Season 33 Week 9 processing...

Welcome to week 9. 

An exciting week with the second round of all the domestic cup competitions taking place. Schedules will be disrupted this week as Western Power Distribution are doing maintenance on the villages power supply, so we'll have to see how it goes.

The reset is underway...

Data entry has started...

WATFORD

A fine performance from Watford last week, largely led by the evergreen Leighton Baines who was ruthless in from of goal. Marauding forward from his LB position. Manager will be expecting more of the same this week, as the side face off Vs Charlton... Who currently sit top. Can Watford cause a dent in the title race? Surely out of reach for the Hornets, but would like to think could still have a say! Ward-Prowse comes in at RB for the Suspended Wan-Bissaka with Cancelo and Shaw not quite up to speed to return to first XI. Tyrone Mings comes on in to face his former side so hopefully is a little fired up to put in a good display Vs Kane! Magalhaes unfortunately not quite up to speed with the side, but looking forward to his debut in coming weeks.   

CUP game Vs Chelsea, but the manager has had to rotate heavily due to injuries. So in comes Cancelo, Guehi, Gueye, Sterling and Maddison to help keep the side fresh. Fingers crossed the Chelsea manager is on the same thinking....

GENK

Genk broke the norm last week in the league, scoring 5. Goals coming in from all over the pitch, LB, RB, AM, BW, DY, RW. Pape Sarr put in a Sublime performance, given the manager some food for thought. However, Kessie returns to the side this week. Gravenberch in back in training and getting eased back into action after picking up 2nd injury of season while on international duty, so Cabaye keeps his place in midfield to help anchor the side. Mahrez is on the specialist table this week.. This week Kessie will have to keep D'arpino and Marquet quiet in the middle of the pitch to help control the game. 

LEVERKUSEN

Frustrated Leverkusen held to a draw by Bayern having dominated large parts of the game. Home game Vs Wolfsburg... Lewandowski sits this game out having picked up a knock. But the German side have optimism.. the Slovakian "Haaland" Sesko comes in to lead the side. Robert Andrich back in to Anchor the midfield and Eden Hazard makes his debut after confusion with the fourth official last week, manager not noticing he picked up a knock in the warm up causing him to sit out the game. Side finally coming together after "wunderkid" Musiala is finally showing his abilities and prowess on the international stage of late... Hopefully puts in a mature performance this week as team aims to clinch 3 points! 

CUP game, another rotated squad against the Unmanaged Hansa, Nainggolan, Sarr, Adler, Piszczek, Otto and Onana. Getting the game time to help ease the burden on the league side. Hugo Ekitike makes the bench for the first time this season. 

BOTAFOGO

The title was blown wide open last week after a masterclass from Neymar who refused to give up without a fight! Scoring a penalty in the 83rd to seal his side 3 points AND 700th hemsoft career goal! What a player. The side certainly have upped their game since his arrival. Suspension to Dodo see's the young talented Yan Couto come in this week. As the side faces of Vs Sao Paulo! Going to take a huge performance to keep the intensity going. No fresh injuries to the side this week. So largely same side as last week. Players looking hungry that for sure. 

CUP Game, Gabriel Veron makes an appearance alongside Tavares (Who is enjoying his time in south america), Fernandinho, Felipe, Tete and Endrick. The side look to keep there rhythm Vs Natal.

Normally one of the two games a year Charlton regularly lose in a season.  The other being City away, which we've already lost.  Can the Addicks step up this season and take advantage of a slight bit of uncertainty at Vicarage Road?

Wolfsburg's sensational start to the season may catch up with them this week.  Leverkusen away could end up being a cricket score but you never know....

Phil@Watford wrote:

CUP game Vs Chelsea, but the manager has had to rotate heavily due to injuries. So in comes Cancelo, Guehi, Gueye, Sterling and Maddison to help keep the side fresh. Fingers crossed the Chelsea manager is on the same thinking....

He is of the same thinking , 3 or 4 players rested and a different formation as the manager has already written off a cup run off thanks to the cup draw gods drawing us at Watford

gary@chelsea wrote:

Phil@Watford wrote:

CUP game Vs Chelsea, but the manager has had to rotate heavily due to injuries. So in comes Cancelo, Guehi, Gueye, Sterling and Maddison to help keep the side fresh. Fingers crossed the Chelsea manager is on the same thinking....

He is of the same thinking , 3 or 4 players rested and a different formation as the manager has already written off a cup run off thanks to the cup draw gods drawing us at Watford

Baines is playing in CUP..... try not to injure him please  

Quick preview of the week's games

Barca
No changes to the first 18 for the League game which means Oyarzabal and Olmo retain their positions ahead of Fati and Pedri. Second bottom Bilbao visit the Non Camp and the manager is expecting a professional and clinical performance.
The Cup game against a strong Valencia side sees Fati come in to replace Olmo in an effort to get one more match fitness ahead of the upcoming Classico clash against Real.

Nacional
Again no changes to the starting 18 for the trip to Colonia. The team are trying out a new tactic in friendly matches this week with the potential of making a change to a more attacking option. The big news in Montevideo is the arrival of a high profile loan signing to boost firepower for the remainder of the season.

Hannover
The battle for survival is being fought at home this week against Karlsruhe in what is a true 6 pointer. A win is vital for both sides. No changes to the starting 11 although there is a reshuffle on the bench with new signings Jonathan David and Calvin Bassey making an appearance and fit again Xaver Schlager getting back to a match ready level.
Schlager and David both make the starting 11 for the Cup match against Gladbach as the manager rotates players to keep them fresh for the weeks ahead.

Rennes
A slight shift in tactic from wing backs to a flat back 4 sees Krepin Diatta come into the midfield while El Bilal Toure fills in for the injured Marcus Thuram at CF. The side travel to Reims in good form but the club policy of focusing on youth may have left the options on the bench a little thin.
The Cup sees the Rouge et Noirs play Nice who are currently comfortable in the division above. It should be a good test for the challenges coming up next season. Belocain, Mbuku, Abline and Atangana make their way on to a youthful bench.

A few more players will be made available for transfer or frees this week as the clubs have decided to trim down squads and reduce costs.

Rob@Barcelona wrote:

Quick preview of the week's games

Barca
No changes to the first 18 for the League game which means Oyarzabal and Olmo retain their positions ahead of Fati and Pedri. Second bottom Bilbao visit the Non Camp and the manager is expecting a professional and clinical performance.
The Cup game against a strong Valencia side sees Fati come in to replace Olmo in an effort to get one more match fitness ahead of the upcoming Classico clash against Real.

I'm just hoping for no more injuries this week after picking up quite a few recently, Iniesta and De Jong will definitely be missing for the big game though.

It's always super interesting to hear your views on the week's upcoming fixtures and always a good read, thanks guys.

Friendly games have kicked off...

Domestic Cup Second Round result highlights

Charlton 3 Burnley 0
Villa 3 Brighton 0
Orient 0 Man City 4
Watford 2 Chelsea 0
Plymouth 4 Wednesday 3
Arsenal 3 Banstead 2

Nantes 5 Troyes 0
Lille 6 Metz 1

Schalke 5 Mainz 0
Hannover 5 Gladbach 0
Wolfsburg 4 Berlin 5
Leverkusen 7 Hansa 0

Independente 7 Talleres 1

Fluminense 6 Joinville 0
Santos 4 Raimundo 0
Botafogo 8 Natal 0
Sao Joao 1 Coritiba 3

Real 6 Cadiz 0
Atletico 8 Levante 0
Sevilla 5 Celta 1
Barcelona 5 Valencia 1

Looks like the league games will kickoff at 1000 hours on Wednesday morning providing we have electricity...

Youth Cup highlights

Villa 4 Bristol Rovers 0
Chelsea 0 Bristol City 0 aet pens2-4
Watford 6 Spurs 0
Man City 1 Bournemouth 0
Banstead 1 Soton 0
Charlton 6 Wednesday 0
Plymouth 1 WestBrom 2

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Domestic Cup Second Round result highlights

Watford 2 Chelsea 0

Oh well , i was not expecting to win , be interesting to see how the formation did as it was only 2nd game using it and with a few changes as well.

Well done Phil

Plymouth sneak through - having tried a couple of players in different positions - and good to see the others win.

Huge week though again for the four teams - need to keep grinding out the results!

Delighted with the Cup results as both of those were very tricky games. League games are key though.

gary@chelsea wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Domestic Cup Second Round result highlights

Watford 2 Chelsea 0

Oh well , i was not expecting to win , be interesting to see how the formation did as it was only 2nd game using it and with a few changes as well.

Well done Phil

Well played Gaz! Good luck in the league games.

Kickoff delayed due to power outage, more to follow as and when I can...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Kickoff delayed due to power outage, more to follow as and when I can...

Hopefully only temporary and they get the power back on soon!

Good set of cup results aside from Wolfsburg.  Was always a tough tie but whilst losing t home is always disappointing, the Wolfsburg squad quality level is clearly not yet ready for such rotation.  One step at a time and a cup win was never a priority this season!

Looking forward to the league games this week, all tough ones.

Kickoff in 15 minutes...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Kickoff in 15 minutes...

Floodlights are back on

The ground is full the players are lined up and the ref blows for the start of the games, good luck to everybody this week...

Bayern 1 Berlin 0 Vinicius Santos header on 2 minutes.

Schalke 1 Stuttgart 0 MBappe on 3 minutes.
Sampdoria 0 Juventus 1 Derdiyok freekick.
Real 1 Sociedad 0 Heung-Min.

Bate 1 Brest 0 Jovic on 4 minutes.
Sampdoria 1 Juventus 1 Savio freekick.
Barcelona 1 Bilbao 0 Ruiz.
Colonia 0 Nacional 1 James.