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Division 4 - Week 22
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| BigJake |
Posted on 06-05-2008 18:20
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Home From Home
Posts: 227
Joined: 06.03.08
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What a season we have had these past twenty-two weeks and now it?s here the day we?ve all been waiting for the decisive all important last match of the season.
We?ve experienced highs, beating the ?Better Halfs? 7-0 just last week in one of the most important games of the season for example, and lows, our week nine 7-2 defeat to ?Langley Sports? springs to mind.
But look deeper and you?ll find that there?s something else, something behind the results. The results only tell part of the story.
What the results don?t show are the aspirations and hopes of a fledgling team, determined to carve its name into the CDPL and the division that?s received it. They don?t show the work that every team member has put in over the months, they don?t show the sacrifices we?ve all glady made over the weeks gone by in our quest to earn a reputation as champions, our quest to become a success story of the league and more than a name in a table. If one word could describe us this season what would it be? Growth. We?ve grown into a team.
We started the season as individuals, we had little experience in the league and didn?t really know ?who? we (The Elmer Cuemasters) were. To overcome the early stumblings we made it was imperative that we become a united force, a team. Something more than a list of names on a piece of paper, something greater than the sum of its parts.
And stumble early on we did?
Cue_Ball wrote Posted on 30-01-2008 10:56:
I think that puts us 7 points clear with Cue Masters and Langley Sports level on points in second.
the-shark wrote: 30-01-2008 11:54
the elmer cuemasters! soon to self destruct in 2008 
But week in week out we have had a core squad of dedicated players (and supporters ? ladies you know who you are!)
Many things have helped turn those dedicated players into a winning team. The force of a shared vision, a shared team pride, and arguably the best captain a team could ask for ? (driving into the wee hours of the morning from our away match to our rivals just to find out how many points we had gained!) - are all factors that have been key in the journey?
And here we are. Final night. When all is said and done, all the hopes and dreams put to one side, all the dozens upon dozens of frames played commited to history, one last match remains, the last match of the season. Two points clear we know what needs to be done tonight, we also know that we are playing a team that haven?t won a match all season.
Do we go into this match confident? Yes. Do we go into this match expecting a win? No. We have not worked to the enviable position we are now in, to simply throw away our chances through lazy complacency. We are playing a team capable of taking points from us should they be given the chance. It has come to this, one Tuesday evening, one pub, one match, we will have to be on our game tonight more than ever.
If we bring form to the match, if we play our game as the team we have now become our destiny is our own hands. If we turn up thinking we?ve already won we are playing right into the Goodfellas (worthy opponents it must be said) hands, easily giving them the only opportunity they will need to sever the team jugular sending our motivations and the glory we can almost touch ? gushing, all over the green baize.
It's down to us now to realise ThePowers early prediction ...
Sass wrote:
ThePower wrote on the old site . . .
...
Div 4:
Elmer Cue Masters sound like they have assembled a reasonable team. Goodfella's if they get their act together may go close. Folly to pinch third.
Champions: Elmer Cue Masters / Runners-up: Goodfellas
...
Good Luck all, wherever and whoever you?re playing!
Edited by BigJake on 06-05-2008 18:33
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| Golden |
Posted on 06-05-2008 18:39
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FORUM ADDICT!
Posts: 1641
Joined: 10.09.07
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What a write-up!  |
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| Spud |
Posted on 06-05-2008 18:58
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Home From Home
Posts: 468
Joined: 02.10.07
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That is a brilliant write up!
Who says the passion is dead below the top tier and that it's all about a night out!
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| BigJake |
Posted on 06-05-2008 19:54
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Home From Home
Posts: 227
Joined: 06.03.08
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Golden wrote:
What a write-up! 
Spud wrote:
That is a brilliant write up!
Who says the passion is dead below the top tier and that it's all about a night out!
Awwww thanks
Edited by BigJake on 06-05-2008 20:17
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| JerryF |
Posted on 06-05-2008 20:32
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Getting The Hang Of It
Posts: 28
Joined: 27.03.08
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BigJake...Well done and all that this season but I wouldn't want to get stuck in a lift with you if you can rattle on like that.
I've got those 50 pound coins jingling in my pocket with your name on them. Beware the Ruskin House crew they have never won but have more points than Derby and no doubt will rise to previously unseen heights. I am signing up for them this afternoon and am going to win a nerve jangling seventh frame against you to secure an unlikely win for the Ruskins!
But seriously good luck tonight I hope you get the 7-0 you deserve to cap off an impressive season. |
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| ThePower |
Posted on 06-05-2008 20:47
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Must Get Out More
Posts: 970
Joined: 05.10.07
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Another impressive write up but I'm more impressed with the pre-season prediction.... |
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| BigJake |
Posted on 06-05-2008 20:52
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Posts: 227
Joined: 06.03.08
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JerryF wrote:
... I've got those 50 pound coins jingling in my pocket with your name on them. Beware the Ruskin House crew they have never won but have more points than Derby and no doubt will rise to previously unseen heights. I am signing up for them this afternoon and am going to win a nerve jangling seventh frame against you to secure an unlikely win for the Ruskins...
Thanks Jerry Caveman'll be kicking himself for not taking your bet if we come first - any developments on our pre-season friendly? I'm looking forward to it
Edited by BigJake on 06-05-2008 20:58
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| BigJake |
Posted on 06-05-2008 21:00
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Home From Home
Posts: 227
Joined: 06.03.08
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ThePower wrote:
Another impressive write up but I'm more impressed with the pre-season prediction.... 
That was a great call so early on Power - I was doing a little research through previous posts today... as you do and knew it had to feature when I found it
Edited by BigJake on 06-05-2008 21:12
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| ThePower |
Posted on 06-05-2008 21:18
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Must Get Out More
Posts: 970
Joined: 05.10.07
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Did the post have the rest of my pre-season predictions? Just interested to know if I'm nailed on for any of the others.... |
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| BigJake |
Posted on 06-05-2008 21:20
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Posts: 227
Joined: 06.03.08
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Sure did!
Posted on 05-10-2007 11:24
Sass wrote:
ThePower wrote on the old site . . .
Div 1 Predictions:
Did the Eagles underperform last season? Or were they beaten by a better side? My opinon is the latter. The Eagles were disappointing last season. Hot Shots have the edge at the moment, and from the front end to back have a stronger squad. Its sure to be close and the opening league game of the season these two sides meet - it could set the tone for the whole season....
Prop are now labelled in most quarters as 'Croydon's third best side', and not sealing the summer league summed it up, so whether they can mount a serious challenge in the winter has to be doubted.
Drillers on paper are a top 4 side but all the talk of glory and a reborn and united front in the ranks will fade and die in the January frost along with their title aspirations.
Last seasons rookies and if I'm honest surprise package, The Rack Pack have now lost 2 key players and my feeling is it will be a battle for survival.
The Patriots have changed their team name more times than Danny Evans has change the shade of his numerous pink and yellow belts. Two new signings to note at the Patriots, Rob Gater and Graham Thompson have joined from the Prop and this will be good enough to steer them away from this seasons drop zone. Unpreds dug deep last season and did the business in the closing stages, and an encouraging summer display will see a side who is too good for all that to end up mid table and safe.
Moving across Croydon and into gay Beckenham, and talking of gay - the Coney boys. Let them talk up a top 4 finish because its so laughable. They can beat the teams they have to but you get nothing more from the Coney, no fireworks against the top sides. Its all bread and butter pool, boring boring and boring which alas will keep them inside Croydon's top 8.
As for the new boys - Cuemasters have a side good enough to stay up and if the commitment starts off right then there is no doubt they will stay up, its a done deal. Bloodhounds have the capable Chris Eden in their ranks but are going to have to dig real deep to keep in this division at the first time of asking. You need to put a performance in week in week out in Div 1, there is nowhere to hide and whilst the SAS have the passion for the task they will stuggle. SAS could not stay in what is a half strength summer league with the help of John Hoy and Mick Samuels so on paper have no chance staying up in the winter league.
The mighty Eden? Lets be honest we have always been a top 5 side and if we can find some consistency then I fancy we will have a good season. The boys are up for it and if we finish above the Hot Shots then we would have had an okay season!
Champions: Hot Shots / Runners-up: Ego's
Relegated: Rack Pack, Bloodhounds, SAS
Div 2:
A bust up between 6 sides. This looks a cracking division to be a part of and the bookies would open up with Legion as favourites who on paper have the strongest line up. But those boys from Lewisham are on a mission to make the 1st division and they are determined and pretty good too. The Warbank are close to getting themselves back in Div after 4 baron seasons and will be in the mix as will the Pond boys who were ruthlessly dumped into Div 2 by the Patriots following the first ever relegation play off match. Then there is the Pawleyne, proven as ultra consistent in the lower leagues but they will have to find more than the odd 4-3. Flying Machine have promised so much in recent years but for some reason have never delivered that final push for Div 1. London Slates appear to have burnt themselves out and the team has split ranks. The Speller's will try their luck again at getting back to Div 1 this time at the Maple Tree. Down at the Farley Stable and Croydon's theatre of dreams its all love and harmony again - The Dukes have signed a few new players (Grant Strutt being one of them) following a touch Barrygate but even so in this division must think the Dukes will start as big outsiders. Then there is the Magnum Force, another ex-Div 1 side scrubbing around looking for a return to the glory days and can Croydon legend Kenny Briant grunt his side towards promotion? The Addicts have been around for years in this division, plodding along in mid table but have some good players so why do they never deliver? The Manor are new arrivals & must surely find this all too hot for them. Its as hard to call the top 3 let alone the bottom 3. Whoever goes down from this league will be unlucky because there does not look a bad side in it.
Champions: Coach & Horses / Runners-up: Legion
3rd promotion spot: Pond Q's
Relegated: Magnum Force, London Slates, The Manor
Div 3:
Between 2 sides again. Imperials and 193's will fight out the title. Farley Loyalists may have a say about it though.
Champions: 193's / Runners-up: Imperials
Relegated: The Goodies, Royal Oak, The Ship
Div 4:
Elmer Cue Masters sound like they have assembled a reasonable team. Goodfella's if they get their act together may go close. Folly to pinch third.
Champions: Elmer Cue Masters / Runners-up: Goodfellas
Relegated: Elmer Lodgers, Goat Specials, Ruskin House
Div 5:
Lets hope the girls from Suzy's win it, but I think Potty's Cons and Addiscombe Sports will go close. Plus always the danger in the bottom league of a newcomer ripping up the league.
Champions: Floozies / Runners-up: Potty's Cons
Vauxhall Conference pool: White Horse
League Cup:
If you have to choose a 'Group of Death' it has to be my team's group (6) with 4 teams capable of winning it. Group 8 also looks pretty hot. History tells us that 70% of Div 1 teams make it through to the 2nd stage and I expect to see the same again. So 48 teams are fighting for 5 places in the last 16! The introduction of QF's is the best thing in general to this competition. Will make the 2nd phase more competitive. Too early to call the winners depends on form coming into April 2008.
K/Out Cup:
Best chance available for teams outside the top 3 to win the competition. Shorter format in what is basically a race to 4. Always been the Eden's best opportunity at silverware. We win a cup every 5 years. 1998, 2003.......... 2008 awaits.
Edited by BigJake on 06-05-2008 21:22
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| the-shark |
Posted on 07-05-2008 05:06
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Home From Home
Posts: 432
Joined: 14.10.07
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another typical write up from big jake impressive as always. i especially like the bit about all the hard work and commitment you put in! as far as i heard that means you just drunk more? ...? congratulations to all the lads tho pleased for you all, looking forward to reforming the team in the summer. |
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| BigJake |
Posted on 07-05-2008 17:36
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Home From Home
Posts: 227
Joined: 06.03.08
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haha Shark yes basically I just doubled my alcohol intake =)
Seriously though... I have decided to lose some weight - so as of next Wednesday if you see me with a pint in my hand take it off me, and replace it with a bottle of water! 
Edited by BigJake on 07-05-2008 17:37
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