Thursday, June 20, 2013

Blow by Blow - Division 1 Relegation

After winning promotion last season Micahel Stout dropped staright back down finishing rock bottom and also having the honour of scoring the least points out of all 69 N&R managers. Some people say that German football is the best in the world, but clearly it hasn't had an affect on Michael yet, who spent the season in the Munich. D-

Francey has gone into hiding after poogate and Poyetgate and he has also gone into Div 2 as well after a poor season where he never left the bottom 12. Like his beloved Seagulls, he will be hoping for a bit of bouncebackability in 2013/14. D

Another promoted manager Kirsty Baillie also came a cropper at the higher level. She started ok, but fell into the relegation scrap the first time in September, although she managed to yank herself out but it was only temporary as he dropped back in again in early January and that as they say was that. C

Daniel Weeks was a third promoted manager to go straight back down. After week 6 Dan was in trouble and despite manfully being very active in the transfer market, bad luck and not being able to find any consistency all contrived against him. Clever team name though. C

Dewbs was a real disappointment. After a 5th place finish last season, 6th the season before that and promtion by winning Div 2 the year before that, relegation will come as a big blow to the N&R stalwart. Dewbs also never left the bottom 12, was actually bottom in week 6 and simply had a disastrous season, his worst ever. D-

2nd in week 1, it went wrong from there for Steve Merchant, who came off the back of a couple of very decent seasons. Active in the transfer market. Tick. Some decent scoring weeks. Tick. Interesting team name. Tick. Relegated. Tick. D

Rosie Dalton, last season's Div 2 winner, relegated after just 40 weeks with the elite. All that hard work undone. Plenty of transfers made, but her timing was no where near as good as last year, nor her consistency. There was a real flurry of good scoring in the last month though including a MoW, and this will give her hope for next season. Don't worry love, you can keep the trophy but please be available for drinks on July 11th.... the rest of yous we're not worried about.... C

Andrew Shepherd was our 4th promoted maanger
to get relegated after just one season, proving how hard it is in the top division with the very best. Andrew did put up more of a fight though, played the transfer card numerous times but unlike his beloved Lions couldn't save himself from the drop. C

Lee Horne will be kicking himself after a poor season. 6th last time out, he was in the bottom 12 the entire season apart from a 4-week sojourn over Christmas. He also finished the season well making him one fo the early favourites for an early return to Div 1 next season. C-

Bingo, again was put in the shade by his bro. Wardy had a most remarkable collapse of form. Top 8 in weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 19. What the f*** happened? D+

Another. Mark Gregory who slipped back into the quick sand in the final week after looking safe and clear for the 2 months precluding it. It appeared all the hard work was done after clambering out of the relegation pot not once, twice, but three times but a terrible final week sent him spinning down to Div 2 after a 2 year stay in Div 1 and I believe Mark has a number of bets to meet as well! C

The final relegated place was once again tied. The first maanger will come as a bit of a shock. Greg Foulger was never in the bottom 12 until week 39. Transfers were thrown in early as is Greg's custom but for many weeks it was about winning prizes for our ex-Mexico City fella. 6th, 8th, 7th, 5th, 3rd, 4th and even top in week 17!

What a sorry state of affairs for last season's Runner Up. His worst ever campaign. C-

The next manager on 1,549pts was Paul & Christian Long, Paul and his son Christian battled with relegation the whole season. Always though they showed some promise, such as scoring the joint best weekly score of the season in week 21. C+

But one of them has to go.....

The tie-break question was who was in the bottom 12 the most time? They will be the 12th team to get relegated.

Paul & Christian Long 30 weeks
Greg Foulger 2 weeks

Greg survives, just, but Paul & Christian drop! Hard luck guys.

Now for the two managers who escaped the drop. Hilary Flynn like Greg suddenly found herself in the relagation places in week 39 after 38 pretty mundane weeks previously, but she hauled herself out and ended up in 21st place and survived her first season in Div 1 by 11 points. B-

6 points above Hils was Richard Richards, who was the ultimate Houdini, missing out on relegation after 38 consecutive weeks in the bottom 12. Some clever transfers put him in the position to save himself and as improved he even hit 108 in week 36 to win the MoW. B-

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