Season 25 week 8 processing...

Good morning, and welcome to week 8 of the season...

I have orders from everybody except Newcastle, Real and Schalke.

England - Premier Division

Watford v Plymouth

It's a case of an irresistible force meeting an immovable object at Vicarage Road. Jamie's Hornets with the Spanish firepower of Negredo and Costa coming up against the rock solid defence of Ben's Pilgrims. Both teams play FAS and although free scoring Watford sit top and are at home the craft and guile of Ozil and Di Maria and the goals of Aguero and Podolski shouldn't be discounted. An epic in the making. Paddy Power giving 4/5 on Watford and even money on Plymouth so too tight to call. One moment of magic or one slip at the back could make all the difference.

Liverpool v Man City

The Citizens are hoping to take advantage of the top 2 playing each other when they take on Liverpool at Anfield. A short trip down the M62 for Geoff's resurgent City. City can count on goals from all over the pitch and will want to avoid another draw in a game they should win against the divisions bottom club. Liverpool .... short of goals, weak at the back, less points than a UK Eurovision song and when the ageing Dirk Kuyt is your star man you know why the home fans don't fancy a cold afternoon at Anfield. Looking at William Hill for this one and City looking comfortable at 1/5 and as for The Reds ... keep your money in your pocket. A 'Blue Avalanche' to sweep over Anfield. Dzeko evens to be first scorer.

Charlton v Fulham

Quietly sitting in behind the front pack but waiting to make that killer move are Tom's Addicks. With the mix of intricate skills and pace available Sturridge, Willian, Sterling and co should be closer to the top. Could a move for a top defender or defensive midfielder be on the cards? Interesting Tom was unavailable for comment as he was taking a winter vacation in Southern Europe according to the club's press room. As for Fulham ..... if ever a team needed a manager. Super Mario is not so super and Suarez is saving his biting for McDonalds. No goals and no motivation. Over to Betfair for this one and Tom's Scouse Addicks are overwhelming favourites and there's better odds on Suarez biting a Charlton player than there is of him scoring. Home banker for you 50p accumulator.

Chelsea v Birmingham

Rich's Brum travel to Stamford Bridge sporting a star studded attack which just hasn't caught light yet this season. RVP, Welbeck and Hernandez should be adding more cutting edge given the considerable supporting talents of Fellaini, Nani and Young to back them up. This week gives them an opportunity for 3 points after last week's creditable draw at City. Chelsea sport the Leagues weakest attack and with only 1 point at home this season look to be facing another difficult week in front of The Shed faithful. BetFred are giving 3/1 on Chelsea at home but that looks poor value. 4/5 for the visitors looks a gimme from the bookies and it's not often you can say that. It's got to be RVP and co to start firing on all cylinders as Birmingham look towards securing a top 3 spot.

Everton v Spurs

A game where neither team is playing FAS and not a TM in sight. Also 2 teams fighting to steer clear of the relegation zone. Everton are leaking goals like a 1993 Glenn Hoddle inspired Swindon and at the other end haven't troubled the score keepers in 3 games. Spurs have a slightly stronger defence and that could be the difference. Very close and with such little attacking edge the best bet is a correct score 1-0 to the visitors from Paddy Power. Spurs to nick it with a horrible scramble from a corner, some comedy defending and it goes in of Dempsey's shin. Possibly not one for the purists on the blue side of Stanley Park but a real relegation 6 pointer early in the season.

Blackburn v Man United

Pies and gravy at the ready as it's a Lancashire Derby for everyone to enjoy. Blackburn are all about Roque Santa Cruz the scorer of all their goals but with a leaky defence conceding more than 1 a game the SLO tactic isn't working out yet at Ewood Park. The visitors in total contrast play an open free flowing 1970's Dutch inspired TOT inspired by the mercurial Andres D'Alessandro and the occasionally clinical Pavlyuchenko. Louis van Gaal taking a break from doing voice overs for dodgy porn films has said, "Blackburn haven't won at home and we haven't won away so someone will lose a 0% record this week. I've told the lads not to defend and charge forward. I just hope the Glazers will give me £160m to spend soon." Back to William Hill for this one and the score draw is easy to back at 4/5. Could be lots of goals with these very contrasting tactics.

England - League 1

Villa v Bolton

League 1 is not the place for goals his season as no team has yet reached double figures. Villa are unbeaten at home but are without TM and top scorer Cabaye for the visit of the Trotters. Pienaar steps up to take his place behind the speedy Mirallas and Schurrle up front with fan's favourite Harry Kane waiting on the bench. Bolton are no mugs and although in 6th are only 4 points behind Villa. If Villa click it should be a home banker but with the revolution going on at Villa Park and the team still getting used to each other nothing can be taken for granted. Tight defences rule in League 1 and I see this as being no different. A low scoring draw looks the best bet here and all the bookies have 1-1 at even money.

Italy - Serie A

Juventus v Ancona

In any other season this would have been a huge fixture. This season Ancona are already 8 points above the Bianconeri after 7 games. While paying off on their travels Juve are struggling at home it's their SLO tactic. Always a more defensive alternative their record of 1 goal in 7 games says it all. Ancona or i Dorici to their faithful fans are Serie A's goal kings with almost 2.5 goals per game and with the added bonus that they get their goals from all over the pitch Bale, Immobile, Giovinco, Alexis Sanchez, Montolivo and more. Our Italian partners at Sky Bet Italia see this one as an away banker with Ancona sure to continue their challenge for top spot. This one is a case of how many Ancona can score.

Inter v Salernitana

Table toppers Inter host Salernitana in what should be a home win on any normal week. The Beneamata have rested 3 key players for the key European game at Man City so some reserves like Griezmann and Varane could be in for a run out in the first team. Even with those changes the odds favour an Inter win to help retain the 4 point gap at the top of the table. Will the managers gamble to rest the stars pay off? We shall see.

I'm really looking forward to Watford against Plymouth, should be a classic close game.

Great work Rob, excellent read. Great to get another perspective on the games.

Tom@Charlton wrote:: Great work Rob, excellent read. Great to get another perspective on the games.

Thanks Tom. Have to say I enjoyed it more when reading yours!! Was thinking when you get more time we could split it up and maybe do all key games in every league - France, Spain, Brazil, Germany, Championship I didn't know who Newcastle played and I think Banstead are in the Conference. It'd only be another 12-13 previews and between us not too much.

Rob@Inter wrote:

Tom@Charlton wrote:: Great work Rob, excellent read. Great to get another perspective on the games.

Thanks Tom. Have to say I enjoyed it more when reading yours!! Was thinking when you get more time we could split it up and maybe do all key games in every league - France, Spain, Brazil, Germany, Championship I didn't know who Newcastle played and I think Banstead are in the Conference. It'd only be another 12-13 previews and between us not too much.

Yeah, good idea. Paul, can we get the fixture lists for these leagues? Or maybe the Spanish boys and [email=Jamie@Schalke]Jamie@Schalke[/email] can post the fixture schedule from week 24 turn?

Things are progressing fairly slowly today, might be my flu, so I'm guessing the vidiprinter will be Thursday.

I'm shutting down the data entry now and i'm kicking off the reserve, youth schoolboy and midweek games now...didn't take as long as I thought it might Smile

Guest

Yeah nothing from me, hopefully I'll have more free time next turn.

Vidiprinter league games will most likely kickoff tomorrow ( wednesday ) at between 1200 - 1300 hours.

I was wrong, wont kickoff until Thursday now.

I'm going to start the day with the midweek results...

Champions Cup

Real 2 Plymouth 0
Benfica 1 Milan 1

ManCity 1 Inter 0
Red Star 0 Ajax 1

Schalke 1 Barcelona 1
Napoli 0 Watford 1

Charlton 1 Bayern 0
Rangers 1 PAris 0

This all means Real and Watford are through, Barcelona, Inter, Man City and Plymouth all need a point from the last two games, whilst its any two from three in group four where Charlton have a slender lead over Rangers and Paris.

Europa Cup

Gladbach 1 Sevilla 0
Olympiacos 0 Porto 2

Berlin 1 Lyon 3
Celtic 0 Athens 1

Inverness 0 Nantes 0
Arsenal 2 Aalborg 0

Liverpool 1 Ancona 1
Juventus 1 Dortmund 0

Its still very tight in group one whilst Lyon and Celtic have a slight lead in group two. Arsenal need a point in group three and Nantes need two points. Ancona are through in group four with Juventus needing two points to join them in the quarter-finals.

Happy with those results as a couple of weakened sides were put out. Need to secure top spot though.

Hopefully the first teams can produce the goods in the league games...

And we're off...

A good start for Charlton

Charlton 1 Fulham 0 Gerrard on 3 minutes.
Juventus 1 Ancona 0 Pogrebnyak header.

Shamrock 1 Cherry 0 Ellison on 4 minutes.

Nantes 1 Marseille 0 Sakho header on 5 minutes.
Leverkusen 0 Schalke 1 Ronaldo.
Juventus 1 Ancona 1 Immobile header.

Liverpool 0 Man City 1 Carroll on 6 minutes.
Bayern 0 Bremen 1 Nehrig freekick.

WBA 0 Arsenal 1 Tevez freekick on 9 minutes.
Bournemouth 0 Banstead 1 Bunn header.

Paul Hemmings wrote:: Liverpool 0 Man City 1 Carroll on 6 minutes.
Bayern 0 Bremen 1 Nehrig freekick.

Good start guys

Valencia 1 Atletico 0 Robben header on 12 minutes.

Flamengo 1 Corinthians 0 Godin header on 13 minutes.
Newcastle 1 Leeds 0 Giovani freekick.
Inter 1 Salernitana 0 Silva.

Lyon 1 Etienne 0 Fernandez freekick on 15 minutes.
Nantes 2 Marseille 0 Milik.

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