Asunto: Season 66

The big unknowns are mostly in Div 2.01, who's going to win the first two places, who's going to finish 3rd from bottom, who's going to get the 6th place? Div 2.03 is only waiting for the 6th place battle to conclude.
In my opinion, Division 2.02 is done.

In the Premier there's only one game that matters: Thamesmead v Man United (providing Man United win against Rock).

There's still turmoil at the bottom. Swamp is 5 points from safety and 5 points from relegation. The key game is in the next round: Kowal v Bramford. The miracle would be if Shakespeare avoids the direct relegation. And... it's possible!

Not really though. The only way you lose is if you make a lot of huge mistakes, or the opposition gets lucky (as shown against Bramford). I'm not sure a single player of mine would get in your first team.

True, but this season has felt an odd one. I know saying that after looking at the table seems strange but given the quality of my team, I have lost to Bramford (when I shouldn't) and struggled in some games to score when I have had very clear and obvious chances that would be easier to score than miss. It feels like the games wants a change at the top to me, Legia had 3 missing against Man Utd and against me will be full strength, I do still feel I have a better side than Man Utd, however.....he has now bought various over 30's and the difference in ratings is minimal so it could easily go either way.

I am very much looking forward to our match, even if I lose on Sunday the game vs Man Utd is a cup final in essence. It has been nice to go head to head with a team, that Bramford loss has made it a challenge because otherwise my GD would have been like an extra point, and being 3 clear it would have taken a severe swing to lose it which would be unlikely.

He still has to win. He'll likely beat me Sunday so it will likely go to the last day. I'm probably going to shuffle some of the younger players into the first team and boot out some of the older ones soon.

I will rest all players on 2 yellows Sunday. My team is on its last legs before a major overhaul happens too. I have some nice young players ready to come in to the first team but the ones behind will make me very weak in the cup etc for a long time unless I chance losses in the league.

Looking at the FA Cup final, when both of your teams fired at maximum, with ratings at the minimum difference, in that game you won 6-1. So, imo, unless BR changed something in the meantime, tactically you're a lot better. Luck and form will probably be major factors indeed.

The stats for the Cup Final were far closer than the scoreline though to be honest. I think I had a red card that made things change a fair bit......so a red card or injury could swing the game either way.

If i am to win, you need a player sent off and someone running about with a slight injury, otherwise its 4-1 to you

The way to win is to block the winger or to defend every cross the winger sends in the box. Simples. Because you have the attack power to score at least one goal. The only way to play against wdp is to make sure you defend whatever that winger creates. The problem is that you don't know what side the winger will be on. I am not trying to get any spotlight on me, but when I played in Premier against wdp, I chose to ignore blocking the winger and instead crowd the box and block the end of the cross. It worked once and it almost worked the second time. Last time I played against Thamesmead I was bombarded by 28 shots. Only conceded 2. Before that it was 23 to 3. I did the defence bit but had no strikers to create any danger at the other end.

I know that, never had the players, still have'nt really, my best 2 strikers forms have shot down so that's a major issue

Sometimes I play 2 wingers :p

You are doing what I do and downplaying your chances ;)

You have a very strong team now.

That's true. Probably best approach is to go into the game thinking how to outscore the opponent, instead of thinking how not to lose. And BR has the right team to think rather positive about the future games.

Wdp certainly has a better team than BR, but BR is the only side positioned in the prem to beat him without fluke, but as you say, requires spot on tactics.

BR needs to defend deep, that's without doubt. The problem he is having is to get through the 5 wdp plays at the back.