Half term report

Well, maybe a week late, but interesting to see how managers feel half way through their seasons? Pleased with how it has gone or disappointed? Parent and feeder.

1. Thoughts on your team's performance so far?

2. What will be a good finishing position for your teams?

3. Most important fixture left this season?

4. Most important player for the remainder of the season?

5. Do you anticipate any tactical changes for the run-in?

6. Which position is most in need of strengthening?

7. Your own signing of the season so far?

8. Overall signing of the season so far?

9. Your club's player of the season so far?

10. Footballer of the year so far?

11. Which of your players is on borrowed time, and needs to start performing?

12. Who will win the golden boot in your league?

13. Which youngster is banging the door down for an opportunity?

14. Who do you think will win your league?

1. Thoughts on your team's performance so far?
Happy that I've got a bit of a cushion from the drop zone as my aim was always to stay in the Premier League, Would have liked a few more goals though but Mixed is a bit up and down so might look to change that next season.

2. What will be a good finishing position for your teams?
5th or 6th I would say

3. Most important fixture left this season?
Last four games all away from home

4. Most important player for the remainder of the season?
Luis Suarez

5. Do you anticipate any tactical changes for the run-in?
Nope, don't wanna upset the apple cart

6. Which position is most in need of strengthening?
Goalkeeper and LH probably keep saying i'm gonna get rid of Zhirkov but he's been in superb form

7. Your own signing of the season so far?
Oscar but not really had a run in the team yet.

8. Overall signing of the season so far?
erm........don't know

9. Your club's player of the season so far?
Toss up between Luis Suarez and Ramires for me

10. Footballer of the year so far?
Usual suspects...Tevez,Rooney,Suarez,

11. Which of your players is on borrowed time, and needs to start performing?
Not on borrowed time but Ben Arfa been bit dissapointing

12. Who will win the golden boot in your league?
Suarez hopefully but not to bothered

13. Which youngster is banging the door down for an opportunity?
None really but Nathaniel Chalobah could be the next one

14. Who do you think will win your league?
Fulham...big admirer of the job Wills done their

Inter

1. Thoughts on your team's performance so far?
Steady in the League although still a very close race. Draws when we dominated games against Juve and Lazio earlier in the season still painful. Huge game against Juve this weekend - a win and it's a 7 point gap, a loss and it's only 1. Definition of a 6 pointer.

CL - glad to have qualified top of the group after starting with a loss against Charlton. Then I drew Barca .......

2. What will be a good finishing position for your teams?
Should be first, injuries permitting.

3. Most important fixture left this season?
This week against Juve. Probably too early to be a title decider but certainly a huge influence.

4. Most important player for the remainder of the season?
Higuain. Joined the likes of Rooney, Tevez, Silva, Messi and RVP as a decider of games.

5. Do you anticipate any tactical changes for the run-in?
FAS has worked well as a change after 2 successful seasons with SLO. No changes in tactics.

6. Which position is most in need of strengthening?
Right back. Joao Pereira is very solid but one of Danilo or De Sciglio will probably take over next season.

7. Your own signing of the season so far?
Khedira. Doing the job Nocerino couldn't quite handle. Covers at AM and makes the worries over Pirlo's age less of a concern. Has also shone at DL and DR.

8. Overall signing of the season so far?
I think the one which will prove most important is Iain bringing in Falcao.

9. Your club's player of the season so far?
Higuain.

10. Footballer of the year so far?
David Silva or Higuain.

11. Which of your players is on borrowed time, and needs to start performing?
Cavani/Jovetic.

12. Who will win the golden boot in your league?
Higuain.

13. Which youngster is banging the door down for an opportunity?
De Sciglio, El Shaarawy, Varane or Verratti. All 4 are worth a place.

14. Who do you think will win your league?
Hopefully Inter.

Boca

1. Thoughts on your team's performance so far?
Really poor in the League although topping the table as we're suffering from a transition period. Libertadores much more comfortable.

2. What will be a good finishing position for your teams?
First.

3. Most important fixture left this season?
This week entertaining River Plate in The Superclassico.

4. Most important player for the remainder of the season?
There's only 1 Mati Fernandez.

5. Do you anticipate any tactical changes for the run-in?
None.

6. Which position is most in need of strengthening?
DY and possibly ST.

7. Your own signing of the season so far?
Alex Teixeira permanently and Damiao on loan.

8. Overall signing of the season so far?
N/A

9. Your club's player of the season so far?
Matigol.

10. Footballer of the year so far?
Matigol.

11. Which of your players is on borrowed time, and needs to start performing?
Jefferson Farfan.

12. Who will win the golden boot in your league?
Mati Fernandez.

13. Which youngster is banging the door down for an opportunity?
Juan Iturbe on loan from Inter has been excellent.

14. Who do you think will win your league?
Weirdly River even though they're trailing by a bit.

Well, maybe a week late, but interesting to see how managers feel half way through their seasons? Pleased with how it has gone or disappointed? Parent and feeder.

Leicester

1. Thoughts on your team's performance so far?

top of the league and showing no signs of stopping, very happy. The pre-season decision to keep a small squad happy by reducing numbers as taken a hit with the recent injury pattern. So, loans have had to come in, nice to see the loan market becoming of worth again.

2. What will be a good finishing position for your teams?

Top.

3. Most important fixture left this season?

This weeks game at home to third-place and resurgent Liverpool.

4. Most important player for the remainder of the season?

Samir Nasri

5. Do you anticipate any tactical changes for the run-in?

Not at all.

6. Which position is most in need of strengthening?

The back line I'd suggest


7. Your own signing of the season so far?

have to say Azpilicueta on loan from Barca, has been superb and ever-present and I'll be doing my best to renew the loan for next season.

8. Overall signing of the season so far?

tough one. I'd say Will's pick up of Baines will be significant, and Lukaku by Mark.

9. Your club's player of the season so far?

Nasri, although Pavlyuchenko has started to come good. Krul also worthy of mention

10. Footballer of the year so far?

Bored of saying Tevez. But probably.

11. Which of your players is on borrowed time, and needs to start performing?

None of them have under-performed.

12. Who will win the golden boot in your league?

Defoe.

13. Which youngster is banging the door down for an opportunity?

Zaha - 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

14. Who do you think will win your league?

Leicester

Betis

1. Thoughts on your team's performance so far?

Nothing short of miraculous

2. What will be a good finishing position for your teams?

Top three.

3. Most important fixture left this season?

Barca away, need a point.

4. Most important player for the remainder of the season?

Andrei Yarmolenko

5. Do you anticipate any tactical changes for the run-in?

Not for all the tea in China.

6. Which position is most in need of strengthening?

centre back. have several options, but need something world class. GK too

7. Your own signing of the season so far?

Juanfran Torres. Consistently good. really pleased to get Pjanic in too

8. Overall signing of the season so far?

Falcao to Madrid

9. Your club's player of the season so far?

Busquets

10. Footballer of the year so far?

David Silva

11. Which of your players is on borrowed time, and needs to start performing?

Lissandro Lopez

12. Who will win the golden boot in your league?

Don't know, don't look that high. Messi I assume

13. Which youngster is banging the door down for an opportunity?
The Lissandro Lopez that plays for arsenal in Argentina not the Lyon version... I have them both

14. Who do you think will win your league?
Madrid

Charlton

1. Thoughts on your team's performance so far?
Slow start, great run to lift us up to second, then a disappointing result last week. Overall delighted as survival was the main option.
2. What will be a good finishing position for your teams?
Happy with survival, delighted with top five.

3. Most important fixture left this season?
Probably Fulham, both in the league and in Europe, lesson have to be learnt from our last meeting. Plus need to do all I can can to stop Will winning anything

4. Most important player for the remainder of the season?
Aside from Tevez, any other forwards as the goals seem to have dried up recently

5. Do you anticipate any tactical changes for the run-in?
Possibly, like having a few options available to me, to change if I need to

6. Which position is most in need of strengthening?
No major changes needed but always on the look-out

7. Your own signing of the season so far?
Very happy with Coutinho's form for Liverpool so far.

8. Overall signing of the season so far?
Probably Falcao, although he didn't come cheap!

9. Your club's player of the season so far?
Can I look any further than the little Argentine master?

10. Footballer of the year so far?
One out of the blue, but probably James Milner. Provided ideal balance for the dirty Cottagers

11. Which of your players is on borrowed time, and needs to start performing?
None on borrowed time, but strikers need to start performing!

12. Who will win the golden boot in your league?
Luis Suarez

13. Which youngster is banging the door down for an opportunity?
Coutinho, Suso, Wisdom, Sterling, Shelvey, Wanyama. All still a little young and inexperienced though.

14. Who do you think will win your league?
Please God, anyone but Fulham.

1. Thoughts on your team's performance so far

Surprising. Thought the slow start would be a sign of things to come with a few of the new recruits needing time to settle and develop but they've done themselves very proud so far

2. What will be a good finishing position for your teams?

being 5 clear at time of writing it got to say we want the title and this is as good a chance as any, but there's a hell of a lot of football to be played and as I found out last year that sort of lead can vanish in an instant - pessimistic about my forthcoming trip to the bridge, not a happy hunting ground

Said at the start of the season top 3 would be a great achievement but who knows its a tight old league this year and its still there for anyone who can throw a run together

3. Most important fixture left this season?

They're all important while we're still in the hunt

4. Most important player for the remainder of the season?

Mr reliable with class

5. Do you anticipate any tactical changes for the run-in?

Not really, there's a couple of options avaialble should I decide to change it but nothing revolutionary

6. Which position is most in need of strengthening?
Long term gk, and perhaps would be nice to get my hands on an up and coming cb with an eye to replacing jags down the line, plenty if time though

7. Your own signing of the season so far?
Either Sandro or Baines,Sandro should be part of the midfield for years to come but Baines edges it, since he's come in the back four seem to have found a resilience that had been unheard of throughout my time.well done Leighton

8. Overall signing of the season so far?
Got to be lukaku, great snip of a signing looks a talent and a half,

9. Your club's player of the season so far?
As Tom said probably jimmy Milner, has given the midfield some much needed balance and probably half the reason we're doing as well as we are, as with all best laid plans he wasn't ear marked for that role at the start of the year lol!

10. Footballer of the year so far?
God knows, there's some amazing talents to pick from,, would love to try and think of someone that isn't the normal contenders, I'd still give it mr tevez, perhaps hasn't been as devastating as previous years, but he's been as reliable as ever for Tom when it matters.
Surez a very very close second

11. Which of your players is on borrowed time, and needs to start performing?

Sitting top by five I can't really be too critical, as that's not what I was expecting after the first 3-4 games, Robben could do with bringing a little more but he's not on borrowed time I just have high expectations of the big man

12. Who will win the golden boot in your league?
Surez just

13. Which youngster is banging the door down for an opportunity?

How long can I keep ignoring Benteke, going to ask Paul if there's anyway I can play Carroll and benteke upfront together and have a new tactic called 'launch it'

Sissoko will probably be making the move too in the summer cash permitting.

Tom@Charlton wrote:

Well, maybe a week late, but interesting to see how managers feel half way through their seasons? Pleased with how it has gone or disappointed? Parent and feeder.

1. Thoughts on your team's performance so far?

Steady, not setting the world on fire but not lost a game yet,

2. What will be a good finishing position for your teams?

Winning the treble

3. Most important fixture left this season?

Barca away, Betis at home and any European game, got a little one against Schalka coming up

4. Most important player for the remainder of the season?

Messi probably

5. Do you anticipate any tactical changes for the run-in?

Nope

6. Which position is most in need of strengthening?

Always looking for defends but I'm happy at the moment

7. Your own signing of the season so far?

Falcao or Moura, Moura looks a bit of class every time I see him

8. Overall signing of the season so far?

Probably see above

9. Your club's player of the season so far?

D Silva

10. Footballer of the year so far?

Any Betis player

11. Which of your players is on borrowed time, and needs to start performing?

All players are doing well, like to see Hazard and De Gea do we'll for there loan teams

12. Who will win the golden boot in your league?

Probably Villa as Matt plays him most games, Silva and Messi don't always start in the league

13. Which youngster is banging the door down for an opportunity?

Moura and Nastasic,

14. Who do you think will win your league?

Barca have the 2 home games against me and Betis but Betis have the points at the moment, most exciting season in the league for ages, but I will go with Real

1. Thoughts on your team's performance so far

Off to my what seems usual slow start as I try to embed about ten new signings (should probably learn for next season!) but things seem to be picking up now as players start to find their feet. Things going well at Lyon but with a thin squad its important to get up the momentum whilst things are going well (might struggle to last the whole season though).

2. What will be a good finishing position for your teams?

Would say at Plymouth I would be happyish with a top 3 finish, having rebuilt my squad this season with a veiw to challenging next season. Would be great if Lyon could finish top but again top 3 would be a great achievement.

3. Most important fixture left this season?

Every game till the end of the season.

4. Most important player for the remainder of the season?

Either Aguero or Wilshere. At Lyon - Ibrahimovic.

5. Do you anticipate any tactical changes for the run-in?

No, although might start testing CAT depending on how things are going. At Lyon sticking with MIX.

6. Which position is most in need of strengthening?
I think I am in need to not signing anyone rather than keep trying to improve the squad.


7. Your own signing of the season so far?
Depending on how things go, Aguero which has allowed JW to move to TM.

Dante at Lyon - Who is a beast!

8. Overall signing of the season so far?
Falcao probably.

9. Your club's player of the season so far?
JW who seems to be relishing at TM so far.

Ibrahimovic - 13 goals in 13 games in the league - enough said.

10. Footballer of the year so far?
Luis Suarez who is flying at the moment

In France - would say Ibra.

11. Which of your players is on borrowed time, and needs to start performing?

Am happy with the whole squad really.


12. Who will win the golden boot in your league?
Luis Suarez

Ibrahimovic

13. Which youngster is banging the door down for an opportunity?

I would say (although not a youngester) that Kevin Mirrales is looking a great talent in real life and could well feature before the end of the season

Ignigo Martinez who looks a top future Spain CB.

14: Who will win the league.

I think either Arsenal or Fulham

In France - Any of the current top 4

1. Thoughts on your team's performance so far? steady so far

2. What will be a good finishing position for your teams? top nothing else will do

3. Most important fixture left this season? real madrid

4. Most important player for the remainder of the season? whoever plays as my tm

5. Do you anticipate any tactical changes for the run-in? no

6. Which position is most in need of strengthening? club doctor

7. Your own signing of the season so far? schmelzer

8. Overall signing of the season so far? ?

9. Your club's player of the season so far? kaka

10. Footballer of the year so far? ?

11. Which of your players is on borrowed time, and needs to start performing? no one just had my clearout

12. Who will win the golden boot in your league? ronaldinho

13. Which youngster is banging the door down for an opportunity? gotze

14. Who do you think will win your league? me

1. Thoughts on your team's performance so far?

Well we had a wobble mid season but we seem to have picked ourselfs back up after invigorating the team with a few new signings. And to be 2nd only 2 points off top still is fantastic!

2. What will be a good finishing position for your teams?

#1 - Thats my aim and thats why ive built my team.. To win, Simple.

3. Most important fixture left this season?

I feel this next game Vs Chelsea is gonna be Huge. I've still got Will to play, and my last game is Home to Plymouth.... Hope i dont need a Win last day of the season!

4. Most important player for the remainder of the season?

Rooney, been such a big player even in his few games.

5. Do you anticipate any tactical changes for the run-in?

Nope, I tried to tinker and give myself some options and on paper it'd be perfect... But this isnt a game of paper

6. Which position is most in need of strengthening?

Probs GK, need to replace Shay Given at some point i feel. and a DY to give myself some depth.

7. Your own signing of the season so far?

Rooney.

8. Overall signing of the season so far?

I would like to see Falcao score some more goals.

9. Your club's player of the season so far?

Walcott i believe was banging in the goals at the start of the season. Also Given deserves a shoutout got the best Defence aslong side Plymouth for only 8 goals Conceded

10. Footballer of the year so far?

Suarez so far, pulling chelsea up the table by himself i feel.

11. Which of your players is on borrowed time, and needs to start performing?

Not really on borrowed time, they just dont have much time left but Distin and Given.

12. Who will win the golden boot in your league?

Rooney or Suarez

13. Which youngster is banging the door down for an opportunity?

Ramsey and Jenkinson

14. Who do you think will win your league?

There is a possibility of 5 teams as it currently stands. I dont think any team can breathe.... Ever haha.