Rock Hard Championship Challenge Cup -- Small Rocks and Very Small Rocks Fight It Out

[ibreak4coffee]

Note that Hal was already getting prepared for Blackburn's double games next week too.

He stole them from under me a week early.

Yeah and he steals them from me with the Ajax Reserves in the VSR as well...

[Hal]

[QUOTE=ibreak4coffee]Thanks to shrewd calculations and faith in Blackburn, Hal will take round one 52-34 (barring any revisions by the site).

I expect I'll get 12 points for subs for Henry and Robben. 6 points from McBride and 6 from Hriedarsson. This should make Aviators score 60 points.

I expect, barring scoring adjustments, that Aviators will take a 60-34 lead over FC Springfield after GW 1 of the best aggregate over 5 GWs.

[ibreak4coffee]

OUT: Leigertwood, Palace, 3.7
IN: Senderos, Arsenal, 5.5

OUT: Ljungberg, Arsenal, 9.6
IN: Dyer, Newcastle, 7.5

OUT: Crouch, Southampton, 7.0
IN: Reyes, Arsenal, 10.6

OUT: Keane, Tottenham, 9.0
IN: Nemeth, Boro, 5.6

[Hal]

Note that Hal was already getting prepared for Blackburn's double games next week too.

He stole them from under me a week early.



Yeah and he steals them from me with the Ajax Reserves in the VSR as well.

I see some early nominations for Hal as the Manager of the Year!! :)

[ibreak4coffee]

FC Springfield remains upbeat, despite the odds

Despite being forced to travel to Seattle and Vancouver during gameweek 34 , coach Ralph Wiggum was tracked down at an internet cafe today in Seattle and asked to comment on the recent results of the Rock Hard Championship Cup and the in-form Aviators, who seem to be running away with the tie. After quietly finishing his third cappucino of the day, coach Wiggum replied "Hal is proving to be a formidable opponent. I would have never guessed Blackburn would secure two clean sheets in a row". Wiggum added, however, "this is a marathon, not a sprint. Luckly my risky pick up on Nemeth keeps me somewhat in this week. If Arsenal, Rooney, and Kieron Dyer can come through, I may have a shot to at least break even, and make up my forty points in the last three weeks."

Wiggum continued, "The odds are certainty not in our favor. The Aviators have been at the top of the Small Rocks league for years, and are in familiar territory. Moreover, we are a division two squad, with a small budget." Wiggum, however, claimed to be happy where FC Springfield stands, "We have learned a lot in our inaugural year, we are set to gain promotion to the Small Rocks, and we never expected to be this far in the cup or the Bigsoccer rocking ladder competition. The Aviators have always been a class organization, and we look forward to three last weeks of close competition".

Before leaving, Wiggum added "Why does Hal's team need to catch fire now? I sense a conspiracy"... :)

[Hal]

Henry Retires!

Aviators announce the retirement of Henry. We'll give him the rest of this season off and hopefully be able to talk him out of retirement for next season.
He's been the best footballer in the premiership the past three seasons. At least he's going out on top.

Aviatiors replace Henry with two other Arsenal players, welcoming back Reyes and Vieira. Aviators also welcome back Everton's Weir.

OUT:
Henry Fwd Arsenal 14.7
Emerton Mid Blackburn 7.2
Clement Def West Brom 4.2

IN:
Reyes Fwd Arsenal 10.6
Vieira Mid Arsenal 9.1
Weir Def Everton 4.6

In the Bank 1.0

[Hal]

Finals Update
GW34 Aviators 60 vs FC Springfield 34 (Diff 26)

GW 35 through Sun, 4/24 games:
Aviators 49 vs FC Springfield 47 (Diff 2)

Expected subs:
Aviators: Robben and McBride for Henry and Gallas (+6)
FC Springfield: Weir for Dyer (+2, and only if Dyer doesn't play in Newcastles second game this week.

Players who still have a game to possibly add to the fantasy score totals above:
FC Springfield:
Arsenal's Senderos and Reyes
Middlesbrough's Nemeth
Blackburn's Matteo

Aviators:
Blackburn's Friedel, Mokoena, and Emerton
Middlesbrough's Downing (Captain) and Queudrue
West Brom Albion's Clement and Gera

[Hal]

Finals Update
GW34 Aviators 60 vs FC Springfield 34 (Diff 26)

GW 35 through Sun, 4/24 games:
Aviators 49 vs FC Springfield 47 (Diff 2)

Expected subs:
Aviators: Robben and McBride for Henry and Gallas (+6)
FC Springfield: Weir for Dyer (+2, and only if Dyer doesn't play in Newcastles second game this week.

Players who still have a game to possibly add to the fantasy score totals above:
FC Springfield:
Arsenal's Senderos and Reyes
Middlesbrough's Nemeth
Blackburn's Matteo

Aviators:
Blackburn's Friedel, Mokoena, and Emerton
Middlesbrough's Downing (Captain) and Queudrue
West Brom Albion's Clement and Gera

Andre - nice 12 points from Senderos and Reyes. Game on.

btw, your latest trade announcements include an illegal trade. Ajax Reserves still has Joe Cole on Judy's Ajax Reserves roster. Acquired him on March 17.
You'll need to drop Cole and add a free agent player.

[ibreak4coffee]

Andre - nice 12 points from Senderos and Reyes. Game on.

btw, your latest trade announcements include an illegal trade. Ajax Reserves still has Joe Cole on Judy's Ajax Reserves roster. Acquired him on March 17.
You'll need to drop Cole and add a free agent player.

Thanks Hal... it wont be enouhg to close the gap however unless Nemeth and Dyer can come up big.

It is frustrating to lose 8 points today though because I confused the Aviators with the Ajax Reserves... plus you have managed to steal all the good players left in the VSR! Its frustrating... there are so many players I'd like to pick up but too many managers in the VSR are inactive and never dipping into the transfer market... oh well, hopefully Ljungberg can come back healthy and spearhead a strong comeback in the three final weeks.

[1800-WorldCup]

Its frustrating... there are so many players I'd like to pick up but too many managers in the VSR are inactive and never dipping into the transfer market... oh well, hopefully Ljungberg can come back healthy and spearhead a strong comeback in the three final weeks.

It looks like we'll only need one league next season.

One league of active managers who like to transfer players throughout the season is more exciting than two leagues with a handful of inactive managers in each.

[Hal]

Thanks Hal... it wont be enouhg to close the gap however unless Nemeth and Dyer can come up big.

It is frustrating to lose 8 points today though because I confused the Aviators with the Ajax Reserves... plus you have managed to steal all the good players left in the VSR! Its frustrating... there are so many players I'd like to pick up but too many managers in the VSR are inactive and never dipping into the transfer market... oh well, hopefully Ljungberg can come back healthy and spearhead a strong comeback in the three final weeks.

Actually, this favors you.

In the Small Rocks League, I have to rise early to beat out Mark (Kopite Juniors), Michel (1800-France.com), and Jon (London St. Germain3), and sometimes Jonathan (Winning Connections) in fighting for scraps from the free agent pool.

In the Very Small Rocks League, the only active managers mining the free agent pool are myself on Judy's behalf, yourself, and Andrew (Windsor Wanderers), with some minor dabling by ASSL. Basically, you just have to outmaneuver me, which leaves at least the second best picks still available for you to grab when you don't beat me to a pick we both want. If FC Springfield was in the Small Rocks League, you might be fighting over 4th picks.

Actually, when it came down to us in the finals, I considered whether my trading activity for Ajax Reserves was an unfair advantage. I concluded that it was not an unfair advantage since I didn't suddenly increase the tempo of my trading activity, but was consistent with the pattern I established in trying to properly execute my fiduciary and managerial responsibilities as a caretaker manager. I do not deny that Ajax Reserves trades do impact FC Springfield, but I believe it's how active managers should behave.

With the adjustments of 311-7 or 304 added to the Ajax Reserves season score, I have led the Ajax Reserves climb from the bottom to 6th place in the League. I've also helped Ajax Reserves do well in the Olympic Cup Competition.

In fact, I rate the Ajax Reserves team as slightly superior to my Aviators team right now.

[Hal]

It looks like we'll only need one league next season.

One league of active managers who like to transfer players throughout the season is more exciting than two leagues with a handful of inactive managers in each.



Small Rocks League
1 WinningConnection Jonathan Chase 49 1726
2 Kopite Juniors Chloe Adams 50 1550
3 Aviators Hal Jones 63 1439
4 DC Chickenhawks J. Jones 41 1385
5 1800-France.com Michel Platini 44 1383
6 Nocturnal United Darr _ 35 1334
7 London St. Germain 3 Jonathan Ingram 31 1262
8 RamRod FC Justin Govo 28 1196

Very Small Rocks League
1 TVDPhenomenons Tom K 28 1609
2 Windsor Wanderers A. Giffen 54 1605
3 AS Saint-Lambert JM Fortin 49 1519
4 FC Springfield Andre B. 60 1412
5 sporting-FC colombia wesley useche 33 1361
6 The Class Acts Brian Alleyne 16 1127
7 Ajax Reserves Judy Jones 55 819 +304 = 1123
8 KC Dynamo Chris Meier 21 1104

If the season ended today, this would be the Small Rocks League next season:

1 WinningConnection Jonathan Chase 49 1726 (25 trades)
**2 TVDPhenomenons Tom K 28 1609 (7 trades)
3 Windsor Wanderers A. Giffen 54 1605 (48 trades)
4 Kopite Juniors Chloe Adams 50 1550 (30 trades)
5 AS Saint-Lambert JM Fortin 49 1519 (19 trades)
6 Aviators Hal Jones 63 1439 (116 trades)
7 FC Springfield Andre B. 60 1412 (74 trades)
8 DC Chickenhawks J. Jones 41 1385 (23 trades)

Just below the cut line in the fierce battle for 4th place in the Small Rocks League is 1800-France.com Michel Platini 44 1383

** TVDPhenomenons has been very inactive. He's pretty much disdained the internal cup competitions which are a hallmark of the fun of this league. He is actually in danger of being overtaken by Andrew's Windsor Wanderers.

If the season ended today, these would be the alternate standings for next season.

Alt 1 1800-France.com Michel Platini 44 1383 (66 trades)
Alt 2 sporting-FC colombia wesley useche 33 1361 (7 trades)
Alt 3 Nocturnal United Darr _ 35 1334 (29 trades)
Alt 4 London St. Germain 3 Jonathan Ingram 31 1262 (76 trades)
Alt 5 RamRod FC Justin Govo 28 1196 (1 trade)
Alt 6 The Class Acts Brian Alleyne 16 1127 (8 trades)
Alt 7 Ajax Reserves Judy Jones 55 819 +304 = 1123 (83 trades)
Alt 8 KC Dynamo Chris Meier 21 1104 (6 trades)

We won't count Judy's team as it is just a caretaker team.

But it will be a shame that Michael, Jason, and Jon, active managers all, may not end up in the Small Rocks League next year.

It would be interesting for someone to post all the results of the internal cup and intraleague competitions. Perhaps there should be a bonus awarded for teams that win some of our competitions.

As it appears that we have 10 active managers, perhaps we should have a 10 team league next season. I know, I, for one, do not want to have to do the caretaker manager job and the commissioner job for a league where one manager, when replaced for inactivity, starts performing his managerial duties, and another manager drops out. The whole premise of our drafted leagues is for the managers to COMMIT to staying active for the entire season.

I think we might want to adjust relegation/promotion rules if we run two divisions, to include penalties for inactivity and bonuses for doing well in internal cup competitions. Perhaps the table position is not the most representative stat to use for promotion/relegation.

[ibreak4coffee]

I agree with Michel... one league of active managers (of which Michel of course should be a part). In the VSR, the only consistent active managers have been myself and Andrew.

[1800-WorldCup]

Table positions is not the stat to use as transfers dock points.

1800-France.com won the first Cup competition, won their league during qualication for the second cup knockout stage and are in the top four of the Fantasy Olympic competition.

Also very active.

:D

[Hal]

Finals Update

GW34 Aviators 60 vs FC Springfield 34 (Diff 26)

GW 35 through Tues, 4/26 games:
Aviators 63 vs FC Springfield 60 (Diff 3)

Expected subs:
Aviators: Robben and McBride for Henry and Gallas (+6)
FC Springfield: Weir for Gallas (+2) and Edman for Dyer (+1), if and only if Dyer doesn't play in Newcastles second game this week.

Adding in the sub points, except for Edman's 1 since Dyer is reported to be fit enough to play, the score going into today's MID vs NUFmatch which is the final game of this matchweek:

Aviators 69 vs FC Springfield 62

Players who still have a game to possibly add to the fantasy score totals above:
FC Springfield:
Middlesbrough's Nemeth
Newcastle's Dyer

Aviators:
Middlesbrough's Downing (Captain) and Queudrue

Andre is hoping for hat tricks from Nemeth and Dyer and Not having the assists for Nemeth's hat tricks come from Downing.

[subbuteo]

Table positions is not the stat to use as transfers dock points.

1800-France.com won the first Cup competition, won their league during qualication for the second cup knockout stage and are in the top four of the Fantasy Olympic competition.

Also very active.

:D

To be honest I concentrated more on winning the league and not at all on the Cup competitions and so I guess that explains why Windsor flamed out of the cup competitions---focused on building and maintaining as strong a team as possible for the course of the campaign while penalizing myself as few transfer points as I felt reasonable v. splashing the cash to bulk up for specific cup matches. Actually I only just realized a few days ago why the Aviators have been soooo content to eat the transfer points---their manager was focused almost exclusively on the internal comps. Makes sense and he's proved it!

Anyway, I've enjoyed competing this season and will gladly pip the VSR title out from under TVD's nose and grab a couple more medals if I am so fortunate :D

[kopiteinkc]

Like subbuteo I concentrated on the league too -- but I did have one eye on the cup contests -- so I guess I am a hybrid, all rounder so to speak.

Anyway this season has been fun, a couple of the new guys have injected their enthusiasm and energy and that has been very refreshing.

[Hal]

An earlier post suggested it would be better to have just one league of all active managers.

We have 10 of 15 managers who meet my definition of being active and 2 of the other five would occasionally get engaged in some trash talk. (I'm excluding "Judy's" Ajax Reserves team.) I made a comment that perhaps we could have a 10 team league.

However, I think there has been more positive than negative from running two leagues.

Pros:
We have found at least 2 and maybe 3 new managers who have added a lot to our competitions this year.

It was kind of fun to have the senior and junior leagues. It encouraged some new rivalries.

It was much more fun having intra-league and not just inter-league competitions.

I really like the Rock Hard Challenge Cup and the Olympic Cup competitions that Michel put together. I'm not as convinced on the Rocking Good Ladder, but still it was innovative and different. These competions are a welcome addition to the League and FA type cup competitions we've had in the past. Having two leagues provided the extra teams needed to hold these competitions.

I think the carrot of finishing in the top 4 of the table to get promoted was an incentive that kept some managers more active than they would have been otherwise. On the reverse side, the idea of 5-8 of the Small Rocks League being demoted has led to some intense activity due to relegation concerns. The idea of promotion and relegation is a good concept. We just need to have better promotion and relegation criteria next year.

Cons:
Inactive managers. Despite clearly impressing on all new managers that they were committing to stay active for the entire season, we had managers who threatened to quit or did quit or just went inactive and that diminished our leagues and our competitions. BTW, the inactivity was not restricted to the Very Small Rocks league. One of our veteran active managers went inactive in the Small Rocks league as well.

Uneven playing field between the two leagues. In one league we usually had 4 managers competing to grab from the free agent pool with occasional transfer forrays by 3 other managers. In the other league, discounting Ajax Reserves activity, you usually only had 1 or 2 managers mining the free agency pool. It was easier to strengthen your team if you only have to compete with one other manager to grab the hot performing free agents and those who have double games in the near future.

Common areas of concern that need to be addressed/improved in the off-season:

#1. The Draft process. Even though this was our fastest draft ever, there were enough complaints that someone should think out and offer other draft process options for next year.

I suggest we ask Jay, as one of the two with the most criticism of our draft process, to lead a small group of volunteers to come up with options for next year's draft. There were one or two managers from the Very Small Rocks League that seemed vocal in their complaints at how long the draft was taking; perhaps they too would like to volunteer to work with Jay to create a better process.

#2. How to deal with inactive managers. I took on much more than I expected as the commisioner for the Very Small Rocks League. I'm open to ideas that will result in replacing inactive managers mid-season in a draft league.

#3. One league had a website, thank you Michel, that posted all the rosters. This needs to be standardized for both leagues. My lengthy, roster update posts in the other message forum is an unefficient and less useful way than Michel's website rosters. Both ways are subject to being out of date and need constant revisions to stay current. That is a chore which could be shared next season.

#4. Recruitment. It seems like we are slow to get out of the blocks each year. We hold spots for former managers and then don't hear from them.

I suggest we all send our email addresses to Michel, Mark, or Myself (as being three of the more active managers and arrangers of competitions and the previous drafts). This way we can communicate early next year to finalize commitments and coordinate any new draft procedures.

I suggest we make it known before the end of this season whether we want to participate next season. If someone wants to take a season off, we also might ask that person to be available to fill in as a caretaker manager.

I suggest that Michel post some recruitment information in his The Missed Penalty message forum to try to identify other experienced Fantasy.premierleague.com managers who want to participate in a draft league version next year.

#5 Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) or Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). I also suggest that we write down and post some of the standard operating procedures we've developed over the last 4 or so seasons in running these draft leagues. Items like how to make transfers; where to post notifications; roster updates; how to deal with illegal trades; and so forth. All these types of questions come up every year, especially by the new managers, so I think a FAQ section would be helpful. As Mark and I served as league administrators/commissioners this year, I suggest we get together and draft up some SOP.

#6 History. I think it would be kind of nice to have a annual summary of each season that is recorded in a History or Hall of Fame type of section. Does anyone have any data stored from our earlier efforts? I'm thinking there might be old BigSoccer threads we could scan. If not, we should at least summarize this season's results.

[Hal]

Finals update:

GW 34: Aviators 60 vs FC Springfield 34 (diff +26)

GW 35: Aviators 77 vs FC Springfield 65 (diff +12)

Aggregate scores through 2 of 5 GW:

Aviators 137 vs FC Springfield 99 (diff +38)

[United Forever]

So because I dont make transfers I am inactive and dont care?!!! I started transfers late but I still take out my injured players.