Gaming The SM RedCafe League

[Damien]

I've had 4 red cards, one each, in the last 4 matches. 5/6 last matches.

You're the new Liverpool

 

[Damien]

3:0 victory over Rochdale:

Oblak (93)

Frimpong (92) Kounde (92) Van Dijk (95) Trent (94)
Gravenberch (92)↓ Rice (94)
I. Williams (90)↓ -- Pedri (94) -- Bellingham (95)
Mbappe (96)​

Subs: Zakaria (90), Alaba (91), Araujo (88), Gomes (89), Sancho (90), N. Williams (92)↑, Pulisic (92)↑
Did not travel: n/a

Key:
= Goal
= Assist
= MOTM
↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position

Next three games:
MD17: Southampton (A)
MD18: Bristol City (H)
MD19: Hereford (A)

Manchester United v Rochdale fixtures this season

Game	Utd Poss	Rochdale Poss	Utd Shots (SoT)	Rochdale Shots (SoT)	Utd Goals	Rochdale Goals	Utd SoT Conv.	Rochdale SoT Conv.
4th Sep: Utd v Rochdale​	66%​	34%​	24 (17)​	5 (3)​	3​	0​	17.7%​	0%​
Combined​	66%​	34%​	24 (17)​	5 (3)​	3​	0​	17.7%​	0%​

 

[Damien]

Middlesbrough in title winning form.

Latest table:

This time last season:

Spoiler

 

[Damien]

3:0 victory over Southampton:

Oblak (93)

Frimpong (92) Kounde (92) Van Dijk (95) Trent (94)↓
Gomes (89)↓ Zakaria (90)↓
I. Williams (90)↓ -- Pedri (94) -- Sancho (90)↓
Mbappe (96)​

Subs: Alaba (91)↑, Araujo (88), Gravenberch (92), Rice (94)↑, Bellingham (95)↑, N. Williams (92)↑, Pulisic (92)↑
Did not travel: n/a

Key:
= Goal
= Assist
= MOTM
↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position

Next three games:
MD18: Bristol City (H)
MD19: Hereford (A)
MD20: Cardiff City (H)

Manchester United v Southampton fixtures this season

Game	Utd Poss	Southampton Poss	Utd Shots (SoT)	Southampton Shots (SoT)	Utd Goals	Southampton Goals	Utd SoT Conv.	Southampton SoT Conv.
7th Sep: Southampton v Utd​	60%​	40%​	15 (6)​	8 (0)​	3​	0​	50%​	n/a​
Combined​	60%​	40%​	15 (6)​	8 (0)​	3​	0​	50%​	n/a​

 

[Damien]

Latest table:

This time last season:

Spoiler

 

[Damien]

Thursday's 4:1 victory over Bristol City. Next six games are horrid.

Oblak (93)

Kounde (92) Zakaria (90)↓ Van Dijk (95) Trent (94)
Gomes (89)↓ Gravenberch (92)↓
I. Williams (90)↓ -- Pedri (94) -- Sancho (90)↓
Mbappe (96)​

Subs: Alaba (91)↑, Araujo (88), Debast (88), Rice (94)↑, Bellingham (95)↑, N. Williams (92)↑, Pulisic (92)↑
Injured: Frimpong (92)
Did not travel: n/a

Key:
= Goal
= Assist
= MOTM
↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position

Next three games:
MD19: Hereford (A)
MD20: Cardiff City (H)
MD21: S34 Champions Middlesbrough (A)

Manchester United v Bristol City fixtures this season

Game	Utd Poss	Bristol City Poss	Utd Shots (SoT)	Bristol City Shots (SoT)	Utd Goals	Bristol City Goals	Utd SoT Conv.	Bristol City SoT Conv.
11th Sep: Utd v Bristol City​	71%​	29%​	24 (11)​	3 (1)​	4​	1​	36.4%​	100%​
Combined​	71%​	29%​	24 (11)​	3 (1)​	4​	1​	36.4%​	100%​

 

[Damien]

Latest table:

This time last season:

Spoiler

 

[Damien]

Sunday's unsurprising 2:1 loss to Hereford:

Oblak (93)

Frimpong (92) Kounde (92) Van Dijk (95) Trent (94)
Zakaria (90)↓ Gravenberch (92)↓
Sancho (90)↓ -- Pedri (94) -- Bellingham (95)
Mbappe (96)​

Subs: Alaba (91), Araujo (88), Gomes (89), Rice (94)↑, I. Williams (90), N. Williams (92)↑, Pulisic (92)↑
Did not travel: n/a

Key:
= Goal
= Assist
= MOTM
↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position

Next three games:
MD20: Cardiff City (H)
MD21: S34 Champions Middlesbrough (A)
MD22: Barnsley (A)

Manchester United v Hereford fixtures this season

Game	Utd Poss	Hereford Poss	Utd Shots (SoT)	Hereford Shots (SoT)	Utd Goals	Hereford Goals	Utd SoT Conv.	Hereford SoT Conv.
14th Sep: Hereford v Utd​	58%​	42%​	14 (6)​	10 (4)​	1​	2​	16.7%​	50%​
Combined​	58%​	42%​	14 (6)​	10 (4)​	1​	2​	16.7%​	50%​

 

[Damien]

Latest table:

This time last season:

Spoiler

 

[BenitoSTARR]

Squad Values 20/9/25 (just in case)

1. Tottenham £191.3 (non Gold)
2. Sheffield £225.5
3. Norwich £240.6
4. Bury £254.5
5. Arsenal £322.1
6. Kidderminster £329.4
7. Torquay £330.2
8. Cardiff £331.3
9. Southampton £332.8
10. Sunderland £336.1
11. Bournemouth £337.1
12. Fulham £339.5
13. Man City £368.3
14. Barnsley £374.9
15. MK Dons £393.1
16. West Ham £420.7
17. Wolves £425.8
18. Nott Forest £434.7
19. Hereford £442.7
20. Aston Villa £448.1
21. Southend £448.4
22. Newcastle £492.6
23. Leyton Orient £495.9
24. Everton £505.4
25. Rochdale £509.1
26. Middlesbrough £519.5
27. Manchester United £595.7

 

[Damien]

Thursday's 5:0 demolition against the formidable Cardiff City. Biggest game of the season so far tonight with Middlesbrough heavy favourites with the bookies:

Oblak (93)

Frimpong (92)↓ Kounde (92) Van Dijk (95) Trent (94)
Gravenberch (92)↓ Pedri (94)
Pulisic (92) -- Bellingham (95) -- N. Williams (92)
Mbappe (96)​

Subs: Alaba (91)↑, Araujo (88), Gomes (89), Rice (94)↑, I. Williams (90), Zakaria (90), Sancho (90)
Did not travel: n/a

Key:
= Goal
= Assist
= MOTM
↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position

Next three games:
MD21: S34 Champions Middlesbrough (A)
MD22: Barnsley (A)
MD23: Aston Villa (H)

Manchester United v Cardiff City fixtures this season

Game	Utd Poss	Cardiff City Poss	Utd Shots (SoT)	Cardiff City Shots (SoT)	Utd Goals	Cardiff City Goals	Utd SoT Conv.	Cardiff City SoT Conv.
10th Jul: Cardiff City v Utd​	51%​	49%​	12 (5)​	11 (4)​	1​	1​	20%​	25%​
18th Sep: Utd v Cardiff City​	64%​	36%​	24 (12)​	7 (0)​	5​	0​	41.7%​	n/a​
Combined​	57.5%​	42.5%​	36 (17)​	18 (4)​	6​	1​	35.3%​	25%​

 

[Damien]

Latest table:

This time last season:

Spoiler

 

[CrackersJr]

comically bad at hitting the target this season

 

[Damien]

Just great. On a run of at least one ACL injury each season to my players.

 

[Damien]

Sunday's shock 2:1 victory over Middlesbrough. Subs turned things around even though I subbed Nico when I meant to sub Pulisic. Tonight will be tough against one of my many bogey teams in Barnsley:

Oblak (93)

Trent (94) Kounde (92) Van Dijk (95) Alaba (91)↓
Rice (94) Pedri (94)
Pulisic (92) -- Bellingham (95) -- N. Williams (92)↓
Mbappe (96)​

Subs: Frimpong (92)↑, Araujo (88), Gomes (89), Gravenberch (92)↑, I. Williams (90), Zakaria (90), Sancho (90)
Did not travel: n/a

Key:
= Goal
= Assist
= MOTM
↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position

Next three games:
MD22: Barnsley (A)
MD23: Aston Villa (H)
MD24: Newcastle United (A)

Manchester United v Middlesbrough fixtures this season

Game	Utd Poss	Middlesbrough Poss	Utd Shots (SoT)	Middlesbrough Shots (SoT)	Utd Goals	Middlesbrough Goals	Utd SoT Conv.	Middlesbrough SoT Conv.
17th Jul: Utd v Middlesbrough​	54%​	46%​	16 (6)​	9 (4)​	2​	1​	33.3%​	25%​
21st Sep: Middlesbrough v Utd​	48%​	52%​	10 (4)​	11 (4)​	2​	1​	50%​	25%​
Combined​	51%​	49%​	26 (10)​	20 (8)​	4​	2​	40%​	25%​

 

[Damien]

Latest table:

This time last season:

Spoiler

 

[Damien]

Points difference compared to last season

1. Middlesbrough: +17
2. Sunderland: +13
3. Hereford: +12
4. Aston Villa: +4
5. Fulham: +4
6. Nottingham Forest: +4
7. Everton: +2
8. Barnsley: -1
9. Southend United: -4
10. Arsenal: -5
11. Leyton Orient: -5
12. Manchester United: -6
13. Milton Keynes Dons: -7
14. Southampton: -8
15. Bournemouth: -9
16. Cardiff City: -14
17. Newcastle United: -26

 

[Fenômeno]

Points difference compared to last season

1. Middlesbrough: +17
2. Sunderland: +13
3. Hereford: +12
4. Aston Villa: +4
5. Fulham: +4
6. Nottingham Forest: +4
7. Everton: +2
8. Barnsley: -1
9. Southend United: -4
10. Arsenal: -5
11. Leyton Orient: -5
12. Manchester United: -6
13. Milton Keynes Dons: -7
14. Southampton: -8
15. Bournemouth: -9
16. Cardiff City: -14
17. Newcastle United: -26

There only seems to be one formation that works and this proves it. None of the 2 striker formations work that's for sure.

 

[BenitoSTARR]

Points difference compared to last season

1. Middlesbrough: +17
2. Sunderland: +13
3. Hereford: +12
4. Aston Villa: +4
5. Fulham: +4
6. Nottingham Forest: +4
7. Everton: +2
8. Barnsley: -1
9. Southend United: -4
10. Arsenal: -5
11. Leyton Orient: -5
12. Manchester United: -6
13. Milton Keynes Dons: -7
14. Southampton: -8
15. Bournemouth: -9
16. Cardiff City: -14
17. Newcastle United: -26

An acceptable consequence of selling my older 90+ players and investing in youth.

Ive started an FC26 career mode with this Cardiff squad and it’s quite a fun team and grows nicely there.

 

[CrackersJr]

Points difference compared to last season

1. Middlesbrough: +17
2. Sunderland: +13
3. Hereford: +12
4. Aston Villa: +4
5. Fulham: +4
6. Nottingham Forest: +4
7. Everton: +2
8. Barnsley: -1
9. Southend United: -4
10. Arsenal: -5
11. Leyton Orient: -5
12. Manchester United: -6
13. Milton Keynes Dons: -7
14. Southampton: -8
15. Bournemouth: -9
16. Cardiff City: -14
17. Newcastle United: -26

ouch....

 

[Damien]

There only seems to be one formation that works and this proves it. None of the 2 striker formations work that's for sure.

4231 A/B remain king. Maybe with them changing tactics there's a particular style where two up top is better but those who are doing well with 4231 won't experiment.

An acceptable consequence of selling my older 90+ players and investing in youth.

Ive started an FC26 career mode with this Cardiff squad and it’s quite a fun team and grows nicely there.

Yeah, the contrast in your fortunes and Middlesbrough's are the easiest to explain.

 

[Damien]

Thursday's 4:1 victory against Barnsley. In my next five games I face Villa, Newcastle, Leyton Orient and Forest. Real good opportunity for the top of the table to be very different:

Oblak (93)

Frimpong (92) Van Dijk (95) Alaba (91)↓ Trent (94)
Rice (94) Gravenberch (92)↓
I. Williams (90)↓ -- Bellingham (95) -- N. Williams (92)
Mbappe (96)​

Subs: Kounde (92)↑, Araujo (88), Gomes (89), Pedri (94)↑, Pulisic (92)↑, Zakaria (90), Sancho (90)
Did not travel: n/a

Key:
= Goal
= Assist
= MOTM
↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position

Next three games:
MD23: Aston Villa (H)
MD24: Newcastle United (A)
MD25: Sunderland (H)

Manchester United v Barnsley fixtures this season

Game	Utd Poss	Barnsley Poss	Utd Shots (SoT)	Barnsley Shots (SoT)	Utd Goals	Barnsley Goals	Utd SoT Conv.	Barnsley SoT Conv.
20th Jul: Utd v Barnsley​	52%​	48%​	13 (5)​	11 (5)​	3​	2​	60%​	40%​
2nd Sep: Utd v Barnsley (Shield)​	58%​	42%​	19 (7)​	13 (3)​	0​	1​	0%​	33.3%​
25th Sep: Barnsley v Utd​	58%​	42%​	18 (7)​	6 (2)​	4​	1​	57.1%​	50%​
Combined​	56%	44%​	50 (19)​	30 (10)​	7​	4​	36.8%​	40%​

 

[Damien]

Latest table:

This time last season:

Spoiler

 

[Damien]

Thanks to Imgur withdrawing from the UK, I won't be doing the tables for the forseeable future.

 

[BenitoSTARR]

Just when I’d figured out how to post the images too.

 

[Damien]

Managed to sneak a 2:2 draw against Villa on Sunday. Table getting real tight now, could be anyone's league:

Oblak (93)

Frimpong (92) Trent (94) Van Dijk (95) Alaba (91)↓
Rice (94) Gravenberch (92)↓
N. Williams (92) -- Pedri (94) -- Bellingham (95)
Mbappe (96)​

Subs: Kounde (92)↑, Araujo (88), Gomes (89), I. Williams (90), Pulisic (92)↑, Zakaria (90), Sancho (90)
Did not travel: n/a

Key:
= Goal
= Assist
= MOTM
↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position

Next three games:
MD24: Newcastle United (A)
MD25: Sunderland (H)
MD26: Leyton Orient (A)

Manchester United v Aston Villa fixtures this season

Game	Utd Poss	Aston Villa Poss	Utd Shots (SoT)	Aston Villa Shots (SoT)	Utd Goals	Aston Villa Goals	Utd SoT Conv.	Aston Villa SoT Conv.
24th Jul: Aston Villa v Utd​	56%​	44%​	16 (5)​	13 (5)​	2​	1​	40%​	20%​
29th Jul: Aston Villa v Utd (Cup)​	57%​	43%​	11 (6)​	12 (5)​	2​	3​	33.3%​	60%​
28th Sep: Utd v Aston Villa​	57%​	43%​	16 (6)​	11 (5)​	2​	2​	33.3%​	40%​
Combined​	56.7%​	43.3%​	43 (17)​	36 (15)​	6​	6​	35.3%​	40%​

 

[Damien]

Thanks to Imgur withdrawing from the UK, I won't be doing the tables for the forseeable future.

Found a different host I'll try to post from. Won't be able to backtrack images from previous seasons though.

Latest table:

 

[BenitoSTARR]

Found a different host I'll try to post from. Won't be able to backtrack images from previous seasons though.

Latest table:

VPN?

 

[Sandyman]

Excellent. Seeing how badly I am underperforming is what keeps me going

 

[Damien]

Excellent. Seeing how badly I am underperforming is what keeps me going

I feel partly responsible for this. Was telling @RedSky how well you were doing near end of August. Stats between then and now:

	Pos.	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
21 Aug 2025	2nd	7	2	3	18	14	23
Now	8th	12	3	9	30	33	39
Difference	6 places	5	1	6	12	19	16

VPN?

Eh, that is a lot of faff.

 

[RedSky]

Typical Damo. Jinxing swine!

 

[Damien]

Solution to imgur block in UK: https://greasyfork.org/en/scripts/551190-imgur-to-rimgo-image-redirector

 

[Sandyman]

I feel partly responsible for this. Was telling @RedSky how well you were doing near end of August. Stats between then and now:

	Pos.	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
21 Aug 2025	2nd	7	2	3	18	14	23
Now	8th	12	3	9	30	33	39
Difference	6 places	5	1	6	12	19	16

Eh, that is a lot of faff.

Haha

My conversion rates have gotten worse. Seems like I end up on the wrong side of all the close games.

Just the last game's stats were Pos: 53 - 47, Shots: 12 - 12, SoT: 6 - 7 and Goals: 1 - 4

Game engine shenanigans are no fun when it happens to you

 

[Damien]

Haha

My conversion rates have gotten worse. Seems like I end up on the wrong side of all the close games.

Just the last game's stats were Pos: 53 - 47, Shots: 12 - 12, SoT: 6 - 7 and Goals: 1 - 4

Game engine shenanigans are no fun when it happens to you

Ouch that is bad luck. I agree on the game engine

 

[CrackersJr]

2nd worst SoT Conversion rate... sweet

 

[Damien]

Thursday's 1:1 draw away to Newcastle:

Oblak (93)

Trent (94) Kounde (92) Van Dijk (95) Alaba (91)
Rice (94) Pedri (94)
Frimpong (92)↓ -- Bellingham (95) -- N. Williams (92)
Mbappe (96)​

Subs: Gravenberch (92) Araujo (88), Gomes (89), I. Williams (90), Pulisic (92)↑, Zakaria (90), Sancho (90)
Did not travel: n/a

Key:
= Goal
= Assist
= MOTM
↓ = Subbed off
↑ = Subbed on
Orange = Not in natural position

Next three games:
MD25: Sunderland (H)
MD26: Leyton Orient (A)
MD27: Nottingham Forest (H)

Manchester United v Newcastle United fixtures this season

Game	Utd Poss	Newcastle Utd Poss	Utd Shots (SoT)	Newcastle United Shots (SoT)	Utd Goals	Newcastle United Goals	Utd SoT Conv.	Newcastle United SoT Conv.
27th Jul: Utd v Newcastle Utd​	53%​	47%​	11 (3)​	12 (3)​	1​	0​	33.3%​	0%​
2nd Oct: Newcastle Utd v Utd​	53%​	47%​	15 (5)​	10 (6)​	1​	1​	20%​	16.7%​
Combined​	53%​	47%​	26 (8)​	22 (9)​	2​	1​	25%​	11.1%​

 

[Damien]

Latest table:

This time last season:

Spoiler

 

[Sandyman]

Ouch that is bad luck. I agree on the game engine

Considering the huge total shots and SOT difference, you must be mad about the game engine every other week

 

[Dom Gill]

Where the **** I've Been: A Note to the Readers

(Slams a hand on the desk, rattling the ice in the glass.)

Alright, you vultures. I know what you’re thinking: Where did the Whiskey-Sodden Watchdog disappear to after dropping the scoop on the league leader? Did the suits finally get him? Did he just run out of decent rye?

Here’s the short version, because I don't have time for a feature-length film about my self-imposed exile.

The Fallout From the Big Scoop:

I was covering the league with a sharp eye and a sharper pen with the consistency of a randy dog whose seen the leg it wants to hump, then I disappeared right after landing the biggest scoop of the season: the exclusive interview with the decorated leader. That piece wasn't a celebrity chat,what you guys didn't know was what was on the tape that I couldn't report on, it was proof of the backroom deals and quiet corruption holding this whole league together. If I had posted it I believe I would have been buried in a deep hole. just the fact I had it meant I had to drop off the map. Know this though, the two-month blackout wasn't a vacation; it was a strategic withdrawal. The moment the initial story broke, the warnings came fast and were serious, prompting me to hit the coastline and trade my desk for desolate beaches. I spent sixty days letting the corporate heat dissipate, knowing that my silence was the only thing keeping me in one piece while they were busy breaking into my apartment and wiping out every scrap of evidence I had. My only constant companions were the salt air and a steadily dwindling supply of good whiskey, which helped me keep the nightmares at bay and my focus sharp enough to know when to resurface and finish the job.

I'm back because the story isn't over. They broke my stuff, but they didn't break my focus. The tie is loose, the vest is here, and my pencil is sharp.

Now that you have the full picture, what is the next piece of the puzzle we're putting together, well you will need to wait and see. First things first there is an update to give after tonight's matches, let's just focus on the simple things in life.

(The gentle tinkle of the remaining ice rattling on the crystal glass rings out as more whiskey hits the dregs that were left)

 

[Damien]

Welcome back! It's hotting up in both top divisions with the exception of Spurs who are languishing in mid table.