Season 27 Week 12 processing...

Welcome to week 12, another important set of league fixtures this week and the last game in the group stages of the various continental cup competitions.

The reset is underway...

Data entry is underway...

Big game this week is crucial with Real Madrid entertaining league leaders Barcelona, should be good...

Plenty of bids this week to sign Lafont and Garcia...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Plenty of bids this week to sign Lafont and Garcia...

Know all about Lafont, looks a real talent.  Not sure who Garcia is though....

Agree with Tom. Lafont looks awesome. If I wasn't so well stocked with young keepers .......

Rob@Inter wrote:

Agree with Tom. Lafont looks awesome. If I wasn't so well stocked with young keepers .......

Think you'd struggle to get him anyway.....

Although there is no better prospect in my opinion than Donnarumma.  What a keeper already at 18.

Friendlies are underway...

Biggest week of the season so far for Schalke...

Real 6-pointer in the league and a must win european game...

Let's hope the players earn their bonuses!

...big signing this week as well (if all goes well)...

As I'm in the same group I also have a must win European game away at Plymouth.  Anything less and I'll lose top spot. 

And my Ben double header continues in Serie A with Inter away at Roma. A win in this game would be a huge step towards the title as Juve in 2nd still need to play Roma in 3rd twice. Juve have an easier task this week at home to Fiorentina.

As for Villa. After last week's debacle where Yaya Toure and Coquelin both got sent off (leading to one departing Villa Park with immediate effect) the squad are looking to bounce back at Liverpool. A big chance for Joe Allen and James McCarthy to step in and impress.

Reserves, youths & schoolboy games underway...

Mid-week games underway, good luck to everybody...

As it stands...

CHAMPIONS CUP      
    ECC DIV 1      PL W- D- L  F-A  DIFF PTS CR-STYLE
 1 163 BARCELONA   5  3- 1- 1 14-9    5  10  98-424-WIN
 2 003 ARSENAL     5  2- 2- 1 11-9    2   8  97-523-FAS
------------------------------------------------------
 3 035 WATFORD     5  1- 2- 2 11-12  -1   5  99-442-SEX
 4 100 NAPOLI      5  1- 1- 3  7-13  -6   4  96-433-FAS

    ECC DIV 2      PL W- D- L  F-A  DIFF PTS CR-STYLE
 1 001 MAN CITY    5  4- 0- 1 13-7    6  12  97-433-ISF
 2 102 MILAN       5  3- 0- 2 12-7    5   9  97-433-FAS
------------------------------------------------------
 3 039 CHARLTON    5  3- 0- 2 10-10   0   9  98-433-FAS
 4 160 AJAX        5  0- 0- 5  4-15 -11   0  94-424-TOT

    ECC DIV 3      PL W- D- L  F-A  DIFF PTS CR-STYLE
 1 105 INTER       5  4- 0- 1 10-2    8  12  98-433-FAS
 2 197 SCHALKE     5  3- 0- 2 10-3    7   9  98-433-FAP
------------------------------------------------------
 3 032 PLYMOUTH    5  3- 0- 2  9-8    1   9  98-433-FAS
 4 164 BENFICA     5  0- 0- 5  5-17 -12   0  95-433-FAS

    ECC DIV 4      PL W- D- L  F-A  DIFF PTS CR-STYLE
 1 103 JUVENTUS    5  4- 1- 0 16-7    9  13  97-352-WBK
 2 166 BAYERN      5  3- 0- 2  9-6    3   9  98-352-WBK
------------------------------------------------------
 3 161 PARIS       5  1- 2- 2  7-8   -1   5  95-433-FAS
 4 162 REAL        5  0- 1- 4  3-14 -11   1  98-442-ATT

EUT DIV 4      PL W- D- L  F-A  DIFF PTS CR-STYLE
 1 044 FULHAM      5  3- 2- 0 12-3    9  11  97-442-SEX
 2 173 MARSEILLE   5  3- 2- 0  9-3    6  11  92-433-FAS
------------------------------------------------------
 3 011 LEEDS       5  2- 0- 3  7-7    0   6  94-442-WHV
 4 334 CSKA SOFIA  5  0- 0- 5  0-15 -15   0  88-442-WHV

   EUI DIV 3      PL W- D- L  F-A  DIFF PTS CR-STYLE
 1 421 INNSBRUCK   5  5- 0- 0 16-1   15  15  94-442-WHV
 2 058 PRESTON     5  3- 0- 2  6-6    0   9  96-442-WHV
------------------------------------------------------
 3 310 DORTMUND    5  2- 0- 3  7-5    2   6  94-433-ISF
 4 200 SPA MOSCOW  5  0- 0- 5  0-17 -17   0  84-442-WHV

   EUI DIV 1      PL W- D- L  F-A  DIFF PTS CR-STYLE
 1 110 CAGLIARI    5  5- 0- 0 13-0   13  15  96-433-FAS
 2 006 SPURS       5  3- 0- 2 13-5    8   9  95-334-WAV
------------------------------------------------------
 3 281uBESIKTAS    5  0- 2- 3  4-14 -10   2  82-442-WHV
 4 201uDIN MOSCOW  5  0- 2- 3  2-13 -11   2  88-442-WHV

What a job Ollie is doing, just noticed he is on the brink of knocking Dortmund out if all goes to plan this week!

Very different scenario in the Champions Cup this year compared to last, English sides were very prominent in the knockout rounds last year whereas this year, Charlton, Watford and Plymouth have a lot to do to qualify.

Another tough week this week but when is it not?

Charlton at home to Plymouth, who seem to be very inconsistent this year, very similar to my side.  Which Plymouth will turn up, which Charlton will turn up? Difficult one for the bookies this one!!  One slight change at the back with Sakho moving onto pastures new sees Lucas fill in at CB.  I was quite happy with this move until last night.  Which Plymouth forward will he be marking, only Jamie Vardy.
Hopefully my fullbacks wont disappear as far up the pitch as Liverpools last night leaving Vardy all the space in the world to run into, as a straight footrace proved quite embarrassing for Lucas last night...

Nantes massive win in Paris came at a cost last week, losing both my main TM and backup TM as well as Kante at AM.  Few changes this week against a tough opponent managed by Gerard Houllier.  3 points a necessity otherwise last weeks result could count for nothing!!  Gonna be a tough one to call too.

Fluminense also without their TM so a slight change there against Phils new feeder club.  A lot of changes going on there at the minute understandably so maybe a good time to play them?  Looking to continue the excellent 100% start to the season, however it has to end sometime, hopefully not this week!!

Brighton have lost Dele Alli this week so hopefully Lewis Baker can step in and fill the massive void left by the Spurs youngster.  With Crouch retiring last week, the spine of the side has been disrupted somewhat, maybe a little early in the season?  Could it cost the promotion charge for the Seagulls?

Tom@Charlton wrote:

Another tough week this week but when is it not?

Charlton at home to Plymouth, who seem to be very inconsistent this year, very similar to my side.  Which Plymouth will turn up, which Charlton will turn up? Difficult one for the bookies this one!!  One slight change at the back with Sakho moving onto pastures new sees Lucas fill in at CB.  I was quite happy with this move until last night.  Which Plymouth forward will he be marking, only Jamie Vardy.
Hopefully my fullbacks wont disappear as far up the pitch as Liverpools last night leaving Vardy all the space in the world to run into, as a straight footrace proved quite embarrassing for Lucas last night...

Nantes massive win in Paris came at a cost last week, losing both my main TM and backup TM as well as Kante at AM.  Few changes this week against a tough opponent managed by Gerard Houllier.  3 points a necessity otherwise last weeks result could count for nothing!!  Gonna be a tough one to call too.

Fluminense also without their TM so a slight change there against Phils new feeder club.  A lot of changes going on there at the minute understandably so maybe a good time to play them?  Looking to continue the excellent 100% start to the season, however it has to end sometime, hopefully not this week!!

Brighton have lost Dele Alli this week so hopefully Lewis Baker can step in and fill the massive void left by the Spurs youngster.  With Crouch retiring last week, the spine of the side has been disrupted somewhat, maybe a little early in the season?  Could it cost the promotion charge for the Seagulls?

Crouch hasn't retired in real life though, just signed a new deal with Stoke, so Paul should be able to reinstate him, I had to with a few players a few years back.

Thanks Rich, didn't know if players could be reinstated!  Thought it was my fault for letting him turn 36 without protecting him!!

Paul, is it possible to reinstate him or is it too late?  Thanks

Too late I'm afraid Crouchy has already been moved to the veterans database as a coach and another player taken his reference number, if you want to 'NEW' him from scratch then you can as he is still playing but his history as a player has been lost already and he would be a new player.

League games will kickoff at 1000 hours today...

No worries, thanks.  I'll let him retire gracefully.

This week is a transition period for fulham. With the expectations set high for the team after last seasons successful campaign I've decided to let a few players move on and bring in fresh faces. Hopefully with the positive impact results. 
Exactly midway so I can compare how the second half of the season goes vs the first half. 

Tactical change also happened. With new players easier to keep them settled with a popular formation. 
How ever in the league it's not exactly the easiest of fixtures with Watford! How ever this is football anything can happen.

Genk seems to have had a good vein of formation after the swap to ISF. Long may it continue! Hopefully a few new faces at Genk also this turn to try and establish a good youth academy. 

For botofogo all points are going to hard earned between now and the end of the season and none harder then tom. Hopefully my honeymoon period can have a positive impact on the game. However avoid relegation at all costs!

A plea from me...

To save me time can managers please ensure they DO NOT try to sell players that are ON LOAN at another club without first issuing an ENDLOAN dealing in the dealings before they issue the SELL dealing, thanks.

This week there have been six deals denied by the system that I have had to go through and sort out manually because players were on loan and therefore not available to be sold.

And as a reminder, loan deals must be for at least 4 weeks and cannot be ended until week 5, thanks.

Sorry to moan about these piddly little things and normally I wouldnt but I am a bit stretched for time at the moment.

The players are out and I wish you all good luck...

and we're off...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

The players are out and I wish you all good luck...

I'm going to need it!

Westham 0 Man City 1 Dzeko penalty on 4 minutes.
Berlin 1 Wolfsburg 0 Tardelli penalty.