04 Nov 07

Now that most of the transfers have been made, we can see the effects of what a good transfer policy can do for you. Ola is getting stronger every week and it’s the third week in a row that she has topped the weekly scores with a massive 53 points. Quite and achievement for a team that was languishing in obscurity only six weeks ago, with an air of resignation over the whole team, and seasoned ticket holders tearing up their tickets in disgust. But methinks she’s using dirty tactics. We all saw that she used some illegal elbows to catch that bouquet last week … so now she’s obviously instructed her team to use similar tactics to elbow their way unceremoniously up the table! You couldn’t watch her.
Pat Murphy, fresh after putting his latest awards into the trophy cabinet, seemed at first to have only an average week, but he has still managed to create more daylight between himself and the chasing pack. Fifteen points clear out on top he is now, thanks in part to superb strike from defender George McCarthy, and should have been another four points ahead if only the Hammers had not conceded in the 92nd minute! He’s looking good to hold his place if he can manage to hold off some of the newer contenders for the title.
Sonya has made a big jump up into second from sixth, with a performance (46pts) that will have her in the lead soon if that keeps up. Disappointment for Don (30pts) and Shaybee (30pts) as their form slips, and they now seem to be looking at the long painful slither down the table, and out of contention. (How’s that for dismissing them off hand. I will probably pay for that comment.)
Good progress by the Magicians too with the second highest score of the week (49pts) as they strive to keep their heads above the side managed by his better half, who is biting at his heels. It seems to be a feature of this mini-league that the women have made most of the shrewd choices, and now look down the table on their partners, gleefully rubbing their hands in excitement at the thought. The Magicians made a rash of changes to preserve their integrity, and their slim margin has been reduced, but it’s still there. Just remember, there’s a long way to go girls!
The Hammers XI have been on form this week too. His old team would have brought him a paltry 13 points for the week, but some astute changes mean that he got 41 points for the week. That’s some difference, and it seems like the Hammers XI are a team to watch out for in the coming weeks.
The McCarthy brothers have fallen like stones this week scoring 12 points apiece for their teams. Dermot falls four places, while Dan falls three places. They need to regain their composure and concentration, if they’re going to have any chance of catch-up at this stage.
The Vultures manager was missing on Saturday so he wasn’t able to complete his transfers. They badly need strong management at this stage … and quickly.
As for Dermot and Mairead, hopefully they’re thinking of much better things while they’re away. We’ll sort them out when they get home. Meanwhile, their teams look worn out but soldier on regardless. They badly need those changes.

• No team listings for now, because some have yet their changes … so they’ll have to do their own team research, to try to keep things fair.
• An asterix (*) after the team name indicates a team that had no changes made during the transfer window. An amnesty will apply for those teams for this week… So no third chances after this.
• Alex has now called her team “Ola’s Eagles”
  

Position (change)	Team Name	Total	Week	Inter Trans
1 (-)	Pat Murphy	273	38	38
2 (+4)	Sonya	258	46	46
3 (-1)	Shaybees	252	30	30
4 (-1)	Don	251	30	30
5 (+3)	The Magicians	244	49	49
6 (-2)	Mairead *	240	24	24
7 (+4)	Ola’s Eagles	238	53	53
8 (-3)	Donies Dynamos *	237	24	24
9 (+1)	Hammer XI	228	41	41
10 (-3)	Dan Macs	218	13	13
11 (+2)	Donal G *	207	28	28
12 (-)	Dermot G *	205	22	22
13 (-4)	Dermot Mc	201	12	12
14 (-)	The Vultures *	173	18	18