July 29, 2003

SpoFi EPL Fantasy League 2003-2004 is up! Twelve players are in and we're looking for more. Sign up at PremierLeague.com. Then join the league using the following info:

Private league name: SpoFi EPL Fantasy Lg
Code: worldcup2002@opl_103022

Pantheon, please post this in the Sidebar. Thanks!


posted by worldcup2002 to navel gazing at 02:04 PM - 155 comments

Oh baby!

posted by StarFucker at 04:49 PM on July 29, 2003

So you like the new league, SF?

posted by worldcup2002 at 05:19 PM on July 29, 2003

Yeah, looks good... We'll see how it is once it starts...

posted by StarFucker at 09:55 PM on July 29, 2003

Ok, I'm in as Deadly Calm. Let's hope points are dominated by strikers or I'm seriously screwed.

posted by BigCalm at 03:25 AM on July 30, 2003

erm, i am sure it is on the fantasy game website somewhere but maybe somebody could highlight how one 'wins' in the pool? I've never played one of these 'player budget' type pools before. I get that the players gain points based on their performance but also that each player has a value that will increase if he is playing well (unless it is also related or partly related to the demand of fantasy managers for said player). So is the overall pool success based on the points gained by your players with any tiebreaker going to the person with the most valuable (or least valuable) team? What role does total team value (everyone is currently at 100 for now, obviously) play and what sort of strategy is involved with that?

posted by gspm at 05:01 AM on July 30, 2003

I was going to participate in the Fantasy League this year, but for whatever reason, I can't register.

posted by salmacis at 08:46 AM on July 30, 2003

gspm, the team value really only comes into play when you're wanting to do a transfer. If you've got a guy that's really hot and his value goes up, but you think he's going to lose it, you can trade him for someone with a similarly high value that is more consistent, etc. Other than that, it's all points. go (darling) fascist bully boys!

posted by Ufez Jones at 09:06 AM on July 30, 2003

Keep trying salmacis, the site's been a bit flaky over the last couple of days.

posted by squealy at 09:42 AM on July 30, 2003

Hehehe....Star Unsuitable

posted by mbd1 at 09:46 AM on July 30, 2003

Yeah, there a lots of people signing up there now that Yahoo has teamed up with Soccernet, thats why its been so flaky...thats my guess anyway.

posted by StarFucker at 09:46 AM on July 30, 2003

gspm: Highest total team points in the league wins. If there is a tie, then the team with the lower no. of total transfers will win. Note to everyone: There are monthly and season contests, so you could be manager of the month as well as manager of the season! salmacis: Please keep trying. We'd love to have you in the game!

posted by worldcup2002 at 09:48 AM on July 30, 2003

Star Unsuitable?! Hahaha. That's a good one. I was going to make a note about that, SF, but I figured you'd hear from the PremierLeague soon enough. Thanks for changing it. You could change it to StarFooker or something if you like, but we know who you are anyway. You're a star in my book! OK. We're at 15 players!

posted by worldcup2002 at 09:51 AM on July 30, 2003

HA! Star Unsuitable is pretty good actually...maybe i should leave it.

posted by StarFucker at 10:21 AM on July 30, 2003

Hmm...I'm signed up, but the site keeps saying I'm someone else... I emailed him, and he replied that the same thing was happening to him as well. And I'm trying to enter the league, but it keeps telling me worldcup2002@opl_103022 is not a valid league code. All in all, I'm not impressed.

posted by salmacis at 11:01 AM on July 30, 2003

I know they're having some problems with mixed-up registrations. My mate emailed them and they're on the case apparently. They seem fairly responsive so why not try emailing them to sort it Sal?

posted by squealy at 11:38 AM on July 30, 2003

Right, I'm in! The team was selected on a complete whim, and no thought was really given to who I would select. I don't intend to make any transfers at any point in the season. OK, that's my excuses done..

posted by salmacis at 12:27 PM on July 30, 2003

So salmacis is playing on auto-pilot. This will be a nice control condition to see if you're better off picking once or picking on an ongoing basis. Anyone scoring less than salmonhead is going to get the Brass Codpiece award.

posted by worldcup2002 at 01:37 PM on July 30, 2003

The other thing I like about the PremierLeague set up is that you can change player selections up to a half hour before the game! Awesome.

posted by worldcup2002 at 01:42 PM on July 30, 2003

With soccernet you can do it 15 minutes before the game...

posted by StarFucker at 01:44 PM on July 30, 2003

Hey, whats all this talk about Star Unsuitable? I am still StarFucker in the league...

posted by StarFucker at 01:48 PM on July 30, 2003

With Soccernet, you can pay $15 just to get in.

posted by worldcup2002 at 02:08 PM on July 30, 2003

We are at 16 competitors! One more to go. Hey salmacis, are you Huw Morris? Please change your Manager or Team name so that it includes your SpoFi name. This also applies to you Joseph Bieda. I know it's you, etrader9, (because I did wkly updates last season) but pls do it for billsaysthis, who will be doing our wkly updates this season. SF: Just in case ... If PremierLeague.com sends you a request to change the *unsuitable* part of your name, you'll have seven days to change it to something suitable. Otherwise, they'll consider you "in breach of terms and conditions." I don't know what that means, but I don't want to have you kicked out of the league.

posted by worldcup2002 at 02:14 PM on July 30, 2003

So, we have me, ttrendel, catfish, trox, corpse, mbd1, FB, sauril, billsaysthis, Ufez, squealy, gspm, Fooker, etrader9, Calmy (yay!), and salmacis. Where's pfuller? mossy? jasonbondshow? elsoltano? Drood? eckeric? cory? jipe? etagloh? 86 (get in here, you Everton-loving git!)? With these guys, we'd be at 26! Whoooooo! This season is going to rock! Also, how you like my kit?

posted by worldcup2002 at 02:18 PM on July 30, 2003

justgary has just posted this thread to the sidebar. Thanks! And here we go!

posted by worldcup2002 at 02:25 PM on July 30, 2003

It's very goth. I suppose black is apt seeing as you'll soon be mourning any chance of winning this season. Great, we haven't even started the season and I just heard one of my players is injured.

posted by squealy at 02:28 PM on July 30, 2003

There you go, squealy, starting off with the trash talk. Good. We need that. Last season, it was really only SF and FB mouthing off. Everyone was too bloody polite. However, you and Birmingham will be soundly trashed by me and Liverpool this season. Oh yes.

posted by worldcup2002 at 02:32 PM on July 30, 2003

Do you have to give them an email address when you sign up? I don't remember...and so where did you guys see it say Star Unsuitable?

posted by StarFucker at 02:38 PM on July 30, 2003

Like last season you mean? :-P So the little "i" symbol by the player goes red when they're injured. Is it supposed to symbolise blood?

posted by squealy at 02:39 PM on July 30, 2003

It says Star Fucker as far as I can see.

posted by squealy at 02:40 PM on July 30, 2003

All I know is, we need to rock this table. Collectively.

posted by Ufez Jones at 03:00 PM on July 30, 2003

SF: Under Manager, it used to say "Unsuitable" where "F*cker" was/is. But it's back to the expletive now. So it was your Last Name field they were messing with. And yes, you have to give them an email when you sign up. Just in case you win those free tickets to a Premiership game, you know. squealy: Previous performance does not predict future performance. I think Birmingham will survive this season, but not against Liverpool. The red is for "warning", is it not? You and your bloody-minded theories. As for my kit, I chose black it was rather ironic given my team is the Red Dragons. Black is also Liverpool's away kit color. When we come visiting, we're like the black death. All shall fall before us. Go Reds!

posted by worldcup2002 at 03:15 PM on July 30, 2003

You know, aside from the minor technical glitches we've experienced, that really is an excellent site. Looks like activity in the transfer market will be penalised by the "agents fees". What a clever and annoying idea.

posted by squealy at 03:28 PM on July 30, 2003

I will blind all of my opponents.

posted by corpse at 03:30 PM on July 30, 2003

Jesus wept. That's a crime against nature corpse.

posted by squealy at 03:35 PM on July 30, 2003

Oi wc2002, ,one of the pleasures of Sportsfilter is that people engage and debate, it is a refreshing change from most football message boards which are populated by morons whoser idea of banter is "your shit and u know u r." Or people who suppose themselves to be better than the rabble but are so one eyed it renders all discourse meaningless. Don't knock polite.

posted by Fat Buddha at 03:53 PM on July 30, 2003

Shit. Why can't we have a spellchecker?

posted by Fat Buddha at 03:54 PM on July 30, 2003

Who needs a spellchecker? your shit and u know u r

posted by squealy at 04:02 PM on July 30, 2003

What if you really are shit and you know you are?

posted by salmacis at 04:20 PM on July 30, 2003

Then you're the Dingles.

posted by squealy at 04:34 PM on July 30, 2003

Beat me to it.

posted by Fat Buddha at 04:41 PM on July 30, 2003

well said FB.

posted by garfield at 04:48 PM on July 30, 2003

Oi wc2002, ,one of the pleasures of Sportsfilter is that people engage and debate FB, you're right, of course. You know I was joking, don't you? I always enjoy our interactions, as well as those with the other nutty soccer SpoFiers and other non-soccer fans here.

posted by worldcup2002 at 10:00 PM on July 30, 2003

wc2002 - what's the policy on non-SpoFiers joining in?

posted by squealy at 07:07 AM on July 31, 2003

We have a policy?

posted by StarFucker at 09:30 AM on July 31, 2003

If we don't, we need one.

posted by squealy at 09:35 AM on July 31, 2003

Well, it's sorta private (except for the fact that the code is posted in a public forum). I guess I don't have a policy against it.

posted by worldcup2002 at 09:47 AM on July 31, 2003

Is there a problem w/ non-SpoFiers entering? We usu. have more problems getting people to join (and keep playing throughout the season) than we do stopping people from joining. The only non-SpoFier (I think) is SF's buddy etrader9 (Bosiak Bashers) -- he was in the league last year, and was a great competitor. He would've been a top contender if he hadn't started 17 wks after everyone else! So I don't have a policy and I don't have a problem w/ non-SpoFiers joining either. Esp. if they are friends of SpoFiers.

posted by worldcup2002 at 09:53 AM on July 31, 2003

Non-Spofiers have to buy the beer at the end of season party.

posted by billsaysthis at 10:36 AM on July 31, 2003

What is the policy on Iraqis joining?

posted by StarFucker at 10:47 AM on July 31, 2003

It all depends who the fuckers are.

posted by Fat Buddha at 10:58 AM on July 31, 2003

I've got an Iraqi scientist who says there aren't any WMDs but he says he watches the Premier games on FSW, a couple of the Republican Guard guys...really nice guys, they love the Premiership...and the Information Minister...he says you are all going to perish and drown in your own blood this season.

posted by StarFucker at 11:02 AM on July 31, 2003

I was adressing the other fucker, old chap. I don't mind Iraqui's.

posted by Fat Buddha at 01:22 PM on July 31, 2003

One day after the link was posted on the Sidebar ... and we're still at 16. I don't think we have to worry about people joining. What happened to all the players from last season? C'mon!

posted by worldcup2002 at 01:52 PM on July 31, 2003

If you build it, they will come.

posted by Fat Buddha at 02:09 PM on July 31, 2003

FB, i don't either... Every Iraqi i have ever met has been a nice person with a strong grasp of reality...unlike most Americans i meet.

posted by StarFucker at 02:44 PM on July 31, 2003

What happened to all the players from last season? Who are we missing?

posted by StarFucker at 02:45 PM on July 31, 2003

SF: See the 10 people we're missing from last season.

posted by worldcup2002 at 03:06 PM on July 31, 2003

I'm in. Bet you missed me off the list didn't you?

posted by kWaCkY at 03:27 PM on July 31, 2003

Who's kwacky? and who's Noah? Is that you 86?

posted by worldcup2002 at 04:59 PM on July 31, 2003

Err, I'm partly to blame for kwacky. As if we needed more bluenoses here. ;-)

posted by squealy at 05:50 PM on July 31, 2003

No, it's fine. Any pal of squealy is a pal of mine. Party on!

posted by worldcup2002 at 06:47 PM on July 31, 2003

Our list of warriors has reached 18! Bravo! A quick look at team allegiances: world cup - Liverpool t trendel - Man U catfish - Arsenal trox - Arsenal CORPSE - Arsenal (what the ... a trifecta?) mbd1 - Spurs (you poor sod, change it) Fat Buddha - Birmingham sauril - Newcastle BillSaysThis - Liverpool Ufez Jones - Newcastle Squealy - Birmingham g s p m - undeclared (wot?!) Star Unsuitable (hahahaha) - Liverpool joseph bieda (etrader9) - Man U Big Calm - undeclared (what the...) Salmacis - undeclared (hmmm) Kwacky - Birmingham Noah Egorin - Newcastle

posted by worldcup2002 at 06:58 PM on July 31, 2003

Heh. We've got a couple of orthopedic surgeons from England on loan at our lab right now. I asked one of them today if she had a favorite Premier League team, and after a bit of hmmmmmmm she came up with "I used to like Tottenham Hotspurs." And 5 seconds later we're talking about Mrs. Beckham. I don't think she was too into sports; I'll ask our other resident tomorrow.

posted by mbd1 at 07:29 PM on July 31, 2003

Am i Star Unsuitable again?!

posted by StarFucker at 08:11 PM on July 31, 2003

mbd1 - Glory Glory Spurs! Don't change a thing.

posted by Samsonov14 at 10:02 PM on July 31, 2003

So here's the breakdown thus far: Liverpool: 3 Birmingham: 3 Newcastle: 3 Aresenal: 3 Man U: 2 Spurs: 1 (with a bullet!) Undecided: 3. How lame. Where are the Chelsea fans when you need them? Rovers? WTF people, aren't we more diverse than that?

posted by Ufez Jones at 01:02 AM on August 01, 2003

that's right, gspm is a 'favourite team' free agent. I didn't grow up watching EPL (or its 1st Div predecessor) and haven't lived in England and don't have any natural access to have a team to call my own. So I wanted to be honest so I put my favourite team as 'that team from Shaolin Soccer'. But they didn't use that.

posted by gspm at 01:22 AM on August 01, 2003

Starfucker, yes you are unsuitable again, old chap. You can hardly blame Big Calm for keeping shtum can you? Some striker from PSV Eindhoven was interviewed on 5 live yesterday and asked why he turned Spurs down. He in return asked why he would want to go to a club with no ambition. He didn't mention crazy God botherers though.

posted by Fat Buddha at 02:34 AM on August 01, 2003

Objection your honour! I am not "undecided". I would merely rather shoot myself than declare a preference for a current Premiership team. As far as I am concerned, they can all go and rot! And all you North Americans supporting Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal and Newcastle, shame on you.

posted by salmacis at 03:04 AM on August 01, 2003

I tried to list my team as Moor Green FC, but it wouldn't accept anything other than a premiership team. I'm AVFC (of course) now.

posted by BigCalm at 03:22 AM on August 01, 2003

Salmacis, you can be an honorary Blues fan, if you like.

posted by Fat Buddha at 04:28 AM on August 01, 2003

"I'm AVFC (of course) now" Why? Are you a palaeontologist?

posted by kWaCkY at 05:39 AM on August 01, 2003

Put myself down as a Birmingham fan? God god man, are you mad? I actually have a couple of Wolves players in my fantasy team. I ran out of money and had to fill up my squad with the worst, cheapest players I could find!

posted by salmacis at 05:42 AM on August 01, 2003

Worst, cheapest, oldest, drunkest; you name it they got it. We really need to get a Dingle involved on here for a bit of balance. Can they work computers?

posted by squealy at 06:20 AM on August 01, 2003

They can but they have to have special keyboards. You can get them on e-bay, just search for "mashomatic products. Normally next to the banjos in "Toys Am We"

posted by kWaCkY at 06:22 AM on August 01, 2003

Why? Are you a paleontologist? /bewildered. What? AVFC=Paleontologist? Salmacis, you can be an honorary Blues fan, if you like. Salamcis, if your life is too full of happiness, may I recommend you becoming a Blues fan, in order that you get your fair share of humilitating misery. Ta. Wolves got beat by Morecambe 6-1 (conference team) in a pre-season friendly last week. Heh. Imagine how they're going to do in the premiership.

posted by BigCalm at 06:42 AM on August 01, 2003

Turns out our other orthopod is a Man U fan, as he grew up in Manchester. He thought that getting an American with Tourette's Syndrome on the highest profile EPL team was funny. Paleontologist = ancient history?

posted by mbd1 at 07:24 AM on August 01, 2003

1 point to mbd1 Villa used to be a big club. That was some time ago. Last season they finished 16th (when they fans thought they would finish 6th) and the club have just announced losses of more than £11 million. Get into a "debate" with any Villa fan and you can bet your mortgage that, as he losses his footing, he'll say "ah but, we've won stuff you know". All Villa fans live in the past.

posted by kWaCkY at 07:38 AM on August 01, 2003

You think Peter Schmiechel didn't have Tourette's?!? Ok, let me talk about Villa's future instead then. We've got a squad full of bright young things - the average age of the Villa players on the pitch is about 23-24, and David O'Leary has plenty to work with. I can see next season being a tough one, reminiscent of West Ham last season, but we won't go down because there's plenty of other teams around who'll sink before us. After we get through this season, I can see the following season being a really really good one, with all of our bright young things at the top of their games. Yes, we've lost a bit of money, but we're one of the very few Premiership clubs with no debts. Villa aren't ancient history - we shall rise again.

posted by BigCalm at 07:50 AM on August 01, 2003

You starting trouble already kwacky? I hereby disown you (until your season ticket is going spare). :-P

posted by squealy at 07:59 AM on August 01, 2003

Salmacis, I was being flippant. I had to stick a couple of Wolvews players in as well, when I ran out of money, only subs though. Big Calm, thanks for the chuckle old chap, it's brightened a dull afternoon.

posted by Fat Buddha at 08:22 AM on August 01, 2003

Well, you have to try to put a brave face on things. Now where's that Venezuelan billionaire got to, that's what I want to know. Anyone picked Robbie Savage for their fantasy team?

posted by BigCalm at 08:39 AM on August 01, 2003

Ummm, I did. But I don't know much about the players beyond the big names. I thought his name sounded TOUGH. Savage, GRRRR! Yeah, that and I'd also heard of him vs not having heard of most of the other 3rd or 4th choice midfielders (you know, 3rd or 4th choices after budgetary concerns eliminate all but two of the top tier of guys). I also picked Danny Murphy because StarFucker doesn't like him and I have to give him a go before I can reach that same conclusion. Err, or maybe I didn't make those picks. I don't see anyone else talking about their picks. I might change.

posted by gspm at 08:58 AM on August 01, 2003

First rule of Fantasy League team selection; you don't talk about Fantasy League team selection.

posted by squealy at 09:10 AM on August 01, 2003

You mean I don't get to dazzle you with my amazing picks?

posted by BigCalm at 09:14 AM on August 01, 2003

Okay, i am getting more than annoyed at this site and we haven't even started the season yet... I can NEVER fucking logon...it takes forever!

posted by StarFucker at 09:18 AM on August 01, 2003

SF - when you are logged on and on the "My Team" page, save that as a favourite. Using this method to go there bypasses the login process. I would imagine you'll need to have cookies enabled on the pc. Big Calm - you want to share your picks with the rest of us, feel free. And I'll feel free to nick any I hadn't considered.

posted by squealy at 09:26 AM on August 01, 2003

I can NEVER fucking logon...it takes forever! Maybe you should log on as Star Unsuitable!

posted by worldcup2002 at 09:50 AM on August 01, 2003

Ok, but no stealing my ideas (or cackling):

      Enckleman  Mellberg   Riise   Southgate Vieira  De-La-Cruz Okocha Jenas  Henry van-Nistelrooy Ormerod Subs: Oakes, Irwin, Pennant, Impey 

posted by BigCalm at 10:02 AM on August 01, 2003

Fuck it...i changed it, after finally logging on! Irwin?!

posted by StarFucker at 10:12 AM on August 01, 2003

HahA Enkleman. The only way he's going to get you any points is if he puts it in the back of the net himself. Which he will do. Good call. I assume Sorrenson [sp?] isn't coming to town? As for the South American business man: don't tell me you fell for that one? Deadly Doug made it up to silence the handful of bored schoolchildren who thought they could oust him. You fell for it, didn't you?

posted by kWaCkY at 10:13 AM on August 01, 2003

For the record: Friedel Upson Neill Pistone Dabhisarse Dunn Jensen Lampard Barry Bellamy Henry subs: Nash Dunne Butt Boa Morte I did have Marsden but he's in for an op, so that Barry bloke has taken his place.

posted by kWaCkY at 10:17 AM on August 01, 2003

Irwin: Former Man United defender, now at Wolves. Complete muppet, but will play often and is dead cheap. Enckleman: Despite a few howlers last season (go on, rub it in, you know you want to), he's a fine keeper who'll do us a lot better than Sorensen even if he does arrive. Plus he's dead cheap in this fantasy football - it was him or Jussi Jaskelainen. Venezuelan Billionaire: Oh yes, sometimes you have to go on blind faith in order to cheer yourself up eh?

posted by BigCalm at 10:21 AM on August 01, 2003

To be fair, both of your teams are rubbish. :-P *starts scribbling frenzied notes*

posted by squealy at 10:24 AM on August 01, 2003

This is going to be fun. At least for the first couple of weeks, until I realise just how bad my team is...

posted by salmacis at 10:25 AM on August 01, 2003

my team was picked randomly. like last year, I have no idea what I'm doing. I would be happy if someone told me if I have any lemons. 1: Ricardo 2: Short 3: Kishishev 4: Carsley 5: Gilberto 6: Savage 7: Wright-Phillips 8: Marsden 9: Henry (C) 10: Owen 11: van Nistelrooy Subs: 12: Coyne 13: Campo 14: Flitcroft 15: Stubbs

posted by corpse at 10:26 AM on August 01, 2003

A superb strike force, a good midfield, and an unheard of defence. I think you'll do just corpse, though you might want to think about swapping Robbie Savage for someone else, as he does have a tendency to pick up red and yellow cards by the bucketload).

posted by BigCalm at 10:39 AM on August 01, 2003

picked solely from a high points to cost ratio, since I have NO FRIGGIN CLUE: Friedel (C) Mellberg, Kenna, Stubbs, Unsworth Flitcroft, Murphy, Sinclair, Fernandes Owen, Beattie subs: Jaaskelainen, Cunningham, Tugay, Djorkaeff

posted by mbd1 at 10:40 AM on August 01, 2003

oops just fine.

posted by BigCalm at 10:40 AM on August 01, 2003

Corpse: Marsden will miss the start of the season - so you'll need to swap him. Yes Squealy, my team is shit, but I openly admit I haven't got a fecking clue ;-)

posted by kWaCkY at 10:45 AM on August 01, 2003

Oh why the hell not, I don't think anyone's going to be stealing my 'expertise'. The (Darling) Fascist Bully Boys: Friedel (c) Mellberg Hughes Lundekvam Savage Lampard Murphy(just for SF) Fernandes Peterson Radzinski Shearer(I like the old bastard). Subs: Enckleman, Flitcroft, Stubbs, Traore. Um, who the hell are most of these guys, anyways?

posted by Ufez Jones at 10:54 AM on August 01, 2003

Yeah Clammy, all those red cards eh? Care to enlighten us on Savage's career total? Thought not.

posted by squealy at 11:11 AM on August 01, 2003

(Aside from the criminal slagging of Sir Robbie from the dark side of the city....) corpse, seeing as you asked, apart from Marsden being injured as kwacky mentioned, I'd wonder how often Ricardo will play. My suspicion is that Howard might get quite a shout in goal. But then again who can predict the actions of the Imperial Lord Ferg?

posted by squealy at 11:23 AM on August 01, 2003

I have to fight the never-ending temptation to change my team ... I must say corpse's randomly-generated team is superb. I almost want to copy it. Damn.

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:52 AM on August 01, 2003

It will be interesting to see whether certain formations have an inherent advantage or not. In most fantasy football games, the majority of the points are scored by forwards, which means playing with as few defenders and as many forwards as possible. Which makes my 4-4-2 formation look a bit dumb in retrospect.

posted by salmacis at 12:15 PM on August 01, 2003

I'm playing 4-3-3 as it stands. I must admit though as a novice to online football fantasy games I'm impressed by how easy it is to change formations and squad members. Good call on the choice of sites wc2002. I'd tell you my team, but as well as being a secretive bastard, I expect a few changes before deadline day.

posted by squealy at 12:29 PM on August 01, 2003

Corpse, old chap, Short has a knackered knee and is unlikely to start the season. Savage is a very bad pick, gets loads of yellow cards, gives free kicks away and rarely scores. He will have at least 3 suspensions. Kwacky, you are a disgrace mate, I would rather field ten men than pick a Villa player.

posted by Fat Buddha at 01:09 PM on August 01, 2003

FB you're right (for once in your long and scornful life) Someone flog me, quick }:-)

posted by kWaCkY at 01:15 PM on August 01, 2003

I am playing 2-5-3. And that's all I'm going to say. My team may embarrass me, and far be it for me to thump my chest before my points are firmly in hand. (Oh Lord, pls let my picks not suck ...)

posted by worldcup2002 at 01:17 PM on August 01, 2003

btw, I'm chuffed that we've garnered 109 comments already (110!). Really looking forward to this season's competition -- and billsaysthis's reporting!

posted by worldcup2002 at 01:18 PM on August 01, 2003

right. Barry is no more. Fernandes take a bow.

posted by kWaCkY at 01:34 PM on August 01, 2003

Good pick, Fernandes. Is Corpse the chap who came from nowhere last year to score many millons of points, or was that someone else? If so I feel faintly embarrassed offering him advice.

posted by Fat Buddha at 01:41 PM on August 01, 2003

I was as high as second last year, but tailed off at the end of the season. I don't think I had a lot of high scoring weeks, but I was relativly consistent.

posted by corpse at 01:48 PM on August 01, 2003

There's no way I'm letting club loyalties influence me. They can play for fecking Hitler United for all I care as long as they can score points. Come here my beautiful little Villa babbies. ;-)

posted by squealy at 01:55 PM on August 01, 2003

They can play for Hitler Utd for all I care. Villa, though? no way Jose.

posted by Fat Buddha at 02:07 PM on August 01, 2003

Hilter United tend to get off to flying start in the early stages of the campaign. I would get my coat but I've lost my cloakroom number.

posted by kWaCkY at 02:19 PM on August 01, 2003

Hitler United? Good domestically, but they'll never get anywhere in Europe...

posted by salmacis at 02:41 PM on August 01, 2003

okay, i made some minor changes to my team, not going to reveal the new changes though.

posted by corpse at 03:06 PM on August 01, 2003

dun dun dunnnnnn

posted by corpse at 03:08 PM on August 01, 2003

posted by StarFucker at 03:26 PM on August 01, 2003

Hey, kwacky, did you drop barry because he's bad or just cause he's a Villan? C'mon, spill the beans!

posted by worldcup2002 at 03:48 PM on August 01, 2003

"And all you North Americans supporting Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal and Newcastle, shame on you."- salmacis I dunno. I live in Indiana, not exactly soccer central (although IU's soccer club is the most dominant in the country). I always found soccer to be rather boring. I was at the local mall one day and bought a 2002 soccer game on a whim. I decided to pick a team to play as strictly by chance. That team was ManU. As sad as it is, this video game made me realize how exciting the EPL is and what I had been missing. It wasn't until months later when I realized how successful ManU is(EPL coverage in North America is minimal). I love American Football to the point that I refuse to work on sundays or monday nights. A stupid video game made me fall in love with soccer. Every time I watch a fixture my hearts stops for long periods of time and I love that. That's what makes it special to me. Most of us yanks have very little exposure to EPL games. What we are exposed to is minimal. I don't get FSW, so the matches that I do get to see are those of a successful team(ManU). I say this as a mid-westerner who is currently sitting on a ManU rug and follows the EPL as close as he possibly can. Why don't you support the Indianapolis Colts, salmacis? It would be wise to hop on board the Indy train right before we win the SuperBowl.

posted by ttrendel at 02:33 AM on August 02, 2003

ttrendel: Actually, I support the Cincinnati Bengals. Straight up. You can't call me a glory hunter!

posted by salmacis at 03:53 AM on August 02, 2003

WorldCup2002 FB made me see the error of my ways. I can't pick someone who plays for Aston Viler. It's just not right. It's like telling your wife that the girl you are looking at IS better looking than she is, or telling your mother that her cooking is crap or drinking Nescafe. Somethings just aren't done.

posted by kWaCkY at 04:47 AM on August 02, 2003

Nice story ttrendel. A rug though? That's going a bit far. Looks like stories that Djorkaeff would miss the start of the season might have been wide of the mark. Which is nice.

posted by squealy at 08:34 AM on August 02, 2003

I say, Big Calm, these "bright young things" you talk of, would they include Lee Hendrie?

posted by Fat Buddha at 02:37 PM on August 02, 2003

Who's Paul Spriggs? And corpse, I'm sending you a bill for my new eyes. That jersey is atrocious! Hahahahaha!

posted by worldcup2002 at 03:52 PM on August 03, 2003

posted by Fat Buddha at 04:16 PM on August 03, 2003

Wow. More?

posted by worldcup2002 at 06:26 PM on August 03, 2003

I think someone accused Lee Hendrie of being a Blues fan. Y'know, I'd feel the same way FB.

posted by BigCalm at 07:05 PM on August 03, 2003

Lee Hendrie is a Blues fan!

posted by Fat Buddha at 02:47 AM on August 04, 2003

He's also a muppet.

posted by squealy at 02:52 AM on August 04, 2003

Who? Who is Paul Spriggs? And Eliot Shepard? And Noah Egorin? Simon goodman, I'm guessing you're apt820. Guys, if you have a SpoFi moniker, please make sure your team name or manager name contains it.

posted by worldcup2002 at 04:54 PM on August 05, 2003

btw, our motley crew consists of 22!

posted by worldcup2002 at 04:59 PM on August 05, 2003

I was able to set up a team, but since then I have been unable to login. Also, it was rather odd that even though I used my real name for signing up, the team listings showed my team as being managed by someone named Simon Goodman (as WC2002 pointed out above). *shrug* So unless I can figure out how to login to the system it may be that Terrapin Utd will stagnate :( Does anyone have any advice? The "help" section is lacking and I havent' found a "contact us" section.

posted by scully at 08:50 AM on August 06, 2003

BTW, "apt820" is my first Yahoo screen name. It is a bit dated. I use "terrapingardens" on Yahoo now, and it is the name of one of my web sites. I post here and on MeFi as "terrapin." Sure hope I can figure this thang out.

posted by scully at 08:53 AM on August 06, 2003

Just keep trying to login so you can change things... Its not consistent. Sometimes i login without a problem, sometimes its takes hours.

posted by StarFucker at 09:00 AM on August 06, 2003

I tried all day yesterday, SF. With TWO different browsers too. I have two browser sessions open now, and I have been trying all morning. I sure hope this is a temporary bug that will be fixed by August 16.

posted by scully at 09:08 AM on August 06, 2003

I go directly to the team page: http://fantasy.premierleague.com/M/myteam.mc and haven't had any trouble since.

posted by corpse at 09:22 AM on August 06, 2003

Well, the good news is that I was able to get in. The VERY bad news is that while I logged in with MY user name, I am seeing the user information for someone named Simon Goodman. I have Simon's mobile number, email and now know his mother's maiden name. I am not very confident in this system AT ALL.

posted by scully at 09:31 AM on August 06, 2003

good god. That's why I never put any real info in my profiles. They all think I'm a 72-yr-old billionairess who lives in Karachi and likes to shoot cats.

posted by worldcup2002 at 09:43 AM on August 06, 2003

While that is very amusing, WC2002, do you have any practical advice? I used the login name and password i assigned and yet I am viewing another user's information. Whether I use real or fake information in my profile is still beyond the point. Especially now that I can't seem to log in to change it. I finally found an email address on the site, and sent a communication in the hopes that someone there will be able to fix things. But I am extremely disappointed. If anyone is setting up a league on another site, please contact me.

posted by scully at 09:47 AM on August 06, 2003

I would assume that people playing would be concerned. What if someone is logging into YOUR account? They may find out that your information is fake, but they also can change your team so that it is made up entirely of Leicester City players. No offense to LC supporters of course. Simply picked a team that was promoted this year.

posted by scully at 09:50 AM on August 06, 2003

Practical advice: there is a link to change the manager information once you get to the team page. Many of us (see above) had the same issue but it was easily corrected. Or just forget that first team and create a new login under terrapin.

posted by billsaysthis at 01:13 PM on August 06, 2003

billsaythis: I assume you were suggesting that I simply overwrite the information in the fields. So I went to the site to try this, and found that they have made some changes... including linking my club with my information. *whew* Thanks for the heads-up. Let's hope this thing doesn't screw up again. I didn't want to spend 2 weeks learning the system like last year only to find that I was out of the running simply because I didn't understand the system :) cheers!

posted by scully at 02:30 PM on August 06, 2003

Sorry for all the trouble, terrapin, but I'm glad it's cleared up and that you stuck with it. (I might have quit if I'd been through what you'd been through.) Now, 10 more days until the revelry begins!

posted by worldcup2002 at 06:59 PM on August 06, 2003

And lil nemo's Dreamers join the fray. I of course have no idea what I'm doing. But I don't look to be alone there.

posted by lilnemo at 07:48 PM on August 06, 2003

Yay! Welcome, lilnemo! Our crazy league now has 24 crazies! But I still don't know who Noah, Paul and Eliot are. Reveal thyselves!

posted by worldcup2002 at 09:08 PM on August 06, 2003

Finally I have my team set. You should all tremble with despair (not that I NEED any defenders really, I have Friedel for that).

posted by trox at 09:00 AM on August 07, 2003

Hi. I've joined as well, both SpoFi itself (after about a year of lurking) and this league. (An obligatory shout of appreciation goes to worldcup2002 for the radio page.) My team boasts (1) no Man U or Arsenal players, (2) only one non-starter (Shola Ameobi) for the team I ostensibly support, and (3) that Japanese guy on Tottenham who looks like Vyvyan from The Young Ones. I anticipate thorough humiliation.

posted by taupe at 02:06 AM on August 09, 2003

Greetings.. I have returned.. Tremble like jello now that I'm actually starting the season at the right time ;)

posted by Mossy at 09:47 AM on August 09, 2003

Yay, taupe and Mossy!

posted by worldcup2002 at 09:21 AM on August 10, 2003

Mossy's tips: Jardel and Figuero. Class players :)

posted by Mossy at 02:50 PM on August 14, 2003

What about Man U's new boys Ronaldo (Christian Ronaldo, that is, the Portuguese) and Kleberson?

posted by worldcup2002 at 04:45 PM on August 14, 2003

WorldCup, my spofi username has been updated in the Premier League. -The Artist Formally Known as Paul Spriggs.

posted by usfbull at 12:03 AM on August 19, 2003

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