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

[Ingromius]

I really hope I face LSG 3. He and me are probably the most inconsistent teams this season. Plus I have the in form Ronaldo and RUUD!! coming back next week :)


LSG were getting very dangerous and consistent -- then, typical of the way this season has gone, lost Drogba and Robben. Drogba should be back for next gameweek but Robben (too good to drop but unavailable for a while) is a big miss. Not inconsistent, unlucky with key injuries. Which you know about all too well with Ruud...

[United Forever]

LSG were getting very dangerous and consistent -- then, typical of the way this season has gone, lost Drogba and Robben. Drogba should be back for next gameweek but Robben (too good to drop but unavailable for a while) is a big miss. Not inconsistent, unlucky with key injuries. Which you know about all too well with Ruud...

This should be a tie that anybody can win but we are not even sure if I am facing you. Will tell by tommorow though. :)

[United Forever]

RUUD is back says the TCA! ( The Class Acts )

The TCA is glad to announce the reincarnation of Ruud. He has been out for a while but we have hold on for him for the sprint at the end of the season. The TCA have decided their formation. BEWARE the underdog:

Van der Sar , Mellberg, Boyce, Ronaldo, Keane, Ziegler, Diop, Osman, Ashton,Shearer, van Nistlerooy

SUBS: Crossley, Cooper, Brennan

MISSING: CARVALHO

The Captain: CRISTIANO RONALDO

Formation: 2 - 5 - 3

[1800-WorldCup]

Ok, Hal is right in that 'least transfers' penalise active managers as does points in the overall league -- due to points penalties for active transfer activity, and head to heads can't be relied on in all cases.

Without a lot of feedback, I guess I need to propose something and run with it; if there are no objections or offers for improvement.

Second Round
Three games played -- (Home, Away, Neutral Ground).

To Determine the Winner:
Total scores of the three matches are added and the team with the greater differential wins.

If scores are tied after the three games, then the team winning two out of three matches will go through.

If one of the matches was tied, then the manager with the highest points scored, in one of the wins, slips into the quarter-finals.

If it's still equal, then the team scoring more points in their away match, wins.

If both teams scored the same away from home, then the match drawn will follow the semi-final tie break rules.

If there were three draws, then the match on neutral ground (third match) will follow semi-final tie break rules.

Quarter-finals
(Home and Away).

{Total scores of the two matches are added and the team with the greater differential wins}.

If there's a tie after the two games, then the team scoring more points away from home will go through. (If both games were draws of equal points, the second match will follow semi-final tie break rules).

If both teams won a game and scored the same points in their away games, then the team needing less automatic subs (over the two games) will go through.

If there's still a stalemate, then we'll follow the semi-final tiebreaks (using points earned for the 'best in position' over both games.... ie: best goalkeeper/def/mid/str/captain points in the first AND second match -- can be two different players in the relative position, over the two gameweeks).

Semi-final

As this is a one off, if the game is a draw then the team not needing an automatic substitution wins.

If both teams needed an automated sub, then team using less subs.

If no automated subs, or same amount of subs then we move onto the best-in-position points.

Highest scoring goal-keeper wins.

If goalkeepers are equal, then highest scoring defender.

If it's still tied.... highest scoring midfielder.

Highest scoring striker.

Highest scoring captain.

Still tied -- most points the third sub would have earnt; most points the second sub would have earnt; most points first sub earns..... and finally, the reserve goalkeeper.

Play-offs
(Home and Away).

[Total scores of the two matches are added and the team with the greater differential wins].

Same tie-breaks as quarter-final.

The Final
(Home, Away, Home, Away, Neutral Ground).

{Total scores of the five matches are added and the team with the greater differential wins the Rock Hard Championship Challenge Cup}.

If scores are tied on differential, then the team winning most of the five matches lifts the cup.

If it's still tied, then the last three games will be used to decide a winner.

ie:
{Total scores of the last three matches are added and the team with the greater differential wins}.

If scores are tied after the last three games, then the team winning two out of the last three matches will greet The Queen.

If one of the matches was tied, then the manager with the highest points scored, in one of the wins, takes the crown.

If it's still equal, then the team scoring more points in their away match wins.

If both teams scored the same away from home, then the match drawn will follow the semi-final tie break rules.

If there were three draws, then the match on neutral ground will follow semi-final tie break rules.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Any objections or suggested improvements?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[ibreak4coffee]

Ok, Hal is right in that 'least transfers' penalise active managers as does points in the overall league -- due to points penalties for active transfer activity, and head to heads can't be relied on in all cases.

Without a lot of feedback, I guess I need to propose something and run with it; if there are no objections or offers for improvement.

Second Round
Three games played -- (Home, Away, Neutral Ground).

To Determine the Winner:
Total scores of the three matches are added and the team with the greater differential wins.

If scores are tied after the three games, then the team winning two out of three matches will go through.

If one of the matches was tied, then the manager with the highest points scored, in one of the wins, slips into the quarter-finals.

If it's still equal, then the team scoring more points in their away match, wins.

If both teams scored the same away from home, then the match drawn will follow the semi-final tie break rules.

If there were three draws, then the match on neutral ground (third match) will follow semi-final tie break rules.

Quarter-finals
(Home and Away).

{Total scores of the two matches are added and the team with the greater differential wins}.

If there's a tie after the two games, then the team scoring more points away from home will go through. (If both games were draws of equal points, the second match will follow semi-final tie break rules).

If both teams won a game and scored the same points in their away games, then the team needing less automatic subs (over the two games) will go through.

If there's still a stalemate, then we'll follow the semi-final tiebreaks (using points earned for the 'best in position' over both games.... ie: best goalkeeper/def/mid/str/captain points in the first AND second match -- can be two different players in the relative position, over the two gameweeks).

Semi-final

As this is a one off, if the game is a draw then the team not needing an automatic substitution wins.

If both teams needed an automated sub, then team using less subs.

If no automated subs, or same amount of subs then we move onto the best-in-position points.

Highest scoring goal-keeper wins.

If goalkeepers are equal, then highest scoring defender.

If it's still tied.... highest scoring midfielder.

Highest scoring striker.

Highest scoring captain.

Still tied -- most points the third sub would have earnt; most points the second sub would have earnt; most points first sub earns..... and finally, the reserve goalkeeper.

Play-offs
(Home and Away).

[Total scores of the two matches are added and the team with the greater differential wins].

Same tie-breaks as quarter-final.

The Final
(Home, Away, Home, Away, Neutral Ground).

{Total scores of the five matches are added and the team with the greater differential wins the Rock Hard Championship Challenge Cup}.

If scores are tied on differential, then the team winning most of the five matches lifts the cup.

If it's still tied, then the last three games will be used to decide a winner.

ie:
{Total scores of the last three matches are added and the team with the greater differential wins}.

If scores are tied after the last three games, then the team winning two out of the last three matches will greet The Queen.

If one of the matches was tied, then the manager with the highest points scored, in one of the wins, takes the crown.

If it's still equal, then the team scoring more points in their away match wins.

If both teams scored the same away from home, then the match drawn will follow the semi-final tie break rules.

If there were three draws, then the match on neutral ground will follow semi-final tie break rules.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Any objections or suggested improvements?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sounds good to me.

[United Forever]

That is great!

[1800-WorldCup]

The Second Round can be confirmed....

Gameweek 28:

1800-France.com vs Ajax Reserves
Windsor Wanderers vs Kopite Juniors

London St. Germain 3 vs The Class Acts
FC Springfield vs DC Chickenhawks

Aviators vs KC Dynamo
sporting-FC colombia vs Nocturnal United

AS St-Lambert vs RamRod FC
TVDPhenomenons vs WinningConnection

Gameweek 29:

Ajax Reserves vs 1800-France.com
Kopite Juniors vs Windsor Wanderers

The Class Acts vs London St. Germain 3
DC Chickenhawks vs FC Springfield

KC Dynamo vs Aviators
Nocturnal United vs sporting-FC colombia

RamRod FC vs AS St-Lambert
WinningConnection vs TVDPhenomenons

Gameweek 30: (Neutral Ground)

1800-France.com vs Ajax Reserves
Windsor Wanderers vs Kopite Juniors

London St. Germain 3 vs The Class Acts
FC Springfield vs DC Chickenhawks

Aviators vs KC Dynamo
sporting-FC colombia vs Nocturnal United

AS St-Lambert vs RamRod FC
TVDPhenomenons vs WinningConnection

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Congratulations to TVDPhenomenons and 1800-France.com for topping their respective leagues..... will they meet in the final?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[United Forever]

Ok then. Class Acts will have an interview tommorow guys about the away match to LSG 3. Look out for it.

[Hal]

The Second Round can be confirmed....

Gameweek 28:

1800-France.com vs Ajax Reserves
Windsor Wanderers vs Kopite Juniors

London St. Germain 3 vs The Class Acts
FC Springfield vs DC Chickenhawks

Aviators vs KC Dynamo
sporting-FC colombia vs Nocturnal United

AS St-Lambert vs RamRod FC
TVDPhenomenons vs WinningConnection



As these are the same as the provisional pairings, I'll stand by my earlier post on the handicap for these Week 28 matches.

[Ingromius]

LSG's heavy reliance on Liverpool and Chelsea this season (6 starters) means I can only hope to keep it close for the first leg vs. The Class Acts. Choices: either dump all core team players, causing long-term crises due to loss of best players, or concede defeat for this gameweek. I go with the latter, but I've made a few changes to keep things as close as possible:

GK Jaaskelainen

D O'Shea (will he play?)
D Pistone
[D Ferreira. He won't.]

M Van Persie
M Diouf
M Pennant
M Reid
[M Gerrard]

F Saha
F Camara
[F Drogba]

My own personal, biased handicap vs. Class Acts, by position:

GK: Advantage LSG. Fulham's defense against an in-form Spurs makes shutout unlikely for TCA.

DEF: (Barely) advantage LSG. Mellberg & Pistone should cancel each other out (I predict 0-0 at Villa) & O'Shea should score better than Boyce IF he plays.

MID: Big advantage to TCA. Five scoring players vs. my four, but Ronaldo's the only potential big scorer and a good choice as captain. If my four all have strong weeks, I could score OK in this department. But I don't expect that to happen.

FOR: Even bigger advantage to TCA. Saha's not even a lock to play, and even if he does RVN should make a bigger impact. Camara might score against Arsenal's terrible defense, but he's more likely to miss the target on a couple breakaways.

Overall prediction: TCA takes the first leg but with LSG not too far behind, leaving all to play for in the next two fixtures...

[United Forever]

Class Acts manager says he is favourites to win this week but not the whole leg. He assures the TCA fans his best. Tickets to the away match is now available at 1-800-CLASS. :D

[1800-WorldCup]

LSG certainly look strong favourite for the overall tie but if The Class Acts get their act together and gain the upper hand with a good choice of captain, against a team reluctant to drop non-starters, they may well be out to cause an upset in the following matches.

Michel Platini has tried to get tickets on the hotline.... but it's always engaged.

Looks like a sell-out..... with many Class Acts fans not yet accepting that this is 'their final'.

[United Forever]

LSG certainly look strong favourite for the overall tie but if The Class Acts get their act together and gain the upper hand with a good choice of captain, against a team reluctant to drop non-starters, they may well be out to cause an upset in the following matches.

Michel Platini has tried to get tickets on the hotline.... but it's always engaged.

Looks like a sell-out..... with many Class Acts fans not yet accepting that this is 'their final'.

It might be our final but we are going to enjoy it. Sorry for Platini but tickets were sold out a few hours ago. One of the matches of the week I guess. :)

[United Forever]

And LSG edge into the lead due to van Persie and Camara starting:

Lineups

London St Germain 3

Jaaskalinen, Ferreira 0 Pts , O'shea, Pistone, VAN PERSIE 1, Diouf, Pennant, Reid, Gerrard 0 Pts, Saha (C), CAMARA 1

Subs : Speroni, Drogba, Shackell, Mokoena

The Class Acts

Van der Sar , Mellberg, Boyce, Ronaldo (C), Keane, Ziegler, Diop, Osman, Ashton,Shearer, van Nistlerooy

Current Score: LSG 2-0 TCA
Subs: Crossley, Cooper, Brenan, Carvalho

[United Forever]

Booking for Robin van Persie and he is back to square one.


Lineups

London St Germain 3

Jaaskalinen, Ferreira 0 Pts , O'shea, Pistone, VAN PERSIE 0, Diouf, Pennant, Reid, Gerrard 0 Pts, Saha (C), CAMARA 1

Subs : Speroni, Drogba, Shackell, Mokoena

The Class Acts

Van der Sar , Mellberg, Boyce, Ronaldo (C), Keane, Ziegler, Diop, Osman, Ashton,Shearer, van Nistlerooy


Subs: Crossley, Cooper, Brenan, Carvalho 0 Pts

Current Score: LSG 1-0 TCA

[United Forever]

Drama at LSG 3 at Robin van Persiew has been sent off for his second bookable offence. Camara get his 2nd point for the 60 mins though.

Lineups

London St Germain 3

Jaaskalinen, Ferreira 0 Pts , O'shea, Pistone, VAN PERSIE -2, Diouf, Pennant, Reid, Gerrard 0 Pts, Saha (C), CAMARA 2

Subs : Speroni, Drogba, Shackell, Mokoena

The Class Acts

Van der Sar , Mellberg, Boyce, Ronaldo (C), Keane, Ziegler, Diop, Osman, Ashton,Shearer, van Nistlerooy


Subs: Crossley, Cooper, Brenan, Carvalho 0 Pts

Current Score: LSG 0-0 TCA

[1800-WorldCup]

Nail-biting stuff already.

[United Forever]

Nail-biting stuff already.

It has been pretty good so far. I love these cups. How has your match been doing?

[United Forever]

van der Sar, Mellberg, Boyce Diop and Osman all get the point starting for TCA. Zielger is on the bench. LSG 3 get 3 points from the starting Pistone Pennant and Reid.

Lineups

London St Germain 3

Jaaskalinen, Ferreira 0 Pts , O'shea, PISTONE 1, VanPersie -2, Diouf, PENNANT 1, REID 1, Gerrard 0 Pts, Saha (C),Camara 2

Subs : Speroni, Drogba, Shackell, Mokoena

The Class Acts

VAN DER SAR 1 , MELLBERG 1, BOYCE 1, Ronaldo (C), Keane, Ziegler, DIOP 1, OSMAN 1, Ashton,Shearer, van Nistlerooy


Subs: Crossley, Cooper, Brenan, Carvalho 0 Pts

Current Score: LSG 3-5 TCA

[United Forever]

TCA away fans are ELATED as Leon Osman has already gotten on to the score sheet. The dynamic mid with a good header.

Lineups

London St Germain 3

Jaaskalinen, Ferreira 0 Pts , O'shea, PISTONE 1, VanPersie -2, Diouf, PENNANT 1, REID 1, Gerrard 0 Pts, Saha (C),Camara 2

Subs : Speroni, Drogba, Shackell, Mokoena

The Class Acts

Van der Sar 1 , Mellberg 1, Boyce 1, Ronaldo (C), Keane, Ziegler, Diop 1, OSMAN 6, Ashton,Shearer, van Nistlerooy


Subs: Crossley, Cooper, Brenan, Carvalho 0 Pts

Current Score: LSG 3-10 TCA