Season 34 Week 12 processing...

Welcome to week 12.

Everybody's Orders have arrived safely.

The reset is underway...

Data entry is underway...

WATFORD

Watford having a busy week this week, securing the contracts of David Beckham(His documentary on Netflix is a really good watch if anyone interested in that sort of thing, I was too young for Argentina 98..) Ashley Cole, Gordon Banks, and Sol Cambell follow suit. Also, Taylor Swift is being scheduled in for a Concert.… 
As for the football!
Arsenal are the Opponents, a tricky game with plenty of goals in the side, with Zaniolo and Pereira in double digits for the Gunners. Declan Rice, will have to put a MOM display in to keep the game from being a end to end type of game. The manager has resisted to make any changes still to the side that has done so well so far in a very difficult season, which see’s the leaders switch almost weekly!
Anderlecht are the Champions Cup opponents, with qualification secured. Watford give a Cup debut to Saliba and Edouard Mendy. The manager is trying to ease there introduction into the side as wouldn’t want the fans to blame the managers tinkering as a reason for poor results.
 

GENK

Genk overcome last years winners in Anderlecht in a narrow 1-0 victory. Which is a delight given the top of the table is extremely tight with 1 point separating 1st and 2nd. Who will blink first in the league?
Manager keeping the side settled, considering Doku is on the bench, surely a player that dangerous won’t be happy on the bench for long… But what does that mean for Mahrez/De Ketealaere ?
As for the Cup side, Kerkez and Doku get some game time given the side already qualified.  
After the sale of Noa Lang, the manager is looking to re-invest the money into the side and try and bring in some more youngsters to continue the traditions of the side.
 

LEVERKUSEN

After the manager did a self-destruct mid season, the side managed to get back to winning ways last week after falling completely off pace with the league leaders having being close last season. The manager sticks with the same side this week, Leverkusen as leading the Reserves league. So the manager is keeping a eye on who performs well for the reserves and if they deserve a chance in the starting XI. Dusan Tadic keeps his place while SMS regains his fitness and Eden Hazard who scored a hatrick for reserves last week at RW gets in the Cup side. Otherwise the manager is keeping things settled now..
 

BOTAFOGO

A great display last week from Botafogo, even if just the one goal to show for it. With Vanderson taking over from were Dodo left off and marauding forward and joining in the attacks is that a Brazlian thing or a PEP thing…. manager doesn’t care as long as the goals get scored! Manager will be keeping a close eye on Hulk over the next few weeks given he came into the side with a Hattrick and since not gotten himself on the scoresheet… With Goncalo Ramos eager to break into the starting XI, another player whos introduction has been very slow… But another Forward might make a late charge to lead the line. A certain Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa has been called up to the Seleção and is the youngest player to be called up since a certain Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima… if a debut is in the stars. Could Endrick be leading Botafogo for the next 2 decades… Only 17…. Anyways, stop looking to the future and focus on the present. Cruzeiro are this weeks opponents the side been wondering “what if” they kept the Botafogo manager all them years ago… A double header as they are the Cup opponents with Ramos and Cleiton coming into the side.
 
Good luck to all!

Brilliant preview as usual by Phil, thanks for that.

Friendlies have kicked off which means the league games are scheduled for 1000 hours Wednesday morning...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Brilliant preview as usual by Phil, thanks for that.

Friendlies have kicked off which means the league games are scheduled for 1000 hours Wednesday morning...

Manager will try to be present for kick off, however other presents will be on the mind as Rosie turns 3 tomorrow (Just finished building all the wooden furniture  )

Phil@Watford wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Brilliant preview as usual by Phil, thanks for that.

Friendlies have kicked off which means the league games are scheduled for 1000 hours Wednesday morning...

Manager will try to be present for kick off, however other presents will be on the mind as Rosie turns 3 tomorrow (Just finished building all the wooden furniture  )

How many expletives were used during the building process?

It's been a while since I had time to do a preview. Not sure it will have the same detail as Phil's but I'll give it a go.

Barcelona
Huge week with a pair of really hard games. Atletico away in the League is the toughest game of the season. Ben has a settled team packed with quality and a real cutting edge in Coman and Dybala. It's first against second and while too early to be a title decider it's certainly a key game. To make matters worse is the trip away to my old team, Inter, in Europe. Inter sit second in a tight group with Plymouth in third. A star studded Benfica are bottom which is a clear sign of how strong the group is. Not many changes for either match with Enzo Fernandez coming on to the bench in the League for the first time. More use is being made of subs to make sure key roles don't suffer from tired legs as games progress.
On the transfer front the highly rated Lukeba, who recently made his full France debut, is joining Barca from feeder club Rennes to fill the vacant CL role and join the French contingent in Catalonia.

Nacional 
A less tense week in Montevideo where Nacional sit a comfortable seven points clear in the League. The management team are keen to avoid any complacency knowing how dangerous Penarol, Defensor and particularly last season's double winners Danubio can be. Nacional visit second bottom Progreso where there are nine loanees from my teams. Should be an interesting game and an opportunity to see how they perform. Having already qualified there is a run out against Palmeiras in the Copa Sudamericana. I have decided to field a strong team in an effort to maintain form and consistency. No changes in the League line up this week and only Piero Hincapie coming in for Nacho Fernandez in the continental game.
A very quiet week on the transfer front with only Argentine veteran full back, Tagliafico, leaving to return to his homeland and Independiente. A replacement has been lined up in the form of young Spanish international, Juan Miranda. Miranda has been recalled by his parent team this week and will move to the Uruguayan capital next turn.
Rumours are flying round the training ground about the search for a centre forward who can provide the cutting edge the team require. `there are a lot of concerns around the lack of goals in the squad and the scouting team are working overtime to find a solution. No luck yet and if any manager has a player available please PM me.

Hannover
Hannover are on a decent run of form since the back to back defeats by Bayern and Schalke with four wins on the bounce. An away trip to Stuttgart this week will be an interesting test. Only one change with Jesper Karlsson coming in to replace the injured Chukwueze on the left wing. Slightly different style of play as Karlsson will look to come inside on his stronger right foot more often than the naturally left footed Chukwueze. Hannover are another goal shy team with the midfield trio providing the biggest threat. A game against a very cosmopolitan Dunfermline (not a phrase you hear often) is the European hi-light. Probably too little, too late for Hannover who had some poor results earlier in the group stage.
In an effort to save the goal scoring dilemma German international, Timo Werner is on the way from Chelsea via sister club Rennes. Werner is an experienced international and should link up well with compatriot Kevin Schade. Rumours are also rife on the training ground that young Dutch centre forward, Mexx Meerdink, is keen to return to his homeland in the coming weeks.

Rennais
Rennes may sit top of the French second division but all focus is on being prepared for the step up to Ligue 1 next season. Lens are this weeks opponent and the expectation is another professional performance on the road to promotion. No changes to the League side as consistency is the key to building continued success. With qualification secured the European game against Parma is another opportunity to get vital minutes to gel the team and build partnerships. One change is that the highly skilled Lee Kang-In comes in to give Seko Fofana a rest. 
On the transfer front Malo Gusto has left to facilitate Werner's signing. With Lukeba also going to Barcelona a new CL was required and trial list Mohamed Salisu is making his move permanent. Salisu is a Ghana international and will provide cover to first choice pair of France internationals,  Varane and Todibo.

Thanks for the preview Rob, very interesting.

gary@chelsea wrote:

Phil@Watford wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Brilliant preview as usual by Phil, thanks for that.

Friendlies have kicked off which means the league games are scheduled for 1000 hours Wednesday morning...

Manager will try to be present for kick off, however other presents will be on the mind as Rosie turns 3 tomorrow (Just finished building all the wooden furniture  )

How many expletives were used during the building process?

It was 2 hours of silence to avoid arguments with the Mrs for buying the thing while she sat there and watched "Call the Midwife" while repeatedly saying "I'd love to help but I'd be useless.... " 

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Thanks for the preview Rob, very interesting.

3 coffees in and nerves building!!!

Champions Cup results - Final Group games - Match Day six.

Man City 1 Charlton 8
Milan 2 Real Madrid 1

Benfica 1 Plymouth 0
Inter Milan 0 Barcelona 1

Porto 0 Chelsea 1
Ajax 2 Bayern 2

Anderlecht 1 Watford 6
Paris 1 Schalke 3

Quarter-Final draw
Charlton vs Inter Milan
Barcelona vs Real Madrid
Chelsea vs Schalke
Watford vs Ajax

Europa Cup

Rangers 3 Bohemians 3
Gornik 2 Sevilla 3

Celtic 2 Nantes 0
Man United 2 Mechelen 0

Feyenoord 1 Atletico 2
Etienne 2 Arsenal 3

PSV 3 Genk 2
Monaco 1 Liverpool 2

Quarter-Final draw
Sevilla vs Man United
Nantes vs Rangers
Atletico vs Liverpool
Genk vs Feyenoord

Copa Libertadores

Amexica 1 Santos 7
Riverplate 1 Danubio 4

Estudiantes 1 Fluminense 3
Argentinos 1 Sao Paulo 2

Cruzeiro 2 Botafogo 2
Corinthians 4 Vasco 2

Penarol 0 Independente 1
Boca 1 Flamengo 1

Quarter-Final draw
Santos vs Sao Paulo
Fluminense vs Danubio
Botafogo vs Penarol
Independente vs Corinthians

Confederations Cup

Galaxy 0 Dallas 1
Melbourne 0 Tampa 3

Houston 0 Chicago 3
Sydney 3 Mamelodi 2

Oakland 0 NewYork 3
Pittsburgh 0 Cosmos 6

Setif 0 Kansas 5
Seattle 0 Wollongong 0

Quarter-Final draw
Dallas vs Mamelodi
Chicago vs Tampa
Cosmos vs Wollongong
Kansas vs NewYork

European Cup Winners Cup

Lyon 2 Bratislava 2
Shamrock 3 Leipzig 4

Rotterdam 2 Waterford 3
Linfield 0 Jena 2

Stockholm 1 Dresden 2
Santander 5 Sittard 2

Malmo 2 Brighton 3
Celta 0 Berlin 2

Quarter-Final draw
Lyon vs Jena
Linfield vs Leipzig
Stockholm vs Celta
Berlin vs Dresden

European Cup

Betis 0 Villa 4
Salzburg 2 Frankfurt 2

Brondby 1 Lazio 7
Twente 2 Cologne 1

Cork 1 Wolfsburg 2
Inverness 1 Hamburg 1

Leverkusen 1 Espanol 0
Viking 7 Vitesse 0

Quarter-Final draw
Villa vs Cologne
Twente vs Betis
Wolfsburg vs Espanol
Leverkusen vs Cork

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Copa Libertadores

Amexica 1 Santos 7
Riverplate 1 Danubio 4

Estudiantes 1 Fluminense 3
Argentinos 1 Sao Paulo 2

Cruzeiro 2 Botafogo 2
Corinthians 4 Vasco 2

Penarol 0 Independente 1
Boca 1 Flamengo 1

Quarter-Final draw
Santos vs Sao Paulo
Fluminense vs Danubio
Botafogo vs Penarol
Independente vs Corinthians

Might not go much further but good to see Uruguayan teams making an impact. The League is getting stronger.

Fairs Cup

Stuttgart 1 Lille 1
Bilbao 1 Gladbach 3

Deportivo 2 Braga 1
Liege 9 Valerenga 2

Dunfermlin 1 Hannover 1
Glentoran 1 Innsbruck 2

Gothenburg 0 Coleraine 2
Valencia 2 Partizan 1

Quarter-Final draw
Gladbach vs Braga
Liege vs Stuttgart
Innsbruck vs Valencia
Coleraine vs Dunfermlin

Well Plymouth's issues in front of goal against Inter cost them the chance to progress to the group stage for the first time in a long-time. Most certainly a sign of the recent changes at the club, but these are starting to become embedded - the team is gearing up for a big push next season and there were no expectations for the CL this season so disappointment but not concerned.

Other teams all progress as planned.

Some of my teams look like they took it easy in the final round of games. However, all 4 qualified and get a home game in the next round. No easy fixtures to progress in the cup competitions. Full focus required going forward 

Europa Conference Cup

Juventus 6 Wolves 2
Hearts 0 Soton 2

Napoli 3 Leicester 1
Aberdeen 0 Everton 5

Derry 2 Palace 2
Motherwell 2 Malaga 1

Bruges 1 Westham 1
Roma 3 Dundalk 1

Quarter-Final draw
Wolves vs Everton
Napoli vs Soton
Palace vs Roma
Westham vs Motherwell

Intertoto Cup

Dundee Utd 1 Consett 1
St Johnstone 0 Coventry 2

Marseille 4 Bate 0
Dundee 2 Red Star 1

Parma 0 Rennais 1
Raith 4 Lisbon 2

Cagliari 1 Wednesday 0
Azogues 2 Crusaders 3

Quarter-Final draw
St Johnstone vs Red Star
Marseille vs Coventry
Rennais vs Wednesday
Cagliari vs Raith

Intercity Cup

Honved 3 Cherry 0
West Brom 3 Hudds 0

Ujpest 0 Sampdoria 2
Blackburn 1 Boavista 0

Bordeaux 2 Hibs 7
Derby 5 Udinese 3

Copenhagen 1 Fiorentina 2
Slovan 0 Fulham 2

Quarter-Final draw
West Brom vs Sampdoria
Blackburn vs Hudds
Hibs vs Fiorentina
Fulham vs Bordeaux

SudEuropa Cup

Basel 5 Dumbarton 3
Stoke 2 Bremen 3

Zurich 5 Swansea 6
Norwich 1 Morton 1

Rosenborg 0 Lyngby 2
Wimbledon 1 Wigan 1

Lillestrom 0 Torino 1
Ferencvaros 1 Tranmere 3

Quarter-Final draw
Bremen vs Zurich
Swansea vs Dumbarton
Rosenborg vs Ferencvaros
Tranmere vs Wimbledon

Copa SudAmerica

Palmeiras 0 Nacional 0
Cruz Azul 2 Fenix 2

Rosario 2 Velez 2
Coritiba 3 Atlas 2

Talleres 0 Gremio 7
Portuguesa 1 Guadaljara 0

Racing 0 Defensor 4
Lorenzo 3 Toluca 2

Quarter-Final draw
Nacional vs Velez
Coritiba vs Cruz Azul
Portuguesa vs Toluca
Defensor vs Guadaljara