Season 34 Week 18 processing...

Welcome to week 18. World Cup Final week.

The reset is underway...

WATFORD

ACDC - Thunderstruck. This weeks anthem around the Tesla Watford Stadium as the pyrotechnics light up the stadium in all its glory to intimidate the opponents in this weeks London Derby…
 
The manager sees his side in 3^rd so far this season… But that isn’t enough for the illustrious Watford. So the manager has deliberated and talked to voices in his head for what feels like months, started to write down as a game mod if things didn’t work out to switch tactically. But the manager has kicked caution to the wind and decided to go for glory…
 
18 H 022 CHELSEA                                       INT 5
19 A 025 LEICESTER CITY                                CUP S
20 H 002 MANCHESTER UNITED                             ECC F
21 A 022 CHELSEA                                       CUP F
22 H 006 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR       
 
3 Home games left, having the worst Home form of the top 3. Something had to give, a title is built on winning home games and so the manager decided to take his learnings from Leverkusen and go for the jugular of the teams standing in the path. So Maddison who has been pushed further forward and will be the lynch-pin of the side with Bernardo providing the support from deep and rice controlling the midfield.
Will the manager be immortalised or will this be his Icarus moment for reaching to high and crash and burn?


 

 
GENK

This seasons stats for the Belgium side are 50goals, 2 goals conceded but the side only have 4 points between 1^st and 2^nd.
Still to close to make any major changes or bed in youth players. Signing of Johan Bakayoko last week for 95,000,000 has got the fans excited all looking to see how the manager can get the best out of his young superstar team? Slight knock to Doku sees Mahrez come into the side to showcase what a veteran can do. But fans will soon get to see Bakayoko and Doku on the wings feeding the ball to Lukaku. Who has thrived with his partnership with Camavinga.
 

LEVERKUSEN

18 goals scored and 2 conceded en-counting. The side has thrived under the new direction the manager has taken them. Early scare last week after conceding first, but the side showed the never back down attitude last week and showed what happens if you strike first. Goals flying in from all directions.. Surprisingly not much to change with the side apart from the return of Palhinha who has recovered from injury to build-up his partnership with SMS in the midfield. Leverkusen seen their highest attendance at 98,970 last week, with room to grow. Surely having more fans cheering on the red and black will encourage the side to keep going with there sublime form.
 
 

BOTAFOGO

Carlos Casemiro, the first marquee signing the Rio side made way back when for 110million. Having one of the best seasons I’ve ever seen from a AM. A truly magnificent player, driving his side to glory.
10 points between 1^st and 2^nd gives the manager a little bit of breathing space to make a change.. slowly. Current top scorer is Givanildo Hulk, 151games - 115goals SR - 76% is the first casualty.. (23-9 this season). Huge boots to fill, but Gonaclo “Pistoleiro” Ramos is the man to fire the club forward. Endrick will look to break into the first XI soon to give the Rio side a new-look attack next season.
Club look to bring in a new midfielder to finally give Fernadinho Roza a chance to hang-up his boots after a incredible career. Signed for 5mil as a backup. Played 68 games, scored 41 goals and countless MOTM performances.
 
Good luck to all!

Barcelona

Barca host bottom of the table Real Sociedad. Normally the build up to this type of game would be calm and low key. This week is different with Real and Atletico in hot pursuit of the La Liga title. Fede Valverde comes into the starting 11 to replace the injured Fabian Ruiz who is in a race to be fit for next turn's El Classico. Valverde is an excellent back up though, having been at the club for several seasons and is an experienced Uruguayan international. Nico Williams and Pedri will be hoping to make an impact from the bench.
As mentioned, next turn is El Classico. It will be a huge game. Travelling to the Santiago Bernabeu at any time is tough .......... in a title decider it's a different level.
Rumours have been flying around the training ground about the imminent arrival of Spanish international midfielder, Martin Zubimendi. Recently acquired by the group, Zubimendi is coming up to speed tactically and being ingrained into the group playing ethos before an eventual move to Barca. How does he fit in to the management team's plans? Too soon to tell but we're sure to see him in pre-season friendlies if not before then.

Nacional

Nacional travel to 6th placed Torque managed by ........ Bobby Wilson. Another 'Battle of the Wilsons' is on the cards it seems.
The game is a must win with the relentless Danubio hot on the heels of Nacional. There are no changes to the starting 11 but Diego Gomez is coming in on the bench and hopeful of making his debut in place of the injured Oihan Sancet who will be a big loss with his dynamic midfield play and regular goals.
Buildings are a key focus at Nacional as the club strive for greater cash returns and a position of financial stability.

Hannover

The Hannover dream lives on in spite of a lack of resources in comparison to the giants of the Bundesliga. This week Bremen visit the Allianz Hannover Arena and the home team have no changes in the starting 11, maintaining consistency and cohesion. Young Swiss international, Fabian Rieder, replaces the departed Samardzic on the bench.
Another departure is the main dealing of the week as young Dutch winger, Myron van Brederode, leaves for Twente in his homeland. 
There is a feeling around the club that more depth is required to improve consistency over a full season and the scouting team are assessing a number of options. Midfield in particular is an area of concern.

Rennais

No changes as the Breton team strive for top spot in Ligue 2 after securing promotion last week. Lorient are this week's visitors and although they sit in the relegation zone the management team are taking no risks and there are no changes to a settled side. 
New long term contracts were awarded this week to first team regulars Marcus Thuram and Adrien Truffert the latter of whom is on his way to becoming a club legend after his rise through the academy added to the fact he is a home town boy. 'He's one of our own' rings out around the ground every time he sets foot on the pitch.
In an effort to make the numerous Spanish youths at the club feel more at home a Tapas restaurant is under construction ........ hopefully it brings in some revenue as well!!
And finally Zubimendi has landed. His time at Rennes will assimilate him into the group ethos and hopefully he can help out in the push for promotion. The question on many Rennes fans minds is what can we expect in return if and when he moves to Barca?????

Thanks guys, data entry is underway...

Friendly games have kicked off, and I expect the league games to kickoff at 1000 hours Wednesday morning...

Great to read the reviews before the games kick off. 

I haven't much going on this week behind the scenes but still have three very important league games coming up.....

Charlton - somehow currently sit top of the table but face a very difficult run-in so will be tough to maintain with so many good teams battling for the title.  Away at Banstead this week which fills me full of dread as I always seem to struggle against the SLO formation especially when the team is full of quality players.  

Nantes - Another team involved in a title race and another vital game this week.  Away to Auxerre is not normally the hardest fixture of the season, although still proved difficult in the past, but the Nantes manager has really dropped the ball this week by overcrowding the training ground.  I've been called into the Chairmans office and been reprimanded which I can deal with but its the confusion on the training pitch that worries me more.  Hopefully the players can get through this week and numbers should be back to normal next week.  

Wolfsburg - Not completely sure how Wolfsburg find themselves 9 points clear in Germany but we are not taking it for granted. I think a combination of Leverkusen and Schalke going through seasons of transition whilst Hannover are on the precipice of being a serious team but not quite there yet by the managers own admission.  Another tough run-in starts this week against Bayern, 3 points really are important as all three previously mentioned teams are on a hot run of form and don't need any encouragement...

Fluminense - Season over really, not a lot to play for so now is the time to try new things and see how the players respond.  What you don't want to do is start that process with one of the hardest fixtures of the season.  Santos away. Gulp.

Finally Brazil.  Just the small matter of the World Cup final this week.   After getting absolutely hammered last season in the final but somehow coming out the right side against Phil's England, this year was meant to be one of slight transition in changing formation to a completely new way of playing in order to repeat such a battering.  However, the samba boys have embraced the new formation and not playing samba and surprised a few by getting to another World Cup final.  Can they upset the odds again and win back to back world cups?  That would be incredible but will be very very difficult against a top German side lead by Rich.  Our only hope is the slight disruption that the German team might have with Goretzka injured and Lahm suspended.  Will hopefully be a good game all around.



Good luck to all this week.

Schalke

Not much to report really. Several players on international duty.

In the lge, continuing with the FRE experiment, with a more attacking slant and playing players in the positions in which they are excellent irl - can't wait to see the result (win or lose really!).

CHELSEA


This we travel to Watford which is a daunting task at the best of times let alone when they are on a title charge , the manager makes one change as Christian Romero makes his long awaited league debut in place of Kurt Zouma and Mason Mount returns to the bench after recent injury

The team continue to be trained up in the TIC formation as the manager looks to move away from PEB which just hasnt seemed to work out as hoped , the manager is also on the look out for a world class CF which are not ten a penny these days as well as a creative DY.

Braga

This week Braga currently sitting in 3rd but in no danger of challenging the top 2 face 7th palce unmanaged Belenenses who are unmanaged so anything could happen.

Delighted with how the season has gone after moving to play SAM but until the club cannot generate enough funds competing witht the big boys in a way off yet , the manager is looking to try and find a few more quality Portuguese players to join the squad.

Bate

A big game this week as we play 2nd place D.Minsk currently a point behind , the manager has looked to inspire his side in the hope we can open up the gap to 4 points with 4 to play.

not a lot else going on as the club are currently in financial crisis due to ta recent swapbid , the fans may need to get the begging buckets out shortly.

Good Luck to Everyone.

Great previews thanks guys...

World Cup Final

Brazil 2 Germany 3

World Youth Cup Final

France 0 Argentina 1

Gold Cup Final

Norway 2 Ivory Coast 1

Congratulations to all the winners...

The League games will kickoff at 1000 hours...

Thanks Paul, disappointing start to the week but it was always going to be a close game as the scoreline suggests.

Congrats to Rich, fantastic achievement winning the World Cup. 

Also to the other winners there. 

Hopefully the league games will provide some more positive results!!

The manager is at Centre Parcs today - following remotely for what is a huge week for the teams! Well following whilst doing messy owls…

The fans and players are ready and the ref blows for the start of the games. Good luck to everyone this week...

Flamengo 1 Botafogo 0 Wendel on 2 minutes.
Liverpool 0 Palace 1 Eze.
Deportivo 0 Valencia 1 Oscar Rodriguez.

Cologne 0 Schalke 1 Davies on 3 minutes.
Willem 0 Twente 1 Sigurdsson.

Man City 1 Plymouth 0 Grealish on 4 minutes.
Braga 1 Belenenses 0 March header.
Rangers 1 Celtic 0 Schurrle.

Milan 0 Juventus 1 Delaney on 6 minutes.
Hearts 0 Aberdeen 1 Fellaini.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

World Cup Final

Brazil 2 Germany 3

World Youth Cup Final

France 0 Argentina 1

Gold Cup Final

Norway 2 Ivory Coast 1

Congratulations to all the winners...

Great start to the week before an interesting scouting trip to Tirana awaits at the weekend. Just need 3 more points in Spain and if Molde could find their scoring boots that would be great. Martinez needs to channel his IRL form

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Man City 1 Plymouth 0 Grealish on 4 minutes.
Braga 1 Belenenses 0 March header.
Rangers 1 Celtic 0 Schurrle.

Doesn’t bode well against SLO but lots of time with TOL and Odegaard hopefully being free for the game…

Hannover 1 Bremen 0 David on 7 minutes.

Soton 0 Fulham 1 Willian on 9 minutes.
Betis 1 Celta 0 Griger.
Sevilla 0 Atletico 1 Coman.
Espanol 0 Real 1 Modric.
Cerrito 0 Danubio 1 Leandrinho header.

Etienne 1 Monaco 0 Harit on 10 minutes.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Soton 0 Fulham 1 Willian on 9 minutes.
Betis 1 Celta 0 Griger.
Sevilla 0 Atletico 1 Coman.
Espanol 0 Real 1 Modric.
Cerrito 0 Danubio 1 Leandrinho header.

A change in the midfield with Garcia, Barella and KDB getting a go at Atletico…

Independente 1 Newells 0 Zapata on 11 minutes.
Beerschot 0 Genk 1 Camavinga.