Update 29/10/08

Dear All,

With one match played last night, all I can say is... Ishmael Miller, I got him!!!! ;-)

A full programme tonight means that there are plenty of points up for grabs, so the scores below won't be very current this time tomorrow.

With this in mind, there's no point in conducting much of an analysis.

Suffice to say, The Blue Monkeys reign at the top didn't last long with an instant 'fill them' from Brother Shields. Now Minus Three FC takes over the mantle.

Brother Johnston has been known to be a bit of a bottler in the past so can he take the pressure that comes with being the premier league leader? We'll find out soon enough.

The Monkeys still occupy second place ahead of a man who has proven time and time again that he's a big game player... three-time champion The Professor, lurking ominously as always in third position.

True Blue Strikers are in a UEFA Cup position, along with Feeder Club MUFC and Yer Ma's Athletic, now showing some of the form that won him the Conference title last season.

KFC climbs off the bottom at the expense of Minibabybelle FC, with Gulladuff FF and Cherry United just ahead.

Probably The Best still leads the Conference, ahead of Sheer Kidology and Flexy's Fairies, ahead of the Two Barries.

And rock bottom of the league is now The Busted Sofas, behind the Fernandos and Master Eamon Eastwood's Virgin Surfers (still cracks me up!). What do you think Doctor McNally? ;-)

The Conference is still outperforming the Premiership but it;s only a matter of time before that situation is reversed. A bit like Hull City I suppose.

Finally, a lot of managerial changes have taken this place which could have an effect on your players, in terms of both team selection and form. Bear this in mind when making those crucial transfers this evening.

This week's password is the non-blinking stare king himself WILKINS.

Good luck to one and all. You'll need it in this game.

All eyes on Brother Johnston!

Until next week.........

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


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


DITB PREMIER LEAGUE

Pos
Overall Manager Team Tot Pts
1 6284 Mr Geoff Johnston Minus Three FC 346
2 12781 Mr Brian Shields the blue monkeys 333
3 21905 Mr Kurt Festraerts Making History 322
4 23983 Mr Jules Eilledge True Blue Strikers 320
5 26143 Mr Conor Walls Feeder club MUFC 318
5 26143 Mr Fra Jones Yer Ma's Athletic 318
7 27281 Mr Michael Rafferty The Grapes of Raff 317
7 27281 Dr Owen McNally Maclacticos 317
9 39054 Mr Paul Brogan Diaby Does Dallas 308
10 43594 Mr Mark Molloy Harpic Amsterdam 305
11 57003 Mr Gary McDonald Gazzas Piping Hots 297
11 57003 Mr Andy Kirby kirbs crawlers 297
13 66292 Mr Declan Crudden HIT THE BAR 292
14 70315 Mr Brendan Devlin Brendys Bruisers 290
15 93633 Mr John McDermott ABCDE FC 279
16 104696 Mr Gavin Sheehy Prince of Darkness 274
17 127200 Mr William Cherry Cherry United 264
18 129347 Mr Matthew Henry Gulladuff F.F 263
19 165102 Mr Kevin McCauley KFC Academical 246
20 176231 Miss Claire Baber MINIBABYBELLEFC 240
Your league is placed 1857 out of 10684 with an average score of 328.



DITB Conference League
Pos Overall Manager Team Tot Pts
1 3305 Mr Mark Stevenson PROBABLY THE BEST 356
2 12164 Mr Simon Patrick O'Sullivan Sheer Kidology 334
3 17255 Mr Brendan Kelly flexys fairys 327
4 27281 Mr Barry Jones Barry's Elite XI 317
5 31029 Mr Barry Corr bazkinginglory 314
6 57003 Mr colly mckenna micky hartes x1 297
7 64397 Mr Simon Jenkins Stickshifter FC 293
8 68317 Mr Connell McGinley Mighty Con Villa 291
9 95865 Mr Austin McGinley Boys of Summer 278
10 98040 Mr Brendan Henry HOWRTINGS 277
11 106866 Mr Andrew McCabe Joeys Monsters 273
12 133877 Mr Stephen O'Sullivan Mersey Miracles 261
13 155141 Mr Alan Stewart Muckamore Uld 251
14 172563 Mr Alan McCabe Dirty Dubs XI 242
15 184871 Mr conor mc avoy REAL GOLDFISH 235
16 196726 Mr Philip McCabe Chamonix Albion 227
16 196726 Mr Stephen O'Sullivan Cool Dude Zoo 227
18 198037 Mr Conor Nugent The Well Hungarian 226
19 200613 Mr Gareth Bradley Hoofers UTD 224
20 210552 Master Eamon Eastwood Virgin Surfers 215
21 212410 Mr paul maynes The fernandos 213
22 216525 Mr Conor Donnelly The Busted Sofas 208
Your league is placed 1639 out of 10684 with an average score of 330.

Update 15/10/2008

Dear All,

Thankfully we've had an international break which the chairman is hoping will put a stop to his team's free fall from top of the table to 7th!!!

However, the Grapes still stand by their logic and will put their poor performances down to bad luck - which is emphasised by the fact that, for the first time, the Conference League is now in a higher position than the Premiership in the league of Super Leagues. You can't beat freaky luck like that.

Now it's True Blue Strikers' turn to carry the burden of pressure that comes with being a league leader.

And with Ronaldo back to full fitness, Torres now on fire, and the big guns keeping clean sheets galore (apart from Arsenal!!), there are plenty (some would say too many) of options and decisions for FF managers to make.

Going back to the league tables, self-professed football guru Brother Walls climbs back to second place with his Feeder club MUFC, just ahead of The Blue Monkeys, MInus Three FC and Making History.

Only 40 points separate the top 14 teams so nothing to worry about yet, unless you're not in the top 14 of course!!!

Looking at the bottom of the league, Minibabybelle still languishes in last place, beneath KFC Academical and young whippersnapper Gulladuff FF (that's a punishment that goes way beyond the crime methinks!).

Turning our attention to the Conference League (only because I feel I have to!), Probably The Best is living up to his bold team name with an impressive league-leading total of 295 points. Sheer Kidololololgy occupy second place with Flexy's Fairies in third, while newcomer Barry's Elite XI in fourth place is hoping to emulate the achievement of his brother last year with promotion to the big league. Bazking is also threatening the top three for a change.

Brother Maynes is holding up the rear as he likes to do (ooh err missus) with the Busted Sofas and Hoofers Utd not far ahead.

The new McCabe boys don't look to be up to much either - let's face it, Cool Dude Zoo is ahead of them!

Anyway, decisions, decisions, decisions... I must go now and torture myself for an hour about possible transfers for Saturday as I'll be away at the weekend with no internet access (see I like to get my excuses in early).

Anyone wanting to join me (in transfer hell - not for the weekend!!!) can do so with the password STUBBS.

Finally, two VERY IMPORTANT issues:

1) have you all bought a copy of The Minnows' album yet? Only a tenner on www.theminnows.com so you've no excuse!!! Do it NOW or face a point reduction.

2) this year's AGP will take place on Saturday December 6, a date that we'd previously set aside for a lads get together anyway. Let me know if you can make it.


That's if for me. Until next week..........

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


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

DITB PREMIER LEAGUE

Pos

Overall
Manager Team Tot Pts
1 9332 Mr Jules Eilledge True Blue Strikers 272
2 15020 Mr Conor Walls Feeder club MUFC 264
3 15931 Mr Brian Shields the blue monkeys 263
4 19164 Mr Geoff Johnston Minus Three FC 260
5 21900 Mr Kurt Festraerts Making History 257
6 25049 Dr Owen McNally Maclacticos 255
7 26598 Mr Michael Rafferty The Grapes of Raff 253
8 28899 Mr Paul Brogan Diaby Does Dallas 252
9 36841 Mr Declan Crudden HIT THE BAR 246
10 41787 Mr Andy Kirby kirbs crawlers 243
11 49839 Mr Brendan Devlin Brendys Bruisers 239
12 55151 Mr Gary McDonald Gazzas Piping Hots 236
13 59344 Mr Mark Molloy Harpic Amsterdam 234
14 63970 Mr Fra Jones Yer Ma's Athletic 232
15 95226 Mr John McDermott ABCDE FC 219
16 106291 Mr William Cherry Cherry United 215
17 128182 Mr Gavin Sheehy Prince of Darkness 207
18 134846 Mr Matthew Henry Gulladuff F.F 204
19 181373 Mr Kevin McCauley KFC Academical 184
20 195870 Miss Claire Baber MINIBABYBELLEFC 176
Your league is placed 1706 out of 10685 with an average score of 263.


DITB Conference League
Pos Overall Manager Team Tot Pts
1 1713 Mr Mark Stevenson PROBABLY THE BEST 295
2 13332 Mr Simon Patrick O'Sullivan Sheer Kidology 266
3 17769 Mr Brendan Kelly flexys fairys 261
4 22284 Mr Barry Jones Barry's Elite XI 257
5 25631 Mr Barry Corr bazkinginglory 254
6 61326 Mr Simon Jenkins Stickshifter FC 233
6 61686 Mr Austin McGinley Boys of Summer 233
8 70793 Mr Brendan Henry HOWRTINGS 229
9 91770 Mr colly mckenna micky hartes x1 221
10 98041 Mr Connell McGinley Mighty Con Villa 218
11 128297 Mr Alan Stewart Muckamore Uld 207
12 136245 Mr Stephen O'Sullivan Mersey Miracles 204
13 172818 Mr Andrew McCabe Joeys Monsters 188
14 179342 Mr Conor Nugent The Well Hungarian 185
14 180709 Master Eamon Eastwood Virgin Surfers 185
16 193363 Mr Stephen O'Sullivan Cool Dude Zoo 178
17 193985 Mr conor mc avoy REAL GOLDFISH 177
18 197019 Mr Alan McCabe Dirty Dubs XI 175
18 197020 Mr Philip McCabe Chamonix Albion 175
20 211405 Mr Gareth Bradley Hoofers UTD 164
21 223510 Mr Conor Donnelly The Busted Sofas 149
22 226323 Mr paul maynes The fernandos 144
Your league is placed 1231 out of 10685 with an average score of 267.

Update 01/10/08

Dear All,

It's been a nightmare week for some but a very happy one for others, with a home defeat for Arsenal by Hull and clean sheets / wins for the other 'big three'.

Despite a relatively poor performance, The Grapes just about did enough to hold on to top spot.

I don't like this leading from the front melarky so I think I'll have to drop a few more points until I'm fourth or fifth. There's a better view of what's happening all around from there! ;-)

Anyway, what this weekend's scores, have done is tighten up the whole table with just 38 points now separating the top 14 teams in the Premiership.

The Grapes and Diaby Does Dallas remain in first and second position, but Minus three FC, Making History and a host of others are going well too.

It's still a worrying situation for Minibabybelle FC at the bottom of the table, with Sister Baber looking likely to feature in another relegation dog (or cat) fight this season.

The Prince of Darkness, KFC Academical and Gulladuff FF will also be disappointed with their performances so far.

In the Conference League, Probably The Best has leapfrogged Sheer Kidology to shoot into a 19 point lead. Brother Stevenson is going well, while (Chuckle) Brother O'Sullivan Junior rues a bad day at the office for his beloved gooners.

Many people thought that Brother McAvoy would be at this year's end-of-season AGP singing 'Return of the Mac' to refelct his promotion again to the Premier League but he looks least likely of the three relegated teams from last year to make it back to the top flight.

While Sheer Kidology and Flexy's Fairies are on course for a quick return, Mac's Real Goldfish outfit are struggling in 14th position. So much so that even Brother Maynes fancies his chances of winning their bet (even though The Fernandos have taken over from Hoofers Utd as DITB's bottom placed club).

Making up the bottom three are The Busted Sofas, obviously still trying (unsuccessfully) to shake off that 'Clampets' tag from last year.

Finally, before I reveal the scores on the doors, I feel I should point out something that might be of interest to most of us mere mortals.

Whilst the league is full of Misters and one Miss, have you noticed a certain 'Dr Owen McNally' in 5th position in the Premiership?

And even worse, fourth from bottom in the Conference league, we have 'Master Eamon Eastwood'. If he wins the league, will that make him a master beater?

Anyway, with Ronaldo back in action, Torres back in form, Zaki still scoring, Arsenal now losing, Portsmouth now keeping clean sheets and Berbatov back in the scoring groove, we're at a very interesting stage of the season with lots of options and decisions to be made by managers as to how they shape their teams going forward.

To make transfers, this week's password is SUTTON. Be careful now, I think this could be a really big weekend!

Until then...........

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


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


DITB PREMIER LEAGUE

Pos Overall Manager Team Tot Pts
1 7415 Mr Michael Rafferty The Grapes of Raff 236
2 9575 Mr Paul Brogan Diaby Does Dallas 233
3 17447 Mr Geoff Johnston Minus Three FC 223
4 19125 Mr Kurt Festraerts Making History 221
5 21605 Mr Jules Eilledge True Blue Strikers 219
5 22344 Dr Owen McNally Maclacticos 219
7 22766 Mr Brian Shields the blue monkeys 218
8 26559 Mr Andy Kirby kirbs crawlers 215
9 32298 Mr Conor Walls Feeder club MUFC 211
10 35723 Mr Fra Jones Yer Ma's Athletic 209
11 37792 Mr Brendan Devlin Brendys Bruisers 208
12 50632 Mr Gary McDonald Gazzas Piping Hots 201
13 52984 Mr Declan Crudden HIT THE BAR 200
14 57220 Mr Mark Molloy Harpic Amsterdam 198
15 112984 Mr William Cherry Cherry United 177
16 115088 Mr John McDermott ABCDE FC 176
17 153869 Mr Matthew Henry Gulladuff F.F 162
18 156261 Mr Kevin McCauley KFC Academical 161
18 157683 Mr Gavin Sheehy Prince of Darkness 161
20 207853 Miss Claire Baber MINIBABYBELLEFC 135

Your league is placed 1454 out of 10670 with an average score of 226.


DITB Conference League
Pos Overall Manager Team Tot Pts
1 2552 Mr Mark Stevenson PROBABLY THE BEST 250
2 10459 Mr Simon Patrick O'Sullivan Sheer Kidology 231
3 26638 Mr Brendan Kelly flexys fairys 215
4 29614 Mr Barry Corr bazkinginglory 213
4 29829 Mr Barry Jones Barry's Elite XI 213
6 69003 Mr Austin McGinley Boys of Summer 193
7 76844 Mr Brendan Henry HOWRTINGS 190
8 103133 Mr Simon Jenkins Stickshifter FC 180
9 112600 Mr Connell McGinley Mighty Con Villa 177
10 122505 Mr colly mckenna micky hartes x1 174
11 150188 Mr Stephen O'Sullivan Mersey Miracles 164
12 155971 Mr Andrew McCabe Joeys Monsters 161
13 162851 Mr Stephen O'Sullivan Cool Dude Zoo 159
14 173138 Mr conor mc avoy REAL GOLDFISH 154
15 179206 Mr Alan Stewart Muckamore Uld 152
16 179891 Mr Alan McCabe Dirty Dubs XI 151
17 190128 Mr Conor Nugent The Well Hungarian 146
18 200220 Mr Philip McCabe Chamonix Albion 140
19 207158 Master Eamon Eastwood Virgin Surfers 136
20 215488 Mr Conor Donnelly The Busted Sofas 128
20 215512 Mr Gareth Bradley Hoofers UTD 128
22 219813 Mr paul maynes The fernandos 124

Your league is placed 1727 out of 10670 with an average score of 224.