While I appreciate that there are still many issues to be settled in this season's Edinburgh Egg Cup Charity Challenge, my thoughts have been straying to next year and the way that this years competition has gone.

I think that 4 leagues is the absolute maximum that we need. The fact that there are 16 teams in Division 3 should allow for a few to drop out without the need to search too hard for replacements. Four 12-team leagues would be perfect IMO.

The 3-up, 3-down promotion/relegation seems to be about right too and seems to have given most people something to strive for for most of the season.

The cup competition went quite well too and I am giving some thought to the idea of a Champions League competition (& UEFA?) but I don't want to detract too much from the leagues which should be the principal focus.

One thing that I had thought about was that the bottom 3 in Division 3 could be replaced each year with new players if anyone else wanted to play.

Next year I would like to have a template that is used for each transfer with the team name, transfer(s) made, no. of transfers left and cost of team on it so that everyone can follow a bit easier.

Thoughts?

If there is demand, whats the harm in having Div 5?

Bit unfair on new players, players who if this season is anything to go by will make the bottom division a lot better than the Premier League!

I'm still waiting for a number of people to confirm their entries for next season.

http://www.fantasyfootballuk.co.uk/view ... sc&start=0

I think the whole thing has gone really well... with plenty of interest kept up right to the end of the season.

I definitely agree with your last idea. As chairman of Div 1 I found it a bit time consuming trying to keep up with all the transfers and how many people had left. I started adding it to my weekly league post but gave up after a while due to these reasons so a stricter template that everyone stuck to would be a good idea imo.

Out of your control I know, but if the Tele showed transfers left in an open superleague it would make this bit much easier to manage.

I agree that four leagues is fine.

One option you could have for players who wish to join is a 'Conference'. This could be an unofficial Egg Cup league run along the same lines, but without the administration, and the top three in that league would take the position of the three relegated clubs.

Such a league would keep the prestige of the four divisions, very much like the English set up. Imagine getting your first taste of Egg Cup league football after spending two seasons in the Conference

I'd like to to join the EEC next season. Is there a waiting list?

League set-up is super. 4 leagues works well, and I agree 12 per would be good.

It should be mandatory for players to post their subs, and subs left. If they don't, then they sould be penalised at the end of the season, by losing place.

Obviously they get a warning first.

I was worried about the expansion but think it has gone well and the relegation/promotion battles have added to the overall fun.

Agree the cup(s) must remain secondary.

Personally I see no harm in a fifth division but it may be best to be run 'privately' as a non-league Conference Eggcup like The Ledge suggests. That way the entry numbers could be open and the 'proper' egg cups run as proper dozens. A volunteer chairman would be needed to police it just like the proper Eggcup leagues.

A simple way of standardising how to announce your transfers is also a good idea and should help players remember this is a special comp with special rules not just some bog standard superleague. If players don't like the announcing of their transfers or can't reliably update us then sorry but this isn't the competition for them.

Keep it up thelip, its a top FISO comp.

What I had considered was a separate transfer thread where you have to make at least one post per week (whether you've made a transfer or not, and holidays permitting) detailing the current position of your team with, say, a 5 point penalty if you don't.

Not sure about the compulsory weekly post. Can we not assume that no posts = no transfers and the last 'status report' remains valid?

Also not sure about the 5 point penalty. The odd forgetful moment should be forgiven and regular offenders warned then booted out. If you can get on t'web to do your transfers then you can get onto FISO to tell us.

'Twas just an idea to be put up for discussion. It's a democratic competition after all.

How about, as thelip suggested, a post like this:

Spencer4 Transfer Post

Tr 1. james green, 49.4
Tr 2. Green james, 50
Tr 3. james green, 49.4
etc...


Every post notifying a transfer has to include all previous ones, thus showing clearly how many used.

Now you're making some sense.

Like to agree with the sentiments above, in that a standard template would make it a lot easier to keep track of what's going on. I also think we could improve on one of the main concepts of the eggcup - to post reasons why you made the transfer. This started off ok but soon got forgotten and people were just listing their transfers (me included). Originally lip's guidelines were that we all include reasons for making your transfers, so we should try to adhere to this.

Oh, and there should be banter on the threads, lots and lots of banter.

I'm sure the EEC is a good competition. One of the improvements right enough would be to let Hairybear take part next year. Put me in the same league as Aldo and watch the banter fly

No can do. It's a strict pyramid structure where you have to start at the bottom and earn the right to play with the big boys.

Aldo's a big boy

Earn the right after 4 seasons to play in the league with the worst average.

Earn the right after 4 seasons (if selected) to play in the league with the true Egg Cup Corinthians.

Don't know if it would make the transfer posts too long, but if it had the whole team in it would be good, when I check the other divisions to see what is going on and if there is any banter, I don't actually know who has what players and don't have an idea of who I think has the best team. Perhaps it could be a bit like how I do the updates to my FISO XI team. All I do is quote my last update (taking out the quotation code) so it is pretty easy.

For example

Current Team
Reina
Terry
Lescott
Carvalho
Clichy
Lampard
Ronaldo
Arteta
Ballack J. Cole
Drogba
Adebayor Berbatov

Transfers Remaining: 0
Current Cost: £48.6m

Reason for Transfer(s):
Ballack out for the season.
Berb 3 for 1 over Adebayor

Enough of this though, I would like to get back on topic. Does anyone have any other ideas for improvements for next season?

We're indulging in banter. Does that mean we're friends again?

This is really good. Clear, concise and precise. Great shout Woolster

Most of the current Div 3 will be up there by then, so it will have the best average

Colour-code the Jocks.

Bring some colour to the Egg Cup.

Aye, I am an expert on all things Eggcup

I might throw promotion so I can take on the Wooly one next season. I'll let you know at the end of the season if that's what I decided to do.

That's got to be the best get-out clause I've ever heard...

Superb!!!

Do you still want to run a Champions League competition?

I'm delighted to do all the work as it would fit in perfectly with the DLA Champions League and I have all the spreadsheets set up. Quite simply the top four teams at the end of the season would qualify, or you could do the top 16 overall scores or give cup finalists a place. Personally the top four in each league is probably the best bet, but should be decided now.

I'm still considering this for the time being. I'll get back to you soon though. Thanks for the offer of help.

In order to reduce the number of post in each thread, I have an idea.


No its not kick out HB.

At the start of each league thread, each player has a "current squad post" that they edit, with a summary Below

ie

Alchemist Egg Cup

Current

Keeper
Def 5
Def 2
Def 3
Def 4
Mid 1
Mid 2
Mid 3
Str 1
Str 2
Str 3


Subs

Wk1 Def 1 Def 5
Wk6 Str 1 Str 4

etc