Small Rocks Official Draft Thread Season 04/05

[johno]

sorry bout this guys... i just realized the defender i left out was a pick by Chris, I assume, cuz he was taken before the club was put into receivership (U BASTARDS :) ) so some of u might have a problem w/ me dropping him from my squad. If that is the case let me know before the transfer window opens.. as it is, if i take him back, I will be stuck without a starting gk, cuz i will be .5 short of any starters... not looking for sympathy but for fairness (1. I really did not think draft would get this far, 2. Hreidarrson was not on my proxy list [not blaming chris] and 3 he had a team of his own to draft, which i realize is a poor excuse).... anyway, verdict needed u guys... the sooner the better because I may not be able to get online after today for a day or 3.

[kopiteinkc]

sorry bout this guys... i just realized the defender i left out was a pick by Chris, I assume, cuz he was taken before the club was put into receivership (U BASTARDS :) ) so some of u might have a problem w/ me dropping him from my squad. If that is the case let me know before the transfer window opens.. as it is, if i take him back, I will be stuck without a starting gk, cuz i will be .5 short of any starters... not looking for sympathy but for fairness (1. I really did not think draft would get this far, 2. Hreidarrson was not on my proxy list [not blaming chris] and 3 he had a team of his own to draft, which i realize is a poor excuse).... anyway, verdict needed u guys... the sooner the better because I may not be able to get online after today for a day or 3.


I may be able to work with you, Hreidarrson, was on my short list.

[Darr]

This isn't how I look at it. I see two good ways to do a draft.

1) A "live" draft where everyone is in a chat room, and there are 3 minute time slots, and the draft is done in 2-3 hours.

2) A "semi-live" draft where we all get on with our lives, check in on our email/draft thread periodically, and the league draft runs the course of a week, never really inconveniancing anyone too much.

Given work schedules, firewalls, etc, option #2 seems the best.

I'm going have to go with Jay on this... Dont' get me wrong I'm glad we finished the draft, but I could never do that again... Everything worked out, Boss was out of the office most of the day, I skipped lunch, and I had a light load of work to complete... Any other day and I'd of had some explaining to do or I'd of just held up the draft... Next time we do a LIVE draft, I'd have to lean towards Jay's idea #1, but we'd have to set it to the evening sometime or any time on a weekend...

[Hal]

Nope... I will take a good starter instead... my defenders will be...

Bridge, Charlton, Cooper, Leacock, Robinson 1.0 million left under the salary cap.

and my keepers will be Kuszczak and Jaaskelainen 4.5 BW... leaving me with

Please explain how you acquired Jaaskelainen? According to my math, the correction to add a keeper had to be a 4.0 keeper, hence Poole, like Michel posted above.

Any double trade to add Jaaskelainen would have to come once the transfer window opens. Or am I missing something?

[1800-WorldCup]

Hal, I think he wants to get rid of......

Hreidarsson, Charlton, Defender, 5.5

for

Leacock, Fulham, Defender, 4.0

which would allow (financially).....

Jaaskelainen, Bolton, Goalkeeper, 4.5

BTW

Everyone should have their teams in the PremierLeague set-up by now, to confirm that they are all elligble in the game's format.

[Hal]

Michel,

I gathered that was what he wanted to do also. My point is that is not a done deal and can't be done until the transfer window opens.

Or, am I mistaken, was Jonathan allowed to make a double correction because of the lack of two goalkeepers being drafted by his proxy agent?

My reading of the posts was that the consensus was that the last defender selection had to be replaced by the 4.0 GK Poole.

Any subsequent adjustments would follow the normal procedures, after the transfer window opens, of posting first in the message forum and after confirming you were first to claim a player, going ahead and executing the trade.

[kopiteinkc]

Let's give everyone the weekend to load their teams and the free agent pool opens at 9am Central time on Monday morning.

Yes, a player has to be in the database, and yes, the player transaction has to be posted on the premierleague.com forum

5 minutes to the transfer window opening

[Hal]

Aviators announce a multiplayer, 26.5 M, swap:
OUT:
Viduka MID Fwd 9.5
Dyer NUF Mid 8.0
Bocanegra FUL Def 5.0
Hoult WBA Gk 4.0
IN:
Phillips SOU Fwd 8.5
Hendrie AST Mid 6.5
Carvalho CHE Def 7.0
Jaaskelainen BOL Gk 4.5
In the bank 0.0

If Jaaskelainen already taken, the trade stands for the 3 field players less the Hoult for Jaaskelainen swap.

[1800-WorldCup]

Desperately waiting to hear if Hoult is officially available.

:)

[kopiteinkc]

MtKillaman posted that he would not be online until after 3 today. Let's hold off on the goalie swaps and see what he has to say about getting Poole, GK 4.0

[1800-WorldCup]

PRESS RELEASE

In an attempt to save on points lost in the early stage of the season, due to hasty team re-shuffling, Hal Jones -- long-serving manager of Aviators -- was ready at the bell to make some changes to his draft; after having spent the whole weekend studying potenial form and listening to rumours of intentions from other managers.

Nocturnal United's J. Darr wasted no time in picking up one of the former Aviators.

"No matter how briefley Bocanegra spent in Mr Jones Senior's stable, we never look a gift horse under the tail and I can assure you we have no donkey in this excellent young stallion who seemed surplus to requirements at Aviators."

==============
After Early Trading
==============

Aviators managed by Hal Jones
Goalkeepers:
Jaaskelainen -- Bolton (Subject to Medical)
Van der Sar -- Fulham

Defenders:
Boyce -- Crystal Palace
Carvalho -- Chelsea
Powell -- Crystal Palace
Samuel -- Aston Villa
Southgate -- Middlesbrough

Midfielders:
Hendrie -- Aston Villa
Lazaridis -- Birmingham
Ljungberg -- Arsenal
Malbranque -- Fulham
Rommedahl -- Charlton

Strikers:
Henry -- Arsenal
Nemeth -- Middlesbrough
Phillips -- Southampton

London St. Germain 3 managed by Jonathan Ingram
Goalkeepers:
Blayney -- Southampton
Niemi -- Southampton

Defenders:
Ferreira -- Chelsea
Fortune -- Charlton
Hudson -- Crystal Palace
Purse -- West Brom
Shackwell -- Norwich

Midfielders:
Butt -- Newcastle
Edu -- Arsenal
Kewell -- Liverpool
Robben -- Chelsea
Vieira -- Arsenal

Strikers:
Bellamy -- Newcastle
Drogba -- Chelsea
Radzinski -- Fulham

Kopite Juniors managed by Chloe Adams
Goalkeepers:
Green -- Norwich
Howard -- Man. United

Defenders:
Higginbotham -- Southampton
Hyypia -- Liverpool
Johnson -- Chelsea
Kishishev -- Charlton
Moore - West Brom

Midfielders:
Hitzlsperger -- Aston Villa
Holland -- Charlton
Okocha -- Bolton
Pires -- Arsenal
Watson -- Everton

Strikers:
Anelka -- Man. City
Defoe -- Tottenham
Stead -- Blackburn

Nocturnal United managed by J. Darr
Goalkeepers:
Berthelin -- Crystal Palace
Given -- Newcastle

Defenders:
Bocanegra -- Fulham
Briggs -- Norwich
Brennan -- Norwich
Helveg -- Norwich
Terry -- Chelsea

Midfielders:
Barry -- Aston Villa
Jensen -- Fulham
Keane -- Man. United
Ronaldo -- Man. United
Thompson -- Blackburn

Strikers:
Cisse -- Liverpool
Kluivert -- Newcastle
van Nistelrooy -- Man. United

DC Chickenhawks managed by J. Jones
Goalkeepers:
Gallacher -- Norwich
Kiely -- Charlton

Defenders:
De Zeeuw -- Portsmouth
Dodd -- Southampton
Distin -- Man. City
Scimeca -- West Brom
Symons -- Crystal Palace

Midfielders:
Gilberto -- Arsenal
Izzet -- Birmingham
Robert -- Newcastle
Scholes -- Man. United
Sibierski -- Man. City

Strikers:
Forssell -- Birmingham
Kanu -- West Brom
Shearer -- Newcastle

WinningConnection managed by Jonathan Chase
Goalkeepers:
Kuszczak -- West Brom
Poole -- Bolton

Defenders:
Bridge -- Chelsea
Charlton -- Norwich
Cooper -- Middlesbrough
Hreidarsson -- Charlton
Robinson -- West Brom

Midfielders:
Juninho -- Middlesbrough
Lampard -- Chelsea
Mendieta -- Middlesbrough
Nolan -- Bolton
Wright-Phillips -- Man. City

Strikers:
Davies -- Bolton
Saha -- Man. United
Smith -- Man. United

1800-France.com managed by Jacques Santini
Goalkeepers:
Lehmann -- Arsenal
Sorensen -- Aston Villa

Defenders:
Chambers J -- West Brom
Hierro -- Bolton
Laursen -- Aston Villa
Popovic -- Crystal Palace
Stefanovic -- Portsmouth

Midfielders:
Campo -- Bolton
Diop -- Fulham
Gerrard -- Liverpool
Gravesen -- Everton
Pennant -- Arsenal

Strikers:
Hasselbaink -- Middlesbrough
Reyes -- Arsenal
Yakubu -- Portsmouth

RamRod FC managed by Justin Govo
Goalkeepers:
Murphy -- West Brom
Schwarzer -- Middlesbrough

Defenders:
Clement -- West Brom
Mellberg -- Aston Villa
Reiziger -- Middlesbrough
Upson -- Birmingham
Volz -- Fulham

Midfielders:
Berger -- Portsmouth
Borrowdale -- Crystal Palace
Giggs -- Man. United
Koumas -- West Brom
Zenden -- Middlesbrough

Strikers:
Beattie -- Southhampton
Kezman -- Chelsea
Owen -- Liverpool

Monsieur Santini licks his lips and opens a bottle of best Bordeaux, from the ripe vineyards of Pauillac.

His team are training well and the French Lieutenant sees no need to roll up his sleeves and dive into the murky pool of transfer discards..... pour le moment.

[kopiteinkc]

Analysis Part One

Aviators managed by Hal Jones
Goalkeepers:
Jaaskelainen -- Bolton (Subject to Medical)
Van der Sar -- Fulham

Defenders:
Boyce -- Crystal Palace
Carvalho -- Chelsea
Powell -- Crystal Palace
Samuel -- Aston Villa
Southgate -- Middlesbrough

Midfielders:
Hendrie -- Aston Villa
Lazaridis -- Birmingham
Ljungberg -- Arsenal
Malbranque -- Fulham
Rommedahl -- Charlton

Strikers:
Henry -- Arsenal
Nemeth -- Middlesbrough
Phillips -- Southampton

Solid goalie choice with strong back up. Probably starting 2 or 3 defenders, Southgate is a solid proven points scorer, samuel surprised late last season. New Chelsea signing should be strong.

Midfield, Steed is always a good choice, Ljunberg may have to watch injuries and Rommedahl is unproven in the premiership. Could be valuable assist getter, if Charlton can score. Hendrie is likely to be a sub for injured/suspended players.

Henry is everyone's number one choice -- unless you're in the other division -- Nemeth while a decent scorer last time out may struggle to get int the first XI. Phillips can score and will, but sharing the load with Beattie makes him less a points scorer than when with Sunderland.

Overall: Certainly a contender, especially with Henry as captain.

[kopiteinkc]

Analysis Part Two

London St. Germain 3 managed by Jonathan Ingram
Goalkeepers:
Blayney -- Southampton
Niemi -- Southampton

Defenders:
Ferreira -- Chelsea
Fortune -- Charlton
Hudson -- Crystal Palace
Purse -- West Brom
Shackwell -- Norwich

Midfielders:
Butt -- Newcastle
Edu -- Arsenal
Kewell -- Liverpool
Robben -- Chelsea
Vieira -- Arsenal

Strikers:
Bellamy -- Newcastle
Drogba -- Chelsea
Radzinski -- Fulham

Southampton seem to concede few goals, so should be ok there. But if they get off to a poor start I see transfer moves here. Mediocre at goalie.

A weak defense with no stand out player. Chepa adequate point scorers, but no real threat of getting extra points for goals, clean sheets yes, but extra goals from defenders can boost scores a lot. Ferreira should be the top point scorer if he lives up to his reputation.

A very weak midfield, Butt is more a defensive midfield player and won't provide too many assists, Vieira may be in Spain, Edu may not even start. Kewell and Robben should both provide assists and some goals. Midfield is too thin, though.

Forwards, mediocre, Bellamy is very much injury prone, Drogba unproven and may well be in the rotation scheme notp laying every game. Radzinkski could be a solid scorer if Fulham can find the net.

Overall: The weakest team, likely to finish 8th.

[kopiteinkc]

Analysis Part III

Kopite Juniors managed by Chloe Adams
Goalkeepers:
Green -- Norwich
Howard -- Man. United

Defenders:
Higginbotham -- Southampton
Hyypia -- Liverpool
Johnson -- Chelsea
Kishishev -- Charlton
Moore - West Brom

Midfielders:
Hitzlsperger -- Aston Villa
Holland -- Charlton
Okocha -- Bolton
Pires -- Arsenal
Watson -- Everton

Strikers:
Anelka -- Man. City
Defoe -- Tottenham
Stead -- Blackburn

Solid goalie in Howard, for a team that doesn't lose a lot. Covered by a cheap starter if necessary.

Defense anchored by Hyypia -- highest scoring defender last season -- and the reds won't be conceding many this season either. The other four defenders are solid points scorers, Johnson gets assists too. They will rotate off the bench depending on the opposition.

Midfield anchored by Pires, top midfield point getter last season (tied with Lampard). Likely to be this team's captain. Okocha's point totla was dimished last year by his month in Africa. He is here for the full season this time around. The other three midfielders are relatively cheap proven point scorers.

Forwards: Anelka is a proven points scorer in this league and both Defoe and Stead shone at the tail end of last season. probably my weakest area and will be looking to upgrade as forwards emerge after the season begins.

Overall: Mid to high table, contender if Pires and any one forward shines.

[kopiteinkc]

Analysis Part IV

Nocturnal United managed by J. Darr
Goalkeepers:
Berthelin -- Crystal Palace
Given -- Newcastle

Defenders:
Bocanegra -- Fulham
Briggs -- Norwich
Brennan -- Norwich
Helveg -- Norwich
Terry -- Chelsea

Midfielders:
Barry -- Aston Villa
Jensen -- Fulham
Keane -- Man. United
Ronaldo -- Man. United
Thompson -- Blackburn

Strikers:
Cisse -- Liverpool
Kluivert -- Newcastle
van Nistelrooy -- Man. United

Solid goalie in Given. Any injuries or suspensions will see a visit to the TL.

John Terry anchors the defenders. Let's hope those Norwich defenders stay on the bench :)

On paper a strong midfield, but Keane's propensity for cards, Ronaldo's Olympic trip, and Thompson's injury prone-ness make me a little nervous. Jensen and Barry are good buys but may struggle to fill the void left by non-starting players.

Forwards: Cisse is a star, no doubt about that, can he do it in the Premiership? As a Liverpool fan I sure hope so. We'll take a wait and see on that one. RVN is out for a while and who knows how quick he'll recover. Let's see how long you can risk him on the bench with your Norwich defenders starting, ouch!

Kluivert will be pushed by shearer and Bellamy for playing time. Interesting choice, could back fire as Kluivert gets used to the premiership.

Overall: Mid to low table, depending on all 3 forwards.

[kopiteinkc]

DC Chickenhawks managed by J. Jones
Goalkeepers:
Gallacher -- Norwich
Kiely -- Charlton

Defenders:
De Zeeuw -- Portsmouth
Dodd -- Southampton
Distin -- Man. City
Scimeca -- West Brom
Symons -- Crystal Palace

Midfielders:
Gilberto -- Arsenal
Izzet -- Birmingham
Robert -- Newcastle
Scholes -- Man. United
Sibierski -- Man. City

Strikers:
Forssell -- Birmingham
Kanu -- West Brom
Shearer -- Newcastle

Back to defend the title I think they may have a shot.

Solid goalie in Kiely, will need to go to the transfer list if he goes down.

Defenders are this teams weak spot. No real point getter, just moderate point getters. Could be an achilles heel.

Midfield was how he won the title last season and this season could prove the same. All 5 players are solid point scorers and should be successful this season too.

Forwards: Forsell and Shearer are certainly top choices up front. Kanu is a risk and likely to be sold early if he doesn't produce quickly.

Overall: A title contender if the defenders can hold the goals down.

[kopiteinkc]

WinningConnection managed by Jonathan Chase
Goalkeepers:
Kuszczak -- West Brom
Poole -- Bolton

Defenders:
Bridge -- Chelsea
Charlton -- Norwich
Cooper -- Middlesbrough
Hreidarsson -- Charlton
Robinson -- West Brom

Midfielders:
Juninho -- Middlesbrough
Lampard -- Chelsea
Mendieta -- Middlesbrough
Nolan -- Bolton
Wright-Phillips -- Man. City

Strikers:
Davies -- Bolton
Saha -- Man. United
Smith -- Man. United

Very weak goalie choices backed up by a relatively weak set of defenders. Bridge is solid, the other choices are low scorers.

A strong midfield, though Juhninho's injury prone and may be going to Celtic. But a strong group nontheless. Lampard should repeat last season's efforts.

A weak front 3 in my opinion. Once RVN comes back one of the Man U players will be on the bench.

Overall: Low table, fighting it out for 6th or 7th.

[kopiteinkc]

1800-France.com managed by Jacques Santini
Goalkeepers:
Lehmann -- Arsenal
Sorensen -- Aston Villa

Defenders:
Chambers J -- West Brom
Hierro -- Bolton
Laursen -- Aston Villa
Popovic -- Crystal Palace
Stefanovic -- Portsmouth

Midfielders:
Campo -- Bolton
Diop -- Fulham
Gerrard -- Liverpool
Gravesen -- Everton
Pennant -- Arsenal

Strikers:
Hasselbaink -- Middlesbrough
Reyes -- Arsenal
Yakubu -- Portsmouth


Strong goalie choices. Lehmann could be the top scoring golaie this season. Moderate defenders, Hierro's season will be one to watch. Laursen will get points too. Stefanovic will steal good cheap points.

Midfield is a little weak, Gerrard maybe a great player but he doesn't score a lot. Maybe plenty of assists for him, but not goals. Pennant is unlikely to start and Diop may struggle getting used to the premiership. Lots of risks there.

Fowards, JFH should do well at Boro, Reyes may well break out this season and if Yakubu repeats last year's success, then all is good. I would be nervous about Portmouth and Boro being my main source of goals every weekend though.

Overall: Mid-table, maybe lower if midfield underperforms

[kopiteinkc]

RamRod FC managed by Justin Govo
Goalkeepers:
Murphy -- West Brom
Schwarzer -- Middlesbrough

Defenders:
Clement -- West Brom
Mellberg -- Aston Villa
Reiziger -- Middlesbrough
Upson -- Birmingham
Volz -- Fulham

Midfielders:
Berger -- Portsmouth
Borrowdale -- Crystal Palace
Giggs -- Man. United
Koumas -- West Brom
Zenden -- Middlesbrough

Strikers:
Beattie -- Southhampton
Kezman -- Chelsea
Owen -- Liverpool


Good Boro goalie, will need back up elsewhere if he goes down.

Mellberg should be a constant source of points and Upson can do the same for Brum. I expect the rest to be on the bench to cover. Moderate to good back two.

Giggs leads the midfield and injury free should see him get a ton of points. Less points but equally injury prone is Patrik Berger. I wanted Zenden so that tells you he is points getter and will prove to be a solid pick up. Koumas misses the first 4 matches IIRC, so hopefully he'll be worth it later.

Beattie, Kezman, Owen, wow! Not bad front three at all. beattie might lose some production with Phillips and Owen needs to stay helathy. Kezman suspension has been lifted. Excellent front 3.

Overall: A little thin in midfield, strong front 3, mid-high table

[Darr]

All you salary savers, or unhappy with defense...


Terry is now available on a FREE... GL to whoever grabs him...