2016
The Run In - Match Day 33
It’s that time of season we all love or hate, the final run in, the push for glory or the panic to avoid the trap door, 6 games left to decide if we’re polishing up our silverware or polishing up our CV’s.
In what has been yet another quality season at T100 very little is yet decided in the shake ups at the top and bottoms but the coming games will soon change all that and this is the first of this seasons’ countdown.
Division 1
At the top it’s a 2 horse race for the title with Bayern trailing by two and half lengths to Barca who are looking like coasting in at a canter. With 5 points between them it is hard to see the Spanish giants dropping that many points in 6 games when they’ve dropped only 9 in 32 so far this season.
Both of the above are already assured of SMFA Champions Cup football next season but who will join them is still in the balance. After unusually inconsistent seasons both Real and Juve have bobbed in and out of the top 4 but currently hold those berths being closely Dortmund and Liverpool, whilst PSG have an outside chance of being in contention their current poor form would indicate that is unlikely.
Arsenal, Lazio and Napoli are realistically out of that race but likely to secure SMFA Shield places, Porto have secured a place courtesy of their T100 Shield win, Valencia and Chelsea have a lot of ground to make up to be in contention but both could still qualify by winning this seasons tournament.
At the dark end of the table Fiorentina look doomed, defeat on Sunday and victories for Man City and Fenerbahce would confirm their relegation, Leverkusen too look highly unlikely to avoid the drop and must win all their remaining games and hope results above them go their way.
Schalke, Man Utd, Man City and Fenerbahce are divided by 3 points as they battle to avoid the drop, Atletico have seen a current run of form starting to pull them clear but they together with Chelsea, Porto and Valencia are not yet safe.
Arsenal, Lazio and Napoli all just need 2 points to mathematically confirm their Div 1 status for next season.
Division 2
It’s hard to look beyond the current top 3 of Milan, Monchengladbach and Spurs for automatic promotion, however which one of them will take the title is far from being decided.
Senit, Roma, Ajax and Shakhtar currently hold the play-off berths but Sevilla, Newcastle, Spartak, Inter, Wolfsburg and Everton will all harbour hopes of gaining ground during the run in.
Whilst at the bottom nobody is going to be relegated this Sunday Sporting must start putting together a run if they are not going to be playing in Div 3 next season. Basels recent run of good form see’s them with a fighting chance of survival along with Boca and Loko all currently in the bottom four, whilst mathematically nobody up to 6th are currently safe in reality it is likely that only Lyon, Benfica and CSKA are in danger of being dragged into the mix.
Division 3
In a tight division nothing looks like being decided early.
Villa look likely to get automatic promotion but both Genoa and Internacional have both hit a bad run of form at the tail end of the season, all down to Athletic in 7th are in contention with play-off hopefuls realistically extending down to Marseille in 11th.
At the base defeat for Bordeaux and victory for Monaco will see the French club all but doomed, St Etienne look likely to follow but not imminently, the likely other contenders for the drop currently look to come from Udinese, Hoffenhem, Monaco, Swansea and Stoke whilst nobody up to PSV in 5thare currently mathematically safe.
Division 4
In the crazy World that has been Div 4 this season absolutely nothing is close to being decided.
Whilst Villareal look the only decent odds on bet for promotion anyone down to Sassuolo in 16th could make the rise.
Going the other way there are currently no teams showing they intend to be favourites with only 8 points between 10th and 20th.
This division looks certain to go to the wire.
Division 5
The Champions look likely to be either Kyiv or Olympiacos with the battle to join them in promotion being between Flamengo, Liege, Brugge and Celtic.
Play-off contenders together with those mentioned above look likely to come from Celta Vigo, Zagreb, Hertha, Rubin Kazan and Santos.
Augsburg are current favourites for the wooden spoon but West Brom, Partizan and Levante will be looking over their shoulders.
Squeaky bum time at Besiktas!!!!
squeaky bum time at besiktas!!!!
With just 7 games to go besiktas lie in 6th place just 1 point inside the play off places. And with 3 of the last 7 games against the top 3 sides in the league with genoa aston villa and internacional all set to visit the vodofone arena.it looks like being a dog fight to achieve a top 7 place.
the besiktas board demanded a improvement on last seasons finish especially with the cash the owners injected into the club. with marseille just 5 points behind us this season could easily go from a potential success to me being sacked as manager of this club after i promised the board id at least match last seasons finish..
the massive problem for us this season has been draws with us having 12 drawn games.this has to be changed quickly if were to achieve our play off aim now.
overall the players and fans have been great this season and hopefully we can finish it of in style
OLE! it's the south american round up!
OLE! it’s the south american round up!
Sau Paulo
The Spoons are currently occupying 2nd position in league 4 however a poor run of form has seen no wins in 3 games for the Brazilian club. It’s a well known fact that their squad is amongst the weakest in the league & that it’s only the astute tactics of manager Wheels that has kept them in the title race.
Off the field activities such as the recent dressing room siege by a disgruntled bloc of the infamous ‘Spoon Army’ has led to Wheels issuing a ‘unity’ cry, much like Jeremy Corbyn & miraculously, the S.A. has responded, ceasing all hostilities until the final game of the season is over. Wheels now needs to build bridges with keeper Kivrak & top striker Ibarbo in order to secure a play off spot. Anything else is unthinkable.
Boca Juniors
It all seems to have gone tits up for manager Kevin Wallace & his Boca squad. Despite some great early season results their form has tailed off & they are now without a win in 9 league games.
It's surely time for Wallace to read the riot act to his big name stars such as Banega & Insua to 'insua' they remain in Division 2 next season, a feat that is looking increasingly unlikely with each game
This seasons marks 4/10
This seasons marks 4/10
RIVER PLATE (Argentina)
The Plates as they may well be known, looking at Division 4, seem to be struggling this season.
But in true Div 4 style they are only 5 points of a play off position.
Inconsistency, like many div 4 teams has been the Plates problem this year. Manager secasiu calin-mihai has bought in some good young players such as Demaria Gray, Dwight Gayle & Cardona to add to his core of players with potential - not too many golden oldies here. If the gaffer has the patience to stick with his younger players the Plates could be spinning into div 3 in the not to distant future.
This seasons marks: 6/10
Flamengo (Brazil)
Mark Phelp's Flamengo are now unrecognisable with 19 players leaving this season & 27 arriving.
Club sources claim the revolving door array had to be closed after creating a rare violent thermal vortex in the club main terminal building. This caused mayhem in the newly opened branch of Greggs when a tray of newly baked pizza slices swirled into the air nipping Joao Pedro & Mathius Doria in some sensitive places, whilst in the next door Tie Rack Bruno Alves was nearly choked by several red & yellow stripey numbers resulting in him handing in his transfer request.
Flamengo are sitting 3rd & if Phelps can continue to motivate his players to achieve the results they have been, then promotion looks very likely.
This seasons marks 8/10
Santos (Brazil)
Santos started the season ok, had some good promotion form mid season & now seem to have slumped as we head towards the seasons end. Manager IanD has a strong squad with star players like John Obi Mikel & Pablo Piatti plus some promising youth players but mid table mediocraty beckons unless IanD can pull a motivational rabbit out of the metaphorical hat. Perhaps a team talk from renown spoon bender Uri Geller might help. That is if he's recovered the use of his limbs after he tried his spoon bending during half time at The Morumbi recently.
This seasons marks 5/10
Independiente (Argentina)
Manager nikolas NIKKIS nikolaou has a good youth base with some useful 1st team players like Layun & N'Zonzi to call on. However the home crowd would be forgiven for thinking the gaffer had sent out the volleyball team by accident as results have been less than impressive this season.Personally I feel a club mascot is needed, a large furry hernia maybe, or perhaps a rabid squirrel, something to shake up the crowd & get those players going cos the pre-match armed Taliban salute just isn't working.
This seasons marks 4/10
SC International
Despite managing a club that sounds like a large discout warehouse (open to the public 7 days a week), Robérto Downinho has done a sterling job guiding the club into 3rd position in Division 3.
A not necessarily 'strong' team but a very well balanced one has done the gaffer proud & if they can remain consistent, could find themselves playing in a higher league next season. Paul Ntep has done especially well and Roberto must be hoping he can keep this form going till the seasons end.
This seasons marks 9/10
Cruzeiro (Brazil)
This Brazilian club got it's name from its first chairman, who it's rumoured, used to cruise around the red light district of Belo Horizonte in his Ford Capri attempting to pick up prostitutes. However when the ladies of the night heard what depraved acts he wanted them to perform they refused to go with him & threw used condoms & egg whisks at his car. This happened so regularily that the club he owned, Horizonte Rovers became Cruzeiro. Manager Isak Bellman has only been in place for 4 games & in that time has recorded 1 win, 2 draws & 1 defeat, 5 points from a possible 12. Not promotion form you may say but if the gaffer can get some more belief in the dressing room then they are well placed to secure a play off spot.This seasons Marks 7/10
Milan win in Amsterdam
Beddows’ brilliant Milan won comfortably in Holland this evening with 9 men thanks to a man of the match performance from who else - Mario Balotelli.
Two goals and a red card were enough to secure another 3 points as Milan opened up a 4 point lead on second place Monchengladbach ahead of the two sides meeting next Thursday.
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| Brilliant Balotelli scored 2 goals |
Played: 30
Goals: 26
MOM: 17
Assists: 10
Avg Rat: 7.83
POST-MATCH FALLOUT IN MILAN
Once again AC Milan dominated headlines in tabloids around the globe with their matchday antics, after their recent match against visitors Vfl Wolfsburg.
But this time it was the manager of Die Wolfe, Greg Owen, who was making bold statements in the post-match press conference.
After seeing their second goal disallowed - which would have put the visitors 2-0 up in the first 20 minutes - Owen complained about the Italian linesman to the assembled press corps:
"Look, I'm not saying he was one-eyed ... but he was wearing an eye-patch ... and wearing last season's Milan jersey. Looking at the evidence, you'd have to say he was less than capable, and a fan of the Rossoneri to boot. So to have Insigne's strike ruled out in such a manner, well we're not happy".
The Italian linesman ruling Wolfsburg's second goal offside.
Owen also complained about the physical approach that the Milan players brought to the match, which has been a notable feature of their play under Beddows this season:
"You only had to look at their tackling to see how Stephen has been coaching them. Now you know I have a lot of respect for Mr Beddows. In fact, he helped me out when I was at Moscow with some coaching tips - in exchange for a private physio session - and I have learned a lot from him. But recently - as the stakes have increased - it's all been about the bash from his lads. You take young Jordan Henderson - and some days I wish somebody would! - but after he scored the first goal he got absolutely targeted by the Milan hitmen. Result? He's got a concussion and he's out of action".
Jordan Henderson in Disneyland after getting knocked out by the brutal Milan defence.
"I mean somebody's got to look at the way this team is playing and say enough is enough", concluded Owen.
AC Milan manager Stephen Beddows was unavailable for comment after he failed to show for the press conference amid rumours that Balotelli had set Beddow's blazer on fire in an Italian-English language mix-up.
Overall, most of the comments from the Wolfsburg manager ended up sounding like a case of sour grapes. Especially considering his team managed a 1-1 draw away from home against the Division 2 league leaders, and with their mixed form coming into a game they were not expected to take anything out of. There is certainly speculation that his complaints were designed to deflect criticism of his own team's performance in the final run-in. Hopes of a play-off place are fading for Wolfsburg after a series of results which have only seen them pick up 5 points from the last six league games. Fans who were hoping for Owen's arrival to signal a turn-around in league form - and for some more of the managerial magic which saw his previous charges Lokomotiv Moskva punch well above their weight - have been sorely disappointed by the team's performance in the past 11 games.
- Sky Calcio
FRANKBET under fire
FRANKBET usually have a decent track record of predicting SM Top 100 yet season 3 they seem to have got a little bit wrong, back in June they predicted many of the divisions and gave their odds lets have a look at what they said and how they compare to the real thing with 9 cup finals to go.
DIV 5
RSC Anderlecht 1/12
Olympiakos 3/1
Hertha Berlin 4/1
Celtic 6/1
Werder Bremen 10/1
Celta Vigo 10/1
Standard Liege 12/1
Espanyol 16/1
Levante 22/1
Twente 22/1
West Brom 33/1
Club Brugge 66/1
Augsburg 66/1
Dinamo Zagreb 100/1
FK Partizan 100/1
Santos 125/1
Dynamo Kiev 200/1
Independiente 250/1
Flamengo 400/1
Rubin Kazan 5000/1
DIV 4
Malaga 1/1000
Torino 5/2
Villarreal 7/2
Dynamo Moscow 8/1
Sassuolo 9/1
Sampdoria 9/1
Atalanta 12/1
West Ham 16/1
Feyenoord 16/1
FC Koln 22/1
Hamburg 25/1
VFB Stuttgart 33/1
Sao Paulo 33/1
AZ 50/1
Chievo Verona 50/1
River Plate 60/1
Dnipro 100/1
Montpeillier 500/1
Hellas Verona 650/1
Lille 5000/1
DIV 3
Marseille 2/1
Athletic Club 3/1
Southampton 5/2
Genoa 9/1
Sunderland 12/1
SC Internacional 14/1
Galatasaray 21/1
Udinese 21/1
Leicester City 33/1
AS Monaco 33/1
Cruzeiro 40/1
Aston Villa 50/1
PSV 75/1
Beskitas 88/1
Swansea 125/1
Crystal Palace 250/1
Hoffenheim 250/1
Bordeaux 300/1
AS Saint Etienne 500/1
Stoke City 6000/1
DIV 2
Internazionale 1/6
Sevilla 1/2
Tottenham Hotspur 4/1
Spartak Moscow 8/1
Everton 11/1
VFL Wolfsburg 12/1
Monchengladbach 16/1
AC Milan 16/1
AS Roma 16/1
Ajax 22/1
Newcastle United 33/1
Lokomotiv Moscow 40/1
Sporting 42/1
Lyon 54/1
Benfica 66/1
Basel 100/1
Zenit 250/1
Shakthar 350/1
Boca Juniors 5000/1
CSKA Moscow 5001/1
Kyiv Debrief
So far so good this season for the Ukrainian Giants currently sitting top of Division 5. With 9 games remaining in the league and currently sitting 3 points clear of Olympiacos in second place, Manager Grant Cameron has taken the time to evaluate the goals set out to achieve at the start of the season.
SO HERE WE GO ...
Cameron believes his side have exceeded all expectations this season so far and what has already been a great season could become an incredible season by winning the Division 5 title.
At the beginning of the season the objective was to improve on last season and try and push for a play-off spot, currently 19 points clear of 8th placed Santos with 27 points available it would seem that a play-off place is almost guaranteed. Automatic promotion would be next on the agenda with 4th placed Standard Liege 12 points behind this is still not guaranteed.
Cameron believes that 65 points will get automatic promotion and 76 points will be enough to claim the Division 5 title.
So far this season 22 players have came into Kyiv and 26 have left with the majority leaving being under 21. Recently there has been a lot of interest in Armando Izzo the 24 yaer old Italian centre back.
Cameron spoke with Izzo and both have came to an agreement that he will not be sold before the end of the season and a decision will then be made whether or not to place the Italian on the transfer list.
Scenes in Milan!
There were jubilant scenes reminiscent of the day that Prince Michael William was sacked as Inter manager - yes that’s right manager Stephen Beddows cannot finish in the bottom 2 so he will be there next season.
Joyful scenes as now Beddows is mathematically safe and cannot lose his job, there were women weeping uncontrollably, children cheering continuously and grown men chanting Beddows’ name as Beddows declared “Job Done” in his speech in Piazza Duomo.
With his job safe for another season and Milan now 3 points clear at the top of the table he has now stated that the next target is to secure safety to ensure that the side will not be relegated which is still a strong possibility - deluded one commentator said of Beddows who responded…
“I am not deluded… we are in a fair position but we will not count any KFC chicken buckets until the fat lady sings!” Beddows then disappeared with Barbara to celebrate with the players.
Some rival managers have questioned Balotelli’s continued inclusion with him apparently being unavailable each week to then turn up miraculously on the team sheet.
Beddows defended his star striker who he described as insecure and simply a player who needs “love and care… and not to be treated like a spoilt brat, which he clearly isn’t!"
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| Meanwhile Mister Malcolm seen with the Italian Team of the Year Award Season 1 - where are they now? |