Wolves 0-2 Portsmouth

Portsmouth had a bit too much here for Wolves, picking up the majority of team slots and the subs slots, whilst narrowly edging the tactics.

Wolves tried to keep it tight but two goals from super sub Vlahovic saw the vital 3 points go to the Pompey.

Goals: Vlahovic (Ronaldo), Vlahovic (no assist)
Motm: Vlahovic

Spins - Pompey, Pompey, Draw

Arsenal 1-3 Leicester

Similar story to the Wolves v Pompey game in that the subs really came into play. Mane and Sterling coming into play at 1-1 and driving home 2 late goals to make their European intentions known.

Arsenal a strong outfit and no pushover but always a difficult task against the likes of Leicester.

Goals:
Maddison (no assist)
B.Fernandes (pen), Mane (Sterling), Sterling (Mane)
Motm: B.Fernandes

Spins - Draw, Leicester, Leicester

Chelsea 0-0 Spurs

After a couple of high scoring matches we round out this week's matches with a tight one. Spurs nullified the Chelsea attack well, but likewise at the other end the Chelsea defence was well drilled with Bastoni shining.

Motm - Bastoni

Spins - Draw, Draw, Draw 😂 same as Leicester v Spurs 😯

Sheff Blades vs Leeds white roses

Yorkshire derby here, will the blades scythe down their flat cap wearing rivals or will Lubo’s Leeds prove to be a thorn in the side of the Welsh wizard.
Both teams lining up in a 433 variant. Kane not playing makes that leeds side look very different, Isak is a good replacement though with 16 goals in la liga this season, but I’d have perhaps been tempted to get Steptoe to lead the line. I think Lubo was right in targeting the flanks of the Blades as it is their (relative) weaker area. I really liked your tactics Lubo, they’ve improved greatly in the time I’ve been back (compared to my break from management) good side, good tactics, will always make you hard to beat.
Welshy – Patricio was/is a great addition to the side, brings great experience and still has a good few years ahead of him. As always it’s a very strong side with a good bench, Tactics are on point as ever. And that front-four has a bit of everything, Mahrez showing lately the form that made your transfer less of a gamble and more of good timing.
Fruity pulled this out as: Blades/Draw/Draw the Yorkshire honors are Sheffields
Sheff Utd 1-0 Leeds
Zlatan (Mahrez)
MOTM – Foden, Unlucky to be on the losing end.


Soton vs Newcastle

The balance of this saints teams is starting to grow on me, still not sure on the defensive qualities of the wing-backs, but that back three is decent enough. Not sure on Dest at RCB however, I was gonna say he’d get bullied but noticed that Ludy hasn’t really got a great physical threat in attack, Coman vs Dest would be interesting. Greenwood and Rashford have the chemistry of real life so we know they can work together but I feel they’re a little goal shy (18 goals between them in 68 games)

Ludes I like your side – feel its lacking some physicality in the front 5, even if its just the engine room, kinda has the feel about it I had about Spain (before they got good) that you kind get at them a bit and bully them out of games. Last weeks feedback is much the same as this weeks, the tactics read well, and Pep has shown it can work but I don’t think your full-backs (more so Shaw than TAA) can do what you want of them in that kind of auxiliary #6 role – and TAA is dangerous further forward, out wide that you hamstring yourself.

Fruity says – Draw/Newc/Newc

Soton 2-4 Newcastle
Greenwood (Rasher) Rasher (Greenwood)
Son x2 (Modric,Llorente) Salah (Coman) Raul (Eriksen)

MOTM – Casemiro

-------------

Man City vs B’mouth

Fan took over from Rof, ripped up a lot of Rof’s hard work but has managed to assemble a pretty good XI. You know what you get from a Fan side (not a negative) Solid side, good spine, good firepower – very workmanlike but in a nice way Bale has found some form lately and could be a decent pick-up. Pogba when on it is unplayable. Jesus at top for me I’m not sure on, one of many that hasn’t ever really kicked on how you’d like (8 goals in 28 appearances) but all in all a good side/tactics.
Elsie knows how I feel about his side and tactics, it’s a model that is the blueprint for Wolves, get the young exciting talents, give them a platform and move them on for a good mark-up. His side has great combined chemistry and I can see it working well IRL. But I do feel unfortunately they’d come up short against a City side that is packed with more established players.

Fruity – City/City/B’mouth

Man City 2-1 B’Mouth
Bale (no Assist) De Vrij (Tierney)
Nunez (JWP)

MOTM - Bale

B'mouth 1-2 Blades
Nunez (Wesley)
Suarez (james) Mertens (Mahrez)

MOTM - Mahrez


Newcastle 3-2 City
Silva (son) Salah (Llorente) Salah (Son)

Benzema (Jesus) Jesus (Zaniolo)

MOTM -Son

Leeds 2-2 Soton

Kane x2 (Chiesa/Depay)
Greenwood (Rashford) Rashford (Pulisic)

MOTM - Kane

Spurs 3-1 Wolves

Overall Spurs had the slots to their advantage here, but it only tells half the story as tactical wise Wolves were a true delight to absorb, whilst of course in all fairness Spurs tactics never fail to be anything but on point.

So, ultimately whilst it did look like a win for Spurs on paper, I could only envisage a narrow one due to Wolves taking the game to their opponents. However, 3 spins and 3 spurs win slots coming out, made this a very good day for the league champions and tis credit to Wolves that all 3 goals needed to come from set plays.

Goals
Ramos (Sane), Sancho (FK), Aguero (Pen)
Boadu (Willock)
Motm: Botman

Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea

I always find Arsenal a hard to beat team and today was no different. A real challenge against the likes of Haaland of course, and they couldn't stop him getting one against them.

Tielemans the late hero with the equaliser with the minutes running down. A good use of substitutes.

Goals
Tielemans (no assist)
Haaland (Torres)
Motm: Haaland

Portsmouth 1-1 Leicester

Leicester always tactically excellent and yet again calling on some quality substitutes. Tino always plays to his players strengths but reads the game exceptionally well.

Pompey took the lead here but super sub Felix scores the goal of the tournament to take a point.

Goals
Bernardo Silva (Jota)
Felix (Goretzka)
Motm: Felix

Newcastle vs Southampton

Silva (TAA)
Dias (TAA)

Motm – TAA

walkover victory for Newcastle puts them one foot into the final, can Ludy get his size 9’s fully through the door next week


Leeds vs Sheffield Utd

------------------------Neuer

Castagne---Soyuncu---Hernandez---Guerreiro

----------------------Brozovic

--------------SMS----------Pellegrini

Chiesa-------------------------------------Depay

---------------------Kane

Vs

----------------------Kelleher
Maehle, Andersen, T. Silva, Grimaldo
--------------Kovacic, Höjbjerg
-Mahrez----------James----------Mertens
-----------------------Suárez

It’s like a play-off for the owner of the “most improved” cup. Both sides lining up in similar formations, makes this a close contest. I think though Sheffield’s back-line deals with Leeds’ attack better than the other way round. That said however, I prefer the stability the Leeds middle three brings but I think Sheffields has a bit more of a spark to it.
Welshy’s tactics are as always really good and he always does well on the slot front here, but Lubo’s have improved a lot in my absence, and he doesn’t drop as many as he used to.

Two very good and balanced sides with a believable AND achievable game plan. Home advantage giving Leeds the finest of edges going into the fruity.

Fruity – Blades,Leeds,Leeds
Leeds 2-1 Sheff Utd
Kane x2 (Chiesa,K.Phillips)
Suarez (Mahrez)

MOTM – Kane

Close win for Lubo, but the away goal keeps Welshy well and truly in it

Chelsea 3-1 Portsmouth

Spins - Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea

Whilst the slots were closer than the spins would indicate, I always find it difficult with 3 spins for one team to then justify a 1 goal gap.

Home advantage slots will always help of course, but if I have to find a weakness that Chelsea would exploit it would definitely be the inexperienced Pompey full backs. Gifted without doubt but perhaps too big a game for them today.

Pompey had enough about them to get a vital away goal, but with a two goal advantage Chelsea are in the driving seat.

Goals:
Mbappe (Neymar), Grealish (FK), Haaland (Pen)
Ronaldo (Vlahovic)
Motm: Mbappe

Tottenham 2-1 Leicester

Spins - Spurs, Leicester, Spurs

Two teams that tend to go for the jugular but have an uncanny ability to be exceptionally strong defensively at the same time.

Home advantage always gave Spurs an edge, but it wasn't by much.

Spurs closing up shop towards the end ensured that Leicester had to make do with the away goal which more than keeps this tie on a knife edge.

Goals
De Bruyne (Sancho), De Bruyne (no assist)
Fernandes (Thiago)

Motm: Fabinho

Soton vs Newcastle
Always gonna be tough to turn around a 2 goal deficit but with home advantage and a fair amount of attacking talent Nadz has a slight chance. That Soton back-three is solid a little too French but solid none the less, and they’d certainly keep the Barcodes well marshalled, not a fan of the faux-wing backs but, with nothing to lose and the need for goals huge this is a gamble that needs taking. I like the front-two but I’m just not sure they’re clinical enough to turn the tide in a big game.
This Newcastle side really is in with a good shout of pushing lesta and Spurs all the way next season, it’s brimming with quality and no real weakness other than cough coman cough. I did think the Soton back-three could cope mostly because even in a 3 man attack I don’t see much width there, I don’t see salah making those unselfish runs out-wide to take a man away, he’s just not that kind of player (you see him more than me, maybe I’m wrong)
Anyways with home advantage on his side Nadz, takes a slender slot lead into the fruity

Fruity, Soton/Soton/Newcastle

Soton 1-0 Newcastle (AGG 1-2)
Greenwood (Rashford)
MOTM – Valverde

A good win for Soton but ultimately they fell just short


Sheffield United vs Leeds

Leeds travel down the M1 to take on their Yorkshire rivals, they have a slender 1 goal lead, but Welshy’s boys have an all important away goal on their side.
I like welshy’s side, I also like there’s no knee-jerk to the first leg loss, great side great tactics, strong defence and a lot of match winners up top, tactics as always very sound.

Lubo has become the thinking man’s Tino, switches it up and gives him a side with a strong spine, keeping it tight at the back and giving his side something to defend. I like the side/tactics and no discernible weakness in any of it

Slots are even going into the fruity (before Home adv)

fruity: Draw/Sheff/Draw

Sheffield 1-0 Leeds (AGG 2-2 Sheff Utd win on away goals)
Suarez (Mahrez)

MOTM – Suarez

A win by the tightest of margins here, could only ever be narrow with the slots being equal and only 1 positive spin out of three. Welshy sneaks into the final, and commiserations Lubo, you did a grand job and the tactical versatility will stand you in good stead

Portsmouth 3-1 Chelsea (Agg. 4-4)

Pens:
Portsmouth win 1-0 on penalties.

Similar to the first leg in that whilst the home team held the advantage it looked more feasible that a 1 goal advantage would have been the most that either team could expect on the day. Tie won for Chelsea surely?

Fireworks at Fratton Park however as the fruity brings out 3 Portsmouth wins and as in the first leg for Chelsea, we must treat both teams equally.

Portsmouth's tactics managed the need for attack and defence exceptionally well, whilst Chelsea were in all fairness so near to that second away goal that would have sent them straight through.

Chelsea evaporated in the penalty shootout however, with Pompey equally dire until their 4th effort found the back of the onion bag.

Goals:
Vlahovic x 2 (Jota, Berardi), Insigne (Vlahovic)
Havertz (Mbappe)
Motm: Vlahovic - a real handful throughout the game and he's on a roll at the moment

Leicester 2-1 Spurs (Agg 3-3)

Leicester win 3-2 on pens

Knife edge second leg which could have swung either way. It was as always difficult to separate these two who are both tactically top notch. Spurs won't be adding to their two trophies this season after missing out in the penalty shootout as it's the Foxes who claim the narrowest of victories over the two legs to make their way into the champions league final.

Goals:
Mount (Fernandes), Fernandes (pen)
Griezmann (Sane)
Motm: Fernandes - involved in both goals during the 90 and ensured that Leicester got over to the perfect start in the shootout

Sheffield Utd vs Newcastle

------------------------Patrício
Maehle, Andersen, T. Silva, Grimaldo
-------------Cristante, Höjbjerg
-Mahrez-----------James---------Mertens
-------------------------Suárez

Subs: Meret, Lamptey, Ampadu, Gallagher, Isco, Brandt, Ibrahimovic

Vs

_____________Navas
Trent_____Dias______VVD_____Kostic
____________Casemiro
_______Llorente_____Gundogan
Salah_________Andre___________Son

Subs: Koke, Tomori, Fabian, Eriksen, Olmo, Coman, Raul

The first thing I notice about Sheffield United these days is the strength Welshy has on the bench, the likes of Zlatan and Isco are genuine match-winners, Brandt seems to have been around forever, and the signing of Christante is a good pick-up, I remember signing him back in the day for 500k.
The sides well balanced, the defence is solid and I like the two #6’s a lot, you already know I rate the front-four. Our 4-2-3-1 is set up to have that wonderful ‘springy' quality - it absorbs pressure without breaking and then snaps back with surprising force. – Much like one of those welsh longbows?
Tactics as ever are on point and I think a final 15 min salvo from Zlatan and Isco would be a handful for a tiring defence.

Newcastle have a great side, it’s right up there with the best in the league and like Sheffield they have fantastic bench options to, Olmo is a genuine talent, and Eriksen/coman/raul can turn a game.

Ludy I like the tactics, I like your take on Pep’s city and I think you have the players to pull it off BUT I do still think that TAA is wasted in that role, because for me he’s better off as the marauding RB that Klopp utilises rather than trying to make him a sort of B2B midfielder, even more so because he has “real like” team-mate Mo Salah ahead of him, you already have that kind of chemistry, so why tinker?

The defence is one of the best if not the best in the league and the front-three are really good, I like the midfield I think…I’m harsh on midfields though and it’s just missing the magician in there…but all in a great side and very good tactics.

All things considered Newcastle take a slender lead into the fruity

Fruity:- Draw/Newcastle/Blades

Sheffield Utd 2-3 Newcastle A.E.T
Mahrez (Suarez) Zlatan (Isco)
Salah (Llorente) Gundogan (Casemiro) Raul (Eriksen)

MOTM – Casemiro

Really close game, that truly could have gone either way, commiserations Welshy, I’m sure you’re side will come again, Congrats Ludy <bubbles>

Portsmouth 1-2 Leicester

Spins - Leicester, Pompey, Leicester

I think that Tino is the most unique tactician in the league, never afraid of the unorthodox and the way that they are prosed always makes them exceptionally believable.

The difficulty that teams have playing against Leicester is that they do everything well. Be that starting lineup, tactics and exceptionally good use of subs week in and week out.

This was a close game. Portsmouth have a strong team, Neymar a very interesting addition and he got off the mark for his new club today.

There wasn't much in the slots as you can imagine, but Leicester would have been the bookmakers favourites and they do enough on the day to take the cup back home.

Goals: Neymar (Kessie)
Martinez (Mount), Sterling (Fernandes)
Motm: Marquinhos

Champions League
Round 1
Chelsea v Arsenal
Spurs v Leicester

Round 2
Leicester v Chelsea
Spurs v Arsenal

Round 3
Chelsea v Spurs
Leicester v Arsenal

Europa League
Round 1
Liverpool v Brentford
Man City v Newcastle

Round 2
Newcastle v Liverpool
Man City v Brentford

Round 3
Liverpool v Man City
Newcastle v Brentford

Conference league
Round 1
Man Utd v Watford
Wolves v Leeds

Round 2
Leeds v Man Utd
Wolves v Watford

Round 3
Man Utd v Wolves
Leeds v Watford

Game 1
Champions League
Chelsea v Arsenal
Spurs v Leicester

Europa League
Liverpool v Brentford
Man City v Newcastle

Conference league
Man Utd v Watford
Wolves v Leeds

Game 2
Champions league
Leicester v Chelsea
Spurs v Arsenal

Europa League
Newcastle v Liverpool
Man City v Brentford

Conference league
Leeds v Man Utd
Wolves v Watford

Game 3
Champions league
Chelsea v Spurs
Leicester v Arsenal

Europa league
Liverpool v Man City
Newcastle v Brentford

Conference league
Man Utd v Wolves
Leeds v Watford

Europa League

Liverpool 0 - 2 Brentford
Broja, Guehi(Odegaard x 2 )

Man City 2 - 0 Newcastle
Benzema(Nkunku), Nkunku