The current season is drawing rapidly to a close after a short delay, and I want to check on the interest for another season of it. The game was designed to fill in the gaps between NUFC games and to tickle the nostalgic bones with the games that were drawn. With it being the close season I hope that there will be a bit of interest.

There have been a few problems with the game this season. The most important being that folk are unimpressed by the scoring system as it seems a bit shadowy. My own major gripe is that there have been far fewer draws than I expected with so mnay fringe players featuring in the matches which were pulled out of the hat.

The following changes have been suggested already and will be implemented:

1) Teams at home will get an extra 2 points as an extra man for home-advantage.
2) I will work out a band of points totals for each game which will decide no of goals scored which I will publish. This means that 11 vs 13 will probably now be a draw rather than 13 winning outright.*
3) The points totals will be overhauled to reduce the award to defenders for goals scored.
4) Pilgrim's excellent suggestion that I randomise the randomiser and get you all to pick the numbers so that I don't fall under suspiscion of match-fixing any more.

* This will be decided as usual by comparison with the average for that division on that match. It will not, however, mean that the top scoring side that game automatically gets 6 goals or something - the top range of goals awarded will be decided by reference to the historical performance by the Toon in the match drawn. For example: if the match drawn is our miserable 2-0 defeat by Wimbledon, it will be a low scoring set of matches with 3 goals as the maximum due to the missed chances from Dyer and Al at the other end, and to get more than 3 you would need to be playing someone who scored such a low points total that they would concede extra goals for all round crapness (i.e. the average score is 12, you have scored 20 and your opponent only scored 5 = 5-0 to your team).

I would therefore be most grateful if you would sign up on this thread to express interest in entering a team to the league, and also make suggestions on things you would like to see changed about the game. Obviously if you're all sick of the bloody thing then I'll let it die as it does take up a lot of time to run.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

Answers

You`re up early Softie! I`m hooked, and so is Yelli - so count us both in! (:o)

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

The only thing I'm sick of Softie is losing!But the Gallowgate will be back next season after this season of erm transition.
Cheers Softie and keep up the good work!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

If someone would expaline to me what I am supposed to do I will join in.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

After my lastest fantastic, unbeaten run, I'm definitely in!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

Softy,
Perhaps you would post a reprise of the basics and rules, and how one actually participates for those unfortunates like myself who missed out first time around.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

Rules??? What rules? Wallsend Old Boys will be there

Count me in again.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

Hi Softie

Count me in for next season, although I am concerned for your time in running the thing. It is well known that a new junior player is joining your ranks who will require a great deal of your time as trainer. (-;

I like the proposed 2 pts home advantage and I also think that there should be (say) a 2 point advantage in the cup for a Premier side against a lower division team. Where the division 1 team is at home then these bonuses would cancel each other out.

As for promoting more draws I think this will add a touch of realism and makes it more difficult for one team to open up a huge lead in the points. I presume you have experimented with this and are happy with the basis on which it will be calculated.

Thanks for your efforts. It's a fun game, much more interesting than the standard "Fantasy Football" games, and with the added touch of a bit of reminiscing as the random game comes up to cheer or haunt us with the memory.

Brilliant game - (but then I would say that wouldn't I?)

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

I'll give it a bash if you post the rules somewhere baby :)

Everyone seems to have a load of fun with it....well done sir...

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

I'd like the chance to play this time round, it looks like a right lark.

I'm off now to dream up an imaginative name for me team.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

I'm up for it.......but it looks like I'm already on the verge of relegation this season....so will probably get hoyed oot anyway

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

The Goons are in for another season. First season finishing near the top, much of this season looking over our shoulders at relegation, next season mid-table obscurity! :-)

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

Count in the Samba once more! We look like staying up (please God) and we're still in the cup. Gotta count as a successful season of rebuilding.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

I'd would like to enter my 'choppers' again. Although we had a disastrous mid season - we rallied towards the end.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

Pete's Porkie Pies are in, Just love this game, all the exitement and dissapointment is there, from a 5-0 home thumping to a 2-0 away win, and still in with a chance of a playoff spot. With a couple of new signings at the Pie Dome, we should do well next season.

Sign me up, and thanks for all the effort you put into this for our benefit Softie. It really is appreciated.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

I've always been a bit of a masoch....masac....masich.....I've always enjoyed a bit of pain at the right time:0 I'm in.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

Having zoomed from relegation standard to upper-mid-table obscurity a la the Mags, of course MacBeth's Marauders wish to continue their surge towards the Champions League.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

Oh gan on then. Screacher's Creatures are game for a laugh.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

The famed Jessie's High Pants are definitely up for another season Softie - should you manage to find your PC beneath the mound of Huggies and talcum powder that is. I'm sure I speak for all in reassuring you that any comments about the running of the comp were certainly not doubting your integrity, but unquestionably a sign of how into the game everyone is. It sounds as if we may even get a 2nd division going ! I have to say I'm dead against Jonno's suggestion about weighting Cup games in favour of Premier teams - sounds far too Taggartly for my liking and should therefore be consigned to the bin along with his request for a bye through to the latter rounds as he has to go off to Brazil or something (:o). C'mon lads, it's the magic of the Cup we're talking about here ..... !!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

Steph's Superstars are up for it! Count us in.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

I am definitely up for it

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

The Blaydon Racers will apply for re-election :-((

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

The Droopers are as up for it as ever.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Softie,
I wouldn't mind a couple of kilos of these goodies. The Makkem Parp Shovellers at La Stade de Merde, are now ready to leave all behind them. When's the deadline for player nominations ?

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Baxter Basics will be back for another term, if only to be humiliated again, but perhaps with a change to the forward line.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Looking good, people, we have at least enough to run 2 divisions again, and might even collect enough for 3. I'll post new team selection info in the near future (there were a few missing last time) and will thrash out some of the finer details on the rules.

e.g. Dr bill reckoned that suspensions were a double jeopardy since I docked points for yellows and reds and banned players for picking them up, whilst they were already missing games in reality for the yellows they picked up. He has a good point, I just wanted to add a bit of colour to procedings.

Not convinced on more money for Premiership sides - might think about allowing them an extra 5 points worth of midfielders or something, but will probably leave it unchanged. After all, the Premiership teams should be managed by the more experienced team-pickers as they will be on their third season.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

My suggestion of extra points in a game between teams from different divisions was a suggestion to add realism. Clearly, Premier teams invariably win the FA Cup and lower division sides rarely break through. Obviously, because of the random nature of the games drawn there would be every chance of a shock horror upset which would add (IMHO) more excitement when a Premier team is turned over by the lower team.

As it is at present, a team from a lower division has the same choice of players as the Premier team and has an even chance of victory which doesn't reflect reality. BTW I would make this point whichever division my team was in. (-;

Naturally, I'm not bothered either way - it's just a suggestion.

One further point (and this is for Softie only) - do you think the rules on Sewer Movement could be usefully incorporated? (-;

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Only for games at Old Trafford. Standard -2 modifier for reckless movement ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

After the improvement of the last few matches, Woodstock County will be back for another season. A couple of summer signings and a clearout of the dross will see us raring to go.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Jonno,

as a manager of a lowly Notionless team (before my sacking that is) I would not like the extra point in cup games given to the Premier team. This is just another ruse to have an elite league!

Next you will be forming a breakaway top 10 to capitalise on the webcast rights!

We will lose the excitment of "The Cup" where basically anything goes. Who can forget that commentary that's repeated during the preview to al the BBSCL Cup rounds:

".... and now Tudor's gone down for Backworth ...."

;-))

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

It would be a tradegy to miss any CL season. I am authorizing the addition of 10,000 seats to Parthenon Park and look forward to finally producing an away draw! A suggestion, how about a nominal fee- just enough for the winner to get a prize like the new NTL shirt?

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Obviously I will be happy to take part again next season, once the champagne has worn off. Also ,Elliot has expressed a desire to follow in his fathers finger tappings

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Softie,

One suggestion you might think about is to not differentiate between Left, Centre and Right Midfield. This is only because of Newcastle's habit of playing central midfielders on the wings (or indeed defenders).

This season to date 145 points have been scored in central midfield, compared with 38 on the left and 48 on the right. I know that most midfield goals come from the middle, but it's still a glaring disparity even if you remove Lee and Speed from the equation altogether (Still 60 points from central midfield without them).

Also the rules currently prevent Lee and Speed both being selected when this has been the mainstay of the midfield for several seasons.

Having said that, at least this is one of the ways to get a result, or else everyone will pick both players. Shame Beardsley didn't appear in more games this season!

Oh well, food for thought?

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

TGJ, marvellous, the more the merrier. How is young Eliot? Would you like a system of fines instituted for foul and abusive language on CL Match threads? If so, I'd best get me wallet out ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Pilgrim, let me assure you that the inability to choose both Speed and Lee was quite intentional - I moved Speed in from being left sided for that very reason as it was one of the things Steph used to walk away with last season. Whilst nearly everyone else went for Ginola, she sensibly picked the guy with the most goals and appearances; had to close that loophole quick or we'd have had too many identical teams.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

I'll try and get involved this time.

Josh

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Softie,

Why not raise the points required for Lee and Speed to (Say) 5 points each and cut a little slack on the Left, central, Right Midfield?

It's just a thought. I'm pretty happy with things as they are. I do think that eventually the experienced players will be picking almost identical teams. Maybe we need to award more points for "fringe" players when they appear. I reckon the main difference between me winning the league and finishing where I am this season is 'cos I chose Albert instead of Dabs and the majority of the games that came out were post Albert (and Beardsley). If it's that close we should maybe think of a few more randomising factors.

I'm here to be shot down, all! :o))

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

For Gawd's sake Pilgrim! Do you have all the f***in' statistics for every Corinthian match? You're a sadder b@st@rd than I thought.

You should get out more. What about tomorrow night? Ring o' Bells, Tunnel Top, or tha place in Moore? If only for the sake of the BBS if not your own sanity.........

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

You B@stard Screacher!

Go out with you??? My @rse is still bleeding after the last time!

(Yep, I've got quite a little spreadsheet going!)

>;->

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Pilgrim - you'll be hearing from my layer. Just thought I'd nip this one in th bud before the BBS gutter-brigade arrive on the scene in the morning (or in about 30 secs if ITK's still at work).

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

I wouldn't dream of it......anyway I'm not at work, I'm at home....ya boo sucks to you

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Benn sacked??

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Errr.......Been sacked??

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

From your Layer??????

Nuff Said!

O>-[)) (Recipient is a Baldy, Miserable Git with a double chin!)

Er, Yeah OK I'm probably up for a pint tomorrow. I'll give you a ring. (8-))) (Sender is wearing glasses and also has too many chins!)

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

You leave my layer alone. It is a purely professional relationship.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Nah....worked the weekend...now on my two days off, today and tomorrow, on shift lates Wednesday and Thursday off Friday Saturday and Sunday.....this is what is commonly know as 'the short week' two twelve hour days in seven, can't be bad!

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Hey,

Just discovered my Explorer is working OK with this BBS again. Thank God for that, I don't have to keep typing my email address in!

I wonder what was wrong the other day? ==
-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Damn this HTML!

The end of my last posting contained a left arrow and got missed off!

===CO (Sender feels a right tit!)

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

that leave the left one for someone else....any takers?

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

I felt a right tit once. Then she slapped me gob.

Right - aah'm off ti me bed. CU in the pub.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Yes!

===CO>===

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Night night all!

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

And it's Goodnight from Him!

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Count me in Softie; can't wait for the challenge of the premier league following this season's steady performance by Duncan's Disorderlies. Now I've clogged my way into the top division I'll be signing new talent to keep us there.

Anyone want to help Softie run this? Everyone knows that all the best leagues are run by committee....

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2000

Count me in Softie - but after an acrimonious split with the Q. Mechs. I now coach "The Nobblers"

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2000

After long discussions with our new sponsers, Spayne will be submitting their full team rather than last seasons B side!

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2000

I'm in, even though I'm bottom of the prem can we keep the same teams as last year give or take a couple of subs - cos unless you're Chewsee you don't change your whole squad year in year out (or is that where I went wrong this year?)

-- Anonymous, June 06, 2000