Season 34 Week 17 processing...

Welcome to week 17.

Reset is finished and data entry is underway...

Friendly games have kicked off and the league games are scheduled for 1000 hours on Wednesday morning...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Friendly games have kicked off and the league games are scheduled for 1000 hours on Wednesday morning...

Can't wait for another great week of CF action!

Schalke

Tough cup match v Karlsruhe, who have proven to be difficult to stop the last couple of seasons - so much so that I'm considering FLY tactics...still, sticking with SLA, but figure more long balls should catch them upfield...

A lge match against Bremen could be as tough, especially as I'm releasing my team to play FRE. They're all trained up but will revert to SLA if it's not going well on 65mins. A few game MODs will sort this as I'm playing LW/RWs who can change position easily enough.

Several News/Trials happening this turn, with the expectation that pretty much ALL of them will not be available! Still, you never know...

I love reading what people are thinking adds much more colour. Will post something later.

WATFORD

What a Sublime win for Watford last turn, having lost Luke Shaw due to a red card. The side rallied and managed to turn on the style and finish the game strong. 4-1 is a fantastic result and now the top 5 sides are separated by 4 points and with 6 games left to go… Could really go any direction!
This weeks opponents are Wednesday, who have struggled with there return to the premiership… But won’t be taken lightly as any team fighting for survival are dangerous opponents for sure! Renan Lodi comes into the side to replace Shaw, hopefully the brazlian flair can cause problems down the left.
As for the Cup game, Charlton! Always a tough affair when challenging for multiple trophies, so the manager has played a strong side with Cancelo, Abrahams and Bernardo returning to the Cup side. However, the manager resisted the urge to “Inspire” his side and will hopefully save it for a more impactful/effective time later in the season… Risky given how far in the Cup the side have come but.. The risk you take.
 

GENK

Belgian giants managed to maintain their 4 point gap, thanks to Camavinga and Lukaku who have formed a formidable partnership this season. Still to early to start tinkering with the side who could drop points if manager doesn’t remain focused. The side have been a little goal shy this season, scoring 47, 2^nd in the league behind Liege who have scored 67! Surely the manager isn’t happy with that?? However, on the flip side. Only conceded 2 goals all season. Impressive defensive!
Mechelen, stand in the way of CUP progression this week… So minimal changes to the side, Saelemekers and Mahrez are the only changes to the side. Last time out Genk ran out 1-0 winners …Fingers crossed more of the same!
 

LEVERKUSEN

3 wins on the bounce for Leverkusen! Why didn’t the manager this of changing things sooner?! 13 goals scored and 1 goal conceded. The fans are returning to the stadium to flocking to the stadium to see the Leverkusen all stars dazzle. Can the side keep up the momentum? Cologne are the next side to try and put the breaks on the side, boasting ledgends such as Reus, Ozil and Howedes.
As for the CUP, Frankfurt. Leverkusen are playing for pride in the CUP as all chances of the league finished along time ago. But glory can still be found. Forced change this week are Palhinha suffered a knock in last weeks game and will be deputised by Gueye who has found himself out of the side. Can he force his way into the managers thoughts?
 

BOTAFOGO

Games come thick and fast in Brazil! A narrow defeat to Santos last week in a tight affair which could have ended up going either way but Santos more clinical infront of goal. This week another huge clash, Fluminese! The manager is inspiring his side for this game. Need to not allow last weeks game to affect a sensational season so far. Manager hoping Casemiro can do the job on Countinho who has scored 30 goals this season!
Cup side have Cruzeiro in inbetween themselves are progession to the next round, cup team will have to prove more clinical after being knocked out of the Copa Liba!
 
Good luck to all!

Barca
Still second guessing myself and asking what I should have done better after Barca's Champion's League semi-final exit to Tom's Charlton. Also staring moodily at Karim Bezema and pondering if this is his last season at Barca. Santander in the League and Cadiz in the Cup should be considerably more straightforward. Valverde, Osimhen and Enzo Fernandez are all getting a run out in the Cup in preparation for bigger roles next season.
A new centre mid is on the horizon. He's been likened to Busquets and is already a regular in the Spanish national team squad. This could pave the way for Ndidi to exit.

Nacional
It's very much a case of if it's working don't break it in Montevideo. Bellavista in the League should be straightforward and there are no changes to what is a settled line up. The Cup is a much more difficult affair against Defensor, one of the traditional 'Big 4' in Uruguay. No changes again in the Cup as a strong side is fielded. 
Highly rated Ecuadorian youngster, Oscar Zambrano, is leaving for Norway and this will leave a gap in the schoolboy team so the scouting and recruitment teams are highly focused on finding a suitable replacement.

Hannover
To the surprise of everyone, including mostly the management team, Hannover are challenging for a top 3 spot in Germany. The addition of Timo Werner seems to have added some pace and threat up front. Can they keep it up? Jena are this week's visitors and will face an unchanged Hannover team who can hopefully build on recent good form. Unfortunately no Cup games to worry about due to Hannover's slow start to the season.

Rennes
A win in the League against 3rd placed Montpelier would see Rennes promoted this week. It feels like it has been a long journey from the fourth tier but it's been worth it. Mousa Diaby is making a return from injury and comes in on the left wing this week. The Cup is a much sterner test with top flight Monaco who are littered with stars. The Cup team is unchanged with Ernest Nuamah retaining his spot on the left wing, while Diaby only makes the bench.
Highly rated Michael Olise is making the huge step to a truly Tier 1 side as he makes the move to Real Madrid. 

Good luck to everyone.

Like Rob, I always enjoy reading these.  Thanks for the reviews guys, very interesting to see Andy trying new things, Rob buying top talent and Phil waking Leverkusen up from their recent slumber!

Charlton - Can't think of many better weeks I've had than last time out in all my years managing the team.  To win a crucial semi against an incredible manager in Rob and his near perfect Barca side was a sensational result but to follow that up with an away win at Plymouth and their star studded squad was an exceptional performance.  Of course, neither result wins Charlton anything so all the remaining games are equally as important.  This week starts with a cup tie against the impressive Watford side who seem to be really hitting form at the right time.  Will be a very difficult game I'm sure and not a lot to choose between the sides.  Could quite easily go either way.  Then a home game against Spurs which again will be tricky as they are fighting to keep their heads above water in the run-in.  Meanwhile the reserves and schoolboys hope to maintain their top spot whilst the youth team seem to be finally knitting together and maybe can chase down City above them.  Hopefully the week can be as positive as last time out.

Nantes - Currently level on goal difference at the top with Paris, a win is vital this week in the league game away to Toulouse.  Think the title will go right down to the wire again with nothing to choose between the two teams.  Nantes second half showing last time out really gave the fans hope that the new side are finally knitting together and can produce some decent results right when it matters the most.  A team a few points back this year, but not completely out of it, are Etienne.  They will be hoping to gain a bit of bragging rights by knocking Nantes out the cup with Ganso no doubt especially fired up again against his old team...

Wolfsburg - Along with Nantes, very disappointed to lose a European semi final last week albeit on penalties against a vastly improved Leverkusen side.  League form continues to amaze though and Wolfsburg seem to be in a fairly strong position at the minute, but then no prizes are given out in week 17.  Three points in the league are vital against Stuttgart as I'm sure the relentless Schalke and incredible Hannover will no doubt keep winning....Stuttgart again in the cup will provide a good marker to how the league game might go and hopefully the players can learn quickly from the first meeting.
Never break up a winning team is sage advice but Wolfsburg have an ageing team so a few will be moved on at the end of the season, hopefully causing as little disruption as possible.  Exits begin this week with Szoboslai heading to The Valley to try and fight with Bellingham for the DY position

Fluminense - Whilst my other teams are settled and set in their formations, Flum are struggling to currently find their own identity.  Experimental line ups begin this week to try and use the players to their strengths whilst maintaining a structure that keeps the team competitive.  Another European exit last week and a cup game this week against the unstoppable Botafogo could signal the end of the season for my side in Brazil but already looking forward to next season and what the players can do and how we can cause problems for others in the FRE formation.

Good luck to all!

Well if everyone is getting in on the act…

Plymouth
Having played around with a number of things this season, the manager has finally taken the plunge in moving to play a brand of football the club deserves with a shift to TOT - built around the two young Norway stars in Odegaard and Haaland. This week sees Plymouth go for real power in midfield with Partey and Caicedo looking to dominate and unleash a fluid front 4. Mitoma and Trossard wait in the wings to freshen things up later in the game.

Douglas Luiz begins to get acquainted with things at the club with a view to challenging Partey for a starting berth at AM. His ability to Tackle like a Rhino should add more power the midfield!

Twente
Twente might have gone as far as they can this season and it will be an uphill battle to challenge for the title! Destined to lose a few players at the end of the season to some of the other teams in the PIAT group, the manager starts to integrate some of his younger starts into the team.. 

Atletico
In an attempt to get both De Paul and Barella into the side, the manager mirrors the shift at Plymouth by moving to TOT. New signing De Bruyne is ready and waiting to slot into the TM position during the game, and new signing Bryan Zaragoza also prepares to become a much more important part of the side next season.

Independiente 
Independiente’s draw last week - although in a game they dominated - means a win is crucial. No changes other than Medina who comes back into the side after injury to restore a defence that has played the majority of 3 seasons together. Palacios pulling the strings at DY before an impending move to Atletico next season. Villar who has shone at Twente should make a more than adequate replacement!

Thanks guys, great previews, I hope it all workks out.

We are very close to kickoff now...

Time to make a quick coffee.

The ref blows for the start of the games, good luck to everybody today...

Birmingham 1 Bristol City 0 Daehli on 2 minutes.
Bordeaux 1 Etienne 0 Laborde.
Santander 0 Barcelona 1 Ruiz.

Great reviews , lets gooooo

Anderlecht 0 Bruges 1 Glebov on 3 minutes.
Montpellier 0 Rennais 1 Thuram header.
Stuttgart 0 Wolfsburg 1 Kroos.
Estoril 0 Braga 1 March header.

Cork 0 Shamrock 1 Igor on 4 minutes.
Birmingham 1 Bristol City 1 Burns.
Gladbach 1 Hamburg 0 Selke header.
Leverkusen 0 Cologne 1 Reus.

Bordeaux 1 Etienne 1 Seferovic on 5 minutes.
Leverkusen 1 Cologne 1 Hazard.
Hannover 1 Jena 0 Grillitsch.
Edinburgh 0 Aberdeen 1 McAllister.

Santos 1 Bragantino 0 Gabigol on  6 minutes.
Bohemians 0 Derry 1 Allione.
Bournemouth 1 Everton 0 Babel.
QPR 0 Wimbledon 1 Taylor.
Bordeaux 2 Etienne 1 Alan.
Juventus 0 Lazio 1 Belotti.

Paris 0 Nice 1 Petronilho on 8 minutes.

Birmingham 2 Bristol City 1 Willian on 9 minutes.

Chelsea 0 Villa 1 Rabiot on 10 minutes.
Charlton 1 Spurs 0 Thiago.
Birmingham 2 Bristol City 2 Engvall.
Bordeaux 3 Etienne 1 Pablo.
Celta 0 Atletico 1 Barella.
Danubio 1 Progresso 0 Anderson Ceara.

Wednesday 0 Watford 1 Abraham on 11 minutes.
Bremen 0 Schalke 1 Kimmich.

Charlton 1 Spurs 1 Perisic on 12 minutes.
Birmingham 3 Bristol City 2 Kenedy.

Norwich 1 Leeds 0 Welbeck on 13 minutes.
Inter 1 Empoli 0 Pessina.
Chicago 1 Harrisburg 0 Green.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Chelsea 0 Villa 1 Rabiot on 10 minutes.

pain!!!