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FISO - Fantasy & Interactive Sports Online

Fantasy Sports Newsletter - FSN 69 - 30 June 2003

====================================================================

In This Issue:

- Welcome!

- Website Access Speeds

- Online Casino - Play for Free or Play for money

- David Tonkin's August Premiership Review

- New Fantasy Sports Games

- Premiership Injury news - courtesy of PhysioRoom.com

- Latest topics from the FISO Fantasy Sports Forum

- The Andy Luckhurst Horseracing Tipster Corner

Welcome!

Welcome to FISO's Fantasy Sports Newsletter. You are one of over

3,000 worldwide fantasy sports fans who have subscribed to this

newsletter. To update your profile please use the link at the end of

this email.

Still 40 odd (and boring!) days to go until the start of the English

Premier League and so that you don't forget about the number one

website for fans of UK fantasy sports games, here's an update from

us. Today we cover 11 new fantasy sports games brought to our

attention, thoughts on the EPL fixture list for August, analysis of

fantasy gaming website access speeds and a round up of the recent

topics on the FISO fantasy sports forum.

Check out the latest news on our Fantasy Sports forums!

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_latest.asp

Website Access Speeds

Back in Fantasy Sports Newsletter 44 on 22 January 2002, FISO's

Roger Wilson carried out tests on the access speeds of 5 major

fantasy football websites. Using a cable modem we re-tested those

five websites during April 2003, again for access speed. The results

were as follows with previous years in brackets:

a) Upload - kbps

b) Download - kbps

c) Refresh - Secs

SSSM a) 11 (12) b) 38 (65) c) 7 (5)

TFF a) 6 (18) b) 54 (50) c) 2 (2)

TFFO a) 6 (8) b) 27 (100) c) 2 (3)

Sun a) 11 (23) b) 48 (120) c) 2 (3)

Original a) 10 (19) b) 54 (115) c) 2 (4)

As you can see from the average refresh time (aimed at checking

server speed on the home page and tested at a time of minimal

traffic), there doesn’t seem to be much difference between them,

with the exception of SSSM. That is until you dig a little deeper.

For these sites to be interactive they need to be able to upload as

well as download.

The table below compares an NTL 600k connection to a higher BT 2Mb

connection. It shows that most of the sites benefit from the

increased connection speed.

a) Upload - kbps [NTL 600k v BT 2Mb]

b) Download - kbps [NTL 600k v BT 2Mb]

c) Refresh - Secs [NTL 600k v BT 2Mb]

SSSM a) 11 (600k) 32 (2Mb) b) 38 (600k) 47 (2Mb)

c) 7 (600k) 5 (2Mb)

TFF a) 6 (600k) 54 (2Mb) b) 54 (600k) 82 (2Mb)

c) 2 (600k) 1 (2Mb)

TFFO a) 6 (600k) 13 (2Mb) b) 27(600k) 26 (2Mb)

c) 2 (600k) 1 (2Mb)

Sun a) 11 (600k) 65 (2Mb) b) 48 (600k) 70 (2Mb)

c) 2 (600k) 2 (2Mb)

Original a) 10 (600k) 56 (2Mb) b) 54 (600k) 81

(2Mb) c) 2 (600k) 2 (2Mb)

The top site for combined access speeds during our test was

Original, closely followed by Sun and TFF. TFFO had the slowest

combined access speeds. Even though TFFO had the lowest combined

access speeds, the slowest loading site was SSSM. Even on refresh

the site was still slow to load. The above conclusion is illustrated

in the following site rankings showing Fastest to Slowest (with 2002

ranking in brackets):

Upload Rankings:

Sun 1 (1)

SSSM 1 (4)

Original 3 (2)

TFF 4 (3)

TFFO 4 (5)

Download Rankings:

TFF 1 (1)

Original 1 (2)

Sun 3 (3)

SSSM 4 (4)

TFFO 5 (5)

Refresh Speed Rankings:

TFF 1 (1)

TFFO 1 (1)

Sun 1 (3)

Original 1 (3)

SSSM 5 (5)

Disclaimer – The above tests were taken at one point in time and do

not necessarily show a 100% true picture of the

download/upload/refresh speeds.

Abbreviations:

SSSM - Sky Sports Super Manager

TFF - Telegraph Fantasy Football

TFFO - Telegraph Fantasy Football Online

Sun - Sun DreamTeam

Original - Original Fantasy League

Kbps - kilobytes per second

Click here to access FSN 44

http://www.fiso.co.uk/fsn41-45.htm

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David Tonkin's August Premiership Review

August fixtures in betting order –

Man U (evens) – Bolton (h) Newcastle (a) Wolves (h) Southampton (a)

– the 2 home matches are against expected relegation strugglers,

Southampton away could be quite testing but the Newcastle match

certainly stands out as an early season big game. Van N will no

doubt appear in many, many entries and the potential is certainly

there to start the season with several goals. The top defence of

2002/03 too and if they get Kewell and / or Ronaldino just who to

include as the second player? Surely too strong a set up to not

include the maximum permitted players from them?

Arsenal (7/4) – Everton (h) Middlesbrough (a) Villa (h) Man C (a) –

all 4 opponents are expected to be mid-table to UEFA challengers and

any of them taking points off Arsenal wouldn’t be a major surprise,

worth noting that they have to face both Man U and Newcastle in

September. Top scorers of last season and Henry and Pires will no

doubt be fruitful there again but will you decide that including

defenders is too risky in the early stages? They appeared to run out

of steam as the season wore on, any change likely?

Liverpool (6/1) – Chelsea (h) Villa (a) Spurs (h) Everton (a) – I’m

not quite sure what makes them 3rd favourites for the title based on

last season, joint top for home draws, joint least for away draws

and somehow donkey Heskey is still a first choice both for them and

England. Failure to qualify for the CL will no doubt lead to further

questionable signings before the season starts, could a poor start

including a loss at Everton see the first managerial casualty of the

new season???

Newcastle (7/1) – Leeds (a) Man U (h) Fulham (a) Birmingham (h) –

title challengers for most of last season, excellent home form but

the 9 away defeats did for them, plenty of attacking options for us

to choose from but will the defence and away form improve?

Chelsea (16/1) – Liverpool (a) Leicester (h) Birmingham (a)

Blackburn (h) – going very well up to Xmas until Ranieri tried a bit

of “clever” tinkering to rest players, surely unlikely to make the

same mistake again? Seemingly quite a settled side for most of the

season and scoring plenty of goals even though Hasselbaink wasn’t as

dominant as in the previous season, most of the squad weighed in

with important strikes making perhaps Gallas a top pick again for

the coming season. Who starts up front will be interesting, I’d like

to see Forssell and Cole being given a run together. Getting into

the CL group stage will probably disrupt the league form but there

is certainly the potential there to have very good runs in both.

September also looks to be a potentially good month, all we have to

do is pick the right players!

Blackburn (100/1) – Wolves (h) Bolton (a) Man C (h) Chelsea (a) –

only the 3 relegated clubs scored less than them at home, an in and

out side all season, 16W 12D 10L, a similar season in store? Will

their players help or hinder your attempts for glory this season?

Everton (100/1) – Arsenal (a) Fulham (h) Charlton (a) Liverpool (h)

– the 5th best return for home points last season, mediocre away.

Clearly they have a decent manager now and further improvement will

be expected. A tough looking start to the season, September looks

difficult too, perhaps best to see how they start before bringing

any of their players in?

Leeds (125/1) – Newcastle (h) Spurs (a) Southampton (h)

Middlesbrough (a) – survived a difficult season by 5 points, least

draws of all, Viduka’s run of goals in the last month or so being

the only reason that they survived. Assuming that Kewell goes do

they have enough quality or heart left to rebuild, as each player

leaves they look more and more like a first division side and could

well spend the season trying to avoid the drop again. How many

managers this season?

Aston Villa (200/1) – Portsmouth (a) Liverpool (h) Arsenal (a)

Leicester (h) – top 8 home form, bottom 2 away. The change of

manager should see improvements during the season, it might be too

early to include many of their players at the start of the season

but a couple of months in may well find most of us bringing in those

that are performing well in a likely settled side.

Man C (200/1) – Charlton (a) Portsmouth (h) Blackburn (a) Arsenal

(h) – as you’d expect from Keegan most games were decisive last time

15W 6D 17L with home form slightly better than away but nothing of

great note in the for and against columns. A good start is possible,

but then again so is any result from any game.

Middlesbrough (200/1) – Fulham (a) Arsenal (h) Leicester (a) Leeds

(h) – excellent home form, abysmal away, scoring reasonably at home,

only Sunderland scoring less away. An interesting set of fixtures,

surely a few of their players will be tempting the multiple entrants

at the very least?

Spurs (200/1) – Birmingham (a) Leeds (h) Liverpool (a) Fulham (h) –

started off so well last season before sliding to mid-table, perhaps

too many aging players in the squad that couldn’t keep it going week

in and week out? There must be many question marks at the moment

regarding the starting line-up, definitely any players included by

me will be very late decisions. The current squad doesn’t look to be

much better than first division as a whole.

Fulham (500/1) – Middlesbrough (h) Everton (a) Newcastle (h) Spurs

(a) – another club that did well at home but poorly away, 75% of

their points came from the home fixtures even though their home is

not really their home, work that one out! Will the new manager

inspire or be in line for early replacement? Looking at these first

set of fixtures I can’t really envisage too many of their players

being present in early entries.

Birmingham (750/1) – Spurs (h) Southampton (a) Chelsea (h) Newcastle

(a) – nothing particularly inspiring in their last season’s form,

won a few, drew a few, lost a few, not many goals for or against at

home or away. Probably another season where survival will be viewed

as success, perhaps the odd defender will be worth considering but

not enough points further forward for anything beyond squad fillers.

Charlton (750/1) - Man C (h) Wolves (a) Everton (h) Bolton (a) – a

terrible start to last season, then a brilliant winning sequence

that made a UEFA spot a distinct possibility followed by total

collapse towards the end. What to expect this season? Well your

guess is as good (or probably better) than mine! Their players will

probably appeal more to multiple and MotM entrants, September looks

very difficult for them!

Southampton (750/1) – Leicester (a) Birmingham (h) Leeds (a) Man U

(h) – certainly the best season they’ve had for many years mainly

due to Beattie’s goals, was he another one season wonder or does he

have enough quality to repeat the feat? Take away those goals and

they are relegation strugglers again, a must have for the start of

the season or do we look elsewhere for this season’s cheapo goal

machine?

Bolton (1000/1) – Man U (a) Blackburn (h) Portsmouth (a) Charlton

(h) – just survived last season with the away form causing most of

their problems. One of the most interesting managers in the game

that will continue to find class loan signings and will make our TV

viewing as enjoyable again in the season ahead. Perhaps a midfielder

or two will find their way into many entries if the prices are

right.

Leicester (1000/1) – Southampton (h) Chelsea (a) Middlesbrough (h)

Villa (a) – comfortable promotion season coming 2nd with the best

defensive record in the division, are they good enough to keep some

of the best strikers in the game out? Probably not, perhaps a cheap

midfielder as a squad filler though?

Portsmouth (1000/1) – Villa (h) Man C (a) Bolton (h) Wolves (a) –

last season’s 1st division champions, scoring lots of goals in the

process. They certainly won’t create the same number of chances this

time but could score enough to survive, this might be the place to

look for cheap midfield and forward options especially looking at

these early fixtures.

Wolves (1000/1) – Blackburn (a) Charlton (h) Man U (a) Portsmouth

(h) – they made it back to the top flight via the play-offs after

coming 5th last season, odds on 2nd favourites behind Leicester for

relegation this season.

Comment on David's review on this forum thread.

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3558

New Fantasy Sports Games

We've recently received information from the webmasters of the

following games:

Golden Goal - http://www.golden-goal.co.uk

Golden Goal is the first known Live Interactive Football Prediction

Competition in the UK. The basis of the competition is to predict

the results and scores of eleven matches and gain as many points as

possible on a weekly basis using their scoring system.

There will be live score updates, live forums but more importantly a

Live Player Table. You will therefore be able to log onto our site

and see yourself moving position within the competition with every

goal scored!

Football Predictions - http://www.footballpredictions.org.uk

Football Predictions is a free-to-enter Predictions League. 10

fixtures are provided each week for you to predict. You can also

create your own mini-league for your friends, family & colleagues

for free and there are prizes to be won.

Football Fantastic - http://www.footballfantastic.com

Football Fantastic is based on real life team performances in the

top leagues of Europe. The rules are very simple. You pick teams

from the top leagues throughout Europe and score points dependent on

their performances against other teams in the competition.

The game has been running since 1995 and the game runners have high

expectations for entry numbers and prize money for the 2003/4

season.

SSL2001 - http://mysite.freeserve.com/SSL2001/index.htm

SSL2001 is a football management simulation using the popular esms+

software. It currently has 32 teams in 3 divisions, each club also

has a youth [U21] team. There is the SSL Cup,Youth Cup & the Trophy

[for the 2 lower divisions only]. The most successful clubs qualify

to play in the PFA Champions League & Cup, the PFA is a UEFA type

association of 5 esms+ leagues. Other features are a weekly scores

prediction competition and the SSL news, transfers, player auctions

& the youth academy.

Andy's Prediction League -

http://homepages.tesco.net/~andrewthurston43/

Andy's Prediction League is free and played just for fun. You have

to give the correct score from ten fixtures

over a weekend. It will be played in a league format

where each league will consist of 16 players who play

each other twice giving a total of 30 games. Points are awarded as

follows: 3 win, 1 draw, 0 defeat.

SMCFA Fantasy Football - http://www.smcfa.freeservers.com

A new up-and-coming site using the ESMS program which allows the

manager complete control over team affairs.

SeniorLeagueHockey - http://www.seniorleaguehockey.com

Cracking ice, dubious referees, goalies booked for streaking - it's

all in a night's play on SeniorLeagueHockey.com. 50,000 players are

already registered on this ice hockey simulation game. You can pit

your wits for free against thousands of other managers online.

Strategic European Horse racing -

http://fwrestling.com/host/harry27/European.html

This is a simulated Fantasy Horse racing Game based on the European

Group Races. You can train your horses and run them in the top

European Horse Races. Lots of stats, betting and competitions around

the game. Small group of dedicated players with some places open.

Each week you either have to train your horse or enter it into a

race. By racing it gains experience and can earn BP, the currency of

the sim. After each Season, the European Championships well be held

for the best horses.

F1fantasia - http://www.f1fantasia.com

F1fantasia is a real-life Fantasy Formula 1 team management site. In

its 6th year with over £1,100 total prize fund. Choose 6 drivers and

2 constructors from a budget of 100m f1 credits. Play in the season

or join up for individual races (all season signup). Assign 3

bonuses to races of your choice to increase your points and transfer

drivers at cost during the season. Mini-league facility.

F1 Fantastic - http://www.f1fantastic.com

Entries cost £5 and you can win over £600. You pick 2 Drivers, 1

Chassis, 1 Engine and 1 set of Tyres from a budget of £60m. Points

can be won and lost throughout the season.

Fantasy F1 Boss - http://www.fantasyf1boss.com

Fantasy F1 Boss provides entrants with $62,000,000 with which they

can contract two drivers, build two cars, hire a pit babe, and

invite their sponsors to one race in the season. With each real-life

race victory, the team will generate revenue. A more popular pit

babe will attract more revenue. Inviting your sponsors to a winning

race will generate more revenue. If you don't spend all the $62m

then this goes in the bank and is included with your season

generated revenue.

Both Free & Paid Entries are invited. Paid entries are eligible for

cash & possibly other prizes. The concept is the usual in that it

follows the real-life performances of teams, but the generation of

revenue instead of points, involvement of a pit babe, and inviting

your sponsors to a race (in which you generate double-points) is the

twist.

Click here to access the forum thread on Golden Goal

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3472

Premiership Injury news - courtesy of PhysioRoom.com

Premiership Injury news courtesy of PhysioRoom.com, the Premier

League Sports Injury Centre:

Manchester United 5 G Neville (foot 1 month) Brown (ACL 3 months)

Butt (ankle 1 week) Beckham (Scaphoid fracture 1 week) Ferdinand

(knee 2 weeks)

Southampton 4 Pahars (ankle 2 weeks) Draper (ankle 1 month) Dodd

(ankle & foot 1 week) Niemi (knee 1 month)

Middlesbrough 3 Christie (hernia 1 week) Maccarone (hernia 1 week)

Boateng (ankle 1 week)

West Bromwich Albion 3 Appleton (knee 2 months) Moore (knee 2

months) Jordao (achilles 1 month)

Arsenal 2 Shaaban (broken leg 1 week) Vieira (knee 3 weeks)

Chelsea 2 Hasslebaink (torn thigh muscle 1 week) Petit (groin 2

weeks)

Everton 2 Hibbert (hernia 1 week) Wright (knee &

shoulder 1 week)

Birmingham City 1 Vaesen (knee 5 months)

Blackburn Rovers 1 Duff (hamstring 1 week)

Liverpool 1 Kirkland (knee 1 month)

Manchester City 1 Haaland (knee 1 week)

Newcastle United 1 Dabizas (broken arm 2 weeks)

Sunderland 1 Rossiter (knee 5 months)

Check on FISO's Injury and Suspension News weblinks

http://www.fiso.co.uk/teamnews.htm

Latest topics from the FISO Fantasy Sports Forum

Sam David provides pointers to the hot Topics of recent weeks:

Horse Racing

- Ten to Follow (Tote/Racing Post)

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3226

- Summer Jockey Challenge (CleverTV with BHB and Trinity Mirror)

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3403

- King of the Punters (Sun)

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3528

General Sport

- Fantasy Factory Wimbledon Charity Challenge

http://fsn.c.tclk.net/maabdhMaaYT9Saaaaaab/

- Other Wimbledon games

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=665

- Fantasy League fortnightly standings

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=2955

- OFL F&E – vote on beer disposal by 30 June (should FISO hang on to

lead…)

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3399

- Sun Dream Team updates

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=2752

Golf

- Telegraph Fantasy European Tour - update

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3238

- FISO Golf Day planning

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3518

- OFL Golf - weekly ups and downs

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3066

- FSUK reorganisation

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3516

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3508

Cricket

- Telegraph cricket – introductory notes; record scores

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3173

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3585

- Telegraph cricket – weekly password, leaderboard & new players

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3382

- Telegraph weekly player points – unofficial, but timely

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3473

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3580

- FCC Test & One Day tables

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3492

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3401

- Cricket injuries and absences

http://fsn.c.tclk.net/maabdhMaaYT9Taaaaaab/

Football

- Golden Boot – the run in

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3134

- Hall of Fame – top tens

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3412

- Telegraph Football – end-season feedback

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3377

- August Premiership preview – early but useful

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3558

- Golden Goal – new interactive prediction competition

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3472

- Paying winners

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=3523

- FISO people – have you introduced yourself?

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_read.asp?id=1518&recordnum=80

The FISO fantasy sports forum was launched in August 2001 and with

thousands of topics and posts about fantasy sports, the FISO forum

is the place to talk to your fellow players and get an opinion about

a game.

The latest Fantasy Sports news is posted here so check it regularly.

All posts since August 2001 are contained in an archive system

accessible from the forum index. There is also a search facility.

Why not join in our forum? You do NOT need to join to view the posts

but if you choose yourself a password and username, leaving your

name and email address, then you're free to post as well.

The Forums include Fantasy Football, Cricket, Golf, Formula One,

Other Fantasy Sports and Horse Racing Tips (Beat the Bookies!).

Click here to see the latest topics on our forums.

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_latest.asp

The Andy Luckhurst Horseracing Tipster Corner

I'm pleased to provide the odd racing tip for FISO members. Today's

report:

I fancy Kris Kin in the King George VI & QE Diamond Stakes (at Ascot

on 26 July). Kris Kin (pronounced Chris King!) has all the traits to

better the opposition. Three year olds tend to come into their own

this time of year. The older horses also look better than average,

but the price still looks too big for a half decent Derby

winner. His odds have shortened in recent days but if you can find

7/1 or 6/1 then he still represents good value for money. Be lucky!

Don't forget to see 'oddschecker' for the best odds -

http://www.oddschecker.co.uk

Andy.

Catch more of Andy's tips on the Beat The Bookies part of the FISO

forum.

http://www.fiso.co.uk/forum/philboard_forum.asp?forumid=14