Welcome to the latest issue of the T100 mag, again I will start by thanking all those who have taken the time to read the previous issues, almost 200 views. This issue will again cover 1 match from all 5 divisions, an interview with the man behind T100 and another gossip column. Lets get on to it then..

DIVISION 1

Dortmund V Genoa

Dortmund welcomed Genoa in this Division 1 clash with both sides looking to kick start their disappointing league campaigns, Dortmund winless since game 1 and Genoa slowly recovering after losing their 1st 4 league games. Dortmund had also failed to find the back of the net in their previous 3 league games. The match was barely 20 seconds old when Jorginho was lucky to stay on the field after a wild lunge at De Jong, perhaps because of how early the incident happened was Jorginho’s escape however he now had another 89 minutes of trying not to get himself another yellow. The host’s goalless run was ended on 11 minutes as after winning himself a dubious free kick Suarez stepped up and cleverly struck a drilled shot under the jumping wall which left Perin beaten, 1-0. They failed to capitalise on their advantage though and slowly Genoa clawed their way back in to the match, Florenzi firing wide and then Pickford saving well from Salah’s deft flick. Just 5 minutes to HT and the game was back level, Oxlade-Chamberlaine beat his man before squaring the ball off to Salah who blasted an unstoppable shot high past Pickford, 1-1. The same two players almost give the visitors the lead just before HT when Salah again forced Pickford in to another fine stop. HT 1-1. The second half was a bit of a forgettable affair if truth be told, the only chances of note were both half chances the way of the home side, Sule trying his luck from range and with 6 minutes left Suarez getting on the end of a lofted pass from Pogba but he snatched at the chance and the save was a comfortable one for Perin. FT 1-1 A fair result. and it’s now 6 without a win for Dortmund, although they at least troubled the scoreboard at long last, Genoa now unbeaten in 3 after their poor start.

Division 2

Shakhtar V Zenit

Shakhtar were looking to get their season back on track after a poor run of 3 games without a win, strangely since I did them a featured club in a previous issue, sorry Broon haha. Their visitors Zenit had just suffered back to back defeats as well as Gareth Crisp’s men travelled across the Ukrainian border for this match. Away fans had been banned due to the ongoing political issues between the 2 countries, a decision which almost forced Zenit to refuse to play. The home side had the first real chance, Capoue forcing Lopes into a smart save after he burst into the penalty area. The home side were then stunned on 11 minutes when Fuego let fly from 30 yards out, it should of been a comfortable save for Adan but he inexplicably allowed the shot to slip under his body, the stadium was silenced bar the shouts from the away dugout. 0-1. The host’s were level within 8 minutes and what a truly fantastic goal it was, Zapata had received the ball on his chest before taking it past Fuego he then rolled the ball back to Inui who whipped it in to the top corner from a good 25 yards out, the ball swerved then dipped at the final moment to nestle in to the top corner. You could of had 2 keepers and you still wouldn’t of stopped it. 1-1. On 35 minutes Shelvey launched a superb ball 60 yards up to Petersen who controlled the ball, knocked it a couple yards in front of himself before smashing a shot against the outside of the post with Adan looking beat. Then Fuego, who had only ever scored 2 goals in a season before, had his 2nd goal in half an hour, this time Adan could do nothing at all. Again Fuego struck from distance but this time it was a sweetly struck half volley which almost took the net off, Adan was helpless as the ball flashed past him. 1-2 and it stayed that way till HT. The host’s came out firing in the 2nd half and Caligiuri should of had them level on 52 minutes after Soares played the ball across the 6 yard box and Caligiuri somehow hit the keeper with his shot when it looked harder to miss. Nordtveit then made the game harder for Shakhtar when he smashed Shelvey from behind, the 2 had already had words in the first half when the Norwegian took out Shelvey with the ball nowhere near, straight red. on 73 minutes and Zenit had their 3rd, from a wide free kick Torres delivered a fantastic ball which was begging to be finished, and Petersen obliged, Rising highest to bullet a header beyond Adan who despite getting a touch to it couldn’t prevent it crossing the line, 1-3. Zenit began to coast through the game, playing keep ball and making the home side chase. The game was wrapped up on 87 minutes and it was a cheeky finish from Torres, Tardelli split the tired home defence with a lovely through ball which Torres ran on to, he drew the keeper off his line before dinking the ball over the top of him, 1-4. FT. The drama wasn’t done after the whistle either, Zenit players and staff were celebrating wildly in the dressing room when a note was slipped under the door ” you have 10 minutes to leave before broon comes in swinging” The gangster taking the defeat badly.

Division 3

PSV V Lazio

Ross Falconer’s PSV side welcomed Lazio on the back of a 4 game unbeaten run in the league whilst Bogdan Danciu’s inconsistent Lazio were looking to push on after their 1-0 win against Sevilla last time out. The game itself started slowly as both sides struggled to put their stamp on the game, Vermaelen’s shot which flew over the bar the only shot of note in the 1st 15 minutes. The home side made the break through on 18 minutes when Jorgensen swung a outswinging corner into the box which evaded everyone bar Souza, who from the left hand side of the box struck a sweet half volley which flew past Ruffier, 1-0. The lead lasted less than 5 minutes though as again set pieces proved vital. A free kick just outside the box was drifted into the far post and Berghuis rose to glance a header in to the back of Fabri’s net, 1-1. The match settled down after the goals to again become a stalemate, Guerrero having perhaps the best chance before ht, when Musa worked himself a good position and drilled a ball across the box whch the sliding in Guerrero slid the ball just wide, 1-1 HT. Guerrero again had a chance to put PSV back in front on the hour mark as he saw Ruffier off his line and tried to chip him from 20 yards but the ball just failed to drop in time and clipped the top of the net. The Peruvian was having a fine game and Lopez was slightly fortunate to just receive a yellow card for a challenge from behind on Guerrero. on 70 minutes Guerrero had the last laugh as he grabbed the winner, Musa finding him with a floated cross which Guerrero flicked home at the near post, 2-1. Lopez almost had Lazio level again as he took a touch from Samaris’s knock down before curling a shot which Fabri did well to gather. Lazio also had the final chance of the match, Samaris flashed a ball across the box which took a deflection off Vermaelen which landed at Gignac’s feet, he smashed a shot goalwards which Fabri, wrong footed, saved well with his legs. FT 2-1 win for PSV who continue their fine run.

DIVISION 4

Twente V Malaga

Walter Gogh had continued Twente’s rise with an impressive start in Division 4 after their title winning campaign last season under Paul Thompson, although the side looks a bit different after the radical overhauling of the squad under the new manager. Malaga came in to the match with 1 win from their first 6 games under Sebastian Campillo. The visitors started well, Trebel forcing Reynet in to a smart save just 3 minutes in after good work from Buss Henrique in creating the chance. The host’s were struggling to impose themselves and after Perreira fired over on 17 minutes had to defend for long periods of the half. On 23 minutes Reynet produced a simply stunning reflex save from Ahmedov, tipping his shot on to the post when it looked destined for the net. Reynet was certainly earning his wages as before the half was out he saved well again from Ahmedov and Isla. HT 0-0 and the host’s were thankful for their keeper in getting in with a clean sheet. The 2nd half was a role reversal to the 1st, Twente this time controlling large periods of the game, Cunha should of had the home side ahead on the hour, Khedira doing well before finding Cunha in space, however he rushed his shot and it was a comfortable stop for Vanderlei. That chance was to be punished as on 76 minutes Malaga scored with their only shot of the 2nd half, an absolute peach of a strike from Hofler who smashed a shot from the edge of the box which left Reynet beaten. 0-1. Borini then had 2 chances for Twente to grab an equaliser but after he blazed wildly over with his first chance, he found Vanderlei equal to his 2nd, a decent effort from distance which the keeper got down and tipped the ball behind. FT 0-1 and a fine away win for Malaga.

DIVISION 5

Fiorentina V Swansea

Two sides looked on 9 points from their first 6 games met as Fiorentina welcomed Swansea for this division 5 clash. Both sides had a decent start under new managers with Fiorentina suffering their first defeat of the season last game at Torino whilst Swansea have 3 wins, 3 defeats as Jay Jones looks for some consistency. The home side under Syed Shah started well with Dzeko twice having good chances in the 1st 10 minutes, the first he fired well wide before Romero saved well, tipping the ball behind from a snap shot after Toornstra found the big striker. The home keeper was then called into action as Moron jinked into the box before drilling a low shot which looked as it was going in before Marchesin got down well and tipped wide. Nolito fired the home side ahead on 29 minutes as he controlled a Hilton knock down following a corner to rifle in a volley which flew in off the post, unstoppable, 1-0. It was almost 2 before HT as from a Herrmann free kick Dzeko headed right against the crossbar with Romero nowhere near it. HT 1-0. The sides exchanged yellow cards in an otherwise forgettable first 20 minutes of the 2nd half before Nolito added a 2nd goal for Fiorentina on 66, a lovely well worked goal with 27 passes before Toornstra provided a deft flick which the striker finished well beyond Romero. Swansea failed to get going here, their only real effort of the 2nd half was a Taider free kick on 87 minutes which Marchesin got down well to tip the ball around the post. FT 2-0 and Fiorentina’s fine start continues, Swansea now with 3 defeats from their last 4 games need to respond before their good start is a thing of the past.

In the Hot Seat with….

The latest of our In the hot seat interviews is with the creator of T100, The man who put all the effort in before passing it on to the present owner…Frank Hirst.

After promotion to the top flight in season 8, you’ve enjoyed mixed fortunes in your 2 full seasons since, following a sluggish start this season are you confident you can move Genoa back up the table? I feel we have enough to survive the drop once again this season, but will continue our philosophy of bringing in great young players for the future to compete for top honours.

As one of a handful of single club managers in t100 are you ever tempted to move elsewhere? Within T100, Genoa is my home and I couldn’t ever see me moving to another club. The work and effort that has gone into this transition since season 1 is too much to ever pass on.

As the founder of t100 how much pride do you have with it still going strong 11 seasons in and does it feel any different now you are no longer the owner?  I’m very proud that T100 is where it is. There’s a great community behind it and although there’s been dips, it seems to be pretty stable right now with David in charge. It’s a tough feat to keep 99 other managers happy.

Pet hate on the game? My pet hates on the game are that i know that if a card is brandished before a free kick or pen, then there’s no goal. Also, the time regents to review is sometimes infuriating.

Real life club/clubs and what are your hopes for this season?

Well, I’m a realist, so I know it’s going to be a tough race once again, but I’m loving the style of football that Liverpool play nowadays, we’ve every chance of chasing that elusive title, but the strength in the Prem is pretty high.

Regarding Genoa (the team I support coz of my Grandad’s birthplace), I’m confident of a much better season than last season. A top 10 finish wouldn’t be unrealistic.

The T100 Gossip Column

FC Porto Goalkeeper Ederson has come under fire from his manager Andre Guerra after a poor start to the season, The keeper told he has to shape up or get out! [PORTO TIMES]

Daniel James is set for show down talks after being told the club will listen to offers for him just weeks after signing for Hellas Verona, It’s believed the club are unhappy with James lack of application since joining. [VERONA MAIL]

Cruzeiro manager Josh McMillan has found himself under pressure following their poor start to the season, it’s believed he has the support of the board but fans are demanding an improvement quickly. [CRUZEIRO CHRONICLE]

Gordon Kinnear has enraged Bilbao officials within a week of his T100 return by doing away with the spanish only signing policy of the previous manager [BASQUE TIMES]

Stuttgart manager Norman Little is believed to be ready to commit his long term future to the club after undertaking an overhaul of the youth side, a new 2 year contract is in the offering [BILD]

Santos are believed to be looking to offload Karim Benzema, manager Terry Morrison is believed to be looking to reshape his squad and is looking for 2/3 players in return. [BLYTH SPORTING CHRONICLE]

Arturo Vidal has instructed his agent to find another club, he is unhappy with just 2 starts in the league so far this season and has already had a bust up with manager Gregg Robinson over the issue. [EVENING STANDARD]

That’s it for this issue, again anything you wanna see added drop me a message, Gossip column I would love some gossip from managers sent to me. Hope you enjoy reading this. Cheers lads.