The draft thread is bumping up against the preferred BigSoccer thread size limitations. Thought we should have a separate thread for the post draft analysis thread. We could also post our post-draft, pre-season adjustments in here to get the same analysis as the draft. Remember though, post-draft, pre-season transfers go through the first come first served rules via posts in the Fantasy.PremierLeague.com's message forum for the Small Rocks 2006-7 League.
Small Rocks Drafted Squads VegasVirgins - vegas2u (Craig Powell) Goalkeepers: Keily, Portsmouth, 4.0 Reina, Liverpool, 6.5 Defenders: Bridge, Fulham, 4.5 Ferdinand, Man. United, 7.0 Gallas, Chelsea, 7.5 Konchesky, West Ham, 5.5 Taylor, Portsmouth, 5.5 Midfielders: Jagielka, Sheffield United, 5.5 McNamee, Watford, 4.5 N'Zogbia, Newcastle, 7.0 Quinn, Sheffield United, 4.5 Young, Watford, 6.0 Forwards: Andy Johnson, Everton, 8.5 Henry, Arsenal, 14.0 Zamora, West Ham, 6.0 Yellowcake Phantoms - DoctorJones24 (Jay Jones) Goalkeepers: Crossley, Fulham, 3.5 Given, Newcastle, 5.0 Defenders: Chimbonda, Wigan, 5.5 Hreidarsson, Charlton, 5.0 Short, Sheffield United, 3.5 Sommeil, Sheffield United, 3.5 Young, Charlton, 5.0 Midfielders: Duff, Newcastle, 8.5 Giannakopolous, Bolton, 8.0 P. Neville, Everton, 5.0 Ronaldo, Man. United, 10.0 Scholes, Man. United, 8.5 Forwards: D. Bent, Charlton, 9.0 Harewood, West Ham, 8.0 Shevchenko, Chelsea, 12.0 Pork Soda - djangone (Richard Powell) Goalkeepers: Van der Sar, Man. United, 6.0 Warner, Fulham, 3.5 Defenders: Gray, Blackburn, 5.0 Heinze, Man. United, 7.0 Hyypia, Liverpool, 7.0 Rehman, Fulham, 3.5 Toure, Arsenal, 7.0 Midfielders: Benayoun, West Ham, 7.5 Lampard, Chelsea, 11.0 Lennon, Tottenham, 7.5 Sidwell, Reading, 6.0 Tonge, Sheffield United, 4.5 Forwards: Crouch, Liverpool, 9.0 Saha, Man. United, 9.5 Vaz Te, Bolton, 6.0 Green Onions - 1800-WorldCup (Booker T) Goalkeepers: Jaaskelainen, Bolton, 5.0 Robinson, Tottenham, 5.5 Defenders: Arca, Middlesbrough, 5.5 Aurelio, Liverpool, 7.0 Kishishev, Charlton, 4.5 Queudrue, Fulham, 6.0 Shadow of Ledley King - To be replaced Midfielders: Cahill, Everton, 7.5 Carrick, Man. United, 7.5 Davis, Aston Villa, 6.5 Fortune, Bolton, 5.5 Pennant, Liverpool, 7.5 Forwards: Berbatov, Tottenham, 8.0 Roberts, Blackburn, 7.5 Lita, Reading, 6.0 Kopite Juniors - kopiteinkc (Chloe Adams) Goalkeepers: Friedel, Blackburn, 5.0 Sorensen, Aston Villa, 4.5 Defenders: Ashley Cole, Arsenal, 7.0 Gabbidon, West Ham, 4.5 Neill, Blackburn, 5.0 Ridgewell, Aston Villa, 5.0 Unsworth, Sheffield United, 4.0 Midfielders: Gerrard, Liverpool, 10.5 Joe Cole, Chelsea, 9.5 Nolan, Bolton, 8.0 Reo Coker, West Ham, 7.0 Sinclair, Man. City, 6.5 Forwards: Davies, Bolton, Forward, 6.5 Hasselbaink, Charlton, Forward, 8.0 Keane, Tottenham, Forward, 9.0 Aviators - Hal (Sir Grandpa Hal) Goalkeepers: Hannemann, Reading, 4.0 Myhre, Charlton, 4.0 Defenders: Chambers, Watford, 3.5 Finnan, Liverpool, 7.5 Lee, Tottenham, 5.5 Nelsen, Blackburn, 5.0 ??????? Midfielders: Convey, Reading, 5.5 Downing, Middlesbrough, 7.5 Gamst Pedersen, Blackburn, 9.0 Malbranque, Fulham, 8.0 Robben, Chelsea, 9.5 Forwards: King, Watford, 6.5 Rooney, Man. United, 11.5 Yakubu, Middlesbrough, 8.5 FC Springfield - ibreak4coffee (Coach Wiggum) Goalkeepers: Cech, Chelsea, 6.5 Kenny, Sheffield United, 3.5 Defenders: Carragher, Liverpool, 7.0 Dawson, Tottenham, 5.5 DeMerit, Watford, 3.5 Gary Neville, Man. United, 7.0 ???????? Midfielders: Ballack, Chelsea, Midfielder, 10.0 Bullard, Fulham, Midfielder, 7.0 Francis, Watford, Midfielder, 5.0 O'Neil, Portsmouth, Midfielder, 6.5 Rosicky, Arsenal, Midfielder, 9.0 Forwards: Adebayor, Arsenal, Forward, 9.0 Camara, Wigan, Forward, 7.5 Defoe, Tottenham, Forward, 8.5 Nocturnal United - Darr (Darr _) Goalkeepers: Lehmann, Arsenal, 6.0 ??????? Defenders: Evra, Man. United, 6.5 Ferdinand, West Ham, 5.0 Rosenior, Fulham, 4.0 Stubbs, Everton, 4.0 Terry, Chelsea, 8.0 Midfielders: Alonso, Liverpool, 7.5 Barry, Aston Villa, 6.5 Barton, Man. City, 7.0 Fabregas, Arsenal, 8.0 Jenas, Tottenham, 7.0 Forwards: Bellamy, Liverpool, 10.0 Reyes, Arsenal, 9.5 Vassell, Man. City, 7.5
Re: Small Rocks Drafted Squads VegasVirgins - vegas2u (Craig Powell) 3.5 M funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Keily, Portsmouth, 4.0 Reina, Liverpool, 6.5 Defenders: Bridge, Fulham, 4.5 Ferdinand, Man. United, 7.0 Gallas, Chelsea, 7.5 Konchesky, West Ham, 5.5 Taylor, Portsmouth, 5.5 Midfielders: Jagielka, Sheffield United, 5.5 McNamee, Watford, 4.5 N'Zogbia, Newcastle, 7.0 Quinn, Sheffield United, 4.5 Young, Watford, 6.0 Forwards: Andy Johnson, Everton, 8.5 Henry, Arsenal, 14.0 Zamora, West Ham, 6.0 Yellowcake Phantoms - DoctorJones24 (Jay Jones) 0.0 funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Crossley, Fulham, 3.5 Given, Newcastle, 5.0 Defenders: Chimbonda, Wigan, 5.5 Hreidarsson, Charlton, 5.0 Short, Sheffield United, 3.5 Sommeil, Sheffield United, 3.5 Young, Charlton, 5.0 Midfielders: Duff, Newcastle, 8.5 Giannakopolous, Bolton, 8.0 P. Neville, Everton, 5.0 Ronaldo, Man. United, 10.0 Scholes, Man. United, 8.5 Forwards: D. Bent, Charlton, 9.0 Harewood, West Ham, 8.0 Shevchenko, Chelsea, 12.0 Pork Soda - djangone (Richard Powell) 0.0 funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Van der Sar, Man. United, 6.0 Warner, Fulham, 3.5 Defenders: Gray, Blackburn, 5.0 Heinze, Man. United, 7.0 Hyypia, Liverpool, 7.0 Rehman, Fulham, 3.5 Toure, Arsenal, 7.0 Midfielders: Benayoun, West Ham, 7.5 Lampard, Chelsea, 11.0 Lennon, Tottenham, 7.5 Sidwell, Reading, 6.0 Tonge, Sheffield United, 4.5 Forwards: Crouch, Liverpool, 9.0 Saha, Man. United, 9.5 Vaz Te, Bolton, 6.0 Green Onions - 1800-WorldCup (Booker T) 4.5 M in the bank Goalkeepers: Jaaskelainen, Bolton, 5.0 Robinson, Tottenham, 5.5 Defenders: Arca, Middlesbrough, 5.5 Aurelio, Liverpool, 7.0 Kishishev, Charlton, 4.5 Queudrue, Fulham, 6.0 Shadow of Ledley King - To be replaced Midfielders: Cahill, Everton, 7.5 Carrick, Man. United, 7.5 Davis, Aston Villa, 6.5 Fortune, Bolton, 5.5 Pennant, Liverpool, 7.5 Forwards: Berbatov, Tottenham, 8.0 Roberts, Blackburn, 7.5 Lita, Reading, 6.0 Kopite Juniors - kopiteinkc (Chloe Adams) 0.0 funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Friedel, Blackburn, 5.0 Sorensen, Aston Villa, 4.5 Defenders: Ashley Cole, Arsenal, 7.0 Gabbidon, West Ham, 4.5 Neill, Blackburn, 5.0 Ridgewell, Aston Villa, 5.0 Unsworth, Sheffield United, 4.0 Midfielders: Gerrard, Liverpool, 10.5 Joe Cole, Chelsea, 9.5 Nolan, Bolton, 8.0 Reo Coker, West Ham, 7.0 Sinclair, Man. City, 6.5 Forwards: Davies, Bolton, Forward, 6.5 Hasselbaink, Charlton, Forward, 8.0 Keane, Tottenham, Forward, 9.0 Aviators - Hal (Sir Grandpa Hal) 0.5 M funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Hannemann, Reading, 4.0 Myhre, Charlton, 4.0 Defenders: Chambers, Watford, 3.5 Finnan, Liverpool, 7.5 Lee, Tottenham, 5.5 Nelsen, Blackburn, 5.0 O'Brien, Portsmouth, 4.0 Midfielders: Convey, Reading, 5.5 Downing, Middlesbrough, 7.5 Gamst Pedersen, Blackburn, 9.0 Malbranque, Fulham, 8.0 Robben, Chelsea, 9.5 Forwards: King, Watford, 6.5 Rooney, Man. United, 11.5 Yakubu, Middlesbrough, 8.5 FC Springfield - ibreak4coffee (Coach Wiggum) 0.0 funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Cech, Chelsea, 6.5 Kenny, Sheffield United, 3.5 Defenders: Carragher, Liverpool, 7.0 Dawson, Tottenham, 5.5 DeMerit, Watford, 3.5 Gary Neville, Man. United, 7.0 Sonko, Reading, 4.0 Midfielders: Ballack, Chelsea, Midfielder, 10.0 Bullard, Fulham, Midfielder, 7.0 Francis, Watford, Midfielder, 5.0 O'Neil, Portsmouth, Midfielder, 6.5 Rosicky, Arsenal, Midfielder, 9.0 Forwards: Adebayor, Arsenal, Forward, 9.0 Camara, Wigan, Forward, 7.5 Defoe, Tottenham, Forward, 8.5 Nocturnal United - Darr (Darr _) o.o funds in the bank after last pick Goalkeepers: Lehmann, Arsenal, 6.0 ??????? Defenders: Evra, Man. United, 6.5 Ferdinand, West Ham, 5.0 Rosenior, Fulham, 4.0 Stubbs, Everton, 4.0 Terry, Chelsea, 8.0 Midfielders: Alonso, Liverpool, 7.5 Barry, Aston Villa, 6.5 Barton, Man. City, 7.0 Fabregas, Arsenal, 8.0 Jenas, Tottenham, 7.0 Forwards: Bellamy, Liverpool, 10.0 Reyes, Arsenal, 9.5 Vassell, Man. City, 7.5
Re: Small Rocks Drafted Squads Everyone has a way of looking at their team. Mine is between partially shut eyes as I wait for a render and try to remember whether Rehman really looked good enough to get minutes or not. Most people I'm sure also look at theirs with some trepidation: will this big-ticket guy really be as good as I hoped? Was that guy a One Year Wonder? Will my injury-prone midfielder have yet another season off the PhysioRoom list? How crowded is that squad really, and are the new guys threatening my boy? My analysis of things is like this: Will my guy play? Is he a guaranteed starter? Or does he platoon on his (leftsidedArsenalLiverpoolChelseamidfielders / TottenhamChelseastriker / anykindofTottenhammidfielder) spot? Then everything else is after that. Such as, if he's a midfielder, is he an attacking midfielder? Or does he really need (AlonsoFabregas) to shoot more? Is he healthy, or is he (ScholesGiggsSahaformerlyGerrard) fragile? Is he getting (HasselbainkHyypiaGiggs) too old and will he suddenly face a Keane-ing? Finally, and I don't ask this enough, is he accustomed to the Premiership? I say this because last year's analyses by various people seemed to ignore the most basic question: Will the player be on the field? It's the Arjen Robben question. Now, we all dig in and play and realize that for all our careful prep, fantasy games are a thing you play for ten month and then my brother wins.
Re: Small Rocks Drafted Squads VegasVirgins - vegas2u (Craig Powell) 3.5 M funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Keily, Portsmouth, 4.0 Reina, Liverpool, 6.5 Defenders: Bridge, Fulham, 4.5 Ferdinand, Man. United, 7.0 Gallas, Chelsea, 7.5 Konchesky, West Ham, 5.5 Taylor, Portsmouth, 5.5 Midfielders: Jagielka, Sheffield United, 5.5 McNamee, Watford, 4.5 N'Zogbia, Newcastle, 7.0 Quinn, Sheffield United, 4.5 Young, Watford, 6.0 Forwards: Andy Johnson, Everton, 8.5 Henry, Arsenal, 14.0 Zamora, West Ham, 6.0 Yellowcake Phantoms - DoctorJones24 (Jay Jones) 0.0 funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Crossley, Fulham, 3.5 Given, Newcastle, 5.0 Defenders: Chimbonda, Wigan, 5.5 Hreidarsson, Charlton, 5.0 Short, Sheffield United, 3.5 Sommeil, Sheffield United, 3.5 Young, Charlton, 5.0 Midfielders: Duff, Newcastle, 8.5 Giannakopolous, Bolton, 8.0 P. Neville, Everton, 5.0 Ronaldo, Man. United, 10.0 Scholes, Man. United, 8.5 Forwards: D. Bent, Charlton, 9.0 Harewood, West Ham, 8.0 Shevchenko, Chelsea, 12.0 Pork Soda - djangone (Richard Powell) 0.0 funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Van der Sar, Man. United, 6.0 Warner, Fulham, 3.5 Defenders: Gray, Blackburn, 5.0 Heinze, Man. United, 7.0 Hyypia, Liverpool, 7.0 Rehman, Fulham, 3.5 Toure, Arsenal, 7.0 Midfielders: Benayoun, West Ham, 7.5 Lampard, Chelsea, 11.0 Lennon, Tottenham, 7.5 Sidwell, Reading, 6.0 Tonge, Sheffield United, 4.5 Forwards: Crouch, Liverpool, 9.0 Saha, Man. United, 9.5 Vaz Te, Bolton, 6.0 Green Onions - 1800-WorldCup (Booker T) 4.5 M in the bank Goalkeepers: Jaaskelainen, Bolton, 5.0 Robinson, Tottenham, 5.5 Defenders: Arca, Middlesbrough, 5.5 Aurelio, Liverpool, 7.0 Kishishev, Charlton, 4.5 Queudrue, Fulham, 6.0 Shadow of Ledley King - To be replaced Midfielders: Cahill, Everton, 7.5 Carrick, Man. United, 7.5 Davis, Aston Villa, 6.5 Fortune, Bolton, 5.5 Pennant, Liverpool, 7.5 Forwards: Berbatov, Tottenham, 8.0 Roberts, Blackburn, 7.5 Lita, Reading, 6.0 Kopite Juniors - kopiteinkc (Chloe Adams) 0.0 funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Friedel, Blackburn, 5.0 Sorensen, Aston Villa, 4.5 Defenders: Ashley Cole, Arsenal, 7.0 Gabbidon, West Ham, 4.5 Neill, Blackburn, 5.0 Ridgewell, Aston Villa, 5.0 Unsworth, Sheffield United, 4.0 Midfielders: Gerrard, Liverpool, 10.5 Joe Cole, Chelsea, 9.5 Nolan, Bolton, 8.0 Reo Coker, West Ham, 7.0 Sinclair, Man. City, 6.5 Forwards: Davies, Bolton, Forward, 6.5 Hasselbaink, Charlton, Forward, 8.0 Keane, Tottenham, Forward, 9.0 Aviators - Hal (Sir Grandpa Hal) 0.5 M funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Hannemann, Reading, 4.0 Myhre, Charlton, 4.0 Defenders: Chambers, Watford, 3.5 Finnan, Liverpool, 7.5 Lee, Tottenham, 5.5 Nelsen, Blackburn, 5.0 O'Brien, Portsmouth, 4.0 Midfielders: Convey, Reading, 5.5 Downing, Middlesbrough, 7.5 Gamst Pedersen, Blackburn, 9.0 Malbranque, Fulham, 8.0 Robben, Chelsea, 9.5 Forwards: King, Watford, 6.5 Rooney, Man. United, 11.5 Yakubu, Middlesbrough, 8.5 FC Springfield - ibreak4coffee (Coach Wiggum) 0.0 funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Cech, Chelsea, 6.5 Kenny, Sheffield United, 3.5 Defenders: Carragher, Liverpool, 7.0 Dawson, Tottenham, 5.5 DeMerit, Watford, 3.5 Gary Neville, Man. United, 7.0 Sonko, Reading, 4.0 Midfielders: Ballack, Chelsea, Midfielder, 10.0 Bullard, Fulham, Midfielder, 7.0 Francis, Watford, Midfielder, 5.0 O'Neil, Portsmouth, Midfielder, 6.5 Rosicky, Arsenal, Midfielder, 9.0 Forwards: Adebayor, Arsenal, Forward, 9.0 Camara, Wigan, Forward, 7.5 Defoe, Tottenham, Forward, 8.5 Nocturnal United - Darr (Darr _) o.o funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Lehmann, Arsenal, 6.0 Lee, Watford, 3.5 Defenders: Evra, Man. United, 6.5 Ferdinand, West Ham, 5.0 Rosenior, Fulham, 4.0 Stubbs, Everton, 4.0 Terry, Chelsea, 8.0 Midfielders: Alonso, Liverpool, 7.5 Barry, Aston Villa, 6.5 Barton, Man. City, 7.0 Fabregas, Arsenal, 8.0 Jenas, Tottenham, 7.0 Forwards: Bellamy, Liverpool, 10.0 Reyes, Arsenal, 9.5 Vassell, Man. City, 7.5
Re: Small Rocks Drafted Squads Let's analyze Craig's Team. Should be awesome as he had the first pick and took Henry. VegasVirgins - vegas2u (Craig Powell) 3.5 M funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Keily, Portsmouth, 4.0 Reina, Liverpool, 6.5 Defenders: Bridge, Fulham, 4.5 Ferdinand, Man. United, 7.0 Gallas, Chelsea, 7.5 Konchesky, West Ham, 5.5 Taylor, Portsmouth, 5.5 Midfielders: Jagielka, Sheffield United, 5.5 McNamee, Watford, 4.5 N'Zogbia, Newcastle, 7.0 Quinn, Sheffield United, 4.5 Young, Watford, 6.0 Forwards: Andy Johnson, Everton, 8.5 Henry, Arsenal, 14.0 Zamora, West Ham, 6.0 1. He has 3.5 M in funds to be able to grab a hot shot new to the EPL player before the transfer window closes. He and Michel are best situated for that extra boost. 2. He has King Henry for his Captain. As long as Henry stays fit and his hamstring doesn't bother him, he can carry a team all by himself. 3. Liverpool should have lots of clean sheets, so he gets an A for his goalkeepers. Kiely is a good starting back-up. 4. Defense. One of the best coups of the draft. Craig picked up Chelsea's, soon to be Fulham's Wayne Bridge for a palty 4.5 M with an 11th round selection!!!. His stock will almost surely rise as he plays regularly for Fulham. With Rio Ferdinand and Gallas, he has a solid anchor in defense. An A for the starters. I know he has Henry, but I think Craig also drafted the strongest defense of all 8 squads. 5. Midfield: Ouch. He has four cheap midfielders who are on promoted teams and at least two are major midfield figures on those teams. Good news is that their prices will rise. The bad news is that they are still on promoted teams who historically have a tough time adjusting to the pace of the premiership. N'Zogbia, as his only experienced premiership midfielder does not strike fear into other teams. With the cash he has on hand, expect Craig to strengthen his midfield either pre-season, or after the first couple of weeks once we all see who are the starters this year and who takes the team's free kicks, corner kicks, and penalty kicks. I think Jagielka is a keeper, but the rest of the midfield better keep their bags packed. 6. Expect Craig to play two strikers, possibly a 5-3-2, or more likely a 4-4-2 with Henry and Andy Johnson starting. Even though Andy came up on a promoted team, he has proven he can score in the Premiership and is no rookie. That's a solid pair up top. Now if Zamora gets hot, or if he replaces Zamora with an on form striker, then he could play a 4-3-3. 7. Overall Assessment. Henry and the defense of this squad make it a favorite, but the midfield needs shoring up to be the odds on favorite. And woe to this team if Henry misses a significant number of games.
Re: Small Rocks Drafted Squads I missed a big criteria that other managers use, and that I used for the first time this year, speculating on value. It's all that Michel is about, I think. I did it this season on Lennon and Sidwell. Others, related to me, did it on their entire midfield...
Re: Small Rocks Drafted Squads In the original CYKI I used to like playing the money league more than the points table. In those days transfers were cheaper, so you could make money in the market then transfer again for another player in the same week and bank the profits.
Re: Small Rocks Drafted Squads Let's analyze Jay's Team. Picking 2nd this year. Yellowcake Phantoms - DoctorJones24 (Jay Jones) 0.0 funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Crossley, Fulham, 3.5 Given, Newcastle, 5.0 Defenders: Chimbonda, Wigan, 5.5 Hreidarsson, Charlton, 5.0 Shorey, Reading, 4.0 (Short, Sheffield United, 3.5) Sommeil, Sheffield United, 3.5 Young, Charlton, 5.0 Midfielders: Duff, Newcastle, 8.5 Giannakopolous, Bolton, 8.0 Montgomery, Sheffield United, 4.5 (P. Neville, Everton, 5.0) Ronaldo, Man. United, 10.0 Scholes, Man. United, 8.5 Forwards: D. Bent, Charlton, 9.0 Harewood, West Ham, 8.0 Shevchenko, Chelsea, 12.0 1. Let's do the analysis considering Jay's replacement transfers for his Round 14 and 15 selections. OUT P. Neville, EVE, Mid, 5.0; Short, BR, Def 3.5. IN: Montgomery, Sheffield United, Mid, 4.5; Shorey, Reading, Def, 4.0. Still 0 in the bank. 2. GK: Given is a solid GK, but it's not clear which Fulham GK will start the season as #1. If Crossley wins the job, then Average depth at GK. If Crossley does not win Fulham #1, then Jay will need to get a solid back-up keeper and will probably have to make two trades to do so to create enough cash. I expect Jay to strengthen his GK options before the season starts. 3. Defenders: Chimbonda may be his star defender, but what team will he play for? If he goes to Tottenham, will he play as much compared to playing with Wigan? Jay likes the Charlton defenders and his defense will primarily rise or fall based on the early season performance of the Charlton defense. In Charlton's 1 7 games, they play MANU and Arsenal at home and Chelsea away. I don't fancy their chances at clean sheets against these three. So their defense will have to perform well against West Ham (A), Bolton (H), Portsmouth (H), and Aston Villa (A). Overall, I think this defensive squad is weak and needs at least two better defenders. Jay may get a pleasant surprise with his two newcomer defenders. If SU or Reading start off hot in the EPL, the value of these players will certainly rise. That's a big if. 4. Midfield: I think Duff is a great pick. If he stays healthy, he should score lots of fantasy soccer points playing regularly at Newcastle rather than platooning for Chelsea. Ronaldo is the big, expensive question mark. First question to be answered is will he be on MANU when the season starts? Second question, how much of an impact will be all the negative press about Ronaldo's diving in the WorldCup and his perceived (by English fans) role in getting Rooney sent off? I also like Scholes, but his fantasy production has fallen off. With Carrick coming aboard, and with the questions around Ronaldo and with Smith becoming a striker again, it may take some time for this team to gel. I like Gia for Bolton. Montgomery is a total EPL crapshoot. Overall, I see Duff, Sholes (if stays healthy and starts off season in form), and Giannakopoulos as being long term for Yellowcake Phantoms, but I expect Jay will tinker with the midfield and replace Ronaldo and Montgomery. 5. Forwards: WOW! The strength of this team. Only long term injuries could get Jay to dump any of these three. Shevchenko and Bent are Captain material along with Duff. Overall, I would have expected a little more stable and stronger team from someone who picked 2nd. Expect pre-season or early-season adjustments to make this team solid back to front.
I will be surprised and disappointed if Niemi isn't the #1 for Fulham. He has EPL and international experience, his points per game ranked 3rd in the EPL from his signing in January up to season close, and his projected points if given full-time #1 status is in the 170 range. So even at 150, and with a 4.0 price tag, he is one of the best values in the league.
170 points for a Fulham goalkeeper would mean he killed McBride, cloned himself, got plastic surgery for McBride's looks, and played striker as well as GK. Van der Sar got 168 last year (for me among others) to lead the Premiership, and that included an assist. 150 for a Fulham GK would mean he killed Boa Morte, cloned himself, got plastic surgery for to resemble a frog and took over in the hole behind McBride. Petr Cech didn't even get 150 last season. I don't have any reason to hate on the guy, but Niemi had his time as 'the Best Keeper in the Prem.' Then conventional wisdom turned against him, noting that he made a lot of spectacular saves but wasn't known for consistency. And consider his protection, Zat Knight and Co. A lot of teams could've had Niemi after SH went down, and he's only 34. Makes you wonder how the pros really feel about the guy. But you're right, in a way--on a points/cost basis, it's hard to do better than the top few GKs. Edwin's 168 points for 6.0 is amazingly good value.
I think their back line looks improved this season. I might end up in a platoon situation with my keepers, using Niemi at home where Fulham was a solid +10 last season. So maybe I'm *wishing* that he gets the undisputed #1.
OK, here's some fodder for discussion! My quick grading of every team. No thought or research was put into the following. Simply gut feeling. Anything more would be silly, since our teams will change so much between now and...well, October 1. The grid is as follows: Team/Goalies/Defense/Mids/Forwards Vegas, A-, B, D, B Yellow, B-, B-, B+, A Pork, B, A-, B+, B- Green, A-, B-, C, C Kopite, B+, B, A-, B Aviators, B, B+, A-, B+ FC Spring, A-, B+, B-, B- Nocturn, B+, A-, B, B- Talk amongst yourselves...
Last year I maintained a roster site for Very Small Rocks at vsrocks.com. My brother started wondering whether I was going to do it again, and after holding out for his help in keeping it updated, I've put a site together for SR in much the same glorious red Excel format. The site is here: http://www.smallrocksleague.com This will redirect to a more complicated URL that includes the phrase 'planetsandvegetables.' Just ignore that, bookmark 'smallrocksleague.com' and go there. I can't remember how to hide the subdomain stuff (Michel?) as I haven't been a web guy since 1997. Cheers all.
We can only safely track the leagues we're in, as that's the privy forums we have access to..... and djangone is no longer in VSR. Maybe vsrocks.com will be back next year, if his players get food poisining.
Re: Small Rocks Drafted Squads Let's analyze Richard's drafted team: Pork Soda - djangone (Richard Powell) 0.0 funds in the bank Goalkeepers: Van der Sar, Man. United, 6.0 Warner, Fulham, 3.5 Defenders: Gray, Blackburn, 5.0 Heinze, Man. United, 7.0 Hyypia, Liverpool, 7.0 Rehman, Fulham, 3.5 Toure, Arsenal, 7.0 Midfielders: Benayoun, West Ham, 7.5 Lampard, Chelsea, 11.0 Lennon, Tottenham, 7.5 Sidwell, Reading, 6.0 Tonge, Sheffield United, 4.5 Forwards: Crouch, Liverpool, 9.0 Saha, Man. United, 9.5 Vaz Te, Bolton, 6.0 GK: Great starter, needs a better back-up for weeks MANU doesn't play. With 8 Small Rocks teams there will be a starting back up available, albiet maybe not at the right price, when he wants one. Defenders: 4 of 5 are solid starters and on good teams. Heinze may be too fragile, even think he has a slight knock now. Still, this is a good defense and should get quite a few clean sheet points, with Hyypia getting a few goals and with Heinze and Gray getting some assists. Midfielders: Lamphard might be able to carry this team and is their clear captain. However, Lamphard and Gerrard didn't do too well at the WorldCup. It may take some time before the Lamphard and Ballack combination starts to gel. They did not look sharp against the MLS AllStars. (And forgive me, weak excuses about fitness, they just got outplayed by a team whose total salary didn't equal the salary of one of their starters. End rant on excusitis. Lennon is poised to have a great season. Benayoun should be another solid fantasy scorer as he is heavily involved, with great pace, in the West Ham attack. Tonge and Sidwell are crap shoots and may turn out a way to make some early season team value increase. Forwards: Crouch will probably have a similar season to last year. OK but not great. Saha will play more with RVN gone and maybe Rooney getting too many cards. Vaz Te doesn't strike fear and I expect he'll be the first to be traded from this team. With his team, I think Richard will play a 4-4-2, strengthening one mid position, or play a 4-3-3 with a better 3rd striker than Vaz Te. I predict Richard's team will start a little slow this season because I think Lamphard and Chelsea will start a little slow. By mid-September, I expect Richard will make sufficient squad adjustments to compliment his stars that he'll be tough the rest of the season.
Re: Small Rocks Drafted Squads Kopite Juniors have given Joe Cole notice that his damn injury in a meaningless pre-season is not friggin appreciated. Kopite management is scouring the transfer market before releasing Cole -- i.e. waiting for the doctor to confirm the worst news -- before weeping uncontrollably.
Re: Small Rocks Drafted Squads There's a jihad forming up now on the mls boards....I think they're coming your way mate
Re: Small Rocks Drafted Squads Yeah, I was hoping someone would notice that. A transfer prospect for Cole has been noted, just awaiting word on the extent of his injury which should come within the next twenty-four hours. If I pull the trigger now, it may just turn out to be a pulled vagina and he might play the first match of the season along with the other c-#u%-n*-t&-s in blue
Re: Small Rocks Drafted Squads Oi Although, you'll be calling us far worse, when we bag the opening silver of the season on Sunday
Re: Small Rocks Drafted Squads Turn the binoculars around Mark - thats the league cup you're looking at... We'll be getting the other three