I TELL YAH INVITATIONAL LEAGUE

SEASON TWELVE

WEEK 36

This week in the Premier League, Arsenal got a controversial 1-0 win at West Ham to put one hand on the trophy, while plunging the Hammers deeper into relegation. Man City are still in it, after two home 3-0 wins against Brentford and Crystal Palace in midweek.

Bournemouth strengthened their hopes of European football with a 1-0 away win at Fulham. Brighton brushed relegated Wolves aside 3-0 at home. Man Utd confirmed Champions League football with a 0-0 draw at Sunderland. Liverpool almost secured it despite a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea.

Aston Villa are one step closer to the Champions League with a 2-2 draw at Burnley. Everton remain hopeful of European football despite a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace. Forest drew 1-1 at home to Newcastle, and Spurs stay two points above the relegation zone with a 1-1 draw at home to Leeds, who secured Premier League football for next season.

In the ITYFL, with just two game weeks to go, it seems my old football club mate Darren Michael (forgot to mention last week was April’s manager of the month) has taken a massive step towards the title and just like his team Arsenal, seems to have one hand on the league trophy. Thanks to a superb bench boost 90 point week, due to captain Haaland (22) Semenyo (12) Gabriel (11) Raya (9) Calvert-Lewin (7) Hill (6) Mukiele (6) O’Reilly (5) B.Fernandes (3), and from off the Bench Dewsbury-Hall (5).

Coach Simz, Simeon Edwards, has hit a rough patch at the worse possible time as he lost more ground in second place, despite a decent wildcard weekly score of 70 points, with captain Cherki (10) Gabriel (11) Haaland (11) Watkins (9) Sarr (8) Mitchell (6) O’Reilly (5) B.Fernandes (3) and Henderson (3).

In third, cutting the lead to second to under thirty points is my long-time bredrin Francis Norville, with a superb 91 point week score, and contributions from captain Haaland (22) Semenyo (12) Gabriel (11) Raya (9) Senesi (8) Mukiele (6) Dewsbur-Hall (5) O’Reilly (5), and B.Fernandes (3).

Consolidating fourth place is former champ (ahem) Charles Denton, thanks to an excellent bench boost 101 point weekly score, the joint third-highest this season, making him this week’s Highest Scorer. Doing the business were captain Haaland (22) Guehi (15) Semenyo (12) Gabriel (11) Senesi (8) Van Hacke (6) Pickford (3) Rice (3), and from off the bench Truffert (9) and Kelleher (3).

In fifth, my youngest son and former champ Latrell Oscar leads the family due to a very decent weekly score of 87 points, with triple captain Haaland (33) Gabriel (11) Watkins (9) Raya (9) Van Hacke (6) O’Reilly (5) Saliba (5), and B.Fernandes (3). My middle son, Jahsiah Tobierrie, stays in sixth, just 13 points behind his brother following a decent 76 point week. His contribution came from captain Doku (24) Gabriel (11) Haaland (11) Hill (6) Martinez (6) Cherki (5) Richards (4), and B.Fernandes (3).

My OldSkool mate Derick Fredericks remains seventh, just eight points behind due to a superb 91 point weekly score. Following captain Haaland (22) Semenyo (12) Gabriel (11) Raya (9) Truffert (9) Senesi (8) Calvert-Lewin (7) Dewsbury-Hall (5) B.Fernandes (3), and Rice (3). Two-Time champ Jeff Franklin moves up to eighth, with his decent weekly score of 79 points, thanks to triple captain O’Reilly (15) Gabriel (11) Haaland (11) Minteh (9) Raya (9) Hill (6) Van Hacke (6) Cherki (5), and B.Fernandes (3).

Tommy Lee moves down to ninth, although just seven points behind following a 62 point week, and main contributions from captain Bowen (4) Guehi (15) Gabriel (11) Watkins (9) Cherki (5) Dewsbury-Hall (5) Mavrapanos (4) Pickford (3), and Rice (3). My daughter, The OG Nae, moves up to make it all four of my kids in the top ten (either putting me to shame or being great students) thanks to her superb 90 point weekly score, with triple captain Haaland (33) Guehi (15) Semenyo (12) Raya (9) Alderete (8) B.Fernandes (3), and Rice (3).

There was no highest mover awarded this week, as six managers moved up, but all by just one place.

Well done to my blood brother Wayne Watson, whose 96 point weekly score takes him to joint eighth-highest this season.

Full steam ahead to week 37, the penultimate week of the season, which starts on Friday. Make it count y’all.