Season 31 Week 18 processing...

Welcome to week 18, the World Cup Final week, where we have Belgium versus England to look forward to, Belgium managed by Gary and England managed by Phil, should be an exciting game and I'm looking forward to watching the action unfold. Alongside the "main event" we also have the Gold Cup Final featuring Sweden and Columbia and the World Youth Cup final between the German youth team and England's youth team, Geoff against Phil, always a very enjoyable match up and a matchup repeated in the Premiership this week as Geoff takes his Man City side to Vicarage Road where he says "I'm hoping to surprise Watford this week", so plenty to look forward to this week.

Everybody's orders have arrived safely...

Big week!! Heading to the office but hope to put up a preview later.

All the best to everyone

WATFORD

It's crunch time now for the current Champions who have a tough in run, if they are to retain there title! This weeks opponents is Geoff and his Man City team who the Watford manager admires the squad he has assembled. The Watford manager sent his preparation in early in advance to spend time on the training ground with the players to ensure they enact his game plan. A tweak from CAL to CAT, to avoid giving the ball away unnecessarily as the Watford manager wants to keep the SLO game of City on the backfoot making them break forward in order to enable the quick counter attacking through KDB and Bale... Bale... playing his last game for the Hornets this week before he makes his move to the North East. The revolution at Watford continues piece by piece, with another attacking talent making his way to Vicarage Road to join the likes of Grealish, Sterling, Maddison, Abrahams in a new look/feel attack. Which is led by Abrahams this week for his DEBUT, the manager has tried to INSPIRE his team this week. Using all the tricks up his sleeve to get this one over the line! 

GENK

An away game Vs Beerschot! Welcoming back into the team Antoine Griezmann who is in a determined mood to regain his fitness ahead of the Europa final. Having seen a SPECIALIST and used Watford's state of the art facilities to aid his recovery. Bernd Leno makes his first team DEBUT as well in order to get to know his team mates as fast as possible as Unai Simon rapid development see's him depart this week, joining the Barcelona Family - National. Away from the pitch Genk are going to use the money from players sales and invest in the stadium, currently capped at 100,000 will aim to have an 120,000 capacity stadium for the beginning of next season improving the FAMILY experience. Also, look to move some players on LOAN for the remainder of the season to get some experience before deciding what to do with them in the off season.


LEVERKUSEN

The German club witnessed there chances of promotion increase last week with a spirited win, with talented Hoppe getting on the score sheet. This weeks see's a few changes in the team with the Legendary AM Busquets coming in to heart of midfield, which see's Dendonker move further up to DY and Camavinga having a rest, for a young player to play so many games this season has been impressive. However, he won't be on the side lines for very long as Dendonker makes his way to England this week having developed himself through the Genk academy before showcasing his credentials at Leverkusen and now looks to break through at his next Club... The rapid recruitment at Leverkusen has left the squad feeling a little full, so a few players will make there way to the lower leagues on LOAN in order to trim the squad down. 

BOTAFOGO

So close, yet so far from Top of the table. 2 points, between 4th and 1st. A extremely tough game this week Vs Sao Paulo who knocked Botafogo out of the Champions League, could this weeks game knock Botafogo out of the race.... Botafogo have recently scored 11 goals without conceding in there last 3 games! Only change to this team is Veteran Leonardo Aparecido who the manager picked up after identified a weakness at the back with Two Right footed CB's and a lack of experience in that department. How will this weeks results shape the Brazil Premier? All the manager can do is focus on the game in front of him..

ENGLAND VS BELGIUM

It's Coming Home.. It's Coming Home... It's Coming Home..... The England fans chant! The 3 Lions have the Red Devils this week in the world Cup Final. For some players in the Squad this will be there last World Cup under the current manager. Luke Shaw is in for the injured Chilwell, who will be devastated to miss out on the final having played a key role in getting to the final. Also, Oxlade Chamberlain has seen his first11 spot taken by Grealish in recent weeks with the manager wanting a bit more of bite in the WHV roles and Grealish loves to PUT himself about on the pitch. Maguire and Stones are ever present in the CLCR roles. Henderson Anchors the midfield, Maddison players a bit deeper for his country at DY.. Which has given the Manager inspiration for Club football.. Dele Alli continues to keep his spot at TM to partner Kane who leads the 3 Lions attack. The manager has setup the squad to bring Rashford, Chamberlain and Rooney.. on should things not go to plan... 

ENGLAND VS GERMANY

Well the England is oozing with talent across the pitch, will they be able to put that talent together with determination and a professional performance Vs a Germany team lead by Kai Havertz.... Declan Rice has been given the Task of Man Marking Havertz, the manager has the utmost faith in Rices ability and will be a fantastic matchup, which will probably determine the outcome of the tie. 
As for the rest of the pitch, Germany will have there own problems to deal with with the likes of TAA, SAKA at fullbacks... Mount, Sancho, Foden, Hudson-Odoi and Greenwood all mixing it up in the attack of England. It's going to be a classic match. 
Mason Mount, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Rice will be making there final appearance for the U21 having developed sensationally over the seasons and will make there setup to the Senior squad next season!

Schalke

An away lge game against high-flying Frankfurt beckons for a Schalke team in transit.
SLA v ISF should prove an interesting matchup with WHVs in possession hopefully dragging the DYs out of position and making it harder for them to be effective when possession is lost...

The Schalke attack continues to be strengthened with Gnabry coming in and Dybala going the opposite way to Spain. Squad size is also being streamlined.

The academies are also being reviewed with a view to more streamlining in prep for the next season.

Andy.

Barcelona


Every week seems like a big week in Spain. With a 3 point gap at the top there's no room for mistakes. Barca host Espanyol in the Catalan derby this week but with all of their key players back in action. Prep for next season is well under way and this week sees some low key moves within the group. Elsewhere Atletico host Sociedad and Real have an interesting trip to Betis in the big game.

Nacional


Nacional enjoy a more comfortable lead at the top of the Uruguayan league with 10 points feeling like it could be enough at this point. The big news in Montevideo is the arrivals of Maxi Gomez and Unai Simon to strengthen both ends of the pitch in preparation for next season. The manager still feels there are gaps in the wide areas and is working on reinforcements. The chairman added that domestic dominance was now an expectation given the resources available to the manager but the Libertadores is the real prize and competing with the Brazilian and Argentine giants ..... Fluminense, Boca etc

Hannover

All quiet for Die Roten who hope to keep building momentum for next season's promotion charge. There are rumours of Alexander Isak coming in on loan to strengthen the attack prior to next season and the fans retain hope that the manger is working on a solution to upgrade the current CB options but no movement at this stage. The manager hopes to build on the clubs record winning run which has seen Brozovic, Hofmann and Poulsen shine in recent weeks.

Akranes


Fans of the Yellows have come out in droves (there were 19 fans and a sheepdog called Sven) to welcome exciting young French defensive talent Jean-Clair Todibo to Iceland. The new man's role is casting into some doubt the future of Kristoffer Ajer who seems destined for a greater stage. Akranes has proven a great development club for many rising stars and Ajer may be next on the production line. Rumours are also circulating around Patson Daka with the young Zambian starlet being another to showcase his talent and be coveted by bigger clubs. As a selling club the manager has been working on a continued production line of talent and Sekou Koita, Isak Johannesson and Anatoliy Trubin are all close to making a breakthrough.

Data entry has finished and the Friendly games have kicked off...

World Cup Final in the morning, followed by the kickoff for the league games at 1000 hours...

Gold Cup Final

Sweden 0 Columbia 1

World Youth Cup Final

Germany 2 England 4

World Cup Final

Belgium 1 England 2

Double Congratulations to Phil.

Well played Phil, an England double.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Double Congratulations to Phil.

Delighted!! 

Not gonna lie.... felt like a kid on Christmas eve last night kept waking up every couple of hours ha... did I man mark the right player? Did I use the right player? Should I have used a DY at LB with higher TA? Will the other man mark me? Should I mix up my players? 

I believe back-to-back World Cup wins? Sir Phillip Green? Southgate got nothing on me! 

However, I do believe it is my first success as U21 manager! So delighted to have captured the Win. Future looks good for England 

Rob@Barcelona wrote:

Well played Phil, an England double.

Thanks, 

Congrats to the other managers. Making finals is always tough. Well played all. 

Phil@Watford wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Double Congratulations to Phil.

Delighted!! 

Not gonna lie.... felt like a kid on Christmas eve last night kept waking up every couple of hours ha... 

I believe back-to-back World Cup wins? Sir Phillip Green? Southgate got nothing on me! 

However, I do believe it is my first success as U21 manager! So delighted to have captured the Win. Future looks good for England 

Back to back world cups? 

Brazil won the international double last year!

Making up trophy wins to get a knighthood? Orf with his head I say!

That aside, congrats Phil.

Tom@Charlton wrote:

Back to back world cups? 

Brazil won the international double last year!

Making up trophy wins to get a knighthood? Orf with his head I say!

It must be the lack of sleep! haha Or maybe i dreamt it? 

Well done Phil, I knew I’d struggle as I’ve been playing friendlies against you for weeks and couldn’t get any consistent results

Having said that I definitely didn’t take my team selection anywhere near as serious and slept like a baby lol

i have taken my seat in the dugout ahead of today's visit of Everton

The players are lined up, the ref checks his watch, blows his whistle and the games are underway, good luck to everybody this week...

gary@chelsea wrote:

i have taken my seat in the dugout ahead of today's visit of Everton

Suited or tracksuit Gaz?

Ben@Plymouth wrote:

gary@chelsea wrote:

i have taken my seat in the dugout ahead of today's visit of Everton

Suited or tracksuit Gaz?

dressing gown actually

gary@chelsea wrote:

Ben@Plymouth wrote:

gary@chelsea wrote:

i have taken my seat in the dugout ahead of today's visit of Everton

Suited or tracksuit Gaz?

dressing gown actually

 - would be an interesting fashion choice for Tuchel...