FM2005: A frog at Kenilworth Road [Archive] - Front Office Football Central

FrogMan

12-14-2004, 07:38 PM

Well, here I am. I have decided to put pen to paper, err, fingers to keyboard and I'll present you my dealings with my Luton Town side in FM2005. Why the title you may ask? Kenilworth Road is the name of where the Luton Town Hatters play their home game :)

I am quite addicted with this game right now, and despite a pretty busy family life, I try to find a little 20 minutes every evening to at least play a little, at least get through one match (league or Cup). That way, I went through my 2004-05 season in about 3 and a half weeks. I'll see how often I'll update this dynasty, or how deep I go into details, but I have found I need a place to talk about my team, and what happens with the players, opponents, the team board, etc.

First things first, why Luton Town? It all goes back to a few months ago, when I played CM4 for the first time. CM4 was my first foray ever in the Championship Manager/Football Manager world. I had read about it many times and knew about people taking a low team and making it a championship caliber team. I wanted a challenge, but not a crazy kind of challenge, at least not for my first experience. Luton fit the bill pretty well, as they had a little transfer budget ($36k IIRC), had just been promoted from division 3 (now League One), and their fans were expecting them to battle relegation with pride (or something like that). I thought "Perfect!" So I started reading about them, even signed up for their real life email newsletter. I played with CM4 on and off over the Summer, waiting for FM2005 to be released. When I got my copy of FM2005, there was no way I could manage anybody else other than the Hatters and their Orange and Blue shirts. The Challenge was on.

Luton Town start the 2004-05 season in League One, and we are now in the middle of October 2005, meaning I have already played one season (2004-05) and the beginning of a second one. The 2004-05 season was rough. I experimented with tactics a lot before finding one I liked and the result was a long stretch of losing at the beginning of the season. IIRC, we lost 8 in a row at some point, putting us in a very rough spot, in 22nd place of 24, with about 15-18 games to play. Just so you know, the bottom 4 teams in League One get relegated to League Two. When I started playing with my 4-3-3 I started seeing wins happen, and when we were not winning, we were always in the game, as opposed to sometimes losing 1-4 or 0-3 before switching tactics. With that 4-3-3, we are creating scoring chances, we are very often outshooting the opponent. I like it and will keep on using it, even though I'd like to develop another tactics, if only to throw a wrench in my opponent's gameplanning :)

When I read about Eaglesfan27 getting the dreaded vote of confidence, I smile a little. I smile because I have received it numerous times when the team was in the dump. All I wanted of that first season was to survive it, get to the next season without relegating, since I was about sure that I'd have been fired if we had relegated. I also knew I had to survive until the following season, since I had signed 8 players on Bosman transfers and they were all going to get to the team on July 1st, 2005. I had to be there to welcome them :)

We finished in 15th place and, thus staying well out of relegation zone, but it took us up to the 45th game of the season to secure us a spot in League One for 2005-06. The board was at least satisfied with my managing of the season, taking my name off the "insecure" list in the jobs security screen. phew!

Signing so many players had a bad effect on the team's finances though, and me being kind of a newb still with managing a soccer team, I saw the team's wage bill grow from being 5k under budget to a whopping 20k *over* budget! Great, one more thing for the team board to complain about. I knew I had to win, or else that would be a long season. And guess what, the pundits didn't like my chances either, as they set the odds of my team winning the title at 40-1, down from the 20-1 odds they had set for me only a season ago... The wage thing got itself sorted out when the team board allowed me more wage budget after I transfered out the Fans favorite player or last season, a bold move, but one worth it, as it netted us 750k in transfer money. Because of that sale, I still have roughly 500k available, and I'm starting to think about what I could do with it :)

We started the offseason with a some rough times, but we played Aston Villa twice at home for good money, but they were easily better than us, so I took the losses with a grain of salt.

The season is going fairly well so far. We win or draw fairly regularly and the times we've lost, we were usually in the game. Weird thing is I get the feeling that we are playing through maybe the toughest part of our schedule, as we played the teams in 2nd, 4th, and then 5th place in back to back to back contests. And through all that, we were in 5th place at some point!!! We are currently in 14th place, with 3 wins, 4 losses, and 3 draws for 12 points after 10 gamesand a +1 goal differential. As I said, I'm happy about this start to the season, as it seems we have played a bunch of tough teams so far. There will come a time when we'll play the bottom feeders... :)

A word about my tactics. I play two types of 4-3-3, but they both could be called 4-2-1-3, as I have 4 in the back, 2 DMC, one MC/AMC (depending on the version) and 3 strikers on top. Here are two pics of my tactics...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/433-1.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/433-2.gif

I started with only outward arrows on both the FCR and the FCL, but I recently added forward arrows on the two fullbacks and backward arrows on the two centrebacks and I have seen some good results, including back to back clean sheets when I started doing this. I adjust the different sliders of the team tactics a little every game, and some players have special individual orders, but I won't get into them now, maybe later.
Next up, a look at who these Hatters of Luton Town are...

FM

Eaglesfan27

12-14-2004, 07:43 PM

I love the title.. great pictures as well as an all around great first post :)

FrogMan

12-14-2004, 08:10 PM

Here's a look at my players, starting with the keepers and moving on up to the strikers. Next to the players' name are his position(s), his age, and current value...

GOALKEEPERS
Mark Goodlad, starter, (GK, 26yo, $80k)
One of the many Bosman trasnfers the team made in the offseason. He is the glue that holds the the defensive side of my team together. Has averaged some great form ratings at first in the season with a little drop of late.

Rob Beckwith, backup, (GK, 21yo, $90k)
An original Hatter. Still pretty young, he was the starter last season, but showed his inexperience at times, forcing my hand to sign a more experienced GK to back him up. They actually rotated back and forth until Goodlad got hot and won the starting duties outright.

DEFENDERS
Matt Carbon, starting left fullback, (D LC, 30yo, $60k)
Another one of the offseason acquisitions. I brought him to play left defender, but he's showing unhappiness right now, after I've played him at that position, telling me he thinks I'm not playing him in his strongest position. He even was telling me that I am not listening to my players... Will have to see if it's not better to play him in center...

Chris Coyne, starting centreback (D C, 26yo, $110k)
An original Hatter, who played some good games last season, but got tired toward the end of the season. I will have to be careful not to overplay him this season... Been called up a few times for Australia's nationa team, but has not played yet...

Mark Williams, starting centreback (D C, 35yo, $6k)
Another one offseason acquisition. Was first brought in to be a starter, but may be relegated to the bench if I start playing Carbon in center a bit more. Will still be helpful coming off the bench, or in replacement of Coyne if he gets tired later on in the season...

Kevin Foley, starting right fullback (D/DM R, 20, $200k)
Another original Hatter. He also got tired a lot, even earlier than Coyne last season. will have to be careful here too, but he is young and has a lot of potential. Currently part of Ireland's U21 squad, has 4 caps.

Sol Davis, backup left fullback (D/DM L, 26yo, $36k)
Another original Hatter, who was my rock solid left defender last season. May have to come back in that role if I move Carbon to centreback.

Curtis Davies, backup centreback (SW/D C, 20yo, $40k)
Young original Hatter who shows his young age with rather edgy performance. Can be great, then be bad, from game to game. Because of that, I have a hard time putting him in the game every week, even though he played very often last season.

Russell Perrett, backup backup centreback (D C, 32yo, $6k)
An original Hatter. Only used when we're in trouble due to injuries or suspensions.

Next up, midfielders and up...

FM

FrogMan

12-14-2004, 08:19 PM

MIDFIELDERS
Richard Johnson, starting defensive midfielder (DM C, 31yo, $28k)
Another offseason acquisition, the anchor of our midfield. Is currently injured for a few weeks, so we'll need one of the young kids to step up.

Adam Chambers, defensive midfielder on rotation (D/DM RC, 24yo, $48k)
Recently acquired on a free transfer after West Brom decided to let him loose. Has played some good game for us and should keep on growing with the team.

Keith Keane, defensive midfielder on rotation (D/DM RC, 18yo, $1.4M)
An original Hatter, also a member of Ireland's U21 squad and has taken the field with Kevin Foley a couple of times lately, doing well. Doubles up as a backup to Foley whenever it is needed. Has a lot of potential and could be a star for the team for many seasons.

Bobby Wilde, backup defensive midfielder (DM LC, 24yo, $44k)
Acquired on a free transfer in the middle of the 04-05 season. A weird player with amazing corner kick skills, great crossing skills, but about nothing in terms of marking, passing, or heading skills. Even weirder is that he performed so well last season that he was a regular fix in our midfield, often getting form ratings of 8. I guess his great work ethic and teamwork skills help him in the midfield

Lee Mansell, attacking midfielder on rotation (AM C, 22yo, $52k)
Another original Hatter. Fairly young, he was stable enough last season to earn most of the starts at the AMC position, feeding the strikers with quality balls on a regular basis. Has not been as steady this season, we will have to keep an eye on him.

Mark Jones, attacking midfielder on rotation (AM C, 21yo, $56k)
Acquired as part of a "live and learn" mistake where I offered him a contract, to be effective at the end of his current contract, but he was not eligible to a Bosman transfer. Oops. Had to pay 180k in compensation while his value was only 18k on his former team. The good thing is that his value has since soared to 56k. Is often getting better ratings than Mansell, but also seem to get tired a bit faster.

James Pinnock, backup attacking midfielder/striker (F C, 27yo, $56k)
Another one of them offseason acquisition, he's a forward playing mostly as an AMC, but he spends more time on the reserves team that the main one.

Steve Robinson, backup midfielder (M RC, 30yo, $20k)
An original Hatter. Has been hurt for the last 2 months, and is just getting back to training, so I have a hard time evaluating where he stands. He played mostly AMC last season, but with the recent injury to Johnson, he may be called to play some DMC too...

And next, the strikers...

FM

FrogMan

12-14-2004, 08:41 PM

FORWARDS
Steve Howard, starting center forward (S C, 29yo, $280k)
The star of the team, everybody loves him ans thinks he's a great player. Seriously, this is the name I see come up the most among player profile when they mention another player from the team, as in "Thinks Howard is a good player"... Plays in the middle as Target Man because of his great heading skill and his good physical strength. He lacks pace though. Is the team's penalty kick master and goal scoring leader... The only player for whom I have a player card online, click here to see it.

Bartosz Tarachuslki, starting right forward (S C, 30yo, $48k)
Yet another one of them offseason acquisitions. A very well rounded striker, who could also play the middle spot in replacement of Howard. Has not scored many goals so far, but he's made some pretty nice moves on the wing...

Elvis Hammond, starting left forward (S C, 25yo, $150k)
And yes, another offseason acquisitions. A bit younger than the other two starters, he could help us for a longer time. He's got flair and can pull some great games at times...

Matthew Blinkhorn, backup forward (S C, 20yo, $80k)
An original Hatter who saw a lot of playing time when we made the switch to 4-3-3 last season, and made the most of it, improving vastly his heading, finishing, and off the ball skills. At only20, he could be with the team for a long time, and even with the many new players, he still sees a lot of first team playing time...

Enoch Showunmi, backup forward (S C, 23yo, $700k)
Another original Hatter, who's dropped in the doghouse, sort of. His value got all the way up to 950k last season and he was hot, en fuego, but he's cooled of quite a bit lately and he's able of the best and the worst at times. To be noted that he is the only left footed forward on my top strikers...

These round up the players you are most likely to hear about when I'll be reporting about first team play with this Luton Town side. I have some depth, especially at forward, and it was needed at the beginning of October 2005, when 4 of my starting strikers go injured and I went all down to 6th and 7th on the depth chart, but even that low, they are capable of fighting and clawing their way on the field...

I'm itching to go play, so I'll see ya later with maybe some reports :)

FM

NoSkillz

12-15-2004, 07:44 AM

Great start! And very interesting tactics (especially with me being a newb and just using a pretty vanilla 4-4-2 to start)...

I'll definitely be following along!

FrogMan

12-15-2004, 07:47 AM

thanks, always nice to see some Canucks in the house :)

FM

FrogMan

12-15-2004, 09:04 AM

I'm not too sure how I'll go with the reporting of my match results and other news, since my computer doesn't seem to like me having anything more than FM2005 opened at once. What I did yesterday is take notes when when the game was going on, without even noting who was in the starting lineup. I realized that afterward, but I'm still unsure if I will even report that or not, will depend on my mood I guess. Sometimes I'm just too anxious to get there and play the darn game :) For today, I took notes as events happened and I'm writing this here on notepad during coffe breaks (and I'll keep going over lunch break)...

I'll also try and report general team news (transfer news, international call ups, achievements, awards, board confidence updates) as they happen.

Transfer News
In my last playing session, I had made an offer to buy AMC Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, can't remember his former team though. We could say that Bridge-Wilkinson is an old friend of mine, as I had signed him before in my CM4 career, and he used to give me great games. After both Mark Jones *AND* Lee Mansell went down with injuries a couple of weeks ago, I thought I needed to get some more depth, and with some 500k in my transfer budget, why not even improve the position. Bridge-Wilkinson had a value of 260k, and that's the bid I made. At this point, still waiting on an answer...

October 19, 2005
home vs Walsall (currently in 4th)
Well, my stretch of tough games keeps on going, when we host Walsall, currently in 4th position. I go in with my "A" version of the 4-3-3 in this game, starting Mark Jones at AMC, and what a decision that was. Jones goes on to score two goals, his first two with Luton. First one was a nice combination play, one-two style between him and Matthew Blinkhorn. The second one was all Keith Keane pumping a high, long ball to create a great counter attack and Jones taking it home from there. The rest of the game, we controlled the ball very effectively, holding a clear advantage with 56% possession.
Final Score: Luton 2, Walsall 0
Shots (on target): Luton 15 (7), Walsall 8 (2)
MoM: Mark Jones with a ratings of 10, the first Hatter with a 10 in a looooong time

We move up to 10th place with the win.

FM

FrogMan

12-15-2004, 09:05 AM

Scouting/Transfer News
After the game, I get some new from my scout whom I'd asked to have a look at Gavin Mahon of Watford. Mahon was saying that he felt he had achieved everything he could at his current club. I thought maybe now was the time to try and sign the sweeper/defensive midfielder. My scout says Mahon would definitely move into the starting lineup and would be a useful addition to my team. Even if my bid for Bridge-Wilkinson goes through, I'd still have 240k left in my transfer budget. I decide to bid 180k for Wahon, despite his value being set at 200k.

Transfer News
The bid for Bridge-Wilkinson has been accepted! We now have to agree on terms for a contract. We make hims an offer for first team money, so around $5400 a week, and he accepts! This is all nice and good, but with it, we just pushed the wage bil upward, and we're now 6k over our budget limit and the team board isn't all that happy about it. I'll have to see where I can skim some...

October 22, 2005
home vs Watford (currently in 3rd)
This is our third match in seven days, and my starting eleven is not at 100%. More than that, it's another toughie,as we take on the 3rd placed Watford. I shuffle my strikers a little, but decided to leave Steve Howard as a started, despite him being at around 91% condition when comes gametime. I'll see if I need to sub him out in the second half. Bridge-Wilkinson doesn't get to team in time, so I play Mark Jones despite him also having low condition at the start of the game. I'll have Lee Mansell ready to take over if he gets too tired. I had not scouted them too much before the game, but as soon as I see the game preview and see their 3-5-2 lineup, with the 5 middies on a straight line accross the field, I decide to change my team tactics and ask my players to play with a little longer style of passing. I'm hoping that we can pump balls over the heads of their middies and don't want to play a short passing game, especially in the middle where it would basivally be my two DMC against their 5 middies... The game starts fast, and while we are not having many scoring chances at first, one scuffle in Watford's penalty box results in Steve Howard being awarded a penalty. With his great penalty kick skills, he quick cannons a bullet through the keeper and we're up 1-0 after only 7 minutes. A freakish deflection off of Kevin Foley results in the tying goal. I say freakish, since I rally had to watch the slowmo replay and read the commentary to realize why my keeper Mark Goodlad had jumped to the left while the ball had come in to his right... 1-1 was the score then, it will remains that way... We had a much better second half, creating many more scoring chances compared to the first half.
Final Score: Luton 1, Watford 1
Shots (on target): Luton 11 (6), Watford 15 (5)
MoM: Steve Howard with a ratings of 8

We move down slightly, to 11th place.

FM

daedalus

12-15-2004, 09:08 AM

FrogMan

12-15-2004, 09:13 AM

Wow. Interesting tactic, Frogger. I've never tinkered with pulling back the centrebacks before. I'm DEFINITELY going to try that out. I've never tinkered with arrowing the two defensive middies forward before but have heard of folks having success with it, have you tried that one?
I have read about people doing that too, but I was sort of concerned with how many goals we were conceding with my previous tactics and I really wanted my DMCs to be there to sort of help my centrebacks clean out the middle, and also be the starting point of any attacks, so I don't want them to be too up forward. I may try and play with it at some point, especially when I get a game where I'd want some extra offensive push.

Playing the two centrebacks pulled back, I feel like they are both playing like sweepers, and the feeling I really get is that they do clean the box out of any rebounded balls the keeper could have let go inadvertantly...

FM

FrogMan

12-15-2004, 11:39 AM

October 29, 2005
away at Chester City (currently 24th)
Finally! I think. We finally get to play somebody out of the top 10 teams of League One. While trying not to take newly promoted Chester City too lightly, I know that now is the time to give some of my regulars a breather. That includes my starting keeper, Mark Goodlad, whom I replace with backup Rob Beckwith. Not that Goodlad needs the rest, but I also want to give Beckwith some first team playing time and keep him in playing shape, in case an injury should happen to Goodlad. This is also the first game for attacking middie Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, who shows some great stuff at some point and ends the game with a 7 ratings, being replaced late in the game by Mark Jones. We try and try, but nobody can connect and we end up with a draw, despite outshooting them two to one. Bartosz Tarachulski was everywhere, creating chances left and right, and earns the 3rd MoM in a row for a Hatter...
Final Score: Luton 0, Chester City 0
Shots (on target): Luton 8 (2), Chester City 4 (1)
MoM: Bartosz Tarachulski with a ratings of 8

We move down slightly again, to 12th place.

This is it for the matches played in that playing session, so I'll introduce a little chart I like very much. It shows how your position in the league table has changed over the course of the season.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/pp050613.gif

As you can see, we started with a loss that put us in 23rd, but since then we've stabilized ourselves and hang in between 9th and 14th, a position I'm satisfied with, at least for now.

Transfer News
My first offer for Watford's Gavin Mahon was categorically refused by Watford. I like him a lot, given that he his a sweeper/defensive midfielder, so I up the ante to 220k, even though he's only valued at 200k. A few days pass and that bid is also rejected without even a chance for negotiation. I decide to declare my interest, see what they will say. Well, Watford's manager doesn't say a word, but our fans speak out, and loud. They are telling me, through the media, that they would be unhappy to see me sign Mahon. That's good information to me and I decide to let go of him...

International Call ups (part 1)
Keith Keane and Kevin Foley both get called up by the Ireland U21 squad for a pair of international friendlies that will be played on November 11th and November 15th. I don't put any restriction on their participation in these friendlies, even though I had not realized at the time that the team has a long break from November 9th to November 19th...

Achievement News
Bartosz Tarachulski makes the League One Team of the Week, following his great play in the Chester City match.

Team Board News
November 1st comes and the Luton team board tells me they are pleased with my management of the club. Things are looking good.

International Call ups (part 2)
Four other Hatters have been called up for international friendlies. I almost freaked out, fearing I'd lose close to half my team for almost a week, especially after the first two call ups for Foley and Keane. This is where I took a look at my fixtures list and realized the team had no match scheduled from November 9th to November 19th. The call ups are for defender Chric Coyne, keeper Dino Seremet (a backup of the backup, I'm kind of puzzled he's on any national team, may have to look into it... SVN is what, Slovenia? weird), striker Bartosz Tarachulski, and defender Mark Williams. They're all set to play on possibly two matches each, on November 12th and November 16th.

FM

mrkilla22

12-15-2004, 11:46 AM

Good read so far FM! :)

FrogMan

12-15-2004, 11:47 AM

thanks, glad to see you aboard :)

FM

MizzouRah

12-15-2004, 12:12 PM

Good read!

Todd

FrogMan

12-15-2004, 12:12 PM

thanks Todd, was wondering when you'd show up ;)

FM

Desnudo

12-15-2004, 05:05 PM

terpkristin

12-15-2004, 06:27 PM

Well Froggy I'm here!
I love the FM updates, makes me wish my computer wasn't a joke.
However in lieu of purchasing FM05, maybe I'll reinstall CM0304 and try running it again.

Keep it up!!!
~tk

FrogMan

12-15-2004, 06:33 PM

Froggy, I tried a variation of your more defensive tactic and it worked wonders. I was getting slaughtered in away games with the 4-3-3 I was using. I did adjust some arrows on your tactic, taking the up ones off the fullbacks and MC. I also added arrows to the side for my DMs. I made these adjustments when I was really getting pushed hard on the wings early on in the game. As you noted, the DCs seemed to do a real good job of clearing the line.

You'd think that would result in lots of attacks down the middle and it did, but all the attacks seemed to result in long shots which are fine to me. Net result 3-0 victory when I was heavily the underdog! Thanks for the idea Froggy.
wow, pretty cool. Glad to see my own little tactic could inspire you :)

Got two questions though: where has the ribbit.jpg gone? I thought it was cool to see the tactic in a graphical presentation. I have saved it and could host it if you are okay with me presenting it here. I may very well use some of these ideas on my team.

Second: were you using a 4-3-3 before I mentioned it? I was getting the feeling that not many people a 4-3-3, and it was sort of why I liked it :)

About the long shots thing. I used to get that, many, many long shots tried, and since my strikers are not that effective on a long range, it resulted in me having like 20 shots, but only 2 on target. What I did is put the two outside strikers on the "rarely" setting for their tendency to fire long shots. I still get many chances, but they tend to be better ones...

FM

FrogMan

12-15-2004, 06:35 PM

Well Froggy I'm here!
I love the FM updates, makes me wish my computer wasn't a joke.
However in lieu of purchasing FM05, maybe I'll reinstall CM0304 and try running it again.

Keep it up!!!
~tk
Thanks tk, glad to see you finally come along :)

FM

Eaglesfan27

12-15-2004, 07:00 PM

FrogMan

12-15-2004, 07:07 PM

This is a great read! I wonder if you wouldn't mind sharing with me how you are getting such great shots of your tactics and the league position chart screen into this thread.(I forgot that was there and really need to look at it.)
don't mind at all. Screenshots are really easy. When in the game, hit the "PrintScreen" key on you keyboard. This does a "copy" of your screen. Then open your favorite picture editor, or in my case, my picture viewer IrfanView (http://www.irfanview.com) (freeware) and do a simple paste (ctrl+v). Irfanview, shile being a very simple, light picture viewer, allows you to crop the picture to only what you need. You then save it to your disk and host it somewhere. I use Photobucket (http://www.photobucket.com) which is also free up to 25Mb and allows hotlinking. You can then insert the image in your text with the WYSIWYG editor we have here...

Ask here or by pm if you need more help...

FM

Desnudo

12-15-2004, 07:13 PM

wow, pretty cool. Glad to see my own little tactic could inspire you :)

Got two questions though: where has the ribbit.jpg gone? I thought it was cool to see the tactic in a graphical presentation. I have saved it and could host it if you are okay with me presenting it here. I may very well use some of these ideas on my team.

Second: were you using a 4-3-3 before I mentioned it? I was getting the feeling that not many people a 4-3-3, and it was sort of why I liked it :)

About the long shots thing. I used to get that, many, many long shots tried, and since my strikers are not that effective on a long range, it resulted in me having like 20 shots, but only 2 on target. What I did is put the two outside strikers on the "rarely" setting for their tendency to fire long shots. I still get many chances, but they tend to be better ones...

FM

Hey, go ahead, I took it down because I couldn't get it to format with this page. It kept pushing the edge out, and I know how we all dislike that. :)

I am using a more attacking 4-3-3 at home, I think it's the standard one with 3 MCs and 3 Fwds although I've customized the instructions. I'll also occasionally move the FR out to the AMR position with an up arrow to shake things up. I was having trouble scoring with anything else with the patch game so decided to give it a go. The long shots thing isn't a problem for me, I meant for the other team. ;)

I'm currently 2nd in goals scored and 4th in goal differential, although somehow that equates to 10th place.

FrogMan

12-15-2004, 07:19 PM

Hey, go ahead, I took it down because I couldn't get it to format with this page. It kept pushing the edge out, and I know how we all dislike that. :)

Ahh, I see why now. I opened it with IrfanView, and there it is, a small field in the middle of a big white space. Cropped it and it's now fine. Here's what Desnudo's 4-3-3 looks like:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/Ribbit.gif

I tell ya, that IrfanView thingy is very nice to use :)

I like what you did with the DMC, adjusting to strong wing attacks. I'll keep this in mind for in-games adjustments...

FM

jbmagic

12-15-2004, 07:58 PM

i see tactics in this game makes a difference depending on your opponents weakness, strength, etc

how many different tactics can you do in this game?

RPI-Fan

12-15-2004, 08:13 PM

how many different tactics can you do in this game?

∞

Eaglesfan27

12-15-2004, 08:52 PM

Thanks FM! :) (I should have realized you were doing it like the reference thread - I kept trying to use the ingame print function.)

jbmagic - the tactics are the most fun part of the game for me. There are many different things to do with them, and they all have real effects in the game.

FM - Keep up the great work.. Wonderful read :)

FrogMan

12-15-2004, 09:47 PM

i see tactics in this game makes a difference depending on your opponents weakness, strength, etc

how many different tactics can you do in this game?
just like RPI-Fan said, the possibilities as infinite, or almost. Only in stock tactics, there are some, what 30 or more predefined tactics, but then you can do all kinds of twists, like the arrows, or moving players around a little, give players individual orders and all that. It is indeed very interesting, but can also be very frustrating :)

FM

FrogMan

12-15-2004, 10:16 PM

FA Cup news
The draw for round 1 of the FA cup is done and we will play Petersborough, a League Two team, on November 16th. For a moment, I start to freak out a bit, since many of my players will be away on international duty....

End of the month News
For some reason, the end of the month had not arrived, contrary to what I mentionned in a previous. I guess I had simply anticipated the pleasedness of the team board :) Nevertheless, they are really pleased with my work

Achievement News
With the end of the month comes the many league awards, and for the first time in my career, a Hatter receives a monthly award. Mark Jones is named the Young Player of the Month for League One. WOW!!! That 180k fee paid in the offseason is looking better and better every day...

November 1st, 2005
LDV Vans Trophy South, 2nd round
home vs Forest Green (currently 15th in Conference National)
I need some help about the odds for this game. We are favorite at 1-8, while Forest Green are favorite at 12-1. Does this mean that someone has to bet $8 to win $1 if we win?? Anyway, I've started taking notes of my starting lineups, so it will probably help the whole team become a bit more "alive" as you'll see the names a bit more...
S: Showunmi - Howard - Blinkhorn
AM: Mansell
DM: Wilde - Chambers
D: Davis - Williams - Davies - Foley
GK: Beckwith
Since it's a game that looks a bit easier than our usual league games, and we'll have a good stretch of game coming, I decide to sit a few regular and play some players who don't often see the field. That includes striker Enoch Showunmi, defensive middie Bobby Wilde, and centreback Curtis Davies. The game starts and not even 2 minutes had been played that Kevin Foley does it all, a throw in, picked up the loose ball that followed it, then centered it to Showunmi who pushed it to Mansell who strikes a very precise shot for the 1-0 goal. Int the 37th minute, they are forced to finish the game with only 10 players after one of theirs had received a red card. As if it wasn't tough enough for a conference team to play a League One team on our pitch... Showunmi again contributed to the second goal of the Hatters, a diving header by Steve Howard.
Final Score: Luton 2, Forest Green 0
Shots (on target): Luton 12 (6), Chester City 1 (1)
MoM: Steve Howard with a ratings of 8

We re through to the quarter final...

FM

FrogMan

12-15-2004, 10:28 PM

International Call ups
Defender Jacopo Piotto has been called up for an internation friendly with the Italy U19 squad. He's not even a backup on our team, I let him go without restrictions...

Player praise
I decide to praise the good form of Mark Jones in the media, following his title of Young player of the month. The fans approve of the praise and everybody is happy...

International Call ups
I get a message that Mark Jones has been brought in to the Wales U21 squad in replacement of another player. I'm not too sure what that means, as no date for a friendly is mentionned. I'll keep an eye on him...

Cup News
The LDV Vans Trophy South quarter final draw happens and we'll play Millwall at home on November 29. Millwall, even though they are now in our league, were in the English Championship last season, from where they got relegated. This won't be an easy game... Among other Cup news, our FA Cup round 2 match against Petersborough, that was due to be played on November 16th, has been moved to November 23, due to international call ups. I breath a deep sigh of relief...
FM

tanglewood

12-16-2004, 07:17 AM

I need some help about the odds for this game. We are favorite at 1-8, while Forest Green are favorite at 12-1. Does this mean that someone has to bet $8 to win $1 if we win??

Yes, the first number is the amount you win if you bet the second number.

So at odds of 1-8, an $8 bet would win you $1 giving you total winnings of $9. In other words, you were the very overwhelming favourite.

FrogMan

12-16-2004, 09:05 AM

Yes, the first number is the amount you win if you bet the second number.

So at odds of 1-8, an $8 bet would win you $1 giving you total winnings of $9. In other words, you were the very overwhelming favourite.
Thanks, that's what I thought it was, but I had never seen so good odds in my favor before :)

FM

FrogMan

12-16-2004, 09:23 AM

November 5, 2005
away at Bradford City (currently 15th, only 1 point behind us)
S: Hammond/Howard/Tarachulski
MC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Johnson/Chambers
D: Davis/Carbon/Coyne/Keane
GK: Goodlad
Being that this game is away, I decide to go with a more bit more defensive tactic and I take off the forward arrows on my fullbacks. I also give the start to Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, since I think he's a better rounded kind of middie to play in the laid back position, but with a forward arrow, instead of having him sit right behind the strikers. This game goes without much, and the number of shots is relatively low. We lose possession big time, with them holding the ball in our defensive zone an astounding 29% of the game!!! We hang on and get the 0-0 draw. Given the possession number, I'm happy with it.
Final Score: Luton 0, Bradford City 0
Shots (on target): Luton 6 (3), Bradford City 8 (1)
MoM: Adam Chambers with a ratings of 8

Unexpectedly, we move up to 11th position with the draw.

Contract News
Looking at my team's wages, I see that Marlon Beresford is currently earning 4k a week to sit on his arse and watch the young lads of my reserve team work theirs off. See, Marlon has already announced his retirement, effective at the end of his current current. I decide to see if he's be open for a mutual termination. Not unexpectedly, he refuses...

Achievement News
Adam Chambers is named on the League One Team of the week, following his good showing in last Saturday's match. That his first award of the kind ever.

Contract News
After a few days have passed, I decide to see how much it would cost me to release Marlon Beresford on a free transfer. What?!? Only 28k?!? I could not click that button fast enough. For the cost of only 7 weeks of salary, Marlon Beresford is released on a free transfer. This comes at a cost though, as Marlon was on a player/coach contract, and him being a goalkeeper, he was the team's main keeper coach. An advert is immediately placed for a replacement.

FM

FrogMan

12-16-2004, 11:43 AM

November 9, 2005
home vs Barnsley (currently 19th, only 3 points behind us)
S: Hammond/Howard/Blinkhorn
AMC: Jones
DMC: Johnson/Chambers
D: Carbon/Williams/Coyne/Foley
Being at home, the forward arrows are back for the fullbacks and AMC Jones is played way up top, right behind the strikers. I don't always do much scouting on my opponents. Sometimes I'm only too anxious to get out and play, and sometimes I make adjustments as I get to the game. It was the case in this game, when I saw that Barnsley was going to play some 4-4-2 diamond formation. I had set my team to try pushing the passes through the middle. That diamond in the middle kind of persuaded me to change this to at least a mixed distribution of passes... In the 13th minute, an amazing long cross pass from Kevin Foley, from deep on the right, all the way to the middle of their defensive zone, creates a great opportunity for Steve Howard. He makes the best of it, converting the one-on-one with the keeper for the 1-0 goal. For my North American friends, think of that pass as a long bomb, 45 yardish, from a QB rolling to his right, passing right in the middle of the field, behind the safety and the receiver catches it in stride. It was a beauty :) Even the commentator couldn't believe it, saying that Foley's superb vision made the goal... They tie the score with some great passing right around our penalty box, spinning some of our defenders out of their shorts. 1-1 was the score then, it will be the final score...
Final Score: Luton 1, Barnsley 1
Shots (on target): Luton 8 (4), Barnsley 5 (1)
MoM: Barnsley's Liam Nalis with a ratings of 8
Hatter of the Match: Kevin Foley with a ratings of 8, but even if he had played as crap the rest of the game, I'd have been tempted to give it to him anyway, if only for that amazing pass :)

Hatter of the Match will be known as HoM in the future and isn't an official award given by the game. It's only something I'll do whenever the Man of the Match award is given to a player from the other team...

Following the draw, we drop to 13th place after 15 games out of a schedule of 46, or almost one third into the season. I'll take this for now, as this is much better than the 21st-23rd position we held at about the same time last season...

International Roundup (part 1, Nov. 12)
Kevin Foley played well for the Ireland U21 squad before being replaced, getting a ratings of 7. Keith Keane also made the trip but didn't play. Mark Williams cam in as a sub for the North Ireland national team and played fairly well, also getting a ratings of 7.

International Roundup (part 2, Nov. 16)
Kevin Foley and Keith Keane were both said to have solid performances for the Ireland U21 squad.

Injury News
An ankle injury will keep Matthew Blinkhorn away from the field for a period of two weeks. It sucks, but we don't lack depth as far as strikers go, so we should be all right.

Transfer News
As I do every once in a while, I decide to offer one of my higher valued players, that I feel isn't delivering as much as I'd expect, to other teams. Striker Enoch Showunmi has been on the transfer list for a long while and I decide to offer him to other teams for the discounted price of $500k. His value is currently at $700k. A day pass and replies come in that *nobody* is interested in Showunmi, oh well...

Injury News
As our long break is coming to an end, we get more training injury happening. Defender Sol Davis and striker Bartosz Tarachulski will both miss 5 days with injuries. Matt Carbon will play left defender for Davis, while I'll find somebody to fill in for Bart among my stable of strikers...

Loan/Contract News
Stuart Sinclair comes back from his loan at Conference side Cambridge City. While he was there for 3 months, with them paying every penny of his tiny $150 weekly wage, and they didn't play him, not even once!!! He says he is frustrated, that he really thought he was going to gain first team experience by going on loan. As we are sitting in my office, I tell him: "Stu, you are a good kid, but let's be honest, you are not a very good ball player, and you know what, I don't even want to pay you $150 a week... Stu, you're fired" *cue in Apprentice theme music* :)

FM

FrogMan

12-16-2004, 12:02 PM

Personal News
No, not personal as in "the kid's sick, I have a cold, and I'm looking forward to the holiday break", but more as in "oh let's take a look at my manager profile". I like to pay a visit to that screen every once in a while, see if anything has changed. It says my reputation is "Local" I could have sweared that when we start, it's at obscure. Anyobdy can confirm this? It also say that my preferred formation is still the 4-4-2, even though it's been over a season that I've been playing solely with a 4-3-3 formation. Will it ever update in here? My mental skills ratings are as follows:
Ability to handle pressure: 10
Ambition: 10
Loyalty: 16
Media Handling: 20
Professionalism: 16
Temperament: 16

I could swear my media handling wasn't at 20 before, even though it's always been kind of high. Also, my loyalty and professionalism ratings were more in the 14-15 range before. Nice to see them go up. On the personal screen, they describe me as a media-friendly boss. That gave me a good laugh :)

FM

FrogMan

12-16-2004, 12:07 PM

I'm still at obscure. That is where my manager started in reputation.Okay, good to know. I've been playing about half a season more than you, and at the League One level, it kind of makes sense that after that period of time, I would at least be a little known, at least locally :)

My name must have surfaced in 2004 when the team board wanted to almost fire me :)

FM

edit: damn stoopid clock. This reply is about the post below it...

Eaglesfan27

12-16-2004, 12:09 PM

I'm still at obscure. That is where my manager started in reputation.

Edit: Also, in CM 03/04, I ran a 4-1-2-1-2 for 4 or 5 seasons and it continued to say the 4-4-2 was my favorite formation. I don't know if this was fixed for Football Manager, but I suspect it was not.

FrogMan

12-17-2004, 09:04 AM

November 19, 2005
home vs Oldham (currently 17th, only 3 points behind us)
S: Showunmi/Howard/Hammond
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Johnson/Chambers
D: Carbon/Davies/Coyne/Keane
GK: Beckwith

It's been 10 days since our last game, so most of our players are at 100% condition, except the few who had been called up for international play. Because of injuries to both Matthew Blinkhorn and Bartosz Tarachulski, left footed Enoch Showunmi makes a rare appearance as a starter. So rare in fact that my assistant manager is telling me that he "severely lacks in match practice". We'll see how he does, but his backup is reserve player Roscoe D'Sane, who's not played once for the senior squad this season. I also give the start to keeper Rob Beckwith, since I've seen him improve his handling skills two whole points in the last two weeks, while Usual starter Mark Goodlad has given us some very ordinary performances in the last few games...

I jumble my tactics a bit, based on information gathered here and there on these forums. I have not been happy with our goal scoring and I want to try and create more chances. I first put my centrebacks on zonal marking, as opposed to the man marking they had been on since the middle of last season (thanks Desnudo). Also, being at home, I decide to allow my defensive middies to go forward a bit more, and to do so, I give them the forward arrows (thanks daedalus). To compensate, I take off the forward arrows on both my fullbacks. We'll see how it goes.

Game starts well, although I can't say it's because of the tactics switch, since our first goal comes on a great set pieces kick by middie Richard Johnson, from just outside their penalty box. We're up 1-0 after only 4 minutes. 21 minutes later, Oldham move the ball well, just outside the box, nothing to be worryied about, right? WRONG! Beckwith is caught napping as they score on a 30 yard strike, now tied 1-1. I'm pissed at Beckwith for letting that one go in, I was just about to ask Goodlad to warm up and go take his place, but I take a deep breath and the game goes on. The 63rd minute brings another great set pieces play by Johnson, as he pumps a neat bal to Curtis Davies, who had come up from his centreback position, all the way into Oldham'S penalty box, he converts for his 1st goal of the season, we're up 2-1.

A few minutes later, I realize that Elvis Hammond is burned out and since I have more confidence in putting Mark Jones in instead of the unproven D'Sane, I switch to a 4-2-2-2 formation, dropping the middle striker to a second attacking midfielder postion and that's where Jones goes. That tactic change served another purpose, as it is a bit more defensive, allowing us to control the ball a bit more and protect our 2-1 lead.

In the 90th minute, I see their keeper holding the ball up for like the 3rd time in the last 8 or 10 minutes. A few minutes before that, he almost created the tying goal with an amazing long kick right to one of their strikers that was waiting by one of my centrebacks. Amazingly, Steve Robinson, who had come in to replace a burnt out Bridge-Wilkinson, decides to go challenge him, and STEALS THE BALL FROM HIM!!! He'S left with an empty net, which is hit with a kick from the corner of their penalty box., We're up 3-1, and they will not catch us... I like wins with more than a tiny goal :)

Final Score: Luton 3, Oldham 1
Shots (on target): Luton 9 (6), Oldham 8 (3)
MoM: Richard Johnson with a ratings of 8 and two critical set pieces play

I like the ratio of shots on/off target and looking at the only two 8 ratings on the team going to my defensive middies, I'd think the tactic was fairly effective...

We move up to 8th place with the win.

Looking at the league table, I see that position 1 through 6 have a different background color. From the league rules, under promotion, they say that the top two teams win promotion to Championship, and under playoffs, they say that teams placed 3rd-6th qualify for Playoff. Anybody know what that means? I'm kind of confused. Does the winner of the playoff also qualify for promotion? Is so, darn, I'm really close to being part of the playoffs!!!

FM

FrogMan

12-17-2004, 09:10 AM

Loan News
15yo defender Kevin Joyce comes back from 3 months loan. Given that he is only 15, he's not had any first team experience, but he has played, which is good. Joyce is one to keep an eye on, as he is already a physical phenomenon, with amazing height in his jumping, good acceleration, agility, pace, and stamina. By good, I'm not exagerating, we're talking of minimum 13 in all the above skills, with 16 in both agility and balance, and 19 in jumping :eek: Other than the good physical skills, which would mean nothing if the player had nothing elsewhere, he also already has great positioning (14), is very aggressive (13), has great anticipation (15) and is a hard worker (16). For skills specific to his position, he's already learned how to mark other players and does it fairly well (13). He still needs to work on his tackling (7) and heading skills (8), but he's very young, so he still has time. He turns 16 on December 12. Open question: 16yo is when a player can play first in competitive matches (first team), right?
FM

FrogMan

12-17-2004, 09:36 AM

Achievement News
Adam Chambers is named on the League One Team of the week, for the second time in a row, considering we didn't have a game last week. He's developping into a nice defensive middie...

Loan News
Kyle Nix's loan at our club comes to an end. I took a shot in the dark with this AM LC, before I signed Bridge-Wilkinson and before Mark Jones emerged as a very viable attacking midfielder alternative. As I take a straw poll among my coaches, they invariably tell me that he lacks the quality to succeed at this level, and even more, I'm not too impressed with his skill set and the performances he's pulled with our reserve squad. The 19yo valued at $950k will return to his team without having played one match with our senior squad...

League Table News
Some League One games were played and we drop to 10th place, with one game on hand over the two teams that just passed us (16 games played for us, 17 games played for both Watford and Blackpool)...

FM

SirFozzie

12-17-2004, 09:56 AM

Yup.. the top two teams automatically gain promotion to the next highest league.

The playoffs start like this...

3rd Place vs 6th Place
4th place vs 5th Place

a home and home series, two games, total goals scored, away goals as a tie breaker, 30 minutes of extra time played if still tied after away goals, and then penalty kicks.

If I remember correctly, the first game is at the lower placed team (5th and 6th place) and the 2nd game is at the 3rd/4th place team. This gives the higher ranked team an advantage to know exactly what result they need to go through (remember, whoever scores more goals at the opponent's stadium is the first tiebreaker if they are tied after two games)

The Playoff Final is played at a neutral stadium (used to be Wembley, currently Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales is used I believe).

Standard Cup Rules, (ie 90 minutes, 30 Minutes Extra time and Penalty Kicks).

The winner earns promotion to the next higher league.

It gives the mid table teams something to shoot for nearer to the end of the year

FrogMan

12-17-2004, 10:01 AM

Very interesting! We could very well be among those mid table teams when we get into the last stretch, definitely something to shoot for :)

FM

SirFozzie

12-17-2004, 10:38 AM

As regarding your other question, about playing Professional Footy.. I went to the source, the English Football Association (the FA).. and this is what their rules state.

C. RULES RELATING TO PLAYERS

Players with Written Contracts

1. (a) Minimum Age

(i) A Player under eighteen (18) years of age and in receipt of full-time

education* in accordance with the Education Acts may not enter into a

contract of employment with a Club in membership of The Association or an

Affiliated Association.

(ii) A Player under seventeen (17) years of age may not enter into a contract of

employment with a Club in membership with The Association or an Affiliated

Association, except as a Trainee or Scholar as provided for by Rule C3.

FrogMan

12-17-2004, 10:48 AM

hmmm, this is confusing. He signed a contract with me earlier this season, but his profile page still says "contract is unprotected"... From what you quote there, this would mean a 16yo could not play, but a 17yo could play, since a 16yo could only be a "trainee" or "scholar", right?

FM

SirFozzie

12-17-2004, 10:58 AM

Correct.

Most oof the bigger teams have academies for their promising youth players, so they can train the kid and get him an education for him at the same time

FrogMan

12-17-2004, 11:00 AM

Correct.

Most oof the bigger teams have academies for their promising youth players, so they can train the kid and get him an education for him at the same time
yeah, so this means he still has a year to learn some skills. With his unprotected contract, could anybody come in and sign him, as long as they pay the compensation? Can I say no, I don't want to let him go?

Seriously, he could be a major superstar some day and I'd hate to see him go...

FM

SirFozzie

12-17-2004, 11:13 AM

FrogMan

12-17-2004, 11:38 AM

Since he's on a schoolboy contract, he can "jump ship" at any time and sign with a bigger team (or more accurately, transfer to a bigger team's academy) and you only get paid for his training.

HIDE HIM, then the day he hits 17, sign him on a professional contract! :)
ow, that would suck... Stupid question, but there is no real way to hide him, right? Maybe listing him as available for loan wasn't such a good idea then, right? I'll make sure to unlist him when I play tonight...

FM

SirFozzie

12-17-2004, 11:47 AM

Hiding him means don't talk about him to the press, don't list him for loan.. yup yup :)

FrogMan

12-17-2004, 11:50 AM

DAMN!!! *slaps forehead* stupid, stooopid frog!!!

Oh well, live and learn. I thought he was going to be eligible to play at 16, so sending him on loan sorta made sense. He only went to MK Dons and they relegated to League Two last season, so maybe nobody saw, maybe, right? :)

FM

FrogMan

12-17-2004, 11:51 AM

OH! I know what I'm gonna do!!!

I'm gonna build a dungeon and hide him, for real!!!

:D

FM

SirFozzie

12-17-2004, 11:55 AM

A bit of good news, he may be able to play at some point during 16th year..

Wayne Rooney (Now with Man Yoo) made his debut for Everton before he turned 17.

FrogMan

12-17-2004, 11:57 AM

good to know, I'll keep a very good eye on him. As I said, he turns 16 in December and we're now in the middle of November, so we're getting close to one milestone. We'll see from there...

I'll post his player profile tonight. You won't tell anyone, right? Wouldn't want the pundits to hear about him, they'd start some fake buzz :)

FM

SirFozzie

12-17-2004, 12:17 PM

Just remember.. once you play him, hiding him is not an option.

But if you piss him off and hide him, resigning him may not be one either :D

FrogMan

12-17-2004, 12:37 PM

Just remember.. once you play him, hiding him is not an option.

But if you piss him off and hide him, resigning him may not be one either :Dhrm, what if he plays on my U18 squad? He's got to play some games to learn something, right?

Oh well, if he wants to go, he'll go, bah...

FM

Desnudo

12-17-2004, 01:10 PM

Since he's on a schoolboy contract, he can "jump ship" at any time and sign with a bigger team (or more accurately, transfer to a bigger team's academy) and you only get paid for his training.

HIDE HIM, then the day he hits 17, sign him on a professional contract! :)

I'm not sure exactly how it works, but the top youth players <17 will cost you millions in compensation. Unless that's considered the cost of their education? So there is some protection in place.

FrogMan

12-17-2004, 01:14 PM

I'm not sure exactly how it works, but the top youth players <17 will cost you millions in compensation. Unless that's considered the cost of their education? So there is some protection in place.

The playoffs in Conference N/S work a little different in that the winners of the North and South playoffs play each other for the final promotion spot. Also, only the top team from each division promotes. You can see the rules by going to View - Rules on the league table screen.Yeah, most of the times I've seen a nice 16yo I was tempted in getting, I always found the cost a bit steep, so let's hope that if somebody wants him, the compensation will at least be nice. Or maybe he's a total shmuck and I'm the only one who sees any good in him, heh :)

About the playoffs, I think you're confusing me with EaglesFan27. My Luton Town team is in League One. The playoffs and promotion rules I quoted are coming from what I was seeing in the league rules, in the screen you mentionned. I was only unsure about what I understood...

Here's the screenie of my league rules (may be useful for future reference):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/rules.jpg

FM

FrogMan

12-17-2004, 01:17 PM

You must have been typing while I was deleting. ;)
haha, cool then :)

FM

edit: and again, I post before the post I reply to... getting tired of this...

Desnudo

12-17-2004, 01:18 PM

You must have been typing while I was deleting. ;)

FrogMan

12-17-2004, 01:43 PM

I finally added the screenie for the League One rules. It may be useful for future reference...

FM

condors

12-17-2004, 02:15 PM

i believe the compensation is determined from his weekly pay rate (although i could be wrong but i swear i remember reading it someplace)

daedalus

12-17-2004, 06:53 PM

You can play him at 16, his contract just won't be protected. In the demo, I snuck Anthony Vanden Borre out of Anderlecht (cost me around 800K or so) and Alessio Cerci out of Roma (he was expensive, around a million) and played them with the big team occasionally. With certain players, I was able to offer their teams some money to sign them instead of just signing them and saved money that way.

FrogMan

12-17-2004, 07:05 PM

I don't really plan on playing him for now, but wouldn't really want to lose him before I really know he's a shmuck ;)

FM

Desnudo

12-17-2004, 08:47 PM

I think the main risk you face playing a 16 year old is if he tears it up he'll ask for a lot more money when it comes time to sign him to a contract.

daedalus

12-18-2004, 07:20 AM

I would be tempted to toss him into an easier game or two (whatever cups you get a nice and easy match up in) once he turns 16. And there's always putting him into games yourself on the U-18 level.

FrogMan

12-18-2004, 04:40 PM

Here's the player card of my wonderkid, Kevin Joyce :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/joyce051126.jpg

FrogMan

12-18-2004, 04:54 PM

November 23, 2005
away at Peterborough (FA Cup round 1)
S: D'Sane/Howard/Hammond
AMC: Jones
DMC: Wilder/Chambers
D: Davis/Williams/Coyne/Foley
GK: Beckwith

I keep the same tactics as the match before (AMC very forward, arrows up for DMC, no arrows for DL/DR), but I need to shuffle a few players among the starters because of some injuries (Blinkhorn and Tarachulski) and the fact that we have many games in few days, for a few weeks...

The game was only 71 seconds old when they pumped a long ball down the left side, only to center and score a very quick goal. Everybody on our side was napping on that one and they all seem to have almost already given up, as they all show form ratings of 5, only a few minutes into the game. Darn guys, COME ON!!!

In the 55th minute, a beautiful combination play between Elvis Hammond and Steve Howard leads to a goal by Howard, but it's disallowed. They say Howard was offside...

The game goes without us ever imposing our rythm. We play loosely and because of that, they always seem to have control of the ball, or be able to take away from us when we have it.

Elvis Hammond is taken out of the game in the 67th minute, for sheer bad play. His form ratings is a stupendous 4, something that had not happen to a player from the first squad yet this season.

We just can't convert any of our chances and we lose the match 0-1. For some reason, I'm very unhappy with the loss, even though it was very close, based on all statistics, and the fact we had control of the ball 52% of the time. I guess I just hate losing...

Final Score: Luton 0, Perterborough 1
Shots (on target): Luton 9 (6), Oldham 8 (3)
MoM: Peterborough's Jai DeMerit with a ratings of 8
HoM: Kevin Foley with a ratings of 7, although I was very tempted to not give this award to anybody, since nobody really stood out. Still Foley completed 25 of 31 passes and won 10 of 11 headers...

Steve Howard comes out of this game with a sprained wrist and will be out for 1 week, which means he could miss as much as two matches...

FM

FrogMan

12-18-2004, 04:58 PM

Staff News
Ten people responded to our coach advert and I skim through them. Only a guy named Ludek Midlosko could fit the bill as a goalkeeper coach, but he wants $2200 as wage and we really can't afford that, so we will leave the advert open, in hope of getting some new applicants that would fit us better. Meanwhile, I go on an independant search for coaches with great goalkeeper training skills and find Stewart Nicholson, a 36yo Englishman, who's not only good with keepers, but also a very well rounded coach, who could also help in other areas. Since he's not very well known, he's only asking for $700 a week, we make him an offer for that amount.

FM

FrogMan

12-19-2004, 09:37 AM

November 26, 2005
home vs Huddersfield (currently in 5th, 8pts ahead of us)
S: Showunmi/Tarachulski/Hammond
MC: Bridge-Wilkinson (with arrow up)
DMC: Johnson/Chambers (no up arrows)
D: Carbon/Williams/Davies/Keane (fullbacks with up arrows)
GK: Goodlad
Enoch Showunmi gets another start with Matthew Blinkhorn and Steve Howard both out with injuries.

I see that Huddersfield play a 3-5-2 with the five middies on a straight line. I adjust my team passing setting to a bit of a longer passing, to try and pump balls over the head of their midfielders.

3rd minute: Following a corner kick right to the box, they score on a header, even though the scorer was double teamed. We are putting ourselves in trouble early on again, it's getting a bit old and I may have to take a hard look into what's causing these early goals. We're down 0-1.

22nd minute: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson gets a red card for a reckless challenge. He supposedly went in with two feet. We'll have to finish this game with only 10 men on. Seeing how Elvis Hammond isn't pulling his weight, I make a swift sub. Steve Robinson goes in as a middie, while I move Tarachulski to the right forward position, leaving us with only 2 strikers.

25th minute: The tactical move pays off and Enoch Showunmi goes deep to the line and centers a beauty of a ball to the far post, where it meets with Tarachulski's head, sending it back to Robinson who finishes it off with a nice volley for the 1-1 goal.

38th minute: Carbon goes up to make a throw in, deep on the left side of their zone. A quick throw in to Robninson who centers to the middle of the 6 yard box, to the near post. Tarachulski is there to finish it neatly. We're up 2-1.

42nd minute: HOLY MOLY! A second red card is given to one of our players, as Adam Chambers gets the early shower. Now with 8 outfielders, our tactics are getting a bit screwy. I drop the forward arrows on the fullbacks and I move Tarachulski to AMC and Showunmi to center striker. Robinson is moved down to DMC in place of Chambers. For those of you scoring at home, we're now playig a 4-2-1-1

47th minute: In injury time for the first half, they center an easy ball. Goodlad goes out to challenge the striker but th strikers gets the last word, with the equalizer, 2-2. Goodlad is clearly not having his best game...

50th minute: Well, I'll be damned! Mark Williams get called for tripping an opponent. This referee is pretty quick on the cards, yellow or red, see above) and Williams draws the yellow. It's Williams' first game as our captain, so I guess he is feeling very important and he decides to b*tch to the ref. Bad idea, he collects a second yellow and is sent off. I don't move any player to compensate for him being out, as he's a defender. We're now playing a 3-2-1-1, with two fullbacks and one centreback.

78th minute: As if anything could go any worse, Matt Carbon picks up a knock and has to go out. I have no more subs left, having used my 3rd and last when I put in Chris Coyne, usually a defender, in place of defensive middie Richard Johnson, since Johnson was totally burned out. We'll have to finish the game with one less player, leaving us with only 6 outfielders and a keeper. I drop Coyne to DC and bring Keane in closer to the remaining DC, Davies and play all three centrebacks with down arrows. We are now playing a 3-1-1-1, the the 1-1-1 part is DMC-MC-AMC, no strikers are really involved anymore, even though Tarachulski is a striker, but I play him a notch lower, at the AMC position.

The last 12 minutes are excruciating, but we hold on and WE GET THE DRAW!!! Wow!!! I've never been this happy about getting a draw. We showed amazing resiliency and held them, even with only 6 outfielders out there, again, wow!

Final Score: Luton 2, Huddersfield 2
Shots (on target): Luton 4 (2), Huddersfield 14 (5)
MoM: Bartosz Tarachulski with a rating of 8, but I'd be tempted to name the remaining 6 outfielders all men of the match!!! :)
Show you how bad we were getting bombarded and how good we held on, we had possession of the ball for an amazing 35% of the time, in our defensive zone, in the second half...

For those of you curious to see what the team tactics looked like at the end of the match, here's a screenshot of my tactics screen (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/051126.jpg).

We stay in 10th place after the draw...

FM

FrogMan

12-19-2004, 09:44 AM

Injury News
Matt Carbon suffered a broken jaw in the draw to Huddersfield and will miss a month. I'll need Sol Davis to hold on tight and cover the left fullback spot during that time.

Disciplinary News
We get the news that Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's one match ban may be extended when a disciplinary committee will meet on December 3. I decide to appeal of the ban.

FM

FrogMan

12-19-2004, 01:41 PM

Staff News
Stewart Nicholson accepts the $700/week offer and becomes the latest member of our coaching staff. His main job will be coaching goalkeepers, but he also seems to have some accute skills in evaluating player skills and potential, so I may rely on his evaluations a bit more than the ones from some of my other coaches

Suspension News
The FA thinks we did not have valid grounds for our appeal of Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's one match ban. We'll have to wait for December 3rd to see if he'll be banned for more than one match...

November 29, 2005
quarter-final, LDV Vans Trophy South
home vs Millwall (currently 1st in League One)
S: Showunmi/Tarachulski/D'Sane
AMC: Jones
DMC: Johnson/Chambers (with up arrows)
D: Davis/Coyne/Davies/Foley (fullbacks with up arrows)

We are decimated by injuries and suspensions, following the crazy match against Huddersfield. The one silver lining is that the suspensions will be served in the Cup, leaving the players available for our next league match.

In the morning before the match, I decide to go to the media and criticise Elvis Hammond for his recent string of bad performance. By doing that, I hope to send a clear message to all the other players, that I won't accept bad performances, we need them to do well.

I also comment on Pater Jackson, no not the one behind the LOTR trilogy, the manager of Huddersfield, saying to the media that I'm not his biggest fan. This also in the hope of whipping my players a little...

While gameplanning, my thinking was that our only chance was to generate a lot of offense, give the ball to the strikers. To do so, I play with an AMC right behind the strikers and I push both defensive middies and fullbacks forward with up arrows.

16th minute: Since the beginning of the game, our goal is being sprayed left and right by shots from their middies and strikers. I decide to alter our tactics by giving an order of slowing the tempo, and asking the players to play with shorter passes.

20th minute: Looks like the tactic change is working and we mount an attack. From Richard Johnson to the left, to Enoch Showunmi, who heads it center to Bartosz Tarachulski who loses no time and hits a lovely strike in the top corner for the 1-0 goal.

48th minute: Ast the second half starts, Showunmi gets another nice pass, this time from Sol Davis. He takes the ball deep on his own and tries a cross toward the 6 yard line. Their keeper mishandles it, it's an OWN GOAL!!! We're up 2-0. Millwall goes to a 4-2-4 formation, with which we usually struggle...

81st minute: We've held on so far, but they center a sweet ball from the left, toward the near post and it is headed in. We're still up, but only by on, 2-1...

The game ends on this score, we move on to the semi-final, woot!

Final Score: Luton 2, Millwall 1
Shots (on target): Luton 10 (7), Millwall 12 (3)
MoM: Bartosz Tarachulski with a rating of 8, but again, I'd be tempted to give it to somebody else, as Enoch Showunmi had a heck of a game, creating many chances of scoring from the left side...

Injury News
The Millwall games has generated two more casualties in keeper Mark Goodlad, out for 3 days with a bruised rib, and defensive midfielder Richard Johnson, who will be out for a week with a damaged shoulder... They should be fine for our next game, as it's only on December 7th.

FM

FrogMan

12-19-2004, 01:47 PM

Supporters News
Hatters fans lambast Hammond in the press. A spokeperson for the supporter's club go so far as saying that, given the amount of money Hammond takes each week, he had no excuses for turning in such lacklustre displays.

December 1st, 2005
Beginning of a new month, time for a board confidence update. They say they are very pleased with my management of the team. The supporters are also very pleased with the progress the team has been making, and they are in full support of my management of the club.

Cup News
The draw for the LDV Vans Trophy South semi-finals happens. We will play Watford, on their pitch, on January 24, 2006.

FM

FrogMan

12-19-2004, 01:51 PM

Disciplinary News
The dreaded December 3 disciplinary committe meeting comes and we get the news that Marc Bridge-Wilkinson has been suspended for two extra games.

U18 News
Kevin Joyce plays his first match for our U18 squad since returning from his loan. He does well, getting a ratings of 7. I'll update you every once in a while on how the kid progresses...

FM

FrogMan

12-20-2004, 09:26 AM

December 7, 2005
away vs Torquay (currently 23rd, with 15pts, we have 23pts)
S: Showunmi/Tarachulski/D'Sane
AMC: Jones
DMC Chambers/Keane
D: Davis/Coyne/Davies/Foley

Other than a few injured players, everybody is pretty well rested up. We've had some tough games with Torquay in the last year, so I don't let their 23rd place fool me. I know they finished in the top 10 last season, so I have to be careful. Being on the road, I take off all the up arrows on the full back and defensive midfielders.

4th minute: We start fast, as Enoch Showunmi dribbles down the left side and ceters the bacl to Bartosz Tarachulski, who promptly loses it to a defender. Good thing that Mark Jones was right there, as he steals it from the defender and quickly strikes from twenty 20 yards out, GOAL!! We're up 1-0.

30th minute: Following a corner, there's a scramble right on the edge of our penalty box and in the confusion, they convert with a crazy goal. Tied at 1-1.

This is a pretty uneventful game, where we outshoot them, but lose the possession (45/55). I'm kind of happy we get out of there with a draw.

Final Score: Luton 1, Torquay 1
Shots (on target): Luton 9 (3), Torquay 6 (4)
MoM: Toqruay's Kevni Hill with a ratings of 8, completing 32 of 38 passes, and scoring a goal.
Hom: Curtis Davies with also a ratings of 8, winning 8 or 9 tackles and intercepting 4 passes.

We drop to 12th place with the draw.

FM

FrogMan

12-20-2004, 09:48 AM

Contract News
Since we're getting close to the beginning of January, and I have a bunch of players that will drop to within 6 months of the end of their contract, I take a quick look at who I'd want to resign and who I want to offer around.

Seeing how he can be very hot, but also very cold, I offer Elvis Hammond around.

I Offer Chris Coyne 3600 per week, as per my Mick Harford's (my assistant manager) recommendation. Coyne Wants some big time first time player money, something like $5400 per week, a big jump from the $2400 he is currently earning. I just can't afford that. We'll see if he'S willing to go below his initial demands.

I offer Steve Howard around to other clubs. This pains me greatly as he a major goal scorer for the club (17 goals last season and 13 already this season), but when I go make him an offer, his agent tells me that Steve is not interested in renewing his contract with Luton Town right now. I was getting the same message last season, but I kept making offers, adding tiny bits of incentives here and there. He's now earning $5800 per week with good bonus for every goal he scores. I may just have to let him go after this season. This would be sad, but he's also 29, and doesn't have the greatest pace. He just seem to score goals, that's all :)

I also offer defender Russell Perrett around, for FREE. He was useful last season, when I had depth troubles, but he's been relegated to the reserve team this season, and I will definitely not renew his contract when it will be over.

I offer Steve Robinson a one year, $2200 per week contract with a $4000 signing fee. It's the exact same amount he's being paid right now. Robinson is a very valuable commodity, as he can play just about anywhere in the midfield.

FM

FrogMan

12-20-2004, 09:58 AM

Contract News
A few days pass and I get the news that Steve Robinson has agreed to a new deal that will keep him at the club until June 30, 2007.

At the same time, we hear from Chris Coyne. He rejects our first offer, but he is willing to negotiate. I up the weekly wage to $4000 per week and add a bonus of $400 for every appearance in a game.

U18 News
Kevin Joyce plays in his second U18 game, on his 16th birthday, getting another ratings of 7. Looking at the U18 squad, I see that he has the dreaded WNT tag next to his name. Peterborough seems interested in him. To be followed closely.

FM

MikeVick7

12-20-2004, 10:12 AM

FrogMan

12-20-2004, 10:22 AM

MikeVick7

12-20-2004, 10:29 AM

Oh wow...2nd season already. So yeah you're right...I'm definitely behind you. I'm guessing the Sheff Utd may have promoted after last season then.

FrogMan

12-20-2004, 11:08 AM

December 10, 2005
away vs Doncaster (currently 14th, only 1 point behind us)
S: Blinkhorn/Howard/Hammond
AMC: Mansell
DMC Wilde/Robinson
D: Davis/Williams/Davies/Foley
GK: Beckwith

I see they play a 4-2-4 formation, the kind of formation that has given me fits in the past.

3rd minute: Sold Davis plays too aggressively and way to far forward, which leaves a man open behind him. They convert a good 1-2 combination into the first goal of the game. We go down 0-1 early.

6th minute: We get right back at them, as Lee Mansell, following a few quick exchanges, fires a 35 yards screamer that deflects off a defender, leaving the keeper on the ground on the wrong side of the goal. We tie, 1-1.

26th minute: a great combination Howard-Hammond-Howard finishes with a centered ball headed straight in by Steve Howard. We take the lead, 2-1.

39th minute: Things are looking good as Sold Davis flight a 40 yard pass down the left, to Matthew Blinkhorn. The keeper rushes out, but Blinkhorn is quick enough to hit the long shot. We take another one, up 3-1.

44th minute: While waiting to get to the tactics screen, where I want to sub out Rob Beckwith since he's not having a good game (5 ratings at the time), I see them mount an attack, charging right up the middle, with a nice center that's headed straight in. We're still up, but now by only 1, 3-2. I take Beckwith out of the game, Mark Goodlad comes in.

58th minute: The ball rebounds between 3 or 4 players in our penalty box, before falling to the feet of one of their strikers, who wastes no time, scoring the tying goal. 3-3.

69th minute: A wild game that just gets wilder, as Elvis Hammond scores a sensational goal after dribbling the ball through a maze of Doncaster defenders. We're back up 4-3

87th minute: Hot dang!!! Our defenders just can't keep up with their four strikers as they easily center a ball from the left, and they convert for yet another tying goal.

At that moment, I realize one thing. I had set my defenders to play push up and play the off side trap. That being said, I realize we have drawn them offside only twice, while our own team has commited 4 offside already. Maybe our defenders are not really good at executing the trap, or their strikers are very bright. Anyway, I take the defenders off the offside trap tactic and tell them to play a bit deeper. I had also told the players to play "super defensive" following our latest go ahead goal, since I'm kinda pissed, I tell them "screw it, we'll outscore them, or we'll die", as I set them to an "all out attack" mentality.

88th minute: The tactic changes pay off immediately, as I watch Adam Chambers pump a high, long ball over a defender. Howard takes it on the run and hits a perfect half volley, giving us the lead again, now 5-4.

91st minute: Keeper Mark Goodlad clears is area with a long kick toward Mark Jones. Following a few exchanges in the middle section of the field, Jones passes the ball to Howard for the finish. He's got a HAT TRICK!!! We're now up 6-4.

A wild, wild, wild game, in which we lose Lee Mansell for 5 days because of a thigh sprain.

Final Score: Luton 6, Doncaster 4
Shots (on target): Luton 15 (9), Doncaster 13 (6)
MoM: Steve Howard, easily, with a ratings of 10 and a hat trick. Many other players had very good games, as 4 others had ratings of 8 and Goodlad, the subbed in keeper, gets a 9 for his 47 minutes of work.

We move up to 9th. It's encouraging, even though we're still a good 5 points off the 6th place and a spot in the playoffs.

FM

FrogMan

12-20-2004, 11:17 AM

Team Board News
The Team Board is extremely pleased with the 6-4 win over Doncaster. To quote their words: "a strong series of results has seen the club emerge as one of the form sides of the division and whilst they are not expected to seriously challenge for the title, it is pleasing for many fans to see progress being made at the club"

I don't tell them just yet, but *I* expect to challenge for the title :)

Contract News
Chris Coyne signs a new contract that will keep him at the club until June 30, 2008. Weekly wage agreed upon is for $4000 per week.

Achievement News
Chris Coyne and Steve Howard are named on the League One Team of the Week.

Transfer News
I see that Steve Howard has the WNT icon next to his name. Tranmere seems interested in him, I offer him to them, as he's still not interested in renewing his contract with Luton, per his agent.

FM

FrogMan

12-20-2004, 12:03 PM

December 13, 2005
home vs Chesterfield (8th place, 1 point ahead of us)
S: Showunmi/Tarachulski/D'Sane
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC Chambers/Johnson (with up arrows)
D: Davis/Williams/Coyne/Keane (full backs with up arrows)

Back at home, I decide to take the same kind of tactics than the one use in our LDV Vans quarter final match against Millwall. That is, give the ball to the strikers, generate some attack. To do so, I play both the defensive middies and the full backs with forward arrows.

2nd minute: Enoch Showunmi steals the ball from their right full back and his quick center results in a scramble in the box. After two quick shots have been stopped by their keeper and a defender, Roscoe D'Sane finally converts for his first ever goal with Luton. We're up 1-0.

71st minute: Not much else has happened until their keeper fires a goal kick straight in the middle of our defensive zone. We let them operate at will and, with only their second shot of the game, the first on target, they tie it to 1-1.

79th minute: Mark Jones send a throw in to Bartosz Tarachulski, who takes the ball inside the box. His shot is stopped, but Showunmi is there to head in the rebound. We're back in command, 2-1. This will be the final score.

Final Score: Luton 2, Doncaster 1
Shots (on target): Luton 12 (5), Chesterfield 3 (1)
MoM: Chesterfield's goalkeeper Tony Caig who gets a well deserved ratings of 8. We bombarded him all game long.
HoM: Richard Johnson, with a ratings of 8. He completed 22 of 26 passes while also winning 5 of 5 tackles.

We move up to 7th place, only 2 points from 6th place!!!

FM

FrogMan

12-20-2004, 12:22 PM

Transfer News
Transmer say they are not interested in Howar. Something about it not being enough value for the price asked. I'm thinking they are keeping an eye on him for when his contract will become unprotected, i.e. when he'll have less than 6 months to go on his current contract.

December 19, 2005
away at Colchester (currently in 19th with 20 points, we have 30 points right now)
S: Tarachulski/Howard/Hammond
AMC: Jones
DM Chambers/Johnson (with up arrows)
D: Davis/Davies/Coyne/Foley (fuul backs with up arrows)
GK: Goodlad

While scouting them, I see that they last played a 4-4-2 formation very similar to the one Torquay played against us in our last game. Because of that, I decide to play the same formation we played against Torquay, even though we'll be on the road this time and I usually to play with forward arrows on the road.

However, as I get to the match, they show a 4-3-3 formation very similar to ours. Hmmm, that's a curveball... I don't change anything on my tactics, but I'll be on the lookout if we start on the wrong key...

56th minute: Mark Jones was having an off game, so I replace him with Marc Bridge-Wilkinson. It pays off quickly, as he completes a great play started by Adam Chambers and Steve Howard. We're up 1-0.

65th minute: Cool throw in from Sol Davis to Chambers, who quickly centers the ball to the 6 yard box, where it's headed in by a diving Howard. Nice goal! We're up 2-0 and this will be the final score...

Final Score: Luton 2, Colchester 0
Shots (on target): Luton 15 (6), Colchester 7 (4)
MoM: Sol Davis for the first time of the season, even thought he's averaging a 7.2 ratings. In this game, he got a ratings of 8, winning 10 of 12 tackles and intercepting 5 balls.

We also had 8 other players with ratings of 8! We're red hot right now and we move into 6th place following the win, tied with Huddersfield, beating them on what I assume would be the second tiebreaker (goald differential is a tie at +10 both, but we have more goals for, with 35, to 29 for them)

FM

FrogMan

12-20-2004, 12:33 PM

Team Board News
The Team Board is extremely pleased with the 2-0 win over Colchester, saying: "The Hatters continue to dazzle this season, defying the critics' predictions of mid-table anonymity"

From the media we can read that "many fans now feel that the club has proven its ability to battle with the big boys for the title and are hopeful that the team can sustain it magnificent form into the final third of the season".

ahh, music to the ears :)

U18/Loan News
Peterborough wants Joyce ona 3 months loan. I tell them no, saying that he's a hot prospect for the future. I feel like a dad who's afraid of letting his child out of the house, for fear he would not come back...

Budget News
Seeing how the Team Board is delighted with my performance as manager of the club, I ask them for more wage budget. They refuse, saying that they think that the current wage structure should allow me to attract players of a sufficient caliber to succeed. I decide not to push the issue for now, but I know we are still 6k per week over the wage budget.

FM

FrogMan

12-21-2004, 08:11 AM

December 26, 2005
home vs Stockport (currently in 13th, 5 points behind us)
S: Showunmi/Howard/Blinkhorn
AMC: Jones
DMC: Chambers/Robinson (both with up arrows)
D: Davis/Williams/Coyne/Keane (full backs with up arrows)
GK: Goodlad

With the week of rest since our last match, everybody is at 100%. I've taken an habit of playing both the defensive middies and full backs a little pushed up (up arrows) on home games, and this game is no exception. I see that Stockport played a 4-4-2 with moderate push from the wingers in their last game.

7th minute: Crazy, crazy goal as their defenders are trying to organize an attack, we put pressure on them, so much so, that one of their centrebacks turns around and passes it back to their keeper. Thing is, their keeper didn't look like he was expecting it, as he remains very deep in his goal, he turns around and IT'S AN OWN GOAL!!! Woah, I know it's Christmas time, but you don't have to give us nice presents like that! We'll take it anyway, up 1-0.

63th minute: Great long goal kick by Mark Goodlad that get only flicked forward by Steve Howard. Their keeper comes to the edge of the box and tries to clear it to with a short pass to his left but Matthew Blinkhorn, quick as a cat, pounces on the ball and scores on a 30 yard strike. We're up 2-0, they will never catch us.

It was a very defensive match, as you'll see from the number of shots taken, that was fought mostly in the middle section of the field. Followin the centreback to keeper fiasco, I'm kind of curious and take a look at their players ratings. Their keeper got a 5, while the centreback, who's also their captain, got a 4... :eek:

Final Score: Luton 2, Stockport 0
Shots (on target): Luton 3 (1), Stockport 2 (0)
MoM: Matthew Blinkhorn with a ratings of 7 and a goal.

We stay in 6th after the win.

FM

FrogMan

12-21-2004, 09:18 AM

December 28, 2005
away at Cheltenham (currently in 16th with 16 points, we have 36 points)
S: D'Sane/Tarachulski/Hammond
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Wilde/Johnson (up arrow on Johnson only)
D: Davis/Davies/Williams/Foley (no up arrows)

This two games in three days is tough, but looking at Cheltenham's fixtures list and roster, I see that they also played on the 26th, but they have way less depth than we do. While scouting them, I also note that their the team which has conceded the most goals in League One this season, with 41. As a comparison, we're in the middle of the pack with 25 conceded goals.

12th minute: A short corner by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson gets headed back to him and he centers it switfly, straight to Bobby Wilde, who heads it toward the net. It's in and we're up 1-0.

39th minute: Bridge-Wilkinson, who is having a good first half, squeezes in between two defenders and intercepts the ball. He fires a very long shot that catches Cheltenham's keeper napping, 2-0.

60th minute: It all happens on the left for our third goal, starting with a great play and pass by Sol Davis to Roscoe D'Sane who moves the ball to Bartosz Tarachulski. Tarachulski then tips the ball to Lee Mansell, right outside the box, where he fakes the keeper out of his shorts. Great goal, we're up 3-0 by now...

86th minute: We can not save the clean sheet as they keep spraying our goalkeeper with shots. After one that hit the bar, they get the rebound and convert, we're still up, 3-1.

It ends on that score, after maybe one of the longest last 10 minutes of a game. They really went on full attack, shooting from about every angle possible, but we held on. It was a wild offensive game.

Final Score: Luton 3, Cheltenham 1
Shots (on target): Luton 16 (8), Cheltenham 19 (5)
MoM: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson with a sensational match and a 10 ratings. He complete 26 of 31 passes, 5 of them key passes, while also shootin 5 times, 4 of them on target.

With this win, we remain unbeaten in our last 7 games and we move up to 5th place.

U18 News
While we were playing, the Luton U18 also played and Kevin Joyce showed sensational form, receiving Man of the Match award with a ratings of 9. He intercepted 9 balls in his match.

Team Board News
The Luton Team Board is once again extremely pleased with the nice win. They again say that they think we have proven that we're able to fight with the big boys... I agree that we are on an amazing roll, just gotta hope we won't fall flat...

FM

FrogMan

12-21-2004, 09:32 AM

Hey FrogMan...good read so far. I'm currently in my first season with Blackpool and it looks like I am just one week ahead of you at this point. I've been using a 4-1-3-2 attacking and am really satisfied with it so far as it has taken me up to 2nd place. Is Sheff Utd ripping it up in your dynasty as well? They're ahead of me by 10 pts at the moment.

Good luck!
As I said I would, I went to check on Sheff Utd, but I gottta assume you meant Sheff Wed, since Utd was already in the Championship in 04-05. Anyway, Sheff Wed didn't really tear the league apart last season, as they finished in 6th place with 70 points. They are doing very well this season however, as they sit in 2nd place, with 46 points, to my 39. I've played them 3 times so far, beating them them twice (3-2, 1-0) and them beating us once (1-2).

About Blackpool, they finished in the middle of the pack, in 13th place exactly, last season and they are doing much the same this season, as they sit in 11th place at the midseason point. I've also played them 3 times, beating them twice (4-3, 3-0) and getting a 0-0 draw in the other game.

FM

FrogMan

12-21-2004, 11:48 AM

Midseason Evaluation
As the new year comes, with it comes the midseason mark. Here's what the league table looks like at this point in time:

<TABLE width="50%" align=center><TBODY><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Pos</TD><TD>Team</TD><TD>Pld</TD><TD>Won</TD><TD>Drn</TD><TD>Lst</TD><TD>For</TD><TD>Ag</TD><TD>G.D.</TD><TD>Pts</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>1st</TD><TD>Millwall</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>44</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>+23</TD><TD>47</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>2nd</TD><TD>Sheff Wed</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>40</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>+20</TD><TD>46</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>3rd</TD><TD>Cardiff</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>35</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>+19</TD><TD>44</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>4th</TD><TD>Swindon</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>31</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>+8</TD><TD>41</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>5th</TD><TD>Luton</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>40</TD><TD>26</TD><TD>+14</TD><TD>39</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>6th</TD><TD>Port Vale</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>30</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>+10</TD><TD>37</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>7th</TD><TD>Watford</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>+5</TD><TD>36</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>8th</TD><TD>Huddersfield</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>30</TD><TD>25</TD><TD>+5</TD><TD>34</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>9th</TD><TD>Chesterfield</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>31</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>-2</TD><TD>34</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>10th</TD><TD>Wrexham</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>29</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>+9</TD><TD>33</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>11th</TD><TD>Blackpool</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>31</TD><TD>30</TD><TD>+1</TD><TD>33</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>12th</TD><TD>Barnsley</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>24</TD><TD>-4</TD><TD>30</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>13th</TD><TD>Stockport</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>29</TD><TD>32</TD><TD>-3</TD><TD>29</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>14th</TD><TD>Boston Utd</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>24</TD><TD>29</TD><TD>-5</TD><TD>29</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>15th</TD><TD>Bournemouth</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>27</TD><TD>+1</TD><TD>28</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>16th</TD><TD>Doncaster</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>32</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>-9</TD><TD>27</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>17th</TD><TD>Rushden</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>24</TD><TD>-5</TD><TD>25</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>18th</TD><TD>Cheltenham</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>29</TD><TD>44</TD><TD>-15</TD><TD>25</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>19th</TD><TD>Walsall</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>29</TD><TD>-10</TD><TD>24</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>20th</TD><TD>Bradford City</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>32</TD><TD>-9</TD><TD>23</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>21st</TD><TD>Oldham</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>25</TD><TD>-6</TD><TD>21</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>22nd</TD><TD>Colchester</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>-10</TD><TD>21</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>23rd</TD><TD>Torquay</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>35</TD><TD>-15</TD><TD>18</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>24th</TD><TD>Chester</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>40</TD><TD>-22</TD><TD>18</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I can't say I expected us to do this good, especially after the very rough first season I experience in 2004-05, but I am very happy with how the team is playing right now. This is coming to a point that I see every game as a winnable game, not that I think we will win them all, but I think that with a bit of luck, we can win against anybody.

Here's the same league table, but presenting the home and away results separately:

<TABLE width="60%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3></TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee colSpan=5>HOME</TD><TD align=middle bgColor=#eeeeee colSpan=5>AWAY</TD><TD colSpan=2></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Pos</TD><TD>Team</TD><TD>Pld</TD><TD>Won</TD><TD>Drn</TD><TD>Lst</TD><TD>For</TD><TD>Ag</TD><TD>Won</TD><TD>Drn</TD><TD>Lst</TD><TD>For</TD><TD>Ag</TD><TD>G.D.</TD><TD>Pts</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>1st</TD><TD>Millwall</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>+23</TD><TD>47</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>2nd</TD><TD>Sheff Wed</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>+20</TD><TD>46</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>3rd</TD><TD>Cardiff</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>+19</TD><TD>44</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>4th</TD><TD>Swindon</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>+8</TD><TD>41</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>5th</TD><TD>Luton</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>+14</TD><TD>39</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>6th</TD><TD>Port Vale</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>+10</TD><TD>37</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>7th</TD><TD>Watford</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>+5</TD><TD>36</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>8th</TD><TD>Huddersfield</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>+5</TD><TD>34</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>9th</TD><TD>Chesterfield</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>-2</TD><TD>34</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>10th</TD><TD>Wrexham</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>+9</TD><TD>33</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>11th</TD><TD>Blackpool</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>+1</TD><TD>33</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>12th</TD><TD>Barnsley</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>-4</TD><TD>30</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>13th</TD><TD>Stockport</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>-3</TD><TD>29</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>14th</TD><TD>Boston Utd</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>-5</TD><TD>29</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>15th</TD><TD>Bournemouth</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>+1</TD><TD>28</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>16th</TD><TD>Doncaster</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>21</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>-9</TD><TD>27</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>17th</TD><TD>Rushden</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>-5</TD><TD>25</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>18th</TD><TD>Cheltenham</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>25</TD><TD>-15</TD><TD>25</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>19th</TD><TD>Walsall</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>-10</TD><TD>24</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>20th</TD><TD>Bradford City</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>-9</TD><TD>23</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>21st</TD><TD>Oldham</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>-6</TD><TD>21</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>22nd</TD><TD>Colchester</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>-10</TD><TD>21</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>23rd</TD><TD>Torquay</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>-15</TD><TD>18</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>24th</TD><TD>Chester</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>23</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>-22</TD><TD>18</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

One unexpected thing I see in there is that while we are giving up more goals away than at home, which is normal, we are also scoring more goals. This is good, I like that...

I'll add some individual player evaluation tonight, with some player and team stats, and that position movement chart I presented before. I simply forgot to take a screenshot yesterday night...

Hope you are all enjoying the read...

FM

Tellistto

12-21-2004, 12:24 PM

I like it, FM, keep it up. :)

Tell

FrogMan

12-22-2004, 10:14 AM

I was kind of worried we'd go down for a couple of weeks, just as I was getting into the meat of my mid season report, and all the contract negoiating that happen around December 31st... phew... I'm sure you are all as relieved as I am :)

<TABLE width="40%"><TBODY><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD colSpan=2>Luton Town - Goals</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Steve Howard</TD><TD>14</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Matthew Blinkhorn</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Elvis Hammond</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Mark Jones</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Lee Mansell</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Bartosz Tarachulski</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Bobby Wilde</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Steve Robinson</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Marc Bridge-Wilkinson</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>8 others</TD><TD>1</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Steve Howard really is a goal scoring machine. He scored 17 all season long last year and he's already up to 13 this season. Interestingly enough, my three atatcking midfielders (Mansell, Jones, Bridge-Wilkinson) have combined for a total of 8 goals. I find it interesting since there's usually only one of them at once on the field, while there are three strikers...

<TABLE width="40%"><TBODY><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD colSpan=2>Luton Town - Assists</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Bartosz Tarachulski</TD><TD>6</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Richard Johnson</TD><TD>4</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Enoch Showunmi</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Matthew Blinkhorn</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Mark Jones</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Elvis Hammond</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Adam Chambers</TD><TD>3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Keith Keane</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Lee Mansell</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Steve Howard</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Marc Bridge-Wilkinson</TD><TD>2</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>6 others</TD><TD>1</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Bartosz is a great striker in that he can set up goals, or have them be set up for him and finish them with style... Richard Johnson really is an unsung hero of that first half of the season, as will become even clearer with the next two stats tables...

<TABLE width="40%"><TBODY><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD colSpan=2>Luton Town - Form Ratings

(top 5 with min 10 app.)
</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Richard Johnson</TD><TD align=middle>7.33</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Steve Howard</TD><TD align=middle>7.30</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Keith Keane</TD><TD align=middle>7.29</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Sol Davis</TD><TD align=middle>7.28</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Adam Chambers</TD><TD align=middle>7.21</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

As I just said, Johnson is a very valuable member of the club, an anchor in the middle of the defensive middie scheme that is the basis for both our attack and defense. Another one we don't always hear much about, but who's having a great season, is left full back Sol Davis. He's really stepped up his play when Matt Carbon went down with a month long injury...

<TABLE width="40%"><TBODY><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD colSpan=2>Luton Town - Man of the Match awards</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Richard Johnson</TD><TD align=middle>4</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Steve Howard</TD><TD align=middle>3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Mark Goodlad</TD><TD align=middle>3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Bartosz Tarachulski</TD><TD align=middle>2</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Matthew Blinkhorn</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Mark Jones</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Bobby Wilde</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Matt Carbon</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Elvis Hammond</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Adam Chambers</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Sol Davis</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Marc Bridge-Wilkinson</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Johnson again shines in the MoM nominations, but it's also good to see keeper Mark Goodlad being mentionned here too. He's certainly kept a few games closer than expected this season...

General Stats Comments

<LI>We are averaging an attendance of 8205 so far this season, good for a 10th place in League One. Our stadium is a 9975 all seater, so we're filling at 82%.

<LI>We currently have a 13 games without losing streak in league play, THAT is impressive...

<LI>The team is second in Goals For, with 40, and 11th in Goals Conceded, with 26.

<LI>Steve Howard is second in league goal scored, with 13, trailing the first goal scorer by only 1.

<LI>Bartosz Tarachulski is 12th in assists.

<LI>Richard Johnson's four Man of the Match awards give him 4th place for the most MoM awards in league play.

<LI>Sol Davis is 12th in tackles per game, with an average of 4.47 tackles per game.

<LI>Enoch Showunmi is 1st in driblles per game, with an average of 3.98 dribbles per game.

<LI>Mark Goodlad has recorded 6 clean sheets in 20 starts, while Rob Beckwith has 3 in 8 starts.

FM

FrogMan

12-22-2004, 10:17 AM

Contract News
December 31 comes and with it, about half a ton of message from my assistant manager, reminding me about all of my players, and players on my shortlist, that enter the last 6 months of their current contracts. I'll first detail what I think of our own players with contracts coming to terms...

Elvis Hammond is asking for $3800 a week. I'm very unsure of offering that kind of money for a player who can sort of disappear at times. For now, I'm gonna wait.

Steve Howard is still not interested in renewing with Luton, per his agent. This saddens me a great deal. Renewing him for 2005 was a long and tough back and forth negotiation that ended with a $5800 a week contract, with a significant signing fee. I'm thorn on this one. I have plenty of strikers, and will probably want to carry many again next season, at least 6 starting caliber strikers, so I may have to cut somewhere. Also, when Howard got injured, I felt like the other strikers were sort of able to pick up the slack left by the loss of the 29yo striker. For now, I'm going to wait.

Russell Perrett is currently earning 1400 a week and is of no use to the team, and probably won't be until his contract ends. I release him on a free, this costs us only $36,000.

Mark Williams, who's earning $3000 right now, is saying he would accept a pay cut to $2800 a week. He's been of great use this season, but I'll probably go for a younger centreback for next season, so I don't offer him a new contract.

Bobby Wilde is a weird one. He basically has no skills, other than great crossin and corner skills, and some physical abilities, yet he gets good form ratings. He's earning $600 right now and since he's been transfer listed all season, he's unsure if he wants to sign back with the team. I may offer him a contract later on, if I can get him to sign for something around 600 or less... He's definitely a bargain for a backup at that price.

Next are three youngsters in SC Luke Maitland, D RLC Nick Mountford, and MC Sean Ridgeway. All three have very limited skills and I don't expect to offer them contracts.

Michael Leary is a center midfielder earning a fair $700 a week as a developmental project, playing with the reserve team. He never really developped into a player that could break into the starting lineup. I'm still unsure if I want to offer him anything.

Stephen O'Leary is a 20yo M RC, earning $400 a week right now. Similar to Leary, he's playing with the reserves. I'm also unsure if I want to offer him a contract...

Keeper Rob Beckwith wants $600 a week, the exact same wage he is currently earning. He could easily take the place of Mark Goodlad if he were to fall to injury, so I offer him a $600 a week contract for 3 years.

Reserve goalkeeper Dean Brill is still young (20) but I'm doubting he'll ever develop into a good keeper as I've never seen him with more than 8 at handling. Still, his earning only400 a week on his current contract and could be worth keeping around, in case of double injuries to my two first team keepers.

Backup keeper Dino Seremet, 25yo, is currently earning $1100 a week. He wants $1350 but I find this a bit high for a perennial backup who's not seen the field with the first team in two seasons. I will wait before deciding to make him an offer...

Striker Enoch Showunmi, whom I call "Show", is crazy. He wants $6800 a week, plus $12000 in signing fee. The team board won't allow more than $6000 for a key player, which Show just isn't. My assistant, Mick Harford, tells me that Show is a undervalued member of our first team and that I should offer him a contract valued at about...... $2400 a week. At that level, I would be more than okay with resigning Show to a new contract, but until he comes back to earth, I'll wait before offering him anything. He's 23yo and will turn 24 on April 21, so he isn't subject to the Bosman rule yet. I'll keep a good eye on the striker who's currently valued at $750k.

Among players outside of my team, one is really interesting me. Rowan Vine, a striker from Swindon that was on loan with us for the whole 2004-05 season, season where he scored 13 competitive goals for our club. He's 23yo with some great skills and has been on the transfer list for quite a while now. While he is valued at $1.7M, Swindon is "only" asking 650k for him, saying he doesn't fit into their plans. His contract expires on March 3, 2006, but he's currently on loan at Portsmouth. I'll keep a close check on him, and could possible make some kind of low offer, with all of the $236k that I have left in my transfer budget...

I'm also intrigued by striker Mark Smyth, who is on loan at our club, from Liverpool. He's a 20yo center striker with some skills who is now playing exclusively on our reserve team. At some point, some of my coaches were saying not to bother pursuing him, while others were saying he could develop into a good player, and one of my scouts said he was a player with potential, that's got me a bit confused. Looking at him, he's not as well rounded as some of my other strikers. He's on loan with us until the end of the season, currently transfer listed with an asking price of $180k, while he is valued at $850k.

FM

FrogMan

12-22-2004, 10:32 AM

January 1st, 2006
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! :)
And with the new year comes a new month. The Luton Team Board are delighted with my performance as manager, this always sounds nice to my ears :) If only to confirm that they have good reasons to be delighted, I come in second place for the Manager of the Month award, second only to Paul Sturrock, the manager of Sheffield Wednesday, who had a monstrous month.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is name League One Player of the Month. WOW! That is the first time a member of the club has been named for this award since I've taken over the management of the club, other than Mark Jones winning the Young player of the month award a few months ago. Not only does a Hatter win it, but Steve Howard gets mentionned as the third place finisher...

Elvis Hammond's sensational goal in the 6-4 win over Doncaster comes in second place for the goal of the Month award. I watched it over and over, and while some will say I may be biased, I think it was worthy of first place. While revisiting that goal, I have a crazy idea, offer game files to you to sort of give you the chance to watch my most memorable games. I saved the game in which Hammond scored his great goal, but only forgot to upload it to my webspace. I will upload it tonight and will let you know when it's available.

FM

FrogMan

12-22-2004, 11:03 AM

January 1st, 2006
home vs Wrexham (currently 10th, 6 points behind us)
S: Showunmi/Howard/Blinkhorn
AMC: Jones
DMC: Chambers/Johnson (both with up arrows)
D: Davis/Davies/Coyne/Keane (full backs with up arrows)

This is the 3rd of 3 very close games, but we'll get a break after that, as our next game is only on January 7th. The break we get is that Wrexham also played on the 26th and 28th, so we should be even. They played a 3-5-2 formation in their last match, with the five middies on a straight line. I also see that Alan Neilson, former Hatter, is now playing for them.

When I get to the match, I see that they are putting some twist in their tactics, drawing back their two wingers with very long down arrows. I guess they are adjusting to our attacking firepower, or I'd like to think it is so... :)

The first half is pretty uneventful, as they are clearly going for the 0-0 tie. We get 6 shots, with only one on target, while they don't even get one. Lack of shot for them can easily be explained with us controlling the ball 39% of the time, IN THEIR ZONE!!!

92nd minute: In the middle of 4 minutes of injury time, we finally break the tie following a throw in by Keith Keane to Steve Robinson, who centers a long ball accross the field, to the far post, where Enoch Showunmi takes it and scores, right inside the left goal post...

We escape this one at the last minute...

Final Score: 1, Wrexham 0
Shots (on target): Luton 12 (4), Wrexham 0 (0)
MoM: Sol Davis, with a ratings of 8. He completed 31 of 38 passes, with 8 key passes.
Possession:
our zone: 3/10
middle: 21/21
their zone: 40/5

I'm trying to find a way to report possession numbers, but they look weird. Anyway, "Our zone", "middle", and "Their zone" represent when the ball was in our defensive zone, the central zone, our their defensive zone. For both, the first number is our possession percentage, while the second is theirs... As you can see in this game, we spent close to half the game while controlling the ball IN THEIR ZONE!!!

We move to 4th place with the win, awesome!!!

However, I learn that Richard Johnson has damaged his elbow and will miss a week. Good thing our next game is only in 6 days...

daedalus

12-22-2004, 11:57 AM

Y'know, one good thing about not re-signing Hammond will be the possibility for that inevitable "has left the building" comment. :D

FrogMan

12-22-2004, 12:04 PM

Y'know, one good thing about not re-signing Hammond will be the possibility for that inevitable "has left the building" comment. :D
hehe, weird enough, it never occured to me :)

How do you like the read so far?

FM

FrogMan

12-22-2004, 12:06 PM

Transfer News
I see that Brighton and Gillingham appear interested in Enoch Showunmi. Well, let's see if I can get them to bite to an offer so I offer him to a select few teams. I'm asking $500k and an extra $52k after 10 appearances for Show...

Achievement News
Right full back Kevin Foley and attacking midfielder Marc Bridge-Wilkinson are named on the League One Team of the Week. It's the first time ever for Foley and the first time for Bridge-Wilkinson as a Hatter. He was part of the team of the week 4 times when he was playing for Stockport.

Staff News
I sign Jon Lock to a cheap scout contract. Cheap as in only $280 a week. Lock is a little known scout with great skills at judging a player's ability (20) and potential (18). Immediately upon arrival, I send him on a scouting trip of England, looking for players between 15 and 25 years of age. We'll see what he can find.

Contract News
Keeper Rob Beckwith agrees to a 3 year deal that will pay him $600 per week. The deal will keep him with the club until June 20, 2009.

Injury News
Defender Matt Carbon resumes full training after missing a month of action. Seeing how well Sol Davis as played as his replacement at left full back, Carbon will probably be used more as a centreback when he's completely back to game shape.

Loan News
Dunstable offers to loan Michael Leary, but they only want to pay half of his $700 weekly wage. I make them a counter offer, in which they would pay 100% of his salary. Three days later, they withdraw their loan bid.

Transfer News
When I get a message from my scouts that 27yo sweeper/defender Tony James was about to be taken off my shortlist, I decide to take a look at his skills. I find him very interesting and I decide to declare my interest through the branches. The press is right on the case and start the buzz machine, even saying I would be ready to put in a bid valued at $240k, our current transfer budget. I'm not so sure I'd be ready to put that much, but I find it interesting. I'll see if the fans have anything to say against James. He is currently playing for Hereford in League Two and is valued at $160k.

FM

FrogMan

12-23-2004, 11:58 AM

January 6, 2006
away at Boston United (currently in 14th with 29pts, we have 42pts)
S: Hammond/Howard/Tarachulski
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Chambers/Keane (with up arrows)
D: Davis/Coyne/Williams/Foley (fuul backs with up arrows)

Boston United seem to be having a nice season for a team that just promoted from League Two this season. They played a 4-4-2 with moderate forward play by the wingers. I see from a look at their roster that they'll have 4 injured players and 1 suspended one for our match.

10th minute: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson takes the ball just outside our penalty box, only to pass it to Elvis Hammond on the left side. Hammond then makes a beauty of a cross, over the head of a defender and right to the feet of Steve Howard, who's alone with the keeper. He scores his 15th goal of the season as we go up 1-0.

26th minute: Another great Hammond-Howard combination is the source of our second goal. This time, Howard heads the ball in, 2-0.

60th minute: PENALTY!!! Bartosz Tarachulski is pushed while trying to get a center from Matthew Blinkhorn. Steve Howard is our penalty guy, he nails it, IT'S A HAT TRICK!!! We're up 3-0.

63th minute: Mark Goodlad loses his clean sheet when he is unable to makes two saves in a row. They score on the rebound of the first shot. 3-1. We hold and that's the final score...

MoM: Steve Howard with 3 goals, 25 of 29 passes, 4 shots on goal on 8 shots, and a perfect ratings of 10.
Chris Coyne also had a great game, winnign 10 of 11 tackles, while 6 other players finish the game with ratings of 8.

We remain in 4th after the win.

When I look at our fixtures list, I see that our next match will be a very big one, as we'll be playing Sheffield Wednesday, on their pitch. They are currently on a 9 game winning streak...
Suspension News
Bartosz Tarachulski will be suspended for one match, after he picked up his 5th yellow card.

FM

FrogMan

12-23-2004, 12:44 PM

Transfer News
Hereford's manager, Graham Turner, gives a "hands off" warning to teams interested in acquiring sweeper/defender Tony James. This comes after I've made my interest clear. Turner makes a big show of saying he won't be bullied into selling the 27yo sweeper, but I know better. Anything can be bought, and a conference team sometimes can't say no to some extra money in their coffer...

In some weird coincidence while looking at my reserve team roster, I see that Hereford is interested in striker Andrea Valente. Valente was valued at close to a million dollars at some point, but his value has since plummeted, mostly because he now only plays for my reserve team. He was getting somewhat good ratings, but with the flurry of striker buys I made last offseason, he got demoted to reserve play only and he doesn't figure in the long term plans of the team. I decide to try something and I offer Valente and $20k for Tony James to Hereford. That's worth a try, especially since I had signed Valente on a free transfer in the middle of the 2004-05 season :)

Achievement News
Five players of our team make the League One Team of the Week: Adam Chamber, Chris Coyne, Sol Davis, Steve Howard, and Bartosz Tarachulski. Five out of eleven isn't too shabby :)

Transfer news
The day after we'd made the offer, we hear from Hereford and the offer is accepted!!! We are now allowed to offer a contract to Tony James. He is asking $4800 per week. My assistant think that he'd become an active memeber of our first team and so I should offer him a contract around $3800 per week. I offer $3000 per week + $50 per appearance, based on the fact that he's currently earning $1550 per week. On a sidenote, Andrea Valente is currently earning $2800 for us, money that we would save on our wage bill with the trade.

In other transfer news, Cheltenham makes a bid for keeper Rob Beckwith. They are offering $44k + 30% of the next sale. They set a deadline of January 17 for a reply, I'll think about it.

Contract News
Michael Leary resigned with us, a one year deal that will pay him $700/week.

Enoch Showunmi is now unhappy. Show says he wants to commit his future to the club and feel he deserves an improved contract. Down from 6800/week, then to 4800/week, he's now asking 2800/week plus a signing fee of $12000. He's currently paid $1550 per week, and I think I will wait a bit longer before making him an offer...

Transfer News
In a strange twist, Tony James signs a new contract with Hereford. HOLY MOLY!!! But now that I think about it, I think I remember seeing that he was considering a contract offer from them. Sure enough now, when I look at his transfer screen, there's no indication of a bid from us. What the heck, I'll try it again. This time, Valente + $32k for James, +10% of next sale. I offer a bit more, since he just signed a contract with them, which could mean he's worth a bit more to them.

In the same day, the accept the offer! I get to offer a contract to James again. He's still asking for $4800 per week. This time, I offer him $3400, which is still better than his new contract, at $2200/wk.

Contract News
Show is now asking only $2600 per week, still going down. I'll wait some more :)

FM

FrogMan

12-23-2004, 01:33 PM

January 14, 2006
away at Sheffield Wednesday (currently 2nd, 7pts ahead of us)
S: Hammond/Howard/Blinkhorn
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC Chambers/Johnson (with up arrows)
D: Davis/Williams/Coyne/Foley (full backs with up arrows)

Even though this should be a tough match on the road, I keep the up arrows on both my defensive middies and my full backs. This tactic as served me real well in the last few weeks, why screw it up. One things for sure, I'll be on the lookout to see if we are falling apart and will not hesitate to go on a more defensive scheme if need be.

Scouting them, I see that they played a pretty straight 4-4-2 with moderate push from the wingers in their last match. When I get to the game, I see that their are showing a much stronger push from the wingers, asking them to go way forward, similar to what Boston United did against us in our last match.

7th minute: Kevin Foley gets a loose ball on the right wing. He passes it on to Matthew Blinkhorn whos swiftly crosses the ball, all the way to the edge of the Sheffield's penalty box, a 45 yards pass. Elvis Hammond is there, waiting for the ball, with only the keeper to beat. Confidently, he scores the 1-0 goal.

24th minute: Adam Chambers is injured and has to go off. While on the tactics screen, I take off the up arrows on the defensive midfielders, as they are controlling way too much of what's going on in our defensive zone.

33rd minute: Chris Coyne is the architect of a great set pieces kick from right outside their penalty box. He kicks just over the wall, and scores the 2-0 goal from 20 yards out.

We dodge bullet right and left in this first half, as they outshoot us 12 (3 on target) to 5 (3 on target). Possession numbers are not pretyy either, as they controlled the ball 31% of the time in our defensive zone...

60th minute: Following some good passing in our penalty box, they seem to have scored, but wait, is that a raised flag I see there? Yes, yes it is, OFFSIDE!!! :)

We shut them down the rest of the game, after I changed our tactics to go to a much shorter passing game, and we hold on to the 2-0 lead to win it, YEAH!!! A clean sheet on their pitch, awesome!!!

Final Score: Luton 2, Sheffield Wednesday 0
Shots (on target): Luton 5 (3), Sheffield Wednesday 12 (3)
MoM: Mark Goodlad, with a ratings of 9. He made many saves, keeping the team in the game. Our whole defensive unit had a big game, as 3 of the 4 defensers had ratings of 8.
Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 9/34
middle: 18/24
their zone: 11/4

We stay in 4th place with the win, but Sheffield drops to 3rd, and we're now only 4 points off... We squashes their winning streak!!!

Team Board News
As would be expected, at least from me, the Luton Team Board are extremely pleased with the win over Sheffield Wednesday. Me, I'm ecstatic :)

Injury News
Adam Chambers is diagnosed with a damaged elbow, following the Sheffield Wednesday match. He will miss approximately one week. Our next game is only in a week, so he's only expected to miss a game.

FM

FrogMan

12-23-2004, 01:58 PM

Transfer News
Interesting, Andrea Valente agrees to a deal with Hereford. We are still waiting to hear from Tony James on our offer.

Transfer/Contract News
And the news comes the very next day. Tony James accepts our offer and the transfer can happen. James makes it known in the paper that he "is very keen to rise to the challenge of playing for such an illustrious club". Nice to see us mentionned as an illustrious club. *cough* butt kissing *cough* But it's all good. He also states that he wants to impress his new manager. I'm curious to see if that will translate well to on field performance. I'll report on that after a few games...

Achievement News
Mark Goodlad and Sol Davis are named on the League One Team of the Week. That's a second week in a row for Davis.

Transfer News
I finally respond to the Beckwith bid by Cheltenham. I up he offer to $60, from their initial offer of $44k. My rationale is that Beckwith was once valued at $65k, when he played a lot more in the middle of last season. Maybe they'll see it this way and will be willing to pony up some more. And if not, I get to keep Beckwith as my unexpensive backup keeper.

U18/Loan News
Peterborough wants 16yo Kevin Joyce on loan. I try a bit of craziness and say "Why not, but bring on the dough" as I ask a $500k fee for them to have him on loan for three months... hehe :)

Transfer News
While looking at the players on my shortlist, seeing Rowan Vine's name, I have an idea. Why not try something similar to what I did with the James/Valente trade. I offer Portsmouth $100k and Enoch Showunmi for the 1.5M valued Vine. They have him currenlty transfer listed with an asking price of 650k. I doubt they'll say yes, but who knows...

In other transfer news, Cheltenham withdraw their bid for keeper Rob Beckwith.

FM

daedalus

12-23-2004, 09:43 PM

hehe, weird enough, it never occured to me :)What can I say? I'm a dork. :DHow do you like the read so far?Good reading. :)

FrogMan

12-24-2004, 02:23 PM

Manager Mind Games
I have not played with the Manager Mind Games much, except exchanging very positive comments with Andy King, Swindon's manager, at some point at the beginning of my first season. Since then, he usually makes a comment about me whenever our team play each other. We play them in our next match, and true to history, King makes a comment about me in the press. He basically comments that I'm a good manager and that I deserve every success with the Hatters.

As soon as I saw that comment, I went to see if it had created any reaction from my players, and yep, there they were. Three players (Steve Howard, Chris Coyne, Mark Goodlad) all believe in the wake of King's comment to the media that the team cannot fail to perform under my guidance. Nice :)

Another player, Richard Johnson, is pleased that I'm getting the praise I deserve. Pretty cool, huh?

On a sidenote, while reading their comments, I see that three of the four players (Coyne, Johnson, Goodlad) think that the club should retain the services of Steve Howard. Hmmm, I'll have to keep this in mind...

I respond to King's comment, basically saying that Swindon can be very proud of their manager.

Loan News
Not too surprising, Peterborough withdraw their loan bid for Joyce.

Playing Time News
270yo forward, James Pinnock is unhappy to have been relegated to the reserve team. I had acquired Pinnock on a Bosman transfer in the offseason, when I was still a rookie with offseason signings, leading me to sign about 7-8 different players. Turned out, some players looked better than others when we started playing games, and Pinnock was left out of the mix. I hesitated between him and Roscoe D'Sane when I needed a 6th forward for the stretch of 4 games in 10 days. I'll move D'Sane back to reserve and will give Pinnock a chance at first team play for a while...

Transfer News
Not unexpectedly, Portsmouth have rejected the 100k part exchange for Rowan Vine. I'll wait before trying somthing else...

Contract news
Steve Howard is now open to negotiating a new contract. He's asking $6000 per week for the next 2 years, a signing fee of $18k, and a slew of other clauses, namely: $380 per goal, $220 per assist, a minimum release fee of 850k, a promotion wage rise of 10%, and a relegation wage drop of 10%. My assistant says he believes Howard is an essential member of our first team and he recommends an offer of $6000/wk, which is the max our team board will allow me.

Howard is currently earning $6800 per week. This is weird, since the board won't allow me to offer more than 6000. I probably signed him to 5600 last year and he had a percentage wage rise in the contract, pushig him over the limit. Anyway, I pounce on the opportunity and offer the contract as it is.

FM

FrogMan

12-24-2004, 03:01 PM

January 21, 2006
home vs Swindon (currently in 5th, only 3 points behind us)
S: Showunmi/Howard/Tarachulski
AMC: Jones
DMC: Johnson/Keane (with up arrows)
D: Davis/James/Coyne/Foley (full backs with up arrows)
GK: Goodlad

Swindon player a 4-3-3 very similar to ours (out arrows on the outside strikers, but with the 3 middies on a line in the middle of the field) in their last match. However, they make a switch to a 4-4-2 with moderate push from the wings as we get to the game. We've had fairly good success against this kind of 4-4-2 lately.

22nd minute: We get a free kick right outside their penalty box. It's Steve Howard versus a 5 man wall. He kicks it over the wall, top corner from 20 yards out! We're up 1-0.

We kept knocking at the door all game long, but we missed many chances.

83rd minute: Another set piece play is the source for our second goal. This time, it's a great corner kick from Marc Bridge-Wilkinson that's aimed straight to the penalty spot. Chris Coyne is there to head it home, it's now 2-0. This late in the game, that goal is the killer. This is the final score.

Final Score: Luton 2, Swindon 0
Shots (on target): Luton 17 (8), Swindon 4 (0)
MoM: Chris Coyne, with a ratings of 8, 1 goal, 26 of 35 passes and winning 6 of 6 headers.
Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 15/11
middle: 20/26
their zone: 15/13

Tony James gets a ratings of 7 and an assist in his first game with us. However, our physio, in his after match evaluation, tells me that James is in need of a rest. Darn it!!! I hope we have not just acquired a lemon...

FM

FrogMan

12-24-2004, 03:11 PM

Manager Mind Games
Following our win over his team, Andy King praise me as his friend. While I appreciate the comment, I switch the talks to my boys, saying that I'm satisfied with my players' effort in our recent match.

International Callup
Chris Coyne is called up by the Australain manager for their Oceania Nations Cup squad. That's a cup I had never heard about in the past. From a quick look at the fixtures list, seem like they'll play at some point in February.

Transfer News
West Ham appears interested in Steve Howard. We better hurrry getting him signed.

Contract News
Speaking of Howard, he rejects our offer, but is willing to negotiate. When I go try to offer him something else, he's now saying he's not interested in renewing with Luton, but might be tempted if the offer is too good to refuse... Hrm, looks like him and his agents are not talking too often... Anyway, I offer him $6000 per week, but I up the signing fee to $24k and the goal bonus to $440 per goal.

Achievement News
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is named on the League One Team of the Week. This is weird as he only played 39 minutes of our Swindon match, subbing for Mark Jones. He got a ratings of 8, but still, it's kind of weird...

FM
PS: I'm done for today, as guests will arrive later on. I'd like to wish a Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays to all of you who read this tale of a frog :)

FrogMan

12-25-2004, 02:36 PM

January 24, 2006
LDV Vans Trophy South Semi Final
away at Watford (currently 8th in League One)
S: Hammond/Blinkhorn/Pinnock
AMC: Mansell
DMC: Robinson/Chambers (Robinson with up arrow)
D: Carbon/Williams/Davies/Foley (full backs with up arrows)
GK: Beckwith

Watford is now playing in League One, although they were in the Championship just last season. We will be playing many subs, as we played on the 21st and have another league game on the 28th. For some reason, given the great run we're having in league play, I don't view this competition as highly as I view league play right now... For that one reason, I give the start to forward James Pinnock and keeper Rob Beckwith.

Watford seem to play a very interesting 3-4-3, we'll see how we match up against it.

40th minute: PENALTY!!! Rob Beckwith gets called as he goes up to clear a ball in front of our goal. Kick comes AND HE SAVES IT!!! It's still 0-0...

46th minute: In injury time, they play a great corner kick to our 6 yard box and they convert it easily, we go down 0-1...

49th minute: They get a free kick right outside our penalty box. The kick gets deflected going through the wall, Beckwith can't do anything. We go down 0-2...

58th minute: Following a great exchange in the middle, they feed the ball to one of their man, on our penalty spot. Beckwith comes out, blocks the first shot but can't get to the rebound, down 0-3. That will be the final score.

Final Score: Luton 0, Watford 3
Shots (on target): Luton 5 (2), Watford 15 (8)
MoM: Watford's Heider Helguson with a ratings of 8 and great stats accross the board.
HoM: Elvis Hammond with a ratings of 7, 27 of 29 passes, and 5 of 9 headers.
Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 11/27
middle: 12/23
their zone: 13/10

Simply looking at possession numbers we never were in that game. Losing possession 40/60 is pretty bad, but I don't care much, as long as we keep doing well in league play, I'll be happy...

U18/Loan News
Gillingham now want 16yo Kevin Joyce on a 3 month loan. I counter offer with the same 500k fee that I had asked of Peterborough.

Contract News
Enoch Showunmi is now down for $2400 per week and a signing fee of $12k. I play hard ball and offer him $2000 per week and a $8k signing fee.

U18/Loan News
As Gillingham withdraw their loan bid for Joyce, Barnet is now asking to have the youngster in loan for a period of 3 months. I ask the same thing of them, 500k fee, or no loan...

Contract News
Steve Howard rejects our latest offer and still says he is not interested of renewing but would listen if the offer is too good to refuse... I can't up the weekly wage, so I add 4k to the signing fee and I offer him that.

Also, I learn that the Show must go on, as Enoch Showunmi signs a new deal with the club, deal that will keep him with us until June 30, 2009.

FM

FrogMan

12-26-2004, 02:09 PM

January 28, 2006
away at Rushden & Diamonds (currently in 17th with 31pts, we have 51pts)
S: Showunmi/Howard/Tarachuslki
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Robinson/Johnson (with up arrows)
D: Davis/Williams/Davies/Chambers
GK: Goodlad

Rushden promoted from League Two this season, and they were the team that ousted us from the FA Cup last season, although we beat them in league play earlier this season. They played a 4-4-2 with moderate push from the wingers in their last match.

Good news as I get ready for the match, as I see that overall, the players' morale wasn't too badly affected by the recent loss.

16th minute: RED CARD!!! One of their player kicked the ball toward Steve Robinson after they'd been awarded a free kick for offside. They switch to 4-4-1 with no push from the wingers.

19th minute: Enoch Showunmi shows me why I had to resign him, as he makes a great center, to Steve Howard's head for th 1-0 goal.

That will be the final score, in a game way too close for comfort. We could never get chances to score, despite being one man up on them. They finished the game in a very offensive 2-4-3 formation. At least we got the win.

Final Score: Luton 1, Rushden 0
Shots (on target): Luton 6 (3), Rushden 6 (2)
MoM: Steve Robinson, with a ratings of 8, winning 5 of 8 tackles, completing 16 of 18 passes, 3 of them key passes. It's his first MoM award this season.
Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 20/14
middle: 25/18
their zone: 10/13

We move within 1 point of Sheffield Wednesday and the 3rd place with the win. Sheffield lost 1-3 to Boston Utd.

Weird thing following the game, my physio tells me again that Tony James needs some rest, even though he only played 28 minutes. And on James' profile page, it says he is match fit. When I ask a report from my two physios, they both say he's not been with the club long enough for them to comment...
FM

FrogMan

12-26-2004, 02:13 PM

Contract News
Steve Howard rejects our latest offer, we move up the offer to 6000 per week, with a 36k signing fee, per goal bonus at 460 now, and assist up to 400 per assist...

February 1st, 2006
The transfer deadline passes without us making a move.

Contract News
Well the dance has started with Steve Howard as he rejects our offer once more. We up the signing fee to 40k.

Team Board News
With the new month comes the confidence update, the Team Board say they are delighted with how the team is going. I come in second for the second month in a row, for the Manager of the Month award, to Cardiff City's David Platt. Cardiff is currently in first place of the League.

FM

FrogMan

12-26-2004, 02:34 PM

January 1st, 2006
home vs Blackpool (currently 7th, 3 pts under the playoffs line, 9 pts behind us)
S: Pinnock/Howard/Tarachulski
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Keane/Chambers (with up arrows)
D: Davis/Williams/Carbon/Foley (full backs with up arrows)

They played a 4-4-2 with big push from the wingers, but when I get to the game, I see that they have reduced the push from the wingers to a moderate push.

5th minute: Bartosz Tarachulski has an amazing start of the game. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson passes the ball right Steve Howard sitting right outside the box, who then flicks it on to Tarachulski inside the box. He fires a bullet for the 1-0 goal.

13th minute: A shot from James Pinnock gets deflected all the way to the right, right where Tarachulski was waiting. He charges on toward the goal, alone with the keeper, scores his 5th goal of the season. We're up 2-0.

26th minute: A great pass from Keith Keane to Steve Howard's head is how our 3rd goal happened. It was Howard's 100th goal as a Hatter. We're up 3-0.

31st minute: Keane is again the source of a Hatter goal, as he pumps a ball to Tarachulski on the right. Tarachulski then centers it to Howard, who's all alone on the penalty spot. He won't misse it for his second of the game and we're up 4-0.

54th minute: We lose our clean sheet as they center a ball from the right smack in the middle of our 6yard box, heading it in. We're still up 4-1.

75th minute: We let them operate and what had to happen happened. Mark Goodlad is not having is best game, as he's the only one showing a 6 for ratings. We're still up 4-2, and we'll keep it that way.

Final Score: Luton 4, Blackpool 2
Shots (on target): Luton 12 (7), Blackpool 8 (5)
MoM: Steve Howard, with a ratings of 9, 2 goals, 4 shots on goal. Bartosz Tarachulski also has a nice game, with a ratings of 8, 2 goals, also winning 13 of 16 headers.
Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 15/14
middle: 19/28
their zone: 10/14

We move to 3rd as Sheffield Wednesday drops one, 0-1 to Swindon. We now have won 11 league games in a row and have played 19 league games without losing.

Adam Chambers will be suspended for one match, as a results of picking up his 5th yellow card.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson will miss 5 days with a sprained thigh.

FM

FrogMan

12-27-2004, 02:30 PM

Player Praise
I praise Steve Howard for his great recent form. The reaction I get from the fans tells me I should everything that is possible to resign him.

Contract News
And speaking of Howard, he reject our offer once more, but remains willing to nefotiate. I up the signing fee from 40k to 52k and make a new offer.

Scout watches Redhead
:eek: That's what one of my news message said, for a moment, I was "what the heck, go watch players, not the ladies at the club!!!" :D Turned out it was a bad striker with a last name of Redhead, hehe :)

February 4, 2006
home vs Port Vale (currently 5th, 6 points behind us)
S: Showunmi/Howard/Hammond
AMC: Mansell
DMC: Robinson/Johnson (with up arrows)
D: Davis/Williams/Davies/Foley (no arrows)
GK: Goodlad
We are still in 3rd, now 3 points behind second place Millwall and 6 points behind first place Cardiff. These guys are not dropping many games, we have to keep fighting.

Many games in few days force me to go in depth. Also, Chris Coyne is still on international duty, Adam Chambers is suspended and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is injured. To keep my full backs fresh, I take off the up arrows on them for this game.

24th minute: They center the ball to our 6 yard box. Curtis Davies is there to head it out, but he hits it weak and the ball stay in the penalty box, where they take it and score. Down 0-1.

35th minute: Mark Williams is getting burned so bad I have to take him off. Tony James comes in.

61st minute: Richard Johnson gets his second yellow card of the game and is sent off. With only ten men and behind by one, this is not going to be easy...

92nd minute: Two minutes into injury time, Steve Howard plays a free kick short outside their penalty box. Mark Jones is the recipient. He tries to force is once, but it's blocked by a defender. The ball gets right back to him, he dribbles it to position himself better and fires a 25 yard strike for the equalizer!!! 10 men and we tie them!!!

Final Score: Luton 1, Port Vale 1
Shots (on target): Luton 9 (2), Port Vale 8 (3)
MoM: Port Vale's Steve Rowland with a ratings of 8.
HoM: Mark Jones with a ratings of 8, the tying goal. He also completed 16 of 21 passes in only 28 minutes on the field.
Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 8/12
middle: 22/27
their zone: 19/12

We remain in 3rd, now tied with Sheffield Wednesday who won their match. The good news is that both Millwall and Cardiff drew their match.

Richard Johnson will be suspended for one match for having been sent off.

FM

FrogMan

12-27-2004, 02:42 PM

Scouting/Transfer News
One of m scout reports to me that he has found a D/DM with some potential. The player is named Shola Oyedele, is 21yo and currently plays for the reserve team of MK Dons. I take a look at his skill set and he's interesting. Valued at 16k, I offer 10k now and 4k more when the player will have had 20 appearances for us.

U18 News
16yo Kevin Joyce is a commanding presence in Luton U18 squad 3-2 qin over Millwall's U18 team. He had a ratings of 8, winning 12 of 13 headers, 6 of them key headers.

Transfer News
The offer for Shola Oyedele is accepted. We go into contract negotiation mode. He want $1250 per week while my assistant thinks it would be reasonable to got as high as $1500, since he seems to have considerable talent for his age. I offer him $1000, considering he's making way less than that right now, and I see him more as a long term project. The offer is for a contract good until June 30, 2010.

Contract News
Steve Howard once more rejects our offer but is still open to negotiate. This is getting old. I up the signing fee to 60k and add a 5% yearly wage rise clause to the many clauses already there.

Loan News
Deep, deep backup Sean Ridgeway goes on loan to Northwood. He says he's looking forward to playing first team football. Good luck my friend...

Contract news
Shola Oyedele agrees to term and signs a contract that will keep him with the Hatters until June 30, 2010. He says he can't wait to break into the first team setup at Kenilworth Road. I may put him in as my backup defender of defensive middie, then, maybe not.

FM

FrogMan

12-28-2004, 12:24 PM

February 11, 2006
home vs AFC Brounemouth (currently 12th with 40 points, we have 58 points)
S: Showunmi/Howard/Blinkhorn
AMC Mansell
DMC: Chambers/Robinson (with up arrows)
D: Davis/Carbon/Davies/Foley (full backs with up arrows)
GK: Goodlad

7th minute: Sol Davis is injured and has to leave the field.

42nd minute: What looked like a crazy back pass from Matthew Blinkhorn all the way back to Curtis Davies turns out quite fine as Davies pumps the ball back to Blinkhorn who immediately centers it in the 6 yardd box, where Lee Mansell is there to apply the finish. We go up 1-0.

79th minute: The move the ball all over the field, until we leave a man open in the box. They get him the ball and we're back to square one, 1-1.

Final Score: Luton 1, Bournemouth 1
Shots (on target): Luton 8 (2), Bournemouth 4 (1)
MoM: Matt Carbon with a ratings of 8 and 11 interceptions.
Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 12/12
middle: 19/30
their zone: 14/12

We stay in 3rd place after the draw.

Matthew Blinkhorn reaches the yellow card limit and will be suspended for one match.

Sol Davis' injury turned out to be a strained wrist and he will miss one week.

FM

FrogMan

12-28-2004, 12:39 PM

Contract/Transfer News
Steve Howard rejects yet one more offer from us. We up the signing fee from 60k to 70k and up the yearly wage rise from 5 to 10%.

Among other Howard news, Sheffield Wednesday make it publicly known that they may come after Howard. I have a chance to respond and my comment goes to the effect that I will only sell him for the right price.

Following these comments, Howard goes to the media and says he owes it to himself to look seriously at moving to a bigger club. Son of a gun...

January 14, 2006
away at Walsall (currently 13th with 40pts, we have 59 pts)
S: Pinnock/Howard/Tarachulski
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Wilde/Johnson (no up arrows)
D: Carbon/Williams/Oyedele/Keane (full backs with up arrows)
GK: Goodlad

39th minute: A great counter-attack, launched by Marc-Bridge-Wilkinson with a 45 yards pass over the defender line, straight to the feet of Steve Howard is the source of our first goal in the game, as Howard brilliantly finishes it. We're up 1-0.

60th minute: They score on a crazy bending kick, from 25 yards out. Tied 1-1.

66th minute: Quick double salvo, as they take their time setting the perfect center that leads to their go ahead goal. Down 1-2.

85th minute: Elvis Hammond has plenty of speed in him, after replacing Bartosz Tarachulski. He uses it to go clean around a defender, into the box. He takes a first shot, but it's block by their keeper. Howard is there for the rebound and is second goal of the game. Tied 2-2.

They have a couple of amazing chances of killing us in the 92nd minute, but we hang in there for the draw.

Final Score: Luton 2, Walsall 2
Shots (on target): Luton 7 (5), Walsall 15 (5)
MoM: Walsall's keeper Dean Watts with a ratings of 8.
HoM: Steve Howard with 2 goals and a ratings of 8.
Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 8/37
middle: 18/23
their zone: 10/4

As you can see, we got completely eaten alive on possession in that game...

We remain in 3rd place as Sheffield Wednesday didn't play today.

Mark Jones suffered a stubbed toe in the game and will mis 5 days.

We now have a 22 games unbeaten streak going on.

FM

FrogMan

12-28-2004, 01:13 PM

Contract News
Seems to me like I could do a copy/paste, as Steve Howard rejects yet one more offer from us. We up the signing fee to 80k, but I'm starting to believe we'll never sign him...

Loan News
Peterborough wants keeper Rob Beckwith and defender Kevin Joyce on loan. I have a feeling I may need Beckwith, so I ask for a 14k fee and I ask for a 400k fee for Joyce.

Transfer News
I try one last time for Rowan Vine. I offer Enoch Sowunmi and Elvis Hammond with 180k for Vine.

Loan News
Peterborough withdraw their loan bid on both Kevin Joyce and Rob Beckwith.

Contract News
Steve Howard reject our offer once more. I up the signing fee to 100k, that's my definite last offer.

January 18, 2006
away at Millwall (currently 2nd, 4 points ahead of us)
S: Tarachulski/Howard/Hammond
AMC: Mansell
DMC: Johnson/Chambers (with up arrows)
D: Carbon/Davies/Oyedele/Foley (full backs with up arrows)
GK: Goodlad

We have a rough stretch of games coming up. First we'll play second place Millwall, and then four days later, we get to play first place Cardiff City.

On top of these games, Chris Coyne is still away on international Duty (Oceania Nations Cup). He's been away for like 2 weeks, even though Australia wasn't part of the qualification stage.

Millwall played a pretty basic 4-4-2 in their last game, but they show a darn 4-2-4 as we get to the game. Darn I hate this formation.

14th minute: They move in from the left and cross the ball all the way to the other side. The kick comes in, the ball hits right inside the post, we go down 0-1.

22nd minute: Shola Oyedele leaves his centreback position and is way too adventurous. They center the ball into the hole he left open. The finish is easy. Down 0-2.

37th minute: Wo, we're getting killed. They go around Matt Carbon, center it, another seemingly easy goal. Mark Goodlad is having an awful game as we go down 0-3.

42nd minute: A long pas from Curtis Davies to Steve Howard leaves Howard alone behind their defensive line for an easy goal. He's alone for a reason, he was offside, goal is disallowed.

64th minute: A short corner kick is given back to the corner kick taker, who switfly centers it, we go down 0-4.

81st minute: It's getting seriously ugly. Nothing we do is going right. A free kick over a 6 man wall, top corner, is their fifth goal of the game. Down 0-5 and I can't wait for it to end...

Final Score: Luton 0, Millwall 5
Shots (on target): Luton 7 (5), Millall 22 (10)
MoM: Millwall's Jody Morris with a ratings of 9. Their whole team is all 8's except one 7 and two 9's.
HoM: NOBODY!!!
Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 10/23
middle: 19/28
their zone: 10/10

We remain in 3rd despite the loss, now tied with Swindon.

FM

FrogMan

12-28-2004, 08:16 PM

Player News
Dani Rodrigues goes to the media to complain. He wants first team football. He's the same kind of player that James Pinnock was, however, he lacks any real special skills, like the free kick and corner kick ability that Pinnock has. He also was acquired in the offseason spree we made, but I doubt I'll have a spot for him in the senior squad anytime soon.

Transfer News
Our Rowan Vine bid has been rejected. We lack the fundage to make an adequate bid -they are asking 650k for Vine- without a part exchange, so I may as well stick a fork in him...

Contract News
Steve Howard rejects our final offer. To hell with him, he'll play somewhere else next Fall... He now doesn't believe Luton has the resources to meet his demands, well F**k you mister, I don't know how, but we'll do without you next season. Now, I feel much better :)

February 22, 2006
home vs Cardiff City (currently 1st, 9 points ahead of us)
S: Showunmi/Howard/Pinnock
AMC: Mansell
DMC: Johnson/Chambers (with up arrows)
D: Davis/James/Williams/Keane (full backs with up arrows)
GK: Goodlad

10th minute: James Pinnock launches a beauty of a free kick, from just outside their penalty box, just inside the post for the 1-0 goal.

35th minute: They catch Mark Goodlad napping, as they score on a 25 yards strike. Back to square one, 1-1.

51st minute: Darn it! Another long ball gets the better of Goodlad as we go down 1-2.

63rd minute: Pinnock powers another free kick, this time through the wall, where it gets deflected. Their keeper jumps the wrong way as the ball goes in. We tie 2-2.

We hang on, I'm very happy with this draw.

Final Score: Luton 2, Cardiff 2
Shots (on target): Luton 6 (2), Cardiff 8 (3)
MoM: Cardiff's James Collins with a ratings of 8
HoM: James Pinnock with 2 goals and a ratings of 8.
Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 11/13
middle: 17/30
their zone: 16/13

We drop to 4th as Sheffield Wednesday won.

U18/Loan News
Ipswich and Gillingham both want Kevin Joyce on loan. I ask the mandatory 400k fee...

FM

FrogMan

12-28-2004, 08:31 PM

February 25, 2006
home vs Watford (currently 9th with 49 points, we have 61 points
S: Hammond/Tarachulski/Blinkhorn
AMC: Jones
DMC: Wilde/Chambers
D: Carbon/Davies/Oyedele/Foley
GK: Beckwith

I send a strong message to the team by criticizing and benching starting keeper Mark Goodlad for his very average play of the last few games.

Two games in three days is always tough, and because of that, I'll have many reserves in the game.

They played a 3-5-2 in their last game, but they show a 3-4-3 as we get to the game.

4th minute: Their right full back launches a long pass to their right forward, who then proceeds to center it right on the penalty spot. They convert easily. Down 0-1.

42nd minute: Rob Beckwith punches the ball away, a few feet from Matthew Blinkhorn who turns around and leave the ball to their midfielder who turns around, send it into the box where they convert a second goal. Down 0-2. I'm so pissed, I have to pull Blinkhorn from the game. Steve Howard comes in.

Some ugly passing from us happens in the second half, woah, not good... It also seems we're always second on the ball, there again, not good.

81st minute: Strangely, striker Steve Howard find himself way back in our zone, from where he launches a beautiful ball forward, to Adam Chambers who flicks it to Marc Bridge-Wilkinson. He move forward and does what he has to do when he gets alone with the keeper. still one down, 1-2.

87th minute: We pushed hard and that left some holes in the back, as they center a ball to the 6 yard box. Beckwith stops the first shot, but he can't do anything against the second one. 1-3

Final Score: Luton 1, Watford 3
Shots (on target): Luton 10 (4), Watford 23 (10) :eek:
MoM: Watford's Darren Garner with a goal and a ratings of 9
HoM: goalkeeper Rob Beckwith with a ratings of 8

We drop to 5th place. Next game is only on March 4th.

Injury News
Following the game, I learn that Steve Howard will miss two weeks with a groin strain and Tony James will miss one week with a sprained wrist.

Achievement News
James Pinnock makes the League One Team of the Week, thanks to his two goals on free kicks earlier in the week.

Loan News
Gillingham and Ipswich both withdraw their loan bid for Kevin Joyce.

FM

Eaglesfan27

12-28-2004, 10:00 PM

Just wanted to say that I'm really enjoying reading this. :)

daedalus

12-28-2004, 11:40 PM

I think Howard really, really wants to train to be a goalkeeper while filling the bench on the reserve team. :D

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 07:27 AM

Just wanted to say that I'm really enjoying reading this. :)
thanks :)

I'm getting frustrated though. Being off from work, I don't have the coffee/lunch breaks to do my writeups. Each and every breaks, i.e. when kiddo is sleeping, is devoted to me playing the game and writing down what happens on paper, with no time, or should I say, no discipline to take the time to write it in here... I got about 14 pages of notes to post in here, so keep coming back ;)

FM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 07:28 AM

I think Howard really, really wants to train to be a goalkeeper while filling the bench on the reserve team. :D

hehe, maybe, maybe. He's been a goal scoring machine for us, maybe he could become a goal stopping machine, who knows :D

FM

SirFozzie

12-29-2004, 07:33 AM

Dawgfan1980

12-29-2004, 08:23 AM

Keep up the good work, from this lurker turned Author, although I can't compete with your success, or pretty pictures!

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 09:32 AM

*chuckles*, Howard's new nickname has to be Sicknote, he's always at the physio's ;)

(Ah, the days when I was immature enough to punish players I hated that screwed up by giving them goalie training, completely ruining their value to other teams...

Ah, I'm still that immature I think, I just haven't found anyone that I hated THAT much yet :D)
funny, I think I'm pretty immature myself, heck my wife says she has three little boys on her hand, even though we only have two sons, guess who's the third little boy ;) But I never thought about screwing him, I guess my mom raise me the right way :)

FM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 09:33 AM

Keep up the good work, from this lurker turned Author, although I can't compete with your success, or pretty pictures!
Thanks, always nice to hear that others are reading, and appreciate the read :)

FM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 09:44 AM

Team Board News
The Luton Team board is still delighted with my work as a manager of the club, as are the fans with the progress the team has been making.

Achievement News
We're not mentionned anywhere in the many monthly awards, although two of the three goals of the months happened against us. Pretty much the story of the last month if you ask me, people getting lucky against us and us not converting anything when we had the chance...

March 4, 2006
away at Chester (currently 24th with a goald differential of -60)
S: Showunmi/Tarachulski/Blinkhorn
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Robinson/Chambers (no up arrows)
D: Davis/Carbon/Davies/Keane (full backs with up arrows)
GK: Beckwith

This may be our chance to get back on track.

BUT! The whole game goes and nothing, NOTHING happens!!! Final score is a boring 0-0 draw... Even more disheartening is that we only fire one shot, and it's not even on goal... bleh.

Final Score: Luton 0, Chester 0
Shots (on target): Luton 1 (0), Chester 5 (0) :eek:
MoM: Chester's Richie Humphreys with a rating of 8
HoM: left full back Sol Davis with a ratings of 8, the only player with more than 7.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 15/15
middle: 11/22
their zone: 12/16

We remain in 5th with the draw. The morale of the whole team is down the dump. We better win some soon or else we could be in trouble...

Transfer News
Brighton seems interested in Elvis Hammond so I take a moment to offer him around to many teams, including Brighton. I ask 100k for him, while he's valued at 110k.

FM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 10:07 AM

March 7, 2006
away at Barnsley (currently 19th with 40pts, we have 62pts)
S: Tarachulski/Hammond
AMC: Pinnock/Mansell
DMC: Wilde/Johnson
D: Davis/Williams/Oyedele/Foley
GK: Beckwith

I'm trying some new formation in this one, I want to make something happen. It's a 4-2-2-2, based off my usual 4-3-3. I drop down James Pinnock in a AMC position, but with an arrow that leads him to the middle striker position. Here, see for yourself:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/4222v1.jpg

I want to be able to generate some balls to my forward because I'm getting the feeling we're getting beat in possession, especially in the middle and we can't feed the ball to the forwards as much as we were able to. I have three very capable AMCs, and Pinnock is sort of my ace in the hole, as he's a F C. We'll see how this goes.

They are playing a diamond 4-4-2, so this one may end up being a fight in the middle of the field.

12th minute: Sol Davis commits a cynical foul and gets sent off. What is that?!? The ref can't take any kind of comment about his wife or his manhood anymore? Sheesh... That ref has already given 2 yellows, 1 red and numerous warnings already, this may be a looong game...

13th minute: They play the corner kick short, passed back to the corner taker who centers it inside the box where they finish it. Down 0-1 with 10 men on the pitch, that's gonna be a toughie...

81st minute: 10 men Luton squad do it again!!! Enoch Showunmi move the ball to the left to Mark Jones who passess it to Lee Mansell. Mansell exchange a back and forth 1-2 with Jones and fires it toward the goal. It goes in off the post for Mansell's 5th goal of the season. Tied 1-1.

87th minute: Richard Johnson gets his second yellow of the game and is sent off. We switch to a 3-2-1-2 and not only we hang on, but we even put some pressure...

Final Score: Luton 1, Chester 1
Shots (on target): Luton 20 (7), Chester 6 (3)
MoM: keeper Rob Beckwith with a rating of 9 and a few important saves

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 14/24
middle: 19/21
their zone: 14/8

The 4-2-2-2 wasn't all bad, as it helped us getting many shots, but we were not able to convert them, and the red cards kind of threw a wrench in the whole thing. Pinnock didn't seem to like that new position too much as he had a very low form rating and was eventually subbed out, replaced by Mark Jones. The jury is still out...

We drop to 6th with the draw and we are clearly in a slump. We've not won in our last 8 league matches.
Sol Davis and Richard Johnson will both be banned for a match for being sent off. We appeal of the Davis ban, with little hope I must say...

Transfer News
Nobody wants of Elvis Hammond, he must be overweight and near the end of his career. I'm getting ready to ship him to Memphis...

FM

tanglewood

12-29-2004, 10:07 AM

That new formation looks like it has too little width, FM.

Goof Dynasty.

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 11:40 AM

That new formation looks like it has too little width, FM.

Goof Dynasty.
assuming the goof meant good, thanks ;)

I agree with the formation and I'm not sure it will have a long life with my squad...

FM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 11:52 AM

Discipline News
The FA thinks that we did not have valid grounds for our appeal against the one match ban for Sol Davis. I guess he was very cynical when he made that unfortunate gesture...

Contract News
We release right defender Daniele Fortunato and goalkeeper Dino Seremet on free transfers. Fortunato's cost 14k, while Seremet's cost us 18k. This is going to save us over 2000 in wages per week.

March 11, 2006
home vs Bradford City (currently in 15th with 45 points, we have 63 points)
S: Showunmi/Tarachulski
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson/Mansell
DMC: Keane/Chambers (with up arrows)
D: Carbon/Williams/Oyedele/Foley (full backs with up arrows)

A second try with the 4-2-2-2. We're currently 8 points ahead of 7th place Watford.

19th minute: It's a pretty even game so far, with us getting the bulk of the chances, but we have not been able to convert yet. They get a rare chance and convert it on a freak center headed in. Down 0-1.

79th minute: It's a game of pong in their penalty box following a corner kick from Marc Bridge-Wilkinson. They try to get it out, but we keep it in the box until Adam Chambers gets his foot around it and converts is for his 1st ever Luton goal on a half volley. We tie 1-1.

Final Score: Luton 1, Chester 1
Shots (on target): Luton 9 (5), Chester 5 (1)
MoM: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson with a rating of 8, completing 35 of 44 passes.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 12/13
middle: 19/26
their zone: 15/15

The new formation isn't really giving us the control of the ball in the middle, even though it's giving us more chances.

We're still in 6th, now tied with 5th place Port Vale who lost 1-3 against Millwall. Our next match is only in a week, on March 19.

FM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 12:25 PM

International Roundup
Chris Coyne is getting a lot of playing time with Australia as they crush their opponents in the Oceania Nations Cup. He's been away for a while now, but should be back with us shorlty, as the final is only supposed to be played in December 2006. Australia and New Zealand advanced to the final.

Achievement News
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is named on the League One Team of the Week.

March 18, 2006
away at Oldham (currently 12th with 49 points, we have 64 points)
S: Showunmi/Howard/Tarachulski
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Johnson/Chambers (with up arrows)
D: Davis/Davies/Coyne/Foley (full backs with up arrows)
GK: Goodlad

Pretty much everybody is rested up. We go back to the 4-3-3 with the return from injury of Steve Howard. Oldham shows a 3-4-3 with the outside strikers taking it wide.

The first half goes and despite us getting 7 shots, 4 of them on goal, we can't convert. Meanwhile, Oldham has not had one shot toward goal in the whole half.

49th minute: DAMN!!! On their very first shot on goal, coming after a very long pass, they take a first shot, blocked, but they score on the second shot. Down 0-1.

65th minute: They're doing everything they want, and are lucky doing it as it seems every little break falls their way. We go down 0-2.

83rd minute: PENALTY!!! Tony James trips one of their strikers. He must have been clear to the goal, as James gets the red card for professional foul. Luckily, the penalty is blazed over the bar for no goal.

91st minute: They score one final goal on a crazy center from the byline to the 6 yard box. Down 0-3.

Final Score: Luton 0, Oldham 3
Shots (on target): Luton 13 (6), Oldham 9 (5)
MoM: Oldham's Adam Griffin with a rating of 9.
HoM: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson with a rating of 7, completing 28 of 33 passes, 6 of them key passes, and shooting 3 ties on goal.

Keeper Mark Goodlad has another average showing in his return to first team play. We stay in 6th place, but we're now only 3 points ahead of Watford.

Tony James will be banned for one match following his red card. We appeal the ban, even though I don't think we have much of a chance.

Loan News
Oxford wants keeper Rob Beckwith on loan for 3 months, but with the way Mark Goodlad has been playing lately, I reject the offer. Beckwith may be called upon a bit more in the coming matches.

Discipline News
As expected, the FA thinks we didn't have valid grounds for the appeal. Has anybody ever won an appeal?

FM

Tellistto

12-29-2004, 12:26 PM

BreizhManu

12-29-2004, 01:02 PM

appeal is useless for one game bans but sometimes works for longer bans (but most of the time you don't know the length of the ban except for the automatic one match).

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 01:45 PM

Transfer News
Getting pissed with the bad playing of my two keepers, I decide to scour the transfer lists. I search only for players that are transfer listed as sometimes, bargains can be found for players that are unwanted by their current team.

I find a 24yo keeper named Joe Murphy, currently playing with the Coventry Reserves. He shows great handling skills and reflexes asn is very brave. They are asking for 40k for him, even though he's valued at som 180k. I offer 36k. Since we're in the final week before the transfer deadline, we get a response in the same day. The offer is accepted!

On to contract negotiation with Murphy. He wants $4000 per week + a 6k signing fee. He currently earns $4200 per week. My assistant thinks that he would become a useful memeber of our first team and that we could offer him up to $4200. I play hardball and offer him $3600 +6k signing fee, and a bonus of $150 per clean sheet, for a deal that would run through to June 30, 2009. He accepts the deal and signs with the club within two days.

Loan News
Peterborough again want Kevin Joyce on a 3 month loan. I ask for a 340k fee.

Transfer News
Out of curiosity, I check to see if Steve Howard has changed his mind about us not having the resources to meet his demand. HOLY MOLY!!! He was right. He's asking for $11500 per week!!! I decide to take a chance and I offer him around, since we're in the last week before the deadline for transfers.

Having signed a keeper, I also decide to offer Rob Beckwith around.

Injury News
Shola Oyedele suffers a damaged neck in training. He'll be out for 2 weeks.

Loan News
Maidenhead wants striker Calvin Andrew for a 3 months loan. They offer to pay his whole salary so I accept the offer.

Transfer News
Sheffield United offers $280k for Steve Howard. Considering I will not get anything for him at the end of the season, since I won't be able to resign him, I make my mind to accept the offer. In fact, I have no choice but to accept the offer, as it meets an active release fee clause on Howard's contract. (the "reject offer" button is even greyed out) That's a first for me, as I had never seen this clause go into effect. Good to know how it works :)

Among other transfer news, Chesterfield makes a bid for Rob Beckwith. They offer 28k and 50% of the next sale. I don't like this kind of bid very much to be honest, mostly since I don't control the next sale. I like more money up front, so I counter with an offer like 36k now and 25% of next sale.

Loan News
Calvin Andrew accepts to go on loan at Maidenhead.

Transfer News
Steve Howard signs a contract with Sheffield Utd and YOWZA!!! $11000 per week, $650 per goal and 340 per assist, craziness I tell you, craziness... Anyway, bye Howie, was nice when you were with us, good luck in the Championship...

Rob Beckwith's transfer to Chesterfield is cancelled as the transfer deadline date passes.

FM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 01:51 PM

April 1st, 2006
With the beginning of April, I get a slew of reminders about contracts that will expire in 3 months. I look at a few of them and release a bunch of young players on cheapo contracts.

With the going away of Steve Howard, thus freeing the team of $6800 on wages per week, and a few minor free releases, I have brought the team wages to only $650 over our weekly wage budget. What I just see is that with the sale of Howard, the team board increased our wage budget from 61k to 65k per week, nice. The same kind of thing happened when I sold Kevin Nicholls for 750k earlier in the season. I guess they like it when you make a big sale. :)

FM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 01:52 PM

I had a few appeals go through on 03/04 but don't know about this game. Used to if you appealed too much the FA would get a low opinion of you, or give a touchline ban(which doesn't mean a thing in the game that I know of). Good read, Froggie, keep it up!

Tell
Thanks for the good words and for the comment on bans. I guess I'll stop appealing each and every one of them for a little while ;)

FM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 01:54 PM

appeal is useless for one game bans but sometimes works for longer bans (but most of the time you don't know the length of the ban except for the automatic one match).
makes sense. I tried appealing when Bridge-Wilkinson got his 2 extra games, but it didn't work then. Would probably help if we had a good explanation of the foul that occured, so we could know if there's any reason to appeal...

FM

Tellistto

12-29-2004, 02:12 PM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 04:03 PM

Just so you know, the reason your wage budget went up is because you had more money in the bank. Wage budget is directly related to available cash. So, the more cash in the bank, the higher wages you can offer.

Tell
ahh, sort of makes sense. Does this mean that if I go out and break the bank to buy that one player I really need with the 400k I have in transfer budget, that my wage budget will go down? hrm, not good if so...

FM

Desnudo

12-29-2004, 04:22 PM

I think appeals only work when it's really obvious the ref made a mistake. Like when you read the report and it says that the call was a dubious decision.

Reading through your match report on loss to Millwall's 4-2-4 gave me the jitters. I can't stand playing that formation. It's like a magic formula for the AI. Same with the 2-3-5 that the AI goes to late in games. I hope SI sorts it out in a future patch because I think it's over the top.

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 05:43 PM

Reading through your match report on loss to Millwall's 4-2-4 gave me the jitters. I can't stand playing that formation. It's like a magic formula for the AI. Same with the 2-3-5 that the AI goes to late in games. I hope SI sorts it out in a future patch because I think it's over the top.
AHH!!! Good to know I'm not the only who feels this way about the dreaded 4-2-4. I hate that formation, can't seem to do anything against it.

I'll try going super defensive next time, hoping next time will be as far away in time as possible :)

Thanks for reading!

FM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 06:55 PM

April 1, 2006
away at Chesterfield (currently 8th, only 8 points behind us)
S: Showunmi/Pinnock/Tarachulski
AMC: Mansell
DMC: Johnson/Keane
D: Davis/Williams/Coyne/Foley
GK: Murphy

Everybody is well rested, the after Howard era can begin... Sad thing is it will begin with about everybody's morale in the dump, following this streak of 10 games without a win. Chesterfield's morale is superb all around...

66th minute: A goal kick by their keeper is headed right back to Marc Bridge-Wilkinson by Sol Davis. Bridge-Wilkinson moves past two defender and scores on a lovely strike. We're up 1-0.

87th minute: Stupid, stupid, stupid quick throw in by Kevin Foley. Almost looked like the ball was burning his hand as he makes the throw with nobody, and I mean NOBODY from our team around him. They take the ball, quickly center it and they score. Tied 1-1.

We hang on, even though the 3 minutes of injury time appeared to last some 25 minutes instead...

Final Score: Luton 1, Chesterfield 1
Shots (on target): Luton 4 (1), Chesterfield 11 (3)
MoM: Chris Coyne with a rating of 8, winning 10 of 11 headers, 5 of the key headers.

Joe Murphy gets a solid rating of 8 in his debut with Luton. The whole back line played solidly, all getting 8's.

We remain in 5th and even gain 1 point over Watford as they lost 1-5 over Millwall.

The away draw seems to have boosted the troup's morale a lot, this is good to see.

Achievement News
Sol Davis and Chris Coyne are name on the League One Team of the Week

FM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 07:44 PM

April 5, 2006
home vs Torquay (currently 23rd with 39pts, we have 65pts)
S: Showunmi/Blinkhorn/Tarachulski
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Johnson/Chambers (with up arrows)
D: Davis/Williams/Coyne/Foley (full backs with up arrows)
GK: Murphy

That 23rd place for Torquay feels weird and make me nervous. They used to be at the top last season, giving us trouble...

32nd minute: Kevin Foley is too aggressive, getting way out of position pursuing one of their wingers. That leaves a man wide open behind him, they score, we're down 0-1.

46th minute: Start of the second half, great play by Matthew Blinkhorn as he takes the ball forward into the box, centers it to Marc Bridge-Wilkinson who makes the finish for his 5th of the season. We tie it 1-1.

49th minute: Free kick for us right outside their penalty box. Chris Coyne plays it short to Blinkhorn who tries for the goal. The kick is blocked and deflected to Bartosz Tarachulski who nails it. We go up 2-1.

91st minute: Bridge-Wilkinson finds a lost ball right outside their box and fires a long one, from 25 yards out. Finds the back of the net for his second of the game.

Final Score: Luton 3, Torquay 1
Shots (on target): Luton 20 (11), Torquay 12 (4)
MoM: Marc Birdge-Wilkinson with a rating of 10, 2 goals. I know goals can boost a rating, but he also completed 43 of 56 passes and placed 5 of 8 shots on target, almost half of the whole team shot totals...

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 16/14
middle: 21/21
their zone: 13/14

We're in 6th, but only because of a tiebreaker. Technically, we're tied in 5th with Port Vale. This win is a great way to break that streak of 11 games without a win, a great morale booster.

With 5 games left in the season, we're now 7 points clear of Watford.

Here's the league table after 41 of 46 games played:
<TABLE width="50%" align=center><TBODY><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>Pos</TD><TD>Team</TD><TD>Pld</TD><TD>Won</TD><TD>Drn</TD><TD>Lst</TD><TD>For</TD><TD>Ag</TD><TD>G.D.</TD><TD>Pts</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>1st</TD><TD>Millwall</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>29</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>90</TD><TD>35</TD><TD>+55</TD><TD>92</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>2nd</TD><TD>Cardiff</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>24</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>65</TD><TD>26</TD><TD>+39</TD><TD>85</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>3rd</TD><TD>Sheff Wed</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>22</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>70</TD><TD>42</TD><TD>+28</TD><TD>74</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>4th</TD><TD>Swindon</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>56</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>+15</TD><TD>71</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>5th</TD><TD>Port Vale</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>60</TD><TD>42</TD><TD>+18</TD><TD>68</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>6th</TD><TD>Luton</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>66</TD><TD>50</TD><TD>+16</TD><TD>68</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>7th</TD><TD>Watford</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>62</TD><TD>59</TD><TD>+3</TD><TD>61</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>8th</TD><TD>Chesterfield</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>55</TD><TD>57</TD><TD>-2</TD><TD>57</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>9th</TD><TD>Blackpool</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>59</TD><TD>58</TD><TD>+1</TD><TD>56</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>10th</TD><TD>Boston Utd</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>52</TD><TD>57</TD><TD>-5</TD><TD>56</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>11th</TD><TD>Oldham</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>50</TD><TD>48</TD><TD>+2</TD><TD>55</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>12th</TD><TD>Walsall</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>42</TD><TD>45</TD><TD>-3</TD><TD>52</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>13th</TD><TD>Bradford City</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>50</TD><TD>54</TD><TD>-4</TD><TD>49</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>14th</TD><TD>Wrexham</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>45</TD><TD>51</TD><TD>-6</TD><TD>49</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>15th</TD><TD>Huddersfield</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>53</TD><TD>60</TD><TD>-7</TD><TD>49</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>16th</TD><TD>Bournemouth</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>52</TD><TD>60</TD><TD>-8</TD><TD>49</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>17th</TD><TD>Cheltenham</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>19</TD><TD>48</TD><TD>72</TD><TD>-24</TD><TD>48</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>18th</TD><TD>Barnsley</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>43</TD><TD>50</TD><TD>-7</TD><TD>47</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>19th</TD><TD>Stockport</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>50</TD><TD>59</TD><TD>-9</TD><TD>47</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>20th</TD><TD>Colchester</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>44</TD><TD>54</TD><TD>-10</TD><TD>47</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>21st</TD><TD>Rushden</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>34</TD><TD>48</TD><TD>-14</TD><TD>43</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>22nd</TD><TD>Doncaster</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>49</TD><TD>72</TD><TD>-23</TD><TD>41</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>23rd</TD><TD>Torquay</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>47</TD><TD>66</TD><TD>-19</TD><TD>39</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD>24th</TD><TD>Chester</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>25</TD><TD>36</TD><TD>72</TD><TD>-36</TD><TD>34</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

FM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 07:59 PM

Contract News
We resign 35yo centreback Mark Williams at a very reduced rate of $1800 per week, compared to his current wage of $3400 per week. I had not planned on keeping him, but he's a good insurance policy. This move finally puts us under the wage budget line. woohoo!

April 8, 2006
away at Huddersfield (currently 15th with 49pts, we have 68pts)
S: Showunmi/Hammond/Pinnock
AMC: Mansell
DMC: Robinson/Chambers (with up arrows)
D: Davis/Davies/Coyne/Keane
GK: Murphy

They played a 3-5-2 with 5 on a line in their last match, but they show a 4-3-3 as we get to the game.

2nd minute: They hit us on the counter attack, a 50 yard long pass is at the source of the goal. Down 0-1.

15th minute: After a shot from James Pinnock that's block by their keeper, a defender tries to clear the ball toward the back but kicks it right in, it's an OWN GOAL!!! Tied 1-1.

56th minute: Very frustrating goal, as we have everybody covered around our penalty box. The one player with the ball spins around once, then twice, then kicks it toward the goal from 30 yards out, it goes in... Down 1-2.

We try and try again, but it's a very even game and we can't connect...

Final Score: Luton 1, Huddersfield 2
Shots (on target): Luton 9 (5), Huddersfield 10 (6)
MoM: Huddersfield's keeper Jacob Giles with a rating of 9.
HoM: Sol Davis with a rating of 8.
Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 16/21
middle: 19/20
their zone: 15/9

I hate card happy refs. We end the game with 5 yellows, they have 4... Watford didn't play, so we're still in 6th, up by 7.

Achievement News
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and Bartosz Tarachulski are both named on the League One Team of the Week. Always nice to see more than one player being named in one week...

FM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 08:19 PM

Luton Midfielder in quit threat
Here's hit me in my inbox today: "Rumours that Luton midfielder Keith Keane wants to leave the club and has requested a meeting with the club's board are true, according to a local newspaper. Keane is understood to have finally decided that his future lies away from Kenilworth Road and that he needs to move to a bigger club to further his career."

Well, that was a shocker. Keane is a Luton born fellow, 19yo, now valued at $1.65M. He's a very versatile, well rounded D/DM RC that is averaging 7.22 for rating this season, playing sometimes at right full back, sometimes at defensive middie. I say I didn't expect it, and I didn't, not at all. But looking back, this kind of crazy value probably means he'll be a star someday, and maybe he's right, maybe Kenilworth Road is too small for him... He's currently earning $1350 per week and when I try to offer him a new contract, I see he's asking for keey player money, in the $5400 range. I'll let the season end and will probably transfer list him at the start of next next, at his value, not a bit lower, so I could make a nice sale and get a new defensive middie to take his place...

FM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 08:27 PM

With 4 games to go, we're still in 6th place with a tiny 4 points lead over Watford, for what would be the last playoff spot.

Here's who we'll play in these last 4 games:

Doncaster at home, they're 22nd right now
Colchester at home, they're 16th right now
Stockport away, they're 20th right now
Cheltenham at home, they're 18th right now

Let's hope we can build some momentum and possibly boost the team morale for some possible playoffs...

Contract News
I offer a contract extension to Sol Davis, at his current wage rate, but extending him from until June 30, 2007 to June 30, 2009.

Useless News
Game status says I've been playing this career for 3 days, 10 hours, 11 minutes. My addictedness rating says that "turning your underwear inside out saves on washing"... hrm not sure the FrogWoman would approve of that... :D

FM

FrogMan

12-29-2004, 08:54 PM

April 15, 2006
home vs Doncaster (currently 22nd, more below)
S: Showunmi/Tarachulski/Blinkhorn
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Johnson/Chambers
D: Davis/James/Coyne/Foley
GK: Murphy

They are only 6 points from getting out of the relegation zone, while we're only 4 ahead of the 7th place Watford. Watford plays 5th place Port Vale who's only 1 point ahead of us. Very important games all around...

I'm trying something different in this game, trying to bring a bit mor width to the formation. A picture is probably the best way to explain it, so here goes...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/433v4.jpg

I'm not too sure what it will give, it's a try... The DMC going out is something that Desnudo posted about in this very dynasty, early on, the forwards on the outside going in is my idea. The thing I'm unsure about is that by moving them outside, they become FR and FL and the two guys I'm playing there are straight SC... We'll see.

They played the dreaded 4-2-4 in their last game, but show a more manageable 4-4-2 with moderate push from the wings as we get to the game.

Well that was a boring one. NO GOALS, some chances, but not much. Our inability to convert is frustrating me...

Final Score: Luton 0, Doncaster 0
Shots (on target): Luton 6 (3), Doncaster 5 (0)
MoM: Doncaster's keeper Martyn Margetson
HoM: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson with the only tating above 7, a 8.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 12/14
middle: 23/23
their zone: 16/12

Port Vale beat Watford, so we gain a point on them there, but we're now 3 points behind Port Vale and the 5th place.

Kevin Foley damaged his shoulder in the game and will miss 5 days. Our next match is only in a week, so hopefully he'll be back for that one.

Contract News
Sol Davis agrees on contract extension and signs a deal that will keep him with Luton until June 30, 2009. Sol has been a fixture in the back, often playing in back to back games and most of the times getting good ratings.

Incidentally, the player I had acquired to play left full back, Matt Carbon is now unhappy for a new reason. He once was unhappy because he said I wasn't playing him in his best position, while I was playing him at left full back and he's a D LC. Now, after he got injured for a long while and Sol Davis has established himself as the man at left full back, I decide to move Carbon to the reserve team to give him playing time and he cries that he wants first team play... hrm, I'll let him wait there for now...

FM
PS: this is it, I'm all caught up. I will now play game by game and try to report after every game I play. Way I did it for that long stretch was to play, take notes, play some more, take more notes, then I reported it all here... Three games and possible playoffs to come... GO HATTERS!!!

mrkilla22

12-30-2004, 10:12 AM

Nice job Frogman! Go Hatters!

FrogMan

12-30-2004, 02:25 PM

Transfer News
With the season dwindling down, with the wages now sort of under control, and with still maybe some good players available through Bosman signings, I have set my sights on possibly finding a replacement for Steve Howard as my target man. I'm looking for a strong guy with possibly good finishing and heading.

I'm ashamed to say I offered a contract to a player that I don't remember. Said player is Ivan Kaviedes, currently playing for Barcelona. I remember that he refused our first offer and that he accepted the second time I offered him the exact same thing. I don't remember the offer, but I assume it was the max the Team Board would let me give, which would be $6600 per week, since he's currently earning $9000 per week. He's got some amazing skills all around, except 3 things that worry me a little: little accelerating, little pace, and little stamina. But he's scored 12 goals in 13 games this season, this has got to mean something. He's currently awaiting a work permit.

Among other transfer news, I offer Elvis Hammond around, as I see that some teams seem interested in him. His value has soared in the last 2-3 weeks, from 100k to 160k. I ask 70k for him, as his contract comes to an end on June 30, and I don't plan on signing him.

FM

FrogMan

12-30-2004, 02:37 PM

April 22, 2006
home vs Colchester (currently 17th with 50 points, we have 69 points)
S: Showunmi/Hammond/Tarachulski
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Johnson/Chambers (with up arrows)
D: Davis/Coyne/James/Keane (full backs with up arrows)

Curtis Davies suffered a chest injury in training and will miss 5 days. Not too worried about it, as he would have only possibly been a backup.

Colchester played a 4-4-2 with moderate push from the wingers in their last game and make no changes as they get to our game.

37th minute: I don't like that. Neither the match stats (shots) nor the ball control figures suggest this, but each and every highlights that have been shown so far have been of them moving the ball around our goal...

41st minute: As I finish writing the above sentence, I get shown another highlight of them in our zone. They move in, get two kicks, both blocked, but they score on the third one. Down 0-1.

And this is the final score as we can't generate anything up front!!! They don't get many shots on target, but they converted the one they got.

Final Score: Luton 0, Colchester 1
Shots (on target): Luton 8 (4), Colchester 12 (2)
MoM: Colchester's defender Liam Chilvers with a rating of 8
HoM: Nobody really stands out. We get a bunch of 7's and even 2 6's, one of them to keeper Joe Murphy.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 11/16
middle: 21/22
their zone: 13/16

We remain in 6th place, now with only 4 points over Watford, as they drew their game against Bournemouth. Two games left and one win from us, or one loss from them will clinch the playoff spot for us.

Elvis Hammond suffered a facial injury (thorn eyelash? scratched cheek? :)) and will miss 3 days.

Bartosz Tarachulski twisted his knee and will miss a week. That one I'm a bit more concerned about...

League One News
Millwall have won League One and gained promotion to the English Championship.

Cardiff have clinched 2nd place and promotion to the English Championship as well.

FM

FrogMan

12-30-2004, 02:55 PM

Special News
To show you how good a job Eaglesfan27 has been doing with Harrogate Town in 2005-06, I just learned that they just got relegated from the English Conference North in 2005-06 in my career... ;)

Injury News
Richard Johnson suffers a groin strain in training and will miss 3 weeks. That's a blow to my midfield as Johnson is one of the anchor at defensive midfield.

Work Permit News
Ivan Kaviedes' work permit has been asked for. A decision should be made by May 7th.

Transfer News
Three teams are interested in Elvis Hammond and all make bids of $70k: Swindon from League One, Coventry from the Championship, and Swansea from League Two. At first I'm tempted to reject the bid from Swindon, since they're in 4th place in League One and I may play them in the playoffs if we get there, but I see this weird tidbit. All the bids are for next available date, and that date is June 7, which is well after the playoffs are done in League One. Hammond's contract end on June 30, he's 25, wouldn't he fall under the Bosman ruling? Wouldn't the team be better to approach him to sign a contract effective at the end of his current contract? Maybe it was because contract this season was only for one season, don't know. If anybody knows, help me understand...

Reserve News
Okay, here's a weird one for you. I have set my assistant manager to be the one controlling the Reserve and U18 teams, as I don't really feel like watching their games. I have recently moved Rob Beckwith to the reserve team, since I now have two starting caliber keeper on the senior team. I'd assume that Beckwith would be the one getting the starts on the reserve team, but no! Take a look at this player compare page and tell me how my assistant manager can think it's a better idea to consistently play Zac Barrett over Rob Beckwith...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/comp1.jpg
Even if you say that Barrett is much younger than Beckwith, he doesn't have the potential than Beckwith has, and Beckwith isn't so much older, he's 21 for crying out loud!!!

I also always assumed that taking over the reserve and U18 teams meant I had to watch their games. Can I take the control off from my assistant manager, assign lineups and not watch their games? That kind of things is not making me happy. It's also what is happening with Matt Carbon, the unhappy fellow I mentionned earlier. He's not even getting playing time, even in the reserve team, while some unsigned young kids are playing, some U18 guys are playing in both squads... Anyway, not that big a deal, but not making me happy either...

Scouting News
I send scout Jon Lock to Sweden, to try and scout some young talents.

Transfer News
Elvis Hammond signs a contract with Swindon. The transfer will go through on June 6. I guess getting 70k is better than not getting anything of him. I had signed him among my many Bosman ruling in the last offseason. He gave me a fair season, and now I sell him, I consider this a sound investment :)

FM

Desnudo

12-30-2004, 04:38 PM

FrogMan

12-30-2004, 07:05 PM

April 29, 2006
away at Stockport (currently 20th, 1 point out of relegation zone)
S: Showunmi/Hammond/Pinnock
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Keane/Chambers (no up arrows)
D: Davis/James/Coyne/Foley (full backs with up arrows)
GK: Murphy

Team morale seems not so bad, despite the previous loss.

I tweak many of the individual orders in an attempt to recapture the balance I once had.

We're 4 points ahead of Watford and they play Walsall today. A win by us, or a loss by them would clinch a playoff spot for us.

22nd minute: They score on their first shot on goal, from a throw in played short then passed back to the throw taker who centered it to our 6 yard box. Down 0-1.

78th minute: We launched a great counter attack, all on the left. Steve Robinson passes it deep on the left to Enoch Showunmi. Show takes it to the byline before centering it in the 6 yard box to Lee Mansell who's left with an easy finish. Tied 1-1.

While we play a good game, form wise, it doesn't translate into any more goals. Five of our players end the game with ratings of 8.

Final Score: Luton 1, Stockport 1
Shots (on target): Luton 10 (2), Stockport 7 (2)
MoM: Kevin Foley with a rating of 8, but most importantly 10 tackles won out of 14, 8 headers won out of 11 and 5 interceptions.

Watford loses 0-1 to Walsall, we clinch a playoff spot!!! What a turn around this team has made. From clinching an out of relegation zone spot in the second to last game a season ago, to clinching a playoff spot in the second to last game this season.

On top of this, the away draw seems to have worked wonders on the team morale. I can see many players with superb morale.

May 1st, 2006
The Luton Team Board is still delighted with my management of the team.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson finishes third for the League One Player of the Month award.

Sol Davis is named on the League One Team of the Week.

Transfer News
I get news that Chester star, 28yo defensive midfielder Jacob Burns wants out of Chester. He's saying he's looking to move to a bigger club. I take a quick look at his skills and like what I see. I declare my interest and ask my scouts for their opinions. He has averaged ratings of 7.26 in league play, and 7.4 in Cup play, while also appearing as a sub for Australia in 5 matches, averaging ratings of 7.

The very next day, we hear from the manager of Chester that he is open to sell Burns.

Reserves News
AH HAH!!! I decided to untick the "use current match tactics" box from the options under my reserves team management. Who's the keeper for their middle of the week match? Rob Beckwith... I had ticked that box only to give my many reserve strikers some playing time, since I had seen that my assistant manager seemed to be playing a 4-4-2 and I wanted him to play a 4-3-3 instead. Maybe there's some sort of contradiction that makes him unable to pick players properly with that option ticked on... I'll keep an eye on it...

FM

FrogMan

12-30-2004, 07:07 PM

The assistant manager, for lack of a better word, sucks in this game. It's really very buggy. I've had problems with him playing some of my 1st team in a Wed reserve match so they're tired come Saturday. Really annoying. Nevermind that he doesn't like any player I try to sign so I can't offer proper wages.

This has long been complained about to SI, going back to prior versions, but they don't seem to either understand the problem or intend to fix it.Yeah, I usually don't care much about what my assistant manager thinks or says. Sometimes I read his recommendation for wages, but don't always follow it. I didn't know he could limit your spending though. I thought only the Team Board could do that...

FM

Desnudo

12-30-2004, 07:11 PM

Yeah, I usually don't care much about what my assistant manager thinks of says. Sometimes I read his recommendation for wages, but don't always follow it. I didn't know he could limit your spending though. I thought only the Team Board could do that...

FM

I think you are right in a sense, when you try to sign someone, the AM merely represents what the board is telling you. But in either case, something is off, whether it's the board evaluation or the AM doing it. The scouts evaluation of player talent is way off also. You might run into it if you manage to promote up, especially if you make it to the premiership.

FrogMan

12-30-2004, 07:12 PM

I think you are right in a sense, when you try to sign someone, the AM merely represents what the board is telling you. But in either case, something is off, whether it's the board evaluation or the AM doing it. The scouts evaluation of player talent is way off also. You might run into it if you manage to promote up, especially if you make it to the premiership.
yeah, scout's work is way bad. I don't care about them either, to the point that I simply search for players...

FM

Desnudo

12-30-2004, 07:22 PM

yeah, scout's work is way bad. I don't care about them either, to the point that I simply search for players...

FM

The problem is that the scout tells me an obviously good player has no future in football. This could be someone with 100 caps and obvious talent. Then the board reflects the same evaluation in what I can offer for wages. As an example, I have a max of $5.6 million USD/annum for one player and they won't allow me more than $1.1 million USD/annum no matter who it is I'm trying to sign. I'm about $30 million below my wage budget because I can't sign anyone. Anyway, I pinged Marc V. about this because I really hope they're planning on fixing it.

FrogMan

12-30-2004, 07:26 PM

The problem is that the scout tells me an obviously good player has no future in football. This could be someone with 100 caps and obvious talent. Then the board reflects the same evaluation in what I can offer for wages. As an example, I have a max of $5.6 million USD/annum for one player and they won't allow me more than $1.1 million USD/annum no matter who it is I'm trying to sign. I'm about $30 million below my wage budget because I can't sign anyone. Anyway, I pinged Marc V. about this because I really hope they're planning on fixing it.
I saw you pinged Marc, but can't you simply change the type of contract to what *you* want to give the player? I know sometimes my assistant says a player would be a useful first team member, then the first team tag appears in the box, reflected by the wage my board will allow for a first team. When he says he would become an essential player, the "key player" tag appears and I can offer more. I may be wrong, but I thought you could pick up another tag, to be allowed to offer more to a player...

FM

Desnudo

12-30-2004, 08:28 PM

I saw you pinged Marc, but can't you simply change the type of contract to what *you* want to give the player? I know sometimes my assistant says a player would be a useful first team member, then the first team tag appears in the box, reflected by the wage my board will allow for a first team. When he says he would become an essential player, the "key player" tag appears and I can offer more. I may be wrong, but I thought you could pick up another tag, to be allowed to offer more to a player...

FM

That's the whole problem. No matter who it is I'm trying to sign I get a "doesn't think signing is worthwhile" message. And everyone gets that message. I haven't had a different one in six or seven seasons. Even key first teamers I'm trying to re-sign get a "can easily replace" message. And some of these players are top level guys who've shown they can play at the highest level and have a high rep. It's really impossible to picture it until you see it happen over and over (and over). Apparently the most I can offer a "bad player" is $1 million, which is what they allow me.

Here is an example:

Fred (http://brbgaming.com/Fred.JPG)

Fred2 (http://brbgaming.com/Fred2.JPG)

Team Finance (http://brbgaming.com/Teamfinance.JPG)

Team Wage Budget (http://brbgaming.com/Teamwage.JPG)

FrogMan

12-30-2004, 08:51 PM

That's the whole problem. No matter who it is I'm trying to sign I get a "doesn't think signing is worthwhile" message. And everyone gets that message. I haven't had a different one in six or seven seasons. Even key first teamers I'm trying to re-sign get a "can easily replace" message. And some of these players are top level guys who've shown they can play at the highest level and have a high rep. It's really impossible to picture it until you see it happen over and over (and over). Apparently the most I can offer a "bad player" is $1 million, which is what they allow me.

Here is an example:

Fred (http://brbgaming.com/Fred.JPG)

Fred2 (http://brbgaming.com/Fred2.JPG)

Team Finance (http://brbgaming.com/Teamfinance.JPG)

Team Wage Budget (http://brbgaming.com/Teamwage.JPG)
wow, that sucks that you're using about a third of your wage budget... I'M not sure I'll this high before some time anyway, but it's good to know. Also hoping they are working on it...

FM

Desnudo

12-30-2004, 09:00 PM

wow, that sucks that you're using about a third of your wage budget... I'M not sure I'll this high before some time anyway, but it's good to know. Also hoping they are working on it...

FM

I'm crossing my fingers also. I've figured out that the max they allow me to offer is either for a Backup or for a Youngster (if they are under 20-21). And nothing else. Hopefully it'll get looked at for the next patch.

FrogMan

12-30-2004, 09:03 PM

I'm crossing my fingers also. I've figured out that the max they allow me to offer is either for a Backup or for a Youngster (if they are under 20-21). And nothing else. Hopefully it'll get looked at for the next patch.
wow, seems like something serious enough. It would be one thing to always read that this or that player isn't good enough, if it did not have an impact on the kind of money you can offer. That way, you could simply bypass the need to have an assistant... Got an idea, what if you fire your assistant and work without one?

FM

FrogMan

12-30-2004, 09:03 PM

Ouch, that sounds bad. Hopefully, they get it fixed soon. By the way, Congrats FM on clinching a playoff spot!
Thanks, hope you saw the news about Harrogate Town...

FM

Desnudo

12-30-2004, 09:07 PM

wow, seems like something serious enough. It would be one thing to always read that this or that player isn't good enough, if it did not have an impact on the kind of money you can offer. That way, you could simply bypass the need to have an assistant... Got an idea, what if you fire your assistant and work without one?

FM

Tried it, he was just a mouthpiece for my evil board. ;)

Eaglesfan27

12-30-2004, 09:10 PM

Ouch, that sounds bad. Hopefully, they get it fixed soon. By the way, Congrats FM on clinching a playoff spot!

FrogMan

12-30-2004, 09:24 PM

May 5, 2006
home vs Cheltenham (currently 15th with 55 points, we have 70 points)
S: Showunmi/Blinkhorn/Pinnock
AMC: Jones
DMC: Robinson/Chambers (with up arrows)
D: Davis/Davies/Williams/Keane (no up arrows)
GK: Goodlad

We can not move up, as 5th place Port Vale has 74 points to our 70, and we can not move down, since we've clinched playoffs, so I basically see this game as almost a friendly and I play a mixture of starters and backups. I even start keeper Mark Goodlad.

They come into the game showing an inventive 4-3-1-2 that I had not seen from another team...

8th minute: They pass it to the edge of our penalty box, past Curtis Davies. Mark Goodlad rushes out but is beaten on the one on one. We're down 0-1.

Nothing else happens. We're not dominated, but we're not dominating either.

Final Score: Luton 0, Cheltenham 1
Shots (on target): Luton 7 (2), Cheltenham 5 (3)
MoM: Cheltenham's Grant McCann with a rating of 8.
HoM: Nobody really stands out once again...

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 15/14
middle: 16/28
their zone: 12/15

Not a very satisfying way to walk into the playoffs...

Transfer News
Jacob Burns is looking to move... The midfielder admitted that he has always been excited at the prospect of playing at a higher level and given the interest from Luton would certainly consider any forthcoming offer...

Work Permit News
Ivan Kaviedes has been granted a conditional work permit for his move to Luton. We confirm the transfer that will go through at the end of his current contract, on September 1st, 2006. I don't know what a conditional work permit means though. Conditional to what, playing football?

Playoffs News
We will play Sheffield Wednesday in the League One Playoff Semi Final. This will be a two leg series with the first leg being played on May 14th at Kenilworth Road and the second leg on the 18th at Sheffield.

These two games being only 4 days apart, I'd like to hope that my great team depth will help me, as it did in the thick of the season, when most every team had games every 3-4 days and we were doing amazingly well...

Looking forward, Sheffield Wed is declared evens favorite for both games, while our odds to win are at 9-4.

We've swept the seasonal series with Sheffield this year, winning first 1-0 at home, and a crazy 2-0 win on their pitch. I say crazy because they had 17 shots, 6 on target, while we had 5 shots, 3 on target in that game.

They have a starting forward currently injured for 2 more weeks, while we have a starting defensive middie in Richard Johnson that is way too unfit to play, following his recent injury. Our player conditions seem to be much better than theirs, but how this will play on the field remains to be seen.

Finally, Sheffield Wednesday were the odds on favorite to win it all this season. At the start of the season, they had odds of 6-4 to win it all, while we had odds of 40-1 :eeks: :)

Training News
I get a message that Matt Carbon was absent from training today. That's the first time this has ever happened to me, despite reading about it from other dynasties. I didn't understand what people meant about players being absent/missing from training, didn't know where to look for that sort of warning. Now I know :)

Weird thing is that Carbon is currently injured and I have set him on the "Resting" schedule, with nobody watching over him... I still issue a warning for unprofessional behaviour...

Scouting News
I'm probably getting what Desnudo was talking about with my scouts, as two of them both think that Jacob Burns is not good enough to play at Luton... I still like him, we'll see...

Discipline News
Carbon accepts his warning and acknowledge thathis unprofessional behaviour is unacceptable, and that he deserved a warning. He has indicated a willingness to improve his behaviour in the future.

U18 News
Seems like it's been a while since I've last entertained you with 16yo Kevin Joyce's development. He's now pulling double duty, often playing with the Reserve squad and then the U18 squad. In his latest U18 match, he collected his 5th Man of the Match award in 23 appearances, with a rating of 8, completing 26 of 32 passes, winning 9 of 13 headers, ending the game with a rating of 8. His average rating this season is a very good 7.52.

Playoffs News
The first leg of the other League One Semi Final between Swindon and Port Vale is played today, on the 13th, at Port Vale. Swindon wins it fairly easily, 2-0. They even finished the game with only 10 men, but they were already up by 2 at that point.

FM

BreizhManu

12-31-2004, 01:41 AM

The problem is that the scout tells me an obviously good player has no future in football. This could be someone with 100 caps and obvious talent.
I think this has something to do with hidden ratings Curent Ability and Future Ability.The Scouts/Coaches don't seem to look at the other attributes, just those two and this leads to confusion when a player as other very good attributes (Mainly due to bad scouting by SI Researchers), remember To Madeira, he had bad CA/PA ->wasn't even considered by the AI, but had great ratings.
Well I didn't scout for FM2005 but it looks way better than other versions of the game since there is a better correlation between CA and other attributes (e.g : a player with 120 CA should have an average of 12 in other ratings) but it probably still needs some work.

It also has something to do with your level of play.Let's say you're playing with Manchester United, your scout might not even consider players with less than 150 CA or youngsters with less than 150 PA.

Anyways, yeah it needs some work.

Desnudo

12-31-2004, 01:43 AM

I think this has something to do with hidden ratings Curent Ability and Future Ability.The Scouts/Coaches don't seem to look at the other attributes, just those two and this leads to confusion when a player as other very good attributes (Mainly due to bad scouting by SI Researchers), remember To Madeira, he had bad CA/PA ->wasn't even considered by the AI, but had great ratings.
Well I didn't scout for FM2005 but it looks way better than other versions of the game since there is a better correlation between CA and other attributes (e.g : a player with 120 CA should have an average of 12 in other ratings) but it probably still needs some work.

It also has something to do with your level of play.Let's say you're playing with Manchester United, your scout might not even consider players with less than 150 CA or youngsters with less than 150 PA.

Anyways, yeah it needs some work.

Unfortunately that's not the case for me. Uniformly across the board my scouts rate everyone, good, bad, or mediocre, as unfit for my team which is now in the EPL. I'm gathering from reading the SI boards that the problem seems to derive from small clubs climbing the ladder to the higher levels. Something must happen with the scouting (and board assessing for wages) algorithm when you promote up. This is definitely a bug.

Sorry for hijacking your thead FM. We now return you to your regularly scheduled dynasty. ;)

FrogMan

12-31-2004, 09:01 AM

Sorry for hijacking your thead FM. We now return you to your regularly scheduled dynasty. ;)
That's okay, it all started following a question of mine. FM discussion in here is very cool with me, it helps me understand why sometimes I don't agree with the scouts and/or assistant manager...

FM

FrogMan

12-31-2004, 09:41 AM

May 14, 2006
League One Semi Final, Leg 1
home vs Sheffield Wednesday
S: Showunmi/Tarachulski/Hammond
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Chambers/Keane (with up arrows)
D: Davis/James/Coyne/Foley (full backs with up arrows)
GK: Murphy

We go into this game with a very attacking mentality, try to create some havoc up front.

They played an attacking 5-3-2 in their last match, but they show a 4-4-2 with moderate push from the wingers as we get to the game.

Our players' conditions are all at 100% except 2 at 99%, while theirs is 3 at 100% (including the keeper) then some at 98% and a few at 95 and 96%. They have 2 strikers injured while we're missing defensive middie Richard Johnson.

1st minute: We get a great chance on our first break, only 30 seconds into the game, but Bartosz Tarachulski puts it over the bar. They take the ensuing goal kick up and do about whatever they want to do with the ball, finally scoring the opening goal before the initial minute has even ticked off the clock, damn! Down 0-1.

Very depressing start to the game, all of my players show form ratings of 5 after the goal, except two who are at 6.

8th minute: While one of their players is being attented to by their physio on the sideline, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson takes a loose ball near midfield, just past the center line and passes it on the left to Enoch Showunmi. The crowd goes wild as Enoch puts on the show and fakes the keeper out of his shorts and scores the equalizer, 1-1.

15th minute: Sol Davis takes a free kick near the central circle, to Bridge-Wilkinson just outside their penalty box. He switfly turns around and smashes the ball toward the top corner, a fabulous strike for the go ahead goal! 2-1.

27th minute: Tony James slides hard on one of their strikers, NOOOOOO, the ref points to the spot PENALTY!!! Kick comes... AND JOE MURPHY BLOCKS IT!!! They miss the goal on the following scramble. Still up by one.

37th minute: Following a collision with an opponent, Bridge-Wilkinson's condition drops to 49%. I see him being passed twice by opposing defenders. I take him out, Lee Mansell goes in.

48th minute: Three minute into injury time, Joe Murphy is having a wonderful first half, as he makes another great save on a one on one...

51st minute: Bartosz Tarachulski has to go off, injured. Matthew Blinkhorn comes in. It's our third and last substitution as Steve Robinson came in at the half to replace an innefective Keith Keane.

82nd minute: The referee makes a dubious foul call against us near midfield. They play the kick forward to an unmarked man at the edge of our box. He's alone against Murphy who can't do anything this time. Tied 2-2. This will be the final score.

Final Score: Luton 2, Sheffield Wed 2
Shots (on target): Luton 10 (5), Sheffield Wed 17 (8)
MoM: Joe Murphy, with a rating of 9 and numerous great saves to keep us in the lead for a long time.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 18/15
middle: 22/21
their zone: 8/16

Possession was well split, even though we got beat pretty bad in shots... Now, we'll have to win it at their place...

FM

FrogMan

12-31-2004, 10:04 AM

Injury News
Bartosz Tarachulski's season is basically over as he suffered some broken ribs and will miss a month. Sheffield will also have to deal with an injury from the game, as one of their defenders should miss the next 5 days.

Achievement News
With only 2 games to pick from, five Hatters make the League One Team of the Week: Joe Murphy, Adam Chambers, Sol Davis, Tony James, and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson.

Injury News
This is not good. Defender Chris Coyne sprains his wrist in training and will miss 5 days.

April 17th, 2006
The Leg 2 of the other semi final is played and Swindon wins it again 2-0. They win the series 4-0 on aggregate.

FM

daedalus

12-31-2004, 02:05 PM

Sucks. BartTara is a pretty solid player to be missing.

Eaglesfan27

12-31-2004, 02:53 PM

This is a great read. I keep trying to vote to give it a 5, but my vote doesn't seem to be registering. Anyway, keep up the great work. :)

FrogMan

12-31-2004, 03:17 PM

Sucks. BartTara is a pretty solid player to be missing.
yeah, sucks big time. I'll have to do with Show, Blink and Elvis up front, me guess, although I don't remember everybody's exact condition. I'll see right now, as I get ready to boot the game to play leg 2 of the semi, see ya later :)

FM

FrogMan

12-31-2004, 03:17 PM

This is a great read. I keep trying to vote to give it a 5, but my vote doesn't seem to be registering. Anyway, keep up the great work. :)
Thanks, glad you like it :)

FM

FrogMan

12-31-2004, 08:46 PM

May 18, 2006
League One Semi Final, Leg 2
away at Sheffield Wednesday
S: Showunmi/Blinkhorn/Hammond
MC: Mansell (with up arrow)
DMC: Chambers/Keane (with up arrows)
D: Davis/James/Williams/Foley
GK: Murphy

I again set the tactics to be very attacking, despite us being on the road. I'm also gambling on us having better depth and better conditioning, so I tell my guys to keep the tempo of the game a bit quicker than usual. I'm guessing we could possibly tire them out and luck out on one goal. I also set the defensive line to stay deep, to compensate for the attacking mentality.

Regulars of this dynasty will see that 35yo Mark Williams is in for injured Chris Coyne, while Matthew Blinkhorn replaces Bartosz Tarachulski in the middle striker spot. I also decide to pull back my usuall attacking midfielder while giving him the forward arrow for when we have the ball. In that spot, I give the start to Lee Mansell instead of Marc Bridge-Wilkinson. BW is still not 100% from our last match (currently the lowest of all starters at 92%) and I decide it may be better to keep him on the bench so he could replace Mansell later in the game and be fresh as a playmaker when Sheffield's defenders will start to get tired. Defensive midfielder Richard Johnson is only at 88% and severely lacking in match pratice after missing three weeks with a groin strain. I still decide to have him on my bench instead of Steve Robinson. I consider Johnson a better option to come from the bench in a pinch late in the game.

On gameday, I tell Sheffield's manager Paul Sturrock that I hope to put a dent in his promotion hope on Thursday. Ahh trash talk! From a newspaper cut: "...speaking to journalists at the club's training ground, Gougeon commented that his side were more than capable of winning the game and that he would love to give Sturrock's promotion chances a setback at this late stage of the season"

Matthew Blinkhorn, Sol Davis, and Kevin Foley all like my forthright views regarding Sheffield Wed's slim chances of getting promoted. I would have hoped some more comments from some of the team leaders, but I'll take that for some fire...

As we get to the game, they show a 4-4-2 formation with heavy push from the wingers.

Player conditions are similar, many are a little under 100% on both sides, although both their inner midfielders have much lower condition going into the game. One is at 92% and the other is at 94% before the match has even started.

As the game starts I see these two 2-2 numbers next to the 0-0 score of the game and realize this is the aggregate score, cool.

13th minute: Enoch Showunmi gets his second great one on one chance but puts this one on the side netting. Still no scores. We're stuck with a stupid homer ref. In only 13 minutes, he's already given us 2 yellows (Adam Chambers & Lee Mansell)

The first half ends as they regained control of the ball. We were imposing our rythm early on, but they seem to have regained control around the 35th minute. They have two players with slight injuries and have already subbed one out, also due to injury. Maybe these yellows were justified :insert evil laugh: All their players' conditions are in the low 70s at the half, while ours are mostly in the high 70s.

Even though Mansell is having a solid game so far (rating of 8) I decide to put Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in, in hope of creating something up front.

63rd minute: Keith Keane's condition is dropping like a rock in water and I decide to put in Richard Johnson in his place.

85th minute: They are now controlling the ball very easily. Adam Chambers gets frustrated and get called for a foul. huhoh, the referee wants to speal to him... oh no!!! He gets his second yellow and is sent off. We'll have to play with 10 men from here on out. I decide to drop Marc Bridge-Wilkinson to defensive midfielder and I replace Matthew Blinkhorn by forward James Pinnock, whom I play in the attacking midfielder spot vacated by Bridge-Wilkinson. We're now playing a 4-2-1-2. As I end my tactic moves, I see what I never want to see in a game: Sheffield Wed goes to the dreaded 4-2-4 formation. Oh shit, this doesn't look good for us...

End of regulation: Well, we've survived for now, as the regulation time ends. Extra time will start shortly. At this time, I have no clue if any kind of Golden or Silver goal rule applies, or if we'll play the whole 2x15 minutes of extra time.

Here's how the players conditions of both teams are shaping up after 90 minutes of play:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/060518-1.jpg

As you can see, they are pretty much in the shitter for both teams, although the fact I waited so long to put in Pinnock gives him a chance, and my defenders seem to be in a bit of a better condition than theirs.

97th minute: Tony James can only scramble the incoming corner kick to just outside our penalty box. They push it back inside the box where one of their strikers hits a left footed volley that beats Joe Murphy to his left, we go down 0-1. As I'm writing down, my heart is sinking and I kind of expect to hear the "final whistle" but instead I see "Luton kicks off"... I guess there's no Golden Goal rule in effect, we're still alive, barely, but still alive...

I make some tactics change and decide to go all or nothing. This is what our formation will look like from now on:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/060518-2.jpg

I only gotta hope that the three in the back will be strong enough to hold back any attacks and that Tony James, whom I put in the defensive middie position because he's the one who apparently has the most gas left in his tank, can feed a ball or two so Bridge-Wilkinson can work his magic to feed the two strikers that are left.

103rd minute: This is our last chance push. Bridge-Wilkinson makes a great challenge on one of their defenders to steal the ball from him. He tips it left in the box to Enoch Showunmi, but away from the goal. Show passes it to James Pinnock just about on the penalty spot. Pinnock buys some time, turns to his left and fires a vicious top corner shot for the equalizer!!! We're back in business!!! Now tied 1-1 in the game, 3-3 on aggregate goals.

The defender that Bridge-Wilkinson challenged is injured on the play and has to leave the field. They're out of subs and will have to finish with 10 men. It's now an even field, 10 on 10. They go to a 3-2-4. I'll be damned...

105th minute: Right at the start of the second extra time period, their four strikers are too much for my three defenders, as they cross the ball not only once, but twice. First from left to right, then back from right to center, and they score. We go down again, now 1-2 and 3-4 on aggregate.

108th minute: well, RIGHT BACK AT YA!!! A great counter attack is launched by a perfect pass from Bridge-Wilkinson over their defender line, to a James Pinnock on the move. He's only got the keeper to beat, and he does just that, with a perfect kick from the penalty spot, just inside the post. His second goal of the game puts us right back in it!!! 2-2 for the game, 4-4 on aggregate. Crazy, crazy extra time. No goals for 90 minutes, and now 4 goals in less than 30 minutes...

As extra time ends, we're still tied. We go to penalty kicks!!!

As I go to set my penalty kick takers list, I realize that having Marc Bridge-Wilkinson in the game for the end of it was a very wise decision, as he got some great penalty kick skills (19).

Going into penalty kicks, I feel pretty about our chances now, if only because Joe Murphy, our keeper, has been red hot in this game so far, and he's blocked one against Sheffield in the 1st leg of the Semi Final.

They kick first... (in parenthesis, the player's penalty kick skill, when known)

John Hills (19)..... kicks it wide right, NO GOAL!!!! 0-0

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (19).... scores!!! 1-0

Richard Wood (9).... balls touched by Murphy, but it goes in... 1-1

Tony James (17).... easy goal to the right!!! 2-1 after 2 on both sides

Chris Innes (?).... scores to the right... 2-2

Mark Williams (13).... scores to the left!!! 3-2 after 3 on both sides

Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu (16).... scores to the left... 3-3

Elvis Hammond (12).... scores in the middle!!! 4-3 after 4 on both sides, if their next one misses, we win!

Matthew Hamshaw (11)... HE KICKS IT WIDE LEFT!!!!!

LUTON WIN ON SHOOTOUT!!!!!

Final Score: Luton 2, Sheffield Wed 2
Shots (on target): Luton 11 (4), Sheffield Wed 18 (8)
MoM: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson with a rating of 10, but more importantly, he completed 31 of 39 passes, 9 of them key passes, and he had 3 intereceptions and an assist.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 14/21
middle: 19/22
their zone: 13/11

I'm really proud of that game, an amazing game!!! Not only we came back, but we did it twice, and on the road on top of it! Wow!

So happy that I'm going to make this game available for you to watch, if you're crazy enough to do so :)
Click here to download the game
(http://atlas.walagata.com/w/frogman/FM2005/060518.pkm)Then save it to a place where you can get it from within the game.
You can watch it by clicking on "Watch match" when FM2005 loads, instead of loading your regular game.

Adam Chambers will be suspended for one match after being sent off. While this may sound bad, he would not have been able to play anyway, since he strained his groin in the game and will miss the next two weeks anyway.

FM

SirFozzie

12-31-2004, 09:02 PM

you're lucky ;)

Up into two years ago, you would have been done after the 90 minutes, as Sheffield Wed would have won on away goals ;)

Now there's no reason not to win the whole damn thing.

FrogMan

12-31-2004, 09:10 PM

Playoffs News
The League One Final draw happens. The one game final between Luton Town and Swindon will be played at Wembley on May 26th.

UKbetting.com has us as the favorite in this game, which is kind of surprising. The odds for us to win are at 6-4, while a Swindon win is at 13-8.

The two teams have met 5 times in the last two seasons. In league play, the two teams have both won one and drawn 2. Luton has won the only Cup match between the two teams, in the first round of the LDV Vans Trophy, this season.

They have superb team morale all around at the moment, thanks to a pair of 2-0 wins on their 2 legs of the playoff semi final. We're about the same, except for two players with "okay" and "good" morale.

Right now, as of May 20th, we concede quite a bit of player condition to them, but that is mostly due to our team playing a grueling 120 minutes long second leg against Sheffield Wednesday. There are still 6 days to go before the match is to be played, lots has time to change since then...

Achievement News
We put 4 players on the League One Team of the Week: Joe Murphy, Adam Chambers, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, and James Pinnock. Sheffield Wed only puts 2 on the team.

Internation Call Up
Chris Coyne is called up by Australian manager for his World Cup squad. The 27 year old defender was uncapped not so long but now seems like a regular since his good play in the Oceania Nations Cup.

FM

FrogMan

12-31-2004, 09:11 PM

you're lucky ;)

Up into two years ago, you would have been done after the 90 minutes, as Sheffield Wed would have won on away goals ;)

Now there's no reason not to win the whole damn thing.
We're not lucky, we're skillful.... at injuring players :)

I fully intend to give Swindon a run for their money ;)

FM

terpkristin

12-31-2004, 10:30 PM

Great job, FM!
I can just imagine how you were sitting there in front of the screen, biting your nails with your team...heck I was doing that just reading it! ;)

Good luck with Swindon.

~tk

FrogMan

12-31-2004, 10:41 PM

Great job, FM!
I can just imagine how you were sitting there in front of the screen, biting your nails with your team...heck I was doing that just reading it! ;)

Good luck with Swindon.

~tk
thanks tk.

You know, that game was quite a story. It took me about 4 hours to complete. I booted my game around 3:50pm, after my wife had told me that kiddo had fell asleep for his nap around 3:30. He usually takes nap of at least 1 hour, and most of the time, up to 90 minutes or even 2 hours. I figured, "hey I got time to play that game". I started the game per se around 4pm. For some reason, kiddo woke up about 10 minutes after I had started the game, yapping in his crib. Andrew asked to go see him, which he did, and him and my mother in law set to play with Matty in the living room. Was all nice and going well, until I hear "Steve, could you come watch Matty, I gotta get dinner ready and mom's leaving with Andrew" That was my wife, the party pooper :) She even pushed it to say it was "only a game" SAY WHAT!!! It's life or death here!!! Guess where I was when she called me to duty? Right at the start of extra time... It was about 5pm then. The regulation time had already taken me more time than usual because I had taken care of a diaper change, and I was writing down a lot more than usual about the game. I go down play with kiddo a little, until it's time for his bottle, which Patsy said she would give him, but she says I have to watch on the stew, make sure it doesn't stick. Darn, after reading the cooking and FM thread of Eaglesfan27, I made sure of setting a timer to remind me of coming back every 5 minutes and went upstairs play the extra time, then what? PK!!! but it was dinner time, and after that, bath time for kiddo, so I ended finishing my game after I had tucked kiddo in... Crazy, crazy, but fun :)

FM

Eaglesfan27

12-31-2004, 10:56 PM

thanks tk.

You know, that game was quite a story. It took me about 4 hours to complete. I booted my game around 3:50pm, after my wife had told me that kiddo had fell asleep for his nap around 3:30. He usually takes nap of at least 1 hour, and most of the time, up to 90 minutes or even 2 hours. I figured, "hey I got time to play that game". I started the game per se around 4pm. For some reason, kiddo woke up about 10 minutes after I had started the game, yapping in his crib. Andrew asked to go see him, which he did, and him and my mother in law set to play with Matty in the living room. Was all nice and going well, until I hear "Steve, could you come watch Matty, I gotta get dinner ready and mom's leaving with Andrew" That was my wife, the party pooper :) She even pushed it to say it was "only a game" SAY WHAT!!! It's life or death here!!! Guess where I was when she called me to duty? Right at the start of extra time... It was about 5pm then. The regulation time had already taken me more time than usual because I had taken care of a diaper change, and I was writing down a lot more than usual about the game. I go down play with kiddo a little, until it's time for his bottle, which Patsy said she would give him, but she says I have to watch on the stew, make sure it doesn't stick. Darn, after reading the cooking and FM thread of Eaglesfan27, I made sure of setting a timer to remind me of coming back every 5 minutes and went upstairs play the extra time, then what? PK!!! but it was dinner time, and after that, bath time for kiddo, so I ended finishing my game after I had tucked kiddo in... Crazy, crazy, but fun :)

FM

Glad my cooking and FM thread helped someone. I've taken to using a timer when playing FM too ;)

Congrats on the big win! :)

FrogMan

01-01-2005, 03:06 PM

May 26, 2006
League One Playoffs Final
vs Swindon at Wembley
S: Showunmi/Blinkhorn/Hammond
MC: Mansell (with up arrow)
DMC: Johnson/Keane (with up arrows)
D: Davis/James/Williams/Foley (no up arrows)
GK: Murphy

I set pretty much the same lineup as the one used in the second leg of the Semi Final against Sheffield Wednesday. The only change is Richard Johnson taking the place of injured/suspended Adam Chambers.

Lee Mansell is again in the central middie spot for the start of the game, leaving Marc Bridge-Wilkinson to come fresg from the bench if/when we'll need to make something happen.

Chris Coyne has not fully recovered from his injury, now only at 77%, so Curtis Davies will be the backup defender.

Since going with a heavily attacking mentality has served us well in the last two games, I set it the same for this final. I ask my boys to keep the tempo quick and play the field as narrow as possible and concentrate the passes through the middle. I also set my defensive line to play deep.

Swindon played a vanilla 4-4-2 formation with moderate push from the wingers in their last game. As I scout them, I see that one of their central defenders, a guy averaging 7.21 as form rating. Also, their top striker, average of 7.41 in form rating, is showing as very tired with only 75% condition.

They may have a weakness in goal, as their starting keeper has only averaged 6.89 over the course of the season, in 48 appearances. Dang, he's started and all league games for them!

A reminder that the odds for us to come out as winners are set at 6-4, while Swindon's odds are at 13-8. We're the favorites going in.

As we get to the game, they show a 4-3-3 formation similar to us on top (outside arrows on outside strikers) while they play their three middies on a straight line in the middle. This may well turn out to be a very open game...

23rd minute: Matthew Blinkhorn is injured and has to go off. He wasn't having his greatest game though (only rating below 7, a 5), so this may be a positive shakeup, although a bit early if you ask me. James Pinnock comes in. Let's hope he can work his magic like he did in extra time last game...

38th minute: A great shot from Elvis Hammond, coming after a nice center from Enoch Showunmi, is tipped to a corner by their goalie. Still no score...

The first half is over. We spent more time around their goal toward the end of the half, almost doubling our shots in the last 10 minutes...

50th minute: They lose their right full back to injury. While putting a new guy there, they also put in a new right forward. This will be one to watch, fresh legs versus the worn down legs of my defenders...

58th minute: We keep knocking at the door, but their keeper gets on tipping our balls to corner kicks. Still no score...

61st minute: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson comes in for Lee Mansell. I set him as a playmaker and tell my player to use the playmaker. Steve Robinson also comes in to replace Richard Johnson.

We're spending much more time toward their end since the start of the second half.

71st minute: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson really is at the center of everything as he exchanges passes with first Keith Keane, then James Pinnock, finally giving the ball back to Pinnock who fires a bullet toward the goal that's just tipped again to a corner...

84th minute: An opposing defender slides on James Pinnock with both feet and gets called by the referee. That player already has a yellow card and the referee gives him his second yellow. HE'S SENT OFF!!! The ensuing free kick is right outside their penalty box and Pinnock lines up as our mandated free kick taker. He sends a beauty of a strike through their 4 man wall!!! We're up 1-0!

Swindon goes to a 2-4-3 formation in a more attacking style.

90th minute: For the second time in less that 3 minutes, Mark Williams clears an incoming corner kick free out of our penalty box. The 35 year old veteran has played two great game for us in the last two games and make me real happy I resigned him for next season...

injury time: Damn, the clock shows 94:50 and this darn game is never going to end, I'm thinking as they mount an attack, but they put the ball in the stands...

FINAL WHISTLE!!! WE WIN!!! WE PROMOTE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

Final Score: Luton 1, Swindon 0
Shots (on target): Luton 18 (9), Swindon 12 (2)
MoM: Swindon's keeper Adam Bartlett with a rating of 9. What I thought could have been a weakness for them turned out to be their strength.
HoM: James Pinnock with a rating of 8, but a great game coming from the bench. He completed 24 of 28 passes, 3 of them key passes, won 5 of 12 headers, 2 of them key ones, and scored the winning goal.

The 6th place cinderella team moves on to promot, against all odds...

FM

daedalus

01-01-2005, 04:26 PM

Nice. Good show, Mssr Frogger. :D

Desnudo

01-01-2005, 06:09 PM

Congrats Froggy, some great matches there.

Eaglesfan27

01-01-2005, 07:39 PM

Congrats FM! Great Show :)

FrogMan

01-02-2005, 09:51 AM

Thanks guys, appreciate it!

Congrats Froggy, some great matches there.
You sure got that right. I tell ya, I've never been so immersed watching a live depiction of a simulated game before. That game that went into penalty kicks, I was biting my nails like crazy, and twice, after these two goals, I pumped my fists in the air, making no noise since kiddo was sleeping. Amazing fun.

Glad you all seem to enjoy the read. Offseason is coming...

FM

FrogMan

01-02-2005, 10:13 AM

Team Board News
The Luton Board is probably sending me a message as they announce that the team's transfer budget will be in the region of 800k for next season :eek: Woah, that's a lot of money!

They also say that I will be allowed to retain the vast majority of any transfer income to supplement this budget. By that, they mean 90%.

At the same time, they announce (well they didn't announce it, I went to check it out) a wage budget increase, to a total of $81k per week, up from the $64k they were at the end of the season.

Achievement News
I finish 3rd for the League One Manager of the Year award, behind Millwall's Colin Todd (1st), and Cardiff City's David Platt (2nd). I'm happy with that :)

Former Hatter Steve Howard finished in a three way tie for Top Goalscorer of the year, despite finishing the season at Sheffield United in the English Championship.

Junes 1st, 2006
As expected, the Luton Team Board are deligtheed with my performance as manager, why wouldn't they be? ;)

Transfer News
I decide to transfer list Keith Keane, asking $2M for him. He's valued at $1.85M but his value has steadily gone up all last season, so I'm guessing he has a lot of untapped potential and somebody may be willing to pay for that. He's also gained some national recognition, as a memeber of the Ireland U21 squad. Anyway, he wants to move and I'm not going to keep a unhappy player in my camp...

Loan News
Mark Smyth's loan is coming to an end. He's nice, but probably not up to the standards I'm looking for in a striker. I will let him got back to Liverpool without even playing one match with the first team.
Transfer News
With money to spen and being very nervous at the thought of moving up, it's tempting to look at all the players out there like a kid in a candy store. I'll still have t restrain myself, especially keep the wages in check...

June 7th, 2006
It's now official, Elvis has left the building...
(That one was for daedalus ;) )
As I take one last look at his profile page, I see that his value has now soared to 180k, wow! The playing time in the playoffs sure helped him showcase his talents a little. Good for him, we get 70k for the transfer. Kind of ironic that, only two weeks ago, he was part of our team, helping down the team he's moving on to, Swindon :D

Disciplinary News
Matt Carbon was missing from training again today. Since we're June 7, and offseason starts on June 8, I only issue a warning to him, for unprofessional behaviour. He accepts his warning and again say he will try to behave like a good little boy in the future, we'll see about that...

FM

FrogMan

01-02-2005, 10:33 AM

World Cup 2006 News
The World Cup 2006 has started. I usually don't pay much attention to international competitions, except if one of my players is involved. Chris Coyne is the only Hatter part of the World Cup this time around. He plays well without excelleing (rating of 7) in the 0-1 loss of Australia against Ireland. He played the whole 90 minutes.

Transfer News
I start looking for a top flight defensive middie, with the potential departure of Keith Keane, and the letting go of my 4th DM, Bobby Wilde. At first, I'll look mostly at players available under Bosman ruling, then I'll see if I have to spend big bucks to acquire one...

I find Paul Evans, a 31yo central defensive middie, whose contract ends on July 30. He's very aggressive and brave, with a good all around skill set. He played with Nottingham Forest in the Championship this season, so he's of the caliber of the league we're going into. He's earning $4400 per week right now, and is asking for $8000 per week. I find this a bit high and go with a first offer that is much lower, at $6000 per week and a signing fee of 60k. So you know, the Team Board now allow me to give up to $8200 per week for a key member. Evans is valued at $2.2M...

I also find another pretty good one in Samuel Johnson, currently playing with the Kayserispor club, in Turkey, I think. He's asking for 9600 per week, my assistant thinks he would become an essential member of our squad. I trust his judgment on that one and offer him 8200 per week.

Contract News
We get news very quick that Paul Evans has accepted our terms and signs with Luton. It's a bargain in my eyes. The transfer will go on July 1st.

Transfer News
I'm also looking for a left footed striker. As much as I like Enoch Showunmi, I don't feel like he can man the left side of our front on every match. I'd like to find a starter, and use Show for when we have more than one match in the week...

I try a crazy bid for a 27yo striker, right footed but with crazy skills. The guy's name Andrzej Niedzielan, a Polish fellow. He's the total package: strong, quick, and with great pace. He's currently earning $10500 per week and is asking for $13500. This is a bit over what I can offer, but what the heck. I offer him the best package I can: $8200 per week + 200k signing fee + 750 per goal + 400 per assist. I'll see if he bites...

Among other news, Samuel Johnson agrees to terms with us. The move is delayed for a work permit to be granted. A decision should be made on July 2.

World Cup News
Chris Coyne plays well again without excelling (rating of 7), in Australia's 2-0 win over Senegal.

FM

FrogMan

01-02-2005, 10:44 AM

Contract News
Andrzej Niedzielan's agent has announced that his client has rejected our offer. I expected that, to be honest. He's willing to negotiate but says that a significantly improved offer would ve needed if terms were to be agreed.

I can't do much about the base salary, so I push the signing fee to 300k and bump the goal bonus to 100k, and the assist bonus to 600k. I also add an appearance fee of $420.

He also has rejected the offer coming from is current team...

Achievement News
Bartosz Tarachulski is voted Luton's Player of the Year byt the supporters. Wow, kind of unexpected. My guess if that Steve Howard would have been the shoe in, and they fell back on the other playmaker...

Money News :)
Luton is given $1.1M for Championship TV rights for the forthcoming season. Woah, I heart this kind of money :)

Board Appraisal
The Luton Team Board are very pleased with my performance. They let me know that the team is expected to fight bravely against relegation from the Championship in the coming season.

World Cup News
Chris Coyne has another one of these good but not excellent showing, with a rating of 7 in Australia incisive 3-1 win over England. This is England's second loss in group play. They lost to Senegal earlier.

FM
PS: as I write all this I realize that with no games being played, there are no date stamps to relate to. I'll try to write more dates in the future dealings with the offseason. We're around June 20th right now...

FrogMan

01-02-2005, 02:55 PM

Contract News
Andrzej Niedzielan rejects our second offer and walks away from any negotiating. I guess it's just as well that way, I would have gone crazy trying to remember how to spell that name anyway :)
FM

FrogMan

01-03-2005, 09:27 AM

Special News
I found this news very funny: "Harrogate Town have made an offer to loan Liverpool's Mark Smyth for 3 months". Maybe few of you will get it, but I'm sure Eaglesfan27 will find the coincidence funny. :)

Transfer News
I'm still scouring the transfer lists, searching for players to help boost my team. Right now I'm thinking about getting a striker with pace, dribbling and crossing to play on the side striker spot. I won't break the bank for just anybody, but if I find one like that, I'd like to see what he could do in my 4-3-3 setting...

International Round-Up
Chris Coyne again does well without excelling, getting a rating of 7 while playing the whole match in Australia's 1-2 loss over Portugal. With the loss, Australia is out of the Cup.

July 1st, 2006
The Luton Team Board is down to bein very pleased about my work, mostly because it's the offseason and the high of promoting has been replaced by the agony of not knowing if we won't simply get crushed in the Championship.

Transfer/Contract News
With the arrival of July 1st, the contracts of many players on my shortlist are coming to an end. I look through and find a few I will want to keep an eye on.

Rowan Vine is one of them, and he's just been released on a free transfer. He's asking for $5400 per week, I decide to make him a very low first offer at $3600 per week.

I also offer Keith Keane to a group of selected teams. I ask $2.2M for the young D/DM, his value has just jumped to 2.6M.

Work Permit News
Samuel Johnson's work permit is turned down. He's from Ghana and has 8 caps. He would certainly fit well within my midfield, but with the recent signing of Paul Evans, I decide not to appeal. The defensive midfielder position is not one of my priorities at the moment.

Contract News
Rowan Vine accepts our offer and signs with Luton. There are some holes in his skill set, but I see him as a goal scoring machine. He scored 13 goals while on loan with us in 2004-05, averaging a form rating of 7.17, and scored 11 with Swindon in 2005-06, averaging a form rating of 7.21. He'll get plenty of playing time in my striker rotation...

Scout/assistant manager problems
I'm having the same problems reported earlier by Desnudo. Some amazing players are being reported by my assistant manager as being not worthwhile, making it so the team board only allows me to offer them $6200 per week, even as key player, while for other players that the assistant manager find worthy enough, I can offer up to $8200 per week. I'm not at a very high level yet, but this is already causing me to lose out on some strikers that are asking for that $8000 or so a week, but I'm not allowed to offer them more than 6200... A bit frustrating...

FM

FrogMan

01-03-2005, 09:41 AM

July 4th, 2006

Transfer News
Nobody is interested in Keith Keane, maybe it will pick up after we've played a few games...

Among other transfer news, P. Ferreira of Portugal have made an offer worth $20k for Dani Rodrigues. I guess I had set up the answering maching to automatically accept it, cause that's what happened, heh...

International Call Up
Reserve team defender Jacopo Piotto is called up to the Italy U19 squad for the European U19 Championship. That's interesting. I've never seen Piotto, who was signed on a free transfer, as a possible first teamer before a long time, but maybe if he plays internationally a little...

Transfer News
We sign 17yo free agent David Hatton. Hatton is an attacking midfielder vapable of playing on the right and in the middle. He's got some amazing skills at some place (physical, dribbling, finishing) but some holes in other areas, some that could hamper his development as an attacking middie (no creativity and not very good off the ball). Anyway, a free transfer that you pay only $120 a week is worth a try in my book...

Transfer News
Dani Rodrigues agrees to a deal with P. Ferreira and leaves Luton. He was complaining of not getting enough first team playing time, and I did see when he'd get any, anytime soon...

FM

FrogMan

01-03-2005, 09:43 AM

Special Notice

I have decided not to start a new thread for the next season of my Luton team. I'll simply keep on writing in here. I hope you'll keep on reading :)
FM

FrogMan

01-03-2005, 09:49 AM

July 8th, 2006

Training/Discipline News
My assistant manager tells me that Matt Carbon was missing from training yesterday. Say what?!? I jave set my options to suspend all training during the period from June 8th to July 12th. We're July 8th, IT IS NORMAL FOR A PLAYER NOT TO BE TRAINING NOW!!! I don't even issue a warning...

Transfer News
I'm taking it very slowly, looking at players on a daily basis, asking my scouts for their opinions, whatever it's worth. I'm probably not going to sign many more players, at least until Keith Keane is sold, if he sells. Then I'll probably break the bank for one of two players...

FM

FrogMan

01-03-2005, 09:52 AM

July 12th, 2006

Training/injury News
The first day of training camp is here, and with it, the first injuries, dang... Defensive middie Richard Johnson suffers a groin strain during a warm up. While he will only be out for 2 weeks, pundit say the injury will undoubtedly hamper his desire to be fully prepared for the gruelling season. I can't have this happen. We need him...

35yo defender Mark Williams also gets injured in training. A damaged heel will force him to sit out for 1 week.

FM

FrogMan

01-03-2005, 01:47 PM

TV News
We learn that our September 23rd home game against Q.P.R. has been pushed back from its original 15:00 timeslot to the 17:30 timeslot, du to the fact that it will be televised. woohoo!!! We're gonna be on TV!!! :)

Friendlies
I have lined up 6 friendlies for this offseason. Two will be away games that were offered to me by conference teams, while I've arranged to play 4 top teams at home: Fulham, Southampton, Birmingham, and Ajax. I offered each of these teams between 40k and 60k to come at our stadium. For most of these friendlies, the team board was estimating we would be able to make between 150k and 160k in gate receipts.

July 16, 2006
Friendly #1, home vs Fulham
I won't go into details with the friendlies, since I don't pay much attention to stats and such things with them. I only make sure that my starters get around 60 minutes of playing time, except in the last one or two, if they're match fit by then, they might not even play...

We lose this one 0-2, the second goal coming from a fluky free kicks that deflected off the wall. Keeper Joe Murphy was the best Hatter with a rating of 8, while every other players got 7's except Matthew Blinkhorn who got a 5. A crowd of 9944 fans was at the game, not bad.

16yo Kevin Joyce even came in and played at centreback for the last 26 minutes. He did fairly well, getting a rating of 7, completing 14 of 17 passes, and winning 5 of 5 headers.

FM

Crapshoot

01-03-2005, 03:10 PM

tanglewood

01-03-2005, 04:15 PM

Btw, you might want to look at the free transfers in late july- in FM, very often, really good players remain unsigned and you can pick em up on the cheap. Its a bug I think, but one you can take advantage of.

Not really. In real life over the last few seasons, lots of good players are avaliable on a free right up until the season is starting. Four or five years ago it wouldn't have been the case, but now lower league clibs are much more financially stringent so quality is easy(er) to find on a free. Conversely, your chairman won't necessarily like you piling huge sums of cash on free transfers, but if it gets results.....

Desnudo

01-03-2005, 04:36 PM

If you are using custom training schedules, you'll want to make sure you manually set the players to rest after the season. There's a bug where the auto-off feature doesn't work.

FrogMan

01-03-2005, 05:25 PM

NIcely done. As for the Reserve team, I simply pick the players and leave the AM in control - it makes them play. I also arrange lots of friendly's against the under 18 when there are huge gaps in the reserve team's schedule, allowing my players coming back from injury to regain fitness quickly... So far, managed to take Man City to 1 premier league title (Shawn Wright Phillipps, 8.87 rating- golden god!), and trying to stop the Red Devils from taking it this year.. :D

Btw, you might want to look at the free transfers in late july- in FM, very often, really good players remain unsigned and you can pick em up on the cheap. Its a bug I think, but one you can take advantage of.Thanks for the hint. As far as recerves, if you mean what happened with Beckwith, I think it's all right now. I had him selected for the game btw, but my assistant manager simply didn't play him. odd...

About free transfers in late July, I couldn't say if it's a bug or not, but I have indeed seen some interesting players. Thing is I'm getting closer and closer to my wage budget limit, and I also have striker Ivan Kaviedes coming on September 1st, when his contract is over with Barcelona. I'll probably wait a little more before signing anybody else...

FM

FrogMan

01-03-2005, 06:21 PM

If you are using custom training schedules, you'll want to make sure you manually set the players to rest after the season. There's a bug where the auto-off feature doesn't work.
Dang, that may explain that thing with Carbon. I'll try to remember to put everybody to resting for next offseason... Thanks for the tip.

FM

FrogMan

01-04-2005, 08:58 AM

Useless News
My game status now say I've been playing this career for 4 days, 1 hour, 14 minutes, and my addictedness level says something like "real football managers don't need food" :D

Loan News
I offer to loan a youngster from Nottingham Forest. Ricky Hanson is an 18yo D/DM/F RC with a nice set of skills, and with three positions, lots of use I could make of. He's currently valued at 200k, so I could make a bid for him after the loan is over. I ask to get him on loan for the whole season, in which I wouldn't pay one bit of his salary. Not much risk there...

July 18, 2006
Friendly #2, away at Farnborough.
We win this one 2-0 on goals from Matthew Blinkhorn and Steve Robinson (penalty). It's an even game, in which we got more dominant as the game wore on. Curtis Davies gets the MoM with a rating of 8, while Joe Murphy and Tony James also get 8's. No injuries in the match, which is the best of news.

International Round-up
Jacopo Piotto got sent off in the 60th minute and had a bad showing overall (rating of 5) in Italy U19's draw against Greece U19.

Team Board News
On a whim, I decide to ask the board if they could not, possibly, think about investing some money on improving the training grounds, even though they'd already allowed an improvement that took place at the end of the 2004-05 season.

I was fully expecting a nice "no, sorry" kind of answer, but instead got this: "The Luton Team Board" of Directors have admitted that the club's training facilities are pretty poor in comparison to other clubs of the same standard and have unanimously agreed that they should be improved" Wow, talk about a politician's answer, now when? :)

Training News
This just in: I'm an idiot. On the 15th of July or so, I set everybody to the "pre-season" training schedule. We're up to the 22nd now and I just realized I had no coaches assigned to that schedule... oops :o

Loan News
The Loan for Ricky Hanson is accepted and he agrees to come to Luton. In his profile, I see that he's described simply as "defender", but I think he could be a jack of all trades for us, pluggin holes here and there...

July 23, 2006
Friendly #3, home vs Southampton
We lose 0-2 again. This time, we don't get near their goal very often. They look much faster than us in about every facet of the game. Oh well, that was a practice game...

International Round-Up
Jacopo Piotto played one of those good but not excellent game, getting a rating of 7 in Italy U19's 2-0 win over Turkey U19.

FM

FrogMan

01-04-2005, 09:12 AM

Contract News
We sign free agent left footed forward Lee Morris for a 3 weeks trial. He has good acceleration and pace, with good ball skills (first touch, technique) and decent crossing skill. Thing is for now, my assistant isn't too impressed with him and won't allow me to offer him more than $6200, while Morris is asking for $7200. I think I could offer him 6200 and probbaly get away with it, but I'd like to see Morris play in a few friendlies before I make a formal offer to him. He won't be allowed to play in competitive matches while on trial with us. In 8 matches while on loan at Peterborough (L2) last season, he scored 2 goals, 5 assists, and averaged a form rating of 7.38.

Training News
Matt Carbon is again absent from training today. I fine him one week of wages this time. He's a weird cookie, as he again acknowledge that his behaviour is unacceptabel and that he deserved the fine, good boy...

July 27, 2006
Friendly #4, home vs Birmingham
I'm trying a new formation in this one, I call it a 3-4-3, simply because it has 3 defenders and 4 middies. The strikers remain the same as in my usual 4-3-3. Here's how this new one looks like:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/343v1.jpg

It remains to be seen if the individual arrows will stay like that, or if I will not had maybe to down arrows to the outside central defenders. I'll see as I go...

Wow! We win the game 2-0! Bartosz Tarachulski is the Man of the Match with 2 goals coming from very long crosses. One of them came from Enoch Showunmi. Him with his simple 8 in crossing, and I'm here trying to find a replacement, or at the very least an alternative, and he comes in and makes some plays... Must feel the heat.

Speaking of replacements, Lee Morris has a very bad game, with a rating of 4 before being replaced. This may be because it's his very first game of the season, so I'll hold off judgment. One that concerns me a little more is D/DM R Kevin Foley, in his first game as defensive middie. He usually plays more of a full back position, but in this game, with the long arrows and all, he gets a 5. Will keep a close eye on him...

Overall, we had good possession numbers even though the ball was often around our end zone, but we got the clean sheet. We also got a few good plays from the outside, which is nice...

FM

FrogMan

01-04-2005, 09:22 AM

July 29, 2006
Friendly #5, home vs Ajax
We play the 3-4-3 again, and I start Lee Morris at left striker and Kevin Foley at right defensive middie. I want to see if their bad games were just flukes or if they're really uncomfortable playing this formation...
With two friendlies left, some players are starting to show as match fit, a good sign that the season is coming up.

One bad thing though is that my two most important defensive middies, Paul Evans and Richard Johnson, are dinged up and not playing right now. Johnson is still hampered by a groin strain, while Evans suffered a broken nose in training. They should be available for the last friendly, but their lack of playing time could make things tougher in the start of the season, adn I'm not sure we'll be able to afford a bad start if we want to avoid relegation.

We lose the game 1-3. Our scorer is Marc Bridge-Wilkinson.

Morris gets a 7, as does Foley, so things are sort of better now.

For now, I kind of like the 3-4-3. We get reasonable possession numbers, a bit high on our end, but we control the ball and are not letting in an outrageous amount of goals. The 3 centrebacks seem to be doing a good job of cleaning the front of the goal.

FM

edit: I had put the date of the friendly as July 31st, but it's actually July 29. Our last friendly is played on the 31st and will be reported below...

tanglewood

01-04-2005, 09:24 AM

FrogMan

01-04-2005, 09:31 AM

Still a good read FM.

NB: In footie parlance, a 'defensive middie' on the flank (i.e. not a full back, not a winger) is called a 'wingback'. Just though it'd be helpful to know what to call one of your new positions. :)
ahh, thanks, very helpful indeed, and much faster to type than "defensive middie" ;)

And thanks for the good word, glad you're enjoying it.

FM

FrogMan

01-04-2005, 09:50 AM

July 31, 2006
Friendly #6, away at Crawley.
We go back to the 4-3-3, if only because I want to give my two main defensive middies (Evans and Johnson) a bit more playing time.
We lose 0-2. We even lose pretty badly in possession, but we still had shots, mostly because it was a conference level team...

Bring on the season now!!!

August 1st, 2006
The Luton Team Board is still very pleased with my performance as manager.

We get the odds for the 2006-07 season of the Championship. Leeds and Leicester are joint favorites to gain promotion, with offs of 7-4. Then come Wolves at 2-1, Derby also at 2-1, Crystal Palace at 3-1, and Sunderland at 6-1. I see our odds at 80-1, and that was expected. Pundits seem to think that these odds point more to the fact that my side should be more concerning with avoiding relegation than thinking about promotion. Well, duh...

Question from the media
I get approached by a local newspaper with the following question: "The bookies are tipping you for relegation this season. Do you think you will have to bolster your squad in order to stay up?"

My answer is the followin: "Definitely Not. I believe we've got the players with the ability to keep us up"

Once put into the paper, this translates into: "You have suggested that your team should not even be thinking about relegation" Wow, awfully confident, huh?!?

Player Reactions
Following my answer to the question we get two different reactions among players.

The first one, I kind of like. Matthew Blinkhorn, Adam Chambers, and Sol Davis all say they're pleased I'm not looking for reenforcements to bolster our fight against relegation and they hope they to repay the faith I have shown in the current squad. Nice.

The second one shows who may be the lazy ones on the squad, and bothers me a little bit, not much, but a little. Joe Murphy, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, and Keith Keane all say they're pleased they won't have to compete too hard for a first team place. hrmmm...

League Cup News
The draw for the 1st round of the League Cup happens. We get a toughie to start, as we'll play fellow Championship team Tranmere. At least, it will be at home...

U18/Contract News
Sheffield United contacted 16yo Kevin Joyce and offered him a contract. Bastages!!! I decide to at least offer him what he wants, which is currently $280 per week, up from his previous 200. I'm afraid I will lose him before long...

FM

FrogMan

01-04-2005, 01:35 PM

August 5, 2006
match #1, home vs Coventry (finished 20th in the Championship last season)
Odds: Luton 3-1, Coventry 4-5(fav)
S: Showunmi/Tarachulski/Vine
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DM: Davis/Evans/Foley (long arrows on wingbacks)
D: Davies/James/Coyne (down arrow on James)
GK: Murphy

We go with the 3-4-3 for this first match of the season. They played a 4-4-2 with moderate push from the wingers in their last match and show the same formation at the beginning of this one.

14th minute: We get a good chance coming from Enoch Showunmi, but he puts the ball in the side netting. This chance was directly created by a Sol Davis in full support to the left side of the offense, all because of the new tactic. Still 0-0 though.

40th minute: They score on a corner kick that's headed right in, but wait! IT'S DISALLOWED!!! We get a free kick. Still 0-0.

The first half comes to an end with a 0-0 score. Joe Murphy is having a superb game so far, but Showunmi and Bartosz Tarachulski are not. They both have ratings of 5 in this first half. I move Tarachulski to the outside, in the place of Rowan Vine, and put Vine in the middle, in hope of creating something.

53rd minute: And create something, it does! The ball moves up the right side, from wingback Kevin Foley to Tarachulski in the wing. Tarachulski centers it to the 6 yard box, where Show puts it in. We're up 1-0!

64th minute: Bartosz Tarachulski plays much better since he's on the outside. He makes a great pass to Marc Bridge-Wilkinson who moves in on the goal. With only the keeper to beat, he seems to have pushed the ball too far and the keeper will get it, but at the last moment, BW steals it and scores on a nice half volley. We're up 2-0. They will never catch us.

Final Score: Luton 2, Coventry 0
Shots (on target): Luton 11 (5), Coventry 19 (12)
MoM: Joe Murphy with a perfect rating of 10. At some point, he was putting his hand to just about every shot they were making. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson also played a great game, with a rating of 9.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 20/14
middle: 21/20
their zone: 10/15
Overall: 51/49

It's a great start to our first season in the Championship, as we hop to 3rd place. We now gotta hope to be able to bring down the number of shots they take, or else my keeper and defenders will have to always play at their best, or we could be in trouble... I gotta say though, that at some point, they were taking just about every long shot possible, from every angle...

FM

FrogMan

01-04-2005, 01:43 PM

U18/Contract News
First message I saw was this: "Kevin Joyce has rejected Luton's offer of a new contract. He feels the basic wage offered is unacceptable"

I go: "well, I'll offer more" but I don't see a negotiate button, hrmm, strange.

The message right above is this: "Kevin Joyce has agreed on a deal with Sheffield Utd. He rejected the offer from Luton" SAY WHAT?!? I click on his name, he's now listed as with Sheffield Utd. I take a look at his wage, guess what? 280 freaking dollars, the exact same I've offered to him!!!

At that point, I'm not happy, but the very next message is what got to me: "Sheffield Utd have landed defender Kevin Joyce from Luton on a free transfer." SAY THAT AGAIN!!! NOTHING FOR ME... WELL FUCK!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: I'm genuinely pissed off about this. I kind of knew he'd go somewhere, but to not get one fucking penny for him, that's the worst of all.

I go back see his profile, now with Sheffield Utd, and it says his value is now at 220k, I still can't believe it. Anybody know what happened? Was it that his value was too low when he was with us? It went up to about 50k at first, then dropped about every week, to about 20k, iirc... That is very sad...

Injury News
Adam Chambers strains his calf in training and will miss the next 2 weeks. I don't lack depth with my defensive middies, so I'm not too worried for now...

FM

terpkristin

01-04-2005, 03:14 PM

Grats on your first regular season win this season!
Sucks about Joyce, though I know nothing about why it may have happened...

~tk

SirFozzie

01-04-2005, 03:18 PM

SirFozzie

01-04-2005, 03:19 PM

as for his value: Is Sheffield Utd rated higher then you in Renown? Obviously, he's on a bigger team, he's worth more...

FrogMan

01-04-2005, 04:26 PM

Check your finances, you will have been paid for him, but it's for his training and such. You will have a chance to get him back, in six months, his contract will be unprotected and he can be grabbed back (you will need to pay them as well), as long as he hasn't turned 17 in the mean time.
I checked my finances the minute I saw the transfer and didn't see any unusual income. There was nothing in the "player sold" line, and I didn't see anything in the last month income that would indicate I had received any money.

To add salt to the wound, I went back to check on Joyce, and I tried to approach him to sign. First it said that Joyce was not interested in a move to Luton, ouch. But worst was that it said that Sheffield Utd would have to be compensated with 380k!!! Damn, that's my money!!! Oh well...

FM

FrogMan

01-04-2005, 04:27 PM

as for his value: Is Sheffield Utd rated higher then you in Renown? Obviously, he's on a bigger team, he's worth more...
They are certainly more renowned than we are, they've been in the Championship for a few years. My point wasn't really that he was worth more, only that I should have received something...

FM

FrogMan

01-04-2005, 04:29 PM

Grats on your first regular season win this season!
Sucks about Joyce, though I know nothing about why it may have happened...

~tk
Thanks tk. I'll take the wins as they come, not sure we'll have too many of them :)

The Joyce crap, oh well, I'll survive it :)

FM

FrogMan

01-04-2005, 04:44 PM

August 8, 2006
match #2: away at Plymouth (finished 11th last season, drew 2-2 in first match)
Odds: Luton - 7-4, Plymouth 5-4(fav)
S: Pinnock/Vine/D'Sane
MC: Mansell (with up arrow)
DM: Davis/Johnson/Keane (small arrows on wingbacks)
D: Williams/James/Coyne (down arrow on James)
GK: Murphy

We go with the 3-4-3 again, but this time I pull back the attacking midfielder to a more central midfielder position with a forward arrow. I also make the wingbacks go a little less forward.

They show a 3-5-2 formation with 2 wingbacks with long arrows. Their midfield is a triangle of 2 MC and 1 AMC. One of their starting striker is suspended.

22nd minute: Wow, they just got 4th yellow card while we've not received one. I'm ready to bet we'll get plenty at some point in the game. Still 0-0.

25th minute: Following a throw in, they center to the box. That center was touched twice by Luton players. First at the start by Sol Davis, then at the arrival by Tony James, yet, they score on it. Down 0-1.

45th minute, 1 minute into injury time: Chris Coyne is having a bad first half with a rating of 5. It get even worse when he handballs a coming center. PENALTY!!! It's a bullet, Joe Murphy can't do anything. We're down 0-2.

First half score is 0-2. We get good possession and some chances, I guess we were sort of unlucky so far. Richard Johnson goes in for Paul Evans.

90th minute, 1 minute into injury time: We leave a player wide open in our 6 yard box on a corner. The kick is perfect, right to his feet, an easy finish. Down 0-3. This will be the final score.

Final Score: Luton 0, Plymouth 3
Shots (on target): Luton 10 (3), Plymouth 20 (8)
MoM: Plymouth's keeper Roman Larrieu
HoM: nobody, really played great, although nobody played bad either. Each and every player that got in the game gets a 7.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 14/21
middle: 18/23
their zone: 14/10
Overall: 46/54

Possession-wise, the first half was much better than the second, very close to 50-50. We fell apart in the second half when we tried to push too hard to make up for the 2 goal deficit.

We drop down to earth with the loss. We're now in 13th place.

FM

FrogMan

01-04-2005, 06:31 PM

Player News
James Pinnock is now content with his role at the club. He says he is prepared to wait for a first-team opportunity at Luton if necessary. He also said that I have convinced him that he has the ability to force his way into the first-team if he remains patient and continues to work hard.

Regular readers may have seen that I've been playing Pinnock on and off on the first team, for a little while now. I was in fact wondering when he'd stop being unhappy. I guess this answers it, as the "UNH" tag has disappeared next to his name. His average rating was 7.06 in 18 appearances (11 as starter) last season, with 6 goals. He's got good skills, but especially an amazing ability with set pieces (see playoffs games at the end of last season).

Discipline News
Matt Carbon again failed to report for training today. I fine him for 2 weeks of pay. At this rate, I won't pay him, as he's not reporting at least once every two weeks...

He accepts his fine without comment. A release on a free for him would cost us 160k, while he is earning $3400 per week. I don't think he'll ever see the field with the first team, so I'm seriously considering releasing him. Say there's about 10.5 months left before the end of his contract, that's 10.5*4.33=45 weeks or so. 45*3400=153k... hrm would make a lot of sense if only to get rid of him and his whining... Maye I'll offer him a mutual termination, we'll see...

Funny Fact
While looking at past results for Luton, I see that they were in the Premiership from 82/83 until 91/92, then they were in the Championship (formerly Division I) from 92/93 to 95/96. So I brought them back to the Championship for the first time in the last 10 years :)

Open question to anyone who knows
What are the rules with the U18 squads? I mean, I just realized I had a 19 year old in there so, anybody gonna come and slap my fingers? I also just realized, at the start of my 3rd season, that there's a U18 League Cup... hehe, will follow that one :)

FM

Desnudo

01-04-2005, 08:23 PM

daedalus

01-04-2005, 11:35 PM

RE: U-18 . . . I'm guessing it's if they're 18 at the start of the season, maybe?

RE: Joyce . . . Sucks. You might be able to ink him back. I'd just give it a whirl.

RE: Hanson . . . By the way, I had the best luck with him as a right fullback with decent performances at defensive middie and centreback. He should be okay as a wingback for you. He didn't seem to enjoy playing up front very much when I was tinkering with the demo. I, uhh, went around and snagged young players from a bunch of different teams when I tinkered with the demo. He was one of them.

FrogMan

01-05-2005, 09:55 AM

I'm not sure exactly how it works, but what I've noticed is that even youth contracts can expire and the player will be on a month to month or part time paycheck. When that happens, the player can apparently be signed for no compensation. So if you check the profile and the contract expiration date is N/A then they can be had on free.
Assuming you are referring to Joyce, I know for sure that his contract was not expired. He was unprotected as it should be with any 16yo, but it was a valid contract...

FM

FrogMan

01-05-2005, 09:59 AM

RE: U-18 . . . I'm guessing it's if they're 18 at the start of the season, maybe?

Maybe, frankly, I have not checked if the 19yo player had just turned 19 or not, I just move him to reserves...

RE: Joyce . . . Sucks. You might be able to ink him back. I'd just give it a whirl.

For now, his agent tells me he is not interested in a move to Luton. Weird thing is his favorite team said Luton before he signed with Sheffield. At 380k of compensation, I don't think he'd be worth it. I need better first team players...

RE: Hanson . . . By the way, I had the best luck with him as a right fullback with decent performances at defensive middie and centreback. He should be okay as a wingback for you. He didn't seem to enjoy playing up front very much when I was tinkering with the demo. I, uhh, went around and snagged young players from a bunch of different teams when I tinkered with the demo. He was one of them.

Interesting, thanks for the tip. He played in a few preseason friendlies, getting mixed results as both a centreback or central defensive middie. I'll see what I'll do with him. For now, he was moved to the reserves in order to stay in shape for when I'll need him...

FM

FrogMan

01-05-2005, 10:16 AM

Transfer News
I make a bid for a Senegalese defender currently playing for Vittoria in Italy. He is nicknamed simply Sarr and has good heading, marking, tackling, and positionning, all required skills for a good defender. He's also capable of play to the right, center, or even left, which would make him the perfect backup defender. He's valued at 170k, I make my first bid at 130k.

August 12, 2006
match #3: home vs Reading (finished 16th last season, currently 12th with a win and a draw)
Odds: Luton 9-4, Reading evens (fav)
S: Showunmi/Vine/Tarachulski
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DM: Davis/Evans/Foley (big arrows on wingbacks)
D: Davies/James/Coyne (down arrow on James)
GK: Murphy

Reading's goalkeeper Jamie Young was once onloan for 3 months with us, in the 2004-05 season. He averaged only 6.67 in ratings. He's having a killer start to the season this year, averaging ratings of 8.5, 2 MoM in 2 matches played...

They played a 4-3-3 formation in their last match, and that's what they show as we get to this one, with 3 middies on a line in the middle.

2nd minute: Woah, Rowan Vine gets injured and has to leave. Darn early. James Pinnock takes his place.

9th minute: Curtis Davies's header out of our penalty box is returned with amazing precision from 25 yards out, top corner. Joe Murphy can't do anything. We go down, 0-1.

First half score is 0-1. At some point, they were kicking our butt, but we found some rythm toward the end of the half. Paul Evans has picked up a know and has to go out. Keith Keane comes in.

This will be the final score. They won't allows us to get close to their goal in the second half.

Final Score: Luton 0, Reading 1
Shots (on target): Luton 4 (0), Reading 8 (3)
MoM: Reading's Bobby Convey with a rating of 8 and the only goal of the match.
HoM: nobody, really played great, but two played simply awfully. Bartosz Tarachulski and Curtis Davies each end the game with ratings of 5.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 12/14
middle: 19/28
their zone: 12/15
Overall: 43/57

We drop to 16th with the loss. Bigger loss still is Rowan Vine. He'll be gone for two months with a broken toe. I'm seriously thinking about offering Lee Morris a contract. His trial is about to be over and he's set to play in tomorrow's friendly between my reserves and U18 squads. I'll see then...

FM

FrogMan

01-05-2005, 10:47 AM

Restraining Order News
No he has not gone to the court for one, but he may be about to ;). My scout watches Kevin Joyce, as he not only starts, but plays a whole league match for Sheffield Utd, getting a rating of 8 in the process... That big sound you just heard is me crying and whining... :(

Transfer News
The Sarr bid is rejected. They don't even look like they want to negotiate, but I make another offer anyway. I offer them his valued price this time, 170k.

Contract News
Lee Morris has completed his trial period and leaves the club. He got another 7 in the Reserves vs U18 friendly match, and with Rowan Vine's injury, I decide to offer him a contract. He's now asking for $6200 per week with a signing fee of $2000. This is down from his initial demands of $7200 and $600 signing fee. Considering he's sitting at home, and not many other teams seem to have contacted him, I offer him $5000 per week and 2k signing fee...

August 15, 2006
match #4: away at Millwall (currently 9th with 6pts, 3 ahead of us)
S: Showunmi/Pinnock/D'Sane
MC: Mansell (with up arrow)
DMC: Keane/Evans (no up arrows)
D: Davis/James/Coyne/Foley (no up arrows)
GK: Murphy

We go back to the 4-3-3.

Some of you may remember that Millwall were the team that beat us 0-5 late in last season, with their damned 4-2-4 formation. They seem to have played a 4-4-2 formation in their last match, but they show that freaking 4-2-4 formation as we get to the game. Oh sweet lord, it's gonna be a long day at the office...

24th minute: Out of nowhere, one of their midfielders launches a crazy bending kick, from 30 yards out, it's in, we go down already, and their 4 strikers have little to do with it, sadly... 0-1.

35th minute: As if they needed help, Sol Davis pushes one of their strikers just inside the box, PENALTY!!! It's a perfect strike, just inside the post, we go down further, 0-2.

76th minute: A beauty of a counter attack starts with a brilliant pass from Marc Bridge-Wilkinson to Bobby Wilde, who had just been resigned to a full-time contract from his pert-time month per month status. Wilde flicks the ball on to Roscoe D'Sane on the right. D'Sane kicks it to the keeper's left for the goal. We're still down, but working on it, 1-2.

87th minute: Enoch Showunmi goes way deep on our left side to take a throw in (note to self: check throw in takers). The balls ends up to Keith Keane who passes it to Bobby Wilde. Wilde moves inside the box and fires a perfect strike, with is 1 in finishing, just inside the post for the equalizer!!! 2-2. This will be the final score, we have (sort of) defeated the 4-2-4!!!

Final Score: Luton 2, Millwall 2
Shots (on target): Luton 8 (5), Millwall 12 (3)
MoM: Millwall's Bobby Muscat with a rating of 8.
HoM: Who else other than Bobby Wilde who got a rating of 8, scored a goal and prepared the other. More on Wilde in a moment. Chris Coyne and Keith Keane played solid games, both getting ratings of 8.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 13/24
middle: 20/22
their zone: 13/8
Overall: 46/54

We move up to 15th with the draw.

Special Player Profile
Bobby Wilde is a special breed. Not that he has amazing skills, in fact he has not. He's probably the player with the most 1's that can produce, that I have ever seen. Here's his player profile card...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/wilde060815.jpg

I signed him in the middle of my first season ever on a free transfer, to a two year contract that paid him $600 per week. At first, I needed him out there, as a starterm then I started using him mostly as a reserve, or second stringer for those times when I hade three games in a week. He's often pulled ratings of 8 in the left side DMC position, even though, one might think he'd failed miserably. He's obbviously not there for his defensive skills. I like setting him to cross the ball often, even though he's more often in the center than on the wing. Gives some long passes that are often nice to see. Anyway, his conract ran out on June 30, 2006. At that time, he was asking for 1200, and I couldn't justify that amount to now a third teamer, behind Evans, Johnson, Chambers, Keane. He remained at the club on a part-time month to month contract, for $700 per week until this week, when I offered him $800 per week, after seeing that he was still pulling nice ratings in the reserves vs U18 friendlies. After today's match, I'm glad I offered him a contract...
FM

FrogMan

01-05-2005, 11:25 AM

Loan News
I make a bid to loan Manchester United's striker, Giuseppe Rossi. The loan would be for 3 months.

Contract News
Lee Morris agrees to our terms and signs a contract with Luton. The good thing is that since he's played in a bunch of friendlies during his trial, he's already match fit and ready to step in...

Transfer News
The latest Sarr bid is rejected, I let it go, for now...

August 19, 2006
Match #5: home vs Burnley (currently 18th, but tied on points with us, with 4)
odds: Luton 13-8, Burnley 6-4 (fav)
S: Morris/Pinnock/Tarachulski
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Keane/Evans (with up arrows)
D: Davis/James/Coyne/Foley (full backs with up arrows)
GK: Murphy
As we get to the game, they show a 4-4-2 formation with moderate push from the wingers.

34th minute: We're giving them a pretty good run for their money, 6 shots to one for us. That is until they center a lucky ball and convert it. We go down 0-1.

44th minute: Oh crap! Paul Evans gets his second yellow, both within the last 5 minutes and he's sent off. Trying to come from behind with only 10 mean is never easy.

52nd minute: They pump a long ball to a man that makes himself free in the 6 yard box. He's got an easy finish. We're down 0-2. This will be the final score.

For once, we dominate in shots, but can't convert. We can't let that happen too often this season. Wins will be tough enough to achieve, we can't drop them like that...

Final Score: Luton 0, Burnley 2
Shots (on target): Luton 12 (4), Burnley 9 (4)
MoM: Burnley's keeper Danny Coyne with a rating of 8. They also had a total of 7 of the starters that had 8's...
HoM: Keeper Joe Murphy with an 8. However, he was the only one with a rating of 6 at some point into the second half, until he made a couple of big saves.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 16/14
middle: 21/22
their zone: 12/15
Overall: 49/51

We drop to 19th. Relegation zone starts at position 22, with only three teams of the 24 that relegates.

Paul Evans is banned for one match for being sent off on 2 yellows. Another bad news is an injury to Kevin Foley. He twisted his knee in the game and will miss 2 weeks.

Loan News
Manchester United accpets our loan bid for Giuseppe Rossi. Now we'll see if he accepts to come on loan with us.

FM

FrogMan

01-05-2005, 02:57 PM

Staff News
With the rash of injuries, I'm starting to think I don't have enough physios on staff. I place an advert for a physio.

Loan News
Manchester United's Giuseppe Rossi has agreed to join us on a 3 month loan. Rossi is a 19yo FC, so he could be played as a striker or as an attacking midfielder, if need be. He has great finishing and acceleration, with good pace and stamina. To complete, he has fair heading, long shots ability, and off the ball skills. He'll be with us until November 21, 2006.

August 23, 2006
League Cup
Round 1: home vs Tranmere (currently 23rd in Championship, 5 consecutive losses)
Odds: Luton 13-8, Tranmere 6-4 (fav)
S: Morris/Pinnock/D'Sane
AMC: Bridge/Wilkinson
DM: Davis/Keane/Hanson (long arrows on wingbacks)
D: Williams/James/Coyne
GK: Murphy

Tranmere were in League One in 04-05, when they promoted to the Championship. We played them twice in that season, getting destroyed in the last game 1-4.

This game is the first of a home-and-home series, as we will play them again on August 26, in league action.

We are going with the 3-4-3 since we're getting low on pure central defensive middies. I hesitated a long deal between Ricky Hanson and Ian Hillier for the right wingback slot, finally going with Hanson since Hillier has lost some playing time due to injury lately and is not match fit.

They played a 4-4-2 with moderate pusch from the wingers in their last match and show the same formation at the beginning of this one.

Just before the match, I see that Keith Keane is being scouted by Northampton. Interesting...

13th minute: Right following a throw in on the right side, they center behind our line of defenders, to a player that gets to the 6 yard line. They score, we're down early, 0-1.

70th minute: James Pinnock gets his second yellow of the match. Both yellows were for getting angry and arguing with the referee, this is unacceptable and I will issue him a warning once the game is over.

With ten men on, we are never able to put any kind of last second push and we lose the match 0-1.

Final Score: Luton 0, Tranmere 1
Shots (on target): Luton 4 (1), Tranmere 16 (9)
MoM: Tranmere's Danny Granville
HoM: Keeper Joe Murphy with a 9.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 15/17
middle: 18/25
their zone: 8/16
Overall: 41/59

We kept the score close, but it took an amazing performance from our keeper to do so. This is another first round exit in the League Cup for us.

Ricky Hanson was pulled after 51 minutes. He had only a rating of 6 by then...

Discipline News
I issue a formal warning to James Pinnock for his dismissal in our last match. He acknowledges that he deserved a warning for his dismissal. He also indicates that he will do his utmost to improve this side of his game in future matches.

International Call Up
Keith Keane gets called up for the September 5 match of the Ireland U21 squad against the Moldova U21. This match is part of the U21 European Championship Qualifs.

FM

FrogMan

01-05-2005, 03:31 PM

August 26, 2006
Match #6: away at Tranmere
odds: Luton 7-4, Tranmere 5-4 (fav)
S: Showunmi/Tarachulski/Blinkhorn
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DMC: Evans/Chambers (with up arrows)
D: Davis/James/Davies/Keane (no up arrows)
GK: Murphy
The 3-4-3 didn't work three days ago, let's unwrap the good old 4-3-3. They show the same kind of 4-4-2 than the one they played three days ago.

39th minute: After a great pass from Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, Matthew Blinkhorn and Enoch Showunmi are faced with only one defender and the keeper in the box. Blinkhorn passed to Show, but the keeper blocks his shot. Don't know how he did that, great save. Still 0-0

Tied 0-0 at the half. Both teams have 7 shots, both teams with 3 on goal. Possession is split45/55 in their favor.

70th minute: Their keeper gets a loose ball and tries a low pass that's too close to Matthew Blinkhorn who deflects it toward Enoch Showunmi. He's left with a one on one with the keeper, whom he beats with a precise strike. We're up 1-0.

The injury time looks freakishly long and as one of their strikers bore down on goal, we hear the final whistle. We won!

Final Score: Luton 1, Tranmere 0
Shots (on target): Luton 12 (6), Tranmere 15 (5)
MoM: Tranmere's Kevin Cooper with a 9.
HoM: Many players have ratings of 8, in fact 6 of them have. Most notable are Paul Evans and Sol Davis. Evans completed 31 passes out of 42, with 4 of them key passes and he also intercepted 7 passes. Davis completed 22 of 27 passes and won 9 of 12 headers, 5 of them key headers.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 13/27
middle: 20/21
their zone: 13/6
Overall: 46/54

We only moved up to 18th with the win...

The Luton Team Board is extremely pleased with the win. I'm thinking that with the odds that were put for us, they'll be pleased with just about every point we'll get this season :) The board are not the only one who are happy with the win, it's a major morale booster as all starters now show superb morale. Maybe it'll help us steal a point or two in the coming match.

That was a costly win though, as I learn that Bartosz Tarachulski twisted his knee in game. He will miss 2 weeks.

FM

FrogMan

01-05-2005, 03:38 PM

Injury News
Yet another injury to a starter. Now it's Sol Davis who twists his ankle in training. He will also miss 2 weeks.

Transfer News
Sheffield Wednesday offer me keeper Allan McGregor. And he's on the cheap too: $500k

He's only valued at 80k and they signed him on a free transfer in July 2005. I'm not falling for the bait. More than that, Murphy is still playing well, averaging 7.71 in form rating.

In other transfer news, I decide to offer Keith Keane around, again asking 1.6M for the kid. We'll see...

International Call Up
Alex Tiesse gets called up by the Ivory Coast Manager :eek: It's apparently for the qualifier round of the African Cup of Nations. Wow, we learn something new everyday. Tiesse is currently on a month by month part-time contract and was signed on a free transfer a while ago. He never developped enough to be a starting attacking midfielder for the first team. He is currently uncapped internationally.

Staff News
The respong to our physio advert is average, with 3 or 4 Americans responding to it. I don't offer any contract and continue the advert.

FM

FrogMan

01-06-2005, 09:03 AM

Season News
I have decided to view the season as 7 blocks of 6 matches and one final stretch of 4 matches. We have come to the end of the first block, here's how we did:

Match #1: Luton 2, Coventry 0
Match #2: Luton 0, Plymouth 3
Match #3: Luton 0, Reading 1
Match #4: Luton 2, Millwall 2
Match #5: Luton 0, Burnley 2
Match #6: Luton 1, Tranmere 0

So 2 wins, 3 losses and one draw for 7 points and a goal differential of -3. We've not been so outclassed, or at least not in scoring. Sometimes we lost possession pretty badly, but it didn't always translate into big scoring for our opponents, except in the Plymouth match, but they scored one on a penalty and one garbage goal in injury time at the end of the game. We will have to start scoring goals at some point though, because getting shut out half of the time will not win us many games.

My objectives are to at least get 7 points per block, basically win 2 and draw 1, as we just did, and try to split the final 4 games. This would give me 55 points, which I think would be enough to avoid relegation. This won't be easy, but that's what I think we'll have to do to survive in the Championship. I think the first season will be the toughest, after that, I should be able to afford better players and improve the squad overall...

August 29, 2006
Match #7: home vs Cardiff City (currently in 15th, both teams have 7 points)
odds: Luton 3-1, Cardiff 4-5 (fav)
S: Morris/Pinnock/D'Sane
MC: Mansell (with up arrow)
DM: Wilde/Evans/Hillier
D: Williams/James/Coyne
GK: Murphy

We drew 2-2 twice against Cardiff last season in League One.

The injury to Sol Davis really screws my 4-3-3. It's either play an unproven Jacopo Piotto at left full back, or go to the 3-4-3 with Bobby Wilde at left wingback. Seeing how they played a 3-5-2 with 5 middies on a line, I decide to go with the 3-4-3, to try and at least stay up with them in the middle. I pull Lee Mansell to more of a MC position, with a forward arrow.

They still show the same 3-5-2 as we get to the game.

9th minute: With a couple of short passes, they bring the ball into our penalty box, in between Mark William and Tony James. Joe Murphy gets a hand on the incoming kick, but it's too hard and goes in. Down 0-1.

We're down 0-1 at the half, but we're winning possession slightly, 51-49.

62nd minute: They catch our whole back four (defenders AND keeper) sleeping on their second goal. They pump a long to the right to clear their box to start the play. Mark Williams just couldn't keep up with his man on that side and everybody watches on as their striker centers
the ball to the edge of the 6 yard box, where another of their striker sneaked up. Joe Murphy was especially out of position. We go down 0-2.

71st minute: Roscoe D'Sane redeems himself after being called offside. He blocks the ensuing free kick and the ball gets deflected all the way to the center/left side of the field to a Lee Morris free of defenders. He applies the finish for his 1st goal with Luton. Still down, now 1-2.

They pull back both wingers and we can't get to their box from then on...

Final Score: Luton 1, Cardiff City 2
Shots (on target): Luton 3 (1), Cardiff 7 (4)
MoM: Cardiff's Stephen Warnock
HoM: Roscoe D'Sane gets the only 8 of the team. Joe Murphy has a pretty bad game. His rating of 5 leads me to believe he had many little mistakes like the one that led to them scoring their second goal.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 9/14
middle: 18/24
their zone: 21/14
Overall: 48/52

We drop to 20th after the loss.

FM

edit: I had put this match as being away, but it was played at home. Correction made.

FrogMan

01-06-2005, 09:11 AM

Championship News
The season is still you but Tranmere lost again. From a local newspaper: "Even at this ealry stage of the season, Rovers' fans look resigned to relegation. Unless a miracle can happen and they can turn their form around, they appear destined to remain in their current relegation spot."

Injury News
Matthew Blinkhorn strains his groin in training. He will miss two weeks. This is getting tough on us...

September 1st, 2006
The Luton Team Board are very pleased with my management of the team.

This one getting laughable. Kevin Joyce (remember him?) come in 3rd place for the Player of the Month award in the Englsih Championship. No, not Young Player of the Month, because that, he won easily... :rolleyes: Here's the comment that came with the announce: "The 16 year old has really shown everyone what a good player he is with his last 4 appearances." He had ratings of 8, 8, 9, 7 in theses 4 appearances, with 2 goals and Man of the Match in the "9" match... I think I'm going to cry a little more... :(

Transfer News
I won't cry for long though, as flamboyant striker Ivan Kaviedes arrives to Luton Town, from Barcelona, Ecuador. We had signed the 28 year old striker a long time ago to possibly replace Steve Howard as the strong center striker, target man type. He has many great facet to his playing style, we'll just have to see if it will translate into buckets of goals, or if the search for a successor to Howard will have to start again from square one. In 15 appearances with Barcelona last season, he averaged a form rating of 7.53 with 13 goals. He also has 57 caps and 16 goals for Ecuador. His $6600 wage per week brings us to within $18 of our limit of $81k per week. Hopefully we won't need any new players soon.

Reserves News
Just as Kaviedes was stepping off the plane, Giuseppe Rossi was finishing his preseason fitness program, scoring 2 goals in the Luton Reserves' 3-1 win over the Colchester Reserves. He was also named Man of the Match. With all the injuries we have, he could see first team playing time sooner than later.

International Round-Up
Keith Keane played well without excelleing in Ireland U21's 2-1 win over Moldova U21.

FM

FrogMan

01-06-2005, 11:38 AM

Reserves News
Ivan Kaviedes plays his first match with the Reserves, and what a match, Despite being out of form, he scored a goal, got an assist, and ended the game with a rating of 8 and Man of the Match honor. He completed 20 of 22 passes, won 5 of 8 headers and took 4 shots, although only one was on target. It's only with the reserves, but it is still good news to me.

Staff News
We get good response to our physio advert. 12 people responded. Jon Short is a little know physio with great skills. With a name like that, I had to offer him a contract :) He's currently with Bristol Rovers and they would have to be compensated with 24k, which is the lowest of all the compensation among the 12 physios who applied for the job. I offer him a wage of $500 per week while he's asking for $550...

September 9, 2006
Match #8: away at Stoke (currently 14th with 10 points, 3 ahead of us)
S: Morris/Kaviedes/D'Sane
MC: Mansell (with up arrow)
DMC: Johnson/Chambers (with up arrows)
D: Piotto/James/Coyne/Foley (no up arrows)
GK: Murphy

First you can see two new faces for us in the game, Jacopo Piotto and Ivan Kaviedes. Piotto because I feel like he's improved a lot in the last 2 seasons or so, I being away from home, I like the 4 defenders backfield better than the 3 defenders one. Sol Davis is still injured and Piotto is the first choice among players capable to play on the left side. Kaviedes is not ready to play full time yet, but I feel his condition is just good enough that he could give us one half of play before I pull him out. He's at 86% in the afternoon before the game, and at 91% as we step on the field. Him not being in top playing shape forces me to carry an extra striker on the bench and forego the backup defender. I usually go with GK-D-DM-AM-S, but today I'll have GK-DM-AM-S-S...

We also have the return of two injured players in Richard Johnson and Kevin Foley. The return of Johnson gives me the possibility to leave Paul Evans on the bench, as his recent production has not been up to what I was hoping for from him. Kevin Foley's return is very welcomed, as I could not really find anybody who does as well as him on the right side...

They played a vanilla 4-4-2 with moderate push from the wingers in their last match. While scouting them, I see that their star striker is on international duty and that they have a midfielder that is injured... As we get to the game, they show a 4-3-3 formation similar to ours on top, but with 3 middies on a line in the middle. I will need a strong performance from Joe Murphy against an attacking formation like that...

17th minute: They score a freakish goal to go up by one. One of their players kicks toward goal but it's blocked by Tony James, only to be headed back in the goal by that same player. We go down 0-1.

First half ends with us down 0-1. We're having a rough time getting our feet to the ball, controlling it only 42% of the half. Lee Morris' condition dropped to 37% after he needed the physio. He's out and James Pinnock goes in. Ivan Kaviedes' condition is at 69%, he'll stay in for now.

61st minute: Ivan Kaviedes' condition is now at 56% and I pull him out. Giuseppe Rossi comes in. Lee Mansell also comes out and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson takes his place.

65th minute: We get in the box, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson to Giuseppe Rossi but the keeper makes a spectacular save on Rossi. We're still down by one.

86th minute: I put everyone on all attack mode and it pays off. From a cleared ball by Kevin Foley to Roscoe D'Sane who pumps a long through ball for Giuseppe Rossi. Rossi loses the ball inside the penalty box, but OH! He's obstructed by a defender! PENALTY!!! Marc Bridge-Wilkinson calmly scores the equalizer with a kick just inside the post. Tied 1-1.

90th minute: For half a second I think about pulling back from the all out attack mode we're in, but I think "what the heck!", and it pays off again! Kevin Foley once again starts it all with a beautiful ball to a Marc Bridge-Wilkinson on the run. BW continues inside the box and beats the keeper to the near post for his second goal of the night. We go up 2-1!

We absolutely turned the game around in the last 10 minutes, they can't catch us after that. We win!

Final Score: Luton 2, Stoke 1
Shots (on target): Luton 8 (4), Stoke 16 (2)
MoM: Kevin Foley with a rating of 9 and an assist. He also completed 18 of 22 passes, 5 of them key passes, while also intercepting 9 balls and winning 12 of 13 tackles. All in all an exceptional return to the field for our right fullback

Many players had good games. Richard Johnson also got a 9, winning 9 of 12 tackles and intercepting 4 balls.

Giuseppe Rossi got a 7 in his first competitive match for us, completing 7 of 7 passes and putting his 2 shots on target.

Ivan Kaviedes also did well in the 61 minutes he played in his debut as a Hatter. He completed 23 of 24 passes and received a 7 for form.

Joe Murphy didn't the kind of good match I was hoping for, receiving a 6 for his effort, but it's better than the 5 he pulled in the last match.

Finally, 19 year old Jacopo Piotto had a strong performance, getting an 8 in his first ever league game, for Luton, or anyone else for that matter.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 12/27
middle: 20/24
their zone: 11/6
Overall: 43/57

We move up to 16th place with the win.

The team board is extremely pleased with the unexpected win, as are most of the players. This win, as were the first 2 we had this season, is a great morale booster.

FM

FrogMan

01-06-2005, 11:47 AM

Injury News
Enoch Showunmi is the latest to fall in training. He damaged his foot (?) and will miss two weeks. This is really puzzling me. I don't recall changing the training schedule since the middle of last season, and nobody go hurt like that in the second half of the season...

Loan News
Rushden want Jacopo Piotto for a 3 month loan. Maybe later, but for now, he's emerging as a potential backup to Sol Davis, and even starter while Davis is out. I reject the offer, maybe later...

Achievement News
Kevin Foley and Richard Johnson both get nominated on the English Championship Team of the Week. They are the first two hatters to be on the Team of the Week since we've moved up to the Championship.

Player News
Mark Jones is unhappy. He feels that he is surplus to requirements (huh?) and that I don't rate him as a player. He had lots of first-team playing time last season, but I demoted him to the reserve squad early on this season, as Lee Mansell was playing very well in combination to Marc Bridge-Wilkinson. He will eventually get some first-team playing time again, but will probably be pissed off for a while...

Player Praise
I decide to praise Kevin Foley for his recent performance. It's not so much only for his latest match, but also for his average form since the start of league play. He's average a form rating of 7.4 in league play so far this season. The fans applaud my praise of him, saying he's been lighting up Kenilworth Road with his great form.

Reserves/Injury News
I see that Ivan Kaviedes got injured with some chest injury in training. He's supposed to be out for 5 days, but he's already at the orange tag status. Despite that injury, Kavi plays and even scores a goal in the Luton Reserves' 2-1 win over the Hereford Reserves. Right after the game, I move him back to where he belongs, with the Senior squad.

FM

FrogMan

01-07-2005, 08:19 AM

Injury/Player News
Following Ivan Kaviedes's injury, while looking at his player profile, I see that he is now frustrated that his injury is hampering his settling into his new club. I had never seen this one before. Looking at other injured players, I see that Rowan Vine (broken toe) has the same frustration.

Roscoe D'Sane, who's also recovering from some bruise suffered in training, hopes I will stick by him while he is injured. That's another one I had never seen before.

Nice touch...

September 16, 2006
Match #9: home vs Ipswich Town (currently 7th with 14 points, 4 ahead of us)
odds: Luton 9-4, Ipswich evens (fav)
S: Morris/Rossi/Tarachulski
AMC: Mansell
DMC: Evans/Chambers (with up arrows)
D: Davis/James/Coyne/Foley (full backs up arrows)
GK: Goodlad

Keeper Joe Murphy bruise some ribs in training and has not played very well in his last few starts, so I will start Mark Goodlad instead. We have 4 strikers in bad condition/injured: Roscoe D'Sane, Ivan Kaviedes, Enoch Showunmi, and Rowan Vine. Yet, I am able to find three starter level strikers to put on the field. I also start Lee Mansell on the attacking midfielder spot, as I like having Marc Bridge-Wilkinson come off the bench, when their defenders are getting a bit tired later on in the game.

Ipswich played an attacking 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation in their last match, with an attacking midfielder on top of 2 central midfielders, and long arrows for the wingbacks.

They show a modified 3-5-2/5-3-2 as we get to the game. They now have small arrows on the wingbacks and three midfielders on a line in the middle, no attacking midfielders.

3rd minute: Mark Goodlad kicks a perfect goal kick past the center line. It's headed on by Paul Evans, to Bartosz Tarachulski who kicks in the second gear and gets past the line of defenders, now alone with the keeper who rushes him. Tarach beats him with a ball inside the post for his first goal of the season. We're up 1-0.

7th minute: Giuseppe Rossi is injured and has to go off. James Pinnock comes in.

25th minute: We're putting a lot of pressure on them, but they get out of it. They center from the right and Mark Goodlad anticipates a bit too much where the ball is going, he isn't in position to cover the header. They tie us 1-1.

First half ends with both teams squared at 1-1. We're very much in the game, outshooting them 8 to 6, but they are one better on shots on target. They win possession so far with 54%.

84th minute: Both teams exchange breakaways. Lee Morris was in the box a second ago, but unable to convert and they come right back, with two beautiful crosses, first from left to right, the to center. Their striker is alone with Mark Goodlad who gets a hand on the ball, but it's not enough, it goes in. We go down 1-2. We will not recover from that last goal.

Final Score: Luton 1, Ipswich 2
Shots (on target): Luton 12 (5), Ipswich 16 (7)
MoM: Keeper Mark Goodlad with a rating of 8. Bartosz Tarachulski also receives a rating of 8.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 15/15
middle: 20/22
their zone: 12/16
Overall: 47/53

I know it's only match #9 of 46 and the season is still very young, but I'm frustrated by that loss. It was possibly the first match where I had the feeling we really belonged in the Championship, and we dropped the game...

We move *up* to 16th despite the loss. It's because Derby lost 0-3 and they moved down due to goal differential.

My physio tells me after the game that Giuseppe Rossi suffered a torn groin muscle (ouch!) and will miss 4 weeks.

FM

FrogMan

01-07-2005, 09:45 AM

September 23, 2006
Match #10: home vs Queens Park Rangers (currently 12th with 12 points, only 2 ahead of us)
odds: Luton 9-4, Q.P.R evens(fav)
S: Morris/Kaviedes/Tarachulski
MC: Mansell (with up arrow)
DMC: Evans/Johnson (with up arrows)
D: Davis/James/Coyne/Foley (full backs up arrows)
GK: Goodlad

This match is on TV, the only one on the schedule for now. The pre match analysis doesn't give us much of a chance, we'll try to prove them wrong.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson strained his neck in training, will not be at full speed before 4 days. He's still at 83%, so I keep him on the bench.

Ivan Kaviedes is now at 95%, but is still not declared match fit. I still start him, but will keep a good eye on him.

We go very offensive, up arrows for 5 players.

Q.P.R. played 4 days ago in League Cup, while we last played one week ago.

As we get to the game, they show a 4-4-2 formation with moderate push from the wingers.

42nd minute: Chris Coyne clears a loose ball from the box, to Lee Morris who gets on the move. He goes forward unchallenged. Ivan Kaviedes is disrupting the defenders, Morris passes him a short ball. Kavi turns around and fires a half-volley bullet from 30 yards out. IT'S IN!!! Kavi's first goal with Luton! We're up 1-0.

First half is over with us up 1-0. It's a very even game, both teams shooting 5 times, 2 on target. Possession is the same for both in our zone and in the middle, while they control the ball on their end. Kaviedes is at 77% and stays in the game for now.

77th minute: They center a long ball from the left, to a player that we're not marking at all. He's left with an easy finish. Tied 1-1.

81th minute: Only 4 minutes later, we let them them do what they want with the ball. They eventually score after many short passes. A huge letdown to let it go like that... Down 1-2.

1st minute of injury time: We're on full attack mode, but they control the ball and we don't challenge them. They score a goal very similar to their first one. In fact, it's a hat trick for that player, we got killed by one player... Down 1-3.

Final Score: Luton 1, Q.P.R. 3
Shots (on target): Luton 9 (3), Q.P.R. 16 (8)
MoM: Q.P.R.'s Jamie Cureton, with a 10, and 3 goals (who else?)
HoM: maybe Ivan Kaviedes, got a 7 like everybody else, but scored a goal on a nice strike.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and Adam Chambers were quite unimpressive as subs, both getting ratings of only 6.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 15/15
middle: 22/21
their zone: 10/17
Overall: 47/53

It's exhilarating when your team gets red hot in the end of the game, but when you're on the other end of things, well, it sucks. That was a sucky end of a game...

We drop to 20th after the loss, only 3 points ahead of the relegation line.

Manager Mind Game
Following the game, the manager of Q.P.R., Ian Holloway says he feels I'm facing a tough battle to keep my Luton Town side in the Championship (well, duh!).

He added that looking at our recent results, he was unsure of what I could do to turn thing around and start getting points on the board.

When I go to answer, I see that his relationship to me is that je just wants to keep his fans happy by enjoying some success over my teams.

I answer that I'm confident my team can avoid relegation. (sidenote: I could have answered that "there is no way we'll relegate" of that I was "*very* confident we would avoid relegation", so I thought kind of the lowest degree of confidence ;) )

Player Reactions
There are two reactions, one mostly positive, the other more uncertain.

Three players have a positive attitude about the comments: Chris Coyne, Tony James, and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson. They all say they are determined to prove Holloway wrong and help the team avoid the drop.

Two players are more unsure about the the team's chances: Richard Johnson and Adam Chambers. They say they are unsure whether the team can avoid the drop. Come on guys! Believe!!!

FM

FrogMan

01-07-2005, 11:59 AM

Internation Call Ups
Keith Keane and Kevin Foley get called up to the Ireland U21 squad to face Russia U21 on October 10, as part of the European U21 Championship Qualifying.

Loan News
Northampton has offered to loan Keith Keane. They offer to pay 100$ of his $16500 weekly wages. I add a right to recall to the offer before accepting. Will wait for their answer.

September 30, 2006
Match #11: away at Nottingham Forest (currently 12th with 13 points, 3 points ahead of us.)
odds: Luton 3-1, Nottingham Forest 4-5(fav)
S: Morris/Kaviedes/Tarachulski (Kavi with down arrow)
MC: Bridge-Wilkinson (with up arrow)
DMC: Evans/Johnson (with up arrows) (no up arrows)
D: Davis/James/Coyne/Foley (full backs up arrows)
GK: Murphy

Ivan Kaviedes got injured in training again, bruising his shin. He will start the game, but I'll keep two strikers on the bench to make sure I can cover for him in the second half.

Joe Murphy is back as the starting keeper.

Regarding these injuries, I changed some training sessions to rest session in all of my training schedules. I use 4 training schedules: goalkeeping, defenders, midfielders, and attackers. They are based one the basic schedule available in the game as we start. I had slightly modified some of them, but I decided to pull back on some...

Nottingham Forest played a 3-5-2 in their last match and show the same formation as we get to this one.

27th minute: Tony James trips one of their strikers just inside the box. PENALTY!!! He scores, even though Joe Murphy gets a hand on the ball. They've been manhandling us so far, and we're now down 0-1.

42nd minute: Joe Murphy rushes out toward an incoming attacker. He makes the first save, but nobody's there to cover the rebound. Down 0-2. They had 6 men in the box.

First half is over, we're down 0-2 and it's not pretty. They controlled the ball 42% IN OUR END!!! Overall, they had the ball 68% of this first half...

78th minute: They score again, this time following a free kick on the left. Down 0-3. We're always second on the ball, they look like superhumans out there...

Final Score: Luton 0, Nottingham 3
Shots (on target): Luton 3 (0), Nottingham Forest 27 (12) :eek:
MoM: Nottingham Forest's Kris Commons
HoM: hrm, nobody...

Not counting when I had no clue what to do in my first season, this is the ugliest match I've ever seen my team play, seriously. (sidenote: it was about 10:50pm when I asked myself if I should play "just one more" and I shouldn't have, but my addiction got the best of me. I went to bed very frustrated)

We remain in 20th.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 8/42
middle: 13/21
their zone: 11/5
Overall: 32/68

We have a 2 weeks gap before our next match, let's hope the training tweak will mean no more training injury and everybody will be in top shape for our next match.

FM

FrogMan

01-07-2005, 12:06 PM

Loan News
Northampton accept the terms I set for the 3 months loan of Keith Keane. Up to him to accept to go on loan or not. He's currently playing with the reserves...

October 1st, 2006
The Luton Team Board is delighted by my managerial performance. It's hard to believe after our last loss, but we're still out of the relegation zone and they want us to fight bravely against relegation. One could say we're fighting :)

Kevin Joyce (him again) is named Player of the Month in the English Championship. Craziness, I tell you. He's now averaged form ratings of 8.29 in his league games this season and his compensation is now set at 400k. He still isn't interested in a move back to Luton though, bleh.

Kevin Foley comes in 3rd for Young Player of the Month. I told you he was playing great.

Loan News
Rushden want Keith Keane on loan for 3 months. I add the recall clause and send the counte offer their way...

FM

FrogMan

01-10-2005, 08:16 AM

Loan News
Rushden accept our counter offer for the loan of Keith Keane. Northampton and Rushden are now in the race to land a Keane loan. The next day, we learn that Keith Keane has agreed to go on loan at Northampton an rejected the Rushden loan offer, off he goes...

International Round-Up
Bartosz Tarachulski came in as a sub in the 0-2 loss of Poland against Turkey and did well rating at 7. The game was mostly spent in Poland's defensive zone.

Injury News
Two days later, Bartosz Tarachulski strains his calf in training. He will miss 2 weeks.

October 14, 2006
Match #12: away at Derby County (currently 19th, both teams with 10 points)
S: Morris/Kaviedes/Vine
MC: Bridge-Wilkinson (with long up arrow)
DMC: Evans/Chambers
D: Davis/James/Coyne/Foley
GK: Murphy

With this much rest in between games, everybody's condition is at 100%. Derby played a 4-4-2 with moderate push from the wingers in their last match. They are about to have a mutiny on their hands. Morale is very low all around, many player are unhappy, saying the team is underachieving. For us, team morale isn't as bad as you'd think, with players ranging from poor to very good, many at good.

As we get to the game, they show a 4-4-2 formation with heavy push from the wingers.

26th minute: After a long run, one of their striker saves a long ball from going to goal kick on our end. He centers it in the box. We touch it twice, but can't clear it out the box. That's when they put foot to it and score. Down 0-1.

First half is over with us down 0-1. We only got 1 shot, not even on target. We're not getting the ball up there...

60th minute: Flamboyant striker Ivan Kaviedes isn't so flamboyant today, as he's having a bad game. At some point, he even had a form rating of 4. I pull him out and put James Pinnock in.

We played a bit better in the second half, but don't get any good chances...

Final Score: Luton 0, Derby 1
Shots (on target): Luton 3 (0), Derby 9 (4)
MoM: Tony James, with a form rating of 9. He won 11 of 11 headers, 7 of them key headers. I've seen the comment about him winning everything in the air a few times already. He was a good acquisition.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 11/26
middle: 22/22
their zone: 12/7
Overall: 45/55

We drop to 21st, one mere point out of relegation zone.

FM

FrogMan

01-10-2005, 08:45 AM

Training News
Giuseppe Rossi resumes training after missing 4 weeks with a groin injury.

Season News
We've come to the end of a second block of 6 games. This one has not been so good. Let's take a look:

Match #7: Luton 1, Cardiff City 2
Match #8: Luton 2, Stoke 1
Match #9: Luton 1, Ipswich 2
Match #10: Luton 1, Q.P.R. 3
Match #11: Luton 0, Nottingham Forest 3
Match #12: Luton 0, Derby 1

So it's 1 win, 5 losses. yipes... I'm trying to cheer myself up, since other than the Nottingham Forest debacle, all the other games were pretty close. Even the 1-3 loss to Q.P.R. wasn't as bad, as we had the lead for a long time before collapsing. Yet, the 3 tiny points we got here are quite less than the 7 points objective I had set for every block...

Injury News
Adam Chambers suffers a groing strain in training. He will miss 2 weeks.

Achievement News
Tony James has been selected in the English Championship Team of the Week.

Manager Mind Games
Gillingham manager, Andy Hessenthaler, says that, even though he respects me, he will be doing everything in his power to keep his team away from the drop zone and if that meant Luton Town going down, then so be it. We play Gillingham in our next match.

I tell him not to expect to get anything from the upcoming match. Somehow, it translates in the newspapers to me telling him that his Gillingham side stand absolutely no chance of coming away from the game with the points. That I can live with, but the newspaper added this dibit at the end: "Gougeon also added that he didn't think Gillingham would still be in the Championship come the end of the season"... Well...

Two reactions happen following the comments:
(1) After Hessenthaler's comments, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, and before I make my comment, Chris Coyne, and Bartosz Tarachulski all tbelieve the team can cope with big occasions and that they can win the big games without much effort. I wouldn't say "without much effort" but I like the confidence.

(2) After my comment, Paul Evans, Chris Coyne, and Bartosz Tarachulski all are determined to go from strength to strength. I don't get this one. I see also for some of the players on the other team...

FM

FrogMan

01-10-2005, 08:55 AM

October 21, 2006
Match #13: home vs Gillingham (currently 14th with 15 points, 5 ahead of us.)
odds: Luton 13-8, Gillingham 6-4(fav)
S: Morris/Kaviedes/Pinnock
AMC: Mansell
DM: Davis/Evans/Foley (long arrows on wingbacks)
D: Davies/James/Coyne (down arrow James)
GK: Murphy

I decide to go with the 3-4-3, for no other reason than to mix it up a little.

32nd minute: We're not getting many chances, only two so far, both to Ivan Kaviedes. No goals yet.

First half is over with everything all square. Possession is pretty even with them winning it with 54%. Joe Murphy is saving us so far.

We get more chances in the second half, but can't convert. The game ends 0-0.

Final Score: Luton 0, Gillingham 0
Shots (on target): Luton 5 (2), Gillingham 14 (8)
MoM: Joe Murphy with a rating of 9. Curtis Davies is lacking match fitness and it shows, as he gets a rating of 5.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 19/15
middle: 19/21
their zone: 10/16
Overall: 48/52

We move up to 20th, now 2 points out of relegation.

Kevin Foley suffered a groin strain in the game. He will miss 2 weeks.

FM

FrogMan

01-10-2005, 09:28 AM

October 28, 2006
Not much happened in the week, other than a few more injuries in training. Lee Morris suffered a damaged shoulder just this morning and will miss 5 days. Adam Chambers is still out with a groin injury. Curtis Davies bruised a rib 2 days ago and will miss one more day. Kevin Foley and Bartosz Tarachulski are still injured too.

Match #14: away at Crystal Palace (currently 4th with 24 points, we have 11 points)
odds: Luton 3-1, Crystal Palace 4-5(fav)
S: Showunmi/Kaviedes/Vine
MC: Mansell (with up arrow)
DM: Davis/Evans/Hanson (small arrows on wingbacks)
D: Williams/James/Coyne (down arrows to all)
GK: Murphy

I don't understand these optimistic odds.

They played a 3-4-3 with 3 middies on a line, and they show the same formation as we get to the game.

I set a 3-4-3 again, but a bit less offensive.

23rd minute: They kick a corner in the penalty, to a man we left open. Down 0-1.

24th minute: We've just kicked off and I see them charging again. What looked like a competitive start from us is now turning into a disaster as we go down 0-2 after a centered ball is kick right in.

38th minute: Not even to the half, and I'd want it to end right now. Each and every highlights is them taking a shot or three to our goal. They score another as they pinball the ball around. We just can't match up with them. Down 0-3.

The first half is over with us down 0-3. Possession is bad, they own us with 63%. 39% of them time is them with the ball in our zone... They'Ve already shot 17 times, 7 times on target.

46th minute: No joke, to figure out how many of their players are in our box, it's easier to count the ones that are outside. 1, 2, 3, plus the one that just centered, 4 outside leaves 6 in the box. Yet they didn't score this time.

48th minute: As if they needed the help, Richard Johnson handballs the incoming free kick. He's inside our penalty box, PENALTY!!! Joe Murphy blocks it!!!

50th minute: After a rare through ball, Lee Mansell is offside. The ensuing free kick is sent all the way over our line of defenders, to a free man on the run in our penalty box. He's left with an easy finish. Down 0-4.

54th minute: We get a free kick outside their box. Richard Johnson kicks it over the wall, top corner for his first goal of the season. Still down 1-4.

59th minute: Tony James is a bit agressive and upends an opponent inside the penalty box, PENALTY!!! But again, Joe Murphy blocks it!!! Against the same player who he frustrated the first time. And that player is no slouch, he's rated at 18 in penalty.

79th minute: I can't wait for this game to be over. I was under the impression it was going better since I had told the guys to press more, but we get scored on again following a perfect center. Down 1-5.

Final Score: Luton 1, Crystal Palace 5
Shots (on target): Luton 4 (2), Crystal Palace 28 (12)
MoM: Crystal Palace's Sandor Torghell with a 10 and 4 goals. They had two more players with ratings of 10.
HoM: Richard Johnson with a rating of 7. He scored our only goal to avoid the clean sheet.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 10/37
middle: 15/22
their zone: 11/5
Overall: 36/64

We drop to 22nd and in the relegation zone, 1 point off of 21st (Millwall).

I had good reasons not to believe the optimistic odds...

FM

FrogMan

01-10-2005, 10:55 AM

October 31, 2006
Match #15: home vs West Ham (currently 18th with 14 points, only 3 ahead of us)
odds: Luton 9-4, West Ham evens (fav)
S: Showunmi/Pinnock/D'Sane
AMC: Jones
DM: Davis/Evans/Hanson
DC: Williams/James/Coyne
GK: Murphy

We go with a 3-4-3 formation again, but this time very agressive in closing down. I give the start to Mark Jones at attacking middie.

They played a 4-3-3 with 3 middies on a line in their last game, and they show the same formation as we get to the game.

16th minute: A great sequence starts with a beauty of a cross from Roscoe D'Sane on the right all the way to Sol Davis on the left side. Davis puts it in the 6 yard box, where Enoch Showunmi takes it and score. We lead, for once, 1-0.

First half ends with us in the lead. The ball is awfully often on our end, but we are controlling it prety well.

54th minute: They score ona a fluke deflection. Man we can't buy a win!!! Back to square one, 1-1. This is how it will end.

Final Score: Luton 1, West Ham 1
Shots (on target): Luton 11 (7), West Ham 14 (3)
MoM: Joe Murphy with a rating of 9.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 19/16
middle: 17/22
their zone: 10/16
Overall: 46/54

We remain in 22nd place, now tied in points with the 20th place.

November 1st, 2006
The Luton Team Board is still delighted with my performance as a manager. I guess we're still fighting bravely enough against relegation for their taste...

We don't appear in anay awards, which isn't a shocker. What is a shocker is that neither does Kevin Joyce. Don't know why, but this makes me feel good. :)

FM

FrogMan

01-10-2005, 11:52 AM

November 4, 2006
Match #16: away at Wolves (currently 1st with 35pts, we have 12 pts :eek: )
S: Showunmi/Kaviedes/Vine
AM: Mansell
DMC: Johnson/Chambers (with up arrows)
D: Davis/James/Coyne/Hanson (full backs with up arrows)
GK: Murphy

I go back to 4-3-3, if only to have 4 defenders in the back, as I expect them to be very strong. They played a 4-4-2 with moderate push from the wingers in their last game and show the same formation as we get to this game.

2nd minute: They have us running around early on. We leave a man open in the 6 yard box and they go for the kill. Very bad start in form as everybody but two players show 5's. Down 0-1 very early.

4th minute: We kick off, they steal the ball and do it again. I feel like a I'm coaching a team of kids, about 4 feet tall, playing against an all pro team... Down 0-2.

15th minute: They get a throw in from the sideline to right inside our penalty box. Top corner follows, down 0-3. Ricky Hanson is having a dog of a game, rating for of 4. 17 minutes into the game, they have shot 8 times already, 5 times on target.

30th minute: As if they needed more help, Rowan Vine gets 2 yellows in about 3 minutes. He's sent off...

32nd minute: Being 10 on the field is hurting us fast, as a centered ball is headed in. We go down 0-4. From there and on, I drop everybody around the box except the strikers, whom I drop to the center line.

The first half is over, thankfully. They controlled the ball 72% of the time, 47% of which were on our end of the field.

46th minute: They head in a corner kick (can you believe I don't feel like taking notes by now...) Down 0-5...

Amazingly, they don't score any more, woah...

Final Score: Luton 0, Wolves 5
Shots (on target): Luton 2 (1), Wolves 36 (18) :eek:
MoM: Wolves' Claus Jorgensen with a rating of 10. He's one of 3 players with ratings of 10, the only one without a goal, must have played a heck of a game...
HoM: Seriously, you think anyone deserves to be Hatter of the Match???

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 19/16
middle: 17/22
their zone: 10/16
Overall: 46/54

We remain in 22nd place.

I take back everything I said aftre the Nottingham Forest debacle, this one is the ugliest match I've ever seen us play. I must say some of it was brought down on us as I tried many different things to try and regain some sort of control, but to no avail...

We picked up half a ton of yellow cards in this match. Ricky Hanson and James Pinnock will both miss next match as they have reached the limit of 5 yellow cards. Rowan Vine will also be banned for a match because of his sent off...

FM

FrogMan

01-12-2005, 08:04 AM

Media Question
Following the bad loss to Wolves, I get approached by a journalist from a local newspaper with a question. He asks: "Your side seem to concede a lot of goals. What do you intend to do about it?".

After going through two games where we conceded 5 goals apiece, I just want to bite his head off, à la Bill Parcells, but I take the Bill Belichick approach (more on this later). I answer: "I think the team as a whole is to blame. We just can't concentrate for 90 minutes".

Somehow this shows up in the paper as me stating that the team is to blame for our defensive inadequacies. I cringe when I read it, ready for some backlash by my players. Luckily, there's none. Maybe they feel like they have to share part of the blame.

Team morale is at an all time low. Just about everybody, except players that were injured, thus not part of the carnage, still have a shred of good morale. Everybody else has very poor morale. We have 14 days before our next game although some players have been called up for international duty, mostly friendlies though.

Transfer News
My Bill Belichick approach wasn't really in my answer, more in the unspoken words. I could have said that I absolutely needed to go shopping, but I didn't. This shouldn't keep me from shopping, right? I take a look at my shortlisted players and I see this 22yo central defender from Blackburn, currently on loan at Oldham. Name is Alex Bruce. He's young, with good heading, marking, tackling, and positionning. More so, he also has very good passing skils, which is what I think may be missing from my central defenders in order to clear the front of the net and start the offense back up. He is currenlty valued at $1.05M, but Blackburn have transfer listed him and they are only asking for $320k. He's on loan until December 31. I decide to make a first offer at $260k.

I also see a good D/DM RC in Marvin Elliott. Currently with Millwall, he is not transfer listed, and has a value of $1.1M. I declare my interest, to see if Millwall would be ready to let him go. Two days later, they say they would be ready to let him, but only if the offer meets the club's valuation of the player. $1.1M is a bit steep for my liking, as we only have 850k in transfer budget, so I set my scouts to take a look at him, and I'll wait things out.

FM

FrogMan

01-12-2005, 08:19 AM

Transfer/Contract News
Blackburn accept our transfer bid for Alex Bruce! We can now talk contract with him. He is asking for $3200 per week, with a signing fee of $8000, and a minimum fee release clause of $650k. First thing I do is I up the release clause to $1.2M, seeing he's already valued at 1.05M. My assistant believes Bruce would become a useful member of the first team and he recommends a wage of $2200 per week. Bruce is currently paid $1800 per week. I make a first offer at $2200 per week and a signing fee of $10k.

Among other transfer news, while looking at player stats in League One, I find this young phenom, a 17yo central defender who's currently averaging 7.75 in form rating. Yeah, it may only be in League One, and when I take a look at his profile, he's got some holes in there, but could he be a second Kevin Joyce? Name is Jason Forbes and he's currently valued at 120k. With a very affordable current wage at $600, I would like getting him and having him play with my U18 and Reserves with an occasional game with the senior squad, maybe he could develop into a long term project... I decide to declare my interest.

The backlash is almost immediate. My fans are concerned that I'm interested in a player some say is on the fringes of the Watford squad. Fans are adamant that if Forbes isn't good enough to play for their biggest rivals, then he definitely isn't good enough to play for Luton. I'm gonna hold off on him for now, but I got news for the fans. I'm the one doing the groceries, to borrow a famous line, and Watford aren't our big rivals anymore... Meanwhile, one of my scouts reported to me that Forbes would be a good acquisition. We'll see..

International Round-Up
Ivan Kaviedes played well for Ecuador, before being substituted. He got a form rating of 7 in a friendly against Panama.

Transfer News
Sheffield Wednesday offers me keeper Allan McGregor again. This time the price if set at $20k. Funny how the computer uses tricks very similar to the ones I use myself. Sheffield first offered him to me at $550k, then dropped the price to $60k in a second offer, and now this third one. Nice touch!

FM

terpkristin

01-12-2005, 09:15 AM

That's odd, the quick reply has shown up in the middle of your post, FM.
hmmm..

~tk

FrogMan

01-12-2005, 09:16 AM

Contract News
Alex Bruce is said to be very happy at having agreed term with Luton. The transfer will go through at the end of his current loan deal, on January 1st, 2007. This leaves us with about a month and a half before he gets to us.

International Round-Up
Keith Keane came in as a sub in Ireland U21's friendly against Spain U21, and was largely disappointing. He was rated at 6.

Ivan Kaviedes again played well before being substituted in Ecuador's friendly against St Vincent. He was rated at 7.

November 16, 2006
Giuseppe Rossi's loan deal ends in 5 days. While he played very well with the reserves, averaging a form rating of 7.44, he got injured just as he was getting to be match fit. That injury killed about any chance he could have had of showing his stuff with the first team. He had two appearances with the senior squad, getting a 7 and a 6 in them...

Injury News
Damn! Bartosz Tarachulski sprins his wrist in training. Seems like he's been on the sideline most of the season so far. I ask my physios a report on him and all three of them are saying he will be out for 2 weeks with his wrist injury, while the first reports were saying 1 week, but they also say they have no concerns over his fitness. I was almost expecting them to tell me he is injury prone or something...

FM
PS: Comment about the game. I played about an hour last night. The ingame timeline went from November 4th to November 18th, from right after our last match, to right before our next, so I didn't in fact play a match, even though we're in the middle of the season. Yet, I felt like that was a very entertaining stretch, I kept going back to my squad listing, reading players profile. Then I went and looked at my shortlisted players, then at how it's shaping up in the Championship. Some people could think it's just too slow for them, but I love it. This game is amazing :)

FrogMan

01-12-2005, 09:18 AM

That's odd, the quick reply has shown up in the middle of your post, FM.
hmmm..

~tk
I don't understand what you mean tk?

FM

terpkristin

01-12-2005, 09:41 AM

When I look at post #241, there is a grey block in it for some reason. Then when I try to click in the quick reply box, it defaults up to that grey box, for some odd reason. This is the only thread it's happening in, just an odd occurance.

~tk

FrogMan

01-13-2005, 08:11 AM

November 18, 2006
Match #17: away at Leicester (currently 6th with 27 points, we have 12 points)
odds: Luton 7-2, Leicester 4-6 (fav)
S: Morris/Kaviedes/D'Sane
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DM: Davis/Chambers/Foley (small up arrows on wingbacks)
D: Oyedele/James/Coyne
GK: Murphy

Leicester have drawn their last 5 games, three of them scoreless. They played a 4-4-2 formation with moderate push from the wingers in their last match and they show the same formation as we get to the field today.

Ivan Kaviedes played twice with Ecuador during our two week break and is the only one not at 100%. He still gets the start, but I'll keep a close eye on him and will pull him if he dips too low in condition. Following the disater that was our last match, I switch tactics again, back to the 3-4-3, but with a bit less push from the wingbacks. Shola Oyedele gets the start at left centreback. He's been playing well with the reserves and will be the only player going into the game with superb morale. He's also got very decent passing skills, which could be what's missing for my defenders to clear the ball to the middies.

We have 3 players suspended in Rowan Vine, James Pinnock and Ricky Hanson, and a starter injured in Bartosz Tarachulski.

Two main tactic things I'm trying. First, I give Kavi carte blanche in creativity. I'm hoping he'll use his flamboyant style to create havoc in the middle of their defense. Second, I tell my outside strikers to stop crossing, or cross the ball as little as possible. I'm hoping they will either try to find closer teammate to pass it to, or they'll take the ball to the goal themselves.

18th minute: Few highlights showed us shooting over their goal, which in itself wasn't a bad thing, it meant we were getting chances, getting up there. But then the flurry happened. Many highlights followed that showed them into our box, getting shots, Joe Murphy deflecting them to corners. They finally score after too many passes inside our penalty box. Down 0-1. Feels like déjà vu...

32nd minute: They shoot from outside the box, but it hits the post. Joe Murphy can't get to the rebound before them, they score in the rebound. Down 0-2.

41st minute: We get a free kick just outside their penalty box. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson takes it and kicks it over the wall, top corner from 25 yard out. Still down, but now 1-2.

49th minute: We move the ball on the right side. A nice through ball for Kevin Foley. Foley and Roscoe D'Sane exchange a few balls inside the box. Foley gets fouled in the box! PENALTY!!! Marc Bridge-Wilkinson confidently converts it for his 5th goal of the season, we're back in the game! Tied 2-2.

56th minute: A freakish shot comes from one of their strikers on the right. First time I see it, Joe Murphy looks awfully out of position. Replay confirms that the ball defelcted on Shola Oyedele before going in the goal. Down again, 2-3.

86th minute: As I watch Lee Morris run with the ball, I'm thinking "WTF is he doing out there, no time for a Sunday walk in the park, idiot!" Right at that moment, he pumps a perfect pass (beautiful idiot!) to Matthew Blinkhorn, who had come in for Ivan Kaviedes a few minutes before that. Blink is alone with the keeper, he won't miss that one. We're tied again, 3-3!

88th minute: They come right back at us. Following a center from the right, Chris Coyne brings his man down in the box! PENALTY!!! But oh boy! Joe Murphy does it again, HE BLOCKS IT!!! We're still tied, but not for long as everybody is in shock and nobody thinks about going to get the ball. The player that kicked the penalty goes to pick it up and he send it back to an open man in the 6 yard box for an easy finish... We're down again, 3-4.

We push them real hard during the 3 minutes of injury time, but ot no avail. Honestly, that's the kind of loss I can live with. Very frustrating, but we had chances and we kept coming back...

Final Score: Luton 3, Leicester 4
Shots (on target): Luton 7 (3), Leicester 17 (13)
MoM: Leicester's James Scowcroft with 2 goals and a rating of 10.
HoM: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson with 2 goals and a rating of 9.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 14/27
middle: 19/20
their zone: 13/7
Overall: 46/54

We drop to 23rd, but still 1 point from the 21st which is the last position out of the drop zone.

FM

FrogMan

01-13-2005, 09:04 AM

Loan News
Giuseppe Rossi has completed his loan period and returns to Manchester United. I don't even feel the need to try for an extension.

November 21st, 2006
Match #18: home vs Leeds (currently 19th with 19 points, 3 ahead of us)
odds: Luton 7-2, Leeds 4-6 (fav)
S: Showunmi/Kaviedes/Vine
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DM: Davis/Evans/Foley (small up arrows on wingbacks)
D: Oyedele/James/Coyne
GK: Murphy

We basically go with the same tactics as the match against Leicester. Shola Oyedele gets his second start in as many games.

Leeds played a 4-4-2 formation with moderate push from the wingers in their last match and they show the same formation as we get to the field for this match.

Both teams played on the 18th, so conditions are similar on both sides.

1st minute: Their keeper is taking his sweet time after picking up a loose ball. That is, until Ivan Kaviedes decides he's had enough and he puts some pressure. The keeper freaks out and shanks his kick from the side of his foot. The ball falls to the feet of Kavi, the stuff dreams are made of, as the commentator said. Kavi doesn't miss such a chance, alone with the keeper. We go up early 1-0.

17th minute: They center from the left, to the edge of the 6 yard box. Four Hatters to 1, but he still heads it in, bleh. Tied 1-1.

24th minute: Joe Murphy plays a beautiful long pall to Ivan Kaviedes, straight down the middle. Kavi buys time by sending the ball to Enoch Showunmi to his left. Show sends it back in the middle to Marc Bridge-Wilkinson who scores with a precise shot! Up again, 2-1.

A crazy first half comes to an end with us up 2-1. We had 7 shots, they had 11. On target was a bit more even, 4-5 for them. Possession is an even 50-50 split.

52nd minute: A great pass from Paul Evans to the feet of Enoch Showunmi is at the source of our third goal. Show is left with only the keeper to beat and he forces him to rush out, leaving him to score with a nice shot. Up 3-1.

56th minute: A crazy bending cross is followed by a shot with absolutely no angle from their left striker. Somehow, it goes in. Still up, 3-2.

I just about die atfer 2 minutes of injury time, as they center a ball that their striker hist poorly, but Joe Murphy lets it in. Offside was called, however... We hang on to our lead, and get the win!

Final Score: Luton 3, Leeds 2
Shots (on target): Luton 11 (5), Leeds 17 (7)
MoM: Joe Murphy with a rating of 9. We also have 4 other players with ratings of 8.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 20/14
middle: 20/19
their zone: 12/15
Overall: 52/48

For a rare occurence, we win the possession battle. We move up to 21st, 1 point off of the relegation zone line.

The win is a huge morale booster. Almost everybody now has superb morale. This is important, since our next match is against relegation battlers Sunderland.

FM

FrogMan

01-13-2005, 09:20 AM

Season News
With our 18th match played, we've come to the end of our 3rd block of 6 matches, let's see how it went:

Match #13: Luton 0, Gillingham 0
Match #14: Luton 1, Crystal Palace 5
Match #15: Luton 1, West Ham 1
Match #16: Luton 0, Wolves 5
Match #17: Luton 3, Leicester 4
Match #18: Luton 3, Leeds 2

Other than the two disasters, it's not been all that bad. 1 win, 3 losses, 2 draws for 5 points and a goal differential of -9. A tad under the 7 points I'd want to have in a 6 games stretch, but I'll take it. I especially like how we've started puttin goals in, even though the numbers of goals we are conceding is a bit of a concern. Hopefully the upcomin arrival of central defender Alex Bruce will help the line of defender hold their own a bit better.

Recap of how the first three blocks went:

Block #1: 2 wins, 3 losses, 1 draw, 7 points, -3 GD
Block #2: 1 win, 5 losses, 3 points, -7 GD
Block #3: 1 win, 3 losses, 2 draws, 5 points, -9 GD

Click on the following thumbnail to see how our league position has evolved over the first 18 matches of the season.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/th_061125.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/QcFrogMan/FM2005/061125.jpg)

We are doing just what the Team Board and fans are asking, fighting bravely against relegation.

FM

FrogMan

01-14-2005, 10:19 AM

November 25, 2006
Match #19: away at Sunderland (currently 22nd, only one point behind us)
odds: Luton 3-1, Sunderland 4-5 (fav)
S: Morris/Kaviedes/Pinnock
AMC: Bridge-Wilkinson
DM: Davis/Chambers/Foley (small up arrows on wingbacks)
D: Oyedele/James/Coyne
GK: Murphy

Looking at their fixtures list, I see the beat Crystal Palace 3-0 about 3 games ago, oh boy, doesn't look good... They do have 5 players injured though. They played a 4-4-2 with moderate push from the wingers in their last match but they show a 4-4-2 with heavy push by the wingers as we get to the field.

We have 2 players with minor injuries, both injured in training. Keeper Joe Murphy is at 83% with a bruised shin, should be full strength in 4 days. He'll get the start anyway. Rowan Vine is pulled from the lineup following a neck strain. He shows up only at 69%, not good enough for a striker. Other than shuffling a player or two, I don't change much to our 3-4-3 formation.

8th minute: A quick throw-in from Tony James to James Pinnock ends up to Kevin Foley's feet when Pinnock short passes it to him. Foley tries to feed the ball to Ivan Kaviedes, but a defender intercepts the ball and try to clear it to the back. He scores an own goal!!! We're up 1-0.

33rd minute: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and James Pinnock have picked up minor injury but I leave them on the field. It may be one of the reasons why Sunderland moves around, until they get to our penalty box and they see an open man near our 6yd box. He beast Joe Murphy on the near side. Tied 1-1.

38th minute: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson holds the ball just long enough for Ivan Kaviedes to take a run in between to defenders. Bridge-Wilkinson sends a superb pass to Kavi, alone with the keeper, whom he fakes out of his shorts, finally putting the ball in the net. We're up 2-1.

First half is over with us leadin 2-1. They win possession with 53%, and lead us in shots 8 to 2 (4 to 1 on target), so we better watch out.

We get more chances in the second half but don't score. At least we spent much more time on their end than on ours. We win our second in a row!!!

Final Score: Luton 2, Sunderland 1
Shots (on target): Luton 7 (3), Sunderland 12 (6)
MoM: Tony James with a rating of 8. He also completed 17 of 21 passes, won 8 of 8 headers, 3 of them key headers. Lee Mansell set the tone for the second half when I pulled him back in the place of Marc Bridge-Wilkinson. We had 5 players with ratings of 8 in all.

Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 14/25
middle: 22/21
their zone: 13/5
Overall: 49/51

We move up to 20th, now 4 points out of the drop zone. We don't have any game for a whole week.

FM