Season 22 Archives

Division Three Overview
Written 13-11-10 by Concord Quokkas

Part One (3.1 - 3.3)

Division 3 is the first big test that many managers face in TM. It is easy to promote from div 5 and with a little experience make it to the top of div 4. That is where the divide begins. The first big leap is into division 3 where managers will find themselves playing against very active clubs with lots of experience and plenty of maturity in their squads. Whilst the leap may not be as big as that between div 3 and div 2 it is the first big hurdle and many teams will fall the first time they attempt to make the jump.

In saying all that, once established it is a very satisfying division to be in as the young teams try to prove themselves against other serious managers all convinced that greater glory is their right and privilege. It makes winning all the more sweeter.

So let us cast our eye of the first three groups of division 3 and look at who are the contenders for the title in each group.

Division 3.1


Without doubt, this is the strongest group in Division 3. It has been made even stronger by the 3 new additions picked up in the NT player sales during the season break. The clubs in this group are, on average, a lot older than the other groups. That is they were established earlier and have had more time in the game to develop a good squad of players. The group is very active without spoken and controversial managers of clubs like Bluey United, Alpha Whites, QPR, Perfies Glory, Clumsy Dogs and Adelaide Vipers just to name a few.

Many of the teams in this group have played in division 2 and some have div 1 experience. Even the promoted clubs have all had experience being in division 3 before so it is a very competitive group and it will be a real fight to see who will get promoted and who will face relegation. There are many worthy contenders and I think all will agree that it is a difficult one to pick as the race is wide open. Here is my pick for what it is worth.

1) Redmans Army – Despite having never made it to Division 2 before Redmans have developed a good young squad that will keep getting better as the season progresses. They just missed out on promotion last season where a lack of high routine in his young players probably proved costly. With plenty of good youth coming through and a very solid team the good money is on RA to take a well deserved title.

2) Aussie Gunners United – Having just been relegated from div 2 the Gunners are looking to make a short stay in 3.1. With a solid midfield, Petrie in goals and Didak and Grey up front they will be difficult to stop. The fact that the manager has a no foreigner’s policy at the club means that the club is probably short a star player or two. However, the all Aussie club is certainly popular throughout the Southerland Shire and with people who drive utes and drink VB.

3) Bluey United – As a fellow “ranga’, I have a certain pride in seeing this club do well. Another team that has been demoted after a torrid anal bruising season in div 2. I would like to see them win their first premiership in 13 seasons of trying but I don’t think it will be this year. Bluey have some great strike power up front, but while Dyson is a solid keeper he is not spectacular and this will ultimately cost them those few close games you need to win if you are ever to hold up the silverware.


Division 3.2

Once again showing the strength of division 3, this group has two former Australian Cup champions in it. West Coast Slammers won the Cup way back in season 5 when the game was still played on an abacus. More recently Dewaords United won the Cup in season 18 much to the surprise of nearly everyone.

This group has many older and established clubs, many of them around since season 9. Clubs like Melbourne Ferrets, Jim Utd, West Coast Slammers, Might & Power, Pompey 94 and Dewaords will be very familiar to long time players of the game. Jim Utd and Melbourne Ferrets are the stalwarts of the group having spent between 10 and 11 seasons playing in 3.2.

At the other end of the scale there are young teams like Beergod, who, in their own special slurred and stumbling way, have already made a big impression on the TM community.

With so many experienced and capable managers in this group it is a difficult one to pick. There are many possible candidates to pick up the premiership but here are my three.

1) West Coast Slammers – One of the federation clubs that has been around since season 3. They spent a lot of time in the top flight of TM Australia but in season 17 scandals hit the club with the so-called Vagina Gate affair. Since then it has been a steady slide down the ranks from division 1. The fans have said enough is enough and with some personal changes and a restructure of the club management WCS want this to be the season that their fortunes turn around. With a solid midfield and plenty of depth to last the season, the Slammers are my pick to win the premiership.

2) Redman United – I have no idea if this club is affiliated with Redmans Army in 3.1 but they could both be moving up to 2.1 next season which would be slightly confusing for everyone. Redman came third last season after coming down from 2.1 where they did reasonable well for a debut season. The squad is getting stronger and with Bartels in goal and the kid with the huge Rapp up front they could be looking to do one better this season and have another crack at 2.1

3) AFC Radience – The Diamond geezers never looked comfortable in div 2. They have made their way steadily up the ranks since starting in div 6 in season 7. AFC have a good solid squad but are lacking a super star game breaker. AFC Radience is an incredibly rich club due to its level 10 casino and strip club. However, the clubs shady connections still insist on channelling all these profits through the Canary Islands and various off shore subsidiaries. If manager Kevin Burman can wrestle back control of these ill-gotten gains and spend them on some star players then AFC may well buy themselves a premiership. As it is they will do well but not well enough.


Division 3.3

It does not quite have the experience of the other two groups but there are still some old barnacles on this ship. Clubs like Soccer Club Santos, TDGF, Black Rangers, Tigers Edge and Zerocool are all well known members of the TM community. Oxford Diamonds has certainly been around for a while and is one of the few Australian clubs to have played in five different divisions from 5th through to 1st.

There are also a lot of much younger clubs in this group, which probably makes it slightly less competitive than the first two. The battle for promotion will be hard fought amongst these more established teams. The Joker in this group is Dangerous Alliance's annoyingly strong Jedi Academy. Like Memph’s B team in 3.1 these two teams have somehow managed to work out a secret Saturday morning ritual that sees them pull youths like a Catholic priest at boy scout camp. I suspect that the Jedi’s may cause many upsets this season.

Here are the likely suspects to lead the end of season celebrations.

1) TDGF – another season 3 stalwart that has never quite been able to emulate the success of the other foundation clubs. TDGF manager John Clopd has an interesting selection policy of only allowing Australian’s to play in his team. This policy has them labelled as either proud patriots or racist xenophobes depending on whom you listen to. The training kit of blue wife beater singlets and the insistence that each team member have a southern cross tattooed on their shoulder does make them appeal to a certain demographic. Their supporters are easily identified as the skinheads with the Australian flags tied around their shoulders.

2) Football Club Barca – Barca took a big gamble at the start of last season and sold off over $1.3 billion worth of players in an attempt to re-build the squad. This long term plan has seen the club get relegated in the process and the fans are running out of patience. So far a billion dollars has been spent on new players and the squad is beginning to look more balanced. With some good youth coming through the ranks and a new look team FCB will be looking to get back up to div 2 and stay there. Barca has plenty of fire power up front but I think it is their defence will let them down.

3) Soccer Club Santos. There are many contenders for this spot but I give it to SCS due to their strong showing last season. They have a great first team line up but they lack depth in the squad. I expect to Santos to start the season strongly but they will wilt in the later parts of the season when injuries and cards mount up. I expect them to fall just short of making it back up to div 2

Division Three Overview Continued
Written 17-11-10 by Tea Gardens FC

Division 3.4

Zedarba:

Best player: M. “The Wolf” Akermanis,
Weakest link: if I have to be picky young defenders coming through.

Should easily get promotion out of a fairly week group. It is a surprise to see such a strong team in division 3 and I don’t think we will see him for more than one season

Prediction: Promotion


Ksc:

Best player: M. Bates,
Weakest link: Goal Keepers

Probably the best team on paper yet couldn’t put it all together last season even with a great goal difference. Will do better this season and should be closer to the top.

Prediction: 1-3


Tool FC:

Best player: M. Panadaru,
Weakest link: Depth and the amount of internationals on his roster.

With only five internationals being able to play at any one time, I can see this being a problem once cards and injuries start to take its toll on the team

Prediction: Mid Table


Phoenix Rising:

Best player: N. Flower,
Weakest link: The defensive line is thin, poor and old.

Will be hoping to stay in 3.4 and probably will with a good forward and good goalkeeper. The team just needs to add to those players before they retire

Prediction: Avoid relegation


Ryan Giggs united:

Best player: Y. Jameel,
Weakest link: unfortunately all over the park

Good luck to the Man Utd, fan as I don’t see this being a lucky year

Prediction: Relegation


FDF FC:

Best player: P. Rewell,
Weakest link: Probably lacking a bit of depth in defense but overall a fairly solid team

Good team but needs to do something about his back up players if injuries strike god forbid he will be in a lot of trouble.

Prediction: Top 6
 

Prime ministers:

Best player: The Polish lad,
Weakest link: Up front

Good team but with no forward of any quality they will struggle to score enough goals to stay in div 3. I am predicting mid table as I assume a forward will be purchased in the near future to cover for their problem area.

Prediction: Mid Table


Lincon FC:

Best player: P. Carter/ M. Barnson
Weakest link: Goals will be scored against this team

The team will struggle with no quality player between the sticks.

Prediction:  Relegation

 
WFFC:

Best player: V. Hayes,
Weakest link: No top forwards or goal keeper is a worry.

Needs to buy a few quality players and rid himself of the useless old farts.

Prediction: Avoid relegation


Oakhurst United:

Best player: T. Ring,
Weakest link: Up front

Good young side with a lot of promise will not do a lot this season. But in a couple of seasons time, will really hit their straps.

Prediction: Mid Table
 

FK Melbourne:

Best player: O. Dawson,
Weakest link: If injuries happen, a gap in defense

Great looking squad with enough fire power to outscore any team in the group.  They also have a good defense to back this up.

Prediction: Top 4

 
Marto66:

Best player: M. Kidd,
Weakest link: Up front

Big squad of average players. Needs to trim and buy quality, not quantity…

Prediction: Bottom half of table
 

United Lions:

Best player: D. Orszagh,
Weakest link: Back Half

Very thin squad with a couple of very good players at the heart if he could find some bargains that could fit around his current squad then look out.

Prediction: Mid Table

 
West Coast Tigerstunnaz:

Best player: B. Maneskold,
Weakest link: Broken hips

If players don’t retire hurt during games from bad backs then they should do okay. I hope there is a plan to this madness of having such an old team otherwise he will be left with nothing in a season or two.

Prediction: Mid Table
 

Newcastle Utd. FC:

Best Player: S. Sonderbye,
Weakest link: Between the sticks

A couple of good players are definitely needed to push for promotion. A good goalie and forward would be perfect

Prediction: Top 8


Windsor Rockets:

Best player: G. Pavlich,
Weakest link: middle of defense

Good squad with a good cover of players just not quite at the level that is needed to push into div 2. Will get better in a couple of season though.

Prediction:  Top half


Wombats FC:

Best player: B. Appleton,
Weakest link: Experience

With the current sale of their goal keeper I am hoping that there is someone to take his place. This is a team who is obviously looking to the future so probably not looking to promote in the next couple of seasons. As long as he doesn’t get relegated in the mean time, it is a good plan…

Prediction: Mid table
 

4 Section:

Best player: A. Tree,
Weakest link: Defense

The season all depends on how Tree performs. A cracker of a season from him and we could be looking at top 5 a poor season and div 4 here we come.

Prediction: Bottom half


Division 3.5

TLC FC:

Best player: S. korukhchian,
Weakest link: Squad depth

They have a good team but I am not sure if such a thin team will make it far.

Prediction:  Mid table
 

Tiprats FC:

Best player: M. Stoyanov,
Weakest link: Defense

Very good squad but a concern has to be lack of quality at the back. If this is taken care of through a couple of good transfers, I can see a top 2 spot in the making

Prediction: Top 3

 
Campbellfield:

Best player: G. Schmidt,
Weakest link: Total quality.

A very strange team to predict as the players are there to change a game but is there enough of them to keep making the difference through the year. I am predicting a couple of thrashings against bottom teams and a couple of really good games against the top teams.

Prediction: Mid table
 

SC Napoli Vesuvio:

Best player: B. Stirling,
Weakest link: Age

A lot of players with not a lot of quality, this will really hurt them this season. Don’t be surprised to see a relegation fight on their hands at the back end of the season.

Prediction: Bottom half


Congupan Road FC:

Best player: P. Cavallini,
Weakest link: One too many internationals

A few good players in the mix here with a good spread over the park we should be in for a couple of good performances throughout the year.

Prediction: Top 10
 

Nut so dirty:

Best player: S. Lewis,
Weakest link: Age

Will hopefully look to offload throughout the year as a few retirements are just around the corner

Prediction: Mid table
 

Transfer United:

Best player: M. Barnes,
Weakest link: Squad depth

Very good squad but may struggle if a few stars have card or injury problems. But expect them to score a few goals and not concede too many.  Interesting that with a team name like this, depth is an issue…

Prediction: Top 4


Rabbits:

Best player: N.Day,
Weakest link: Defense

Good squad with an excellent midfield, just needs to be wary of having a few goals going past them.

Prediction: Top 7

 
Thunder down under:

Best player: Q. Hou,
Weakest link: Youth

If all the team stays intact then a top 5 is not out of the question. But if a few injuries strike, then look for a struggling relegation team.

Prediction: No Idea
 

Glenmore Park:

Best player: D. Skov,
Weakest link: The lack of one.

Easily one of the better teams whom are looking for promotion. Good players all over the park. No real weaknesses.

Prediction:  Top 2

 
Ddr:

Best player: H. Hahn,
Weakest link: Defense, if I have to pick

Another good team who will be looking for a division 2 uniform next season

Prediction: Top 3


Saints fury:

Best player: D. Pothin,
Weakest link: Upfront

Good couple of players makes this team a bit of a hard one to pick. Hopefully a new player here and there will push this team to the next level

Prediction: Mid table
 

La resitencia:

Best player: E. Sayce,
Weakest link: Forwards

Good midfield means they will cause a few headaches not going to push the top teams but will have a few good games.

Prediction: Mid table

 
Sunbury united:

Best player: D. Stone,
Weakest link: Up front

Need to improve that forward line.

Prediction: Top half


Orxel czarny FC:

Best player: Z. Lally,
Weakest link: Defense

Some good core players will keep other teams honest for the season. Not having the players to push for promotion they could be underestimated but a good couple of players will surprise many teams

Prediction: Mid table


Perth penetrators:

Best player: C. Bell,
Weakest link: Goal keeping

Good players up front, but not enough goals will be scored to offset the amount conceded

Prediction: Bottom half

 
Arsenal thunder:

Best player: C. Aristidou,
Weakest link: Depth

Not enough players to scare many teams as the season goes on.

Prediction: Relegation
 

Ascoli calico Adelaide:

Best player: M. Adam,
Weakest link: Goal keeping

A good midfield and forward line will help this year, but I would be making a couple of defensive purchases if I wanted to stay in div 3

Prediction: Bottom half

A site designated to Australian Trophy Manager users. Get involved!