Manager of the month - December 2007

Oliver Thorne is the QBE Fantasy Football manager of the month for December after collecting a staggering 122 points. His team, Easy 3 points, took advantage of the busy Christmas schedule after he masterminded his victory with some crucial late transfers.

Oliver, an account handler at Middlesex-based Barnett and Barnett since graduating from university in September last year, confessed to being a big a rugby fan but revealed a soft spot for Liverpool and praised midfielder Steven Gerrard for good form throughout the month. He said: "I left it at the start of the month and just let it run and I was looking at it over the Christmas period and saw I was doing well so I checked the fixtures and brought in some players to get points that other people would not."

An inspirational Boxing Day transfer involving Blackburn duo David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz was key to Oliver's victory. He revealed he did not join the tournament until five weeks after it kicked off. He added: "I started late so I don't stand much chance of winning overall so it is just a case of beating my colleagues now."