Season 34 Week 13 processing...

Welcome to week 13.

A very late start this week so you should expect things to run slightly behind normal schedules this week.

The Reset is underway...

WATFORD

Having scored the most goals so far this season with 41goals, Watford found themselves in a strange position last week.. Failing to score in a game. The chances seem hard to come by also with a very tight game. Hopefully the lads were having an off day, so a hideaway this week and some inspirational poetry to get the lads into focus ahead of a massive game this week.. Away to Charlton. However, Watford manager has a decent record away from home, not lost a game yet… Two home defeats this season though. Could make all the difference come end of season.
Cup game Vs Wednesday, Sticking with the side that won 6-1 last week out, so likes of Saliba, Maddison and Ferguson all keep their starting XI spot. Could the side be seeing more of these players depending on the league result. Manager is experimenting in friendly game trying to get the most out of his sides attacking flair.

 
GENK

The week has come, Doku is to be unleashed. The “Belgian Flash” is just too good to in the reserves, having netted a hat-trick last week. Mimicking real life, the manager has replace Mahrez with Doku in the starting XI for the league. Having watched the way this “kid” plays, one would wonder why it’s taken the manager so long… but as the saying goes “if your good enough, your old enough” However, will the Belgian league test a player of his calibre? Antwerp are this weeks opponents, finding themselves unmanaged but sitting 5^th in the league ahead of last seasons champions.. So not a team to take lightly.
As for CUP, Beveren as the opponents. Manager looking to brush the team aside and progress into the latter rounds of the competition. Several players knocking on the managers door to be playing in the starting XI. No more so then Arthur Vermeeren, who has been rewarded with a international cap of late. Will he manage to dislodge Anguissa at the heart of midfield? Ferland Mendy secures a new contract but Milos Kerkez is breathing down his neck to get first XI. Also, new kid on the block Jorrel Hato now Dutch international at 17 looks to building his GX experience.
 

LEVERKUSEN

Leverkusen… shambles. Seem to have lost there way in the search to build on there success. Hammered 7-2 in what was technically an even game. Neuer mainly to blame for such a poor display from the side. Bernd Leno eager to take his place in the starting XI… But this weeks opponent ? Wolfsburg… So the manager has resisted, but his games at undisputed number 1 could be dwindling with displays like last week.. Milinkovic-Savic comes back into the side. His form prior to his injury was in question by the manager but, manager is hoping that he has re-gained his form of last season having had some time to reflect and he came and spoke to the manager about not being in starting XI last week..
2^nd game of the week, none other then Hannover, Game weeks could not get much more difficult in Germany. Manager was keen to try something out in the Cup. But feels the side just need a little bit longer to build up some tactical awareness.. Wouldn’t want to give the players an excuse to play worse then they already are. So just a slight tweak.. and decided to go head to head with Hannover in midfield. Idrissa Gueye dropped after a poor display last week, for a midfield of Palhinha, Tadic and SMS…
 

BOTAFOGO

A ruthless display last week, putting 5 goals past Cruzerio without reply. This week sees Coritiba host the Brazilian side. But nothing much to report the side is settled and will stay that way! The likes of Goncalo Ramos and Veiga will have to keep there legs fresh in the cup games. Fullreview this week for Endrick.. Full Brazil international at 17.. As much as the manager would love to play him. Will be impossible to wedge him into a side who has played so well this season. Givanildo Hulk, no doubt playing his last season for the Brazilian side and has been a fantastic servant of the club, will want to end his career at the side with more silverware come end of the season. Neymar so far 20-20 this season and will be looking to double his tally come EOS as he looks to break 900 career goals! Senational!
 
Good luck to all!

I'm back in the office today and have started the data entry...

Love the write up Phil. Will try to do something later.

A huge week last time out with some really tough games in Leagues and also in continental competitions. This week sees domestic cup action.

Barcelona
A home game this week against a perennially strong Betis side who sit in 6th place in the League. As usual for Betis is the key threat is Panic pulling the strings at playmaker who is ably supported by the under rated Lobotka. No changes in the League this week as the policy of consistency in selection remains. Osimhen, Pedri and Valverde will be key additions from the bench to add fresh legs in the closing stages.
The Cup brings a different challenge in the form of 2nd division Oviedo who currently sit in a promotion spot. International regulars Unai Simon, Kounde and Osimhen get starts .... potentially in preparation for next season.
New contracts to key squad members and Spanish internationals Pedro Porro and Unai Simon have the fans celebrating. Highly rated left back Juan Miranda moves to feeder team Nacional along with youth international Arnau Arcas Casas.

Nacional
Another team currently leading a League but focused on the next game as always. No changes to the starting 11 but highly rated young Spaniard, Oihan Sancet, comes in on the bench as Gavi's understudy. Also coming in on the bench is Uruguayan international Giovanni Gonzalez.
Non League Insticon are the Cup opponents this week but the management team have decided to retain a strong side with the only change being at centre forward where youngster Agustin Alvarez gets some game time.
Alongside the incoming Miranda and Arcas Casas Nacional have renewed the contracts of Spanish youngster Angel Alarcon and the aforementioned Agustin Alvarez. The population of Montevideo are also delighted by the clubs move to try and arrange a Taylor Swift concert inspire of the managers belief that a Guns n Roses revival concert would be better. 

Hannover
A monster game at the Hannover Arena as 3rd host 4th in the form of Karlsruhe. Both teams have improved since last season and Karlsruhe are driven on by the inspirational, evergreen Hudson Arantes. At 33 the mercurial Brazilian has 23 goals in all competitions already this season. He's ably supported by an eclectic mix of Dorsch, Braid Mendez and Weverson in a very attacking side who have 39 League goals this season which is 17 more than the hosts and only2 behind top scorers and League leaders, Wolfsburg. A huge ask for the home team who remain unchanged and are desperate for key centre forward, Jonathan David, to find some form. 
It doesn't get any easier in the Cup where Leverkusen are the opponents. Trying to work out who they'll play in midfield and attack but with Lewandowski, Muani, Hlozek, Seiko,Milinkovic-Savic, Tadic, Guler, Palhina, Olmo, Hazard, Andrich and Nkunku to pick from ............. I have no idea. A truly world class squad.
Another team where key personnel are signing new deals with Austrian internationals Grillitsch and Seiwald have renewed which is key as they provide the engine room for the team. Other news is the imminent arrival of versatile German international, Timo Werner, to provide more competition in attack. Werner can provide a threat from wide or through the middle so will be a strong addition. One departure is Dutch youngster, Mexx Meerdink, who is on the way to Twente.

Rennais
A full house of home League games is completed in Northern France where Rennes host relegation threatened Dignitas. A couple of enforce changes in the line up see the experienced Varane come in at centre back to partner fellow international Todibo. While highly rated Lee Kang-in gets a run out at DY. It will be interesting to see how Lee plays as he is challenging for a starting spot with Ivorian, Seko Fofana. The bench sees some youthful additions with Olise, Amraoui and Wooh coming into the match day squad.
The Cup sees an intriguing tie with Reims where loanees Chad Riad, Bryan Okoh and Thiago Holm are all on loan. The management team have given opportunities to Noah Okafor and Mohamed Camara to stake a claim for more regular frost team football.
A quiet week on the transfer front with Nico Gonzalez joining from parent team Barcelona and Werner ending his short stay by moving to Hannover. Some investments into the infrastructure before next season are underway with the building of a Training Roof and the laying of a Thermaturf pitch.

An exciting week ahead. Good luck to everyone.

Great reviews there from two of our most experienced managers, always very interesting to hear about manager's plans and aspirations. Thanks guys.

The friendlies have kicked off so I'm expecting the league games to kickoff at 1500 hours today...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Great reviews there from two of our most experienced managers, always very interesting to hear about manager's plans and aspirations. Thanks guys.

The friendlies have kicked off so I'm expecting the league games to kickoff at 1500 hours today...

Fantastic to hear and no preview for me other than - lots of changes ready for next season...

Domestic Cup - Third Round results - selection

Independente 2 Lorenzo 0
Genk 2 Beveren 0
Bate 5 Vertikal 0
Fluminense 3 Internacional 2
Botafogo 2 Paysandu 1
Cruzeiro 6 Santos 3
St Patricks 0 Cherry 8
Chelsea 4 Tranmere 1
Watford 3 Wednesday 1
Charlton 2 Banstead 2 aet pens 5-3
Plymouth 1 Bournemouth 2
Villa 2 Man City 0
Nantes 5 Le Mans 0
Rennais 6 Reims 3
Leverkusen 1 Hannover 0
Wolfsburg 3 Darmstadt 0
Schalke 1 Bayern 0
Twente 5 Den Haag 0
Braga 4 Feirense 0
Atletico 4 Santander 1
Barcelona 1 Oviedo 0
Real 4 Eibar 0
Nacional 7 Insticon 0
Sisley 1 Danubio 7

Congrats to all the winners...

League games will kickoff at 1500 hours...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Domestic Cup - Third Round results - selection

Independente 2 Lorenzo 0
Genk 2 Beveren 0
Bate 5 Vertikal 0
Fluminense 3 Internacional 2
Botafogo 2 Paysandu 1
Cruzeiro 6 Santos 3
St Patricks 0 Cherry 8
Chelsea 4 Tranmere 1
Watford 3 Wednesday 1
Charlton 2 Banstead 2 aet pens 5-3
Plymouth 1 Bournemouth 2
Villa 2 Man City 0
Nantes 5 Le Mans 0
Rennais 6 Reims 3
Leverkusen 1 Hannover 0
Wolfsburg 3 Darmstadt 0
Schalke 1 Bayern 0
Twente 5 Den Haag 0
Braga 4 Feirense 0
Atletico 4 Santander 1
Barcelona 1 Oviedo 0
Real 4 Eibar 0
Nacional 7 Insticon 0
Sisley 1 Danubio 7

See my changes at Plymouth have made an immediate impact   - tried a few things out so not overtly concerned just yet...

Well played in Germany Phil!!!

The players are lined up and the ref blows his whistle to get week 13 underway, good luck to everyone this week...

Bellavista 0 Danubio 1 Aguero on 4 minutes.

Rennais 1 Dignitas 0 Lee Kang-In on 5 minutes.

Genk 1 Antwerp 0 De Ketelaere on 8 minutes.

Rennais 2 Dignitas 0 Thuram on 9 minutes.

Edinburgh 0 St Johnstone 1 Tutte on 10 minutes.

Twente 1 Zwolle 0 Villar on 11 minutes.

Rennais 3 Dignitas 0 Griezmann on 12 minutes.
Stoke 1 Sheff Utd 0 Cantwell.

Quote from the owners of Stoke City, "Ivan Toney is not for sale"...

Espanol 1 Atletico 0 Castillo on 13 minutes.

Cruzeiro 1 Santos 0 Jaja on 14 minutes.

Twente 2 Zwolle 0 Sigurdsson on 17 minutes.

Genk 2 Antwerp 0 Doku on 18 minutes.
Setubal 0 Braga 1 Onuachu.
Nacional 1 Cerrito 0 Torres.

Charlton 0 Watford 1 Cancelo on 19 minutes.
Twente 3 Zwolle 0 Hazard.
Setubal 1 Braga 1 Caio.