Update

I have finally completed a much needed update to the 'rules' section of the website. This update has been long overdue and I have been remiss in not doing this until now. Please accept my humble apologies and I hope this has not adversely affected anyone.

The formatting seems a little off but the page is easy enough to follow (I think) so for now I will live with it.

I think I have updated everything but if anyone notices a mistake please let me know and I will change it.

Things are going to get a little hectic at home in the near future as the wife should give birth to our second son some time in the next week so apologies again if I am a little quiet for a while.

Good luck to all and you never know but someone may even find time to write up some match reports for us all to read... any volunteers? ;)

Prognostications

Not sure, lady and gents, if I am going to get something off in time for the beginning of the first round in terms of picks. Johnny is feverishly looking for a job these days, but I will say 'good luck' to all.

New Season Beckons

It's always exciting to see the mail alert on the Hattrick website when you know that the fixture list is due for a new BCup season. This season was no exception.

I was over the moon to see my old league-mates, Stones, in the same group as I. I feel a strange connection with Mr Two, even though we have never met. I guess it was because we both promoted into V.25 at the same time and so I share a certain empathy with him.

I had mixed emotions about seeing Monmouth Town as I think they were massively unlucky last season to end up in such a powerhouse of a group and would have done much better had they been in a more open group. This season they are even stronger than before and I think could be real contenders for the crown.

Presidents are a mixed blessing in a group. Yes you can almost guarantee a win against them... but so can everyone else ;) so it's effectively reduced the number of mistakes you can afford to make.

Seeing the Tigers in my group fills me with dread. They are one of the few teams in this competition that have beaten me more times than I have beaten them. Every time I see their team name I get flashbacks to the early seasons of the BCup when it was pretty much us verses them in the finals... and I think I lost every time. I know they aren't as strong a team as they used to be but old memories are hard to shake.

All in all I think it will be a tough but fun season for the Ratz. However, due to my league situation (I desperately want to promote this season) I think another BCup title is slightly out of reach for us.

Oh and welcome to doomsters... didn't notice you had joined us ;p

CUP BEGINS NOW: GAME ON

OK, groups and fixtures are posted to the Cupmanager page. Please issue challenges starting now.

Points to remember:

1. The team listed FIRST for the fixture on the Cupmanager page is responsible for choosing the venue and issuing the challenge.

2. Group matches are NEUTRAL SITE and NORMAL RULES.

3. Everyone has one bye week in group play, i.e. a week in which you do not play. Group B is arranged (again) so Ellwood has a bye in its first week, which gives them another chance to get kicked out of the Wales Cup.

Feel free to contact me with any questions. Good luck to all.

Le Uggh.

Hi guys. I've been pretty busy lately, but I just wanted to say I'm still going to try and keep up with the Brooklyn Cup.

I returned to school full-time a few weeks ago and, in general, I'm having fun. But, French is eating me alive! You Europeans are way ahead of us where foreign languages are concerned and I think most of the Americans here are just enough younger than I that they were required to learn one in High School, but just in case...I have this bit of advice to pass along. DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE 42 TO LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE! :P

On a brighter note, my favorite class by far is "The War on Terrorism and American Foreign Policy." Well. "Brighter" as in my enjoyment of the class than that the subject is cheery.

A bientot!