NSS3 Dynasty -

[Flasch186]

I have decided to try my hand at a New Star Soccer 3 dynasty and see how long I can do it before I get tired. The main obstacle to this is that I truly suck and I dont know if that is from me sucking or if its the fact that when starting off the players ratings are so bad. Eh, I hope it is somewhat entertaining but moreso entertaining for me to do. We shall see and see if it becomes as big a chore as the Civ4 dynasty that I let die a painful death as the Ukrainians teetered on the verge of destroying us. The civ4 thing died because I suck....

So here we go....Saturday night and this is what I am doing tonight!! although I think at some point were going to go get sushi, so that time I wont be playing but the rest I will...and dynasty-ing.

[Flasch186]

(everything from this point forward is fiction as has no correlation to anything in reality)

So fresh out of graduation from The Bolles School in Jacksonville, FL and a successful stint as a striker for the Bulldogs I was shocked to find out that my head coach, Jim Lieb, secured me a trial with a team in England! A small team, a struggling team but a team nonetheless. I'm number 21 in the pic below.


Jim Lieb


the team


The Stafford Rangers are the team the coach was able to get me a tryout with:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stafford_rangers

Basically from what I can gather the team has quite a long history starting way back in the late 1800's. This past season they won promotion to the conference and I certainly would think that they have no intention of dropping out. The Manager Phil Robinson has an excitable personality from what I can gather and perhaps that's helped the team's most recent fortunes. They play at Marston Road Stadium and usually gets about 1,000 fans...although I read that there are plans for expansion and a roof. Apparently the team has some big time rivalries with, Tamworth, Stafford Town, Hednesford Town, Burton Albion, Brocton and Kidderminster Harriers so if I make the team I can look foreward to those battles.

[Flasch186]

Stafford
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This article is about the town of Stafford, England. For the larger local government district see Borough of Stafford. For other uses, see Stafford (disambiguation)

Stafford

Coordinates: 52°48′24″N 2°07′02″W / 52.8066, -2.1171
Stafford (United Kingdom)
Stafford
Population 63,681 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference SJ922232
District Stafford
Shire county Staffordshire
Region West Midlands
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town STAFFORD
Postcode district ST16, ST17
Dial code 01785
Police Staffordshire
Fire Staffordshire
Ambulance Staffordshire
UK Parliament Stafford
European Parliament West Midlands
List of places: UK • England • Staffordshire

Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire in England. It lies in the north of the West Midlands region, between Wolverhampton and Stoke-on-Trent. The population of Stafford was given in the 2001 census as 63,681, with that of the wider borough of Stafford as 124,531.

History

Stafford means 'ford' by a 'staithe' (landing place). The town's location was the only feasible place for a large army to cross the River Trent, and so was strategically important in the wider region. The original settlement was on an island in the middle of the marshes of the River Sow, a tributary of the Trent. There is still a large area of marshland just north of the town, which in both 1947 and 2000 saw floods.

In the year 913 Stafford was fortified by Ethelfleda, Lady of Mercia and daughter of Alfred the Great, becoming the new capital of Mercia (the previous capital having been in or near Stone). Queen Ethelfleda ruled Mercia from Stafford for five years as Queen of Mercia, after the death of her father and husband - at around this time the county of Staffordshire was first formed. King Alfred's son Edward, with the crucial aid of Ethelfleda, finally conquered and christianised the Vikings who had settled in the east of England.

Stafford Castle was built by the Normans on a nearby hilltop in 1070, four years after the invasion of 1066. It was first made of wood, and later rebuilt of stone. It has been rebuilt twice since, but now only 19th century ruins remain atop the impressive earthworks. Night-time illuminations create a landmark for motorists on the M6 motorway and train travellers on the West Coast Main Line. Stafford was considered part of the ancient Pyrehill hundred.

Buildings and the town centre



The oldest building in Stafford is St Chad's church.

Opened in 1908, Victoria Park is a 13 acre (53,000 m²) Edwardian riverside park with an open-air paddling pool, bowling green, bird cages, greenhouse and two play areas.

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre is the town's main entertainment and cultural venue. An Arts centre has also been planned for the town to offer more culture and try and boost tourism in the town.

In the main shopping street, Greengate Street, lies the Elizabethan Ancient High House, the largest timber-framed town house in England. The Ancient High House is now a museum, with changing exhibitions.

The Shire Hall Gallery, found in the very centre of Stafford town, houses the Art Gallery, which shows changing exhibitions. It also contains a cafe and the town's Library.

The Shire Hall used to be the Court House for the town, and as a Grade 2 listed building, still retains two courtrooms. One of these is open to the general public and has a permanent exhibition showing the history of the building, some high profile cases that were heard there and guided tours are available. Part of the tour includes an old 'holding cell' which is open to public viewing.

The Apollo Cinema shows most big-budget films and has three screens. A larger multiplex cinema, another shopping centre and offices are also planned to be built in the town centre along the River Sow. The Riverside Recreation Centre and former Tesco store/multi-storey car park would both be demolished as part of this development.

R.A.F Stafford is now being transformed into M.O.D Stafford, after the R.A.F left the Town.

Staffordshire University has a large campus in the town focusing heavily on computing and teaching courses.

77,900 new homes are expected to be built in greenfield areas of Staffordshire, with 12,900 expected to be built in Stafford.

People

Famous people from Stafford include:

The 17th century author of The Compleat Angler, Izaak Walton, and the 18th century playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan was once the local MP. Also, the 1853 Lord Mayor of London, Thomas Sidney, was born in the town.

In the early 1900s, the village of Great Haywood near Stafford was home to the wife of famous The Lord of the Rings author J. R. R. Tolkien. He stayed with his wife, Edith, in her cottage in the village during the winter of 1916, and the surrounding areas were said to be an inspiration for some of his early works.

Climax Blues Band, initially, as their name suggests, a popular blues band but later to go more mainstream with 'Couldn't Get It Right', (a number 10 hit in the UK in 1976, and number three in America the following year) also hailed from Stafford. Band leader Colin Cooper was born in the town in 1939, still lives locally, and is the only Staffordian in the current incarnation of the band. Former bass and guitar player Derek Holt until recently ran a public house in the town center, and still plays there regularly.

Stafford was the birthplace of Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey, Freya Copeland, who plays Angela 'Angie' Reynolds in the soap Emmerdale and comedian Dave Gorman. Author Storm Constantine is a long-time resident. Ozzy Osbourne lived nearby, while 1970s hit duo Medicine Head hailed from nearby Tixall.

Anthony Gardner, first team defender for Tottenham Hotspur FC, is also from Stafford.

Author Sue Rann was born in Stafford in 1964.

Footballer Christopher Birchall, who plays for Championship side Coventry City, was born in Stafford on 5 May 1984. Despite this, he plays his international football for Trinidad & Tobago, gaining qualification because his mother - although of English stock - was born there. Birchall is the first white player to represent Trinidad & Tobago for 60 years, and played for them in the World Cup in Germany in 2006. Birchall was playing for Port Vale at the time, and was transferred to Coventry City at the start of the 2006-2007 season.

Despite his Scottish accent, Fran Healey, lead singer of the extremely successful rock band Travis, was born in Stafford on 23 July 1973 but moved north of the border shortly afterwards.

Dave Follows (3 October 1941 — 17 October 2003) was a prolific cartoonist. Follows' cartoons include: The Creature Feature in The Sunday Times for sixteen years; and strips for over twenty local newspapers including The Stafford Newsletter for over twenty years. Dave's first published cartoon was printed in the Staffordshire Advertiser & Chronicle 1971. The iconic May un Mar Lady strip appeared daily for over 20 years in the North Staffordshire edition of The Evening Sentinel and is currently enjoying a full re-run. Many of Follows' cartoons are currently being syndicated in newspapers and magazines throughout the world. The co-creator of animated comedy series Hungry Hamsters, Dave was born in and lived in Stafford all his life.

Photographer Paul Pickard was born in Stafford and went on to become National Press Photographer of the Year in the 1990s before going on to be a successful advertising and portrait photographer.

Rave act Altern-8 were also from the town.

A shoe making town

Stafford town has a long history of shoe making. It is "an ancient borough and market town, celebrated for the manufacture of shoes."[1] Furthermore, "in the eighteenth century Stafford was represented (in Parliament) by the famous playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan. When he was in Stafford he would stay with his friend William Horton. Horton was the founder of the Stafford Shoe Industry. A century after Horton began the early Factory System, Stafford was exporting some 5,000,000 pairs of shoes to South Africa alone. The were a number of spin-off industries which prospered in Stafford, these including Venables Wood Yard, Spic and Span Polish and Evode. The shoe industry gradually died out in the town, with Lotus Shoes being the last manufacturers."[2] The large red-brick Lotus Shoe factory on Sandon Road closed and was demolished about 2001 to be quickly replaced by modern housing.

See for example: Staffordshire Industrial Archaeology Society, Journal No 10 (1981) including: A M Harrison, The Development of Boot and Shoe Manufacturing in Stafford 1850-1880; Staffordshire Industrial Archaeology Society, Journal 19 (2005), Shoemaking in Stafford, containing: The Development of Boot and Shoe Manufacturing in Stafford, 1850-1880, by Martin Harrison, Richard Podmore & Son, Shoe Manufacturers, by Martin Harrison, Stafford Box Factory in 2003, by Martin Harrison[3]

Economy

A major activity in the town since 1903 has been heavy electrical engineering, particularly producing power station transformers, exported around the world. The works have been successively owned by Siemens, English Electric, GEC, GEC Alsthom, Alstom and most recently Areva. Every so often a delivery takes to the road. Each transformer weighs several hundred tons and so a sort of road train is used. The weight is spread by a 160-wheel cradle, pulled by an 8-wheel drive Faun Goliath tractor unit and pushed by two more. In the 1968 Hixon rail crash, one such road train was struck by an express train when it was crossing the railway at a level crossing.

Bostik, the adhesives manufacturer, has a large factory in the town.

Local employment is also provided by Stafford Prison, close to the town centre.

Stafford is home to the computing and IT campus of Staffordshire University, specifically the Beaconside Campus houses the Faculty of Computing Engineering and Technology, it also houses part of the Business School, and the adjacent Blackheath Lane campus (ten minutes walk from Beaconside) houses the School of Health, which teaches nursing. The main campus being in Stoke-on-Trent about 18 miles away to the North.

Stafford railway station is a stop for many inter-city trains on the West Coast Main Line; enabling easy commuting to the cities of Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, and Manchester.

Business news in Stafford is covered by The Express & Star newspaper.

Healthcare

The town is supplied with primary care by the South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust. [1]

The town's main hospital is Staffordshire General Hospital, formally known as Stafford District General Hospital, this provides a wide range of non-specialist medical and surgical services. Staffordshire General Hospital's Accident and Emergency unit is the only such facility in the town.

The St. George's Hospital is actually a combination of two historical hospitals - the Kingsmead Hospital (previously an Elderly Care facility) and the St. George's psychiatric hospital. This hospital provides mental health services, including an Intensive care unit, Secure units, an Eating disorder unit, an EMI unit, Drug and Alcohol Addiction services and open wards. There is a small outpatient facility, and this is the location of the town's AA meeting.

Education

Primary and Secondary education are provided by various different schools in the town.

The Chetwynd Centre also provides Higher Education in the town. It normally teaches specialised A-levels, some vocational qualifications and subjects taught by teachers with no school base. The centre has joined up with all the town's secondary schools, except the grammar school, to provide better resources for students. The schools are:

* Rising Brook High Specialist Sports College (Soon to be re-named Stafford Sports Collage)
* Walton High School
* Blessed William Howard RC High School and Performing Arts College
* King Edward VI County High School
* Sir Graham Balfour School
* Weston Road High School
* Stafford Grammar School

Stafford College is a large College of Further Education. Stafford College also provides some Higher Education courses on behalf of Staffordshire University and focusses heavily on computing and engineering.

Staffordshire University has a large campus in the East of the town and focuses heavily on computing, media and engineering.

The Stafford knot

The arms of Staffordshire show a distinctive three looped knot and the county motto is the knot unites. However this is properly called the Stafford knot since it was the badge of the de Stafford family. The fanciful legend is that three convicted felons who had committed a crime together were due to be executed in Stafford jail. There was argument over who should be hanged first but the hangman solved the problem by devising this knot and hanging the three simultaneously. However; the knot can be seen on a 4 ft (1.2 m) high carved Anglo-Saxon cross in a Stoke churchyard. This strongly suggests it pre-dates the Norman and medieval period, being probably either i) a heraldic symbol of early Mercia or ii) a Celtic Christian symbol brought to Staffordshire by missionary monks from Lindisfarne (commemorated in the arms of Stafford).

The North Staffordshire Railway was referred to as the Knotty after the knot.

March 2006

On 28 March 2006, RAF Stafford was closed after a long and illustrious history. The event was marked by a fly past and a flag lowering ceremony.

In the late evening of 29 March 2006, four individuals were detained under anti-terror legislation at the town's district general hospital. Subsequently, on 30 March and 31 March 2006, vehicles, homes and properties linked to these four individuals were searched by anti-terror police. A fifth man, whose admission to Staffordshire General Hospital led to the arrests, later died from his injuries, but all charges have been dropped and the four men released. Local rumours suggesting his injuries were due to semtex burns appear to have been unsubstantiated.

On 31 March 2006 Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, visited Stafford in order to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the town's Royal Charter. A large security operation was enacted, and major roads in the town were closed for most of the day. The queen visited the town's main church and spent time on "walkabout" in the main market square, before visiting the British Legion and University.

[Flasch186]

The tryout went well and I'd heard before I left that I should stay by the phone at the hotel room tonight. You bet I will. Basically it was your traditional stuff, passing drills, shooting skills, sprints, strength tests, etc. which I did all fairly well despite the butterflies in my stomach.

[Flasch186]

Well the call came and tomorrow morning Ill be signing a contract with the team. Its all unreal and like most of the guys on the team I understand that Ill probably have to get a job too to be able to stay afloat although my parents should help a lot. The contract looks like this:

420$ / week
5 years (who am I to argue)
195$ / goal
180$ / assist

those bonuses could be nice...thats some good supplemental income. Ill be heading into town tomorrow to see about getting work.

A quick search on the net, I'm stealing wireless from someone, shows a crapload of temp employment agencies. Im not even sure how to fish through them to figure it out. I found an ad for a barback at a pub nearby called the Grapes so we'll check that out tomorrow...or so.

[Flasch186]

week 1 -

I took the opportunity to work with one of the coaches on passing drills after practice and while Im a bit winded I feel fairly ready for another days work.

after practice I stopped by the Grapes:



they took me on as a barback but seeing as Im so young they aren't going to give me much responsibility. I think the manager thought it was somewhat neat that Im on the Rangers team...Im not sure he believes me but hopefully Ill make a splash soon. One of the bartenders told me to bring earplugs...apparently there is a lot of live music there.

Oh, im staying at David Oldfield's, the assistant Manager's place, until I find a place of my own. The parents sent me out with about a grand so things should be fine for a while.

I found the Champions League info online and it looks like this this yr.:

grp. A
Barcelona
Liverpool
Ajax
Anderlecht

grp. B
Valencia
Manchester United
PSV
Shakhtar

grp. C
AC Milan
Bordeaux
Celtic
Olympiakos

grp. D
Real Madrid
Lille
AEK Athens
Sporting

grp. E
Internazionale
Lyon
Spartak Moscow
Benfica

grp. F
Arsenal
Bayern Munich
Porto
CSKA Moscow

grp. G
Chelsea
Hamburger SV
Dynamo Kiev
FC Kobenhavn

grp. H
Roma
Werder Bremen
Galatasaray
Levski Sofia

[Flasch186]

Thu Aug 4, 2005

After practice today I took the opportunity to work out with a coach on my shooting...it should help a bit. Im a bit winded after today. Having Wilfy on the team is a bit scary as he's young like me and Im not sure how many young forwards a team can have. I'm definitely a better player than he is but Im the only American on the team and one of only 2 foreigners. Guy Madjo is from Cameroon.

The Rangers Roster looks like this today:
Pos/Name/Age

GK Danny Alcock 22
GK Duane Edmunds 32
DL/C Shayne Milbourne 26
DC Graeme Pook 33
DC Chukki Colkin 19
DL/C Andrew Vassell 34
DL/C Lee Graves 31
DC Roger Nelson 29
DR Liam Whelan 29
DL/R Franz Dicks 33
MR Bradley Howell 31
MC Paul Hawkes 33
ML/C Stuart Redwood 22
ML/C John Bryan 31
MR/C Jai Holtham 29
MC Steve Yemane 31
ML/C Carlton Tew 33
FC Wilfy Edge 19
FC Howard Flaschen 17
FL/C/R Steve Upton 30
FC Gary Arrowsmith 22

[Flasch186]

Sat Aug 6, 2005

The first league fixtures are due today and we go to our rival Kidderminster today at Aggborough Stadium.

--nice and sunny--

Kidderminster fields a 4-4-2 and I found out just before game time that it would be me and Guy on the frontline. Big game and my debut in England!!

half: 0-0

Cant seem to get anything going and the couple of times I felt like I had some momentum I seemed to get bumped off the ball. I also seem to be pressing my passes a bit much and their not getting through. Things are faster than back home.

2nd half:

I tried to hit Guy on the break and I led him too much but he fought for the ball and hit a shot top right corner. It reflects well as I had something to do with it but it was not as planned. The statisticians are crediting me with an assist...Cha-ching bonus baby!!
I came in late on a tackle and the ref was all over me and handed me my first yellow card in English soccer. Not a good thing but I cant help buut feel a little cool inside.
Guy hit me on a run and I swear I juked their center defender and was on my way to a great shot and got tripped from behind. why he didnt get a yellow card Ill never know but it was a free kick for us nonetheless. Murphy took it and was way wide.
With 10 minutes left their LW Andy White took it up the wing and crossed it to the far post and Brian Smikle put a beautiful header into the top corner tying it up.
near the end of the game I had a nice shot on net that the keeper knocked away. I couldnt get the rebound before the defender cleared but it seemed appropriate for the game.
Guy was off target outside of his one shot....blew a couple of opportunities I felt.

Final 1-1

My rating: 5

I show up at work at The Grapes late but they cut me some slack and then the boss, Ed, surprised me by buying the bar a round of shots to celebrate my first game!! Too much fun.

[Flasch186]

Sun Aug 7, 2005

So the papers are reporting that Tamworth was purchased by a businessman with a ton of moneya nd Tamworth now has no debt and a bunch of transfer money to boot.

Cambridge is atop the table +3GD. Burton Albion on the bottom -3GD.

[Flasch186]

Tuesday papers (6):

"Flaschen wasted his chance...""...a good debut...""...adequate..."
"for which Flaschen earned himself a yellow card...""...Flaschen passed the ball around well...""...Flaschen had a hand in it..."

[Flasch186]

wed. August 10, 2005

Today Norwich Victoria come to town and they sit at 20th on the table.

---nice and sunny---

I get the start again next to Guy and I couldnt be more ecstatic to play at home!

Norwich plays a 4-4-2 diamond...

First half:

I set Guy up on a nice laid on ball through the middle but the shot was stopped by the keeper, Phillip Senior. Liam Whelan picked up a yellow on a hard tackle. I just feel non-existent out there on the pitch and cant get anything done, im certainly overshadowed by Guy.

2nd half:

2nd game and 2nd yellow card. I just cant seem to catch up with people and on the offensive side of things outside of trying to set Guy up I cant find space to get an open look. argh, im frustrated. I was able to get free on a cross to the middle and the keeper, Senior, seemed to come out of nowhere to punch it before I could get my head on the ball. Jai Holtham picked up a yellow too, the ref is killing us.

Final: 0 - 0

my rating: 3


We sit at 16th in the table...Cabridge United and Oxford United are tied at the top while Morecambe resides at the bottom.

[Flasch186]

Sat. 13 Aug 2005

I am not feeling really peppy today and I didnt even work last night. I do work tonight though. Today Grays Athletic comes to town and at 5th on the table 1-0-1.

---nice and sunny---

I dont know what the coach is thinking cuz Im tired as shit today but he's giving me the start again today next to Guy. Maybe he'll sub me out today but I have got to try and get some sleep...

Grays play a 5-3-2...

first half:

Grays took the early lead off of a Slabber rebound goal and it seems our offense is sputtering again. A lot of mess in front of their net that we can never get control of. I suck! Off of a Murphy free kick, the keeper's rebound landed in my lap and instead of tucking it in, I got nervous and chipped it netbound but just over the keeper and he was able to get up and parry it. Blown opportunity!

2nd half:

47th minute and my first goal as a professional player. Guy took the ball up the right side and had a setp on the midfielder trying to mark him and I just went at the net. A lovely cross and I was able to get up in front of a defender and tuck the header inside the near post!!! Im feeling a lot more confident, this defense seems to be giving me a bit more room. Ive set Guy up on two nice plays that he failed to convert but the passes are finding their mark....although my crosses are not. 77th minute in and Guy finished a nice cross from Carlton Tew with a header for a goal. We have the lead and seem to be coasting right now.

Final: 2 - 1

my rating: 7

I am fucking exhausted and I have to go to work but I feel light on my feet. A goal in England.

[Flasch186]

We climbed to 9th on the table from our win yesterday.

The Sunday papers had some words about me (4):

"...an occasional glimpse of his talent...""...Flaschen's passing was average...""...a great goal...""...Flaschen managed 6 shots..."

I talked to the parents last night and told them about the game and they were ecstatic. Iain at the Grapes last night wouldnt stop talking about me and ended up letting me go home early, he could tell how tired I was. Im not feeling much better today, my legs are like lead.

The papers mentioned that the Head Coach for Burton Albion signed a 3 yr. extension...the board must think he is leading the team the right way. They are in 5th but theyre at a zero G.D....that wont get it done for the whole season.

No more air mattress for me either, I used some of my money to buy a bed. David said I could stay as long as I like, he likes having me around. I think that I am somewhat of a spectacle around here...the "American".

[Flasch186]

Wed 17th August

Well, we travel to Forest Green today to take on the Rovers. Theyre winless this season with one draw and 2 losses. I'm hoping to build on the momentum from the last game and I dont have to go to work tonight so that is very good.


---nice and sunny---

Forest Green play a 4-4-2 and Ive been reading up on them a bit...Theyre DC, Tony Butler, is tall and smart...their best player may be FC Arek Zarcynski but he's not great by any means.

Seems pretty commonplace now, me and Guy on the front lines...

First half:

26 Minutes in and Guy played a nice ball over to me at the top of the box that I completely overran. After coming back to pick it up I ended up getting a little muscle behind it but the keeper stopped it. I got a foot on the rebound but it was the wrong foot and the ball sailed quite wide. Danny Williams has been hounding me and finally he clipped me and I sold the foul, the ref gave him the yellow so perhaps that will get the bastard off of my back the rest of the game. In injury time me and Guy both went after a Tew cross and he just seemed to better positioned than me and got his head on it, nudging it past the keeper giving us the 1 - 0 lead at half.

2nd half:

Early in the half I got the ball on a break, dug my way past two defenders and blew the shot over the net. Near the 70 minute mark I got a head on a Tew cross but the keeper charged and was able to parry it clear. at the 85 minute, Guy gave me a spectacular pass through the middle, i was able to deke a defender and take it clear into the area before unleashing a tremendous shout to the uppercorner bagging my second goal in league play and securing the Stafford win.

Final 2 - 0

my rating: 10

Holy crap was I on fire, everything was crisp. I was named Man of the Match!! After the game a local reporter asked for a quick interview....Of course I did it. I went on and on about the team and the support, Guy, everyone. I just heaped praise on my teammates.

We climbed to 5th in the table from our win!! Stevenage is atop it with 12 pts. Forest Green reside in the cellar with only 1 pt.

York City's Clayton Donaldson scored the league's first hattrick.

[Flasch186]

The Thursday papers were awesome to read (6):

"...Flaschen gave the keeper no chance...""...Flaschen set it up...""...some nice passing by Flaschen...""...opportunities galore...""...Flaschen put in a first class performance...""...got the first man of the match award of his career..."

My dad was going crazy on the phone and there is a party tomorrow night at the Grapes. I think I'm working but it's a party for moi!!

[Flasch186]

Sat 20 August 2005

Dag & Red are coming today and Im just tired. Im tired all of the time. Working at the Grapes isnt so bad but Im just exhausted all of the time and the coaches keep talking to me about extra training but I just cant. It's hurting my development but I cant even find the strength to get out of bed in the morning.

Dag & Red are one above us on the table in 4th...

---nice and sunny---

Dag and Red play a 5-3-2....some notes on them: There backline outside of Jacobs are pretty consistent and work well together...Theyre without Paul Benson but they have a fairly deep squad.

First Half:

I am chasing the ball around and it seems that my teammates and I are dragging ass. Right in front of their box I tackled somebody...I thought it was clean but the ref did not...yellow card for me, again. Thank god for Guy...at the 28 Minute Mark Tew hit a great cross to the far post, well over my head but Guy was there to tuck in the header.

2nd half:

a give and take half with nothing going on on either side until Guy picked up his yellow card. So much for being aggressive from the front line. And another yellow card for Colking....its time we protect this lead. jeez, with 3 minutes left we had a great break and I was open in the box and Guy blasted a shot wide. That sucked, I was open.

Final: 1 - 0

My rating: 2

Horrible outing, I was nonexistent but Im exhausted!!

[Flasch186]

Sun 21 August

Grays Athletic have opened up the new portion of their stadium.

The Staffordshir newsletter wasnt too kind to me today (5):

"...Flaschen looked lonesome on the pitch...""...just one goal seperated them...""...Flaschen didn't pass the ball well...""...it was a careless tackle...""...Flaschen's finishing was poor..."

We climb to 2nd in the table with our win, just behind Stevenage.

[Flasch186]

Wed 24 Aug 2005

We travel to Burton to play today, they find themselves in 13th on the table...Im dead.

---nice and sunny---

Burton Albion play a 4-4-2 diamond...Their keeper, Stuart Tomlinson, is excellent. He has to be becuase their defense is lacking. They truly are weak in the field leaving Tomlinson to save them.

I hope I can somehow make a good game of it but Im going in at half-mast. Before we start the coach starts us in a new tactic, a 4-4-2 attack. guy is unavailable so I start up front with Steve Upton.

First half:

A lethargic first half but I was able to pounce on a loose ball and get a shot on net, I even got a touch on the rebound but it wasnt meant to be. This may be an attacking tactic but Im too tired to get it going. Upton does seem to be at the right place at the right time and the second half might be where we can break out.

2nd half:

too desperate this half and picked up a silly yellow card I totally deserved. Im looking at a suspension soon. Murphy too, he gets a silly yellow. Things are getting testy on the pitch. Unreal, 60th minute or so and were in a footrace for the ball. We both slide, he comes up lame and i pick up my second yellow. Red card and a suspension. Maybe I needed a break. 82nd minute and a man down Steve Scoffham followed his initial shot up with a rebound for a goal and Burton is on top and likely has the win in hand.

Final 0 - 1

my rating: 1

I have to take a break, Im thinking of asking the coach for one. The Grapes may need to find a new barback soon. I cant keep up this pace.

[Flasch186]

The Friday papers chewed me up (5)

"...and one terrible tackle...""...Flaschen didn't pass the ball well...""...just one goal seperated them...""...truly awful...""...Flaschen appeared to lack confidence in front of the goal...""...Flaschen earned himself a red card..."

[Flasch186]

Sat 25 August

Aldershot Town come to Stafford and Im not able to play, serving my suspension. I plan on buying drinks tonight at the Grapes so hopefully we win.


---nice and sunny---

Aldershot town play a 4-4-2 and really only have some strength in midfield. We need to beat this team.

we play a 4-4-2 diamond and Guy is back. Hopefully he can bring us back to the winning side of things.


Final: 1 - 3

we got crushed and drinks were not a fun thing, I bought them, but the team was down. I feel more rested though sitting out the game. I got hit on by a girl at the bar, she was feisty and witty, had black hair, blue eyes, and was nice looking. She wouldnt stop talking about cars though...I decided that now is certainly not the right time to look to start anything. Perhaps after my 10 game, but not after my 1.

[Flasch186]

Mon 29 Aug

I spend a little extra time with the coaches after practice on my dribbling.

[Flasch186]

Wed 31 Aug

We travel to Woking for a midday battle. They are 1-2-4 with 5 points and sit at a scary 22 in the table. They also have no one on any leaderboards.

---nice and sunny---

Woking's best defender is Tom Hutchinson, a tough guy in the middle and they play the traditional 4-4-2

We will play a 4-4-2 diamond with me and guy at the top.

First half:

Woking's Hutchinson gets a free kick atop the box but sails the shot wide of goal. At the 18 minute mark I got free and had an opening, when I sailed the shot at net I went far side clipped the post and the ball came all the way acrossed the goalline to the wing where Tew was able to pick it up. He sailed in a cross but Guy couldnt get to it (neither could I) and Woking cleared. I finally time a slide tackle right freeing the ball into the top of the box, laid perfectly for Guy to score and he blew it wide. Just before end of half Sam Cockerill for Woking went on the break and put it off the cross bar where we were able to clear.

0 - 0

2nd half:

Coach changes things to a 4-5-1. at the 55 minute mark I found the ball off of a defense clear and ran to the top of their box and unleashing a thunderous shot but it sailed over the crossbar. For Woking Cockerill challenged our keeper who made an amazing save and we returned the favor countering and Tew challenged their keeper who was able to turn the ball around the post for a late game corner attempt. A near post cross from Guy on the corner and Tew was able to get it lefty but not on goal.

Final 0 - 0

[Flasch186]

Thu 1 Sep

the papers accentuated my lackluster performance (4):

"...Flaschen wasted his chance...""...a less than impressive display by Flaschen...""...a goal-less league match...""...but Flaschen needs to do the simple things more..."

I think I need to train more with the coaches after practice regardless of how tired I am. Until I can start cleaning up some bonus money Im going to have to keep the job at the Grapes, if not just to keep my parents happy.

In 2 days is USA's 1st CONCACAF match against St. Vincents & Grenadine.

Theyre in a group with them, Honduras and Costa Rica.

The club sold 48 of my shirts last month getting me $672. unreal...I swear its cuz Im the American spectacle. My man of match game a while back couldnt hurt either. Where is that guy now?

[Flasch186]

Sat 2 Sep

I bought my roomie a beer fridge. Kind of a way to thank him for putting me up and up with me. Im working tonight at the grapes and will try to watch the USA game, if they'll have it on...but there's a band playing so it'll be unlikely....

no dice on watching but on the net I found that USA won 2 - 0.

[Flasch186]

Sun 3 Sep

Shit, I just found out that my roommate has gotten himself into some serious debt. He fuckin' lumped that on me last night while celebrating the beer fridge by drinking some of the beer, I told him that I didnt have any means to help him....but this is not good fortune for me and it certainly sucks for him. Apparently its pretty thick too and he's getting worried that there might be some collectors coming along soon.

We have 6 days until our next match with Tamworth so other than working Im going to be taking it easy to rest up.

[Flasch186]

Wed 7 Sep

the first Champions League matches are today so Ill be sitting on my ass watching the games. The biggest match is:

Barcelona v Liverpool

Results:

Barcelona 1 v 1 Liverpool
Ajax 1 v 1 Anderlecht

PSV 2 v 0 Shakhtar Donetsk
Valencia 0 v 1 Manchester U.

Bordeaux 0 v 1 Celtic
Olympiakos 0 v 2 AC Milan

Real Madrid 0 v 1 Lille
AEK Athens 0 v 2 Sporting Lisbon

Spartak Moscow 0 v 2 Benfica
Internazionale 0 v 3 Lyon

CSKA Moscow 0 v 1 Arsenal
Bayern Munich 2 v 1 Porto

FC Kobenhavn 0 v 0 Chelsea
Hamburger SV 2 v 1 Dinamo Kiev

Roma 0 v 2 Werder Bremen
Galatasaray 2 v 0 Levski Sofia



Chelsea drawing is surprising.

[Flasch186]

Thu 8 Sept

Im taking the chance after practice to work on my shooting again like last time.

[Flasch186]

Sat 10 Sept

Tamworth comes to Stafford. theyre at 15th in the table: 3-2-3 with 11 points.

---partly sunny, chance of showers---

I start on the front of a 4-4-2 with Upton...Guy has been called back to his Cameroonian squad for World Cup Qualifiers.

Tamworth play a 5-3-2 missing Canadian midfielder Gavin McCallum for the next 8 weeks due to injury. Irish Left Defender Joe Kendrick closes the left side down well, Right Midfielder Scott Devlin is an absolute moster and can be a game changer.

First half:

nothing really going on except the pick up of my usual yellow card. As uneventful a first half as I can remember.

0 - 0

2nd half:

52nd minute and Tamworth's Ridgeway gets his team's first yellow of the day. I took a long shot and it went about 2 ft wide right but I hope it'll spark somethng as their defense is laying back. Upton and I played 1-2 up the field at the 60 min mark and Upton flighted a shot in that clipped the keeper's hands but went in. I think I'll get the assist. Cha-ching. Unreal!! A few minutes later I got the ball down the left wing, cut it inside and took a shot, Keeper rebounded, I headed it back at him, it hit off his hands and dropped at my feet before I could finally stick it in. It was ugly, Ping pong but it ended up in the net!! CHA-ching!! Redwood picked up a yellow for us trying to get at the ball from behind.

Final: 2 - 0

my rating: 9

and we are now in 6th on the table.

[Flasch186]

Sun 11 Sept

The Sunday papers (6):

"...Flaschen is a rare talent...""...Flaschen carved out numerous oppotunities...""...made few passes...""...it was a careless tackle...""...Flaschen was an influence...""...Flaschen increased his goal count..."

I'll bet the coaches back in Jacksonville cant believe this.

Again, my roomie last night, drunk, starts complaining about his debts. I dont know what to tell him. If he wants to charge me rent, then charge me rent, but quit talking about your debts and bookies and your mess. I dont have enough money.

[Flasch186]

Wed 14 Sept 2005

We travel to Cambridge to take on Cambridge United. CU sit at 3rd on the table with 16pts. CU's keeper Jaime Waite has 3 clean sheets thus far, Stephen Smith has 4 assists and leads the league in passing, Ritchie Hanlon has 3 assists.

---partly cloudy and chance of rain---

CU play a 4-4-2 diamond...DC Matthew bloomer is out injured for another 4 weeks. Keeper Paul Crichton gets the start and he is known as amazing but a little old at 37.

We play a 4-4-2 attack and Guy is back on the frontline with me.

First half:

3 times I made great passes to Guy and once he was able to get a shot off that their keeper made a diving stop and hold on. We getting some space though and we need to keep the pressure on. Their only shot on goal sailed high. We should have the lead but instead its

0 - 0

2nd half:

I just couldnt seem to find the passes. My mates were trying to get me the ball but it evaded my feet in the 2nd half downpours. No offense for them at all.

final: 0 - 0

my rating: 3

off the draw we remain in 6th.

[Tellistto]

Looking forward to see how you progress in this. I remember Icy doing a dynasty on one of these games, but not sure if it was this version or not.

Tell

Edit: Not Icy, it was Radii that did a dynasty on this game.

[Flasch186]

Thu 15 Sept

The Thursday papers (4):

"...Flaschen appeared to lack confidence in front of the goal...""...Flaschen's passing was below average...""...a goal-less league match...""...Flaschen had little impact..."

Last night while at the Grapes, working I was getting hit on by this chick - she was tall and feisty, black hair, pale skin and green eyes. Good chick but loaded down with too much jewelry and from our conversation I could tell she's into fashion, perhaps too much. Anyways, I didnt have time to talk since I was busy and tired after the game.

[Flasch186]

Sat 17 Sep

We travel to Southport which is about 55 miles north west of here, up the M6. Anyways, its an early game and guess what? Im working tonight at the Grapes.

Southport sit at 17th on the table with 13 points (3-4-3)

Sean Clancy is on the leaderboard with 48 tackles.

---nice and sunny---

Southport play a 4-4-2 and their keeper Paul Harrison is a stud. Theyre much better on the left defensive side vs. the right where they have an underachieving DL in Chris Lane. Their best attacker is 37yo Stuart Barlow.

Wow, I found out in the locker room that Im not even a reserve for this game. Benched. That hasnt happened since Ive been here. Perhaps my recent play has cost me my starting job. Not good but perhaps its for the best as I truly have sucked lately and I need to spend more time on the field instead at of at work.

We lose 2 - 0

tonight at work I use my time wisely and buy a bunch of drinks for players and fans which helps boost my confidence that I dont totally suck.

[Flasch186]

Sun 18 Sept

According to the papers the Kidderminster board has loosened up the pursestrings to go after some players on the transfer market.

[Flasch186]

Mon 19 Sept

Im going to spend some time with the coaches to work on my passing tonight.

[Flasch186]

Wed 21 Sept

The second game of the Champions League and I sit on my ass, drink beers from the beer fridge and watch some games...

Big Game of the day:

Arsenal v. Bayern Munich


Anderlecht 0 v 1 Barcelona
Liverpool 1 v 0 Ajax Amsterdam

Manchester United 2 v 2 PSV
Shakhtar 2 v 3 Valencia

AC Milan 1 v 2 Bordeaux
Celtic 1 v 0 Olymipakos

Sporting Lisbon 0 v 1 Real Madrid
Lille 2 v 2 AEK Athens

Lyon 1 v 1 Spartak Moscow
Benfica 0 v 1 Internazionale

Porto 0 v 2 CSKA Moscow
Arsenal 1 v 2 Bayern Munich

Dynamo Kiev 1 v 0 FC Kobenhaven
Chelsea 0 v 2 Hamburger SV

Levski Sofia 2 v 3 Roma
Werder Bremen 1 v 0 Galatasaray




Not a good day for English soccer with Man U, Chelsea, and Arsenal losing!!

[Flasch186]

Thu 22 Sept

Im going to spend some time working with the coaches on my shooting skills today...

[Coffee Warlord]

I never could do ANYTHING in that game. Fun read, though!

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

I never could do ANYTHING in that game. Fun read, though!

It is pretty difficult