Season 24 Week 15 processing...

Well, I'm in the house ( as they say ) not sure how much I'll be able to concentrate today after an incredible weekend, but at least i'm here.

I only have six envelopes to open atm so I guess I'll get on with that.

I have orders from Man City (phone), Chelsea (IM), Leicester (phone), Plymouth, Watford, Charlton, Fulham, Inter Milan, Real Madrid (email), Barcelona and Inverness (phone).

Nothing from me again Paul... sorry, although I have sent you another £20.

Spurs v Plymouth

The joint leaders go into this one following a disappointing week last time around.  Dropped points at home to Liverpool and a European exit at the hands of the mighty Barca need to be soon forgotten about.  Hot on the heels of thse fixtures comes another potential banana skin for Ben's Plymouth.  Spurs, as we have said before, are more than holding their own in a very competitive league.  Sat comfortably in mid-table only two points behind last years Champions and twelve from the top.  Most Spurs fans eyes would have thought they'd be looking down rather than up, but although they are 10 points clear of the drop, they are showing signs of picking up enough points which should see them
finish in a comfortable position, which is more worrying for the teams occupying the bottom three.  The team from White Hart Lane seems settled in a WHV formation with no great surprises from week to week, but the players seem to fit and Harry has got them playing some good stuff at times.
On the face of it, most pundits will be expecting an away win though, as the amount of talent competing for first team places at Home Park is frightening.  Last week, it seems they missed the massive influence of Mesut Ozil, with Jovetic manly trying to cover the TM postion.  A late fitness test will see if the diminutive German will be available this week.  No other injury or suspension worries on the face of it, so possibly a fully fit squad to choose from for Ben.
Eight games to go for the south coast side to bring the glory days back to the fans, it always takes time for a manager to put his own imprint on a football team, but the way Ben has Plymouth set up and playing is certainly one to marvel at.


Arsenal v Chelsea

Massive game this one, arguably the biggest of the week, not for the reasons many would have thought at the start of the season.  Arsenal occupy the position just below the dotted line, whereas Gaz's Chelsea sit just above it.  Although there is 6 points difference between the two teams, a result either way would be massive, not just for Arsenal but also Mark and Rich who are also fighting at the bottom.  A home win in this one would really drag the side from Kings Road into a relegation fight and give hope to those already there, whereas an away win would almost seal the fate of all three teams at the bottom barring any Gus Poyet style miracles....
Arsenal come into this one on the back of yet another spirited perfromance away at Birmingham with the West Midlands outfit just edging it in the end. They are only so many times I can suggest Arsenal are on the brink of turning things around at the Emirates, with players finally settling and a formation and tactics finally being found for the plethora of talent available to the manager. The signs are there, just not the results, points are a priority and not many are arriving.  The team is running out of time and fast.  I can still see this Arsenal side turning someone over along the line, they certainly have the talent to do it but performance and style are not important towards the business end of the season.  Could Arsenal be a classic case of 'surely too good to go down'? The only problem they might have now, leaving it so late, is that they need players to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in.  Have they got the right type of player to do that or are they going down without a whimper....
Gaz's Chelsea are a difficult one to predict these days, generally when under guidance from their manager, they are a tough nut and certainly have the quality and tactical nous to beat anyone on their day.  However, the team has not had that guidance too many times this season
and results have suffered as a consequence.  Surely Chelsea are too good to go down?  A win in this one would certainly allay any fears that the Blues fans have this season.
What might stir the Chelsea manager into action is the return of his old nemisis Stuart Foster, following the former Roma managers recent comments regarding Gaz's ability to manage.  The Chelsea manager will be dead set on sending his players out to get a performance and seal the victory early to quieten all the boo boys.  Ironically, at a press conference recently it was pointed out to Gaz that should the axe fall on him, the bookies have installed Stu as 8/11 favourite to take on the hotseat....
No injury or suspension news for this one so far, so two fully fit squads should provide an entertaining, if tense, affair.


Man City v Newcastle

If ever there were two teams at opposite ends of the form table then this is it.  City, under the superb guidance of Geoff Fields, continue to rise up the table and all of a sudden seem unstoppable.  Fully settled in an ISF formation, players continually respond to subtle tweaks in the formation and players
waiting for their chance on the bench always respond to the managers needs.  It is a club, in my eyes, where the players fit, the formation fits and the manager fits.  With eight games to go, City are in real danger of making the title race a four way affair...
Last weeks rerun game away at leicester proved that even away from home they aren't afraid of playing open and expansive football. As home bankers go, this one looks on paper looks like it should be a cert, piling the pressure on Mark Sanderson in the Toon hotseat. Unbeaten at home this season, with the front six firing on all cylinders suggests it will be a tough job for the Newcastle back four.  City currently sit 8 points off the top with 8 games to go, stranger things have happened and the way City are playing at the minute nothing should be ruled out.  Will the title run-in experience of their manager prove to be vital for the Citizens?  With all due respect to Mark, I guess we will get a better idea if City can get right in the middle of the title mix next week, when they host the league leaders.  The gap potentially could be 2 points after that game. 
Newcastle are really suffering this year due to the other commitments of their manager, who unfortunately doesn't get as much time as he'd like to spend on the training pitch.  The squad of players there at St James' Park is an enviable one for most, just getting them to play together is a conundrum that either the manager or the training staff need to get their heads around. I have no doubt that if Mark could sit down with his squad he would soon get them playing in fashion that the Geordie fans have been accustomed too under his tutelage.  It is understood by our sources that depite his few absenses this season, the Newcastle board are fully behind the manager and see him as the perfect candidate for the future of the club, and are desperately trying to tie him down to a new long-term contract to warn off interest from other parties. 
However, the Premier League is an unforgiving one this year, and critics continually argue that the table doesn't lie.  There is no room for sentiment come the end of the season and the final tally of points, even for one of the most popular managers in the league.  If survival is to be achieved then Newcastle have to start their move now, and it couldn't be in a tougher fixture. Points are at a premium now, and like a few others the Newcastle fans will be keeping half an ear on the game at the Emirates and hoping for a home win.


Watford v Leicester

Another fixture with polar opposites in terms of form.  Jamie's side have been very strong this year and are very much in the title race.  One of three teams that have been near the top for the last few weeks, many pundits are tipping them to go the distance and lift the big one.  Despite slipping four points off the top last week, a 1-1 draw away to the current champions is a point gained rather than 2 lost, made even more impressive by the fact they had a massive win in the European Cup Quarter Finals away at a strong Juve side. In the shake up at the end of the season, that point could prove to be extremely vital, although it remains to be seen whether their exploits in Europe might ultimately tire them out quicker than their rivals in the title run-in. Either way, it has already been an outstanding season for the Hornets.  Last weeks hero could however be on his way out of Vicarage Road, Javi Garcia has been subject to interest from a couple of top level teams, including Fulham and Leicester.  It is believed that Jamie might be willing to listen to offers for the player too.  With plenty of young talent coming through, the position can easily be filled, thanks to
arguably the best scouting and recruitment setup in the game.  A ringing endorsement came last week from a rival manager, Rob Wilson of Inter, who said that the talent available to Jamie at both clubs is one to be seriously enviable of, and this commentator can't disagree. The scouting setup there has been top notch for years and the results are now coming to fruition with a serious title challenge happening.  This is a team that won't just be there for the short term, I think you'll see them challenging for many years to come. Massive team news this week coming from Vicarage Road, some good and some bad.  Good news is that the massively influential Moussa Dembele will face a late fitness test, but hopes are that he will be able to feature at some point.  The bad news is that Nacer Chadli has been ruled out for this game at least.  Although he might not seem like one of the most important fixtures in the team, his role in the new WHX formation has been invaluable.  Almost similar to losing a TM in the FAS formation.  Questions have been put to Jamie in the media, asking if he will continue with the formation that has served him so welll over the last few weeks with different personnel, or will it be a change of formation?  Team selection will not be revealed until an hour before kickoff, unless Jamie wants to show his hand early?
Leicester on the other hand, are having a tough season and find themselves in serious trouble at the wrong end of the table.  The managers absense has been sorely missed for the last few weeks, and the fans are hoping now he has returned that results can be turned around too.  Like we said previously, this league can be very unforgiving and results will show when there has been confusion on the training ground during the week previous to matchday.
A bizarre incident last week saw a reply of the match with Man City being replayed.  The outcome remained the same, however the Foxes showed a lot more spirit in the second game and that alone has given the fans something to hold on to.  Performances are there, its just the results that need to turn, unfortunately they need to turn quickly. if rumours are to be believed, the addition of Javi Garcia would be a massive one to the Walkers stadium outfit, the media are currently
awaiting further comment on the transfer from either manager.  The addition of a top end AM would surely allow the ever influential Michael Carrick to step forward into midfield and play his more creative game?  The loss last week of Anderson will leave a hole in the middle of the park for Rich, but plans have already been made for his loss.  The Brazilian moved to Man City to join his fellow Brazilian compatriots at Maine Road.  Another tough fixture this week away at Watford may be asking a little much of this Leicester side, but with the returning manager providing the players with a real shot in the arm, you never know.  At least the fans can be rest assured that the manager is still doing the best for the club and is certainly planning for the future., trying to bring in world class players along the way.  The gap between the haves and have-nots has really been felt this year by Rich, although survival is still achievable but points need collecting quickly with games running out.


Fulham v Liverpool

At the start of the season, this fixture would have earmarked as a one that features a team right in the title mix against a team battling bravely against sinking into the Championship.  However in reality, or at least in week 15 of the season, this fixture is of two teams firmly stuck in midtable.  Fulham currently lie 10 points off the top, 12 points clear of danger, whilst Liverpool are 12 points off the top and 10 ponts clear of the drop.
Whilst on the face of it, this fixture doesn't have a lot riding on it, a couple of back to back wins for either side could see them propelled right into the mix, alternatively a few defeats could drop them into trouble especially if the sides at the bottom start winning. This is a massive compliment to a Liverpool side that many critics gave little chance of staying up this year, it is conversely a disappointment to the fans of the Champions who were served up with such entertainment last year.  This year has been one of transition for the Fulham side, with plenty of players coming in and a few of the title winning squad having to find pastures new.  As a result, a few results have suffered but the quality is definitely still there, as last week against Jamie showed and previous weeks against other teams near the top.  It is just a case of finding that consistency and maybe settling on a formation that suits all parties.  A major headache facing the Cottagers boss at the minute is trying to crowbar three world class talents into the same forward line.  An enviable trio of Carroll, Balotelli and recently crowned player of the year Suarez, is causing the boss numerous headaches into finding the best way of lining up whilst getting the best out of all three.  If no title challenge comes this season, then I fully expect one to be up and running next season.  They didn't become champions for nothing.
Liverpool continue to surprise and produce results that defy the pundits, last week being a prime example.  Although Ben had a tough game in midweek, for the Liverpool players to come out of that fixture with a draw is a sign of how they are performing.  Another team that is a better unit than its individual parts, which can be a very successful recipe.
No important team news in this one, no new injury/suspension worries for either manager, but Will should be able to welcome the all-imprtant Sandro back into the matchday squad.

Other fixture : Charlton v Birmingham

Great preview again, thanks Tom.

OK. All the data is entered and I am now running the friendlies, reserves, youths and schoolboy matches. Then I will run the internationals and the league games should kickoff at 1000 hours wednesday morning as normal. Fingers crossed.

Great review Tom and the thought of Stu even sat in dugout at The Bridge sends shudders down the spine, But knowing Stu he'd flog the dugout as part of a deal

Excellent read Tom as always

Watford team news is garcia and Chadli out, dembele and Holtby in with a reshuffle in midfield, still whx 

No news to report on garcia yet

Welcome to game day...the players are out warming up and games will kickoff at 1000 hours.

Good luck to everybody...

Gaz@Chelsea wrote:

Great review Tom and the thought of Stu even sat in dugout at The Bridge sends shudders down the spine, But knowing Stu he'd flog the dugout as part of a deal

 

The whistle blows and the games have kicked off...

First goal of the day goes to...

Banstead's Emile Heskey, in his last season, he scores again, to make it

Banstead 1 MK Dons 0

after 3 minutes.

Maybe we should be taking Emile to the World Cup ?

CSKA 0 Dinamo 1 Aurelio on 3 minutes.

Sevilla 1 Espanol 0 Rodriguez on 4 minutes.

Empoli 0 Napoli 1 Hamsik freekick after 6 minutes.

Fluminense 0 Santos 1 Rivaldo freekick after 7 minutes.

Not a bad start Paul?

and now our first Premiership goal of the day and it has come at Anfield, so let's go over to Gary Imlach who is watching the Liverpool Fulham game...

Welcome to a cold Anfield where Fulham have taken an early lead through Mario Balotelli so after 7 minutes it is

Liverpool 0 Fulham 1

Tom@Charlton wrote:

Not a bad start Paul?

Always nice to get in front early, but hardly the world's toughest opposition.

and now we move over to Italy and the big game in Serie A where Juventus are hosting Inter Milan and Boomer Esiason has agreed to be our guest commentator today, as he takes a day off from his normal job, come in Boomer...

Welcome to rainy Turin where Edinson Cavani has struck early on to make it

Juventus 0 Inter Milan 1

after just 9 minutes.

Argentinos 1 Independente 0 Valdez after 10 minutes.

and now we head off to Watford to hear goal news from Adrian Metcalfe...

Alvaro Negredo has headed Watford into an early lead here and after 10 minutes it is now

Watford 1 Leicester 0