Transatlantic Premier League

Aye aye, 

It looks like we are going to have one competitive season folks. At the end of August we have 3 managers tied in 1st place. Oh yes, very exciting for the neutral sports fan out there, but how do I divy up the goodies? Well, since I was caught unawares with this tie, I have decided for this month, and all other months that the pot should be, and will be evenly split between the tied managers.

I also had the grand plan of putting a * beside the team name to represent how many MOTM they had won. Just like national teams have on their shirts beside their badge to represent how many World Cups they’ve won (if I hear England, 1966, some nobb dancing, 3 fooking lions mentioned once, only once, you’re all OOT!!) you know who you are!  Now I have to have a chuffing (*) (as if you won it but while on steroids or something) when there’s a tie for MOTM and the pot has to be split.

This week’s big climber was BAUNTON BABES with a huge 16 place climb up the table, and into 4th place behind the 3 leaders. Well done that man!

Big fallers this week were THE PSL’S and PIE FACE UNITED, both dropping 9 places. PIE FACE UNITED, a bit of advice, don’t listen to your father when it comes to fitba!

No games this weekend due the start of the European World Cup qualifiers on the long road to South Africa. Next games Sept 13th.

As I would normally do, I would give a special mention to whoever England were playing in their upcoming match. But ANDORRA, AN fookin DORRA, give me a break! I kid you not, I have just checked, the population of ANDORRA as of 2007 is 71,882 people!! I have more people living on my block! By the way, if any of the 26 TAPL managers I haven’t met are from Andorra, please, no offence, your little tax haven country sounds wonderful. Anyway England, just wait till KAZAKHSTAN get you at home!

What ever wonderful nation you will be rooting for, good luck!!

FYI…I will be in Navada Smiths for the Scotland 9am kick off Saturday morning. Any of you England boys popping in for your game at 2pm? Let me know if you are and I’ll try to stay sober long enough to have another pint.

 Cheers

Michael

FA Cup winners when I was a boy didn’t jet off to Asia, Africa or North America for mini tours promoting their club, shirt and soul! No! They came to the seaside capital of Scotland, the Paradise Coast, the Land of Milk and Honey — yes, my home town of AYR! The attraction of its top golf courses, top race track, great night life, miles of sandy beaches, ice cream cones to follow a nice ‘fish supper’, and that Atlantic gulf stream that brings the tropical weather played their parts too Of course, the main attraction was that this is the home of the famous Ayr United Football Club, the only team in Ayrshire!!

West Ham United had lifted the FA Cup with a Trevor Brooking goal only a few weeks prior to this pre-season friendly.

Word on the street was, during their stay, Frank Lampard and Trevor Brooking were walking along the Ayr prom with Frank Lampard’s son, Frank Lampard junior. Junior was complaining about the pony back rides on the beach, and said all his friends were going to Italy this summer. Frank Lampard senior told him to be quiet, and he should think himself lucky to be associated with such fine pedigree of donkeys, even though they had obviously seen better days.

Please check out the team sheets. Of course I can picture in my head even today the whole Ayr United team I watched as a boy (I was 13yrs old at this game) . The most known Ayr United player in that squad was Stevie Nicol, a fine product of the Ayr United Boys Club. Stevie Nicol won everything with Liverpool in the 80’s, and is now in charge at MLS team New England Revolution. As for the West Ham team, even for me, most of those players were household names. The result was 1-1, but I do not recall the scorers on that warm summers night.

These were the standard of teams Ayr United Football Club attracted when I was a boy. Or maybe the pony rides on the beach were better than we thought…..

Well folks, here we are again. The sun has set on the 2007-08 English Premier League season, or should I say the SUNSHINE ON LEITH has set on the TAPL!

Manchester United retained the EPL Championship after Chelsea ran them close until the last day of the season. Of course earlier in the season it was Arsenal setting the pace only to fade in the 2nd half. It’s a game of two halves they say!

So how did all of the above translate to our Trans Atlantic Premier League managers and teams. Yes, very nicely indeed for SUNSHINE ON LEITH (ah, The Proclaimers! Now the anthem on the terraces at Easter Road, home of Hibernian FC!) under the steady ship of Mr J Dutton.

In September 2007 at week 4, SOL was sitting in a lowly 14th position. At that time NORFOLK AND CHANCE managed by Mr S Lockhart had moved into top spot, and comfortably sat there (with the exception of 1 week) until the close of 2007.  While the rest of us nursed raging hangovers from bringing in the New Year, on Jan 2nd 2008 SOL quietly slipped into pole postion after steadly climbing the TAPL. SOL never moved from that position for the rest of the season. Very steady Jimmy, very steady indeed.

So SUNSHINE ON LEITH is the TAPL Champion for season 2007-08. Congratulations to you sir. Please, any comments/speech on your fine achievement? Please post to the blog.

Runner up this season was 2 times champion Mr M Larson incharge of LARSON’S11, who on FA Cup Final day bagged 40pts. This total took him above Mr P Moore and MCFCNYC who finished in 3rd. NORFOLK AND CHANCE, after leading for so long finished in 4th position (did you have the Arsenal team Stuart?). Last years champion CALLUMS CALIFORNIANS (aye, me!) gave up the crown in 5th place.

Money game players, please hit the money games link to see the final standings. As I mentioned before, LARSON’S 11 jumped MCFCNYC on FA Cup Final day. In the Championship money game this meant Mr Larson took top prize ($400). P Moore pick up 2nd prize ($150), and M Caird picking up 3rd place pot ($50). Well done Matt in scooping the big pot, and very hard luck Paul in being pipped by a nose at the post.

The final MOTM for May went to THE CHICHI 3 under the management of Mr W Zhen. THE CHICHI 3 finished in last place in the TAPL, but obviously wanted to make himself heard at the finish. You’re coming through loud and clear Waley! Again, the MOTM money game proved that no matter where you are in the league, there’s always a chance of you snatching a money pot. 7 out of 10 MOTM managers bagged at least a $100 pot.

ALL MONEY GAME PLAYERS. Please check I have everything in place for the season for your team.

I know The Telegraph Fantasy Football people are running a Euro 2008 fantasy league, but as I am awaiting the arrival of my 2nd son, I will be up to my neck paranthood. If anyone would like to set something up for Euro 08, I would be happy to join.

I would like to thank all managers for another great TAPL season, and hope to see you all next season. Please feel free to invite family and friends.

Have a wonderful summer and enjoy Euro 2008..come on SCOTLAND…oh sorry, INGERLAND…oh, that’s right, I forgot. Guess I’ll be supporting Wales?? Eh! There’s only one NORTHERN IRELAND…is there? How about our neighbours Ireland?!?! When do the World Cup 2010 qualifiers start for South Africa?! Come on SCOTLAND!!

Cheers

Michael

Hello Folks, 

Well May is here, and we have 2 weeks left for the season, and a FA Cup Final. Where has the season gone! 

I’m sorry to say I will be handing over the crown of TAPL Champion to another manager this season, and deservedly so. Of course I will mention no manager or team until that Fat Lady is up there belting it out!

MOTM for March went to Grande Benfica under the steady management of Mr J Carvalho. That’s their 2nd MOTM for the season, and a margin of a whooping 15pts. Well done that man!!

MOTM for April was a very tighter affair, with several contenders up for the pot. It looked like IRISH ROVERS were set to scoop their 4th MOTM for the season, until a certain Arsenal striker popped up with a 90th minute goal to take Arsenal’s tally to 6 goals, and LARSON’S 11 to 178pts, 4 more than IRISH ROVERS. A very nice way to bag your 1^st MOTM for the season.

There will be a MOTM for May for the 2 weeks and the FA Cup Final, so plenty to play for Money Game contenders.

As far as Money game Championship goes, there are only 2 pts between MCFCNYC and LARSON’S 11 for the big pot!! 40 or so points behind are CALLUMS CALIFORNIANS and IRISH ROVERS who have a 6pt gap bewteen them for that 3rd place spot. 

Isn’t it warming up nicely these days!

Cheers

Michael

Okay, there must be something in the water over in West Coast of Ireland, because the IRISH ROVERS have scooped MOTM for the 3^rdtime this season!! In Febuary, IRISH ROVERS came in with 220pts with JOGA BONITO close with 218. Gentlemen, please double check your points to make sure I have got that right. 

This season we have 12 managers in for the Championship pot, 2 fewer than the 2006-07 season. Here is how I think we should split this pot. (The number in brackets is last seasons prize money.) 1st $400($400), 2nd $150($200), 3rd $50($100). How does this sound to everyone?

Please feel free to comment, I haven’t written this in stone, YET! 

Happy March everyone! 

Michael