Season 35 Week 6 processing...

Welcome to week 6.

Reset is underway.

Had a very enjoyable week away thanks to all who asked. Good to be back though...

Just in departures at Palma on the way home now!!!!!

Sub consciously timing my holidays with CF …. that’s a worry.

Data entry is underway...

WATFORD

The manager upgraded his computer at home, so much so that the windows OS didn’t recognise the computer any more and required a new key (of course, its windows) Then the changes to Window 11, made it so that the Order sheets don’t fit on one page (set margins left and right to 0.5 to resolve).
Technical difficulties out of the way, onto this weeks turn.
Last weeks defeat to Plymouth (although a spirited fight) has left the side well wide of the mark to put up a challenge for a title this season. So new signing Enzo, having played a few friendlies last week makes his debut this week to build his partnership with Rice, will this last a decade? More reinforcements are required… Evan Ferguson departs the club this week having been understudy last season, but the manager wanted to bring in Anthony Gordon to help with the FLY formation and look to challenge Paqueta at LW.
The side is starting to look bloated, so some players may have to leave to keep the harmony inside the squad.
 
This week's opponents are Man Utd, lead by Bruno Fernandes who is phenomenal at TM and no doubt cause huge problems for the side.
 

AC MILAN

Having dominated the Game, the Rossoneri struggled to break down a Superb Francesco Bardi in goal and kept the side in the game and earned them a point, and two dropped for Milan.  
AURELIEN TCHOUAMENI is still learning the language.    
Could this be hindering the side? The manager has ensured that the Player Improvement Manager has the correct BUDGET to provide the best environment for the players to settle in. Hopefully he isn’t making any Late night visits while the players are playing Away…
Florentina are this weeks opponents and look a real test, with the likes of Verratti and Grifo. Hopefully the manager can exploit the defence who consist of Venuti, Ranieri…
As for the CUP, Alkmaar are the side looking to stop Milan from progressing. No changes made to the CUP side, to help build up team cohesion.
Again, the manager is scouting and looking to bring in new recruits to help maintain the future of the club.

 
LEVERKUSEN

Another 5 goals for Leverkusen who are being driven forward by Joao Felix… Really seems to have found his place at TM… Will he survive the season at Leverkusen or will he be rewarded for his fine form by a move to Watford… Manager is pleased that Boniface managed to get another 2 goals this week which has vindicated the managers decision to put his faith in the Nigerian forward and move Lewandowski on.
Antonio Rudiger took a knock last week and isn’t fit for this week's clash. The manager brings in Soyuncu who partnered Szalai last year and still retain a strong partnership.
Karlsurhe are this week's opponents and it no doubt going to be a extremely high scoring game.. “Were going to score one more then you” Hopefully Leverkusen fans will be on the winning side come the final whistle.
Leverkusen travel to Spain where they will face off against Espanol to further drive their ambitions to lift an European trophy again.
 
 

BOTAFOGO

Not the most convincing of wins for Botafogo, who were underpar by their own standards. But Casemiro and Neymar Jr driving the side forward to claim all 3 points and keep the side atop of the league.
Vasco are the league opponents, who are usually tough opposition and no doubt will expect more of the same this week! Hopefully Botafogo show more desire this week to perform!
As for the CUP, former club Cruzeiro are looking to be the thorn in the side of the Rio club. Trying to progress and maintain the strong start to the season.
 
 
Good luck to everyone!

Great read Phil, disappointed to see Gordon go to a rival as he is a top player and will be great for Watford I'm sure.

Offered Geoff Savio in a swap for Gordon but never heard back but I guess if his need for a CF is greater then that would explain it!

Champions Cup - Match Day Three - Results

Charlton 2 Benfica 0
Barcelona 1 InterMilan 1

Plymouth 1 PSV 2
RealMadrid 0 Ajax 1

Chelsea 1 Porto 0
Schalke 1 Napoli 0

Watford 4 ManCity 3
Bayern 1 Paris 2

Europa Cup

Bohemians 2 Rangers 4
Sevilla 1 Gornik 2

Nantes 5 Celtic 0
Mechelen 1 ManUnited 0

Atletico 4 Feyenoord 3
Arsenal 3 Etienne 0

ACMilan 10 ( ten ) Alkmaar 1
Liverpool 0 Monaco 0

Copa Libertadores

Santos 1 Amexica 0
Barselona 0 RiverPlate 1

Fluminense 1 Estudiantes 0
Sao Paulo 3 Argentinos 3

Botafogo 3 Cruzeiro 0
Vasco 4 Corinthians 1

Independente 1 Penarol 0
Flamengo 1 Boca 1

League games will kickoff at 1000 hours Wednesday morning...

3 very solid cup games! 
Momentum changing win for Watford? (Onana kept his place for the CUP game)
Milan had there weet-a-bix? 10 goals... (Hopefully the Goals scored bonus isn't too high  )
Botafogo, making things look routine!
Fingers crossed Leverkusen kept up the good CUP performances.

Well those results thrown group B wide open, disappointing result for Plymouth but won’t be deterred - not making any changes. Does mean Plymouth need 2 wins from the last 3 to go through!

Coffee ready for the league games, early start as ever for the manager but excited to see what a settled side might be able to do against the toughest and most successful side in the game!

A bit later than advertised but the players are lined up and the ref blows his whistle, let loose the dogs of war and let the mayhem commence. Good luck to everyone this week...

Wednesday 1 WestBrom 0 Manu Garcia on 2 minutes.
Palace 0 Bournemouth 1 Brooks.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

A bit later than advertised but the players are lined up and the ref blows his whistle, let loose the dogs of war and let the mayhem commence. Good luck to everyone this week...

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5672084/2024/07/31/manchester-city-kick-offs-fine/

Don't be getting yourself a fine Paul 

Cherry 1 Harps 0 Tedic header on 3 minutes.
Zaragoza 0 Valencia 1 Tello.

Phil@Watford wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

A bit later than advertised but the players are lined up and the ref blows his whistle, let loose the dogs of war and let the mayhem commence. Good luck to everyone this week...

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5672084/2024/07/31/manchester-city-kick-offs-fine/

Don't be getting yourself a fine Paul 

Botafogo 1 Vasco 0 Saul Niguez header on 4 minutes.
Wolves 1 Swansea 0 Bonatini header.
Westham 1 Coventry 0 Barkley.

Stoke 1 Southend 0 Toney on 5 minutes.

Independente 1 Estudiantes 0 Palacios on 7 minutes.
Ipswich 0 Burnley 1 Bergwijn.
Rennais 0 Brestois 1 Mbuku.
Molde 0 Viking 1 Magnar Odegaard header.
Rangers 1 Inverness 0 McCleland header.
Dundee Utd 0 St Johnstone 1 Sean Longstaff.
Barcelona 1 Bilbao 0 Pedri.

ManCity 0 Plymouth 1 Ferran Torres on 8 minutes.
Rennais 1 Brestois 1 Lee Kang-In.
ACMilan 1 Fiorentina 0 Rafael Leao.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

A bit later than advertised but the players are lined up and the ref blows his whistle, let loose the dogs of war and let the mayhem commence. Good luck to everyone this week...

Need this kind of introductions to big derby games in real life - unleash the Dogs of War....

Rennais 2 Brestois 1 Griezmann on 9 minutes.

Rangers 2 Inverness 0 Barrie McKay on 10 minutes.

Ajax 1 PSV 0 Stengs on 11 minutes.
Napoli 1 Udinese 0 Tutino.