Hope you all had a relaxing and reinvigorating International Break but now it’s time to come out of mini-lockdown and head to the football Manager’s Office.
There have been a few notable developments in the break (including a nasty injury for Tielemans) but most of the movement has been focussed on change of Managers - with Gerrard moving to Villa: consigning sacked Villa boss Dean Smith to Norwich Hell…. Will these make a difference to player points in the long terms? Time will tell – they are Managers not miracle workers…
So, now is the time to think about your Christmas list of players, with 2022 looming now is not the time to be coy about making some sone tactical transfers… interesting stat: the top 1000 overall players TFF have ALREADY USED an average of 23.35 transfers!
SATURDAY 20TH NOVEMBER
Leicester City 12:30 Chelsea (GMT)
The first match back after the IB kicks off at 12:30pm this Saturday and features 12th place Leicester against Chelsea who lie in 1st. Chelsea had a few players pencilled in for a return after the international break - Lukaku and Kovacic haven't made it, Werner might, Mount has. Leicester have lost Tielemans for a month but Barnes should be back for this one.
Aston Villa 15:00 Brighton & Hove Albion
Six 3pm games this weekend, the first of which features Stevie G's Aston Villa versus Brighton. After a run of poor form, Villa sacked their manager before the IB and have appointed former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard. Ings looks to be back for Villa. Brighton love a draw having recorded four draws from a possible five! Trossard has looked good recently. No Sanchez in goal but big Dan Burn may return.
Burnley 15:00 Crystal Palace
Next up, Burnley v Crystal Palace at The Happy Place. Burnley are still in the bottom three but have picked up a few points recently after two draws and a win. Cornet could be a shrewd use of your funds. Palace lie in 10th but are undefeated in their last 5 (DDDWW) so are in good form. Zaha has scored in consecutive matches.
Newcastle United 15:00 Brentford
Newcastle United v Brentford next. Newcastle have appointed Eddie Howe as their new manager and he reunites with Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser - will the Magpies go flying up the table? Brentford start the season well but their form has tailed off in recent weeks after back-to-back-to-back-to-back loses. A blip or start of a long term decline?
Norwich City 15:00 Southampton
At Carrow Road, Norwich City take on Southampton in the next of the 3pm games. The Canaries are another team under new management, Villa's Dean Smith is now the man in charge of bottom club Norwich even though they won last time out. Cantwell may be back. Southampton are fairly comfortably sat in mid-table and are on a very respectable run of form.
Watford 15:00 Manchester United
Watford welcome Manchester United to Vicarage Road. The Hornets are just above the bottom three but their poor form has continued under their new manager, Claudio Ranieri. Kucka suspended for this one. Manchester United's form has been rather erratic recently and they are down to 6th in the league. Pogba and Varane are out but Shaw and Cavani may be back.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 15:00 West Ham United
The final 3pm match is Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United at Molineux. Wolves are now up to 8th after an impressive run of results though they were beaten by Palace last time out. Marcal may return today. West Ham will be hoping that Rice and Fornals will be fit for this game but Ogbonna is definitely out for a length of time.
Liverpool 17:30 Arsenal
At 5:30pm, the weekend's big match features Liverpool against Arsenal at Anfield. Arsenal are 4th, one place and a couple of points behind their opponents Liverpool. Partey missed the recent Watford game, Tierney was a bench option. Liverpool suffered a rare defeat against West Ham last time out. Doubts over Henderson and Robertson.
SUNDAY 21ST NOVEMBER
Manchester City 14:00 Everton
Two Sunday games, the first of which kicks off at 2pm and is between Manchester City and Everton. City are second in the table and are still seen as the team to beat. Grealish's injury is being assessed. Mid-table Everton are on a poor run of form, taking only 2 points from a possible 15. Holgate is suspended, DCL still injured but Mina may be back.
Tottenham Hotspur 16:30 Leeds United
And finally, Tottenham Hotspur versus Leeds United. 9th place Spurs are another team who have changed their manager already this season. Kane scored well for England, will this form transfer to the league? Cheapo enabler Ollie Skipp is suspended for this game. No Romero either. Leeds are 15th and have picked up a few points recently. Still no Bamford or Ayling.
And that’s your lot! There’s plenty more football in the season to go, so hang in there my fellow MicroManagers, because that means plenty more chances to grab a medal or the coveted MicroNations League Cup itself!
And if your national silverware cabinet is looking bare why not try your hand in the upcoming T20 MicroCricket League, similar format and still FREE – check out this link for more: https://supercoach.dailytelegraph.com.au/bbl/classic/?action=join-league&code=769167
There have been a few notable developments in the break (including a nasty injury for Tielemans) but most of the movement has been focussed on change of Managers - with Gerrard moving to Villa: consigning sacked Villa boss Dean Smith to Norwich Hell…. Will these make a difference to player points in the long terms? Time will tell – they are Managers not miracle workers…
So, now is the time to think about your Christmas list of players, with 2022 looming now is not the time to be coy about making some sone tactical transfers… interesting stat: the top 1000 overall players TFF have ALREADY USED an average of 23.35 transfers!
SATURDAY 20TH NOVEMBER
Leicester City 12:30 Chelsea (GMT)
The first match back after the IB kicks off at 12:30pm this Saturday and features 12th place Leicester against Chelsea who lie in 1st. Chelsea had a few players pencilled in for a return after the international break - Lukaku and Kovacic haven't made it, Werner might, Mount has. Leicester have lost Tielemans for a month but Barnes should be back for this one.
Aston Villa 15:00 Brighton & Hove Albion
Six 3pm games this weekend, the first of which features Stevie G's Aston Villa versus Brighton. After a run of poor form, Villa sacked their manager before the IB and have appointed former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard. Ings looks to be back for Villa. Brighton love a draw having recorded four draws from a possible five! Trossard has looked good recently. No Sanchez in goal but big Dan Burn may return.
Burnley 15:00 Crystal Palace
Next up, Burnley v Crystal Palace at The Happy Place. Burnley are still in the bottom three but have picked up a few points recently after two draws and a win. Cornet could be a shrewd use of your funds. Palace lie in 10th but are undefeated in their last 5 (DDDWW) so are in good form. Zaha has scored in consecutive matches.
Newcastle United 15:00 Brentford
Newcastle United v Brentford next. Newcastle have appointed Eddie Howe as their new manager and he reunites with Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser - will the Magpies go flying up the table? Brentford start the season well but their form has tailed off in recent weeks after back-to-back-to-back-to-back loses. A blip or start of a long term decline?
Norwich City 15:00 Southampton
At Carrow Road, Norwich City take on Southampton in the next of the 3pm games. The Canaries are another team under new management, Villa's Dean Smith is now the man in charge of bottom club Norwich even though they won last time out. Cantwell may be back. Southampton are fairly comfortably sat in mid-table and are on a very respectable run of form.
Watford 15:00 Manchester United
Watford welcome Manchester United to Vicarage Road. The Hornets are just above the bottom three but their poor form has continued under their new manager, Claudio Ranieri. Kucka suspended for this one. Manchester United's form has been rather erratic recently and they are down to 6th in the league. Pogba and Varane are out but Shaw and Cavani may be back.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 15:00 West Ham United
The final 3pm match is Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United at Molineux. Wolves are now up to 8th after an impressive run of results though they were beaten by Palace last time out. Marcal may return today. West Ham will be hoping that Rice and Fornals will be fit for this game but Ogbonna is definitely out for a length of time.
Liverpool 17:30 Arsenal
At 5:30pm, the weekend's big match features Liverpool against Arsenal at Anfield. Arsenal are 4th, one place and a couple of points behind their opponents Liverpool. Partey missed the recent Watford game, Tierney was a bench option. Liverpool suffered a rare defeat against West Ham last time out. Doubts over Henderson and Robertson.
SUNDAY 21ST NOVEMBER
Manchester City 14:00 Everton
Two Sunday games, the first of which kicks off at 2pm and is between Manchester City and Everton. City are second in the table and are still seen as the team to beat. Grealish's injury is being assessed. Mid-table Everton are on a poor run of form, taking only 2 points from a possible 15. Holgate is suspended, DCL still injured but Mina may be back.
Tottenham Hotspur 16:30 Leeds United
And finally, Tottenham Hotspur versus Leeds United. 9th place Spurs are another team who have changed their manager already this season. Kane scored well for England, will this form transfer to the league? Cheapo enabler Ollie Skipp is suspended for this game. No Romero either. Leeds are 15th and have picked up a few points recently. Still no Bamford or Ayling.
And that’s your lot! There’s plenty more football in the season to go, so hang in there my fellow MicroManagers, because that means plenty more chances to grab a medal or the coveted MicroNations League Cup itself!
And if your national silverware cabinet is looking bare why not try your hand in the upcoming T20 MicroCricket League, similar format and still FREE – check out this link for more: https://supercoach.dailytelegraph.com.au/bbl/classic/?action=join-league&code=769167