Re: Format Changes

Bring it on!
I like the new format changes, other than the fact that now I'll NEVER reach "World Beater" status. I'll have to re-set my goals toward winning the B-Cup instead. Sigh...

Welcome Jon and all Monmouth Town-ies!

Update

Here's your weekly cup update as to where we stand. In other news, please note that I still need nominations for another team to join us for this season. I would also like to have at least one standby team on the waiting list, just in case an old-line team drops out. So please let me know if you have suggestions for teams that might join. (Again, preference to European teams, esp if representing a new country.)

One slot was filled this week -- please welcome to the fold Monmouth Town from Wales, managed by Jon Roberts. Turn-ons include long moonlit walks on the beach, and beating the snot out of Ellwood.

Done (and ready to rumble)
Avs
CTFC
Direwolf
Freaks United
Presidents
Anfield IF
System
Monmouth Town
Sea Lane
Stones


Still Alive (...and holding us back)
Tigers
Ratz
Ellwood
KCU
Delta
Bonafide
Brooklyn FC
Saltopus
Wind

FORMAT CHANGES

Since the end of last season, the Competition Committee has been discussing the format of our competition and has decided to alter the structure of the tournament. There are many benefits to the changes below, but chief among them are (a) the reduction in the overall number of weeks, which becomes more important as our teams get better and make longer runs in national cup competitions and (b) a good resolution to the relegation problem spawned this season. Here are the highlights

* There will now be 20 teams. System, Presidents, and Anfield IF will all be automatically included this season.

* There will be 4 groups, each with 5 teams.

* Group play will consist of only one neutral-site match against each other team, in normal rules.

* The rules and deadlines for issuing and accepting challenges will be the same. For each fixture, the team listed first on the Cupmanager page will be responsible for issuing the challenge and selecting the neutral stadium.

* Only the top 2 teams in each group will qualify for the playoffs.

* Each playoff round will still be one match on cup rules.

In some ways, this makes the tournament even harder than it already is. Each group match will now be more meaningful, because there will be no chance to even the score on a return leg. Also, we will need to recruit 2 more teams to round out the field. If you have nominations, please let me know via email or HT mail or comment here. Preference will be shown to European teams (esp if representing a country not currently represented) in an attempt to preserve the US-Euro split. If anyone does NOT want to play this season for some reason, please let me know.

Some details we will worked out and announced later, including the seeding for the group draw, how to handle the DLI and future "relegation", etc.

In the meantime, here's your first update of this season:

Done (and ready to rumble)
Avs
CTFC
Direwolf
Freaks United
Presidents
Anfield IF
System

Still Alive (...and holding us back)
Tigers
Ratz
Ellwood
KCU
Stones
Delta
Bonafide
Brooklyn FC
Saltopus
Sea Lane
Wind

Tony Tuesday

Hey everyone, I realized that I had forgotten the Tony Tuesday Award. After a small debate in my head about who should get it, and whether or not a Euro Team really should get it because another US team got it last year, I'm going with....

Envelope please.....

Jimmy Mastoros of Kings County United....

First, KCU's rises in the cup recently has been a welcome and not so welcome development.

But really, the guy got PASTED in the B-Cup Semi's by the eventual champion AND his wifey gave birth to the tiny Emma Melina - pictured below. They have absolutely no connnection (though Jimmy may be searching the European transfer wires late night now) but it's the kind of thing that warrants the TT Award.

Congrats to the Mastoros family and congrats to Jimmy. You are the proud new owner of the TONY TUESDAY Award....

Best,
JtW

Team Spirit

Is it just Dan and I, or are you guys getting the TS 'bug' over there?

My TS dropped yesterday after PIC'ing my cup game, but granted, my coaches Leadship is only weak now.

My clown is a good one.

But Dan had the same problem, and his caoches leadership is passable. What the!?

I need my TS for this damn new hard league.