Before the Playoffs

In the last gameweek of ordinary time, we welcome Dr Breandan Hill (our very own Stato) who brings a unique insight into the draft. I'm making the Pigeons favourites to win the Draft now that the annual "Galactico Crumble" has commenced...

Culchie Blues v Kilkeel Canaries

      

Very little to play for here as Hardy has a playoff against the Wasps or Casimir tied up and I honestly doubt Forbsey gives two shits (too busy chasing tale and shaving his legs). He avoids a play-off for the loser bowl if he wins but to be honest, he probably won’t change his team and so I’ll have to go with Hardy for this one.

Canaries

Kamikaze Pigeons v FC Casimir

One of only 2 matches that actually matter this week. The Pigeons could sneak top if the Galacticos slip up against the Lamelas while Casimir need to win and also need a helping hand from a struggling Crouchy’s Nachos to make it into the playoffs. While they are the 2^nd highest scorers overall, Casimir have been up and down all year and rely too much on the Aguero/Kane strike force. With United and West Brom unlikely to ship too many and the Pigeons finally discovering how to score more than 40 points, I can’t see Casimir winning this one or making the play-off. I will however put Guzan in nets and make him my captain if Matt is willing to trade certain players!

Pigeons (Casimir if they trade me Kane)

AVB Beast v Belfast Benfica

With 4^th and 5^th tied up between them, this is simply a dry-run of the playoff next week. On current form, it’s hard to look past the Beasts for both games although the double week in week 34 could muck things up either way.

Beasts

Crouchys Nachos v Predatory Wasps

The main event of the week. If the Wasps win, no other results matter and Casimir go into the loser bowl. Despite winning the DC cup last week, 32 points is hardly tearing it up and with De Bruyne back from injury, the Wasps need a good showing for Lukaku against Watford to have any chance. Going to go with Wasps to lose but still make the play-offs.

Nachos

Welsh Galacticos v The Lovely Lamelas

Where, oh where have the Galacticos gone?!? Two wins in six and in serious danger of slipping to 2^nd in the league. Unfortunately for me, Leicester play Sunderland and I think the flooky wee welsh git will sneak through but the skin of his teeth. The Lovely Lamelas had neither a captain, vice-captain or even a Lamela on the pitch last week which makes me think Mike may be a bit MIA at the moment. The wee welsh git!

Galacticos

Real IRA v Van Gaal’s Gals

Both teams will be slugging it out in the loser bowl play-offs so nothing to play for here but pride. Therefore in lieu of predictions I thought I’d actually examine just how bad ‘dat midfield’ actually are. In 31 weeks (1 week of data missing from the site) they have scored 344 points from 132 players (yes, I did waste time counting but it was worth it to take the piss out of Philly) giving a return of 2.61 points per player per week. In 32 weeks his whole team has scored 1011 points for 352 players giving a return of 2.87 points per player per week. If we exclude his midfield all together he averaged 3.03 points per player per week.

Therefore maths has clearly shown that Philly’s midfield is pure shite.

Going one step slightly further, we thoughts we’d also compare ‘dat midfield’ to Philly’s bench each week (shown below). Also on a personal note, I’d like to say thank you for Pedro, who scored 36 in 19 games for you and 30 in 8 games for me. #Clueless

Van Gaal’s Gals