ARTISTS TALKING

# 11 [17 May 2010]

Sporting League Game 19

Novia were dominant in their 3-1 win which was previously predicted by the bookies to be a score draw against Bombaya.

Zindustrious have confirmed that they're going to quit The Sporting League at the end of the season whether they end up relegated or not. Their chief executive has said that  'league politics' was the reason. Pacifica were the latest side to turn them over with a 1-0 win at the Pacificos stadium.

Champions Olby were stunned at home by Indentine - it now looks impossible for them to have any chance of regaining their title.

Athletico made hard work of their match against Colne eventually running out with a deserved 2-1 win.

Metronova would have liked to have given their new owners something to celebrate but couldn't keep up with an aggressive Bayerns.

Delta won 3-0 against Dons but they're still a shadow of the team that dominated Sporting football in the seasons 2000, 2001 and 2002. Time passes...

News just in...Lunderbach have booted out the toffs from their board room and have handed back power to the Matzburgh family.

They  left Green Tree choking on their green tea with a convincing 3-2 win.

# 12 [29 August 2010]

Game 20

Novia had to pull out all the stops to preserve the minimal amount of daylight between themselves and the chasing pack. They eventually overcame Metronova with a 3-2 win.

Athletico wasted no time down on the golden coast with a 3-1 win over Pacifica. It has been well documented that the coastal giants are starting to look like the first real victims of the recession.

Olby came from a goal down to defeat pretenders Red Star as the champions continued to hold onto the outsider’s belief of regaining their beloved sporting league trophy with a well earned 2-1 win.

Tranquilayers were winners against manager less Indentine. Two early first half goals for the blues sealed the fate of the red and blacks.

Chamber Athlete were desperate to get their season going and a 2-1 win against Lunderbach was much needed. Athlete manager: ‘The league is still our no1 priority, but the 20 point gap is too much to make up at the moment – make no mistake, we’ll be in the top 4 at the end of the season…’

Liver Halvers saw their top two players sent for respective early baths in their 1-0 defeat at Bayerns municipal stadium. Bayerns manager: ‘I’ll tell ye what, we should have put 8 past them today but the keeper was top draw…’

Bolsov were more than happy with the 3 points secured at Colne with a convincing 4-1 victory. There was also a cameo performance from their no1 player.

‘It’s bubbled under him…was he offside?’ That was the familiar cry from the Green Tree commentary box as they piled on an industrial amount of pressure for the long suffering coach of Zindustrious.

# 13 [31 August 2010]

Sporting League: Game 21

Athletico celebrated their new contract with Rayinado conglomerates with a sublime performance against Green Tree. A 6-0 route put the whales in pole position.

Red Star ended their lean spell of 3 games without a win by thumping 15^th placed Indentine by four goals to one.

The Bayerns caretaker boss is said to be considering the boardrooms offer of a permanent contract despite his recent tirade mainly aimed at the 'Mainline' investors. Bolsov boss: 'I was pleased with our performance, I mean we were playing the toughest team in the league out there...a few more games like that and we'll be safe by the end of the season.'

Tranquilayers managed to get over the rejection of a new stadium being built in the Hilti forest with a 1-0 win over Delta. Delta chairman: 'Well, that's 14 games without a loss for Tranquilayers. I just hope our players can learn something from that match today. I'll tell ya something, there's not much between us and them - they just seem to have a bit more patience on the ball...that's all..'

 Chamber Athlete seemed to do everything but put the ball in the net against Metronova.  Athlete manager: 'I'm at a loss to be honest, we had, what do you say...the bounce of the ball alright, we're just lookin' for some divine intervention right now ...'

Champions Olby were in defiant mood as they overpowered a worryingly jaded Novia. Novia boss: 'We need a rest, that's all. Don't forget, these kids are playing in The Sporting league for their first season...I'm really proud with what they've done so far during this campaign. I know we're going to bounce back from this one, but credit to the Olby...I can't see them losing to anyone else this year.'



# 14 [17 September 2010]

Game 22

Novia returned to the summit with a hard fought win against the bottom of the league Muno. The Novia gaffer - 'Well, it's like I've said before...we've just got a bunch of kids out there with heavy legs, the Sporting League Association really need to be looking at a mid season break.'

Lunderbach moved closer to Metronova with a well earned win. Metronova had played some of their best stuff since the mid 90's  but were still unable to translate performance into goals.

Red Star believe that the've an outsiders chance of winning the title for the 1^st time since 1990. Red Star boss - 'I'm very pleased with to be back in the hot seat. We are looking forward to the last 16 games and I believe we'll put a good run together and our target this season is a top 3 finish.' Pacifica were the Red Stars' latest victim as they rolled over in a 2-0 battering.

Delta came back from a goal down against Bombaya in the battle for 7^th place. Delta are now a 150-1 shot to finish in the top 3.

Champions Olby are refusing to give up hope with a 2-1 win over Zindustrious. Olby chief exec, 'I'm not happy with the Zindustrious management, I mean did you see the pictures of the crowd? That was the most intimidating atmosphere I've ever had to endure in all my years in football. I was even thinking of putting some investment their way prior to the game, now I'll be putting in a complaint to The Sporting League...for what it's worth.'



# 15 [10 October 2010]

Novia extended their lead at the top of the league to two points by beating a resilient Bolsov 2-1. Nova's boss has been fined by The Sporting Council for recent comments directed at top board officials.

Tranquilayers looked visibly stunned as they were comprehensively beaten by a resurgent Bombaya by three goals to nil. Tranquilayers boss: 'I was watching the match on the big screen in Sporting City and must confess to a feeling of anxiety when my scouts went to check out Bombaya training the day before. This is a crisis result for us...no doubt about that. I got it wrong...I hold up my hands...our opponents played with creative intelligence.'

Olby were back in the mix after putting 2 goals past a dazed Athletico.  A delirious Olby boss: 'I hate Athletico! Our wealth amounts to just a 20^th of theirs...yeah we're the shoestring champions. I promise you this we're gonna stay unbeaten now and I've more players coming through! Ye know, Athletico disrespected us earlier this year when they beat us 3-2...what goes around comes around man...what goes around...'

Delta made hard work of their match against Colne eventually winning 1-0. Colne have confirmed that they're leaving The Sporting league at the end of the season to explore projects elsewhere. There are rumours that they're currently in the process of collaborating with the exiled intellectual revolutionaries Universo Collunteen.

Bayerns and Red Star erred on the side of caution with a 0-0 draw. It has already been voted the most boring game of the year. Bayerns boss: 'we cancelled each other out....perhaps there was a bit too much respect out there today. We'll do the usual post-mortem and research our action plan for the next outing.'

News: # Latent Marketing Solutions have bought a 70% stake in the acquisition of Chamber Athlete. # Dons are developing the creative strand of their business by opening the Cultur Des Artifactos in Centrale Vale.



# 16 [12 October 2010]

Game 24

Red Star players were relieved to hear the final whistle after a tense 1-0 win against Bolsov. The reds players must be wondering how they're still 11 points behind leaders Olby s they've played arguably the best football this season. Olby meanwhile were 2 goals down against struggling Indentine, but 3 second half goals secured them another victory. Olby boss: 'We were lucky out there; we got the breaks and took 'em. Que cera  cera. Our defence were caught sleeping on too many occasions for my liking, no jobs are safe in this team, I hope the defenders get the message after that game.

Novia increased their lead at the top to 4 points with a hard fought win over faded giants Delta. Novia captain: 'I nearly signed for the opposition at the start of the year believe it or not - I think they're going to turn a corner especially when the Consought deal goes through.

Athletico and Tranquilayers shared the paltry spoils as they both played out a bore draw.

Bombaya face the prospect of a 20 point deduction if they are put into administration by their main creditor Leylel bank. A 2-1 win against Lunderbach means that they would still be outside the relegation zone if they fail to discover a new buyer by the end of next week.

Green Tree supporters had a peaceful sit in to protest against 'nothing in particular' as they enjoyed a 3-1 win over Metronova.



# 17 [21 October 2010]

Bayerns kept up the intense pressure on leaders Novia with a sublime performance against a bewildered Metronova. Three first half goals from their no2 striker helped the Bayerns cause but the boss was far from convinced. 'There was a lot of sloppy defending all over the park, the guys need to get it together before we face Muno. They've got some good young strikers who'll certainly take their chances.'

Red Star won the match of the day against Bombaya 3-1. Red Star boss: 'We really need to concentrate on our game plan at the moment. We've got a team of fantastic individuals out there, but they'll need to stick with the plan of action. I know the Sporting League financial bubble has burst but we've just got to keep up the struggle. If you'd have told me that we'd be 7 points off the top at the beginning of the season, we'd have taken it that's for sure. It's not all doom and gloom my friends.'

Dons are virtually safe after a well earned 1-0 win against Lunderbach. An injury time goalmouth scramble by their captain sealed the 3 valuable points. Dons PR executive: 'Two wins in a row have put us in a virtually untouchable position, we've got huge investments lined up for next season...these are exciting times. It's an extremely intricate piece of work we're involved in here at the moment.'

Athletico hauled themselves back into the title race with a 1-0 win against Delta. Athletico boss - 'It's looking as though it could go down to the wire this season. We've got a situation where two of our defenders are coming back to full strength, so I'll be looking for a return to the tight ship at the back for the race to the finishing line.'



# 18 [11 November 2010]

Game 26

Red Star brought themselves back into contention with a brace from their no1 striker against a flagging Athletico. It was a carbon copy performance from the same fixture earlier this season. Red Star boss: 'I'm well pleased with that performance against the best team in the league (on paper). We've done the double over them now...I can't believe it's been 20 years since we last managed that!'

Novia came back from the brink to win at the Green Tree concrete forest 2-1.

Sporting radio commentary: Pundit 1: 'Do you actually, now honestly belieeeve that Novia have got what it takes...I mean honestly? Pundit 2: 'Aye, I've jus' got myself a good feelin' there for 'em,. I mean, how many shots did you see on target out there? Nah, I'm takin' a good look at The Olby...its white knuckle time buddy.'

Olby were unstoppable against Chamber Athlete as they hit them for six.

Sporting radio snapshot: ...Pundit 1: 'Well Gavin there was talk about Chamber Athlete being the rightful successors of the Olby crown at the start of the campaign...what's gone wrong over there?'

Pundit 2: 'I think they're still young, look, all that financial stuff must've had an impact. I know The Sporting League teams are a resilient bunch but there still needs to be an element of sensitivity when you're dealing with people at the beginning of their respective careers...Next year you're gonna see a big improvement over there...'



# 19 [13 November 2010]

Game 27

 Sporting radio snapshots...'I don't understand why Olby went out on the defensive (Olby 0-0 Delta). Ye know, Delta played their percentages really well out there today and were pretty much quid's in at the end of the 90.'

 'I must say, the Red Star striker handled the tough Tranquilayers defence really well...I mean, he's diplomatic by nature and kept his head where others would've surely retaliated.' ( Red Star 2-0 Tranquilayers).

 End radio.

 Athletico found a much needed return to form against Muno with a 3-1 triumph. Athletico boss: 'I'm, erm, what you say, relieved that we got the win. The titles out of our hands now, so we've got to keep the defence solid over the last 10 games and then we'll see...'

 Liver Halvers  completely dominated against the league leaders Novia but eventually went down 1-0 to a last kick of the match in the torrential rain.



# 20 [20 November 2010]

Game 28

Novia took a giant step towards their 1^st  Sporting title after coming back from a goal down against Bayerns to win 2-1. Sporting radio: 'There was a real buzz around the Bayerns stadium at the start of the game but it just seems as though Novia are proving to have the X factor this season.'

There were ongoing protests that led to disruption prior to the Zindustrious and Colne game. The anger felt by the Zindustrious supporters seemed to have had a positive effect on their players as they went on to win 4-0.

Zindustrious are going to become the 1^st major team to feel the full force of the Sporting cutbacks as they'll now be hit with a 50% reduction in their regular funding as they're the newcomers to the league.

Red Star recorded their 5^th win in a row with a 1-0 score line against Lunderbach. Red Star boss: 'We're relying on others doing us a few favours. There are still a good ten games left to go and we really need to keep ourselves in the top three. We need to grab enough cash to push us on in future seasons - anything else is a bonus...'

The Olby boss admitted that his team will be relinquishing their crown at the end of the season but remained upbeat after a 3-0 win against Bolsov. 'The players are a buzzin' all over the pitch - we're chasin' rainbows now = we're the eternal underdogs, you must believe me. I'm still confident that we're gonna go unbeaten in the last 10 games.'

## Liver Halvers are still going ahead with proposed strike action in Sporting City after confirmation that they're going to lose all their regular funding from the sporting federation after losing their court battle against Bayerns.