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

Week 2 has now passed, and I know you are all just waiting to give that ’TRANSFERS’ link a rapid left click on that wee mouse of yours!! Unless of course you manage INDALO who sits on top of the TAPL pack.

The MSMFCNY team climbed 29 places this week after only scoring 14pts in week 1, they came in with a massive 66pts this week. I guess you had an Olympic squad last week Stuart Mays.

Now I know you all think I’m a nice guy and blah blah blah…But as chairman, I am going to use this privilage to give gentle digs to those TAPL mangagers who maybe had an off week, or are in general, just crap!! Don’t think that taking your money, it will end there. I will gladly kick a man when he is down ;-) Now, I have only actually met in person 14 out of the 40 TAPL managers. So those who have not met me, please don’t take it personally, it’s just my Scottish sense of humour. Now, all managers of the TAPL have the privilage to post comments at any time, and as they say, “what goes around comes around”, so feel free.

This weeks team who had the biggest fall down the TAPL, was JAAPVENTUS. Daz, did your team just head off to the Olympics!! Chinese calander maybe??

MURTOSA FC, what the……?? Last week you were bottom with 2 points, this week you are bottom with 0 (zero)  points! Marco Manterro, is there a team in there?!

BTW, the TAPL is in 100 position in the over all Telegraph Super Leagues. That may not sound good, but there are a total 11202 Super League teams. Good going folks!

Cheers

Michael

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…..

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

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

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

As exciting as the English Premier League is this year, I think it is nowhere near as exciting as our very own Trans Atlantic Premier League. As we cruise by the halfway point in the 2007-08 season, SUNSHINEONLEITH has a cushion of 33pts over MCFCNYC. A comfortable cushion by all means, but in this dog eat dog world of the TAPL, these leads can be thrashed down to nothing

The MOTM money games are always hard fought, exciting and down to the wire. During the month of December there was a handful of managers in the chase for the pot. In what is always a busy month of fixtures, the IRISH ROVERS came from nowhere in the final week of the month with a huge 104pts (the 2 closest managers that week came in with 64pts) to leap frog everyone and snatch the prize for the 2^nd time this season. Not bad for a mid table TAPL side. How’s Ireland treating you, Macy?

The January MOTM has just drawn to a close. JOGA BONITO has so far in 2008 been so consistent in his scoring, not to mention a whopping 105pts in the 3^rd week, that the January pot, and 1^st prize of the season is well deserved. That’s six MOTM settled, with four to go. Out of the six MOTM pots, there have been five victorious managers. Always good to spread the wealth.

I’m curious how managers of the TAPL are doing in their respective ‘SUPER 20s’ league. This is the first season the Telegraph have run this, and I’m just curious how everyone is doing. Answers on a postcard to…..

Now I don’t want all you good folks back home in Blighty thinking that I’m becoming Americanized. Sorry, Americanised. But there is another Football game going off this weekend, of the American type. It’s SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!! The New York Giants are the un-expected opponents of the mighty New England Patriots. As I lean towards the New York Jets rather than the aforementioned NY Giants, I have no real passion for either Super Bowl team. I may be a little pro NY Giants as I actually live here. Maybe my old age, and a reduction in alcohol intake the last few years, has mellowed me out somewhat.

What’s that you say? The NY Giants kicker is Scottish?!?! He kicked the NY Giants into the Super Bowl!?! Meanwhile, the New England Patriots have the word ENGLAND in their name!!! LETS GO GIANTS!! OH OH OH SCOOOOOOTLAND NA NA NA…NA!! CAN YOU HERE THE ENGLAND SING…… NOOOO….NOOOOO

Take care folks.

AYE!!

Michael

Last year you’ll remember I gave a pretty detailed points tally for each month. Well you’re not getting that this year! It a more simple affair.

Now, all Money Game managers, especially the MOTM managers. Please double check I have your points total correct at the end of each month. Very importent if your in the running for a prize!

Good luck to each and every manager!!

This is a very quick welcome, and to tell you to get this page tabbed, marked, flagged or in your favourites.

We would like lots of comments and postings to keep this place rocking, okay, folks?!
Of course I will be posting lots of useless information, past and present, to get you just itching to tell me to shut it!

At this moment in time have no real format I plan to follow. Any suggestions for good links, info or the such like, I want to hear from you!
Again, welcome all!