The Calm Before The Storm
It’s been a disappointingly quiet day, leaving a lot of unanswered questions floating in mid-air.
At the time of writing there’s still no definitive movement on Berbatov, Robinho, Barry etc. The Corluka situation remains confused, as does Warnock’s future at Blackburn. Hull and Stoke are being linked with plenty of expensive loan signings without any conclusion. All in all, pretty non-eventful.
Lampard did sign a new 5 year contract with Chelsea today, which to my mind, just reinforces his fantasy value this season, given that his future is now settled. He’ll love kissing that badge when his first deflected shot goes in.
There were also a few injury updates with Scharner confirmed as a major doubt but Kirkland looking more likely for a return for Wigan at West Ham. Meanwhile, Man City were rocked by the news that Vassell would be out for 10 weeks after suffering a pre-season knee injury.
It’s actually quite handy that things have been quiet. The start of the season has coincided with the busiest fortnight of my working year which is seriously limiting the updates I can bring you right now. I hope to complete my selection guides with my look at the forwards in the next 24 hours but it’s looking a little unlikely. Instead I’ll endeavour to keep you up to date with team news up until Saturday and my Scout Picks will be hitting on Friday as per usual.
Thanks for sticking with me. Traffic over the past week has doubled the previous records on the site and the amount of quality comments being posted is fantastic. Apologies for not being able to match this with a stream of updates but that will come once the next fortnight is out of the way.
You are doing a fantastic job Mark!
Im from Denmark and Im working with 7 english colleagues, so Im hoping that studying your site, have given me a leg up in our upcoming FantasyLeague-group.
Keep up the good work
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Yeah keep up the good work.
Just discovered the site and I’m hooked.
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Echo the thoughts, doing great Mark.
Give up the day job!
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brilliant site!!
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Yeah mate the site is superb! (A captain poll would add to it though) lol!
I know yir a busy man mate, how you get time as it is I don’t know.
Also, the quality of the posts on here this year is really good. Keep it up people!
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Greatings from Bulgaria!Brilliant site!You are doing a fantastic job Mark!
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crips Mark you’ve got fans all over the world, I’m a kiwi!! I know exactly what is happening in every scrum during the tri-nations. The EPL is another matter! Love it
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Reply by yer dad on August 13, 2008 8:50 pm:
I was only a couple of miles out Luke, Aussie, Kiwi, tommatoe. tomatoe.
On another matter, we should all offer free accomodation to any FantasyScout poster if this site goes all over the world.
I could start off in the big smoke(puffin) then Ireland (Leighton) there was someone in New York, San Francisco (Necro) New Zealand (Luke, but I don’t think he will answer his door). Loads in Oz, got to be someone in Asia and Africa, then Martin in Bulgaria and finish of staying at Kasper K’s house in Denmark.
Does anyone live in Holy See??
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Reply by puffinboy on August 13, 2008 8:58 pm:
I’m the sure the vast majority of posters will be beating a path to your pit cottage in sunny Rochdale if the offer’s there.
If memory serves, it was The Mighty One in NYC.
God, we were shite tonight, Liege deserved the win. But they didn’t get it.
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Reply by yer dad on August 13, 2008 9:05 pm:
Mmmmm, your right. Maybe I should get a jacuzzi in the loft and I am sure I could then get a swap for a beach hut in the Maldives.
Watched footie up until 9pm then yer mum wanted Big Brother on and she won and I got to chat on here. That bloody Rex. Take it was 0-0 then.
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Reply by puffinboy on August 13, 2008 9:13 pm:
Letting her watch BB?! Are you a man or a mouse, Arthur Pewtey?!!
(Otherwise, treat yourself to a Matsui 10″ portable for the bathroom, then you can watch the footy whenever you like).
It was 0-0.
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Reply by yer dad on August 13, 2008 9:25 pm:
By me allowing yer mum to watch BB and then her asking if I don’t mind missing the Liverpool game will give me 100 man points. These can be cashed in as so:
Match of the day in bed 3 points
Jeff Sterling all Saturday pm 4 points
Sky Sports on Sunday and Sunday roast on my lap, 6 points.
This will leave 87 points.
I am a clever manmouse
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Reply by higgo on August 13, 2008 9:31 pm:
unless yer mum sees this post. Then the cat has the mouse where she wants him. -50 manpoints
walking round shops to end up buying nothing -10
heartbeat sunday night -5
foot massage -6
and still 29 to go
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Reply by Old Gregg on August 13, 2008 9:38 pm:
Heartbeat? What kind of cruel sadistic individual would subject anyone to that?
I go by the double transgression theory .. If the mouse is already banished to the doghouse (so to speak), it might as well grab a piece of cheese on its way out..
Reply by yer dad on August 13, 2008 9:50 pm:
Since Nick Berry left, Heartbeat is a no no in this cottage so no worries there.
I will be having double helpings of cheese this weekend with that canny move.
Reply by Luke on August 13, 2008 9:20 pm:
yep sounds good. At least in NZ we get every game live on SKY,just have to stay up all night. The marmite toast is on me. For everyones info yer dad is a dim welshman, he has just discovered moonshine so forgive his babble. Oh and if he actually is a dim welshman its because he is a closet pommie.
I did finish lower than yer dad last year for two reasons:
1: He sabotaged my splendid team.
2. I refuse to pick Ronaldo in my team because he is an embarrassment to football - he may be the most talented player in the world. But - he is a cheat, a primadonna and a wimp.
I saw him wince when he was dropped from my team - it was worth it.
Ronaldo should look to Richie McCaw for how to behave as a top sportsmen. When a streaker ran onto a rugby game Richie dropped him with a sharp left jab. I can imagine Ronaldo would run like a screaming girl holding his skirt up before sobbing uncontrollably beside the hoardings.
Dont get me started on Joey Barton, that rascist should be in the same cell as his murderous brother.
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Reply by Bomber on August 13, 2008 9:29 pm:
1st lesson of fantasy footy…show no loyalties or morals!
Whoever scores the most points is fine by me.
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Reply by yer dad on August 13, 2008 9:39 pm:
Your bang on Bomber. That is why Mark puts his weekly scout picks up and we all scratch our heads and say “what the f#ck is he doing” and wins every league he has ever entered.
You read comments & posts etc, digest, read again, laugh and then push the confirm button yourself. Here ends my sermon Psalm 4, chapter 2, verse 5.
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Reply by Bomber on August 13, 2008 9:43 pm:
Amen.
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Reply by yer dad on August 13, 2008 9:30 pm:
Thats the Luke we know and love. It has been months since Santa Cruz gate and it is still raw.
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Reply by Leighton on August 14, 2008 6:00 am:
Wash your mouth out Yer Dad - tut! tut! I may have put a few limericks on this website in the past and I may have guiness in my veins, but I am a born-and-bred welshman from Swansea, who now lives 10 miles up the road in a place called Port Talbot which has the distinction of have interchanging sky colours- one day it may be orange, one day it may be yellow. Can somebody confirm for me that we have had a poor summer as the sun is rarely able to break through the industrial mists??
Luke - as for being dim, I can only speak for the minority - we just have a dodgy accent….Wales could also be twinned with New Zealand - everybody who I know whose been there says it is a larger version of Wales; i.e. plenty of hills and sheep…
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Reply by yer dad on August 14, 2008 7:13 am:
Sorry Leighton. I must have mistaken you for another Leighton who lives in Ireland who I don’t know.
This is not a problem though as I will swap Ireland for Port Talbot in my round the world scout readers tour which may or not begin at the end of the season.
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Reply by Munk on August 14, 2008 8:01 am:
Ahh good old Port Talbot…i went to the Chourus plant around there, at least i think i did, i was at uni at swansea and spent most of the time pissed out me head or hungover….
Mind i did love swansea, was always fun walking past Cyril the Swan on my way to the pub, mind thats when they played at the Vetch…where abouts is the new ground now?
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Reply by Leighton on August 14, 2008 9:28 am:
Munk , glad to hear you enjoyed Swansea, if only for the vast array of public houses (or did you just prop up the Student Uni bar??).
The Vetch is still languishing in and around the City Centre - the new Liberty Stadium is a hell of stadium which is much closer to the M4 (Junction 44 to be precise). The quality of football being played there almost matches the stadium - the Swans were promoted to the Championship this season; who knows the Premiership could beckon next season??
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Reply by Bedknobs and Boomsticks on August 14, 2008 7:29 am:
- When a streaker ran onto a rugby game Richie dropped him with a sharp left jab. I can imagine Ronaldo would run like a screaming girl holding his skirt up before sobbing uncontrollably beside the hoardings.
…whilst Ashley Cole chases the streaker round the pitch while simultaniously being chased by an irate Cheryl Tweedy in a Benny Hill style. If only.
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keep it up you legend
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Reply by paul on August 13, 2008 8:44 pm:
outstanding mark, but ginger jesus ur a crawling bastard…lol
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Reply by Mark on August 14, 2008 7:18 am:
lol…blimey I do come across like that sometimes don’t I. I need to be more firm, maybe “No updates this week. Pick the bones out of that”.
It’s frustrating though. Had some big plans for articles this week which have gone out of the window now I’ve lost my evenings. Not to worry…
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fantastic site mark,dont need another fantasy footy site,this site has it all,appreciate all your hard work m8.
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By “busy at work” I think he means watching box sets of Curb Your Enthusiasm..
Traffic on this site would increase no end if everyone told their friends… but they won’t for competitive reasons…
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Reply by ManU Argentina RSA Fan on August 14, 2008 8:26 am:
hehehe true.. I havent told my 6 other leagu members.
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off topic but does anyone in IT know how i can post on the site at work. A lot of sites are banned but scout site is fine. i post and nothing happens but it says i’ve posted. Some security thing. any ideas round it?
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superb site, handing it out to all my work mates so more join and i can get their cash,lol, keep it up for sure mark, nice one.
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Starting to have real doubts about how West Ham are going to do this season. Anyone got any thoughts on how they’ll do.
What do you reckon?
Green & Ashton
or
Jaaskelainen & Alves
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Great site mark, another aussie here.
Back on football, does anyone think that Modric is a good bet he has a pretty good rap sheet.
Or will Bently take away some of his glory?
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Reply by swerve on August 13, 2008 9:54 pm:
Leave him out for a bit and see how he fares - big step up from scoring a goal very 4 games in the Croatian League.
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Mark you’re doing an awesome job! I’m from Australia and this is my first year FPLing. There’s 10 cartons of beer up for grabs for the winner of my league so I don’t have to tell you how important it is to win it! This site and the help you have given me so far is awesome and I appreciate your work and the advantage it’s going to give me heading into the season. Keep it up champ!
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Reply by puffinboy on August 13, 2008 9:49 pm:
“10 cartons of beer”. Only in Oz, eh. Does it get delivered to your doorstep at 6am over there so you can put it on your corn flakes when you awaken?
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Reply by Brad on August 14, 2008 1:54 am:
No need, we can buy ‘Beerflakes’ straight off the shelf.
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Reply by PakHawk on August 14, 2008 2:15 am:
Crownies or VB Michael?? Oh bugger it who cares - can i play too?
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Thank you for the excellent work Mark. You are offering an amazing site. As a greek fan I can say that besides the Fantasy Football, I also enjoy the EPL more thanks to this site. I have sent you an e-mail about ManC’s Castillo the other day, I hope you got it.
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Reply by yer dad on August 13, 2008 9:55 pm:
Have you got a swimming pool Panajotis and what is this secret email about Castillo?? Is there something you are not sharing??
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Reply by greek fan on August 13, 2008 10:07 pm:
No it is no secret. I just ain’t sure if it’s so usefull. I know Neri Castillo from the greek league where he played for years and seeing that he is classified as a midfielder, I noticed that he is no way of this kind. He dribbles amazingly, finds the target like a sitting duck, he is very dangerous and cunning around the box, but he is lost if you shove him into the crowded midfield. I have not seen him playing a lot in the EPL and I am not sure how they used him. I believe that ManC has not a peripheral forward better than him but I also know for granted that the kid has a very difficult character and his mind doesn’t work properly all the time. If he plays alongside a strong striker and gets serious himself, he should be a starter for the citizens
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Reply by puffinboy on August 13, 2008 10:13 pm:
That’s all very well GF, but all Yer Dad cares about is whether you have a swimming pool. He’s a bit of an airhead, you know.
‘Peripheral forward’ - I like it. The Brit posters could learn much from you, Panajotis-san.
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Reply by Chook on August 14, 2008 11:40 am:
“the kid has a very difficult character and his mind doesn’t work properly all the time”
I’ve read some entertaining comments on this site (and many an enlightening article, too, Mark), but this takes the cake. Brilliant.
Yer Dad: You can stay in our chook shed when you’re next in Tasmania, Australia.
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Reply by yer dad on August 14, 2008 5:11 pm:
I was dreaming of a amazing shed overlooking the Tasman Sea until I remembered from an episode of Neighbours (the one where Mrs Mangle makes breakfast) that a chook is a chicken and you want me to stay in a chicken shed. I may have to think about that offer Chook.
Football talk: I actually made nearly 60 transfers last season and ended up in the top 0.02% of FPl, I think (Puffin did the maths). I noticed that the top teams made the bare minimum of transfers 38 or less. So the question is
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mark, you are a legend
we pay homage to you
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No, I do not have a swimming pool but I have something like 5,000 miles of shoreline and the cleanest water.
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I’d like to echo my gratitude too. Mark, you’re the best!
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Mark the Fantasy Football Scout = LEGEND
You do an AMAZING job and I’m truly grateful.
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No need to apologise for having a working life Mark, you do a tremendous job mate and there are thousands of us who appreciate your efforts. Here’s to another great season ahead.
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is there anyone interesting about bolton striker Elmander??
he is very cheap and might be starter!
Zaki compared with Elmander,which one is better?
Any suggestion,THX!?
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I’ve taken a risk and gone for Elmander. Bolton’s start to the season looks pretty useful. He’ll be on my bench for the first game though till I see what his premiership form is like.
I too would love to share this sight with my friends but won’t because we each put £20 in. With Marks help hoping to take first place this year! (3rd in 06/07, 2nd in 07/08)
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Reply by Dr. Rog on August 14, 2008 7:26 am:
mark should be entitled to a share of the winnings we all get this year!
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Hi Mark, gr8 site… I am from South Africa where ManU (& sadly Liv 2) rule… I didnt do too bad last season on FPL.. placed 60 200 odd and at 1 time midseason I was 11345… and hoping this site will assist me doing much better for 08/09!! Keep up the great work!! You must really love football to do this, and I consider your updates xtremely useful. THANKS AGAIN!
Sugestions: Could you perhaps have a section dedicated to the out-of-position players.
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Hello to all my Scout Friends.
Just to assist you all on a few topics (and thus earn 3 points for my self going into Week #1), I will clarify a few things.
Thanks for remembering me, Puff, but I’m from Boston and not NYC. I originally had said “East Coast”, so assuming NY wasn’t bad.
I miss the old Summer days when the traffic was light and sassy on the Scout site.
It is a major tribute to Mark that he now gets so many hits to this site. It is so well deserved, Mark.
I miss the time when Puffin scared us all into posting messages here by calling us all C*nts. {Tear rolling down cheek and falling onto the printed Roster of my players that I change every 15 minutes}
And where is TheNecromancer? I’m sure he’ll be paddling back to shore tomorrow morning to cook up some eggs and bacon (fuel to power his ripped physique) to eat whilst sipping his coffee and reading the first Scout Picks of the season. Remember that I wait until midnight, print the Scout Picks and the added comments, and kick back cracking open a beer (Favorite time of the week….tears still rolling, now I can’t read my pick sheet, afraid I might bring Eboue in by accident).
That’s it for now.
I’ll publish my pix in a few minutes because I know that some of you like to see a full roster typed into these forums.
Sincerely,
The M. One
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Please take a look at my Roster and don’t tell me what you think:
—————–TheNecromancer——————
CK———-Old Gregg——Yer Dad——-Leighton
——————–The One———————-
Mark’s Wife———Mark (C)———–Mark’s Job
————-Puffinboy——Alex—————–
Subs: ManU-GK ManU-DEF Ollie ManU-MF ManU-FOR
Good luck to all.
The Wise One
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Reply by puffinboy on August 14, 2008 3:21 pm:
No place for Yer Mum? After missing out on The Wombats and now your team, the poor lass’ll be gutted.
Re previous post - I was using c*nts as a term of endearment, like all us Smoke-dwellers.
Nice to see you back, TMO. Hopefully a Sox-Brewers World Series in a couple of months. I can dream…
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Reply by The Mighty One on August 14, 2008 4:09 pm:
No Puff, the old fellah is a good husband to Yer Mum, but he enjoys it when we take him out sometimes for some fresh air on his own. We like to air out that ole bag o bones, and then he is happy to go back home to rub Mum’s feet.
So you’re a Liverpool and Milwaukee Brewers fan? Perfect combo.
Oops, maybe I should have written this in Shorey since it isn’t really Football material.
Later.
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Reply by yer dad on August 14, 2008 5:26 pm:
I would have preferred to be up front The M One but it would be difficult to break that pairing up. Yer mum has been sat in front of the TV all summer watching people in a house and would not miss me anyway if you take me out. I will wait by the window, when are you coming??
What is the weather like in Boston? Is the Cheers bar still there?
Football talk: If my memory serves me right I had Alumnia in my net for the back end of the season. He did not register me many points with Arsenal leaking a few goals, so I am not getting him this season.
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Reply by The Mighty One on August 14, 2008 6:40 pm:
Don’t sit by the window, Dad. You might catch a draft, and it will take me quite a while to swim over there to pick you up. Go watch TV with your Lady.
The weather is lovely in Boston…High of 85 and Low of 60 (go ahead and subtract 32 then divide by 1.8 to get a number that you understand). I can feel the people hating us out there for not putting this bullsh*t in the Shorey page.
I’ve never been to Cheers, even though I love the show. Only tourists go there, so you’d have a blast there when you visit Beantown someday.
I can’t put you up front in our lineup: If I switch Alex and Puff to central DEF (as they need to stay together), then she’ll just end up screaming at him whenever his covered striker scores a goal on us.
Later all. Now back to my lineup to drop Arteta, pickup Bullard, and get Tim Howard in net.
One
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Reply by TheNecromancer on August 14, 2008 6:55 pm:
Greetings frum the Real Smoke pit (beijing). London’s got nothing in this place as far as bad air goes. Another long night of beverage partaking after “the redeem team” (lame name that) dispatched with great prejudice The Men of Zorba. Thank god we sleep much duing the daze. Back at the pit now as it approaches 3am local time. Nice of our hosts to allow my postings to go through. Todays’s a big day as our man Todd has a big beach volleyball match. Look for me. I’ll be the one with the black hoode robe.
Never played keeper in my life, but I like being the last line of defence. Like living in the edge of the western world.
Sleepytime. Bye all.
-TheNecromancer
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Reply by puffinboy on August 14, 2008 7:00 pm:
It lives! Sort of.
Are you competing for U-S-A! U-S-A! in the Hippy Surfing and Incense Burning at these Olympics, Nec?
And why haven’t you joined the FPL Shorey Mini-League yet?
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Reply by yer dad on August 14, 2008 8:09 pm:
Beach volleyball is widely played in Rochdale and we are due to enter a team in the inter-pit competition when summer starts so I have an active interest. I would look out for Todd if the BBC actually show some beach volleyball . They are subjecting us to to sports which we don’t seem to do that well in.
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Reply by puffinboy on August 14, 2008 8:28 pm:
I’m having a nightmare vision of a sooty old man in Speedos and a safety helmet with a torch on it.
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Reply by yer dad on August 14, 2008 8:46 pm:
Nearly.Picture a slightly older Peter Stringfella jumping, diging,setting and spiking in red speedos and your there.
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Reply by puffinboy on August 14, 2008 8:06 pm:
Mighty, been a Brew Crewer since living there in ‘88. Only about six years after their one and only (near) taste of the limelight. Being a Packer Backer has seen better rewards over the years, but still nowhere near Beantown’s success rate.
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Reply by Alex on August 14, 2008 7:47 pm:
Looks good to me.
But until I’ve had my salary negotiations I shall also consider offers from any other board member that’s willing to send me an M&S sponge roll.
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Greetings gents from sunny Los Angeles. Mark, great site, I played in my first fantasy footie league last year (im the token Yank) and came in 10th out of 40 (just narrowly missing out on European action but well clear of the drop). This year im going to take the league thanks to your site. Bunch of Brit accountants (its a big firm from London’s league, Im a client so they are nice enough to let me play).
Thanks for all the advice and hope you all dont mind another Yank on the site (and a Chelsea fan to boot).
Ive been Chelsea since 1987 btw after my term abroad in London had me living in a flat in Parson’s Green. We discovered the Bridge soon after that. Saw Pat Nevin score a goal! Next season, the Blues got relegated and i thought i was destined forever to root for a crap team. Well, I guess not!
But I love my football. Just a bit frustrating over here sometimes (although I get Setanta and see most of the games), but playing fantasy footie is awesome.
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Reply by The Mighty One on August 14, 2008 6:51 pm:
Welcome, Studio. We “soccer” (stupid word) fans have to stick together over here because it is probably the 12th most popular sport. My father thinks it is not a real sport, and my wife knows that someday she’ll come home to find that I’ve sold our house and purchased a nice one for her in London.
The One
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Reply by FC Studio City on August 15, 2008 12:28 am:
Hah, well the great thing (also being married and having kids) is waking up at 7am on the weekends and watching footie. Its over by the time my wife wakes up. i hang with my boys and watch the “soccer”. Ive spent a ton of time in the UK and do business there so I call it football because those are the guys I talk to about football and thats what they call it.
There are about 3 Americans that I actually talk to about “soccer”. I dont bother to bring it up with anyone that I know isnt a fan. But we all know its the greatest game in the world, so bollocks to them.
Im off to the Galaxy Chivas game. Getting my fix tonight.
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Reply by The Mighty One on August 15, 2008 1:14 pm:
I’m in 100% agreement. Your time being 3 hours behind us here helps….as I have the games on at 10 or 11am, right when we’re busy each weekend. I have 3 kids, and it is a cool fact that football is the first sport that kids play in this country (at 4 years old). It is not until they’re older that the biases arrive, but maybe these newer generations will keep it going.
Watch out all you established Footballing Countries, the US will be a powerhouse at World Cup 2022.
The Mighty Americans (cough, hack).
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ermmm maybe we should drop Luke’s post re: Joey Barton
you really dont want to be hit with a libel case
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Reply by puffinboy on August 14, 2008 9:46 pm:
Or an axe.
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