Season 33 Week 18 processing...

Welcome to week 18.

No orders from Real Madrid.

We have the World Cup Final this week in which England and Brazil vie for the trophy, good luck to both of you...

Delighted to be in the World Cup final this week, been years of managing Brazil and finally managed to get there!!  May well be a step too far though against the PEP of England.  Playing numerous friendlies we have been battered in most of them as I can't seem to find a way of setting SAM up against PEP.  We concede far too many chances and seem to be wide open.  Too late to train teach old dogs new tricks though, so fingers crossed and hope for the best!!

Good luck to all this week.

Will hopefully get chance to do a full round up before the games kick off... 

However, the England Vs Brazil and England U21 Vs Spain U21. Will surely take a lot attention this week due to the size of the fixtures. The manager has enjoyed success in the competition in recent years and will be looking to put the experience to good use! 

However can't get distracted from the league games... Leverkusen as putting everything on the line this season to come out winners..

Good luck to both of the other managers in the final.

Data entry has finished and the Friendly games have kicked off. I expect the league games to kickoff at 1000 hours wednesday morning as normal...

England Vs Brazil.

The england manager has so many players at his disposal, he probably doesn't know his Best XI himself. 
However, will keep it straight forward with the players that got him to the final. 
Joe Hart, probably need to look to the future after this tournament. 
Kyle Walker, still one of the fastest players in the side and will no doubt want to give a good performance of himself with the likes of Trent and Trippier waiting in shadows.
Stones and Maguire in the middle, solid and can both play out from the back should the need need to start from deep.
Shaw, has been solid for club and country and the manager keeps the faith. 
Rice, the heart of this England side since his step-up to senior side. With the manager looking to keep the team built around him.
Henderson, his grit and determination in the middle don't go unnoticed. A true professional. 
Barnes, his club form seems to have stuttered as of late, but still provides on international stage.. will some of the U21 players come for the RW spot...
Mount, took the place of Grealish when injured and manager hasn't had a reason to drop him so keeps his deserved place in the side for the final.
Maddison, another player the manager has huge respect for, DY in the middle of the park and contributes at both ends. Could prove crucial.. 
Kane, are dependable to score in big games... No bigger than this....

England U21 Vs Spain U21

This england U21 is brimming with talent, but again unfortunately i can only field XI. Bukayo Saka misses out on a place in the starting XI due to fitness concerns following a recent injury.

James trafford between this sticks, always hard to judge a GK at such a early age, but hopefully can show a mature performance. 
Justin at RB who could argue is ready for more senior football. But needs to keep playing regular football. Hopefully injuries don't halt his career to much IRL. 
Lamptey has to play at LB, but shows a hunger to play so should be fine.
Tanganga and Guehi are the rocks at CB. Hopefully keep it simple and contain the Spain attack.
Gallagher, more of a defensive role required of him. But always willing to get 100%
Foden and Bellingham, two of the best midfielders in the world right now... Pedri and Gavi.. be a fantastic battle.
Smith-Rowe he's a lively player, with the ability to unlock a defence.. Hopefully can influence the game from LW
Hudson-Odoi,  takes over at RW. Has the raw pace and technical ability to cause havoc to any fullback. Hopefully puts his experience to good use.
Nketiah, currently leading the line.. given his ability to find the back of the net in the premier league. Today will be a good day to stamp his authority on international stage. 

Unfortunately, promised the Misses a nicely cooked tea tonight... So no more time for previews. 

Good luck to all this week.

Phil@Watford wrote:

Unfortunately, promised the Misses a nicely cooked tea tonight... So no more time for previews. 

Good luck to all this week.

A bit of a chef are you ?

The International games have kicked off...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Phil@Watford wrote:

Unfortunately, promised the Misses a nicely cooked tea tonight... So no more time for previews. 

Good luck to all this week.

A bit of a chef are you ?

What did you cook Phil - I’m more intrigued by this than the WC final results…

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Phil@Watford wrote:

Unfortunately, promised the Misses a nicely cooked tea tonight... So no more time for previews. 

Good luck to all this week.

A bit of a chef are you ?

Ribeye from the local butchers, cheese and breadcrumb stuffed mushrooms, creamy parsley mash, on a bed for asparagus tips and tenderstem broccoli and crushed garlic and herb new potatoes... 

Tesco's finest haha 

And don't forget the pepper sauce. 

Gold Cup Final

Ghana 3 Mexico 1

It turned into a great competition for Rob Wilson's Ghana side after a poor start in which they were beaten by Sweden only to hammer five past Egypt and then another five past Japan to finish top of their group on goal difference from both Sweden and Japan who also finished on six points. A narrow victory in the semi-final over a very good Norway side led them to this final and they out played a decent Mexican side in every department winning with two goals from centre forward Mohamed Kudus and one from wing wizard Kamaldeen Sulemana. Congrats to Rob.

Phil@Watford wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Phil@Watford wrote:

Unfortunately, promised the Misses a nicely cooked tea tonight... So no more time for previews. 

Good luck to all this week.

A bit of a chef are you ?

Ribeye from the local butchers, cheese and breadcrumb stuffed mushrooms, creamy parsley mash, on a bed for asparagus tips and tenderstem broccoli and crushed garlic and herb new potatoes... 

Tesco's finest haha 

wow, next time I want an invite 

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Phil@Watford wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Phil@Watford wrote:

Unfortunately, promised the Misses a nicely cooked tea tonight... So no more time for previews. 

Good luck to all this week.

A bit of a chef are you ?

Ribeye from the local butchers, cheese and breadcrumb stuffed mushrooms, creamy parsley mash, on a bed for asparagus tips and tenderstem broccoli and crushed garlic and herb new potatoes... 

Tesco's finest haha 

wow, next time I want an invite 

Haha 

Pudding was Locally produced Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding and some Kelly's honeycomb ice cream

World Youth Cup Final

England Youth 2 Spain Youth 1

The England youngsters were imperious in this competition having scored four goals in each of their group games to head the group with nine points and only 1 goal conceded. The semi-final was a brilliant game against a very good Brazil side who put three past England's stoic defence but conceded no less than five themselves. Once those celebrations were over they had to prepare for another very tough and gifted opponent in the shape of the Spanish youths. This game was very close with Spain creating slightly more clear cut chances only to see dynamo Phil Foden score first before rightback Eric Garcia equalised to make it all square at halftime. Foden was the man of the match although Pablo Gavi pushed him close for that accolade but it was England's rightback James Justin who found the winner midway through the second half and despite intense pressure from Spain they couldn't find a way past James Trafford who had a superb game making half a dozen wonderful saves. Congratulations to ace Chef and part-time manager Phil Green.

Paul Hemmings wrote:

World Youth Cup Final

England Youth 2 Spain Youth 1

Congratulations to ace Chef and part-time manager Phil Green.

Part-time 

Delighted for the team to have achieved the win. Some of the players are no doubt ready for Senior international football and will no doubt have put a fantastic case forward. Bringing a winning mentally through the age groups.

World Cup Final

Brazil 5 England 4

Brazil are the World Champions. But they had a shaky start narrowly beating France only to draw with Poland as France hammered eight past Russia and it looked as though France might have gone through, but a few tweaks and Brazil rallied to put four past Russia and finish above France at the top of the group table. Semi-finals are never easy and Germany proved stubborn opposition falling to a narrow single goal defeat which brought up the final against England. The final was a full bloodied affair that went deep into extra time. Jordan Henderson scored first on the half hour and then Declan Rice made it two three minutes later and it seemed like England were cruising, only for Coutinho to score just a minute later, Brazil were buoyed but England were still creating chances galore but found Ederson in sublime form and couldn't extend their lead before the half time break. The second half started fast with James Maddison and man of the match Declan Rice both scoring to put England well in control after fifty minutes. For the next twenty minutes Ederson was sublime as he kept his side with at least some hope, then on seventy minutes Casemiro scores with a sublime lob over Joe Hart and before England knew what has happening Neymar came alive inside the box to put Brazil right back into the hunt. England carried on pressing trying to get a fifth goal only to see Neymar break away to make it four all with ten minutes left. England still had the better of it but it was extra time. During extra time the hero for Brazil was Gabigol who went past Henderson and Stones to beat Hart and send the cup to Brazil after athrilling game. Congrats to Tom Hurst.

The league games will kickoff at 1000 hours...

Congratulations Tom! 

Sounds like a cracking game, and my own players Casemiro and Nemyar coming to cause Havoc! Looks like England could do with some new blood.

Unbelievable!!  Absolutely delighted to win the World Cup!!! 

Commiserations to Phil, sounds like England were much the better side and we hung on quite a bit.  Big hug for Ederson when he returns to Charlton!! 

Maybe a little awkward in the Botafogo dressing room when Neymar walks in with his winners medal, only sensible way forward is probably to sell him to me Phil?   

Paul Hemmings wrote:

The league games will kickoff at 1000 hours...

Half term so no time for a preview for me - but huge week as ever, esp in England taking in Charlton!

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

Lens 0 Etienne 1 Ganso freekick on 3 minutes.
Valencia 1 Deportivo 0 Pavon.
Chicago 0 Harrisburg 1 Edomwonyi.
Rotterdam 0 PSV 1 Giovinco.

Blackburn 0 Bournemouth 1 Babel on 6 minutes.
Roma 1 Juventus 0 Zaldivar.

Lens 0 Etienne 2 Ganso on 7 minutes.
Inter 1 Parma 0 Romero header.