May 17, 2004

EPL Fantasy League 2003-2004 Final. Congratulations to kWaCkY, whose Kwacky's Kwitters have won the league by a scant eight points over squealy's Ardley Athletic (despite the latter's final-week-winning 72). Remaining imaginary European places go to bluebears, Bayern Mucus, and winners-of-May-and-week-37 Mossy Athletic. Do we split leagues now? Keep one big league? That's for next season, the preoccupation of thirty-one of us who've played. This season, the one that belonged to Arsenal, belongs to the thirty-second, kWaCkY. (final tables and more inside)

posted by taupe to navel gazing at 04:20 PM - 107 comments

I got otherwise preoccupied in the last week or so and didn't get around to this last week, or anytime until now. It's easier just to build and post both weeks' tables, so I'll do that. Here's the table after Week 37:

Overall
    Team   Manager   T   G   R   P  
 1   Kwacky's Kwitters   mr kwacky   38   51   2,593   1,840  
 2   Ardley Athletic   Squealy Neily   57   35   4,119   1,811  
 3   bluebears   andy griffiths   26   29   5,843   1,793  
 4   Bayern Mucus 03   Danny The Taupe   48   37   10,063   1,755  
 5   Rings of Saturn   David Hansen   5   37   11,919   1,740  
 6   Crap City United   g s p m   20   30   12,235   1,738  
 7   Mossy Athletic   Emad Mostaque   33   55   13,690   1,729  
 8   The Bog Bandits   Fat Buddha   40   34   26,433   1,661  
 9   FC Cacahuate   skronk _   55   27   34,301   1,627  
 10   Cottage Cheesers   worldcup 2002   60   26   33,580   1,626  
 11   Blammos!   Star Unsuitable   33   35   39,380   1,607  
 12   Deadly Calm   Big Calm   29   33   40,431   1,603  
 13   Bosiak Bashers   joe bieda   37   37   45,610   1,584  
 14   vagabonds   christopher f   20   27   50,781   1,565  
 14   Terrapin Utd   Rick Scully   21   29   50,789   1,565  
 16   cutters   mbd1 mbd1   28   51   61,463   1,528  
 17   fascist bully boys   Ufez Jones   34   33   65,085   1,516  
 18   last again   eckeric eckeric   9   13   67,622   1,507  
 19   BillSaysThisSCORES!!   Bill Lazar   33   24   80,722   1,459  
 20   37 Push Ups   Corpse R. Christ   1   27   83,887   1,452  
 21   SilentInTheMorning   pful ler   2   21   84,757   1,449  
 22   Finally   Mark D   13   38   87,224   1,441  
 23   Atlanta Untitled   Tim Truxell   26   29   89,923   1,432  
 24   Salmacis FC   Huw Morris   14   35   90,189   1,431  
 25   Nemo's Dreamers   lil nemo   14   25   91,405   1,427  
 26   Generals F.C.   Noah Egorin   14   26   100,837   1,395  
 27   Sporting Goats   Eliot Shepard   0   30   105,061   1,380  
 28   AVZ Bulls   usf bull   25   30   120,845   1,325  
 29   tallclay   Clay H   16   10   128,014   1,299  
 30   Trendelmaniacs   t trendel   0   13   201,168   1,001  
 31   The Phat Cats   garfield one bad SpoFo!   17   32   253,184   639  
 32   JasonSpaceman   Jason Wilder   32   47   273,726   484  
 
May
    Team   Manager   T   G   R   P  
 1   Kwacky's Kwitters   mr kwacky   1   51   2,400   117  
 2   Mossy Athletic   Emad Mostaque   2   55   4,145   113  
 3   Bayern Mucus 03   Danny The Taupe   2   37   12,549   104  
 4   JasonSpaceman   Jason Wilder   2   47   31,966   95  
 5   cutters   mbd1 mbd1   0   51   32,331   94  
 6   The Bog Bandits   Fat Buddha   0   34   38,761   92  
 7   bluebears   andy griffiths   1   29   58,437   88  
 7   Ardley Athletic   Squealy Neily   4   35   41,933   88  
 9   FC Cacahuate   skronk _   2   27   63,735   87  
 10   Deadly Calm   Big Calm   0   33   74,683   84  
 11   Finally   Mark D   0   38   85,863   82  
 11   Salmacis FC   Huw Morris   0   35   85,863   82  
 11   The Phat Cats   garfield one bad SpoFo!   3   32   91,632   82  
 14   Rings of Saturn   David Hansen   0   37   98,209   80  
 14   Crap City United   g s p m   1   30   103,708   80  
 16   Bosiak Bashers   joe bieda   0   37   104,628   79  
 17   Blammos!   Star Unsuitable   2   35   117,051   78  
 18   AVZ Bulls   usf bull   1   30   124,827   76  
 19   Generals F.C.   Noah Egorin   0   26   146,119   73  
 20   Atlanta Untitled   Tim Truxell   1   29   167,243   71  
 21   vagabonds   christopher f   0   27   168,024   70  
 22   Cottage Cheesers   worldcup 2002   4   26   152,934   69  
 23   fascist bully boys   Ufez Jones   3   33   189,382   68  
 24   SilentInTheMorning   pful ler   0   21   196,596   66  
 25   37 Push Ups   Corpse R. Christ   0   27   210,176   64  
 25   Sporting Goats   Eliot Shepard   0   30   210,176   64  
 27   Terrapin Utd   Rick Scully   1   29   228,793   62  
 28   Nemo's Dreamers   lil nemo   0   25   280,024   50  
 28   tallclay   Clay H   0   10   280,024   50  
 28   BillSaysThisSCORES!!   Bill Lazar   2   24   269,436   50  
 31   last again   eckeric eckeric   0   13   294,209   44  
 32   Trendelmaniacs   t trendel   0   13   305,579   27  

posted by taupe at 04:21 PM on May 17, 2004

And here's the final table:

Overall
    Team   Manager   T   G   R   P  
 1   Kwacky's Kwitters   mr kwacky   38   51   2,486   1,891  
 2   Ardley Athletic   Squealy Neily   57   72   2,882   1,883  
 3   bluebears   andy griffiths   26   49   5,624   1,842  
 4   Bayern Mucus 03   Danny The Taupe   48   55   8,890   1,810  
 5   Mossy Athletic   Emad Mostaque   33   62   11,274   1,791  
 6   Rings of Saturn   David Hansen   5   35   13,483   1,775  
 7   Crap City United   g s p m   20   36   13,671   1,774  
 8   The Bog Bandits   Fat Buddha   40   37   27,842   1,698  
 9   FC Cacahuate   skronk _   55   50   32,678   1,677  
 10   Cottage Cheesers   worldcup 2002   60   41   35,054   1,667  
 11   Blammos!   Star Unsuitable   33   43   39,273   1,650  
 12   Deadly Calm   Big Calm   29   46   39,529   1,649  
 13   Bosiak Bashers   joe bieda   37   42   45,695   1,626  
 14   vagabonds   christopher f   20   44   50,293   1,609  
 15   Terrapin Utd   Rick Scully   21   43   50,589   1,608  
 16   cutters   mbd1 mbd1   28   38   62,545   1,566  
 17   fascist bully boys   Ufez Jones   34   46   63,702   1,562  
 18   last again   eckeric eckeric   9   42   67,428   1,549  
 19   BillSaysThisSCORES!!   Bill Lazar   33   48   79,943   1,507  
 20   37 Push Ups   Corpse R. Christ   1   40   84,148   1,492  
 21   Finally   Mark D   13   50   84,520   1,491  
 22   SilentInTheMorning   pful ler   2   32   87,383   1,481  
 23   Atlanta Untitled   Tim Truxell   26   42   89,534   1,474  
 24   Salmacis FC   Huw Morris   14   37   91,247   1,468  
 25   Nemo's Dreamers   lil nemo   14   34   93,364   1,461  
 26   Generals F.C.   Noah Egorin   14   48   98,629   1,443  
 27   Sporting Goats   Eliot Shepard   0   25   109,352   1,405  
 28   AVZ Bulls   usf bull   25   30   123,633   1,355  
 29   tallclay   Clay H   16   41   127,713   1,340  
 30   Trendelmaniacs   t trendel   0   21   204,866   1,022  
 31   The Phat Cats   garfield one bad SpoFo!   17   60   250,708   699  
 32   JasonSpaceman   Jason Wilder   32   43   273,559   527  
 
May
    Team   Manager   T   G   R   P  
 1   Mossy Athletic   Emad Mostaque   2   62   2,666   175  
 2   Kwacky's Kwitters   mr kwacky   1   51   4,992   168  
 3   Ardley Athletic   Squealy Neily   4   72   9,999   160  
 4   Bayern Mucus 03   Danny The Taupe   2   55   10,674   159  
 5   The Phat Cats   garfield one bad SpoFo!   3   60   36,833   142  
 6   JasonSpaceman   Jason Wilder   2   43   47,018   138  
 7   bluebears   andy griffiths   1   49   49,781   137  
 7   FC Cacahuate   skronk _   2   50   49,979   137  
 9   cutters   mbd1 mbd1   0   38   63,726   132  
 9   Finally   Mark D   0   50   63,726   132  
 11   Deadly Calm   Big Calm   0   46   71,147   130  
 12   The Bog Bandits   Fat Buddha   0   37   75,076   129  
 13   Bosiak Bashers   joe bieda   0   42   110,970   121  
 13   Generals F.C.   Noah Egorin   0   48   110,970   121  
 13   Blammos!   Star Unsuitable   2   43   115,600   121  
 16   Salmacis FC   Huw Morris   0   37   121,182   119  
 17   Crap City United   g s p m   1   36   141,229   116  
 18   Rings of Saturn   David Hansen   0   35   141,886   115  
 19   vagabonds   christopher f   0   44   147,143   114  
 19   fascist bully boys   Ufez Jones   3   46   152,197   114  
 21   Atlanta Untitled   Tim Truxell   1   42   157,158   113  
 22   Cottage Cheesers   worldcup 2002   4   41   173,519   110  
 23   AVZ Bulls   usf bull   1   30   193,947   106  
 24   Terrapin Utd   Rick Scully   1   43   198,919   105  
 25   37 Push Ups   Corpse R. Christ   0   40   199,372   104  
 26   SilentInTheMorning   pful ler   0   32   227,675   98  
 26   BillSaysThisSCORES!!   Bill Lazar   2   48   231,738   98  
 28   tallclay   Clay H   0   41   255,237   91  
 29   Sporting Goats   Eliot Shepard   0   25   261,958   89  
 30   last again   eckeric eckeric   0   42   270,818   86  
 31   Nemo's Dreamers   lil nemo   0   34   276,067   84  
 32   Trendelmaniacs   t trendel   0   21   306,437   48  
I thank everyone for their kind words of appreciation throughout the season related to these updates. Mostly doing them was its own reward for me, just as a little hobby project and as a means of doing something others could find useful. I may do updates again next season; I'll definitely have a team. The break will do me well, though -- I'm burned out on all this for a while. I had a good run mid-season with my Bayern, leading for about a third of the campaign, but couldn't sustain the juggling act when injuries hit my stars (Duff and, yes, Izzet), and the superior long-term planning of other competitors carried the day. Now, though, I'm probably as fried as the actual players. Guess I'll watch some MLS for the next two and a half months, maybe try to find a way to see bits of EC2004, and just recharge. Oh, as an added bonus: this was the script I put together to make these tables. I'll see if I can't post the code directly here.

posted by taupe at 04:41 PM on May 17, 2004

(After further review, it's just too ugly to try to post the code, so I guess the link above will have to do. It's a filter, wherein you save the HTML of the premierleague.com table page to a file like 'w38o' or 'w38m', and then just run it through as input with 'perl epl.pl w38o.txt' to get table code. You'll probably also need this as a template to put the table code into to preview. Also, when you're done building the table, you have to [1] remove all line breaks within the table itself before copy-pasting it to post, or else your table will be flanked with acres of blank space, and [2] repaste the whole table in again after preview, because previewing will turn all the ' 's in your code to spaces, leading to bad results.)

posted by taupe at 04:51 PM on May 17, 2004

Damn, garfield is going to be one to contend with in a full season. If you took the average of his 15 weeks in the league (49, ranging from a high of 96 to a low of 15) and mulitply that by 38, you get 1,862, good enough for top honors. Good on ya, garfy. As it is, he was too damned late. So big congrats to Kwacky and his Kwitters.

posted by Ufez Jones at 04:57 PM on May 17, 2004

(Like it did right there when I didn't repaste. Those were ' 's, by the way.)

posted by taupe at 04:57 PM on May 17, 2004

Oh, and thanks again for all the tabling and whatnot, taupe!

posted by Ufez Jones at 04:58 PM on May 17, 2004

I am all about the two leagues for next season... I love the whole idea! I can't see how anyone could be against it, really. Of course, the real excitement won't begin till late next season when we have the promotion and relegation battles. I brought this up before...the most logical thing to do would be to have the relegated teams from this league (spots 21-32 and whoever else wants to join up this year play in the First Division in a Yahoo League. The top 20 here in this table continue to play in the EPL League. The relegation/promotion should be 5 teams...thats fair i think. We can make it 6 or 7, i don't really care...or even half the table. Either way, it would be so damn cool i don't have the right words to express myself. The reason for having the First Division play in Yahoo is for more realism. Yahoo and the EPL don't use the same point structure so it would be even more realistic...as if you aren't using the same players...(even though you are)... For those that LIKE the Yahoo League, like me...i will create a separate league to participate in...cause i'm crazy like that and i can't get enough! I can supervise the whole thing to make sure people are in the right leagues and all so the work will be all mine, all you'll have to do is sit back and enjoy... We will be the envy of every fantasy league all over the world! If you don't like this idea, you don't like football...

posted by StarFucker at 05:04 PM on May 17, 2004

I just feel relieved to have finished in the top 20 in my first every fantasy experience, so will go along with the consensus on the one/two league question. This year ought to help a little bit when picking next season's team. I hope. Congrats, Kwacky. Thanks Taupe.

posted by billsaysthis at 05:15 PM on May 17, 2004

thanks ufez. re: relegation...I'm down for whatever. But I'd prefer not to wait a full season before winning it all in the bigs....said the newbie. a couple more things: taupe is the MAN! To everyone who answered my uninformed questions, many thanks! and Kwacky, you're the Kwackiest! nice work.

posted by garfield at 05:17 PM on May 17, 2004

Bill, you are the Portsmouth of our league...

posted by StarFucker at 05:19 PM on May 17, 2004

Big up to Kwacky and Squealy for maintaining the honour of Blues fans. Starfucker: the Sepp Blatter of Spofi.

posted by Fat Buddha at 05:33 PM on May 17, 2004

Thats an incredible insult Buddha...

posted by StarFucker at 05:58 PM on May 17, 2004

ONE BIG LEAGUE. Well done to kWaCkY and to andy griffiths for completing the bluenose top 3 clean sweep, and thanks to taupe for all his effort.

posted by squealy at 06:51 PM on May 17, 2004

FB, you have a true eye for characterization. Or character assassination but still cool. I prefer to think of myself as Liverpool, closer to the bottom than the top but still emotionally validating.

posted by billsaysthis at 10:55 PM on May 17, 2004

One big league, two leagues, I don't care, because I don't want to argue about it anymore. (OK, I would really like to see a two-league promo/relegation format but we know that already.) I do appreciate, however, StarFucker's enthusiasm, support and initiative in taking the commissioner role. Good on you and I will support you all the way, however the league format turns out. And congrats to kwacky. Good job, altho I think my sentimental favorite was taupe, for his excellent and diligent postings week in and week out, as well as his modesty and good humor when he was no. 1. *sniff* I'm getting all verklempt. Talk amongst yerselves.

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:02 PM on May 17, 2004

Neener neener at Rings of Saturn and Crap City United for being pipped at the post to the UEFA spot. I kid, I kid..

posted by Mossy at 11:15 PM on May 17, 2004

Here's my gift to the Top 3:

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:16 PM on May 17, 2004

yeah, i definitely showed a newcastle type swoon at the end. battling for 5th for most of the season i get pipped at the post by mossy and fall to 7th. i had been leading mossy for the ENTIRE pool only to get passed by him in the last week. well, that's what i get for going with two newcastle players in the late going. but hey, at least i didn't swoon out of the top spot on the very last day like happened in last years pool (which I was not participating in but can somehow remember for some reason)

posted by gspm at 01:12 AM on May 18, 2004

Jerk...

posted by StarFucker at 02:32 AM on May 18, 2004

heh, choker.

posted by gspm at 05:44 AM on May 18, 2004

Thank's all. Not bad going for my first season. As the graph shows I had a shit start but unlike Man United I managed to hold it together (just) until the end, despite selling Henry before his hat-trick. A big "Big Up" to Squealy for second place. A massive "Hear Me Now!" to taupe for all his hard work. It's been appreciated. Now where's me fecking trophy?

posted by kWaCkY at 11:50 AM on May 18, 2004

If we do go with the suggested split of Top 20 finishers as Premiership in the EPL FL and everyone else in Yahoo as First Division, would it be okay to run a second team in the First Division? I enjoyed both styles and having two teams boosted my learning/enjoyment curve.

posted by billsaysthis at 08:30 PM on May 18, 2004

Same here. I really liked aspects of both leagues.

posted by jasonspaceman at 09:27 PM on May 18, 2004

I don't understand the question...

posted by StarFucker at 11:15 PM on May 18, 2004

2 teams each dear boy. One in the top flight and t'other in the lower league.

posted by kWaCkY at 01:01 AM on May 19, 2004

I already said i was going to have a separate league for those that want to join both... One EPL and Yahoo League that matters for relegation/promotion...and then another Yahoo and EPL League for people that just want another team or don't want to be in the competition.

posted by StarFucker at 01:59 AM on May 19, 2004

The cunning thing being.. You can enter the same team in both divisions! Kinda.

posted by Mossy at 02:41 AM on May 19, 2004

Why not 2 leagues, which anyone can join as they see fit?

posted by Fat Buddha at 03:46 AM on May 19, 2004

Everyone should start their own league. Then we can have 30 different update threads in the lockerroom each Monday or thereabouts. I am not really caring what the solution is, the idea of relegation is kind of fun though the consequences aren't all that significant. (if somehow a second tier pool could be set up with less money in the budget for the team then we'd be on to someting). All I want for myself is to enter one pool - this EPL seemed dandy to me - and improve on my performance next year. which may be easier or harder depending on how many competitors are also in that pool. The idea of competing against the same group of poolsters each season (+- the relegated and promoted competitors) is intriguing though with the way people sign up for pools and then abandon them (ie more than half of the current NHL playoff pool competitors seem to have paid it no recent attention) I can't see the reality of a two pool system coming anywhere close to what the mental ideal would be.

posted by gspm at 04:51 AM on May 19, 2004

"The mental idea" Yep, it is a mental idea.

posted by Fat Buddha at 05:59 AM on May 19, 2004

I'm still against the idea of two leagues. Just thought I'd remind you all.

posted by squealy at 06:42 AM on May 19, 2004

I am against promotion and relegation but for two leagues. As you were, in other words. For what it's worth.

posted by Fat Buddha at 08:08 AM on May 19, 2004

....as long as I'm not stuck only in a Yahoo league....

posted by garfield at 08:13 AM on May 19, 2004

Since I'm one of the ones that would be relegated, take this with the obligatory grain of salt, but I'd prefer to have a single league as well.

posted by trox at 09:33 AM on May 19, 2004

I don't understand your people's objection to having a promotion/releagation competition...i really don't. What IS the freakin' objection?! It would be more fun you freakin' luddites! Typical attitudes of those against: "I'm against change..." "Because its stupid..." "I'll be in the lower league so it sucks..." Typical attitudes of those for: "Lets try it, it sounds interesting..." "I don't care, i just wanna play but it sounds intriguing..." Taking an opposition side doesn't necessarily mean you have integrity, but it could mean you just like to stir up shit...

posted by StarFucker at 03:56 PM on May 19, 2004

SF, I just don't want to play in a Yahoo league. I'll be in the B league, but why can't the B league be at the EPL site? That's really my main concern.

posted by garfield at 04:11 PM on May 19, 2004

Well...the reason for the Yahoo/EPL split was that i was looking for more "realism"... If that is the main concern of others that are against the split, i can happily accept having both Premier and First Division in the EPL...

posted by StarFucker at 04:17 PM on May 19, 2004

Can't we just give it a chance one year? And if it sucks i'll shut up forever and next year we can all go back to the regular format. Its just that i feel in my gut that you will all be glad in the end that we did it this way and you will find yourself more interested. I don't think much harm could occur from this experiment...we have enough guys to fill a Premier and First Division. Think of the highs of promotion...the lows of relegation...the battle for the last promotion spot towards the end of the season, etc.

posted by StarFucker at 04:35 PM on May 19, 2004

I am with SF, let's do it.

posted by billsaysthis at 05:19 PM on May 19, 2004

I think "because it's stupid" is a good argument. I don't disagree with you to antagonise you SF, just because I think it's a bad idea. I'm of the opinion that one big league would be more fun, you're of the opinion that it wouldn't. There's no bridging that gap.

posted by squealy at 05:37 PM on May 19, 2004

I'm OF the opinion that it would be cool to try and could turn out to BE more fun, not that either one is more fun than the other... But if we don't try, we'll never know. And saying that "because its stupid..." is a good argument, is antagonizing...

posted by StarFucker at 05:47 PM on May 19, 2004

One league makes more sense - more possibility for banter between teams, and a greater competition. As a side note, teams are often split into divisions because there's only a limited number of games a season each can play - we just don't have this problem in Fantasy leagues. Secondly, it would be a bit farcical if the SpoFi B team league starts doing a lot better than the A team league. Thirdly, two leagues makes it much harder to organise - I guess there's several people in our EPL table who rarely look at it and may not participate next year - there may be problems getting the right people to sign up, making sure the right number of teams are in each division exarcerbates this problem. When you have latecomers wanting to join, which league do they go in? (I'd assume B) In which case, we could and probably will end up with 12 active members in the top division, and 30 active members of division 2. Whew. I've no complaint of running say an EPL and Yahoo leagues as separate competitions if you must. One league. All together. It's better that way.

posted by BigCalm at 06:15 PM on May 19, 2004

Fooker, I feel for you. Deja vu.

posted by worldcup2002 at 07:06 PM on May 19, 2004

I do not care which league I am in. I am already for the next season to start. Thanks to a few of you, I was able to learn alot about the sport I knew nothing about before sportsfilter.

posted by jasonspaceman at 07:26 PM on May 19, 2004

Big Calm, all of those freakin' reasons you listed are ALL speculation... Your first "point": "more possibility for banter between teams, and a greater competition..." Uh, what?! How the hell do you know this? What makes you think so? As i stated above, if we don't try we won't know...you're talking out of your ass as if you have already "been there, done that"...this is a first as far as i know and NO ONE KNOWS whether it will be better or worse or even just the same... Your second "point": "it would be a bit farcical if the SpoFi B team league starts doing a lot better than the A team league..." That has already been thought through by having the Yahoo League represent First Division...do you even READ the suggestions or are you just going through the motions? Your third "point": "Thirdly, two leagues makes it much harder to organise..." Again, i already said i would take care of this...you won't have do to shit but just lay back and enjoy... BigCalm...you haven't said anything to make it seem as if one big league is better...not even fucking close. Seriously, why don't you just sit back and give it a try...you remind me of my father who won't touch the DVD player cause its scary and new.

posted by StarFucker at 08:33 PM on May 19, 2004

Loth as I am to agree with a Villa fan, I must. Starfucker old chap, instead of spitting bile, you would be better employed explaining why your idea makes sense, because I am yet to be convinced.

posted by Fat Buddha at 02:39 AM on May 20, 2004

"it would be a bit farcical if the SpoFi B team league starts doing a lot better than the A team league..." That has already been thought through by having the Yahoo League represent First Division...do you even READ the suggestions or are you just going through the motions? If that's the case, I'd rather be in the B league, because the EPL is updated more often and is generally a better fantasy league. Big Calm, all of those freakin' reasons you listed are ALL speculation... Yes, they are speculation, but even if you put the effort in, I can't see that you'll end up with two balanced divisions. That would be almost impossible to achieve in practice.

posted by BigCalm at 05:44 AM on May 20, 2004

The flaw is that although there will be two leagues, everyone will be playing in the same competition, with the same pool of players to choose from. As has been pointed out, it could easily happen that someone in the lower league scores hundreds more points than the best in the higher league. It is nonsense.

posted by Fat Buddha at 06:44 AM on May 20, 2004

I don't know how you can say that, FB. I've said it before: On the face of it, your statement is oh so logical. But, man, this is a FANTASY LEAGUE! Why apply your logical flaw argument to a two-league system and not one fantasy league? I mean, how is it that one guy can pick 11 players from 11 different teams? How come some players can get bonus points? I mean, why is there verisimilitude in one instance but not the other? C'mon! Give me a flipping break. It's a pretend league, and we're pretending to be managers of pretend teams. All Fooker is asking for (and I started it) is to play a bigger pretend game. If you can't figure that out, I don't know what else to say.

posted by worldcup2002 at 10:06 AM on May 20, 2004

The fact that we are arguing about it with a couple of crotchety old Brits is ridiculous... BC and FB are acting like old war veterans who have already tried this "stupid" idea and it was a miserable failure... In old man's voice---> "Back in my day we didn't HAVE your fancy 2 division fantasy leagues...we only had one and by jum, we were happy to have it. The Kaiser tried to take that away from us too, but we held fast...and to this day, you can still play the ol' classic One Division Fantasy League...and now you know who to thank for it."

posted by StarFucker at 10:44 AM on May 20, 2004

FB's Comment: "The flaw is that although there will be two leagues, everyone will be playing in the same competition, with the same pool of players to choose from. As has been pointed out, it could easily happen that someone in the lower league scores hundreds more points than the best in the higher league." Dammit dude, can you freakin' read?! THE LEAGUES WILL BE IN DIFFRENT FORMATS!! ONE YAHOO ONE EPL! Damn man, no wonder we can't agree, people don't even know what is at stake for god's sake.

posted by StarFucker at 10:46 AM on May 20, 2004

My dear old thing, calm down, it's only a fantasy league. Starter for ten, who said this: ...i can happily accept having both Premier and First Division in the EPL... WC2002, I can't see how how splitting the league up, and possibly dumping some in a different league makes a bigger pretend game, it makes 2 smaller pretend games, maybe even 3. If you want a bigger pretend game, you want one big pretend league. All I see from starfucker is insults, I still await a coherent rationale for the splitting of the league.

posted by Fat Buddha at 11:01 AM on May 20, 2004

I said that to appease squealy...its not what i really want. But i would still prefer both leagues in EPL if that would calm down the populace. I await your coherent rationale for NOT splitting the league.

posted by StarFucker at 11:03 AM on May 20, 2004

Hhhaaha. You are funny guy, I asked first! You show me and I'll show you.

posted by Fat Buddha at 11:27 AM on May 20, 2004

You show me and I'll show you. Hey hey, there's no need for that kind of thing here.

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:30 AM on May 20, 2004

I already showed you... You come back with nothing.

posted by StarFucker at 11:34 AM on May 20, 2004

Show me again!

posted by Fat Buddha at 11:55 AM on May 20, 2004

Read above...

posted by StarFucker at 11:59 AM on May 20, 2004

Likewise.

posted by Fat Buddha at 12:01 PM on May 20, 2004

I win.

posted by StarFucker at 12:03 PM on May 20, 2004

did you guys take your meds today?

posted by garfield at 12:23 PM on May 20, 2004

You lose.

posted by Fat Buddha at 12:29 PM on May 20, 2004

"You can't waltz in here, use my toaster and start spouting universal truths without qualification!"

posted by StarFucker at 12:31 PM on May 20, 2004

"I want to thank you for making this day necessary."

posted by Fat Buddha at 12:58 PM on May 20, 2004

I liked the two-leagues-both-in-EPL idea, precisely because people in the lower league could easily end up with higher scores than people in the higher league, and could thus give them no end of shit for it. That's fun in and of itself, and creates a de facto single league parallel to the two divisions, and, I think, would make everybody happy.

posted by taupe at 01:22 PM on May 20, 2004

O.K taupe, I'm convinced.

posted by Fat Buddha at 01:23 PM on May 20, 2004

Ok children, I guess we can argue until the cows come home on this. Let's vote on it instead.

posted by BigCalm at 01:25 PM on May 20, 2004

Damnit. Ignore that vote link. Just realises it allows anybody to vote as many times as they like. Hmm.

posted by BigCalm at 01:27 PM on May 20, 2004

HA! I voted twice.

posted by StarFucker at 01:42 PM on May 20, 2004

Y'all are so cute when you're catty.

posted by Ufez Jones at 01:48 PM on May 20, 2004

I got copped: Your vote has already been taken. Quite a few times, thank you. Spamming a public poll is bad, mmmkay? Feel free to vote on any other poll, but please don't abuse this public forum. Thank you!

posted by Fat Buddha at 01:50 PM on May 20, 2004

Yeah, after two votes it stopped me too!

posted by StarFucker at 01:54 PM on May 20, 2004

Purely in the interest of skewing the results, here's an earlier vote: Yea/yay: (9) Fooker dusted (are you playing this season? I can't tell) wc2k2 bill kwacky eckeric jason lilnemo garfield Maybe/i'm cool with it: (2) squealy Ufez You crazy: (1) jerseygirl

posted by worldcup2002 at 01:54 PM on May 20, 2004

I'm still waiting for me fecking trophy

posted by kWaCkY at 01:57 PM on May 20, 2004

btw, that poll is fixed. You can be both for promo/relegation as well as EPL/Yahoo league split (because the latter would be just one flavor of the former) but those choices are set up as exclusive in the poll. Jimmy Carter, UN elections observer and former US president, said "This puts George W Bush to shame."

posted by worldcup2002 at 01:58 PM on May 20, 2004

Does Jersey Girl count? I can just about stomach women getting into football, but I don't believe they really like it; I can just about get my head around Yanks liking football, but a yank woman? that's a step too far. Absolutely no offence intended against jerseygirl, who is clearly one of the good guys. As it were.

posted by Fat Buddha at 02:00 PM on May 20, 2004

Diebold had something to do with it i'm sure...where is my printout?

posted by StarFucker at 02:01 PM on May 20, 2004

kwacky: Pick one.

posted by worldcup2002 at 02:02 PM on May 20, 2004

Should kwacky not be interviewed?

posted by Fat Buddha at 02:03 PM on May 20, 2004

You do it, FB. Kinda like handing over the mantle, you know.

posted by worldcup2002 at 02:10 PM on May 20, 2004

You said, handling...

posted by StarFucker at 02:12 PM on May 20, 2004

Taupe's point has me convinced. I still don't like the Yahoo league though.

posted by trox at 02:27 PM on May 20, 2004

wc2002, I really couldn't, you have set the bar too high and I would embarrass myself.

posted by Fat Buddha at 02:30 PM on May 20, 2004

Taupe's point? TAUPE'S POINT?! You guys would take ANYONE's word over mine... Taupe could have copied and pasted what i wrote and you would say good point...

posted by StarFucker at 02:30 PM on May 20, 2004

So, I'll buy you a beer sometime and let's call it even.

posted by trox at 02:37 PM on May 20, 2004

2 beers...i'm unemployed.

posted by StarFucker at 02:40 PM on May 20, 2004

Taupe could have copied and pasted what i wrote and you would say good point... Oh, hey, good point Taupe

posted by eckeric at 04:55 PM on May 20, 2004

I better get my stapler back soon!

posted by billsaysthis at 06:31 PM on May 20, 2004

Red staplers are so hard to find these days :(

posted by Mossy at 06:56 PM on May 20, 2004

FB, you flatter to deceive.

posted by worldcup2002 at 08:16 PM on May 20, 2004

So i win then? Or should i say something less pompous, like...so we agree?

posted by StarFucker at 01:38 AM on May 23, 2004

Nope.

posted by squealy at 06:25 AM on May 23, 2004

That poll is worthless.

posted by StarFucker at 02:53 PM on May 23, 2004

Yep, I always said democracy was overrated. Simple answer, post a voting thread. Give people the possible options clearly i.e. 1, 2, 3 and 4. One vote for anyone who participated in last season's EPL FFL. The result is binding and we never speak of it again (until the end of next season, hehe).

posted by squealy at 05:55 PM on May 23, 2004

A voting thread? That will be hard to do...unless everyone only votes and doesn't makes comments.

posted by StarFucker at 02:35 AM on May 24, 2004

Err, just ignore the comments and count the votes? It's fairly straightforward: "There are 3 possible options for next season's EPL FFL. All those who competed last year please indicate your preferred option. 1. 2 PremierLeague.com leagues with promotion and relegation. 2. 1 PremierLeague.com and 1 Yahoo league with promotion and relegation.. 3. One big league."

posted by squealy at 04:04 AM on May 24, 2004

I vote for a pony.

posted by salmacis at 03:40 PM on May 24, 2004

This pony, does it vibrate or eat pancakes?

posted by billsaysthis at 05:27 PM on May 24, 2004

It does both. Have you never seen a pony before?

posted by squealy at 05:35 PM on May 24, 2004

Not in the flesh since my fifth birthday party.

posted by billsaysthis at 08:08 PM on May 24, 2004

That's a no then SF?

posted by squealy at 05:52 PM on May 25, 2004

A no to what?

posted by StarFucker at 03:14 AM on May 26, 2004

careful SF. it may be a mind trick.

posted by gspm at 05:13 AM on May 26, 2004

Sheesh. A(nother) sad day for democracy and ponies.

posted by squealy at 06:47 AM on May 26, 2004

I think they prefer to be called "small horse".

posted by kWaCkY at 02:52 PM on May 26, 2004

I think they prefer to be called "small horse". Vertically-challenged is the latest I've read from them lot, kWaCkY.

posted by billsaysthis at 02:54 PM on May 26, 2004

Does Jersey Girl count? Haha. I come over to this thread to see what all the hundred+ comments are... and my name shows up. No, I can't wrap my head about footie. I just can't do it, just like calculus.

posted by jerseygirl at 03:13 PM on May 26, 2004

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