Dear All,

Once again, the season is disrupted by international matches, and we all know that as well as the inconvenience, these matches can have a very detrimental effect on our FF teams.

Latest players to be crocked on international duty include the in-form Van Persie, Martin Petrov (yes I know a manager who has him!) and John O'Shea - not to mention other big name injuries including Torres, Drogba and Fat Frank Lampard!

So this weekend could see a lot of managers cursing internationals (don't talk to me about Thierry Henry!!!) and delving into the transfer market.

Looking at the scores since our last update, the Premiership is tighter than a duck's posterior with just two points separating a top three of flexysmidniterunners, Grapes of Raff and Blue Monkeys. It really couldn;t be tighter.

In fourth place (15 points adrift) we have Gazza's Piping Hots while Premiership newcomer Probably the Best is riding high in 5th place.

A surprising face at the bottom of the table is Brother Johnston's Minus Three FC and I'm not saying that he's panicking but there's definitely a funny smell around his desk at the moment.

In fact, we called Dyno Rod in to inspect our drains last week but they said there was absolutely nothing wrong with the sewage system. Alas, it all becomes clear.

Cherry United and True Blue Strikers are once again down near the bottom and surely it;s only a matter of time before one of them actually gets relegated. You can't dice with danger that often!!

Elsewhere, only 58 points separate the rest of the division from 6th place to 17th. Still tight as Baz when it comes time to buy a round at the ACP!

In the Conference, Joey's Monsters are still riding high in first place, with SOMEMAN4ONEMAN (I think you do this on purpose Henry!!!) in second place and Hoofers Utd / Mugsy's Barber in joint third.

Prince of Darkness falls out of the promotion zone, closely followed by another McCabe and the two Jenkins brothers.

Yes, between the McCabes, Henrys, McGinleys, Jenkins, and O'Sullivans (two of which have YET to register their teams in DITB!!!), it really is a family affair in the Conference League.

And for a bonus 10 points, what do they all have in common?

Yes that's right - they're all cr*p!

I'm only joking of course, although compared to the cut and thrust of the Premiership, the CL really is a bit like a family picnic... Kickabout in the park, jumpers for goalposts, etc.

Fair play to them all I say - bless their little souls, tinkering away with their teams, picking names out of hats for transfers and all that. Sure it's all a bit of craic!

Message to self (and all Premier League managers) - never let a sibling join DITB!!!

Anyway, at the bottom of the scrapheap is the young debutant Christopher Cherry (oops we know who'll be joining him in the Conference next year don't we!), with one of the McGinleys and another McCabe (the female one!).

!!!!!!!!!!!ACP UPDATE!!!!!!!

To finalise a date for the ACP, I need the following info from the follwoing managers:

Nujo - are you available on Jan 9 and 16?

Gazza Mac - are you available on Dec 19 and Jan 16?

Brad - are you available on Jan 9 and Jan 16?

John McD - are you available on Jan 9 and Jan 16?

Maynesy - what dates are you available (Dec 19, Jan 9 and Jan 16)?

Stevie - what dates are you available (Dec 19, Jan 9 and Jan 16)?

Deccie Crudden - what dates are you available (Dec 19, Jan 9 and Jan 16)?

Will Cherry - what dates are you available (Dec 19, Jan 9 and Jan 16)?

Jones Brothers - what dates are you available (Dec 19, Jan 9 and Jan 16)?

Brendan Henry - can you make any of the dates?

Once I have the answers to the above, I will get back with a definitive date. It's pretty close but Jan 16 is the most popular date so far. Could swing either way though.

So that's it folks. Remember that Man City are beating Liverpool early tomorrow so get your transfers done by then.

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

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

Michael R.

Diving in the Box FF League Chairman

http://divinginthebox.blogspot.com/

DITB PREMIER LEAGUE

Pos.	Manager (Team Name)	Week Pts	Total Pts	National Pos.
1	Brendan Kelly (flexysmidniterunners)	0	470	8254
2	Michael Rafferty (The Grapes of Raff)	0	469	8611
3	Brian Shields (The Blue Monkeys)	0	468	8973
4	Gary McDonald (Gazzas Piping Hots)	0	453	15651
5	Mark Stevenson (Probably the best)	0	441	23202
6	Kurt Festraerts (Ibiza Town FC)	0	424	37489
7	Conor Walls (Support your own LFC)	0	422	39386
8	Owen McNally (Maclacticos)	0	419	42379
9	Declan Crudden (Bleedin Red)	0	416	45406
10	Andy Kirby (Kirbs Crawlers)	0	412	49742
11	Paul Brogan (Diaby Does Dallas)	0	410	52044
12	Kevin McCauley (KFC Academical)	0	398	66189
13	John McDermott (Sofa King Easy)	0	390	76094
14	Francis Jones (Yer Mas Athletic)	0	385	82421
15	Mark Molloy (Harpic Amsterdam)	0	384	83679
16	Brendan Devlin (Brendys Bruisers)	0	383	84945
16	Conor Donnelly (The Busted Sofas)	0	383	84945
18	Jules Eilledge (True Blue Strikers)	0	364	108705
19	William Cherry (Cherry United)	0	363	109929
19	Geoff Johnston (Minus Three FC)	0	363	109929

The average points scored in your league is: 460. The league position is: 1378.

DITB CONFERENCE LEAGUE

Pos.	Manager (Team Name)	Week Pts	Total Pts	National Pos.
1	Andrew McCabe (Joeys Monsters)	0	465	10114
2	Brendan Henry (SOMEMAN4ONEMAN)	0	447	19173
3	Gareth Bradley (Hoofers UTD)	0	432	30268
3	Colm Mckenna (mugsys barber)	0	432	30268
5	Gavin Sheehy (Prince of Darkness)	0	424	37489
6	Alan McCabe (Dirty Dubs XI)	0	423	38400
7	Simon Jenkins (Stickshifter United)	0	422	39386
8	Andrew Jenkins (The Rio Chargers)	0	421	40367
9	Arnold Thom (Inshallah)	0	416	45406
10	Barry Corr (bazkinginglory)	0	410	52044
11	Conor Nugent (the well hungarians)	0	399	64984
12	Philip Risley (LIQUIDATOR FC)	0	394	71135
12	S P O'Sullivan (LICENCE TO ROAM)	0	394	71135
12	Barry Jones (Gunning For Glory)	0	394	71135
15	Brendan Henry (GULLADUFF FF)	0	370	101288
16	Austin McGinley (Boys Of Summer)	0	369	102477
17	Claire McCabe (Minibabybelle FC)	0	359	114747
18	Connell McGinley (Con Villa)	0	332	142467
19	Christopher Cherry (Red Cherry Devils)	0	323	149865

The average points scored in your league is: 440. The league position is: 3057.