In 2007 by JibJab

The annual JibJab American review of the year is always worth a look. Click here and play.

RIP Phil O’Donnell

This is so sad. Motherwell's captain Phil O’Donnell, 35, collapsed while being substituted in the Scottish Premier League game against Dundee United at Fir Park on Saturday and was rushed to Wishaw General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Can you imagine witnessing that or being his wife or one of his four kids? Very sad news indeed.

Top weekly score

Following the bumper Christmas scoring week it is no surprise that we have a new best score leader in Barry Plummer. Only PK and Mark Simmons' scores from previous weeks remain in the top 15. Remember there is a 25 quid prize to the winner.

Top 15 weekly scores of the season.
1. Barry Plummer, week 21, 95 points
2. Ben Graves, week 21, 87 points
3. Shay Reddy, week 21, 84 points
4. Michael Stout, week 21, 79 points
5. Paul Kelleher, week 21, 77 points
6. Helen Peters, week 21, 75 points
7. Dom Barrett, week 74 points
8= Alan Oakley, week 21, 73 points
8= Alex Byatt, week 21, 73 points
10. Steve Black, week 21, 72 points
11. Rob Beere, week 21, 70 points
12= Ryan Saveall, week 21, 69 points
12= Paul Kelleher, week 17, 69 points
14= Mark Simmons, week 14, 68 points
14= Ben Graves, week 19, 68 points

Office footie

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

That just leaves us to wish each one of you and your families a happy Christmas and a fantastic 2008. We enjoy running the N&R FL, this is our 12th season and we hope you enjoy the taking part.

Hope to see you all soon.

Rant over

Have you seen this story? What a load of bunkum.

"A Turkish lawyer is taking legal action against Inter Milan, the Italian football team, for wearing a strip with 'Crusader-style' red crosses that he alleges is offensive to Muslim sensibilities" (more)

As the article points out the red cross is the symbol of Milan and Inter have produced the kit to mark their centenary. Rivals AC Milan also carry a red cross on their badge. The Muslims over-sensitive as always unless it includes beheadings and raping young children.

I mean I know all lawyers like to make a few quid by but who else is this Turkish delight going to sue?

England for having the audacity to have the St George on it's flag? Alfa Romeo cars for having it on their logos? The Red Cross? Now they do a blasphemous old job of saving people's lives. And that medal - well that stinks of religious righteousness.

What about Portsmouth, they have a crescent on their badge - old Harry Redknapp is dodgy but a Muslim basher? Come on, not unless he could sign one surely?

PC gone mad.

Sunny side up

Breaking news 8888 Division 1 - week 19 news
Not for a long time have we had a manager run away with the MoW award like Ben Graves did in week 19. Ben was 19 points ahead of the 2nd best score, made by Barry Plummer. Ben was also 27 points better off than anyone else in his division. This might explain his jump into 2nd. 68 was the second joint best score of the season.

Martin Singleton had his best week of the 19 so far, Alex Boswell scored well as did Ian Monahan who freakily scored his 3rd 38 points in a row! Chris Wright, Lee Baughan again and Rob Beere also came out of the latest week with credit.

In Div 1 Mark Simmons, Soozie Syrett and Ryan Saveall all did good and John Littig, worried that he is staring relegation in the face also had a fine week.

Last week's top dawg Paul Kelleher scored just 25, although it was plenty more than Ready on 20 and Nobby on 15.

The week 19's worst score? Come on down Paul Long and Alan Oakley with 14, although 5 manager's scored 15.

Pk goes limp

Breaking news 8888 Division 1 - week 19 news
Well that didn't last long did it? Paul's girlfriend would know what we are talking about. Yesterday I was praising PK's stamina and ability, today he is already leaning back and smoking a cigarette. One week on top and now Tally.Wacker.co.uk are down to 3rd in Div 1.

Ajax Treesdown are back on top with Egg & (Stevie) Bacon into 2nd. Behind PK there is a little gap, 28 points in fact until you get Runningoutofroubles FC, 7 ahead of Coming from behing again, who are 8 ahead of Sleepless Knights.

Further down NY Eagles continue their flight and In Tatters also contine to improve. The big climber up 5 places though was those sizzling Soozies Sausages.

In the relegation battle John Littig, who I saw yesterday looking very worried about his chances actually move up two places - Rooney & Ronaldo's Revenge are now 20th, just 9 points from safety.

Brighton Blues and Keep the faith swap places like a couple of gay boys at a parade and the bottom two look dead and buried.

Big Dave, Bears and Students close in

Breaking news 8888 Division 2 - week 19
Boys on Tour slipped up in week 19 after having his worst week of the season. They stay top but Get him big Dave are now just 15 points behind in 2nd. Megan & Hannah's Bears and Student Uprising are not far behind either, both having good weeks.

In 5th is Arsene Knows, down two places whilst Helen's Hotties are 6th. Aspen geezers Barretts the bollocks and 2Infinity & beyond swap places again.

Just below the promotion race NotmadeinSheffield make some ground as do Emirates FC.

Muchas Empanadas move away from the bottom follwoing a season-high but Nob's Jockeys have now fallen from 5th from top to 5th from bottom in 12 weeks. Red Bull Ginger are down there keeping me company as are the Wise Prankers, Nipple Antennae and Nancy Lollygaggers - quite a crowd!

New N&R questionnaire

Those N&R old timers will remember that Ready and I used to issue a annual questionnaire with some frankly ridiculous questions to each of our managers. Based originally on a football programme player in profile type article or a 4-4-2 one on one thingy, you know pre-match meal, favourite actress, first car, that kind of thing.

Well last year I didn't do one, but I am thinking of bringing it back this season and I do have some rather pertinent if not obnoxious questions to ask you managers. I will work on it over Christmas and hope to email it out to everyone in the next week or so.

Remember there is no pressure. I just want honest answers. If you can't be honest, then make sure it's damned funny!

Oh, and Rob remember the bar is very high.

We wuz Robbed

Breaking News 88888 Manager of week 18
A second MoW award for Rob Munden. That is Rob, Paul Kelleher, Aaron Barden and Alex Boswell (I know how ridiculous is that?) that have each won more than two weekly fivers. What about the rest of us, you greedy bastards?

Rob knocked up a nifty 56 clear of any competition. Next up was my little kilted Glaswegian Kirsty Baillie, followed by my little Folkstonian Ian Kennett. Lee Day, not little in the slightest (allegedly) was next.

Other managers deserving a round of Christmas cheer was Steve Black, Helen Peters, Mark Simmons, Mark Wenman, and hang on can that be right? Lee Baughan.

The week 17 lowest score was handsomely achieved by Rob Beere.

Tally-ho ho ho

Breaking news 8888 Division 1 - week 18 news
Well it was coming for a while. Paul Kelleher's Tally.Wacker.co.uk go to the summit of the N&R FL for the first time this season and their odds were slashed by Paddy Powder to 6/5 to win the title for the first time.

PK has been knocking on the door for a number of weeks now and now lead Ajax Treesdown by 3 points. The over major change in top title race was Inter Thepub re-entering the top 7. Coming from behing again taking their turn to be in 8th.

In Tatters and Pure Irish are close on the rails, both yet to appear in the top 7. One of last season's surprise packages Tora Tora Torres are improving as are the experienced NY Eagles.

In the relegation dogfight Glasgow kiss och-ayed her way out of the bottom leaving Space Badgers to lick their wounds. Herr Oakers remains rooted to the bottom of Div 1 after 18 weeks.

Fuddy marvellous

Breaking news 8888 Division 2 - week 18
The top 8 promotion rivals remained unchanged in week 18. There was a bit of bed hopping but nothing unusual for the season.

The man in form though is dear Sweaty. PLG is a Fud are now 11th after another fine week. The Last train to Seaford is chugging along nicely in 12th whilst Wizzis Wonders continued their yo-yo season. Goonersmoan had a better week and Prestonite Muchas Empanadas also sit better off after the round 18 of scores.

On the downward spiral though are the absolutely frigging useless Nob's Jockeys. Rochdale at Lloyds, Premiership here we come and Emirates FC also lost ground.

Catch up

Not for the first time I'm playing a bit of catch up. I could make excuses but frankly none of you are worth it!

Anyway you are probably all hungover, still drunk or waking up in a wrong bed. Nope I don't miss those days at all. Why would I when I can drink iced tea and eat burgers and be so fat that I need a seat-belt extension on a plane? Jealous, huh?

Week 17 is below, week's 18 and 19 to follow by the end of the week, hopefully. If by the way you want to share any dark secrets of Christmas party shenanigans, then do tell. I heard about Ryan, and Francey and Kennett. But what about Helen or Hilary or Suzie?

Come on let me in. All I have here is a Miller Lite for company....

More Brits

I had lunch with John Prowse last week, for you that know him. He too is moving to the Windy City to attempt to run Allianz's foray back into the US domestic casualty market. Good luck to him.

It was nice to see a friendly face and I am sure that I will see him again, especially since Allianz in Chicago have recently employed two other Brits to add to fellow N&R FL manager Michael Stout, who has been in Chicago longer than me.

By the way Lee, John offered to put you and PK up when you come over next year, so I can ditch looking into a hotel for you!

Transfers - again!

Just another gentle reminder that during the Christmas period Ready will be in Thailand shagging, I will be in Chicago.... shagging.. obviously but the old N&R FL transfer machine will still swing into action.

Just send me an email at simon_newport@ars.aon.com and I will action the changes immediately. Just please make sure that you have the players already you want to sell, you have no more than 11 players and you do not spend over 50mill plus you have enough transfer opportunities left. Easy, eh. Well you would think so, but I dealing with bloody insurance people here.

The deadline, as always is 5pm Tuesday. I thank you.

PK adds to his Tallywacker

Breaking News 88888 Manager of week 17
Paul Kelleher swept to his 3rd MoW in week 17 with a chunky 69 points, which also cracked the best season score. Aaron Barden was next up and then there was a little gap down to Ryan Saveall and colleague Huw Thomas.

A point less than the Blackham boys was Dom Barrett and John McGowan. Close behind them were Ben Graves and Barry Plummer. Also worth a mention in dispatches were Hilary Ryan and Helen Peters.

The owner of the week's worst score was Brian Rutter.

Best weekly score - top 10

Paul Kelleher hit the jackpot in week 17 and is currently in line of the 25 quid end of season award. Here are the top 10 weekly scores so far this season:

1. Paul Kelleher, week 17, 69 points
2. Mark Simmons, week 14, 68 points
3. Davor Duvancic, week 14, 66 points
4=. Paul Kelleher, week 9, 65 points
4= Aaron Barden, week 17, 65 points
6= Greg Foulger, week 9, 63 points
6= Barry Plummer, week 9, 63 points
8= Paul Kelleher, week 7, 61 points
8= Barwick & Higgs, week 9, 61 points
10= Ian Kennett, week 9, 60 points
10= Ben Graves, week 14, 60 points

Huw Dunnit

Breaking news 8888 Division 2 - week 17 news
Welsh league side Get him Big Dave hot a season-high score to clamber into 2nd place, a climb of 3 places. Huw had a quick start, but shot his bolt early (I will ignore a cheap sheep shagging joke at this point) and disappeared before storming back into contention in week 17.

Boys on Tour still lead the way but lower down Barretts the Bollocks also moved up to 4th, Dom's highest place since August.

There wasn't much change otherwise except for PLG is a Fud moving up a couple of spots. Near the bottom Red Bull Ginger improved their chances as did Wizzis Wonders. Goonersmoan meanwhile after a season-low score fell 7 places in the table.

Smell the bacon

Breaking news 8888 Division 1 - week 17 news
The top 3 remain unaltered in week 17. Egg & (Stevie) Bacon close in on the top three and move to 4th. Runningoutofroubles FC gain a place to 5th, whilst Mark Simmons Coming from behing again are back into 7th.

Hilary's Pure Irish make up some ground as do Space Badgers but Ready's Hannoi Utd slip to within 14 points of the relegation places as does Little Red Devils.

Congratulations

Belated Congratulations to ex-N&R fantasy manager Brian Dougal. He and his lovely bird got married a couple of weeks ago in Wisconsin. I was there and I must say brats and beer works incredibly well as a wedding dinner. Later in the evening the wedding party was invaded by pilgrims and turkeys, a traditional Wisconsin event I was led to believe.

I work with Dougal and obviously give him loads of stick, why wouldn't I? Unfortunately his girlfriend, now wife, banned him from taking part in this season's N&R FL just like she has stopped him going out and eating red meat. But don't worry I have given him a name of a good divorce lawyer.

Just Fab

An Italian breath of fresh air, if that is not a non-sequitur blew into the dusty old halls of the FA today. Fabio Capello doesn't actually start work until January 7th, so he will miss out on his Christmas bonus and the FA's Christmas party, although how some sherry and a game of crown bowls can be called a party I'm not sure.

I watched an excerpt earlier of his unveiling and was impressed. My he can already speak Italian. How clever is that? If Tony Adams joins the coaching staff then he will be playing the piano by the time we meet Switzerland on February 6th.

I suggested Capello the day after McClaren was fired and although back in the day I like others clamored for an English coach, I can't face another book by Curbishley or seeing Shearer's face like a smacked arse after each excruciating defeat to countries with populations the same size as Kansas City.

Capello is a winner. 14 titles have come under his tutelage and more importantly he takes no shit, and apparently does not have a penchant for young blonde actresses.

I'm pleased, I rarely get moved by anything the national teams does (the odd penalty shoot-out aside) and I feel a little skip in my step tonight as an Englishman.

"I believe that being the manager of England is obviously different from club management. It's easier to be strict when you have the players every day. As I will only have them occasionally, my behaviour will have to change. As will theirs - because wearing the national jersey is very important. I believe that English people and footballers have a will to win and a love for their country. It's just a question of getting it out of them. I really hope to be the man who can do that." (more)

Road to Wembley - Albion taken for a Burton

Nigel Clough's Burton Albion were knocked out of the FA Cup following a replay at Underhill. The Brewers reign comes to an end and now Nobby & Ready will put their combined weight behind Barnet, who are now only 6 rounds away from the Final!

Barnet left it late though and had to ride their luck at times with Burton often taking the game to their league rivals. They hit the bar in the 2nd half and also had a goal disallowed but despite dominating possession, some indecisiveness following a corner allowed ADAM BIRCHALL to tap in the winner.

Barnet will play Swindon away in the 3rd Round on January 5th.

Team Challenge - Miami and Vice

The RSA boys of Lee and Greg remain top of the N&R Team Challenge, despite them being on opposite sides of the Atlantic. They are 10.5 points ahead of new entrants Lockton, who now have Howard Grace in their ranks.

In 3rd are the huge team from AIG with Francey slowing down their progress. Behind them are current champion's Layton Blackham and in 5th are BMS.

The in-form team though are Aspen, who rise 5 places to joint 5th. Both Dom and and Plums are making good ground in Div 2. In 7th place, up from 9th is Allianz, with Black and Stout rapidly improving.

Down to 8th are Lloyds with new neighbours Willis in 9th. Barry Paull is single handidly steering the Ex-Pats, with both Nobby and Mutley useless. 11th are the Grace-less Aon Re with Aon USA on 12th and last.

The Team Challenge Trophy table is attached to the week 16 scores email.

Luvvies jubblies

Breaking News 88888 Manager of week 16

Alex Byatt turned in another good week of scores, this time the best out of the 55 managers to win the week 16 MoW award. Alex is still in the bottom 8 of Div 1 but the future is byatter (ouch!).

Ben Graves pushed his team back into title contention after scoring 49 and then in Div 2, Danny Rose notched 44 points, the same as Aaron Barden. Paul Kelleher kept up the pressure with 41 and 40 was the optimum number for both Mark Wenman and colleague Shay Reddy.

4 was the week's lowest score, suffered by the struggling Steve Black and Glenn Francis.

Glasgow gloom

Breaking news 8888 Division 1 - week 16 news
Another week at the summit for Ajax Treesdown, in fact the next 3 all stay the same. In 5th is Egg & (Stevie) Bacon, back in the title race. Runningoutofroubles FC and Inter thepub swap places whilst Coming from behing again slip out.

Obafemi & the Femidoms climb over Oldham Tightly and a bit further down Obeonekanobenil move out of the relegation places for the first time since the middle of October. Pure Irish also make good ground but going the wrong way are Space Badgers and Kirstie's Glasgow kiss, in the bottom 8 for the first time this season after being in 2nd after week 2. Keep the faith slip nearer to the bottom as Lamb to the slaughter faltered as MoW Lovejoy's luvvies started their comeback in fine style

Arsene keeps on plucking

Breaking news 8888 Division 2 - week 16 news
Arsene Knows a thing or two about plucking young boys from the African and French leagues and yes, I did say plucking. Danny Rose knows a thing or two about drinking and fantasy football, he's probably been doing this shit since it first started a number of years ago. Danny's side moved back into 2nd in Div 2 after a fine week scoring 44 points and probably drinking as many pints in the process.

Boys on Tour stay top for the 5th consecutive week and Get him big Dave improve their promotion prospects as does Barretts the Bollocks and little minx Helen's Hotties. I of course do not know Helen, but I am quite a whiz around the internet!

Peeking lower down, no we have stopped talking about Helen, Rob Beere's sponsored Emirates FC make some ground as did Last train to Seaford.

At the arse end, no we have honestly moved on, the bottom 3 remain the same but Muchas Empanadas and Wizzi's Wonders all slip towards it.

Road to Wembley - Burton take it in their stride

Burton Albion's long-serving Darren Stride snatched a late equaliser with his first touch after coming on as sub to keep the non-league side's third round dreams alive with a 1-1 draw against Barnet.

The centre-half was thrown on as an emergency striker as Clough's side trailed and he did the trick with an 86th-minute leveller. Burton's late show came despite the fact that their League One visitors had dominated throughout from the moment Neal Bishop caught them cold by slamming a fifth minute header against the crossbar.

Barnet grabbed the goal their impressive opening deserved when LIAM HATCH met Adam Birchall's 19th minute cross with a volley which nestled in the bottom corner of the net from 12 yards.

The Brewers were thrown a lifeline on the stroke of half-time when Shaun Harrad was tugged in the area by Sagi Burton only for Barnet's weak penalty to be saved by Lee Harrison.

DARREN STRIDE rescued a replay for Burton, firing home at the back post after John McGrath had wriggled to the left hand by-line.

Barnet finished the game with 10 men after Nicky Nicolau was sent off for a second bookable offence. The replay will be next week and the winners will travel to Swindon in Round 4.

Burton team: Poole, Brayford, Greaves, James (Stride 85), Webster, Corbett, Simpson, McGrath, Gilroy, Harrad, Goodfellow (Edwards 64).
Subs Not Used: Deeney, Austin, Farrell.
Att: 2,769

The road to Wembley - Burton Albion

Interesting (?) facts on Burton Albion:

1) Brian Clough's son Nigel has been manager since 1998
2) He actually played 295 games for Burton as well as 324 for Nottingham Forest.
3) The 38-year old still occasionally plays.
4) Burton were formed in 1950
5) Burton is an area known for it's beer
6) Hence the nickname - The Brewers
7) Their mascot is called Billy Brewer
8) Billy Brewer won the first ever Mascot Olympics!
9) They play at the very modern Pirelli Stadium situated down the street from Pirelli's factory (right)
10) They play in the Conference National league, the 5th tier of English football
11) Kevin Poole plays in goal - ex Leicester and Birmingham
12) In 2006 they drew at home to Man Utd 0-0 in the 3rd Round. They lost the replay 5-0.
13) Famous old players include Mark Robins, Andy Sinton and Gary Rowett
14) Official website