Knockout stages

An exciting end to the Manager Melee league matches culminated with the following teams reaching the knockout stage scheduled for game week 22:

Group Anichibe:

Winners: American Dycho

Runners up: Claudio With a Chance of Modballs

Group Brunt:

Winners: Big Bang Thierry

Runners up: RoboKlopp

Group Cuellar:

Winners: The Godfather Pardew

Runners up: Howe to Train Your Dragon

Group Demel:

Winners: When ‘Arry Met Sarri

Runners up: Hughes Line is it Emery?

The Draw

In the draw for the quarter finals a team could not be drawn against their group rival [if both progressed] and a group winner was drawn against a runner up.

The draw of course was embarked upon under the very strictest standards of above-boardness and non-dodgyness that the organisers could muster on the hoof and has set up some juicy ties for game week 22 [beginning Saturday 12th Jan] which are listed below:

A.  Big Bang Thierry  vs  Claudio With a Chance of Modballs

B.  American Dycho  vs  Hughes Line is it Anyway

C.  RoboKlopp  vs  The God Father Pardew

D.  When ‘Arry Met Sarri  vs  Howe to Train Your Dragon

A second draw confirmed the potential semi-finalists:

A vs B

C vs D

Semi-final to be played in game week 23 [beginning Saturday 19th Jan]

The Grand final and third place play off will take place in game week 25 [beginning Saturday 2nd Feb].  The drama will play out over three days, ending on Monday night with the WHU vs Liverpool fixture.

Group stage roundup

Finally, we have a summary of the four leagues and roundup of the final set of crucial league games, glee for some and heartache for others.

Group Anichebe

American Dycho were left sipping a victory claret after avenging an earlier defeat of closest rivals Claudio With a Chance of Modballs in what was the group decider. A.D secured top spot, but both teams progress to the knockout rounds.

Special mention to Rhinos whose key captaincy defeat of Joe paved the way for an important win.

Another of the pre-tournament favourites Claudio With a Chance of Modballs will kick themselves for not winning the group after dominating the early rounds.  Still, that good start enabled the team to go through comfortably, despite not winning any of their last three rounds of games.

In a dead rubber match Dirty Zidancing continued their excellent recent form by thrashing Finding Nuno 8-1.

A case of what might have been for Dirty Zidancing after a slow start to the tournament, but having previously beaten one of the pre-tournament favourites can hold their heads up high and also topped this game week’s scoring charts.

Haggis was the only bright light for a dropsy inspired Finding Nuno on the final day, making mincemeat of his opponent.  A disappointing tournament overall for them, although they did manage two draws against the qualifying pair.

Group Brunt

Despite a slightly surprising defeat to Neville Wears Prada this week, Big Bang Thierry had already qualified and were then confirmed as group winners, finishing on the same points as RoboKlopp but with superior point difference and totals.  Controlled the group from the front throughout and were worthy winners.

RoboKlopp secured the runners up spot by defeating Guardiolas of The Galaxy convincingly in a ‘winner takes all’ tie.

RoboKlopp were perhaps a little fortunate to qualify, being a little inconsistent throughout and relying on inspired captaincy and a bit of luck. A decent point total though, despite not hitting form, leave the team in confident mood.

One of the pre-tournament favourites Guardiolas of the Galaxy had a final chance at revenge and glory but it agonisingly slipped through their fingers and go home empty handed. Special mention for game week captain Numb for the joint top score of the round, an eye-watering 110 points!

Probably the unluckiest side in the tournament but still dignefied in defeat, the GOTG’s colour, humour and banter will be missed.  The organiser’s template of what a great team should be.

Despite not qualifying, Neville Wears Prada can be satisfied with a fantastic victory over the group winners, the captaincy match proving crucial again. A very close group where only 16 points separated the total overall scores.

Group Cuellar

The enigma that is The Godfather Pardew continued.  Finishing with the most victories in the competition and the clearest margin of victory over their runners up rival, they did this despite ‘boasting’ the second lowest points total ever recorded for a qualifier. Rumours of gamesmanship and even disappearances abound but nobody dare voice objections too loudly!

In another key final day clash to decide the top two placings, The Godfather Pardew defeated Howe to Train Your Dragon in somewhat fortunate circumstances.  Lawro won the key captaincy match, but the overall result was a little harsh as TGP scored almost 50 points less than their opponents.

Still, a team with the knack of winning even when scoring poorly could be one to avoid.

Despite Badgerboy’s killer score of 98 and an unlucky defeat, Howe to Train Your Dragon still qualified for the knockout stages. Going quietly about their business they should not be underestimated having accumulated the second highest points total in the competition.

Thor Wagnerok ultimately paid for a sluggish start in the competition and were always playing catch up.

Another side who can consider themselves very unlucky having accrued the third highest total points scored in the competition

They lost their final match to The Silence of The Lambert, but were on the back foot throughout the tie after losing the captaincy match.

The Silence of The Lambert ended up with the wooden spoon but finished the competition on a high; captain for the day Irish Madridista scoring a stupendous 101 points.

Losing their first four matches ended any hopes of qualifying but victory in the last two matches including an 8-1 thrashing of the group winners salvaged some pride, if potentially shortened their collective life spans.

Group Demel

The final group provided lots of angst and glee and we also witnessed one of the great comebacks.

When ‘Arry Met Sally were comfortable group winners and demonstrated their initial seeding for best team picture was fully merited.

They lost their last match to Hughes Line is it Emery largely through a captaincy defeat but had already qualified as group winners.  Special mention for Johnnyrev7 for matching the game week’s top score of 110.

Top for total points scored in the competition this is a team capable of going all the way.

Hughes Line is it Emery? … where to start?  Down and out after three defeats and it appeared having little interest in the competition.  However, the ‘can’t be arsed strategy’ employed was obviously a ruse as they finally justified this authors belief of pre-tournament favourites by gleefully storming through to snatch the final qualifying place without appearing to break sweat. A final nose-tweak, they did so despite posting the lowest ever points total recorded for a qualifier.

If they get their act together though this is probably the team all the group winners will want to avoid.

Despite thrashing The Hills Have Moyes in the final match, Alice in Wengerland fell just short, a painful and disappointing exit for the team. After a decent start to the competition, three damaging defeats meant they had too much to do and luck failed them when a defeat for Hughes Line is it Emery would have seen them progress.

The Hills have Moyes also fell at the last hurdle.  A win for them in the final match would’ve seen them progress but it wasn’t to be.  Three defeats in a row after a decent start to the competition also proved their undoing.

Best Post

Overall best post during the league format series has been awarded to Eunuch Jelly … and very well deserved too!

Approving nods for the efforts of Klopptomist, Az and everyone else who participated.

Best wishes to all and may the most accomplished [or luckiest] team win!