This discussion believes it’s the big hitting players in the 95+ bracket for that make up the difference with their average ratings hitting consistent heights higher than the majority of all other players. When you couple in where the games 2 big stars are, Messi (99) & Ronaldo (98) it’s again no surprise as to where their respective clubs tend to finish.

Here are your 95+ players in T100 currently; 

When broken down you’re looking at 17 total players, 6 of whom player for Barca (35%), including the highest rated on SM in Messi (99) & 50% of all players 96+. Chelsea see a good share of the stars with a total of 4 (24%) including 25% of the 96+ players, the individual of course being Ronaldo (98). 

Therefore you see 10/17 players, a whopping 59% of the elite players shared between 2 clubs currently, a great achievement by the McKenzie brothers to have secured these big players for their respective clubs & for me is reason as to why we have consistently seen Barca dominate the top throughout T100s history but more recently completely annihilate the rest of the pack. Chelsea have remained within a distance consistently, often taking 2nd in the division if not 3rd before Bayern had to step back from the high ratings & older age bracket to look for long term competition, but haven’t kept within fighting distance all too often for the D1 title. 

Of all remaining 7 players in this bracket, they’re all playing for different, individual clubs, namely 1 at Bayern, Ter Stegan, 1 at Juventus, Oblak, previously Busquets (-1), 1 at Dortmund, Van Dijk, 1 at Anderlecht, Griezmann, 1 at Atletico, Aguero, 1 at Hellas, Salah & finally the last player to make up the 4 96+ players in Lewandowski, now at Arsenal. Only 2 of the 95+ find themselves outside of D1 (Hellas, Salah & Arsenal, Lewandowski). 

It is the dominance of D1 that perhaps gives evidence as to why this bracket of player is the key to D1 titles as Barcelona have had a history of having a fairly thin squad in number, with a current total of 13 players in the 90+ bracket but not a single player below 92 in what could be a first team 11, some achievement. An additional player over the 90 threshold for Chelsea whom can also field an 11 with no player below the 92 level but of course that 2 player deficit in the 95+ bracket last season saw Chelsea some distance behind Barca. Next up Juventus, a different kettle of fish with last season (11) & now this (12) just the 1 95+ player but a squad of 21 players over the 90 threshold but also having the ability to field a 92+ 11. Bayern, previous title challengers & multiple winners, 1 95+ player in Ter Stegan, a GK alike to Juventus & also able to field a 92+ 11 plus the 16 players that are above the 90+ threshold, a middle ground perhaps between Juventus’ squad depth of 90+ threshold players to that of the thin Barcelona squad with 13 players above 90+. The traditional, but no longer top 4 contenders, interestingly with best players at either ends of the positional spectrum, Ronaldo & Messi in attack, Ter Stegan & Oblak in goal, of course previously Busquets in CM for Juventus giving a different dynamic. 

In an analysis of constants & variables, perhaps the biggest constants over the seasons has been the reflection of 95+ players in title winning teams. Barcelona & Bayern the two whom have most consistently challenged & won titles, often the dominant sides in this area, no just the one remaining giant in this 95+ bracket, now in turn dominating the division. Even a gambling man would have a tough time betting against the same outcome in S12 as history & 95+ players suggest as Barca once again chase an unbeaten season & that 100+ point mark.

Points difference predictions for the season 12s previous ‘top 4’ upon 95+ players & squad depths aforementioned;

Barca 100+ points

Chelsea 75-85 points

Juventus 65-75 points

Bayern 60-70 points

Perhaps we will see the 95+ players of; Anderlecht, Dortmund & Atletico push their sides into those top 4 spots, it could well be that we see PSG once again upset the apple cart in the ratings race to pip them all into the top 4 again. As for the final 2 95+ players, who would bet against Hellas & Arsenal finishing in the automatic spots for promotion to D1. 

Of course, ratings are going to change. Not long ago, Bayern had 2x 95+ players with Luka Modric accompanying Ter Stegan. Will one of, both of, or none of Mane & Sterling receive reviews to join this bracket of 95+ players for Anderlecht & Juventus in the coming week(s), will Chelsea get another 95+ in the form of Alisson & finally could Benfica join the 95+ club with Mbappe in the near future? For Season 12, some are more likely than others, but what appears to be a certainty is that Barca & Chelsea will once again lead the way for 95+ players & therefore you could assume the top 2 spots in Division 1.

Let's discuss.

Young Argentine star Matias Pellegrini will join the light blues from Lokomotiv in exchange for Sandro Lauper after the expiry of Sandro Lauper's transfer ban on 23rd February 2020. 

Ladies and Gents ... the end of another season, some tears of joy, some tears of sorrow, some Interpol Agents on the trail of the previous Real Madrid manager who is spending his off-season on his private yacht as Real Madrid search for the missing millions ...

Mr Marsden (who judiciously kept a data file with the final season regular season rankings since the first season) has allowed me to use some of my Excel skills and update the file for the last two seasons, and produce some functionality and charts for the greater good (of the Top 100)

I have added the file to a DropBox. To get read and download (and tomfoolery) access to it you will need to send me an email address so that I can add you to the folder (will probably send you an email link for you to click on to accept access).

I have added some snips below of the content in the file. There is a main sheet with the Ranking Table of all teams across all seasons, with filters in row 7, where you can add or remove, sort, etc. the data by column to suit. There are also three charts, one is dumb (for information only), on the avg. points needed in each division across the last 11 seasons to win the title, achieve promotion, playoff's, etc.

The other two charts permit you to select some data. The first (Final League Pos), where you can select three teams and it will plot their final league positions across the eleven seasons. The second chart (All), allows you, for three teams, to plot Wins, Losses, Draws, Goals For, Goals Against, Goal Diff. and Points earned.

I have added a couple of snips below from the file to show you what the content looks like

If you have any questions please reply to this article, or drop me a PM in the game

Cheers

Mike T

a bad season finally came to a end at old trafford with back to back relegation confirmed. this was not part of the plan and something that we can only try and sort out by bouncing straight back to division 2 at the first attempt.

now the focus turns to next season and the all important transfer season is upon us. myself and the board understand that the transfer policy as to change slightly to move this team forward. we have made a few signings in the last few days but im demanding more from Mr Woodward which probably means ill end up with a new sponsor and not a new player but we can all dream i guess.

Bernard will join as replacement for sarr who joined Valencia

new number 1 goalkeeper Anthony lopes.

with 5 signings in so far we still hope to make one or two more signings before the season starts. this is the biggest transfer off season since i took over and one that needs to reap the rewards.

emre can will be the new club captain after is arrival from Chelsea

Carlos soler will be new vice captain after is arrival from Valencia

with the new season still a couple of weeks away i hope to sign a couple of more players and try out some new formations throughout the preseason. the players have to realise man city should not be above us in the table let alone a division above and we will work hard to correct this otherwise me and Mr Woodward may have a difficult conversation to have come the end of season.

  End of season 11 see’s us finished in 14^th place with 44 points in Division 4.

Since taking over in late October my record is P 21 W 7 D 8 L 6

We were lucky in the end as we suffered 3 successive defeats at the end of the season.

What next:

Well there have been so far a number of players going through the swing doors. 27 coming in and 25 going out.  I cannot say that the quality has improved that much but I live in hope that 1 or 2 players may surprise me next season.

We have not many saleable internal players, as shown in the fact that only one player has had a rating rise while I have been here, and that was a youth player.  Alario is my outstanding player in terms of an asset; I am determined to hold on to him for next season unless I get some very silly offer.

I will continue to try and bring in some youth prospects – currently 12 under 21 (includes 2 GK).

I think next season will be just if not more harder for this team and in reality Celtic will need a number of seasons (under any manager) to be any kind of promotion force.

Now for a few days break for the players, but not for me though.