Week 32 Update

Dear All,

Some would call this the business end of the season and with the finishing line in sight, a few managers are certainly showing that they mean business.

The Grapes of Raff certainly mean business and despite what Manager Rafa would deem an inconsistent and injury-ridden season (don't worry I can hear your groans from here!!), the Grapes have shown that they're not prepared to throw in the towel just yet with what Hale and Pace might describe as a stonking 94 points this week.

This moves the Grapes into third position, just five points behind Brendy's Bruisers and 23 points behind league leaders Kirbs Crawlers, both of whom have been scoring consistently well themselves.

Defending champion The Dogs Ballacks also means business, easing into fifth position with what Jack Black might describe as a gut-busting 83 points.

Brother Brogan, in his quest to become the first manager to ever successfully defend the title, is now just 25 points behind the ever-dangerous Chelsea Daggers who, under the masterful eye of The Professor and his magic calculator, are themselves eyeing up a record-breaking third league title.

Could there be any more drama? No I think not!

Another team that means business, and it's not often said, is The Happy Monkeys with what Sir Paul McCartney might describe as a long and winding 83 points, moving Brother Shields up to eighth position, ahead of fellow board member Harpic Amsterdam, and just three points behind the Prince.

Surely not, I hear you cry!!! There's no way that The Monkeys could be just three points behind The Prince??? Well my friends, as Annie Lennox would say, would I lie to you? No, I wouldn't!

How the mighty have fallen and one has to feel sorry for the poor dethroned Prince who is at this moment sitting reading this email from seventh position.

He tasted life at the top for such a long time before the big 'P' started to bite (that's 'Pressure' in case you hadn't worked it out!).

Yes, it's hard to reach the top and it's even harder to stay there, as many will testify.

Not since Brother Bradley dropped Michael Owen with a couple of weeks remaining to throw away the title all those years ago have we seen such a fall from grace.

Brother Sheehy has now got to motivate his team to lift themselves up and battle again for a European position which is still well within reach.

Otherwise the heads might drop and in a few years he could end up in the Conference... that's what happened Brother Bradley!!!

Anyway, enough reminiscing and back to the wonderful goings on in today's league.

But before we move on to the relegation zone, we must point out thet Guru Walls has also dropped out of the top five, having squatted there for a long time. Has he outstayed his welcome? Can he reorganise his troops for one last assault? We'll soon find out.

Quickly moving on past the mid-table mediocrity brigade, let's focus on the dreaded relegation zone.

The good news is that NO-ONE is definitely down at this stage, although it's been a bad week for Real Goldfish and a good one for True Blue Strikers.

At the moment, the Strikers and Cherry United look favourites to avoid the drop but the others are still within touching distance. Who knows, it might go down to the FA Cup Final - if Portsmouth make it that is!

Onwards and downwards then to the hell hole that is the Conference League (no offence lads!).

And there's some big news in that division too as Gazza's Piping Hots knock Yer Ma's Athletic off the top for the first time this season.

Brothers McDonald and Jones will be glad to get out of the cess pit (or should I say Cess Fabregas pit!!) but I'm sure they'll look back fondly at the days when they were at the top of the table. There's a lot to be said about being big fishes in a small pond. :-)

Gazza, I'm sure you know that if you're crowned Conference League Champion you'll have to attend the AGP for a change!!!

While the top two may be home and dry and looking forward to Premiership football next season, the third promotion place is not quite cemented yet - although Gulladuff enjoys a 55 point lead over Steprightin.

You'l'neverwalkalone and Boys of Summer could still surprise with a late run though. If either of these managers have a lot of transfers left, then there could be a few shocks yet to come in this sewer of a division.

And with every sewer comes the inevitable sewer rats - namely Cool Dude Zoo, Muckamore Utd and Con Villa. I wish there was a third division because these three deserve to be in it after their performances this season (although Brother Stewart may yet redeem himslef by winning the FFA Cup!). In fact Cool Dude Zoo don't even deserve to be in a third division.

I bet you've never been told this before Stevie, but you're an insult to the hypothetical third division!!!

Who knows, if there are more teams wanting to join the DITB merry-go-round, we might have a third division yet - although what we would call it, I've no idea!!!

So that's it boys and girls. Anyone wanting to make transfers this week can do so with the password MARSH.

The way things have been going lately, I have no idea what to expect next week. Maybe The Prince will climb back to the top??

Nah that's just being ridiculous (sorry Cheeko!).

Until next week my footie friends....

.... READ 'EM AND WEEP!!!!!!!!!!!


Michael R.
Diving in the Box FF League Chairman
http://divinginthebox.blogspot.com/


League Name : DITB PREMIER LEAGUE League PIN : 8006160

League
Position Overall
Position Manager
Name Team
Name Week 32
Points Total
Points
1 3236 Mr A Kirby KIRBS CRAWLERS 57 1402
2 5056 Mr B Devlin BRENDYS BRUISERS 54 1384
3 5688 Mr M Rafferty THE GRAPES OF RAFF 94 1379
4 5806 Mr K Festraerts CHELSEA DAGGERS 64 1378
5 10204 Mr P Brogan THE DOGS BALLACKS 83 1353
6 16432 Mr C Walls AU REVOIR THIERRY14 39 1329
7 20938 Mr G Sheehy PRINCE OF DARKNESS 38 1315
8 22039 Mr B Shields THE HAPPY MONKEYS 83 1312
9 24377 Mr M Molloy HARPIC AMSTERDAM 69 1306
10 37000 Mr K McCauley KFC ACADEMICAL 37 1277
11 50020 Mr O McNally MACLACTICOS 58 1253
12 59057 Mr J McDermott RAFAS' GOATEE 55 1238
13 62274 Mr G Johnston MINUS THREE FC 61 1233
14 76465 Mr D Crudden YLNEVERBEATHEFRANKIE 46 1212
15 85388 Mr S O'Sullivan SHEER KIDOLOGY FAF!! 33 1199
16 121296 Mr J Eilledge TRUE BLUE STRIKERS 63 1148
17 122019 Mr W Cherry CHERRY UNITED 42 1147
18 136734 Mr B Kelly FLEXYS FAIRIES 44 1125
19 141225 Mr C McAvoy REAL GOLDFISH 33 1118
20 144383 Miss C Baber MINYBABYBELLEFC 45 1113

Super League average 1379.20
Position in League of Super Leagues 407/12457

League Name : DITB CONFERENCE LEAGUE League PIN : 8006681

League
Position Overall
Position Manager
Name Team
Name Week 32
Points Total
Points
1 8004 Mr G McDonald GAZZA'S PIPING HOTS 58 1364
2 10444 Mr F Jones YER MA'S ATHLETIC 44 1352
3 41640 Mr B Henry GULLADUFF FF 48 1268
4 75782 Mr B Henry STEPRIGHTIN 36 1213
5 81294 Mr M Stevenson YOU'LLNEVERWALKALONE 46 1205
6 93086 Mr A McGinley BOYS OF SUMMER 62 1188
7 105230 Mr G Bradley HOOFERS UTD 54 1171
8 110149 Mr A McCabe JOEYS MONSTERS 27 1164
9 141850 Mr P Maynes FERNANDO MUPPETORRES 39 1117
10 146222 Mr B Corr BAZKINGATTHETOP 58 1110
11 147379 Mr D Nightingale BLACK SOCKS RED TOPS 23 1108
12 174105 Mr C Nugent THE WELL HUNGARIANS 35 1060
13 176077 Mr S O'Sullivan MERSEY MIRACLES 39 1056
14 185943 Mr C Donnelly THE BUSTED CLAMPETS 27 1035
15 193086 Mr E Eastwood VIRGIN SURFERS 43 1019
16 218493 Mr C McGinley CON VILLA 47 948
17 221477 Mr A Stewart MUCKAMORE UTD 45 938
18 261978 Mr S O'Sullivan COOL DUDE ZOO 53 719

Super League average 1280.40
Position in League of Super Leagues 4732/12457