Hey guys, welcome to Issue 8 of the T100 blog, I’m gonna sound like a broken record but I want to hammer home a plea to all managers in T100, Can we all try to at least answer internal bids asap? I’ve had a few messages after last weeks issue confirming I wasn’t alone in being slightly miffed at the time it takes for managers to respond to some bids. I must stress that this is only the minority of clubs but it does seem like we have a lot of sleepy managers here, In such a way they log on pick a team but don’t really do much else. I would love to see some increased posts on the feed, FB page or even a few taking the time to throw up an update post on the blog, How’s your season going etc? In terms of a full GW we are great, 100 managers in here all sticking to rules and getting along mostly but having joined another GW recently the content of managers on here compared to that is strikingly obvious. That’s not to say all GW’s must be massively hands on but there’s a few guys in here who we simply don’t here from, would it kill people to really spend 5 minutes writing a update on how there team are doing? Anyway what started as a plea has turned into a mini rant so on to this weeks issue..

Division 1

Bayern V Anderlecht

Two of the GW’s top managers met at the Allianz Arena as Mike Scallotti’s Bayern welcomed Gursimran Brar’s Anderlecht in this Division 1 fixture. The match itself didn’t take long to get going just 9 minutes were on the clock when Bayern were ahead, Coutinho was the driving force behind the goal, his silky movement took him beyond the Anderlecht back line before he squared a ball across the area for Insigne to slot past the keeper in off the post to give Bayern the advantage, 1-0. The lead lasted just 4 minutes as Anderlecht hit back quickly, Martial floated a cross into the box which Griezmann chested off to Dembele who hit a sweet right footed volley which flew in to the top corner of Ter Stegen’s goal, 1-1 and just 13 minutes on the clock. The game continued in a fashion which reminded me of a tennis match, both sides having a shot then the other as Insigne and Icardi had efforts for the home side either side of Ter Stegen saving from Ndombele and Martial. Then the matches big taking point on 34 minutes, Griezmann was attempting to break free of Ngolo Kante who had a few nibbles at his international team mates ankles when Griezmann swung a elbow at Kante, it caught the midfielder plum in the face and it was an instant red card, the next international break will be interesting for sure when they next meet up. HT 1-1. Bayern were again straight out the blocks at the start of the second half, just 3 minutes had gone when Eriksen won a free kick out wide, he took it himself and crossed in to the area where it was met by Icardi who glanced a header past the despairing dive of Onana, 2-1 and the 10 men had a battle to get back into the game here. Bayern played it slow after that, moving Anderlecht around whilst keepeing the ball and it was over 30 minutes before they had the next shot on target, Onana saving easily from Fabinho’s effort. The host’s survived a huge scare on 84 minutes when from a corner Dias found Christensen unmarked at the back post but he inexplicably missed when it seemed easier to score and that was Anderlecht’s chance gone of a draw. FT 2-1 and Bayern get their first league win in 4 games whilst it’s now 6 without a win for Anderlecht who have no problem scoring but can’t keep it out at the other end. Good game.

Division 2

Manchester United V Standard Liege

Manchester United, just as in real life haha, were looking to pull away from the relegation zone after their 4 match unbeaten run was sure to be tested by Standard Liege looking to take top spot in Division 2. The hosts started well and just 6 minutes had been played when Caleta-Car launched a long ball wide to Tsyyankov who ran at his man, he cut inside Ordiozola before letting fly from 20 yards, the ball flew in at the near post leaving the keeper with no chance, 1-0. 20 minutes passed with little action on either goal before a moment of genius levelled the game up, Jankto played the ball to Paqueta who dropped a shoulder and glided past 2 challenges before lifting his head, he noticed Areola slightly off his line and with a magic touch of his right boot chipped the keeper from 22 yards out sensational goal, 1-1. 2 goals of sublime quality in an otherwise drab first half. HT 1-1. The second half was a slow burner too, 58 minutes had passed before the first shot of note, Diagne letting fly with a powerful effort before Audero got across well to save it. On 63 minutes the visitors led and it was another tidy finish. Jankto again with the assist as he lofted a ball into the box Lemar took it on his chest before lobbing the ball over the top of the out rushing Areola, 1-2. Standard were taking control of the match and Areola was becoming overworked in the home goal and was forced into saves from Jankto and Lemar just after the 2nd Liege goal. Man United’s final effort of the game came on 75 minutes just as Liege were making a triple sub, the confusion allowed Man United to break and Doucoure almost beat Audero with a low drive but the keeper got down well to save. Liege had further chances to see off the game but Areola earned his wages by saving from Dahoud and Under to keep the scoreline respectable. FT 1-2 and Liege had hit the summit, Man United will be looking to bounce back and maintain their recent good form to drag themselves away from the bottom end of the table.

Division 3

Sevilla V Chievo

Both sides came into this game on 13 points and looking to move away from the bottom end of the table, The result however led to the resignation of one manager. Chievo took the game to their opponents and took the lead on 8 minutes after a defensive mix up. Boufal taking advantage of a poor clearance to lay the ball into Elyounoussi who slipped the ball beyond the keeper who had no chance, 0-1. The host’s were in disarray and were almost 2-0 down immediately after as Elyounoussi found Wilshere in space and he let fly with an effort which just went wide. The warning wasn’t heeded though and on 18 it was 2-0, Wilshere was fouled on the edge of the D on the 18 yard box, he stepped up and drove an unstoppable effort which almost broke the net, 0-2 and the home fans were not happy at all. Neto in the home goal then saved from Mitrovic and Hojbjerg as the Italians looked to finish this game off before half time. De Jong managed to get a shot away for Sevilla on 39 minutes in a rare break from defending but it wasn’t really threatening a goal. On 43 minutes it was 3-0 as Iheanacho held the ball up well before squaring to Willems who spotting Neto just off the line curled a lovely effort over and above the keeper into the top corner of the goal. This prompted a mass walk out by the home fans, whether that was for a half time San Miquel or an early exit who knows. HT 0-3. The second half started and the majority of fans had returned but there were noticeable gaps in the crowd that weren’t there before HT, the home side straight back defending as Hojbjerg forcing Neto in to a save which took two attempts, the confidence draining from the home side. It was all one way again in the second half as Hojbjerg, schullp and Maddox all tested Neto. The away side had taken the foot off the pedal and played within themselves for the remainder of the game, not trying to embarrass the home side no more, it finished 0-3 with Sevilla manager Tony Harman called to the Stadium Monday morning for an emergency meeting. It was announced to the waiting press that Tony Harman tendered his resignation after failing to convince the owners he was the man to take the club forward, A search for his replacement is underway.

Division 4

Celtic V Udinese

Celtic and Udinese both came into the game in Division 4 in form, Celtic unbeaten in 3 whilst the visitors were unbeaten in 5. Celtic Park was almost at capacity. The first half was genuinely awful, just 1 shot and a yellow card was all we had to show for 45 drab minutes, Firpo with the shot on 15 minutes which just drifted over the bar and Bamba with the yellow card, 0-0 HT and we all needed a drink after that. The second half was a much better affair, just 5 minutes in and Celtic had the lead, a free kick on the edge of the box was superbly hit under the jumping wall by Paulinho and it went in off the post, 1-0. The Italians responded well and Viera had the home keeper worried on 57 minutes but his optimistic effort just went wide. Just after the hour mark it was all square Bamba controlled the ball and slipped a lovely ball around the corner to Haberer who drove a first time shot past the dive of Ochoa in the home goal, 1-1. The home side went back up the other end and twice James Forrest on his debut almost made the dream return to Celtic Park, Firstly linking up with Paulinho his effort looked goal bound before a great stop from Benitez forcing it on to a post and it was cleared to safety by Darmian and secondly after good work from Alario he made benitez scramble across his goal to save the hosts going 2-1 ahead. With 6 minutes left on the clock the away side won it when Zobnin treated us to a second great free kick of the game, he hit it with swerve and dip and it flew over the wall and dipped just under the bar to give the Italians all 3 points. FT 1-2 and a good win for udinese who extend their unbeaten run to 6 games.

Division 5

West Ham V Torino

West Ham and Torino faced off at The London Stadium with both sides sitting just outside the play off spots in Division 5. The home side made a superb start after just 3 minutes they were ahead, a lovely mazy run by Kalu on the left was follwed by a driven cross which was met emphatically by Kramaric with an unstoppable volley which was beyond Zieler before he could even move, no sweeter sight than a volley rifled into the net, 1-0. The hammers continued to press and Zieler saved well from Walcott and Kramaric to prevent it being 2-0.The away side stunned the home side on 24 minutes scoring from their first shot of the game, Quaison found Loic Remy who curled a effort in to the top corner from 15 yards out, 1-1. That give Torino more hope and twice Ruddy was forced into saves before half time from Mena and Giovinco to prevent the Italians taking a ht lead, HT 1-1. On 57 minutes the stadium erupted after a strong challenge from Mevlja on Quaison, a huge melee followed with handbags all over the shop how the referee ended up showing just the one yellow card is anyone’s guess. The dust up over the challenge seemed to end up with both sides holding what they had for the remainder of the game until the 84th minute when Carlos Tevez linked up with Kramaric and got off a scuffed effort which somehow Zieler failed to get over and stop as the ball trickled over the line, 2-1 and the hosts had snatched the win. FT 2-1 and both sides are now level on 18 points, a decent win for the hammers to make it 4 wins out of 6 whilst Torino have failed to pick up maximum points in their last two games, however its been a good start to the season for them.

In the Hot Seat with…

Today we welcome the PSG manager Malcom( MisterTRX) to the latest in the hot seat feature..

You have had real success at PSG after replacing previous manager Gary Naylor, how pleased are you with how things have gone? Thanks Norman, Gary left a decent squad and not all the fans were happy with my appointment however I promised promotion back to the big time and that’s what happened. This meant some hard decisions to build a squad capable not only of promotion but then challenging in D1. This season we have broken into the top 4 so couldn’t be more pleased.

Just how far can you take PSG after your impressive start to this season, was this start what you expected? To be honest I thought that we would have a sticky start. Anyone who has looked at my sides in the past , know that I always hope to use squad depth to come on strong in the second half of the season. Having beaten 2 of the big 5 from last season we fear nobody but we still have to face Barcelona twice so top 3 has to be our aim.

As PSG are your 5th club in T100 have you found your home now? Without boring you with a history lesson, I never really wanted to leave any of the clubs that I did and mostly they have suffered greatly following my exit. Fiorentina I got into D1 and it was always going to be tough but they were then run into the ground and no one has got to grips with them since. I did a good job with Sporting Lisbon and after promotion left them as promoted and promotion candidates again , however Valencia was a club in need . They remain my only disappointment in T100. I had built a great squad but should have played to my strengths to keep them up .. Then onto Celta, this time a slow burn followed by back to back promotions. Sad to leave but Dale is doing a great job with them now.
PSG is the club I have been waiting for a big side with big ambitions. I will stay as long as they want me.

 A lot of your higher rated players are now the wrong side of 30, how do you plan for the future? Good question: I’ve never been youth obsessed and see the value in an older head. We have some great young talent coming through in Weigl Coman Harit Bruma and some great youth prospects. When I see how we finish this season I will decide if I need to cash in one or 2 golden oldies to attract in a younger player who wants to start at a top club

 If you could improve one thing in T100 what would it be? This may seem radical but I think maybe in a years time, we need to reboot the game world with every manager swapping teams. I would put the highest ranked manager with the lowest ranked team unless the lower ranked manager wishes to stay . I think this would stir things up and freshen up the challenge for the old timers. But people would need plenty of notice. Thanks for all your hard work and best wishes to all my friends in this great GW.

Thanks for your time Malcom

T100 Gossip Column

Juve are preparing a big money deal for City’s Ajax star player Lisandro Martinez! [Manchester evening News}

That is all the gossip for this issue as it’s the one thing I need a bit help with, I ask for it to be sent through each week as its a bit which I feel could be great if you all send me the bits of transfer news you all are involved in, as much as I wish I could see into peoples minds I can’t, This week i received 2 bits of gossip through my inbox so Alex’s is in, the other was covered in the mini rant at the top, the Reports and Interview takes a few hours of my time to write up and If i had your gossip I could just copy and paste in to the mag to save time.

That’s all for this issue, hope you all enjoy it, cheers lads.