I TELL YAH INVITATIONAL LEAGUE

SEASON NINE

Final Week 

This week in the Premier League, Everton beat Bournemouth 1-0 at home to survive relegation. Leicester beat West Ham 2-1 at home, but it wasn’t enough as they were relegated. As was Leeds, who got destroyed 4-1 at home by Tottenham. Aston Villa beat Brighton 2-1 at home to qualify for Europe. Arsenal destroyed Wolves 5-0 at home. Man Utd beat Fulham 2-1 at home. Brentford beat Man City 1-0 at home. Relegated Southampton drew 4-4 at home to Liverpool, and Chelsea drew 1-1 at home to Newcastle. 

In the ITYFL, congratulations go out to Jeff Franklin, who can now call himself a two-time champion. He fought off a late challenge to win the league, thanks to his decent 57 point weekly score. This was mainly due to captain Kane (32) Henry (7) and Gakpo (6). 

Commiserations go out to Washington DC’s Greg Cabana, whose late charge almost made it a dramatic fairytale victory. However, he finished six points off the top, following his very decent bench boost 67 point week. Due to captain Kane (32) De Gea (7) Gakpo (6) and Alexander-Arnold (4). Sanjay Beecher moved up to finish in third, thanks to his excellent weekly score of 70 points, making him this week’s Highest Scorer. Doing the business was captain Salah (10) Kane (16) Kiwior (13) Fernandes (10). De Gea (7) and Alexandere-Arnold (4). 

For the first time since the summer of 2021, Danny Milton can no longer call himself champion. He moved down to fourth, despite a decent 58 point weekly score. His contributions came from captain Kane (32) De Gea (7) Salah (5) and Alexander-Arnold (4). Philippines native Jean Ninal can feel proud of her fifth-place finish, thanks to a bench boost 48 point week. Her contributions were from captain Odegaard (6) Fernandes (10) Henry (7) Pickford (5) Salah (5) and from off the bench, White (6). 

My recent former work colleague Abdul Rahman cannot be too upset with his sixth-place finish, despite his final day weekly score of 36 points. Which was mainly due to captain Kane (32) Ramsdale (6) and Salah (5). Former long-time league leader Natalie Stigwood steadied the ship enough to finish seventh, with a final day weekly score of 42 points. Her contributions came from vice-captain Odegaard (6) Jesus (12) Sancho (9) and Tarkowski (8). 

My old football clubmate Darren Ahmet moved up to eighth, due to his 44 point week. Following captain Salah (10) Xhaka (15) Firmino (5) and Alexander-Arnold (4). This saw Yours Truly move down to ninth, following my disappointing 35 point weekly score. With contributions from captain Odegaard (6) Henry (7) Pickford (5) and Salah (5). 

Another former work colleague Mr James makes up the top ten, despite his disappointing final day weekly score of 30 points. His contributions came from captain Mahrez (4) Salah (5) Sterling (5) Undev (5) and Alexander-Arnold (4). There was no highest mover this week, as six managers moved up, but all by just one place. 

Congratulations to my oldskool mate Derick Fredericks, whose 64 point weekly score made him the second annual ITYFL Cup winner. Doing the business were triple captain Raya (18) Kane (16) Watkins (9) White (6) and Salah (5). 

Lastly, and once again. Congrats to the 2023 ITYFL champion Jeff Franklin, who can now call himself a two-time champ. Well done to all managers, it was an enjoyable and unprecedented season with the World Cup in the middle. Hopefully, I see y’all again next season.