Season 25 Week 03 processing...

Morning all,

Monday morning and welcome to week 3 of the new season.

No orders yet from Birmingham, Leicester or Schalke, everybody else's orders have arrived safe and sound, thanks.

Morning Paul, early start after a good weekend?

Nothing from me this time sorry. Will straighten out next time hopefully.

Tom@Charlton wrote:

Morning Paul, early start after a good weekend?

the times are all screwed up on the forum atm, was about 8 o'clock when I posted that
but yeah, good weekend.

Man City v Spurs

After saying last weeks fixture against Fulham will show us what City are currently made of, they couldn't have responded in a more resounding manner.  A three nil victory away to the previous years champions is one hell of a statement.  It isn't like Geoff is resting on his laurels either, the capture of James Milner is a fantastic one, a player he has coveted for many years. He will fit seamlessly into the system at the Etihad, other managers should be very afraid of this City side, it has taken Geoff a couple of years to steady the ship but now City are back!
Spurs have had a steady start to the season, two draws from two games.  This game will really show us what they are made of, personally I don't see them causing City too many problems in this one.

Birmingham v Watford

Game of the week this one, with two of the early front runners and favourites for the title clashing at St Andrews.  Birmingham have had a good start with 4 points from a possible 6 and are gonna be a very hard team to beat this year.  Watford have shot out of the blocks this year, and with their galaxy of stars all trying to get a place in the team it is gonna take a very good team to finish above them this year. With two wins under their belt so far, 3-0 and 3-1 they aren't just getting over the line against their opponents, they are battering them.  This game will prove a step up to that they have faced so far.


Man Utd v Everton

Contrasting starts for these two teams, both having got promoted from the Championship last season.  It looks like being a long season for United fans as a solitary point from their opening two games means that they sit just above the dotted line.  Everton however, with two wins out of two,
are one of only two teams with a 100% record in the top league.  Exciting times ahead for the fans of the Goodison Park outfit. Will this one go with form or can United cause an early season upset?
The transfer listing of fans favourite Dimitar Berbatov does suggest all is not well at Old Trafford....


Blackburn v Plymouth

Another title favourite in action here, with last years Champions travelling to newly promoted Blackburn. 4 points from two games is a solid start from Bens side, and with all due respect to Blackburn, thuis should be another three here. The amount of talent in Plymouth's side and on the bench, reminds me of the times when the south coast side dominated the league under the previous manager.
Blackburn have no points from their opening two games, although they did put in a very spirited performance against Charlton last week and could easily have come away with something from that fixture.  Their fans will be hoping that they can show some of that determination again this week, amidst what has been a very tough opeing to the season for them.


Chelsea v Fulham

A fiesty London derby this one, with both sides reality managed.  Chelsea have faced Charlton and Plymouth so far this season, a start Jose hasn't been happy with having a go at the fixture computer in a recent interview.  Both games have been close and I think Chelsea will cause a lot of teams problems this year due to the players they still have there but also the special one being in charge.  Fulham have completely lost their identity from a few seasons ago, a lot of faces have gone and a lot have been brought in, maybe they just haven't settled in yet, but to sit rock bottom after two games will never appease the fans.    Felix Magath has a lot of work to do not just to turn the clubs fortunes around but also to get the fabs back onside, especially due to the success they have had over the previous years.


Wolves v Leicester

Game of the week in the Championship, second place at home to third.  Both teams have had a great start to the season sitting on four points in second and third in the table.  A clash of styles here
as WOlves will continue with their long ball game whilst Leicester will try fast incisive football through the middle of the park and in particular through their main man Samir Nasri. Tough one for Leicester this, especially away from home, although a win would really put down a marker to the others in the league that they will be up there challenging.


Boro v Newcastle

Difficult to assess the start made by Newcastle this season.  You could look at it both ways.  Two games in and they remain unbeaten or two games in without a win.  Drawing the first two games isn't the worst start in the world, but I'm sure Mark will be hoping to pick up his first three points in this game.  As if there wasn't enough quality in Marks squad, especially in the attacking areas with Lukaku et al, but the Newcastle manager managed to pull off a masterstroke recently and sign the outstanding Pelle. Probably the most in form forward in the Premier League at the minute.


Norwich v Villa

Although it took a last gasp winner last week from Yohan Cabaye, three points were picked up nevertheless by the new-look Villa side.  It will no doubt take time to knit the players together and for the performances to come, but four points from a possible six, after the overhaul that the Villa Park outfit has gone through over the summer is nothing short of sensational.  Would we expect any different from the manager in charge? To pick up points when your not playing at your maximum does suggest a title challenging team? I know the aim at the start of the season was to achieve a play-off place but after such a good start many pundits are saying this Villa side will be up there come the end of the season.
Gordon Cowans was recently heard waxing lyrical about the new side and in particular the new look defence that has yet to be penetrated this season.  Villa fans will be keen to get a little revenge on Norwich in this fixture, due to the East Anglian side beating them on the last day last season to extinguish any hopes of the playoffs.  Should be a feisty encounter this one.

Just emailed you Paul, apologies no proper turn from me, just haven't had time

Not sure what is going on with the forum atm, looking into it...

Great write up again Tom, thanks for that.

Games will kickoff at 1000 hours Wednesday morning.

Just watching the FA cup games playing out and already two big names have fallen by the wayside to smaller opposition. Not sure it's such a good idea these days to play a weakened side. Bit risky it would seem.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Great write up again Tom, thanks for that.

Games will kickoff at 1000 hours Wednesday morning.

Just watching the FA cup games playing out and already two big names have fallen by the wayside to smaller opposition. Not sure it's such a good idea these days to play a weakened side. Bit risky it would seem.

Oh dear, was a little worried about this.  Thought I might get away with it but have a feeling it might be me falling by the wayside already this season.  You'd think I'd have learnt from last season...

I love that there are very low expectations for Villa. Only upside in any result.

If anyone is still having problems with the times on the forum, apparently we all need to adjust our own settings individually.

Go to the PROFILE tab at the top, then PREFERENCES, then scroll down to timezone, choose London and SAVE.

Should be ok after that.

Looking into messages still.

Tom@Charlton wrote:

If anyone is still having problems with the times on the forum, apparently we all need to adjust our own settings individually.

Go to the PROFILE tab at the top, then PREFERENCES, then scroll down to timezone, choose London and SAVE.

Should be ok after that.

Looking into messages still.

Thanks Tom.

I'm just going to run through the pertinent FA Cup results while the league games prepare for kickoff...

Birmingham 1 Wednesday 0 Van Persie
Blackpool 0 Charlton 0 pens 2-1
QPR 0 Leicester 0 pens 2-3
Villa 4 Exeter 0 Lafferty 2 Pienaar Cabella
Newcastle 0 Ipswich 1
Stoke 1 Plymouth 2 Podolski Elford
Man City 2 Lincoln 1 Denilson Huws
Watford 2 Forest 0 Diego 2

also through are Fulham Southampton Man United Blackburn Palace on pens Chelsea on pens Liverpool Arsenal Everton Westham on pens and Wimbledon, amongst other smaller clubs.

Full results with your turns.

Rich@Leicester wrote:

Just emailed you Paul, apologies no proper turn from me, just haven't had time

Ok Rich, I'll do what I can, teams are already entered though yesterday.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

I'm just going to run through the pertinent FA Cup results while the league games prepare for kickoff...

Birmingham 1 Wednesday 0 Van Persie
Blackpool 0 Charlton 0 pens 2-1
QPR 0 Leicester 0 pens 2-3
Villa 4 Exeter 0 Lafferty 2 Pienaar Cabella
Newcastle 0 Ipswich 1
Stoke 1 Plymouth 2 Podolski Elford
Man City 2 Lincoln 1 Denilson Huws
Watford 2 Forest 0 Diego 2

also through are Fulham Southampton Man United Blackburn Palace on pens Chelsea on pens Liverpool Arsenal Everton Westham on pens and Wimbledon, amongst other smaller clubs.

Full results with your turns.

Oops.

Will look even worse if the first team don't get three points today...

Based on the scorers some weakened teams being played.really happy with 4-0 even against weak opposition and excellent to see Lafferty doing what he was signed for.

At least I won't get Villa in the next round...

Can see someone coming a cropper at Villa Park this season!

Tom@Charlton wrote:

At least I won't get Villa in the next round...

Can see someone coming a cropper at Villa Park this season!

....... probably the home team at some stage. 

Rob@Inter wrote:

Tom@Charlton wrote:

At least I won't get Villa in the next round...

Can see someone coming a cropper at Villa Park this season!

....... probably the home team at some stage. 

At last we have kickoff...

Banstead 1 Luton 0 Weiss on 2 minutes.
Betis 1 Celta 0 Blasczykowski.

Banstead 2 Luton 0 Tutte header on 6 minutes.
Atletico 0 Real 1 Falcao penalty.

Juventus 0 Inter 1 Higuain header on 9 minutes.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Banstead 2 Luton 0 Tutte header on 6 minutes.
Atletico 0 Real 1 Falcao penalty.

 Wow, what a start!

Vasco 0 Santos 1 Romario on 10 minutes.