Fantasy World League Forum

Its coming down to the last 2 weeks of the regular season and theres yet again some huge games this week...

Sacramento at Orlando

Both teams are out of the playoffs, Sacramento were going to start their young backup QB Rob Adamson but lately Todd Bouman with 3 300 yard performances in the last 3 weeks and 9 td's and 1 int will get the nod again.  After losing 2 straight Orlando will want to give their home fans something to cheer about.  In past years this was a huge clash but sadly now its a game between two losing teams.

Orlando by 3

New York at Birmingham

It doesnt get any easier for NY, with their top two RB's injured and their starting QB injured the Knights might struggle in this game.  Birmingham have looked very good the second half of the year thanks to QB Seth Burford and HB Clarence Williams who has given the Fire their best rushing attack in years.  A loss for NY doesnt matter much as they face San Antonio the following week for the AFC #1 seed.  The question is, will Phil Stambaugh be back for that game ?

New York by 1

Mexico at Ohio

It looked so good for Mexico earlier in the season but some tough close losses have hurt them.  Ohio are 7-2 in their last 9 games and a win here guarantees them a wildcard place.  With 70,000 fans screaming at home for Ohio it will be tough for Mexico to win this one.

Ohio by 7

Montreal at Raleigh-Durham

In past years Montreal have had the odd upset by the Skyhawks late in the year, this year could be no exception.  Raleigh have won their only 2 games at home and looked good last week against Rhein.  They have a new HB who had a huge game last week and could upset Montreal.  Montreal badly need a win here to stay in the playoff race, HB Corey Walker doesnt look 100% since returning from injury and being away will give Raleigh the advantage here.  Montreal should overcome Raleigh but it could be close

Montreal by 7

Rhein at Amsterdam

The Admirals should have won last weeks game against Frankfurt which would have given them the EFC East division.  They will feel hard done by but Frankfurt face a tough last 2 weeks whereas Amsterdam have two easier games.  Amsterdam could still win the division, they are a class team who can pass/rush the ball and who have a great defense.  If it wasnt for a late collaspe against Frankfurt they would be one of the top teams in the league.  As for Rhein, they cant seem to run the ball and that has hurt them all year. 

Amsterdam by 10

San Antonio at Berlin

The Thunder might want to go out with a bang here, it could be the last home game for the Barnes-Blundin combination.  Both players are still playing very well but HB Omar Bacon has been a huge disappointment.  San Antonio are on fire at the moment and some pundits rate them a better team than the Knights.  The result wont matter here for the Riders, next weeks game against New York is the huge one !

San Antonio by 14

Barcelona at Scottish

Since the Dragons changed their rushing attack and benched Chad Dukes the team have lost 6 straight games.  For Scotland they had a great win over Berlin last week and could get another win here.  A win would put them out of the #1 overall pick in the draft but the Claymores are fighting for respect.

Scotland by 10

Paris at London

A huge EFC West clash here.  If London loses they could perhaps miss the playoffs, for Paris their only two defeats in the last 9 games have been to Austria and Amsterdam.  London have the advantage as they are at home but they disappointed last week on the road at Austria.  Paris have had a fine year but want more.  Should be a great clash

London by 3

Frankfurt at Austria

Austria are the #1 seed in the EFC but will want to keep winning to get homefield throughout the league.  Also a win here against last years FWL Bowl winners will show that Austria really are for real. Last week against London they played well but they dont seem to dominate many teams like past FWL Bowl winners have.  Thats why many people think Austria are a great team but not an FWL Bowl winners type of team.  They are methodical much like the NFL's New England Patriots, theyre not exciting but all they do is win games.  QB Curt Anes really needs to step up and have a big game.  For Frankfurt they need a win badly to continue their drive to win the EFC East.

Ugh... I'm having flashbacks to Season 11 here...

not to season 9 ??? That the Admirals (1-12) beat you in week 14 :-*

Remember that game now !

I know theres loads i want to do to the FWL (one is to get every sgames on the site) but i would love to have a feature on classic games from years gone past

The Ads at 1-12 that year upsetting London on the final week was a huge shocker

Because I think it would be really cool for Amsterdam to become the league's first two-division winning franchise, I'd like to see the necessary scenario of the Ads winning out and the Galaxy being blanked, but particularly with the Men of Kreiner having nothing at all to play for now that they've sewn up the top EFC seed, it looks rather likely that the Galaxy will clinch their nth division title on Wednesday.

Well for Mario i would say its still important to win another game to claim homefield advantage throughout the playoffs including the FWL Bowl.  If Mario makes it to the FWL Bowl and then faces a team away then he will be at a slight disadvantage

However as we've seen in past years of the playoffs anything can happen !

This ADK-team is NOT for real. You cannot make it to the Bowl without an offense. I mean we are playing the most boring offensive football there is in the FWL (but the most electrifying defensive football there is in the world...)

i am going to try to beat Frankfurt next week using all my starters (unless they are injured) just for the sake of beating the all-time-GM but will surely play all bakcups against SCO to hand my friend Munro a (meaningless) win.

McNeil of for the playoffs is tough to swallow but i am confident to make it to the EFC-game and i will play it a home for sure. But i would not be surprised if luck turns against me and i drop out in the  Wildcard-game. Would be very disappointing.....

If i had a wish i would rather play Paris than Amsterdam (or London) in the wildcard-game as i have to settle a bill with them. If i proceed it will defenitely be Frankfurt whom i am going to face.....

But all in all:
ADK is not for real, but i like it the way things turn out. Better than having a brilliant team but ending out of PO-race due to bad luck.....

Mario !  We dont condone 'fixed' games like that !  And for all you know Ronnie might not actually want to win ! If i was 2-10 and perhaps had the chance to go for the first overall pick i wouldnt be too bothered about winning my last 2 games.  I would start the youngsters as the season is over for me at 2-10 and i'll see what they can do.

In the future you then cant moan if a team does the same thing to you, eg you need them to win but they start their youngsters.

I love the FWL as i like trying to make it 'real'.  A team who are fighting for the number 1 seed in the FWL , i just think its a bit unusual to then start backups.

Like i keep saying the Patriots offense is boring as hell but it works.  Who cares if you win championships ?  I dont know any Patriot fans who moan about their offense when theyre winning Superbowls.  So far your team reminds me of the Baltimore Ravens SB team, not tons of offense but a great defense.

your point regarding Ronnie is a good one. and i will adjust to that. but please do not be angry: i do not want to risk any injuries before POs so that is why i will defenitely not play all my starters:
i wont play: Anes, Jackson, Hatchette, Mayer and Barr or Ishida.
Not sure if Dinwiddie or Abrew will get the call.. we will se...

Sorry for that but to have healthy players in the POs is more important to me taht finishing with yet another rather meanginless win. And i still think my "B"-Team can win against a 2-11-team as well....

Well i do kind of get your point but you just worded it wrong by saying you would be giving the win to Ronnie your old friend !  Even if you are thinking of that dont announce it on the forum !

But what i dont get is that homefield advantage you have in the EFC but if you win one game more at least or perhaps two you have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs which could be crucial 'if' you make it to the FWL Bowl

I've also seen many teams resting players and then when they start them again because they had a week off they dont seem to play as well.  Seen that many times in the past.  As they say 'if it aint broke dont fix it'.

 :o I think thinking of giving a vic to someone else should be illegal! By giving away victories you can have influence on the draft. Austria has the 1st round pick of Birmingham 3-9 and Scotland is 2-10.

I general I do not understand it that you play with your back ups, okay your starters will not get injuried but the past proved that started that get some rest (especially QB's) play not as good as they did before the rest.

Actually good point Niki

Mario is obviously tracking Birminghams progress as he has their draft pick.  Now it puts us in a difficult position, if Mario plays too many backups in Week 14 i wont make all the changes as i think this is bordering to 'fixing' the game.

I shall be keeping a close eye on the Week 14 game !!!  He already says he wants to give his 'friend Ronnie the win' but as you point out theres more behind it than that, if Scotland win and Birmingham lose then it might give the Fire the #1 pick which of course Mario has !

One thing in the FWL is that there is no cheating or fixing of games.  If some of the choices look a bit too bizarre for Week 14 i wont make them for Austria.

Plus when you are about to enter the playoffs you want all your players playing.  Same in the NFL, only a few times in the past years have teams relaxed on the final weekend only to get thrashed before they then start the playoffs.  Some teams win in the playoffs but many dont seem to gell as much.

I shall be carefully watching the Week 14 roster of Austria

Mario wants to beat Frankfurt but if i am one game away from holding the #1 seed in the entire league then i would go for it as its just one game and i would have then homefield advantage.

But like i say i shall be closely watching this game.  If there was nothing to play for then yes play backups even though i think you should be on a roll before the playoffs BUT if there is nothing to play for fair enough.  BUT if Austria enter Week 14 and need a win to get the #1 seed overall i find it bizarre not to go for that.

If things look too 'strange' draft picks shall be docked from Austria.  Now it puts us in a difficult position as to the Week 14 game, if Scotland somehow beat Austria (how often does the best team in the league lose to the worst team in Week 14 ?)  and Birmingham lose to get the #1 overall draft pick then that will be looked at and reviewed

A while back Amsterdam (1-11) beat London i think it was late in the year to stop their playoff chances but London had their full strength team out.

Reminds me of when the Frankfurt Galaxy who made the World Bowl played with backups and lost to the worst team in the league to push Scotland out of the World Bowl match.  Of course earlier in the season Scotland had beaten Frankfurt and also had looked the most explosive.

it is not in general about teh #1 pick, but more between number 1-7:

R-D 2-10
Claymores 2-10
Birmingham 3-9
Barcelona 3-9
Orlando 4-8
Berlin 4-8
Rhein 4-8

But it can help to push Birmingham pick in a better position, that is all the point I wanted to make

Well if Birmingham and Scotland both finish at 3-11 who finishes first/second ?

then the conf record will decide:

Birmingham will be 3-8
Claymores 2-9

so Claymores will be over Birmingham in that case, same case with division record!

Oh i see.  Well we'll see then.

Birmingham have two home games left to play and they stand a good chance against Orlando in the final week and face a tough New York team this week.

At the moment it looks like the Skyhawks/Claymores will have the first overall pick and then Birmingham or some other teams with the third

Either way when Austria all season long has been rooting for the team to lose who they have their first round pick of (was Ohio, now Birmingham) so they can get a high pick and then mention they would like the Claymores to win (so perhaps giving their draft pick a place higher) then the league management will look at this very closely !!!

Mario's totally within his rights to rest his key players. I've done the same thing in those rare occasions when I've had "meaningless games" left on the schedule, others have done it as well, real teams do it, etc. etc.

but in this case he put himself in this situation! He announced that he would give his friend Munro a victory (which is strange since the Claymores can use a lose instead of a vic to have a better top pick).

Personally: I always play with my best team, I think it is not fair to other teams if I lose because my second team is playing and I like to win as much as possible games.

Like Niki says any team can rest players and they are within their rights but its just a bit more 'sinister' when all season long Mario has been tracking Birminghams games as he has their #1 draft pick, then 'surprise surprise' he mentions giving Scotland a win which would then perhaps give Mario the #2 overall pick instead of #3.

If the Birmingham pick wasnt Austrias then none of this would really matter.  Just its a bit 'strange' when Scotland/Birmingham are next to each other in the draft order with 2 weeks left and Mario mentions giving Scotland a win.

Hmm !

You know I don't like to cut Mario any unnecessary slack, but I read it as fatalism, not draft-rigging. I've been known to say to myself looking at an FWL schedule, "Oh dear, Frankfurt in Frankfurt... well, I guess that's a win for Marco."

But thats the thing, hes going to try to beat Frankfurt, he said...

"i am going to try to beat Frankfurt next week using all my starters (unless they are injured) just for the sake of beating the all-time-GM but will surely play all bakcups against SCO to hand my friend Munro a (meaningless) win.
"

So surely against Frankfurt if hes playing his strongest side (just for the sake of beating the all time GM) i'm surprised why in the final week he doesnt do the same.  Only a few teams ever have gone 13-1 in the regular season so he would tie that record.  Plus like i say if he won that game then he might get homefield advantage throughout.  Look at many teams win/loss record home/away, being home for the FWL Bowl 'if' Austria get there is huge.  If i had the #1 team i would try to get homefield as well

But like i say if you arent going to rest your players against Frankfurt then why bother against Scotland without sounding rude to Ronnie

Well, sure. Better to take a couple of P-1 lumps in Week 13 and wrap up home field throughout than to try to do so in Week 14, where any injury hurts your playoff chances. And maybe he doesn't want to skew the EFC East race--whereas the Scotland outcome won't affect any playoff positioning.


Which he can get by beating Frankfurt.


For all the reasons listed above. :)

But a Scotland win may put them ahead of Birmingham.  As Mario owns the Birmingham pick and has been looking at their results all year not being happy when they win (as it makes his draft pick worse) then dont you think its a bit suspicious ?

No one would have been that bothered if Mario hadnt mentioned letting his friend Ronnie have a win.  Hmm wonder why ?  Come on how often have you known Mario be that nice !  ;)   Ronnie gets the win and jumps ahead of Birmingham and Mario gets a better pick !

Marios all time W/L record for Week 14....

2-5 (which surprises me !)

Anyway we shall see, i shall stop talking about any controversy and we'll see what happens

yep. another controversy surrounding famed GM Kreiner.....

just to stop all this here:

1)
my 2-5 record defenitely comes from the fact that i ALWAYS played backups in week 14, or 13+14 UNLESS there was something "at stake" (hope i used the right word).
"at stake" would be: a 14-0 record, Anes perfect season, a divisional title, etc etc etc....

But if there was nothing to win i played backups (and most of the time lost...)

Whatever Paul is trying to suggest: There is nothing at stake for me. i try to win in week 13 because winning against Marco is great thus improvin my WL-record and making his WL-record worse.... (he is the best and i am close to him.... so a win matters to me...)

P.S.:
Thank you Jason for your posts.....

2)
i have absolutely no doubt that birmingham will win against ORL and EVEN might win against injury-prone NY.... A "possible" SCO-win in week 14 is absolutely meaningless concerning that matter..... so please do not make things up here....

3)
i get your points regarding Ronnie (=race for #1 spot in the draft). So what i will do is contact him, tell him my plans and try to get an approval from him.

Just call me Jason "Wellington Mara" Compton.

i would if i just knew who Wellington Mara was?

But why contact Ronnie ?  Just play the game.

All this 'contact Ronnie and tell him my plans of playing backups' etc just creates controversy.  Just play the game and leave any trash talking regarding this game out as it just adds fuel to the fire.

You have a chance to tie the best every regular season record (13-1) achieved by just TWO teams all time.  You also have the chance to win homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.  If you go 12-2 and lose out to NY/SA for the tiebreaker and then play away in the FWL Bowl (if you get that far) then thats a big disadvantage. 

I've had a few emails from people and regarding games in the FWL i dont think you should trash talk about these games as it just creates controversy.

As for not knowing who Wellington Mara is shame on you !! An NFL great, owner of the NY Giants who sadly died a few days ago.

Lets just look forward to the games without any talking of throwing games etc.  I love the FWL as i like it when its realistic like the NFL, the Bridson saga messed things up and i vowed never to let anything like that happen again.  Now every week you've been asking for the Birmingham game , not being happy when they win as it makes your draft pick worse.  Now the talk earlier was how you want to let your friend Ronnie win !  Just very suspicious.  You have a chance to tie the all time record for wins in a season yet you want to play your backups ?

Like i've said before, any other game i could understand you playing your backups, perhaps not going to try to tie the all time record i can see your point althought if i was 12-1 and a chance to secure the #1 spot and a joint record i would go for it.  If you were 10-3 and guaranteed a playoff spot which you couldnt change then yeah i would play backups perhaps.

Its just the draft pick which causes controversy, all season long you've wanted Birmingham to lose.  Now in Week 14 you may have a chance to change things so thats why it causes a bit of controversy you see .  I dont know, the FWL wouldnt be the same without you Mario !   ;)

i do not get your point as i can see no "trash-talking" at all, Paul....
if i say i would start backups to save my starters i wound not consider this as thrash talk.....

Jason puts it the right way i think....

i make a smart move by relaxing a bit and try to avoid injuries - you do not like that? But hey? i did that season in - season out. and if i think i should do it i will do it. And i think it is the same way in any league. Even the NFL....

ever thought that SACs move to use a backup-QB could affect something similar to the teams you play in week 13 and 14 (Orl and Oh) as me playing with backups might affect Sco? Ever thought that Orlando might not like to win due the draft-implications? Ever thought that teams who fight for a PO-spot in the AFC might not like Ohio have a rather easy win due to PO-implications?

So please tell those who send you mails to that matter (instead of coming forward in the forum) that you basically do the same and many teams basically do the same.

To play backups in meaningless games (and i do not care if i end 13-1, 12-2 oder 11-3....) is just a smart m9ove as signing Abrew, having him start the other day and release him after the season.

sorry for not knowing Wellington Mara, but i am not too much in NFL-details.... i just follow the results from time to time and try to see some of the games on tv...

but saying that you give your friend Ronnie a win is not something you can say in public. That is in public manupilating the game :'(

Like i say i get your point Mario, teams in the NFL regularly play backups in the last week of the regular season, a few playoff teams even do that, Philly got thumped at the end of last years regular season but then went on to the Superbowl in the playoffs

The Redskins of 1991 were 14-1 but played backups , they could have tied the NFL record of 15-1 but instead lost and went to 14-2 and then won the Superbowl

And yes every season in the FWL teams normally play backups late in the year, this is normally teams who are out of the playoffs though.   Yes with me playing backups this will affect some other teams .  It wont affect Orlando as they are out of the playoffs but yes it might affect the draft order

However the main thing is that i dont have a draft pick from another team so me playing backups doesnt really affect that draft pick.  You have Birminghams draft pick, Scotlands pick is the closest and it seems you 'may' be trying to influence the position.

As Niki says play your backups then but dont go shouting stuff out like 'SCO to hand my friend Munro a (meaningless) win."

If any coach in the NFL did that or a player said that in the media there would be uproar.  If you play your backups then play them, whatever you do dont start saying stuff about handing people a win SPECIALLY when your draft pick is next to theirs.

As for not caring to finish 13-1 etc, so you want to beat the all time GM so it moves your name further up but on the other hand you dont want to tie a record held by just 2 others in 14 seasons of FWL play ? 

Its the same for any team, from now on if people start talking publicly about 'handing someone a win' then draft picks will be deducted.  Play your backups but dont talk about giving someone a win as thats unfair.

let us see how things develop. if you really think it is a BIR/SCO-question let us see the results of week 13. maybe everything is fixed then by a BIR win against NY and you guys can relax as far as this matter concerns and might take it easier if i indeed "insist" on playing backups....

but glad to see that old GM Kreiner still can rock and shock the league.....

Hail to Jason, btw.... hope you make the playoffs..... instead of AMSTERDAM  ;D

if Amsterdam and London this weke win, both or in the play offs, only Paris can kick me out of the play offs

Yep i agree with Mario, none of this might not happen anyway

Lets enjoy the Week 13 games played later today (5 hours time).  Might try to do them earlier but knowing my luck someone will put in some changes late !

Play backups, do whatever but just dont talk about giving a game away to a team whos next to your draft pick thats all !  Any other team or no draft pick involved i wouldnt care

Great exciting race to the finish this season !   Also nice to see some new teams in the final fight for the playoffs, eg Lon/Ohio/Mexico

After a 0-3 start Ohio are 7-2 in their last 9 games.

As for Paris they are 7-2 in their last 9 games, only defeats coming in OT to Amsterdam and Austria.  They look very impressive

but why not make a difference between deadline for roster changes and estimated time that you do the game!

In that way you can do the games earlier on the day without the risk that people do the roster changes at the last moment

Well a lot of it is that even if i have a deadline for the games a day before then i start thinking to myself 'Iwould love to run the games now !' as i do love running the FWL games.

Often though sometimes i've ran games early just because of situations, eg suddenly i have to go out that evening or work is slow for an hour so i can fit it in then and not later.

But yeah youre right, i'll do that more next season, have a a deadline of say saturday night so anytime between sunday morning -monday evening i have the opportunity to run the games

3 hours 20 mins will kickoff though !  I do seem to have changes from every team who would send them in though including all the big playoff teams so i may run them earlier perhaps.  Then again with only a day and a bit between the last games and now i should wait !

yeah midnight is an idea or the normal time you wake up on a sunday.

I think it also is more relaxed for you, so that you can take the time to do all changes etc.

If you ask me you are always allowed to play the games earlier  ;D

I understand you Niki, however please remeber the GMs are in different time zones !

Especially with such a short time between games. In most parts of germany we had a holiday yesterday, so some GMs
(I know from Andreas BER) may only today have the chance to send their changes.

yeah, it was just teh way I am hinking about it :) but on the other hand if you ask me, we can play everyday a game after week 10  ::)

I know about the timezone differences etc. but let say paul has changes of 17 out of 18, and the team he is missing is not in teh race for play offs and has no injuried players then I would not see a problem.

But in general it is hard for Paul to know who is going to do changes, if you do not want make any changes most teams will not send an email to Paul, I do it so that Paul knows I am ready for the game :)

NOW you see why i wanted (and why i WILL) start a bunch of backups in week 14.

i have 3 starting players njured and the loss of Jackson hopefully means the end of all of your "ADK will make it to the FWL-bowl"-gossip....

But i will not have any more key-players injured and yes i will start a whole bunch of backups in week 14 as i will not risk any more injuries to key-players....

Well you could have rested them for this game as you already have the #1 seed in the EFC

Despite the injuries it was a great win, Anes played a great game

Your HB2 isn't really a serious step down the stat charts.

You're 4-0 this season against your playoff opponents--true, three of those games were decided by a field goal, but you still won.

Seriously, who do you anticipate is going to beat you? FRA/AMS in Week 15? FRA/AMS/LON in Week 16? At Kreinstadion? I don't see it.

Injured players:
HB1; DE2; LB3: 3 Starters

Prediction:
Week 15:
FRA @ AUS: FRA wins by 7

(btw: "Kreinerstadium", Mr. Compt)

But remember, Amsterdam and Frankfurt are likely going to play all their front-liners in an attempt to ensure they get the division win, and it's been an injury-plagued season in the FWL, which means it's almost certain the one you face will take injuries. (And Amsterdam's already got one on the books.)

Interestingly, your team and mine are the only playoff teams whose seeds are locked in. All the AFC teams are pretty well-motivated to play hard this week. (Unless Ohio and/or Montreal take the view that "San Antonio in SA" versus "NY/NJ in NY/NJ" is akin to asking "Death by firing squad or death by hanging?")

Jason, Amsterdam always plays with the strongest possible team. Only player that will not play this week is Heurta since he is P-1 and Kuchi is as good as him.

The player that is already out (DE Scott) is not hitting my team, I have 7 good dliners (Mitchel, Eason, Ekiyor, Scott Gholston and Vartanian)

Gholston already proved he is a more then good back up, he is now leading the team with number of sacks but he started only after game 8 (or 7 or 9)

yes. but Jackson also.  :(

Yep Niki has got a great d line with a lot of depth.  Scott was leading his team in sacks but now Gholston has taken over.

Huerta is a great RB , probably Amsterdams best, but Kuchi is a great fill in.

Looking forward to the playoff games, some great matchups.

Pity we now have a big wait for the playoff games as i'm away all week !  Perhaps we'll get a great Jason Compton preview ? ;)

If you can find some time to post some of these articles on the site, I'd appreciate it. The forum is fun but things look a lot more "official" when they're actually on the FWL site. Obviously, this compressed week of games doesn't lend itself to that as much, but maybe during the playoff buildup (and for next season...)

Yeah well i have some time tomorrow so i can transfer your article to the website

As i'm away next week any preview articles for the playoff games will have to be on the forum at first

i strongly advise to "market" several articles who are in teh forum by sending out a mail to the yahoo-group pointing out the content of the article and including the link to the forum - thus creating more interest to read as many GMs do not think of reading the forum-articles....

Well its a pity and quite frustrating that not everyone has joined the forum.  Feel like the forum adds a lot to it and its good to talk to everyone.

I'm looking forward to the draft this year as Rounds 1-4 in the draft chatroom were excellent and it went very quick.

as i said. if you post mails like:

"There is the week14-preview online in the forum, feel free to make your comments"
"There is a now poll regarding xyz.... in the Forum, you might want to take part..."
"A new controversy surrounding GM Kreiner is unfolding, read more about it in teh forum...."

i mean these would be one-sentence-mails to the yahoo-group creating a lot of interest for the topics in the forum and the traffic in the forum should be much higher.....

you just need to do it. i would do it BUT i think it is the commissioners job to do an not a GMs job (as otherwise it might be taken wrongly by some i suppose.....)