Given that it’s been a mighty long time since I’ve been able to churn one of these out, what with christmas and all that lark. I thought it was about time to resurrect the old beauty. But don’t worry, this last week could have been quite simply designed by luck rather than skill – so rather than picking apart the minutiae of all the goings on in gameweek 21, let us run down instead where we stand at (just beyond) the half way point in the season…
Fantasy Football Scout League (Fantasy Premier League)
Liam Owens is the undoubted heavyweight of the Fantasy Football Scout League so far this season. This man has been top of our league for longer than I can even remember, and not only that he managed to maintain top spot in the whole world for an amazing six week stretch – that is a mighty strong feat. Now in 3rd place in the world he still pretty much sets out the stall to all managers champing at the bit for the top spot.
More than honourable mentions go out to the likes of (please don’t be offended if you feel I missed your name off): Rasping Drive, Warlock, T., ZB FC, ShipstonTrev, Ro6035 and so many, many more managers. We all want to win the league, of course, but it looks like just making it into the top 50 is going to be some feat – so well done to all of you there already. I look forward to passing you one day in the not too distant future. I hope.
As for the league itself? It’s currently 2,643 members strong (I will be strongly encouraging all you ‘Scout hiders’ to join up near the end of the season, I want out dominance in numbers to be known) and sitting rather comfortably at the top of the fantasy tree. We’re almost 50 points ahead of our rivals over at the FISO Forum (in 3rd place) and still over half that clear of the league currently in second place. Here’s to some continued dominance.
Fantasy Football Scout League (Can You Kick It)
Alas, over in the Can You Kick It game our rivals (FISO) are currently just about keeping us at bay and into second place. With only a 2 point average I am very hopeful, and more than confident we can put up a fight and in the end walk away with both titles. Our leader at this mid-season point is none other than a regular and wise commenter from across the pond: jms – well done. It had been a slow, steady and assured climb up the table and I for one won’t be surprised if I see you sticking around for the last 17 weeks as well.
The honourable mentions in this game go out to: djman102, Paul Whittaker, The Hunt, Little Lukin and again, of course, many more names and faces I have not mentioned. I’ve even noticed that after a start to forget, our reigning champion PDM Allstars is now up to 29th in the Scout League – nice recovery. I wonder if he can win the Can You Kick It game two years in a row? That would be one incredible challenge.
As I said I’m not going to digest the fixtures this week after the snowy mess that it was, instead just a quick word of praise for the current best men in each group. Right now then our Premiership calibre managers are MFaulkner, Jimi and Sojourners. Me and 16 other managers have got you in our sightline, well done but watch out for Team Goddard and co making a play for you in the table.
The top dogs in the second Head to Head league are all fairly memorable faces across the Scout community, and what’s more bizarre is that it’s currently Tottenham Hotspur winning out with JWF (1st) and denial (3rd) both having signs of the champion in them. I wonder if perhaps Dick Fran Dyke (2nd) and his Arsenal allegiances will have anything to say about that – only time will tell.
This has been perhaps our most competitive Head to Head league of all. The faces at the top can’t seem to stay for any prolonged space in time as the competition is rife to get into the top 3, so who leads right now? Pure Olivia does that’s who, I’m sure his statistical analysis has a great part to pay in that. Verbal and Defoe Rules are our current second and third combination. Here’s to continued success to all managers in this league, it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any easier.
Things are all incredibly close at the top of our fourth Head to Head league as well. The mix of regular faces, the somewhat unknown and friends not seen on these shores in recent times. Who are they exactly? Well then our medal winners at the moment are Mike McBam, Daire Fitzgerald and Sasquatch. A job well done so far chaps, keep it up!
We’ve got three lesser spotted birds currently sitting pretty in our last select entry Head to Head league. Congratulations are more than in order for James Russell, rez-rez and Captain Keg. Hopefully you are all living life to the fullest an reveling in your current Fantasy Football Scout standings, it is an honour so far earned but certainly don’t take it for granted.
Out in front of our pretty massive Reserve League is manager you may know better by the name Dragonfly. Our friend from warmer climes is currently top of the Reserve League with a record of 18 wins and only 3 losses, not too bad at all – coincide it with a 33rd in the world position and 2009 has been a good season so far for this fellow. Continuing the top three theme, we also applaud VP Lehtonen and Richard Laycock. However in this league I am sure there are many, many managers worth a shout – so keep your heads down and don’t make things easy for these guys at the top.
Fantasy Football Scout League (Champions League Game)
At this halfway stage our more continental leagues will also get its moment in the sun. And the manager who reaped the rewards of the Champions League group stages the most was Jamie C and his team Jethro Hull. With a fairly substantial lead (especially as we are only 6 gameweeks in) major credit is due to Jamie for his selections. As I look down the league for honourable mentions, I bizarrely look no further than the motley crew of Fantasy Football Scout contributors: Granville is right up there, I (Andy) am not far behind and Akers stalks quietly too. Also well within touching distance are managers like CRUSHER, Bigo1, MFaulkner (again?), Aris, dadoune and Anorak.
FFS H2H League (Champions League game)
Despite only being six weeks into this game, only one manager has been able to win all of their Head to Head games. That person is Jan Katerberg, so combine an 8th spot in the Scout League and 1st in the Head to Head variant – not a bad group stage for you. Unsurprisingly we see another mention for Jamie C, given his strong start a second place isn’t the hardest proposition to have foreseen. And as it stands the bronze medal award goes to Jonathan Horrocks with 5 victories and good overall ranking to coincide with it.
We can’t leave without mentioning our leagues in the CYKI FA Cup (Classic and Head to Head) game and the African Cup of Nations tournament. These games however are somewhat in the gestation period still, so to call out any particular name just yet may be a little presumptuous. However I look forward to seeing who does end up clocking into these games and coming up trumps.
So we’re half a season (and a little bit more) down now, I have so far enjoyed very much being able to bring you these reports and look forward to continue to do so in 2010. There is plenty yet to come whether it is in the second half of this season, the upcoming World Cup or next season and beyond. The Scout Leagues are most certainly where it is at, and I’m glad I have been able to play a small part in that.