h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

OK, I want to start thinking about the number of participants for next season's Phantasy Phootball (congratulations to Alfredo for successfully running the Euro 2004 competition, by the by, even if I was cheated in the final stages).

If I am to use just Premiership players, I will have to limit the field to 15 managers, for fairly obvious reasons. If there is sufficient interest, however, there are two options open to me:

1) Divide the league into two divisions, each with a totally separate set of Premiership players.

2) Add First Division players to the list as well.

Although the latter would mean a fair bit of extra work, I am prepared to take it on, and think it would be quite fun.

First, however, I need to get some idea of how many people will be taking part. As established contestants, obviously you guys get first shot at the cherry (if that's the correct metaphor), so let me know now if you want to play next season.

B

Count me in.

Are you planning on running one competition for the whole season?

I'll be in. With my masterplan of making a team comprised mainly of ex-Leeds players (and no, I don't mean Newcastle...)

I'm in, although I'm away from the 9th to the 17th of August, which I imagine could make things quite awkward for the auctions... anyway, count me in and we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Crap, yeah, I'm away from August 3rd-18th...

OK, that's two in (one of whom won't trouble the scorers too much).

I will try and do a very early auction (end of July). In that case, holidaymakers will only miss out on the summer transfer market signings.

B

the problem with including the first division would be that they play more games, and against weaker defences, so more goals will be scored. Kevin Kyle, for example, would probably eb a sounder investment than Wayne Rooney, and other anomalies. But at least Psyc can still pick Leeds players...

Good points, all.

B

Perhaps it could be done as a sort of handicap system, whereby 1st division players would score 1 less for everything. Hence, they'd still be bottom of the pile, but still better value than Blackburn or Crystal Palace players.

Can I also point out at this point that the word 'gauging' looks utterly wrong, even though Merriam-Webster confirms that the speeling is correct.

B

If you brought in 1st Division players, you'd have to bring in 1st Division economics as well. And lets face it, for £50million you could buy pretty much the whole division, lock stock and barrel

'First Division'
If this is a deliberate refusal to acknowledge the rebranding then I'm all in favour
Otherwise, this season I are mostly be calling them the Permyship, the Hokey Cocoa league, and the divisions formerly known as the Third and Fourth


Probably

Ignoring the rebranding for now (too complicated)

"If you brought in 1st Division players, you'd have to bring in 1st Division economics as well. And lets face it, for £50million you could buy pretty much the whole division, lock stock and barrel"

Well, no. You're forgetting that you'd still be bidding competitively. So if you think Marino Keith is worth £8m to you in the number of points he'd return (with or without handicap), you'd still go ahead and bid that much, wouldn't you?

B

I would see how many you've got first, before worrying about it...

I'm up for having a go next season, but if you've got enough with established players then I shall just stick to GD's traditional spelling alternative.

sprout

Well, given that you're only the third person to express any interest, I'll quite happily put your name down.

B

I'm Brian, and so's my wife.

Oh, and I refuse to partake in the First Division debate until we have enough managers signed up for it to become an issue.

This is because I have no opinion, and don't want to waste energy coming up with one unless it's absolutely necessary.

Scrap the premiership, use *only* players from the next division, whatever that may or may not be called.


or perhaps not

I'm going for a 'no', there.

B

I'll have a go if there's some room!
SBE

Too late, I'm afraid.

We're full to capacity.

B