BOTAFOGO Pirates FC pillaged their way to the top of the Emerson World Cup over the quarter final weekend, and with two of the tournament’s standout players it’s not hard to see why.
Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez and Uruguay defender Diego Godin walked into the Emerson Team of the Tournament so far, made up of one player from each country to be signed at the auction last month.
Rodirguez looks a snip at £17m for his 50 points, but it’s not all been plain sailing for his Somali manager – he also has three players in the worst team of the Emerson.
Quite how Botafogo Pirates FC find themselves top of the table with Xavi, Loic Remy and Samuel Inkoom, who have scored three points between them, remains a mystery.
At £10m for his two points, Xavi is almost the worst signing of the auction, yet the Pirates stand seven points clear at the top, largely due to their two stars. The manager will look to the trio of Jerome Boateng, David Luiz and Sergio Romero to carry his side over the line.
Many fingers will point when it comes to worst signing of the auction, but the Horn of Africa really should have sounded loudest for two players.
The first is Fabio Contreao of Kappa Wearers FC. For his £10m the manager didn’t even get an appearance. Pepe ended on nil points too, but at least he picked up a red card.
The second is Lokomotiv Leeds £10m gloveman Vorm, who after Saturday night’s penalty drama appears to be the only Dutch goalkeeper who isn’t part of Louis van Gaal’s plans.
Only four games remain of this scintillating World Cup. Will Testiculadew Land’s Leo Messi, Toni Kroos and Daley Blind close the eight-point gap on the Pirates? Have Fred, Wesley Sneijder, Martin Demichelis and Thomas Muller got at least seven points in the tank to take top spot? Who will win the Emerson Unfair Play award?
Look out after the semi finals for the next thrilling instalment.*
*may not be thrilling
Emerson Team of the Tournament
- Total points: 306
- Team value: £155.5m
GK – Hugo Lloris (FRA), Sporting Lesbian, £0.5m – 21 points
DF – Diego Godin (URU), Botafogo Pirates FC, £11m – 13 points
DF – Rafa Marquez (MEX), Los Rojos, £0.5m – 21 points
DF – Jan Vertonghen (BEL), The Man From Piedmonte, £10m – 19 points
DF – Gary Medel (CHI), Fat Ladies, £0.5m – 11 points
MF – Arjen Robben (NED), Los Rojos, £29m – 39 points
MF – Thomas Muller (GER), Fat Ladies, £27m – 36 points
MF – James Rodriguez (COL), Botafogo Pirates FC, £17m – 50 points
MF – Xhedran Shaqiri (SUI), FadjeetaCabana, £2m – 23 points
ST – Neymar (BRA), Copa Lallana, £8m – 37 points
ST – Messi (ARG), Testiculadew Land, £50m – 36 points
Worst Team of the Emerson
- Total points: 7
- Total value: £46.5m
GK – Michele Vorm (NED), Lokomotiv Leeds, £10m – n/a
DF – Fabio Contreao (POR), Kappa Wearers FC, £10m – n/a
DF – Laurent Ciman (BEL), Copa Lallana, £3.5m – n/a
DF – Inkoom (GHA), Botafogo Pirates FC, £1m – n/a
DF – Azpilicueta (SPA), Young Brazilian Boys, £0.5m – minus 1 point
MF – The Ox (ENG), Fat Ladies, £0.5m – n/a
MF – Willian (BRA), Bauru XI, £8m – 1 point
MF – Antonio Valencia (ECU), The Man From Piedmonte, £0.5m – 2 points
MF – Xavi (SPA), Botafogo Pirates FC, £10m – 2 points
ST – Loic Remy (FRA), Botafogo Pirates FC, £7m – 1 points
ST – Hugo Almeida (POR), Ophelia Hunt FC, £5m – 2 points
Emerson table
I’d just like to point out that Coentrao did make an appearance, in the first game, where Portugal lost 4-0. He got carried off with a torn thigh muscle at some point during that game.
I’m aware this clarification of the facts doesn’t make him a good purchase
I see another of your defenders, Janmaat, has gone to Newcastle. You sure can pick ’em.