Season 32 Week 18 processing...

Sod off Chelsea!!!

Solid week. I think it was 4 clean sheets and 4 wins …. worry is that 3 of them were 1-0.

Well Twente, Atletico and Independiente march on - no changes to the leagues there with the other results.

Plymouth gain a hard fought draw at Villa with the lack of consistency from earlier this season still causing issues - with only 1 or 2 more incomings proposed things will be very much settled by the start of the season. Need to cut out conceding but that should come as the back 4 play more and more games together and get the partnerships at 90-100%!

Argentina

Boca 47 +48
Independente 46 +59
Estudiantes 42 +29
River Plate 41 +37
Argentinos 41 +32 Champions

The top two have opened out a slight gap now as they both continue to put teams to the sword, five goals again this week for Boca with week 20s game at Argentinos looking like the title decider still.

Belgium

Anderlecht 51 +37
Genk 49 +85 Champions
Mechelen 40 +26
Bruges 34 +13

A fine win at Mechelen for the leaders this week keeps them at the top but they are carrying three injured first teamers now who they will need for the return fixture in week 21 but they do have three home games left in their favor, gonna be close for sure...

Brazil

Santos 47 +34 Champions
Botafogo 42 +47
Fluminense 36 +25
Flamengo 35 +18

Despite demolishing Flamengo this week Botafogo remained five points behind the leaders Santos who were somewhat fortunate to secure a narrow win at Sao Paulo, but with four home games left it would seem Santos have already done enough to retain their title...

Ecuador

Barselona 45 +29
Emelec 44 +33 Champions
Cuenca 35 +12
ElNacional 29 +13

The top two have dominated again this season and next weeks game at Cuenca for Barselona might decide the outcome of this season's title race...

Eire

Cherry 44 +31
Bohemians 43 +32
Derry 41 +22 Champions
Shelbourne 36 +12

Bohemians lept above the current title holders Derry by beating them this week and moved into second behind Cherry Orchard, but it doesnt look good for the chasing pack with Cherry now having four home games to finish their season, they can only beat themselves and it's in their hands now...

Premiership

Man City 41 +17
Charlton 39 +21
Watford 37 +25 Champions
Chelsea 34 +15

City's narrow win at struggling Birmingham keeps them just above the chasing pack, but its not over yet with away games at Chelsea and Plymouth still to come for the leaders, and more injuries for City this week as Daniel James joins McTominay on the injury list. Next week sees Charlton's visit to Watford and fans are looking forward to that one for sure...

Championship

Banstead 45 +21 promoted
Palace 39 +19
Soton 33 +11
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Norwich 32 +8
Burnley 29 +7

With only twelve points left to play for coupled to a draw for Norwich, my own side Banstead Athletic have finally made the big time, all the way from the non-league to the Premiership, i'm very proud but also slightly terrified of what next season will bring. Norwich were unlucky to concede a last minute equaliser at Westham but its not over for them or Southampton as either could still grab the last promotion spot. Still all to play for with Burnley an outside bet as well...

Happy to see Banstead in the big time, not many managers appreciate what it’s like in the depths of the English leagues.  I remember finally getting promotion to the premier league, was a great feeling. 

Well played pal.

League One

Leeds 42 +25
Bristol City 42 +22
West Brom 37 +18
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Fulham 37 +10
Coventry 33 +13

Bristol City's win at Leeds this week lifts them level with Leeds at the top in what is proving to be an exciting promotion race in League One. Leeds are missing their talismanic midfield general Pierre Hojbjerg and this week also lost the hugely influential Giovanni Dos Santos as well as hardman Connor Wickham, on top of the injuries they have to see out the season with four tough away games which includes trips to Coventry, Bristol City and fast improving Bouremouth. Looks like everything is still up for grabs here...

France

Nantes 48 +47 Champions
Etienne 43 +39
Paris 43 +31
Monaco 35 +12

Victory at Saint Etienne this week would seem to have secured yet another league title for Nantes, incredibly they have already won eight titles in the last ten years, with another one seemingly on the way. If they do indeed go on to win this one that would make it six titles on the bounce, a record for sure...

Germany

Schalke 45 +39 Champions
Leverkusen 40 +35
Berlin 40 +28
Gladbach 31 +2

A rare defeat, their first in the league this season, sees Leverkusen close to within five points of Schalke and with what could be a tough runin for Schalke that sees them play Berlin, Dortmund, Karlsruhe and Leverkusen, what was looking like a one horse race may now be a bit troubling for the mighty Schalke. Fans are asking why the boss decided to play wingbacks against flying wingers this week...

German First

Hannover 49 +65
Frankfurt 48 +36
Wolfsburg 47 +33
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Bremen 43 +36

Bremen's defeat this week at home to Wolfsburg seems to have ended their promotion hopes for this season and from now to the end of the season it looks like a formality for the top three...

Holland

Twente 51 +65
PSV 46 +51
Ajax 45 +53 Champions
Feyenoord 43 +36

Twente look very strong this season with a five point lead with one final hurdle to clear on the last week of the season at home to Ajax, they look odds on to remain top...

Italy

Inter Milan 49 +37 Champions
AC Milan 48 +35
Atalanta 34 +14
Juventus 34 +13

The last two games of the season will be crucial for Inter as they attempt to retain the league title they won from AC last season, they are away at Fiorentian and away at Lazio, never easy games either of them. While AC also have two tough games left at Fiorentina and at home to Juventus, all to play for still for both Milan clubs...

Scotland

Aberdeen 43 +18
Motherwell 36 +9
Celtic 34 +15 Champions
Hibs 29 +6

One more victory and the Dons will be crowned Scottish Champions making next week's home game against Falkirk a sure fired sellout, one of those "I was there" moments for sure...

Spain

Real Madrid 50 +76
Atletico 49 +57
Barcelona 43 +41 Champions
Valencia 40 +22

Real Madrid have been beyond superb this season scoring an incredible 88 league goals so far, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the Spanish Cup and the final of the Champions Cup, but can they finish it off ? An injury to Messi this week wont help their cause neither will their runin which sees them play away at Betis and Valencia and finish the season with a home game against reigning Champions Barcelona, cant wait for that game...

USA

Chicago 52 +62 Champions
Cosmos 49 +26
Dallas 32 +9
Galaxy 28 +0

Harrisburg, NewYork, Tampa and Kansas have all found the going tough this season which has allowed Chicago and Cosmos a virtually unchallenged run at the title, with Chicago maintaining a narrow three point lead over their rivals for most of the time. But in week 20 Chicago have to visit Dallas for a match that could decide the destination of this season's title...

Transfers now...

Josip Drmic joins Coventry for £65millions from Feyenoord.
Victor Osimhen leaves Nacional for parent club Barcelona for £50millions.
Erik Lamela returns to Spurs for £45millions from Chelsea.
Divock Origi steps down to brave Stockport from Twente for £35millions.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles moves to Leverkusen from Watford for £25millions.
Felix Uduokhai leaves Schalke and joins Cologne for £18millions.
Facundo Torres joins Nacional from Penarol in a swap deal involving £17.5millions and Mauro Arambarri.

Plenty of smaller deals also went through including

Twente's capture of Wayne Henderson from Drogheda.
Maarten Stekelenburg's move to Barcelona from the non-league.

Leverkusen won the competitive race to sign young star Hugo Etikite with a £5millions signon fee.
Genk grabbed another promising young star Quentin Merlin with a £2millions signon fee.
There was stiff competition for both those players from several clubs this week.

Coaching now...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Germany

Schalke 45 +39 Champions
Leverkusen 40 +35
Berlin 40 +28
Gladbach 31 +2

A rare defeat, their first in the league this season, sees Leverkusen close to within five points of Schalke and with what could be a tough runin for Schalke that sees them play Berlin, Dortmund, Karlsruhe and Leverkusen, what was looking like a one horse race may now be a bit troubling for the mighty Schalke. Fans are asking why the boss decided to play wingbacks against flying wingers this week...

That will be stored in my tactical database! Although, what do the fans know!
Didn't fair much better when tactics changed on 65 mins...but, i suppose, wbks were still in place...

I'm guessing there's a difference between normal wingers and flying wingers?
Presumably, the latter are always up field - but wbks still have defensive duties so I thought they would cover more than they obviously did. And when they weren't there, the ALAR should be covering?
Still, looking forward to seeing the match report on this - a learning experience (as always)...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Josip Drmic joins Coventry for £65millions from Feyenoord.
Victor Osimhen leaves Nacional for parent club Barcelona for £50millions.
Erik Lamela returns to Spurs for £45millions from Chelsea.
Divock Origi steps down to brave Stockport from Twente for £35millions.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles moves to Leverkusen from Watford for £25millions.
Felix Uduokhai leaves Schalke and joins Cologne for £18millions.
Facundo Torres joins Nacional from Penarol in a swap deal involving £17.5millions and Mauro Arambarri.

Plenty of smaller deals also went through including

Twente's capture of Wayne Henderson from Drogheda.
Maarten Stekelenburg's move to Barcelona from the non-league.

Leverkusen won the competitive race to sign young star Hugo Etikite with a £5millions signon fee.
Genk grabbed another promising young star Quentin Merlin with a £2millions signon fee.
There was stiff competition for both those players from several clubs this week.

Lamela moves on, was good player for me and scored a few as well.