There was a distance between the clans, which meant one win for Uprising would require capitulation for them to lose the title. But Phoenix kept it close it both games and a bit of luck in both games would be enough, the first win in the head to head is important and the second is a must win for the loser even if it is Uprising. 100 frames between them, but 1 frame different could've changed the title winner.

In that respect, there wasn't a closer league.

A few seasons ago, the league was decided by a single frame if i remember correctly.
The way you describe it is one way to look at it.

The other way is to say that since there was such a large gap in frame difference, the league was essentially decided by the Uprising win in the first head-to-head. After that, even if you lost, which you did, you were unreachable because there was zero chance of losing any other fixture. There was no pressure after that first win

I think you're discrediting Phoenix a little there. It certainly FELT close. If Ash's top players had been as active as ours, they would probably have scored as heavily against the smaller teams last season as we did.

In the Super League AND the GSC our teams scraped through in play off deciders. It's only the FBL that felt comfortable to me.

So far in the predictions thread, we're 2nd favourites for the FBL - which is strange because it's historically our best league. I personally don't think you can gauge how big an effect losing Jack, Sean and Andy will have on us. Jack and Sean are arguably the best two players on the game and Andy consistently beat every top player he played with the exception of deadly Dvz. We've also lost Niall who finished 2nd in the FCL golden cue. I can't think of any other team losing so much talent in one season. As for replacements - we've signed Harry, Harriet and Richie this season. Sam and Tinie signed last season, replacing nike and rubber_duck.

I think people banging on about us hoarding all the best players and speaking of our inevitable dominance are playing a clever destabilising trick. I used to do the same thing every season and predict Pro's would win everything and play down our chances at the same time

Agreed you've lost some top quality but I also think you're discrediting and playing down the impact/strength your new signings will have.

Jack and Sean were by far two of the best on the game but I'd add Harry and Harriet into that mix too. Sam on his day or not is capable of beating everyone as is tinie who imo is potentially the best on the site. IF he remains active and reliable with matches he could easily win the FCL GC next season.

So yeah you have lost some quality but as myself and others have stated you've replaced those outgoing. Phoenix have a very strong core group, hopefully if they all remain active and I and the Other Captains select the sides wisely then there's no reason why we cannot fight all the way again.

FPD have added some top players to a strong small group who made an impact this season. I think the SL will be once again be where they stamp their authority and I can see 2/3 sides pushing at the top instead of just 1/3 this past season.

Dragon Flame have some top players but a few who just aren't consistent enough so unfortunately imo that's where they will falter. No one has mentioned Pocket Dynamos I think these could be the dark horses davybaumers is still a top player, Craig on his day can beat most and punkpoet is getting better by the day as is Karl especially when more confident.

Leaves Black Scorpions, they will be around could possibly cause a few upsets.

The Season has the making to be great, let's make it so!

again, im not blaming the clan, im blaming the players who dont seek the challenge!
Yes, some games were close, but we shouldnt kid ourselves into thinking it was very close.
And then three of the four top free agents go to the clan that won everything. -_-

In all honesty the talent is a lot more 'spread' for next season so far. Could be close in a few leagues.. However id still like to see something new for the FBL just to make it interesting again. It's become the third league and quite frankly, a league that I play in just for something to do, never as competitive as with the FCL and super league. Just something different that the basic league format would be nice as we already have that in the fcl

Third??? How can you quantify that? I'm fairly sure most people see it as the 2nd, and the only specialist league.

For me in terms of importance and enjoyment....

1. FCL
2. GSC
3. FBL
4. Killer Cup
5. Super League

If we won one of the first two and lost the rest I wouldn't be too disappointed!

96 frames up, but we had a very strong final set because we still needed it. I think a 76-44 would put Phoenix ahead going into the final set so we needed a decent 50 points to keep the cushion. It just so happens we hit the big numbers in the final fixture to ease to victory. I think if Phoenix win the first set then we aren't favourites.

Compared to the FBL, we were comfortably ahad after the second but ended up losing a lot of groin in the third because they had a good final set. So a decent win for Phoenix on the FCL second set would've blown it right open. As it was, the frame difference didn't change because if how close it was head to head. The damage was done in the final set though, both teams treated it like an open race even if in reality it was a comfortable finish. It will be far from easy again but I do think that the clean sweep is most likely again. If the best players joined weaker teams constantly I think the longevity of individual clans would probably wear out sooner with new clans getting the best and the old ones folding when their strongest leave. A lot of the time it is players being loyal to clans or rejoining clans they've been a part of previously (or that the bar players are usually friends so would naturally want to join a clan with those similar people in). I don't think there is that huge of an issue with the best joining the top clans exclusively (though undoubtably there are some instances).

The best have always been joining top clans only. Didnt think that was in doubt. It was particularly striking this time around though

Top clans? Yes. Only? No.

This season we've resigned players and brought in a new one or two from the top players bracket. But what we've lost is two irreplaceable players (Jack is without a doubt our best player of the last 3 or 4 seasons and Sean was perhaps the outstanding SL player). We have signed the best available, and players who may be lead the challenge for us, but we aren't as strong as last season I would say.

Striking perhaps, but not a set that would unbalance the league greater than it is.

Recruitment for next season:

Uprising: miss_harriet, w_hoolahan, thegame26

Phoenix: rewill (torres), rapid_pot, hunter (jimmy), tratter, _nerdz_

FPD's: crazy_greg, lolumadbro, derik_dalton, kris


I usually do, but on this occasion - I just don't agree with you Seb. There are 3 players above that turned us down. No doubt if they'd chose us instead, they'd suddenly fall into the "top player" category! lol

You forgot: andyw1, potalot & sinkemall for Phoenix Revenge (8 NEW in TOTAL...soon to be 9) - Still one place to fill, I'm sure we'll get a CRACKER - nice timely Christmas pun there.

ive replied by pm so that nobody gets offended.
I feel like youve made my point. Pretty much all top players have joined the two dominant clans from last season. ty!

Depends how you define success.

Uprising - 6 titles (out of 6), plus 1 runner up.
Pros - 1 minor title, 1 runner up.
FPD - 2 runners up.
Phoenix - 2 runners up.
Revs - 1 minor runner up.

Phoenix were comfortably second in FCL and FBL, but weren't close in either SL, Killer or GSC in finishing position. I would rank those 3 evenly in success this season, with only one dominant clan winning everything they could. The only times an Uprising lost out on a title was when they were beaten by another Uprising (in SL Semi's and Final, in the league FPD beat two Uprising which makes then the only other team to beat an Uprising in their finishing position.

This is a dry conversation. I think we can agree that head to head, Phoenix were by far the second best clan. Just look at the strongest lineups!
Both killer and Cup are knockout competitions and have no place in this discussion. Super league is short format.
Why are we talking about this? Strong players almost exclusively go to already strong clans and its been like that for years. Same again this year

what would make FCL
more interesting is going back to how it was
frame count

its such a shame it ruined the last season
in my opinion

getting no reward at all
for beating some players but not winning the overall score
getting zero points

8 of UPz against PDz
what is the point of even playing
its stacked against the smaller teams to start with
no disrespect to anyone or team

but there is no reward
again IMO it went totally against the FCL as we all know it

people say it will be more competitive, how

anyway my thoughts, ive been playing FCL since it was formed and last season I really didn't get it

You can't win leagues unless you win fixtures Craig, whatever the scoring system , the morale of the story remains the same

Realistically the leagues haven't run fluidly for a while, I can't see any minor changes that can be made to get it back to past glories so why not just rip it down and start from the basics again? Enough of this 3 league stuff and make life easier for everyone

Any news or date proposed for the new season to start?

Prefer FCL, SL and Cup personally, scrap FBL as last season the flow of matches seemed too much. Was like every week some people had 4 or 5 matches to play and seemed like a chore rather than a hobby.

Killer, its great banter when it gets going but the arranging is a problem. I prefer it like Snooker where its two teams, they make the times then if not its default time at 9 pm. I don't mean give list to runner but both captains talk and arrange, if it fails that night try again until default time where both teams then don't have much excuses.