Season 4 - Match Day 35 Preview

The first proper weekly review in this seasons countdown with 4 games left to play who be in the clouds and who will be Claudio is starting to become clearer, so without further a pun on we go …..




Division 1

The title is now a 2 horse race with Reals defeat at the weekend ending any slim hope they had of catching the leaders Bayern, that hope lays with Barca who need 6pts more than the table toppers to reclaim their crown.

The Champions Cup places are all sorted with Bayern, Barca and Real being joined by Juve in next seasons competition.

The automatic Champions Shield spots are far from being decided with clubs from Chelsea in 5th down to Napoli in in 13thall being in contention, whilst Arsenal are still mathematically in the mix they will be more concerned about securing their 1st Division status next season.

In that basement battle Lazio in 20th are on the verge of the drop, failure to beat fellow relegation battlers Schalke on Sunday will see them relegated, even victory could see them down if Man City match that result against Napoli.

Schalke in 19th will live to fight another day regardless of this weekends results but will be hoping to gain ground on both Atletico and Zenit above them who in turn will be looking to claw back on Man City and Monchengladbach who sit just out of the relegation places.

Arsenal meanwhile could secure that Div 1 status if they pull off a shock victory at home to Bayern and Zenit lose at Spurs.


Division 2

Roma look to have hit form at the right time having leap frogged Everton on goal difference to head the table but they face stiff competition from the Toffees and Man Utd to claim the title. Wolfsburg still have an outside chance of stealing that silverware but realistically will be looking at trying to secure an automatic promotion spot together with other contenders Southampton, Inter and Internacional who will all still be harbouring hopes of sneaking through the door.

Those not making it will be looking to ensure they at least secure a play-off place with Sevilla, Fiorentina, Genoa and possibly Ajax looking for any slip ups above them to make it into the end of season lottery.

At the foot of the table defeat for Newcastle at Everton will see them all but relegated and definitely down if they fail to win and Benfica manage to get any result at Shakthar.

A Benfica win would also see their opponents Shakthar pushed to the brink whilst Villa will be looking for a result at home to Lyon and CSKA likewise away to Genoa to improve their chances of overhauling Benfica, Spartak and Lyon above them.

Both Fenerbahce and Leverkusen will also be looking for points to put themselves clear of danger and avoid any last day sweats.


Division 3

Promotion and the title is likely to be fought out by the top four of Sporting, Swansea, Villarreal and Boca whilst both Athletic Club and Leicester will hope to capitalise on any slips above them to bring themselves into serious contention.

The battle for the play-offs is likely to extend down as far as PSV in 13th but they will also be looking over their shoulder to ensure they are drawn into the relegation dog fight.

In that basement Stuttgart look likely to be first to falter and anything short of victory against Swansea on Sunday will see their fate confirmed, even victory could see them drop if Stoke gain a point against Leicester.

Udinese could also go through the trap door if the suffer defeat at the hands of Sporting and Stoke win, whilst Basel can’t go down this weekend their fate would almost be assured with defeat to Marseille.

Palace sitting 4th from bottom will be hoping to leap frog Stoke, Galatasaray and Besiktas above them if any of that trio suffer defeat and Palace manage a home win against Sao Paulo.

As mentioned PSV still are far from safe sitting 5pts above the drop zone whilst Cruzeiro and Sao Paulo above them are probably safe with a 7pt cushion.



Division 4

Hellas Verona have already assured themselves of 3rdDivision football next season and victory against local rivals Chievo or defeat for Sassuolo to Montpellier would see them claim the title.

The remaining promotion places are being fought for by Sassuolo, Liege, Sampdoria, St Etienne and Chievo Verona with Olympiacos and Dnipro more likely to make it through the play-offs than automatically.

The other contenders for the play-off places include AZ, Atalanta and Hoffenhem, Dynamo and Feyenoord though still not mathematically out of the picture will be more concerned about securing their status for next season.

In the basement battle West Ham are all but relegated if they lose at home to River Plate and whilst the latter and Montpellier will be put on the brink if they fail to win.

Lille currently sitting 4th from bottom have given themselves a fighting chance with recent form and victory over Atalanta is likely to pull them out of the drop zone with there being only 3pts between them and Feyenoord four places above them in 13th.

Between these two sit Zagreb, Monaco and Bordeaux who will be desperate for points to avoid being pulled down in to the bottom four.



Division 5

The tightest division of all when it comes to the promotion scrap with Celtic, Dynamo, Celta Vigo, Santos and Torino all having good chance of making the cut.

The pair that don’t make it are likely to be joined in the play-offs by any two from Hertha, Malaga, Levante Rubin Kazan, Independiente and Brugge though the latter two will have to rely on some serious slip ups from those above them.


At the foot of the table West Brom can only catch Anderlecht to avoid the wooden spoon again this season though with only four wins all season it is unlikely they will pull back the 6 point gap in four games.

THE COPPA DEL DUOMO - BRING IT ON!!


FENERBAHCE REVIEW

This season will be one to forget for Bruin, as he was, at the very least expected to finish in the play-off places by his own targets set at the start of the season… Instead he and the fannybashers have had their own fanny’s bashed on several separate occasions, resulting in battling relegation for the second half of the season. Some fans were asking the question why he was even still at the club one month ago, with protests outside the ground every week, but that fell on deaf ears and it soon tailed off.

As one door opens another closes, and that door shut behind a number of players, locking them out the team then eventually out the door for good due to poor performances. Brun was sad to see these players go but knew that for his own job security it had to happen.

A new Fenerbahce was born, brining in new players hoping that would turn Fenerbahce’s fortunes around. Nobody knows what has been put in the water at the Can Bartu Training Facilities but it seems to be working because the Istanbul based outfit’s record as is follow’s: DWLDWD. 

Bruin was interviewed by FaNnYbAsHeR MuFfSrEdRaW T.V last night and was asked how he now feels since slowly steadying the ship at The Yellow Canaries. “Its a massive relief for me and it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. May I point out please, I take full responsibility for our form in bad times as I’m the manager, and I’m not scared to admit that I made a mistake when our form was bad. The mistake I made was me not looking in the transfer market quicker than I did.  The reason for that I think was due to being scared of failing to bring in the right players and bringing down the teams average rating for nothing. Anyway, its all worked out well so far, but a lot can change in a short amount of time in football, but hopefully we can stay up which is looking more and more likely every game. Its funny how our target was the play-off positions but now its staying up. Anyway thats now our target for next season.

Season 4 - Match Day 34 Preview

It’s that time again when we count down over the final weeks fixtures in T100 to see who is going to get a medal or a hang mans noose, with 5 games still to go there are more things yet to be decided than whether Trump will be assassinated or impeached within the next 4 years, so without a further a do and putting down my Parker Hale M85 momentarily from my strategic position across from the White House it’s on with the first of this seasons previews.




Division 1

Bayern are looking to ensure a new name will be etched on the T100 Championship Trophy this season with a 5pt lead over Barcelona with Real barely hanging on to the Catalonians coat tails, Juve in 4thare already out of the title picture and looking to widen the distance to the chasing group to secure Champions Cup football next season.

The chasing pack that could secure Champions Shield places are numerous and life is too short at this time to bore you and myself with the runners and riders.

The real business of Div 1 is relegation and down at the bottom there are quite a few squeaky bums.

Rooted at the bottom at the moment are Lazio who have struggled to get out of 1st gear all season, above them Schalke are starting to string results together at an ideal time and will have teams above them twitching. Amongst those twitchers above them are without doubt Atletico and Zenit who in turn will be looking at Man City, Monchengladbach and Arsenal with a view to dragging them back down into the drop zone.


Division 2

Everton have overcome a recent hic-up in form to maintain top spot whilst both Roma and Man Utd will have ambitions of toppling them, they in turn are pursued by Southampton Inter and Wolfsburg who must still have automatic promotion ambitions.

Playoff contenders must extend down to Genoa in 10thwhilst Ajax and Leverkusen below then will still have an eye on possibly sneaking in.

At the bottom Newcastle look up at a host of clubs who are fighting the drop which include Shakhtar, CSKA, Villa, Benfica, Lyon, Spartak and Fenerbahce.


Division 3

Sporting have hit form at the right time and are starting to leave breathing space at the top of the table, below them Swansea Villarreal and Boca are the main contenders for promotion if not the title.

From Athletic in 5th to Sao Paulo in 13th, all will have aspirations of making the play-offs whilst at the foot Stuttgart are struggling to find anyone they can claw back on.

Udinese in 19th to Stoke in 15th look the likely dance partners for Stuttgart but with so few points between them all the next 5 games are crucial.


Division 4


Hellas are the first club in T100 to determine their future for next season having already secured promotion and being 9pts ahead of Sassuolo in 2nd look likely to take the title too. Sassuolo look virtually assurwd of promotion whilst St Etienne, Sampdoria, Liege, Verona and Chievo are slugging it out to join them.

Olympiacos, Dnipro, AZ and Kyiv will be looking to for a play-off place whilst sneakily hoping for major slip ups above them to open a promotion door.

At the bottom the trap door is waiting for any four from West Ham at the foot to Kyiv on 10th to slip up and slide through to the tier below.



Division 5

It’s been all change on a weekly basis nearly in this division with any of Celtic, Celta Vigo, Santos and Dynamo having a serious chance of the titlw, add Torino and Hertha into the automatic promotion mix and Div 5 may be where the action is at the end of this season.


Down to Brugge in 11th will be harbouring play off hopes whilst down at the bottom West Brom are looking likely to win the wooden spoon and being thankful there isn’t a Frankarama league below them.

T100 D5 - Latest Betting from ruts365


After week 36 (Thursday 2nd March) - 2 matches to play

D5 Title

Evs - Santos, Dynamo Moscow
6/4 - Celta Vigo
7/4 - Celtic


Promotion to D4 (3 x auto, 1 x playoffs)

1/2 - Santos, Dynamo Moscow
4/5 - Celta Vigo
4/6 - Celtic
4/7 - Torino
Evs - Hertha Berlin, Malaga
5/4 - Rubin
6/4 - Levante, Brugge
4/1 - Independiente
10/1 - Espanyol

You're FIRED.

On Saturday morning 28th of January, the Fenerbahce manager issued an ultimatum to his players “if you don’t pull your weight you are out the door”. That seemed to do the job as they beat A.S Roma 1-0 on Sunday. After their next result it seemed the players didn’t think that Bruin would go ahead and keep his word about the ultimatum, because when Thursday night arrived, GAME NIGHT, playing Newcastle who were bottom of the league, the result was embarrassing to say the least (no disrespect to Norman) and they were beaten 4-1 at home.

 Now as we sit on the 5th of February, just a week after Bruin issued his ultimatum, no less than 7 players have been shown the door. These include, Gonul, Arana, Perrin, Schennikov, Bernard, Coqulin and Praet.

With 7 players leaving, the Fenerbahce fans were nervous to say the least as they were all wondering who would be coming in. Bruin was surely going to bring players in, was he? Soon after Bruin appeased fans and issued a statement saying that “the chairman and I have been working tirelessly day and night to bring the right players in to do the job, players that actually want to play for the shirt and wear it with pride and therefore I can confirm that we have agreed deals for the following players… Ricardo Van Rhijn from Shakhtar, Oscar Duarte from Sunderland, Romain Thomas from Stoke. Bastian Oczipka from Sunderland and our most exciting one for our fans, Erik Lamela from Southampton.

We wish all our new players the very best of luck.

Bruin


Augsburg Announce Ivan Anić as the New Manager

Following the resign of Sherief Razzaque as Augsburg manager, the new man Ivan Anić was quickly appointed afterwards, with president Klaus Hofmann hoping that his new solution can finally prove fruitful for the club.



Klaus Hofmann statements about the club's current state and future aims


Augsburg are currently sitting 19th in the 5th division, one place above the last season's final position. Although terrible accomplishment, the president confessed at the press conference ahead of the presentation of the new manager, that it is in fact, the best they can do at the very moment.


"We are trying hard to improve, but it's just not possible at the moment. The club will from now on be focused in building and developing the youth team. We will build better training complex and grounds for the younger players and expand our scouting network in order to attract promising talents from all over the globe. Of course, it is still clear that we will aim for the promotion, it is what we have always aimed for and will continue doing so, regardless of the youth squad becoming the priority now."

"I'm sure that Ivan Anić can deliver. The club's current state may be in disarray right now, and I understand that we are welcoming the new manager in slightly poor fashion, but we discussed about it and he is looking forward to the challenge ahead of him. We can't attract superstars and such high profile players, and it's exactly why we decided about expanding our youth network. Mr. Anić has said that he doesn't mind at all and that he is happy to work with younger players, and give them chance to prove themselves under his reign."


Ivan Anić responds to questions from the media about the club, players and the next season


Augsburg may have made the right choice having the gentleman agreement between the previous manager Razzaque to resign from the club, and appointing Anić instead. Surely the new manager can't do worse than the last place on the table throughout the last season and currently this one? Deciding to improve the youth squad instead of aiming to sign proved quality and advance into the 4th division has also left the fans with mixed emotions. Some want to see immediate results, and then the other want to be patient and see Augsburg grow into a powerful young(ish) club. Manager Anić, together with the board, is carrying high expectations on his shoulders, only time will tell if the policy they chose will work in the end.


"I'm not disappointed to take over a struggling side, in fact I'm thrilled ahead of the challenge that awaits me. I'm determined to turn this side into a winning one. It might not be the next season, or the season after that, but Augsburg will make it. The youth team we have now is good, and it will get better over the years, and that is essential for this club to make it through."

"My aims for the remaining of this season, and the next season? Well, we are currently in a bad situation, that is a fact. I'm new to the surrounding and it will take few matches before the players can adapt to my tactics. There is no room for error so the adaptation will have to be fast, if we are looking to transit to the next season in a good way. The next season will be as tough as this one was, of course. I can't and don't know how we will do then, as there are many good clubs that will be looking to achieve the goals we have set for the next season. What I can promise is, that we will give our all and fight for the promotion very hard. Developing youth network might be our main objective from now on, but we are still playing professional football here and battling for promotion won't change."

"Best player? I watched Augsburg's performances over the season, and I can't tell that anyone stands out. If we are to advance as a team, we have to play as a team. The 11 players that come out on the field will be the best players for me, as each and every one of them has his own qualities that improve our play."

"What will be my first steps at the club? The most important thing that I must focus on is, for the team to learn to keep possession at their own side, as I think that possession is what is essential for the team to create more and better goal scoring chances in the match. I'll also have to dispose of older players in order for club to flourish, so that the younger players can find their chemistry between one another, and carry it through the seasons. However, I can't know how long will it take until we can achieve all that, as I just arrived. That alone is quite a change for the club."

"What are we looking to achieve from the remaining of this season? I'm hoping for the best. Sure I'd like us to win every match from now till the end, but that's nearly impossible. What I'm hoping for, is that we can salvage the situation right now, and move from 19th to somewhere around the 10th place. Play-offs are too far away, but we'll see. It all depends whether the players will cope with me and give their all in each and every match that is out there for us."


Manager Anić gained the sympathies from the media with his clear and honest responses, with the president and the staff, once again, hoping that the new face can bring some positive changes into the club. And yes, only time will tell if the right choice was made, with this risky move of promoting the youth squad instead of the first team. Hopes are BIG.



Youth Cup Update Ahead of Matchday 10

Groups:

Group Tables Prior to Matchday 10



Mini Round Up:

Group A: Chelsea have as good as won the group with Anderletcht and Villarreal joining them in the knock outs - but one of them will have to settle for an away tie in round 2 so all to play for on matchday 10.

Group B: A.Madrid have won the group and will be at home in Round 3. Sassuolo and Liverpool will join them with the Italians overwhelming favourites with the bookies as they dont play A.Madrid in the final group game.

Group C: Group won outright by Valencia and Napoli will finish second - both sides though have interesting final day showdowns with Genoa and Arsenal with Genoa currently two points ahead of Arsenal but Genoa without doubt have the more difficult final day fixture.

Group D: This group has changed massively due to managers forgetting to change their teams and forfeting points meaning that Barcelona have won the group outright, but 2nd and 3rd spot are between Sporting, Athletic Club and Celta Vigo with the final game day seeing Celta travel to Athletic Club and Sporting facing already eliminated Club Brugge.

Group E: AC Milan now find themselves in 3rd after dropping points in narrow defeats. Hamburg lead the way, with Flamengo 2nd. For Milan to get any sort of home advantage in the knock outs they need one of the others to drop points which could happen if Inter do them a favour tomorrow night.

Group F: Dortmund are finally clear and have won the group. Levante and Wolfsburg will join them but who will finish 2nd will be decided tomorrow night with both sides having tough matches.

Group H: Real Madrid have won the group, West Ham are currently 2nd and will progress but face Real Madrid in their next match. PSV should be the other side to go through but Roma and Malaga still have outside chance if PSV lose.

Group G: Juventus have turned it around massively to lead the group ahead of defending champions Bayer Leverkusen with Feyenoord going to finish third.

IF I dont get chance to do a "live draw" ON SUNDAY which technologically and timewise is proving difficult in my household/life at the moment the draw will be as follows.

Round 2 - 28th January 2016

2nd in Group A v 3rd in Group B (match 1)
2nd in Group B v 3rd in Group C (match 2)
2nd in Group C v 3rd in Group D (match 3)
2nd in Group D v 3rd in Group E (match 4)
2nd in Group E v 3rd in Group F (match 5)
2nd in Group F v 3rd in Group G (match 6)
2nd in Group G v 3rd in Group H (match 7)
2nd in Group H v 3rd in Group A (match 8)

Round 3 - 4th February 2016

1st Group A v Winner Match 5
1st Group B v Winner Match 6
1st Group C v Winner Match 7
1st Group D v Winner Match 8
1st Group E v Winner Match 1
1st Group F v Winner Match 2
1st Group G v Winner Match 3
1st Group H v Winner Match 4

Inauguration Day

Following a week of sensational results, a 4 – 1 win against top of the league Santos, a 4 – 0 World Club Cup victory over Crystal Palace, and then last night’s 3 – 1 win over Torino, which saw the Spanish side move into the play off zone, manager Tom Parfitt, with the backing of the club’s board and president, has issued the following statement.





“Friends, Spaniards, Countryman, lend me your ears. Huddo, DP, Beddows, Hirst, Paulo Maldini, Silvio Berlusconi, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Machiavelli, Donatello, Splinter, April O’Neill, Pavarotti, your boys took one hell of a beating.



This season we’ve played Torino twice, won one and drawn one. We’ve played Juventus twice, won one and drawn one.



We’ve had other incredible results. We’ve beaten other teams from higher divisions, Crystal Palace and Lyon for example. The youth’s are smashing everybody in their competition.



Obviously though, this all comes down to one thing. Me. I have made some absolute masterstrokes in the transfer market this season. Bringing in Nilmar and Fernandez from Olympiacos was nothing short of genius. They got the job done in Greece last season, and they are doing it again now. I also got shot of Gerrard. I mean that right there is the most incredible piece of transfer dealing in the history of the beautiful game. We get shot, and five minutes later the boy has retired.



It’s not just that though. I made a few tactical adjustments, had a word in a few ears, and got players fulfilling their potential a bit more. Leandro Damiao couldn’t hot a cows arse with a banjo last season, this season he could hit on Scarlett Johanson and get a result. He’s been more deadly than kung fu.



Big Seb Prodl at the back. He came in at the back end of last season, but he got injured early doors after his arrival and barely kicked a ball until pre season. He’s been an absolute Colossus at the back. Honestly, he’s been bigger for us than Ron Jeremy pork sword.



Ivan Ramis. The fans love him. He’s Spanish, he’s the captain, he’s an inspiration to all of them in the crowd. If Ramis can play for the greatest club on this giant football we call Earth, then they can do. He’s mega.



All of this building my players up, buying the right ones, making the most amazing deals going, that’s why I’m being headhunted by clubs like Juventus, AC Milan and Genoa. I won’t be going though, I wouldn’t manage in Italy if my life depended on it. Don’t get me wrong, all three of those clubs have asked me this season, and all three have said to me that their current managers can be made to disappear if I was up for it. Not for me that though, I want to be able to trust the people at the club.



I’ve had Bayern Munich in touch, Barcelona, both Madrid sides, Dortmund, both Manchester clubs, Tottenham, Arsenal, you name them, I’ve had them calling. They have all been told the same though. Yes, I’ll manage at your club, but only when I bring Levante to town. We’ll be in div 1 fairly sharpish now, and if I was at any one of the other 99 clubs in the league, I’d be shitting myself knowing that.


As a direct result of the achievements this season, I will now only accept being referred to as “the most special one of all, the best there ever was, the best there is, the best there ever will be”.


I’ll be the first to admit that it’s a bit long, and doesn’t really roll off the tongue, but I think you’ll find it is fitting, and also factual.



I’m going for dinner with the king tonight, Felipe VI, and the queen, Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano. I’ve got her on the case, she’s going to knock us up a traditional Spanish dish of meat pit, mash and baked beans. While I’m there, the king is going to let me have a go on her because of the glory I’ve brought to the Country.



Lana is cool with it too. She says I deserve it, and she’ll let me have a go on her as soon as I get in.


With these achievements in mind, I want to close this official club statement by officially declaring this weekend, all next week, and the following weekend a public holiday.



I also want to let our Belgian friends know that due to the disappointment heaped upon their proud country by PMW and Davy, there will be a public holiday in Belgium too, whereby the two managers will be stripped, manacled, chained together and dragged through the streets by Ruts and Hewitt, who will be dressed as Cleopatra and Mark Anthony”

Hertha Berlin, The Season so far

Having failed to make the Division five play off’s in Season three, manager Mark Stewart set about planning for season four.


Stewart’s team planning involved risking the wrath of the fans, as the manager unveiled plans to let favourites Valentin Stocker and Balazs Dzsudzsak go.

Stewart called a fans and press meeting at the training ground to explain his decision stating that although Dzsudzsak had been a fantastic servant to the club time was not on his side, and a deal had been pre agreed to bring young Japanese attacking player Yoshinori Muto to the club in exchange.

The manager also unveiled plans to let Stocker go in exchange for Italian war horse Andrea Poli, He went on to explain that Poli would solve the right back problem and Muto although not at the level of Dzsudzsak would bring quality and potential to the side.

The only other major signings were Wes Morgan - who joined in exchange for Helder Costa and Luca Bergomi from Besiktas and Sergio Oliveira for £5.2m from Gil Vicente. Stewart was quick to point out that Oliveira was not expected to see much game time but he hoped that the Portuguese midfielder would improve and challenge for a place in the future.

The Season

Hopes were high at Olympiastadion after a decent pre season and Stewart publicly stating that the club would guarantee finish 10th or above. In true Berlin fashion they started just as they did in season three with two defeats.

Fortunately things turned around and Berlin managed to win their next four games setting a new club record. Things then went sour for the Germans as they started dropping points regularly. By match day 19 the club had dropped to eleventh in the table.

Desperate to change things Stewart moved in the transfer market to bring in Willy Caballero from RCD Espanyol for £4m. Since bringing in the Argentine stopper things have improved, Berlin recorded a good 0-0 draw away to promotion chasing Independiente, then followed that up with wins against Brugge and West Brom, and most recently an away draw to fellow play off hopeful’s Cologne.
With fifteen games to play the fans still have faith in the manager and will go all out to try and make the play off spots.

The Players

Stewart said about the players “overall I have been pretty happy with the squad and have compiled an update about our key performers which is listed below.

Wissam Ben Yedder -  hasn’t yet repeated his form of last season but seven goals and three assists to date isn’t a bad return, and I have full confidence in the lad firing regularly before the end of the season. In real life Ben Yedder has been scintillating for Seville where he has scored 15 times in 20 games (cups included) after seeing the recent reviews I was disappointed he only got a plus one rise to 89, but I’m sure that 90 rating isn’t to far away”.

Luis Muriel - The mercurial Colombian has carried on improving on from last season and has seven goals and four man of the match awards, He offers us versatility being able to play attacking midfield or up front. I’m mystified as to why there was no ratings rise as he has been very good in real life amidst being the subject of much transfer speculation, hopefully he will rise to 89 at the end of the season.

John Terry - the club captain has continued to improve after a below average start to his career in Berlin and has really settled in well alongside Wes Morgan, His three team of the week awards have shown his value and he has said he will battle to the end to help get Berlin up.

Florian Thauvin - the flying French winger continues to wow the fans and has weighed in with four goals, seven assists and two man of the match awards already this season, He is the creative spark in the engine and is indispensible to the team at present. In real life he has been in fantastic form back in Marseille and if he can keep it up a ratings rise and call up to the French national side may well be a possibility.

Vladimir Darida - The lad disappointed overall in season three and halfway into season four he hadn’t lived up to expectations. I called a meeting with him and to instill confidence informed him I was making him set piece taker. That was seven games ago and in that period the Czech dynamo has scored four times, assisted once and made the team of the week. Like John Terry, Darida is respected and valued by his peers and now his confidence is back he will be key in driving the team on which I’m sure he will do.

Walter Gargano - the midfield powerhouse has carried on his good form from the end of last season and he is having the best season of his career statistically. The Uruguayan has so far weighed in with four goals, five assists, three man of the match and four team of the week awards. He adds steel in the centre of the park and has a bullet shot when he gets the chance to go forward, I hope he will stay with us until the end of his career, as an exemplary professional he sets a great example to the younger players.

Looking Forward

With fringe players like Sergio Oliveira, Scott Hogan and Charlie Taylor all looking to have great careers ahead of them the foundations have been laid. Obviously promotion is the clubs aim but the division is very tough this year with everyone capable of beating everyone. I dont envisage any transfer activity between now and the end of the season, and as usual I will review the squad then and make the necessary changes. I have taken the club to my heart since being appointed and as long as I’m able to I’ll continue putting in the hours and striving to get the club up the divisions and make the fans proud.