Season 24 Week 9 processing ...

Greetings and welcome to the start of week 9 ...

I hope nobody is suffering at the hands of this inclement weather, here in Stithians we are up quite high ( high for Cornwall anyways ) so we haven't had any water problems yet just a bit of wind, well quite alot actually, but nothing too drastic.

I have orders from Man City, Newcastle, Chelsea, Birmingham, Leicester, Plymouth, Watford, Charlton, Fulham, Inter, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Schalke and Inverness.

Steve@Hull wont be joining us, he said the game was more complex than he had expected.

Funny you say that,was trying to talk my brother into joining and taking the headseat as derby.

His words were exactly that, looks a little too complex.

I told him he's mad and it's not.

But actually it is but that's the beauty of it been playing this game now five years or so, have a Uefa cup and a league title in the cabinet and only last turn found out an invaluable piece of information that I never knew about.

I think to a new comer the game can be perceived as quite daunting but it's that level of depth that makes it so addictive. 

It's a shame there isn't an easier way of introducing and explaining the game to a potential new manager cos once your in your hooked.

Now about this week and those 3 points Paul

On the train to London so killing time 

Fulham teams news:

It's one of the biggies and probably tie of the week. 

Entertaining Plymouth at our place.

The front line has been decimated with the loss of luis Suarez and Andy Carroll 

So Mario moves into the centre forward position with Antonio Valencia and gervinho move into the ST positions as we try and take the game to the league leaders.

Gervinho finally makes his full league debut despite being at the club for well over a season and James Milner returns to the midfield at the expense of the unfortunate jack Rodwell.

This game represents a big moment in Valencia and gervinhos Fulham careers, while gervinho is an invaluable squad member he must show that he is capable when called upon.
As for valenica, he needs to show he is capable of playing in a slightly different role as the club evolves he needs to show he can move with it, with intense competion for his shirt in the shape of Adam lallana he's got a fight in his hands for that first 11 spot.

Elsewhere Feyanoord continue their persuit of the Ajax winning machine, need to address the staff situation there as a lot of players arnt training as well as they should be and this needs sorting.

Big news on the transfer front sees one of world footballs hottest young talents move to pasteurs new with an exciting talent coming in and the space being made for some of the new crop to step up to the plate and showcase their abilities 

Exciting times

hi paul mine has been posted so should arrive.

switched tactics and put a 30m openbid in. first time ive sat and gone through turn fully for ages.

Thanks guys, I've just started to enter all the data now.

Ah didn't realise I was away. Was sure I was at home against you Will lol.
Oh well...

Leicester have a six pointer with Newcastle. With no Carrick and no teeth in front of goal. Oh joy.

Oh balls,

Maybe I'm away.

Fulham v Plymouth
Birmingham v Chelsea
Leicester v Newcastle
Arsenal v Charlton
Watford v Man City
Spurs v Liverpool

Games will kickoff at 1000 wednesday.

Fulham v Plymouth

Biggest game of the week at the Cottage.  A clash of champions, pits the current holders against the previous winners.  After a year of transition at Plymouth, the current squad are looking to mount a serious challenge this year.  Already top of the table this year, albeit on goal difference, they look a strong contender to lift the title. A game away at the current champions will be a real testing ground for their ambitions.  Fulham on the other hand have already conceded a bit of ground on the leaders following last weeks disappointing result, which was compounded by a couple of injuries to Carroll and Suarez.  They go into the game a little light up front, but like Will says, it is up to the squad players to step up to the mark.  Really tough one to call as always, will home advantage decide it, or will Ben be able to take advantage of some stellar players missing from the Cottagers line up.

Birmingham v Chelsea

Although this isn't a top of the table clash, it still has a bit riding on it.  Both teams come off the back of two impressive 1-0 away wins, and currently sit 6th and 7th in the table.  A win for either would propel them back into the mix at the top of the table and a loss would drop them closer to the teams fighting relegation.  So a big game for both these sides, it could determine the pattern for the rest of their season.  Birmingham must be the slight favourites having home advantage but then who would have given Gaz a chance at the Cottage last week?  Superb result, so can never be written off.

Leicester v Newcastle

Both these teams come off disappointing home defeats and both are currently stuck in the bottom three.  Both sides however have got more quality on the pitch than their league positions suggest.  Surely it is only a matter of time before both experienced managers turn things around.  Rich has obviously already stated the lack of his midfield creator Carrick is a worry, while Mark will be missing the influence of Vurnon Anita in the middle of the park after his sending off last week.  Neither team will want to lose but a draw will not do either team any good too.  Hopefully will be an entertaining game with plenty of goals.....for the neutral anyway.

Watford v Man City 

The joint league leaders are at home this week, hoping to carry on their red hot form against an up-and-down Man City side.  Geoff still seems to be trying to get the best out of a new look City side that he has had to rebuild.  Maybe this year may come too soon to win the league, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them in and around it by the end of the season, certainly a dark horse to win one of the major cup competitions.  A great win last week away to a new look Arsenal followed a good performance away at Charlton in a game they didn't deserve to come away with nothing. 
What a turnaround from the Vicarage Road side this season.  Seemingly unbeatable, scoring goals for fun whilst still maintaining the tightest defence of previous seasons.  A good bet for the title this year, their form seems to show no signs of faltering, although it is still early in the season and there is a long way to go.  Hats off to Jamie for finding a formation that is getting the best out of his vast array of stars.  The work that gets done in the scouting department seems to be coming to fruition.
A tight game but surely a step too far for Geoffs rebuilding mission?

Spurs v Liverpool

A big game for these two reality managed teams, as both are hovering just above the dotted line.  After a flying start to the season Liverpool have tailed off a little despite holding on for a valuable point last week.  Spurs are very hard to predict as they will have good performances one week and shockers the next.  With home advantage can Spurs get 3 vital points? Can see this one being a draw?

1000 hours today confirmed as kickoff time, great preview Tom, thanks.

Excellent. For what seems like the first time in ages, I'm in front of my screen in the office for the whole morning... tea in hand, to watch the foxes try and avoid a fifth home league defeat of the season.

The players are out for their warm up session...

The teams are lining up...

And we're off...

Palace 0 Soton 1 Guly on 3 minutes.
Feyenoord 0 Sittard 1 Bia.
Napoli 0 Cagliari 1 Thiago.

Lazio 0 Inter 1 Coentrao with a header.

Banstead 1 Chester 0 Weiss 5 minutes.

Palace 0 Soton 2 Adam Johnson on 6 minutes.

Celtic 1 Motherwell 0 Delgado on 8 minutes.

quiet in most of the big games so far, except for Inter who have taken an early lead...

Hamburg 1 Stuttgart 0 Kolk on 10 minutes.
Berlin 1 Bochum 0 Almeida.
Juventus 1 Sampdoria 0 Pavlenko.
CSKA 0 Anzhi 1 Pintado.
Inverness 0 Dundee Utd 1 Russell.
Celtic 2 Motherwell 0 Toja.

Rotterdam 0 Ajax 1 Castelen on 11 minutes.