Premier League Fantasy Football 2024-25

[LawrenceCooper]

Lawrence Cooper high scored for the week

Normal service will be resumed shortly.

[Neil Graham]

Week 9

"If Manchester United decided to hire him, it's because he deserves it." Unai Emery comment on Ruben Amorim appointment.

The start of the manager sacking season (now until end of November) has it's first casualty in Erik ten Hag's dismissal from United. The Reds defeat at West Ham at the weekend relieved pressure on Julen Lopetegui - another in the firing line. Similarly the managers of Palace, Wolves and Southampton - to name but three are wondering who will be next. Incredibly an area where there was no change was in Premier Chess; the top five in the same positions as last week. Monster score of the week from Mike Swanwick whilst Richard Dineley's team lacked bite to finish with the low score.

1 Chessticles Jonathan Blackburn 77 630
2 Second Calling Again Blair Connell 81 624
3 Boost ‘n’ Noodle Adam Lippiett 72 610
4 v likely 3 in a row Ben Cullen 65 599
5 The Dispossessed Jonathan Tait 68 593

Late arrival Tim Walker joins the League in Week 10 -I'll be closing entries after the next international break.

[Neil Graham]

Week 10

"It's the biggest mistake I witnessed in my career." Unai Emery on Tyrone Mings penalty handball in Champions League.

Some definitely jaded performances in Europe by Premier League teams. Chelsea, meanwhile, break a record by hitting eight goals against 311th ranked European side FC Noah from Armenia. Things were little better in the Premier League with both City and Arsenal losing whilst Forest move up to 3rd place. Whilst our top three Premier Chess teams are unchanged, Noah Poot and Ace Mihajlovski make their first appearances of the season; the latter with the high score of the week. Low total was jointly by Tapiwa Makoonde and Kevin Spong

1 Chessticles Jonathan Blackburn 53 683
2 Second Calling Again Blair Connell 55 679
3 Boost ‘n’ Noodle Adam Lippiett 64 674
4 ФК КОЦКА Ace Mihajlovski 71 656
5= v likely 3 in a row Ben Cullen 46 645
5= The Doku hype train Noah Poot 66 645

Restored I see that we have another new entrant "Restored" this week. He will shortly be "Removed" unless we have a proper manager identity.

[Neil Graham]

Week 11

"It's the best in England and I feel at home." Ruben Amorim's first match as Man United manager upcoming

'Tis almost the season to be jolly - the end of November approaches and all those managers who might have expected to be shown the door in the international break are still there. With Chelsea, Liverpool and now Man United with new managers, Pep signs two year contract extension. Joel Newman is a new entry into the top five with the high score of the week - no prizes for guessing which team he supports. Similarly the low score for Paul Talbot's "Supertoffees" - which offers a glimpse of his favoured team = but more "bah humbug" for him this week.

1 Second Calling Again Blair Connell 71 750
2 Chessticles Jonathan Blackburn 55 738
3 Boost ‘n’ Noodle Adam Lippiett 50 724
4 whu tang clan Joel Newman 98 713
5 The Doku hype train Noah Poot 66 711

Closing time - we will be closing the league to new entries in December (and throwing out those with no identifiable manager name)

[Neil Graham]

Quarter One - (Weeks 1-10)

18 managers featured on the leader board in the first quarter of the season. Some of those were fleeting appearances and the second quarter usually sorts out the top managers. Ben Cullen scored in nine of the ten weeks and was the most consistent manager of the quarter. Usual method of 5 points for a first place; down to 1 point for fifth. Number of weeks in brackets; two appearances to be included in table (maximum 50 pts)

1. Ben Cullen 27 pts (9)
2. Peter Finn 23 pts (6)
3. Blair Connell 19 pts (5)
4. Jonathan Blackburne 18 pts (5)
5. Adam Lippiett 14 pts (4)
6= Andrew Harley 10 pts (4)
Syad F Ali 10 pts (3)
8= Jonathan Tait 9 pts (4)
Tim Edwards 9 pts (3)

[Neil Graham]

Week 12

"It was a little bit unexpected. Ben Dawson, Leicester City first team coach, after Steve Cooper's sacking.

We said a few weeks ago that November was the month to sack Premier League managers and were surprised that only Erik ten Hag had been shown the door; however Steve Cooper has now been ousted from Leicester City after only 12 league matches in charge. Ruud van Nistelrooy is likely to be appointed in his place. Russell Martin (Southampton) odds-on to be next one out. Niko Rubina was top doh for the week whilst David Fryer was fa off the pace - his team scoring just 20 points. No significant changes at the top of Premier Chess.

1 Second Calling Again Blair Connell 56 806
2 Boost ‘n’ Noodle Adam Lippiett 74 798
3 Chessticles Jonathan Blackburn 59 797
4 ФК КОЦКА Ace Mihajlovski 71 780
5 whu tang clan Joel Newman 64 777

Top Team The top overall team has now reached 901 points. The 1,000 point mark could be reached in Week 13.

[Neil Graham]

Week 13

I love Jesus The F.A. remind Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi that religious messaging on kit is banned.

Have you read the 16 pages of F.A. regulations on kit and advertising? Of course you have! It makes the 4NCL rules look positively simple and easy to understand. I won't spoil your afternoon by quoting any of this as after a break of just one day another full set of fixtures in mid week. We welcome Peter Hunt into the top five for the first time this season with a score of 91 points - however that was beaten by Francis Moan with a three figure tally - the only one of the week with Oto-obong Bassey providing the low score .

1 Boost ‘n’ Noodle Adam Lippiett 85 883
2 Chessticles Jonathan Blackburn 79 876
3 Second Calling Again Blair Connell 68 874
4 The Doku hype train Noah Poot 82 858
5 Attackers Anonymous Peter Hunt 91 856

Haaland watch Remember when everyone wanted Erling - 74% at it's height? Now down to 47% I've given up with him this week which must a signal for a hat trick.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"I love Jesus The F.A. remind Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi that religious messaging on kit is banned."

The FA will look a bit silly if the "Jesus" referred to is not the Son of God, but a cat (for example).

[Neil Graham]

"I love Jesus The F.A. remind Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi that religious messaging on kit is banned."

The FA will look a bit silly if the "Jesus" referred to is not the Son of God, but a cat (for example).

That would be banned under Rule A1.

[LawrenceCooper]

"I love Jesus The F.A. remind Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi that religious messaging on kit is banned."

The FA will look a bit silly if the "Jesus" referred to is not the Son of God, but a cat (for example).

Or the Arsenal Brazilian striker.

[Neil Graham]

Week 14

The sky is the limit Bournemouth captain Adam Smith after their Tottenham victory.

After beating both Arsenal and Manchester City, the South Coast team gain another scalp. Talking of which this weekend sees a bottom of the table clash between West Ham and Wolves - both managers under serious threat if they lose. In Premier Chess it was all calm - the same five managers from last week making up the leader board though there was a bit of shuffling round. John Reyes took home the High Score Gold Cup for the week whilst David Fryer fell at the first hurdle with just 22 points.

1 Boost ‘n’ Noodle Adam Lippiett 56 939
2 Second Calling Again Blair Connell 63 937
3 Chessticles Jonathan Blackburn 58 934
4 Attackers Anonymous Peter Hunt 77 933
5 The Doku hype train Noah Poot 68 926

Overall Week 14 saw the 1,000 point mark passed by the leading teams - last week first overall had 990 points whereas 99 teams now have 1000+ scores after Week 14. This is the same week as last season for 1,000 points. Finally a reminder that the Overall Cup commences in Week 15. Most of our teams will have byes.

[Neil Graham]

Week 15

"The safety of fans, staff and players is of paramount importance" Everton v Liverpool postponed because of Storm Darragh.

The unexpected statement above caught many managers on the hop - especially those with Mo Salah as captain. Both West Ham and Wolves managers are still in place after Monday's clash when one or the other or both were expecting dismissal. The dismal form of both Manchester teams continues whilst Chelsea now look the main challengers to Liverpool. For a third successive week no change in our top five other than a shuffle around. Best of the week from Sam Herring whilst Enock Essel-Mensah could only find seven eligible players and so has the low score.

1 Second Calling Again Blair Connell 57 994
2 Attackers Anonymous Peter Hunt 56 989
3 The Doku hype train Noah Poot 59 985
4 Boost ‘n’ Noodle Adam Lippiett 45 984
5 Chessticles Jonathan Blackburn 43 977

Up for the Cup 8,388,608 Managers will now contest Week 16 of the Overall Cup. We will update from Week 19 onwards - normally all our managers will have disappeared by Week 24/25 or so. An "Assistant Manager" chip is being introduced from Week 24 - no idea how this will work.

[Neil Graham]

Week 16

Toffees become the 10th club in the Premier League under majority American control. Texas based Friedkin Group buy 99.5% of Everton.

Longer than we anticipated in a previous report (November), both Wolves manager Gary O'Neill and Southampton boss Russell Martin were sacked this week. Big Sam and David Moyes standing by - but Everton might want to change their boss (see above). In Premier Chess - in the title of the Del Amitri song "Nothing ever happens" - the top five continue in place with a slight change Ace Mihajlovski back into the top five, just one point ahead of Jonathan Blackburn who drops out. Chess Personality of the week is Onos Kofi-Ofuafor with top points whilst David Fryer is backmarker again.

1 Second Calling Again Blair Connell 69 1063
2 Boost ‘n’ NoodleAdam Lippiett 68 1052
3 The Doku hype train Noah Poot 64 1049
4 Attackers Anonymous Peter Hunt 52 1041
5 ФК КОЦКА Ace Mihajlovski 69 1040

Higher, Faster 2023/4 saw our first placed team pass the 1,000 pts mark in Week 16 alone. This year 16 teams have reached four figures this Game Week.

[Neil Graham]

Week 17

"We have to find a way" Pep Guardiola - City 19th in current form League Table.

If you're wondering Southampton are bottom of current form. Both have scored 4 points out of a possible 24. This is reflected in our "Haaland watch" - now owned by just 34% compared with 74% in the early weeks of Fantasy football. Those depending on Salah prospered whilst those with Palmer & Saka didn't - five managers scored triple figures including leader Blair Connell. Highest was John Garnett but our top five (relatively unchanged again) must be concerned about the progress of 2023-24 winner Sam Herring who is now in 7th place. Low score of the week from Tapiwa Makoonde.

1 Second Calling Again Blair Connell 102 1161
2 The Doku hype train Noah Poot 89 1138
3 ФК КОЦКА Ace Mihajlovski 83 1123
4 Boost ‘n’ Noodle Adam Lippiett 70 1122
5 whu tang clan Joel Newman 85 1120

Overall The leading team, Erin's XI, now has 1,257 points - which is almost 100 better than our leader.

[Neil Graham]

Slight amendment to that last report. Sam Herring was runner-up last year; Thomas Evans was the winner.