Season 30 Week 23 processing...

Everybody's Order sheets have arrived safely although some of you still seem to be having trouble with the printing and are unable to get the order sheet to fit on one page without some condensing that makes things slightly less legible which is not so good, so this week we'll go back to sending out printed order sheets to those of you that seem to need it.

The reset is underway...

I got it on one page but it was a squeeze to get the writing in I must admit

Data entry has started...

Games will kickoff in the morning...

Where are we all off to on tour this week then?

Chelsea are off to the USA to play Cosmos , Chicago and Harrisburg

Emelec are of to Portugal to play Benfica , Porto  and Sporting Lisbon

How do you use tour games? just for fun or is there method in the madness like against certain formations etc?

Real are coming over to England to play Watford, Charlton and Plymouth.

My adventures take; 

Watford - Belgium  
Genk - Brazil  
Botafogo - England   

Too try and build there fan bases in other countries! When I do my Free Tour I always play against a 'weaker team to allow my players to perform better. The better a player performs e.g players 'Sublime' They get a higher boost to there skills then if they played 'Good or 'Average' and obviously most important part of off season is too build them skills! 

As for CC games, the more the merrier. I am participating in 4 CC games, with potentially 8 games to be played depending if I progress past the Semi-Finals. 

This week seems two arrivals hopefully, 1 at Genk a more experienced player with the ability to challenge and push the first team players and be happy with a Bench role. And 1 at Botafogo who when the Chairman asked if we should try to Loan Sturridge back the manager gave another name to go after.... Welcome! 

But the rest is departures to free up them final slots in the team who had a real tough task of reducing squad size to 60!

Used a similar mentality to Phil mixing harder and weaker games to build skills as well as hopefully give some insight into my new formation and to see how some partnerships work. My CB pairing is changing and I’m playing a front 2 instead of one on his own.

Challenge Cup results

Vicarage Challenge Cup - venue Vicarage Road, London
Watford 1-0 Schalke
Villa 0-2 Charlton
Watford 2-1 Charlton

Rome Challenge Cup - venue Stadio Olympico, Rome
Watford 7-0 Lazio
Nantes 2-1 Plymouth
Watford 1-0 Nantes

Brazil Chellenge Cup - venue Estadio Laranjeiras, Rio
Watford 2-1 Ruzomberok 
Fluminense 3-0 Emelec
Watford 5-1 Fluminense

Spain Challenge Cup - venue Estadio Bernabeu, Madrid
Watford 2-0 Real Madrid 
Chelsea 2-1 Barcelona
Watford 2-0 Chelsea

Veltins Challenge Cup - venue Aufschalke Arena, Gelsenkirken
Genk 2-1 Schalke 
Emelec 0-3 Atletico
Genk 1-0 Atletico

Cristal Challenge Cup - Luminus Arena, Genk
Genk 1-2 Aston Villa
Nantes 2-1 twente
Aston Villa 0-0 Nantes pens 4-2

Valley Challenge Cup - venue The Valley, London
Genk 2-1 Lazio
Charlton 1-0 Independente
Genk 2-2 Charlton pens 3-2

Madeira Challenge Cup - venue Parque Central, Montevideo
Genk 1-2 Ruzomberok
Fluminense 2-0 Nacional
Ruzomberok 1-2 Fluminense

Pilgrims Challenge Cup - venue Home Park, Plymouth
Botafogo 1-2 Schalke
Plymouth 3-2 Nacional
Schalke 0-3 Plymouth

Park Challenge Cup - venue Villa Park, Birmingham
Botafogo 1-1 Aston Villa pens 4-2
Chelsea 5-0 twente
Botafogo 2-2 Chelsea pens 3-4

Nilton Sante Challenge Cup - venue Estadio Martins, Rio
Botafogo 3-1 Lazio
Fluminense 1-1 Atletico pens 4-3
Botafogo 1-1 Fluminense pens 3-2

Neu Camp Challenge Cup - venue Nou Camp, Barcelona
Botafogo 1-0 Ruzomberok
Charlton 2-0 Barcelona
Botafogo 1-0 Charlton

Beaujoure Challenge Cup - venue Stade Beaujoire, Nantes
Schalke 0-0 Nantes pens 1-4
Real Madrid 2-1 Independente
Nantes 2-1 Real Madrid

Maine Road Challenge Cup - Maine Road, Manchester
Man City 1-0 Burnley
Man United 2-1 Blackburn
Man City 1-3 Man United

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Challenge Cup results

Vicarage Challenge Cup - venue Vicarage Road, London
Watford 1-0 Schalke
Villa 0-2 Charlton
Watford 2-1 Charlton

Rome Challenge Cup - venue Stadio Olympico, Rome
Watford 7-0 Lazio
Nantes 2-1 Plymouth
Watford 1-0 Nantes

Brazil Chellenge Cup - venue Estadio Laranjeiras, Rio
Watford 2-1 Ruzomberok 
Fluminense 3-0 Emelec
Watford 5-1 Fluminense

Spain Challenge Cup - venue Estadio Bernabeu, Madrid
Watford 2-0 Real Madrid 
Chelsea 2-1 Barcelona
Watford 2-0 Chelsea

Veltins Challenge Cup - venue Aufschalke Arena, Gelsenkirken
Genk 2-1 Schalke 
Emelec 0-3 Atletico
Genk 1-0 Atletico

Cristal Challenge Cup - Luminus Arena, Genk
Genk 1-2 Aston Villa
Nantes 2-1 twente
Aston Villa 0-0 Nantes pens 4-2

Valley Challenge Cup - venue The Valley, London
Genk 2-1 Lazio
Charlton 1-0 Independente
Genk 2-2 Charlton pens 3-2

Madeira Challenge Cup - venue Parque Central, Montevideo
Genk 1-2 Ruzomberok
Fluminense 2-0 Nacional
Ruzomberok 1-2 Fluminense

Pilgrims Challenge Cup - venue Home Park, Plymouth
Botafogo 1-2 Schalke
Plymouth 3-2 Nacional
Schalke 0-3 Plymouth

Park Challenge Cup - venue Villa Park, Birmingham
Botafogo 1-1 Aston Villa pens 4-2
Chelsea 5-0 twente
Botafogo 2-2 Chelsea pens 3-4

Nilton Sante Challenge Cup - venue Estadio Martins, Rio
Botafogo 3-1 Lazio
Fluminense 1-1 Atletico pens 4-3
Botafogo 1-1 Fluminense pens 3-2

Neu Camp Challenge Cup - venue Nou Camp, Barcelona
Botafogo 1-0 Ruzomberok
Charlton 2-0 Barcelona
Botafogo 1-0 Charlton

Beaujoure Challenge Cup - venue Stade Beaujoire, Nantes
Schalke 0-0 Nantes pens 1-4
Real Madrid 2-1 Independente
Nantes 2-1 Real Madrid

Maine Road Challenge Cup - Maine Road, Manchester
Man City 1-0 Burnley
Man United 2-1 Blackburn
Man City 1-3 Man United

All tight games for my clubs and hopefully could have gone either way - Great to see Plymouth taking home a trophy and Independiente and Atletico holding their own against some strong opposition. Fantastic result for Twente to only lose 2-1 to Nantes!

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Challenge Cup results



Park Challenge Cup - venue Villa Park, Birmingham
Botafogo 1-1 Aston Villa pens 4-2
Chelsea 5-0 twente
Botafogo 2-2 Chelsea pens 3-4

  I am off for the rest of the day now to organise a socially distanced trophy parade …..and to win it at Villa Park , I feel Dave brought this on himself

Like Ben says, a lot of close games there! 

Pleased to win two trophies, especially with new players/tactics bedding in. Even more pleased for all my teams to progress to each of their 3 finals to gain an extra game, more skills etc. That’s what these tournaments are about this time of year. 

Hopefully this isn’t an indication of Phil’s dominance to come next season again!! 

a very successful week for my clubs; 

4 wins for Watford 
2 win for Genk 
3 wins for Botafogo 

As Tom pointed out its mainly the additional games and additional skills trained up before the games begin!

gary@chelsea wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Challenge Cup results



Park Challenge Cup - venue Villa Park, Birmingham
Botafogo 1-1 Aston Villa pens 4-2
Chelsea 5-0 twente
Botafogo 2-2 Chelsea pens 3-4

  I am off for the rest of the day now to organise a socially distanced trophy parade …..and to win it at Villa Park , I feel Dave brought this on himself

Shocking I should never have given you tactics advice 

1 semi-final victory - that doesn't bode well!

Phil@Watford wrote:

gary@chelsea wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Challenge Cup results



Park Challenge Cup - venue Villa Park, Birmingham
Botafogo 1-1 Aston Villa pens 4-2
Chelsea 5-0 twente
Botafogo 2-2 Chelsea pens 3-4

  I am off for the rest of the day now to organise a socially distanced trophy parade …..and to win it at Villa Park , I feel Dave brought this on himself

Shocking I should never have given you tactics advice 

it was happening anyway 

Tom@Charlton wrote:

Like Ben says, a lot of close games there! 

Pleased to win two trophies, especially with new players/tactics bedding in. Even more pleased for all my teams to progress to each of their 3 finals to gain an extra game, more skills etc. That’s what these tournaments are about this time of year. 

Hopefully this isn’t an indication of Phil’s dominance to come next season again!! 

I genuinely believe Tom wakes up during the night in cold sweats worrying about Phil's Watford side 

gary@chelsea wrote:

Phil@Watford wrote:

gary@chelsea wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Challenge Cup results



Park Challenge Cup - venue Villa Park, Birmingham
Botafogo 1-1 Aston Villa pens 4-2
Chelsea 5-0 twente
Botafogo 2-2 Chelsea pens 3-4

  I am off for the rest of the day now to organise a socially distanced trophy parade …..and to win it at Villa Park , I feel Dave brought this on himself

Shocking I should never have given you tactics advice 

it was happening anyway 

I might ask to Swap CC and put Watford in your Group 

gary@chelsea wrote:

Tom@Charlton wrote:

Like Ben says, a lot of close games there! 

Pleased to win two trophies, especially with new players/tactics bedding in. Even more pleased for all my teams to progress to each of their 3 finals to gain an extra game, more skills etc. That’s what these tournaments are about this time of year. 

Hopefully this isn’t an indication of Phil’s dominance to come next season again!! 

I genuinely believe Tom wakes up during the night in cold sweats worrying about Phil's Watford side 

Seems you think about me a lot Gaz? 

Rent free.

gary@chelsea wrote:

Tom@Charlton wrote:

Like Ben says, a lot of close games there! 

Pleased to win two trophies, especially with new players/tactics bedding in. Even more pleased for all my teams to progress to each of their 3 finals to gain an extra game, more skills etc. That’s what these tournaments are about this time of year. 

Hopefully this isn’t an indication of Phil’s dominance to come next season again!! 

I genuinely believe Tom wakes up during the night in cold sweats worrying about Phil's Watford side 

I like to think of it as a developing managerial rivalry a la Fergie v Wenger, Rafa v Jose, Fergie v Rafa or Jurgen v Pep

Unfortunately I think in reality, until I win something it is more like Fergie v Keegan. A bit one- sided!

One trophy and one other final out of 9.....not good 

Transfers

Man United were busy as they prepare for their return to the Premiership, in come Bruno Fernandes £152m along with Bernd Leno £30m and James Ward-Prowse for £10m, whilst out went Scott Mctominay to Man City for £110m and Daniel James to Man City for £10m.

Karim Adeyemi joins Barcelona from Genk for £35m and Marash Kumbulla joins Barca from Flamutari for £25m.
Nathan Redmond joins Sevilla for £30m.
Michael Keane leaves Arsenal for Everton at £25m.
Patrick Van Aanholt joins Palace for £25m, Wan-Bissaka transfer breaks down at the last minute when the clubs couldn't agree a price.
Riyad Mahrez leaves Plymouth for Botafogo for £10m as Plymouth replace him with Alexis Mac Allister at the same price.

As you can imagine there was a boat load of other transfers all detailed on the TP special action report.

There are 7 clubs that still have more than 60 players and you only have one week left to prevent starting the season with an incoming transfer embargo. e

Tom@Charlton wrote:

gary@chelsea wrote:

Tom@Charlton wrote:

Like Ben says, a lot of close games there! 

Pleased to win two trophies, especially with new players/tactics bedding in. Even more pleased for all my teams to progress to each of their 3 finals to gain an extra game, more skills etc. That’s what these tournaments are about this time of year. 

Hopefully this isn’t an indication of Phil’s dominance to come next season again!! 

I genuinely believe Tom wakes up during the night in cold sweats worrying about Phil's Watford side 

I like to think of it as a developing managerial rivalry a la Fergie v Wenger, Rafa v Jose, Fergie v Rafa or Jurgen v Pep

Unfortunately I think in reality, until I win something it is more like Fergie v Keegan. A bit one- sided!

 I didn't want to mention what I have won in my time playing Championship Football... " I am a European champion , there for I thinkz I am a special one"

Paul Hemmings wrote:

There are 7 clubs that still have more than 60 players and you only have one week left to prevent starting the season with an incoming transfer embargo. e

Currently i think i'm 2 of these still;

Watford - 60?
Genk - 63? - 3 on TL
Botafogo - 63? 2 on TL 

I think that's where i'm at