Season 33 Week 16 processing...

Welcome to week 16. The temperature in the kitchen just got turned up...

No orders from Real Madrid, looks like Rich may be struggling a bit to get his orders in since the demise of the printed portion of the game. The system no longer sends out printed order sheets. If you see this and need help then feel free to contact me or maybe one of the other managers could check in with Rich and help him out.

I am pretty flexible when it comes to accepting orders and that includes freehand orders send to my inbox here on the forum. Just make them clear and obvious.

something along the lines of this would be fine :-

DELUXE TURN
SH1=SN18
SH6=SN21

RES
SH5=SN45

FR123
FR124
FR196
SO002

GIVE 3456 88-95,000 1M

£20 PAYMENT SENT 1/1/2023

We have the Continental Cups semi-final games to look forward to this week including some mouth wateringly tasty games between some of the best teams in the game. 

In the Confederations Cup we have the top four teams in North America and Australia going head to head with the vastly improved Wollongong Wolves taking on the current holders Chicago Fire and the New York Cosmos against New York City, two great games with massive rivalries that go back well over ten years in the game. Wollongong and Chicago met at the group stages with one win apiece. Last season Wollongong were Chicago's feeder club but when young Pete Heddings took over from Pete Heddings senior that all changed and they are now a much tougher prospect, should be an interesting game.

In the Champions Cup we have four of the top ten teams in the game, with Barcelona taking on Plymouth and Schalke facing up to Watford in what should be another two great games. In the Europa Cup the excitement continues with Nantes against much improved Feyenoord and Atletico taking on Genk in what is a huge game, especially looking forward to this one. 

It's not going to be easy for anybody to make the final but I wish you all good luck...

The reset is underway...

Boarded and ready to fly to New York. Huge week for Barcelona against the Plymouth galacticos in the battle of the Wilsons. Excited but also nervous. Will be getting up early to log into the action. Barca not made it past the quarters under my management …. so a very big ask.

Good luck all.

Data entry has started...

The other Wilson isn't off to New York but none the less a huge week for clubs across the consortium.

Plymouth aim to go further than the SF for the first time in 6 seasons against a rampant Barca side in what the pundits have named ' the Wilson Derby' (clearly not the most creative of individuals), as well as travel to Villa Park in what will no-doubt be another tough challenge. Worth noting Plymouth have never won the CL under the current manager, losing no less than 3 times in the final to Inter, Watford and Schalke!

Twente try and need to bounce back after 2 recent defeats if they are to keep their title hops alive - the return of some key players may make all the difference.

With Atletico's rebuild nearly complete - 2 exciting incomings from within the consortium, and 1 further from outside - will complete next season's lineup but in the meantime they take on Genk - the same team they came unstuck against this time last year in what could be a France vs Italy battle in midfield.With Barca just about wrapping up the league, this might be the main chance of some silverware this season and so the manager has prioritised this game above all others this week.

Independiente's first foray into the Copa Libertadores in the club's history sees them take on a Flumenese team brimming with talent in what will perhaps the biggest game in the club's history and a monumental tie. In the league, only another win will do.

Good luck to everyone this week!

WATFORD;

Last weeks game saw Watford take a blow in recent form, game was even for the most. However, points went to City. This week game doesn't come any easier with Hands Hemmings Banstead, danger man George Evans in the middle of the park has 12 goals this season and main man upfront Charlie Austin also 12 goals. If going to take anything going to need to keep these two quiet, Rice and Gabriel.. Over to you!
The fun doesn't stop there though.. Schalke in the Champions Cup, with a assemble to rival the Avengers, hope though as the manager has managed to Win already in the group stages Vs the german side.. But also Lose.. Mbappe with 30 goals this season is an astounding amount and will again rely CB pairing to keep quiet, Rudiger will hopefully provide some resistance! Little bit of a tweak... Maddison (12 goals) sticks at DY as he has done for most CUP games, but Grealish (8 goals) comes in at LW. To help bolster the attack. With current top scorer (Barnes) and Abrahams (11) the final pieces. Last chance to take some silverware from this season... Hopefully enough preparation gone into this week.

GENK;

Belgium side have been dominate in the league and look to continue that vein of form into the next game Vs unmanaged Gent. The side have used this season to help develop more players, Brobbey and Onana have made the transition into First XI regular's with Superb form. Manager always keen on how the reserves and youth sides perform to help identify the next player to be brought into the fold. 
Europa League opponents... Atletico, previous La Liga champions. Last year the belgium side were lucky to face an injury ravaged Atletico, but this season they look to be fit as can be and fielding a fully fit side. Hopefully the manager can take advantage of the Poor WINB and Team understanding.. If not will resort to Voodoo.... 

LEVERKUSEN

Leverkusen let slip a 3 goal lead last week and the manager was furious with his side. Given that the top of the table is so tight that any points lost could prove costly come the EOS. Eden Hazard misses this weeks game due to suspension.  gives Adam Hlozek the chance to shine this week. The manager has been disappointed with Hazards return since signing for the side. This weeks opponents are none other then Dortmund, captained by the german legend Thomas Muller. Who will need to be contained, will Gravenberch and Merino be up to the task?
Cologne are the European Cup opponents... The manager isn't taking any chances with progression and playing a strong side. Vincent Thill will no doubt be a thorn in the side with 23 goals this season. Manager looking to the experience of Lewandowski and gile of Musiala and robustness of Milinkovic-Savic to overcome the opposition. 

BOTAFOGO;

Brazilian side were given a slight scare last week with a narrow victory over Palmerias. Botafogo have fallen too far off the leaders in the league to consider a title challenge this season. But still must play for pride! 
Copa Liba... it all sits in the balance of this game.. Santos have been a force this season. But can the Rio side use some cup Magic and help return the glory back ?
The main change this week for the cup side is that Endrick steps aside this week and gives way for Hulk to lead the line... Can Neymar bring the dazzle? Casemiro the aggression.....

Schalke


Weeks don't come much tougher than THIS one.
Watford in the CL semi, with the standings at 1-1 from the group of death. A tweak to FAS could pay dividends for the manager, but I expect a tough, close match against one of the titans of the game!

Hannover in the league (away) is another tough game. Schalke won the reverse match 2-0, but were very lucky! Chances were 4-7, the difference being the 2 GKs it seemed. Another tactical tweak to counter Hannovers cautious play, might help redress the balance of play.

Always interesting to see how these changes play out...they make sense in my head!

Great to read all the thoughts of managers.  

Always an interesting week this one, semi finals which demand strong line-ups but doesn't seem many managers have rotated much.  Will that cost more than normal in the league games? Week 16 is the first critical seasonal period in terms of stamina....

Friendly games have kicked off.

So the league games look likely to be kicking off at 1000 hours wednesday morning...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Friendly games have kicked off.

So the league games look likely to be kicking off at 1000 hours wednesday morning...

Thanks Paul. Need to set a 5am alarm. Maybe 4.45 to get a coffee in first.

Confederations Cup - Semi-Final results

Wollongong 0 Chicago 2
Cosmos 1 New York 0

Champions Cup

Barcelona 3 Plymouth 2
Schalke 0 Watford 1

European Cup Winners Cup

Cherry 2 Leeds 0
Spurs 2 Newcastle 0

European Cup

Cologne 0 Leverkusen 2
Wolfsburg 1 Shamrock 2

Europa Cup

Nantes 0 Feyenoord 1
Atletico 1 Genk 0

European Fairs Cup

Inverness 1 Mechelen 3
Innsbruck 0 Burnley 0 aet pens 2-1

Europa Conference Cup

Bournemouth 4 Tbilisi 1
Ajax 5 Red Star 0

UEFA Intertoto Cup

Coventry 2 Betis 0
Rennais 1 Anderlecht 0

Europa Intercity Cup

Man United 4 Fulham 0
Blackburn 0 Palace 0 aet pens 3-2

Copa Libertadores

Santos 3 Botafogo 4
Fluminense 2 Independente 2 aet pens 0-3