Thunderball

Time to review France D1 weekend fixtures
1. Weekend fixtures
4/30
Clermont vs Bastia
Vannes vs Dijon
Sedan vs Guingamp
Caen vs Istres
Angers vs Laval
Chateauroux vs Le Havre
Ajaccio vs Metz
Arles vs Nantes
Strasbourg vs Nimes
Brest vs Tours

2. Standings
                                          P           Pts      GD
1. Caen                            34         65
2. Brest                            34          61
3. Arles                             34          53
   --- Promotion line ---
4. Clermont                     34          50
5. Metz                              34          49
6. Angers                           34          48

16. Guingamp                   34         37    -5
17. Vannes                         34         37    -11
    --- Relegation line ---
18. Istres                              34        37     -18
19. Clermont                      34         35    -9
20. Bastia                             34         34    -9

3. Comment
3.1 Caen lost form lately and draw some games.  They can beat
  Istres this time.
3.2 Brest have a tough game with Tours.
3.3 The other promotion spot is contested by Arles, Clermont
  and Angers.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

To continue on France D2 Comment
Correction -- The 19th-placed team should be Chateauroux
  (not Clermont).  Sorry for this mistakes

3.4 Relegation -- It is very tight at the bottom of the table.
At least 5 teams (and maybe 2-3 mores teams on 40-41 pts)
are involved in the Relegation battle now.
3.4.1 The match between Clermong and Bastia.
  Bastia are in good form lately winning and drawing several
  games in a row. They can beat Clermont.
3.4.2 Guingamp and Vannes are meeting mid-table teams.
  They are in a position to take points off their rivals.
3.4.3 Istres are in a worst poistion, they meet leaders Caen.
  Caen are trying to stop their winless run.
3.4.4 Chateauroux are hosting Le Havre, another mid-table
  team.  Le Havre could beat Chateauroux.

3.5 The last promotion spot -- Arles, Clermont, Metz and Angers
  are fighting it out.
3.5.1 Arles can beat Nantes, who are not in good form.
3.5.2 Metz can also beat Ajaccio.
3.5.3 Angers are meeting a tougher rival, Laval.
3.5.4 Clermont vs Bastia -- (See also item 3.4.1). Clermont
  could lose this game. Clermont must put something extra
  to beat Bastia, who are in very good form.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

News bits
1. England Conference Play-Off Semi-Final Leg 1
Rushden 1-1 Oxford
York 1-0 Luton

Leg 2 will be played on 5/3 (3 May).

2. It is reported Sergio Aguero (Atl Madrid) has already agreed
  to a GBP40Mil summer transfer move to Chelsea.

3. Man City manager Mancini has told Tevez that he is free
  to leave Man City if he does not like his training method.
  Tevez spoke earlier this month (Mar) on Mancini asked
  the team to train in double session when there is no
  mid-week games.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Results of games played last night (4/30)
1. French D1
Auxerre 0-0 Marseille

Comment -- Top-of-table clash. Marseille heads the table
  (72pts) and Auxerre are trailing in second (67pts).
  Both played 35 games with 3 games to go.

2. French D2
Clermont 0-0 Bastia
Vannes 1-0 Dijon
Sedan 1-0 Guingamp
Caen 1-1 Istres
Angers 2-1 Laval
Chateauroux 3-1 Le Havre
Ajaccio 1-1 Metz
Arles 1-0 Nantes
Strasbourg 1-1 Nimes
Brest 2-0 Tours

Comment --
1. Promotion -- Caen and Brest are both promoted.
  The top 6 are Caen (66pts), Brest (64), Arles (56),
  clermont and Angers (both 51), and Metz (50).
  Brest can overtake Caen in the last 3 rounds.
  Arles needs 5 (or 6) more points to clinch promotion.
2. Relegation side -- The whole scene has changed but
  it remains tight.
The bottom 6 teams (lowest ranked team listed first)
  are Bastia on 35pts, Guingamp (37), Istres and
  Chateauroux (38), Vannes (40), Strasbourg (41).
  Three more rounds to go.
  There are mid-week fixtures on 5/3 and 5/4.
    will have a more detailed update later.
--- End of Update ---

Thunderball

News bits and Rumours
1. Barcelona are believed to have verbally agreed to sign
  Valencia striker David Villa this summer. The reported
  deal involved cash plus player exchange.
  Valencia are thought to ask for Barcelona striker
  Bojan Krkic and midfielder Alexander Hleb as part of
  the deal plus cash payment of around Euro40Mil.

2. Burnley could be qualified for next season Europa Lg.
Explanation on Fair Play League
  UEFA offers 3 spots (on QR1 of Europa Lg) to Fair Play
  League winners. UEFA wants to award those teams,
  not already qualified for European competition, a chance
  to play.
The Fair Play League tabulation are splitted into 2 tiers.
a. UEFA has been maintaing a Fair Play League on
  national teams. The records based penalty points
  on the Red/Yellow Cards and Disciplianry records of
  national teams (Full Internationals, U21, U19, U17).
  
b. The national assocations will also keep an Fair Play
  League on their own top-most league on the same period.
  At around end of May (or early Jun), UEFA willl announced
  their findings or the reocrds. The Winner will be automatic
  qualfiy for Europa Lg QR1. UEFA will conduct a draw
  (for those qualfied assocations) for the other 2 winners.
  To qualify for this draw, the national assocations must
  make a certain coefficients.
  Now on England Fair Play League --- Fulham now leads
  with Burnley second in the table.  Other teams who have
  qualified already (for example the top 7 teams already
  qualified for European competition next season) will not
  be considered.
  If Fulham win the Europa Lg (in 5/12 Final). Burnley
  will be qualified for the UEFA Fair Play draw.
  Note -- There are many certainties now. There is a chance
  this can happen.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Time to review England League One
1. Weekend Fixtures -- This is the perultimatum reound.
  All games start at the same time.
5/1 (Sat)
Bristol R vs Norwich
Carlisle vs Walsall
Charlton vs Leeds   --> Top-of-table clash
Gillingham vs Southampton
Hartlepool vs Exeter
Huddersfield vs Colchester
Leyton vs Wycombe
MK Dons vs Brighton
Southend vs Stockport
Swindon vs Brentford
Tranmere vs Millwall
Yeovil vs Oldham

2. Standings -- All played 44 games.
                              Pts
1. Norwich               92  --> Promoted
2. Leeds                  83
   --- Direct Promotion line ---
3. Millwall               82
4. Swindon              79
5. Charlton              78
6. Huddersfield        77
   --- Play-Off line ---
7. Southampton       70


18. Leyton              48
19. Exeter               47
20. Gillingham         47
   --- Relegation line ---
21. Tranmere           45
22. Wycombe           42
23. Southend           40  --> Relegated
24. Stockport           25  --> Relegated


3. Comment
3.1 Norwich have already crowned champion of League One.
3.2 Leeds and Millwall (even Swindon) are in the fight
  for the Runner-up spot. Leeds will be away at Charlton.
  this is a tough game.  Both sides need to win.
  Leeds may drop to third spot (or 4th) if they lose.
3.3 Milwall are not having an easy game at Tranmere.
  Tranmere will be fighting tooth and nail for survival.
  Tranmere need to win to climb to safety. Millwall cannot
  afford to lose too.

3.4 Relegation scene
3.4.1 Exeter are away at Hartlepool. Exeter can grab some
  points.
3.4.2 Gillingham host Southampton in a tough game.
  Gillingham cannot match Southampton.
3.4.3 Wycome can grab some points when they visit
  Leyton. Wycombe need a win to keep them alive
  their survival hope. A draw does not help them.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Time to review Spanish Primera (D1)
1. Weekend fixtures
5/1 (Sat)
Deportivo vs Zaragoza
Espanyol vs Valencia
Malaga vs Sp Gijon
Tenerife vs Santander
Valladolid vs Getafe
Villarreal vs Barcelona
Xerez vs Almeria

5/2 (Sun)
Bilbao vs Mallorca
R.Madrid vs Osasuna
Sevilla vs Atl Madrid

2. Standings -- All played 34 games. Four rounds to go.
                              Pts
1. Barcelona             87
2. R.Madrid               86
3. Valencia               62
4. Mallorca               56
   --- Qualify for Champ Lg ---
5. Sevilla                 54
6. Villarreal              52
   --- Qualify for Europa Lg ---
7. Getafe                 50
8. Bilbao                  50

14. Sp Gijon             37
15. Santander           36
16. Malaga               34
17. Zaragoza            34
   --- Relegation line ---
18. Valladolid           32
19. Tenerife             32
20. Xerez                 27

3. Comment
3.1 Barcelona will have a tough game away at Villarreal.
   They can drop points.
3.2 R.Madrid may have an easier game with Osasuna.
  Osasuna need more points to secure survival.
3.3 Mallorca need to beat Bilbao to consolidate their 3rpd
   place position.
3.4 Sevilla can beat Atl Madrid. Both teams are very
  disappointing this season. Atl Madridare more interested
  in Spanish Cup and Europa Lg Final than the league.
  They wll qualify for next season Europa Lg if they
   win the Spanish Cup.

3.5 Relegation battles
3.5.1 Zaragoza are more likely to grab some points when
  they meet Deportivo.  Deportivo are very disappointing
  this season.
3.5.2 Relegation derby between Tenerife and Santander
  is more interesting. Tenerife will be closer to safety
  line if they win. If Santander win, they will have sleep
  easier.
3.5.3 Valladolid will have a tough game with Getafe,
  who are chasing for Europa Lg spot.
3.5.4 Another relegation derby between Malaga and Sp Gijon.
  Both sides must win. A draw cannot help.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Results of games played yesterday (5/1)
1. Eng Premier Lg
Birmingham 2-1 Burnley
Man C 3-1 Aston V
Portsmouth 3-1 Wolves
Stoke 0-0 Everton
Spurs 1-0 Bolton
Comment -- Man C will host Spurs on Wednesday (delay
  game) in a winner-takes-all match to decide who is fourth.
  Aston V lost out on the Champ Lg spot.

2. Italian Serie A
AC Milan 1-0 Fiorentina
Parma 1-2 Roma

Comment -- Roma lead the table for at least 24 hours
  until Inter sunday game.

3. Spanish Primera Lg
Deportivo 0-1 Zaragoza
Espanyol 0-2 Valencia
Malaga 1-1 Sp Gijon
Tenerife 2-1 Santander
Valladolid 0-0 Getafe
Villarreal 1-4 Barcelona
Xerez 2-1 Almeria
Comment -- Barcelona still lead the table.
Radical changes at the bottom of the table.
Listed from bottom (for the bottom 6 teams) --
Xerez (30pts), Valladolid (33), Tenerife (35),
  Malaga (35), Santander (36),  Zaragoza (37).
There is a full progarm in midweek. Stasy tuned.

4. German D1
Leverkusen 1-1 Hertha
B.Munich 3-1 Bochum
Dortmund 1-1 Wolfsburg
Cologne 2-2 Freiburg
Frankfurt 1-2 Hoffenheim
Hamburg 4-0 Nurnberg
hannover 6-1 M'galdbach
Schalke 0-2 Bremen
Stuttgart 2-2 Mainz
Comment -- B.Munich are crowned with 3pts margin over
  Schalke with just 1 game to go.  B.Munich have superior
  Goal-Difference (+39 vs +22).
  Big changes at the bottom of the table. The bottom
  5 teams (listed from bottom) are Hertha (24pts), Bochum
  and Nurnberg (both 28), Hannover (30), and Freiburg (32).
  There are still something to fight for at the final day
  of the season.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Results of Eng League One games played yesterday (5/1)
Bristol R 0-3 Norwich
Carlisle 1-1 Walsall
Charlton 1-0 Leeds
Gillingham 2-1 Southampton
Hartlepool 1-1 Exeter
Huddersfield 2-1 Colchester
Leyton 2-0 Wycombe
MK Dons 0-0 Brighton
Southend 2-1 Stockport
Swindon 3-2 Brentford
Tranmere 2-0 Millwall
Yeovil 3-0 Oldham

2. Standings -- All played 45 games with 1 round to go.
                           Pts     GD
1. Norwich             95
2. Leeds                83     +32
   --- Direct Promotion line ---
3. Millwall              82     +31
4. Swindon             82     +17
5. Charlton             81     +21
6. Huddersfield       80     +27
   --- Play-Off line ---
7. Southampton      70

18. Leyton             51      -9
19. Gillingham        50     -13
20. Exeter              48     -13
   --- Relegation line ---
21. Tranmere          48      -30
22. Southend          43  --> Relegated
23. Wycombe          42  --> Relegated
24. Stockport          25  --> Relegated

3. Comment
3.1 The battles for Runner-up spot are still raging hot.
  Five teams are still in with a chance to claim it.
  A nail-biting finish on the final day (5/8) next week.

3.2 Relegation battle --
3.2.1 Stockport, Wycombe and Southend are relegated.
3.2.2 The 4th relegation spot are fought between
(list from bottom) Tranmere, Exeter, Gillingham and Leyton.
Gillingham and Leyton are both vulnerable if both Tranmere
  and Exeter win on  the final day.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Review of Eng League Championship games yesterday
1. Results
Blackpool 1-1 Bristol C
Coventry 0-4 Watford
Derby 2-0 Cardiff
Ips 0-3 Sheff utd
Leicester 2-0 Middlesboro
Plymouth 1-2 Peterboro
QPR 0-1 Newcastle
Reading 4-1 Preston
Scunthorpe 2-2 Notts F
Sheff Wed 2-2 Crystal P
Swansea 0-0 Doncaster
West Brom 1-1 Barnsley

3. Standings
3.1 Promoted -- Newcastle (Champ), West brom
3.2 Play-Off -- Notts F, Cardiff, Leicester, Blackpool
3.3 Relegted -- Peterboro, Plymouth, Sheff Wed

4. Play-Off -- It will be played over 2 legs.
Blackpool vs Notts F --> Leg1 5/8, Leg2 5/11
Leicester vs Cardiff  --> Leg1 5/9, Leg2 5/13
   --- End of Update ---