Hey guys, here is the slightly delayed issue 7 of the T100 mag. I’m going to start by getting something off my chest regarding inactive managers in here. I’m finding an increasing amount of managers listing players yet not responding to bids, Send them a PM and fail to get a response. It’s not becoming of this GW, maybe it’s managers that just have a problem with me but we need to keep this GW active. Before i start the match reports please if you have a chance have a look at Paul Thompson’s vlog on the facebook page, brilliant stuff and hopefully a few more may do a couple, Not sure if there is a way of getting them on the blog page but any technical minded people could possibly let us know.

Division 1

Barcelona V Chelsea

Two of the best sides in T100 met at the Camp Nou as brothers Scott and James McKenzie went head to head. The champions have again started like a steam train in Division 1 and led the table with Chelsea sitting 3rd. The host’s started well and forced Courtois into the early save when Messi fed Eden Hazard on the left flank, he cut inside and drilled a low shot which the big Belgium keeper got down well to. Dele Alli saw yellow for a mistimed challenge on De Bruyne as frustrations crept into their game after a slow start. Arthur was the creator of the opening goal as he skipped past Matuidi with ease before slotting a through ball into Hazards path who took a touch before firing beyond his international team mate at the near post, Courtois will be disappointed to be beaten at the near post like that, 1-0. 30 minutes were on the clock before Chelsea had their first shot of note, a long range drive from Alcantara just going wide. Messi then had a chance from a free kick after a foul on Hazard by Chiellini, his effort from 25 yards just crept wide with Courtois looking beat. HT and the champions held a deserved 1-0 lead. Matuidi had an early chance in the 2nd half for Chelsea but De Gea was equal to it before we had some controversy as Messi got on the end of a truly scrumptious first time De Bruyne ball before smashing the ball into the roof of the net, the celebrations were halted when the offside flag was raised, VAR confirming that Messi was just offside. That decision seemed to be the motivation for Chelsea as forward they came, both Alli and Manolas having shots saved by De Gea. The blues were level on 64 minutes as Matuidi found Ronaldo who skipped past a challenge before rifling a shot which flew beyond De Gea, 1-1 and Chelsea deserved it on their improved start to the 2nd half. With 5 minutes to go the host’s thought they had won it as Arthur played it wide to the onrushing Carvajal who came inside and unleashed a fantastic shot from 25 yards which took all of Courtois 6ft 5in frame to dive full length and tip the ball to safety. FT 1-1 and no upcoming family parties will be spoilt by this result.

Division 2

Shakhtar V Hamburg

Shakhtar welcomed David Marsden and his Hamburg side in this clash of mid table sides at the Metalist Stadium( unconfirmed reports suggesting Broony has started a petition to change the name of the stadium to the Mentalist Stadium). Shakhtar were on the back of 2 successive wins whilst Hamburg had taken 4 points from their last 2 games. Hamburg started the game on the front foot and took the game to their opponents, the 1st chance of the game came from a lovely Willian set piece when he whipped a great ball into the box which was met by Meza who sent a header straight at Adan when he surely should of burst the net. Shahktar’s let off last 3 minutes as on 16 minutes Hamburg had the lead. Meza played a lovely chipped ball to Gabbiadini who caught Adan flat footed with an early shot from the edge of the box, slow reactions from keeper, 0-1. Meza almost doubled the lead on 28 minutes as he was proving to be too hot to handle for Donetsk as he kept finding space, this time he latched on to Stepanenko long ball, he brought it under control and sent the ball towards goal, it had pace and dip on it and looked to be heading in but Adan just managed to get a touch on it. The host’s only chance of the half was a long range strike from Capoue which caught the outside of the post. HT 0-1. The 2nd half was a poor affair, on 52 Inui played in Oyongo who hit a curling effort towards the bottom corner but Hradecky was equal to it. Willian tested the home side from a free kick on 72, his drilled effort just kept out by Adan. Substitute Malinovskiy almost scored with his first touch on 75 minutes but his header went just wide. The last chance came the way of Soares, he was found by Inui but with the goal at his mercy he fluffed his lines and dragged his effort wide. FT 0-1 and a great away win for Hamburg, they won’t mind that the game was low on quality when the 3 points are tucked up and on the way back to Germany.

Division 3

Dnipro V Monchengladbach

In the battle of the stupidly long football team names Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk welcomed Borrusia Monchengladbach. Both sides were in good form coming into the game, both unbeaten in 5 games with Monchengladbach heading the table. The game started in niggly fashion with Lanzini booked inside 54 seconds after pulling the jersey of Bebou who looked like he could burst through on goal. Bebou looked riled after the incident and found himself in the ref’s notebook on 13 miuntes after giving the ref some verbal. 10 minutes later Bebou lost his mind and lunged from behind on Deulofeu, the earlier yellow made no difference as the red card was pulled out, Bebou was already walking off. Manager ‘Son of Pluto’ had words as he passed on the touchline, furious with the lack of discipline. The 1st chance of the game came Dnipro’s way, Andre sending a shot from the edge of the box which Lecomte saved comfortably. The half ended the same as it begun with a yellow card for Toure for shirt pulling, HT 0-0 and everyone was happy to see the back of that half. Despite the man advantage Monchengladbach were struggling to get on top here, Batshuayi forced Grohe in to his first real save of the game on 64 minutes. The home side were not just holding on though and forced Lecomte in to saves from both Toure and Andre as they looked for the 3 points. A late rally from Monchengladbach almost paid off as Lanzini tested Grohe from distance on 85minutes before the chance of the game in the last minute, Deulofeu done Djene like a kipper on the left before finding Batshuayi who skipped past his marker before smashing a shot which looked like it was destined for the back of the net until Grohe somehow got a touch on it, fantastic save to preserve the point for Dnipro. FT 0-0 And both sides are now 6 unbeaten. Monchengladbach will be disappointed not to have made more of teh man advantage though.

Division 4

Athletic Club V Lille

New Athletic manager Gordon Kinnear had dispensed of the Spanish only policy of the previous manager which had led to an impressive start to his tenure in Bilbao, 7 points from the 1st 4 games. Lille came into the game 5th in the table despite losing 2 of their last 4 games. The away side had the only chance of a poor opening 30 minutes when Pereyra smashed the crossbar on 12 minutes after letting fly from 30 yards. The home side went ahead with their first attack, Morelos bullied his way through the Lille defence before laying the ball back from the by line to Semenov who took a touch and drove the ball home from 12 yards. The away side bounced back from conceding the goal and Iglesias twice forced Sels into saves before the break but in truth they were comfortable saves. HT 1-0. Just 20 seconds after the restart and Lille were almost level, Topal got on to a knockdown from Pizzi and burst into the box and got a shot away which Sels saved with his feet. The away side continued to press and Pizzi drilled a shot from the edge of the box on 56 minutes which again forced Sels into a smart save. Bustinza then twice had good chances for Athletic Club but scuffed his lines on both occasions. Lille continued to press hard for an equaliser and from a corner on 78 minutes Iglesias bulleted a header which Sels parried wide. The leveller finally came on 84 when Pereyra dribbled into the area before side stepping Sels wide of the net before simply laying the ball on a plate to Dabbur who slotted into the empty net, 1-1 and that’s how it finished. Athletic Club will take this and continue to climb the table. Lille remain in 5th.

Division 5

Bordeaux V Feyenoord

Just like last week, the game of the day came in Division 5. Bordeaux having a very productive start to the season after finishing rock bottom the past 2 years played host to Feyenoord who started well this season but came into the game without a win in last 3 games. The game stuttered into life, a chance apiece blazed over in the 1st 24 minutes didn’t tell of the story to follow. On 29 minutes Feyenoord took the lead Benedetto floated a corner deep which was headed down to Valdez who drove a fine finish past the despairing Didillon from 12 yards. That lead lasted 37 seconds as straight from kick off Bordeaux responded. Nkoudou struck a ball forward which was part cleared by the goalscorer Valdez only to the boot of Zajc who let fly on the half volley from 22 yards which whistled past Bono who would of needed the rest of U2 to help save that shot, unstoppable 1-1. Feyenoord again pressed as the half wore on, Denney and Yazici forcing Didillon into good saves before the break. HT 1-1. The 2nd half started the same as the 1st, a couple of efforts wide by both before Bordeaux took the lead on 62 minutes, golascorer turned provider as Zajc found Terrier from a corner who volleyed the French side into the lead, 2-1. The lead lasted a bit longer this time, 9 minutes in fact, before the Dutch side were level on 71 and provider turned goalscorer this time, Arter found space in midfield before finding Benedetto with a deft chipped ball, Benedetto took the ball in his stride before finishing well from 18 yards, 2-2. Again just 9 minutes went by before the 5th goal of the game, and the visitors had the lead. De Arrascaeta lofted a long diagonal ball to Deeney who took it on his chest before drilling it high past Didillon, 2-3. 180 seconds later and we were level again Laborde played a smart 1-2 with Terrier before flashing a shot beyond Bono who was perhaps a bit slow to react. 3-3 and thats how we finish here at the Stade Bordeaux-Atlantique. A dramatic match where the lead changed hands before Bordeaux maintain their 8 game unbeaten run with a late equaliser. Feyenoord can perhaps feel aggrieved they didn’t take maximum points as its now 4 without a win.

In The Hot Seat With…..

Today we welcome Manchester City manager Alex McLean to the hotseat, and lets be honest Alex is never without a word or two to say…

After joining City in 2017 you have managed to put together a very talented squad, is patience the key in T100 in squad building? It is certainly one aspect amongst many. Awareness of when to approach other managers for their players and keeping up to date with real life player/team news is of similar value. As is a good dose of hard work and luck.
My approach with City is not for everyone. I’m committed to avoiding bringing in players over 26 and that can leave you missing out on older, higher rated players that can win you matches.
Right now I like the aesthetics of the team I’m building. I want a full squad of players that other managers want to buy, and in the final analysis I ultimately want a core of 22-25 players that I am comfortable will rise to at least 91-92 overall rating. And that will require a deal of patience.

What are your aims for this season with City? This season I want promotion and another good run in the Youth Cup. I also want to bring in some new players, especially in CM. Any transfers will have to wait until Nov-Jan as I expect some rises for my players that will hopefully give me the depth I’ve been craving, such that I can pair one or 2 for a higher rated or similar rated player with prospects.

Is getting City’s first silverware in T100 realistic this season? City are former Youth Cup Champions so we do have some silverware, and a runners-up in the T100 Cup and the SMFA Shield. But genuine in-game winners Cups/titles is sadly beyond us at the moment. I still hope to win the league – that is still a possibility. But it is an unlikely possibility as things stand. 2nd or 3rd is more achievable. I just need to hang in there until the next major league rises in Nov-Jan.
I’ve had some injuries/suspensions of late and this has affected results, as has using tried and tested tactics against opponents line-ups which have disappointingly not come off.
I will be very disappointed to have to endure another middling season. I am keenly aware of this and am trying everything I can to keep my hand in, but really, I need to start pushing on and up the table.
I will say that last season we were tipped for near relegation but finished well clear and really smashed our ‘PVA’.
We all want to win titles, and I especially want to do it at City. But you do need good ratings and depth to have a real good chance, and that is still an ongoing progress here at City.
But we’re getting there. 

Best transfer at City? Best transfer – it’s a tie. I sold Dembele to Anderlecht for Chucky Lozano, Sander Berge and Exequiel Palacios (still to come). I also sold Anthony Lopes and Mehdi Benatia to PSG for Mike Maignan, Hakim Ziyech and Rony Lopes.

If you could change one thing in SM what would it be? Any changes I’d like to see are all entirely within the hands of the SM developers and are therefore moot. In terms of the rules and regs that we uniquely have here in TOP 100, I am quite comfortable with how things are.

Real life club and aims for the season? City have been found out defensively this season due to Laporte’s injury, so I’d like them to address that in January.
i’d love for us to threepeat in the League. That would be AMAZING!
As for Champs League i’m not really fussed. Naturally it’d be great to win it, and it’s the ‘big one’, but I’d take winning the League again over the Champs League.
I think we’ll fail on both counts, but it won’t be for lack of trying. Still plenty of time to overtake Liverpool and our squad is stronger than theirs – but they look very hard to beat right now.

T100 Gossip Column

Manchester City are believed to have made a huge bid for Nathan Ake, Alex McLean is a big fan of the CB [Manchester Evening News]

At Athletic meanwhile, the arrival of Colombians Quinones, Moreno and Morelos, the half time refreshment has been changed from Capri sun to coke. The club are confident that coke will give the players a second half boost and a much improved performance. World Anti doping agency is watching with interest. [El Correro]

Joel Matip has been the subject of some huge bids in recent days with clubs sniffing around the 91 rated CB, Rob Ryan is believed to be chasing hard at Southampton, whilst Tottenham, Valencia and Porto are looking to make a deal [Marca]

Stuttgart have failed to turn Ruben Vargas’s loan deal into a permanent deal, It’s believed they may re look at the situation at the end of the season [Bild]

4 games are in danger of not being played in the last round of the World Club Cup, The SMFA are urgently trying to arrange Real Madrid vs. RCD Espanyol, SC Internacional vs. River Plate, Levante UD vs. Cruzeiro, and AC Milan vs. Atalanta BC. It’s believed Sanctions maybe taken against clubs who fail to arrange the games. [SMFA Website]

That’s it for this issue, apologies for the slight delay in getting this up on the blog but you know personal life sometimes needs seeing to. Again any suggestions/feedback or improvements people want to see here let me know, and I would love managers to keep sending me some Gossip through.

Cheers Lads