Season 27 Week 15 processing...

Week 15 is upon us already and we have the World Cup semi-finals to look forward to this week. 

Nigeria vs Ivory Coast
Algeria vs Cameroon

Chile vs Colombia
Peru vs Paraquay

Australia vs Japan
South Korea vs Iran

Spain vs Brazil
Germany vs Argentina

and in the World Youth Cup we have...

Spain vs Scotland
Germany vs England

The reset is underway...

Fixtures: 
 Fulham v Liverpool Leicester v Westham
 Plymouth v Arsenal Villa v Watford
 Man City v Chelsea Birmingham v Charlton

Fulham v Liverpool Likely Lineup;

Reina:GK,Davies:LB,Walker:RB,Mangala:CL,Skrtel:CR,Sandro:AM,Schweinsteiger:DR,Negredo:CF,Sanchez:ST,Cisse:S2,Toure:DL
Gulacsi:GK,Fabio:LB,Klavan:CL,Coates:CR,Gunter:RB,Huddlestone:AL,Aquilani:AR,Zaha:RW,Slimani:CF,Tevez:TM,Moses:LW

Well much relief for the Fulham boss last turn to finally pick up 3 points, however dissapointing to lose in Europe. But now tha focus remains on survival! This week will see a change of Tactic.. It was hard to not notice Liverpool's decline in the last couple of week's was to the ISF formation so Silva drops to the bench... Biting his nails? could his time at Craven Cottage be coming to an end? In comes Cisse who is a more natural goal scorer, and you know what they say goals win games! Liverpool knocked me out of the Cup so hopefully a change of tactic can bring a change of fortune. As for Liverpool well Aquilani had another fairly quiet game and Tevez is still to bring out his best form the Fulham boss will be hoping that continues! However the Fulham boss is always suspious of those Wingers. Id bet on the home side to take the points this week. 

Leicester v Westham Likely Lineup;

Jansson:GK,Smedley:RB,Buttner:LB,Capoue:AM,Demichelis:CL,Chiriches:CR,Valencia:RW,DeJongDY,Adebayor:CF,Dawson:CC,Gnabry:LW
Siegrist:GK,Christie:RB,Thompson:LB,Song:AM,Collins:CL,Dann:CR,Collison:DY,Mcgeady:PM,Cole:CF,Jarvis:RH,Taarabt:1LH

Well Leicester were very unispring vs Watford in the previous round of fixtures. I'm not sure a result here for either side will change the course of the season for these two teams. Leicesters formation still to provide any sort of real threat to there opponents. Will the home advantage count here or is the style the foxes play unorthadox and prove harmless. As for the Hammers boss seems to be taking his team back to basics which isnt always a bad thing. Will the Hammers have enough quality to put Leicester to the sword? Personally feel this has Draw all over it. Which manager will be able to gee his team up the most for this game. 

Plymouth v Arsenal Likely Lineup;

Cech:GK,Bellerin:RB,Gibbs:LB,Fernandinho:AM,Ramsey:DR,Vermaelen:CL,Welbeck:ST,Wilshere:TM,Vardy:S2,Delph:DL,Alderweireld:CR
Forster:GK,Sagna:RB,Koscielny:CL,Cahill:CR,Shaw:LB,Flamini:0AL,Schneiderlin:AR,Giroud:ST,Berahino:S2,Ozil:TM,Nasri:DY

Plymouth looked to have recalled Fernandinho for there trip to Watford however Mahrez is sill on the bench by the looks of things will Ben call on him this week? Hopefully the previous result was a blip and the Plymouth manager can get back to winning ways. How will the players fair vs the Trio of AM that the Arsenal maanger last played against a team playing FAS. The Gunners manager switched his formation last week to cover his flanks however history would predict he will change to a 3 CB and 3 AM to smother the TM be that Mahrez or Wilshere. I feel unless Plytmouth players have some tricks lined up it could be a Away win for the Arsenal. However will the constant flicking back and forth between tactics will the players be able to carry out whats being asked without too much disruption?

Villa v Watford Likely Lineup;

Butland:GK,Coleman:RB,Brady:LB,Mccarthy:AM,Bruma:CL,VanDijk:CR,Eriksen:DR,Dembele:DY,Coquelin:BW,Bony:CF,Chamberlain:6DL
Lloris:GK,Clyne:RB,Rose:LB,Stones:CR,Kompany:CL,Dier:AM,DeBruyne:RH,Pogba:DY,Rooney:TM,Kane:CF,Bale:LH

Well Villa went back to there roots and it payed off for them to take all 3 points away to chelsea is some feat. However it wasnt glorious or glossy. A piece of individual class for Chamberlian after a dirty tackle from DeJong was enough to seal the victory. But im sure Rob won't care winning is winning no matter which way you look at it. Coquelin seems to be disrupting this in the centre of the park and covering his defenders how ever he will be up against Pogba this week how will his fellow frenchman hope to shackle him? As for Waford only two goals last week from a very one sided match. Lanzini adding the second late into the game. Does that mean the mercurial rooney has suffered a injury in the previous game or was Jamie being cautious and withdrew him from play with the points already sealed? Jamie is proving to know how to handle the pressure of winning. Can Villa throw a spanner in the works? 

Man City v Chelsea Likely Lineup;

Hart:GK,Cresswell:LB,Shawcross:CL,Smalling:CR,Richards:RB,Townsend:DL,Mason:DY,Dzeko:CF,Carroll:ST,Aguero:S2,Denilson:DR
Mcgregor:GK,Filipe:LB,Vlaar:CL,Lovren:CR,Kelly:RB,DeJong:AM,DiMaria:DL,Falcao:ST,Afellay:TM,Remy:S2,Mikel:DR

Probably the biggest Game of the week City look to have had injuries to there Regular DY last week or maybe just fresh legs? Will Gundgodan and Drinkwater return to the starting lineup? or did the replacements do enough to keep there place for another week. You'd have to favour the attack of city vs Vlaar and Lovern. City were more clinical in there previous match vs Charlton on another day it could of gone the other way.. how will Geoff react to that? Will he play a AM to control Afellay or will be bold like Pep and just go All out Attack.. Score more then his opponenet? As for Chelsea well they will be without the suspended DeJong which will be a huge miss for them will it mean a reshuffle of personnel? Will Mikel take up that role ? Falcao/DiMaria/Affelay have all been quiet as of recent and the Chelsea boss will be hoping they can rediscouver there earlier season form and what better game to do that then vs City...

Birmingham v Charlton Likely Lineup;

Krul:GK,Rafael:RB,Clichy:LB,Wanyama:CL,Evans:CR,Nani:DY,Herrera:DR,Hernandez:ST,Fellaini:CF,Jovetic:S2,Payet:DL
Mignolet:GK,Cesar:RB,Kolarov:LB,Henderson:AM,Luiz:CL,Willian:DL,Lucas:CR,Lallana:DR,Coutinho:TM,Mane:ST,Firmino:S2

Well Brum are showing no signs of relenting there new found Form. Fellanini seems to have made the CF role his own.. Brum scoring 5 away from home is a good showing by all accounts. However the boss might be concerned with conceding two goals which im sure Krul will have been disapointed.. Will Charlton be able to expliot this weakness we all know the Charlton team arnt afraid to take a shot and they seem to be able to weave themselves into the box at will. Again the Brum side dont play a AM will this leave space for Countinho.. Against city Countinho ran the show for Charlton. Will Tom learn from his mistakes? or did he see enough from his team last game out? Hard to call this game.

Hi Paul,

Just dropped you through a PM.

Thanks

Ben

Great preview there by Phil, thanks mate, enjoyed reading it.

Data entry started...

No orders this week from Newcastle, Westham, Leicester and Real Madrid.

Friendly games have kicked off...

International Friendlies have kicked off...

Reserve, Youth and Schoolboy games are underway...

World Cup Semi-Finals are underway...

Afrcian Cup of Nations

Nigeria 3 Ivory Coast 1
Algeria 2 Cameroon 1

World Cup

Spain 2 Brazil 1 Iniesta,Diego - Paulinho
Germany 2 Argentina 4 aet Gomez,Muller - Di Maria,Icardi,Messi2

World Youth Cup

Spain 3 Scotland 1 Sandro2,Munir - Waters
Germany 0 England 5 - Rashford3,Gallagher2

South American Cup

Chile 2 Columbia 1 Sanchez,Carmona - Falcao
Peru 3 Paraquay 2 Reyna,Ramirez,Guerrero - Iturbe,Santos

Asian Cup

Australia 3 Japan 1 Maclaren,Kruse,Mcdonald - Honda
South Korea 4 Iran 1 Chi-Woo,Heung-Min,Suk-Young,Dong-Won - Oladi

So we now know the International Finalists

Nigeria vs Algeria  Dave Brothers vs Rob Wilson
Spain vs Argentina  Geoff Fields vs Richard Allen
Chile vs Peru  John Horwell vs Geoff Fields
Australia vs South  Korea Matt Rose vs Dave Brothers

Spain Youth vs England Youth Geoff Fields vs Greg Elmassian

Geoff doing especially well to reach three of the five finals with Dave not far behind at two finals.

League game reset underway, league games will kickoff at 1000 hours Wednesday morning...

How many international teams can you manage ? Each competition?

Knocked out in the semi-final again.  Couldn't script it.


One day......

Oh well, they went well (not)...

Charlton go away to Birmingham this week, which we notoriously struggle at anyway even before Rich moved Fellaini into the highly effective battering ram position.  Not very hopeful here this week. Charlton have not a lot to play for so just looking for the team to get to know each other a bit better.

Lucas has one last chance to prove himself at CB this week, man marking the Belgian giant, some rumours going around the ground before kick off that the manager has already managed to find his replacement and is looking to bring him in this week.


Nantes hopefully will keep up their good form in a tricky fixture away to Nice, tricky as three points will be expected but you can never take anything for granted in the French league.  Having only dropped 4 points all season and still unbeaten, we currently only sit a point clear at the top and  four clear of third in an amazingly close title race.  Could do with Paris and Monaco dropping some points somewhere....

Fluminense somehow still are at 100% this season including all cup competitions, the fans still not quite believing the change from just staying up last season.  This week will be tough against a resurgent Coritiba side who sit fourth and seem to have found a formula in the WIN style that works a treat.  One eye will also be on Geoffs new formation at Santos, who we meet twice next week!!

Brighton travel the long journey to play away at Andy's Carlisle, so hopefully the lack of decent transport for the team wont affect them to much.  Two more wins look like sealing promotion for the seagulls to the heady heights of the Conference.  Ee-ie-ee-ie-ee-ie-o......

I'm certainly hoping for a repeat of last week! First time all 3 of my teams have won..... And it was a good read afterwards!

Fulham have changed tactic. Hope the players react well to the tactic change and deliver it also helps I'm at home this week! Playing slightly different formation to City and Brum. Opting for the AM instead of 3 DY. due to Liverpool playing with a TM. only time will tell if this was the correct decision ! 

As for genk.... 5 goals again would be nice. With the form genk are in they will feel they can take on anyone ... which is good thing since I don't have a clue who I'm against this week series me right for not getting a opp sheet ha! 

As for Botafogo it could well be a defeat.... playing a teenager in goal for his debut might have been a better idea to play a App. But if you don't give the youth games they won't get better! 

9 points up for grabs..... 9 points wanted!

Kickoff is upon us...and we're off, good luck to everybody...

Forest 0 Spurs 1 Defoe on 4 minutes, celebrating his new contract no doubt.

Barcelona 1 Atletico 0 Muller on 5 minutes.

Sociedad 0 Betis 1 Yarmolenko header on 6 minutes.
Bilbao 0 Real Madrid 1 Fabregas.