances. Janes’ made two opportunities, but didn’t take them. Instead the sole goal of the opening leg went to Jdsx’s side on 17 minutes, Sandra Brundin finishing her side’s only opportunity of the day. Efficient.
                                        That did leave things reasonably finely poised ahead of the return, mind. And with just a single goal cushion, any away strike from Janes to take the lead was going to put things right on a knife edge. It didn’t look that likely in an opening half where Erbil dominated possession, but without many chances or any significant reward.
                                        The second period started out much the same way. And then, out of the blue, a strike from distance from the visitors left Ella Sahlström grasping at air, and the nightmare scenario was beginning to unfold. With extra-time now looming, but the threat that one conceded would mean having to score twice, it was a tightrope for the hosts to walk but one they only had to negotiate for three minutes prior to Alanza Solaun firing home the equaliser on the night and the go-ahead-goal on aggregate.
                                        That put the onus back on Addiction to attack, which allowed Erbil to pick them off for a killer strike, Caroline Hinton heading home from an 82nd minute corner.
                                        There was one significant blow from the second leg – superstar midfielder Harmony Lister (32/16) suffered a horrendous 26-day injury. That will keep her out of both legs against Atalanta Calcio of Division 6:61 (first leg away) and probably also Round 4 if Erbil get there.

                                        Riffing on a theme, high seeds Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC, overall no. 30, took on #542 IFK Penny Lane, the disparity being despite Penny Lane occupying the same tier as The Sea Spirits as they play in Division 5:4.
                                        This one was much more distinctly tipped in favour of the travelling OTF side in the opening leg, in everything but the score. SeanoftheShed’s girls had 60% possession across the piece and six clear opportunities but only managed to strike once via that trusted source, Leila Azeite’s set piece wizardry. She did so on 70 minutes.
                                        Meanwhile hosts Penny Lane didn’t manage a single shot in the 90 minutes. Which was probably just as well for the Indonesians as an injury to first choice ‘keeper Kacey Rust in the preceding league game was followed on 24 minutes by a minor knock to club legend back-up Eleonor Brusgård. That left defender Catur Navisyah between the sticks, but just like an accountant called in at the last minute to play Ice Hockey, she kept a clean sheet.
                                        That put Kanjeng in a strong position ahead of the return at Merapi-Kraton-South Sea, by which time both stoppers were back to full fitness if not yet match sharpness (i.e. form). Rust took her place between the sticks, with the team informed to keep the ball away from her as much as possible as a precaution against iron oxidation. Attack is the best form of defence, so Kanjeng went for it, particularly after the break. Chances went from a trickle to a stream to a flood, the Penny Lane defences being breached twice under the blue tropical skies. The scorers were Azeite with another free-kick on 57 minutes and Tia Farisy heading in a corner on 73.
                                        Next up for The Spirits of the Sea are Seba United FC of Division 5:31. These are a re-branded Aspull Academical, but they still play at The Scholars old ground, the Moorside Chippy. That will host the opening leg of this one.


                                        A face-off between Division 6 sides set Ullapool Northern Star up against 6:25 side IK Sleipner Dam.
                                        The opening leg meant a trip across the North Sea for Ullapool, and one that looked encouraging during a first half which Delicatemoth’s side clearly shaded (53% possession, 3-1 on chances), albeit without reward. The goals would come after the interval though, starting with Sonia Menashi heading in a Vanja Wendel corner on 51 minutes. 13 minutes after that, responsibility lay elsewhere for taking a flag kick, allowing Wendel to get herself into the middle, get her head on the ball, and it was two.
                                        The last fifteen minutes of the match showed the rollercoaster that Football can be. The person experiencing the precipitous switch from glorious high to depressing low was Astrid Sehlstedt, as she went from firing in the third on 77 minutes to being deemed by referee Wanda Rinn to have committed a straight red card offence on 83! Sehlstedt’s reaction to the dismissal got her an extra game ban on top that will keep her out of the return leg at Minchview.
                                        With such a commanding lead it was unlikely Sehlstedt was going to be seriously missed, which is exactly what proved to be the case. Yes, Sleipner Dam did take the lead with a penalty midway through the opening half, but that was their only chance and besides Pernilla Andersson cancelled it out just 7 minutes later.
                                        There was just one more chance in the match following that as Northern Star finished things off very professionally. Their reward for doing so is two matches against Apan FC of Division 5:6, the deciding leg being in the Hebridean Gateway.

                                        In every defeat... there was rather unexpected good news to come out of Solent Sirens tough assignment against Division 3c side Homemaker Blues.
                                        It didn’t come on the pitch as the match went roughly as predicted. The Man City facsimiles took the lead on 7 minutes and were only denied a second by Tony Nolan after 51. That prompted a brief thought that Solent could get something from the match as 60 seconds later Simone de Beauvoir levelled with a direct free-kick.
                                        That was only a false dawn though, as the visitors restored their lead two just minutes later and then added a brace of late goals to make the scoreline representative of the general play. Where is the good news, you ask? Well, Dipstick’s side were infamous for having the utterly sexist crop top kit. He has stuck with it for years. Four goals, four yellow cards and three subs meant it got repeated 11 times in the match report, which is very jarring. This prompted a pithy response from Sirens manager Andrew7610 “The worst thing about conceding so many goals is seeing that ridiculous sexist kit repeated so often on one page”
                                        Now in the normal run of things, one would expect some kind of lame self-justification, probably mingled with abuse, in response to that. But what do you know? The appropriately named boss has changed his side’s kit to a proper Manchester City shirt! Maybe he is growing up a little? If he could just do something about the name and Home ground, both of which are nearly as crass... but maybe that is a battle for another day. Let’s consider this a significant moral victory and a massive improvement to the X11 Ladies environment overall.
                                        That meant an actual proper Football shirt rather than some sex-industry parody outfit made its debut in the return. The home players celebrated their liberation by scoring within seconds. They added two more as The Sirens battled as hard as they could, and kept the number of shots down well. Of course that couldn’t prevent elimination, which was the main disappointment of the day. Young forward Ada Feldt being helped from the field clearly unable to play on after 47 minutes was a second one, though the good news is her injury is only of the 6-day variety.

                                        The next step on Drakaina’s Cup run took them to AS Steaua of Division 5:12.
                                        Despite the hosts being a step below, The Dragons found them hard to break down. Etienne’s side had more possession, and all of the chances, but ‘all’ here just means three and none of these were converted. Drakaina did have the ball in the net on one occasion, but Elena Gitsis’ strike was ruled out by Manuel Ficu.
                                        The opening leg was a personal bad day for Dragons’ midfielder Florica Vulturescu. Vulturescu had picked up just three yellow cards in the previous 50 games that comprised her career. She is not a notably narky player. But in this one she was already booked when she flew into a tackle on 81 minutes, rather mistimed and properly caught her opponent. The Steaua player had to hobble off, Vulturescu joining her as Ficu produced a second yellow.
                                        I guess you would call the return at Delphi delicately poised. That is how it would remain for the entire 90 minutes as the two sides played each other to a near standstill again. However just like in the first leg if there was one side going to score it was Drakaina, the breakthrough arriving on 27 minutes when Susanna Barry did what nobody else appeared capable of doing (legally).
                                        That put the Greeks ahead on aggregate, but the match was still on a knife edge as an away goal would have put Steaua in the box set. They never looked like getting it though, and ended the 180 minutes having managed just one attempt on The Dragons goal.
                                        Round 3 will see Drakaina take on a side from the same level of themselves as the attempt to dispose of Division 4c side Bajen Chics. Once again Delphi will host the concluding match of the tie.

                                        Comment


                                          A three tier gap is rather a large one, but that is what LNWR Locomotive were trying to overcome against Division 3c’s As Tricolores FC.
                                          Despite the difference in status, the Cup rankings would have you believe that The Steamers were the favourites, or at the very least the higher sides. Bizarre? Not a bit of it on the evidence of the opening leg at the Morumbi. Viktor Boskovic’s side went toe-to-toe with their hosts and could have considered themselves unlucky not to hold an interval lead.
                                          Tricolores found their feet a little more after the break, and netted twice, once from the spot which was clearly dodgy. However that completely flattered the home side, so it felt like a little bit of natural justice when Diana Philipsson headed in an away goal on 84 minutes that brings the tie very much back alive. The Sao Paulo crowd would have gone home relieved it’s not even more tipped towards Locomotive.
                                          That away goal meant The Steamers were very much in tie as the second leg got underway at Mollington Street. One goal would have edged Locomotive ahead and on 33 minutes one of their number did get her name on the scoresheet. Unfortunately Ragna Hofvander’s ‘finish’ was a tackle that zipped past her own ‘keeper and nestled in the LNWR net.
                                          That made things more difficult. Now two goals were needed to force extra-time. Or rather one from the 59th minute onwards after recently acquired forward Tekla Severinsson netted her first for the club. Severinsson was a complete bargain, a 28/11 player with ice in her veins and free-kick taking skills, signed for just 164 900. She and her new teammates couldn’t find the additional strike they needed to force extra-time, though.


                                          Code:
                                          [u]Round 3 draw[/u] - first listed teams home in opening leg
                                          Apan FC (5:6)		vs	Ullapool Northern Star
                                          Atalanta Calcio (6:61)	vs	Erbil
                                          Bajen Chics (4c)	vs	Drakaina
                                          Coxy Ladies Wulpen	vs	Babuskare (3g)
                                          Csiki Girls		vs	Cam Hotspurs (2b)
                                          Dial L for Ladies (4j)	vs	Viking South Utsira
                                          Seba United FC (5:31)	vs	Kanjeng Ratu Kidul WFC

                                          Comment


                                            Top work as ever Janik.....how do you find the time??

                                            Quick general question regarding MLX - when the season 'proper' ends, what happens to DV etc. - can players get any more or is it just the usual 'friendly' rules? Can they lose DV? I.e. do I need to train my players as usual, or can I take it a bit easier (i.e. cheaper)?

                                            Comment


                                              Once your season is over, you can't lose DV, you can gain it. You don't need to train. Is my understanding.

                                              Comment


                                                Originally posted by Etienne View Post
                                                Once your season is over, you can't lose DV, you can gain it. You don't need to train. Is my understanding.
                                                Yikes thanks Etienne. I somehow 'missed' my training in preparation for the next (i.e. last proper) match, so I was just about to put them all in training....

                                                Comment


                                                  Originally posted by Sean of the Shed View Post
                                                  Very disappointed in VA. He just signed a keeper in the Heineken called Lincoln Cougar and decided to call him Erik Lamb instead. Why would anybody want to change a player's name from Lincoln Cougar?
                                                  You should’ve vetoed it Sean. What is this, a democracy?

                                                  Comment


                                                    Hahaha, I know, I know – I signed him (suddenly needing a semi-competent, compatible reserve goalie) almost purely for his name as well. But after changing my newest academy recruit's name to Æthelred Unready I looked again at my squad page this evening and suddenly Cougar just stood out all wrong from the now almost entirely coherent (ish) set of ancient Norse/Saxon monarchs around him.

                                                    So I had another squiz at my shortlist and decided to change a Cougar to a Lamb. Given the way his form has plunged since his recent arrival it already looks apt. I did initially plump for 'John Lackland' (a.k.a. King John - brother of the Lionheart...Robin Hood...Lincoln Green - Lincoln Cougar) before changing my mind.

                                                    I'm going to have to go and see if you approved or denied my request now Sean...

                                                    Comment

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