Season 31 Week 16 processing...

Welcome to week 16, European semi-final week, the reset is underway...

No orders this week from Real Madrid but everybody else's orders arrived safely...

Everybody'e Orders arrived safely thanks...

WATFORD

Well.. One of the first weeks in a very long time that Watford haven't had to play 2 games in a week and a long time since Watford didn't make it to the Final of the Champions CUP. Every cloud has a silver lining as Arsenal Vs Watford this week and the Gunners have a European game which might leave them Leggy in the league! Watford are playing a full strength side with Kevin De Bruyne brought back into fold at RH... Will he get a more central role next season? As for the rest of the Squad the manager has already spoken to the Director Of Football to look at refreshing some playing positions.. First player to depart Vicarage Road will be Ross Barkley.. Who has served the team well over the years but the manager think now is the right time to allow Barkley to leave and gain regular first 11 football having been a CUP/Rotation player during his time at Watford. With Jamal Musiala stepping up to cover the role of backup TM. Who is the new Arrival at the Hornets.. And what does that mean for the rest of the squad.. Who is safe...
This is a must win game, as the title run in is extremely tough and need to put the Points on the table! 

GENK

Genk sit comfortably on top of the Belgian Premier League having won there previous 15 games in a Row. scoring 50 goals on the way, with an average of 3.33333333333 goals per game.. falling slightly below there last season average of 4! But helps keeps the Goal Scored bonus down ha. 
The goals have been evenly split this season with only Eriksen hitting double figures this season. Which makes Genk dangerous from any positions and don't rely on just one player to create/score goals. Hlozek has been a revelation for Genk this season having scored 8 goals in 10 games so far for the First Team and is unfortunate to have to make way this week with Neymar returning to the first 11... But where to play him? With Eriksen putting in Sublime performances at RH in his absence..
League game is Vs unmanaged Gent who have struggled in front of goal this season and against a Genk side who have made a reputation for not conceding many goals doesn't bode well. With Neymar, Lewandowski, Griezmann and Eriksen all looking to add Goals to there tallys!
Biggest game of Genk's current reign Vs Atletico Madrid... The Spanish team is challenging for the La Liga title and come up against Genk who are desperate to win a European title! Atletico have Juan Bernat Suspended and Axel Witsel injured this week which boosts the Belgians chances, however the manager believe you have to beat the best to win things so is looking forward to the challenge. With the only change for the Cup team is Jan Vertongen coming in at CL to give Experience! Will the Athletic manager focus on League or Cup this week... Or try to do both?


LEVERKUSEN

The German team who are in plying there trade in Bundesliga 2 this season are looking to take the leap and go into the Bundesliga with the big boys to test themselves! The recruitment has been swift and allowed the manager to give options across all levels First team, Reserve and Youth. With the policy of bring them in cheap, so a mix of youths looking to prove themselves future stars and older players who had a desire to show they could play at the top level! Jamaica star Leon Bailey has been challenged to make more of a impact on the pitch having only contributed 3 goals in 15 games so far.  With Nainggolan and El Shaarawy taking the plaudits for getting Leverkusen to the top of the table! Board are pleased so far with results and also the shrewd financial planning the manager has shown to allow for infrastructure to be invested in, ahead of the planned timeline. 
This weeks games are league game Vs Kaiserslautern who are sitting middle of the table and look to catch Leverkusen out who will most likely focusing more on the European Cup game against Germanys most disliked club.... Leipzig! Who boast the Legendary Philipp Lahm who has scored an astonishing 18 goals from LB this campaign, Die Werkself will have to bring there A game to game a result this week as they could be lining up against Leipzig on a regular basis next season so need to show a sign of intent! Only change from the league game will be Veteran Bonucci coming in for Edson Alvarez. 


BOTAFOGO

The season for Botafoog has been a tough one for the fans, having trailed so much of the campaign in the league and being knocked out the Copa Libertadores! But the fans still havnt given up with lots of games in the league and only 4 points off top! The recruitment of Fernadinho Roza has pleased the fans with several different players trying to fil the DY role from Bobsin, Tete and Antonio. 
Mahrez returns to the first team immediately having recovered from injury quicker then expected and still looking sharp in training. Botafogo welcome Bahia this week who will be against a Botafogo side looking to score lots of goals to help improve the Goal difference as with the league being extremely tight could be decided by GD where the title goes! Bahia have conceded 43 goals this season! Some players for Botafogo havn't quite returned to there form of previous season such as Hulk... who has 9 goals, so the manager will be looking at him to return to form for the run in... 

Good luck to everyone

Looks like there maybe some high profile deals set to happen this week...

I've been through all my ims & emails for the last week and distributed messages & replies to the relevant managers in the speediest way possible as a few of you seem to be making plans for next season and I know you need answers as fast as possible. So i'm reinstating my messaging service through to the start of next season which means you can detail your messages to my im here on the forum and I will get any replies back to you asap.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

I've been through all my ims & emails for the last week and distributed messages & replies to the relevant managers in the speediest way possible as a few of you seem to be making plans for next season and I know you need answers as fast as possible. So i'm reinstating my messaging service through to the start of next season which means you can detail your messages to my im here on the forum and I will get any replies back to you asap.

Thanks Paul! 
It feels like Christmas getting a new player haha 

Paul Hemmings wrote:

I've been through all my ims & emails for the last week and distributed messages & replies to the relevant managers in the speediest way possible as a few of you seem to be making plans for next season and I know you need answers as fast as possible. So i'm reinstating my messaging service through to the start of next season which means you can detail your messages to my im here on the forum and I will get any replies back to you asap.

Brilliant service Paul, didn’t realise people were already preparing for next season! Better get a move on then!

Schalke

A home match against high-flying Stuttgart is all that concerns the players at this point. Kimmich returns to action fully fit and raring to go. 

The manager, however, has more concerns...

...like, looking for a suitable feeder club, switching tactics for future games, deciding which players can leave, and the problem of how to bring in players that will improve the squad.

A focus on the fanbase and building improvements are also a high priority.

Barcelona

Huge week in La Liga. 1st v 5th and 2nd v 3rd.  Barca host Valencia in a battle of similar tactics.  Fabian Ruiz is coming back into the starting line after injury added to Benzema and Oyarzabal making the bench after their respective layoffs. Some interesting departures this week with Diego Costa continuing his nomadic career in England and a keeper merry go round with the experienced Akinfeev coming in for Andre Onana who is on his way to Akranes.

Nacional

If it's not broken ...... that's the motto at Nacional. Hosting eternal rivals Penarol, who sit joint second, the Tricolores will once again be looking to playmaking duo Oscar and Bentancur to dictate the tempo and feed the attack. In the Libertadores it's an intriguing rematch against Sao Paulo. Earlier season form is out the window but hopefully a place in the final awaits .... something of a rarity for teams outside Brazil and Argentina.
Again some interesting transfers going on. Under rated Italian poacher extraordinaire, Immobile, is on the way to parent club Barca to fill a Costa sized hole and veteran Luis Suarez is on his way to England. Are funds being raised to bring in an up and coming Uruguayan CF?  The Director of Football, Manager and Chairman all refused to provide comments.

Hannover

A team clearly preparing for a promotion push next season. Having identified Marcelo Brozovic as the hub around which the team will be built and settling on a tactic to leverage the height, pace and mobility of Yussuf Poulsen up front things are falling into place for Die Roten. Aiming for a hat-trick of wins for the first time this season momentum seems to be building. 
Another team in the goalkeeper swap Hradecky is coming in to fill the gap left by Akinfeev as the manager works towards next seasons goals.

Akranes

Last but not least we travel to Akranes to hear how things are gearing up for the run in. No changes to the first 18 means that star men Daka, Sigurdsson and Diatta are again tasked with providing the cutting edge. 
The Chairman has invested in a lot of building work in an effort to provide the environment required to nurture the high potential young player the squad is built around. In order to finance this much needed work funds have to be raised so it is with a heavy heart that Kristoffer Ajer is being made available. At 22 the young, 99 97 rated, English-eligible CB AM has his best years ahead of him and I'm sure will provide a solid line of defence for a high flying Premier League side.

Enjoy gents and good luck to everyone ....... it's getting close to the most tense part of the season.

Friendly games have kicked off...

Confederation Cup - Semi-Final results

Cosmos 3 Enugu 0
Chicago 3 Chiefs 2

Champions Cup - Semi-Final results

Plymouth 3 Inter Milan 4
Man City 2 Man United 1

European Cup Winners Cup SF

Chelsea 5 Berlin 1
Everton 1 Soton 2

European Cup SF

Leverkusen 2 Leipzig 1
Coventry 0 Westham 2

Europa Cup SF

Genk 1 Atletico 0
Nantes 0 Arsenal 1

Fairs Cup SF

Cagliari 1 Birmingham 2
Leicester 1 Norwich 0

Europa Conference Cup SF

Lazio 2 Anderlecht 3
Wednesday 1 Betis 2

Intertoto Cup SF

Sevilla 1 Xamax 0
Ruzomberok 2 West Brom 3

Copa Libertadores SF

Nacional 0 Sao Paulo 3
Fluminense 3 Flamengo 1

Copa Sudamerica SF

Independente 0 Cristal 0 aet pens 1-3
Corinthians 5 Cruzeiro 1

Congratulations to all the finalists.

League games will kickoff at 1000 hours Wednesday...

Thanks Paul - looks like it wasn’t to be this year! Congrats to Phil and the others - teams will be back next year!

Two tricky games, one win one loss. 

Congrats to all the finalists and good luck.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Europa Cup SF

Genk 1 Atletico 0
Nantes 0 Arsenal 1

Genk finally make there first European final! Will be tough to navigate the match Vs Arsenal..... who have hopefully used all there energy to progress in the competition!

Paul Hemmings wrote:

European Cup SF

Leverkusen 2 Leipzig 1
Coventry 0 Westham 2

European final in first season in charge! Boardroom will be delighted 

Congrats to all!