Week 40 Update.

Dear All,

The English Premiership might be over but there's still plenty to be played for in the DITB League where the final day is crucial to the future of some worried managers.

Yes, just one match remains in what's been an exciting season and while the Premier League crown looks certain to be on its way to The Professor's Chelsea Daggers, in other positions, the tension is almost unbearable.

The closest battle remaining is in the Johnny Hanna Conference League, where Gazza's Piping Hots look certain to be crowned champions ahead of Yer Ma's Athletic, while Cool Dude Zoo, Muckamore Utd and Con Villa will be digging deep into their pockets to pay those unwanted relegation fees.

However, the battle for the third remaining promotion place is raging with Gulladuff FF enjoying (for want of a better word) just a THREE point cushion over the strong finishing You'llneverwalkalone who've really crept up on the rails in recent weeks.

Yes, just one assist in the FA Cup Final could be the difference between staying in the Conference and a new life in the glorious Premier League.

It all boils down to one team now... Portsmouth, and I'm sure that everyone is asking his or her self the same questions. Should I put in defenders for clean sheets or strikers for goals.

That's if you have any transfers left of course! I waved goodbye to mine a long time ago.

Now it's time to turn our attention to the DITB elite, some of whom won't be elite for too much longer.

At the top of the table, the top five positions look pretty much set in stone, despite a late run from Guru Walls to try and catch The Dogs Ballacks. No-one looks like catching anyone else, unless someone has a full team of Portsmouth players.

However, at the bottom of the table there is still one place yet to be decided. Sheer Kidology FAF!! will be delighted to have opened an eight point lead over Minibabybellefc going into the cup final. Still, it's not a lead on which he can sit back and relax. Has Miss Baber one final trick up her sleeve to cuase an upset and send former champion Brother O'Sullivan (aka Chuckle Brother) Jnr into the quicksand of the Conference - along with the Fairies and the Goldfish.

Excitement and dread all rolled into one... it's what the DITB League is all about.

And finally, there's one other important battle taking place this weekend... the DITB FFA Cup Final between the Premiership's Harpic Amsterdam and Muckamore Utd, already relegated from the Conference League.

On paper, this match is no contest but on the day, with silverware at stake, anything can happen.

And you know what...

... it usually does!!!

So my friends, good luck to all involved in cup final, promotion and relegation scraps. May the force be with you... you'll need it.

Until next week then, when we'll receive the official results...


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


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

PS: This week's transfer password is GREEN, just like a few of our managers this year!


PPS: Don't forget the AGP on Saturday June 14!!!


League Name : DITB PREMIER LEAGUE League PIN : 8006160

League
Position Overall
Position Manager
Name Team
Name Week 40
Points Total
Points
1 1229 Mr K Festraerts CHELSEA DAGGERS 40 1773
2 2207 Mr M Rafferty THE GRAPES OF RAFF 47 1751
3 5089 Mr B Devlin BRENDYS BRUISERS 56 1716
4 7856 Mr A Kirby KIRBS CRAWLERS 39 1695
5 14611 Mr P Brogan THE DOGS BALLACKS 35 1662
6 18964 Mr C Walls AU REVOIR THIERRY14 68 1646
7 22121 Mr G Sheehy PRINCE OF DARKNESS 39 1636
8 28224 Mr M Molloy HARPIC AMSTERDAM 54 1619
9 47050 Mr O McNally MACLACTICOS 35 1577
10 49183 Mr K McCauley KFC ACADEMICAL 44 1573
11 55004 Mr G Johnston MINUS THREE FC 51 1562
11 55004 Mr J McDermott RAFAS' GOATEE 35 1562
13 65616 Mr B Shields THE HAPPY MONKEYS 20 1543
14 76926 Mr D Crudden YLNEVERBEATHEFRANKIE 51 1524
15 92621 Mr W Cherry CHERRY UNITED 48 1498
16 102985 Mr J Eilledge TRUE BLUE STRIKERS 42 1481
17 130764 Mr S O'Sullivan SHEER KIDOLOGY FAF!! 34 1433
18 135158 Miss C Baber MINYBABYBELLEFC 26 1425
19 149145 Mr C McAvoy REAL GOLDFISH 41 1398
20 152010 Mr B Kelly FLEXYS FAIRIES 44 1392

Super League average 1719.40
Position in League of Super Leagues 267/12457



League Name : DITB CONFERENCE LEAGUE League PIN : 8006681

League
Position Overall
Position Manager
Name Team
Name Week 40
Points Total
Points
1 9699 Mr G McDonald GAZZA'S PIPING HOTS 46 1684
2 13866 Mr F Jones YER MA'S ATHLETIC 61 1665
3 43477 Mr B Henry GULLADUFF FF 34 1584
4 45005 Mr M Stevenson YOU'LLNEVERWALKALONE 37 1581
5 95698 Mr A McGinley BOYS OF SUMMER 41 1493
6 107232 Mr B Corr BAZKINGATTHETOP 50 1474
7 111470 Mr B Henry STEPRIGHTIN 29 1467
8 112654 Mr G Bradley HOOFERS UTD 38 1465
9 127353 Mr A McCabe JOEYS MONSTERS 39 1439
10 144065 Mr D Nightingale BLACK SOCKS RED TOPS 42 1408
11 169484 Mr C Nugent THE WELL HUNGARIANS 46 1353
12 182029 Mr C Donnelly THE BUSTED CLAMPETS 66 1322
13 186113 Mr P Maynes FERNANDO MUPPETORRES 52 1311
14 188524 Mr E Eastwood VIRGIN SURFERS 56 1304
14 188524 Mr S O'Sullivan MERSEY MIRACLES 47 1304
16 207880 Mr C McGinley CON VILLA 19 1242
17 219758 Mr A Stewart MUCKAMORE UTD 25 1197
18 264822 Mr S O'Sullivan COOL DUDE ZOO 13 877

Super League average 1601.40
Position in League of Super Leagues 4798/12457

AGP Details.

Dear All,

Apologies to those who cannot make it but the date for this year's AGP is Saturday June 14.

As always, we will converge at The Botanic Inn for copious amounts of alcohol whilst watching the European Championships.

The presentation of prizes, and paying of forfeits will also take place on that day.

For those who have attended the AGP before, it's always a memorable occasion whilst at the same time being not so memorable.

Not for the faint hearted but I know you can all handle it.

See you on the 14th!!!

Week 39 Update

Dear All,

With just one round of league games to go and an FA Cup Final, there is still much to play for in the DITB League.

The top prize looks even more likely to be claimed by Chelsea Daggers as Brother Festraerts extends his lead at the top to 29 points. The Grapes need nothing short of a miracle to steal it but who knows... maybe The Prof will have ten men sent off, having scored an own goal each!!!

The third Champions league place looks like a battle between Brendy's Bruisers and Kirbs Crawlers, who at one time looked like title contenders. However a lack of experience, and maybe a tendency to fill them, has practically eliminated them from the title race.

As to who claims that third spot, I suppose it's the team that fills them the least! ;-)

Defending champion The Dogs Ballacks' revival seems to have petered out in fifth place and Brother Brogan is as likely to grab third as he is to be overtaken by The Prince of Darkness, who whilst only a Prince must surely be the King of the fill-them brigade! Once again, we'll put it down to experience which might be of great beneift to these teams next season.

As much as I enjoy poking fun at teams from time to time, in a moment of seriousness, I feel I must point out that the afore mentioned squads are the elite of the elite, the creme de la creme of this season's fantasy football and should be very proud of their performances.

Skipping the mid-table mediocrity, it's time to look at the Premiership's relegation zone - three words which strike fear into the hearts of the bravest of managers.

And the relegation battle has taken a very interesting turn as the end of the season draws near.

We can assume by now that Flexys Fairies and Real Goldfish will be plying their trade in the Johnny Hanna Conference League next season but a valiant effort from Minibabybelle FC has seen the league's only female competitor draw LEVEL with former champion Sheer Kidology FAF!!

Could Paddys Sulls join his brother and nephew in the Conference next season? Or will the Demon Baber be reunited with her babe McCabe? This particular battle could not be any more exciting at this stage of the season. The consequences for the loser are indeed tragic (and potentially hilarious!).

Congratulations to True Blue Strikers whose great escape will be as pleasing to Brother Eilledge, I'm sure, as winning the title itself!

Not to depress anyone but once you go down into the quicksand of the CL, there's no guarantee that you'll ever return to the Premiership.

Speaking of which, it's time to turn our attention the the Cess Pit where Gazza's Piping Hots and Yer Ma's Athletic are probably already drunk on champagne and looking forward to life in the Premier League next season.

However, there's always a twist at the end of the season and Gulladuff FF, whose position in the top three looked safe, is now under severe pressure from You'llneverwalkalone as Brother Stevenson makes a last ditch attempt for pormotion, which would be quite a feat in his first DITB season.

A remarkable 58 point score has taken him to within SIX points of Brother Henry Jnr and, once again, we have a fascinating finish on our hands with the ultimate prize of promotion at stake.

And finally, at the bottom of the table it looks likely that Cool Dude Zoo won't even make it into four figures or maybe even reach the 900 point mark. Muckamore Utd's attention will be firmly focused on his FFA Cup Final battle against Harpic Amsterdam and he'll be hoping that a victory will cover his relegation forfeit.

The third relegation place looks like it's going to Con Villa with an outside chance that Brother McGinley could catch the Virgin Surfers.

So there you have it. It's been an exciting season and it's great to see a couple of key positions going right down to the wire.

Don't know about you, but I can't wait to see how it all turns out!

Until next week....

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

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


PS: This week's transfer password is GODDARD

League Name : DITB PREMIER LEAGUE League PIN : 8006160

League
Position Overall
Position Manager
Name Team
Name Week 39
Points Total
Points
1 1044 Mr K Festraerts CHELSEA DAGGERS 42 1733
2 2265 Mr M Rafferty THE GRAPES OF RAFF 34 1704
3 6336 Mr B Devlin BRENDYS BRUISERS 34 1660
4 6912 Mr A Kirby KIRBS CRAWLERS 28 1656
5 12055 Mr P Brogan THE DOGS BALLACKS 28 1627
6 20026 Mr G Sheehy PRINCE OF DARKNESS 40 1597
7 26585 Mr C Walls AU REVOIR THIERRY14 39 1578
8 31728 Mr M Molloy HARPIC AMSTERDAM 32 1565
9 42022 Mr O McNally MACLACTICOS 41 1542
10 48658 Mr K McCauley KFC ACADEMICAL 43 1529
11 49726 Mr J McDermott RAFAS' GOATEE 48 1527
12 51832 Mr B Shields THE HAPPY MONKEYS 18 1523
13 58444 Mr G Johnston MINUS THREE FC 36 1511
14 81205 Mr D Crudden YLNEVERBEATHEFRANKIE 36 1473
15 95524 Mr W Cherry CHERRY UNITED 40 1450
16 102300 Mr J Eilledge TRUE BLUE STRIKERS 27 1439
17 126251 Miss C Baber MINYBABYBELLEFC 41 1399
17 126251 Mr S O'Sullivan SHEER KIDOLOGY FAF!! 28 1399
19 149303 Mr C McAvoy REAL GOLDFISH 47 1357
20 153752 Mr B Kelly FLEXYS FAIRIES 23 1348

Super League average 1676
Position in League of Super Leagues 252/12457

League Name : DITB CONFERENCE LEAGUE League PIN : 8006681

League
Position Overall
Position Manager
Name Team
Name Week 39
Points Total
Points
1 9780 Mr G McDonald GAZZA'S PIPING HOTS 40 1638
2 17950 Mr F Jones YER MA'S ATHLETIC 32 1604
3 38248 Mr B Henry GULLADUFF FF 29 1550
4 41086 Mr M Stevenson YOU'LLNEVERWALKALONE 58 1544
5 94210 Mr A McGinley BOYS OF SUMMER 44 1452
6 102910 Mr B Henry STEPRIGHTIN 21 1438
7 109677 Mr G Bradley HOOFERS UTD 34 1427
8 111496 Mr B Corr BAZKINGATTHETOP 41 1424
9 125659 Mr A McCabe JOEYS MONSTERS 48 1400
10 144657 Mr D Nightingale BLACK SOCKS RED TOPS 41 1366
11 172472 Mr C Nugent THE WELL HUNGARIANS 30 1307
12 191242 Mr P Maynes FERNANDO MUPPETORRES 28 1259
13 191940 Mr S O'Sullivan MERSEY MIRACLES 44 1257
14 192284 Mr C Donnelly THE BUSTED CLAMPETS 44 1256
15 195015 Mr E Eastwood VIRGIN SURFERS 46 1248
16 203093 Mr C McGinley CON VILLA 24 1223
17 217565 Mr A Stewart MUCKAMORE UTD 33 1172
18 264308 Mr S O'Sullivan COOL DUDE ZOO 11 864

Super League average 1557.60
Position in League of Super Leagues 4733/12457