Season 33 Week 18 processing...

Premiership

Plymouth 40 +22
Charlton 40 +19
Man City 39 +16 Current Champions
Watford 36 +17
Chelsea 28 +5
Banstead 27 +0

wow it's mightily close now, one slip and it might just be all over...

Plymouth ManU away Watford away Charlton away Palace home that's tough.
Charlton Watford home Banstead away Plymouth home Burnley home still pretty tough.
Man City Arsenal home Palace home Burnley home Banstead away seems much easier.
Watford Charlton away Plymouth home Villa away Arsenal home pretty tough again.

Seems it's a four horse race with Man City in a good position with the other three sides yet to play each other so I gotta make Man City favorites...

Championship

Spurs 38 +19
Leicester 36 +12
Wednesday 36 +11
------
Liverpool 31 +8
Everton 25 +1
Soton 24 +2

A few weeks back Tottenham were a shoe in to finish top but the pressure of being at the top is beginning to take a toil and they need to calm their nerves a bit, maybe a nice club holiday would help, whilst Leicester have sky rocketed into second on the back of six straight victories mainly thanks to the partnership between Jamie Vardy and Siem De Jong...

France

Etienne 44 +33
Nantes 43 +38 Current Champions
Paris 41 +25
Monaco 35 +18
Marseille 33 +17
Lille 31 +14

The Saints go back to the top of the table thanks mainly to the dancing feet of captain Paulo Ganso but its still very close with any of the top three able to claim it...

Germany

Leverkusen 42 +33
Wolfsburg 41 +22
Schalke 36 +20 Current Champions
Hannover 35 +20
Bayern 28 +8
Cologne 24 +1

Schalke dropped further behind the leaders as their away form took another nose dive with yet another draw as both Leverkusen and Wolfsburg claimed vital victories. Maybe the more defensive PEB tactic doesnt suit the vast array of superstar players Schalke have at their disposal but that's just one of the many fan theories on why they seem to be struggling at the moment. Count them out at your peril though...

Holland

Twente 46 +42 Current Champions
Ajax 45 +50
PSV 43 +43
Feyenoord 43 +20
Rotterdam 41 +10
Alkmaar 24 -9 unmanaged

This is interesting with five clubs still in with a shout at the title although Twente are still the favorites, with four home games left, it's not going to be as clear cut as some fans thought earlier in the season, with Ajax and Feyenoord both in superb form recently it's going to be very close...

Italy

AC Milan 40 +24 Current Champions
Napoli 37 +23
Inter Milan 33 +5
Fiorentina 31 +0
Cagliari 30 +9
Lazio 29 +9

A huge win for the Champions this week as they beat last week's leaders Napoli to go back to the top of the table. Christian Eriksen doing a great job in Milan's engine room...

Scotland

Motherwell 42 +18
Rangers 41 +19
Aberdeen 36 +9 Current Champions
Hibs 32 +11
Celtic 31 +12
Inverness 31 +8

All of a sudden it's a two horse race with Motherwell still having to face Rangers away from home in week twenty and the Champions next week it could all be over before the fat lady sings...

Spain

Barcelona 52 +62
Real Madrid 48 +58
Atletico 42 +39 Current Champions
Valencia 39 +8
Real Betis 32 +15
Real Sociedad 19 -12 unmanaged

Just four games to go and Barca need to maintain their unbeaten season amidst the pressures of cup games whilst Real need a bit of encouragement from their absent manager maybe...

USA

Chicago 48 +35 Current Champions
NewYork 40 +10
Washington 36 +25
Dallas 31 +0
Kansas 26 +2
Galaxy 22 +2 unmanaged

Chicago are almost there as they continue to dominate the soccer world with no Cosmos in the top six its hard to see them letting it slip now...

Transfers now...

Vinicius Junior joins Schalke from Nantes in exchange for Darwin Nunez and £30millions.
Jhon Duran joins Villa for £50millions.
Seb Haller moves to Coventry for £48millions from Warsaw.
Gianluca Scamacca joins Westham for £48millions from Napoli.
Victor Bobsin joins Boavista from Botafogo for £40millions.
Franck Anguissa joins Genk from Brighton for £40millions.
Lois Openda leaves Bruges and joins Twente for £16millions.
Coventry sell Josip Drmic to Oldham for £15millions.
Westham sell me Kolarov for £6millions at St Johnstone.
Troy Parrott joins Brighton from Watford for £5millions.
Consett sign Yannick Bolasie for £1millions from Queen of the South.
Wolfsburg swap in Jorghino Frello from Paris and swap out David Neres.
Chelsea exchange Hakim Ziyech for Andrey Santos at Boavista.

Lazio win the race to sign Edoardo Bove.

Coaching now...

Just processing this week and delighted with how it went.  Obviously a Word Cup win is unbelievable, never thought I'd achieve it with such an attack minded Brazil squad but somehow managed a smash and grab.  Commiserations Phil, not sure I'll read the match report!!

League wise, delighted with three wins.  Charlton getting a big result but plenty of games still to come.  We are in with a chance which is all we can ask for come week 18.  Watford next week which is always a massive problem every season!!

Wolfsburg keep the pressure on Leverkusen, just.  A narrow victory is still a welcome one especially with all the changes to playing staff going on at the minute.  All we can do is try and keep winning and hope for a slip from Leverkusen although going to Schalke last day to get a result will be mission impossible!!

Flum keep winning after a very slow start to the season, so much so we find ourselves 2 points off the top somehow.  3 away games next, but if we manage to keep within touching distance the last game of the season is at home to.....Santos!

Interesting weeks ahead for sure!!

Thanks again for another hugely entertaining week Paul

Forgot Nantes!  But then two drab 0-0s in a row is easily forgettable!  Drop in form at the end of the season is going to prove catastrophic in the title race I fear.  Manager has to take full responsibility for this one though and apologise to the fans.  

Massive mistake in week 16 going over the 50 player rule, caused massive midfield problems which we are still feeling the effects of!  That coupled with too many personnel changes, both in and out, all at the wrong time of the season is really surprising considering the experience of the manager.  Fans not happy.  

New signings hopefully this week, Nunez and Nunes, point toward an exciting future for the club and a change in tactics next season following years of success with TIC.  Hopefully all these changes will prove worth it and satisfy the fans over the coming seasons!!  

I blame the looming spectre of Rennes coming up the hill.  The Nantes side couldn't have kept going and expect the same results with the same ageing squad and one dimensional tactics forever.  Transitional period hopefully won't be too long.

Email turns all sent out, if you spot any issues then let me know, thanks.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Email turns all sent out, if you spot any issues then let me know, thanks.

Thanks Paul, quick spot was no match reports for reserve, youth and academy teams.

And no buildings reports. Or Medical centre reports.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Email turns all sent out, if you spot any issues then let me know, thanks.

Hi Paul,

Seems as though the Patreon Turns are basic turns - so no reports, trademarks etc?

Thanks

Ben

Ben@Plymouth wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Email turns all sent out, if you spot any issues then let me know, thanks.

Hi Paul,

Seems as though the Patreon Turns are basic turns - so no reports, trademarks etc?

Thanks

Ben

I think it's this having gone through Barcelona.

Tom@Charlton wrote:

Just processing this week and delighted with how it went.  Obviously a Word Cup win is unbelievable, never thought I'd achieve it with such an attack minded Brazil squad but somehow managed a smash and grab.  Commiserations Phil, not sure I'll read the match report!!

 BRAZIL vs ENGLAND
 SquadEff%      : 100  - 100
 Tackles        :  17  -  26
 Tactics        : SAM  -  PEB
 Aggression     : 5/5  - 5/5 hard/hard - hard/hard
 Fouls Against  :   4  -   1
 Offsides Good  :   0  -   0
 Offsides Bad   :   0  -   0
 Bookings       :   1  -   0 Ref David Elleray is pretty fair
  Rafinha(29)
 Sending Offs   :   0  -   0
 Injuries       :   0  -   0
 Corners        :   2  -  10
 Crosses        :   5  -   6
 Chances        :  10  -  30
 Shots on Target:   9  -  26
 Var Reversals  :   0  -   0
 Shots saved    :   4  -  22
 Final Score    :   5  -   4 After extra time.


Corrupt officials haha 

Ederson 

Tom@Charlton wrote:

Ederson 

Ederson had a great week for Charlton as well it seems!

Always going to be tough at Home Park. If it were similar to the Brazil England game Ben, you’ve nothing to worry about as you’ve still to play me and lightning doesn’t strike twice so the league should be yours 

Seemed a fairly even game to be honest.  I guess in the big games, having a top quality keeper (and backup) is key?

He certainly proved his worth in the World Cup final!

Hoping my luck has changed going forward, after what seems like a few bits of bad luck over the years, it seems I saved all my good luck for this week!  

Sending off was key in the end?  

Upping your aggression to 9 was an interesting move! 

Long way to go and plenty of more chances for all four teams in the title race, certainly wide open now with some big games to come!  Think Paul is right, I'd rather be in Geoff's shoes for the run-in!

Ben@Plymouth wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Email turns all sent out, if you spot any issues then let me know, thanks.

Hi Paul,

Seems as though the Patreon Turns are basic turns - so no reports, trademarks etc?

Thanks

Ben

recompiling all the patreon turns again when thats done I will resend them.

Tom@Charlton wrote:

Seemed a fairly even game to be honest.  I guess in the big games, having a top quality keeper (and backup) is key?

He certainly proved his worth in the World Cup final!

Hoping my luck has changed going forward, after what seems like a few bits of bad luck over the years, it seems I saved all my good luck for this week!  

Sending off was key in the end?  

Upping your aggression to 9 was an interesting move! 

Long way to go and plenty of more chances for all four teams in the title race, certainly wide open now with some big games to come!  Think Paul is right, I'd rather be in Geoff's shoes for the run-in!

Need to read through properly but thought was pretty even - just couldn’t seem to finish tbh - in fact neither side could from open play lol!