The YCC sponsor has made the draw for the 2018/2019 YCC draw:
OBT Cup build up
16-17 programme
Mr Breeze has once again prepared a programme to prepare us for the 16-17 season:
Breezybets predicitions – Season three
10th. I Smell Success (Hank) 1183 (odds 100/1)
Assistant turned Manager for this upcoming season, Hank won’t have it easy in his maiden season at the helm. A wonderful maverick on the sidelines but he’s got a tough squad to manage. Bringing the likes of Nolito, Success, Batshuayi and Musa to The League for their debut seasons is a tough ask, how will they all integrate and will Hank be able communicate in all the different languages. Also starting the season with a crocked left back doesn’t bode well. But we all know that this will only fuel Manager Hank to do the unthinkable. To do a Leicester.
9th. Left Back Friend (Jonny Wild) 1231 (odds 66/1)
Shocking to see him this low??! Not really. Manager Wild is an eccentric manager who you feel never really knows what he’s doing. He surprised a few people last season with a 4th place finish (good on him!) to qualify for the European Cup this season, but this draft hasn’t fallen well with predicted scores. A few picks that haven’t gone down well with the cold-handed homeless fans (aka the 75 Harcourt Rd John brigade)… but then again who knows what Manager Wild might be able to produce now ‘Fingers’ is his team mascot. A lot depends on George Friend and how he can lead the troops. Is he Manager Wild’s new Deeney?? Well Rooney certainly isn’t…
8th. Bertrand’s back alright (Colin) 1254 (odds 50/1)
Stale. The board isn’t happy. The fans aren’t happy and there’s an air of disappointment in Manager Barker’s team selection. Early picks for Hart and Rashford shocked the draft but it’s the lack of excitement in unproven players (Gudmundsson the exception) that hasn’t gone down well. Where has the Barker from previous season’s been? Certainly cutting back on his scouting abroad. But then we all know… ‘There’s only One Colin Barker’ and anything can happen. It’s a long season and he may still surprise a few.
7th. At home with the Susans (Mike) 1270 _(odds 40/1)
Manager Mike certainly won’t mind being predicted to come 7th especially as that was the prediction last season and from there he ended with a 3rd place finish. Can he repeat this feat this season?! There’s certainly reason to believe so but it’s whether he can galvanise the side and get the likes of Mahrez, Susan and Ayew to pull the strings in midfield. We expect him to have another good season ahead but whether he’ll be up there at the business end of the season we’re not convinced.
6th. The Mido Touch (Gurj) 1283 (odds 40/1)
The most celebrated manager in The League’s history but possibly the toughest season ahead of him. No Yaya like in the first season. No Payet like in the second season. Where is his man for this season? Does he even had one?! A fairly ancient back line together with a rather sluggish team ahead of them doesn’t set the tone we’ve come to expect from a Singh selection. A lot will be expected from this big club but we believe they’re in for a long hard season ahead. The fans don’t feel overly optimistic about the season ahead and we’re backing that right the way through to May 2017. A lot rests on the shoulders of Sanchez and Costa…
5th. Team Sick Note (Will) 1322 (odds 18/1)
The other newbie Manager who we welcome with open arms into The League, is predicted a top half finish and that would be seen as an excellent first year in The League. However we’re hearing rumours that Manager Coulter (aka the Lurker) is expecting to go further with this assembled team of unpredictable misfits. A lot of the season will be spent keeping Sturridge wrapped in cotton wool, remembering Yaya’s birthday 5 times during the season, ensuring Hazard doesn’t fall into a sulk, making Townsend pass the ball every now and again. Etc. Etc. It’s interesting to see how this team gels, how hands on Coulter will be, and how he adjusts to the gruelling season ahead. A good start is needed to give Manager Coulter a chance to make next season’s European Cup and if that was achieved then he’d be amongst the Manager of the Year favorites…
4th. 50 Shades of Black (James) 1329 (odds 16/1)
One of the perennial underachievers in The League, Manager Bingham enters the 2106/17 full of optimism. A team built around the front 2 of Kane and Deeney (both whom were excellent last season) suggest this team could go far. A fairly strong draft from Mr Bingham has allowed for a well balanced side who have looked good in pre-season and seem ready for the challenge ahead. Sensible decisions on back room staff have added to the excitement of the season ahead and we’re looking forward to seeing how Hojbjerg adjusts to The League. One thing the fans still want to know though is how the old team badge will be adapted for the new season. The big question… is this the season we see a smile on Manager Bingham’s face with a trophy in his hands?!
3rd. Pulis in disguise (Rik) 1378 (odds 6/1)
Last season’s Champions… it would be wrong to rule them out of back-to-back titles especially with this impressive draft. Manager Whitham definitely knows how to work the magic in the transfer market and must be happy with his assembled team with no apparent superstars to disrupt the dressing room. Sigurdsson, Alli and Payet will be a midfield trio of delight but it’s the unknown of Wilson and Rondon upfront that might just let this team down come the end of the season. Whether those strikers are still there though is another question – Whitham doesn’t suffer fools lightly. Expect big things again from Manager Whitham. Could he be the first double league champion? We’re not ruling it out.
2nd. Mr Chatty Man (Ben) 1395 (odds 4/1)
Manager of the Year in 2014/15 but still with no team trophies to show for it. Is he just a selfish man in it for himself? Where’s the team ethos? Is he a Manager who just bottles it when it gets to the business end? Does the whole team sleep in the camper van? All questions that have been asked before. Manager B.Wild is second favourite for the season ahead and with the pairing of Lukaku and Ibrahimovic most people aren’t surprised. Backed up with a solid defence and creative midfield there is high optimism around the camp. But the question ‘Can Ben Wild deliver when it really matters?’ will always ring around this club until a trophy is delivered. This season certainly looks a strong probability.
1st. #thefavourite (Jonny Breeze) 1470 (odds 2/1)
#thefavourite
Awards – Season two
After a last minute change of venue, the season two awards were presented as follows:
European Cup – Baines on Toast (Gurj)
Yellow Cat cup – LWC (Rik)
The Allstar Shield- The North
OBT cup – Deeney’s Donkeys (Jonny W)
Manager of the season – Gurj
Worst manager – Jonny B
League Champions – LWC (Rik)
Commish’s season summary
COMMISH HQ OFFICIAL STATEMENT
10:30pm 24 May 2016
The Commish would like to announce this season concluded.
What a great season for all. Perhaps the best to date. Clearly this league is going from strength to strength.
Let me start with Mr Whitham. Great achievement winning the double. Despite the few sniggers when selected, Rik has turned The Hurricane into the best forward in the game. Great work. He goes into next year’s European Cup as favourite. He will want to correct the wrong of this year’s All Star management. But a small blemish on a great season.
The Commish too had a great season. Despite drafting 8th, a European cup win, Yellow Cat cup final, 2nd in the league and an All Star win. He has set the standard for future last place draft picks and no longer can players use draft position as an excuse. A special mention should go to Dimitri Payet. The Mango in his Lassi. A great debut season, but will he be the same under the bright lights of a new stadium.
Then comes the Admin. Or should we call him the Postman? The board wants European football and he delivers. Season after season, Mr Consistency. How many other players would achieve a 3rd place finish whilst defending the League from European hacking attacks? Don’t forget his European cup final place. Though deciding to play his keeper in a wheelchair in the final might haunt him in the future. Oh, and the chemistry with Big Rom. Will the Black Stallion return to Team Toal next season? He will hope so, if he wants to make that final push for glory.
Completing the European qualifiers, comes Jonny Wild. The player with the number one draft pick, had a tough start to the season. For long periods, he remained cemented to the bottom of the league. However once 2015 was completed, what a 2nd half of a season he had. An All Star winning manager with a great performance on the day. OBT Cup winner, keeping his players calm through the nervy penalties. The similarities with Nigel Pearson are clearly present. Could he also push on to the league title next year? A special mention must also be made for Troy. I’m sure League managers remain shocked at his performance. Great management. Perhaps his B sample will provide more answers..?
Snuggled into 5th comes Mr Barker. Perhaps this season’s most improved manager. Some might criticise the lack of European football, but Col always returns to his 3 year plan. Football insiders might also point to the key injury to Callum Wilson. An inspired draft pick, who looked capable of blasting Col to glory. He didn’t match his exploits from last seasons Yellow Cat cup. However he became a key member of the All Star management team. It was his ruthless streak that pushed the team on and on. Next year… Year 3… God help us all.
In a solid 6th position, matching his drafting position, sits Mr Bingham. Enjoying the extra funds provided by his European campaign, Bing managed to pay a little extra and form a strong cup side. Though competing in the race for 4th, it was the OBT cup that was his main aim for the season. And oh so close… the first ever penalty shootout loser. This combined with the European cup semis, and close finishes last season, have many calling Bing “the Jimmy White” of the League. He will want that talk to end next year, and if he manages to draft more gems like Ozil, it’s only a matter of time. With the number 3 draft pick next year, Bing will be the hipsters’ choice.
Also matching his draft position sits Ben Wild in 7th. Last season’s manager of the year had a tough season. But it appears the team Clowne owners appear to be taking the blame. It was the owners that asked for a change in philosophy this season. Previously Ben had built a team around Costa, and Rooney. That team had a little dog about them. It appears the owners forced the drafting of Cesc and Milner to go for the soft, gentle approach. The Clowne Car Express are reporting that Ben has control of the draft again next year, so expect him to go dogs of war again. But let’s not forget the European cup semi, and his great role in the All Star game. Ben was in charge of mind games, and what games were played. Interestingly he didn’t unleash his full game plan, with lots kept till next year. With the number 2 draft pick next year, Ben will be the pundits’ choice.
And finally, sitting in 8th, the preseason favourite, Mr Breeze. People might point to his employing of Nesh as club doctor and horrific injury crisis. Others have mentioned the distractions of his cup sponsorship. I personally appreciate it’s hard to manage a team, and be the best innovator in the game. Perhaps it’s too much for one man. But these are all excuses. And in that household, there are no excuses. If rumours are true, it appears Mr Breeze may have purchased a log cabin in an isolated, cold part of Russia, and commenced a fantasy football training montage. This man may be the most dangerous man to have entered a fantasy football season. No more Charlie Austin draft picks, he’s only looking for Solid Gold. He enters next season with the number 1 draft pick, and plans to use it like a grenade. Payback is a Yellow Cat bitch.
The season ends, but this war continues. Let next season’s draft planning begin!!!
The Commish.
OBT Final
The final game was fought between Deeney’s Donkeys and We all Fist the Ozils, with the Deeney’s crowned victors.
OBT Cup
Quarter finals
Mike vs Rik
40 (Coleman captain) vs 27
(Don’t) Blame it on the Wijis progresses
Gurj vs Col
46 vs 36 (Firminio captain)
Baines on Toast progresses
Jonny W vs Jonny B
52 vs 42 (Sanchez captain)
Deeney’s Donkeys progresses
Ben vs James
37 vs 39 (Costa captain)
Tie: Replay to be held at We all Fist the Ozil
YCC – South update
Following on from our North preview below, we turn out attentions to the Southern division:
LWC [2/1]
The closest the bookies have come to an accurate prediction, LWC have had a successful campaign. This is in part to their continued excellent fitness record (230 minutes more than their nearest Southern challenger and 1,089 minutes ahead of their furthest). Manager Whitam went in to the competition with a poor head to head record, only recording solitary victories over Mike and James. This now looks far healthier, not least as a result of double over (Don’t) blame it on the Wijis. The crunch game may well turn out to be the second game of the competition, where the Dirty Rent Boys shocked the world with a stirling performance that resulted in a draw. Had Rik taken all 3 points, his cumulative points suggests that he would have all but won the Southern division already. But he didn’t and all eyes turn to the game against We all fist the Ozil. Beaten in the home leg, LWC have to travel to the home of the fisters knowing that manager James will be going all out to reach the final.
We all Fist the Ozil [7/1]
The surprise package of the South. Perhaps fretful of the rumours about the relocation of the team, the Fisting fans have transformed their teams fortunes. There is surely no more fearsome sight than the home crowd doing their pre-match Haka whilst wearing their trademark black rubber gloves. The Fisters are the only team to record victories against each of the competitors in the South, and manager James’ head to head now reads a healthy 2, 2, 3 against Jonny, Mike and Rik respectively.
Going in to the final game, manager James knows a draw will not do and so we can expect all out attack, with a typically deep penetration formation. This match may not be the most elegant, but you can guarantee it will be the most entertaining.
(Don’t) blame it on the Wijis [Evens]
The curse of the bookie once again has once again claimed its victim. Heading in to the competiton, manager Toal was in top form with a team scoring points across the board. However, going in favourite was again too much for the manager and he crumbled in the face of the mounting expectancy. The cup was lost in their double defeat to LWC and, arguably, down to a single player. The loss of the mischievous Santi Cazorla was made worse when, in the meeting against the little cocks Giroud took the penalty in the absence of Cazorla and the resulting points scored their victory. Rumours abound that the manager continues to be angry with the Spanish scamp and his days may be numbered at the Wijis.
Dirty Rent Boys [6/1]
What has happened to manager Breeze? At first sight it would appear that the cup specialist has bent over and taken what was given to him without a fight. Looking deeper we can see that a team ravaged by injuries and non-starters just didn’t have the manpower to compete. A full 1,089 minutes less game time than the LWC suggests manager Breeze was always fighting a losing battle. Their one moment was the sparkling draw with the LWC which gave us a glimpse of what the team can do on their day, sadly this was a rarity and the little Cat will be changing hands to a new manager this season.
YCC – North update
With one week to go the second Yellow Cat Cup has lived up to the illustrious inaugural event. There have been shocks, draws and once again it has proved that this competition really is one of the most unpredictable on the planet. Neither division has a guaranteed winner and so it will be squeaky bum time all the way through the boxing day festivities. Starting with the North let’s review how each team has faired.
Deeney’s Donkeys [44/1]
“The silver lining for manager Jonny Wild is the performance of Jonny Breeze in last years YCC and the hope that the fans get excited about a cup run and cease their baying for the manager’s head.” Once again the form book has been turned on its head. Manager Jonny Wild went in to the start of the YCC routed to the bottom of the table, a fan base that had given up on life and a chairman who continued to mysteriously back the flailing manager. However, from their first game in the competition it was clear that the bad smell had been lifted and hope is returning to the Donkeys. Jonny‘s head to head before the competition had one win against his sibling and two against the much lauded Gurj. After doing the double over Wild the Younger, beating Col and, crucially, drawing against Gurj in their most recent outing he has surged to the top of the North. Importantly Jonny has had timed his run well and his cumulative score is 31 points higher than Gurj.
His final game is against a Vardy-less Barker’s Bertrands and is red hot favourite to progress to the final. This is the first time manager Wild senior has gone into anything favourite and there is a big question over his ability to perform with the eyes of the world watching on.
Baines on Toast [4/1]
Losing your best player on the eve of a major tournament is never easy, however Manager Singh acted fast to snap up the services of Ross Barkley. This has proved to be an inspired choice as Barkley has accrued 45 points in the weeks to date and kept Gurj in with his dream of completing the set of trophies. Gurj went into the competition 3rd in the league, with a decent head to head; dominant over Ben (4 victories in 4) and a victory over Col. There was some nervousness in the camp that he had not beaten Jonny Wild in either of the previous meetings, but the form books suggested that this should change and change it did. With one game to go Gurj now stands at 1.5 wins against Jonny Wild, 2 victories against Col and Ben Wild must be sick of the sight of Gurj as his domination continues.
His game this week against Jonny was crucial as he knew he would likely have to beat him as his cumulative points were so inferior. A hard fought draw, whilst rewarding for the neutral, was devastating for his dreams of holding the little Cat aloft. His final game is against Ben and even the most pessimistic fan must have that down for three points. He therefore has to hope for either a shock result from Col against Jonny, or go all out attack and try to make up the 31 point deficit.
Barker’s Bertrands [3/1]
A topsy-turvy tournament for manager Barker. The competition started with a flourish, easily beating Baines on Toast but this was followed with a string of defeats finally broken with a victory against AFC Hold the Front Page in the most recent game. Manager Barker went into the competition with the best head to head across the north, 2 wins against Ben, Jonny and Gurj and leaves with 3 against Ben and Gurj and no change on Jonny. A team riddled with injuries or non-starters is no doubt to blame and with further injuries announced this week, combined with the loss of Vardy back to the loan pool, it’s clear why Deeney’s Donkeys are red hot favourite for the final match.
AFC Hold the Front Page [2/1]
In a strange quirk of fortune (or perhaps an error in the algorithm), the bookies predictions for the north currently stand in reverse. AFC went in to the tournament with a lot of fanfare and excitement. The decision of the club to produce an array of half-half scarves to cash in on the expected glorious run was perhaps overly bullish (who can forget the infamous scarf with Wild – Wild one side and a well endowed Donkey spread-eagled on the front of a newspaper on the other). A solitary victory against Barker’s Bertrands is all the fans have had to celebrate and so can be forgiven for a lack of Christmas cheer. This is of course down to their depleted squad. AFC HtFP have played the least amount of minutes during the YCC, a full 870 minutes less than Deeney’s Donkeys at the top of the Northern chart.
Going in to the final game, manager Ben has hopes that two of his players, Kompany and Milner, will return. Wild junior is expected to go all out to help Wild senior achieve the unthinkable, but with a raging Cesc hell bent on bringing his manager’s downfall, few fans harbour any hope of stopping the Baines on Toast juggernaut.