Season 32 Week 16 processing...

Welcome to week 16.

We have some great semi-finals to look forward to this week.

The reset is underway...

Everybody's Orders have arrived safely, thanks very much...

WATFORD

Tough opponents this week Away day Vs Plymouth, Ben likes to change things up that often.... Not sure if will be playing TIC/TAC/TOE... but team goes into it well prepared and drilled in their game plan. Visitors has Lukaku injured, no doubt Ben has got strength in depth to cover the absence. As for myself, no changes to the starting lineup, sticking with PEB and same XI that has helped get the team to where they are, hopefully can last longer at the top of the table then the last stint! Goal difference is going to be key this season if things keep going!

GENK

Genk still trying to leapfrog Anderlecht at the top of the table, just waiting for the moment they drop points. Currently on a whopping 69 goal difference, Gent at this weeks leagues opponents who are currently unmanaged and struggling for goals this season with just 2 goals so far this season. So Genk will be looking to add more goals to the pot!
Europa Qtr Final, Ben double header this week! Atletico, looks to get revenge for last year, or will history repeat it's self? Last year Genk managed to sneak past Atletico who had a few injuries/suspension.. However, this season is a clean bill of health for both teams! Genk will go with experience in a couple of areas, Cabaye, Vertongen and Saelemaekers come into the side!

LEVERKUSEN 

Bayern this week, who Leverkusen earlier in the season beat in a shock to the manager given how Bayern were champions a couple of seasons ago. They seem to have struggled this season, finding themselves 5th in the table. But still have a lot of dangerous players, Gomez, Gotze, Allan and Boschilia. Szalai made his debut last week and is already making a stern partnership with Ruidger. Team is startling to settle and make partnerships ahead of next season. 
European Cup, Frankfurt who ply there trade in the German First division but are looking to gain automatic promotion will they keep there full strength for the league and risk promotion ? or will they will go for glory? Leverkusen have emphasised squad depth and are able to use that this week with Piszczek, Bonucci and Skulason all coming in to give freshness/experience. 

BOTAFOGO

Extremely difficult week for Botafogo... First of all, Leaders Santos, could reduce the deficit from 5 points to 2... Which could make for an interesting run in. Marcos Llorente seems to have settled into the side very well. Getting on the scoresheet regularly, Neymar seems to have adapted to the RW role and contributed more from an attacking perspective. No changes to the side, with the side settled and injury free this week. Allowing manager to pick his best XI. 
The second match of the week... Qtr final Vs Flum... It would seem Tom has changed things up a little recently to get the most out his side it would appear... However, concentrating on what my side can do is all you can do in these scenarios... Overthinking can be dangerous. Defensive minded Schelotto comes in at RB, and Fernandinho comes in at DR. 
The managers search for a new CF has come to a end! New arrival coming to the shores of Rio. 

Good luck to all!

Thanks for the preview Phil, always very interesting to hear player views on upcoming clashes.

Data entry is underway...

Friendly games have kicked off, League games should therefore kickoff at the usual time of 1000 hours Wednesday morning...

Schalke

Well, another tough CL match against Man City who I lost to twice in the group stages.
Trying out a wingback formation with supporting anchormen and 2 strikers. Hopefully, that will enable me to contain the city MF and break fast long up field to my attackers, missing out the city MF.
That's the theory anyway! Makes perfect sense to me...been successful with it recently.
In come Goretzka and Mbappe to make a difference.

Tough league game against Gladbach away, using the same tactics also against SLO.

The board have sanctioned a few more small buildings to get underway this turn.

Andy.

Thanks Andy, best of luck to everyone still involved in the midweek games this week, those games have just kicked off, results will follow as soon as I get time...

Haven’t had a chance to do an update similar to those above but probably in all the time have played CF, must be my biggest week.

4 semi finals!
Playing Rich and Phil twice in one week
La Liga on the line in the Madrid derby
Twente play second in a title decider
Independiente must win or Boca cruise to the title
Plymouth could be king makers with the top 3 all to visit in the next 6 weeks

Defo major nerves!

Quick update ..... busy work week.

Barca
Big game in Europe ........ nope, blown it. Focus on winning the League then ..... wait, Madrid clubs deservedly battling it out there. Rebuild around youth. Yup, that's the one. A tactical switch to PEP and some much needed new blood in De Gea and Tapsoba in the squad. Building through the rest of the season to be as prepared as possible for next year. Some squad moves going on and an end to the Gnabry experiment.

Nacional
A Libertadores semi final against River Plate with the prize of a final show down with either Fluminense or Botofogo. Araujo and Almada come into the starting line up to add some youthful fresh legs and skill. Fingers crossed.
The League sees Nacional face Miramar while the big games are played elsewhere with Defensor hosting Penarol and Danubio at home to Fenix.

Hannover
A European semi final against Birmingham looks really tricky on paper. Alexis Sanchez is scoring for fun with 35 in 24 games. Added to a tight defence they seem a tough nut to crack.
In the League a win against Bochum is vital to keep pace with Frankfurt and Wolfsburg. Wolfsburg in particular look very strong and are strengthening weekly. The search for a long term ST to accompany Yussuf Poulsen in attack is proving tricky.

Rennais
The juggling act that is getting the best out of Ben Yedder, Thuram and Griezmann while not exposing a lack of full backs is proving fun. Second place Strasbourg are this weeks competition. A potential title decider.

Confederations Cup - Semi-Final results

Cosmos 2 Melbourne 0
Chicago 1 Mamelodi 2

Champions Cup - Semi-Final results

Real Madrid 6 Plymouth 0
Man City 0 Schalke 1

European Cup Winners Cup

Chelsea 4 Berlin 3
Soton 2 Napoli 1

European Cup

Leverkusen 4 Twente 3
Frankfurt 2 Leicester 2 aet pens 4-5

Results under investigation, more news to follow...
System played the wrong matches.

Rerun results with apologies for the screwup.

Leverkusen 3 Frankfurt 0
Twente 3 Leicester 2

Europa Cup

Genk 4 Atletico 3
Valencia 3 Nantes 0

Fairs Cup

Dresden 0 Palace 1
Hannover 1 Birmingham 0

Europa Conference Cup

Innsbruck 1 Rapid 4
Betis 1 Anderlecht 2

Intertoto Cup

Bordeaux 1 Bohemians 1 aet pens 3-4
Galatasaray 0 West Brom 1

Intercity Cup

Leipzig 2 Leeds 1
Cherry 1 Burnley 2

Copa Libertadores

Botafogo 4 Fluminense 2
River Plate 2 Nacional 1

Copa SudAmerica

Danubio 1 Independente 2
Cerro Porteno 1 Cruzeiro 1 aet pens 2-3

Congratulations to everybody who progressed to their final.

League games will kickoff at 1000 hours this morning...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

European Cup

Leverkusen 4 Twente 3
Frankfurt 2 Leicester 2 aet pens 4-5

Paul - I had me playing Leicester here - got a Leicester Scout Report through and said Leicester in the fixture list…

Paul Hemmings wrote:

European Cup Winners Cup

Chelsea 4 Berlin 3
Soton 2 Napoli 1

Southampton in the final , we have been here before 

Not my day today, two defeats in two tough games. Key men missing at vital times has hampered me this season. 

Congrats to Phil and all the winners, good luck in the finals. 

Now onto the league games, Charlton, Nantes and Wolfsburg need nothing less than three points at this stage of the season. Come on boys!!

Well not surprised with Plymouth - thought be a tough ask against a rampant Madrid side

Twente await investigations over fixture changes

Atletico - reckon made a key tactic mistake not trying to overthink things

Indepeniente win and let’s see how they get on

Congrats to Phil and Rich!