Season 34 Week 8 processing...

Welcome to week 8.

Orders are in and the data entry has started...

WATFORD

Watford have only managed to take 1 point from the last two games which has seen the side slip down the table after some impressive early season wins. Manager was furious with GK Henderson for conceded 5 at home and rumours has it the manager has looked to reinforce between the sticks.. Also, with Rudiger ageing manager has also sought to bring in a replacement to build a partnership with Gabriel that will last several seasons. Having only a bit part in the team since his arrival, playing 10 times in all competitions Eddie Nkeitah leaves the club for more regular football after the manager promoted Evan Ferguson to the match day squad.  Furthermore, Illian Mesiler was starting to feel a little home sick in England and asked to return to his native country, something the manager obliged to ensure squad happiness.
But enough off field problems, on the pitch Watford have to prepare for Sheffield Wednesday who have so far managed draws with Plymouth, Charlton and City.. But that won’t stop the manager aiming for all 3 points to get the side back on track. Firstly, the manager had a blazing row with Onana after a Awful display last week and has dropped him for the hungry Lavia who is keen to impress the manager on his League début.
As for Europe, Schalke 04 are the opponents who look to have made a recent change to SLA. Can the attack of ESR, Maddison and Barnes break through the double pivot? The manager is aiming to improve on last seasons final defeat, so will need to give a good account of themselves to ensure qualification to the next round.
 
 

GENK
 

A couple of departures this week from Genk, allowing a couple of fresh faces to join the side. With one the the countries emerging talents looking to join the Belgium club and aim to break into the XI.
As for opponents this week, unmanaged Beveren are the opponents with a couple of interesting players Brunn-Larsen and Ogenda looking to cause problems. But with a full strength Genk side in the league the manager will be expecting the side perform to the highest standards. Having only scored the 3^rd most goals in the league, will need to improve on that.
As for Europa league, Liverpool stand in-between the side and 3 precious points. Having won the competition in previous years, the board expect a improved campaign in Europe this season having been knocked out by Atletico last season.
 

LEVERKUSEN

 
Manager is pleased with back to back wins for the first time this season, puts the side mid-table. Not that that is enough for the club or the fans. This weeks challengers are Cologne who look to have Ozil and Reus pulling the strings for them so far this season, but leaving a lot to be desired in the defensive side of the game, with the manager hoping Nkunku/Hazard can exploit and take some pressure off Lewandowski who is in the form of his life 9-9 for the German outfit.
One of the sides key players departs this week, Gravenberch. However, the manager is more the confident in the replacement given they are a regular on the international stage and will no doubt bring some nous and grit to the side in midfield. Also, Japanese international Hidemasa Morita joins the club to give competition. Can’t be letting the regulars get to comfortable. Hopefully the arrival will help boost the clubs profile, given the poor attendances after infrastructure had been boosted to generate more income - more hardcore fans required! (And performances need to improve).
 
 

BOTAFOGO

 
After all the changes at the other clubs, surely Botafogo can’t be missing out on the action? Of course not, two Brazilians in Cabral and Tete leave the club. Tete has been a fantastic player coming through the youth ranks and contributing 19 goals in 96 appearances. But the manager hopes to bring in the missing piece for the Brazlian side, a Portuguese CF with a clinical eye for goal…
In the league is back to back 6 pointers, Fluminese this week… Only change to the side is that Hulk takes over the departing Cabral to give the side a little more up front.
As for defending champions in the Copa, the side face Vasco who like to cause a tough time for the brazlian side. So concentration is needed with the vastly experienced Fernandinho coming in to give Casemiro a little rest at AM and Viega comes in to rest Saul who both have played 14 games already so far this season. Hopefully the rotations don’t drop the level of performances.
 
Good luck to all!

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

The fans are taking their seats and the teams are going through their final preparations, kickoff is imminent...

The ref blows his whistle and the games are underway, good luck to everyone this week...

Arsenal 1 Plymouth 0 Pereira on 2 minutes.
Nantes 0 Toulouse 1 Djigla.

Bragantino 0 Santos 1 Gabigol.
Villa 1 Chelsea 0 Buendia.

Lorenzo 0 Independente 1 Correa on 5 minutes.
Botafogo 0 Fluminense 1 Emerson Royal.

Atletico 1 Celta 0 De Paul.
Barcelona 1 Santander 0 Ruiz.

Braga 1 Estoril 0 March.
Bellavista 0 Nacional 1 Gavi.

Bragantino 1 Santos 1 Zanocelo.
Nantes 0 Toulouse 2 Alessandrini.
Cologne 1 Leverkusen 0 Ozil.

Lorenzo 0 Independente 2 Zapata on 10 minutes.
Nantes 1 Toulouse 2 Aouar.
Sevilla 1 Valencia 0 Koke.

Vitesse 0 Twente 1 Sigurdsson penalty.
Nantes 2 Toulouse 2 Gerson.
Progreso 0 Danubio 1 Ceara.
Botafogo 1 Fluminense 1 Moura header.
Rennais 1 Montpellier 0 Griezmann.
Vitesse 0 Twente 2 Sigurdsson.

Beveren 0 Genk 1 Camavinga on 15 minutes.
Villa 2 Chelsea 0 Tielemans.
Real 1 Zaragoza 0 Cucurella.
Rennais 1 Montpellier 1 Sylla.
Valerenga 0 Molde 1 Martinez.

Rennais 2 Montpellier 1 Diaby.
Barcelona 2 Santander 0 Fati header.
Arsenal 2 Plymouth 0 Pato.
Man City 1 Banstead 0 McTominay.
Vitesse 0 Twente 3 De Roon header.

Botafogo 2 Fluminense 1 Casemiro on 20 minutes.
Nantes 3 Toulouse 2 Gerson.
Barcelona 3 Santander 0 Oyarzabal header.
Lorenzo 0 Independente 3 Guga.
Smena 0 Bate 1 Jovic.
Watford 1 Wednesday 0 Rice.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Arsenal 1 Plymouth 0 Pereira on 2 minutes.
Nantes 0 Toulouse 1 Djigla.

Great start 

Nantes 3 Toulouse 3 Bremond.
Vitesse 0 Twente 4 Villar.
Beveren 0 Genk 2 Anguissa.
Villa 3 Chelsea 0 Kolasinac.

Nice to see Plymouth starting strongly...

Lots of time though for an epic comeback or hammering...

Vitesse 0 Twente 5 Mitoma on 25 minutes.
Barcelona 4 Santander 0 Benzema header.
Botafogo 3 Fluminense 1 Hulk.

Vitesse 0 Twente 6 ( six ) Openda.
Wolfsburg 1 Stuttgart 0 Kroos.
Atletico 2 Celta 0 De Paul.
Beveren 0 Genk 3 Lukaku.

Vitesse 0 Twente 7 ( seven ) Openda.

Watford 2 Wednesday 0 Rice on 30 minutes.
Nantes 4 Toulouse 3 Gerson header for his hatrick .
Botafogo 4 Fluminense 1 Hulk header.

0-0
1-0
4-3
1-4

After half an hour?  What the hell is going on today!! Lol