Season 32 Week 4 processing...

Welcome to week 4.

I'm having to take Tuesday and Wednesday off this week so the normal game schedule will be disrupted somewhat. I'll run the reset today and start the data entry as normal, then finish the data entry when I get back to the game on Thursday, probably run the games on friday and then send everything out over the weekend, but we'll have to see how it goes. It's nothing serious just boring family stuff.

No orders from Newcastle...

Everybody's Orders have arrived, thanks...

Schalke

Unchanged tactic and formation against Stuttgart away in the league will hopefully keep a good run going. Rodri coming in to replace an injured Kimmich, and Goretzka ready to resume his duties too.

The second CL match, away again, this time against PSG, with a change of tactic to tighten up possession and chances conceded. Again, with Kimmich injured, Goretzka moves to AM and Coman comes in as DY. Jovic gets a high-profile chance in the side replacing a tired Gnabry as ST.

A couple of young world-stars are being re-assessed as we speak, and, in an attempt to further balance the defence, Varane has been allowed to leave in exchange for the left-sided CB Pau Torres. Great things are expected of him as he will be put through his paces next week...

Thanks for the preview Andy.

I'm back in the office and continuing with the data entry...

[ltr]Watford [/ltr]

[ltr]A successful debut for the PEB tactic last week, however more thorough testing is needed to understand the formation a little more. A sublime performance from Maddison last week scoring a hattrick keeps him in the side. However, Sterling is seeing the specialist this week due to an injury picked up which see’s Harvey Barnes take his place at LW. Jack Grealish (Cheerssssss) 100million man is only on the bench due to picking up a minor knock last week and still regaining fitness, the fans might see him come on in the second half should the team go behind! [/ltr]

[ltr]As for the Champions cup, Juventus are the opposition this week. With Baines, James Ward Prowse, and Tyrone Mings all keeping a place in the cup side to keep things fresh. Juve will be without former wonderkid Balotelli due to injury so the Warford side will be looking to capitalize on this. [/ltr]

[ltr]Watford's season has not started in the manor the fans are used to, but Fans hoping this can be the start of the season for the club. [/ltr]

[ltr]Genk [/ltr]

[ltr]Genk Vs Bruges is the lineup this week in the League, Genk unfamiliarly find themselves mid table, but a dominate display last week seems them 3 points off the top. Only team change this week see’s the highly rated Adam Hzolek come into the lineup to replace injured Mahrez and Brian (Brobeast) Brobbey take a spot on the bench this week itching to get himself some game time. The manager will be looking to add points to the board fast to cut the gap and reclaim his top spot in the league! Hoping that Griezmann stars this week in the absence of Mahrez and brings his cutting edge to the LW.  [/ltr]

[ltr]For the Europa Cup, Stuttgart stands in the way of 3 points and certainly will not be push overs with their high talented squad built up of Germans, Hungarian and Latvian players. Will be interesting to see if Genk can overcome.  [/ltr]


[ltr]Leverkusen [/ltr]

[ltr]Great show last week with Trochowski and Milinkovic-Savic being the standout performers of the team really taking the game by the scruff of the next and both putting in MOM performances to help the side to their first 3 points of the season! This week is a game Vs fellow promoted side Karlsruhe who have adapted better to top flight then Leverkusen, but the manager is hoping we can dominate proceedings and leapfrog the team onto 6 points, each game is critical as no “easy” games in the German top flight and no guaranteed points so the team must fight each week! [/ltr]

[ltr]Gladbach in the Cup, Leverkusen took the trophy last season. The manager though is conscious that he has an aging team and needs to be mindful of Burnout, will this see the manager invest some monies into more infrastructure. Or can the manager bring some young players through to help lift the burden? This week Niklas Dorch gets a review to help the midfield duo of Busquests and Trochowski in the coming season.  [/ltr]

[ltr]Botafogo [/ltr]

[ltr]Neither Botafogo or Fluminense sit in the top 3 after 3 games of the season which is unheard of in recent years! Santos and Vasco have their sights on the top spot this season. But surely seasoned managers Phil Green and Tom Hurst won’t give up so easily?  [/ltr]
[ltr]This week's opponents are Palmeiras, who the manager has a soft spot for having adopted them as his favorite Brazilian team to watch in recent seasons and brought some of their most talented players into the game. One such talent is Gabriel Veron, who keeps his place in the side at RW, with Matheus Tete match fit, only on the bench. But the manager will be keeping an eye on Veron with a slight dip in form Tete will be poised to pounce! Hopefully Botafogo will have too much for Palmeiras to handle with injuries and suspensions already impacting Palmeiras.  [/ltr]
[ltr]Copa Libertadores opponents are Boca! Talk about a tough game, can the Brazilian outfit overcome the Argentineans? Reimond Manco and Lucas Pratto leading the line, looking to cause panic in the defense of the Brazilians but Felipe and Casemiro will be looking to marshal the backline so that Neymar, Hulk and Tete can all be let loose going forward!  [/ltr]

[ltr]Good luck to all!  [/ltr]

Thanks for the preview Phil.

Had two powercuts already today, not sure how much I'll get done...

Okay, I forgot the wife's birthday in all the drama, so I havent been able to do much on CF yesterday or today, if I survive the weekend and she don't kill me I'll get back to it next week. Apologies for the delays.

Thanks for the update Paul! Absolutely need to keep the wife happy! Looking forward to some CF action next week!

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Okay, I forgot the wife's birthday in all the drama, so I havent been able to do much on CF yesterday or today, if I survive the weekend and she don't kill me I'll get back to it next week. Apologies for the delays.

No worries Paul. Enjoy the weekend and hope you get to see the Charity Shield.

Hehehe, who's in the dog-house then?

Data entry continues today and we should be back to the normal schedule now, with no power cuts and no family dramas...

Friendlies have kicked off...

Welcome back mate...you've survived then  

Midweek games have kicked off, results to follow then I expect the league games to kick off Wednesday morning at 1000 hours.

Andy@Schalke wrote:

Welcome back mate...you've survived then  

It's all good, luckily...

Champions Cup - Match Day Two results

Real Madrid 3 Charlton 0
Ajax 3 Inter Milan 2

Barcelona 3 Plymouth 1
Lisbon 1 AC Milan 4

Benfica 1 Man City 1
Paris 1 Schalke 2

Juventus 4 Watford 4
Man United 4 Bayern 2

Highlights

Partizan 0 Chelsea 1
Marseille 3 Lazio 3
Gladbach 1 Leverkusen 2
Brondby 0 Twente 1
Vikingur 0 Wolfsburg 2

Europa Cup - Match Day Two results

Stuttgart 1 Genk 3
PSV 2 Liverpool 1

Roma 1 Atletico 1
Feyenoord 2 Spurs 2

Etienne 2 Nantes 2
Celtic 2 Valencia 3

Monaco 2 Villa 1
Dortmund 3 Arsenal 2

More highlights

Palace 1 Ruzomberok 0
Norwich 2 Hannover 0
Honved 2 Consett 0
Ferencvaros 2 Rennais 3
Burnley 2 Cherry 2

Copa Libertadores - Match Day Two results

Boca 1 Botafogo 2
Estudiantes 1 Vasco 1

Argentinos 4 Fluminense 2
Barselona 0 Sao Paulo 1

River Plate 0 Nacional 0
Millonarios 1 Flamengo 2

ElNacional 0 Santos 3
Corinthians 3 Palmeiras 1

More highlights

Defensor 2 Emelec 0
Danubio 1 Alianza 1
Penarol 2 Independente 1

Congratulations to all the winners there were some good games there, League games will kickoff at 10 in the morning...

Well a mixed bag. 

Plymouth with work to do to qualify - still got 2 games against Lisbon and another against Milan which I need to win.

Twente looking better

Atletico a rare draw but still in a good place

Independiente- 1 win and a loss but a new tactic so I’m not too concerned…

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Champions Cup - Match Day Two results

Real Madrid 3 Charlton 0
Ajax 3 Inter Milan 2

Barcelona 3 Plymouth 1
Lisbon 1 AC Milan 4

Benfica 1 Man City 1
Paris 1 Schalke 2

Juventus 4 Watford 4
Man United 4 Bayern 2

Was a gamble in Europe with the formation, playing two DY rather then AMBW. All part of the process of understanding new tactic. 

Well played all

Chelsea reserves grind out a 1-0 away win, happy with that , Injury ravaged Emelec lose 2-0 which is no surprise, only in it for tv money anyway

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Champions Cup - Match Day Two results

Real Madrid 3 Charlton 0
Ajax 3 Inter Milan 2

Barcelona 3 Plymouth 1
Lisbon 1 AC Milan 4

Benfica 1 Man City 1
Paris 1 Schalke 2

Juventus 4 Watford 4
Man United 4 Bayern 2

Badly needed away win there with new tactic - happy with that!