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@Dom Gill ? ^^^
Gaming The SM RedCafe League
- Thread starter Damien
- Start date
-
In the latest edition of the United Hour Podcast, we interview Duncan Drasdo of MUST - covering ticket prices, new stadium, INEOS and what fans should be demanding from our club.
Also, due to technical issues we couldn't put a notice up for the previous episode which was about the game against Bournemouth and other stuff. If you'd like to listen to it, click here.
Yeah, that's a great start. I will have a fiddle my end as well. Was thinking how a filter could work, maybe a pivot table and chart somehow. Not done it before so I'm guessing really
The Unfiltered Truth of Game Week 7
Well, if you thought the previous weeks had delivered their share of twists and turns, Game Week 7 didn't just tear up the form book; it tore the whole thing to shreds! This past weekend served up a veritable smorgasbord of footballing theatre, with expected dominances, surprising moments, and a few nail-biters that kept us all on the edge of our seats. And now, with the dust settled, the league table, my friends, is looking significantly different at the summit!Here’s how the chips fell sports fans:
The Headline Grabbers and Commanding Performances:
Bury 4 Tottenham 0: Good heavens, what a demolition job! The newly promoted Shakers absolutely dominated a recently-relegated Tottenham, delivering a comprehensive 4-0 defeat that will send shockwaves through the league. Bury were simply irresistible, showcasing a potent attacking display that left Spurs reeling. This performance certainly cements their status as genuine contenders.Kidderminster 4 Brentford 1: The Harriers were in masterful form as they dished out a commanding 4-1 victory over Brentford. Their attacking prowess was on full display, and this result leaves no doubt about their ambitions.
Luton 2 Manchester City 4: A ruthless display from the former league leaders, as Manchester City dispatched Luton with a clinical 4-2 performance. Their machinery looks perfectly calibrated for success, and frankly, it's hard to see anyone derailing this freight train.
Leeds 3 Blackburn 0: A professional and polished performance from Leeds, who comfortably swept aside Blackburn with a three-goal haul. They dictated the tempo, controlled the narrative, and secured a vital three points with minimal fuss.
Brighton 1 Wolves 4: A shocking display from Brighton, who were comprehensively outplayed by a rejuvenated Wolves side. 4-1 was the final score as Wolves bagged a crucial away win, showing the kind of explosive form we've been waiting for.
Crystal Palace 2 Chelsea 0: A surprising result at Selhurst Park. Crystal Palace put two goals past Chelsea without reply, a 2-0 win that will surely sting the Blues.
The Tightly Contested Affairs:
Norwich 2 Sheffield United 1: A hard-fought contest at Carrow Road, with Norwich eventually emerging victorious by the narrowest of margins. It wasn't always a spectacle, but sometimes, you just have to roll up your sleeves and battle for the points. The Canaries demonstrated their staying power in spades.Ipswich 0 Hull 1: Hull, a newly promoted outfit, continues to defy expectations, snatching a crucial 1-0 away victory at Ipswich. These are the wins that define a season, the gritty, determined efforts that separate contenders from also-rans.
Reading 1 Bradford 1: A grinding affair in this encounter, as neither team could pull away. Reading and Bradford played out a 1-1 stalemate, with both teams demonstrating their fighting spirit.
The Scoreless Standoff:
Liverpool 0 Torquay 0: A stalemate at Anfield, with neither Liverpool nor Torquay able to break the deadlock. While a nil-nil draw won't win any awards for entertainment, a point away from home for Torquay certainly helps their cause in the congested playoff race.The League Landscape: A Shift at the Summit!
With all that done and dusted, the league table is telling a new story. Bury has officially taken the top spot from Manchester City. Both teams are still unbeaten on 21 points, but Bury's masterful four-goal haul against Tottenham has shifted the goal difference tally decisively in their favour. The battle for promotion is officially heating up!Automatic Promotion Spots
Bury
Manchester City
Playoff Spots
3. Kidderminster
4. Torquay
5. Norwich
6. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Last night's 3:2 triumph against Leyton Orient:
Oblak (93)
Kounde (92) Trent (94) Van Dijk (95) Alaba (91)
Gravenberch (92)
, Rice (94)
Frimpong (92)↓ -- Pedri (94) -- Bellingham (95)
Mbappe (96)
Subs: Araujo (88), Van Den Bosch (86), Debast (88), Zakaria (90), Sancho (90), Pulisic (92)↑, I. Williams (90)
Suspended: N. Williams (92)
Injured: Gomes (89), Sucic (87) (thanks Varun)
Did not travel: n/a
Key:
= Goal
= Assist
= MOTM
↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position
Next three games:
CCGBG4: Fenerbahce (H)
LSR1: Watford (H)
MD08: Nottingham Forest (A)
Manchester United v Leyton Orient fixtures this season
Oblak (93)
Kounde (92) Trent (94) Van Dijk (95) Alaba (91)
Gravenberch (92)
, Rice (94)Frimpong (92)↓ -- Pedri (94) -- Bellingham (95)
Mbappe (96)
Subs: Araujo (88), Van Den Bosch (86), Debast (88), Zakaria (90), Sancho (90), Pulisic (92)
↑, I. Williams (90)Suspended: N. Williams (92)
Injured: Gomes (89), Sucic (87) (thanks Varun)
Did not travel: n/a
Key:
= Goal = Assist = MOTM↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position
Next three games:
CCGBG4: Fenerbahce (H)
LSR1: Watford (H)
MD08: Nottingham Forest (A)
Manchester United v Leyton Orient fixtures this season
| Game | Utd Poss | Leyton Orient Poss | Utd Shots (SoT) | Leyton Orient Shots (SoT) | Utd Goals | Leyton Orient Goals | Utd SoT Conv. | Leyton Orient SoT Conv. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3rd Aug: Utd v Leyton Orient | 53% | 47% | 12 (4) | 11 (2) | 3 | 2 | 75% | 100% |
Combined | 53% | 47% | 12 (4) | 11 (2) | 3 | 2 | 75% | 100% |
Monday's 5:0 victory over Fenerbahce:
Oblak (93)
Trent (94)↓ Debast (88)↓ Van Dijk (95) Alaba (91)
Gravenberch (92) Zakaria (90)
Sancho (90)↓ -- Bellingham (95) -- Pulisic (92)↓
Mbappe (96)
Subs: Araujo (88), Van Den Bosch (86), Rothe (85), Kounde (92)↑, Frimpong (92)↑, N. Williams (92)↑, I. Williams (90)↑
Suspended: Rice (94)
Injured: Pedri (94), Gomes (89), Sucic (87)
Did not travel: n/a
Key:
= Goal
= Assist
= MOTM
↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position
Next three games:
LSR1: Watford (H)
MD08: Nottingham Forest (A)
MD09: West Ham United (A)
Manchester United v Fenerbahce fixtures this season
Oblak (93)
Trent (94)↓ Debast (88)↓ Van Dijk (95)
Alaba (91)Gravenberch (92)
Zakaria (90)Sancho (90)
↓ -- Bellingham (95) -- Pulisic (92)↓Mbappe (96)
Subs: Araujo (88), Van Den Bosch (86), Rothe (85), Kounde (92)↑, Frimpong (92)↑, N. Williams (92)↑, I. Williams (90)
↑Suspended: Rice (94)
Injured: Pedri (94), Gomes (89), Sucic (87)
Did not travel: n/a
Key:
= Goal = Assist = MOTM↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position
Next three games:
LSR1: Watford (H)
MD08: Nottingham Forest (A)
MD09: West Ham United (A)
Manchester United v Fenerbahce fixtures this season
| Game | Utd Poss | Fenerbahce Poss | Utd Shots (SoT) | Fenerbahce Shots (SoT) | Utd Goals | Fenerbahce Goals | Utd SoT Conv. | Fenerbahce SoT Conv. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14th Jul: Fenerbahce v Utd | 67% | 33% | 27 (12) | 5 (2) | 5 | 2 | 41.7% | 100% |
4th Aug: Utd v Fenerbahce | 68% | 32% | 24 (11) | 6 (0) | 5 | 0 | 45.5% | 100% |
Combined | 67.5% | 32.5% | 51 (23) | 11 (2) | 10 | 2 | 43.5% | 100% |
Completely missed that there were cup games tonight, Boro will rack up a cricket score on Thursday.
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Better update my colour sheet.
Cheers mate. I am planning a few surprises throughout the season which should spice it up a bit, so keep an eye out for the specials and I will also be doing a mid season review and a final run in bonanza which then will be followed with the end of season reviews.
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Does this mean I’m going to have to pull my finger out and do more Division 1 stuff to placate the big boys?Cheers mate. I am planning a few surprises throughout the season which should spice it up a bit, so keep an eye out for the specials and I will also be doing a mid season review and a final run in bonanza which then will be followed with the end of season reviews.
Not necessarily....I'll drop you a DM and explain
AwesomeCheers mate. I am planning a few surprises throughout the season which should spice it up a bit, so keep an eye out for the specials and I will also be doing a mid season review and a final run in bonanza which then will be followed with the end of season reviews.
I was also thinking of doing weekly reports but pussyed out thinking it will take too much time to go through 20 teams and their results/stats
I use Gemini. I created a saved persona and save down every post so it can pull from that. I do have to type in the scores and a bit extra, so now it is not too time consuming. I wonder if I did it on a pc if I could copy and paste from SM
Ballon d'Or nominees by SM club:
Manchester United (5): Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Pedri, Declan Rice, Virgil van Dijk
Bristol City (4): Denzel Dumfries, Lautaro Martinez, Scott McTominay, Joao Neves
Aston Villa (3): Harry Kane, Florian Wirtz, Lamine Yamal
Middlesbrough (3): Desire Doue, Cole Palmer, Fabian Ruiz
Rochdale (3): Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes
Bournemouth (2): Alexis Mac Allister, Raphinha
Hereford (2): Erling Haaland, Michael Olise
Southend United (2): Ousmane Dembele, Gianluigi Donnarumma
Arsenal (1): Mohamed Salah
Kidderminster Harriers (1): Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Leyton Orient (1): Vitinha
Newcastle United (1): Vinicius Junior
Nottingham Forest (1): Robert Lewandowski
Southampton (1): Viktor Gyokeres
Copy pasting is a pain. The format gets all messed up.
Tuesday's 4:0 victory over Watford:
Oblak (93)
Araujo (88) Van den Bosch (86) Debast (88) Rothe (85)
Miley (84) Zakaria (90)↓
Andres Garcia (82) -- Sancho (90)↓ -- I. Williams (90)↓
Shpendi (82)
Subs: Santos (82), Leoni (83), Bindon (78), Bernal (80)↑, Yeo (80)↑, Egeli (80), Bravo (80)↑
Injured: Pedri (94), Gomes (89), Sucic (87)
Did not travel: Mbappe (96), Van Dijk (95), Bellingham (95), Rice (94), Trent (94), Kounde (92), Gravenberch (92), Frimpong (92), N. Williams (92), Pulisic (92), Alaba (91)
Key:
= Goal
= Assist
= MOTM
↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position
Next three games:
MD08: Nottingham Forest (A)
MD09: West Ham United (A)
CCGBG5: Roma (A)
Manchester United v Watford fixtures this season
Oblak (93)
Araujo (88) Van den Bosch (86) Debast (88)
Rothe (85)Miley (84) Zakaria (90)↓
Andres Garcia (82)
-- Sancho (90)↓ -- I. Williams (90)↓Shpendi (82)
Subs: Santos (82), Leoni (83), Bindon (78), Bernal (80)↑, Yeo (80)↑, Egeli (80), Bravo (80)↑
Injured: Pedri (94), Gomes (89), Sucic (87)
Did not travel: Mbappe (96), Van Dijk (95), Bellingham (95), Rice (94), Trent (94), Kounde (92), Gravenberch (92), Frimpong (92), N. Williams (92), Pulisic (92), Alaba (91)
Key:
= Goal = Assist = MOTM↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position
Next three games:
MD08: Nottingham Forest (A)
MD09: West Ham United (A)
CCGBG5: Roma (A)
Manchester United v Watford fixtures this season
| Game | Utd Poss | Watford Poss | Utd Shots (SoT) | Watford Shots (SoT) | Utd Goals | Watford Goals | Utd SoT Conv. | Watford SoT Conv. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5th Aug: Utd v Watford | 67% | 33% | 26 (12) | 3 (0) | 4 | 0 | 25% | n/a |
Combined | 67% | 33% | 26 (12) | 3 (0) | 4 | 0 | 25% | n/a |
Latest table:
This time last season:
This time last season:
Yeah, that's what a macro in excel can solve, just been lazy to actually do it
Yeah about the same for me I guess
That's why I really appreciate the massive effort Damien puts in to maintain all the data related to this league
Tracking my players for the new season.
Of course De Fougerolles got sent off in his second game.
Of course De Fougerolles got sent off in his second game.
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Tracking my players for the new season.
Of course De Fougerolles got sent off in his second game.
How do you do the SS?
second worst conversion rate about sums it upLatest table:
This time last season:
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Cardiff City Transfer News
Rüdigoner
Rüdigoner
You can blame @Dom Gill for this. Had he not messaged me I think I was done with SM for the foreseeable so thank you.
First arriving on 1st September 2021 at 28 years 5 months and 29 days old Antonio Rüdiger went from strength to strength at Cardiff. The original deal of £18m and Davidson Sanchez was one of my favourite deals as 4 months later he was 92 rated and has been a rock at the back ever since.
After nearly 3 years of dedicated service the 31 year old (5 months and 22 days) was used along with Cody Gakpo to secure Nicolo Barella, a personal favourite. It felt like goodbye, 94 rated having just won the champions league, I sold him knowing that would be it.
Then Valentine’s Day, and Dutza was feeling the love. Antony Elanga, Ilya Zabarnyi and £949,000 were exchanged to bring back Rüdiger as Cardiff had title aspirations. Aged 31, 11 months and 11 days id accepted that I’d sacrificed the future potential of Zabarnyi (someone I first scouted aged 16, bought aged 18 and 1 month whilst 73 rated) to bring in a guaranteed world class CB.
That was surely the end of the Rudiger, Middlesbrough and Cardiff love triangle… until today.
Having seen Dutza’s inspired deal for Salah I knew he’d want to compete now. Salah has a year left at the absolute top 96 and then a Saudi move is inevitable. So last dance, I publicly offered Rudiger.
Then a few messages back and forth last night. Dutza did not want to deal until mid season.
A few more this morning, Dutza did not want to deal until mid season.
A few more this afternoon, Dutza did not want to deal until mid season.
A screenshot of Zabarnyi starting 1 game (and 1 sub appearance) all last season with an average of 6.0 vs Rudiger with 35 games and 7.06 rating.
But not only this a bit more back and forth and….
I do love a potential add on.
So @dutza90 and I finally agreed to:
Rüdiger (94/32 (5 months and 6 days)) = £15m + Zabarnyi + Add Ons*
*If Dutza can win the league…
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Cardiff City players FULL TRANSFER WINDOW
Name - Club - (age/rating) Rumoured/Moved to Club
Tier 1 Officially Moved
Tier 2 Strong rumour (Strong source Ornstein/Fabrizio etc)
Tier 3 Developing Rumour (reasonable source)
Tier 4 Weak Rumour (untrusted source)
Tier 5 No Rumour
Tier 6 Contract Renewal/No Chance of Leaving
GK x2
Lucas Chevalier - Lille - 23/90 -> PSG
Rome Jayden Owusu-Oduro - AZ - 21/84 (Cooled down new contract talks)
RB/RWB x5
Pavard - Inter - 29/91
Geertruida - Leipzig 24/89 (PSG)
Williams - Nottingham Forest - 24/88 (Contract Renewal 2029)
Kayode - Brentford - 20/85 (already moved)
Junior - Palmeiras - 20/67 (cooled down suggestion of 1st team position next season)
CB x7
Tomori - AC Milan - 27/90 (Juventus/PL Clubs)
Ilya Zabarnyi - Bournemouth - 22/89 -> PSG
Diomandé - Sporting CP - 21/89 (Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Real Madrid 2026)
Cunha - Nottingham Forest - 20/85 (already moved)
Mykhavko - Dynamo Kyiv - 20/82 (FC Porto, Feyenoord)
Kakou - Cercle Brugge - 20/76
Braithwaite - Manchester City - 17/70
LB/LWB x4
Mittelstädt - Stuttgart - 28/90
Medina - KRC Genk - 20/82 (already moved)
Ahanor - Atalanta BC - 17/76 (Already moved)
Torrents - Barcelona - 18/70
CM/DM x10
Reijnders - Manchester City - 27/92 (Already moved)
Modric - Real Madrid - 39/92 -> AC Milan
Milinkovic-Savic - Al Hilal SFC - 30/91
Lavia - Chelsea - 21/87
Hinshelwood - Brighton - 20/87
Banzuzi - RB Leipzig - 20/84 (already moved)
Bouaddi - Lille OSC - 17/83 (Real Madrid, Liverpool, Arsenal)
Montiel - Pachuca - 19/82 (Ajax)
Nartey - Brøndby IF - 20/78 (cooled down contract extension)
Dyer - Chelsea - 18/70 (Various loans)
RM/RW x5
Kubo - Real Sociedad - 24/91 (Atletico Madrid)
Semenyo - Bournemouth - 25/89 (Contract extension)
Bakwa - RC Strasbourg Alsace - 22/87 (Napoli, Tottenham)
Bardghji - FC København - 19/82 -> Barcelona
Addai - AZ - 19/80 -> Como 1907
AM x7
Ferguson - Bologna FC - 25/89 (Napoli, Inter)
Esse - Crystal Palace - 20/82 (already moved)
Maksimovic - Crvena Zvezda - 18/82 (RB Leipzig)
Rêgo - SL Benfica - 20/80
Silva - Fluminese - 18/70 (Various)
Robinho Jr - Santos FC - 17/65
Dro Fernández - FC Barcelona - 17/65
LM/LW x6
Son - Tottenham - 33/92 -> Los Angeles FC
Bischoff - Brøndby IF - 19/80 (PL links intensify!)
Gomis - RB Leipzig - 18/78 (already moved)
Diomande - CD Leganés - 18/77 (RB Leipzig)
Roberto - CR Flamengo - 17/65 (Barcelona, Ajax)
Prince Amoako Jr - FC Nordsjælland - 18/65
ST x7
Isak - Newcastle - 25/94 (Liverpool)
Guessand - Nice - 24/88 -> Aston Villa
Endrick - Madrid - 19/87 (Loan various)
Djú - FC Midtjylland - 21/84 (Borussia Dortmund, Brentford)
Kostoulas - Brighton - 18/80 (already moved)
Mheuka - Chelsea - 17/75
Bro Hansen - FK Bodø/Glimt - 16/67
Name - Club - (age/rating) Rumoured/Moved to Club
Tier 1 Officially Moved
Tier 2 Strong rumour (Strong source Ornstein/Fabrizio etc)
Tier 3 Developing Rumour (reasonable source)
Tier 4 Weak Rumour (untrusted source)
Tier 5 No Rumour
Tier 6 Contract Renewal/No Chance of Leaving
GK x2
Lucas Chevalier - Lille - 23/90 -> PSG
Rome Jayden Owusu-Oduro - AZ - 21/84 (Cooled down new contract talks)
RB/RWB x5
Pavard - Inter - 29/91
Geertruida - Leipzig 24/89 (PSG)
Williams - Nottingham Forest - 24/88 (Contract Renewal 2029)
Kayode - Brentford - 20/85 (already moved)
Junior - Palmeiras - 20/67 (cooled down suggestion of 1st team position next season)
CB x7
Tomori - AC Milan - 27/90 (Juventus/PL Clubs)
Ilya Zabarnyi - Bournemouth - 22/89 -> PSG
Diomandé - Sporting CP - 21/89 (Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Real Madrid 2026)
Cunha - Nottingham Forest - 20/85 (already moved)
Mykhavko - Dynamo Kyiv - 20/82 (FC Porto, Feyenoord)
Kakou - Cercle Brugge - 20/76
Braithwaite - Manchester City - 17/70
LB/LWB x4
Mittelstädt - Stuttgart - 28/90
Medina - KRC Genk - 20/82 (already moved)
Ahanor - Atalanta BC - 17/76 (Already moved)
Torrents - Barcelona - 18/70
CM/DM x10
Reijnders - Manchester City - 27/92 (Already moved)
Modric - Real Madrid - 39/92 -> AC Milan
Milinkovic-Savic - Al Hilal SFC - 30/91
Lavia - Chelsea - 21/87
Hinshelwood - Brighton - 20/87
Banzuzi - RB Leipzig - 20/84 (already moved)
Bouaddi - Lille OSC - 17/83 (Real Madrid, Liverpool, Arsenal)
Montiel - Pachuca - 19/82 (Ajax)
Nartey - Brøndby IF - 20/78 (cooled down contract extension)
Dyer - Chelsea - 18/70 (Various loans)
RM/RW x5
Kubo - Real Sociedad - 24/91 (Atletico Madrid)
Semenyo - Bournemouth - 25/89 (Contract extension)
Bakwa - RC Strasbourg Alsace - 22/87 (Napoli, Tottenham)
Bardghji - FC København - 19/82 -> Barcelona
Addai - AZ - 19/80 -> Como 1907
AM x7
Ferguson - Bologna FC - 25/89 (Napoli, Inter)
Esse - Crystal Palace - 20/82 (already moved)
Maksimovic - Crvena Zvezda - 18/82 (RB Leipzig)
Rêgo - SL Benfica - 20/80
Silva - Fluminese - 18/70 (Various)
Robinho Jr - Santos FC - 17/65
Dro Fernández - FC Barcelona - 17/65
LM/LW x6
Son - Tottenham - 33/92 -> Los Angeles FC
Bischoff - Brøndby IF - 19/80 (PL links intensify!)
Gomis - RB Leipzig - 18/78 (already moved)
Diomande - CD Leganés - 18/77 (RB Leipzig)
Roberto - CR Flamengo - 17/65 (Barcelona, Ajax)
Prince Amoako Jr - FC Nordsjælland - 18/65
ST x7
Isak - Newcastle - 25/94 (Liverpool)
Guessand - Nice - 24/88 -> Aston Villa
Endrick - Madrid - 19/87 (Loan various)
Djú - FC Midtjylland - 21/84 (Borussia Dortmund, Brentford)
Kostoulas - Brighton - 18/80 (already moved)
Mheuka - Chelsea - 17/75
Bro Hansen - FK Bodø/Glimt - 16/67
Nice! And you are welcome.Cardiff City Transfer News
Rüdigoner
You can blame @Dom Gill for this. Had he not messaged me I think I was done with SM for the foreseeable so thank you.
First arriving on 1st September 2021 at 28 years 5 months and 29 days old Antonio Rüdiger went from strength to strength at Cardiff. The original deal of £18m and Davidson Sanchez was one of my favourite deals as 4 months later he was 92 rated and has been a rock at the back ever since.
After nearly 3 years of dedicated service the 31 year old (5 months and 22 days) was used along with Cody Gakpo to secure Nicolo Barella, a personal favourite. It felt like goodbye, 94 rated having just won the champions league, I sold him knowing that would be it.
Then Valentine’s Day, and Dutza was feeling the love. Antony Elanga, Ilya Zabarnyi and £949,000 were exchanged to bring back Rüdiger as Cardiff had title aspirations. Aged 31, 11 months and 11 days id accepted that I’d sacrificed the future potential of Zabarnyi (someone I first scouted aged 16, bought aged 18 and 1 month whilst 73 rated) to bring in a guaranteed world class CB.
That was surely the end of the Rudiger, Middlesbrough and Cardiff love triangle… until today.
Having seen Dutza’s inspired deal for Salah I knew he’d want to compete now. Salah has a year left at the absolute top 96 and then a Saudi move is inevitable. So last dance, I publicly offered Rudiger.
Then a few messages back and forth last night. Dutza did not want to deal until mid season.
A few more this morning, Dutza did not want to deal until mid season.
A few more this afternoon, Dutza did not want to deal until mid season.
A screenshot of Zabarnyi starting 1 game (and 1 sub appearance) all last season with an average of 6.0 vs Rudiger with 35 games and 7.06 rating.
But not only this a bit more back and forth and….
I do love a potential add on.
So @dutza90 and I finally agreed to:
Rüdiger (94/32 (5 months and 6 days)) = £15m + Zabarnyi + Add Ons*
*If Dutza can win the league…
From 'Rabonas' to 'Rage': Ronaldo Unleashes on Former Manager
For decades, the sporting world has been captivated by the legacy of this 34-season game, but behind the trophies and glory lies a story of bad blood and broken legacies. In a stunning new exclusive, we have unearthed a rivalry that has been simmering for years, stemming from a fateful player swap that one party has reportedly spent years trying to forget. Now, the player at the center of the controversy, the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo, has finally broken his silence, ready to set the record straight on a managerial move that still stings to this day.
Frank Castle: "Hello, I hope you are doing well today. Before we start I just wanted to say congratulations on your 2 goals on Thursday to help Torquay United beat Crystal Palace. Your rabona penalty was sheer class, also you playing for Torquay United must be a dream come true for all the fans in that small seaside town. How does it feel to play for them?"
Ronaldo: "Doing well? Of course I'm doing well. I'm always doing well. It's not a matter of hope, it's a matter of fact.
Two goals against a club like Crystal Palace, with a rabona penalty no less? That's just what I do. It's what the people came to see. They deserve the best, and I deliver the best. It's not just a goal; it's art. Playing for Torquay United... it's an honor for them. The fans, the town, they now have a legend in their midst. They are inspired by my presence. They see what it takes to be great every single day. I have elevated this club to a new level. The dream, as you say, is not just for the fans. It is the perfect stage for me to show that my talent shines no matter where I am. Small town or big city, the legend is the same. The greatness is the same."
Frank Castle: "That's really good to hear. You were brought in by the current manager 'George', he must have a big part to play in this season's success as well. He must see the draw you have on the team. What do you have to say about this?"
Ronaldo: "George... he is a good man. A smart man. He knows talent when he sees it. He brought me here because he understands that to be great, you must have the greatest. It is a simple equation.
Does he have a part to play in the success? Of course. I need the team to be ready to receive my greatness. He has done his part to prepare them. He has them running, training, so that when the ball comes to my feet, they are in the right position to witness my genius. It is a good partnership. The draw I have on the team, as you say, is not something you can teach. It is not something you can coach. It is a fire. It is a presence. They feel it when I walk into the room. They want to be better just by standing next to me. George understands this. He sees that my presence is the biggest motivation they will ever have. He is smart enough to let me be the star and to let them all shine a little from my light."
Frank Castle: "You sound like you have a big opinion of yourself, but you have earned it across you career. If you don't mind I would like to move away from your Torquay days and ask you to cast your mind back to your old manager 'Damien' who you played under from season 4 to season 6 of this game world that has been going for 34 seasons. If I may I would like to give you a quote from his recent interview and wanted to get your side of the story.
In an upcoming interview he was quoted saying,
'The player who never clicked was Cristiano Ronaldo...' (for the full interview please come back soon)
What is your side to this. Don't feel like you should hold back."
Ronaldo: "Hold back? Ronaldo holds back for no one. This is my story, not his. And the story he tells… it is a fantasy. A delusion. First, to say I 'never clicked' is an insult. I am the click. I am the rhythm. The team... the team must adapt to me, not the other way around. To have me and Messi in the same squad was a gift, a privilege that is a rare gift. The problem was not with me; it was with a manager who did not know how to handle such greatness. He was not big enough for the talent he had. As for the goals... 13 goals in a season is a failure for me, yes. But a failure for me is a success for any other player. He had me in a system that did not allow me to fly. I was a Ferrari, and he was asking me to drive on a dirt track. A genius in a cage is still a genius, but you don't get to see his power.
And the deal.... He says he 'blocked it out of memory.' I can believe that. To trade a legend for a player of a lesser quality, that is not a memory; it is a nightmare. It is a moment of weakness that he will never escape. He says it was the 'worst deal' he has done. I say it was the moment he admitted he was not in my league. He did not deserve me. The truth is, I did not 'never click' with him. He was a manager who couldn't keep up with me."
Frank Castle: "Thank you for that insight. It is really interesting hearing both sides to this story and our readers will also be interested too.
One final question, in this game world you have played for 11 teams, starting with Manchester City in season 1, then in order Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Everton, Darlington, Bristol City, Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Cardiff and now you are with Torquay. Which team did you enjoy playing for the most and why, we shall leave out Torquay as that is your current team and we already know it won't be Manchester United."
Ronaldo: "Ah, the list of my clubs. A journey of a true champion, a list of clubs that have been graced by my presence. You are correct, it will not be Manchester United. That chapter was a miscalculation by a manager who was not ready for my level of talent. It is a chapter of history, but not one of glory. The team I enjoyed playing for the most… it’s a difficult question, because I gave my all for every team. But if I must choose, it would be my time at Chelsea. They were a team that understood what it meant to win. The manager, the players, they all had the same ambition as me: to be the best. We trained harder, we played with more passion, and we delivered results. The fans... they recognized greatness. They saw the hard work, the dedication, the pure fire that burned inside me, and they celebrated it. At Chelsea, I was not just a player; I was a symbol of their ambition. I was the key that unlocked their potential. The time I spent there was one of pure focus, pure excellence. It was a perfect match of my talent and their hunger for trophies. It was a beautiful time.
My time at Arsenal was also special, as the fans there were very passionate. But Chelsea… that was true perfection."
Frank Castle: "I thank you for your time and and wish you the best for the future."
Ronaldo: "The future? The future is mine. I make my own future, and it is a future of greatness. I do not need wishes; I create my own destiny. But thank you for the interview. The people need to hear the truth, and I have given them just that."
A shocking yet insightful time with the legend Cristiano Ronaldo who was treading the edge of arrogance and being humble during this dialogue, but hey he signed his Torquay shirt and gave me £1,000,000 as a tip, so I say he is an absolute dream of an interviewee and can do no wrong.
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Cardiff Squad Analysis August 2025
First XI
Chevalier 23/90
Pavard 29/91 Tomori 27/90 Zabarnyi 22/89 Mittelstädt 28/90
Reijnders 27/92 Modric 39/92
Kubo 24/91 Milinkovic-Savic 30/91 Son 33/92
Isak 25/94
First XI
Chevalier 23/90
Pavard 29/91 Tomori 27/90 Zabarnyi 22/89 Mittelstädt 28/90
Reijnders 27/92 Modric 39/92
Kubo 24/91 Milinkovic-Savic 30/91 Son 33/92
Isak 25/94
It’s clear that I’ve shifted somewhat this last year. One last attempt at a title and failing has meant I’ve needed to rebuild so it’s fully underway.
In goal I’m delighted with Chevalier’s move to PSG it means 91 or more is all but guaranteed and he’s a great age. It was either him or Joan Garcia and I can’t be disappointed by the deal that brought him here.
Defensively I’ve made a conscious decision to lose ratings here. But it’s meant that I now have Diomande and Zabarnyi as the potential CB pairing which is incredibly promising as I see Diomande as a 93+ player and Zabarnyi 92+ long term. Pavard is excellent and probably should be 92 and Mittelstadt is still the best LB in Germany and should be 91.
Central midfield is tricky here Reijnders softens the Barella blow and while I love Modric he’s ancient. I’ll keep him till he retires but I need a CM solution here soon hence the red. It’s an issue, I’m aware of it and have been actively pursuing CM targets to deal with it.
In attacking midfield the wings are a mixed bag. Kubo could go above 91 with a good move but Son to LA has created an issue I knew to expect when trading Lucas Hernandez for him. I still have the ratings benefit 92 vs 91 and in a position I’d argue is more import (attack) so I’m happy with that deal. The CAM role is a right mess though. Milinkovic-Savic is such a stop gap but he covers both CM/AM weak spots and is a genuinely good player in real life just not a desirable asset in SM.
As for striker you can’t be unhappy with Isak. He’s class so no worries here.
2nd Team
Owusu-Oduro 21/84
Geertruida 25/89 Diomandé 21/89 Jair 20/85 Williams 24/88
Lavia 21/87 Hinshelwood 20/87
Bakwa 22/87 Ferguson 25/89 Semenyo 25/89
Guessand 24/88
Owusu-Oduro is a superb young GK and future Netherlands No1.
Defensively Geertruida is a solid rotation option with room to grow to 90/91 should be a great Pavard deputy/replacement. Diomandé is a world class prospect and so too is Jair so happy to have them in. Williams is probably fine for rotation but I think he caps about 90 due to nationality so probably the only one that won’t be 91+ with confidence.
In central midfield Lavia is Chelsea’s best first receiver in midfield and only needs to stay fit to hit 90+. He’s comfortably talented enough. Hinshelwood is so intelligent can play anywhere and is the perfect squad option right now. Gross 2.0 I called him a year or so ago and he’s just taken his No13 in real life.
In attacking midfield the wingers are both excellent options with room to grow. Bakwa is superb 1 v 1 and Semenyo is already a top PL winger and should be 90 if SM were competent. Both can be 91+ with the right move. Ferguson last year was voted the best midfielder in Serie A ahead of Barella how the feck he’s only 89 is beyond me. 91 possible I think in the next year.
Guessand is superb, Villa have got a bargain here and I’ve no doubt he’ll be 90 end of season maybe more. A great option to have across the front.
U23s
Chevalier 23/90
Kayode 21/85 Zabarnyi 22/89 Diomandé 21/89 Hinshelwood 20/87
Lavia 21/87 Banzuzi 20/84
Bakwa 22/87 Maksimovic 18/82 Bardghji* 19/82
Endrick 19/87
Having spoken about some of these already I’ll just highlight those not yet accounted for:Chevalier 23/90
Kayode 21/85 Zabarnyi 22/89 Diomandé 21/89 Hinshelwood 20/87
Lavia 21/87 Banzuzi 20/84
Bakwa 22/87 Maksimovic 18/82 Bardghji* 19/82
Endrick 19/87
- Kayode - Outstanding RB prospect should hit 87+ next season at Brentford
- Banzuzi - Moved to Leipzig outstanding box to box prospect all the tools to be a 90+ player
- Maksimovic - Leipzig too outrageous creator for his age. Will outshine most in a few years 90+
- Bardghji - Stuck by him through injury now at Barcelona and he’s fit right in. Should hit 87/88 with squad minutes at such a top club.
- Endrick - Real Madrid gave him the No 9 shirt. 90+ this season.
U21s
Owusu-Oduro 21/84
Kayode 21/85 Diomandé 21/89 Jair 20/85 Hinshelwood 20/87
Lavia 21/87 Banzuzi 20/84
Bardghji 19/82 Maksimovic 18/82 Addai 19/80
Endrick 19/87
Can’t lie I’m happy with the set up. Ratings wise you can see the wing/am has the most catching up to do but I’ve no doubts these players are underrated. Maksimovic is a NT squad member so could easily be 85 so too Bardghji.Owusu-Oduro 21/84
Kayode 21/85 Diomandé 21/89 Jair 20/85 Hinshelwood 20/87
Lavia 21/87 Banzuzi 20/84
Bardghji 19/82 Maksimovic 18/82 Addai 19/80
Endrick 19/87
The only new name here is Addai who as an AZ fan I can tell you he’s the future RW of the Netherlands his 1v1 and separation ability is extremely good and his finishing sublime.
U18s
It made no sense to me to try and make this section have a formation (I don’t know any side that has players for every position at this age so just a brief comment on them:- Bouaddi 17/83 - 2025 Kopa Nominee (best 10 U21s in world) huge hopes for him and has to really negotiate to get him.
- Maksimovic 18/82 - Brought in for cash and Pellegrini and a top prospect at AM/RM. Should be higher rated and his move to Leipzig fills me with hope for a 90 rating around 20 years old.
- Kostoulas 18/80 - Top physical forward and recently moved to Brighton. Usually a good sign especially for the fee.
- Yan Diomande 18/77 - I think he’s a potential worldie in waiting. Absolutely terrifying and direct player who seems perfect for modern wing play. One of the highest rated in the world for actions post take on, offensive actions and dribbles. Proud of this one!
- Ahanor 17/76 - Wasn’t really aware of him until the draft but has the physical tools and is moving to a club that is excellent at developing wingbacks.
- Mhueka 17/75 - Future 20 goal a season striker has all the tools physical and technical.
- Isaque 18/70 - Technically outstanding and plays head and shoulders above his age group. This season or next will be his breakthrough.
- Dyer 18/70 - The most Spanish midfielder in English academy systems 10/10 potential to be a metronome at the best in Europe.
- Torrents 18/70 - Theo Hernandez regen, once he gets games he’ll be hard to hold back.
- Braithwaite 17/70 - 9.5/10 CB prospect again all the tools physical and technical to make it.
- Bro Hansen 16/67 - Absolute goal machine and at 16 can handle mens football.
- Prince Amoako Jr 17/65 - I love him Ghost Boy from the Right 2 Dream academy is everything a modern should be. Personally think he’s the best talent that academy has produced.
- Dro Fernandez 17/65 - Technically superb future 90+
- Robinho Jr 17/65 - A bit of a gamble but No7 at Santos at 17 means they are backing him to be a success.
- Roberto 17/65 - Another glorious technical dribbler. Cannot wait for him to explode!
The Rest I Haven’t Mentioned
So just because they aren’t in the above doesn’t mean they aren’t very talented, here’s the final look at the best of the rest:
- Taras Mykhavko 20/82 (86 soon) - Imagine Ilya Zabarnyi but left footed and a better passer, that’s Mykhavko already a stand out and only just turned 20 I think 90+ based on what I’ve watched and the data.
- Kakou 20/76 - He’s my personal project. I believe he has some of, if not the, best physical data and progressive passing profile combined of probably any Belgian CB/RB I think he’s going explode this season.
- Yaimar Medina 20/82 - Physically outstanding with pace to burn and also technically excellent with his ball striking and delivery. A good free kick taker with his speed… love it!
- Gilberto Junior 20/67 - He really impressed me watching Copinha 8 assists in 7 games from RB!
- Elías Montiel 20/82 - Club World Cup top performances and also excellent data compared to league and American peers worth a gamble.
- Noah Nartey 19/78 - So good under pressure have no doubts he’ll move to a bigger club next season.
- Clement Bischoff 19/80 - Outstanding at Euros, so clever great on the ball and receiving anywhere really. Top prospect and carries the ball incredibly well for his age.
- Tidiam Gomis 19/78 - Gamble really but moved to Leipzig
- Romain Esse 19/82 - Top data and a great move to Palace, Eze 2.0?
- João Rêgo 20/80 - FM Legend but with excellent technical skills just needs game time now.
- Franculino Djú 21/84 - Absolutely beast like already this season 6 goals and 2 assist in 3 games. He’s absolutely exploded and due a move my money is on Brentford.
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*The darkness was absolute, a heavy, velvet blanket smothering the air. It had a damp, earthy smell, like a forgotten basement. Then, with a sudden, jarring snap, a single spotlight flared to life. It wasn't clean and bright; it was a sputtering, reluctant thing. The bulb crackled, a sound like a small fire, before settling into the low, persistent hum of raw electricity. Every few seconds, the light would flicker—a quick, nervous hiccup that plunged the room into a momentary, dizzying darkness before returning.
A figure, the manager of Manchester United, Damien, is sat tied to a cold metal table, blindfolded, with wrists bound fast. The sudden light did little more than warm the fabric against their eyes. Opposite them, a person was silhouetted by the harsh light, a black shape without a face, without features—just an outline against the glare, a white skull motif etched onto the chest of the silhouette's clothing.
A faint, sweet wisp of cigar smoke curled lazily from the silhouette and drifted past the light, catching the dust motes dancing in the beam. Beneath the smell of damp, there was a richer, more complex aroma: the peaty scent of whiskey mingling with the lingering smoke.
The silhouette leaned forward, a slow, deliberate movement that held all the menace in the room. Unseen hands worked quickly, and the captive felt the ropes at their wrists fall away. A second later, the blindfold was yanked off. The world came rushing back, a harsh, overexposed glare of the single bulb.
With a soft, metallic chime, a crystal glass slid across the table, its ice cubes tinkling a tiny song against the heavy glass as it came to a stop.*
The silhouette was the first to speak. A low deep voice.
Frank Castle: Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to meet with me. I know you must be looking forward to this and possibly slightly dreading the experience at the same time. This is good, you should feel the anxiety building, we can get to the true stories that way, but let's start out with the easy questions and see where it flows.
This league is as old as the Premier League, both hitting 34 seasons, making this interview with you now seem somewhat fateful. With that in mind, your success as the current manager of Manchester United, which some might say is the best team in the world, as an objective journalist I should point those people to look towards Oakwell Stadium to find a club of true glory. That aside your team now has a huge target on its back.
In an environment with 34 seasons of history and countless managers trying to knock you off the top spot, how do you keep the team's winning mentality fresh? Is it harder to stay on top than it was to get there, and what's keeps this (less than) beautiful game fresh for you?
*Damien picks up the drink and sips at it, his face twisting slightly as the harsh liquid flows down his dry throat, he coughs to tests his voice*
Damien: Thank you for…inviting me to do this interview. It’s an honour to be one of the first people to be asked and I’ve been curious as to the nature of the questions coming up. Certainly a bit of anxiety, but also a bit of anticipation too.
I Didn’t know both the SM league and Premier League were 34 seasons long – that is really interesting!
Turnover is a big thing in keeping the winning mentality going. You’ve got to realise when a player has gone as far as they can and sell for new blood. It is a lot harder to do now than it was even just seven seasons ago which is why we’ve been in a bit of a dry spot on part exchanges until the Hakimi and Gravenberch deals.
Definitely a lot more difficult to stay on top. We’ve seen various teams have spells of dominance with Everton being the closest challengers over the game world’s existence. You have to know when the time is to rebuild and thankfully I’ve been pretty successful at that in the past. Issue now is there are a few areas we are thin on the ground in but I’ve got a good base of players that will be part of the team for 5 or more years if all goes well.
Refreshing the squad keeps things fresh as well as the competition from other teams.
Frank Castle: Refreshing players is definitely key and you have overseen countless player ins and outs under your stewardship at Manchester United. Can you tell me what your worst piece of business was, that one you regret instantly and give us your thoughts process at the time? Also who has been the most influential player in the dressing room and who did you want to give a football boot to the face for being the most annoying and frustrating player you've had to manage, the one who inexplicably never clicked.
Damien: Regretting instantly is a tough one. As with everyone else there has been a lot of business done where we sell players for a pittance only for them to become world beaters years later. Shortest time between deal done and regret has to be a deal I did just last season where I sold Hakimi for Ederson and Miley. At the time Miley was getting some minutes for Newcastle and Ederson was one of the hot properties in midfield. In just over three months since, Miley barely got a look in for his club and is unlikely to do so again, and Ederson’s been moved on from here. Meanwhile Hakimi has flourished to new heights and his ability would have been much needed here, even out of position.
Most influential in the dressing room has to have been Sergio Ramos, who is a player you’re well familiar with. In 11 years here he ended up the most decorated player with 47 trophies and inspired our other players to reach new heights. It hurt to let him go – he was a player I envisaged keeping until his retirement – but he decided to keep his playing career going and wanted new experiences.
The player who never clicked was Cristiano Ronaldo which is shocking if you think about his legendary status. I had both him and Messi in the same squad at their peaks, but in the three seasons he was here, he only exceeded 10 goals once, and that was barely (13). Funnily enough, Ronaldo was also involved in what should really be the worst deal I’ve done – I swapped 98 rated Ronaldo for Luke Shaw who was 88 rated at the time. Won’t say any more than that – I blocked it out of memory until now!
Frank Castle: Well well well, the insight about Ronaldo is a bit of a shocker. The man's a legend, it sounds like there was some strain in that relationship, I wonder what he thinks of you.
Anyway, moving on. You've built a dynasty with Manchester United. At the same time, you're the one enforcing the rules for everyone else. How do you reconcile the competitive instinct to win at all costs with the need for fairness and impartiality as the league's chief administrator? What's the biggest challenge in keeping those two hats from bumping into each other?
Damien: Honestly it isn’t that difficult. The game world wouldn’t still be around 13 years later without regulation. At first there wasn’t limits on squad sizes. Going all the way back to this page from 2014 (https://www.redcafe.net/threads/the-sm-redcafe-league.349538/post-16327690) you can see I always had the desire for fairness.
A lot of the bans there have been for FFP purposes have been accidents that people have made, myself included, but we implement the bans across the board so there’s no exceptions – and you can see I was one of the first to be banned. Naturally, as is the case with everyone, there are a few people I’m closer with but I don’t give anyone special treatment.
It was my idea to have it so anyone can propose rules or changes to the rules (such as FFP violations expiring after three years) but consensus is important so I also have it that any proposition must have 2/3rds of the league agree to it on a vote. Any less and it doesn’t go through.
I’m competitive but it wouldn’t be fun if there were no rules and I could just stock up 500 players like some people do in other game worlds. The challenge in managing just 44 players keeps me going and hungry for more.
Frank Castle: You mentioned in an earlier answer that the "turnover" of players is a big factor in keeping the winning mentality fresh, even citing the need to sell players "when they have gone as far as they can." However, you also spoke with genuine regret about letting Sergio Ramos go, a player you'd envisioned keeping "until his retirement." He was a clear source of inspiration and a hugely influential figure in the dressing room. Given his impact, what's the real calculus there? When does a manager prioritize a player's long-term legacy and influence over the cold, hard logic of squad turnover? Is there a tension between the head and the heart when making these kinds of decisions?
Damien: Truthfully, the best managers/owners are ruthless and put the club success first before the feelings of player legacies. Look at Real Madrid – Sergio Ramos, Casemiro and Raphael Varane all gone probably years before I would have let them go but it was 100% the right decision in each and every case. You’ve got to listen to the head, especially when you have such a small squad cap like United do.
Frank Castle: In your first answer, you acknowledged the fascinating bit of symmetry—that both this league and the Premier League are now 34 seasons old. You then went on to say that you've got a "good base of players that will be part of the team for 5 or more years." Given the relentless pace of change and the intense pressure to always stay at the top, a statement like that is a bold one. It almost sounds like you're trying to build a dynasty that mirrors the longevity of the league itself. Are you more concerned with building a long-term legacy of dominance, or is that loyalty to your current squad a potential weakness that could be exploited by rivals who are quicker to "turnover" their players, as you mentioned?
Damien: I am very lucky in that I do have quite a few quality players in the 26 and under age bracket. Kylian, Declan, Trent, Jules, Jeremie, Ryan, Nico, Jude and Pedri – the last five in particular are 24 and under, so 5 years really could be accurate. I do, however, also have a clear reminder in my squad that things can rapidly change and players that were once peak prospects could be in the trash by 25.
Without being too arrogant, I’ve got a long-term legacy of dominance. 34 seasons, winning a trophy in almost every one, most decorated club. I could go on. There have been countless successful rebuilds and the loyalty to my squad absolutely was a potential weakness and still is to some extent. Stones and Alaba have been kept on too long, and a better manager would have exchanged them and Van Dijk closer to their peak for young talent. The last three or four seasons were a real good opportunity for other clubs to go for the title and take advantage but they didn’t. I think we’ve recovered well by exchanging Stones and some others for Gravenberch but still have a few gaps in CB and LB that I’m optimistic we can sort out but it’ll take time. It’s up to Southend, Middlesbrough and the rest of the league to make the most of it, while Everton are rebuilding. There’s no better time to mount a title challenge, but United will be back.
Frank Castle: Now this is the point where I collect my cheque from the chief editor, and he has given me the choice on the final question about this game world. So let's really get into it. We all know that Div 1 is a tough league but we also all know that anyone with an ounce of footballing intelligence sees Div 2 as the place to be. The chaos of the end of season run in, unmanaged teams somehow beating managed teams with goalkeepers pulling out word class 10 out of 10 performances. With the seasons performances so far who do you predict for the automatic promotion and who is your prediction to win the playoffs? With this I will also ask you to predict the three teams to be relegated from Div 1. I said you should have been anxious, as this could be the interview that seals the fate of teams, but equally it may be just words on a page that are only there to be read. I will let you and the audience decide at the end of the season if Damien's jinx is something to be aware of.
Damien: I’m going to go for Manchester City and Torquay United for the automatics, and Bury to win the play-offs. Despite my disagreements with Ronaldo, he's still able to find the net for the right side and will help Torquay nick the automatic spot over Bury. Rochdale, West Ham United and Southampton to get relegated.
Thank you very much once again for the interview. Good luck everyone in the rest of the season.
*The silhouette stands, Damien's head starts to drop, eyelids fluttering, he picks up the glass tipping the whiskey laced with sleeping pills out he then switches the light of, returning everything to pitch black, the only noise
is the slurred mumble from a dreaming Damien*
“I love you Sergio”.
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Great work Frank. Was a pleasure to be asked to do the interview, very tough and hard hitting questions. Looking forward to the next instalment.
Thursday's surprise 3:1 victory over Nottingham Forest:
Oblak (93)
Trent (94) Kounde (92) Van Dijk (95) Alaba (91)
Gravenberch (92) Rice (94)
Pulisic (92)↓ -- Bellingham (95) -- N. Williams (92)
Mbappe (96)
Subs: Frimpong (92)↑, Araujo (88), Debast (88), Van Den Bosch (86), Zakaria (90), Sancho (90), I. Williams (90)
Injured: Pedri (94), Gomes (89), Sucic (87)
Did not travel: n/a
Key:
= Goal
= Assist
= MOTM
↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position
Next three games:
MD09: West Ham United (A)
CCGBG5: Roma (A)
MD10: Milton Keynes Dons (H)
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest fixtures this season
Oblak (93)
Trent (94) Kounde (92) Van Dijk (95) Alaba (91)
Gravenberch (92)
Rice (94)Pulisic (92)↓ -- Bellingham (95) -- N. Williams (92)
Mbappe (96)
Subs: Frimpong (92)↑, Araujo (88), Debast (88), Van Den Bosch (86), Zakaria (90), Sancho (90), I. Williams (90)
Injured: Pedri (94), Gomes (89), Sucic (87)
Did not travel: n/a
Key:
= Goal = Assist = MOTM↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position
Next three games:
MD09: West Ham United (A)
CCGBG5: Roma (A)
MD10: Milton Keynes Dons (H)
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest fixtures this season
| Game | Utd Poss | Nottingham Forest Poss | Utd Shots (SoT) | Nottingham Forest Shots (SoT) | Utd Goals | Nottingham Forest Goals | Utd SoT Conv. | Nottingham Forest SoT Conv. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7th Aug: Nottingham Forest v Utd | 54% | 46% | 14 (7) | 11 (4) | 3 | 1 | 42.9% | 25% |
Combined | 54% | 46% | 14 (7) | 11 (4) | 3 | 1 | 42.9% | 25% |
Latest table:
This time last season:
This time last season:
Leagues over
Yesterday's 3:0 victory against West Ham United:
Oblak (93)
Frimpong (92)↓ Kounde (92) Van Dijk (95) Alaba (91)
Gravenberch (92) Zakaria (90)↓
Sancho (90)↓ -- Bellingham (95) -- I. Williams (90)↓
Mbappe (96)
Subs: Trent (94)↑, Araujo (88), Debast (88), Van Den Bosch (86), Rice (94)↑, Pulisic (92)↑, N. Williams (92)↑
Injured: Pedri (94), Gomes (89), Sucic (87)
Did not travel: n/a
Key:
= Goal
= Assist
= MOTM
↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position
Next three games:
CCGBG5: Roma (A)
MD10: Milton Keynes Dons (H)
MD11: Bournemouth (A)
Manchester United v West Ham United fixtures this season
Oblak (93)
Frimpong (92)↓ Kounde (92) Van Dijk (95) Alaba (91)
Gravenberch (92) Zakaria (90)↓
Sancho (90)↓ -- Bellingham (95) -- I. Williams (90)
↓Mbappe (96)
Subs: Trent (94)↑, Araujo (88), Debast (88), Van Den Bosch (86), Rice (94)↑, Pulisic (92)
↑, N. Williams (92)↑Injured: Pedri (94), Gomes (89), Sucic (87)
Did not travel: n/a
Key:
= Goal = Assist = MOTM↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position
Next three games:
CCGBG5: Roma (A)
MD10: Milton Keynes Dons (H)
MD11: Bournemouth (A)
Manchester United v West Ham United fixtures this season
| Game | Utd Poss | West Ham Utd Poss | Utd Shots (SoT) | West Ham Utd Shots (SoT) | Utd Goals | West Ham Utd Goals | Utd SoT Conv. | West Ham Utd SoT Conv. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10th Aug: West Ham Utd v Utd | 58% | 42% | 15 (8) | 6 (3) | 3 | 0 | 37.5% | 0% |
Combined | 58% | 42% | 15 (8) | 6 (3) | 3 | 0 | 37.5% | 0% |
S for suspended.
1 = starts game
0.5 = subbed on
Inj = player injured for that game
S = suspended
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2015
- Messages
- 21,953
- Supports
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Benito’s STARRS
U21 GW Youth Talent Review
As with anything the best trilogies start at the middle. We’ll be looking at top players in the U21s for each category with the view to be able to name 3 levels of youth sides. STARRs are awarded based on the system below and please note equal rating will still be awarded stars I just may not include them in the 3 XIs I pick.
Positional decisions are made based on where the player has played most this season (I have checked). Some players, like Hinshelwood, play so many roles that a best fit decision has been made.
How Benito’s STARR system works:
1st Place =
️ ️ ️2nd Place =
️ ️3rd Place =
️90 =
️ +191 =
️ ️ +292 =
️ ️ ️ +393 =
️ ️ ️ ️ +494 =
️ ️ ️ ️ ️ +5We will look at at least the best:
3 GKs
3 RBs
3 LBs
6 CBs
6 CM/DMs
3 AMs
3 RW/RMs
3 LW/LMs
3 STs
Benito’s STARR U21s
Restes (20/87/MK Dons)
️ ️ ️Owusu-Oduro (21/84/Cardiff)
️ ️Penders (20/84/Middlesbrough)
️ ️RBs
Lewis (20/88/Sheffield United)
️ ️ ️Wesley (21/87/Torquay United)
️ ️Hinshelwood (20/87/Cardiff)
️ ️ CBs
Scalvini (21/90/MK Dons)
️ ️ ️ ️Cubarsí (18/90/Hereford)
️ ️ ️ ️Silva (21/89/Southampton)
️ ️Diomande (21/89/Cardiff)
️ ️Huijsen (20/89/Leyton Orient)
️ ️Debast (21/88/Manchester United)
️Yoro (19/88/Leyton Orient)
️Ordóñez (21/88/Bury)
️LBs
Balde (21/91/Leyton Orient)
️ ️ ️ ️ ️Kerkez (21/89/Hereford)
️ ️Hall (20/88/Barnsley)
️Hato (19/88/West Ham)
️CM/DMs
Neves (20/92/Bristol City)
️ ️ ️ ️ ️ ️Gavi (21/91/Aston Villa)
️ ️ ️ ️Zaïre-Emery (19/90/Middlesbrough)
️ ️Santos (21/89/Middlesbrough)
️Baleba (21/89/Arsenal)
️Pavlovic (21/89/Leyton Orient)
️AMs
Paz (20/89/Torquay)
️ ️ ️Güler (20/88/Sunderland)
️ ️El Khannouss (21/87/Southend)
️RWs
Yamal (18/94/Aston Villa)
️ ️ ️ ️ ️ ️ ️ ️Cherki (21/90/Manchester City)
️ ️ ️Doue (20/90/Middlesbrough)
️ ️ ️LWs
Yildiz (21/90/Torquay)
️ ️ ️ ️Garnacho (21/89/Bristol City)
️ ️Gittens (21/88/Wolves)
️Moleiro (21/88/Hereford)
️Ben Seghir (20/88/Sheffield United)
️STs
Aghehowa (21/89/Bristol City)
️ ️ ️Durán (21/88/MK Dons)
️ ️Ferguson (20/88/Tottenham Hotspur)
️ ️Final STARR Standings
| Rank | Club | Total Stars | Players Who Added to Total (stars) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aston Villa | 12 | Yamal (8), Gavi (4) |
| 2 | Bristol City | 11 | Neves (6), Aghehowa (3), Garnacho (2) |
| 3 | MK Dons | 9 | Scalvini (4), Restes (3), Durán (2) |
| 3 | Leyton Orient | 9 | Balde (5), Huijsen (2), Yoro (1), Pavlovic (1) |
| 5 | Middlesbrough | 8 | Doue (3), Penders (2), Zaïre-Emery (2), Santos (1) |
| 6 | Torquay | 7 | Yildiz (4), Paz (3), Wesley (2) |
| 7 | Hereford | 6 | Cubarsí (4), Kerkez (2), Moleiro (1) |
| 7 | Cardiff | 6 | Owusu-Oduro (2), Diomande (2), Hinshelwood (2) |
| 9 | Sheffield United | 4 | Lewis (3), Ben Seghir (1) |
| 10 | Manchester City | 3 | Cherki (3) |
| 11 | Sunderland | 2 | Güler (2) |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2 | Ferguson (2) |
| 11 | Southampton | 2 | Silva (2) |
| 14 | West Ham | 1 | Hato (1) |
| 14 | Barnsley | 1 | Hall (1) |
| 14 | Manchester United | 1 | Debast (1) |
| 14 | Bury | 1 | Ordóñez (1) |
| 14 | Southend | 1 | El Khannouss (1) |
| 14 | Arsenal | 1 | Baleba (1) |
| 14 | Wolves | 1 | Gittens (1) |
Benito’s U21s Super STARR 1st XI
Restes (20/87/MKD/3*)
Lewis (20/88/SHU/3*) Scalvini (21/90/MKD/4*) Cubarsí (18/90/HER/4*) Balde (21/91/LEY/5*)
Neves (20/92/BRS/6*) Gavi (21/91/AST/4*)
Yamal (18/94/AST/8*) Paz (20/89/TOR/3*) Yildiz (21/90/TOR/4*)
Aghehowa (21/89/BRS/3*)
Benito’s U21s Super STARR 2nd XI
Owusu-Oduro (21/84/CAR/2*)
Wesley (21/87/TOR/2*) Diomande (21/89/CAR/2*) Huijsen (20/89/LEY/2*) Kerkez (21/89/HER/2*)
Zaïre-Emery (19/90/MID/2*) Baleba (21/89/ARS/1*)
Doue (20/90/MID/3*) Güler (20/88/SUN/2*) Garnacho (21/89/BRS/2*)
Durán (21/88/MKD/2*)
Benito’s U21s Super STARR 3rd XI
Penders (20/84/MID/2*)
Hinshelwood (20/87/CAR/1*) Silva (21/89/SOU/2*) Yoro (19/88/LEY/1*) Hall (20/88/BAR/1*)
Santos (21/89/MID/1*) Pavlovic (21/89/LEY/1*)
Cherki (21/90/MNC/3*) El Khannouss(21/87/SEN/1*) Ben Seghir (20/88/SHU/1*)
Ferguson (20/88/TOT/2*)
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Great work Benito. Perfectly encapsulates why United's era is coming to an end soon.