Nip and Tuck in the Fantasy League

With the madness that is the festive fixture list out of the way, the league is now closer that ever. With 5 teams in genuine contention, it’s going to be nip and tuck from here on in.

Back at the top after a so-so Xmas period are my own Big Fanny Failures.

A brilliant weekend for me with Chelsea’s win over Spurs racking up the big points. Goals in La Liga from Eto’o and Maxi Rodriguez saw the Fannies leap from third to first like a big footballing salmon. With four German players yet to come back from winter break, things are looking good for the European Championship double winners.

Just six points behind are Tom’s Serenity Now, with only his Juve backline’s failure to keep a clean sheet and Damien Duff’s substitution v Spurs keeping him off top spot this weekend. Tom’s blend of youth and experience coupled with his willingness to change things around should see him there or there abouts come seasons end.

Dropping to third are Xmas pacesetters The Von Brauns.

Dealt a costly blow by John Terry’s booking this weekend, Ronnie has a quandary, not for the first time this season. Should he use his one remaining transfer to ship big scorer Thomas Gravesen now he’s moved to Madrid, or should he bank on the Dane to make his mark on the Bernebau faithful?

Ronnie’s ability to stay with the leaders in spite of losing his manager, playing the first quarter of the season a man short and now the Gravesen dilemma surely suggests that he will remain a force to be reckoned with throughout the campaign.

Moving up to forth are Lokomotiv Sausages, who have benefited from Milan’s recent resurgent form. A mid table struggler for most of the season, Lokomotiv may just have timed their charge for the line to perfection.

Dropping down a place are West Bam, although Karen is unlikely to be too worried considering she has a transfer left and a whopping £1.8 million in reserve for fresh talent. Having fought tooth and nail to get this far, only a fool would write West Bam off now.

Nicola’s CSFPG’s look to have taken a huge step towards avoiding relegation with an excellent month so far. Racking up 108 points has allowed CSFPG’s to pull away from the drop zone in some style with Newcastle striker Shola Amiobi finally repaying the faith shown in him.

Well below and well out of it are Keith’s Do You Smell Gas. Unable to access the league at his draconian place of work, Keith has obviously decided that the ignominy of languishing in second bottom spot is preferable to taking time out from his busy schedule of pubbing, clubbing and tugging his wire to bother trying to salvage things on his home PC. He may have a point, as his team are packed with more haddies than your local fishmongers.

Propping things up are Neltic FC. Oh deary, deary me. Hampered by the same work access problems as Keith, Neltic have clearly chucked in the towel, with several players either out of the league altogether or out through long term injury. With 2 mill in the bank and a full compliment of transfers, something may yet be done to turn round a disastrous season so far. The question is, can Neltic afford Terry Venables?