Season 34 Week 20 processing...

Belarus

Bate 47 +21
Minsk 45 +30 unmanaged
Smena 39 +19 unmanaged
Brest 35 +12 unmanaged Champions

If Bate can beat Minsk at home next week the title is theirs...

Brazil

Botafogo 55 +56 New CHAMPIONS
Santos 43 +30
Fluminense 42 +21
Vasco 34 +5

Botafogo have been the standout team this season with Hulk, Neymar and Casemiro in imperious form all year but what are the bosses plans for next season ? Congratulations to Phil on winning what is a very competitive league...

Eire

Cherry Orchard 49 +30
Bohemians 46 +41
Cork City 45 +35
Derry 41 +40 Champions

Sligo and Harps stand between Cherry and regaining their title they lost last season to Derry. Hirst's five  goals in the last four games have confirmed he will be leading the line next year in place of the retiring Delfouneso with big changes on the cards for the leaders, but we get ahead of ourselves, they still have to do the business this season first...

Championship

Liverpool 46 +26 promoted
Newcastle 46 +24 promoted
Fulham 36 +17
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WestBrom 33 +8
Bournemouth 30 +8
Palace 30 +2

Two away games for Liverpool against Palace and Burnley and two away games for Newcastle at Bournemouth and Leeds will decide who finishes top with the real drama in the race for third place. Can Fulham who have the oldest average age team in the world stay the course and see off a fast improving late challenge from West Brom...Both sides will be very different next season...

France

Nantes 54 +53 Champions
Paris 54 +43
Etienne 43 +32
Marseille 34 +9

Top two both remained unbeaten as current Champions Nantes keep their noses in front and Paris look forward to next week's visit of Marseille to the Parc des Princes. An easy home game against Auxerre next week for Nantes before they travel to Marseille for their final game. Both sides need full points...

France First Division

Rennais 56 +74
Le Mans 55 +67
Montpellier 32 +9
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The two have both been promoted for a few weeks now but who will finish top ? They meet last game of the season at Stade Bollee in Le Mans in a title claiming match. Both will add to next season's competition in the top flight...

Bundesliga

Wolfsburg 52 +48 New CHAMPIONS
Schalke 43 +30
Hannover 43 +16
Karlsruhe 35 +19

Wolfsburg thoroughly deserved to retain their title from last season as they remain unbeaten so far this season although they do have a tough one next week playing away at Bayern the same week they play Leverkusen in the cup final, the double is on...

Fans of Schalke have been trolling online media sites calling for the manager's head following an unusally barren season for their side...

Holland

Ajax 55 +73 New CHAMPIONS
PSV 48 +48
Feyenoord 48 +46
Twente 46 +53

Ajax back on top as the boss celebrates FIFTEEN seasons in charge winning his first title in season 20 making it 7 league titles now to add to his 5 cup trophies and 1 Super Cup trophy. A European cup triumph still eludes him though...

Secret Santa wrote:

Fans of Schalke have been trolling online media sites calling for the manager's head following an unusally barren season for their side...

Absolutely savage ................... 

Italy

Lazio 51 +61
InterMilan 49 +31
ACMilan 43 +34 Champions
Napoli 38 +20

Nineteen weeks in charge of Lazio has seen the previous also rans rise up to the top of the table and now, with games to come away at Sampdoria and InterMilan, they could do the unthinkable, although Inter are bound to have a say in that as they chase yet another title...

Portugal

Porto 51 +26 Champions
Benfica 50 +59
Braga 41 +23
Lisbon 36 +16

The Champions have been imperious since they lost at Benfica in week four and now have a good strong chance to retain their title with games at home to Boavista and Academica standing in their way. Benfica have themselves been in good form but a narrow loss at home to Braga looks set to deny them another title...

Scotland

Celtic 45 +26
Rangers 43 +29 Champions
Aberdeen 40 +8
Inverness 32 +4

Next week's clash between the top two at Celtic Park will be huge with Celtic needing revenge for losing at Ibrox a couple of weeks ago. Higuain has already announced his retirement at season's end and it will be his last chance to beat the auld enemy, should be a great title deciding game...

Spain

Barcelona 55 +48 Champions
Real Madrid 52 +34
Atletico 43 +29
Betis 33 +13

But what's happening to our team, the fans cry in panic, a defeat to Real and a draw against a mediocre Zaragoza is worrying them as Real move to within three points of last season's top side. Should be interesting for us neutrals...

Uruguay

Nacional 56 +48 New CHAMPIONS
Danubio 48 +72
Penarol 45 +56
Defensor 45 +49

It was great to see a closer title race in Uruguay this season with Nacional always the favorites and eventually succeeding Danubio as the new Champions...

USA

Chicago 55 +47 New CHAMPIONS
Kansas 36 +14
NewYork 35 +7
Dallas 33 +6
Nashville 32 +11
Washington 32 +3

Chicago Fire have once again dominated the American football scene as they ran away with the title but the race for second is very much still ongoing...

That completes the roundup now the Transfers...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Fans of Schalke have been trolling online media sites calling for the manager's head following an unusally barren season for their side...

Yes, a bit unlucky really - but no excuses. We're building for next season already...keep the faith!

Nathan Patterson moves to Newcastle for £125million from Rangers.
Dundalk sign Kelechi Iheanacho for £65millions from Portsmouth.
Palace sign Kyle Walker-Peters from Newcastle for £50millions.
Palace sign Timothy Fosu-Mensah from Birmingham for £50millions.
Palace sign Juninho Bacuna from Huddersfield for £40millions.
Palace sign Callum Connolly for £40millions from Oldham.

Plenty of managers tried to sign Silva Mexes this week but he went to Ipswich.

Plenty more deals all detailed in your TP special action report...

Coaching now...

Finances...

Just finally processing this weeks events and couldn't be happier.  To win the Champions Cup is unbelievable, a long standing target of Charlton and so pleased to have finally gotten over the line.  Honestly believe it was a good season to win it, playing enroute an incredible Real side in the groups which seems to be going through a little transition and getting the average age down.  Also, a top top manager and Barca side in the quarters which was a narrow 1-0 victory. In again what was a very fortuitous time to play a side that seems to be building but very soon will be the best in the game.  Then a final against a ridiculous Schalke line-up full of virtually the best players in the world.  The only way I could've won this was the uncertainty of the tactical side of the team as recent changes by the manager strive to find the right way of playing for the players there.  One thing for sure, when it clicks not many teams will be able to compete at all.

Congrats to all the winners and commiserations to all the runners-up, however I for one know what it takes to get to a final and lose and it is still a hell of an achievement although it may not seem it currently.

Andy@Schalke wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Fans of Schalke have been trolling online media sites calling for the manager's head following an unusally barren season for their side...

Yes, a bit unlucky really - but no excuses. We're building for next season already...keep the faith!

A vengeful Schalke side doesn't sound good for the rest of us next season.....

Quick run through of the league games this week


Charlton - After the midweek efforts to get a draw away at City is a sensational result, delighted with that one.  Especially after the desperately disappointing previous week, deservedly losing at home to Arsenal in what seemed to be the death knell of the title challenge.  What a game this is, how quickly things can change.  Somehow, having gained 1 point in the last two games, Charlton are top.  Still unsure how that has happened.  Simple really, two more wins and the title is there for the taking.  If only.  Banstead (fighting for their lives) and Chelsea (perennial party poopers) will be unbelievably tough opponents.  All to play for, never known it so close, anyone of five teams can win it!

Nantes - Another big win collecting a very important 3 points.  However, the relentless Paris side continue their great form and we remain level on points.  Goal difference could decide it, but for sure neither side can afford to blink in the final two games....

Wolfsburg - Incredible to win the Bundesliga again, still as shocked as I was last year. This time two years ago, we were still hoping to gain promotion from the Bundesliga 2nd, honestly thinking about survival for the next couple of years. Such a high quality league, but may have been a good season to keep stable whilst others made big changes throughout the season.  Next season will be incredibly difficult again and I'm not sure an ageing Wolfsburg team will be able to keep pace with the other top sides in the league.

Flum - Decent win this week, recent big changes are settling down and hopefully performances and results can improve.  Congrats to Botafogo as they deservedly ran away with the league, Phil being head and shoulders above the rest of us this season.  The fight for second is lively with Santos, who are always a good barometer as to how well we are doing, so not all is doom an gloom.


Would be good to hear others thoughts on their sides this week?


Thanks Paul, for another great week.

Email turns all sent out...

Banstead have probably been relegated from what I think is the most competitive Premiership we've ever seen, so not too surprised as I've hung onto a couple of ageing players a season too long. Changes in negotiation for next season that's for sure.

I'll be back...

Thanks Paul and sad to see Banstead go down - I was concerned for Plymouth’s safety that’s for sure until that late Lingard goal.

In breaking news coming out of the South Coast though - KDB is to make a sensational return to Plymouth for next season as the manager doubles down on his tactics switch.

Whilst it leaves Atletico searching for another TM - I’m informed that they have a target in mind and a huge cash bid is going in this week.

Independiente were well beaten in the CL final - 11 chances to 3 but the lack of a VAR intervention early on certainly didn’t help. Well done to Geoff and his formidable Santos side - Independiente - who will likely to be spearheaded by Gonzalez Villar at DY, will go again next season.

More news as it comes is as the manager digests his turn and makes final changes for next season.