Season 31 Week 13 processing Happy New Year

Welcome to week 13 and the third round of the domestic cups and thanks for all the extra effort you all put into getting your order sheets back to me on time for this week's turn and  Happy New Year to everybody.

No orders from Newcastle, everybody else has arrived safe and sound.

Reset is underway...

Watford

Normal service resumes after a busy schedule for the manager last turn.

Watford are at Home to Crystal Palace this Week, after building some momentum after a convincing win Over West Ham last week. Both teams have been hit by injuries this week with Bale injured in his cameo in the CUP... So much for trying to increase his match fitness ha. As for Palace they have talisman Aguero injured this week. Also, veteran Yohan Cabaye has picked him a minor knock seeing him side-lined for the visitors. In comes Raheem Sterling into the First 11 line up. However Palace still have danger man Eze, in a fantastic battle Vs Wan Bissaka this week. Man to Man marking assigned to keep Eze at bay.. Townsend also a danger on the other wing, with Mendy having to up his defensive duties to help nullify the visitors. All 3 points are a must to keep the charge on the league title going!

Cup vs Wimbledon, injury to first team regular Mitch Pinnock. However have there Key men Andy Carroll. With a Norwegian flair in middle of the mark of Johansen and Henriksen to try and stifle this week if the current Cup holders want to progress. Cup team see's Soyuncu in a new CB pairing with Tuanzebe who looking to make his stamp in the CUP with the England manager looking on... Maybe a call up due... Partey is still learning the langue so remains in the CUP team, leaving Rice to make his mark in the AM role for CUP and League. Cup regulars Hudson-Odoi, Sturridge and Barkley continue to get game time.

Genk

Genk are against previous Belgium Champions Antwerp this week, who will be looking to take advantage to the injury to Griezmann who is deputised by Eriksen who is filling in on the LH role, naturally right footed so the manager has asked him to CUT inside a little more to help get best, still struggling for match fitness after injury but is more then capable for doing a job, and if not.. Neymar is always available on the other side to make a impact! Hlozek is still in the first team after impressing so far, with 2 goals of late. 

CUP game Vs Liege who are formidable opponents, the manager has been burned before taking cup opponents for granted so has drafted in my regular players then usual for a Belgium cup game. But tried to give the players more RE during training to help manage the workload and prevent too many injuries. Joelson Fernandes come into the Cup on the LH role to try and make a impact, the young Portuguese winger is keen to showcase his potential and hopefully make the League bench and get some game time off the Bench to help the Genk Galaticos. 


Leverkusen

Finally found some form after a little mid season stutter, albeit only 1-0 in the last 3 games. However enough to gain 9/9 points! Manager hoping the attackers start to gel a little more... Only a couple of languages between them! Legendary defender Bonucci brought in this week to add some quality along side Mustafi, however will have to wait for his league debut. Veteran Olsson comes in at LB to give team some added quality. Strength in depth something the manager needs to work on. However youth is currently the strategy as need to find a gem and raise the coffers. Next game is Vs Aachen with the manager looking to all points after regaining his top spot in the league, which seems to have impressed on looking teams with Wolfsburg trying to Headhunt the young manager..  A statement was released;
"Thanks to Wolfsburg and there approach, flattering as it may be I've declined the offer as the philosophy at Leverkusen is one that I enjoy and the project is to get them promoted and became a successful Bundesliga team with the ability to challenge within 5 years"

Domestic Cup vs Dusseldorf, a tough game for the German cup who currently don't have enough players to rotate in both Cup and League. Veteran Piszcek and Bonucci come in to make there Debuts for the club, however a strong line-up is named to help progress as the money is greatly apricated as the club look to invest into infrastructure to help improve the players on and off the pitch. 


Botafogo

Botafogo are having a bit of second season syndrome! The manager can finally call on a full strength team after suffering 3 injuries in 1 week to first team players and the careful planning to integrate the players back into the first 11. Bobsin who came back last week makes way for Tete in the centre of the park and Felipe Anderson takes his rightful place on the Left Side on the pitch with Lucas Moura moving to his more familiar RH berth, and Final change is Vitao da Silva making his league debut in the place of the talented Quaresma. Vitao has a bit more experience having made so many youth appearances for Brazil youth setups. Hopefully something he can use to benefit the team. Dani Alves is also back from suspension so back in at RB for Felipe Luiz who struggled to find his footing at RB last game out. Botafogo are up against Unmanaged Goais.

Gremio, who see themselves in Brazils 2nd division are the Cup opponents with the likes of Eduardo Pepe and Oliver Ntcham in there ranks. Will be a tough test, with the likes of Bobsin coming in at AM, Antonio coming in at DY. Another strong line up named, as underestimating CUP opponents quickly see's your team knocked out! 

Good luck to all managers this week

Thanks Phil, very interesting read again.

The Friendly games have kicked off and I expect the league games to kickoff tomorrow at 1000 hours...

Apologies to the League Cup combatants I totally forgot to publish the draw for that competition and send you the details.

Man United vs Birmingham
Charlton vs QPR
Leeds vs Wigan
Consett vs Peterboro
Forest vs Bournemouth
Chelsea vs Soton
Westham vs Blackburn
Arsenal vs Palace

FA Cup Third Round results

Burnley 1 Leicester 0
Villa 1 Coventry 0
Watford 1 Wimbledon 1 aet pens 2-5
Wednesday 2 Tranmere 0
Plymouth 3 Banstead 0
Everton 1 Man City 2
Newcastle 1 Liverpool 3
Sunderland 2 Spurs 0

Copa Brasileiro Third Round

Nautico 0 Criciuma 4
Cristovao 0 Flamengo 5
Corinthians 2 Vasco 1
Cruzeiro 4 Santos 4 aet pens 4-3
Sao Joao 0 Palmeiras 2
Cianorte 0 Sao Paulo 1
Fluminense 4 Bento 1
Botafogo 3 Gremio 2

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Apologies to the League Cup combatants I totally forgot to publish the draw for that competition and send you the details.

Man United vs Birmingham
Charlton vs QPR
Leeds vs Wigan
Consett vs Peterboro
Forest vs Bournemouth
Chelsea vs Soton
Westham vs Blackburn
Arsenal vs Palace

Fancy forgetting the main cup competition....

more in the morning...

Tom@Charlton wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Apologies to the League Cup combatants I totally forgot to publish the draw for that competition and send you the details.

Man United vs Birmingham
Charlton vs QPR
Leeds vs Wigan
Consett vs Peterboro
Forest vs Bournemouth
Chelsea vs Soton
Westham vs Blackburn
Arsenal vs Palace

Fancy forgetting the main cup competition....

Did wonder who i was playing in the cup this week , i did not get a scout report did you?

Paul Hemmings wrote:

FA Cup Third Round results

Burnley 1 Leicester 0
Villa 1 Coventry 0
Watford 1 Wimbledon 1 aet pens 2-5
Wednesday 2 Tranmere 0
Plymouth 3 Banstead 0
Everton 1 Man City 2
Newcastle 1 Liverpool 3
Sunderland 2 Spurs 0

overgound,underground...........

Paul Hemmings wrote:

FA Cup Third Round results

Burnley 1 Leicester 0
Villa 1 Coventry 0
Watford 1 Wimbledon 1 aet pens 2-5
Wednesday 2 Tranmere 0
Plymouth 3 Banstead 0
Everton 1 Man City 2
Newcastle 1 Liverpool 3
Sunderland 2 Spurs 0

Nothing to see here 

Unfortunate to lose, but this is football atleast got the league and Champions League to focus on now ha.

Barcelona

Frustratingly it's pressure week followed by pressure week for Barcelona. There's very little let up in the current period. Last week it was Real in the League for a 1st v 2nd game plus a visit from Schalke who are my all time bogey team. This week it's a trip to Atletico and it's 2nd v 1st. I have no idea what to expect from the game as both teams are in great form and not conceding too many. A draw would suit Barca and Atletico need a win and hope Barca drop more points in the future. Barca will be unchanged for their League match with the only tweaks being the timing of substitutes.

In the Cup we face Castellon and some of those challenging for first 11 slots will get a run out - Fati, Umtiti and Eric Garcia in particular looking to make a mark. Pedri will also get a run off the bench.

Hopefully the League side will be fresh and the manager's words of ............. well, his words of something will inspire the team to get a decent result in Madrid.

Nacional

The midfield trio of Bentancur, Torreira and Oscar is buzzing and driving the team forward on all fronts. The more attacking Oscar with 5 goals in his last 5 League games a particular stand out. Josef Martinez is currently holding down the coveted number 9 shirt but both Ciro Immobile and Luis Suarez are in contention with both featuring in the Cup.

Hannover


Eventually a settled side. It's taken a few weeks to find the correct mix of players and tactics the Die Roten faithful have been waiting for. With a strong Danish spine and some Eastern European midfield know how we eventually look like a force to be reckoned with. This season might be too soon for a promotion challenge but things are looking rosy in Northern Germany and are set for a solid future. After demolishing Dusseldorf last week it's a trip to promotion rivals Karlsruhe this week. Karlsruhe sit 5 points and 1 place above Hannover in 3rd but a win and the manager might be rethinking his comments on this season being too early for a promotion run. Again no changes to the starting 11 with the dynamic Danish duo of Yussuf Poulsen and Thomas Delaney looking to do the damage. 

Akranes


A wise man once said 'yeh canna win anything wi' kids' but the kids at Akranes are doing their best to prove Mr Hansen wrong. The lightening quick attack led by Krepin Diatta and Patson Daka are really making a name for themselves however the midfield need to step up their game to keep the high intensity attacking approach working. With a 100% record and a 5 point gap everyone will keep focus to bring silverware back to the Gulir og Glaðir (Yellow and happy) faithful. New triallist Anatoliy Trubin could soon make his move permanent and challenge the team's one veteran Lukas Hradecky for a place between the sticks. The one question on the minds of the club's board is are the kids good enough to challenge in European competition? Signings may be needed before next season if the team are to make their presence felt on a broader stage.

Schalke

After a good performance in the rivierderby victory last week AND securing the point needed for CL progression, this weeks' opponents in both cup and lge are a very decent Berlin side.

The usual rotation of DYs will apply, keeping them super-fresh in both games, with the help of a training tweak to maximise the efforts of the players.

Reviews continue, as does the tactical training of the whole squad, in preparation for a probable switch in tactics.

Preparation has also started, in earnest, for the CL qtr final against Plymouth - where no stone shall remain unturned!

It's a huge week for Atletico and a loss at this stage would see the team basically out of the title race, bar a huge collapse from Barcelona. I think this is the 5th? Wilson derby with things poised 2-2 in head to heads... 


In other news, Independiente look to continue chasing Argenintos and need another win and Plymouth introduce an in-form Gundogan into the team for the first time against a counter attacking Everton side. Twente continue their run with a settled side and planning for next season.

Rumours coming out of Home Park are that Fernandinho might be available for transfer...

Excellent work on the reviews they're all good reading, vidiprinter is up next. 

Sad news about Colin Bell yesterday makes me feel old with about half the players from my first ever football match now passed...

The fans are all in the ref checks his watch and were off, good luck to everybody today...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Excellent work on the reviews they're all good reading, vidiprinter is up next. 

Sad news about Colin Bell yesterday makes me feel old with about half the players from my first ever football match now passed...

The glory days of Bell, Summerbee and Lee?

Independente 1 Chacarita 0 Rodrigo on 4 minutes.
Sligo 0 Cherry 1 Ireland.

Rob@Barcelona wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Excellent work on the reviews they're all good reading, vidiprinter is up next. 

Sad news about Colin Bell yesterday makes me feel old with about half the players from my first ever football match now passed...

The glory days of Bell, Summerbee and Lee?

Man City vs Arsenal final score 0-1 to the Gunners ( Dad was a Gooner ) at Maine Road
Corrigan Book Pardoe Doyle Booth Oakes Bell Coleman Lee Young Summerbee
Arsenal were boring as shit ( sorry Phil ) so I decided to support City that day.

Charlton 1 Chelsea 0 Firmino penalty on 5 minutes.
Schalke 1 Berlin 0 Dybala.

Watford 1 Palace 0 Kane header on 6 minutes.

Corinthians 1 Santos 0 Everton freekick on 7 minutes.
Plymouth 1 Everton 0 Gundogan.
Man City 1 Villa 0 James.
Napoli 0 AC Milan 1 Bonaventura.

Marseille 1 Monaco 0 Khaoui on 8 minutes.
Gladbach 1 Bayern 0 Stark header.
Leverkusen 1 Aachen 0 Nainggolan.
Lazio 1 Atalanta 0 Belotti.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Charlton 1 Chelsea 0 Firmino penalty on 5 minutes.
Schalke 1 Berlin 0 Dybala.

Bound to have been a dive

Soton 1 Brighton 0 Tadic header on 9 minutes.
Montpelier 0 Nantes 1 Oscar.
Auxerre 0 Paris 1 Gomis.