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First topic message reminder :

Might be worth reviewing Bull's offer for Lampard, multiple papers are stating that no contact talks had taken place, he's had offers elsewhere but wants to stay in the premier league

Cheers. Sent to you. Will inform the masses to send tactics to me.

Well that was a poor turnout in tactics, there's only 2/3 fixtures to vote on this week. What you guys think about shortening the season by making this week coming the last set of fixtures and just cut our losses? To many teams are picking up easy points now.

Just a though guys....

Will do some very quick predictions.

Up to you enigma, things definitely aren't looking good.

I'd rather we made it a joint decision so I'm not blamed as the bad guy in all of this. So if you could make a decision, then we'll see what Marky and GSC have to say.

What i was thinking is, if this is the last week of fixtures, whoever doesn't post tactics now, which is like Stoke and Wigan, perhaps move their fixtures so teams face teams who hand in tactics if that makes sense?

No point rejigging the calendar at this point of the season. If its over, its over. If its continuing, we continue. I'd suggest ending it now.

Nick's votes via Twitter to be added to this week's results as he's been banned

Reading 3-1 Norwich West Brom 2-1 Swansea QPR 4-0 Wigan Stoke 0-4 Villa Southampton 0-0 Fulham

I'm afraid ill need to see this for myself to verify it and he has of course blocked me

This week's fixtures

Wigan v West Brom
West Ham v Swansea
Aston Villa v Sunderland
Fulham v Stoke
Norwich v Southampton
QPR v Reading

Gregers has now confirmed he's quit the league and Bull walked last week. If we are going ahead with this being the last week, then I propose a slight tweak in the fixture list which would look like this...

Fulham v West Brom
West Ham v Swansea
Aston Villa v Sunderland
Norwich v Southampton
QPR v Reading

I'll need decisions ASAP so we can announce to the rest of the league

How about this to end it.

Current top 8 (in terms of league placing and consistency of posting tactics and voites) and have a knockout tournament to crown a winner?

Yeah I like that idea too. Let's get GSC & Trebs thoughts on this and we'll make a decision as a group

As it stands, the final 8 would be (IMO);

Reading, Fulham, Southampton, Aston Villa, West Brom, West Ham, Swansea and Norwich.

Have omitted QPR for not regularly participating and Sunderland, Stoke and Wigan for not having a permanent manager. But if others think QPR should be in ahead of someone else then say so.

Completely agree.

A knockout tournament would take three weeks and be done.

Who do we cut then? QPR haven't participated much, but they're above Swansea and Norwich!

Give the top 4 a bye, then make the bottom 8 play each other? There'll be default wins in most cases and will lead to 8 teams.

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th through to QF's.

5th v 12th, 6th v 11th, 7th v 10th, 8th v 9th.

Based on the outcome of this week's results and table. Agreed?

Agreed

Need results posted before we can announce this though. Then update the table and announce the preliminary fixtures.

Probably not imminent on results. I'm bushwhacked (what a word) and football is on

How about we do the prosed fixtures I suggested for this week, then with the results coming in the top 4 sides in the final league standings advance to the play-offs

1st Vs 4th
2nd Vs 3rd

Could even make it over 2 legs with away goals? Means nobody gets left out and it's a good way to cap off the season. Everybody wins.

Think you have to give everyone a chance in any playoffs though Enigma.

Maybe if GSC gets results up we can see what the league table is...

We can announce cup ties today and plan to finish the league. But top 4 rules out people who have joined late and those who have lost narrow games.

Foreigns
Moritz Leitner £6.937m Dortmund to WBA - YES

Matej Vydra £4m Watford to Swansea - NO - Same answer as before to those who tried to sign Vydra.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake £2.3m Wolves to Swansea - YES

Mamadou Sakho £13m PSG to Aston Villa - ???

Nicolas Nkoulou £9m Marseille to Aston Villa - ???

I just want this league to be over and done with now. Decide among yourselves and let me know what you've all come up with.

No hair off my chest if I'm honest. Quite a few have checked out, mentally or otherwise

8 team knockout.

Aston Villa, Southampton, Reading, West Brom, Fulham, Norwich, Swansea, QPR.

West Ham omitted as Nick's banned.

Yes or no vote between us.

I vote yes.

Sure

fine.

Just leaving these here until voting day.

Marky's votes

Southampton 2-2 Reading
Very attacking approach from Southampton which combats the 4-4-2 of Reading well. I feel the Reading front two struggle against the three Southampton CB's, but Southampton's strikers are able to overcome the two Reading CB's and this is where Southampton's goals come from. Reading are able to respond by doubling up on the Southampton wingbacks and create plenty of chances themselves. I see this game going to extra time, especially when Southampton change to 4-4-2 themselves and the game is much more even. Can't split the two.

My Votes

Aston Villa 2-1 Norwich
Norwich have come with a game play with could potentially stifle Aston Villa in the first half, while not creating many changes for themselves having to rely heavily on set-pieces. As the game progresses, I just think Villa will start to hurt a tiring Norwich who have been on the back foot for most of the game. It's not until they go 2-0 down when they start creating changes with Snodgrass getting some success to calf open a change to make it 2-1.

Fernando's Votes

Aston Villa 1-1 Norwich
Norwich have set up well to negate as well as they can the Villa attack and are always going to create against a dodgy Villa back 4

Olly's Votes

Southampton 1 vs 0 Reading
Scorers: Lambert
Feedback: Can't see Reading breaking down Southampton when they attack, and I fancy Saints to score, so they win

Trebs Votes

Aston Villa 2-1 Norwich
Strong effort by Norwich but Villa have a lot of attacking quality and Norwich don't have that quality other than Wolfwinkel.

Southampton 1-0 Reading
Not sure playing five at the back was the best strategy but a strong Southampton XI win this game.