ARTISTS TALKING

# 182 [23 January 2012]

The Sporting League: Game 38

Tranquilayers won their first title since 1995 and their fourth overall with a hard fought one - nil win over Saints.

Sporting Radio Pundit X: 'The Tranquilayers number one played an absolute blinder and will book a place in the club's folklore. That save in the firsy minute was truly magical. I'm watchin' now as the Tranquilayers pitch fill up with their usually reserved conservative support base. Fireworks, euphoria - i don't think the supporters can believe that they're champions after sixteen long years.'

Bayerns were snuffed out at the death against Pointeso in a match that had the past versus the future written all over it. Bayerns boss: 'I'd like to congratulate Tranquilayers on their success and they're gong to enjoy the moment. We need to look at ourselves and give it a few days to decide what we're going to do to get ourselves ready for next season.'

Drakens and Indentine waved goodbye to the league for a second time after defeats to Pacifica and Athletico.

Pundit X: 'Well, I'm lookin' forward to me hols in The Hilti Forest over the summer. I'll be doin' the ol' weights and gettin' myself in shape on the ol' golf circuit.'

Pundit Y: 'It won't last bro'...you can't keep away from the health spa buffets, nickin' the ol' chocolate on the sly at midnight from the ol' mini bar...'

The conversation continued across the Sporting City airwaves as the blue fireworks shimmered in the night sky.

# 181 [21 January 2012]

Sporting League: Game 37 Results

Tranquilayers won by three goals to one against Green Tree leaving them one win away from the title if they beat Saints or if Bayerns fail to win against Pointeso.

Sporting radio Pundit X: 'Tranquilayers looked keen, alive and were playing one or two touch stuff. Poor old Green Tree were chasing shadows for the vast part of that game.'

Bayerns made easy work of their opponents  Yop Lane to take the title into the last game of the season. Bayerns supporter: 'We played well today, but I've always said that we needed to take our chances in those games against Tranquilayers. It's going to be a nervy final day. I'm just hoping that Saints can do us a favour and Pointeso are having a rare off day.'

Athletico got their revenge for the defeat by their neighbours earlier in the season with a three goals to nil win over Chamber Athlete.

Olby players were furious after they had two goals ruled out as they went down by a goal to nil against the now former champions Universo Collunteen. Olby boss: 'We tore 'em apart for much of the game, but it seems that the ref was a Universo supporter.'

# 180 [20 January 2012]

Sporting League: Game 36

Tranquilayers initially made tough work of their match against Green Tree but eventually went on to win by three goals to one. Tranquilayers boss: 'I thought we did well out there today. All the games are like cup finals now. It's a case of us keeping our nerve and concentrating on our own performances. We've got two games left, so nows the time to stay focused on the challenge that lies in wait against Haaveno.'

Pointeso beat crisis team Athletico by two goals to nil. Sporting Radio Pundit X: 'It was a no-nonsense display out there from Pointeso. I was quite surprised to see Pointeso employing the long ball tactic but it worked really well against the Athleticans.'

Bayerns won three goals to one against Delta. Bayerns boss: 'It's out of our hands now. we've just got to concentrate on winning the last two and seeing if Haaveno or Saints can do us a favour.'



# 179 [17 January 2012]

Sporting League: Game 35

Tranquilayers and Universo Collunteen played in what had to be the game of the season which finished as a two - two draw. Sporting Radio Pundit S: 'Well I'm down here at the Universo stadium and watching as the grounds people set up the post match sprinkling system. Boy oh boy, that was some game out there. It was a bit odd when the Tranquilayers no.2 player kissed his badge at the Universo end. Yeah...honest he kissed the badge. The Tranquilayers boss literally ran the length of the pitch to pull him off. I think it's possible that the bosses actions may well have saved a full scale riot from taking place out there.

Bayerns took advantage of the draw between the top two with a one goal to nil win over Sporting Athlete.

Pointeso won by three goals to one away to Lunderbach. Pointeso gaffer: 'We'd qualify for the summer Triangular Pitch Tournament but I've gotta go with the old cliche of one game at a time.'

Sporting City celebrated their flagship 'Culture In The Community' programme by releasing twenty thousand silver football shaped balloons into the grey skies.'

# 178 [15 January 2012]

The Sporting League: Game 34

Bayerns took their share of the spoils with a hard won victory over Red Star.

Tranquilayers cruised to a three goals to nil win over Indentine to keep alive a three point gap at the top.

Universo Collunteen came back from two goals behind to grab a three goals to two win over Pacifica.

The Athletico boss threatened to walk at the end of the season after his side won by four goals to one away to Delta. Sporting Radio pundit X: 'Aye, well we've heard it all before - I'm telling you that they need to get real and accept the money ain't like in their halcyon days of the early 1990's.'

# 177 [10 January 2012]

The Sporting League: Game 33

Tranquilayers hit their form after putting six goals past Chamber Athlete. Chamber boss: 'I think the ol' Layers are gunner stroll it. We couldn't get anywhere near 'em...chasin' shadows.'

Novia and Bayerns finished two goals each in a game which saw the Novia control for long spells.

Novia boss: 'I think we were always going to throw a spanner in the works out there today. However, we really need to stay focused if we want to have any chance of finishing in the top three or four.'

Universo Collunteen held onto the lucrative third position with a one - nil win at home to Drakens. Sporting Radio Pundit X: 'Well, I think Universo are going to find it tough handing over their beloved crown, but they're certainly looking odds on for the third place. I think they could also qualify for the Triangular Pitch championships if they hang on in there.'

Pundit Y: 'I think the Triangular Pitch qualifiers should still go to the top two. We got banned from it after the Basket Vac debacle in the year 2000 and I gets me a bit of an inkling that we won't be welcomed with open arms since the ban on The Sporting League.' 

# 176 [9 January 2012]

The Sporting: League Game 32

Tranquilayers and Pointeso cancelled each other out in a game that finished nil - nil. Pointeso boss: 'I thought that we were a bit unlucky at the end of the game not to have got a penalty. Our players have shown a lot of discipline in recent games...we've given ourselves a lot of credit with that performance.'

Bayerns were left kicking themselves as they failed to take advantage of the Tranquilayers draw as they were held by old adversaries Athletico. Bayerns supporter: 'If we fail to go at teams with real pace like Tranquilayers then we'll give ourselves a chance.'

# 175 [8 January 2012]

Sporting League: Game 31

Tranquilayers purred through the gears as they beat Yop Lane by two goals to nil.

Sporting Radio Pundit X: 'I think that the Yoppites tried to get a Tranquilayers far too quickly. Look, they've got to get some younger players in now. Forget about the race to finish in the top six. They looked shot after just twenty minutes. Someone once said that you can't win anything with kids...well the same could be said for ageing players.'

Bayerns won by four goals to nil despite fielding a second string squad. Bayerns boss: 'We needed people to step up to the plate   I wasn't let down thats for sure...'

Pointeso maintained their recent goal fest after putting four past Pacifica. Pointeso boss: 'I believe that we're gonna challenge for he title next season. I'm pleased to see that we're also top of the recent form pile. If we can get past the eighty point mark at game thirty eight then I'll agree that it's been job done. OK, I accept that we're by no means the finished article but lets judge after the last game.'

# 174 [5 January 2012]

Sporting League: Game 30

Tranquilayers made a comeback against Delta - but only after the opposition had a player sent off controversially after twenty minutes.

Sporting Radio Pundit X: 'That sending off changed the match. I think it was a good call from th ref, but I still believe that Tranquilayers got off lightly out there coz Delta were all over 'em prior to that dubious call. I was a bit disappointed with another section of the delta support throwing coins onto the pitch. It was raining coins at on stage. When they get the CCTV footage they need a few life bans and a couple of weeks in the slammer ...out of order all day long.'

Bayerns maintained their fight with a two - nil win over a tricky Olby. Bayerns boss: 'Yeah, it was a good win but we've lost a couple of players for the Lunderbach game. It's going to be a pivotal match for us and I feel the officials didn't do an effective job in the protection of our younger players. As usual, I can't say too much because the Sporting top dogs will dish out the fines to nrecoup some of the cash they squandered in the recession.'

Pointeso held onto third place with a four goals to nil win over Drakens.

Sporting Radio Pundit X: 'I really like the look of Pointeso now. If you have a look at the table you'll see that they're the top scorers with seventy one goals to the good. I think the ol' pointers will be good value for a title next season. They're a good 9-4 shot for season 2011-2012.'

Haaveno have officially confirmed that they'll be moving to Sporting City zone L next season.

# 173 [4 January 2012]

Sporting League: Game 29

Bayerns put three goals past seventeenth placed Metronova without reply. Pundit L: 'I've never understood why Metro never seem to get it together. It's a great set up over there, a fantastic city, but the football just ain't happenin'. I think it's a curious place as most of the city is underground. I'm off to zone 34S at the weekend as I picked up a couple of tickets to the theatre.'

Athletico put a goal past Lunderbach with a minute to spare to sustain their challenge for the elusive third position in the table. Athletico boss: 'I had a bit of a sixth sense about this game. We got ourselves a good break away from home which is keepin' us in contention for the number three position.'

Tranquilayers scored early against Sporting Athlete to hold onto their slender one point advantage at the top of the tree.

Sporting Radio Pundit X: 'It looks like Tranquilayers are edging past opponents at the moment - doing just enough to hold onto their slender lead. I don't know about them really. It may sound a bit glib, but it's true that we're getting to the business end of the season and it's all Tranquilayers and Bayerns.'

Relegation fodder Drakens still required a victory to begin to put on the pressure on their nearest rivals Green Tree after letting two goals in against Yop Lane. Yoppite gaffer: 'I though that we did ourselves some justice out there in the rain and showed our class when it mattered. OK, a top three finish is beyond us now, but the top six is all to play for. It was good to see how fresh our guys looked after the match.'