EPL Fantasy: Rotissere Style - BYU14 skipped, new two hour limit, Critch is up

[tanglewood]

The Times are running a Premiership fantasy format which is more in line with the American fantasy sports format i.e. only one team can have Lampard, teams pick in order, trades between sides, waiver wire etc. The way it is organised on their site is via a huge 400+ player list which every member of a league has to order in preference then it automates a draft going down the list for each team. That takes a crapload of effort. However, we could easily do a draft on the board here or by IM or whatever and then everyone just inputs their team at the top in order.

We will draft 20 players in a squad. The starting lineup each week is a starting 11 plus 3 subs which is one sub from each position. The starting line up is the following compulsory format:

1 Goalkeeper
1 Left Back
1 Right Back
2 Centre backs
1 Goalkeeper/Defender substitute
1 Right Midfielder
1 Left Midfielder
2 Centre Midfielders
1 Midfielfer substitute
2 Forwards
1 Forward substitute

A squad of 20 must have at least 6 defenders (including a goalkeeper), 5 midfielders and 3 forwards.

All 14 active players score equally. Each position may be used 38 times per season. So if you play Drogba on Saturday, then swap him out with Rooney on Sunday the forward position they both used will be counted as having played twice that week and you score both player's points for that week.

Scoring is rotissere style with two seperate sets of metrics:

Goalkeepers and Defenders: Clean sheets, Goals and assists, Defence (Total of: Interceptions/Catches/Blocks/Saves/Successful passes), Average Goals Against, Points (as per club results)

Midfielders and Forwards: Goals, Assists, Successful Passes, Average Goals For, Points (as per club results)

The team with the best result in a categry scores 10, second scores 9, third scores 8 and so on down to last who scores 1 point.

Edit: the website is hxxp://playthegame.timesonline.co.uk/

Draft Order

1. Scholes
2. Joe
3. Chief Rum
4. Critch
5. BYU14
6. Passacaglia
7. waynegomez
8. Condors
9. Katon
10. Tanglewood

Serpentine draft, so around the turn the order goes Katon, Waynegomez, Condors, Tangle, Tangle, Condors, Waynegomez, Katon etc.

Everyone go to hxxp://playthegame.timesonline.co.uk/ and create a team. The league to sign up to is called FOFC and the password is 'trout'. The allocation date is Friday 10th August, which is basically the deadline we'll have to finish the draft. If we haven't finished by late on Wednesday then we'll order players up to where we've drafted and the rest can be done via the allocation route.

Draft History

1.1 Cristiano Ronaldo, RM, Manchester United
1.2 Wayne Rooney, FW, Manchester United
1.3 Dider Drogba, FW, Chelsea
1.4 Frank Lampard, CM, Chelsea
1.5 Dimitar Berbatov, FW, Tottenham Hotspur
1.6 Ricardo Carvalho, CB, Chelsea
1.7 Steven Gerrard, CM, Liverpool
1.8 Benni McCarthy, FW, Blackburn Rovers
1.9 Cesc Fabregas, CM, Arsenal
1.10 Petr Cech, GK, Chelsea

2.1 Paul Scholes, CM, Manchester United
2.2 John Terry, CB, Chelsea
2.3 Obafemi Martins, FW, Newcastle United
2.4 Andrew Johnson, FW, Everton
2.5 John Arne Riise, LB, Liverpool
2.6 Fernando Torres, FW Liverpool
2.7 Daniel Agger, CB, Liverpool
2.8 Rio Ferdinand, CB, Manchester United
2.9 Jaime Carragher, CB, Liverpool
2.10 Nemanja Vidic, CB, Manchester United

3.1 Darren Bent, FW, Tottenham Hotspur
3.2 Michael Essien, CM, Chelsea
3.3 David Bentley, RM, Blackburn Rovers
3.4 Carlos Tevez, FW, Manchester United
3.5 Robin van Persie, FW, Arsenal
3.6 Pascal Chimbonda, RB, Tottenham Hotspur
3.7 Morten Gamst Pedersen, LM, Blackburn Rovers
3.8 Andriy Shevchenko, FW, Chelsea
3.9 Aaron Lennon, RM, Tottenham Hotspur
3.10 Joe Cole, LM, Chelsea

4.1 Michael Owen, FW, Newcastle United
4.2 Steve Finnan, RB, Liverpool
4.3 Jose Manuel Reina, GK, Liverpool
4.4 Nicolas Anelka, FW, Bolton Wanderers
4.5 Peter Crouch, FW, Liverpool
4.6 Mikel Arteta, CM, Everton
4.7 Patrice Evra, LB, Manchester United
4.8 Kolo Toure, CB, Arsenal
4.9 Dirk Kuyt, FW, Liverpool
4.10 Emmanuel Eboue, RB, Arsenal

5.1 Xabi Alonso, CM, Liverpool
5.2 Matthew Taylor, LB, Portsmouth
5.3 Michael Carrick, CM, Manchester United
5.4 Alexander Hleb, LM, Arsenal
5.5 David James, GK, Portsmouth
5.6 Ryan Giggs, LM, Manchester United
5.7 Flourent Malouda, LM, Chelsea
5.8 Stewart Downing, LM, Middlesborough
5.9 Yakubu, FW, Middlesborough
5.10 Ashley Cole, LB, Chelsea

6.1 Gary Neville, RB, Manchester United
6.2 Edwin van der Sar, GK, Manchester United
6.3 Shaun Wright-Phillips, RM, Chelsea
6.4 Paul Robinson, GK, Tottenham Hotspur
6.5 John O'Shea, CB, Manchester United
6.6
6.7
6.8
6.9
6.10

Team Squads

Scholes

2.10 Nemanja Vidic, CB, Manchester United
4.10 Emmanuel Eboue, RB, Arsenal

1.01 Cristiano Ronaldo, RM, Manchester United
5.01 Xabi Alonso, CM, Liverpool

3.01 Darren Bent, FW, Tottenham Hotspur

Joe

2.9 Jaime Carragher, CB, Liverpool
5.2 Matthew Taylor, LB, Portsmouth

3.2 Michael Essien, CM, Chelsea

1.2 Wayne Rooney, FW, Manchester United
4.9 Dirk Kuyt, FW, Liverpool

Chief Rum

2.8 Rio Ferdinand, CB, Manchester United
4.8 Kolo Toure, CB, Arsenal

3.3 David Bentley, RM, Blackburn Rovers
5.3 Michael Carrick, CM, Manchester United

1.3 Dider Drogba, FW, Chelsea

Critch

2.7 Daniel Agger CB, Liverpool
4.7 Patrice Evra, LB, Manchester United

1.4 Frank Lampard, CM, Chelsea
5.4 Alexander Hleb, LM, Arsenal

3.4 Carlos Tevez, FW, Manchester United

BYU14

5.5 David James, GK, Portsmouth

4.6 Mikel Arteta, CM, Everton

1.5 Dimitar Berbatov, FW, Tottenham Hotspur
2.6 Fernando Torres, FW, Liverpool
3.5 Robin van Persie, FW, Arsenal

Passacaglia

1.6 Ricardo Carvalho, CB, Chelsea
2.5 John Arne Riise, LB, Liverpool
3.6 Pascal Chimbonda, RB, Tottenham Hotspur
6.5 John O'Shea, CB, Manchester United

5.6 Ryan Giggs, LM, Manchester United

4.5 Peter Crouch, FW, Liverpool

waynegomez

6.4 Paul Robinson, GK, Tottenham Hotspur

1.7 Steven Gerrard, CM, Liverpool
3.7 Morten Gamst Pedersen, LM, Blackburn
5.7 Flourent Malouda, LM, Chelsea

2.4 Andrew Johnson, FW, Everton
4.4 Nicolas Anelka, FW, Bolton Wanderers

condors

4.3 Jose Manuel Reina, GK, Liverpool

5.8 Stewart Downing, LM, Middlesborough
6.3 Shaun Wright-Phillips, RM, Chelsea

1.8 Benni McCarthy, FW, Blackburn Rovers
2.3 Obafemi Martins, FW, Newcastle United
3.8 Andriy Shevchenko, FW, Chelsea

Katon

6.2 Edwin van der Sar, GK, Manchester United

2.2 John Terry, CB, Chelsea
4.2 Steve Finnan, RB, Liverpool

1.9 Cesc Fabregas, CM, Arsenal
3.9 Aaron Lennon, RM, Tottenham Hotspur

5.9 Yakubu, FW, Middlesborough

tanglewood

1.10 Petr Cech, GK, Chelsea

5.10 Ashley Cole, LB, Chelsea
6.01 Gary Neville, RB, Manchester United

2.01 Paul Scholes, CM, Manchester United
3.10 Joe Cole, LM, Chelsea

4.01 Michael Owen, FW, Newcastle United

[Critch]

I'd be interested in that, sounds a bit different.

[Scholes]

I'd be interested as well. Especially if we did the draft the way you said.

[Passacaglia]

I might be interested.

[BYU 14]

I would be interested in this as well

[tanglewood]

Okay so 5 teams so far. I say we aim for 10-12, but if we have 8 been waiting a few days go with that to give us enough time to run the draft.

[Joe]

yes

[Chief Rum]

Yeah, sounds like fun.

[condors]

I am interested too

[tanglewood]

Bump. I'll check back sometime tommorow afternoon and then we go with the players signed up.

[waynegomez]

I would be very interested in this. Thanks!

[Katon]

Sure, sounds interesting.

[tanglewood]

Ok then, I'll fire up list randomiser to get the draft order then we can get started. Details to come.

[tanglewood]

Scholes is on the clock

If every player could when making a pick put the pick number (e.g. 1.1 for the first pick), player name, position and club and the bold it in their post it will help a lot. Also if when you make a pick you PM the next player who is picking after you that they are on the clock will help move things along quicker.

[Passacaglia]

So no deadline for each pick? Sweet.

[Scholes]

With the first pick, Scholes takes...

1.1 Cristiano Ronaldo, Midfield, Manchester United

Awesome.

Joe is now on the clock

[Joe]

1.2 Wayne Rooney, Forward, Manchester United

CR is on the clock

[Chief Rum]

Hey guys, I just got back from work. I'll make a pick shortly.

[Chief Rum]

Wow, this choice was tough. Based on last year, it seems clear to me Ronaldo and Rooney were the top. After that, interesting ways to go.

I decided to go with Drogba.

1.3 Dider Drogba, Forward, Chelsea

[Critch]

1.4 Frank Lampard, CM, Chelsea.

Seems like the Chelsea packed midfield experiment will be finished, so I'm going for Lampard to score as many as he did the season before last.

edit - The draft is just in here, no way of entering them into the Times website yet?

[tanglewood]

So no deadline for each pick? Sweet.

We'll see how it goes. If we have only a few days left to do a lot of rounds then I'll impose a timer and people will have to provide pms with shortlists if they can't be around. Hopefully we'll make good time though.

[tanglewood]

1.4 Frank Lampard, CM, Chelsea.

Seems like the Chelsea packed midfield experiment will be finished, so I'm going for Lampard to score as many as he did the season before last.

edit - The draft is just in here, no way of entering them into the Times website yet?

The plan will be when it comes to entering them, everyone will just put the 20 players they have drafted at the top of their preference list. No reason why you can't update as we go along.

[tanglewood]

One thing I've just realised, what should the plan be about players who sign for Premier League teams midway through the draft? Hypothetical scenario say that Eto'o signs for Arsenal on Tuesday, it seems a bit unfair that the first player up to draft after the news is out would get to pick him up in the 12th round or whatever.

Perhaps we should draft for less than 20 rounds, say 17 or so, for players only on Premier League squads as of the time this draft started, then have a 3 round supplemental draft for any players signed since the draft began and the rest of players who went undrafted in th main draft? Sound a good idea?

[waynegomez]

One thing I've just realised, what should the plan be about players who sign for Premier League teams midway through the draft? Hypothetical scenario say that Eto'o signs for Arsenal on Tuesday, it seems a bit unfair that the first player up to draft after the news is out would get to pick him up in the 12th round or whatever.

Perhaps we should draft for less than 20 rounds, say 17 or so, for players only on Premier League squads as of the time this draft started, then have a 3 round supplemental draft for any players signed since the draft began and the rest of players who went undrafted in th main draft? Sound a good idea?

I think this is a fair proposal and I would be in favor of a supplemental draft.

[BYU 14]

I am apprehensive about this pick but. I am taking the gamble.

1.5 Dimitir Berbatov Tottenham Hotspur

Hopefully his time won't be dimished too much with the glut of Strikers Spurs now have.

[Katon]

Wow, this choice was tough. Based on last year, it seems clear to me Ronaldo and Rooney were the top. After that, interesting ways to go.

I'd argue for Ronaldo and Lampard - or possibly for a group of three. A typical Lampard season would see him score more goals than any other central midfielder in the game, hit or get near double digits in assists (not the best in the league for a CM, but not that far off it either), and hit a respectable number of passes. All this while playing for a team who've been in the top two in points and goals each of the last three years.

Rooney's definitely a top five choice. Between United's team statistics and his ridiculous assists total I have no argument to make against his being the first striker taken. But I don't think he stands out quite as far ahead of his position as Lampard.

[Chief Rum]

I'd argue for Ronaldo and Lampard - or possibly for a group of three. A typical Lampard season would see him score more goals than any other central midfielder in the game, hit or get near double digits in assists (not the best in the league for a CM, but not that far off it either), and hit a respectable number of passes. All this while playing for a team who've been in the top two in points and goals each of the last three years.

Rooney's definitely a top five choice. Between United's team statistics and his ridiculous assists total I have no argument to make against his being the first striker taken. But I don't think he stands out quite as far ahead of his position as Lampard.

Well, the key portion of my reasoning was the based on last year part. :D

I agree completely. Not sure yet I am sold on Lampard returning to pre-2006 levels.

[Katon]

Even so - last year, Rooney was far and away the best striker in successful passes, had about five assists more than all but the top 3-4 in that category, and scored a good-but-not-great number of goals for the position.

Lampard, meanwhile, was far and away the best CM in the league for goalscoring, had about five more assists than all but the top 3-4 in that category, and made a good-but-not-great number of passes for the position.

As far as the individual statistics go, they were basically even. Rooney edges ahead when you take the team stats into account (United's goals for/game is just absurd), but I really don't see there as being a clear gap between them. Especially considering that Lampard's the most durable player in the league, while Rooney's a lot more likely to miss time due to injury.

I agree that Lampard and the Chelsea offence as a whole really need to get back to their earlier levels for him to be ahead of Rooney. But even now, I still think he's on the same general level. Hard to go wrong with either of them, really.

Drogba would also be in this discussion if it weren't for the African Cup of Nations taking a month out of his season.

[Passacaglia]

Oh, I'm up?


RICARDO CARVALHO, Chelsea

[tanglewood]

Drogba would also be in this discussion if it weren't for the African Cup of Nations taking a month out of his season.

I have to say that I wouldn't have taken Drogba at 1.3 specifically because of the ACN. In fact, I think I'm going to be a bit wary of picking African players (who haven't already ruled themselves out of selection) purely because of that.

FIFA really needs to sort it out and get the ACN to take place in the summer. Now the Copa America is a 4-year tournament ACN should go the same. Then summers could go:

2010 World Cup
2011 Copa America
2012 Euro Champs
2013 African Nations
2014 World Cup
...

Would be best for all concerned I think.

[tanglewood]

Ok, Katon hasn't been online for 4 hours now. What we'll do is skip him and he can pick when he comes back, but we'll shift his pick in the draft down until he turns up.

Waynegomez on the clock

[waynegomez]

Pick 1.7 Steven Gerrard, Liverpool

edit for correct pick number

[tanglewood]

Whoever gets her first between Condor and Katon will pick next.

Btw, wayne that pick was actualy 1.7. Katon is not being skipped and then forced to make up a pick, he'll just keep swapping draft order positions with the people below him until he turns up or it gets to me when he'll be on the turn.

[waynegomez]

Whoever gets her first between Condor and Katon will pick next.

Btw, wayne that pick was actualy 1.7. Katon is not being skipped and then forced to make up a pick, he'll just keep swapping draft order positions with the people below him until he turns up or it gets to me when he'll be on the turn.

Sorry about that! Guess I misunderstand what was going on. Whether it be pick 1.7 or 1.8, I'm just pleased I was able to land the Liverpool skipper.

[GoldenEagle]

Are the spectators allowed to discuss players who have not been picked yet?

[Passacaglia]

So the deadline is 4 hours?

[condors]

I am going to go with McCarthy forward from Blackburn

[condors]

I was really hoping to get Gerrard :(

[ISiddiqui]

Are the spectators allowed to discuss players who have not been picked yet?

I'd assume that'd be poor form. I generally try to avoid that in all my fantasy leagues (it may prevent someone from picking up a player who "slips through the cracks" due to a careless comment by a spectator which makes another owner realize a player is still around).

[Katon]

And fortunately my originally planned pick survives the delay.

Arsenal CM Cesc Fabregas

[tanglewood]

My first pick is I think head and shoulders above everyone else at his position:

1.10 Petr Cech, GK, Chelsea

And for my second pick I wanted Fabregas but knew he probably wouldn't get back around to me, so am happy to pick up:

2.01 Paul Scholes, CM, Manchester United

Katon is back up now as he is now in the 1.9 slot.

[Katon]

Dola

Sorry about the delay - I assumed I'd have time to stop at home between my two trips out today, but it turned out I was wrong and so I wound up being out for seven hours. In the future I'll be careful to leave a shortlist with someone when this is a possibility.

[tanglewood]

Don't worry Katon. I'd like to run the early rounds without a timer as they are the most important ones and don't want everyone to feel rushed. It was the unique situation in the first round where we could have others pick ahead of you without causing any problem.

[Katon]

And I'm up again. Wow. Going to take half an hour or so to think about this - Cech was the last guy I had as really being miles above the rest at his position.

[tanglewood]

Are the spectators allowed to discuss players who have not been picked yet?

I'd say mentioning specific players is poor form. Making comments about players already picked is fine. Just use common sense judgement really.

[Katon]

2.02 CB John Terry, Chelsea

[Scholes]

, so am happy to pick up:

2.01 Paul Scholes, CM, Manchester United



I thought everyone would just let me take him in the last round because of my user name. Doh. ;)

[Katon]

I would have left him a bit longer since between United's packed midfield and his age I'm not sure he'll play enough to be worth a second round pick. No way he got anywhere near the last round, though.

[condors]

Martins Forward Newcastle

[waynegomez]

2.4 Andrew Johnson, Forward, Everton

[Passacaglia]

2.5 John Arne Riise, LB Liverpool

[BYU 14]

Fernando Torres ST Liverpool

Lets see what he can do in the Prem.

[Critch]

Hopefully I won't regret this:

2.7 Dan Agger, Centerback, Liverpool

[tanglewood]

Chief Rum selects:

2.8 Rio Ferdinand, CB, Manchester United

Joe on the clock.

[tanglewood]

Hopefully I won't regret this:

2.7 Dan Agger, Centerback, Liverpool

Bold choice. He did well last season but is still very inexperienced. Liverpool have a solid defence though so as long as keeps his place you should be okay.

[Joe]

Jamie Carragher, CB, Liverpool

[Passacaglia]

Damn, I was hoping I could steal Torres later.

[Critch]

I don't think there's any chance Agger will lose his place to anything except for injury. He was very solid and consistent last year and showed a tantalizing eye for goal on occasions.

That was my thinking too. He had good stats for last season despite only starting 23 EPL games, he now seems to be the clear choice ahead of Hyppia to partner Carragher so he should be in there every week barring injury.

I came down to picking between Carragher and Agger, decided they were closely matched, so Agger's long range shooting and the fact he's scored a couple from midfield in pre-season matches tipped the balance in his favor.

[waynegomez]

Chief Rum selects:

2.8 Rio Ferdinand, CB, Manchester United

Joe on the clock.

I debated taking Ferdinand at 2.4 instead of Andrew Johnson. While I think Johnson is going to have a monster year, I do have some buyer's remorse and I'm thinking maybe I should have grabbed Ferdinand.

[Scholes]

2.10 Nemanja Vidic, CB, Manchester United
3.11 Darren Bent, F, Tottenham

[Joe]

3.2 Michael Essien, CM, Chelsea

[tanglewood]

Chief Rum selects:

3.3 David Bentley, RM, Blackburn Rovers

Critch is up

[tanglewood]

3.2 Michael Essien, CM, Chelsea

I would have picked Essien with my second pick if only, as alluded to earlier, the African Nations. However I think you got good value for him at the top of the third, I expect a few passed on hims for the same reasons as me.

[Critch]

3.4 Carlos Tevez, Forward, Manchester United (Probably)

[condors]

3.4 Carlos Tevez, Forward, Manchester United (Probably)

I was going to take him but was scared off by his unsure status, as a Manutd fan i hope it works out.

[tanglewood]

The deal has just been ratified by the Premier League about 15 minutes ago.

[waynegomez]

3.4 Carlos Tevez, Forward, Manchester United (Probably)

If this league is going to simulate real life, there now needs to be protracted arguments and litigation regarding Tevez and whether he illegally signed with Critch, should Critch be docked points, and should Tevez be allowed to leave Critch's team. :p The drama of the Tevez saga is worse than the tv movies my wife watches on Lifetime.

[condors]

:) very nice fit with Rooney imho

[Scholes]

Would Tevez be a supplemental draft kind of a deal? I don't think so, because he was already in the premiership with West Ham, but I guess I'm just looking for clarification.

[Katon]

If anyone in the Premiership is a supplemental draft player, it's Tevez. Given the bizarre and unique nature of his situation, and how much of a difference it makes whether he's at United or sulking at West Ham, I think there was a real case to be made for putting him there.

I'm not nearly as enthusiastic about putting him there after the fact, though. Given that he wasn't explicitly put in that category before he was picked, I lean towards leaving him in the main draft.

[waynegomez]

I support Tevez being part of the main draft. Despite his drawn-out saga, he was already playing in the Prem and simply switched from one team to another. (in reality, there was nothing simple about it)

[tanglewood]

Tevez was a registered Premier League player at the start of the draft, so he is not a supplemental player as far as I am concerned. If enough people want him taken out though we could, but I would be against it.

[tanglewood]

Dola

Plus if he was to count as a supplemental player, then you just guarentee him going to whoever has the first pick in the supplemental draft.

[Passacaglia]

Yeah. Regardless of all the drama, if someone wants to take him, they should be able to.

[Passacaglia]

Oh, but Critch should be docked points. ;)

[Critch]

I'm good with whatever is decided.

It's one of the problems with the draft going on in real time though, dealing with transfers and injuries along the way.

[Chief Rum]

I debated taking Ferdinand at 2.4 instead of Andrew Johnson. While I think Johnson is going to have a monster year, I do have some buyer's remorse and I'm thinking maybe I should have grabbed Ferdinand.

My guess is my daily knowledge of most Premiership players pails in comparison to most of the others in this league, so I am happy if I can make a move that makes anyone go, "Shoot, I shoulda done that." :)

Incidentally, I think Johnson is going to be terrific. If I didn't pick Drogba with my first pick (and so was looking for a forward), he would have been on my shortlist of next candidates before you picked him.

[Chief Rum]

I stayed away from Tevez because of the uncertainty, and would likely have considered him higher if the deal was brokered in time for my picks. So in that respect, I am concerned about allowing the move.

But I would go with the majority vote or tanglewood directive, whichever works best.

[condors]

I stayed away from Tevez as well but since I was considering taking him I thought he was part of the draft pool.

[Katon]

I stayed away from Tevez because of the uncertainty, and would likely have considered him higher if the deal was brokered in time for my picks. So in that respect, I am concerned about allowing the move.


This is why I would have argued for making him a supplemental player if the issue had come up beforehand. If Tevez had been guaranteed to be at United when the draft started, there's no way he would have lasted past about 2.5 and he could easily have gone first round. If he's guaranteed to be at West Ham and sulking about it, then the downside of an unhappy player at a not-particularly-impressive club is big enough that he probably goes quite a bit later.

But it wasn't guaranteed where he'd be when he started the draft, and so when the move to United officially went through he suddenly became a lot more attractive and went with the very next pick. Obviously we don't want to put every current Prem player with transfer rumours swirling around them in the supplemental draft, but Tevez was an extreme enough case both in the degree of uncertainty surrounding him and in how much of a difference his location makes to his value that I think there was a real argument for treating him differently.

That said, . . .

The entire draft so far has been conducted on the premise that Tevez was available in the main pool. I don't think it's a good idea to change that premise in midstream, and especially not after he's been selected. My vote is to leave him where he is and congratulate Critch on getting good value for his pick.

[tanglewood]

It is close to 8 hours that BYU has been on the clock. I would like to give players the oppotunity to pick, especially so early on in the draft, but at somepoint you just have to get going.

BYU has been skipped. We will progress to the end of the 3rd and stop there and wait for him, assuming he doesn't come back and pick before then.

Pass is on the clock

I have a PM from him but seeing as he is in the thread I'll let him make his own choice.

[Passacaglia]

Pascal Chimbonda, RB, Tottenham

[tanglewood]

Waynegomez picks:

3.7 Morten Gamst Pedersen, LM, Blackburn Rovers

[tanglewood]

Three defenders in a row Pass. Specific strategy or just how it's panned out?

[Katon]

Going to bed now since I'm in London for the summer and it's after midnight. I've sent a list of picks for 3.9 and possibly 4.2 to Pass and Chief Rum.

[condors]

Andriy Shevchenko FW Chelsea

[BYU 14]

3rd round pick Robin Van Persie FC - Arsenal

[tanglewood]

3rd round pick Robin Van Persie MF - Arsenal

Robin van Persie is listed as a forward. Do you still want him?

[Passacaglia]

Katon takes:

Aaron Lennon, Tottenham, RM

[Passacaglia]

Three defenders in a row Pass. Specific strategy or just how it's panned out?

No specific strategy at all. I have no idea what I'm doing! :p

[tanglewood]

Damnit, pipped to Lennon. My two picks:

3.10 Joe Cole, LM, Chelsea

4.1 Michael Owen, FW, Newcastle United

Rolling the dice a bit on both picks. Will Cole get regular games? Mourinho has said that the diamond midfield is going to be ditched and they are going back to wingers this season so I think so, and if he is fully fit I think he is CHelsea's best wide player. As for Owen, if he is even 80% of what he was pre-injury I think I got good value here.

[Passacaglia]

Katon takes:

Steve Finnan, Liverpool, RB

[Chief Rum]

Well, looks like Pass took care of Katon's picks.

[Joe]

I would have picked Essien with my second pick if only, as alluded to earlier, the African Nations. However I think you got good value for him at the top of the third, I expect a few passed on hims for the same reasons as me.

That doesn't bother me. There are 3 premiership games during the African Nations Cup. He might miss the Jan 19 one as well, depends on the Cup schedule I guess.

[Katon]

Damnit, pipped to Lennon. My two picks:

3.10 Joe Cole, LM, Chelsea

4.1 Michael Owen, FW, Newcastle United

Rolling the dice a bit on both picks. Will Cole get regular games? Mourinho has said that the diamond midfield is going to be ditched and they are going back to wingers this season so I think so, and if he is fully fit I think he is CHelsea's best wide player. As for Owen, if he is even 80% of what he was pre-injury I think I got good value here.

Glad to help :D .

I think Cole will probably get more playing time than any of our other wide players, assuming he's fit - he's an excellent player, he swaps flanks more easily than most of the others, and he's got the most experience playing in the center if Jose decides to go back to the diamond.

Owen . . . I'm a little nervous about Newcastle's situation up front. Add in their latest signing and they've got a lot of strikers to split time between, a couple of whom are actually serious threats to Owen. Also, while he's not quite up to the Darren Anderton or Arjen Robben level, Owen's a bit injury-prone. Class player, though. I think he's more of a playing time gamble than a performance gamble, honestly.

[condors]

Jose Manuel Reina Keeper Liverpool

[waynegomez]

4.4 Nicolas Anelka, Stiker, Bolton

Now I just have to hope he doesn't transfer out of the Prem.

[Passacaglia]

Peter Crouch, FOR, Liverpool

[BYU 14]

4.6 Mikel Arteta Mid Fielder Everton

[Critch]

4.7 Patrice Evra, LB, Manchester United

[Joe]

Glad to help :D .

I think Cole will probably get more playing time than any of our other wide players, assuming he's fit - he's an excellent player, he swaps flanks more easily than most of the others, and he's got the most experience playing in the center if Jose decides to go back to the diamond.

Owen . . . I'm a little nervous about Newcastle's situation up front. Add in their latest signing and they've got a lot of strikers to split time between, a couple of whom are actually serious threats to Owen. Also, while he's not quite up to the Darren Anderton or Arjen Robben level, Owen's a bit injury-prone. Class player, though. I think he's more of a playing time gamble than a performance gamble, honestly.


Well, Owen's already set to miss the opening of the season.

[tanglewood]

Chief Rum selects:

4.8 Kolo Toure, CB, Arsenal

[Joe]

4.9 Dirk Kuijt, CF, Liverpool

[BYU 14]

Chief Rum selects:

4.8 Kolo Toure, CB, Arsenal


Damn I was hoping he would slip til the 5th round, I was sure Arteta wouldn't though so I had to grab him.

[Scholes]

4.10 Emmanuel Eboue, Def, Arsenal
5.1 Xabi Alonso, Midfield, Liverpool

[Joe]

Matthew Taylor, LB, Portsmouth

[tanglewood]

Chief Rum selects:

5.3 Michael Carrick, CM, Manchester United

[Chief Rum]

Damn I was hoping he would slip til the 5th round, I was sure Arteta wouldn't though so I had to grab him.

You would only have gotten one then, because I think Arteta was either next or just ahead of Toure. So whichever you went, I would have gotten the other. :)

[Katon]

Matthew Taylor, LB, Portsmouth

Nice selection. I was hoping he'd last til my fifth pick :( .

[Critch]

Damn I was hoping he would slip til the 5th round, I was sure Arteta wouldn't though so I had to grab him.

He certainly wouldn't have, I was going to pick Arteta with the pick after you.

[Critch]

5.4 Alexander Hleb, LM, Arsenal

[BYU 14]

David James GK Pompey

[Passacaglia]

Ryan Giggs, LM, Manchester United

[tanglewood]

Waynegomez selects:

5.7 Flourent Malouda, LM, Chelsea

Condors on the clock.

[tanglewood]

By the way a thought came to me regarding the converse of players transferring into the Premiership, the question of what to do if a player moves out of the Premiership and you have already drafted him, but the draft is still in progress. I think it's fair that if you pick someone in an earlier round and he is sold to a team outside the EPL that you can make an immediate replacement pick at any time, even out of turn, but it has to be a player of the same position. Sounds fair?

[Passacaglia]

Sounds good to me.

[waynegomez]

That sounds like a fair proposal.

[BYU 14]

I think that's fair as well.

[Joe]

are we drafting today?

[Passacaglia]

I've got Katon's list, and when condors picks, I'll pick for Katon.

[Chief Rum]

I think the question, though, is where is condors?

[waynegomez]

The draft seems to have sadly hit a stall.

[Scholes]

We've already skipped ahead of BYU once, should we skip ahead of condors? It seems like the fair thing to do...

[tanglewood]

I think as it's a Sunday Condors gets a gimmie, but unless he's picked by midmorning on Monday we'll plow ahead.

[tanglewood]

Okay Condors is skipped, Katon is on the clock.

From now on there will be a 2 hour pick timelimit. Please make use of sending shortlists to others via PM if you think you kmay not be able to make your pick in time.

Katon is up

[Katon]

Yakubu, FW, Middlesborough

[tanglewood]

5.10 Ashley Cole, LB, Chelsea

6.1 Gary Neville, RB, Manchester United

[Katon]

6.2 Edwin van der Sar, GK, Manchester United

[tanglewood]

Waynegomez is up.

[tanglewood]

Not sure if people have been doing it, but remember to PM the next guy in line after you make your pick. It helps move things along.

[waynegomez]

6.4 Paul Robinson, GK, Spurs

[Passacaglia]

6.5 John O'Shea, CB, Manchester United

[condors]

I am going to take Stewart Downing LW Middlesbrough (sorry about the late pick wasn't on the pc yesterday and was very busy at work this morning)

[condors]

for my next pick i will go with Shaun Wright-Phillips RW Chelsea

[tanglewood]

Bump

[Critch]

6.7 Dean Ashton, Forward, West Ham United

[Joe]

we moved to a 2 hour limit so I can pick, yes?

[Chief Rum]

Heh, I was around all day yesterday to make a pick, and we waited on one guy. Then I go to work today and you guys install a two hour limit. Yuck.

Well, I'm here. I'll make my pick in a second.

[Chief Rum]

CM Michael Ballack, Chelsea

[Joe]

6.9 Tim Howard, GK, Everton

[Scholes]

6.10 Gilberto Silva, CM, Arsenal
7.1 Eduardo da Silva, F, Arsenal


I can't believe I just took two Arse players, giving me three overall. Gross.

[Joe]

Jermaine Jenas, CM, Spurs

[Chief Rum]

Mark Viduka, FW, Newcastle Sucks

[BYU 14]

Sorry Guys, I am going straight from work to Football practice most Days, so it's hard to always get a pick in on time during the week.

For my 6th round pick I will take
Nicky Shorey LB Reading

[Critch]

7.4 Shay Given, keeper, Newcastle United

[BYU 14]

7.5 Kieran Richardson ML Sunderland

[Passacaglia]

7.6 Robbie Keane, FW, Spurs

[Critch]

7.6 Gilberto Silva, CM, Arsenal

He already went at 6.10.

[Passacaglia]

Thanks! I will pick again.

[Passacaglia]

I picked again. Does anyone know if John O'Shea moved from CB to CM? I'm sure he was a CB when I picked him, but now the site listed his as CM.

[waynegomez]

7.7 Tal Ben Haim, Chelsea

[condors]

7.8 Kevin Nolan CM Bolton

[Katon]

7.9 Gareth Barry, LM, Aston Villa

[Katon]

So does tanglewood get four hours (two picks) or two hours (one person) before we skip him? I'm fine either way, I'd just like to know whether or not to pick.

[Critch]

I'd say giving him the full 4 hours is the best choice.

Not long to wait now anyway.

[Katon]

8.2 Joseph Yobo, CB, Everton

[condors]

8.3 Tim Cahill CM Everton

[waynegomez]

8.4 Sol Campbell, Portsmouth

[Passacaglia]

8.5 Brad Friedel, GK, Blackburn

[BYU 14]

8.6 Tomas Rosicky CM ArsenL

[Katon]

Rosicky's registered as a LM in the game. Do you still want him?

[Critch]

Should I be picking or waiting for BYU's Rosicky confirmation?

[Critch]

I picked again. Does anyone know if John O'Shea moved from CB to CM? I'm sure he was a CB when I picked him, but now the site listed his as CM.

Looks like the positions change. I picked Hleb as a LM, but he's now listed as a RM.

[Joe]

It doesn't really matter though, since once they make an appearance at a position, you can use them in any of those positions. And the guys who are being changed will likely do multiples.

[Critch]

I'm assuming I should pick now, then.

8.7 Martin Petrov, LM, Manchester City

[Katon]

Chief Rum picks

8.8 Jens Lehmann, GK, Arsenal

[BYU 14]

Rosicky's registered as a LM in the game. Do you still want him?

Yes

[Joe]

8.9 Gareth Barry, LM, Aston Villa

[Joe]

I guess he's been taken already.. new pick coming.

[Joe]

William Gallas,CB,Arsenal

[Scholes]

8.10 Michael Dawson, CB, Tottenham
9.1 Robbie Keane, FW, Tottenham

[Katon]

Keane already went with 7.6

[Joe]

9.2 James Milner, RM, Newcastle

[Scholes]

Whoops!

9.1 Rolando Bianchi, FOR, Man City

[waynegomez]

Logistical question: our allocation date is set for tomorrow, I believe. Are we going to stop the draft at some point so that we know where we stand and can rank the remaining players?

[Joe]

Well our draft has been pushed back once already and will be again since we only have 7 of 10 teams in the league on the site.

[Critch]

With the setup needing us to put in our picks for a preference draft, it will only take one person not bothering to set it up, or setting up incorrectly, for the whole draft to be messed up.

We'll be doing well if this isn't a mess :)

[waynegomez]

We now have 9 of 10 teams signed up. I sadly admit that I was one of the 3 who had not signed up yet. That mistake has been rectified.

[Critch]

I guess Chief Rum is skipped, so....

9.4 Joey Barton, CM, Newcastle United

It's just a pity yellow cards, red cards and criminal prosecutions don't win points.

[Chief Rum]

I guess Chief Rum is skipped, so....

9.4 Joey Barton, CM, Newcastle United

It's just a pity yellow cards, red cards and criminal prosecutions don't win points.

Umm, I sent in a list that should still be good. It looks like tangle and Katon weren't around. Fortunately, Barton wasn't on the list.

9.5 RB Lucas Niell, BLA

I am guessing on that number there, because not sure if Critch took my number with his pick.

[Chief Rum]

Just joined the league, filling us up. Somehow I completely missed tangle putting the league name and password in the opening post, because I thought a league hadn't been started yet. I have actually had a team on the site for a week now, "waiting" for the league to be created. :rolleyes:

[Scholes]

Just joined the league, filling us up. Somehow I completely missed tangle putting the league name and password in the opening post, because I thought a league hadn't been started yet. I have actually had a team on the site for a week now, "waiting" for the league to be created. :rolleyes:

Same here.

[Joe]

I suggest everyone put the guys you drafted at the top of your list, since the draft will be happening tomorrow. It will probably be a clusterfuck regardless.

[BYU 14]

Moritz Volz RB Fulham

[Passacaglia]

9.6 Steven Taylor, CB, Newcastle

[waynegomez]

9.7 Jermaine Pennant, RM, Liverpool

[condors]

9.8 Clichy LB Arsenal

[Joe]

We should stop after round nine.

[Katon]

9.9 Gareth Bale, LB, Tottenham

and agreed to stopping after Rd. 9

[BYU 14]

If we stopped after round none could we do the allocation in 2 stages? I.E. Rank who we picked from 1-9, then go back in and rank who we want to fill out the rest of the roster and have a second allocation.

Or we could print out everyone taken, rank our players 1-9, leave everyone elses picks alone and then rank the remaining players from 10 on?

[Joe]

allocation has been done and it looks like we have some swapping to do

[Joe]

well something messed up since it gave me lampard instead of rooney and I had the #1 in the allocation on the site. got most of the rest of my guys though. maybe we should all post players we need to make transfers for and go from there?

[waynegomez]

I actually got all the guys I was suppose to. Hope we can get the transfers figured out for those players who need to be swapped soon.

Edit: Looks like I also have a couple of players I shouldn't have. ( Robin Van Persie, etc)

[Passacaglia]

I don't think I got anyone right.

[Katon]

Presenting the full list of who got what, making my best guesses as to which owner goes with which team:

Scholes (Sleeve of Wizard)
Gets: Bent, Vidic, Eboue, Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, Dawson, Bianchi
Does not get: Gilberto Silva (Chilton Express), Eduardo (Chilton Express)

Joe (Rooney’s Rampage)
Gets: Essien, Carragher, Taylor, Howard, Jenas, Gallas, Milner
Does not get: Rooney (Passers), Kuyt (Chilton Express)

Chief Rum (Teesside Tops)
Gets: Ferdinand, Ballack, Niell
Does not get: Drogba (Surprise FC), Bentley (Surprise FC), Carrick (Chilton Express), Toure (Chilton Express), Viduka (Chilton Express), Lehmann (critch picks)

Critch (critch picks)
Gets: Agger, Evra, Hleb, Tevez, Given, Ashton, Petrov, Barton
Does not get: Lampard (Rooney’s Rampage),

BYU 14 (Chilton Express)
Gets:
Does not get: James (Colorado Blues), Arteta (Surprise FC), Berbatov (Teesside Tops), Torres (Passers), Van Persie (Colorado Blues), Shorey (Teesside Tops), Richardson (out of contract), Rosicky (Tanglewood Hotspur), Volz (critch picks)

Passacaglia (Passers)
Gets: O’Shea, Chimbonda
Does not get: Carvalho (critch picks), Crouch (Teeside Tops), Giggs (Surprise FC), Riise (Surprise FC), Keane (Tanglewood Hotspur), Friedel (Teeside Tops), Taylor (Chilton Express)

waynegomez (Colorado Blues)
Gets: Robinson, Gerrard, Pedersen, Malouda, Johnson, Anelka, Pennant, Ben Haim, Campbell
Does not get: Nobody!

condors (Surprise FC)
Gets: Martins, Shevchenko
Does not get: Cahill(out of contract), Reina (Passers), Downing (Teesside Tops), Wright-Phillips (Rooney’s Rampage), Nolan (Lancre Wowhawks), Clichy (Teesside Tops)

Katon (Lancre Wowhawks):
Gets: Van der Sar, Yobo, Barry, Fabregas, Lennon, Yakubu, Bale
Does not get: Terry (Chilton Express), Finnan (Sleeve of Wizard)

tanglewood (Tanglewood Hotspur)
Gets: Cech, J. Cole, Scholes
Does not get: A. Cole (Passers), Neville (Passers), Owen (Teesside Tops)

[Katon]

And now the list of misdrafted players sorted by where they wound up:

Sleeve of Wizard:
Steve Finnan

Rooney’s Rampage:
Frank Lampard
Sean Wright-Phillips

Teesside Tops:
Dimitar Berbatov
Nicky Shorey
Peter Crouch
Brad Friedel
Stewart Downing
Gael Clichy
Michael Owen

critch picks:
Jens Lehmann
Moritz Volz
Ricardo Carvalho

Chilton Express:
Gilberto Silva
Eduardo da Silva
Dirk Kuyt
Michael Carrick
Kolo Toure
Mark Viduka
Steven Taylor
John Terry

Passers:
Wayne Rooney
Fernando Torres
Jose Reina
Ashley Cole
Gary Neville

Colorado Blues:
Robin van Persie

Surprise FC:
Didier Drogba
David Bentley
Mikel Arteta
Ryan Giggs
John Arne Riise

Lancre Wowhawks:
Kevin Nolan

Tanglewood Hotspur:
Tomas Rosicky
Robbie Keane

[Katon]

Probably a few mistakes in there since it's after midnight on this side of the pond, but that data dump should give us something to go off of.

My suggestion would be that everyone just release all the players they shouldn't have into the free agent pool, being careful not to pick up anyone who should be somewhere else.

I'm going to bed now, since as I mentioned above it's after midnight and I'm sleepy, but when I wake up I'll be happy to follow whatever plan everyone agrees on.

[Joe]

yeah I think releasing and signing is the way to go

[Chief Rum]

Hmm, no one seems to have released anyone. Are we waiting on everyone to give the okay? If so, that's fine by me.

Do we keep the players we have not claimed by anyone (if we want, of course)?

[Katon]

I'd say keep anyone who doesn't explicitly belong to someone else.

I think there's a bit of a time delay on free transfers, at least if the incoming player is someone who's recently joined the league; I set up a couple yesterday (including releasing Nolan) that are still "pending notice claims" according to the website.

[Chief Rum]

So the league doesn't release the players right away? Heh, the Brits shoulda taken a look at American football fantasy sites before trying this. ;)

Seriously, though, I have "released" the selected players who are not supposed to be on my team. Only one of the players I selected--Drogba--had been released, so I put in to pick him up. I guess I won't see the results until later.

Do we wait another day to see which owners are complying and dropping their guys, given how the program doesn't drop/pick up players right away? Or has it already been long enough? Several of my picks are still on other players' teams. Strangely enough, Surprise FC dropped Drogba as they should, but didn't drop Bentley. Thought that was odd.

Let's see if we can get some feedback going here and get everything straightened out by the weekend (so this nonsense only costs us two rounds).

[Katon]

I was crawling around the site a bit and apparently there's a two-day hold right after the allocation so that everyone has an opportunity to look for the pick of the undrafted players. It should be a bit faster now, if that's what the problem was.

[condors]

i thought i did drop bently i will check it out right now

[condors]

it looks like he is out there to claim from my side

[Critch]

I can see Bentley sitting out there waiting for pickup too.

Thanks for trying to get this sorted out Katon, CR, condors and all. Hopefully we can get a few more of the releases done before tomorrow's midweek schedule starts. (And I'm not just saying that because I've got Darren Fletcher in central midfield when I should have Frank Lampard :) )

[Joe]

I released Lampard and he is still in pending status. I just hope I can get Rooney on my roster soon... oh wait..

[Chief Rum]

This site's really starting to cheese me off. It doesn't seem to want me to drop anyone without adding anyone.

Well, what if I don't want freakin' add anyone right now? I don't want to hold a player someone else should have, but when I leave "Add Player" as None, it basically refreshes and doesn't do shit.

[Critch]

Yeah, I had to pick up players to replace the ones I dropped. It also won't let you drop and pickup more than 1 player at a time.

Once we've got the original draft sorted out, it should be good enough though.

[Scholes]

I think we need BYU to drop his whole team so we can properly sort all this out.

[BYU 14]

I think we need BYU to drop his whole team so we can properly sort all this out.


I have tried twice with no success, will try again now.

[BYU 14]

Dola

Just tried again with no success, tried individually and as a whole.

Added them to the drop list, hit submit and they remained on my roster....any ideas?

[Chief Rum]

Dola

Just tried again with no success, tried individually and as a whole.

Added them to the drop list, hit submit and they remained on my roster....any ideas?

Were you adding players at the same time? Apparently, you need to add players to drop players. See a few posts up. I had the same issue.

[BYU 14]

OK, wasn't paying attention to those earlier posts. I will drop everyone that should be on another team...what a pain in the Ass.