Division 5/62 First Weekend Roundup (26/04/2008 18:41)

Division 5/62 table predictions
1. Insanity
2. Flying Snails
3. traeff fk
4. Lura IL
5. forzaRBK
6. Of Per Zia
7. Tanjong Pagar FC
8. huse mitt
9. Dorchester FC
10. Pool Man
11. Espantas
12. wapitis
13. Sun Hill (matchteam FC)
14. FC Telsiai
15. Sunhill
16. Amsterdam FC

Those were my league predictions coming into the beginning of the year. Looking at the standings right now some of them look perfect while others look like brain farts, not to mention I put Sunhill twice instead of matchteam FC where the misspelling of Sunhill was. Let's look at the movers and shakers so far this season.

(Writers' note: All teams put in either category of better or worse then expected are 3 spots different then the prediction sheet above and not an accurate measure of teamplay and talent.)

Better then expected
Amsterdam FC (predicted 16th; currently 4th)
-The team to end all teams apparently lies in Amsterdam where the football club has pulled off a surprising start to the year going 4-4-1.I figured that midfield would be their major undoing along with no decent backups on defense and seemingly the same starting 11 every game leading to injuries. It is still possible this will happen with two midfielders at 84 health, a defensemen injured with 75, and a key striker at 89. However, there is no way this team finishes worse then 13th in my book as they should get enough points to use their start to stay about the red line. If the team's manager gets more active, this team can be top 6 with what should be high morale.

Pool Man (predicted 10th; currently 3rd)
- Why oh why did I doubt the ability of an active manager in the 5th division? After the top 4 teams in the 6th division department I was in being active, I should've figured them for top 5. Their 5-4-0 record is a surprise, but not as much as my chart makes it. This team's only weakness in my eyes is the lack of a second goalie possibly causing problems with a poor team money-wise if the unthinkable happens and the goalie goes down for the count. Good management of players is enough for this team as its starters stay healthy with proper rotation. Top 5 as I mentioned earlier is a distinct possibility with a playoff appearance possible if injuries do not come.

Worse then expected
traeff fc (predicted 3rd; currently 6th)
- This team is not far points wise from where I thought they would be, one more draw would have them in a tie for 4th. This team's strength of balance should see them through injuries without a problem and gain them a few extra wins. This is a team that can bounce back, again the Law of Active Managers comes to mind, and I feel will be another top 5 team with a promotion playoff chance.

forzaRBK (predicted 5th; currently 11th)
- This must have been a homer pick as I went with the other promoted team from Division 6/246 to finish top 5. I am rethinking that part of the pick, but they are nowhere as bad as their current standing in the league. They have the same weakness as most of the average teams in this league, lack of depth beyond a starting 11 and only playing 11 players the whole year will run these good players down near the end. It looks like 7th or 8th seems to be more this team's range, but they can be 9th or 10th is possible if they get the injury bug.

Tanjong Pagar FC (predicted 7th; currently 12th)
- This team confuses me to no end. They leave some of their best players on the bench, and run a constant starting 11 with weaker players and play below their level. Even when these weaker players get injured, the best defender stays on the bench in favor of a player who has -13 in overall and -22 at tackling. They can be better, but the way they are run, or more accurately not run, this team looks like it will be in the relegation playoffs unless the game manages to put the best foot forward.

wapitis (predicted 12th; currently 15th)
- I felt this team would be weak, but its much more major case of the bench the best players disease has kept it winless and with zero hope. I honestly feel that Sunhill will beat someone, hopefully not me next round at the Park at Dorchester but someone, and finish ahead of this team. If this team gets new management it can do better, but I think not enough to avoid at minimum relegation playoffs, and most likely the automatic relegation spots.

Next Saturday I will do more of the same as I will see how the tables have shifted and how many of these teams are still in these positions. Think there will be another blog written before then, but you never know.