FA Cup Quarter Finals - 25th April 1200
Wolves v Man Utd
Tottenham v Newcastle
Brentford v Arsenal
Leicester v Liverpool

Watford 2 - 0 Liverpool
Watford v Leicester

Brentford 1 - 1 Chelsea Brentford win on pens
Brentford v Newcastle

Arsenal 2 - 1 Aston Villa
Arsenal v Wolves

Tottenham 2 - 0 Man City
Tottenham v Man Utd

Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
Brentford win 4-3 on Pens

Scorers: Hojlund 32’, Haaland 88’
Assists: Odegaard, MacAllister
MOTM: Odegaard
Possession: Brentford 36% - 64% Chelsea
Shots (On Target): Brentford 4-23 Chelsea
Corners: Brentford 3-8 Chelsea

Chelsea controlled much of the game before a surprise goal from Brentford against the run of play in the 32nd minute. Chelsea continued to dominate to find an equaliser but the defensive block was proving a problem to break through. After the subs were made, MacAllister played an amazing ball to find the head of Haaland to equalise. The game was sent to Penalties. Brentford went on to score 4 of the goals and Chelsea scored 3 which meant Brentford qualified for the next round. A surprise for everyone given Chelseas dominance.



Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa

Scorers: Jota 36’, Stones 76’, Fofana 12’
Assists: Saka x2, Griezmann
MOTM: Stones
Possession: Arsenal 55% - 45% Aston Villa
Shots (On Target): Arsenal 13 (4) – 6 (4) Aston Villa
Corners: Arsenal 6-2 Aston Villa

Aston Villa started the game well with an early gaol from Fofana after Griezmann left it on a plate for him. This seemed to wake up an asleep Arsenal who grew back into the game with Saka cross being tapped in by Jota. Arsenal kept pushing for a win but had to be cautious with Villa pushing for a goal themselves. Villa almost scored after Lewandowski was brought on were it not for a last ditch tackle by Stones. He continued to perform when Stones got a head to a corner ball from Saka to give Arsenal the lead. Villa were threatening then as Arsenal tried to hold onto their lead but it wasn’t to be.

Watford 2 - 0 Liverpool
Ferguson x 2 (Nunez, Pen)

Spurs 2 - 0 Man City
Kane, Messi (Messi, De Bruyne)

Champions league

Round 1
Aston Villa v Manchester City
Brentford v Leicester City

Round 2
Chelsea v Brentford
Leicester City v Aston Villa

Round 3
Leicester City v Manchester City
Chelsea v Aston Villa

Round 4
Aston Villa v Brentford
Manchester City v Chelsea

Round 5
Chelsea v Leicester City
Brentford v Manchester City


Europa League

Round 1
Watford v Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United

Round 2
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United v Watford

Round 3
Manchester United v Arsenal
Newcastle United v Watford

Round 4
Watford v Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal v Newcastle United

Round 5
Newcastle United v Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal

Watford v Arsenal

I like both sets of tactics here, however just feel Arsenal have a bit much in the tank especially with no home slots for Watford

Watford - Ferguson(Giovanni)
Arsenal - Muani(Saka), Dybala(Mitoma)

Spurs 0 - 0 Man Utd
0 points each

Aston Villa 2 - 0 Man City
Lewandowski(Kovacic), D.Luiz(Chiesa)

Brentford 0 - 1 Leicester

A stong defensive perfomance by Brentford kept leicester out most of the game, Leicester subs came on and made a difference to a tiring defence that had given there all

Lautaro ( Sterling

Newcastle 2 - 0 Spurs
Kanex2(Son, Chilwell)

Man Utd 0 - 0 Watford
0 points

Round 2

Chelsea 2-1 Brentford
Odegaard (Diaby)
Diaby (Bellingham)
-------------------------------------- Openda (Szobo)
MOTM - Diaby

Leicester 2-0 Villa
Osimhen (Nkunku)
Lautaro (Musiala)
MOTM (Musiala)

Man Utd 0 - 2 Arsenal
G.Jesus(Sane), Saliba(Saka)

Newcastle 2 - 0 Watford
Kane(Son), Messi(Son)

Round 3 CL

Leicester 2-0 Man City
Osimhen (Foden)
Osimhen
MOTM - Osimhen

Chelsea 2 Villa 1
Alvarez (Bellingham)
Grealish (Odegaard)
-----------------------------------Leao (Chiesa)
MOTM - Bellingham

CL
Man City 0 - 2 Chelsea
Haaland(Bellingham), Mbappe(Bellingham)

EL
Watford 0 - 0 Spurs

Arsenal 0 - 2 Newcastle
Kane(Son), Messi

Champions League
Brentford 2 - 0 Man City

Chelsea v Leicester

Europa League
Newcastle 2 - 0 Man Utd
Kane(Trippier), Messi(Trippier)

Spurs 0 - 2 Arsenal
G.Jesus(Mitoma), Mitoma(Paqueta)

Openda, Sesko(Szoboszlai, Barco)

------------- Chelsea 2-1 Leicester
Bellingham (Alvarez) ------ Musiala (Foden)
Haaland (pen)

Chelsea 2-1 Leicester

Two cup final results from me equates to Fan 2 Rof 0 😯 but it's not entirely the tale of the tape 👍 overall I thought that the use of subs was much closer than Leicester v Villa. Obviously man v man it's hard to down mark either too much over the limited slots available - Fans defence not it's strongest due to injuries but had enough with those front players to cover that. Tactics is a true strength in Rof’s locker which is why he still has the edge in that department. However, I think Fan has really improved on that side so closing the gap on his 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 compatriot.

Haaland x 2 (Mbappe, Bellingham)
Osimhen (Foden)
Motm - Foden

Group 1

1 Tottenham
2 Leicester
3 Newcastle
4 Arsenal
5 Watford

Group 2
1 Chelsea
2 Aston Villa
3 Brentford
4 Man Utd
5 Man City

Group A
Round 1

Leicester v Arsenal
Newcastle v Tottenham

Round 2
Watford v Newcastle
Tottenham v Arsenal

Round 3
Arsenal v Newcastle
Leicester v Watford

Round 4
Tottenham v Leicester
Arsenal v Watford

Round 5.
Watford v Tottenham
Newcastle v Leicester

Group B
Round 1
Man City v Brentford
Chelsea v Aston Villa

Round 2
Man Utd v Chelsea
Aston Villa v Man City

Round 3
Aston Villa v Brentford
Man Utd v Man City

Round 4
Man City v Chelsea
Brentford v Man Utd

Round 5
Man Utd v Aston Villa
Chelsea v Brentford

City vs Brentford

Big fan of the City back 3 and midfield, but didn’t think the front three was the best for a counter attacking side, lacked pace/direct runners to get best from likes of Dybala and Wirtz. With the back 3 well balanced and great players on the ball, same for midfield and attack thought they could be better in possession. Overall though strong tactics and gameplan.

I like the balance of the Brentford side, I think the focus on wing play against a counter attacking wbs would cause problems. Didn’t have the same quality in the team as City, a young back four likely to be troubled by quality on show. Had to read up on Danso so sounds like very much on the up (had him a long while back myself!).
Liked both sets of subs, but with home advantage City are favourites.

City 2 - 1 Brentford
Vlahovic (Dybala), Wirtz (Porto) ; Zirkzee (Szoboslai)
MOTM: Szoboslai

Chelsea vs Villa

A tale of a tactician, Chelsea at home are strong favourites. I like the Argentine cm partnership, will give both plenty of dig and control. Going against what I’ve said before but given Mbappe on left with Diaby giving more cover and likely controlling game, a more attacking would’ve likely added to attack. At same time against Salah, Villa’s main threat, I think he’d do well.
Villa setup with a strong midfield works well to give the front four more freedom, up against Mbappe I think it would be good night for Buongiorno.
Thought Villa’s subs saw them take off their two biggest attacking threats, for lesser players Grealish especially, preferred Chelsea’s subs here. But Chelsea’s subs being like for like for lesser players when drawing also didn’t offer much extra.

Chelsea 1-0 Villa
Mbappe (Alvarez)
MOTM: Mbappe
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Leicester 2-1 Arsenal

Nunez (Hernandez)
Osimhen (Foden)
Leao (Odegaard)

MOTM: Mac Allister

Whilst Arsenal's attempt to overload on one side would see them achieve gains, I felt that the defensive tactics whilst acknowledged, lacked the punch just purely due to them being covered so briefly. Especially as Leicester's tactical depth in both attacking and defensive phases is their undoubted strength.



Newcastle 1-2 Tottenham

Son (Openda)

Maddison (Grimaldo)
Bernardo Silva (Cancelo)

MOTM: Grimaldo

Rof’s second win of the day, hard fought - tactically I found it closer, and with beautifully aggressive substitutions and formation change from the Geordies.

Group A
Watfoprd 1 - 2 Newcastle

Watford did well for vast majority of the game, their young side nulifying Newcastle, however subs when drawing went in Newcastles favour which eventually saw them see the game out and take the 3 pts

Ferguson(Prestianni)
Gimenez(KDB), Toney(Openda)

Spurs 1 - 1 Arsenal

The home side were stifled by a resiliant Arsenal defence who did very well, felt Spurs were the stronger side overall, Arsenal very focussed down the left, but Spurs pretty strong down that side

Kane(Grimaldo), Lautaro(Odegaard)

Group B
Man Utd 0 - 2 Chelsea
Haaland(Koopmeiners), Mbappe(Enzo)

Group A
Arsenal 1 - 1 Newcastle
Thought Arsenal back 4 was solid not spectacular, Araujo at RB for me offers very littl going forward, though Marky would have tried to take advantage of that, Arsenal very difficult to break down tho, both teams looking to control the midfield and they did when they were in possession, however when not in possession they nulifed each other imo, good going forward, but Bruno and KDb getting in each others way really, would I play both, probably not but its not up to me, two good sides

Martinelli
Gundogan
MOTM - Saliba


Leicester 1 - 0 Watford
Think Watford have a pretty tight unit but up against a top or the top side in the league, Watford defed will against that front 3 when Foden broke loose and fed in Osimhen who scored the only goal, Leicester I cant fault anywhere really, Watford, Ferguson not really firing on all cylinders this season and Price I have to say I know nothing about but looks another good find from LC
Osimhen(Foden)
MOTM - Murillo

Group B
Man Utd 0 - 2 Man City
Wirtz(Paquetz), Vlahovic

Villa vs City

I think City with the back 4 and midfield would dominate possession. A lot of very good players on the ball who I think would link very well. Although City have a lot of energy in midfield, for me they lacked width (or even a cb to cm) to get the best from that, I’m not a fan of the cbs at fb trend and think a proper attacking fbs here would’ve made a big difference to get more bodies forward, as Wirtz/Simons going wide would leave control short in cm for building again quickly without going back to defence.

I think the Villa midfield would work very well in this game defensively, would restrict the chances City could carve (Pep vs Emery rewind), importantly also with the power and pace to break forward with quality in attack. Tactically matched up well, but lacked a strong gameplan which City had. Quality wise City also had upper hand, largely due to defence.

Liked City and subs, and I liked Villa’s sub bar Tielemans for McGinn, as he was the one cm that could really break forward. Wasn’t enough to mark down though, subs called even.
Advantage City for the spins with no home advantage.

Villa 1 - 2 City
Grealish (McGinn) ; Vlahovic (Dybala), Wirtz (Nkunku)
MoTM: Wirtz