Season 25 Week 15 processing...

Welcome to week 15, reset has been run and I am now entering the orders.

Following the feedback from last week's games I have reviewed the way that friendly matches are reported. Previously they had reported the best of the goal chances, even if the shots were not on target, now they report the best of the goal chances but only if the shot is on target. This may increase the number of goals scored in friendlies because they can be no longer than one page there should be more meaningful action in the space allowed, that is the theory anyway, we'll see how it works out.

This should also be true for reserve youth and schoolboy matches.

Data entry all done now, i'm running the friendlies, reserves etc, so I expect the league games to kickoff at 1000 hours on Wednesday morning.

Excellent thanks Paul

World Cup Semi-Finals
Germany 1 Brazil 0 Schurrle
England 3 France 0 Milner, Sturridge, Rooney

So it is Germany versus England in the World Cup final, what a game that is going to be.
Rob against Ben, we could call it the "Battle of the Wilsons" ? hehe

World Youth Cup
England U21 6 Italy U21 0 Sterling, Wilson, Barkley, Shaw, Alli, Gallagher
Spain U21 1 Belgium U21 2 Saul - Januzaj, Foket

England make it to their second final as Tom leads the England youth side to face a surprise outfit in John Horrock's Belgium youth side. Belgium's stars are undoubtedly Denayer, Januzaj, Bakkali and Origi, but England must start favorites.

South American Cup
Mexico 2 Chile 4 Vela, Geovani - Isla, Valdivia 2, Sanchez
Paraquay 1 Columbia 0

With Brazil, Argentina and Uruquay all opting for the World Cup it is a chance for Ben's Chile side or Tom's Paraquay side to grab a rare trophy. Tough to call a favorite here.

Africans Nations Cup
Nigeria 1 Egypt 0 Mikel
Ivory Coast 6 Cameroon 0 Gervinho 2, Kone 2, Bakayoko, Bony

Some of you may remember Johnny Goldsmith from the early days of the game as he use to manage Manchester United back in the day, but then he moved to game two so he could takeover at AC Milan and when Milan became available in game one he decided to rejoin game one. His Ivory Coast side are strong favorites to beat Alain's Nigeria side, although according to a press release from the Paris manager he strongly disagrees and makes his own side strong favorites. We shall see.

Asian Nations Cup
Japan 2 Australia 0 Honda 2
China 0 South Korea 0 aet pens 3-1

No managers in Asian to speak of, a couple of feeder clubs is all, but we have ended up with Japan against China, doesn't get any bigger than that really and reflects the strength of the leagues in these two countries.

There are some big games this week in each of the leagues, with Premiership league leaders Charlton in a London derby against much improved Chelsea, Fulham are on form and at home to a powerful Watford side and Newcastle need all three points at home to a very strong Birmingham side and struggling Man City, who havent picked up a point since signing Sergio Aguero, with a very tough trip to Tottenham, whilst in Italy the chasing pack is led by Napoli and Roma who meet in Rome where a victory could see the Romans draw level to Napoli in third spot and Champions Inter Milan must negotiate a potential banana skin at Cagliari. In La Liga Barcelona will be hoping to overcome reality managed Real Betis to keep up their pursuit of leaders Real Madrid whilst in the Bundesliga we should expect a sellout stadium as Bayern entertain Gladbach and in Scotland we have the Glasgow derby with Rangers hoping to leapfrog above their arch rivals Celtic into third place with an away win. In Brazil the big game is at rejuvenated Sao Paulo who host Gremio as they try to win back third place.

Half an hour until kickoff as stadiums around the globe fill up and people stuff themselves with pies and bovril to help fight the anxiety of another game...

Anxiety is right, another big week (when is it not?) in which teams really need to raise their game and kick on for the run-in.

Charlton face a very tricky fixture at home to Chelsea, who have a very strong lineup which doesn't reflect their position in the league table.  Improved form recently reflects the ability of the first eleven and they are gonna be a very tricky opponent today.  Following last weeks tactical mistake by the manager, has he got it right this week in a game that the Addicks really need to win to keep up their title challenge.

Nantes are at home to Cannes, which should be three points and really needs to be as PSG show no signs of letting their sensational form drop.  At home to Lens it is highly unlikely they will come out with anything less than three points.   Both teams are yet to meet this season and so it looks like those games could decide the title as long as Nantes manage to keep in touch until then.  Can the manager restrain from bringing in more players and disrupting the squad even more?  Could that cost the team the title?

In Brazil, Fluminense face a struggle at the bottom of the table.  Whilst a lot of change has already happened, there is still hope that a few results could be picked up between now and the end of the season to keep them above the dreaded dotted line.  Probably not today though as they face Flamengo away.  Literally a case of keeping the goal difference reasonable.  

Brighton seem relatively comfortable for promotion, so much so, Peter Crouch gets a well earned rest this week, hopefully the team can still produce without him.

The players are lining up ready to kickoff...the ref looks at his watch...

and we are off...good luck to everybody...

Derby 0 Soton 1 Rodriguez on 4 minutes, Jay returning to his best form at just the right time.

Westham 0 Liverpool 1 Aquilani freekick of 5 minutes.

Villa 1 Ipswich 0 Bony penalty on 7 minutes.

Sao Joao 0 Santos 1 Kaka freekick on 8 minutes.

Delighted to get into the final with Paraguay, a limited squad in terms of ability but not in belief.

Aiming for a third World Youth Cup in a row with England U21, albeit with different opponents this year having faced Brazil the previous two years.  Delighted to keep the form going.

Wycombe 1 Cambridge 0 Boateng on 9 minutes.
Roma 0 Napoli 1 Bartolacci header.

Derby 0 Soton 2 Duricic on 11 minutes.

Stuttgart 1 Cologne 0 Trochowski on 12 minutes.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Wycombe 1 Cambridge 0 Boateng on 9 minutes.
Roma 0 Napoli 1 Bartolacci header.

Fast start from Napoli, Inter fans not happy....

Frankfurt 0 Berlin 1 Hanke on 13 minutes.

Sociedad 0 Sevilla 1 Nolito on 14 minutes.

Cherry 1 Dundalk 0 Johnson freekick on 15 minutes.

Sao Paulo 1 Gremio 0 Elias Trindade on 16 minutes.

Sittard 0 Feyenoord 1 Benat on 18 minutes.

Preston 1 Colchester 0 Ayew freekick on 20 minutes.
Mansfield 0 Brighton 1 Joao Teixeira.
Stuttgart 2 Cologne 0 Andersen header.