Will retire for 80k next season. If anyone needs some additional depth for the run-in, he's yours for a fair price. Currently, he keeps complaining that he continually has been run out as a defender this season instead of his preferred midfield role...

Looks like a couple results really broke up everyone's predictions. Who knew Sunderland would come back with such a roar and make West Ham look so poor? Not sure if that's an indication that West Ham are really that bad or if Sunderland might actually be ok...

Will look forward to the Monday night match - seems we have a full range of predictions for that one.

DEE sends 100k to KIL for 1 TP

This trade window closes on this coming Friday(5 days)...

If you have spare TPs and need some extra cash ?....

EDI will pay 90k per TP, good, cool cash  

SRA sends 345k to COW for 3 CP

The following teams receive an MVP bonus after match 42:
Motherwell - MVP #8: 25k (WwW)
Rangers - MVP #2: 1 TP + 25k (WwW)
Greenock Morton - MVP #2: 1 TP + 25k (dWw)

The following teams receive an MVP bonus after match 41:
Fraserburgh - MVP #6: 25k (wWW)
Dundee FC - MVP #8: 25k (wWW)
Ross County - MVP #2: 1 TP + 25k (wdW)
Inverness - MVP #4: 1 CP (wDw)

....don't forget its Recycling this week......

Returns on 23 AUG but you don't need me to tell you that - plenty of others will keep you up to date with that. Along with details of when the bins need to go out.

Bill has already posted his predictions and, I have to say, I am mightly flattered. Thank you!

LIV sends 2 CP to FRA for 235k

ROS sends 1 TP to DEE for 105k

ELG sends 300k to QOS for 3 TP

RAN sends Max Aarons (2/18 DF) to ROS for Victor Loturi (3/22 FW)

DEE sends 105k to ROS for 1 TP

EDI would be interested in acquiring a few extra TPs.

Willing to pay 90k per TP up tp a maximum of 5TPs.

First come, first served.

DEE sends 100k to KIL for 1 TP

FRA sends 236k to STE for 2 CP

The following teams receive Betting cup match winning through match 40:
ALB(100) ANN(100) BRE(150) COW(100) DEV(100) DUM(100) DEE(100) EF(100) EDI(100) ELG(100) FAL(100) FRA(100) HIB(150) INV(100) LIV(150) MOT(100) NAI(150) PT(100) RAN(150) STJ(100) SRA(100)

Rather easy way to make some cash, indeed. Too bad that Torres didn't score.

I was surprised though that you didn't make FRA-DUM 1 your banker bet.

MOT sends 236k to STE for 2 CP

EF sends 590k to STE for 5 CP

MOT sends 115k to HIB for 1 CP

Nearly everyone who bet on the match won some free money. When I looked at this last week I was about to bet on DUM but held off to see what might happen over the weekend and I was glad I did. The suspension of 55 SL meant that there was no danger of a blowout but even at 55%, that was a junk lineup.

No spoiler alert required for this post although Dave might be surprised. Perhaps he didn't check the preview page before betting or maybe he just has money to burn. I do appreciate the support though.

The following teams receive Prediction League through Round 7 13th August 2025:
DUM(29) DEE(29) HIB(29) MOT(29) NAI(29) STI(29) SRA(29)

The SESL Cup provided us with largely predictable results.  There were two tricky ones - Stirling's win against Partick Thistle and Livingston's win against Deveronvale - the latter only predicted by two of the 23 entrants.  The average score was very high - 6.69, so there's only a small change at the top of the table, with Motherwell gaining a point on Cowdenbeath, to be two points behind them.

Seven managers notched up eight points ths time - even with the double prize money for this round, it's a meagre 29k each.

The next round is in ten days' time, on 23rd August, and features the Division 1 matches.  The entry form is on the Notebook.

The following teams receive Betting on cup match through match 40:
ALB(-50) ANN(-50) BRE(-50) COW(-50) DEV(-50) DUM(-50) DEE(-50) EF(-50) EDI(-50) ELG(-50) FAL(-50) FRA(-50) HEA(-50) HIB(-50) INV(-50) LIV(-50) MOT(-50) NAI(-50) PT(-50) RAN(-50) STJ(-50) SRA(-50)

CEL sends 195k to ANN for 2 TP

Thanks Andrew, I'd forgotten to put the bins out....

I'll believe it only if Paul posts this announcement in triplicate 

.....thanks for the reminder......but I was halfway to putting the bins out when I realised its only Tuesday........

Because the Prediction League runs tomorrow, Wednesday

Liverpool 2-1 Bournemouth

Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle

Brighton 2-1 Fulham

Nottingham Forest 2-1 Brentford

Sunderland 1-1 West Ham

Tottenham 3-1 Burnley

Wolves 1-2 Man City

Chelsea 3-1 Crystal Palace

Man United 2-2 Arsenal

Leeds United 1-1 Everton

Liverpool 4 - 1 Bournemouth

Aston Villa 2 - 2 Newcastle

Brighton 2 - 1 Fulham

Nottingham Forest 3 - 0 Brentford

Sunderland 1 - 2 West Ham

Tottenham 2 - 0 Burnley

Wolves 1 - 3 Man. City

Chelsea 1 - 1 Crystal Palace

Man. United 1 - 2 Arsenal

Leeds United 2 - 1 Everton

Liverpool 4 - 0 Bournemouth

Aston Villa 2 - 0 Newcastle

Brighton 2 - 0 Fulham

Nottingham Forest 1 - 0 Brentford

Sunderland 1 - 3 West Ham

Tottenham 2 - 1 Burnley

Wolves 1 - 2 Man. City

Chelsea 1 - 1 Crystal Palace

Man. United 1 - 2 Arsenal

Leeds United 1 - 1 Everton

It couldn't last long.

After just 1 week DUM's lead vanished facing 63 and 72 - and mighty ARB (with 54 and 42) are back on top.

Some things just feel right - at least a couple of managers seem to think so.

The big winner this week - not only in the junk table - is MOT.
Two gracious <50% lineups make MOT a real contender, now with 5 junks faced total.

The JOTW goes to ARB (who else) facing HEA.
The glorious fight between 44% and 42% even served a CB bonus at 5-1, once more thanks to HEA's SL9 keeper.
I'm beginning to see some pattern here.

Another evolving pattern is the huge respect shown for EF. They have faced faced at least 61% in any of their last 10 matches - allowing them #1 in the average faced ranking!

Liverpool 3 - 1 Bournemouth

Aston Villa 2 - 0 Newcastle

Brighton 2 - 0 Fulham

Nottingham Forest 0 - 0 Brentford

Sunderland 1 - 2 West Ham

Tottenham 2 - 0 Burnley

Wolves 0 - 4 Man. City

Chelsea 1 - 1 Crystal Palace

Man. United 1 - 2 Arsenal

Leeds United 1 - 3 Everton

Probably refreshed EF side proposing multiple trades at times when EF online,

however it would be SM refreshing his side and accepting trade again and again when SM device was accessing web site as EF proposed trade(s) (as team listed first in trade transaction),but needs other party to accept.  And accept. And accept.

Thanks for sorting this out, Mark.

I am not convinced that the probem was caused by user errors because the timings don't make sense.  Two of the "invalid trade" messages were on Saturday afternoon, at 4:48pm and 5:49pm.  I can be sure that I didn't hit refresh at that time becuase I was umpiring a cricket match from 1pm until about 7pm and there would have been complaints if I had been using my laptop while umpiring.

But anyway, thanks again for sorting it and let's hope it doesn't recur.

With the 4 duplicate EF blogs this morning I think you have answered your own question Paul. 
It is a user blip, rather than an Olmec game one.

When you return to game page on your device then rather than click refresh, instead click "SESL" top left corner and that should return you to starting page.   

If could be on your device it re-loads last page you have visited, so you may have put your own device (phone/ipad etc) down while on trade page, and when you return it proposes trade again as your device re-loads that page you were last on. 
Same as if you are sat on blog page, and when you return it refreshs the last page you are on - hence your 4 EF blog duplicates this morning.

Frustrating for sure. 

As Steve notes, olmec web pages appear to behave differently for different devices so its finding what works best for your own device.

In meantime the triplicate trade can be reversed,
although Matt at SM may accepted trade in good faith as had thought you proposed the same trade 3 times (which your device appears to have done).

I'm on a Macbook Air.  I think the double posting happens when I have muliple tabs open for SESL but I haven't really ever worked out the exact sequence of events that causes it.

My phone (Chrome running on Android) always asks me. I have a feeling phones don't.

https://ibb.co/rKMKbZDr

SM sends 240k to EF for 2 CP

Paul, are you on an iPad/iPhone? Looks like you have the same problem David has when you come back to the site it automatically reloads the form. On my Samsung it asks me if I want to resend the information.

There is a trade problem that needs sorting out, please, by someone who can (Mark?  David?)

On Aug 8th at 6:44am I bought a CP from Saint Mirren for 240k

This trade then, wrongly, went through twice more on 8th Aug (10:50pm and 10:56pm).  Please could these two trades be reversed?

Since then I have been getting repeated messages entitled “Invalid trade EF:SM” – evidently the system keeps trying to put the trade through again, but it fails as SM have no CPs to sell.  There are eight such messages in all, between 9th August at 5:30am and 10th August at 3:07pm.

These aren’t causing a problem as such but presumably if SM were to get some CPs, they would all get sold to me, one at a time, so something needs to be done.

There is a trade problem that needs sorting out, please, by someone who can (Mark?  David?)

On Aug 8th at 6:44am I bought a CP from Saint Mirren for 240k

This trade then, wrongly, went through twice more on 8th Aug (10:50pm and 10:56pm).  Please could these two trades be reversed?

Since then I have been getting repeated messages entitled “Invalid trade EF:SM” – evidently the system keeps trying to put the trade through again, but it fails as SM have no CPs to sell.  There are eight such messages in all, between 9th August at 5:30am and 10th August at 3:07pm.

These aren’t causing a problem as such but presumably if SM were to get some CPs, they would all get sold to me, one at a time, so something needs to be done.

AI sends 118k to STE for 1 CP

There is a trade problem that needs sorting out, please, by someone who can (Mark?  David?)

On Aug 8th at 6:44am I bought a CP from Saint Mirren for 240k

This trade then, wrongly, went through twice more on 8th Aug (10:50pm and 10:56pm).  Please could these two trades be reversed?

Since then I have been getting repeated messages entitled “Invalid trade EF:SM” – evidently the system keeps trying to put the trade through again, but it fails as SM have no CPs to sell.  There are eight such messages in all, between 9th August at 5:30am and 10th August at 3:07pm.

These aren’t causing a problem as such but presumably if SM were to get some CPs, they would all get sold to me, one at a time, so something needs to be done.

There is a trade problem that needs sorting out, please, by someone who can (Mark?  David?)

On Aug 8th at 6:44am I bought a CP from Saint Mirren for 240k

This trade then, wrongly, went through twice more on 8th Aug (10:50pm and 10:56pm).  Please could these two trades be reversed?

Since then I have been getting repeated messages entitled “Invalid trade EF:SM” – evidently the system keeps trying to put the trade through again, but it fails as SM have no CPs to sell.  There are eight such messages in all, between 9th August at 5:30am and 10th August at 3:07pm.

These aren’t causing a problem as such but presumably if SM were to get some CPs, they would all get sold to me, one at a time, so something needs to be done.

Liverpool 3 - 1 Bournemouth

Aston Villa 2 - 0 Newcastle

Brighton 1 - 1 Fulham

Nottingham Forest 2 - 0 Brentford

Sunderland 1 - 3 West Ham

Tottenham 3 - 1 Burnley

Wolves 1 - 2 Man. City

Chelsea 2 - 1 Crystal Palace

Man. United 1 - 1 Arsenal

Leeds United 1 - 1 Everton

3 auctions in a row QOS have had bids void using auction player name already in roster.

And no, its not because an auction lot is secured and Arnold wants to dismiss future lot bids.

QOS are voiding auction bids from lot 1 onwards at times.

Today a 5/25 WG would have been won by QOS had Arnold used a new auction player name not already used in roster.

Ask Santa for a book of names suggestions maybe. 

Must be frustrating Arnold when you have money to spend.

5,766 k spent at auction today.

480k average per lot won today

The 1/16 DF went for a snip (no spoilers)

Curiously in all 10 auctions this season there was no 1k winners at auction.

Minimum paid in all the auctions was 101k :-
     that was CB 0/8 MF in auction 9 won for 101k
     and was CEL 0/8 WG in auction 8 for 101k

Top price paid at auction was DUM in auction 3 securing a 0/7 GK for 1024k
    but GK are much sought after so will seem like a decent investment.

ARB sends 100k to PT for 1 TP

Deadline is friday night.

Here We Go!

Liverpool 2 - 0 Bournemouth

Aston Villa 2 - 1 Newcastle

Brighton 2 - 1 Fulham

Nottingham Forest 2 - 1 Brentford

Sunderland 1 - 2 West Ham

Tottenham 2 - 0 Burnley

Wolves 0 - 2 Man. City

Chelsea 2 - 0 Crystal Palace

Man. United 1 - 2 Arsenal

Leeds United 2 - 1 Everton

A new season starts this friday night and it promisses to be as good as ever.

There are 4 teams with a serious shot at the title. Liverpool,Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea.

And besides all those scrapping for the European spots last season there will also be Man United and Tottenham who have both stregthened ,back in the mix.

At the bottom it will be interesting to see whether for the first time in 3 seasons any of the promoted teams(Sunderland,leeds or Burnley ) can stay up.

And of course in SESL land the prediction league is back !

SRA sends 100k to ANN for 1 TP

Very much helped by the second division, which averaged nearly 6 goals per match! Good day to be a match-going supporter

ARB sends 100k to BER for 1 TP

DEE sends 100k to STI for 1 TP

Match 39 went goal crazy. Average of more than 4 goals per gane, despite a couple of goalless draws. Entertainment at its highest. 

ARB sends 315k to DUU for 3 TP

I think Eduard summed it all up quite nicely. Ageing is such a crucial constraint in these games, I would be very wary about having players avoid it. I am certainly in favor if we are talking about small benefits, and agree it might be worth giving everyone access instead of as an auction. But, the psychologists would be a deal breaker in my opinion.

MOT sends 100k to ANN for 1 TP

Whilst I agree with you - it's obviously not perfect but it doesn't happen often. And I'm guessing you can go in NIW and change anything you like for game 39. 👍👍

Seems 2nd match of session today hasn't played, so 50 minutes until match 39 it seems to suggest from countdown clock (going backwards again!)

Zero chance to alter line-ups for the following games ?

Not perfect at all.

The following teams receive an MVP bonus after match 39:
Motherwell - MVP #7: 25k (WWW)
Annan Athletic - MVP #2: 1 TP + 25k (Dww)
Hamilton Accies - MVP #6: 25k (DwW)
Stirling - MVP #2: 1 TP + 25k (wDW)
Brechin City - MVP #3: 1 TP (Wdw)
Berwick - MVP #1: 1 TP + 25k (WwW)

Guessing everybody made out their team line for 39 on the assumption game 38 was played first.

if the games are transposed there will be some strange results and some unfortunate injuries but hey ho! That's life. 🙄😉

If it has not run yet, will the two matches run back to back? Will match 39 run before match 38? Can't recall what happens when the kickoff gets this long delayed

These stories are very precious to me and are not given up lightly.

Happy to share but they are all heartfelt...and again TRUE.

The following teams receive an MVP bonus after match 38:
Dundee FC - MVP #7: 25k (wWW)
Hearts - MVP #3: 1 TP (WWw)
Dumbarton - MVP #3: 1 TP (wWD)
Saint Johnstone - MVP #8: 25k (WWw)
Partick Thistle - MVP #6: 25k (DWw)

While we wait for matches to kick off you may as well dig deep and tell such tales William.

The recent thread re 'Seamen' etc has sparked so many memories for me that i am tempted to tell a tale or two, mainly about my childhood and my somewhat questionable youth(early 20's).

To put things into perspective...I was born in 1956 to a ex Royal Navy man who was also a former DEEP sea sailor.  He then became a Trawlerman.

And that is just the beginning of my pathetic tale. I'm  not particulary comfortable telling such tales but will if  anybody wants to hear such nonesense....but ALL such tales are 100% TRUE.

Now we'll have to hear it!!!

You should be able to post audio files here.  ;)

Another well written blog.

Are you working on a cruise liner?

6 junk lineups and 6 league wins - coincidence? I think not.

Anyway, 6 is an interesting number. Apparently, when I say 'six', to others, it sounds like 'sex'. The language of the sea is English and I think I can hold my own but then when asked to say six it all falls apart. It brings great merriment to my fellow crew mates, which, of course, helps with morale.

Another word that is of great difficulty to me is 'phone'. My colleagues find it very amusing when passengers, mostly the 'merican, hear me say 'food'. Put your phone in the tray - I don't have any food. Bizzare. It happens a lot.

EF sends 120k to SM for 1 CP

EF sends 120k to SM for 1 CP

EST sends 480k to PT for 4 CP

LIV sends 400k to HAM for 4 TP

We have a new #1: Dumbarton (even if recently unmentioned)!

Taking the lead from ARB is next to lese-majeste, though, and should certainly get punished with 70+ lineups.
It is rather strange anyway that DUM fails to get much points and stay deep in the relegation zone.

The JOTW shows no DUM though.
This week's winner ist LIV-HEA 44/41.
The most remarkable about this match was that both teams played fairly offensive - resulting in a 4-1 Livingston win, even getting a Captain's Bonus against HEA's SL9 GK.

DEE sends 210k to EST for 2 TP

Like the concept.  Ed at DEE makes good point of buying staff for fixed costs - or maybe a minimal bid.

I'd prefer to see any staff auction per division like sponsorship, so the big Div 1 teams don't swallow up all the goodies.

Fair for all, and help the wee teams 🙌

EF sends 3 TP to PT for 350k

EF sends 240k to PT for 2 CP

EF sends 120k to SM for 1 CP

Round 7 is next Wednesday, 13th August and the entry form is on the Notebook.  Please use the one that says "PLEASE USE THIS ONE", though possibly this request is unnessesary for some.

This is the cup round, which cannot be dropped from your final score, but which carries a double prize of £200k.

... since the post-MSA half of the season is more interesting, thus - and the aging is necessary anyway.

So there's no need to make it even more enjoyable.

The main problem with your suggestion is that those staff members should have only minimal impact to avoid unbalancing the system.

However, e.g. ...

• Age 4+  players don’t age
• Goalkeepers don’t age
• One nominated player’s age is reduced by 1 

all produce crazy powerful key players - and would lead to silly strategies effectively breaking the game.

Even if the effects are weakened, the "staff auction" would mean that only a small number of teams could get the important staff - and thus would mean that the auction losers are (massively) weakened.

A system like MSWL-U's, where everybody buys his staff for fixed costs, would be a much better approach. Then physios or negotiators could be discussed - but please no psychologists!

Decent idea. 
Except for "GK don't age" as already GK seem too powerful even when played passive.

Energy Level refresh not needed at that time mid season, as 5 sesl cup group games gives the canny switched on manager rest opportunities in 5 group games and TP up those low SL age 0's

Keen to read other auction suggestions.

"Marketing Agent" to double gate receipts of the 5 sesl cup group games?

And if Paul (EF) is offering to admin this initiative then could be a go-er.

MSA is a painful time but here is an idea that might help to make it something to be looked forward to.  (I exaggerate)

How about a special pre-MSA auction of staff members who can help reduce the pain?  For example :-

Psychologists who reduce the effect of MSA on SL or ageing

• Age 1 players all gain a level
• Age 4+  players don’t age
• Goalkeepers don’t age
• Three nominated players age 1 level less than normal
• One nominated player’s age is reduced by 1 

Physios who affect EL

• All players gain 2 EL
• Players in a nominated area are restored to full fitness
• All players with negative EL are restored to 0 EL

Skilled negotiators who affect disciplinary records

• Current suspensions are wiped out
• Two players have their disciplinary points restored to 0

These are just first thoughts – not all may be practical, some may be too strong or not strong enough so it all needs further thought – that is, if people think it’s a good idea in the first place.

It would need to be administered manually of course but it would only be once a season, so similar to the sponsorship auctions.  Not too onerous a job, I think, and it would give managers more to think about which I feel adds to the game.

MOT sends 95k to CEL for 1 TP

EDI sends 450k to EST for 5 TP

CEL sends 2 TP, Arne Engels (2/27 MF) to LIV for Alexis Mac Allister (1/28 MF)

STJ sends 4 TP to LIV for Elie Youan (4/21 FW)

BRE sends 100k, 3 TP to LIV for Luis Diaz (4/21 WG)

Ticking the wrong way it looks like

The following teams receive an MVP bonus after match 37:
Fraserburgh - MVP #5: 25k (WDW)

Is back on Wednesday of next week (13th) with the cup round

Is it back next Wednesday?

Miss it once it's gone (paused)!

PT sends 350k to DUM for 3 TP

The following teams receive Participation Bonus through Participation Thru Aug 3rd:
ALB(20) ALO(40) ARB(20) DUM(20) DEE(35) EF(30) EST(10) EDI(40) FAL(15) HIB(35) LIV(25) MOT(50) PT(10) QP(20) RAN(15) ROS(20) SRA(10)

I suspect that some bids may have been submitted to boost the cost of the winning bid - who wants to see a rival win an age 0 for 1k? The pitfall for this kind of strategy is fairly obvious but Andrew has already addressed a way around that - unless you want to ensure all winning bids are 'honest'.

Fun n games!

Always good deals to be had at this stage of the season.

Feel like I missed out with John stealing my players and knowing I would have won lot 7 if I had bid for him.

Always worth bidding a low price on the off chance no one else has.