Haden

Middle League Reports: Week 3 No room for error The Middle League title race is turning into a two horse race between Coloccini FC and Hadens Legends that is leaving little room for any sorts of mistakes. Coloccini are the only team in any league to now have a 100% record with 5 wins while the Legends have won every game except when they faced Coloccini and lost. Both teams carried on this momentum as they won all their games to leave them as the only two sides to have more than 10 points. The Legends beat Leeds 3-0 with Walters taking a starring role creating and scoring a goal and then easily beat The Familia 4-0 with Conden scoring once and creating twice. Coloccini had a game off this week but were very impressive against Leeds dominating with 11 chances to 1 with Costa scoring twice. While theere is a long way to go these two sides have both started very strongly and have only let in 3 goals between them and scored 26, can they go the distance and who will prevail? Aqui1a needing another transfer? There has been a lot of talk this season about how Aqui1as new players will bed in this season and for one he is having a dream season. The young striker Isler is on 5 goals already scoring from a breakaway to help Aqui1a beat Fedex 1-0 to add to his tally on Tuesday. However all is not well at Aqui1a, while Isler is having a great season scoring five goals the team itself have scored six in total meaning Upson's long range shot in the 1-1 draw against Rovers on Friday was the one goal this season that hasn't come from Isler. What is strange is that their midfield is full of potential goalscorers, you have a group that are good in the air and in front of goal but they have not been hitting the net recently. You wonder if the manager will have patience with Upson or find a more experienced partner for the incredible Isler. Russian Revolution 1-2 Rossers Rovers This match may have snuck under the radar of some viewers but was a very significant result for both teams. After a great start to their campaign Revolution fans were starting to consider their team as potential dark horses for the title. However Rovers are a side not to be taken lightly and playing 4-5-1 they looked like they could cause Revolution issues, firstly Josema headed in a Yushchenko cross Rovers fans began to celebrate, things got worse for Revolution when Patrin fell going for a header and had to be taken off on a stretcher. This really weakened the home sides midfield and the pressure began to tell when Rovers thought they had scored just after the break but it was ruled out because of a push off play. However Amieva who came on after the break scored his first ever goal for Rovers when he smacked in a corner to make it two for sure this time. There was still time for Kalashnikov to score in the dying seconds of injury time but it was too little to late. Rovers will be very pleased with this result while Revolution will rue this loss and the injury to one of their best players. Home is where the heart is For most teams a home game is something to look forward to however for Rovers fans this is not the case. They have only two points from their home games while scoring 6 points from their away fixtures. To put this into context they would be 2nd in the league in an away table but are rock bottom in the home table. Their next home match is against Kippen FC on the 27th of May, the home fans are planning on giving the team a rousing reception as they try and give the team their first win of the season. Their last victory at Chuffield Park was a 3-1 victory against AFC Dedede in the group stages of the Champions League on the 18th of March. The fans are long overdue another one. Team of the week This week it has to be Hadens Legends who gain team of the week with their 3-0 and 4-0 victories over Leeds M.O.T and The Familia. They knew they needed both victories but they also needed to keep up with the impressive goal difference of Coloccini, scoring seven and keeping two clean sheets was a great way to do this. A calm and efficient Legends are the clear winners this week for stopping Coloccini get to far out of sight. Team of the Week Coloccini FC, Coloccini FC, Hadens Legends The following tables will include more 2nd and 3rd spots when the field thins a bit. Top Scorers: Isler moves about Platt to get No 1 spot outright. Atletico Aqui1a: Isler 5 Fedex United: Platt 4 Top Assists: Grant Conden joins Alderton with 3 assists at the top of the table. Russian Revolution: Alderton 3 Hadens Legends: Conden 3 Top X11s: Five players are now on 4 X11s a piece with two coming from the Revolution side. Aqui1a: Daish: 4 Russian Revolution: Sunnerborn 4 Russian Revolution: Alderton 4 Coloccini FC: Haslop 4 Leeds: Pispek 4

Mcoy lets just say you are the Rock a timeless legend coming back, I am Foley a timeless legend and friend being abused by sickos like bob and Tales who are La Resistance. Finally Mcoy has come back to Xpert!!!!!!!!!!!!! As above have noted I retired from Admin duties but still play, Peeps is in charge now and doing a great job. Check out Season 30 if you have time I made the post there almost a history lesson on xpert so you can catch up on who has been winning and losing and also relive your glory days

Holy shit!!!!

3-5-2 Offensive is an insane formation to play away from home against a team as strong as Madpools, he also guessed your playmaker and formation and played offensive himself which spelt huge huge trouble for you.

I reckon the top of the league is trying to emulate the amazing and unpredictable Premier League season. Hales must be having fun playing in the Lower League :P

Kippen 1-0 Russian Revolution 57%-43% Glad to see our alliance is cruising along need to pick up some more wins on Friday can't let down the boss:

GG today man just a tip though be really careful playing offensive against a home team it usually ends in disaster. I noticed you did this against Charlie and was going to mention it before our game but forgot... In all seriousness stick around your season last time around was epic I always do subs gives you an aspect of control over the game when it is in motion both from a youth point of view and to actually try and win the game. Good win today but picked up another long term injury they are to two of my best players so need to shake them off quickly. Top League took some epic twists and turns today, well done Winston and Elites!

Middle League Reports Week 2 The perfect week For Coloccini it was basically a perfect week as they kept up their 100% record with two home victories against potential title rivals. First they started with a 3-1 victory against Kippen as they played 3-5-2 against a 4-5-1 formation from Kieppen, the home side struck early with a header from Mallo but MacEllar struck a lovely curling shot to tie things up. The turning point in the 2nd half was when McIndoe a Kippen defender was sent off for a late challenge leading to relentless Coloccini pressure.Eventually Madely scored with 5 minutes to go and again with a minute left to make it 3-1. This was a tough game and Coloccini had another hard game facing the Legends at home, it was a cagey first half with an injury to Burlett the only real highlight. Costa toe poked in the only goal of the match after the 2nd half but when Coloccini defender Di Rockenrole was sent off for elbowing a Legends player the home side prepared for a siege. Legends came at them but could not find the breakthrough they needed. Thus Coloccini are now 5 points ahead with the best Goal Difference in the league and have a game off to train. What has been different this season is a sense of aggression in the team, they play an often bruising game and are no longer a soft side who play youths. This approach is working for them at the moment and with 4 games gone they are in a brilliant position already to go on and win the league. Athletico Aqui1a 2-2 Russian Revolution In a game that summed up the frustration of one team and elation of another Revolution held Aqui1a to a dramatic 2-2 draw. Aqui1a played 3-5-2 while Revolution went for a defensive 4-5-1, the youth Isler continued his brilliant season with a blistering free kick for the home side that gave them the lead. The first half was quiet with only 1 chance a piece including the goal. After the break the home side struck straight away with Isler losing his marker and slotting it past a helpless Putin. Revolution came straight back showing good spirit when Patrin curled in a beautiful long range goal that went in off the post. Soon after the captain Alderton sent in a fantastic cross from a free kick that Kalashnikov smashed home to make it 2-2 and send the away fans crazy. Unfortunately for Revolution Nihai was badly injured but they held on to get a brilliant away draw, for Aqui1a this was two points lost and a big disappointment despite Isler shining yet again. Relegation blow There was a huge game on the 6th played between Fedex and the Familia both of who didn't have a win going into this game. The result was a shocking 5-1 to Fedex as the Familia fell apart in the a crucial game. Both teams played 4-4-2 and the result was a intense game but as soon as The Familia lost the presence of veteran defender Gibbs their game fell apart. They were 1-0 down at that point but a goal for Rooke before half time exposed their weakness. Auffret hit back but then in 3 minutes Platt scored twice for his hat trick and finished the game off. A penalty in the 66th minute completed the rout. The big difference between the two sides was Fedex seemed assured at the back while the Familia looked uncharacteristically weak. The Familia also seem to only have Auffret as a credible goal threat who cuts a frustrated figure up front with only one goal this campaign. Both teams look like they may be too weak to survive this league but Fedex landed a huge morale boost with their first win against a desperate looking Familia side who need a change form quickly. Changing fortunes After picking up 3 points in their first two game Leeds look set for another good campaign while Rossers Rovers lost their first two games heavily and looked to be in deep trouble. On Tuesday the two sides met at Elland Road with Leeds hoping to exploit Rovers with a 3-5-2 formation while Rovers set up with a 4-5-1. What followed was Rovers frustrating Leeds for the entire match to only 1 chance while making 8 for themselves. Rovers when ahead from a Przhevalsky volley while Howson headed in a rare chance to bring it back to 1-1. To the home crowds frustration their team could then not make any more chances while Rovers were a constant threat coming forward. With 10 minutes to go the young forward J-M Josema headed in his 2nd goal of the season for a vitally important goal giving Rovers the 3 points. Leeds fans booed their team at the end of this display while Rovers fans gave a standing ovation. Later in the week Leeds only made a poor 2 chances to 10 and were thrashed 5-1 against Kippen while Rovers earned another point in a dull 0-0 draw with The Familia. Fortunes turn quickly in xpert, Leeds now look like a club lacking confidence while Rovers are starting to gather momentum that could ensure their survival. Team of the week No competition this week as Coloccini earn the 2nd team of the week award in a row with brilliant wins against Kippen and a hard fought victory against Hadens Legends. Their new determined approach is paying dividends and they find themselves clear at the top looking to be title favourites at this early stage. Team of the Week Coloccini FC, Coloccini FC The following tables will include more 2nd and 3rd spots when the field thins a bit. Top Scorers Fedex United: Platt 4 Atletico Aqui1a: Isler 4 Coloccini FC: Madeley 3 Top Assists: Russian Revolution: Alderton 3 Top X11s: Coloccini FC: Haslop 3 Leeds: Pispek 3

Awful day for our alliance we all lost I think. What shall we call it, Mourinhos Sneer has a ring to it I feel.

Don't give up man you have a good team just need to balance it for each game.

Damn team actually played quite well today but got tactics slightly wrong, suffered an injury, missed two free kicks and failed to get a draw, very disappointing. Need to win the next game to regain some momentum.

I think Peeps is doing the lower league

Outstanding.

Hate missing out on games Love the fact my league position didn't change :P

Middle League Reports Week 1 Coloccini FC pulling rank. Coloccini shot to the top of the Middle League in the opening week with two impressive away wins against a couple of the weaker sides in the league. While Fedex and Rovers might not be the hardest opponents, Rovers is very capable of a shock and being away means you can never guarantee anything. What impressed was the size of the victories, Coloccini set up with a 4-5-1 against Fedex and the youth Ha headed in two goals as no-one picked up his runs from midfield. Aaslicher scored via a breakaway in a game which the away side dominated chances made and possession. Against Rovers they again played 4-5-1 and this time they rotated strikers and Madeley was up front, he scored and created the first two goals, with the captain Stockley and Haslop giving the visitors two more to make it 4-1 in the end. Again Coloccini made 8 chances and really imposed their gameplan onto Rovers. This is exciting news for Coloccini fans who have often supported a club that had everything apart from the ability to dominate other teams. To do this away from home is a real feat. They are away again in their next game, this time against Hadens Legends which will be a very competitive game. Mulholland leading the way In the assists league in the Middle League only one player has more than one assist and that is Mulholland for Hadens Legends with two. Mulholland has become lost in the quantity and quality of Legends midfield but he is a natural leader, has great stamina, is tough and quick and a real asset to the side. Against Rovers this week he came on when it was 0-0 and immediately the other players heads lifted. He improved the rate of chances and set up the last goal for Ciobataru to finish the game off at 3-0. Against Kippen FC Legends took a late lead and again Mulholland set up this time Mallett in the final minutes to blast in a long range shot to make it 2-0. Mulholland is a dangerous player when an opposing side is flagging with both his pace and stamina he can have a real impact late in the game. The Familia FC 0-2 Russian Revolution One of the shocks of the opening week was Russian Revolution beating the Familia in a competitive game on the opening day. Both teams set up with a 4-4-2 formation with the opening half being very cagey, however a couple of Revolution veterans clawed open The Familia defence for the first goal, as the game wore on chances came for both teams but Revolutions defence were up to the test and the game ended when Enarnacao slotted away a routine penalty to send the away fans wild. This was a big win for Revolution, while the Familia looked rather uninspired Revolution fielded a raft of veterans and brought on youths at key times. Alderton always looked a danger and Jose and Sunnerborn kept The Familia at bay, a very promising start for the Revolution. Aqui1a back to winning ways? After their dramatic deceleration that they would quit followed by a replacement of several players with new blood they are back and ready to take on the Middle League as one of the favourites. Against Leeds they won 2-0 their new blood worked well as Isler got a headed goal and close range shot with another new signing Forbes grabbing one of the assists. Away to the Familia they were held to a 0-0 draw but a positive point was the young keeper Sullivan featured in both games and kept two clean sheets. This is impressive for any keeper nevermind a new youth so the manager should be very pleased with this. Next up they are at home to the Revolution, their fans will be expecting a win but after one away victory the Revolution will be wanting to get another to really kick start their season. This will be a test for both sides. Team of the week This week three teams really stood out, Russian Revolution, Coloccini FC and Hadens Legends. We think the team that just about edged the others is Coloccini FC with two away victories that saw them garner 7 goals! This took them to the top of the league and also sets them up for two home victories at the end of the season where they may well be pushing for a title. Well done Coloccini FC! Team of the Week Coloccini FC The following tables will include more 2nd and 3rd spots when the field thins a bit. Top Scorers Hadens Legends: Ciobotaru 2 Leeds M.O.T: Palma 2 Coloccini FC: Pi Ha 2 Atletico Aqui1a: Isler 2 Top Assists: Hadens Legends: Mulholland 2 Top X11s: The Familia: Gibbs 2

Gonna go for a punt with the spotlight and say 2-1 to Silverdale with 13 legends in the starting line up. Cmon Rowan you can take this guy out Sheesh can't believe I am teamed with @Ellmeister I reckon when Inter, Kippen and Madpool get up and running that will be a great alliance. Eights, Familia and bob is quite good as well. Thanks for setting up the random alliances Peeps they are good fun.

Cool I will do weekly talking points for middle league, I might do a manager of the week prize as well for your end of season lottery. Nice win btw! Great results for you, dud, milagi and bob today. Still rooting for Gibbs and daz to get their first competitive win

Turns out my players were tougher than Charlies injury prone squad I still don't get why teams don't have back up goalies.

Gonna be an interesting game today not sure how my team will fare against a Kippen side after losing to them in pre season, I am hoping the ref doesn't miss their rugby tackling ways. Whose doing what reports btw? I am quite happy to do a discussion points for Middle League and Lower League or just one if someone fancied doing one of those?

Confident start for us this season very pleased with my young strike force working well together. Now to face Kippen

Is the Fedex manager still with us? I feel a bit bad about my team report for him now I look over it again...

I would also be up for random alliances I think they are quite fun! I am happy to do a weekly talking point feature for the middle or lower league, if someone wants to report for one of those leagues I will do the talking points for the other one.

Xpert 11 Season 31 I thought this game was meant to be unsinkable? Do we know any teams that have left? Rez and Flinky my heir are almost certainly never coming back. Of course this alters everything. Do you know the new heirs? They are from the football thread and gen chit chat. It's a PM from Haden. What does he want? To change our lives. There is an answer that would secure xperts future and give this game a position in the forum. You can't be serious invite teams in that barely know what 4-5-1 is? Do you see your future as a manager? In light of the Champions League I am starting to. You do not love this game let, you see a team that need training, a dozen unwinnable games and a formation that will crack under pressure. And you don't? I see my life's work. My lords, ladies and gentlemen can I ask for silence, I am honoured to announce the start of Xpert 11 Season 31! Previous Champions Intergalactico Stars 30 (CL winner) Eights United 29 Yellow Submarine 28 Yellow Submarine 27 Eights United 26 Eights United 25 Intergalactico Stars 24 Intergalactico Stars 23 Silverdale Hotpot 22 Haden United 21 Essex Elites 20 Essex Elites 19 Mcoys Sons 18 Essex Elites 17 Dysonian Wanderers 16 Haden United 15 Dysonian Wanderers 14 Essex Elites 13 Roostophe Rovers 12 Haden United 11 Roostophe Rovers 10 Oddy 5-9 Haden United 4 Bayern Bru 3 Oddy 2 Happenstance FC 1 Cup Winners Inter, Inter, Silverdale, Eights, Eights, Yellow Submarine, DuDs Baggies, AC Elites, Hadens Rangers The Landowners All is as it has been and will be. Intergalactigo Stars Yes of course we are starting with Inter, who became the first ever Champions League winners last season beating Yellow Submarine in the final with a tactical masterclass. After a slow start they won their group and charged to the semis taking out DuD in a tense battle and then as mentioned besting Yellow Submarine to win the cup. Looking at their team you can see why they often play 4-4-2 they simply have no weaknesses, Ramos is now the clear leader at the back heading a defence that could be playing together for another 6 seasons. Grey had a great season last time around as did Papadopoulos and they will want to prove they are the best team in this league. A good season if: Inter win the league again, they will then be on course for a historic hat-trick of league victories, something that has not been achieved in the modern era. A bad season if: In season 30 Inter shut up a lot of their critics however they had a slow start to their group stages and in the league format this may be more damaging, to make sure they come 1st they will have to avoid a slow start their opening day away match against Lylat will be a perfect test. Yellow Submarine Close but no cigar for Yellow Submarine, after besting their old rivals Eights United they fell at the final hurdle to a tactical masterclass from Inter. However there is a lot to be optimistic for from a team that won praise for their attacking football and won their group in style after a shaky start. Delipiano and Viana make a fearsome duo in midfield for YS while they must hope Falcao does not get injured up front as he is at the time of writing their sole veteran striker. It is interesting YS have brought in some youths with Torkhomian and Bolovan looking to get some experience in the top tier of xpert. This bodes well for a team that has always had a good age range of players. A good season if: Their attacking and intelligent football carries on and they are able to show up in the big games and win the league for a 3rd time. A bad season if: The Elite League is starting to feel very competitive nowadays and a new team winning is surely a matter of time, if this does happen YS need to make sure they are in the top three and do not fall out of contention. Eights United The beasts of Xpert 11 were felled last season in the semi finals but there is still every reason to see them as the favourites to take another league title. More than any team they are consistent, they won their group without a wobble and despite a desperate game that went to penalties against La Familia they usually dispatch lesser teams with ease. Looking at their team it is easy to see why, not only do they have immense talent in every area of the pitch including the player of the tournament Granas in midfield but even their youths are better than some other teams veterans! Isfjord and Mache are already great players ahead of their peers. Eights often plays 3-5-2 even away because quite frankly they are powerful enough to boss games around. A good season if: Eights strike right back and show that in the long tested league format they are still the undisputed champions. A bad season if: Their star laden team are targeted by other sides and start to shed points finishing outside the top 3. The Young Pretenders On the cusp of greatness they now just need to depose those above them. DuDs Baggies This was a standout season for Baggies were they were the only team to break up the old Elite Four, besting Silverdale in their group and then making it to the semi finals. At the heart of this was a fantastic defensive effort with the manager enjoying playing 5-3-2 showcasing his brilliant defence led by Ryman and backed up by elite players. Baggies cup overfloweth with top tier players in midfield with Szymanek a brilliant all round playmaker and of course the Shearer-Izon duo are signed up for another season to cause chaos up front. This will be a very hard side to beat even in the top league. A good season if: They broke into the top four last season, this season lets see Baggies break into the top three and from there who knows the rest is up to them. A bad season if: A few key positions have older players so if they have a lacklustre season and face retirements at the end of it, this could de-rail the Baggies momentum. Silverdale Salmon A season that saw Silverdale not quite hitting their potential should not see them dismissed, they faced a brilliant Baggies side in their group and were beaten in a very close contest by Yellow Submarine in the last 8. This all leads to Silverdale being a side with something to prove. Silverdale often like to play 3-5-2 and looking at their team it is clear to see why their talents lie in a forward line that may be one of the best any team have to offer and a midfield packed with talents such as Romero and Quim but a back line that is still being created. You feel if a member of Silverdales defence was injured or suspended it may spell trouble although Housham is a brilliant goalie and will keep them tight at the back. A good season if: Silverdale are clearly redeveloping their side most noticeably at the back however they are still strong enough to compete, a top three finish would be a triumph this season. A bad season if: They key to Silverdales season will be beating teams weaker than them with consistency, this is something they didn't achieve in their group stages but must achieve in this league. Their first game is RFC away they need to get three points and straight out the blocks with this one. AC Elites For the Elites you had the feeling this could be their season, however it turned out to be a not quite there season. After a strong start heading the group they ended up in 2nd place losing out to a resurgent Inter and then fell in the last 8 to Eights United. They have a small ageing team that have had a high profile defender leave and Bodin has announced this will also be his last season. The Elites are a team full of quality but you fear that a couple of injuries could derail a side that lack depth and a couple more retirements could cause a more worrying decline that will take longer to recover, their current youth range form promising (Han) to poor (Kuai). Still this is all rather downcast, it must be stressed that on their day the Elites are a title winning side. A good season if: The Elites manage to stay injury free and can enter the top three this will show their manager has delivered a masterclass of man management. A bad season if: Injuries and suspensions derail their season and expose quite an inflexible side, if they finish outside of the top 5 and suffer another couple of retirements you fear for their long term future. Winston Gardens Lions This is a team that are ready for the top league now, an impressive showing in their group saw them come 2nd beat Llat Wanderers only to lose to the Baggies in the last 8. Winston have always gone for an approach of youth and veteran talent, this has been shown by their marquee signing of Tobin who will lead their star studded midfield set up with Akera now given so many options when going forward. The defence and attacking line up are arguably in their prime with only a replacement goalie needed just to give Coelho someone to mentor. Winston have often played 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 but I think their fans will want them to be a bit more daring even against the best sides as they face the best sides in Xpert. A good season if: They can score some big victories against the top three side I think it will give this team the final thing they need which is self belief, a top 4 finish would signal their arrival. A bad season if: their belief fails and their large midfield fail to get a decent amount of training between them, if they just managed to avoid relegation I don't think they would consider this a good season. New Money These teams are shaking up the traditional order and are never satisfied with their position. The Roger Federer Crew RFC faced a very tough group in the Champions League and while they made it through they were dispatched in the first round by AC Elites. However on the positive side their side is still full of young talent and RFC have made a few signings that have filled the gaps in defence and brought in some youths. They now look very balanced everywhere but it is the Fossatti Sauber combo in midifeld that is still feared. For a team that lacks special talents it is their team work that has always seen them through. This will be a hard test for RFC but don't bet against them surviving. A good season if: They manage to survive in this incredibly competitive league and carry on training up their team for the future. A bad season if: Their lack of special talents is shown to be a real problem in a league full of special players and they are sent down in bad form and spirits. Lylat Wanderers A team that have been making steady progress did well in the Champions League making it to the last 16 before losing to Winston Gardens, they have a team that has some spectacular youths as seen by Accrinton, Gledhill and Rosbottom as well as a trio of great defenders. Pilgrim stands out as the best midfielder along with Brammer and Dowell may become one of the best strikers of this generation. However it is still a team reaching its prime, it may be to early for them and you can expect them to be playing a lot of counter attacking football this season while rotating in their youths. A good season if: They manage to somehow manage their young team and stay up Peeps could be in contention for manager of the season. A bad season if: They suffer to many losses that their form suffers it could be seen as a wasted season. The Religious Elites They have both made statements of doubt and belief in recent times. Hadens Legends After a season where they finished 3rd in their group the Legends made it to the last 8 by beating Dragoooo in what would be the last match for this team before they retired. Inter beat the Legends on their way to winning the title but the Legends manager was reportedly pleased with his teams effort. As he should be the team has really come into its own as a result of last season, they are now the most valued team and have a midfield that is really starting to hit its stride with 6 top class players all under 28. Under the influence of Palmer the defence is finally starting to shape up and their player of the tournament striker Mallett may finally have some competition as Ciobotaru and Castanheira start to show potential. Legends are a usually cautious side but after missing out on the top league for unknown reasons they may go on the offence in a league where they will be the strongest side. A good season if: They win the league by a large margin and are able to develop their team for one more season before finally entering the top league. A bad season if: After the managers disbelief at being placed in the Middle League they are humbled by other teams raring to get into the top league. Athletico Aqui1a After diving out of the group stages in the Champions League competition the manager announced his intention to quit the game. Instead he had a fire sale and has now brought in replacements for his team that failed him. Prado, Isler, Sullivan and Forbes are worth over 30mil altogether and give the All stars future talent and current talent. In the wake of these changes three players have decided to call it quits and the team still need to bring in a veteran goal keeper. So a rather chaotic end to the season to say the least! But what of the actual team? It still has a good core of veterans with talent especially at the back and the midfield is full of threat and aerial dominance, up front and in goal you feel they have to bring in a veteran for both positions otherwise they will be lacking. Still a very good side that will be definite title contenders. A good season if: They pull together out of the chaos of last season and win the title and get promoted straight back to the top league. A bad season if: The fallout of last season proves to much and they struggle to maintain discipline and belief and finish outside the top 3. The Officers They command respect but can they direct yet more influence? Leeds M.O.T Leeds had a brilliant season last time around really stirring up the pot with a last gasp qualification to the knockout stages of the cup. What holds this team together is their managers self belief and offensive tactics, they usually lose big or win big and rarely have a boring draw. Their team is full of ice cool performers and some very talented youth with Heidari being one to look out for. Jarvie, Howson and Pispek give the team an attacking edge but at 16 players with some youths still learning their trade it is a team that may struggle over a long season, this is especially true in defence where Olaberriaga holds this side together. However they were underestimated last season and look what happened! A team to watch. A good season if: They defy the critics again and with their blend of exciting and attacking football have an injury free season that sees them in the top 3. A bad season if: Their older players are unable to stay in form and sides with more depth pass them as the season wears on. Coloccini FC Coloccini did well qualifying for the knock-out stages and giving Inter a scare in the first round. They are starting to see the fruits of their long game plan paying off now with a midfield that has three good talents in Vanquer, Costa and Mallo, intelligent positioning is a priority at the back while their forward line still lacks a real world class striker. Their favourite formations reflect these trends as they enjoy overloading the midfield to try and create a multitude of chances rather than relying on one or two shots going in. Mangani is a fine goalie and this is a team that lots of neutrals enjoy watching and seeing develop. They need to keep this positivity going and hopefully try and break out into the top league this season. A good season if: They can get one of those 3 promotion spots and keep on developing their team they could be ready to show the world what their youths have developed into. A bad season if: They play to cautiously and lack the confidence they need to impose their game onto other teams. Kippen FC After making it through to the last 16 with Leeds M.O.T, Kippen bowed out to eventual finalists Yellow Submarine. Kippen did well in the group stages leading the group in the early games. They prefer a hard hitting style which led to an injury and suspension crisis for them in the last games of the group stages! They have real talent up front and in midfield but at the back they are still finding their feet with Herriot announcing his retirement and Seara not making a huge impact since his transfer into the club. MacSwain his a fantastic goalie and should keep them solid at the back. This may be a successful season for Kippen if they can get the balance of their team right. A good season if: They are able to rotate their team and avoid the injuries that hampered them last season they could make the top 3. A bad season if: They work their players into the ground and are hit by fatigue and injuries from their style of play that see them drop out of the top spots. The Familia FC After a nervy qualification into the group stages The Familia took Eights United to the limit only going out when losing in a penalty shoot out. This off season has seen a bit of a renewal of talent as a couple of youths have been brought in to freshen things up for them in midfield and in goal. At their core they have a brilliant defence led by Gibbs and Wallwork, an improving midfield with Pedersen being a long range goal threat and a world class striker in Auffret. This is a team that usually likes to close up shop and attack on the counter, they may want to experiment a bit in the middle league and see how they fare. A good season if: The Familia are able to blood in their youth into several games and still impose their will on weaker teams, they will want to finish in the top 3. A bad season if: If their new youth fail to shine and their good defensive record is not supported by a better strike rate. The Middle Classes In this volatile world they could lose it all or be the future. Russian Revolution The Champions League saw a historic moment for the Revolution as they took the spot of Madpool to progress to the last 16. While they were then dispatched by Baggies this represented a huge step forward for them and it is evident in the new passion the manager of this club has for the game that this is the first of many significant moments. They have a team that is rather unbalanced in the fact they have 8 players 29 and over, 9 players 22 and under with only one being in the 22-29 age group. This puts big pressure on players like Sunnerborn and Encarnacao to perform and lead their promising youth. They have a brilliant set of strikers with Alderton being world class, a midfield full of pace and stamina and a defence with leaders and youth. This team likes to use a lot of different formations and are very unpredictable, you would imagine they will make an impact on the league but can they stay up? A good season if: This team gets some big scalps and stays up with some development under their belts ready to really push on next season. A bad season if: The revolution comes unstuck as they fail to keep the older players fit and the young players competitive. Rossers Rovers One of the true surprise packages of the Champions League was Rossers Rovers, they are a team who have had multiple managers and lacked real stability. Yet they have a new manager who has brought them, belief, good tactics and strong motivation. They took some scalps in the group stages and nearly got a shock 4th place only falling short on the very last day. They still have some work to do with their midfield and attack looking thin but full of potential with Hitapot and Tomasencu looking like future superstars. However their defence led by Bulatov who is a tireless breaker up of plays will be hard to break down. Look for this team to squeeze points out of unlikely games and do not be surprised if they stay up. A good season if: Rovers can exploit other teams playing youth against them, use their home ground advantage and stay up in the Middle League to build on their success. A bad season if: They are treated as dangerous by other teams who play strong sides and exploit their weak midfield to send them down to the Lower League. Fedex United After quite a poor season Fedex are back again with a team that has an average age reminiscent of the later seasons of Friends. After performing badly in the group stages the manager has stuck to his guns and not brought in any youths much to the dismay of the fans. While the players in the team are loyal apart from Armi, Akerland and Platt they are rather average it is very surprising this side was seeded to be in the Middle League but with their consistent 4-4-2 formation and average players they should make a good training side for other teams. A good season if: Their manager takes this team by the scruff of the neck and brings in some much needed youth. A bad season if: They carry on the way they are and fade into obscurity like the cast of Friends after the show finished. The Working Classes They work for a chance to better their position. AFC Dedede Despite going out in the group stages things are looking up for AFC Dedede they have a great team that will be strong contenders to win the Lower League title. In the middle of the park new signing Dunn and Brydon will be able direct traffic in most of the games they play. Up front Ainsworth is known for his deadly free kicks and imaginative through balls and a maturing defence will give Dedede stability at the back. The youths coming through seem to have been hand picked to give a different dimension to the team, with stamina and air superiority being valued. Dedede will most likely rotate this team and should have the knowledge of the game to forge ahead in this league. A good season if: Dedede can win the title and keep their youths on the pitch for a long time, it may be a great season for them and perfect preparation for the Middle League. A bad season if: Their youths get injured and they are unable to keep form up and the points flowing. Madpool Madpool fans need some support, after their club came on to the scene they were the original team to make the 4-5-1 formation their own. They played brilliant attacking football and so nearly won the top league with some incredible players, now they are a shell of themselves fallen to the lower league after failing to get out of their group. Life is hard but is there any hope left? Well in Gerrard, Hales, Monk and Newll they have the remaining core of the glory years team who will be a step above other Lower League players. They have some good youths coming through especially in midfield. The manager if he can rediscover his love of the game and tactical know how could potentially win this league. It will be a challenge but it can be done, Gerrard leading a club in decline full of youths to the title? Never say never. A good season if: Their manager comes back with the inspirational Gerrard and Hales and mixes the past and the future to win the league and develop his youths. A bad season if: The club carry on their miserable decline with youths not developing and the last golden era players leaving. Bob The feeling at the bob camp is as per usual a mixture of foolhardiness and extreme optimism. While they did not make it out of the group stages you know bob will be up for this season. Their team is quite unbalanced with a fantastic midfield that has the speed of Leppe, the innovation of Onfiang and the aieral power of Makondele. What it lacks is any decent defenders or should I say centre back attackers. Up front he has five strikers so it will be interesting to see who gets game time. Bob loves to play an assortment of tactics including 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 showing their attacking nature, in fact the only formations that haven't been used are those with 5 defenders. Being one of the more experienced teams this may actually be a good season for bob, don't be surprised to see them up there in the top 3. A good season if: Their manager balances an attacking spirit against lesser sides with more caution against the experienced teams to finish in the top 3 or higher. A bad season if: They are countered by teams that know they will come charging out the gates and get stuck in the lower league for another season. Recall United Like bob Recall found their group very tricky and had little joy playing in the Champions League. However the manager wisely focused on development and it is starting to pay off. Their forward line and slowly progressing with Stark being a sure bet for a few long range goals this season, McAteer stands out in midfield with players like Sharpe sadly lagging behind. However in defence there is a more even curve of development as Celbridge is influencing players like Shang and Acosta below him. The lack of a decent goalie may hurt Recall but they tend to try and dominate the midfield and keep chances for other sides down. They could well sneak into a top 3 spot this season. A good season if: Recall show the new teams their experience and rack up some much needed impressive wins on their way to a promotion spot. A bad season if: They lose their away in the excitement of the lower league and trade wins and losses rather than beat teams at home and away. Lords of Hydra In only their 2nd season Lords of Hydra had an awful group experience in the champions league but will want to make amends this time around. They have shown huge intent spending big on the transfer market bringing in three highly skilled veteran midfielders. This along with a defence that is growing in confidence will give the fans a lift this season. Their only problems may be a decidely poor forward line and a rather unmanageable team of 20 players, the manager may want to drop some of the dead weight such as Tanzibi and Bjelke from his team. A good season if: They use their midfield to dominate sides and pick up the wins while also bringing in youths and keeping training high to develop their team for the long and short term. A bad season if: Their older midfielders take up game time from the youngsters but don't deliver the results, leaving the team without developed youths or the wins they need. The 64s The 64s have been on a real journey and it is one that carries on this season in the Lower Leagues after a depressing Champions League experience. They bring with them a huge young team that looks like an experiment more than a football side. They have seven midfielders between 24-19 all around the same skill level who have great stamina. Their defence again has a lot of players who are the same age and they have five forwards. But no-one would dare say you don't know what you're doing to this beloved manager who always puts his best in and gives local kids a chance. Hopefully one day the long game will pay off. A good season if: Their manager gets rid of a few players, balances the team out, develops some real superstars and comes back next season with a team ready to take a step back to the top. A bad season if: They bring in a 22 year old midfield with 6 skill and stamina to beef up the midfield. The heirs So much promise time will tell if they can deliver. It is always good to welcome new teams to the fold and we are fortunate enough to have three new sides coming in this season! For these teams it is important to remember a good season is all about the development of their young players, a mistake may be to keep the squad to big or to focus on bringing in huge names and the expense of your youngsters. The main thing is to experiment and enjoy the game! Gibbs Probies Looking at this team we can see they have a great balance in midfield already, Rastedt is a good buy, with Rainford and Longton being standout players, Huntley should net them some goals and Culverton is a fantastic goalie. They have some dead weight such as Saunders and McGowan and their defence looks very shaky. They could also do with a better youth forward as Raymond and Angel have not developed very well. Using formations such as 4-5-1 may be advisable to play to their strong midfield and hide their weaknesses at the front and back until they can develop their players. Liverpool This team already has the look of a very well balanced one especially in midfield. Leaver and Aspinall will be a constant threat to teams and should boss proceedings from the centre of the park. Cornfeld is a great youth and they have some strength and potential in defence. Again up front is a bit poor although Mills could develop into something special. There is a lot of dead weight including Dowe, Modrinic, Hendrie and Jones who should all be sacked. 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 would be useful formations especially if another good striker was found. Spurs This team maybe has the best balance of all the new sides, Farrington, Blundell and Shipton give them great talent in all the major positions. Stokoe, Loosley and Gaughen are all great youths. With this team they have a lot of players with stamina so they could use pressure in certain games. Again though they have some dead weight such as Bradely, Sietes, Hulme and Westlake who should be sacked. Their midfield could do with another youth perhaps. 4-4-2 and even 3-5-2 could be used with this side with potential success. Remember to change your formations, keep your form high, sub on your youths and think about your tactics when playing different types of teams. Most of all enjoy and remember its all about the long term vision, don't get disheartened Alliances Unsure if alliances are back? Sign up today! Find 2 other buddies and sign up to show everyone which alliance rules them all. The team with the best collective league positions will finish top and may be entered to win a prize! Spotlight Guess results and other variables in matches and win prizes! Spotlight will come when the season starts. Edit this as appropriate. Top League Reporter: Middle League Reporter: Lower League Reporter: Interviewer: Nikos First game is tommorow 13:30: Names and Team Profiles with @ If someone had some spare time would be great to update this it is in previous thread but is very old now.

It's because you don't post the banter here anymore you used to be great at stirring the pot with the mind games you just need to pick a rival in the top league and troll them over and over. New thread will be up soon Sunday/Monday estimate.

Yeh I am only joking tbh I am looking forward to it will be great to have some games that I might be able to win. Still have Rossers to deal with now hated playing that team in the groups! Good luck in the top league!