Season 35 Week 12 processing...

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WATFORD

After a hugely entertaining (nervous) game last week, Watford managed to make it 3 wins in a row. With Starboy Saka getting two goals and Bernardo Silva also free-flowing and in a purple patch at the moment, having been moved to TM. He’s scored 7 goals in 4 league games. Leading from the front in all aspects of his game.
This week’s opponent is Tottenham, last time these sides faced each other in ended in a 0-3 defeat to the hornets. Hopefully the side restore some pride in the team after a change of tactic and a few different players in the starting XI. Harry Winks seems to pull the strings for Spurs, hopefully Enzo Fernandez can disrupt the side and keep the side on the front foot.
In Europe, the side face off against Man City who will no doubt be looking to in-act some revenge after the last meeting between the sides. Only change the manager makes is keeping Silva fresh for the league and sees Maddison come in to replace.
Off field this week sees an exchange between Lewis Hall and Romeo Lavia, Watford have an array of talent in the middle of the park in the likes of Rice, Enzo, Pape Sarr and Baleba which has limited Lavia to a youth team role, so the manager has brought in the versatile Lewis Hall fresh off his England debut.
 
 

AC MILAN

A defiant display from AC Milan, thumping sampdoria 4-1. Rafael Leao driving the side forward after his Full review in previous weeks to bring him the level the manager brought him in to achieve, having scored 22 goals in 16 games. Tammy Abraham's also loving life in italy scoring 17 in 18 games. Manager is also pleased to see Onana and Doku, the Belgium contingent getting on the scoresheet also. However, with such firepower the side find themselves 7 points off the top! They do have to play Inter twice before the EOS. But for now the side should focus on the teams In front of them. With the arrival of Calaflori to add to the defence in the coming weeks the Rossoneri fans are excited to see what the future brings under the manager now he has managed to re-shape the entire team.
This weeks opponents are Roma, who are only 2 places below in the league standings. The manager looks to impose themselves in the game this week and aims to take all 3 points in order to be considered real contenders.
Alkmaar are the Europa opponents, with progression secured. The team are playing for cohesion and to improve as a team. So no changes made.

 
LEVERKUSEN

A landmark victory for Leverkusen last week, not just winning but doing so in a dominant way. Did the Schalke managers tinkering finally catch up? Or was the Leverkusen side to too well oiled to slow down the march? However, all is for nothing if the side doesn’t keep up the pace.
This weeks opponents are Berlin who have some dangerous players to watch out, key player being Julian Brandt.
Leverkusen are another side who have already secured progression and give changes to Vagnoman and Vermereen after the release of Otto and Tadic. Given there age and profile the manager believed the Vagonman and Ilic were suited to replace the ageing players and reduce squad size.

 
BOTAFOGO

A tightly fought contest between title contenders with Neymar clinical in deciding where the 3 points went. Rikelme Amorim was given the task to man mark him, however a impossible task given by the manager. MOM goes to Veteran Casemiro, the manager has understudy's in Ederson and Pablo Maia coming through the ranks come the inevitable day when Casemiro moves on.
Recife are the league opponents, with the side in great form the manager is hoping that the side can add to the goal tally and improve morale all round with a great display. Goncalo Ramos and Endrick have only added 7 goals between them this season. Rotating in the CF role, neither have managed to lock down the position just yet.
Botafogo against Cruzeiro in the Copa Liba this week, minimal changes to continue the good form and aim to go far in the competition.
 
Good luck to everyone!

Thanks for the preview Phil, great read.

Friendlies have kicked off so I expect the league games to kickoff at 1000 hours Wednesday morning...

Barcelona

The injury crisis that is ravaging the Nou Camp keeps on going with midfield stalwart Fabian Ruiz picking up a knock on international duty. World class talents Pedri and Theo Hernandez are on the way back and should be ready for next week. At the same time every cloud has a silver lining and the up and coming Sancet, Balde and Gavi are getting a chance to stake their claims. All 3 are equally as strong as the players they are replacing and it has been made clear to the squad that every place is up for grabs and nobody is guaranteed a starting role.
This week's opponents couldn't be tougher. Run away Spanish League leaders Real Betis are this week's domestic opponents while Serie A leaders, Inter, are the European foes.
Newly capped international, Marc Casado, returns to the club to take his place in the youth team while another young defensive midfielder Pau Prim leaves the club and makes the permanent move to Nacional.

Nacional

Mid table Progresso are this week's opponents which will be interesting as their key players are mostly on loan from Nacional, Hannover and Rennes. A win is vital to keep pressure on perennial challengers Danubio, Penarol and Defensor. And a tricky final group game is against tricky Brazilian opponents, Palmeiras. The team remains very consistent with the only change being new signing and Spanish international, Yeremay Pino, getting a place on the bench.

Hannover

A mid table meeting against Gladbach this week who have an experienced and powerful line up with Goretzka, Draxler and Neuhaus the stand outs. Europe is a really interesting match up against Dunfermline ...... not an often used phrase. An eclectic mix of Russians, Danish schemer Hjulmand as captain and evergreen Italian El Shaarawy will keep things lively. Winners will top the group.
No changes to the team and the only transfer news is that young winger Nomoko moves to Barcelona for a fee that has already been earmarked for a stadium expansion and increased equipment for the fish and chip van and ice cream shop.

Rennais

Brittany's finest (sly dig at Nantes who are also based in Brittany) play Bordeaux this week with every point vital in the race to keep on the coat tails of all conquering Nantes. Europe will hopefully be more relaxing although Parma are very tough opponents. No changes to a very settled side although Kingsley Coman is pushing hard for a start.
Minimal transfer news again although Dan Ndoye has gone on sale after finding opportunities limited as Antoine Semenyo seemingly a better fit for the manager's plans.

Good luck all.

Schalke

After a, frankly, shocking result v Leverkusen, for which the manager takes full responsibility for playing players in slightly incorrect positions, Schalke must now pick themselves up and go again!

The manager now has a much better understanding of how to get the very best from his players, and promises them that this is what will happen.

A change of tactic has been put in place against Wolfsburg (Lge) and Napoli (CL) but may be redacted mid games.

The manager continues to address the impending 'loan' embargo - which is a good chance to increase the quality of the squad...

Andy.

Well the manager has been away on business but back in the dugout and ready for games this week. Would say he has been on a scouting mission, but nothing as exciting...

Champions Cup - Group Stages - Match Day 6 results

Benfica 0 Charlton 2
InterMilan 0 Barcelona 1

PSV 0 Plymouth 5
Ajax 1 RealMadrid 0

Porto 1 Chelsea 1
Napoli 3 Schalke 2

ManCity 1 Watford 8 ( eight )
Paris 2 Bayern 2

Quarter-Final draw

Charlton vs Ajax
Plymouth vs Barcelona
Schalke vs ManCity
Watford vs Napoli

Congratulations to all the qualifiers...

Europa Cup

Rangers 1 Bohemians 3
Gornik 0 Sevilla 1

Celtic 0 Nantes 0
ManUnited 3 Mechelen 1

Feyenoord 3 Atletico 4
Etienne 2 Arsenal 3

Alkmaar 0 ACMilan 7 ( seven ) What is Phil feeding his teams ???
Monaco 0 Liverpool 1

Quarter-Final draw

Rangers vs Nantes
ManUnited vs Gornik
Arsenal vs Liverpool
ACMilan vs Atletico

Congrats and best of luck...

Copa Libertadores

Amexica 2 Santos 5
RiverPlate 3 Barselona 0

Estudiantes 0 Fluminense 1
Argentinos 4 SaoPaulo 5

Cruzeiro 1 Botafogo 5
Corinthians 5 Vasco 0

Penarol 0 Independente 1
Boca 0 Flamengo 1

Quarter-Final draw

Santos vs SaoPaulo
Fluminense vs RiverPlate
Botafogo vs Flamengo
Independente vs Vasco

Congrats and good luck...

Confederations Cup

Houston 0 Dallas 2
Chiefs 0 Tampa 0

Nashville 0 Chicago 2
Washington 3 Mamelodi 2

Sydney 0 NewYork 1
CapeAjax 1 Cosmos 3

Galaxy 0 Kansas 2
Harrisburg 4 Wollongong 0

Q/F draw

Dallas vs Nashville
Chicago vs Tampa
NewYork vs Kansas
Harrisburg vs Cosmos

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Champions Cup - Group Stages - Match Day 6 results

Benfica 0 Charlton 2
InterMilan 0 Barcelona 1

PSV 0 Plymouth 5
Ajax 1 RealMadrid 0

Porto 1 Chelsea 1
Napoli 3 Schalke 2

ManCity 1 Watford 8 ( eight )
Paris 2 Bayern 2

Quarter-Final draw

Charlton vs Ajax
Plymouth vs Barcelona
Schalke vs ManCity
Watford vs Napoli

Congratulations to all the qualifiers...

The return of the 'Wilson' derby...

European Cup Winners Cup

Lyon 3 Bratislava 0
Shamrock 2 Leipzig 3

Rotterdam 2 Bologna 0
Linfield 0 Jena 0

Stockholm 1 Dresden 1
Santander 3 Sittard 1

Malmo 4 Brighton 0
Celta 0 Berlin 4

Q/F draw

Lyon vs Linfield
Rotterdam vs Shamrock
Santander vs Berlin
Malmo vs Dresden

Anglo-Scottish Cup

Newcastle 2 Hamilton 0
Banstead 4 Portsmouth 0

Leeds 1 Falkirk 0
Hartlepool 0 Ipswich 0

Stenhousemuir 0 Partick 1
Bournemouth 5 Sunderland 1

Stirling 1 Kilmarnock 2
Spurs 3 QPR 0

Q/F draw

Newcastle vs Falkirk
Leeds vs Banstead
Bournemouth vs Stirling
Spurs vs Stenhousemuir

European Cup

RealBetis 2 AstonVilla 3
Salzburg 1 Frankfurt 5

Brondby 0 Lazio 6 ( six )
Genk 6 ( six ) Cologne 2

CorkCity 0 Wolfsburg 0
Inverness 2 Hamburg 0

Leverkusen 4 Espanol 0
Viking 3 Vitesse 1

Q/F draw

Villa vs Genk
Lazio vs Betis
Wolfsburg vs Viking
Leverkusen vs Cork

European Fairs Cup

Stuttgart 1 Lille 1
Bilbao 1 Gladbach 2

Deportivo 4 Braga 7 ( seven )
Liege 3 Valerenga 0

Dunfermlin 1 Hannover 2
Glentoran 0 Innsbruck 0

Gothenburg 0 Coleraine 0
Valencia 1 Partizan 0

Q/F draw

Gladbach vs Braga
Liege vs Stuttgart
Hannover vs Valencia
Gothenburg vs Dunfermlin

Europa Conference Cup

Tbilisi 1 Wolves 2
Hearts 0 Soton 1

Napoli 2 Leicester 1
Aberdeen 0 Everton 0

Derry 2 Palace 0
Motherwell 1 Malaga 1

Bruges 2 Westham 3
Roma 1 Dundalk 2

Q/F draw

Soton vs Napoli
Leicester vs Wolves
Motherwell vs Dundalk
Westham vs Derry

UEFA Intertoto Cup

Dundee Utd 1 Juventus 1
StJohnstone 2 Coventry 2

Marseille 2 Anderlecht 3
Dundee 4 RedStar 0

Parma 1 Rennais 2
Raith 2 Lisbon 2

Cagliari 1 Wednesday 1
Girona 0 Crusaders 1

Q/F draw

Coventry vs RedStar
Anderlecht vs Juventus
Rennais vs Cagliari
Wednesday vs Parma

Kickoff is delayed for an hour whilst the European games finish out...

Europa Intercity Cup

Honved 0 Cherry 4
WestBrom 6 ( six ) Huddersfield 0

Ujpest 1 Sampdoria 3
Blackburn 1 Boavista 0

Bordeaux 0 Hibs 1
Derby 1 Udinese 1

Copenhagen 1 Fiorentina 1
Slovan 1 Fulham 1

Q/F draw

WestBrom vs Blackburn
Sampdoria vs Cherry
Hibs vs Slovan
Fulham vs Udinese

SudEuropa Cup

Basel 3 Dumbarton 1
Stoke 2 Bremen 2

Zurich 5 Swansea 1
Norwich 4 Morton 0

Rosenborg 0 Lyngby 1
Wimbledon 0 Dortmund 2

Lillestrom 1 Torino 0
Ferencvaros 3 Tranmere 3

Q/F draw

Bremen vs Zurich
Norwich vs Stoke
Dortmund vs Tranmere
Ferencvaros vs Wimbledon

Copa SudAmerica 

Palmeiras 0 Nacional 2
CruzAzul 0 Fenix 2

Torque 0 Velez 1
Coritiba 0 Atlas 0

Talleres 0 Gremio 3
Portuguesa 2 Guadaljara 0

Racing 1 Defensor 3
Danubio 2 Toluca 2

Q/F draw

Nacional vs Torque
Velez vs Fenix
Gremio vs Toluca
Danubio vs Portuguesa

League game reset is underway, kickoff at 1100 hours...

Kickoff approaches and the tension mounts...

The ref blows his whistle and the games are underway. Good luck to everyone this week...