Small Rocks Official Draft Thread Season 04/05

[DoctorJones24]

Hm, didn't expect Ljunberg to fall into my lap like that! :) Thanks, pa...

With that move, I'm not sure my current midfield isn't actually better than the one that carried me to the title last season. Did Hal's itchy trigger finger just cost all of you guys the any shot at the title? Perhaps... :D

[Ingromius]

Overall: The weakest team, likely to finish 8th.[/QUOTE]


No chance... Kewell is consistently one of the best midfielders in the game; Robben was one of the players of the tournament in Euro 2004 and does much more than the odd assist. Same for Ferreira who, despite a poor summer, is a dangerous and constantly attacking right back. I've seen a lot of Drogba and expect a lot from him. Might rotate occasionally but he's the real deal. Not a strong team perhaps, as should be expected from a proxy draft team, but I expect better than 8th. And the squad shuffle begins now, see below...

[Ingromius]

double transfer

OUT: Vieira Ars Mid 8.5
Bellamy F New 9.0

IN: Murphy Cha Mid 8.0
Baros Liv F 9.5

Lets hope the transfer rumours are all true... Vieira and Owen both off to Real so Baros should stay and play... If not at least I'm now rid of Bellamy, who I hate even when he's scoring goals. Stay tuned for more action

[johno]

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.


If its a problem I can sort it out later... I thought u guys would not mind since u drafted a 1 keeper team for me... no one said that the draft would be completed in 1 day and I did not expect it to... if picking up 1 starting keeper after the draft was completed giving me one bench keeper is wrong then I will undo it... as it stands my team is as i listed before... i will make the changes, but i have to run now...

[Hal]

Okay, Jonathan,
Aviators renounce their claim on Jaaskelainen so Winning Connections can acquire him.

OUT:
Bolton Gk Jaaskelainen 4.5
Aston Villa Mid Hendrie 6.5

IN:
West Brom Gk Hoult 4.0
Blackburn Mid De Pedro 7.0

Also, Aviators' crack scouting team (not scouting team on crack) located a steal that went under everyone's radar screen for the draft. Aviators are proud to announce the acquisition of Blackburn's new star midfielder, De Pedro.

[1800-WorldCup]

double transfer

OUT: Vieira Ars Mid 8.5
Bellamy F New 9.0

IN: Murphy Cha Mid 8.0
Baros Liv F 9.5

Lets hope the transfer rumours are all true... Vieira and Owen both off to Real so Baros should stay and play... If not at least I'm now rid of Bellamy, who I hate even when he's scoring goals. Stay tuned for more action

I believe transfers need to be announced in the premierleague.com site

I'm looking to make some last minute deals and didn't see this posted there.

Reason it's so imortant to post there.... is that this place gets so many busy signals of late and over there is where we make the trades.

If it's 10 minutes to kick-off I wouldn't want to wait half an hour to try and get on here.

:(

[Hal]

I believe transfers need to be announced in the premierleague.com site

I'm looking to make some last minute deals and didn't see this posted there.

Reason it's so imortant to post there.... is that this place gets so many busy signals of late and over there is where we make the trades.

If it's 10 minutes to kick-off I wouldn't want to wait half an hour to try and get on here.

:(

I concur, Michel. As this is Jon's first transfer, perhaps he forgot where to post. I'm willing to accept this trade as having occurred, but Jon should also post it in the Fantasy.premierleague message forum the next time he is on.

[1800-WorldCup]

Monsieur Santini avait eu un petit problème avec la langue, ainsi on a décidé qu'il a besoin de quelques jouers Français dans l'équipe pour lui donner un sens d'être chez lui.

SORTIE
Gravesen, Everton, Midfield 6.5
J. Chalmbers, West Brom, Defender 3.0

ENTRE
Hall, Def, Crystal Palace, 4.5
Sibierski, Mid, Man. City, 7.0

[Hal]

What has happened to the Aviators management? Who is in charge? The media is agast at all the post-draft personnel moves.

Here's the latest press release from the Aviators:

"Aviators continue to revamp their squad after the first practices under their perfectionist manager:

OUT:
WBA Gk Hoult 4.0
SOU Fwd Phillips 8.5
SOU Mid Fernandes 5.5

IN:
BR Gk Friedel 5.0
BIR Mid Gronkjaer 7.5
Norwich Fwd Svensson 5.5"

When will the insanity end?

Here is the latest, and who knows for how long, roster for the Aviators:

Pos. Name Team**
F Henry** Arsenal**
F Nemeth** Middlesbrough**
F Svensson** Norwich
M Rommedahl Charlton**
M Malbranque** Fulham**
M Lazaridis** Birmingham**
M Gronkjaer** Birmingham**
M De Pedro Blackburn**
D Southgate** Middlesbrough**
D Carvalho Chelsea**
D Samuel** Aston Villa**
D Finnan** Liverpool**
D Powell** Crystal Palace
GK Van der Sar** Fulham**
GK Friedel** Blackburn**


All this player movement must be unsettling for the players. Hope it doesn't affect their performance. Anaylzing each trade, you may have to concede that the Aviators keep strengthening their squad, albiet in different areas.

Goalkeeping is well solidified with Van de Sar and Friedel. (Better than either Hoult or Jaaskelainen as the second keeper)

Defense has a solid back 4 in Southgate, Samuel, Finnan, and Carvalho, with Powell from Crystal Palace on the bench. (Better than Southgate, Samuel, Bocanegra and 2 Crystal Palace bench warmers)

Midfield moves were the riskiest in the early release of Ljungberg who was quickly swooped up by Jay's DC Chickenhawks, and Newcastle's Dyer.

Comparing Malbranque, Ljungberg, Rommedahl, Dyer, and Lazaridis to the first revised iteration done to beef up the defense, Malbranque, Rommedahl, Lazaridis, Fernandes, and Hendrie is a clear drop from the draft. But compare the draft to Malbranque, De Pedro, Rommedahl, Gronkjaer, and Lazaridis and this midfield could be evaluated as an upgrade. De Pedro should be the midfield maestro for Blackburn and take corners and free kicks. Gronkjaer had a great Euro2004 campaign and was wasted at Chelsea behind all their talent. He should thrive on the wing at Birmingham. Ljungberg is nursing sore ribs and Dyer's team is beset with injuries and an epidemic of conjunctivitis. The latest midfield should certainly outscore the drafted midfield in the short term. The proof will lie in their performance over the season.

Forwards: Henry as captain and anyone else is still a potent strike force.
Viduka, changing teams, supsended Wks 1,2, with Australian World Cup qualifier commitments which might have him miss more games was dropped for the inconsistent Phillips. Phillips is on a weak Southhampton team this season and starts off with a tough fixture, so he was dropped in favor of the Norwich striker Svensson, who can expect to be on the bench.

With Viduka out the first two weeks, Nemeth should be starting for Middlesbrough, paired with Hasselbaink. Since JFK can also assist, we might see Nemeth score the first two weeks until Viduka returns and maybe push him to the bench. If Nemeth and JFH develop a good partnership, maybe Viduka will return to become the first choice striker sub off the bench.

Afrer all the wild player movement, Aviators may have significantly strengthened their squad and have given notice they expect to finish top of the table this season.

[Hal]

A smiling and engaging Aviators manager took questions from the media after the first practice of the latest Aviators team.

Hal said he was pleased with the intensity of the practice and how well the lads supported each other. He categorically denied rumors of internal strife with the Aviators Board of Directors. On the contrary, he said all the moves were mutually agreed to. Hal also avoided leveling criticism towards any of the departed players. Instead, he acknowledged their outstanding skills as footballers and true professionals and wished them well. Hal said all the departed players left on good terms with the team and its management and might be considered for subsequent reacquisition as the dynamics of the long season unfold.

[Hal]

For Immediate Release:

Going against tradition, the Aviators manager announced his starting line-up on Thursday afternoon for this week-end's matches. When asked why, Hal said with a smile, "Why not? Besides, I reserve the right to change my mind."

Gk: Blackburn's "Arms" Friedel

Def: Chelsea's "19.85 M Pounder" Carvalho
Def: Liverpool's "I'm playing mid" Finnan
Def: Aston Villa's "The Rock" Samuel
Def: Middlesbrough's "Captain for Life" Southgate

Mid: Blackburn's "Brazilian Maestro" De Pedro
Mid: Birmingham's "Danish Wizard Winger" Gronkjaer
Mid: Charlton's "I'm faster than you" Rommedahl

Fwd: Arsenal's "Footballer of the Year" Henry
Fwd: Middlesbrough's "I'm over here, JFH" Nemeth
Fwd: Norwich's "Swedish Sensation" Svensson

Subs:
If Friedel doesn't play, Van der Sar is ready to deputize.

1st field sub:
Birmingham midfielder, "I just wanna play" Lazaridis who will be starting at left back due to the suspension of Cunningham for the first couple of games.

2nd field sub:
Crystal Palace's "I will thump you" Powell

3rd field sub, watching from the phsio table the first two weeks, is "Mazy" Steed Malbranque.

[kopiteinkc]

Nice going Hal. I think I'll post mine in a minute too. Can't let the newbies have all the fun on the other thread. Lively lot aren't they :)

[kopiteinkc]

Kopite juniors Media Release

In a shock move 8 year old manager Chloe Adams has selected Green (Gk, Norwich) ahead of Tim Howard for this week's first match.

The Board of Directors scratched their heads and wondered about the sanity of the little girl riding her bike outside the board room window.

"What the hell is she thinking" uttered one board member quietly (making sure he wasn't heard)

Chloe stormed into the board room irate at such insolence. "Don'y you old farts look at the fixture list? Timmy isp laying Chelsea away, Mr. Green is playing lowly old Palace"

With that the Board members shut up and looked at the rest of the team sheet:

1. Goalie "I am very" Green, Norwich
2. Sami "I am gonna score from a Finnan corner" Hyypia, Liverpool
3. "Please let me play so I can kick Alan Smith" Johnson, Chelsea
4. Robert "The Skipper" Pires
5. "Not Belgium, but" Holland, Charlton
6. Okocha -- "Guzundheit", Bolton
7. "Friggin Bluenose" Watson, Everton
8. "Long range bomb" Hitzlwhatssit, Villa
9. Jermaine "Wilhem" Defoe
10. Jon "The Stud" Stead
11. Nic "Let me play for France" Anelka

subs
Howard
Higginbotham
Kishishev
Moore

[ibreak4coffee]

Kopite juniors Media Release

In a shock move 8 year old manager Chloe Adams has selected Green (Gk, Norwich) ahead of Tim Howard for this week's first match.

The Board of Directors scratched their heads and wondered about the sanity of the little girl riding her bike outside the board room window.

"What the hell is she thinking" uttered one board member quietly (making sure he wasn't heard)

Chloe stormed into the board room irate at such insolence. "Don'y you old farts look at the fixture list? Timmy isp laying Chelsea away, Mr. Green is playing lowly old Palace"

With that the Board members shut up and looked at the rest of the team sheet:

1. Goalie "I am very" Green, Norwich
2. Sami "I am gonna score from a Finnan corner" Hyypia, Liverpool
3. "Please let me play so I can kick Alan Smith" Johnson, Chelsea
4. Robert "The Skipper" Pires
5. "Not Belgium, but" Holland, Charlton
6. Okocha -- "Guzundheit", Bolton
7. "Friggin Bluenose" Watson, Everton
8. "Long range bomb" Hitzlwhatssit, Villa
9. Jermaine "Wilhem" Defoe
10. Jon "The Stud" Stead
11. Nic "Let me play for France" Anelka

subs
Howard
Higginbotham
Kishishev
Moore

We learned from the wily old veterans :)

I will take credit for nicknaming players though ;)

[Hal]

Mark,

Maybe it's time for the Small Rocks League Commissioner to create the "Official Small Rocks League 2004/5 Season Thread." (Hint, Hint, that's you)

[Ilovecolombia redded]

i should easily beat kopite juniors

[United Forever]

i should easily beat kopite juniors

With this comment VSR/D2 TV understands that the Sporting FC Colombia believes his 2nd division side can beat Kopite Juniors the 1st division heavyweights to get a top seed in his group. We shall see how this pans out.

[Ilovecolombia redded]

there are no second or first division theyre eqaul groups of teams with eqaul players


btw vieras deal with real madrid negotiations have broken down it looks like viera will be staying at arsenal for another season and my defense will be fine

[United Forever]

You need to liven it up a bit . That is what the media is saying about you. The press is saying the level of arrogance in the Sporting FC Colombia camp is amazing.

[Ilovecolombia redded]

Wesley Useche held a press conference within the last few hours to talk about the claims that his camp has a hight level of arrogance

he said quote and quote "Arrogance worked for maradona it will work for me be prepared to behold the hand of GOD!!!"

he also called Kopite Juniors his quo and quo "little bitch"