Season 25 Week 2 processing ...

Welcome to week two of the season, I have order sheets from

Newcastle, Birmingham, Leicester, Plymouth, Watford, Charlton, Inter, Real, Barcelona, Schalke & inverness. 

I'm just waiting for Geoff's orders, this is a bit bizarre but my neighbour's post was put through my door this morning, and when I went around and posted it through his door I could see Geoff's orders on his mat, so I'm just waiting for him to get home and then I'll have the fullset.

Royal Mail!

Okay I have all the orders now, just finishing up Geoff's stuff then I'm ready to start running the games.

Expect the league games to kickoff at 1000 hours wednesday morning as normal.

Excellent news, thanks Paul

Crickey. Is there really only 12 of us left, for a full set?

Rich@Leicester wrote:

Crickey. Is there really only 12 of us left, for a full set?

Only 12 forumites. Mostly down to all the problems caused by Martin Higham and a few others on facebook and in this forum whilst he was playing. That's also the reason why most other non-forumites don't list their phone numbers on the contact list either. But despite his deliberate efforts to hurt the game we're still here.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Rich@Leicester wrote:

Crickey. Is there really only 12 of us left, for a full set?

Only 12 forumites. Mostly down to all the problems caused by Martin Higham and a few others on facebook and in this forum whilst he was playing. That's also the reason why most other non-forumites don't list their phone numbers on the contact list either. But despite his deliberate efforts to hurt the game we're still here.

Was he really that bad?  Crikey, I knew he was a bit eccentric, shall we say, but didn't know he caused you that much trouble.

Did someone say a while ago that he had passed away?

Fulham v City

A meeting of former Champions at Craven Cottage, both looking to get their first win of the season.  The home side suffered a narrow defeat away to Birmingham last week following a last minute RVP winner, whilst Man City had the most difficult of starts at home against the Champions, coming out with a creditible draw.  Arguably the game of the week as two fantastic sides clash.


Spurs v Birmingham

After a flying start and a morale boosting last minute win, Birmingham will be hoping to continue their good start with another three points. Spurs picked up a creditable away point at newly-promoted United last time out, so will be keen to get back to White Hart Lane this week
and try and pick up a win.  However, they will have to do it without the ever influential Luka Modric who unfortunatley picked up a knock in last weeks game.


Watford v United

After a dominant performance away at Anfield last week, one of the title favourites, Watford will be hoping to pick up another three points today at home to a United side still trying to find their feet in the big league.  Seems like a home banker this fixture, but stranger things have happened and you never know with football.  Louis Van Gaal's side will be weakened by the loss of D'Alesandro to injury.


Everton V Liverpool

This fixture needs no introduction or build up and has been sorely missed for the last few seasons.  Week 2 sees the clash of the Merseyside rivals and both will be seeking to put down a marker for the season ahead and no better way to do it than a victory over your closest rivals.
Contrasting starts for both teams last week, with Liverpool taken apart at home and Everton picking up a sensational away win to put them equal top of the table.


Plymouth v Chelsea

The other big game of the week sees the special team against the special one.  Hard to guage how Chelsea will perform this season, but with Mourinho in charge you know there will be moments of madness and chaos.  Both teams drew last week against tough opposition and both will be hoping to take full advantage of this fixture to stay with the early pace-setters.  Ramires and Santon will be big misses for the away side in this fixture with both picking up knocks in the feisty opener against Charlton last week.


Leicester v Hull

Good early marker put down last week by Leicester, an away win at a tough Sunderland team.  Will Samir Nasri fire this team to the title? The early signs are good but there is a long long way to go.  Another win here would really be a statement of intent by the East Midlands outfit.


Newcastle v Ipswich

The Geordies narrowly missed out on an opening day win last time out, due to conceding a last minute goal to Hugo Viana.  Would have been another great start to pick up three points so soon, but an away point is never to be sniffed at.  Romulo Lukaku looks like he is gonna cause havoc in this league this year, being far too strong for the Wolves centreback pairing last week picking up two goals.  Can he and the vocal home crowd cheer the balck and white army to an important first three points this week?


Villa v Reading

After a goalless first game away to Blackpool, there were certainly positives to be taken from the performance.  A clean sheet for a newly formed back five is some achievement, and the goals will certainly come with the amount of attacking talent on show.  Villa are certainly a work in progress and as the season progresses they will get stronger and stronger as the new squad begins to gel together.
Certainly a good time to play them early on in the season, whereas I do fear for the teams facing them further down the line.
The manager will certainly be glad to get his new charges back to Villa Park, in the hope that the crowd will inspire them to get those first three points.

Okay the players are out warming up as kickoff approaches...

The ref puts the whistle to his lips...

and we're off...

first goal of the week goes to Franck Ribery whose shot makes it

Nantes 1 Bordeaux 0 on 2 minutes.

Inter 1 Napoli 0 Khedira header on 3 minutes.

Inter 2 Napoli 0 Vidal on 5 minutes, great start for the Italian giants.

Newcastle 0 Ipswich 1 Zamora penalty on 7 minutes.
Barcelona 1 Betis 0 Llorente.

Real 1 Santander 0 Falcao header on 9 minutes.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

first goal of the week goes to Franck Ribery whose shot makes it

Nantes 1 Bordeaux 0 on 2 minutes.

Cherry 0 Shamrock 1 Morrow on 11 minutes.

All the big teams winning early!

Shrewsbury 0 Banstead 1 Weiss freekick on 15 minutes.
Inter 2 Napoli 1 Giaccherini.

Tottenham 1 Birmingham 0 Assou-Ekotto penalty on 16 minutes.
Fulham 0 Man City 1 Lampard freekick.

Barcelona 2 Betis 0 Navas on 17 minutes.

Cherry 0 Shamrock 2 Medina on 21 minutes.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Inter 2 Napoli 0 Vidal on 5 minutes, great start for the Italian giants.

First goals of the season. Now we're up and running.

Salertana 0 Ancona 1 Shaqiri penalty on 24 minutes.