HOW IT WORKS

We have had Pre-Qualifying and Qualifying and now have 32 teams left.

Just like the inferior 'real' CL there will be 8 groups of 4. These play a load of matches and the top 2 in each game get through to the Knockout Stages. Again just like the real thing (The Champions League not Coca Cola)

Each group contains a team from each of 4 seeded pots pulled at random. Team A being from Pot A (highest seeds from qualifying stages etc.)

GROUP MATCHES

Week/sets 26-31, 6 group matches, as per CL proper, top 2 of 4 in each group get through.

Wk 1, Set 26, D v A, C v B
Wk 2, Set 27, A v C, B v D
Wk 3, Set 28, B v A, D v C
Wk 4, Set 29, A v B, C v D
Wk 5, Set 30, C v A, D v B
Wk 6, Set 31, A v D, B v C
(Note - Set numbers could change depending ho wthey get allocated. The intention will be to stick to those sets around the next 6 originally scheduled Premier league matchdays (/weekends/midweeks).

All games scored as per usual in Premiership Predictions using FISO Goals

Top 2 get through from each group.

There will be spreadsheets etc keeping a track of the tables. Volunteer required from each group to update the spreadsheets/tabes.

KNOCKOUT

All 2 leg matches home & away until final.
Wks 32-33, last 16 (each match has group winner away to a runner up in first leg, no teams from same group can be drawn together).
Wks 34-35, QFs (random draws from hereon in)
Wks 36-37, SFs
Wk 38 Final
Wk 39 Final extra time & penalties (if required)

All relevant rules from CL count, i.e. tie seperation in group table & away goals in knockout. Complex FISO PP rules count after that.

THE DRAW

As carried out by the delectable Kylie:

Group 1
A= goldenballs
B= bagpuss
C= sportsmeister
D= GM

Group 2
A= mowatson
B= The Prof
C= jpk100
D= dickypick

Group 3
A= Big Bird
B= murf
C= bluenoseyparker
D= SOBD

Group 4
A= Ironfist
B= Jester
C= martin1tcf
D= amcal59

Group 5
A= Spencer4
B= Shaggy365
C= ashers
D= Rookster

Group 6
A= Arabian Knight
B= derbynige
C= kizkiz
D= Spinynorman

Group 7
A= jonnyg
B= Mintman
C= farmerbob
D= Knulpuk

Group 8
A= adlad
B= forestfan
C= ColinH
D= bspittles

For each Group, I would like a volunteer to help maintain the group table each week - a spreadsheet to help should be avaialable if required.

Please PM me if willing to help - I will put the administrator's name in bold for each group above.

Note - if a player only picks for 3 or less of the 6 weeks then they will be removed from the comp and all their matches will be ignored, leaving the others to play as if a 3 team group. If a player misses 1 or 2 weeks then they will still count as playing but just score 0 for the weeks in question. Just down to luck who they are playing in those weeks. Please try and pick for every week.

reserved

The draw is now complete and Group 3 has already been called the 'Group Of Death' in a number of high profile places.

Matches start tonight with the first round of games which carry on til the weekend is over.

First week match ups in each group are D v A, C v B so I'm heading round to bluenoseyparker's gaffe.

I'll administer Group 1

Can't you get Kylie to do a re-draw ?

One heck of a group, that.

Fortress Bluenose awaits you, Murf

Game on

Shaggy and Spencer4 this is going to be tough.

Excuuuuuuuuse me, but there is another opponent for you Ashers. Your post is just the motivation I need, thank you. My record speaks for itself. I have already won the doubles comp this season with Jaybrent and I gave everyone a headstart in the qualifying for this comp. I also won my group in this comp last year. Can't wait for our head to head matches, bring it on.

That makes two of us. Remind me how you qualified again? Was it on countback?

Surely your comment was to intimate that Ashers & Rookster coming up against a seasoned pro and a cat would both struggle to progress through the group stages.

I'd better see if I can work out who I'll be playing in the next round.

Fortress? More like a sandcastle

bluenoseyparker1 v 3 murf

It's a bit more competitive in the other group 3 match-up:

SOBD 3 v 3 Big Bird

Still wanting volunteer administrators for some groups. I'll dig out last year's fairly simple spreadsheet for any administrators who want it. It produces the tables etc. Just PM me your e-mail address.

When I've pulled my finger out to find that spreadsheet I'll also do some administering myself and start the Group 3 Of Death thread

While I'm here I'll plug my Egg Chasing (aka Rugby) 6 Natiosn Predictions Comp

I'll do G4 if no-one else is keen......

I'm off to the smoke for a couple of days though, so won't be doing anything until I get back.

I'll look after a group if you like.

Shaggy has already volunteered for your group

Didn't realise it had to be our own group. Sorry, only trying to help.

You are more than welcome to do another group - I'll "save" you until we have just one left if that is Ok.

I'll do the group that I'm in although it will only be a pencil and paper job.

Blown away

I've rebuit my sandcastle using concrete

Game on

You still breached 1 point

4-4, game on

I haven't had that spreadsheet yet murf!


I'm out rockin' in Covent Garden tonight, so won't be able to post a table until tomorrow. In the meantime, here are the 'half time' scores for group 4:

amcal59 6-9 Ironfist
martin1tcf 5-8 Jester


Interim table:
(PWDL GD Pts)

Ironfist 1 1 0 0 3 3
Jester 1 1 0 0 3 3
martin1tcf 1 0 0 1 -3 0
amcal59 1 0 0 1 -3 0

Planning to sort it out later and e-mail it then.

If any other administrators want a copy I'll need your e-mail address (by PM)

Group 2

3 points on the board despite not playing well.

Right, thats the first set over with and just today off before going into the second games tomorrow:

Wk 2, Set 27, A v C, B v D

All groups now have their own dedicated threads:
Group 1
Group 2
Group Of Death (3)
Group 4
Group 5
Group 6
Group 7
Group 8

Group six is the group of dearth.

Who is through? (group winners listed first)

Gp 1 goldenballs bagpuss
Gp 2 the prof mowatson
Gp 3 bluenoseyparker Big Bird
Gp 4 martin1tcf Jester
Gp 5 Spencer4 Rookster
Gp 6 derbynige kizkiz
Gp 7 jonnyg farmerbob
Gp 8 ColinH forestfan

Best performance / form cat to beat - Spencer4 18 points, 63 points
Jammiest gits - Group 4 boys on 9 points. mowatson 41 points
Unluckiest gits - Group 4 boys on 9 points. me on 54 points

Many, many thanks to all the adminstrators. Without whom..... I couldn't be ar$ed to run the comp!

Knockout stages start this weekend. Stay tuned for new thread / new draw.

I could be wrong, but i think group 6 finished derbynige first and me second