By The Nine! - FM 2013 9 Level Dynasty [Archive]

Izulde

06-15-2014, 04:28 AM

So... after reviewing the roster, we decide we need to foray into the world of amateur players. We very quickly find two 16 year old goalkeepers we really like. One is being bid on by six clubs, the other has interest from clubs, but no bids. So what do we do?

Bid on them both, of course.

Oh, and the thing about this level? Everyone is considered 5* that my scout as looked at. So you really have to parse, pick and choose.

I go through every single position with the following parameters: Pace 8, Decisions 8, X key attribute for position 8, occasionally modifying it like I have to do with MR.

I accidentally signed one of my own players when I didn't mean to, to an amateur contract, but he shows up on the Team Report when I do, so that mystery's solved.

Oh, check out this guy:

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/wowclubs_zpsae6e6aac.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/wowclubs_zpsae6e6aac.jpg.html)

Yeah that's right. 55 FREAKING CLUBS! Naturally we put a bid on him.

I'm not expecting to hit all our targets of course, but at least some of them would be nice.

Our first signing comes fairly quickly, and with a cool little note:

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/peacock_zps08f8d20f.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/peacock_zps08f8d20f.jpg.html)

How awesome is that?

We get a few more signings trickling in, but are listed at 25-1 odds and a midtable finish when the preseason polls come out.

Players Under Contract Before Next Friendly
ST Daniel Peacock (16) - 0.5 silver/5*
D/MC Aaron Malton (20) - 5*/5*
DC Fraser Sturgess (18) - 5*/5*
DR Callum McAdams (17) 2 silver/5*
GK Kieran Roberts (16) 5*/5*

So... not all that they're cracked up to be in current ability and still a lot of work to do. But we're slowly putting together the foundation for a competitive team as soon as this season. (I hope).

Friendly vs Barton Rovers
Expected to lose this one, we fight to a 0-0 draw at the half and could've led, had not Daniel Peacock missed quite a few easy shot opportunities. In the second half Peacock does strike a goal, but it's disallowed due to offsides. Terrible positioning by Callum McAdams leads to a goal by them and we lose 0-1. 7.2 by Aaron Malton, though, who does indeed look the goods, and was great at MC.

New Signings
ML Chris Allison (16) - 3*/5*
MR Taylor Smith (16) - 3*/5*
DC Brett Girling (37) - 4.5*/4.5*
ST Jason Frost (16) - 4.5*/5*

Girling was signed just as much for his 14 Influence and ability to serve as team captain than anything else. Gradual improvement. Gradual improvement. We're that much closer to a full starting lineup now in a flat 4-4-2. Still need a DL and another MC.

Friendly vs Southend Manor
Another 0-0 first half draw, followed by a complete collapse in the second half. Everyone stunk in this one.

More Signings
MC Atal Hinds (22) - 5*/5*
DL/DC James Russell (22) - 4.5*/5* (2*/5* DC)
DL/DR Jake Handbury (19) 5*/5* both
DL/DR Nathan Speed (22) - 5*/5* both

What's interesting is Jason Frost dropped from 4.5* to 3* in the eyes of my assistant coach immediately after the first game, so take all these initial ratings with grain of salt blah blah. The good news is, we're building up considerable backline depth now.

Our coaches are split on their opinions of some of our players, but what's clear is that both love both our MC, our DL/DR signings, and our GK.

Friendly vs. Newton Town
We're now deep enough in bodies that we can afford to give players rest, and we open up with a 1-0 lead thanks to gorgeous passes by Atal Hinds and Jason Frost to a gray guy. We finally get our first my signing with a goal in the second half when Taylor Smith crosses to Chris Allison for a wing to wing goal. They hit us to draw within 2-1, but then Chris Allison returns the favor in passing to Taylor Smith for the insurance 3-1 line and our first friendly win! Daniel Peacock continues to blow easy opportunities.

Brett Girling is formally named team captain and Atal Hinds is named vice-captain, despite the very strong case for Jake Handbury, who's a few years younger, to receive the second spot. But Hinds is 22 to Handbury's 19.

At 37, Girling is definitely the old man of the group. A few 22 year olds are the next oldest, so everyone is punch-pleased to see him get named as captain.

Signings
ST Rob Clegg (16) - 0.5 gray/5*
MC Tristan Jarvis (20) - 1 silver/5*

I'm not sure how much more I can rely on my coaches' opinions. They keep fluctuating wildly, but I'm hoping later in the season will sort things out... but for now.

Eastern Counties Premier League Game #1 - vs Ely City
GK Kieran Roberts (16)
DL Jake Handbury (19)
DC Brett Girling (37)
DC Fraser Sturgess (18)
DR Nathan Speed (22)
ML Chris Allison (16)
MC Aaron Malton (20)
MC Atal Hinds (22)
MR Taylor Smith (16)
ST Daniel Peacock (16)
ST Rob Clegg (16)

We're favored to win this one shockingly, so we'll see what happens. I'm not sure about this. After all, we do have five 16 year olds in the lineup. By comparison, Ely City is a lot of 19 and 20 year olds with one 15 year old starting at MC, and a 31 year old starting at DC.

18 - Taylor Smith has been ever-present today and Fraser Sturgess saved our bacon on two plays already. But Daniel Peacock and Rob Clegg have been awful, and then there's this horrifying sequence. Kieran Roberts runs out to get the ball, which he does, but then it slips out of his hand and he's on the ground on the freaking right side of the pitch and they cross inside... fortunately their striker is as bad as ours and he nervy-shanks the shot.

19 - They're denied by the woodwork. Really facing the pressure now.

22 - Kieran Roberts kicks it up field and Taylor Smith heads it on to Rob Clegg, who plays a back and forth game with Daniel Peacock. Peacock dribbles a bit to his left, sends a dreamy pass forward and to the right... and Clegg bursts through in the open space to send it in!!!!! 1-0

28 - *Another* crossbar denial for Ely. They have to be getting pissed right about now.

35 - Rob Clegg, the hero of our first goal, kicks it back to Daniel Peacock, who makes another beaut of a pass into the six yard open space, and this time it's Taylor Smith who's there to pick it up and blast the diagonal in!!!! Wow, Peacock is really making a name for himself as a passer this game! 2-0

68 - Peacock is knocked so Jason Frost jogs on in replacement.

72 - We're getting pressured again and Roberts makes an amazing save. Frost starts a fabulous counter-move that he completes a build-up by sending it to Atal Hinds, but Hinds blows the easy shot.

73 - Dropping back into a 5-3-2 defensive, with James Russell filling in the DC slot and Hinds sitting down.

82 - Clegg steals the ball on a goal kick but his shot bounces off the top bar.

88 - Hopes of the shutout go away when Brett Girling's old legs are beat out and they jam one in. Dropping to Contain and hoping it holds. 2-1

Sweet moment. Daniel Peacock, my first signing, put up a 7.7 and won PotM. Other over 7s - Rob Clegg with 7.4, Taylor Smith with 7.3. Fraser Sturgess hit 7 exactly. Notice 3 of those guys are 16 year olds, including the two strikers I was leery of starting. Phenomenal work by the kids.

But it's bittersweet. Daniel Peacock is out 3 weeks with injury.

Izulde

06-15-2014, 08:10 AM

96 people showed up to our first game of the season, by the way. Funny thing is, that's a great name combined for all games, we had a total of 908 spectators.

Our season ticket holders stayed at 25.

Signing
MLR Matty Campbell (Turned 16 the day he signed his contract!) - 1.5*/5*
MC Tristian Jarvis (16) - 0.5*/5*

Excellent versatility depth signing, as we had literally no one backing up our wide midfielders, and now we have somebody who can play both spots. Nice birthday present for Matty to make the team.

7th @ Walsham-le-Willows (8th)
GK Kieran Roberts (16)
DL Jake Handbury (19)
DC Brett Girling (37)
DC Fraser Sturgess (18)
DR Nathan Speed (22)
ML Chris Allison (16)
MC Aaron Malton (20)
MC Atal Hinds (22)
MR Matty Campbell (16)
ST Jason Frost (16)
ST Rob Clegg (16)

They're all 19 and 20 year olds with no extreme outliers in either direction, unlike us. :D

[b]9 - Guess I should have listened to the pre-match report that said these guys are gold against a 4-4-2. 0-1

14 - Bullshit yellow for Sturgess.

20 - Yellow for Allison

32 - They shank an easy goal and I'm going to be making some halftime adjustments for sure.

42 - Foolish passing by our DC guys nearly cost us, but they hit the shot wide.

So I noticed in the scouting report before the game that they seem to be vulnerable to a 4-5-1, with Clegg coming off and Tristian Jarvis getting his debut in the middle. James Russell replaces Sturgess, who's just having a terrible game.

66 - Our midfield is playing even worse since the change and yeah. OH and Jarvis got knocked. 0-2

We sucked ass. All there is to it. We also lose Tristian Jarvis for a week.

(12th) vs Wisbech Town (3rd)
GK Kieran Roberts (16)
DL James Russell (22)
DC Brett Girling (37)
DC Fraser Sturgess (18)
DR Nathan Speed (22)
ML Matty Campbell (16)
MC Aaron Malton (20)
MC Oliver Topliss (19)
MR Taylor Smith (16)
ST Jason Frost (16)
ST Rob Clegg (16)

Topliss is the original Breslander I signed by accident. Love that last name, though.

2 - Another poor play by team captain Brett Girling and I'm going to find a replacement for him.. quick. 0-1

21 - Taylor Smith! The beautiful 25 yard free kick strike! Level! 1-1

Some shuffling along the line at the half. Nathan Speed moves to DL, James Russell to DC, Callum Adams at DR, and Fraser Strugess, who is having an even worse game than Girling (5.4), ends his participation.

63 - We also switched to an attacking game to start the second half, but it hasn't gotten us on much. Atal Hinds in for the exhausted and poorly playing Marton at this stage.

77 - On a throw-in by I forget who, Topliss takes the ball and sends it forward to Frost just outside the six-yard box. Frost takes two steps in and lofts a diagonal that finds its way in!!! Defensive, here we come! 2-1

87 - Taylor Smith picks off a goal kick and pushes it up for Jason Frost who punches it in! ...Only to be called back by offsides. Boo.

Beaut of a comeback win. Rob Clegg snares a 7.4 and PotM, and he's joined by Taylor Smith (7.3), Jason Frost (7.3), and Kieran Roberts (7.2) in our 7+ club. In short, the 16 year olds continue to show they know what's what.

Oh yeah, we broke the 100 attendance mark with 101.

[u]Signings
MR Carl McEachran (16) - 1.5*/5*
DL/MC Ashton Jephcott (23) - 4.5*/5* (2.5*/5* as MC)
DC Jake Wells (16) - 0.5 silver/5*

According to our scouts' current opinions, what this means is that we can move Aaron Malton to the backline and strengthen our defense immensely. It'll also weaken our midfield, but so what?

vs Gorleston FC - Chell Trophy 1st Round
GK Kieran Roberts (16)
DL Aston Jephcott (23)
DC James Russell (22)
DC Fraser Sturgess (18)
DR Jake Handbury (19)
ML Chris Allison (16)
MC Atal Hinds (22)
MC Oliver Topliss (20)
MR Carl McEachran (16)
ST Jason Frost (16)
ST Rob Clegg (16)

We desperately need more strikers, but they keep rejecting our offers, so we're having to go with an exhausted pair up front. The Chell Trophy is apparently the non-league teams trophy, so that's pretty cool. We have little chance of winning, though.

11 - Yellow for Hinds

18 - Brilliant takeaway by Hinds, and Frost passes it to Clegg, but the shot is uninspired and right at the keeper.

26 - Brilliant run by their man Collier, but he spoils the finish.

29 - Masterful interception by Handbury, who blasts it to Frost. Once again, Clegg finds himself with an open shot after the pass... and this time he sinks it!!!! 1-0

42 - Fuck the accidental long range goals that are supposed to be passes. :mad: 1-1

44 - Clegg makes a great pass to a lone McEachran on the far post, but our newest signing nets it.

46 - REDEMPTION ISLAND! Handbury makes yet another brilliant move to gain possession, boots it to McEachran, and then watches as the latter crosses it to a waiting Allison, who knocks it on for the just before half lead!!!! 2-1

48 - I warn them not to get complacent and what happens? They allow a goal. I send in Malton for Topliss, who is looking overmatched here and is basically the one who caused the tie to happen. 2-2

63 - Shit. 2-3

85 - Frost gets knocked, yellow for Sturgess, and Hinds gets call offsides on what should have been an easy goal.

The frustrating thing is, we actually played better overall in the second half, so I can't tear into them really. Just one of those games. It's also a two-leg split, so we're down by a goal heading into the away leg.

Our effort to bring in an international fails when we can't get a work permit approved.

Signing
DC Luke Eaton (18) - 2*/5*

We're just trying to find a rhythm in our mid backline right now because nothing is working.

6th @ Cambridge Regional College (3rd)
GK Kieran Roberts (16)
DL Nathan Speed (22)
DC Jake Wells (16)
DC Luke Eaton (18)
DR Callum Adams (18)
DM Aston Jephcott (23)
ML Matty Campbell (16)
MC Tristian Jarvis (20)
MC Aaron Malton (20)
MR Taylor Smith (16)
ST Jason Frost (16)

A 4-1-4-1 that we're playing defensively with due to being on the road and *still* lacking striker bodies.

Topliss comes on for Malton at the break, and we're playing this defensive game to perfection - even had a shot or two on their goal as well to keep things honest.

56 - Fabulous shake and bake by Campbell, but his shot *just* glances off the woodwork.

66 - Jarvis is injured twice, so we move Jephcott to MC and drop down to a 5-4-1, with Brett Girling coming in at DC to get a shot at redemption.

75 - McEachran is in for Smith

We played that game to absolute perfection. Jake Wells gets a 7.7 and MoM, Nathan Speed got a 7.3, and we pick up the point.

Brett Girling's Fitness stands out as an issue in training, and he's pretty much done as a starter.

Signings
DLC Robbie Haughton (16) - 1 silver/5*
ST Moses Jjunju (29) 3.5*/3.5*

We finally get a damned striker to sign with us! Even better, he's our first international (Ugandan) and our third non-English player (Fraser Sturgess and Aaron Malton are Welsh). But wait, there's more! He's also our best striker according to our coaches. YAY! He speaks English fluently and basic Swahili, and is eligible for both England and Uganda.

I also notice when Googling him that he actually exists and has a LinkedIn account. How cool is that? If he has success, I should send him a nerdy InMail, or maybe not. Who knows?

Anyway... Daniel Peacock is also back from his injury, so we're actually looking like a real live team for once.

(6th) vs FC Clacton (16th)
GK Kieran Roberts (16)
DL Jake Handbury (19)
DC Luke Eaton (18)
DC Fraser Sturgess (18)
DR Nathan Speed (22)
ML Chris Allison (16)
MC Atal Hinds (22)
MC Aaron Malton (20)
MR Taylor Smith (16)
ST Moses Jjunju (29)
ST Rob Clegg (16)

Yes, I'm giving Sturgess another chance. Malton's on the watchlist as well, as he's had a rough patch as of late (6.2 average rating). We've a lot of spare parts lying around right now as well. And because they're all amateur contracts, they still show up on the senior squad selection screen even when you move them to the reserves or U18s (also probably because we aren't fielding an actual team in those leagues).

5 - And there's a red card after one of their guys elbows Nathan Speed in the face!!! We're going on the attack, boys!

23 - Yellow for Hinds

26 - Amazing save by their keeper.

And yeah... otherwise a first half that doesn't at all look like they're down one man. I light up into the team at half, which makes Nathan Speed Eeyore on me. Matty Campbell comes in for Taylor Smith.

71 - Two yellows for us and we continue playing like shit. Peacock goes on for Jjunju.

A fucking 0-0 draw when we have a man advantage the entire fucking match. That shit is UNACCEPTABLE!

@Gorleston FC (2nd Leg Chell Trophy 1st Round)
GK Kieran Roberts
DL Aston Jephcott
DC Brett Girling
DC Fraser Sturgess
DR Nathan Speed
ML Matty Campbell
MC Atal Hinds
MC Aaron Malton
MR Taylor Smith
ST Moses Jjunju
ST Jason Frost

Hoping stability and continuity in the lineup over the next few games (as much as I can manage it) helps this team starting gelling together.

Twice in the first 10 minutes we've had shots that were right on target but their keeper makes a brilliant save. Later in the half, on the opposite end, they have a couple they should've sunk, but shanked the shots.

47 - Peacock in for Jjunju, Campbell switching to MR, and Allison in at ML.

59 - PENALTY AWARDED!!!! JASON FROST CONVERTS!!! 1-0

67 - Speed is hurt and has to come off, so Handbury steps in for him.

We're going to extra time!

108 - Fuck. Frost goes out and we're out of subs and strikers.

113 - FUCK YOU YOU FUCKING HOBGNOBBLING FUCKSTICK OF A FUCKING FOOTBALL THAT'S REALLY FUCKIGN SOCCER GAME! WE GET THE FUCKIGN ADVANTAGE AND CAN'T DO SHIT WITH IT BUT THEY CAN FUCKIGN SCORE A GOD DAMNED FUCKING EXTRA TIME GOAL TO FUCKING SCREW US OVER?! EAT ME! 1-2

Oh and Nathan Speed is out 5 to 6 weeks on top of it.

Fuck you so much, FM. Seriously.

Izulde

06-15-2014, 10:40 AM

(7th) @ Woodbridge Town (10th)
GK Kieran Roberts
DL James Russell
DC Jake Wells
DC Luke Eaton
DR Callum Adams
ML Matty Campbell
MC Oliver Topliss
MC Tristian Jarvis
MR Taylor Smith
ST Moses Jjunju
ST Daniel Peacock

Very C-list lineup here due to players needing a rest.

15 - Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand of course Roberts comes way out, makes a shitty kick, and is 9 thousand fucking miles away from goal when they hit a shot, making an easy score. 0-1

This team has been a joke today. McEachran and Clegg in for Smith and Peacock.

Jake Wells wins MoM in the loss with an 8.1 rating. 2 starts, 2 MoM awards. Worth thinking about.

Signing
ST/AMR Michael Husbands (28) - 5*/5*

A St. Lucia international, he *just* got his first cap with the national team, which is how he caught my attention. I think it's time to do shifting of my tactics and he and his 13 Pace could potentially play a role in that.

So after going through all my information from my coaches, this is what I've arrived at as the ideal tactic and lineup for our squad:

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/Basketball%20Stuff/BDayIzuldian_zps42eb4e83.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/Basketball%20Stuff/BDayIzuldian_zps42eb4e83.jpg.html)

ML and MR are allegedly the major issues, but everywhere else seems okay from a starting lineup perspective. Bar DR though, we have serious depth problems. So from now on, assume that's our outlook and lineup unless pre-game notes indicate otherwise.

vs Stanway Rovers (Eastern Counties Senior Cup First Round
Matty Campbell says he's tired, so Taylor Smith will get first crack at our new look.

7 - BS disallowed goal, but so far it's looking like the tactic may work out. Early days yet.

17 - Now it's their turn to have a goal disallowed, due to a foul.

27 - Wahtever. 0-1

McEachran goes on for Smith at the half, who has been shit all game.

51 - The ball's booted up to Jjunju, who sends it out in a line for Husbands to pick up, and our shiny new international cap poacher takes three strides and powers it home! After the celebration, Topliss is in for Hinds, who is having an awful day. 1-1

61 - Topliss wins the header challenge on a goal kick and nods it to Jjunju. Our Ugandan weaves his way down the pitch until he sees a spot open for our St. Lucian, and just like that, the pacey Husbands is racing forward to knock in his second goal of the game. Comeback.is.here! 2-1

Oh and Girling and Sturgess pick up yellow cards along the way, but we get the win so it's all good.

Obviously Michael Husbands is MoM with his brace of goals and 8.8 rating, but full credit to Moses Jjunju, who finally has the kind of game we envisioned when we signed him, and a 7.5 rating. 7.1 and 7.0 for Sturgess and Girling respectively as well.

Sad part? Just 12 people came to the game :(

It was the St. Lucian striker's first game for an English team since Oxford United in 2008. Yeah, the League 2 side Oxford United.

We aren't given any prize money for the win strangely, which would really help, since we're apparently $670k in debt and in the process of paying off a substantial loan.

Signing
ST Richard Priest (22) - 5*/5*

I'm not seeing it, but my scout and my two coaches love this guy to take Moses Jjunju's starting spot as the Advanced Forward. We'll see.

(11th) vs Gorleston FC (15th)
We lost to these guys in cup play, remember? So I really want to beat them here.

Moses Jjunju takes on the Poacher spot while Richard Priest gets a debut start at Advanced Forward. Matty Campbell takes over at ML and James Russell gets a reluctant nod at DL, all due to energy things.

33 - I fucking hate Clayton Collier. Scores on us every fucking game. 0-1

Only the crossbar saves us from a 2 goal hole at the break. I scream at the palyers, drop Hinds to MC and put Topliss in at AMC because Marton is just wiped.

49 - Smith is knocked. We have no cover.

76 - Campbell sets a perfect cross for Jjunju, but he flubs it. Kicking myself for not starting Husbands now.

We lose Taylor Smith for 2 weeks. I cut James Russell and Robbie Haughton to make myself feel better.

Signing
DRC Egzon Asllani (21) - 4*/4*

He won't unseat either of our two DR guys but he has the ability to add major depth to both DR and DC.

vs Arundel (FA Vase Qualifying Round)
This is Atal Hinds' last chance to prove himself at the AMC spot, or he's going to get canned. We're heavy underdogs here.

We spend the entire first half defending and not being able to get anything going on offense. Priest is in for Jjunju at the break.

80 - This is me throwing and probably breaking my pen. Jarvis in for Marton or HTFE you spell his name. 0-1

89 - Oh look, 0-2.

Morale is completely in the shitter.

I hate this game.

Brian Swartz

06-15-2014, 03:38 PM

I scream at the palyers

Maybe they didn't listen because they don't know what in the name of Izulde a 'palyer' is(I think typos are sometimes funnier than what's intended).

80 - This is me throwing and probably breaking my pen. Jarvis in for Marton or HTFE you spell his name. 0-1

I lol'ed at pretty much this whole game.

Izulde

06-16-2014, 02:08 AM

Maybe they didn't listen because they don't know what in the name of Izulde a 'palyer' is(I think typos are sometimes funnier than what's intended).

:D When I get that mad, I tend to ignore all the typos.

I lol'ed at pretty much this whole game.

Glad my fury amuses. ;)

Izulde

06-16-2014, 03:02 AM

(14th) @ Brantham Athletic (12th)
Rob Clegg gets the Poacher's spot and Luke Eaton gets a start at DC. Carl McEachran is in at MR. And we're underdogs.

19 - We're making great plays, but our finishing is dreadful. They of course score on a free kick 0-1

45 - Yellow for Girling

46 - Yeah. Saw that one coming. 0-2

58 - Asllani in at DR for Handbury

69 - Clegg is knocked out of the game. In comes Priest. Yeah, we need a bloody miracle here.

Hinds gets hurt just before the game ends. The team ignores me at the post-game talk.

We sign 16 year old MLR Kevin Grinstead. He sucks right now, but we need bodies.

@ Haverhill Rovers (1st)
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/topteam_zpsc0cbe42b.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/topteam_zpsc0cbe42b.jpg.html)

Only because there's so many changes from our usual lineup and I don't feel like writing them all down. We have pretty much no shot here.

58 - Jjunju sprays it out to Campbell, who punts it up for a streaking Husbands to dart in and kick the ball for our first goal in forever, and our first lead in even longer. 1-0

67 - Husbands miffs an easy one, and Jason Frost and Callum Adams slide in at advanced forward and DR respectively.

92 - Diagonal shot by Husbands is deflected, and accidental signing Topliss is there of all people to slot it in!!! 2-0

8.3 for MoM Michael Husbands of course, but also 7.6 for Matty Campbell, 7.5 for Brett Girling and Oliver Topliss, and 7.4 for Fraser Sturgess, Jake Handbury, and Kieran Roberts.

What a phenomenal upset win!

Izulde

06-16-2014, 10:03 AM

Training Report
Brett Girling continues to get sad faces for his declining Fitness, but Kieran Roberts has our first happy face with his Tactics training.

We continue to fail at bringing in Ghanian players.

The team lost $206 last month and we're in a poor financial situation due to loan payments.

Nathan Speed is back to training, but Jason Frost is out a week due to practice injury.

Signings
MC Sam Shepherd (30) - 5*/5*
MR Jason McAree (23) - 4*/5*

Both should be new starting lineup guys for the time being, which means Matty Campbell will now take over the ML spot, again, for now.

(14th) vs Dereham Town (19th)
GK Kieran Roberts
DL Aston Jephcott
DC Fraser Sturgess
DC Brett Girling
DR Jack Handbury
ML Matty Campbell
MC Sam Shepherd
MR Jason McAree
AMC Atal Hinds
ST Richard Husbands
ST Moses Jjunju

Should be a winnable game. There's a lot of jokes to be made about how when you're young, you're Girling, but if you're not girling, then you're Handbury, and a lot of Husbands Handbury, too.

Oh, and before the game Michael Husbands is called up by St. Lucia. Game is on October 12th. I'm drinking wine so I don't know what day it is in game, nor do I really care.

Oh, and I change all backline guys to defend, and all midfielders to support, just to see what happens.

2 - Yellow for Campbell

34 - Neither side is doing much on offense until this sequence, whereupon they keep hammering, hammering, hammering until they finally score a rebound goal. 0-1

46 - Fuck you and your last second goals before the half, AI. 0-2

I scream at the players, switch to a flat 4-4-2, and bring in Aaron Malton at MC instead of Hinds, who is permanently benched.

75 - A couple more yellows for our guys along the way. Priest on for Jjunju

81 - Glimmer of hope afterGirling corners it to head of Jephcott and it goes in. 1-2

84 - And they corner kick goal right back at us. Heh. 1-3

87 - Shepherd's blasted out with injury. I do changes that bring in Nathan Speed at DR. So does not matter.

93 - Priest with a free kick goal inside the half-circle. Too bad it's way too little, way too late 2-3

Meh. I've got better things to do today than watch us keep losing.

Izulde

06-16-2014, 03:05 PM

Fraser Sturgess is banned from the next match due to yellow cards limit.

In a 2-2 draw against Curaco, St. Lucia striker Michael Husbands put up a 6.0 rating and got pulled at the half.

(15th) vs Godmanchester Rovers (20th)
I decide to start Rob Clegg up front with Richard Priest, because Moses Jjunju stinks and Michael Husbands is on his way back from sucking ass. Atal Hinds starts at MC with Oliver Topliss at AMC, and Luke Eaton gets the nod at DC. I also switch MC to defend and ML/MR to Attack. The two FBs get changed to Support.

25 - Girling misses an interception and I'm out of wine. 0-1

31 - Hinds kicks it up to Campbell who crosses to Clegg sitting 20 yards out... and the long strike goes in! 1-1

35 - And they kill us on the counter. 1-2

39 - FML. 1-3

More screaming.

46 - Clegg steals a loose ball and passes it to Campbell. Long pass to Priest and I'm expecting him to kick it right at the keeper, and he does, but the keeper can't hang on and Priest hits the rebound. 2-3

53 - Priest is knocked out and Moses Jjunju has to come on anyway.

55 - Because fluke goals can never go our fucking way, that's why. Speed in for Handbury. 2-4

65 - Clegg makes a great pass to Jjunju, who then sends it to space where Topliss is waiting to drill it home. 3-4

68 - Wow. Moses Jjunju runs in front of a goal kick, blocks it with his body, beats the keeper to the ball, and literally runs it into the goal for the tie score! 4-4

73 - And of course they score right back. 4-5

81 - And there's a hat trick by one of their guys 4-6

More yelling. Rob Clegg gets a good convo though - he's been one of our best players all year long and continues to be so here.

We lose Richard Priest for 2 months. Not that I really care.

Jake Handbury is taken to task by the media for complacency and needless to say he's being dropped from the lineup. Our 10 goal combined score sets a new league record.

Kieran Roberts is getting torn apart by the media as well, but we have no other keepers.

We sign a truckload of new guys, including a couple of goalies. I don't even want to list them all. Michael Husbands puts up a 6.6 rating in a 4-0 loss to Grenada.

He then puts up a 5.9 stinker in a 2-0 loss to Barbados and is yanked after 60 minutes.

(17th) @ Midenhall Town (15th)
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/BR_zpseacdada6.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/BR_zpseacdada6.jpg.html)

I did this new lineup by highest ratings for each particular position (save for Husbands still away on international duty. Plus a few new guys:

*GK JJ Banasco-Zargoza a 20 year old who should be lots better than Kieran Roberts
*ML Ronnie Linsdale, 16 and part of our continuing revolving door there.
*AMC Ben Kistell, a 29 year old who drew rave reviews when we landed him, so I'm going to give him a shot.

44 - Boring first half until Taylor Smith gets hurt and Atal Hinds can't convert a PK.

20 year old George Jones, a very versatile MLR/AMC we signed, makes his debut at the break by playing for Smith. Overall we've been playing pretty well against a team that's supposed to destroy us.

51 - Ronnie Linsdale chases down a block Jjunju shot and centers to Ben Kistell, who had an awful first half (6.0). Here, he crackerjacks a shot in the half-circle and scores a debut goal! 1-0

62 - An epic series of long passes back and forth finishes off with a movement that sees Kistell punt back to Hinds, which segues to a boomer to Jones, who runs deeper into the six yard box than a porn star before hammering that net hardcore, and another debut goal! 2-0

67 - A terrible goal kick by JJBZ nearly gives back the cushion, but they fortunately shank it.

72 - Asllani shifts to DC and Nathan Speed comes on. It's been a terrific game by Luke Eaton, but the kid's tired.

83 - Asllani intercepts a pass and gives it to Jjunju. The Ugandan blasts an amazing half-pitch length diagonal, where Kistell is all alone. Short run and torrid boot later, it's a double goal with the note: "Someone must have had a word with him at halftime!" 3-0

Just an absolutely astounding game. But the last time we won, we were heavy 'dogs too, so maybe that has something to do with it.

How dominant were we? Only Atal Hinds and Taylor Smith had less than a 7 at 6.8 each. The 7.5 plus guys - JJ Banasco-Zargoza and Egzon Asllani with a 7.8, George Jones with a 7.7, Ben Kistell with an 8.8, and the Man of the Match, the kid who put on the single greatest showing we've had all year... Jake Wells with a 9.0, who destroyed everyone. This is the same 16 year old who's 7.7 and 8.1 in his first two performances convinced me he was the right one to start, and did he ever reward us in this one.

Oh and he's also a 6'8, 205 lbs 16 year old. That is one tall ass glass of water and probably has a lot to do with why he's been so amazeballs at this level.

Come to think of it....

6' or Taller Players In That Lineup
DC Jake Wells - 6'8, 205 (16)
MR George Jones - 6'4, 200 (20)
DC Luke Eaton - 6'4, 200 (18)
ST Rob Clegg - 6'2, 176 (16)
DR Egzon Asllani - 6'0, 189 (21)
GK JJ Balansco-Zargoza - 6'0, 180 (20)

Of course, size alone doesn't do it, or Kieran Roberts (6'1, 174), Aaron Malton (6'2, 185), Jason Frost (6'1, 171), Fraser Sturgess (6'0, 176) would clearly have won their places in the starting 11 and stayed there, rather than getting beaten out.

I can imagine how intimidating that 6'8 and 6'4 combo in the central defense must have looked to our opponents today, though. Wow, just wow.

Brian Swartz

06-16-2014, 10:56 PM

Meh. I've got better things to do today than watch us keep losing

Your last game sorta ruined the vibe, but still ...

If you can't do something well, learn to enjoy doing it poorly ;).

Izulde

06-17-2014, 04:38 AM

St. Lucia actually beats Dominican Republic 3-0, but Michael Husbands only lasts 74 minutes with a 6.1 rating.

Board's still satisfied. We lost $1.71k last month due to loan payments again.

FUCK! JJ Banasco-Zargoza is out 2 months after breaking his collarbone. Just when we finally find a decent goalie.... GRR!

@ Felixstowe & Walton United - Eastern Counties Senior Cup 2nd Round
George Jones starts at MR and Michael Husbands is the poacher. We were able to snap up 22 year goalie Matthew Malek as a replacement tryout for JJBZ.

Another game we're expected to get crushed in.

5 - Lots of pressure, but no soap for us.

24 - Aaaand they score on a rebound. Ugh. 0-1

25 - We keep coming sooo close, and they keep lucking out every time.

We put in Nathan Speed and Taylor Smith on the right side at the break, hoping that'll give us what we need to snap back.

47 - I swear Jjunju's shot was going to go in. :(

62 - Malek slips on the damn grass. 0-2

73 - Kistell booms one far down the field for Jjunju, who wins the race on the far left side before backpassing to the right where Smith needs to sink it, and he does. Lifeline, how slender! 1-2

77 - Bullshit offisides call on Husbands after he scores the equalizer.

Truth is we were damn unlucky. I feel like we played well enough to win. 7 flat for Kistell and Eaton

I curse out the refs at the post-game presser, and the FA doesn't say a damn thing because the replays say I was right about that!

I'm getting really sick of the question about resting key players. They've asked me that the last two games now and I know it's because of the squad status of some of the guys that aren't playing, but guess what? They haven't earned it on the pitch despite numerous opportunities.

(14th) @ Kirkley & Pakefield (7th)
Matty Campbell gets the start at ML - otherwise the same as last game.

8 - Kistell gets knocked, but we'll see if he can shake it off.

36 - Ugh. 0-1

44 - ... 0-2

Atal Hinds will no longer start anywhere after this game for the foreseeable future. George Jones moves to MC and Taylor Smith takes over at MR. Rob Clegg also comes on for the awful Husbands.

47 - Because an own goal needs to add to the misery 0-3

66 - Aaaaaaaand another surrendered hat-trick 0-4

70 - ...Need.more.wine. 0-5

88 - Jones dribbles and passes to Kistell for the score. They're the only two playing anything close to well today 1-5

90 - JJunju to Wells on a corner and *now* we decide we want to scoree. 2-5

Every time I think I've figured out how to get this team back on track, I get informed I'm wrong again.

IHATETHISGAMEZOMG.

Izulde

06-17-2014, 04:38 AM

Your last game sorta ruined the vibe, but still ...

If you can't do something well, learn to enjoy doing it poorly ;).

Oh, the vibe is still there :P

Izulde

06-18-2014, 08:02 AM

Taylor Smith moves from Key Player to Hot Prospect, which upsets him, but after a short chat, he's fine with it.

(15th) vs Hadleigh United (1st)
Nathan Speed and Aston Jephcott take the DL and DR spots, while Aaron Malton occupies MC. Hoping those changes can snap the funk we're in.

3 - Knock for Husbands but he'll play on.

5 - Campbell wins the battle for a ball and shoots a laser beam down the pitch to Husbands, who dribbles and hits a long cross to Jjunju. Goalie's out of position and the Ugandan hits, only to have a defender kick it out of the open net... but Kistell's right there to put in the rebound! 1-0

6 - They should've nailed the equalizer, but don't.

17 - 30 yard free kick goal. Ugh. 1-1

19 - Thankfully their go ahead goal is disallowed due to offsides.

24 - Brilliant play by them. Fuck. 1-2

31 - Absolutely beautiful pass from Husbands into open space for Jjunju to get there and equalize. 2-2

37 - Wide open shot, and they shank it.

Ergzon Asllani comes in at DC at the break for a tired Jake Wells. We're getting awful play from our fullbacks and MC again.

51 - Speed redeems himself by punting it to Kistell, who follows through with a silky pass to Husbands, and a kick from our international capped striker later, we have the lead! 3-2

65 - Evidently it's redemption half for our fullbacks. Jephcott makes a sensational takeaway and hammers it to Jjunju. The latter's shot is deflected, but he has the presence of mind to follow through and sink the rebound in his first ever two goal game for us!!! 4-2

With that lead comfortably in hand, we can pull the tired Husbands in favor of Rob Clegg.

Great all-around performance in that second half. Matthew Malek finishes with a 7.2 and Ben Kistell (8.5), Michael Husbands (8.4), and MoM Moses Jjunju (8.8), are really showing the benefit of experience at this level, as all are either 29 or 30 at this point. More interestingly, after poor first halves by our fullbacks and center midfielder, all finish with 6.8 or 6.9 ratings.

14th @ Norwich United (2nd)
We'll keep the same lineup as last time, but experiment with a Counter philosophy.

6 - An absolutely amazing exchange of passes between Jjunju and Husbands leads to the latter having an open look at the goal, and it goes in! Great start. 1-0

17 - A timely tackle by Wells starts a move that culminates in Jjunju passing to Husbands and an open space pass to Kistell, who finishes off the breakaway with a great goal! Maybe this team is made to play counter ball? 2-0

23 - Malek very stupidly opts to take the goal kick on the sideline, and when Speed loses the challenge, the 40 yard strike has no trouble beating our reserve keeper to the net. 2-1

35 - Yellow for Kistell

41 - Jjunju has a wide open shot after a brilliant side pass from Husbands, but he shanks it.

49 - Another terrible fucking goal kick by Malek. Ugh! 2-2

51 - Asllani in for Speed, who's played well, but is tired.

55 - Total fucking collapse. Fuck this. 2-3

60 - Jones hits a 25 yard cross pass to Kistell, and a little triangle follows of Kistell, Husbands, and Jjunju, with the last of them hitting the equalizer. Allison in for Campbell 3-3

76 - Tons of pressure from the opposition, and on top of it, Kistell's hurt and has to come off. Just great. Jones moves to AMC and Taylor Smith comes on at MR.

89 - A rare missed header by Wells and they score the fucking go ahead goal 3-4

91 - One of their guys gets sent off. Not that it fucking matters.

What horseshit. We still can't find a DL back worth his salt, and that's getting frustrating.

Signing
DLR Michael Higginbotham (16)

Yet another prospect to try out at DL and see if it works.

(15th) @ Felixstowe & Walton United (7th)[/b]
Some shifts here. Higginbotham at DL, Fraser Sturgess replacing Luke Eaton, who has been up and down. Taylor Smith at MR, Dan Murwill, an AMC prospect we signed a while back, there. And goalkeeper prospect Eddie Piper in the net. Lot of debuts in this one.

We'll stick with the Counter as it seemed to work okay overall last game.

47 - We get the break of an own goal to start the second half. We'll take it, why not? Our defense has been playing quite well - knock on wood. 1-0

50 - Fuck. Even knocked on wood. 1-1

60 - Jones goes in at MC, Campbell moves to MR, and Allison slots in at ML.

71 - Doing what he can to keep that starting spot, Sturgess pulls off a great interception and arcs it to Husbands, who burns everyone else on the pitch and hits a magical strike for the lead! 2-1

82 - Allison kicks a corner to Sturgess' head, and it's the first ever goal for the Welsh defender!!! 3-1

88 - A whole lot of passing finishes off in Husbands hitting a beaut of a ball for Jones, who shanks it off the upper crossbar, but the follow-through is there for the epic finish!!! 4-1

Yeah, I think it's safe to say the counter's working okay. I mean if Matthew Malek hadn't fucked up those two goal kicks last game, we would have won.

In this game, 7.1 for Nathan Speed, 7.3 for Jake Wells, 7.2 for Michael Higginbotham in his debut, 7.3 for Aaron Malton, 8.4 for Michael Husbands, 7.5 for George Jones, and 9.1 for Fraser Sturgess in an incredible return to the lineup after having gotten benched for several games.

Good Trains
Matty Campbell
Moses Jjunju
Sam Shepherd

Bad Trains
Richard Priest
Carl McEachran

Sam Shepherd got his shot but has been lost in the shuffle since failing to impress in his debut. I may have to give him another chance, based on this.

11th vs Wivenhoe Town (12th)
GK Eddie Piper
DL Aston Jephcott
DC Egzon Asllani
DC Luke Eaton
DR Callum Adams
ML Matty Campbell
MC Sam Shepherd
MR George Jones
AMC Ben Kistell
ST Richard Husbands
ST Moses Jjunju

As it turns out, Sam Shepherd gets his shot this game, with Aaron Malton needing a rest. The backline situation scares me in this critical game to be honest, but it's how things broke out. Our wide midfielders, AMC, and strikers are our usual preferred though, so that's good. We're at home, but I'm still going to stick with the Counter game, given its results in the first two contests.

2 - And there's Jjunju on the corner, and there's Sam Shepherd latching on to it and slipping it in. OH YEAH! to that start. 1-0

10 - Indeed they should have scored. My backline worries are warranted.

44 - Husbands gets hurt right before the half, but he'll shake it off and play on.

Taylor Smith comes on at MR for the tired Jones at the break. We've been playing extremely well, so let's see if we can keep this up and not have a second half meltdown.

48 - Terrible job on defense. 1-1

57 - Allison in for Campbell, who has been playing poorly since the half.

73 - Distant strike. Eddie Piper looks awfully limited as a goalie. Clegg in for Husbands 1-2

Yet another game where we played well enough to win, but just couldn't quite get it done. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

bbgunn

06-18-2014, 07:18 PM

Izulde

06-19-2014, 02:26 AM

Don't worry too much. After having gone through all this crap and crud, you'll enjoy it so much more when the good stuff comes in later seasons.

(Of course, who am I to talk? I've come close to throwing my PC out the window on several occasions during FM games!)

I sure hope so! I've told myself I will not, under any circumstances, be allowed to rage-quit, so we'll see how far I can get these guys.

Izulde

06-19-2014, 04:18 AM

Oh, and more bad news. We lose Michael Husbands for 2 weeks in that game.

(14th) vs Diss Town (11th)
GK: Kieran Roberts
D: Michael Higginbotham/Fraser Sturgess/Jake Wells/Nathan Speed
M: Matty Campbell/Sam Shepherd/George Jones
AMC: Ben Kistell
ST: Rob Clegg/Moses Jjunju

Very winnable game - in fact, we're actually favored at first blush.

14 - Yellow for Higginbotham. We've had a couple shots come close but just bounce off.

34 - A sliding tackle by Shepherd puts them right in position to score and they do. 0-1

We're playing like ass, and our passing has been dreadful. Jones is yanked for Taylor Smith.

53 - Down goes Clegg and Smith gets hit with a yellow. Daniel Peacock on for Clegg.

61 - Kistell's been having a bad day, but here he finds Shepherd who hoofs it to Smith. Smith then finds Jjunju's feet, and what seems like forever running later, the Ugandan strikes it in to equalize. Kistell gets a yellow on the ensuing possession. 1-1

67 - Yellow for Campbell. Ref is being a real dick to us.

75 - :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: 1-2

91 - Jjunju's shot cracks off the woodwork like so many of his attempts do, and his try at a rebound fails when he gets the ball stolen from him, but in the midst of all that traffic, Kistell finds the ball loose and pokes it in. 2-2

For the umpteenth game in a row, we played well, but just missed that certain little something to win.

Our run on striker injuries continues. Now Rob Clegg is out 5 to 6 weeks.

Reserves
A 1-1 draw. Richard Priest scores a goal in the 82nd minute, but Matthew Malek gives up the equalizer in the remaining 10 minutes. Story of how this season has gone for us.

(15th) @ Stanway Rovers (18th)
Same lineup as last game, with the exception of Michael Husbands getting back into the lineup, so bar our keeper, we're now at our technically ideal side.

37 - It's pouring rain and both sides have looked sluggish out there, but then Higginbotham boots a beautiful ball to the head of Husbands, who wins the aerial battle, strides forward through the muck, and drills it in for the lead! 1-0

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/49uGweUASIw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

We're once again playing well enough to win and this time we have the actual lead to show for it.

47 - Great ball by Jjunju to Jones, who dribbles to the right side of the penalty box and sits there until the attackers arrive. He crosses to Campbell who loses the challenge, but once again Kistell is there to clean up and knock it in! 2-0

51 - Knock for Shepherd, so Aaron Malton comes on.

62 - Husbands shows sensational awareness by backtracking to grab a loose ball, and it starts a move that caps off with Campbell carving through the defense before deftly passing off to the right for Jones to get the easy score. 3-0

73 - Daniel Peacock goes in for a tired Husbands

75 - Jjunju gets the ball mid-sequence, waits a bit, and passes it to Peacock in the penalty area. My first signing waits as well, and once the defense is drawing close, centers to a wide open Jjunju, who strikes it clean in the nets. 4-0

This is the type of dominance this team is capable of. All starters except Shepherd scored above a 7, with the following 7.5+ highlights: Nathan Speed (7.6), Jake Wells (8.1), George Jones (8.2 - MoM), Matty Campbell (7.6), , [b]Moses Jjunu (8.1 - Warning: Doesn't seem to be listening... he's getting cocky, I think

Sam Shepherd is out 4-5 weeks.

(12th) @ Ely City(5th)
We're playing on short rest, so [b]Aaron Malton (MC), Taylor Smith (MR), and yes, Jake Handbury (DL) are all getting starts today.

2 - Knock for Michael Husbands, but he'll fight on.

10 - Sigh. CAN WE PLEASE FUCKING WIN TWO GOD DAMNED MOTHERFUCKING GAMES IN A ROW THIS SEASON?! 0-1

11 - A Kistell/Campbell/Husbands triangle hypotenuses to Jjunju, who angles a rocket into the nets. Immediate answer FTT. 1-1

13 - Fuck this exchange bullshit. 1-2

20 - Fuck Ely City too. Now they've hurt Matty Campbell, but he'll battle it out too.

25 - Campbell picks up the rebound of a deflected Jjunju shot and centers it. In the ensuing scrum, Husbands fights his way to the open shot and puts it in. Like I said, fuck you and your dirty ass tricks, Ely City. 2-2

41 - Jjunju belts the corner to where Sturgess rises above everyone else and knocks it in. I have no faith that this lead will hold, but still, fuck you, Ely City. 3-2

45 - Sturgess makes a great interception and hits it forward to Husbands, who sprays it to Campbell. Our injured left midfielder then jackhammers it into the penalty box where Jjunju is striding forward to kick it in. Ely City cries and complains about the goal, saying it was offsides. Jjunju raises both middle fingers and the team dances around the water-logged pitch, singing. What do they sing? 4-2

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VMhkygcBZdo?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

We're tired as fuck at the half, which is worrying for the second 45 minutes, but screw it. We'll drag our exhausted asses out as much as possible before I dip into the subs.

49 - We're robbed of a PK by the ref. Fuck you, ref.

58 - Yeah I knew that was gonna happen. Peacock in for Husbands 4-3

69 - Yellow for Malton. F...whatever.

72 - Wow, they should have crushed that goal in, but we do just enough to avoid it. Atal Hinds finally gets a shot back in the lineup, replacing Kistell, who looks like he's about to pass out on the pitch.

73 JJUNJU HOW THE FUCK DO YOU MISS THAT SHIT?! PEACOCK HAD YOU SO WIDE FUCKING OPEN RENARDO SIDNEY COULD HAVE KICKED IT IN!

76 - FFS. Now Jjunju is hurt, making 3 players Ely City's injured this game. FUCK YOU, ELY CITY!!!!!!!

85 - Time to go Defensive. Not going Contain because we're still putting pressure on these jackasses.

90 - Beautiful interception by Speed to Hinds to Jjunju to Peacock, who makes a dazzling run... and blows the easy shot.

What a game indeed, Mr. Announcer!

And fuck you Ely City. And fuck you, ref, for making 93 minutes more like 94 minutes.

And fuck you Moses Jjunju and Daniel Peacock for not listening to me. But considering Jjunju had 8.8 and MoM I can't complain too much. 7.5 for Matty Campbell and 8.1 for Fraser Sturgess.

Matty Campbell - Out 3 Weeks
Michael Husbands - Out 6 To 8 Weeks

We climb up to 9th place on the back of that win, and while I have no illusions about us winning the league and promotion this year, at the very least I'm shooting for a Top 10 finish.

Dose injuries, tho... gonna make it hella difficult.

Izulde

06-19-2014, 06:28 AM

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/MJ_zps13aa1636.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/MJ_zps13aa1636.jpg.html)

Always nice to see.

Richard Priest is angry about how little time he's getting, and complaining to the media. We talk it over and he's okay for now.

Reserves
1-2 loss to Wisbech Town. Priest scores the lone goal again. But I just don't trust him.

(9th) @ Wisbech Town (8th)
Luke Eaton and Egzon Asllani take DC and DR spots, Chris Allison is in at ML, and Jason Frost earns the ST spot. All else is our ideal players with the exception of GK obviously.

3 - 35 yard free kick goal. Sigh. 0-1

29 - A BS penalty decision, but Roberts makes the save!

Danger zones with Eaton and Higginbotham so far, and the fact that our offense is struggling overall, but it's only the fluke goal that has us losing.

55 - We're not seeing any improvement from the defenders, so Malton drops to MC, Handbury goes in at DL, and Hinds pops in at MC.

65 - A fluke goal for them. Yeah we're just not meant to win this game. 0-2

75 - Malton's hurt, but he'll keep going. Jjunju hits a perfect corner to the head of Wells, but our 6'8 defenseman somehow blows it.

81 - Allison pops it up to Kistell who brings it down and passes along the floor to the left. Jjunju's there to put it in and at least continue our games scored streak. 1-2

Sigh. *Another* damned game where we played well enough to win, or at least tie, and nothing.

Aaron Malton is out for 2 weeks.

(12th) vs Walsham-le-Willows (9th)
Changes to last lineup - Atal Hinds at MC, and our ideal backline restored, including GK JJ Banasco-Zargoza. Hopefully his return will give us a needed boost against a team we're underdogs against.

9 - Jones chips it up to Kistell, who's injured in the process of heading it to Frost, but it's so cool to see Frost finally a goal for the first time in forever, the opposing keeper frozen. 1-0

23 - Jjunju boots the corner to Sturgess, but this time it's to the Welshman's feet, and he calmly kicks it in! 2-0

28 - Now Frost gets hurt!

38 - Sturgess gets the ball on the left hand side of the six yard box and centers it, where a massive pileup and scrum ensues. Of all people, it's Higganbotham who pushes through all the traffic to knock in his first ever goal for us. 3-0

Daniel Peacock comes on for the injured and winded Frost at the half, but we're destroying the Willows thanks to our superior finishing.

79 - Dan Murwill finally goes in for Kistell, and we've pretty much got this one locked up.

80 - Wow!!! Murwill gets the ball, runs down the middle of the pitch to just outside the six yard box, and then lays it in for Peacock, my first ever signing *finally* getting his first ever goal!!!! 4-0

An absolutely stellar performance by the defense. Check this out:

Nathan Speed 7.5
Jake Wells - 8.3
Fraser Sturgess - 8.7 (MoM)
Michael Higgenbotham - 8.4

That's why these guys are my preferred defenders!

Then comes the bad news.

Jason Frost out a month.
Ben Kistell out over a month.

We just can not keep our strikers healthy.

But on the bright side we're back up in 9th place with 30 points in 22 games. Norwich United is running away with the title though - 45 points in 21 games to 2nd place F.C. Clacton's 39 points in 22 games.

Izulde

06-19-2014, 12:49 PM

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/sturgess_zpsaed61374.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/sturgess_zpsaed61374.jpg.html)

Few things more smile-worthy than that. That's twice now in the past two weeks one of our players has gotten major props. Sturgess just needed the right role for him is all.

Norwich United is unbeaten in 12 straight games, a new record.

My attempt to sneak in a goalie to be a Player/Goalkeeping Coach fails when the board blocks me.

Good Trains
Luke Eaton
Jake Handbury

Bad Trains
Nathan Speed
Moses Jjunju

Eaton had a high mark but has since started falling off the radar. Handbury dropped off but has regained trust as a backup lately.

We lose $1.54k but the board's now officially pleased with me, still loving that Jake Wells signing.

(9th) vs Cambridge Regional College (13th)
We're massive favorites, and I really want to beat these guys because an ex-gf went to graduate school at Cambridge. Won't be easy, though. Daniel Peacock at ST, Dan Murwill at AMC, Ronnie Linsdale at ML, Aaron Malton[/b at MC. Actually, Malton may still be our ideal MC, but overall... At least our backline is still our favored.

[b]7 - Wells makes not one, but *two* goal-saving clearances in the early game. Damn I love my 6'8 guy.

11 - No stopping that one though. 0-1

16 - Jjunju gets the ball on the right flank and runs down the pitch before crossing to Linsdale, who calmly scores, even as Cambridge is screaming about offsides. 1-1

What an awful game Sturgess is having. If he doesn't pick it up in the second half, I'll pull him.

56 - A knock on Peacock

59 - Terrible, passive defending. :rant: :rant: 1-2 I'm so angry I pull Sturgess, Malton, and Peacock for Asllani, Hinds, and Priest, switching the last to the Advanced Forward role.

62 - Jjunju hits the corner and it doesn't look like anything will come of it, but then Wells lumbers through traffic and puts his big old hoof up to knock it in. 2-2

Frankly a match we should have won, so I get a bit stern with the lads about it. George Jones Eeyores on me over it, and Richard Priest is pissed. Whatever. Jake Wells gets a 7.8 and MoM.

Daniel Peacock is out 4-5 weeks, meaning yet more strikers out

Eddie Piper goes down for 2-3 months. Not a big issue. He's a #3 goalie at best anyway.

(10th) @ FC Clacton (2nd)
This picture says it all:
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/muchstrikerswow_zps4e1bb598.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/muchstrikerswow_zps4e1bb598.jpg.html)

4 - Malton recovers a cleared corner and passes it to Smith who chips to Jjunju.... who kicks it right at the defender. What a waste.

16 - Speed goes on the attack, tearing up the right flank until the center to Priest, who, miracle of miracles, actually scores a goal! I'm stunned. 1-0

27 - Sheesh. Jjunju is lolly-gagging it out there. Allison has the perfect cross for a goal, but the Ugandan shows no effort to chase it and bang it home.

36 - Priest intercepts a goal kick and his shot clatters off the upper bar. He races to get it and sets up a great cross, but once again, Jjunju plays lazy.

I yell at Jjunju at the half, and he goes :( at me. Fuck you, dude. Get your head out your ass. Everybody else on this team is busting their butt this game to keep us in it, and you're playing like we're ahead 90-0.

55 - Campbell in for Allison

56 - I'm so fed up with Jjunju that I switch to a 5-4-1 with Asllani coming in as the third DC.

71 - FUCK YOU, YOU WHORE'S GET OF A REF! THAT WAS NOT A FUCKING PENALTY ON MY BOY JAKE WELLS! EAT A BAG OF FUCKING CHLAMYDIA INFESTED DICKS, YOU FUCKING FARTSNIFFER! 1-1

75 - OMFG!!!!! ANOTHER FUCKIGN PENALTY?!?! WHO THE FUCK YPAID YOU OFF, YOU FUCKING BIASED ASS PIECE OF SHIT ZEBRA?!?! 1-2

79 - Shit doesn't matter now. Fuck kt. 1-3

8 - So when *we* should get a penalty, does the fucking punkass bitch ref give it to us? Oh fuck no! They didn't bribe him to go against homecooking BULLSHIT!

"That was a superb second half from F.C. Clacton. You have to credit their manager for that." YOU MEAN HE FUCKING PAID OFF THE GOD DAMNED FUCKING REF WITH GUINESS AND SNAGGLE-TOOTHED ONE-LEGGED LINDA THE POX-RIDDEN FUCKING SKANK WHORE!

FA SILENT OVER JESTOR CRITICISM. YOU'RE GOD DAMNED RIGHT THEY'RE FUCKING SILENT! I HOPE FC CLACTON BURNS DOWN TO THE FUCKING GROUND FOR THAT CHEAP ASS BULLSHIT! tHEY COULDN'T BEAT US FAIR!

So very, very pissed right now. And my computer's lagging, so I'll come back later.

Izulde

06-19-2014, 08:32 PM

Reserves
0-3 beatdown by Biggleswade Town. I set Richard Priest to NOT be available and he still played. Damned bug.

(12th) vs Woolbridge Town (15th)
Fortunately, Rob Clegg is able to play and gets the start at striker but we have no depth because of the stupid ass reserve team thing. Egzon Asllani steps in at DC in place of a tired Jake Wells.

5 - Speed is ironically too slow, and a diving tackle off a rebound puts us in the hole early. :rolleyes: 0-1

10 - Yellow for Sturgess

20 - Malton passes into the six yard box to Clegg, who gives it to Jjunju. Our Ugandan striker sends it forward to Hinds, who immediately passes back and Jjunju rifles it through the narrowly open window for the score. 1-1

Lot of guys are playing poorly at the break, notably Higganbotham, Campbell, and Jones, but we'll give them a chance to pull their heads out of their asses.

70 - Allison and Shepherd drop in at ML and MC respectively for Campbell and Malton.

Pretty borderline game. We should've won this one with a little more effort.

(12th) @ Gorleston FC (13th)
This is a team we've never been able to beat. Morale's pretty low right now, so I'm not holding out hope here.

4 - Knock for Hinds. Shake it off, buddy.

27 - Now Wells is hurt? Seriously, fuck all these injuries.

44 - Ah, there's the goal given up just before half we all fucking love. 0-1

Frankly, we're lucky to only be down 1. I put the whole team on blast and pull Sturgess for Asllani.

68 - Campbell is robbed the post. Fuck you, post. Fuck you. I move him to MR, Jones to AMC, and put Allison at ML.

78 - Campbell gets it on the wing and centers it to Allison. The shot's deflected, but he's right there to pounce on his own rebound! 1-1

81 - Fabulous free kick clearance by Wells, and Campbell's left all alone as he races down the field... only to shank the fucking shot.

93 - Now Campbell goes down. That's 3 fucking injuries in one game, just like Ely City. I already hated Gorleston, but now they're on my fuck you up the ass with a six foot long jalapeno pepper list along with Ely City.

Another god damned draw. But we showed great fightback to equalize, and my boy Jake Wells is MoM with a 7.3.

Luckily we escape without further serious injuries.

26 games played, which means 12 left on the schedule. I don't see us getting into the Top 10 at this point, to be honest, even though we're 11th. Everyone around has us a game or more in hand on us.

7+ Average League Ratings Players (Min. 5 First Team Appearances)
GK JJ Banasco-Zargoza - 7.07
DC Jake Wells - 7.4
AMC Ben Kistell - 7.54
ST Michael Husbands - 7.6
ST Moses Jjunju - 7.27

No surprises here. These are the guys I know for sure I want to bring back next year so far. A few other players are borderline/will probably return, but it's pretty clear that we need a lot help in the midfield, and I'm kind of ehhh on our backline players other than Wells, who is the greatest thing ever to happen to a Level 9 team.

Brian Swartz

06-19-2014, 09:19 PM

YOU MEAN HE FUCKING PAID OFF THE GOD DAMNED FUCKING REF WITH GUINESS AND SNAGGLE-TOOTHED ONE-LEGGED LINDA THE POX-RIDDEN FUCKING SKANK WHORE!

FA SILENT OVER JESTOR CRITICISM. YOU'RE GOD DAMNED RIGHT THEY'RE FUCKING SILENT! I HOPE FC CLACTON BURNS DOWN TO THE FUCKING GROUND FOR THAT CHEAP ASS BULLSHIT! tHEY COULDN'T BEAT US FAIR!

So very, very pissed right now. And my computer's lagging, so I'll come back later.

Gonna be tough to top this.

Oh, and as far as your team goes, at least you are competitive.

Izulde

06-20-2014, 04:27 AM

Gonna be tough to top this.

Oh, and as far as your team goes, at least you are competitive.

I have literally never seen two PKs awarded back-to-back against a team like that before. I was so damned pissed. That third goal was an F it, we're not going to get the chance to at least get a point anyway, I think.

True we're competitive, and at least we're finding out the guys we want to try and keep the next few seasons while making adjustments elsewhere. But it's that damn close, but no go thing that frustrates, and this ain't horseshoes.

Izulde

06-20-2014, 05:50 AM

Jason Frost and Michael Husbands finally start training again, but they're not ready for our next game.

(11th) vs Brantham Athletic (18th)
Chris Allison at ML and Sam Shepherd at MC, as we're still trying to figure out the ideal midfielder lineup. Several players ignore me in the pre-game team talk. Uh oh.

30 - Jones hits a rocket diagonal to Allison, who runs a bit before crossing to Clegg just in the six yard box, and the ensuing kick is just enough to get in and break the kid's scoreless streak. Oh, and Sturgess picked up yet another yellow earlier in the match. 1-0

Sam Shepherd and Moses Jjunju are having meh games at the half, but I'll leave them in for now. Otherwise, good game here.

51 - Very cool! I just saw Jake Wells raise his hand and call for the offsides, and we got the flag. That's a first. What's not cool - Shepherd[/] getting worse and [b]Jjunju lollygagging, so in come Malton and Priest

70 - Fantastic setup for Clegg, but he muffs it right at the keeper.

78 - Oh look, an injury to Priest. :rolleyes: He'll play on, though.

Great defensive effort by our boys. JJ Banasco-Zargoza wins MoM with 7.4, but Jake Wells got the same rating. 7.1 for Fraser Sturgess and 7.3 for Robb Clegg.

Felixstowe & Waldstone have gone 12 straight games without a win, a new league record in futility.

Richard Husbands is left off the St. Lucia squad, but he's fine with that. Thus far, he has 5 caps to his credit for the national side.

Good Trains
Ben Kistell

Bad Trains
Sam Shepherd
Brett Girling

The board is pleased with me and we actually turn a $1.04k profit last month. We're still $676k in the red, but every little bit helps, especially if we can finally get this loan paid off... but I can't find the loan terms anywhere.

(9th) vs Haverhill Rovers (2nd)
Joy of joys, Michael Husbands and Ben Kistell are back for this one, and we're able to field a full-strength side for the first time in forever. Chris Allison and Atal Hinds are getting the ML and MC nods today.

12 - Kistell makes a beautiful interception and a sequence of passes has Jjunju running down the pitch. He goes to pass but it's blocked. The Ugandan has the follow-through to get it back and shoot it on out to Jones who runs to outside the six yard box and gives it right back. BAM! 1-0

27 ...That was a shot JJBZ should have stopped 1-1

28 - On the ensuing kickoff, Jjunju feeds it to Husbands, who runs forward to draw the defense, then back-kicks it to Kistell. Finding an open seam is Allison, who takes Kistell's pass and fires in the immediate answer. 2-1

33 - Terrible marking, just fucking terrible. 2-2

43 - Hinds is forced off with an injury. Malton replaces him.

I lecture Sturgess at the half, because he, Higginbotham and Speed are having awful games.

48 - Jjunju's robbed the woodwork.

51 - Perfectly executed move. Can't fault anyone there. 2-3

55 - Asllani is in for Speed, who is getting benched after this. He's been dreadful the last few games.

65 - Malton to Husbands, who breezes through the defense like it's nothing and kicks it between two defenders. Jjunju's dart forward and resulting shot just barely finds the net for the equalizer. 3-3

80 - Malton moves to DC in place of Sturgess, who gets worse and worse. Jones moves to MC and Campbell comes on at MR.

91 - :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: 3-4

For fuck's sakes! A god damned injury time goal to rob us of any points. :rant: :rant: :rant:

Moses Jjunju has been offsides 28 times, more than anyone else in the league.

11th @ Dereham Town (14th)
We're going to try Jones at MC, Taylor Smith at MR, Jake Handbury at DR, and Luke Eaton at DC.

1 - Yellow for Higginbotham

16 - Fuck those jerseys are hard to see. We're wearing our black aways and they're wearing black and white ref stripes. No wonder they get it in. 0-1

Eaton has been an absolute disaster, so he's benched at the half for Asllani.

63 - Clegg pops on for Husbands, who looks lost in all the damned black.

8.0 from Jake Wells to be MoM. It's also the first time we've been shut out since September 25th. It's now February 9th, which means we had 21 straight games where we scored at least one goal.

Izulde

06-21-2014, 06:44 AM

Atal Hinds is crying about first team opportunities despite the fact he's had 20 starts and 4 subs. Whatever.

Good Trains
Fraser Sturgess
Matty Campbell
Sam Shepherd

Bad Trains
Chris Allison

11th @ Godmanchester Rovers (20th)
Fraser Sturgess will get his spot back and Sam Shepherd gets another crack as the starting MC. Otherwise, same lineup as last time.

11 - Unbelievable. By the ratings we're dominating the last place team in the league, and yet here they score. 0-1

34 - FFS. 0-2

b]42[/b] - A clean, simple Kistell interception and pass to Husbands, the St. Lucian splitting the defense and the net.1-2

Our failures are a direct result of Jake Handbury's fuckwit 5.4, so he's benched again, this time in favor of Asllani, and Mr. Handbury will never see the pitch the rest of the year.

49 - We were damned lucky not to give up another goal there.

52 - Allison to Husbands to Kistell, and the last of the trio first touch strikes it for the tie. 2-2

56 - The pass by Jones is a little too long, but Allison chases it down and kicks it back and to the center, where Kistell's waiting to power it in for his second goal in four minutes! 3-2

74 - Malton swaps in for a tired Sturgess

We've several chances to add an insurance goal but they fizzle out. Nevermind, though - we get the win.

Put it this way - just about everyone got a 7 or better, with our 7.5+ guys being Chris Allison (7.5), Ben Kistell (9.3 and MoM), and Michael Husbands (8.1).

Ben Kistell says it was my halftime speech, where I firmly told them off, that turned things around. I also discover James Russell, who I cut from the squad earlier this season, is playing for Godmanchester now. He's doing better than he did with us - but 6.53 average rating in 13 appearances is still nothing great.

Kieran Roberts is mad about not being the starter anymore. Too bad for him. Richard Priest whines about a lack of playing time, too.

(11th) vs Kirkley & Pakefield (10th)
Pretty simple formula here. Win and we sneak up into 10th. Egzon Asllani gets the call at DR.

10 - How the hell they didn't manage to score in the traffic jam in front of goal I'll never know, but it's Jake Wells with the big clearance to save our bacon.

32 - Holy fluke! Higginbotham, who got a yellow in the 24th minute, rises an interception header on the goal kick that starts a move, but the freaky part comes when Allison passes forward and Shepherd's cannon kick finds its way into the net. We'll take it, though! 1-0

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eeq9m0nLMX8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

45 - This is why I love Jjunju. Even when I'm about to pull him for being complacent and dragging ass out there, he's godly on corner kicks, as here when he blasts it to Sturgess's head for the dagger doubling just before halftime. 2-0

Despite the lead however, we've been pretty well outplayed so far, so I warn them against complacency. Sturgess and Shepherd are confused, Asllani outright pissed. Everyone else looks good to go though, so suck it up you three.

58 - Shit. Kistell, our rock, has to come off. Jones shifts up and Matty Campbell comes in at MR.

70 - Terrible coverage by Asllani results in them scoring. He's immediately pulled for Callum Adams. 2-1

75 - Fuck! Wells is hurt, but he'll shake it off.

83 - I thought sure they were going to score here, but JJBZ makes a brilliant recovery from deflecting the last shot to also catch this one. Fantastic work!

All in all, a good one. Most around the 6.9-7.1 mark, save for Egzon Asllani's 6.0 after giving up the crucial goal, and Fraser Sturgess, who blows away the rest of the field with a MoM-winning 7.9.

Jake Wells is out a week and a half. Not as serious as it could be, but still I'm :(. I've never loved a defensive player as much as him.

Youth Intake
Everyone has 5* potential for this level, unsurprisingly, so we're going to sign them all to contracts and sort it out.

(10th) @ Hadleigh United (6th)
With Jake Wells out, it's going to be Aaron Malton who gets the call at DC. Recent youth signing DCR Luke Rutherford gets promoted and will get the start at DR.

0 - Welp. 0-1

5 - Missing Wells is killing us out there. 0-2

Matty Campbell takes over at ML for Allison, Malton moves up to MC and Asllanislides into DC, because both our ML and our MC (Shepherd) are playing like rotten ass out there.

We can't get anything going offensively in the second half, but I blame that on the first half fuckups. Not going to blame anyone other than those two for this loss, as everyone else played solid.

Izulde

06-21-2014, 07:09 PM

(10th) @ Mildenhall Town (11th)
Jake Wells is back in, but otherwise same lineup, as Luke Rutherford did well enough in his first game to get another start.

5 - Gonna be a long day, I fear. 0-1

17 - Jjunju's forced off, so Rob Clegg is on.

25 - Clegg heads a sideways cleared free kick and Kistell's on the receiving end to knock it in. 1-1

49 - Yellow for Sturgess and Wells got a yellow earlier in the match. This means Sturgess will miss our next match.

61 - Jones passes to the feet of Clegg, who has a gorgeous drop-ball pass to Husbands. Short-run later, and hello lead! Malton's on for Shepherd 2-1

79 - When the counter works, it works oh so lurvely! Kistell takes the pass from Rutherford and plays perfect pop shot to Husbands who obliterates the rest of the field and hits the long shot outside the box. In it goes! 3-1

91 - Sensational clearance off the line by Allison. That really should've been a goal.

7s to go all around, but 7.5+ props go to Jake Wells (7.7), Ben Kistell (8.6), Michael Husbands (8.8, MoM), and Rob Clegg (8.2).

Big, big, *big* win to keep us in the Top 10, obviously.

Fraser Sturgess got a *2* match ban. May have to rethink bringing him back TBH. He's inconsistent and racks up yellows like drunk dudes on the Strip rack up stripper cards.

Good Trains
Kieran Roberts
Callum Adams

Bad Trains
Moses Jjunju
Michael Higginbotham
Brett Girling

Board's pleased. We lost $1.77k last month, still due to loan payments.

(10th) vs Norwich United (1st)
Not much chance of beating the team that's tearing up the league this season and needs just one win to guarantee promotion I think, but we'll see. Aaron Malton is in at DC, and Merrick Cornwell, who has an awesome name and is just 15 as part of our youth pulls, is getting the start, as I think he's ready now.

23 - Wells has a dazzling interception and turn-around kick to Jones, who crosses perfectly to Kistell.... who makes a rare, shocking flub of an open shot.

31 - Held on as long as we could. Malton, you suck. 0-1

45 - Their goalie rushes out to beat Husbands to a ball, which he does, but instead of hanging on to it, he kicks it. Kistell latches on 35 yards out and hits the longball for the just before half tie! 1-1

59 - Jesus, Jones! First, Jjunju sets you up perfectly earlier in the half and you shank it, and now you blow another easy miss that Malton of all people rocketed to you. Off he goes for... well, no one, because I forgot to take Campbell out of the subs list.

68 - I will, however, replace Rutherford with Asllani.

78 - Going to give Campbell a run anyway. Allison's making a lot of poor passes and is tired as hell.

80 - Jones retrieves a cleared ball and passes it to Cornwell, who cracks a dangerous shot that looks like it's going in, but it rattles up and down the crossbar. It has the effect of completely crumpling the opposing goalie, though, and Jjunju races for the slide-tackle goal... which he gets!!! 2-1

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HZ2z1acMtho?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

88 - Knocked out for the second straight game is Jjunju, meaning Clegg gets called again.

Despite some scary moments, WE PULL OFF THE HUGE UPSET!!!

7.5 for Ben Kistell, who ignores me when I congratulate him on his second half improvement. 7.4 each for Jake Wells and JJ Banasco-Zargoza.

Moses Jjunju is out for the rest of the season, which will be a good test of how we can fare without him.

Tristian Jarvis asks to be let go, so I comply with his wishes.

10th @ Wivenhoe Town (7th)
Luke Eaton gets another shot at DC, and Rob Clegg starts at ST.

39 - They've been pressuring us a ton, and that 4-5-1 is so dominant we haven't gotten any looks. But then Higginbotham boots one down the length of the field to Kistell, who crosses for a racing Clegg. only to see the pass itself end up in goal! 1-0

We're doing quite well overall, but Clegg is benched at the half for Daniel Peacock.

45 - Aaaaaand that was a goal JJBZ should have stopped with ease 1-1

54 - Jones switches over to the left side, and Taylor Smith comes on, replacing Allison, who has been off all game.

79 - A midfield heading competition between the two teams ultimately gets won by Kistell, who passes to Peacock. An amazing rainbow shot to Husbands follows, and our St. Lucian star flows like water through the defense until brooking it in! 2-1

81 - Eaton with a strong clearance kick to Husbands, who passes to Peacock, who sends it right back.. and another gallop and super shot for a quickfire double!! 3-1

Great, great last two games. Jake Wells with a 7.9, Ben Kistell a 7.7, Michael Husbands an 8.8 and MoM, and 7.5 for Daniel Peacock.

3 games left. Norwich United needs just one point to clinch promotion. We're tied for 7th with two other teams with 51 points, but #10 has 50 points and #11 has 45, so the only thing we've mathematically clinched is finishing no worse than 15th - still a far sight better than the preseason prediction of 19th, or second to last.

bbgunn

06-22-2014, 05:57 AM

You know things are going well when the f-bombs decrease. :) Good work.

Young Drachma

06-22-2014, 09:47 AM

Damn, level 9. I need to get caught up on this..

Izulde

06-22-2014, 11:19 AM

Hadleigh United wins the Eastern Counties Senior Cup.

Reserves
3-0 win against a U18 team, but that also featured a lot of players who have started regularly for us this season, to get them match fit. It's a dangerous move, but one that pans out when our next match is postponed due to poor field conditions.

Jason McAree is pissed about his lack of PT, so he's released following our conversation.

(10th) vs Felixstowe & Waldstone (18th)
Fraser Sturgess is back in the lineup, but otherwise we keep on rolling with what we did the last two games.

5 - Clegg punts it up in the area of Husbands, but the defender gets there first. Poor clearance, however, so the St. Lucian international is able to sneak in, steal the ball back, and fire a diagonal that finds the net. 1-0

17 - Kistell's knocked, but will keep going.

28 - Long build-up that culminates in Jones and Clegg exchanging passes, with Jones then slipping it to Husbands just inside the six yard box. Another bombtastic boot and that's two goals for our lone international capped player. 2-0

31 - Wells intercepts and kicks the ball to Kistell, who heads it on to Clegg. Husbands takes the pass and strides forward, but Clegg is already racing ahead of him and receives the stellar ball, and completely free of all defenders, sinks it! 3-0

36 - Kistell to Jones to Husbands... and the goalie *just* manages to deflect what looked like a surefire first half hattrick.

42 - Bastards! :mad: They force Husbands off with an injury. Peacock takes the AF position, with Clegg sliding to poacher.

47 - WTF?!?! JJBZ DROPS THE DAMN BALL AND IT FALLS BEHIND HIM INTO THE NET?! 3-1

With that, everything changes. Jones moves to AMC, Smith comes on MR, and we're dropping from Attacking to Defensive.

71 - Not good. Not good at all. 3-2

77 - Cornwell has been a horrorshow since the second half started (5.2), so he's yanked for Shepherd.

86 - Smith is hurt.

We do just enough to get the win. 7.5 for Jake Wells, 8.6 for Michael Husbands, and 7.4 for Rob Clegg. Besides Merrick Cornwell's disaster, Michael Higginbotham put up a 5.8, and so did Daniel Peacock.

Norwich United has essentially clinched promotion thanks to a +12 advantage in goal differential over the 2nd place team even if Norwich loses both and second place team wins both to tie on points. As for us, we're now guaranteed to finish no worse than 11th. We could even finish as high as 5th.

But we'll have to do it without Ben Kistell, who's also gone for the season. That hurts. That really, really hurts, as he's been the director, the lynchpin of our offense.

Michael Husbands is praised by the press on the same day that Norwich United officially wins the title and auto-promotion to one of the Regional 1st Divisions.

(6th) @ Diss Town (17th)
George Jones moves to AMC, with Taylor Smith stepping in at MR. Despite poor performances from some of our youngsters last game, the lineup is otherwise unchanged. Until I realize we don't have a viable captain candidate out there. So Egzon Asllani is pressed into DR and named captain.

30 - 20 yard scorcher, but honestly, we've been sleepwalking this whole game, so I'm not surprised. 0-1

39 - Husbands picked up a slight injury early in the game, and now Smith gets knocked here. Very frustrating to have all these late-season injuries.

Jason Frost goes in for Clegg and Matty Campbell for Allison at the break. The team feels like it's already thinking about vacation.

50 - We just continue to get hammered and look lost on offense. Our shots have been pitiful.

65 - And there goes the double. 0-2

Wow, we played like total ass this game. JJ Banasco-Zargoza did as well as could be expected given how bad the rest of the team was, and got a 7.1.

Egzon Asllani rats out the screaming match to the press. Okay, dude. Taylor Smith will probably miss our last game of the season.

Kirkley & Pakefield pull off a massive upset, stunning Norwich United 4-1 in the Chell Trophy final. Considering K&P is 15th in the league right now, it's a shocker.

Good Trains
Nathan Speed
Michael Higginbotham
Richard Tippings

Bad Trains
Brett Girling
Sam Shepherd

8th vs Stanway Rovers (19th)
Okay, so here's what we know. No matter what happens today, we can not finish any worse than 10th, so we're guaranteed a Top 10 finish. We also know that 5th place is still in reach, but that would require a little help. Luke Rutherford starts at DR, Matty Campbell at MR, Aaron Malton at MC, and Nathan Speed at DL. Speed is given the captaincy for the final game.

34 - The flat play continues. 0-1

41 - Speed has been struggling out there, but here he shoots a laser at Husbands' head. Our St. Lucian traps and controls it, then runs the rest of the way to arc a zany shot in that I thought had no chance of making it. 1-1

Michael Higginbotham is on at the break, because Speed, despite that great move, has been terrible.

51 - Le ugh. 1-2

65 - I bring in Cornwell to play DM and Shepherd in at MC, dropping Sturgess and Malton.

71 - Campbell shows great awareness to chase down a cleared ball and goes to cross it... only to see it end up in the net. Freaky. 2-2

80 - Allison hits a longball to Clegg, who then does the same to Husbands. Our international star runs down the length of the left flank and then crosses to where Clegg has made the run to be there and head it in, which he does! 3-2

91 - Husbands is forced off with injury, which means we have to play the final few minutes a man down.

Fortunately we pull it out, and escape with a 3-2 comeback win. 8.0 and MoM for Michael Husbands and 7.6 for Rob Clegg.

Good thing it's the end of the season because Michael Husbands is out 5 to 6 months with a torn calf muscle.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/Basketball%20Stuff/1st9final_zps3d98a9df.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/Basketball%20Stuff/1st9final_zps3d98a9df.jpg.html)

6th is a damn good finish in my opinion. As you can see from the lower-right corner, Ben Kistell and Michael Husbands were the consistent glue that carried us throughout the season, especially Kistell.

Other Notables
Michael Husbands - T-2nd in Assists (11), T-6th in Goals (14), T-9th in Man of Match (4), 2nd in Pass Completion % (80), 1st in Shots on Target %(64 - next closest was 51%!), 6th in Offsides (21), 3rd in Average Rating (7.51)
Moses Jjunju - T-4th in Assists (10), T-9th in Goals (13), 1st in Offsides (33)
Jake Wells T-3rd in Man of Match (6), 1st in Key Tackles (18), 3rd in Key Headers (86), 6th in Average Rating (7.37)
Fraser Sturgess - 2nd in Yellow Cards (8)
Matty Campbell T-6th in Yellow Cards (5)
Ben Kistell - 6th in Shots on Target % (45), 1st in Key Passes (35), 1st in Average Rating (7.56)
Rob Clegg - 7th in Pass Completion % (79)

6.8 or Better Ratings
Ben Kistell
Michael Husbands
Jake Wells
Moses Jjunju - 7.2
JJ Banasco-Zargoza - 7.02
George Jones - 6.92
Fraser Sturgess - 6.92
Robb Clegg - 6.88
Daniel Peacock - 6.81
Jason Frost - 6.81

So that's... AMC, ST, DC, ST, GK, MR, DC, ST, ST, ST. I think it's safe to say we won't be needing any strikers for next year, provided we bring all those guys back.

Areas of Starting Need
DL
DR
ML
MC
MR

Areas of Depth Need
DL/DC/DR
ML/MC/MR
AMC

End Season Review
Board is pleased and love our finish in the league. Ben Kistell and Jake Wells are highly favored signings.

Year End Training
Matty Campbell, Jake Wells, and Fraser Sturgess all impressed over the year. Moses Jjunju and Brett Girling regressed.

Winning the Chell Trophy wasn't enough to save Dave Langston, who was fired by Kirkley & Pakefield following the team's 14th place finish in the league. That's kind of harsh in my opinion.

Scarborough Athletic wins the FA Vase.

$2.1k lost last month due to loan repayment.

Total Loss For the Year
$16k, which means we're $684k in the red. $75k of that was in loan repayments.

Transfers In
DLCR Niall Elam (16) - 5*/5* for DL, his natural position
MRC Kwasi Frempong (33) - 4*/4* for both

Elam is all guaranteed to get a crack at the starting lineup. Frempong probably will too, despite his age.

The club is in a takeover bid

Jack Jeffries agrees to sign with us again after we cut off other challengers. Nathan Speed signs with Hertford Town.

Didcot Town snares Atal Hinds and Jack Jeffries stabs us in the back by signing an amateur contract with Walsham-le-Willows anyway.

Aaron Malton goes off to Berkhamsted.

Croatia joins the European Union.

Jake Handbury goes off to Wisbech Town, and the bleeding continues.

Aston Jephcott joins the revolters, signing with Croydon FC

We're officially joining the Reserves and U18 leagues next year, after not having played in either one last season.

I'm very pleased to see Jake Wells win Fans' Player of the Year award for our team.

2012-13 Best 11
GK JJ Banasco-Zargoza
DL Michael Higginbotham
DC Fraser Sturgess
DC Jake Wells
DR Nathan Speed*
ML Chris Allison
MC Aaron Malton*
MR George Jones
AMC Ben Kistell
ST Moses Jjunju
ST Michael Husbands

* - Denotes no longer with team

Transfer In
MLR Symon James (30)

Scrubby now that I see him, but strictly a depth signing.

Craig Gordon is ready to buy the team for $26k, far below its initial $60k value (will check that at beginning of season or before first friendly). Unfortunately that means we can't bring anyone else in for the time being.

Why Brett Girling hasn't retired I don't know, but Maine Road takes him on.

There's teams sniffing around Jake Wells, so we quickly rush to sign him to a Key Player amateur contract to get him to stay.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/newchair_zpsbb93acc6.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/newchair_zpsbb93acc6.jpg.html)

Soooo... you're going to take a loan to pay off the old loan? Brilliant! This does have the side effect of putting us in the black for the first time in my career here.

ROFL. We sign a new sponsorship deal estimated to be worth $0 over 3 years. WTF sign it then?

Monthly loan repayments are set at $2.5k a month - a far more generous deal than the previous loan.

Board's satisfied. They're pissed about Nathan Speed leaving, but happy to see Brett Girling go.

Fraser Sturgess gets paid $13k for next season by Guernsey so of course he leaves. He's also the first former Thetford Town player of my tenure to get a money deal elsewhere.

Transfer In
DLC Dean Allison (17) - Hot prospect

Staff is meh on his current ability, but I think he can compete right away for a starting DC spot. Michael Husbands is still injured heading into preseason by the way.

Izulde

06-22-2014, 11:20 AM

You know things are going well when the f-bombs decrease. :) Good work.

Thanks. I can't promise they won't increase at some point, though. :D

Izulde

06-22-2014, 11:20 AM

Damn, level 9. I need to get caught up on this..

FM 2014 has an 11 level mod floating out there, so if it goes on a big Steam discount, I'll pick up 14 in case I ever get bored of this one.

Young Drachma

06-22-2014, 11:58 AM

FM 2014 has an 11 level mod floating out there, so if it goes on a big Steam discount, I'll pick up 14 in case I ever get bored of this one.

Yeah I almost bought 14 during the sale, but I almost always buy it at the end of the cycle. Gonna just wait until 15 comes out and see if there are major improvements. Buying each year felt too much like Madden where the game wasn't any good and it was a waste of time.

Young Drachma

06-22-2014, 12:01 PM

Izulde

06-22-2014, 04:00 PM

Kieran Roberts gets hurt in training and is out 4-5 weeks. Not a huge deal - he was just our backup anyway.

Friendly (vs Elon Manor
GK JJ Banasco-Zaragoza (21)
DL Niall Elam (16)*
DC Jake Wells (17)
DC Dean Allison (17)*
DR Luke Rutherford (16)
ML Chris Allison (17)
MC Kwasi Frempong (31)*
MR George Jones (20)
AMC Ben Kistell (30)
ST Jason Frost (17)
ST Moses Jjunju (30)

* - New starter

Very young lineup, obviously. We'll see how it goes. To be honest, despite all the good showings from our strikers last year, I'm still not wholly satisfied with anyone beyond Michael Husbands, who's still out another 1-2 months.

8 - Wretched effort at clearance by Rutherford there. 0-1

21 - Frempong's dinged.

What an awful first half. George Jones moves to AMC, Symon James in at MR. Rob Clegg replaces Jjunju at striker.

60 - Free kick inside the half-circle for Chris Allison, and he converts. Campbell replaces him immediately after, and Cornwell pops in at MC for Frempong. 1-1

63 - Frost sees his shot blocked, but takes the rebound and passes it to a wide open Clegg, who calmly shoots in the go-ahead goal. 2-1

74 - Eaton in for D Allison, and Callum Adams takes over for Rutherford.

91 - Awful, just awful. 2-2

Still, this was more about feeling out the team than anything else. Great showing by Jason Frost with an 8.0 and MoM award.

Promotion Odds
Last year, we were 25-1. This year, we're 33-1. Talk about disrespect all around.

Friendly - @ Stanway Rovers
It's a B-list lineup we field definitely. Not going to go into all the changes because I'm lazy and it's only a friendly.

2 - These guys aren't doing anything to impress me. Really should've given up a goal there.

41 - Injury to Clegg, and it's Peacock on.

Yeah. Real rough out there. A bunch of subs forthcoming.

55 - Precision strike 0-1

72 - I actually see the ball hit Kistell and he crumples, calling for a substitute. So I'm forced to put in Jones.

Pretty dull loss, even if Luke Eaton did get a 7.6 and MoM.

Rob Clegg is out 6 to 8 days.

Transfer in
MC Chris Hirst (23) - Stolen from Dereham Town, where he put up a 6.98 average rating last season.

Obvious candidate to take over MC and *finally* give us the stability we've lacked there.

Eddie Piper is out 5-6 weeks, but he's way down on the depth chart, so no biggie.

Friendly - vs Burnham Ramblers
Another mix and match lineup.

2 - Worst clearance I've ever seen by Wells 0-1

8 - Frempong gets it on the wing, dribbles, and centers to Jjunju, who beats the defense with his head. The keeper just barely manages to get his fingers on it and send it up in the air, but our Ugandan strides forward to knock the rebound in 1-1

11 - Wells takes a knock, but will play on.

45 - Yay for just before half goal against us. :banghead: 1-2

I'm going to try Michael Higginbotham at DR. Rutherford just can't seem to make the DR job his own.

57 - A couple more subs.

64 - Frempong goes down.

65 - Terrible goal kick by JJBZ = goal 1-3

Kwasi Frempong is out 3 weeks.

Bad Trains
Ben Kistell
Symon James

We lost $2.7k last month despite the much lower loan payments.

Friendly - @ AFC Kempston Rovers
Thoroughly expecting us to get crushed in this one.

What follows instead is a very boring game that we probably could have won, but our strikers were absolutely punchless. Luke Eaton got a 7.6 and MoM, making a strong case to be Wells' partner, but we'll see.

Captains
Ben Kistell is named Captain, Chris Hirst vice-captain.

vs Wisbech Town
GK JJ Banasco-Zaragoza (21)
DL Dean Allison (17)*
DC Jake Wells (17)
DC Luke Eaton (19)
DR Niall Elam (16)*
ML Chris Allison (17)
MC Chris Hirst (23)*
MR Matty Campbell (16)
AMC George Jones (20)
ST Ben Kistell (30)
ST Moses Jjunju (30)

Am I trying a completely unorthodox setup? Yes. Wisbech Town is one of the favorites, so I thought it might be fun to spring a surprise on them here in the opener.

3 - 35 yard strikes suck. 0-1

5 - Fuck you, asshumper ref! Fucking giving Jake Wells a yellow and fuckign giving the god damn fuckrats a fucking PK they convert?! WE'RE AT HOME, YOU FUCKING CARPETRAG KNOBTWIST!!!!! :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: 0-2

David Allison is giving me the don't care look at half when I scream at everybody, so Elam moves to DL and Luke Rutherford goes in at DR. Fuck all of you, seriously.

73 - I brought in Clegg to replace Kistell earlier and here Jones heads it to him, and despite losing out initially, our overacheiving young striker runs and runs, gets the ball back, and fires on in to cut the lead in half. 1-2

89 - And there's the makeup penalty! For some reason Chris Allison is given the kicking rights, but he converts it so it's okay 2-2

The announcers rave about how much we improved in the second half, incontrovertible proof that yelling does work sometimes.

It's that type of game that Rob Clegg's 7.3 is good enough for MoM, which means I shouldn't ignore Jake Wells with 7.2 or JJ Banasco-Zargoza with 7.1.

Value - $190k ($825k loan debt) (+130k)
Stadium - 975 capacity 0 seated
Stadium Condition: Very Poor (Down from Poor)
Field Condition: Okay (Up from Poor)
Basic corporate
Basic training
Minimal youth facilities
Minimal junior coaching
Limited youth recruitment
0 youth setup
Status: Amateur
Finances: Insecure
Average Ticket Price: $6
Season Ticket Price: $62 (-16)
Season Ticket Holders: 25
Season Prediction: 10th (+9)

Despite slashing season ticket prices, we still have the same 25 season ticket holders as last year.

Kieran Roberts is back in training.

Sam Shepherd signs with Waltham Forest after being a major disappointment last season.

(7th) @ FC Clacton (2nd)
Rob Clegg becomes a starting striker, moving Ben Kistell back to AMC, which moves George Jones to MR. Michael Higginbotham will get the nod at DR.

39 - That should have been the easiest goal ever for them, but somehow JJBZ *just* pushes it away, and Wells destroys it clearance-style.

Merrick Cornwell comes in for Hirst at MC at the break. Not sure what our vice-captain's problem is, but he's been dreadful to start his career with us.

64 - Priest gets the call to go in for Clegg. Their backline has just been absolutely stalwart against us.

71 - Cornwell holds up the ball and kicks it back to Higginbotham, who jacks a long, diagonal strike that sees a Clactcon defender jump for the ball and miss it. Jjunju receives it and hits the ball on the bounce. After so many blocked and poor shots by the Ugandan, this one *finally* goes in. 1-0

79 - Kistell tries to pass it twice and gets blocked each time. Finally, Cornwell says fuck it, gets the ball and launches it to a completely open Priest himself, and the dude who's been nagging for PT delivers with a sweet song home and a doubled lead! We're going defensive to try and keep the 3 points. 2-0

87 - Total collapse in the middle by Eaton and Wells, and they have space to get back in now. 1-2

Despite the late snafu, Jake Wells still gets a 7.6 and MoM, with Moses Jjunju and Richard Priest picking up matching 7.3s to go with their goals.

Have we established ourselves as a threat?

Our U18 team draws 1-1. Great game by DCR Kris Turnrow, who might get a look at some point this year.

Kieran Roberts joins Jake Handbury in defections to Wisbech Town. Whatevs.

Chell Trophy - 1st Round - vs Ipswich Wanders
Niall Elam gets a shot at redemption at DL, Luke Rutherford at DC, Matty Campbell at ML, Symon James at MR, and Richard Priest at ST. I'm not terribly concerned about winning this one. It's the league I'm most focused on.

22 - Jjunju to Kistell, and then comes the bounce pass to Priest, who gets a lucky bounce off the goalie on his shot and it goes in. Nice to get the lead, but we're supposed to be destroying this team. 1-0

We're playing solid ball, but we need more AMC coverage desperately. I've put out offers, but haven't landed anyone.

75 - Pardon the pun, but Priest is turning me into a believer. He takes a ray from Higginbotham and strikes. Keeper deflects, but Priest stays right with it and curls the ball around the defenders to put it in! 2-0

82 - Cornwell's on for Hirst, who's done well, but is looking dogged out there.

Two late yellows to our side put a slight mar on things, but it's still a comfortable win. Michael Higginbotham nets a 7.8 and Richard Priest the obvious MoM with 8.8. Higginbotham appears to have taken control of the DR, just as he made the DL his own, so he's a valuable player to have.

(5th) vs Cambridge Regional College (7th)
Rob Clegg and Daniel Peacock are starting at ST, George Jones at AMC. Chris Allison/Merrick Cornwell/Kwasi Frempong form the midfield and Dean Allison/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani/Michael Higginbotham the backline. In short, a very oddball lineup.

3 - This is what I hate about Peacock. He misses easy shots.

Nobody's doing awfully, but no one's wowing either. Jjunju's day off ends at the break when he goes in for Peacock. I need somebody with punch and authority there.

46 - Great pass by Frempong to Clegg, but a sliding tackle dispossesses. Fortunately for us Jones is right there to kick it in anyway. 1-0

50 - Clegg tries to steal the ball and fails, but Chris Allison succeeds his stealing roll and passes to Jones, who takes two steps into the six yard box, and fires it for the 4 minute special double. 2-0

73 - Against my better judgment, I give Elam a chance at DR to replace the tired Higginbotham

89 - Frempong slides it up to Jones who passes it to Jjunju and this beauty follows: Jjunju robs Jjunju. Man, that's harsh when you steal from yourself! He actually collides with the defender and injures him en route to a pass to Clegg, who calmly puts it in! 3-0

A truckload of 7+, but I'll give special mention to George Jones (9.4! and MoM) and Rob Clegg (7.7) as the duo to break the 7.5+ barrier. A hell of a game for all involved, though.

Sweeter news still. Despite all the teams chasing after him, Ben Kistell re-affirmed his commitment to us. We're also 4th in the league. Haverhill Rovers and Dereham Town have both started with 3 straight victories.

Izulde

06-22-2014, 08:10 PM

I love those low level stories, I just never know where one would even begin on some level. I've read the LLM forums, but it's a real exercise in love of club. Excited to see your progress up the table.

Thanks. :) Like I think somebody said in Greyfriars' Level 9 dynasty, at this level, it really is all about the physical attributes moreso than the technical. Consider Jake Wells:

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/JakeWells_zps5c7abdde.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/JakeWells_zps5c7abdde.jpg.html)

Literally the only technical thing he does well is Tackle. But he's 6'8 and got insane Determination and Jumping, which has allowed him to become absolutely dominant at this level.

And yet, my coaching staff rates him at 4 silver stars, so if I listened to them, he wouldn't be starting, and I have a pretty good staff at Judging Player Potential and Ability.

Reserves vs 18s
The Reserves skunk the U18s 4-1 and AMC Dan Murwill, who I forgot I had, has a standout game.

(4th) vs Haverhill Rovers (1st)
Obviously the hugest game ever of my career. Here's what I *think* is going to be my ideal lineup until Michael Husbands gets back from injury:

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/NewIdeal_zpsf14ea367.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/NewIdeal_zpsf14ea367.jpg.html)

But we'll see.

20 - :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: So many fucking good opportunities we've had, and then they fucking score first. That one's all on JJBZ. 0-1

30 - WTF?!?! 0-2

Reaming the fuck out time. Eaton and Jjunju don't respond, so I pull them for Asllani and Clegg. Fuck.this.shit.

57 - HOW THE FUCK?!?! THE OPPOSING GOALIE WAS OFF IN FUCKING LALA LAND AND YOU CAN'T FUCKING CONVERT THAT SHIT, FROGPOND OR WHATEVER THE FUCK YOUR NAME IS?!

71 - Chris Allison boots the corner and Wells drops it in. Can we fight back? 1-2

Unbelievable. Such a pathetic, pathetic performance. Jake Wells was balla with 8.1, but way too many guys shit in the bed in this fucking critical ass game.

Good Trains
Jake Wells
Kwasi Frempong

Bad Trains
Michael Husbands (yes, he's back now!)
Ben Kistell

The board is satisfied and we make a profit of $1.58k last month.

Chell Trophy - 1st Round - 2nd Leg - @ Ipswich Wanderers (2-0 lead)
We put out as cheap a lineup as we can, with only Ben Kistell at AMC as the standard starter. That includes Matthew Malek in goal after JJ Banasco-Zaragoza's shitfuck performance last game.

11 - As you might expect, our offense has done jack. Oh, and our defense has been bleh, too, as they should have allowed a goal here.

12 - Haha! Offsides nullifies goal!

18 - No denying that one 0-1

25 - Should've given up another goal there. "Thetford Town look unable to cope with Ipswich Wanderers at the moment". No.fucking.shit. And these are some of the derps you fuckstick staff want me to start? Jump in a fucking spike-infested lake.

LOL! "We're playing well, we should encourage our players to kick on in the second half?" EXCUSE ME, ASSMAN? ARE YOU FUCKING *DRUNK*?!?! I firmly tell them off, but fuck subs. We've got a league match in 3 days.

72 - Smith steals the ball, runs down the right and then turns in to race towards the center. That gives him the line of sight to send the ball up to the middle and Clegg wins the header. Game.set.advance. 1-1

91 - O-o-o-offsides!

We still played like garbage overall, but picked up in the second half that I can say yeah yeah good win. Rob Clegg is MoM in this louser with a 7.5 Callum Adams goes from 5.9 to 7.2, so yay on him. I have the feels for Ipswich Wanderers, though. They totally outplayed us and deserved to advance.

(6th) @ Welsham-le-Willows (16th)
Our savior, Michael Husbands is back and in the lineup. Moses Jjunju will be his partner up front. George Jones takes the AMC spot, which means Kwasi Frempong at MR and Merrick Cornwell at MC. All is the v.v. tentative ideal lineup.

The Willows, you will recall, are the guys who stole our top youth pull, Jack Jeffries in the offseason. Currently they have as their DR back.

5 - We're playing tight and they should have scored here.

16 - So Jjunju steals the ball on the goalie pass and has ample time and space... and he black holes it. :banghead:

Both sides have fucking awful finishing this first half. Chris Allison is having the worst half of his career, so he sits for Matty Campbell.

77 - Priest on for Husbands to try and break this stalemate.

79 - FUCKING PUNKASS CUMSLUT FLUKEASS BITCHHO FUCKING GOALS! :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: 0-1

Fuck Michael Higginbotham's 7.3 and MoM award. We can't contend for the title if we keep dropping guys in shit fashion like this.

Luke Eaton then stabs us in the fucking back and signs for Walsham-le-Willows immediately after the game. YOU GOD DAMNED FUCKING TRAITOR!!!!

(7th) @ Diss Town (4th)
Niall Elam goes back in the lineup at DL and Dean Allison to DC after the fucking traitor left. Otherwise, ideal-ish lineup. Emphasis on the ish.

44 - Now that was pretty! Frempong intercepts and kicks a beautiful rainbow for Husbands, who keeps on running until he's on the far post in the left hand side of the box. I think he's going to wrapround shot, but instead, he diagonal kicks it in a crossing pattern to the swooping Jones, and the keeper is caught flat-footed. 1-0

No question that was a great first half display, but we're only up by 1.

50 - Jjunju wins the ball on a goal kick and goes back and forth with Jones, who runs until he's just at the touchline, just about to give them a goal kick when he suddenly crosses the ball, where Kistell cuts through the middle of the box and slots it in. 2-0

56 - So the Diss Town keeper keeps passing back and forth with his defenders and getting further and further and further out. You know what happens next. He kicks the ball, Jones intercepts and boots it, and just like that, we're in comfortable position. 3-0

60 - I have no idea how it happened, but somehow Elam threw the ball in to Husbands, who swung it around to the middle of the goal, and Jones beat the keeper for the hat-trick goal. 4-0

72 - Empty out the reserves. Priest and Frost in at striker, Asllani subbing for Dean Allison at DC.

87 - Frost races past everyone and then plays a perfect ball forward to Kistell, who lays it in like warm, melted chocolate. Awww yeah. 5-0

I'll just leave this here and say this is the best game of my tenure here:

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/Awesomegame_zps91c88374.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/Awesomegame_zps91c88374.jpg.html)

In fact, let's just sit and watch all five of these beautiful goals, shall we?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5rStJ4TRuiU?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That pulls us back up to 5th but Kirkley & Pakefield hasn't lost a game yet, and have 16 points with a +13 GD in six games. Guess they were right to fire their manager after last year.

FA Vase Qualifying Round - @ Bowers & Pitsea
There's a week in between this and the next league match, so we're able to keep the same lineup rolling.

8 - Aaaaaaand JJBZ rushes out. 0-1

Jones to MC, Campbell at MR, and Asllani in for Dean Allison at DC. We're playing like crap.

71 - Wells is having the worst game of his life 0-2

87 - Fucking pathetic. 0-3

We played awful and I tear the team a collective new asshole.

Next day JJ Banasco-Zargoza signs with Chalfont St. Peter. Fuck you, asshole.

(5th) vs Hadleigh United (12th)
So Matthew Malek is our new keeper by default because we're having a hard time finding those, too.

1 - I throw a water bottle as Husbands gets a knock. Don't you fucking dare.

4 - How the hell they didn't score there, I have *no* idea.

Jones to AMC, Frempong to MR and Chris Hirst slides in at MC at the break. Our offense just is not clicking at all.

70 - Priest on for Husbands

77 - Wide open goal for Hirst, and he blows it.

Played well enough to win, but didn't. Sound familiar?

Brian Swartz

06-22-2014, 10:56 PM

HOW THE FUCK?!?! THE OPPOSING GOALIE WAS OFF IN FUCKING LALA LAND AND YOU CAN'T FUCKING CONVERT THAT SHIT, FROGPOND OR WHATEVER THE FUCK YOUR NAME IS?!

Calling it, Frogpond is now my favorite player on your team. I'm rooting for him to end the year with something like 6 goals and 14 assists.

Brian Swartz

06-22-2014, 10:59 PM

In fact, let's just sit and watch all five of these beautiful goals, shall we?

You really are a bunch of nancy boys to prance around in kits like that .... I mean, great game, keep it going!!

5 - Fuck you, asshumper ref! Fucking giving Jake Wells a yellow and fuckign giving the god damn fuckrats a fucking PK they convert?! WE'RE AT HOME, YOU FUCKING CARPETRAG KNOBTWIST!!!!! 0-2

I have no idea what that last sentence means, but snickered. And I'm assuming it wasn't a moment of sheer ecstasy.

Izulde

06-23-2014, 06:55 AM

Calling it, Frogpond is now my favorite player on your team. I'm rooting for him to end the year with something like 6 goals and 14 assists.

He does have 1 assist in 5 starts so far.

And I *like* our purple and blue uniforms. Charlotte Hornets style, even. Okay so it's more cornflower blue than teal, but still. Which reminds me of the time I was wearing a talcum powder blue hoodie, and one of my fraternity brothers who was drunk as hell said, "What the fuck, Izulde? Why the fuck are you wearing powder blue?!" And I'm like "Because I'm fucking awesome, that's why."

Bad Trains
Michael Husbands

Board's pleased, though we lost $2.23k last month.

5th @ Ely City (7th)
...Yeah. These assholes who injured 3 of my guys in one game last time we played them. I decide to give Richard Priest the start at striker, because Moses Jjunju has really struggled in the early season.

Frustrating first half in which we play strong defense, but our finishing's a joke. Jjunju and Hirst step up at ST and MC at intermission, with Frempong moving to MR.

51 - :rant: 0-1

71 - And of course the refs fuck us over because we're the away team. No fucking way was Dean Allison offside.

Truthfully, we once again played like ass.

Our U18s lose 2-1. I don't care.

The FA warns me after I bitch about the offside goal. Fuck you, FA. I'm usually right when I complain about the BS.

Transfer In
ST/AMC Ronnie Green (31)

He's got great Pace (13) and is absolutely baller at Free Kicks (16), so we're going to give him a shot. Our offense has been so bad it's worth the try.

8th - @ Kirkley & Pakefield (1st)
Big game. Ronnie Green gets the start. Kirkley & Pakefield hasn't lost yet in 8 contests.

22 - Aaaand that's why they're undefeated. 0-1

31 - Lalala. 0-2

46 - Sure, add on a goal just before half. WTF not? 0-3

77 - Husbands goes off with injury. Jjunju jogs on.

83 - Jjunju scores on a cross from Chris Allison. Big whoop. 1-3

91 - Jones scores after Jjunju's shot is deflected. It's little more than consolation cocktease, though. 2-3

Superb desperation fightback. Moses Jjunju even gets MoM with 7.9.

U18s lose again.

Transfer In
DR Paul Buzzeo (30)

Ridiculous physical attributes for a man his age and 14 penalty kicks besides. He'll get a shot in our lineup.

Richard Priest leaves for Stanway Rovers, who are 2nd in the league.

Chell Trophy - 2nd Round 1st Leg @ March Town United
Moses Jjunju is starting, as Michael Husbands is tired. Paul Buzzeo gets the nod at DR, with Michael Higginbotham moving over to DL. Egzon Asllani is playing at DC.

12 - A team we should be routing, but still nice to see Green hit the head of Wells on a corner for the goal. 1-0

31 - Knock on Higginbotham

Hirst and Allison go on for Frempong and Higginbotham at the half. Truthfully we should be losing here, not being ahead.

Matching 8.4s from Jake Wells and Egzon Asllani, with the Albanian getting MoM. This is a team we should have been able to dismantle, but instead have to grind out a 1-0 defensive victory.

Michael Higginbotham's out for a week.

Ben Kistell signs with Guildford City, earning $10,000. Although that hurts, I can't say as I blame him. 0 vs 10k is a huge difference. He's our second player to leave for a money offer. And truth be told, I'm okay with him going... he hasn't been the same this season.

Egzon Asllani is named the new captain, Chris Hirst the vice-captain.

(10th) vs Felixstowe & Walton (16th)
I should note that there's only 16 teams in the league in this year, due to shuffling around, so we're actually playing the last placed team at home. George Jones moves to AMC, Kwasi Frempong to MR, and Chris Hirst gets a crack at MC. Otherwise, it's the same as last game. Oh, except Michael Husbands is back in the lineup, too.

4 - Chris Allison makes a great, steady run down the pitch and cuts a pass through to Husbands in the half-circle.. and finally, our St. Lucian who has long since been left off the national team, gets a goal to end the drought. 1-0

24 - Buzzeo gives it to Hirst who sends it to Jones. A run into the six yard box later, we've got a doubling of our lead. 2-0

63 - Cornwell in for Hirst

71 - Rutherford in for Asllani

86 - There's a lot of traffic just inside the six yard box and what emerges out of it is Green with a fierce strike that's a green light special - his first ever goal for us. 3-0

90 - Absolutely beautiful long free kick by Green that finds Husbands for the late score 4-0

7.5 for Matthew Malek, 7.6 for Paul Buzzeo, 7.8s for Jake Wells and Michael Higginbotham, and 8.1, 8.2, and 8.8 for George Jones, Ronnie Green, and Michael Husbands respectively.

Wisbech Town fires their manager, as they're 15th. We're still 10th after that one, but in a much better position to make a quick leap up the table.

Izulde

06-23-2014, 01:32 PM

Transfer In
DC Liam Douglas (17)

Depth signing, but we'll see how he goes.

Chell Trophy - 2nd Round - vs March Town United (1-0 lead)
Michael Husbands, Matthew Malek and 3/4 of our backline (save Jake Wells) are in this one, as the rest is all backups, given we've a league match in 3 days' time. The starters who are still in are there due to needing more match fitness.

9 - Welp. 0-1

15 - No worries though, as James long passes to Campbell and nobody thinks to intercept it on the way, and Matty pops it in. 1-1

16 - Unbelievable. That was a sitting goal for them and somehow they screw it up. Not a good day for the defense.

18 - They're definitely up for this game after that free kick goal. 1-2

20 - WTF, backline?! Y U GETTING ASS KICKED?! 1-3

I shred them at the half. Douglas goes in for Asllani, Cornwell for Hirst.

53 - SMH. 1-4

60 - Buzzeo converts a PK we're given, but we're still down a goal on aggregate. 2-4

75 - Urge.to.ragequit.rising. 2-5

Fucking pathetic. Going to end the session here. Way too mad to continue with this bullshit. If we'd won like we fucking should have, we'd been on to the quarterfinals.

Izulde

06-24-2014, 07:59 PM

Board is still pleased and we lost $790 bucks last month.

10th @ Brantham Athletic (15th)
GK: Malek
D: Allison/Wells/Asllani/Higginbotham
M: Allison/Hirst/Frempong
ST: Jjunju/Green

3 - Wow, just wow. 0-1

We're showing some of the worst finishing ever these last few games. Moses Jjunju gets hurt before the half, but he'll continue playing. Liam Douglas comes in at DC, with Egzon Asllani shifting to DR.

46 - Why am I playing this again? 0-2

53 - Green kicks the corner and Wells knocks it down for Douglas to kick it in. 1-2

60 - Wells is hit with a yellow and a PK, but Malek saves it.

65 - Really nice run by Green leads to a feeder pass to Jones, who splices the D for the equalizer 2-2

69 - Booming kick by Chris Allison finds Green who holds up on the end touchline before passing to Frempong, who quickly kicks it to Jones. The weakest shot ever follows, but it takes a weird bounce to find the net. Frempong moves inside and Kevin Grinstead is the new MR. 3-2

72 - Great interception of a bad goal kick there, Green. Too bad your finishing sucks ass.

92 - But God bless Green for his amazing free kick ability, as he just drills one here for the insurance! 4-2

No surprise to see Ronnie Green win MoM with 9.3, and George Jones gathers an 8.9 as the whole team kicks it in to gear following my halftime tirade. Sure enough, I get praised for screaming at them. THIS IS HOW ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS START, PEOPLE!

Eastern Counties Senior Cup - @ Hadleigh United
Kwasi Frempong moves inside and Taylor Smith starts at MR. Liam Douglas is starting at DC, but otherwise it's the same as last game.

We sit back in counter mode and the first half is pretty boring, with a couple chances for each side that fizzle out. Since I'm whatever about cup play, Kevin Grinstead goes in at MR at the half, Oliver Topliss at AMC.

46 - And of course *right* when the half begins, Dean Allison is forced off due to injury, so I have to spend my last sub right away flipping Higginbotham to the left side and inserting Luke Rutherford at DR.

The second half is basically a repeat of the first, with both sides getting a couple chances, but nothing comes of it. On to extra time.

103 - Heart in mouth. Should have gone in for them.

111 - I throw my hat across the room and scream in frustration. ALL OF THE FUCKING EXTRA TIME HIGHLIGHTS HAVE BEEN THEM AND ON THIS ONE MALEK'S DOPEY FUCKING PUNK ASS JUST FUCKING STANDS THERE AND DOESN'T COME OUT TO GET THE FUCKIGN BALL SO THEY SCORE! 0-1

I curse them out for their shit extra time play and royally ream Malek. What a fucking waste of Jake Wells' MoM 8.6 and Liam Douglas 7.9 play, giving it everything they fucking had for this shitstain fuckhead of an offense.

Oh nice.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/rutroh_zps243fd8c7.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/rutroh_zps243fd8c7.jpg.html)

Good work, kid. Too bad it's not enough to earn you a starting spot back.

...George Jones, our leading scorer who is #2 in the league, signs with Hadleigh United. There aren't enough words to describe how stabbed in the back I feel right now.

Matthew Malek signs with Walsham-le-Willows, further weakening us.

(6th) vs Woodbridge Town (10th)
GK: Eddie Piper
D: Higginbotham/Wells/Douglas/Buzzeo
M: Allison/Hirst/Frempong
AMC: Dan Murwill
S: Husbands/Green

We'll have to go shopping after this, but the defections are just killing us this season.

The first half is marred by ugly finishing from both sides. Murwill has been an absolute trainwreck, so he's replaced at half by Topliss.

49 - Yeaaaah 0-1

52 - Tired of watching Allison louse it up out there, so Grinstead pops in at ML

60 - Meh. 0-2

86 - Husbands chips it to Green after getting a longball. We score, but it doesn't matter. Nothing will ever be happy again Thetford Town. 1-2

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/Eeyore_3_zps2b378091.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/Eeyore_3_zps2b378091.jpg.html)

Sums it up right there.

Brian Swartz

06-24-2014, 11:10 PM

this shitstain fuckhead of an offense

:(.

Sounds like my team right now. I'm not prone to rage when playing(FM or otherwhise) in general. Today was the first time I ever got genuinely mad the game, and this quote pretty much encapsulates how I felt. So ... I can feel your pain a bit on this one.

BYU 14

06-25-2014, 12:48 AM

Love the passion. You are the Mike Ditka of soccer coaches..............Now go get me a juice box!!! :D

Izulde

06-25-2014, 08:36 AM

:(.

Sounds like my team right now. I'm not prone to rage when playing(FM or otherwhise) in general. Today was the first time I ever got genuinely mad the game, and this quote pretty much encapsulates how I felt. So ... I can feel your pain a bit on this one.

Yeah, this is seriously like playing the D-League in DDS, only it's more obnoxious because other teams on your level can steal your guys for nothing.

Izulde

06-25-2014, 08:37 AM

Love the passion. You are the Mike Ditka of soccer coaches..............Now go get me a juice box!!! :D

:D Funny thing is, when I coached in real life, I was very laid back and calm (much the way I am in the classroom incidentally). It's only virtually that I let my innate raging tendencies fire. :D

Izulde

06-25-2014, 09:04 AM

9th @ Midenhall Town (3rd)
Kwasi Frempong shifts to MC and Kevin Grinstead goes in at MR.

6 - Murwill gets the ball and passes to Green on the near post, but instead of a shot, there's a turnaround cross tot he far post where a streaking Grinstead powers it in for the fantastic start. 1-0

13 - I hate weak ass goalies 1-1

I do get a laugh every time I see Piper goal kick and Chapman gets a header. Just a little OITNB humor there. Anyway, we're playing well enough overall at half to win.

59 - And our set piece defending sucks. Husbands gets benched for Rob Clegg 1-2

77 - Brilliant run by Green but we keep clanking our shots. Like three people all have easy shots at goal and can't get it in and when Green finally races down and puts it in himself, he's whistled for offsides.

85 - Asllani in for Douglas - not that it'll matter.

I'm at as loss as to what to do with this team, really.

Izulde

06-27-2014, 06:33 AM

I get warned by the FA after bitching about the offsides goal. Whatever, assholes.

Kwasi Frempong hit his yellows limit last match and will miss our next game.

(10th) vs Dereham Town (4th){/b]
GK: Darren Vasey
DL: Niall Elam
DC: Jake Wells
DC: Egzon Asllani
DR: Michael Higginbotham
ML: Chris Allison
MC: Chris Hirst
MR: Carl McEachran
AMC: Ronnie Green
ST: Michael Husbands
ST: Jason Frost

This is the lineup my assman recommends, save for stupid stuff like [b]Paul Buzzeo at DC and Moses Jjunju at MR when they can't play those spots. We'll give this a try and see how it goes.

3 - I hate long range strikes 0-1

DOES NOT STRIKE IT CLEANLY DOES NOT STRIKE IT CLEANLY DOES NOT STRIKE IT CLEANLY DOES NOT STRIKE IT CLEANLY.

That's all I fucking see out of our strikers and it's pissing me off. WTF happened to Husbands? He's been simply hideous this year. Has old age caught up with him already?

55 - Great capture of the ball by Hirst who passes to Frost. Run forward and a spin move to send it to Husbands, and the St. Lucian *finally* gets one to go in. 1-1

57 - Oh look. We get screwed with a disallowed goal due to called offsides, which is BS.

60 - He's awkward at it, but Buzzeo is going to get the nod at MR for McEachran

67 - And *that*'s why Green is in the lineup. Beautiful 35 yard free kick goal. 2-1

70 - Here's Green kicking it to the head of Wells on the corner, and here's the quick double 3-1

71 - Wayne Phillips, one of our U18 players, comes in at MC for Hirst.

What a comeback! Ronnie Green leading the charge in his new position with a MoM winning 9.0, an 8.1 for Jason Frost, and an 8.2 for Jake Wells.

Now let's see if we can build momentum off that. But then Michael Higginbotham signs with Godmanchester Rovers. :banghead: :banghead:

Good Trains
Michael Husbands
Matty Campbell
Alex West

Bad Trains
Kwasi Frempong

We lost $958 last month.

Transfer In
MR Evans Kouassi (22)

My coaches love this kid and see him as an immediate key player due to his stellar all-around mental attributes. We'll see what happens.

(9th) @ Gorleston FC (15th)
I don't think we've ever managed to beat these guys. Evan Kouassi inserts as the new MR and Kwasi Frempong comes back from suspension to take the MC spot. Paul Buzzeo is the obvious DR replacement for the traitor.

11 - Fuck penalties. 0-1

24 - Fuck Wells blowing open headers. You're 6'8, dude!

48 - Against my gut, Buzzeo to DL and Luke Rutherford in at DR. Elam hasn't recovered from giving up the penalty.

57 - Fantastic positioning by Frempong gets him a clearance recovery and a gorgeous pass in space to Frost, who freezes the opposing keeper 1-1

58 - Sterling clearance by Frost sees Kouassi capture the ball and making an amazing solo run all the way down the pitch... only to blow the finish.

78 - Jjunju goes in for a tired Frost

We were just a little short on the day.

Halfway through the season, we're 8th with 21 points. Frustrating part is our +11 GD is better than anyone but Kirkley & Pakefield, who are leading the league with 35 points. Ely City is in 2nd with 29 points and Mildenhall Town 3rd with 27.

Obviously I'm not seeing much chance of our winning promotion, but if we can get up to a Top 3-5 finish by the second half of the season that would be good.

Brian Swartz

06-27-2014, 09:04 AM

Another assist for Frogpond!!

Hopefully the rest can pick it up soon.

Izulde

06-27-2014, 02:23 PM

Another assist for Frogpond!!

Hopefully the rest can pick it up soon.

Hopefully this group can manage to stay together and not get poached by other teams.

8th @ Wisbech Town (12th)
We haven't lost the last two games, so we'll keep it going.

3 - I'm screaming offsides at the ref, but he ignores it. We'd done so well to resist their heavy pressure, too. Fucking ref. 0-1

21 - Whole lot of ping-ponging around the box here that finally ends in the chain of Allison heading to Frost who whips it out to Kouassi, and Green pokes his foot forward on our new MR's cross to tie it up. 1-1

32 - Lucky fucking shot. 1-2

56 - FML 1-3

70 - Jjunju in for Husbands, Phillips on in place of Asllani

We played better than the scoreline indicated, but we're really missing Higginbotham on the DR spot.

Transfer In
DR Tim Pitt (23)

He'll get a shot to start, as we haven't been happy with Paul Buzzeo at all.

(10th) vs FC Clacton (5th)
As noted, Tim Pitt to start at DR in place of Paul Buzzeo.

19 - Now that was pretty. Frempong pings it to the head of Frost. Green gets the pass on the touchline and is looking at side-netting or a corner, when he suddenly streaks a backward cross to Husbands, who sinks it. 1-0

20 - There was almost an immediate answer by their goalie kicking it right at Vasey, who misses the jump, but *just* before it goes in, Wells is there to launch it out and save the sure giveaway.

47 - Kouassi with a marvelous interception, and Frost's shot off the pass bounces in with some help from the post. Great way to the second half, and we've been playing very well so far overall 2-0

65 - Terrific pickoff by Husbands, but his finishing has been off all season, so no surprise he misses here. McEachran for Kouassi at MR, Rob Clegg in at striker for Frost - both players tiring.

68 - Husbands' cross turns into a fluke own goal by their keeper. That pretty much salts this match away. 3-0

89 - Late, lazy given goal. 3-1

Forgot to mark down the stars. That's a sign I'm tired and it's time to take a nap. We're back up in 8th, though, which is right smack in the middle of the table.

Izulde

06-28-2014, 01:24 AM

Transfer In
Mariusz Serwin -28 year old striker

I have a fondness for collecting international players in any sporting situation, and Serwin looks like he could challenge for a starting spot once he gets a rest in, as he was over-used by Kentish Town, his last club.

8th @ Cambridge Regional College (6th)
Jason Frost is home sick with the flu, so it'll be Rob Clegg starting at striker today.

19 - Whenever I see "Player X has gone Y number of minutes without a goal" I expect him to score, and that guy does for them here... only to rightly have it called back due to offsides.

We're doing... okay at the half. Our offense has been for shit, though.

46 - Elam, Allison, and Green orchestrate a series of passes on the left flank that caps off with Husbands taking the ball and running into the six yard box and banking a diagonal shot in. Nicely done. 1-0

63 - Rutherford and Hirst in for Asllani and Frempong

81 - Husbands takes the goal kick from Vasey and centers to Green, and the amazing ball he delivers is finished off by an awesome sliding tackle from Clegg to just barely beat the keeper and even more barely cross the goal line 2-0

Beautiful, beautiful win. 7.9 for Jake Wells, 7.6 for Rob Clegg, and 8.3 for Michael Husbands getting PotM. We still have a need for a DC we can trust to put next to Wells, though. Egzon Asllani is too streaky, and Luke Rutherford keeps screwing up every chance he gets.

Bad Trains
Alex West
David Langton

Board's very pleased, but we lost $3.3k last month.

(7th) vs Walsham-le-Willows (11th)
You all remember Jared Jeffries, the first guy to stab us in the back, right? Well, 21 appearances later, he has a 6.71 average rating for the Willows and yeah, screw him. Mariusz Serwin gets the nod at ST today, as Jason Frost is still getting over the flue. Otherwise, same thing.

36 - And did we forget to mention Luke Eaton and Matthew Malek are also poached guys? Anyone, Frempong to Green followed by a long ball to Kouassi, who crosses it to Husbands. Short run in the driving rain later, and it's a nice FU goal by the St. Lucian 1-0

We've done a pretty damn good job, so let's keep taking it to these traitors.

51 - Ball slips out of Vasey's hands. Ugh. Ronnie Linsdale in for Allison, who looks all whatever out there. 1-1

57 - And here's Pitt to Green to Kouassi to Serwin.... Polish punt in! Whooo! 2-1

63 - Holy crap I thought Jeffries put that in, but it somehow bounces out!

65 - He's been great, but Kouassi is looking tired, so I put McEachran in at MR.

It's the kind of game where Evans Kouassi's 7.4 is good enough for PotM. We'll take it - just a solid, workmanlike win all the way around.

That moves us up to 4th place - probably the best we'll be the rest of the season, but that's okay. We're not quite ready to compete for the title, and would get slaughtered at the next level even if we did promote.

Izulde

06-28-2014, 08:57 AM

To illustrate just how much of an impact Ronnie Green has had, in 11 games, he has 5 goals and 8 assists... which puts him tied for 2nd in the league in assists already. Just wish he was 22 instead of 32.

Transfer In
DLC Leon Burnell - 17 - Stolen from Diss Town

Really, really like this kid. He's played for Brantham Athletic and Diss Town in our league so far and has been an excellent player. He'll get his shot to play the DC spot.

4th @ Haverhill Rovers (5th)
Big, big game for our league standing purposes. Leon Burnell takes the DC spot over Egzon Asllani, and we'll leave our Polish striker in after his great debut.

13 - Pitt with the throw-in to Serwin, who gives it right back. Then comes the cross... and the defender heads it in for an own goal and an early lead for us. 1-0

Shot after shot after shot we've been getting, but the finishing is just not there. We should be up by 2 or 3 goals at this point, not hanging on by the narrowest of leads due to a gift.

Wayne Phillips goes on for Frempong at MC, who had just the worst first half (5.8) and didn't appear to get riled up by the halftime speech.

52 - Fuck the 20 yard strikes int he ass! 1-1

57 - Phillips receives the ball from I forget who, and immediately gives it to Green. A chip pass to Kouassi finds the right midfielder's feet and he pushes aside the defender's challenge to deftly knock in his first goal for us. Husbands is playing terrible, so Clegg subs in after the goal. 2-1

75 - FUCK YOU HE WAS OFFSIDES!!! 2-2

83 - NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2-3

Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, aaaaaand fuck you!

That fucking RIDICULOUS ASS loss drops us all the way down to 6th and completely fucking DESTROYS any glimmer of a hope that we might actually fucking promote from this god damned fucking soccer purgatory.

And that's with Kirkley & Pakefield continuing their cold run of form and losing the top spot to Ely City, too.

6th vs Diss Town (12th)
Same lineup, as we were doing well until our second half collapse.

2 - Green takes the corner and the defense heads it away, but it stays in the six yard box and finds Serwin for the half-crack volley and the early scorching goal. 1-0

3 - Terrible rolling pass by Vasey is intercepted, but somehow they miss the open shot.

26 - Fuck. FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCKING FROGPOND WTF YOU MAKE SLIDING TACKLE RIGHT TO OPPONENT?! THEY PAYING U BRAH?! 1-1

[b[40[/b] - Fuck you Kouassi was NOT offsides!

Frempong is getting moved up to AMC despite being unconvincing at it, because fuck Green's shit first half. Egzon Asllani comes on for Leon Burnell

47 - I look for something to throw with full fury and find a sock. But the angle turns out as fucking limp-wristed as this shit fucking team is and just flutters to the floor a fucking half-foot from my desk. 1-2

63 - And just to make sure we *can't* win, Phillips gets his second yellow and is done. DUDE, HOW THE *FUCK* DO YOU GET 2 FUCKING YELLOWS IN JUST 18 MINUTES?!

64 - And of course Wells misses a header. Fuck this bullshit. 1-3

What the fuck ever happened to you know, WINNING GAMES AND MAYBE TRYING TO CHALLENGE FOR THE TITLE?! Absolutely fucking pathetic!

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/gordon-ramsay-yelling-meme-chicken_zpsb808e0c1.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/gordon-ramsay-yelling-meme-chicken_zpsb808e0c1.jpg.html)

We fucking stink like burnt rubber, that's for damned sure.

Brian Swartz

06-28-2014, 10:23 AM

47 - I look for something to throw with full fury and find a sock. But the angle turns out as fucking limp-wristed as this shit fucking team is and just flutters to the floor a fucking half-foot from my desk. 1-2

*Ding* round three ... what do we have for the losers? Another year in exotic Eastern Counties Premier!

Oh, and you can never have enough Gordon Ramsay.

Izulde

06-29-2014, 10:25 AM

*Ding* round three ... what do we have for the losers? Another year in exotic Eastern Counties Premier!

Oh, and you can never have enough Gordon Ramsay.

Agreed on GR. Kitchen Nightmares does get a bit tiresome after a while, but Hell's Kitchen and Masterchef are two of my favorite brain candy shows.

(7th) @ Hadleigh United (12th)
Same lineup because I'm trying to build up familiarity, although I notice that's damned near impossible to do with an Amateur team.

3 - The garbage play continues, as they should've scored there.

10 - Post bails us out.

14 - No saving on that one. Worse, it's that traitor George Jones who does it. 0-1

31 - Whatever. I just want this season over with. 0-2

40 - Husbands retrieves a loose ball and runs to the left flank before passing it to Allison/b], who immediately continues the assembly line by giving it up to [b]Green on the perimeter of the box. Bada bing, bada bang, the lead's cut in half 1-2

44 - Allison fires a shot and the keeper deflects it, but our left midfielder chases the ball down as it sits on the touchline. The long cross to Serwin turns to naught despite the Polish striker sitting on it to wait for an opening, so he kicks it back to Frempong just outside the six yard box. Before Frogpond can do anything, he's drilled from behind and we're awarded the free kick. Green steps up and hammers home the late equalizer for his second goal in just 4 minutes 2-2

53 - Off comes Kouassi, who is having a dreary day. Frempong moves out to MR and Chris Hirst occupies the MC spot.

60 - Asllani switches in for Burnell

71 - Unbelievable miss by them.

81 - Pitt gets possession and passes it to Hirst. Husbands takes the long ball and rockets it to Serwin, who makes an amazing run to center and fires. The defense blocks it, but Green, who's been shadowing behind, shoots it on the volley and it blazes into the nets for what I think is the first hat-trick of this dynasty. 3-2

87 - Vasey's goal kick finds Green all alone and racing towards the goal, but his shot clanks off the post. Ronnie Linsdale pulls off his warmup and goes in for Allison to help preserve the lead in the waning minutes of the game.

88 - There's a whole lot of back and forth between the keeper and the defense, and even when they do start to move forward, we're pressing them back and back until finally there's a pass going to the keeper again. This time he kicks it, and Frempong intercepts. He exchanges passes with Green and then Frogpond is playing a beautiful ball for Serwin. The Pole runs past all the defenders and strikes it true to guarantee us the 3 points. 4-2

9.6 for Ronnie Green, 8.4 for Mariusz Serwin and 7.6 for a certain Michigander's favorite player, Kwasi "Frongpond" Frempong.

8 games left. Kirkley & Pakefield and Ely City are battling for the promotion spot with 46 and 45 points respectively. From there it's a steep drop down to Haverhill Rovers with 36 points. We're 6th with 33 points, so a third place finish is a very real possibility.

He was tired of not getting first time action, so Matty Campbell signs with Walsham-le-Willows, which is fine. Chris Allison and Evans Kouassi have the starting spots locked down and even if Kouassi falters, Kwasi Frempong is next in line anyway.

6th vs Ely City (2nd)
Remember these assholes? The ones who hurt 3 of my players in one game? Look, I don't give a shit who wins the league, but I really want to beat these guys. Only it's postponed due to water.

Good Trains
Moses Jjunju
Alex West

Bad Trains
Kwasi Frempong

$1.22k lost last month. So under the current loan conditions, we're not expected to have it paid off until 2038. Does the board ever buy out the loan before then if we make enough money?

And now with the FM 14 on Steam sale, I have to decide whether I want to get that and the Level 11 mod (and start off two levels lower even!) or continue this one.

Brian Swartz

07-01-2014, 11:33 PM

Izulde

07-02-2014, 02:01 AM

I thought the Steam sale went on for longer than it did, so that's a miss on FM 14 for me. The good news? This dynasty continues! Yay?

Anyway, we sit around for like 3 weeks doing nothing, because at this point, we have no realistic shot at the title and I'd rather wait for the offseason before deciding what to do next with this roster and this team.

On second thought, we're going to start looking at tactical changes now.

But before we do that, Luke Rutherford goes to Walsham-le-Willows, and Taylor Smith goes out for 2-3 weeks with injury.

(7th) vs Ely City (2nd)
So the lineup is the same, but the FBs go into a Support role, the center midfielder takes on a CM role, the AMC become an Attacking Midfielder who attacks rather than supports, and my Advanced Forward becomes a Target Man instead.

12 - Frempong intercepts and passes to Kouassi, who sends it to Serwin. The Pole holds up due to pressure from the defense and then lays a gorgeous ball into space that sees Kouassi run up and kick it into the nets. 1-0

25 - He gets beat out initially but Elam makes great recovery to go and get the ball before clearing it to Husbands. Long run down the left flank by our St. Lucian, who then kicks it to Allison inside the box. The defender slides in hard to dispossess, injuring our left midfielder, but the tackle's karmically paid for by Green being right there on the far post to drill the doubler. 2-0

43 - Crazy set of passes here that starts with Wells getting the clearing header. Husbands eventually has it on the left wing and he crosses to Kouassi, who looks like he's trying for a shot, but it instead goes to Frempong, who kicks it up to Allison. The ball bounces back to Kouassi and he goes to cross it for Husbands, but it instead takes a weird bend and drops into the net. 3-0

Man... those adjustments appear to be paying off fabulously this game. They've had a couple shots at us that I've seen, but overall, we are just destroying these guys.

50 - They should have scored there. Completely disorganized approach by them.

62 - We've generated no pressure this half, so Linsdale comes on for Allison, Frempong shifts right, and Hirst pops on to replace the tired but brilliantly played Kouassi

65 - Post unfairly denied them there.

71 - Husbands is knocked and we draw the penalty. He's supposed to take it but he's hobbling so he asks Linsdale to take it for him apparently... and despite crossbar shakiness, it goes in! 4-0

85 - Frempong to Green to Husbands... and he misses the sitter. I'm pulling him before he gets hurt worse. In goes Clegg.

Man, we just nailed this game! 8.4 for Jake Wells, 7.7 for Tim Pitt, 8.1 for Kwasi Frempong, 8.9 and MoM for Evans Kouassi, and 8.2s for Ronnie Green and Michael Husbands.

Unfortunately Michael Husbands is out 2 weeks, but considering he's had a major decline this year, it may not be a bad idea to look and see what else we have for the future.

Good Trains
Chris Allison
Darren Vasey
Dean Allison
Kris Turnrow

Bad Trains
Alex West

Board still very pleased. We lost $886 last month.

(5th) vs Kirkley & Pakefield (1st)
My my my. Nothing like running the gauntlet here, eh? As it turns out, Michael Husbands busted his butt and is ready to play again right now, so in he'll go as we try to knock these guys down, too.

23 - Pitt fiercely knocks down a ball to Kouassi, who engineers a long sequence that finishes off by knocking back to Wells. Our 6'8 behemoth jackhammers it to Allison who does a little run and near post pass to Husbands, and the St. Lucian finds the seam in the goal to end his drought 1-0

35 - Damn 25 yard free kick goals 1-1

41 - Just terrible defending 1-2

Asllani and Hirst go in for Pitt and Frempong at the break, but overall, we've stunk to hog heaven.

77 - Heh 1-3

86 - Srsly? 1-4

Yeah, that was just fucking pathetic all around. Total 180 from that first game.

The youth candidates destroy the U18s 4-2, so I'm just going to go ahead and sign everyone my assman says to, and just get it over with.

(5th) @ Felistowe & Walton United (15th)
Getting the start today are Chris Hirst and Ronnie Linsdale at MC and ML. Also Egzon Asllani at DC in place of Leon Burnell, just to give a rest to some of the guys who loused it last outing.

Completely garbage first half, that's for sure. And that goes for both teams. Asllani :( at me when I very calmly tell the team to pull their heads out of their asses.

53 - I've seen enough. Off goes Hirst, in goes Wayne Phillips.

58 - And just like that, Phillips makes the key interception and passes to Serwin's feet. The Pole chips a pass up to the St. Lucian and Husbands knocks it home. 1-0

78 - Asllani throws in to Husbands, who sends it to the far post where Serwin's head finds the ball and puts it away. Allison comes in at ML immediately after the score 2-0

8.7 and MoM from Mariusz Serwin, 8.2 from Michael Husbands and 7.6 from Jake Wells are the three standout performances that really carried us today.

We're now in 4th on goal differential with 39 points, and we're guaranteed to finish no worse than 14th with 5 games to go. Kirkeley & Pakefield have 54 points to Ely City's 48 and then Haverhill Rovers are 3rd with 41, so K&P is in very good shape right now in their essential two-way battle for the crown and promotion.

Izulde

07-02-2014, 01:25 PM

I vote continue, for the following reasons:

** I need more of your profane adventures in (mis?) management.

** FrogPond. End of argument.

** Most seriously, I've tried the extreme low-level mods before and from the discussion about the level 11 one I think it's the same: there's a lot of strangeness that detracts from the experience due to the limitations of the game.

Of course, you should do whatever floats your boat ultimately.

Obvs continuing, but Frogpond may find himself coming off the bench for a while. :D

Kirkley & Pakefield beat Ely City 3-1 last match incidentally - hence the wider margin of the lead than before.

Haverhill Rovers keeps trying to steal Jake Wells, and it's really pissing me off.

4th vs Brantham Athletic (15th)
It's going to be Wayne Phillips getting the start today at MC, as he's had Jake Wells style great games whenever he's been on the pitch. Otherwise, everything's the same as last game, including Ronnie Linsdale getting another crack at ML.

2 - Beautiful arrow after a throw-in of Kouassi, Green, Serwin for the wham-bam goal. But we've had epic starts like this before and gone to pot 1-0

7 - Seriously ref? That was waaaay late on the offsides call and it was complete BS. Green was totally onsides!

18 - Elam throw-in to Green who gives it right back. Then our left defender hits a beautiful arc to the head of a wide open Serwin ...and the Pole shanks it. Argh!

40 - Kouassi recovers a cleared shot by Husbands and kicks it to Pitt. A chip to Green and back to Husbands follows, and the St. Lucian's fouled in the penalty box! He converts the resulting PK despite the opposing goalkeeper looking all hulking Spiderman arms! 2-0

A bunch of guys are looking lacksidasical at the half so I tell them to not screw up in the second half. Half the team looks more focused, the other half just looks confused. Oy vey.

52 - Asllani commits a penalty foul in the box, and they convert. Ugh. Frempong on for Phillips 2-1

80 - Allison replaces the tired Linsdale

Our performance dropped off a bit in the second half, but not enough to rip them for it. 8.1 for Mariusz Serwin, our only player above a 7.1, and that's his second straight MoM outing.

And I just got a potential lead on a job I have to go write a resume and cover letter for, so I'll be back later today.

Izulde

07-03-2014, 03:25 AM

My staff hates Ronnie Green, but his 7.44 average rating just happens to rank third in the league, so they can STFU.

Good Trains
Michael Husbands
Alex West

Bad Trains
Chris Allison
Jake Wells
Symon James

We lost $757 last month, but the board's delighted with how we've been doing.

4th @ Woodbridge Town (5th)
We'll stick with the lineup we have.

5 - Wow, talk about getting screwed. There's no way Wells was offside on his diving header goal that he picked up after Phillips nodded it to him upon retrieving a cleared corner.

19 - We sure seem to give up a lot of long goals. 0-1

37 - WTF?! HE WAS FUCKING OFFSIDES AS SHIT! FUCK YOU REF! 0-2

Jason Frost goes in for Serwin at ST and Green is pulled as we switch to a flat 4-4-2 with Frempong becoming the supporting Advanced Playmaker.

You damn sure bet I screamed at the team, by the way.

72 - Kouassi does much of the direction in this attack on the right flank, including a beautiful rainbow shot to Husbands, who forcefully hits it home. To be honest, this looked a shit ton more offsides to me than the Wells header, but they don't call it. 1-2

73 - Frost runs down a cannon kick from Vasey and gets it right on the corner kick spot, where he hangs it in for Husbands, who suddenly finds his finishing form and sinks this, too. 2-2

Naturally Michael Husbands and his 8.8 are MoM, but nod to Evans Kouassi for his 7.3. We did get screwed with the offsides call, and Husbands had a last second shot lined up when the ref blew the whistle. So even though the announces say Woodbridge Town should have won, I feel like we should have.

Ely City beats Kirkley & Pakefield in the Eastern Counties Senior Cup. Too bad for EC that K&P has all but clinched the promotion spot.

4th vs Mildenhall Town (7th)
We'll run with the flat 4-4-2 we did in the second half of the last game, with Kwasi Frempong playing the supporting Advanced Playmaker role at the other MC spot. Jason Frost also will get a start in place of Mariusz Serwin at striker.

2 - Frost heads it to Husbands, but the defense gets there first and heads the clearance. Unfortunately for them Linsdale is there to intercept and he knocks it to Frost, who says screw it and heads the shot right at goal this time, the keeper caught flat-footed. 1-0

3 - Frost steals the ball on the resulting kickoff and passes it to Kouassi. Strong kick finds Husbands who drives to just inside the half-circle before firing a scorcher that hits the nets! 2-0

6 - And of course Husbands gets knocked. He'll shake it off though, like a boss.

16 - Kouassi gets the ball and sends it to Frempong. Frost takes the ball from Frogpond and quick short gives to Kouassi[/b], who lofts a cross to the far post, and Linsdale surprises everyone by speeding forward for the short-burst goal! 3-0

46 - Kouassi on the corner finds Wells, and this time our 6'8 titan of defense is able to keep the ball down and in! 4-0

This is quite frankly the best half we've played in my tenure here, and it's thrilling to see. Burnell will get some burn again by replacing Asllani at the break. The Albanian's looking complacent and doesn't get jazzed up like the rest of the team.

62 - Wow. HUGE shank by them on what should have been an easy goal. The worst miss I can recall seeing in quite some time. I'd love to replace Phillips at MC, but I don't have anyone on my bench, since I forgot to yank Ronnie Green completely.

77 - I'll send Allison on for Linsdale.

Let's see... 8.0 for Tim Pitt, 9.0 and MoM for Jake Wells, who continues to be my favorite FM player ever.. or at least for this dynasty. 7.7 for Niall Elam, 8.9 for Evans Kouassi, 8.1 for Ronnie Linsdale and Michael Husbands, and 8.2 for Jason Frost.

126 people came to watch that great game, which not only a season high and a home high for my tenure here, but it's also the most well-attended game at any venue Thetford Town has participated in since I took over.

With 2 games left, the absolute worst we can do is 6th, which, incidentally, is what we finished last season. We're also 4 points out of 3rd, so we'd need to win and draw at absolute minimum, plus get help. Even if we win both games, we'll need some assistance to get a Top 3 finish.

4th @ Dereham Town (7th)
We're playing on short rest, which means Chris Hirst is getting a MC start and Mariusz Serwin goes back in at striker. We're also seeing Rob Clegg on the bench and U18 midfielder Nigel Lumley called up to the senior squad.

20 :( 0-1

Fuck it. Jake Wells is pulled for the first time this year and for Burnell. Frempong sits as well, in favor of Lumley. Might as well go for broke.

55 - Terrible passing by Linsdale so I'm going to go ahead and burn our last sub to bring in Allison. A key game right now between the #3 and #5 teams is currently a tie, so we can really improve our position by finding some way, anyway, to scrabble out a win. Or at least get some fucking point of some kind.

Our finishing was fucking horrendous and we got almost no shots on goal that second half. Mariusz Serwin is inconsistent as hell. Puts on those two MoM outings back to back and then shit stinks the last few games.

With the loss, we're now also out of the running for 3rd, as the 2nd place team came back to win. We're now going to finish either 4th, 5th, or 6th.

Kirkley & Pakefield clinch the title and promotion before the last game of the year.

Haverhill Rovers wins the Chell Trophy over Great Yarmouth Town. At least they didn't steal Jake Wells.

Good Trains
Niall Elam
Ronnie Green

Bad Trains
Moses Jjunju
Michael Husbands
Alex West
David Langton
Krystof Davies

4th vs Gorleston FC (11th)
We're going balls out attack in the last game of the year and we're keeping the flat 4-4-2 with Wayne Phillips and Jason Frost restored to the lineups.

11 - Both teams are playing like they really don't give a shit, but the crossbar did unfairly rob Husbands there.

37 - ...Are you fucking kidding me? An injured guy just scored on us? Fuck this season, seriously. 0-1

40 - Asllani tracks down a cleared free kick and wings it out to Kouassi. A cross later and Husbands' half-volley is sitting in the back of the net. 1-1

Rob Clegg and Chris Allison supplant Jason Frost and Ronnie Linsdale at the break.

The offenses completely stalled out in the second half, to the point where Michael Husbands' 7.2 is good enough for MoM. He did get screwed on that first shot though, so we should have won this game.

It turns out not to matter because the team that could've leap-frogged us also finished the year with a tie, and so we finish 4th. Two upper-half finishes in two seasons.

If only we could find a way to finally break through and challenge for the title. I'm scared of what's going to happen this offseason, though. But we'll just have to see how things shake out and see who of our guys we can retain, who ends up leaving, and what new players we can bring in.

Izulde

07-04-2014, 01:32 AM

Top 10 Eastern Counties League Premier Division Individual Rankings - Thetford Town
Jake Wells - T-1st Appearances (30), T-6th Key Tackles (12), 1st Key Headers (88), 3rd Interceptions Made (251), 6th Average Rating (7.32)
Chris Allison - T-8th Appearances (29), 8th Distance Covered (176.8 miles), 4th in Distance Covered/90 (7.5 miles)
Michael Husbands - T-6th Goals (13), T-8th Assists (9), T-5th Player of the Match (4), 4th in Offsides (21)
Ronnie Green -T-5th Assists (10), 10th Key Passes (25), 4th Average Rating (7.37)
Evans Kouassi - T-8th Assists (9), 1st Distance Covered/90 (7.7 miles)
Kwasi Frempong - T-3rd Yellow Cards (7), 9th Tackles/Game (3.42)

Non-U18 Goalkeepers
Darren Vasey (17) - 17 appearances - 24 allowed - 4 shutouts - 6.82
Eddie Piper (18) - 2 appearances - 4 allowed - 6.75

Not much to distinguish between these two guys to be honest. An elite keeper would really do wonders for us. U18 Warren Parmenter could be in the mix next year if we don't find anyone - that's how unremarkable we are here.

Non-U18 Defenders
DL Niall Elam (17) - 23 appearances - 6.8
DC Jake Wells (17) - 30 appearances - 3 goals - 3 PotM - 7.32
DC/R Egzon Asllani (23) - 21 appearances - 6.78
DR Tim Pitt (23) - 14 appearances - 6.92
DL/C Dean Allison (18) - 10 appearances - 6.61
DL/C Leon Burnell (18) - 7 appearances - 6.6
DC Liam Douglas (18) - 3 appearances - 1 goal - 6.77
DR Paul Buzzeo (31) - 6 appearances - 6.68

Our starting backline looks fairly solid, but there's teams sniffing around Elam, in particular Blue Square Premier Altrincham, so he's probably gone. Wells is our franchise star of course, but I was also very pleased with Pitt after he arrived late in the year. There's some U18 guys who might get a shot next season, because the depth here is fairly pedestrian, and Asllani is by no means guaranteed to hold on to his spot, despite the late season strides he made.

Non-U18 Midfielders
ML Chris Allison (17) - 29 appearances - 1 goal, 6 assists - 6.8
MC/R Kwasi Frempong (32) - 26 appearances - 5 assists - 6.85
MR Evans Kouassi (23) - 16 appearances - 3 goals, 9 assists - 7.08
ML Ronnie Linsdale (18) - 9 appearances - 2 goals, 1 assist - 6.89
ML/R Kevin Grinstead (17) - 3 appearances - 1 goal - 6.77
MC Chris Hirst (24) - 14 appearances - 0 goals, 1 assist - 6.64
D/MC Wayne Phillips (17) - 9 appearances - 6.83
MC/DM Nigel Lumley (17) - 1 appearance - 6.5
MC Carl McEachran (17) - 3 appearances - 6.5
AMC Dan Murwill (18) - 2 appearances - 6.6
AMC Oliver Topliss (21) - 1 appearance - 5.9

Wayne Phillips strikes me more as a DC than a MC, so there's every possibility he ends up playing there next season. Surprised to see Frogpond so old? yeah, me too. And there's also 3 teams sniffing around him, so he may be gone this offseason. Evans Kouassi really made the MR spot his own and will be there long-term. Chris Allison showed major improvements over last season and will continue to battle Ronnie Linsdale for the starting ML spot unless we get someone who wows us.

There's a buttload of U18 players, some of whom might be ready to make the jump as soon as next season.

Non-U18 Attackers
ST Michael Husbands (30) - 25 appearances - 13 goals, 9 assists, 4 PotM - 7.25
ST/AMC Ronnie Green (32) - 19 appearances - 9 goals, 10 assists, 3 PotM - 7.37
ST Moses Jjunju (31) - 12 appearances - 2 goals, 2 assists, 1 PotM - 6.85
ST Mariusz Serwin (28) - 10 appearances - 5 goals, 3 assists, 2 PotM - 7.27
ST Jason Frost (17) - 8 appearances - 3 goals, 4 assists, 1 PotM - 7.29
ST Rob Clegg (18) - 10 appearances - 3 goals, 1 PotM - 6.94
ST Daniel Peacock (18) - 1 appearance - 6.7

Michael Husbands slipped this year and I have to wonder if he's done. Certainly he lacked the fearsomeness of last year. Ronnie Green and Moses Jjunju are definitely done. Jason Frost is quietly getting better and better, and Rob Clegg is showing flashes of improvement, too. Not sure on Mariusz Serwin

Need Areas - Starting
GK, DL (assuming Elam leaves), DC, MC, MC

Need Areas - Depth
Probably everywhere

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/2ndyearstandings_zpsb7014b9c.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/2ndyearstandings_zpsb7014b9c.jpg.html)

Dat goal differential, tho.

End Season Notes
The board is pleased.

Good Yearly Trains
Jake Wells

Bad Yearly Trains
Michael Husbands
Kwasi Frempong

Transfer In
MC/AMC Callum Barnett (17) - From Diss Town

This kid tore it up last year as an AMC and could signal a shift to a 4-4-2 narrow diamond next season.

What's that, Mr. Owl? We need a DMC if we want to run a 4-4-2 narrow diamond?

Transfer In
GK Lee Drury (22) - From Woodbridge Town
DM/MC Andy Anderson (17) - From Hadleigh United

Drury was the backup keeper for them last season, but I think he represents an upgrade over what we have. Reminds me of Matthew Malek a little bit, so we'll see how he goes in the battle for the position this preseason.

My scout absolutely raved about Anderson, although he stunk when he got DM chances last year. On the flip side he did very well as MC, so maybe we're looking at the 4-4-2 with wide midfielders and AMC we used last season? Or if we can find enough players worth doing, maybe 3 MC? Stuff to think about.

We keep trying to bring in a great Brazilian midfielder prospect, but our work permit appeals keep getting shot down. Boo. Those whores.

Transfer In
ST Reis Farley-Hearn (23) - From Brantham Athletic

This is a kid we've been after for quite a while now, and finally managed to lure him here. He was arguably their best player and one who I think can instantly step in as our starting poacher with his solid finishing (9) and pace (12). At the very least, he'll give us a better option in depth.

Transfer In
DC Dean Souyana (29) - From Horley Town
DL Jack Cawley (21) - From Hadleigh United

Souyana is strictly a flyer/depth signing to see what happens.

My scout would not shut up about Cawley, even though he only averaged 6.54 exactly with Hadleigh the last two seasons. Call it an insurance signing in case Niall Elam goes. His ratings certainly *look* good.

We technically made a profit of $800k last year, but that's due to the loan that was used to pay off the old loan. Funny enough, our loan debt is exactly $800k.

Transfer In
ST Kelechi Opara (32) - From Cray Valley Paper Mills

He's partially retiring but will still play semi-pro soccer. I'm not expecting a ton out of him - just more reliable veteran depth.

Ronnie Green is retiring at the end of the season. He saw the writing on the wall with our change in tactics towards the conclusion last year, but he'll hang around for one last campaign.

Transfer In
DC/MC Aaron Malton (22) - From Berkhamstead

If the name sounds familiar, it should. The Welshman played in 25 games for us the first season and while he wasn't spectacular, we're anticipating a huge crush of interest in our center midfielders and want depth to fill that in.

The press hammers me about his re-signing and I'm like get over it, guys. He happens to be the right fit for us right now. No need to get all inquisitive and suspicious here. But in the process. I somehow upset Aaron. I think he was hoping for a more enthusiastic reception.

Transfer In
MRC Dean Fenton (30) - From Chesham United

This guy has outright stunk the last two years with his team, but six clubs all wanted him, including us. But keep in mind... he was playing in the Southern Premier League the last two years, which is one step below Blue Square/North South... or in other words, Level 7. We're Level 9. So you do the math on that. Whether he'll start or not, I have no idea. But it's more material for our midfield.

We're listed as the Overachievers of the Year. That's nice, I guess, but not nice as winning a title.

Ronnie Green is voted Fans' Player of the Year, which makes sense, given how impactful he was in the games he did play.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/TT1314_zps457aeea7.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/TT1314_zps457aeea7.jpg.html)

Weird choice for Moses Jjunju to be there if you ask me.

Niall Elam and Ronnie Green go in the All-Time Best Thetford 11 as starters, while Kwasi Frempong makes it as a reserve.

Transfer Out
MC Chris Hirst - Needham Market

Needham Market demoted from the Ithsmian League 1st Division North and they're a semipro team. But they only offered Hirst an amateur contract. I get it, though. A chance for maybe more playing time and perhaps a more likely run up the ladder.

Walsham-le-Willows is bought out by a fan consortium.

Transfer Out
MRC Kwasi Frempong (32) - London Colney

In Michigan, a heart breaks that we no longer have Frongpond, and that makes two midfielders we've lost this offseason. Oh well. So it goes.

Board's satisfied. We lost $2.45k last month. They're slightly disappointed in the departure of Frogpond.

And it's on to Friendly season... but boy is the deck looking stacked ugly against us this year. More on that later.

Izulde

07-04-2014, 03:23 AM

vs Holbeach United (Friendly)
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/earlyyear3look_zpsed765053.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/earlyyear3look_zpsed765053.jpg.html)

Radical new look? Yep. Newcoming starters (for now) are: GK Lee Drury (22), DC Aaron Malton (22 but a returnee), DM Andy Anderson (17), AMC Callum Barnett (17) and ST Reis Farley-Hearn (24).

What follows is a sloppy, awful first half where we mount almost no offense to speak of. Our defense is looking legit, but man... offense is uuuuuuuuuuugly! Bunch of subs to reflect that.

82 - Can you say 20 yard strike given up? I knew you could! 0-1

90 - Linsdale gives it to Serwin, who dribbles all the way out the left wing. The Pole crosses to Green, but the defender slide tackles. Unfortunately for him, Linsdale is charging hard and gets the loose ball goal. 1-1

7.3 and PotM for Ronnie Linsdale, but Niall Elam bagged a 7.2.

Promotion Odds
Needham Market - Co-favorite (Relegated From Level 8)
Soham Town Rangers - Co-favorite (Relegated From Level 8)
Norwich United - 5-4 (Relegated from Level 8)
Haverhill Rovers - 5-1
Dereham Town - 6-1
Mildenhall Town - 14-1
Thetford Town - 40-1 (Compared to 25-1 in Y1 and 33-1 in Y2)

Yep, that's three, *three* teams who dropped down. We have 18 teams total so that means 32 games this year. We got screwed HARD in the league drops. And it's setting a precedent where we're stuck with at least one demoted team for the next three seasons. FML and fuck our ever-remote promotion odds year after year.

Transfer In
GK Ricky Wiseman (28) - From Needham Market

My scout swears up and down that Wiseman is an elite goalie for our level. My staff's not quite as glowing, but still consider him a major upgrade over the other keepers we have here, so that's great.

vs Kirkley & Pakefield (Friendly)
Might as well get a tough opponent to see how we really stack up. On the other hand, we have to make some lineup changes due to rest, which I'm not going to detail here because it's a damned friendly.

23 - A goal they should've had on the corner, but no dice. I don't think we've managed a single shot on goal yet that I've seen.

35 - Nigel Lumley has to come off, which is just great because that means we have to put a tired Niall Elam at DM, as Andy Anderson[b/] needed the day off, too.

Sub fest.

[b]48 - Nothing to be done there. 0-1

51 - Someone was pissed about being held scoreless for an entire half 0-2

Yeah we pretty much played like ass overall and I firmly tell them to knock that shit off for future matches.

vs Hatfield Town (Friendly)
Our friendlies have all been crammed together, which isn't a good thing.

We continue to play like absolute shit in the first half. Our strikers act like they completely forgot how to play the game.

49 - Missed penalty!!!

70 - The crossbar robs them.

90 - Elam clears the ball and plays a major role in the sequence that follows, including the pass to Pitt that's then kicked back to Green for the 30 yard shocker. 1-0

We were lucky to win and only did because of the 7.4 Jake Wells PotM and Egzon Asllani 7.3 heroics in the backline. Oh, and Ronnie Green's 7.3 and goal helped too, of course.

Good Trains
Ronnie Green
Kelechi Opara
Symon James
Alex West
David Langton

Bad Trains
Moses Jjunju

Niall Elam gets a $26.5k contract from Boreham Wood, the highest contract yet to be signed by a former Thetford Town player.

$2.03k loss last month.

vs Boston Town (Friendly)
Only getting 2 goals in 3 matches is not acceptable, so I decide to tighten things up with a narrow 4-4-2, with 2 MCs instead our wide midfielders. This creates a sea change of players and outlook of course, but we'll see how this goes.

4 - How they didn't manage to score there, I'll never know. It's interesting to note that Wiseman, our supposed stud goalie, keeps having problems blending into the team.

14 - And a bogus penalty makes up the difference. Heh. 0-1

24 - Phillips kicks it to Husbands, who dribbles inside the six-yard box before striking home the tying goal. I notice that EVERY.SINGLE.FUCKING.MATCH I get the "Our midfield is being overrun" remark but a quick google says this always happens with a 4-4-2, so fuck it. 1-1

39 - Suck a fat dick, you assfarming ref. Fucking giving Leon Burnell a double yellow in a fucking friendly.

48 - Fuck you, fluke ass goal. 1-2

My assman says "Tell them there's no excuse to be losing matches like that.

I look right at him and say,"It's so easy to talk about it, isn't it? It's so easy to be all ragehurt when you're just talking about preseason. We're sitting in this hot ass sun and we're supposed to be the overachieving team, and we're in this hot ass sun bitching about preseason. I mean, listen, we're talking about preseason. Not a game, not a game, not a legitimate, honest to fucking goodness fucking matters in the standings league game. We're talking about preseason. Not a game that matters, not a game that these guys go out and bust their ass on this shitty ass field for and hope to fuck we can somehow find a god damned fucking promotion miracle in this wack ass, fucking semipro team laden Eastern Counties Premier Division... WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FUCKING PRESEASON!!! Do you realize how stupid this sounds? It's preseason, man. We're talking about fucking preseason, man. Now I know I'm supposed to give a shit about the morale and how the team's doing, and if we're scoring. I get it and I know it's important. Not trying to say it's like nothing. But man... we're talking about fucking preseason. You've seen my lineups, you've seen my strategy, my fucking street free agent signings, and you know I do everything I can to help this damned team win. But you wanna sit there and talk about preseason, man. Not the matches that mean fame and money, but preseason. Fucking.preseason.!"

Then there's this, just before our first game that matters.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/FrostySP_zpsc03aa956.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/FrostySP_zpsc03aa956.jpg.html)

Brian Swartz

07-04-2014, 03:40 AM

I'll miss Frogpond, but at that age he wasn't going to be around long anyway.

I like how you improve over the year before and are rewarded with worse promotion odds. However, since you've poached a new keeper from one of those relegated clubs and made other improvements, I still think you've got a shot to challenge for the title, provided you can avoid too many more Iverson moments.

On second thought ....

Izulde

07-04-2014, 04:59 AM

Egzon Asllani retains his captain's armband, and I decide to go with veteran leadership by naming Dean Souyana as vice-captain.

@ Dereham Town
GK Ricky Wiseman
DL Jack Cawley
DC Jake Wells
DC Egzon Asllani
DR Tim Pitts
DM Andy Anderson
MC Nigel Lumley
MC Aaron Malton
AMC Callum Barnett
ST Michael Husbands
ST Jason Frost

That's what my assman thinks we should play for a starting lineup, and I agree with him. We'll go with a narrow scheme in this diamond 4-4-2 with shorter passes, and see how it goes.

10 - One of our defenders gets absolutely wrecked and the striker is completely open and free... but he shanks the shot. Wow. Unbelievable miss.

17 - I'm getting really sick and tired of these fuckign 20 yard goals they keep magically getting 0-1

28 - And Wells misses the wide open header on the corner.

52 - Knock on Asllani

54 - Lumley and Barnett move down a level, and Green pulls off his jersey to go in at AMC.

58 - Pitt plays great defense and crosses it long ways to Cawley, who jackhammers it all the way up to Frost. Another longball to Lumley, who powers it up to Malton. Then the finishing pass to Green, who drills it in and makes me wish, for a moment at least, that he wasn't retiring. Burnell comes on at DL 1-1

Considering we were pretty heavy underdogs, I'll take the draw and the point. Jake Wells was indeed the rock on defense with a PotM winning 9.0. 7.3 each for Ronnie Green and Egzon Asllani, and 7.2 for Tim Pitt.

Egzon Asllani will be out a week with a leg injury, so he'll miss our next game.

Value - $180k ($800k loan debt) (-10k)
Favored Personnel: Jake Wells, Ronnie Green
Stadium - 975 capacity 0 seated
Stadium Condition: Very Poor
Field Condition: Poor (Down from Okay)
Basic corporate
Basic training
Minimal youth facilities
Minimal junior coaching
Limited youth recruitment
0 youth setup
Status: Amateur
Finances: Insecure
Average Ticket Price: $6
Season Ticket Price: $70 (+8)
Season Ticket Holders: 25
Season Prediction: 12th (-2)

10th vs Mildenhall Town (3rd)
Leon Burnell and Dean Souyana take the DC spots, with Wayne Phillips and Dean Fenton at MC. Reis Farley-Hearn gets the nod at striker. Obviously this are all due to tired people, and I'd love to give Tim Pitt rest too, but the only other guy capable of playing DR also needs a breather. Ronnie Green goes from super sub to starter, again due to fatigue of the starter.

Dan Murwill and Mariusz Serwin go in for Green and Farley-Hearn at the half to try and kickstart what is looking completely anemic in terms of offense.

73 - Scary moment as the upright denies them.

83 - Fenton's forced off, so on comes Lumley

7.3, 7.3, 7.4, 7.6 for our backline, headlined by Tim Pitts fighting through the exhaustion for a PotM award. But that's two straight games where our offense has gone completely missing and we've been forced to settle for two measly draws.

13th @ Brantham Athletic (11th)
D: Dean Allison/Wells/Liam Douglas/Barnett
DM: Lumley
MC: Will Forbes (U18 callup)/Malton
ST: Opara/Frost

5 - Wiseman freekicks it to Frost. The ensuing header finds the feet of Opara, who dribbles a bit into the box, picks his spot, and pounds it in for our very first lead of the season 1-0

11 - FUCKING BITCHSLUTASS 20 FUCKING YARDER!!!!! WHY THE FUCK DOES EVERY GOD DAMNED MOTHER FUCKING WHORESON PUNK FUCKING OPPOSING GOAL COME FROM 20 FUCKING YARDS OUT?! FUCK THIS GOD DAMNED PIECE OF HORSESHIT FM 13 ENGINE!!!! 1-1

25 - Dickass bullshit. 1-2

40 - Lumley-Frost-Opara score. Look at all the fucks I do not give, because we are not fucking winning. 2-2

42 - HIT FROM 20 YARDS OUT?!?! YOU DON'T FUCKING SAY!!!!!!!!! 2-3

I make a coupel subs and I don't give a fuck who. Fuck this bullshit and fuck another god damned WASTED FUCKING SEASON

47 - Fuck you. 2-4

85 - Frost scores. I don't give a fuck. 3-4

88 - Opara blows the open header worse than a crack nodding bus station whore. I don't give a fuck.

16th of 18 teams. Fuck this shit. Why the fuck do I even bother? Nothing I do ever amounts to anything more than a fucking Top 5 finish at best, and then some dillhole semi-pro team steals my fucking best players anyway and fuck the god damned overrun of fucking semipro teams in the league.

Brian Swartz

07-04-2014, 02:31 PM

I make a coupel subs and I don't give a fuck who. Fuck this bullshit and fuck another god damned WASTED FUCKING SEASON

I'm shocked ... shocked I tell you! That your team didn't respond with inspiration and go on to win :P.

In all seriousness, it's three matches. There's plenty of time to recover.

Izulde

07-04-2014, 05:14 PM

I'm shocked ... shocked I tell you! That your team didn't respond with inspiration and go on to win :P.

In all seriousness, it's three matches. There's plenty of time to recover.

Yeah I think I'm going to go back to the flat 4-4-2. This narrow play looks ugly on the pitch and gives me a headache.

I bitch about not being given a penalty and the FA warns me. Welcome to Lake IDGAF.

Chell Trophy 1st Round - @ Ipswich Wanderers
We have a league match 3 days after this, and the league is what matters.

GK: Ricky Wiseman
D: Leon Burnell/Dean Souyana/Liam Douglas/Tim Pitt
M: Chris Allison/Nigel Lumley/Will Forbes/Kevin Grinstead
S: Michael Husbands/Mariusz Serwin

30 - What's that? We're losing to a non-division club? You don't say! 0-1

Farley-Hearn and Cornwell replace Husbands and Lumley at the break.

55 - Allison with the 35 yard free kick goal to level it up. 1-1

57 - Yeaaaah even I knew you were offsides on that goal, Serwin

76 - Double yellow for Allison. Meh. Switching to a 5-1-1-2 with Asllani replacing Grinstead

87 - :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: 1-2

What a shithole of a performance.

Our six game winless streak is a new low

16th vs Cambridge Regional College (9th)

GK: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Cawley/Jake Wells/Aaron Malton/Egzon Asllani
M: Ronnie Linsdale/Andy Anderson/Dean Fenton/Evans Kouassi
S: Michael Husbands/Ronnie Green

Hoping we can salvage something here.

11 - Nope nope nope. 0-1

35 - NOPE NOPE NOPE 0-2

Dean Allison/b] and [b]Kevin Grinstead take the DL and ML positions at the break.

71 - They should have scored there.

A complete fucking waste. None of our shots were on target.

Symon James goes to Hassocks FC. That's nice. He never played a game for us.

17th @ Norwich United (9th)
Chris Allison at ML, Egzon Asllani at DC, Tim Pitt at DR, and Mariusz Serwin and Jason Frost as the strikers. It's pretty damn clear that Michael Husbands is completely past it.

35 - A knock for Wells. If he ends up going out long-term, I may as well just quit.

64 - Callum Barnett in for Anderson

71 - Opara on for Serwin

75 - Cawley deep in their half of the field passes it to Kouassi, who kicks it out to Allison. There's a cross to Frost who becomes our first striker to a league goal this year I think. 1-0

82 - Yep you were so far offsides it was insane, Opara

85 - They totally Brittaed that header that should have gone in.

93 - Kouassi to Frost on the break... and for once a long strike goes OUR WAY 2-0

7.6 for Tim Pitt, 7.8 for Jake Wells, 8.4 for Jack Cawley, and a big 8.8 and PotM for Jason Frost.

And of course because FM likes to fucking screw me over, Jake Wells is out over a month :banghead:

Good Trains
Dean Fenton
Eddie Piper
Rob Clegg

Bad Trains
Ronnie Green
Alex West

$1.4k loss last month. Board's satisfied.

Chell Trophy - First Round Second Leg vs Ipswich Wanderers
With the league title already well out of contention, we may as well try and get some hardware. Leon Burnell at DC. Ronnie Linsdale at ML, and Callum Barnett at MC to replace the tired Dean Fenton. Oh, and Kevin Grinstead at MR because Evans Kouassi's tired, too.

2 - Serwin takes the rebound just inside the six yard box after Frost's shot is blocked and powers it in 1-0

17 - Own goal by Burnell 1-1

Grinstead's knocked, but it's Dean Allison in place of Asllani and Nigel Lumley on for Barnett that are the halftime subs.

67 - They should've scored there.

74 - Cawley throws it in, takes the pass from Anderson and angles a huge, hanging curveball for Frost... only it never gets there because it veers off into the nets instead. 2-1

And to extra time we go.

We have a few chances in the first 15 minutes, but can't put it away, and we're denied a penalty we should have had. Evans Kouassi comes in at MR despite his own tiredness to try and be the differencemaker in the final 15 minutes.

108 - Pitt gets the ball and sees a wide open Anderson in the middle of the field. A long ball then goes to Kouassi in the six yard box. He does a bit of dribbling, finds his marker, and SLAMS HOME THE GOAL! 3-1

115 - And of course we're caught fucking napping! 3-2

They score 0-1
Frost scores 1-1
They score 1-2
Anderson scores 2-2
They score 2-3
Kouassi scores 3-3
They score because fucking stupid fuck goalie stands there like a fucking dicksmack 3-4
Linsdale scores 4-4
Aaaand they score 4-5
Lumley scores 5-5
They score 5-6
Dean Allison scores 6-6
They score 6-7
Cawley scores 7-7
They score 7-8
Burnell scores 8-8
They score 8-9
Serwin scores 9-9
They score 9-10
Pitt scores 10-10
Their fucking goalie scores 10-11
So does Wiseman! 11-11
And now we're back to do the cycle all over again
They score 11-12
Frost scores 12-12
They score 12-13
Anderson scores 13-13
They score 13-14
Kouassi scores 14-14
They score 14-15
Linsdale scores 15-15
They score 15-16
Lumley scores 16-16
They score while Wiseman does a fucking hula hoop routine 16-17
D Allison scores 17-17
They score 17-18
Cawley scores 18-18
They score 18-19
Burnell scores 19-19
They score 19-20
Serwin scores 20-20
WISEMAN SAVES!!!!!!

It's all up to DR Tim Pitt now...

.....

....

....

....

....

....

....

IT'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! 21-20 ON PKS, WE ADVANCE!!!!

7.7 for the hero Tim Pitt and 7.5 for Andy Anderson.

Brian Swartz

07-11-2014, 02:38 AM

After a contest like that, I demand more!

Izulde

07-11-2014, 05:29 AM

Probably Sunday. Going to the NBA Summer League games all day tomorrow and then Saturday is online Pathfinder gaming session.

Izulde

07-24-2014, 08:22 AM

So yeah, a game *that* damn epic necessitates a long ass break, apparently. :P

14th vs Hadleigh United (2nd)
GK: Ricky Wiseman
D: Dean Allison/Liam Douglas/Egzon Asllani/Callum Adams
M: Chris Allison/Callum Barnett/Dean Fenton/Evans Kouassi
S: Reis Farley-Hearn/Kelechi Opara

It's been so long I've forgotten a lot of these guys, but our 21-20 PK victory left a ton of people exhausted, so we have to jerryrig a lineup that's going to suck ass against one of the league's top teams anyway.

24 - Barnett to Farley-Hearn, who slips a wide open 1 on 1 pass to C Allison, and of course the shot is wasted.

40 - That's how you complete a 1 on 1, fuckfaces. Why can't you do that? 0-1

Aaron Malton, Taylor Smith, and Paul Buzzeo go in at MC, MR, and DR, because look at all the fucks I do not give about keeping subs in reserve.

50 - Malton misses an open header on a goal kick. "I Dreamed A Dream" is playing in my head, so I put on Susan Boyle's version and dream of a time when we don't suck. I'll be old as Boyle is now before that happens, though.

61 - C Allison passes to Farley-Hearn. Two defenders converge on him so he sends it to forward to Opara, who has two defenders clamping down on him as well, but the wild old vet (wily but fuck fixing typos) knocks it in. 1-1

66 - What is this madness? Farley-Hearn steals the ball on a weakass pass and sends it to Opara, who knocks aside a defender to get the ball back after initially losing it, and thunder kicks it in goal. Fuck yeah, Thunder! 2-1

72 - Smith crosses midfield and delivers it to Opara, who runs a wing play just outside the box before a far post cross where Chris Allison is all by himself, and brings it home like he's Celine Dion 3-1

83 - Buzzeo's buzzed for the penalty and they convert. It's All Coming Back To Me Now.... "There were days when the sun was so cruel... all the tears turned to dust and I just knew my eyes were drying up forever". There's a certain dry-eyed grimness about watching these implosions, yes. 3-2

86 - Malton passes to Farley-Hearn, and the ensuing blast from outside the box is good! I have no idea why, but the opponents scream that he was offsides. Ref says fuck you and hands out a yellow. I point to my crotch and shout to the biggest complainer, "See this? Suck it, asshole!" 4-2

88 - Malton to Farley-Hearn again, only this time there's another move to send it to Opara, who shakes off the defender and nets the hat trick!! In thine eye, 2nd place team! 5-2

Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you... that is how I know we score on.... for this game anyway.

Anyway, 7.7 for Liam Douglas, 7.8 for Chris Allison, 9.3 for Reis Farley-Hearn, and a balla as fuck 9.7 for Kelechi Opara, you magnificent (soon) semi-retired bastard.

Chris Allison doesn't listen to me when I talk to him. That's a benching next game, Mister.

We get Dorking Wanderers in the FA Vase. It's going to suck to play myself.

(10th) @ Haverhill Rovers (16th)
Yep, we leapt 4 places as a result of that win.

GK: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Crawley/Leon Burnell/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Ronnie Linsdale/Andy Anderson/Aaron Malton/Evans Kouassi
S: Reis Farley-Hearn/Kelechi Opara

Some adjustments as you can see. Given the troubles we've had scoring goals in recent games, we're damn sure going to stick with the duo that just netted us a ton of scoring. Let's see if Celine is a magic charm "Because You Loved Me" up next.

Boring first half. Oh so damn boring. Let's try something with more punch to it. ...Yes, yes, let's torment our foes with Justin Bieber "One Time". To the bench go... well shit, I forgot to put any MC in the subs. So it's Jason Frost for Opara as the only replacement. Let me tell you... one time I go without MCs in the bench five... would I love would I love to have been smarter. "Many have called, but the chosen is you... whatever you want shawty, I'll give it to you"... that makes me laugh every time I hear it, especially since I rock the cap and hoodie look quite a bit, so looking at Biebs in that video is like looking at a younger, hairless version of myself in some respects. Anyway...

55 - Bad followthrough on your shot, Frost. I forgot that asshole Jake Handbury was on this team. Fortunately Linsdale lays out the traitor, and fuck the yellow he got anyway.

70 - Wide midfield replacements with Chris Allison and Taylor Smith.

78 - Frost takes the pass from Anderson and just as he's about to blast it, he's wrecked by the defense. No penalty called, but Opara's there for the strike... only to get it pushed away. But Smith follows through and backstabs it in like a thief! 1-0

90 - WTH?! Pitt jumps randomly in the air like he just heard House of Pain and I'm fucking swearing up a fucking storm when the center comes in.. and Anderson boots it to the corner.

91 - Somehow Wiseman is all alone with an attacker and I've got the bile in my throat, but the header goes diagonal... but it's still in play... and then Burnell blasts it away to get it the fuck out of there.

Yes, it was a bad match, and it was our backline all earning 7 or better that bailed us out, along with Taylor Smith's PotM-winning goal for 7.3, but IDGAF. WE HAVE AN ACTUAL FUCKING WINNING STREAK IN LEAGUE PLAY!

That puts us 6th with 11 points, but there's a ton of teams around that this early in the season, and top team Wisbech Town only has 13 points, so there's very much an opportunity to make ourselves relevant.

@Dorking Wanderers (FA Vase Qualifying Round)
We've got a week after this one to rest up before our next match, so it's going to be the same lineup as what's worked. This time I make a damn sure to have an MC on the bench.

GK: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Crawley/Leon Burnell/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Ronnie Linsdale/Andy Anderson/Aaron Malton/Evans Kouassi
S: Reis Farley-Hearn/Kelechi Opara

We'll go with a little Snoop Dogg "Gin and Juice" for this one. "End our bad run of form"? The hell? I think my assman toked up before the game. We on a 3 game win streak, bro. Though for some reason the Dorks are favored. Maaaaan, fuuuuuuuuuuck that.

37 - Let's see... three bullshit yellows early, a bunch of pussyfooting passing around with nobody having the fucking balls to shoot, and then they nail us on the counter. Yeah, fuck this. 0-1

I firmly tell them to get off the shit at the half, but they're looking at me like stoned ass motherfuckers, so Maltondrops to DC and Asllani goes to DR. Need another DC but that shit ain't happenin'. Callum Barnett hops in at MC.

47 - And of course they double right away. Fuck that noise. 0-2

52 - It's early but fuck it. C Allison and Smith wide midfielder replacements - no diggity, no doubt.

73 - Opara chases down a boomer from I forget who and puts it in. We still losin' tho 1-2

We did pick up our play in the second half overall, so I'm all assertive that we were just unlucky.

Why not calm? Because I see this fucking shit on the wall of the locker room.

http://hotmeme.net/media/i/6/a/rzE-you-start-linsdale-and-kouassi-but-sub-in-allison-and-smith-every.jpg (http://hotmeme.net/post/rzE/you-start-linsdale-and-kouassi-but-sub-in-allison-and-smith-every/) HotMeme.net (http://hotmeme.net)

Izulde

07-24-2014, 09:34 AM

7th vs Ely City (16th)
We're actually favored to win a game finally. A couple of changes, due notably to everyone's favorite Thetford Town player, Jake Wells, coming back into the fold.

GK: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Crawley/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Chris Allison/Andy Anderson/Aaron Malton/Evans Kouassi
S: Jason Frost/Kelechi Opara

11 - Dickass free kick goals. THIS IS A FUCKING SHIT ASS TEAM AND W'RE AT HOME! 0-1

Linsdale and Farley-Hearn on at ML and ST at the half, Opara the laggard-ass out there.

Second half was so fucking pathetic, it's not worth mentioning. We also lose Jason Frost for 5 to 6 weeks due to injury.

Bad Trains
Dean Fenton
Moses Jjunju
Ronnie Green
Warren Parmenter

Good Trains
Alex West
Shaun Carpenter
Miles Hilton

DM/MC Tommy Rose (25) - Ely City
We've been quite weak at midfield despite all the bodies we keep throwing at the problem, and hopefully Rose will be a solution.

MC/ST Adam Pullen (25) - Horley Town Reserves
Depth signing.

MC/ST Anthony Adams (17) - Diss Town
I'm really excited about this kid (7 Finishing, 17 Teamwork, 12 Work Rate, 12 Composure, 11 Pace), and hope he can be part of our present and future.

Board's pleased. $547 profit.

(10th) vs Woodbridge Town (11th)
Favored to win this one. Can't wait to see what our new guys do.

GK: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Crawley/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Chris Allison/Tommy Rose/Aaron Malton/Evans Kouassi
S: Anthony Adams/Kelechi Opara

18 - Kouassi's pass into the box is intercepted and the defender lazily goes to backpass it... and there's Anthony Adams rushing forward to kick in the debut goal!! 1-0

31 - Opara gets the ball mid-air mid-pitch and heads it on to a speeding Adams who fakes out the defense and grabs his second goal of the game! Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" is making fantastic damn background music. 2-0

39 - Awful defending 2-1

63 - Our 17 year old Adams makes a great interception of a poor goalie pass but he puts too much on what should have been a hat trick. Farley-Hearn on for Opara and Kevin Grinstead replacing Kouassi - both due to energy concerns.

73 - My litany of fucks is interrupted by the ref shouting offsides on a free kick goal by them.

78 - Goalie toss to midfield where Adams is waiting, and he finds a hole in the backline to pass to. Allison charges to pick it up and calmly rifles it in from just outside the box 3-1

85 - Fucking counter goals 3-2

86 - FUCK YOU, ASSFARMER REF! MY BOY ADAMS WAS ONSIDE! YOU HATE 17 YEAR OLD BOYS, DON'T YOU, YOU LOUSY FAT ALCOHOLIC FUCK! YOU'RE ONLY DOING THIS FOR THE GOD DAMNED BEER MONEY!

87 - .... 3-3

I scream at the backline and my goalie, and the team is divided on my assman's recommendation of telling them they were unlucky. I really wanted to rip everyone a new bunghole, but had to settle for private group reaming.

Thetford Town will have the happier set of supporters? Fuck you, you stupid ass fuckwit announcer. HOW THE FUCK ARE THEY GOING TO BE HAPPY WITH OUT FUCKING LOSING A GOD DAMNED MOTHER FUCKING 2 GOAL ADVANTAGE IN LIKE 5 FUCKING MINUTES?!?!

We're fucking with only 12 points now and the fucking leader has god damned 18. If we'd fucking won we could have gotten 14 points and at least put us in fucking striking distance rather than this FUCKING HORSESHIT MID-TIER CAMPAIGN AGAIN IN THIS FUCKING WACKASS HALF AMATEUR/HALF SEMIPRO LEAGUE THAT THERE'S NO FUCKING GETTING OUT OF BECAUSE THE GOD DAMNED FUCKING AI TEASES ME WITH GETTING US UP THERE AND THEN HATERAPING US IN CLOSE GAMES SO WE'LL ALWAYS STAY DOWN AT 9 AS FUCKING AMATEUR BUFFOONS AND NEVER TASTE SEXY, SWEET SEMIPRO STATUS

bbgunn

07-25-2014, 12:38 AM

I sense a bit of irritation from you in that last write-up.

Izulde

07-25-2014, 02:11 AM

I sense a bit of irritation from you in that last write-up.

I get irritated in every writeup. :P

Paul Buzzeo goes off to Diss Town. We won't miss his old, error-prone ass.

Transfer In: MC Karl Brown (32) - Stone Dominoes FC
Solid all-around veteran MC who should provide a boost to our midfield - potentially as a starter.

We lose Evans Kouassi on an $8.5k contract to Tunbridge Wells. All the more reason to get to semi-pro status so our guys don't get poached like that for nothing.

(10th) @ FC Clacton (5th)
GK: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Crawley/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Chris Allison/Karl Brown/Aaron Malton/Taylor Smith
S: Anthony Adams/Kelechi Opara

Weird. We're heavily favored, even the announcer picks us to win, yet the team talk options all say we're underdogs. Go figure.

2 - Malton passes it to Opara, but it's bounced away. Malton follows through and sends it again to Opara, and this time the Nigerian drills it in from just inside the box. 1-0

We're dominating this match but our poor finishing up front is hurting us. Rose goes in for Brown

45 - Scary moment. Should have been a sure goal there, but Wiseman makes the shrewd save.

60 - Bar the goal, Opara has been completely ineffectual and has a yellow besides, so in comes Farley-Hearn

84 - Adams takes the ball on a throw-in and shoots a beautiful, line drive pass to Farley-Hearn, who rockets it in for the doubling. We're hitting that Defensive, learning from our mistakes last game. 2-0

91 - They held on to the ball too long there, and should have scored.

Solid defensive win. Jake Wells is PotM with 8.1, 7.7 from Egzon Asllani and 7.5 from Jack Cawley.

And then out of nowhere, Jason Frost signs with Wisbech Town, who happen to be the #2 team in the league. He's still out with injury, but this one took us completely by surprise.

vs Soham Town Rangers (Chell Trophy 2nd Round 1st Leg)
This is our first of three straight against the semi-pro Soham Town Rangers in a very weird scheduling storm.

GK: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Crawley/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Chris Allison/Tommy Rose/Aaron Malton/Kevin Grinstead
S: Anthony Adams/Kelechi Opara

Since we're mainly playing for the trophy at this point, might as well put our best foot forward.

16 - Lucky fucking bounce on that weakass kick 0-1

Linsdale and Farley-Hearn (for Opara{/b]) are our halftime subs. We're controlling this game other than the fluke goal, but have had a grand total of zero shots worth noting.

[b]81 - In comes Brown for Rose and we switch to an Attacking mentality.

Anthony Adams completely tanked the second half and ended with a 5.9. Ugh. Waste of Jake Wells getting a PotM 7.8, too.

Guess what? Our U18s play Soham Town Rangers U18s too, and they beat us 1-2.

(5th) vs Soham Town Rangers (1st)
Obviously this is the big one that matters if we want any hope of getting out of this amateur shithole.

GK: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Crawley/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Chris Allison/Tommy Rose/Aaron Malton/Taylor Smith
S: Anthony Adams/Kelechi Opara

0 - Literally 3 seconds into the game, Adams gets knocked. Buck up, kid, and play on.

50 - Injury's bothering Adams, as he misses a shot he should have destroyed.

51 - Brown in for Malton, Grinstead for Smith.

62 - Fuck it. Farley-Hearn on for Adams

Brilliant play by our backline, but our strikers failed us. Forget us winning anything ever now. Anthony Adams is out for a week too. Whatever.

Izulde

07-25-2014, 10:06 AM

@Solham Town Rangers (Chell Trophy 2nd round 2nd Leg)
GK: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Crawley/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Chris Allison/Tommy Rose/Aaron Malton/Taylor Smith
S: Mariusz Serwin/Kelechi Opara

Surprise striker start but Reis Farley-Hearn has been crap in the Chell Trophy, so might as well roll the dice on our Polish striker finding a little magic.

2 - We suck at corners. 0-1

31 - Got lucky with an offsides call there.

I scream at them at the half and put in Michael Husbands in place of Opara and Kevin Grinstead in place of Smith. Time to go all out overload because we're down 2 goals.

52 And of course a shitty goalpass assfucks that all in the rear 0-2

57 - They get awarded a PK and of course convert 0-3

81 - Pityfuck goal on a cross from Allison to Malton. Whatevs. 1-3

82 - Can't leave god damn well enough alone can they? 1-4

Yeah I'm gonna rip into the team after the worst performance we've had all season.

Screw it. Gonna go play some Hearthstone or something. There I can at least win stuff.

Brian Swartz

07-26-2014, 10:11 AM

Based on this thread, I think I would pay good money to watch you be forced to play Dwarf Fortress. Oh, and hope you can finish the season strong if you have the constitution to continue.

Izulde

07-27-2014, 01:56 AM

Based on this thread, I think I would pay good money to watch you be forced to play Dwarf Fortress. Oh, and hope you can finish the season strong if you have the constitution to continue.

From what I've heard of Dwarf Fortress, I'm never playing it. Why? Because I'd end up on The First 48 if I did. And CSI: Miami is done with and that's the only show I'd ever want a criminal act of mine fictionalized on.

Good Trains
Jake Wells
Dean Allison
Casey Rush
Alex West
Merrick Cornwell

Bad Trains
Kelechi Opara
Shaun Carpenter

Huh. The board is very pleased and we made $243 last month, our second straight month of making a minor profit.

@ Woodbridge Town - Eastern Counties Senior Cup 2nd Round
GK: Ricky Wiseman
D: Dean Allison/Leon Burnell/Liam Douglas/Callum Adams
M: Ronnie Linsdale/Dean Fenton/Karl Brown/Kevin Grinstead
S: Michael Husbands/Reis Farley-Hearn

We're supposed to get clobbered and have a league match three days after this, so might as well go with a B squad lineup.

3 - Well, well, well! A Farley-Hearn corner to Burnell for the head-in and early lead. 1-0

13 - Brown intercepts the ball and starts a move that features a couple of great passes between him and Adams. It's the latter who delivers the final blow, kicking it on up to Farley-Hearn who gets a little crossbar help for the doubling 2-0

32 - LOL. They get a fluke goal and it's disallowed because someone off the ball was offsides.

Quite shocking to go into halftime with a 2 goal lead, let me tell you. I kind of want to go defensive in the second half to protect it, since MOV doesn't matter here. I think I will.

48 - Here this bullshit goes again 2-1

70 - Nigel Lumley in for Fenton, who made a huge mistake in that surrendered goal, and Taylor Smith on for the tired Grinstead.

71 - Yep. Fucking horseshit. 2-2

Extra Time 90 - FUCK THIS GAME! 2-3

107 - Oh awesome. An own goal for us 2-4

Fuck it... I'm just at the point where I'm ready to quit this game for good. It's a timesink where I never get anything right, no matter how much reading and strategizing I do, and it really, really sucks being in a league where only the champion promotes.

The team's demotivated after that loss. Well fuck you guys too.

@Needham Market (12th)
GK: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Crawley/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Chris Allison/Tommy Rose/Aaron Malton/Taylor Smith
S: Anthony Adams/Kelechi Opara

We win this one, and I'll keep going. Tie or lose, and I'm so done.

55 - Grinstead and Lumley in for Allison and Rose. OUr passing ahs been shit and this game has been fucking boring.

64 - Malton tackle-steals and passes it to Adams, who runs all throughout the defense before shooting from inside the half-circle for a rare gaining of second-half lead 1-0

"Thetford Town are winners but in truth it was a poor match"

Oh go fuck yourself.

Jake Wells - 7.7, Tim Pitt - 7.6, Egzon Asllani - 7.5.

We're up to 5th with 19 points, but pardon me if I'm not ecstatic. Mildenhall Town has 25 in the only place that matters in this pissant little league.

Transfer In - MR Liam Rutledge (20) - From Coventry Sphinx
My coaching staff seems to think we're set everyone but the wide midfield spots, where they don't like any of our options very much. Rutledge comes with the Hot Prospect label, but when I bring him in, they say he's raw. Now on the bright side, both rate him our #3 MR and since Dean Fenton is going nowhere but down and the gap between the two is virtually non-existent, Rutledge will get a backup role and serve as our de facto #2.

Transfer In - ML Alex Snell (18) - From Gorleston FC
Now this kid I'm genuinely excited about. Great mental and physical attributes (12 Bravery, 16 Determination, 13 Flair, 11 Work Rate, 11 Balance, 12 Jumping, 13 Natural Fitness). One coach thinks he's our #1 ML, the other #2. Both think Chris Allison sucks, so we'll see what happens.

(5th) @ Walsham-le-Willows (12th)
G: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Cawley/Jake Wells/Aaron Malton/Egzon Asllani
M: Alex Snell/Karl Brown/Tommy Rose/Taylor Smith
S: Mariusz Serwin/Michael Husbands

This is what my coaching staff swears is the best possible lineup right now (bar the split decision on ML), so I'm going to go ahead and trust them on that, particularly since we've had such a hard time scoring lately.

42 - If you would have told me before the season that it would take this long for Husbands to score his first goal of the year, I'd have said you were insane. But that's exactly what happens when Brown and Rose exchange passes before Serwin, who has had a couple of open looks on goal and missed, gives it back to Brown. I honestly thought he was going to shoot there, but it's laid off to our St. Lucian striker, who *finally* ends the drought. 1-0

Fitness issues are cropping up at the half, so Liam Rutledge gets his first call at the break for Smith, and though he just scored, Husbands sits for Anthony Adams, who I know is considered ho-raw by the staff, but I believe in the kid's potential, and we're in the lead anyway.

Good defensive victory as Jake Wells and his 8.8 not only win PotM, but he completely shuts down the opposition so that they don't threaten much in the second half. I have to say that I'm not all that thrilled with Mariusz Serwin, who you may remember had that great initial burst with us upon first signing, but then fell in the tank after that.

Still 5th. Still 6 points back. Considering we've finished 6th and 4th the last two seasons, we're doing right about what we usually do. Treadmill shit, ugh.

We've been unbeaten in 5 games apparently, which doesn't sound right at all, but there you go.

Jake Wells continues drawing praise for his phenomenal play. He needs to stay a member of this team forever.

Alex West is suffering from food poisoning again. It's the again that gets me. What is this kid doing, eating really shitty Chinese takeout?

Transfer In - ST Ryan Ingrey (21)
Another high potential guy. My coaches like him better than Anthony Adams right now and he's a hair behind the rest of the guys on the squad, but with explosive upside, so I'll send Adams down to the reserves and call Ingrey up.

5th vs Wisbech Town (3rd)
G: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Cawley/Jake Wells/Aaron Malton/Egzon Asllani
M: Alex Snell/Karl Brown/Tommy Rose/Taylor Smith
S: Mariusz Serwin/Michael Husbands

Safe to say that this is our single biggest game of the season, and we need to win this one if we want to even have the smallest chance of finally breaking through the ceiling.

Oh shit. I stressed out Ricky Wiseman with my pre-game talk.

11 - Damn it. Husbands is knocked. He'll play on, though. Can't afford this early a sub. They're playing *very* dirty.

42 - Smith takes the sideways free kick on the right side and curls it up for Rose to break past the defense and score his first ever Thetford Town goal! 1-0

54 - Aaand Husbands is officially knocked out of the game. Big pressure moment for Ryan Ingrey on his debut. I also put in Liam Rutledge for a tiring Smith

74 - :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: 1-1

So.god.damned.motherfucking.bitchass.fucking.frustrating. I throw a power adapter in my rage. Luckily it doesn't break.

Michael Husbands finally gets back in the lineup and now he's out 4-5 weeks. Just fucking great. We move up to 4th. Look at all the fucks I do not give.

The board refuses to find us a parent club, of course. Nor will they pay out the compensation fee needed to land an absolutely amazing striker who could singlehandedly carry us to the championship.

I see there's an opening in the division above me with a semi-pro team, who has an awesome team nickname, so I'm going to apply and see what happens. Ironically, I do it right before my 100th game in charge of the team.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/angryfans_zpsc4a6ecbe.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/angryfans_zpsc4a6ecbe.jpg.html)

Face it, guys. Your team sucks, your board sucks, and I'm doing miracles with this side as it is. You want to complain about two upper half finishes and well on our way to a third? Really? Really?!

As it turns out, I get rejected anyway, so it's a moot point. Instead they go with a rookie manager who has League 2/League 1 playing experience. Whatever.

4th vs Felixstowe & Wellstone United (13th)
G: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Cawley/Jake Wells/Aaron Malton/Egzon Asllani
M: Alex Snell/Karl Brown/Tommy Rose/Taylor Smith
S: Mariusz Serwin/Kelechi Opara

Why not our young prospect? Because we need to win games, and you go with your best lineup in those circumstances.

3 - Serwin fires a scorcher to Cawley, who runs to the end of the pitch prior to crossing. Rose makes a diving header for his second goal in as many games 1-0

24 - Great pair of passes sees Asllani hoofing it to Serwin and the Pole putting it to Opara, and the Nigerian shows veteran experience rings true with a cool shot 2-0

I move Malton up to MC, Asllani to DC, and bring in Tim Pitt at DR at the break, because Brown's looking complacent.

62 - Smith is tiring, so Rutledge replaces him.

71 - And here's Serwin on the left flank sliding it to Snell, and there's an immediate pass on down the line to Opara and bada-bing, bada-bang, two goals for the Nigerian who has overachieved since signing with us, and we're guaranteed to win (maybe). 3-0

Feels so great to finally dominate an opponent. Kelechi Opara obviously is PotM with 8.8, but give credit to Jake Wells (8.2), Egzon Asllani (7.5), Tommy Rose (7.6), and Mariusz Serwin (8.4) in this victory.

Puts us up to 3rd place and just 3 points and GD off the lead, which has gone back to Soham Town Rangers after Mildenhall Town got waxed 4-0 by Norwich United, who has that amazing striker the board wouldn't pony up the compensation money for.

Good Trains
Karl Brown
Moses Jjunju
Shaun Carpenter
Warren Parmenter
Julian Chand

Bad Trains
Kelechi Opara
Dean Fenton
Adam Pullen
Casey Rush

Board is very pleased, though we lost $1.51k last month.

(3rd) vs Gorleston FC (7th)
G: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Cawley/Jake Wells/Aaron Malton/Egzon Asllani
M: Alex Snell/Karl Brown/Tommy Rose/Taylor Smith
S: Mariusz Serwin/Kelechi Opara

Big game here in terms of... what am I saying? Every game is big when you're chasing the title.

9 - Smith takes a knock

21 - FML. 0-1

22 - WHAT THE FUCKING SHIT IS THIS GOD DAMNED COCKSMACKING HORSESHIT?!?! 0-2

Andy Anderson and Tim Pitt replacing Rose and Asllani at the half, the two very worst offenders in this fucking pathetic first half.

46 - Fantastic throw-in by Pitt, who then gets involves in a couple passes, the last of which is a terrific rainbow to Serwin's head, finally ending the Polish striker's insanely long goal drought 1-2

58 - He's tired and been lousy all game, so Opara is pulled for Ingrey

81 - Wide open shot for Ingrey and he shanks it.

86 - Snell makes a beautiful interception and pass to Serwin, and just when I think the Pole's going for a curling goal, the goalie kicks it in by mistake. We'll take that 2-2

We played as well in the second half as we didn't in the first, so I'll be gentle, even though we're now 4th and 5 points away.

And that's when it happened.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/noooooooooooooooooooooooowells_zpsb0c6d58f.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/noooooooooooooooooooooooowells_zpsb0c6d58f.jpg.html)

Pardon me while I go despondently eat popcorn now.

Izulde

07-27-2014, 05:27 AM

So yeah... the only surprise is that it didn't happen sooner. Can't fault him for it, though. Not only the money, but this:

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/bigW_zps4075dc62.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/bigW_zps4075dc62.jpg.html)

Some perspective here - Southern League 1st Division Central is a Level 8 league and Biggleswade Town actually promoted out of here two years ago via playoffs to the Southern Premier League (Level 7, naturally, and one step below Blue Square North/South). Last season they relegated down after finishing 18th, so they're working on getting their way back.

But as for Jake Wells... he leaves a literal and figurative huge hole in our backline and on our team. He's had the most Man of the Match awards for us every single season and his 69 team appearances ranks #1 all-time in this universe at the time of his departure, and that's with him missing time due to injury this year

On the bright side, our backline is the area of the team most equipped to take a hit. It means team captain Egzon Asllani moves back to the center and Tim Pitt regains a full-time starting spot until we can try to find someone else.

(4th) @ Diss Town (5th)
G: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Cawley/Aaron Malton/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Alex Snell/Tommy Rose/Karl Brown/Carl McEachran
S: Mariusz Serwin/Kelechi Opara

We need to win this one to stay alive in the title chase. Plain and simple as that. Also to put breathing room between us and the teams below.

30 - Total and complete failure to clear allows them like 5 shots before they finally poke one in. Our own finishing has been a disaster 0-1

37 - Oh look, a given up goal on the corner. We're really missing Jake Wells, as both shots have come in the middle. 0-2

45 - Oh look, Serwin takes a big ass knock right before the half.

Andy Anderson in for Rose, Ryan Ingrey in for Opara. Both players in serious danger of losing their starting spots.

53 - Ingrey makes a great open field tackle to get the ball and boots it to Serwin on the far left wing. Our Polish striker makes former Thetford Town defender Paul Buzzeo look foolish before flipping it to Cawley. Rocket shot later and McEachran, playing for our two tired right midfielders, powers the header in with more authority than any shot I've seen this year for his first league goal. 1-2

90 - Anderson chases down a cleared ball and sprays it out to Cawley for the followup center to Ingrey, who shanked a one on one earlier. This time, though, despite the crowd, he puts his head down, finds his spot, and fires it in. 2-2

Second straight game where we came out flat in the first half and fought back int he second for the tie. So many what might have beens in those two games. I don't like noting stuff for non-wins, but Jack Cawley's 8.3 and PotM deserves mention.

We lose Mariusz Serwin for 6 to 8 weeks, further destroying our striker situation.

Six games unbeaten is a new record apparently, but we need more wins out of there.

Transfer In - DR Troy Harrison (18) - From Felixstowe & Wellstone United
Check out these amazing mental attributes - 10 Bravery, 13 Composure, 14 Determination, 12 Flair, 13 Influence, 13 Work Rate. Also 11 Tackling on the Technical side. Looking like a really elite young player for this level and he'll do a lot to soften the blow of losing Jake Wells even if he's DR only.

Transfer In - MLR Rheo Josephs (21)
A castoff from League 1 Stevenage, my scout couldn't shut up about him. Neither of my coaches see him as a starter at the moment, though he has great upside. Will become a bench player.

Transfer In - ML Joe Asensi (21)
Made 1 appearance for Blue Square Premier Histon in 2010/11, but otherwise he's been a reserve at the next level for Soham Town Rangers and Norwich United the last three years, both of whom happen to be teams we're chasing. If my scout raved about Josephs, he was orgasmic about Asensi, and my coaches were in agreement with his all-around skills and adamant that he's a star player for this level.

4th vs Dereham Town (14th)
G: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Cawley/Aaron Malton/Egzon Asllani/Troy Harrison
M: Joe Asensi/Andy Anderson/Karl Brown/Taylor Smith
S: Reis Farley-Hearn/Ryan Ingrey

Going to be interesting seeing how this lineup works out (or doesn't).

It's snowing and our finishing is something awful the entire first half, but our defense is doing well enough to actually keep it scoreless at the break for once. Snell hops on at ML and Ingrey takes the bench in favor of Anthony Adams.

64 - I actually shout FUCK YOU out loud when they're given a bullshit penalty that they of course make 0-1

83 - We've had one shot all second half and now Farley-Hearn goes off BECAUSE GUESS WHAT?! WE CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH INJURED FUCKING STRIKERS AT THE WORST GOD DAMNED POSSIBLE MOTHERFUCKING TIME! Fuck it. Burnell gets in and a 5-4-1. I don't even care anymore.

So yeah now we're 5th after losing at home to a shitty fucking team.

Robb Clegg, who once looked like a bright part of our future, complains about lack of playing time and unlike everyone else I haven't mentioned because they're fine with trying to prove themselves, he just wants out, so I cut him loose.

@Mildenhall Town (2nd)
G: Richard Wiseman
D: Jack Cawley/Aaron Malton/Egzon Asllani/Troy Harrison
M: Joe Asensi/Andy Anderson/Karl Brown/Taylor Smith
S: Michael Husbands/Ryan Ingrey

Nobody's giving us much of a chance to win this one, and they're probably right not to, since we're on the road against the #2 team in the league.

19 - Another knock for Smith who is starting to look really injury-prone.

23 - LOVE SEES RED! BEST.FM.COMMENT.EVER. It also means we now have a 1 man advantage.

Burnell in for Asllani and Rutledge takes Smith's spot.

50 - We switch to an Attacking game to pressure our advantage at the break, but all we've done so far is nearly allow a goal before the half and nearly allow one just after it. Anthony Adams is nobody's idea of a true MC, but he's going on for the still-ineffectual Anderson anyway.

71 - FUCK YOU WISEMAN AND YOUR GOD DAMNED SHIT ASS KICK THAT ALLOWS A FLUKE ASS FUCKING LONG RANGE GOAL WHEN WE'RE FUCKING UP A GOD DMAN MAN! 0-1

74 - Husbands gets the ball stolen before he can get a shot off, but Asensi has the presence of mind to power forward for the equalizer 1-1

Seriously, fuck a draw when we have an advantage the whole game just about. I rip into the team after that and Egzon Asllani and Joe Asensi aren't happy. Fine, I'll bench both your asses next game.

Izulde

07-27-2014, 08:13 AM

We lose Taylor Smith for 4 to 5 weeks. Typical.

I cut 5 players, the most notable of whom is Moses Jjunju.

Good Train
Michael Husbands

Bad Train
Alex West

We have a huge bloat on the U18 squad still, with my coaches thinking everyone has future star ability on them, but I'm able to make some cuts by getting rid of the people with low determination and low ambition.

Mariusz Serwin is appointed the new Vice-Captain, as one of the original cuts was my old vice-captain.

We lost $9.26k last month due to scouting costs. Ouch.

7th vs Brantham Athletic (10th)
G: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Cawley/Aaron Malton/Leon Burnell/Troy Harrison
M: Alex Snell/Tommy Rose/Karl Brown/Liam Rutledge
S: Michael Husbands/Ryan Ingrey

Some lineup changes due to poor form and/or pissy attitudes.

The first half is us misfiring, misfiring, misfiring. Rheo Josephs gets the nod at MR for Rutledge at the half. Same old story of defense doign great, offense doing shit.

57 - Anthony Adams on for Ingrey

Another day, another draw. Ugh.

As a result, I fire my assman, who's a moron anyway, and sign one who's even better.

Grant Ryder, Sr comes in and immediately says our backline and midfield situation stink, specifically the middle of the field and the right hand side. Interestingly enough, he rates Rheo Josephs as our best MR.

Transfer In - ST Danny Nti (22) - Loughborough University FC
Really liked his attributes even though he's stunk it up in the other Level 9 league he's been in. Worth a shot considering how little we've gotten out of our other strikers. 10 Finishing, 10 Dribbling, 10 Determination, 11 Flair. And he's Nigerian like Kelechi Opara, but there's no mentoring relationship allowed. Boo.

I do however ask Michael Husbands to tutor Anthony Adams, and both players are quite amicable to it. Hope it pays off.

Transfer In - DC Sam Hearn (22) - From Dereham Town
My new assman doesn't think much of him, but again, I like his solid all-around attributes and will give him a starting crack while I adjust some of the rest of the lineup.

@Cambridge Regional College (16th)
G: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Cawley/Sam Hearn/Egzon Asllani/Troy Harrison
M: Joe Asensi/Aaron Malton/Karl Brown/Rheo Josephs
S: Michael Husbands/Danny Nti

Let's see how the new toys work out, eh?

8 - Brilliant interception two times in a row by Brown, who seams it to Husbands after the second pickoff. There's an immediate pass to Nti, who dribbles, finds himself space, and scores! 1-0

12 - Flawless goal pass by Wiseman to Husbands. Our St. Lucian dribbles right through the defense and notches one in for what has been all too rare a goal for him this season! 2-0

40 - :T 2-1

44 - Fuck.this. 2-2

Ingrey for a tired Husbands, Burnell for a shitass Hearn. Oh what? Hearn[/b is pissed because he got pulled? Fuck you. Don't play a fatass douchecanoe coming down off a sugar high and maybe I don't have to pull you.

I've known two guys with the last name of Hearn come to think of it (that I know their last name was Hearn). One was awesome, the other a whiny fuck. Both are assholes, and this kid is living up to the Asshat Hearn tradition. If I hadn't just signed him, I'd cut his ass.

13 games left. We're 8 points back, so if we don't start getting some wins, I'm going to cut a ton of people.

But not before we sign a 17 year old DLC prospect named [b]Taylor Bone, apparently... or 17 year old DRC Stu Ottoway. ...or 19 year old DM/MC Ryan Horne. I LOL when I see the reporter is literally Awestruck at the press conference, probably because we're making all these signings. Oh and 17 year old DM/MC Dil Spittlehouse, who my assman swears is our best MC.

(6th) vs Norwich United (2nd)
G: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Cawley/Stu Ottoway/Egzon Asllani/Troy Harrison
M: Joe Asensi/Aaron Malton/Dil Spittlehouse/Rheo Josephs
S: Michael Husbands/Danny Nti

If we lose this game, the bloodbath is on. Oh and get this. Sam Hearn killed his elbow in a training session and is out 3 weeks. Serves you right, you saucy hobag.

37 - Way to blow the perfect setup from Husbands, Nti.

41 - Fucking Wiseman and his own goal self. 0-1

52 - Burn all the subs I do. Who and where doesn't really matter.

63 - Callum Barnett with the steal and pass to Josephs, who's now on the left side. Pass to Husbands and line cross to Nti, and we've a tie 1-1

68 - Josephs is slammed hard and goes to 11% with the green cross, which I've never seen before. Too bad I'm out of subs.

87 - Baller saves by Cawley, the second of which sees him pass it to Josephs, who's still at 33%. All the kid does is jackhammer a long ball that Husbands gets to first. Backpass to Cawley and side swing to Rutledge on the far post. Goalie never even saw it coming. 2-1

88 - I guess Husbands got hurt during the celebration or something, because like, we need more striker injuries and shit.

No remarkable performances in this one. Liam Rutledge and his 7.4 game-winning goal is enough for PotM. 6 to 8 weeks without Josephs, 4 to 5 without Husbands.

Still 8 points back with 12 games to go. But in light of those injuries, I think it's time for The Great Culling, anyway. Especially since I still see Jake Wells has the #3 highest rating in the league.

As for his new team? 5 appearances, 1 PotM award already, but 6.56 average rating. Biggleswade Town has a 7 point lead on the #2 team in their own league, so I think it's safe to say the auto-promote will probably be in the cards.

Izulde

07-27-2014, 01:19 PM

The Great Culling
MR Taylor Smith
ST Kelechi Opara
DM/MC Tommy Rose
MC Karl Brown
ST Mariusz Serwin
ST Ryan Ingrey
MLR Kevin Grinstead
MR Liam Rutlege
ML Chris Allison
DM/MC Andy Anderson
MC/DM Dil Spittlehouse
ML Alex Snell
ST Ronnie Green
GK Lee Drury
Dan Murwill
Darren Vassey
Miles Hilton
David Langton
Craig McKay
Julian Mirco
Wayne Phillips
Christian Richens
Rob Ross-Jennings
Casey Rush
Kenny Sinclair
Richard Tippings
Kris Townrow
Alex West
Kieran Blackett
Dean Blackley
Shaun Carpenter
Paul Casey
Julian Chand
Matty Connor
Krystof Davies

Mostly U18 fodder, but a lot of important players and regular starters. Basically, I cleared out everyone over the age of 25 with the exception of Michael Husbands and Ricky Wiseman, and then dumped everyone who didn't meet a basic technical standard.

Troy Harrison gets the vice-captaincy, and what we're left with is a roster that's stripped down and streamlined of all its bloat and confusion, one made younger and fresher by the whittling.

I also combine our U18 and Reserve squads, but even with that, we have no strikers and no wide midfielders available due to all the injuries.

6th @ Hadleigh United (16th)
G: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Cawley/Stu Ottoway/Egzon Asllani/Troy Harrison
M: Joe Asensi/Aaron Malton/Callum Barnett/Carl McEachran
S: Reis Farley-Hearn/Danny Nti

8 - This is what the youth movement brings you. Losses 0-1

32 - Asensi's free kick bounces off the wall, but Malton is there for the left-footed crack that goes in. 1-1

38 - Asensi free kick goal! 2-1

Asllani slides to DR and Taylor Bone will get his debut appearance. Not happy with how Harrison is just ho-hum with our lead, because it's not safe.

60 - McEachran gets knocked, and though I cringe to do it, I have no choice put to put Anthony Adams in at MR.

67 - Of course that's when Adams heads down and traps a ball to begin a move that finishes off with Farley-Hearn passing to Nti, and our young Nigerian threads the needle on a diagonal into open space in the box. Charging hard is Asensi to strike his second goal of the day. 3-1

70 - Booming goal kick from Wiseman to Farley-Hearn and a quick set of passes from him to Asensi to Nti has the opposing keeper nervous, but again, a wonderful pass by Nti, this time off to the side and in open area for Farley-Hearn to dart in, dribble, and fire, keeps the onslaught going. b]4-1[/b]

88 - Wiseman is looking awfully complacent, and he should have given up a goal here. Not good news.

Still, this is the type of dominating, strong performance you love to see after a housecleaning. It won't last I'm sure, but for now I'll enjoy Aaron Malton's 7.7, Joe Asensi's PotM 9.0, Danny Nti's 8.0, and Reis Farley-Hearn's 8.2.

Transfer In - MC Owen Kabodi (21) - From Colney Heath
9 Passing, 8 Tackling, 10 Technique, 15 Teamwork, 11 Workrate, 10 Pace... so he's not perfect, but he's an immediate starter in place of Callum Barnett (and I kind of sort of rushed in with a Key Player designation he probably didn't deserve. Oops.)

Transfer In - ST/MC Bobby Wild (17) - From Daventry Town
What sold me was his 19 Teamwork and 14 Workrate alongside the pedestrian 7 Finishing. Not somebody I see as a starter, but someone who can become a reserve starter right away and prove himself there.

Transfer In - ST Anthony Williams (22) - From Erith & Belvedere
15 Teamwork is the standout, but also 10 Dribbling, 10 Determination, 12 Flair, 12 Acceleration, 10 Agility, 11 Natural Fitness, 11 Pace. Finishing is a meh 7 like Wild, but in these two guys we've got our reserve starting strikers. ...Only my coaches think he should be starting on the senior squad. Hmm. 7.14 average rating too.

Transfer In - MRC Dan Gittings (21) - From Heath Hayes FC
Fairly unremarkable player, but he's got upside and is a depth signing for now until we recover from our injuries.

Transfer In - ST Zachary Richards (21) - From Hadleigh United
Yeah. The team we just curbstomped. Blah 7 Finishing, but 10 Determination, 14 Teamwork, 10 Workrate, 12 Acceleration, 14 Natural Fitness, and 10 Pace. The way I see it, speed, the ability to work well, and double digits in key areas is how we're going to build depth and a team going forward. It's worth noting he has a 6.95 average rating.

Must be bad food around here. Taylor Bone is boned by food poisoning. Wonder if he went to the same place Alex West used to go to.

Merrick Cornwell and Reis Farley-Hearn both manage to break their arms in a Reserves game and are out 5-6 weeks. Awesome.

We catch a huge break (pun not intended) when the next match is postponed due to the waterlogged field. Gives us more time to get our new strikers trained up and everything/everyone in place.

Good Train
Leon Burnell

$2.03k lost last month, but board is still very pleased.

6th @Woodbridge Town (4th)
G: Ricky Wiseman
D: Jack Cawley/Stu Ottoway/Egzon Asllani/Troy Harrison
M: Joe Asensi/Aaron Malton/Callum Barnett/Carl McEachran
S: Anthony Williams/Danny Nti

Although Zachary Richards is Match Fit, Williams isn't far off from it, so I'm going to give him the nod today in place of our injured Welshman and St. Lucian. Big game to try and get back into the title conversation.

37 - Considering it should be about 0-3 right now, I'm not going to complain about this one. They're kicking our asses 0-1

Bone and Kabodi on for Ottaway and Malton, who have been particularly putrid today.

55 - That was just piss-poor keeping 0-2

Just a shit game all around. I cut Ricky Wiseman, because at 29, he's too old to be in our future plans.

(6th) vs Haverhill Rovers (7th)
G: Eddie Piper
D: Jack Cawley/Stu Ottoway/Egzon Asllani/Troy Harrison
M: Ronnie Linsdale/Aaron Malton/Will Forbes/Anthony Adams
S: Zachary Richards/Bobby Wild

...Yeaaaah. Not much chance of this one.

7 - Heh. A guy named Sargeant rips through our lines and scores. Didn't ask if he was Abe though. 0-1

44 - Halftime just before goal? Sure WTF not 0-2

Bone, Pitt, McEachran at DL/DR/MR. Because I don't care and no one's listening to me on this team anyway.

68 - Should I quit after this game? Own goal 0-3

85 - That's why you suck on every team you've been on Richards. You miss easy goals.

86 - They scored again when I wasn't looking 0-4

88 - Caught the tail end of that 0-5

Ronnie Linsdale out 3 Weeks. Like I give a fuck. Asshole whined about PT, then when he gets the start, looks disinterested. I'll cut him soon.

Fans devastated by defeat. Me too. Me too.

Izulde

07-28-2014, 01:06 AM

Loan In - GK Nathan Thompson (23) - Biggleswade Town
Yep, our first loan, a 3 month borrowing, comes from the team that stole Jake Wells. Nice bit of irony there. He has a 6.5 at Level 8 as a backup keeper, so he should be a star for us down here.

Transfer In - GK Matthew Malek (24) - From Welsham-le-Willows
Yep, we brought back Malek, though he'll serve as the #2 goalie while Thompson's here, and Eddie Piper gets moved back to the reserves for now, which will piss him off, but I don't care.

Sure enough, Eddie Piper is so mad, he skips training, so I warn him, which he accepts.

Sigh. Michael Husbands bruises his head in training and is out another
week and a half. On top of it Husbands' attempt to mentor Anthony
Adams is a bust.

7th @ Ely City (17th)
G: Nathan Thompson
D: Jack Cawley/Stu Ottoway/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Rheo Josephs/Aaron Malton/Callum Barnett/Anthony Adams
S: Anthony Williams/Danny Nti

Probably need to stop letting guys play in reserve matches, but oh well.

41 - Malton knocks down a header on a goal kick to Adams, who makes an absolutely stunning pass right to Nti's run, and the goal is easy. Very pretty! And much needed considering how poorly we've been playing overall 1-0

In which we throw caution to the wind and have Forbes, McEachran, and Harrison all come in at MC (Barnett), MR, and DR respectively.

59 - McEachran's indirect kick is blocked, but Forbes cracks a volley shot and it hits! 2-0

Kind of a scrubby win, with Danny Nti's 7.4 PotM victory, but good enough to get the 3 points and move up into 6th. We're 7 points off the lead with 8 matches to go.

Good Trains
Michael Husbands
Owen Kabodi
Eddie Piper

$1.35k loss last month. Board continues to be very pleased.

(6th) vs FC Clacton (8th)
G: Nathan Thompson
D: Jack Cawley/Stu Ottoway/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Joe Asensi/Aaron Malton/Owen Kabodi/Carl McEachran
S: Anthony Williams/Danny Nti

8 - Asensi hits a diagonal pass to McEachran on the far side of the post, and everyone's favorite Nigerian striker, Nti finds himself space for the resulting pass and kicks into the net. 1-0

13 - Sucks when an injured guy scores on you 1-1

32 - Kabodi is knocked.

Forbes in for Kabodi, Husbands on for Williams at the half.

55 - So the arcing blast from Cawley is about to go out of bounds, right? Well, the keeper comes out to kick it downfield for the clearance.. only Forbes is right there and he hits a primo shot that finds the net! 2-1

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/mR3NrzOjTMM?rel=0"frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

60 - Josephs hops on for McEachran, who's had a really solid game, but is tired.

77 - Josephs with a nice pass to Forbes. It's then on to
Nti, who shows off his own passing ability by moving it to Husbands. Our lone international team cap weaves through the defense and sinks the diagonal to essentially salt this game away 3-1

7.9 for Stu Ottaway, 8.2 for PotM Danny Nti. Now 6 points out of 1st, so maybe we can get hot at just the right time and pull off the miracle of miracles? Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves though.

Owen Kabodi is out 6 to 8 weeks, which sucks.

Youth Intake
New rule here - If you pass the basic current talent test, you're signed. If you don't, I ignore you. So here's the youth players that get signed:

MC/DC Kurt Twomey (15)
DRC Steven Austin (15)
DLC Gary Dowridge (15)
DLCR/MR Simon Farrell (15)
DLR Jeffrey Green (15)
ST Nigel Swaine (15)

6th vs Needham Market (13th)
G: Nathan Thompson
D: Jack Cawley/Stu Ottoway/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Joe Asensi/Aaron Malton/Will Forbes/Rheo Josephs
S: Michael Husbands/Danny Nti

5 - Heh. That didn't last long. Josephs is once again injured and forced off, so McEachran comes on for him.

18 - Asensi on the corner and it falls into traffic. Ottoway sneaks through and kicks it in. Otta way, Ottaway! 1-0

31 - Fucking pissant failure to clear by either Asllani or Ottoway 1-1

We're playing like trash and the team Eeyores on me when I get firm with them at the break. Malton to DC for Asllani, Barnett at MC, and Williams in for Husbands at ST.

56 - WHAT THE FUCK, DEFENSE?!?! 1-2

61 - Unfucking believable. 1-3

Nathan Thompson and Jack Cawley played like they did not give a fuck today, so I don't give a fuck if they start next game.

Brian Swartz

07-29-2014, 02:25 AM

From what I've heard of Dwarf Fortress, I'm never playing it. Why? Because I'd end up on The First 48 if I did. And CSI: Miami is done with and that's the only show I'd ever want a criminal act of mine fictionalized on.

True 'nuff. Which is interesting because we're polar opposites I think in how we play. Me, I embrace the 'Losing Is Fun' mantra. I think this is why I enjoy your stuff so much, and it's hilarious to me that you're the one struggling(at the moment) in FM while I'm actually slightly annoyed that my career has gotten off to as good a start as it has. Like it's coming a bit too easy. Perhaps things will change, for both of us.

mrtourette

07-29-2014, 03:42 AM

I would expand that mantra to 'Izulde losing is fun'.

Izulde

07-29-2014, 03:59 AM

Leon Burnell signs with Walsham-le-Willows to get more PT. On the one hand, it sucks because he was my top choice for a backup. On the other hand, we've got a lot of defensive backs in the system.

(6th) @Soham Town Rangers (3rd)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Taylor Bone/Stu Ottoway/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Joe Asensi/Aaron Malton/Will Forbes/Rheo Josephs
S: Michael Husbands/Danny Nti

14 - Forbes is knocked out, so in comes Barnett.

39 - We're awarded a penalty even though Soham Town protests it mightily. To be honest, it damn well was a penalty, so i'm pleased to see Husbands nail it. 1-0

46 - And of course Husbands gets knocked, so I have to put Williams in.

82 - How did I know that was going to happen? 1-1

Let's be honest. Despite the late goal, this is a game we should have been absolutely ripped apart, so to scrabble out a draw against a semi-pro team on their own turf is a solid result.

We lose Will Forbes for 2 weeks, further depleting our midfield.

Good Trains
Troy Harrison
Stu Ottoway

Bad Trains
Michael Husbands
Egzon Asllani

Board very pleased. Profit $211.

We make our first signing for next year, but because we're past the transfer deadline, he won't be joining until June.

6th @Wisbech Town (11th)
G: Nathan Thompson
D: Jack Cawley/Stu Ottoway/Egzon Asllani/Troy Harrison
M: Rheo Josephs/Aaron Malton/Callum Barnett/Carl McEachran
S: Michael Husbands/Danny Nti

2 - Thompson really doesn't care about this team 0-1

7 - Recovered clearance by Malton leads to layoff to Barnett and the crackerjack long-range shot finds its way home for a first ever goal for him 1-1

8 - Knock for Cawley but he'll play on

9 - Bar robs Husbands after gorgeous setup passes by Malton and Nti

14 - Malton saves a dangerous goal kick by Thompson, and while Nti's move-concluding shot misses, the opposing keeper manages to own goal it anyway when the ball bounces off his back and in the goal. Was pretty funny actually. 2-1

21 - That's like the 4th time this game the framwork has screwed us out of a goal.

26 - Another knock on Husbands and this one is serious enough that I sub in Williams.

37 - Terrible throw-in by Asllani and they score on the break 2-2

Backline stinks today. Bone in for Cawley, Malton moves to DC to oust Ottaway, and Merrick Cornwell slides in at MC.

59 - Golden opportunity and they can't get the header down.

85 - Williams is looking like a bust. Dude just can not score goals.

87 - Of course this happens. 2-3

The real kicker? It was Jason Frost, former Thetford Town prospect, who scored two goals. It was an absolute shitfest of a second half. And of course Michael Husbands is out 3 to 4 weeks.

We make another signing for next season to help our striker depth. I'm also re-researching LLM play and am getting some new ideas for next season, since we'll be playing down again - 4 games left and we're 14 points back, so we're mathematically eliminated. Might even see me try out these new tactics with our remaining games of the year.

Izulde

07-29-2014, 04:05 AM

True 'nuff. Which is interesting because we're polar opposites I think in how we play. Me, I embrace the 'Losing Is Fun' mantra. I think this is why I enjoy your stuff so much, and it's hilarious to me that you're the one struggling(at the moment) in FM while I'm actually slightly annoyed that my career has gotten off to as good a start as it has. Like it's coming a bit too easy. Perhaps things will change, for both of us.

Perhaps. I do remember you struggling your first season I think, but it appears you're starting to pick it up. I think what irritates me most about this is that we seem to be on a treadmill. It's what aggravates me about the team I run in GAH (DDS 1 historical league I co-commish) - we're consistently in that second rank of teams.. not quite good enough to reach elite contender status, but better than a mediocre franchise, and nothing I've tried has broken us through. It's even more aggravating when we've made the Finals twice and lost both times, while our main rivals in Boston and New Jersey (I'm the Knicks) have each won a title.

I'll also note that in all three versions of MP DDS I've played, I've yet to win a division title, though I have two Finals appearances in GAH and a championship title in NLL. Put that note in spoiler in case I resume publishing my NLL articles here.

Izulde

07-29-2014, 04:06 AM

I would expand that mantra to 'Izulde losing is fun'.

I'm glad y'all are enjoying it. At least somebody is. ;)

Izulde

07-29-2014, 06:39 AM

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/newfm_zps3f53fc3b.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/newfm_zps3f53fc3b.jpg.html)

I noticed that a *lot* of teams at this level use this formation, including the ones that usually beat us, so we'll try it out and see. Not sure about the playmaker and target man stuff, but we'll let it go for now and see if we can be un-Frozen with this setup.

(7th) vs Welsham-le-Willows (14th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Jack Cawley/Stu Ottoway/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
DM: Merrick Cornwell
MC: Aaron Malton/Callum Barnett
AM: Joe Asensi/Carl McEachran
S: Danny Nti

With Michael Husbands out with injury, this is the perfect time to experiment with this formation and see if it works. Interestingly enough, W-L-W is doing their own formation change, opting for a 4-4-1-1.

8 - Malek goal kicks it to McEachran, who dribbles down the wing, then moves back to the sideline, whereupon he launches a booming cross that fluke goals into the net. He celebrates with a windmill arm pump. 1-0

11 - Barnett is showing great toughness and persistence this game. He gets knocked down, he gets up again, cuz Willows are never, ever gonna keep him down. Some passing stuff, the last of which is Asensi short passing it to Nti, and our young Nigerian striker, who has showed such fantastic form all year long in passing, gives it to a flying McEachran, and just like that, 2 goals for a kid who's flown under the radar since he got here. 2-0

28 - Malton heads it on to Nti, who sees an opening and fires it off to the left for a running Asensi to beat the defense and flip the diagonal shot past the keeper! 3-0

38 - First time I've seen the AI do a non-injury substitution in the first half. They're really floundering.

45 - Laziness is how you let teams back in the game, folks! 3-1

So yeah, we totally dominated that first half, but there's a lot of guys who looked complacent towards the end of it, which is why we gave up that late goal. A lot of the guys look confused when I tell them not to get complacent, so here we go with subs. Or rather, just one for now. Bone in for Ottoway.

51 - ....Yeah. This is what I was afraid of. Cornwell's bad pass cost us here, as well as the defense's failure to get back, so off he goes for Ryan Horne 3-2

78 - Barnett gives the ball to Nti, and like 3 defenders coverge, so Danny Boy simply sends it forward and to the right for a wide open Malton to breeze through and send it home. This is kind of a fun offense, despite the fact that I'm used to strikers being the goal scorers 4-2

So many awards to give out. Matthew Malek with a 7.9, Callum Barnett with a 7.7, Aaron Malton with an 8.1, Carl McEachran with a PotM-winning 8.8, and Danny Nti with an 8.5. I thought this was going to be a former Thetford Town-heavy squad we faced, but only Matty Campbell was in the lineup, and he had a solid 6.9.

DLC Dean Allison complains about his lack of playing time and won't listen to reason, so off he goes.

(7th) @ Felixstowe & Walton United (18th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Jack Cawley/Stu Ottoway/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
DM: Will Forbes
MC: Aaron Malton/Callum Barnett
AM: Joe Asensi/Carl McEachran
S: Danny Nti

A boring first half with nothing exciting to note, other than the information that Aaron Malton is struggling with the pressure of having a bunch of teams interested in him. I remember dude starting poorly when he first got here and kept bouncing in and out of the lineup, but as the season's gone on, he's been a real rock for us.

Anyway, Farley-Hearn comes in at ST at the half because Nti is having all kinds of an awful day out there.

48 - Terrible job by the defense 0-1

56 - Sam Hearn is back in because [b]Ottaway looks like he doesn't care, and Ronnie Linsdale appears at AML for a tired Asensi.

80 - Fucking long shots 0-2

So typical of this team. We have an amazing game and then play like shit the next. We'll stick with it though - lot of injuries and stuff, and honestly, they were lucky to get the goals they did.

(7th) @ Gorleston FC (5th)

G: Matthew Malek
D: Jack Cawley/Sam Hearn/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
DM: Will Forbes
MC: Aaron Malton/Owen Kabodi
AM: Joe Asensi/Carl McEachran
S: Danny Nti

We'll switch to Counter for this one but leave everything else the same. This will also be team captain [b]Egzon Asllani's 70th game, breaking Jake Wells' team record.

A boring first half, but considering we're massive dogs, that's not such a bad thing.

61 - Linsdale on for Asensi, Cornwell replacing the tired Kabodi at MC.

89 - Yeah. No stopping that one 0-1

Cambridge Regional College wins the Chell Trophy. Watch me not care.

(7th) vs Diss Town (8th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Jack Cawley/Stu Ottaway/Egzon Asllani/Troy Harrison
DM: Ryan Horne
MC: Aaron Malton/Callum Barnett
AM: Joe Asensi/Michael Husbands
S: Danny Nti

If we decide to stick with this for next season, we really need a lot more AMR depth than we have right now. As is, we're having to start an 85% Husbands.

17 - I think there's a lot of former players on this team, but in any case, Harrison gets the ball on the right side of the box and holds up before crossing to I forget who. Buzzeo steals the ball but Nti says thanks and sinks it to end his goal drought 1-0

25 - Great run through by Asensi after Nti's shot is deflected, but our AML flubs the wide open look.

They've had their chances as well, but we're able to hang on to a slim halftime lead. No changes for now, but the second half is probably going to be a disaster.

58 - Linsdale and Cornwell in at AML and for a tired Malton respectively.

67 - Here's a nice kick in the balls. Paul Buzzeo getting a PK on us and converting 1-1

90 - Perfect open look for Linsdale, and he blows it.

We should have won this one, and it's a damn shame we didn't. Still, I'm learning things about this system - energy levels drop quite quickly, so stamina is going to be an important factor going forward. That was our last game of the season, too, which I didn't realize.

Just for the hell of it, I bitch about the penalty at the post-game presser, and get warned by the FA. Oh well, suck it.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/blehstandings_zps334ce9f9.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/blehstandings_zps334ce9f9.jpg.html)

Weird season overall. Norwich United gets screwed, and an Amateur team wins the championship. That means yet another semi-pro team, which is going to put us deeper and deeper in the hole.

Not a single Thetford Town player made it in the Top 10 in any league categories other than Egzon Asllani tying for appearances, which sucks.

[b]Defenders
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/defenders_zpse5ada0da.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/defenders_zpse5ada0da.jpg.html)

Obviously Aaron Malton is going to show up a couple different spots, but overall... yeah... Tim Pitt clearly outplayed the more overall talented Troy Harrison, and Jack Cawley and Egzon Asllani are the clear stars of the backline. Stu Ottaway is only 17, so there's that to explain for him, and Sam Hearn was a disappointing bust so far.

Midfielders
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/midfield_zps67b8d923.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/midfield_zps67b8d923.jpg.html)

Lot of flux to this position. Aaron Malton is a keeper of course, and so is Joe Asensi, who had one bad 5.9 game that dragged down his last 5 game ratings. Ryan Horne showed in his two games that he deserves a longer look at DM next season, but Carl McEachran had one fluke great game and the rest were whatever. I'm also not convinced about anyone opposite Malton at MC, though the young kids in Merrick Cornwell and Will Forbes did show glimmers of future promise.

Strikers
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/strikers_zps5dfb3266.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/strikers_zps5dfb3266.jpg.html)

Danny Nti is a star, and was our biggest find this season. Michael Husbands will probably be our starting AMR going into next season, but we'll be on the lookout for better options there.

Oh yeah... Goalkeeper. Matthew Malek had 6.92 compared to Nathan Thompson's 6.63, despite my coaches believing 2.5* to 4* overall rating, so we'll just keep going with that.

Need Areas
DC
AMR
MC (Already have one coming)
Depth all around most likely, particularly at the AM spots. MC, DM, and DR are probably of lesser concern.

Izulde

07-29-2014, 08:46 AM

Good Trains (Month)
Carl McEachran
Troy Harrison
Owen Kabodi
Jeffrey Green

I start making a bunch of signings, but I'll report on those once they come in.

Year End Review
Board - Pleased
Stu Ottaway and Anthony Williams - Some Improvement
Troy Harrison - Improved Well

Our scout, Kenny Blackburn, is lured away to be a coach elsewhere. He's been with us for all three years so it's a little sad to see him go, but 33 year old Shane Duff is half his age and equal his talent.

We lost almost $23,000 on the year, which I forget how that compares to previous years. It's a hard knock life being an amateur team with a huge ass loan to pay off.

Transfer In - MC/DM Jason Wood (22) - From Arnold Town
Not the most stellar career by average ratings so far, but 13 Pace, 9 Passing, 15 Natural Fitness, 11 Agility, 10 Balance, 10 Work Rate.. there's a lot to love about this kid, and he comes into town as an early favorite to challenge Callum Barnett for the MC spot next to Aaron Malton.

Transfer In - ST Dom Petrucci (23) - From Brantham Athletic
5 goals and 5 assists in 17 appearances from our league foe last season. 12 Pace, 12 Acceleration, 10 Agility, 10 Balance. Purely a physical specimen and depth guy.

Transfer In - AML/R Jordan Sidhu (17) - From Dagenham & Redbridge
Upper division (BS Premier last year) youth candidate who never got a shot there. 10 Pace, 10 Natural Fitness, 10 Acceleration, 13 Teamwork, 10 Workrate. Not saying he'll be the starter, but he'll get a chance to prove himself as a rotation guy.

Transfer In - MC Luke Muldowney (28) - From Croydon FC
Why a 28 year old? 9 Passing, 11 Teamwork, 11 Workrate, and not a single Physical attribute lower than 7, and just 2 of them below 10. Highlights are 13 Natural Fitness and 12 Pace. Will challenge for a starting spot.

Transfer In - DC Max Bridges (23) - From Rochester United and Dorking
Yeah he's a major bust on the field (Never higher than 6.5 average for same level teams), but with 12 Pace and Acceleration, and 11 Bravery, maybe he can resurrect his career here.

Transfer In - DR Scott Ramsey (18) - From Halesowen Town
Prospect signing.

Transfer In - AMC/AMR/ST Lamell Howell (19) - From Cambridge United
BS Premier prospect who never got a shot like Sidhu. Unclear how good he'll be as the whole AM wingers thing is new to me. Might be more ready now, though.

Transfer In - DL/R Calvin Powell (18) - From Biggleswade Town
A prospect who might see some playing time on the left side since he's faster than Taylor Bone (10 to 7 Pace) and much better at marking (8 to 5).

So what does my assman think of all these new guys? Loves Jason Wood and thinks Jordan Sidhu is decent. Everyone else is booed.

Transfer In - DLCR/DM Lewis Clover (18) - From Welsham-le-Willows
I wanted a tall, fast central defender to guard against corner kicks, and at 6'5, 207, this prospect fits the bill. I also love his multi-position versatility. Well I thought his pace was 10, but it check in at 9 now I guess. Still a solid player who I'm going to give a crack at starting.

So... Aaron Malton stabs us in the back by signing with Woodbridge Town. Not cool, dude. Not cool at all. Worse yet, the guy we try to land who would actually be an upgrade over him signs with Needham Market. And that really screws us over, because there's nobody left worth signing.

Callum Barnett is considered the worst signing of last season. Uh, okay. Whatever dude.

WOW! Tim Pitt is voted Fans' Player of the Year. I mean I know things were crazy with who to pick and stuff, but wow oh wow.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/3rdb11_zpsf184f938.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/3rdb11_zpsf184f938.jpg.html)

All-Time
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/3rdatb11_zps8ed58f75.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/3rdatb11_zps8ed58f75.jpg.html)

I have no idea why George Jones has his name in red, but I'm going to take it as a cue I should try to sign him back.

Moses Jjunju signed with Gorleston FC by the way.

My coaching staff thinks 4-1-3-2, 4-2-2-2, and 4-4-1-1 are our best options to play. I don't like any of those formations, but will keep them in mind if we start to flounder.

Izulde

07-29-2014, 12:04 PM

Transfer In - ST/MC/AML Craig Archer (18) - From Sittingbourne
13 Pace, 12 Acceleration, 10 Agility, 10 Natural Fitness, 12 Teamwork show the kid has the physical tools and the right mindset, even if he's technically rawer than cookie dough at the moment. Probably a depth signing, but you never know.

Our second major defection of the offseason occurs when Jack Cawley gets paid $5,000 from Bedford Town and this leaves us scrambling to try and find a replacement. We have nobody who qualifies and that hurts.

vs Hertford Town (Friendly)
GK: Matthew Malek (24)
DL: Calvin Powell (18)
DC: Lewis Clover (18)
DC: Stu Ottaway (17)
DR: Egzon Asllani (24)
DM: Jason Wood (22)
MC: Callum Barnett (18)
MC: Owen Kabodi (21)
AML: Joe Asensi (22)
AMR: Carl McEachran (19)
ST: Michael Husbands (31)

That's what my assman recommends, so we'll try it out.

Boring first half. Nobody likes Egzon Asllani as captain this year.

91 - Will Forbes steals the ball on a long free kick and sends it to Joe Asensi, who runs all the way down the left side of the field before crossing into the six yard box, where Jordan Sidhu puts it away, redeeming what had been a bad looking game from the youngster 1-0

Lewis Clover looks a winner already, netting a 7.4 and PotM recognition. 7.2 for Calvin Powell, 7.1 for Joe Asensi, 7.3 for Jordan Sidhu, and 7.0 for Tim Pitt and Ryan Horne.

Max Bridges is out for 2 weeks but although he had a good game (6.9) I'm not seeing it as a huge loss.

Craig Archer goes out for 2 weeks as well due to a training injury.

vs Bourne Town (Friendly)
GK: Matthew Malek (24)
DL: Taylor Bone (18)
DC: Lewis Clover (18)
DC: Stu Ottaway (17)
DR: Troy Harrison (19)
DM: Jason Wood (22)
MC: Callum Barnett (18)
MC: Owen Kabodi (21)
AML: Jordan Sidhu (19)
AMR: Michael Husbands (31)
ST: Danny Nti (22)

Still going (largely) with assman recs, though he keeps wanting to put Tim Pitt as DL due to our poor options. Vice captain Troy Harrison doesn't impress anyone either.

20 - Nothing to be done about that rebound goal, though Harrison could have tried to defend it 0-1

34 - That one was on Ottaway for his terrible clearance 0-2

46 - Blown sitter by McEachran

47 - On the other hand, McEachran sure has luck with fluke goals 1-2

58 - You're supposed to be fast, Clover. Y U GET BEAT OUT?! 1-3 Oh wait, no he's not... he's slower than expected.

65 - So my assman thinks Anthony Williams is the best striker on our team. He continues not to show it, shanking an easy one here.

- So gonna switch to the 4-4-1-1 after this. [b]1-4

74 - Linsdale blows an easy shot, but Williams interferes with the rebound. Defense takes it out, but Linsdale is there to salt it away. Too bad he's lost all my confidence in him 2-4

77 - Are you really, really sure about that, Linsdale asks, as he latches on to a bad goal kick and launches in a second goal. 3-4

Starting to get a sense of who belongs on this team and who doesn't, but we'll look at the 4-4-1-1 and see what comes of it the next two friendlies.

Preseason Odds
Haverhill Rovers: 3-1
Needham Market: 3-1
Norwich United: 3-1
Woodbridge Town: 5-1
Dereham Town: 5-1
Thetford Town: 40-1 with midtable finish projection - same as it ever was

Actually last year I think we were 35-1, so we keep getting worse and worse odds.

vs Hatfield Town (Friendly)
GK: Matthew Malek (24)
DL: Taylor Bone (18)
DC: Ebzon Asllani (24)
DC: Stu Ottaway (17)
DR: Tim Pitt (24)
ML: Joe Asensi (22)
MC: Jason Wood (22)
MC: Owen Kabodi (21)
MR: Rheo Josephs (19)
AMC: Callum Barnett (18)
ST: Michael Husbands (31)

7 - Asllani is still hated on by everyone, and he gets destroyed here 0-1

22 - Husbands gets the ball on a clearance, makes an insanely long run down the pitch and makes an even crazier cross to Asensi, who hits home the volley 1-1

34 - Asensi's robbed by the post

Second half was whatever.

Cuts
Liam Douglas
Bobby Wild
Spencer Solkhon
Kieran Bonwick
Jimmy Wells
Darren Jell
Troy Harrison
Taylor Bone
Stu Ottaway
Ronnie Linsdale

I'm going all in with the speed program, and these kids just couldn't cut it.

Transfer In - DR Jack North (19)
12 Pace, 11 Acceleration, 10 Balance, 10 Agility. Has some tackling ability (7), but is a depth signing.

Transfer In - DLCR Abu Rayhan (24) - From Desborough Town
12 Pace, 11 Natural Fitness, 11 Acceleration, 10 Workrate, 9 Tackling. Can't jump or hit headers at all, so I see him strictly as a wingback, and not anyone I'd want to put in the middle.

Grant Ryder, Sr. says he's worried about Match Preparation because only 1 tactic and progress hasn't been going well, blah blah. We're an Amateur side. Get over it.

Transfer In - MC/AMC Tristan Jarvis (23) - From Godmanchester Rovers
You mean the guy we let go is back? Yeah, he is. 11 Pace, 10 Natural Fitness, 11 Acceleration, 8 Passing. He did well for us before when he got limited chances.

vs Kirkley & Pakefield (Friendly)
GK: Matthew Malek (24)
DL: Calvin Powell (18)
DC: Lewis Clover (18)
DC: Abu Rayhan (24)
DR: Egzon Asllani (24)
ML: Joe Asensi (22)
MC: Jason Wood (22)
MC: Owen Kabodi (21)
MR: Rheo Josephs (19)
AMC: Tristan Jarvis (23)
ST: Danny Nti (22)

Still assman picks except DL. To be honest, Danny Nti is on real thin ice (Pace is only 9), and could see himself out the door if a faster striker comes along, and if he keeps going cold like he did late in the year.

20 - Meh. 0-1

65 Meh x 2 0-2

72 - Mehmehmeh. 0-3

We lose [b]Joe Asensi[b/] for 3 weeks, which is horrible because there's no one on this team I trust to man the ML spot.

Players will just have to adjust to Egzon Asllani as Captain because he's still the most influential player on the team. Jason Wood is named the new Vice-Captain.

Rheis Farley-Hearn is cut on my staff's recommendation.

Transfer In - ML George Coy (19)
Good physical attributes as per the norm. Can play all along the left side and MC despite being a technical disaster.

vs Woodbridge Town
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Rheo Josephs/Jason Wood/Ryan Horne/Simon Farrell (U18 Callup)
AM: Tristan Jarvis
ST: Anthony Williams

Let's hope this works...

18 - Fuck this game, seriously. 0-1

26 - First senor game. Gets knocked out in 26th minute. And we have no fucking reserves. Fuck this bitchass bullshit. Barnett is in at AMC with wonky ass Jarvis at MR.

The 4-4-1-1 sucks huge, hairy nuts, so we're getting rid of that bullshit and going back to the 4-5-1. Fuck all the changes I make because we're losing this opener anyway.

We play eons better in the second half, so fuck the coach who said the 4-4-1-1 was our best formation. Steve West, you're fired as of today. And fuck Callum Barnett for signing with Wesham-le-Willows. Traitor dick bitch.

25 season tickets sold, same as last year. Snore snore.

Transfer In - Ted Gusterston (18)
Pacey (12) with great Teamwork (15) sucks on technical stuff. Can play MR, AMC, ST, and MC tho.

I sign the most amazing coach ever, David Woodvine. 13 Attack, 12 Defense, 12 Tactical, 15 Working With Youngsters. It's so inspiring, I fire Grant Ryder, Sr as my assman and hire James Bittner (15 Goalkeepers, 13 Fitness, 12 Working With Youngsters, 13 Discipline) as my new assman. Together those two actually make two of our areas 2*, which I think is amazing for an amateur team.

Flash just crashed, so I'm going to post and then keep going. I *will* start getting fucking wins, damn it!

Izulde

07-29-2014, 12:53 PM

vs Ely City (Chell Trophy 1st Round 1st Leg)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Callum Adams
DM: Will Forbes
MC: Jason Wood/Ryan Horne
AM: Jordan Sidhu/Michael Husbands
ST: Anthony Williams

28 - Sidhu is knocked, but will keep going.

Frustrating first half. Chance after chance after chance after chance and we keep shanking them. Not sure what the solution is here.

55 - Powell is knocked out, so Simon Farrell comes in at DL. Wood drops to DM and Muldowney jumps in at MC.

Wow, we just can not get anything to go in and Jordan Sidhu is out 4 to 5 weeks on top of it.

(17th) @ Norwich United (11th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Abu Rayhan/Max Bridges/Kurt Twomey (U18 Callup)/Tim Pitt
DM: Jason Wood
MC: Luke Muldowney/Owen Kabodi
AM: Nigel Swaine (U18 Callup)/Carl McEachran
ST: Dom Petrucci

40 - Fucking bitchass clearance by Rayhan assfucked us 0-1

Pitt is benched for Clover, Williams for Nti at the break.

64 - We *finally* fucking score our first competitive goal of the season on an amazing run and shoot by Nti. 1-1

76 - Muldowney, who naturally has been having an amazing game, is knocked out. Jarvis is in.

93 - GO RIGHT FUCKING AHEAD YOU STUPID PUNK ASS FUCKING ASSPOUNDER DICKSMURF HOSAWRHOTGRG890RTGRTGIDRsfioAITYWE89PYRTHWUIPFGYD89YFRWE9UIY789PFSDGFHWEIPUFGFGPEUIRQEGPRQWEGUEGUI9PGUIPQWEHASDFUIGSDFI8FGI8FGPSWEWERPPWERWERRFG 1-2

EAT A DICK AND DIE YOU STUPID FUCKING FM!

Izulde

07-29-2014, 04:09 PM

So I'm reading it takes about 10 games for a tactic to settle in... so I'll stick with the 4-5-1 for those 10 games and then re-assess, as I do rather like it, all in all. Just fucking frustrating to lose by one damned goal in both league games, though one was with a 4-4-1-1.

(17th) vs Hadleigh United (9th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Abu Rayhan/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Callum Adams
DM: Jason Wood
MC: Luke Muldowney/Owen Kabodi
AM: Joe Asensi/Michael Husbands
ST: Danny Nti

By the way we're the only team in the league with 0 points. Yeah, fuck that shit, eh?

4 - Why is it my tall DCs always suck at heading on corners? Jake Wells did it and now Lewis Clover is.

13 - The ball's tackled away from Nti, but Muldowney is there to apply the 20 yard finish! 1-0

34 - I'll take this time to note Kelechi Opara hooked up with them. No he didn't score this, though. 1-1

Trying to stay calm. Asllani is benched for Simon Farrell and Kabodi takes a seat for Horne

60 - Nti doesn't like what he's seeing so he kicks it back to Adams for the immediate pass down to Muldowney. Our veteran MC signing sends it through to Asensi, and a low skimmer shot finds the net. 2-1

81 - YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FAST, ASSFUCKS! Husbands gets the blame for this one. 2-2

Nti will feel he should have contributed more. No shit. Like 3 shots he should have had in, including an injury time shot that when he missed, I banged my head on my rolltop desk.

I suppose it's a point finally, but it's also the second straight game a late goal has let us way the fuck down. 5.7 for Nti, 5.8 for Husbands and Adams. All 3 getting benched for next game.

Good Train
Michael Husbands

Bad Train
Joe Asensi

$946 loss last month. Board is down to satisfied.

@Ely City (Chell Trophy 1st Round 2nd Leg)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
DM: Jason Wood
MC: Travis Jarvis/Ryan Horne
AM: Nigel Swaine/Carl McEachran
ST: Anthony Williams

Gonna be honest. I don't give a fuck about the cup games. Winning promotion is what's most critical to keep from falling further behind the 8 ball.

4 - McEachran with the free kick to Williams... only the defender gets there first. Sadly for him, he heads it into his own goal 1-0

44 - Terrible goal kick by the opposition has Williams charging to intercept, smoke the two defenders, and *finally* put away his first ever goal for us on a one on one with the keeper! 2-0

56 - Forbes in for Woods and Twomey on for Jarvis

93 - I don't know how the hell he does it, but McEachran once again gets a crazy goal, this time on a 30 yard free kick 3-0

Was this finally the breakthrough performance we've been looking for? 8.2 for Lewis Clover, who just may be the new Jake Wells. 7.8 for Carl McEachran and 8.3 for PotM Anthony Williams, who might *finally* start to deliver on his talent?

15th @ Felixstowe & Walton United (17th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Callum Adams
DM: Jason Wood
MC: Luke Muldowney/Owen Kabodi
AM: Joe Asensi/Michael Husbands
ST: Danny Nti

Oh BTW... Needham Town and Woodbridge Town have won their first 4 games of 4 in league play. Steep mountain to climb indeed.

Boring first half. We need another AMR because Husbands is just not suited to the task at all. Petrucci in for Nti

51 - Well I gave him his shot and Adams keeps stinking. Rayhan on for him.

Had a few shots but couldn't convert. Another day, another draw. Just hope that boost kicks in after 10 games. Calvin Powell is out 2-3 weeks.

Transfer In - AMR Ben Yiadom (27) - From Fisher FC
Strictly a depth signing.

15th vs Diss Town (11th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Abu Rayhan/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
DM: Jason Wood
MC: Luke Muldowney/Owen Kabodi
AM: Joe Asensi/Carl McEachran
ST: Anthony Williams

After a snoozeworthy first half, Yiadom is in for McEachran and Forbes steps up for Kabodi due to tiredness.

71 - Heh. Asensi hits Williams in the head with a shot.

[b]76 - The crossbar unfairly robs Williams. Brain must still be rattled from that headshot.

Transfer In - George Jones (22)
Needs no introduction as a former Thetford Town player, who is still in the All-Time Best 11

3 straight draws.

vs Verwood Town (FA Vase Qualifying Round)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Abu Rayhan/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
DM: Jason Wood
MC: Luke Muldowney/Owen Kabodi
AM: Jordan Sidhu/George Jones
ST: Anthony Williams

Asensi and Yiadom take over at the half. Same old story of amazing defense and complete inability to score up front.

51 - I forgot to set my non-Husbands PK kickers, and we get one after Asensi is absolutely hammered in the goal box. It's our captain, Asllani, who's given the option, and he converts. 1-0

60 - FUCK YOU! HE WAS OFFSIDES! 1-1

78 - I can't take this shit anymore. Petrucci in for Williams.

88 - I smack the wall and god damned fucking lucky I don't put a fucking hole in it 1-2

ONCE AGAIN WE FUCKING LOSE WITH A FUCKING BULLSHIT LATE GOAL!

And WE STILL DON'T HAVE A FUCKING LEAGUE WIN.

JonInMiddleGA

07-29-2014, 06:20 PM

Nothing more than an "I'm reading" post

Brian Swartz

07-29-2014, 10:35 PM

93 - GO RIGHT FUCKING AHEAD YOU STUPID PUNK ASS FUCKING ASSPOUNDER DICKSMURF HOSAWRHOTGRG890RTGRTGIDRsfioAITYWE89PYRTHWUIPFGYD89YFRWE9UIY789PFSDGFHWEIPUFGFGPEUIRQEGPRQWEGUEGUI9PGUIPQWEHASDFUIGSDFI8FGI8FGPSWEWERPPWERWERRFG 1-2

On one level, I simply have no words. On another, I find it amusing the increasing number of times lately that the rage reaches the level where there simply is no description at all of how they scored or what the issue was that caused it, it's more about Coach Izulde's reaction.

mrtourette

07-30-2014, 01:29 AM

A simple "Whatever. 1-5" tells us more about the performance and the coach's mindset than any detailed description of the actual game ever could.

Izulde

07-30-2014, 02:51 AM

JIMGA: Glad to know you're reading :)

Brian Swartz: This is definitely a game that destroys souls and induces rage, or something.

mrtourette: Pretty much! Hope the 10 game mark is where we start turning things around.

Izulde

07-30-2014, 05:43 AM

Maybe I need to have a longer preseason or something. I've been training Tactics at Average intensity as my main focus, since as an Amateur team, you can't train for Match Prep.

Sam Hearn goes on a free because he's miserable.

(14th) @Soham Town Rangers (4th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Abu Rayhan
DM: Jason Wood
MC: Luke Muldowney/Owen Kabodi
AM: Joe Asensi/George Jones
ST: Anthony Williams

Good solid first half, and there were a few times we could have gone ahead if Jones hadn't taken some ill-advised shots. Still need to break through with a win, but morale's pretty bad right now, so yeah.

56 - Yiadom in for Jones, Horne on for Kabodi

- [b]Muldowney is called offsides. Whatever.

70 - Fuck the fluke goal right up the fucking ass 0-1

72 - And the second half fuckup continues 0-2

81 - A terrible miss by Horne. Not that it matters.

83 - Fucking told you 0-3

Everyone's morale has sunk to Poor or Fairly Poor by now. Time to have them go off Tactics and work on Attacking and Fitness instead in the weekly trains.

Good Train
Dan Gittings

Bad Train
Michael Husbands

$3.06k lost last month. Board is still satisfied despite on our on-pitch struggles.

Craig Archer is out 3 months with a broken toe. Why did we sign him again?

15th @Wisbech Town (8th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Abu Rayhan
DM: Jason Wood
MC: Luke Muldowney/Owen Kabodi
AM: Joe Asensi/George Jones
ST: Anthony Williams

Remember the days when it seemed like we could score at will? Whatever happened to them. Horne on for Muldowney, Sidhu for Asensi at the half.

58 - Jones with the corner to the head of Clover, and the knock-in goes in for a rare, precious goal and second half lead 1-0

60 - Jones runs down a long ball from somebody, I forget who just now, and makes a perfect cross to Williams, who sneaks through the traffic to sink it. This is what rain after a long, long drought feels like 2-0

63 - :( 2-1

80 - What the fuck ever. Fucking corner kicks :( 2-2

So clearly this seems to be down to fitness, but I'll also make use of the Retain Possession shout when it gets to this point as well.

8.3 and PotM for George Jones and 8.1 for Lewis Clover. Jordan Sidhu was a 5.9 bust.

17th vs Needham Market (3rd)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Abu Rayhan
DM: Jason Wood
MC: Luke Muldowney/Owen Kabodi
AM: Joe Asensi/George Jones
ST: Anthony Williams

15 - Should've scored there, Williams.

27 - Jones makes an amazing run, then kickbacks to Kabodi, who launches a boomer diagonal to Asensi in the box, and it's no problem for the go-ahead goal. Now time to use Retain Possession? 1-0

We get a couple scares, but so far so good for the first half. Now if we can just hang on.

48 - :banghead: 1-1

60 - Petrucci in for Williams. One thing I'm noticing is that my center midfielders seem to be doing a really bad job of being in position on goal kicks.

73 - Sidhu for Asensi, Horne for Kabodi

At least we didn't give up a late goal this time? Still another draw and still in last place, though.

Transfer In - DCR Lewis Smith (22)
My scout raved about this kid - 11 Pace, 11 Natural Fitness, 12 Acceleration, 10 Agility, 11 Tackling. He's out 3-5 weeks with a hernia injury yet, but the staff thinks he'll be great.

@Dereham Town (Chell Trophy 2nd Round 1st Leg
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
DM: Will Forbes
MC: Kurt Twomey/Ryan Horne
AM: Joe Asensi/Ben Yiadom
ST: Michael Husbands

I give us no chance of winning this one, obviously. But that's all right. It's league play that matters.

34 - And that's why I called you a depth signing only, Yiadom. Husbands gets you a one on one with a beautiful pass and you shank it.

50 - Twomey is knocked, so Wood jumps in.

61 - Sidhu for Asensi, who is having an awful game.

63 - Fucking corner kicks. 0-1

70 - Yiadom on the corner finds Clover, who heads it down to Forbes for the wide-open shot... and finally somebody around here makes one 1-1

73 - Two terrible plays in a row by Asllani and they should have scored. We get out of it though, and Swaine is the new striker.

78 - Awful throw-in by Pitt nearly gives up the lead again

83 - Another golden opportunity for Yiadom and he not only shanks it, but is offsides.

94 - HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! The defender nods it back towards his keeper, but the goalie is slow to come out, and here's U18 prospect Swaine beating the keeper to the punch, juking past the goalie and the defense for the absolutely STUNNING injury time goal with just seconds to go!!!!!!!!!!! 2-1

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/oOhCxQlsr-I?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It wasn't *that* amazing a victory in terms of rating, but in terms of drama, oh fuck yes! Lewis Clover gets an 8.0 and PotM as he continues to try living up to the legend of Jake Wells. 7.3 each for our two goalscorers, Will Forbes and Nigel Swaine, and 7.1 for Tim Pitt, who the fans all love for some odd reason.

Even Kurt Twomey being out for 2 months can't dampen the thrill of that win.

It's so rare a positive note, I'm going to stop right there and go do Day 3 of the C25K program.

Izulde

07-30-2014, 09:54 AM

Dat dere win could be the one that turns this season around, a match that becomes an epic saga of Thetford Town lore. ...Or it could be, you know, what such victories always seem to be in this dynasty - a god damn fluke followed by umpteen Ls and I don't mean lulz.

Callum Adams complains for the 900th time and this time he gets released on a free. You had your chance, dude. You didn't get it done.

Carl McEachran complains about his lack of PT as well even though he's been given 3 appearances this season. I promise he'll get a chance (read: Cup play).

Transfer In - GK James Hambridge (18)
Got released by BSN side Cambridge City without seeing a single minute of play time. He'll be our backup keeper for now, even though we're quite satisfied with Matthew Malek.

15th vs Cambridge Regional College (3rd)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
DM: Jason Wood
MC: Luke Muldowney/Owen Kabodi
AM: Joe Asensi/George Jones
ST: Anthony Williams

28 - Tell me again why Williams is the starter. Another easy goal he flubs. Nti may see his way back in the lineup soon.

44 - Jones latches on to the goal kick from Malek and sends it to Muldowney, who heads it in to space for Williams. So that's why we keep starting him... as he outruns the keeper, sneaks around, and makes the deposit. Damn near shanked it, though 1-0

Our fitness training emphasis really looks like it's starting to pay off. We have a ways to go yet, but whereas before guys were getting exhausted by halftime, there's considerably more energy now.

47 - If the dude had just struck on the right foot, Pitt would have been yelled at for his terrible coverage.

71 - Sigh. Farrell at DR, Horne for Kabodi, Sidhu for Jones. 1-1

88 - Good thing we got that extra keeper because Malek takes a knock.

91 - What the hell kind of weakass header is that, Sidhu?!

Another fucking frustrating draw. No shit Williams might feel he should have contributed more. Fortunate news that Matthew Malek is only out a week. Eddie Piper of course immediately complains he should have first team appearances, but he can go fuck himself.

vs Dereham Town (Chell Trophy Second Round Second Leg
G: James Hambridge
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Abu Rayhan
DM: Ryan Horne
MC: Luke Muldowney/Owen Kabodi
AM: Jordan Sidhu/Carl McEachran
ST: Michael Husbands

We have 2 away goals to our credit, so I *think* even with a 0-1 loss, we would advance without the bitchery of PKs, but I don't know for sure. We'll see how it goes.

10 - .... 0-1

23 - In an all too common occurrence, Muldowney is robbed by the crossbar.

I'm sick of watching McEachran take too many shots he shouldn't, and the team is playing kind of janky, but morale is fragile so I don't want to yell at them. Instead, I tell them to get me that one goal. Blank looks. Yiadom for McEachran.

51 - Brilliant interception by Horne who arches it to Husbands. The St. Lucian's shot is on target but deflected. Yiadom chases it on the wing and sends it to Muldowney if I remember right, but the ensuing cross to Husbands gets headed out. No problem, as Sidhu's corner finds Clover's head, and luck strikes home! 1-1

71 - I totally forgot to pause while I was doing the latter writeup, so I catch the tail end of a replay that has Sidhu on the left wing passing to the near post with Muldowney, who quick far posts it to Yiadom and the shot is truer than anything McEachran and his fluke goals ever did! 2-1

77 - Because we can pretty much relax now, Swaine subs in for Husbands

8.8 for Lewis Clover, who is starting to make even me forget about Jake Wells and 8.9 for PotM Luke Muldowney as the two players at 7.5 or above. We're on to the Chell Trophy Quarterfinals for the first time in my tenure

O.M.G.

Transfer In - MC/DM/ST Pelayo Gomez-Pico (22) - From Cambridge Regional College
I have wanted this Spanish dude ever since I first saw him play against us. Every single rating everywhere is a 7, 8, 9, or 10 and he has a career 7.05 rating. He was the 2013/14 Fan Player of the Year and has been in the Best 11 for all 3 seasons. In 2014 he was named Vice-Captain and prior to this season he was named Team Captain. But just on a complete fluke, I invited him to play for us. His initial reaction was "I don't have much interest in playing for your club, so it's going to have to be really great." BAM! Dropped the Key Player designation on him and HE ACCEPTED!!!! I have NO idea why he accepted and I don't care why. I'm just stoked like Stokke that he did. He comes in tired, so he'll miss the next match.

(15th) @ Ely City (10th)
G: James Hambridge
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
DM: Jason Wood
MC: Luke Muldowney/Will Forbes
AM: Joe Asensi/George Jones
ST: Anthony Williams

30 - Muldowney plays the 1-2 with Clover, the latter than hoofing it up to Asensi, who sidesteps the defender and kicks in a diagonal shot! 1-0

Very good first half overall, but tiredness is going to be an issue in the second. I need to conserve my subs for as long as possible, and I have a feeling I'm going to be using all three.

51 - Asensi crosses to Clover, and that's blocked. Williams snatches the rebound and shoots, and *that*'s blocked. But the chip bounce from Williams has Forbes in prime position to power it home, which he does! Not going to celebrate yet - last time we were here, we crash and burned to a 2-2 draw. 2-0

60 - Horne for Muldowney and Farrell for Powell.

62 - Ugh. Former Thetford Town striker Rob Clegg gives them a glimmer of hope. By Asllani's 5.5 rating subsequent, it looks like he was at fault there. 2-1

66 - Jones looks complacent and is doing decent but not thrilling, so he's yanked for Yiadom

From then on it's sweat and nervousness but we finally pull it out for our first win of the league season. Lewis Clover made brilliant header after brilliant header in the second half and is rightfully PotM with a 9.0 rating. I'll also give credit to Joe Asensi for his 7.4 mark. I've noticed Egzon Asllani has had a couple games now where he's stunk in the second half, so it's probably time to give him a game off.

We move up just one place, to 14th, and now have 9 points with 1 win, 6 draws, and 3 losses. Oh, and if you think this is going to be the start of an amazing run to playoff promotion, Woodbridge Town has 8 wins, 3 draws, and 0 losses for 27 points. There's 32 games this year because there's 17 teams in the league, so... yeah. If you think we're going to catch Woodbridge Town, you just might not only be massive Thetford Town redneck homer, you might be high.

Still nice to finally get some wins, though, and I at least want to get up to mid-table position by season's end to ensure my job is safe. Right now I'm listed as Stable job security, but I was Very Secure the last few years, so we've taken a bit of a hit there.

Izulde

07-30-2014, 01:56 PM

A couple of notes - I switched Poacher to Trequartista a few games back to see if that would help Anthony Williams. I've also been running Retain Possession as a shout from the beginning of the match the last several games. Still running Fitness as our area of emphasis in Training, with the idea that at this low a level, fitness can win (and lose) games all by itself.

Board satisfied. Lost $250 last month.

Bad Train
Michael Husbands

@Ely City (Eastern Senior Counties Cup Second Round
G: James Hambridge
D: Calvin Powell/Simon Farrell/Egzon Asllani/Abu Rayhan
DM: Jason Wood
MC: Luke Muldowney/Owen Kabodi
AM: Joe Asensi/George Jones
ST: Pelayo Gomez-Pico

With a nice break until our next match, we can afford to play the best health permitting lineup in this cup game. Yes, we're back in Ely City. No, this does not thrill me, even though we get to debut our new Mr. Everything.

11 - In the midst of umpteen corner kicks and blocked shots for us, it occurs to me to check and see if Gomez-Pico is our new best corner taker. He is. Oops. Time to change that, albeit too late to make a difference here.

29 - I just realized I forgot to set Retain Possession as a shout. Oops, that's done now.

Quite a few people playing like crap in the first half, so I tell those individuals specifically they need to get their shit together, and they all look fired up. Everyone else is living on Meh Island though.

53 - Looking worse, so Horne comes in at DM, Pico-Gomez moves to MC, and Danny Nti finally gets the call, while Woods and Muldowney take a seat.

65 - Sidhu on for a tired Asensi.

92 - Rayhan makes an amazing header on Hambridge's goal kick up to Jones, who passes it into space for Nti. The young Nigerian strides through and cooly sinks it! 1-0

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ch9QmNHirJ8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

(Yes, I just figured out how to make the screens bigger)

A poor match it may have been, but we once again find late cup play drama from a bench striker. 7.8 for Egzon Asllani, who started even though I was going to sit him because Lewis Clover needed a day off. He won PotM, ha! Abu Rayhan nets a 7.5.

And that's two Cups we're now on to the Quarterfinals of.

14th vs Brantham Athletic (16th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Lewis Smith
DM: Jason Wood
MC: Luke Muldowney/Owen Kabodi
AM: Joe Asensi/George Jones
ST: Pelayo Gomez-Pico

100% Energy levels for everyone but Smith (Just came back from injury after signing with us) and Malek (First game back from injury). I might think about switching to Balanced now... not sure.

0 - Fastest yellow I've ever seen. 15 seconds in for Kabodi. Note: I haven't been posting when players get yellows because I ignore it myself until they accumulate enough to get match bans.

15 - That's like 5 or 6 shots in a row they block this sequence, despite constant great setups or shots of his own by Asensi

39 - Block block block all through the first half, until Malek arcs a perfect ball to Gomez-Pico, who beautifully passes it ahead for Jones. There's just enough lift on the shot to get it in the net and our former, now again right midfielder his first goal of the season 1-0

I'm stunned we're not leading by more, and judging from the grim faces in the locker room (everyone dropped to Okay morale), they know it too.

62 - Horne at DM, Rayhan at DR.

76 - Bleh. Jones to MR, Sidhu in at AMR. Really pissed about this late goal. We'll stay on Fitness 1-1

86 - WHAT THE FUCK YOU ASSCLOWNS?!?! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN AMAZEBALLS FUCKING TACTIC!!! 1-2

That was all down to our central midfield shitting the bed in the late game.

Egzon Asllani reveals Izulde Jestor fury. Some fuckwit praises the opposing manager for his halftime talk. Seriously, get fucked, assmaggot. We're now down to fucking 16th of 17 teams after that bullshit. That's also like the 3rd or 4th league game we've been fucked in the god damn soccer ass by a fucking late goal

And because there's not enough fucking salt in the wound, I get greeted with this shit the very next day:

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/fuckWB_zps5b5df869.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/fuckWB_zps5b5df869.jpg.html)

The same team that stole Aaron Malton from us.

Transfer In - ST Spencer Talbot (18)
11 Agility, 9 Off The Ball, 9 Finishing, 9 Flair, 13 Jumping, 14 Teamwork, 11 Workrate.. just a really solid all around young striker who I think can step in and be an immediate starter, allowing us to move Pico-Gomez to the midfield and strengthen us there. Talbot was released by League 1 side Colchester United, so there's real hope he can be something special.

Transfer In - DM/MC Dil Spittlehouse (18) - From Walsham-le-Willows
I know, I know. But I didn't really give him a shot last time he was here. He had one bad game and I kicked him out. I'm honestly shocked he was willing to give us another go. 19 Determination, 11 Concentration, 11 Corners, 11 Acceleration, 10 Balance... he can do stuff.

16th @Walsham-le-Willows (14th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Lewis Smith
DM: Dil Spittlehouse
MC: Luke Muldowney/Pelayo Gomez-Pico
AM: Joe Asensi/George Jones
ST: Spencer Talbot

12 - Malek rushes out and fuck him for it. 0-1/b]

[b]38 - THAT WAS NOT A FUCKING PENALTY!!!! 0-2

41 - WTF?!?! YOU ASSFARMERS FUCKING TOOK OUT LEWIS CLOVER?! FUCKING DIEKAO;IFHGARUIOGHAUIOGHRGHYGH89GER9YTR5RTFGRFGVST78RFGDUIFGSFIGUFGU9FP9FSGFUPGSFPGPSFGHPSGPFDFG

45 - ANTOHER FUCKING PENALTY?! HGOSHGOSHO ARE YOU FUCKOGNOSHGOSIHGOSGHOSFGHOSGHODGHDFGHODFG 0-3

We manage not to get scored on in the second half. Watch me give no fucks. Fuck this 4-5-1 which has done jack shit in 10+ games but give us fluky Cup wins and cement our asses to the fucking bottom of the fucking bottomest ass of all the fucking leagues.

Izulde

07-31-2014, 05:26 AM

So what's the newest fancy plan? We'll get to that in a second.

Joe Asensi is ripped in the media for his recent poor play. Anthony Adams[b/] is out 2 months with injury and [b]Dom Petrucci will miss a week and a half.

Transfer In - MC/AMC/ST Ricky Clarke (20)
14 Bravery, 10 Determination, 10 Flair, 17 Teamwork, 10 Agility, 11 Natural Fitness. Not the most accomplished player technically but good enough that he'll be a starter in the new tactic I'm starting.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/4231_zpsaa00ac43.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/4231_zpsaa00ac43.jpg.html)

The 4-5-1 was fun, but it didn't generate much in the way of goals and it was a disaster for league play as we've seen. The Cup wins were great, but felt pretty fluky with how many relied on late heroics to pull them off.

Joe Asensi gets $7k for the rest of the year to play for Grantham Town, so it's a good thing we're switching to this tactic after all - It's been very difficult to find decent AML/AMR guys.

In the run-up to our next game, the press asks me about Joe Asensi as if he's still on the team. :lol:

16th vs FC Clacton (8th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Lewis Smith
MC: Dil Spittlehouse/Luke Muldowney
AM: George Jones/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Ricky Clarke
ST: Spencer Talbot

Retain Possession and Play Through Defense are the accompanying shouts for this shiny new tactic.

Man, this is a thrilling tactic to watch. Defensively we've been brilliant all throughout the first half, and had a lot of shots on goal, but the keeper keeps deflecting them. George Jones is irritating me with his incessant bad shots, but give it time and 10 games. Bad day for Spencer Talbot so far, too (6.1).

50 - Lamell Howell gets his debut going in for Jones, and so does Ted Gusterston, on for the tiring Spittlehouse

68 - JFC. All the god damned shots we have and then they fucking sink a corner on their first fucking try because Gomez-Pico fails to challenge. 0-1

73 - Clover is a step too slow defending and should have given up another goal there.

Thetford Town will feel hard done by, but FC Clacton won't mind! Yeah, with as good as our defense was overall, and with as many shots as we were getting and hitting on target, there's no way we should have lost this game.

Good Trains
Kurt Twomey
Pelayo Gomez-Pico
Michael Husbands

Owen Kabodi becomes the umpteenth player of mine to sign with Walsham-le-Willows. People are fleeing Thetford Town left and right this season, it seems. Not that I blame them. I wouldn't want to play for me either at this point.

We lost $3.43k last month due to scouting costs, but the board is still satisfied.

16th @ Gorleston FC (14th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Lewis Smith
MC: Dil Spittlehouse/Luke Muldowney
AM: George Jones/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Ricky Clarke
ST: Spencer Talbot

The pre-game presser talks quite a bit about how the team is fractured right now and divided, which is a new one for me, and kind of cool. I'm asked to blame someone for the split, but I refuse to list anyone.

30 - Clover is robbed by the post on an indirect free kick from Clarke

31 - Several shots they get on a corner, but we hold it off.

38 - Whole lot of passing going on with no one taking a shot until Talbot has a fizzless header. The fans applaud the flowing, beautiful movement, but to me it looked boring.

Not sure if I like the way this tactic looks - the 4-5-1 was more fun so far, but we'll keep giving it a try. Howell on for Clarke at the half.

68 - Perfect shot for Talbot and he misses it. Out he goes and on come comes Danny Nti.

We fight off a couple injury time corner kicks by Moses Jjunju to take home the single point. Once again we played well enough overall to win, but just couldn't break through.

vs Dereham Town - Eastern Counties Senior Cup Quarterfinal
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
MC: Jason Wood/Ryan Horne
AM: George Jones/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Ted Gusterston
ST: Danny Nti

One good thing about these Cup matches - It allows you to burn off another game when trying to adjust to a new formation. This is Game #3 of the new strategy.

33 - Nobody gave us a chance in this one, so whatever 0-1

47 - Jones heads the ball up to Gusterson, who draws two defenders. That leaves Nti wide open, and he takes the resulting pass and fires it in! 1-1

58 - Rebound rebound rebound in. 1-2

65 - ...Yeah. We've just given up now. I throw in the subs because I don't care. 1-3

80 - Gomez-Pico recovers his own cleared corner on the right wing and crosses it to Muldowney, who sinks it. Too little, too late. 2-3

Pin this on Jason Wood's 5.4 and Egzon Asllani's uninspired 6.5.

Transfer In - ST Dubi Ogbanna (23) - From Wisbech Town
9 Dribbling, 11 Finishing, 9 First Touch. 8 Composure, 11 Off Ball, 9 Acceleration.... good skillset for someone to become our new Poacher up front, since Spencer Talbot is a bust, and Ogbanna is an upgrade over fellow Nigerian Danny Nti (And yes, that's our third Nigerian striker we've had on this team).

Transfer In - AMC Dan Murwill (19) - From Diss Town
Yep, another former Thetford Town back in the fold. We need bodies who can play the AMC if we're going to stick with this new setup.

Transfer In - MC/AMC Will Summerfield (20) - From Haverhill Rovers
10 Passing, 10 Technique, 12 Flair, 11 Offball, 10 Workrate, 12 Acceleration, 10 Agility, 14 Natural Fitness, 12 Pace... I don't know if he ends up an AMC or a MC, but I love the look of this kid nonetheless. Unfortunately, he's ineligible the rest of the year due to league rules saying he can only play for 2 teams in a season. Grr.

(17th) @Dereham Town (5th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Lewis Smith
MC: Dil Spittlehouse/Luke Muldowney
AM: George Jones/Ricky Clarke/Dan Murwill
ST: Dubi Ogbanna

1 - Smith intercepts a throw-in and puts it to Clarke in the box, and Ricky's shot bounces off the keeper and goes in! 1-0

4 - Terrible defending on that free kick. Nobody paid attention at all 1-1

8 - Again, everyone slept on a fucking free kick 1-2

45 This formation is fucking stupid. The guy who said it was a supertactic after 10 games sounded like a fucking retard anyway 1-3

I throw in all my subs and prepare to go back to basics.

55 - They get a penalty and Malek stops it, but the rebound falls to the kicker and he puts it in anyway. Fuck this. I'm going to go make myself a god damned sandwich because no woman ever will. This team is fucking more terrible than my love life 1-4

We lose 1-5 as I discover upon returning with the first of my two sandwiches. Mmm, colby jack and Miracle Whip on whole wheat bread.

The fans lambast me, the team, and Lewis Smith. They want Tim Pitt back, I guess.

Okay, so let's strip this back down to the basic flat 4-4-2.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/new442_zps199c9a7d.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/new442_zps199c9a7d.jpg.html)

A mix of suggestions from elsewhere and my own devising, based on experience with this team (Team strategies are all my own, but the roles, except for BWM, are from elsewhere).

Zachary Richards goes off to Brantham Athletic and just when I'm about to give him another chance, Anthony Williams spirits off to Dereham Town, after they kicked our asses so much the last two games.

@Cambridge Regional College (Chell Trophy Quarterfinal - 1st Leg
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Rheo Josephs/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Luke Muldowney/Carl McEachran
ST: Spencer Talbot/Dubi Ogbanna

This tactic is going to rely on crossing from the wingers, and McEachran is our second best crosser, so he'll get his own shot at redemption here.

28 - Powell takes the throw-in and exchanges a series of passes with Gomez-Pico before he kicks it to Josephs, and our top crosser on the team sends a beautiful far post rainbow that sees Ogbanna rise and beat the keeper to knock it in! 1-0

Our finishing is apparently awful as always, but this is the best the team has looked in ages. Retain Possession at the break, to see if that's an instruction that I should still be giving.

[b]56[/bl] - Josephs pops it up to Talbot on the right wing, who gives it to Ogbanna. The shot's deflected, but somehow Josephs is already on the left hand side and sends in the rebound! 2-0

77 - Nti in for Ogbanna and Jones on for McEachran

86 - Muldowney's knocked out, so it's Woods in.

Wow, wow, wow. The best game we've played in ages, and it's a huge 2-0 road win in the first leg of the Chell Trophy semi-final, which no one gave us any hope of getting. Rheo Josephs and Dubi Ogbanna both have 8.2s, but it's rightfully Josephs who gets PotM.

Dan Murwill is cut following the game. Sorry dude, but I have no use for AMCs anymore, and probably never will.

17th vs Haverhill Rovers (12th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Abu Rayhan/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Lewis Smith
M: George Coy (Reserves Callup)/Ryan Horne/Jason Wood/George Jones
ST: Dubi Ogbanna/Danny Nti

It's an all-Nigerian striker force up front this game, which is pretty darn cool. Would be even cooler if we could get our second league win of the year here. Oh, and for some reason, Egzon Asllani got trashed by the media at the pre-game presser. I defended him because while he hasn't played great, he's been solid.

8 - Great interception by Wood after Nti's blocked shot and he gives it right back to Danny, who, rather than try again, beats the defender and lays it left to Ogbanna, and the Nigerian tag-team sings a sweet score. 1-0

11 - Nti intercepts a bad goal kick and passes forward to Ogbanna. BAM! 2 FOR 2, BABY! 2-0

33 - FM13 sure prioritizes the fucking long range free kick goals 2-1

Dan Gittings is going to get his debut, because Jones just keeps on struggling after his early hot start, and will probably get benched a couple games.

68 - Really bad knock for Horne, so Spittlehouse comes in for him, and the hero of the game, Ogbanna, is exhausted, so Gomez-Pico ends his day off here.

79 - Magnificent heading interception by Spittlehouse just outside the half-circle, and it's a drop in for Nti to strike and score on the half-volley! We've got this one now. 3-1

92 - Sloppy defending 3-2

7.6 for Lewis Clover, 8.0 for Danny Nti, and 8.8 for PotM Dubi Ogbanna. Everybody thinks it's insane that we won, and the papers call us "lucky to win". And yet, despite the 3 points, we're *still* in last place exactly halfway through the league season.

Izulde

07-31-2014, 07:57 AM

17th @Woodbridge Town (1st)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Abu Rayhan/Tim Pitt
M: George Jones/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Luke Muldowney/Carl McEachran
ST: Spencer Talbot/Dubi Ogbanna

So let's see... Woodbridge Town has 11 wins, 4 ties, and just 1 loss on the season, so it's pretty obvious why we're the biggest underdogs ever in the history of this league.

45 - Jones[/b with a boomer on the wing to [b]Talbot who crosses to Ogbanna[/b and I'm half out of my seat when the fucking defender clears it off the line.

So yeah... I'm okay with this first half result.

[b]52 - Wow. Awkward kick by them means they miss the most open goal ever.

60 - That's it. I'm sick of George Jones as he blows yet another open shot. Coy goes in for him, and it's just now that I notice Talbot's been playing MC and Pico-Gomez ST. Oops. Not sure how that happened. Nti also goes in for Talbot and switches places with Ogbanna up front.

62 - Nti catches on to Malek's goal kick and it's a great ball to Ogbanna, but the resulting shot is crossbar-robbed.

76 - Why yes, let's fucking give them a god damned 25 yard strike, because we absolutely deserved to GET FUCKED OVER AGAIN BY A FUCKING FLUKE GOAL 0-1

80 - And once again, we stop fucking caring 0-2

We did not deserve that shit. I want to fucking punch Aaron Malton's smug, laughing face. Fucking traitorous dick.

Transfer In - DL Nas Foreman (18)
Grimbsy Town prospect who never panned out. Solid all around 11s and 12s in most Physical Attributes and 8 and 9 in Tackling and Marking respectively. We've been doing fine with [b]Calvin Powell, but I think Foreman's an upgrade.

Good Trains
Pelayo Gomez-Pico
Spencer Talbot
Gary Dowridge

Bad Train
Michael Husbands

$990 out the door last month, but despite our league standing, the board is still satisfied. Even though we were picked to finish 11th.

17th vs Norwich United (7th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Rheo Josephs/Dil Spittlehouse/Luke Muldowney/Carl McEachran
ST: Dubi Ogbanna/Michael Husbands

I sort of promised Michael Husbands some first team playing time since he complained so he'll get it here.

7 - So not only does Spittlehouse get a yellow that's an automatic suspension for next game I think, he's got forced off with injury here. Oi. Gomez-Pico takes his spot.

18 - McEachran's knocked but he'll have to fight through it.

42 - Goal for them is disallowed. Offsides.

Josephs moves to MR and Coy comes on. McEachran was having a shit day, anyway.

57 - Ogbanna is facing heavy pressure from the defense, so he lays it back to Gomez-Pico. Pass to Muldowney and a cross to Coy who shoots through the seam just inside the box to grab a goal. 1-0

75 - Fucking Powell! Asllani makes a phenomenal stop of a counter and passes it to you, and your fucking lazy ass backpass gets easily intercepted! Husbands' old tired ass comes off for Nti, and give us that Nigerian magic, folks! 1-1

...Wait. I intended to start my new DL today, didn't I? Son of a fucking whore. Dil Spittlehouse is out 5-6 weeks.

Michael Husbands complains to my assman about being subbed, and at this point, I'm so disgusted, I just cut him outright. Eddie Piper goes to Ampthill Town

vs Cambridge Regional College (Chell Trophy Quarterfinal Leg 2)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Nas Foreman/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: George Coy/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Luke Muldowney/Dan Gittings
ST: Spencer Talbot/Dubi Ogbanna

Let's see if we can pull off the upset and go on further.

9 - :banghead: Muldowney wasn't looking for Foreman's pass, so they intercepted and scored. 0-1

34 - Gomez-Pico to Gittings to Talbot, and the 20 yard half-circle strike goes in, *finally* giving him his first Thetford Town goal! 1-1

61 - Nti for Ogbanna, Jones for Gittings, Horne for Gomez-Pico

65 - And of course Asllani fucks up on an interception to allow a goal. 1-2

85 - This is why I love Nti. No matter how many people say he's not good enough, he does stuff like dribble all the way through the defense and score the saving grace goal. And yet, there's people saying he was offsides. Fuck off, whiners. 2-2

We're through to the Chell Trophy Semifinal!!! It's been the one bright lining in this awful, awful year.

17th vs Felixstowe & Walton United (15th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Abu Rayhan/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Rheo Josephs/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Ryan Horne/Carl McEachran
ST: Dubi Ogbanna/Danny Nti

If we can't beat these guys, we might as well accept that we're going to finish last in the league this year, and hope to hell I don't get fired.

Jones for Josephs and Anthony Adams for Nti, though the last one may be a mistake. Not sure.

63 - What a way for Horne to get his first goal for the club. Bad kick by the keeper when he comes out on the wing, and that lets Horne nail the 50 yarder for the go ahead score 1-0

74 - They really should have scored there. Wood in for Pico-Gomez

86 - WHAT THE FUCK?! HE WAS OFFSIDES!!!! 1-1

So yes that's ANOTHER FUCKING SCREWJOB BY ANOTHER FUCKING LATE GOAL! I don't much give a shit that we move up to 16th because of the tie. We're still the only team in the league to only have 2 wins and if it wasn't for the Chell Trophy to play for, I would probably quit the game and this dynasty right about now.

I can't do anything right and this team just keeps getting worse and worse and worse.

Izulde

07-31-2014, 04:58 PM

16th @Hadleigh United (8th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Nas Foreman/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Rheo Josephs/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Luke Muldowney/Carl McEachran
ST: Spencer Talbot/Dubi Ogbanna

31 - Can't believe they missed that one.

32 - Fucking corner kicks 0-1

Nti in for Ogbanna and Jones for Josephs at the break. We're playing like absolute shit and it's pissing me off.

Team really stepped up in the second half, but we just could not find a way to convert. We also drop to last place again, I believe.

Spencer Talbot picks up a sports hernia and is out 2 months. Blargh.

16th @Diss Town (8th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Nas Foreman/Lewis Clover/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: Rheo Josephs/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Luke Muldowney/Carl McEachran
ST: Dubi Ogbonna/Danny Nti

11 - Ogbanna with the corner to the near post, and nobody stops big Clover from stepping forward and just kicking it in 1-0

20 - Nice to see the opposition get cross-bar robbed for once.

33 - Not sure how that was offsides, but we'll take it!

42 - Josephs picks up a great interception and plays it beautifully for Ogbanna, but the striker just chuffs it off with an all-wrong shot.

70 - Beautiful hustle by Muldowney to get a shot off in some crazy sequence that I forgot to write notes about... but the post denies him.

72 - Jones for McEachran, Horne for Muldowney

82 - I just realized I've been spelling Ogbonna's name wrong for the last umpteen updates. Here, he's the last in a line of Horne taking Malek's goal kick and passing to Nti and then a beautiful ball which the O Nigerian oh so awesomely pop shots into the net! 2-0

It's actually Lewis Clover and his 9.0 that is PotM, not Dubi Ogbonna's 8.6. Hat tip to Danny Nti's 7.8 as well, as we finally get our third league win of the year and restore our flagging morale.

We inch up to 15th and with 11 games left we have 18 points and a terrible goal differential. It's going to take a couple wins to get up to even 14th, but maybe, just maybe, we can find some spark to finish strong.

Remember how I said Lewis Clover is the new Jake Wells? Well, he's been PotM in a lot of our draws, and he now has 7 Player of the Match awards in a season, breaking Wells' old record of 6.

Good Trains
James Hambridge

Bad Trains
Rheo Josephs
Lewis Smith
Gary Dowridge

$1.25k lost last month. Board is satisfied.

Transfer In - DC Jake Wells (19) - From Leverstock Green
So after his 11 appearances with Biggleswade Town, in which he posted a 6.55 average rating, Jake was forced to sign an amateur contract with Leverstock when Biggleswade opted not to renew him for the next level (made perfect sense). With his new team, he's appeared in just 4 games, averaging 6.3, and has been supremely unhappy. Now he gets reunited with the team and manager that always loved him.

Transfer In - ML/MR Ollie Hann (19)
A kid who's never gotten a shot despite 18 Bravery, 15 Determination, 11 Pace, 10 Agility, and 8 Crossing. Not saying he'll start, but he'll get his chance to show what he can do.

15th vs Soham Town Rangers (4th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Nas Foreman/Lewis Clover/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani
M: George Coy/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Ryan Horne/Rheo Josephs
ST: Dubi Ogbonna/Danny Nti

You want to know the best part about this new lineup? We have a 6'5 and a 6'8 DC in the middle. That's going to create some real hell for opponents at this level, let me tell you.

8 - Ogbonna hits the corner into traffic, and Josephs is the one to beat everyone out for the chip shot 1-0

13 - O.M.G. Ogbonna with the corner again, and this time it's Clover's header on the near post that goes in!!! 2-0

38 - The whole defensive line gets caught napping on a surge forward, but that was Foreman's to pick up, and he failed. 2-1

58 - Amazing game by Josephs, but he's tiring, so Hann will get his first crack. Wells is doing well but he's also winded, so Asllani moves to DC and Powell takes over at DR.

73 - Muldowney on for Horne

77 - Absolutely amazing long wingball from Gomez-Pico to Hann, and Ollie sits there for a second until he centers a boomer. Nti beats out the keeper in the heading game and deposits the insurance account! 3-1

78 - Fucking immediate answers 3-2

7.9 for Lewis Clover and 8.2 for PoTM Dubi Ogbonna in our first league win streak of the year! Nas Foreman nearly cost us this game with his mental lapses on both goals, so it's likely he'll be sitting next one out.

Unfortunately the win wasn't good for anything but holding our position, as the teams sandwiching us both won. We did, however, get a much needed buffer on last place.

Still, I'll definitely take that win, even if the press says we were lucky to win. Lucky my ass. We owned that game.

Brian Swartz

07-31-2014, 05:05 PM

Hey at least you broke the monotony of constantly finishing well up the table but not good enough to challenge for promotion.

*Ducks*

Izulde

08-01-2014, 02:52 AM

Hey at least you broke the monotony of constantly finishing well up the table but not good enough to challenge for promotion.

*Ducks*

That's true, and it's also allowed me the freedom to try out different things. Now if we can just finish up high enough that the board doesn't fire me...

Izulde

08-01-2014, 04:02 AM

Craig Archer is given his release. Lewis Clover is blossoming into a real star and keeps making huge improvements in training. Jack North and Scott Ramsey are also let go. Hard to keep all these complainers happy, so I'm just letting them walk.

3 week break before our next game. Probably should've scheduled a friendly, but oh well.

15th @Needham Market (2nd)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani
M: Rheo Josephs/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Ryan Horne/Ollie Hann
ST: Dubi Ogbonna/Danny Nti

Morale is still not great despite our two wins, with a couple players still with poor or very poor morale. It's getting better, though.

4 - I"m shocked that went in 0-1

I tell the team to get the lead out of their asses because they're playing awful, and Ogbonna and Nti get all moody, so Petrucci takes over one striker spot, Gomez-Pico the other, with Muldowney coming in at MC.

62 - Nasty knock for Hann, but he'll fight it off.

64 - Clover completely misjudges a ball and they should have scored there.

68 - Wells misses a tackle and they cross and score. Coy comes in at ML with Josephs moving to MR. 0-2

88 - I give up 0-3

So not only do we lose Ollie Hann for 3-4 weeks, but Rheo Josephs skips off to Gorleston FC right before our next, hugely important match.

Good Trains
Lewis Smith
Gary Dowbridge
Steven Austin

Bad Train
Nigel Swaine

$1.79k loss. Board still satisified

@Wisbech Town (Chell Trophy Semi-final 1st Leg)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Lewis Clover/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani
M: George Jones/Dil Spittlehouse/Jason Wood/Carl McEachran
ST: Ricky Clarke/Dubi Ogbonna

Unorthodox lineup? Yes. But it's about getting the players who are good at important matches in there and weeding out the weak ones.

Fairly boring first half. Muldowney on for Spittlehouse at the break.

68 - Poor header by Asllani and complete failure by Clover to challenge on a cross means fuck this bullshit 0-1

87 - Dick ass fluke goal 0-2

On top of it, Calvin Powell is knocked out for 2 months.

Fuck it. I quit.

bbgunn

08-01-2014, 04:38 AM

Out with a ball of fury.

Izulde

08-01-2014, 06:12 AM

Eh I'll probably revisit this at some point. Just damned frustrating right now this season is all. NOTHING works.

Izulde

08-02-2014, 04:54 AM

Awesome. My post got eaten. Long story short, the following happened:

-A whole ton more injuries
-Losing, losing, losing.
-Ryan Horne going to Peterborough North Star
-A 3-2 win in the second leg of the Chell Trophy, where we scored 3 goals in the second half to almost force extra time. It was also a game that saw us bring back the 4-5-1, which we now have as a secondary tactic
-Match Training is set to Tactics Only

And right after getting knocked out of the Chell Trophy is where we pick up the remainder of the season.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/tactfam_zpsbff5230a.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/tactfam_zpsbff5230a.jpg.html)

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/562ysvy_zps6b54c237.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/562ysvy_zps6b54c237.jpg.html)

is how both the 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 looked after the initial set to training Tactics Only and introduction as a tactic being worked on.

(16th) vs Ely City (17th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Lewis Clover/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani/Tim Pitt
M: George Coy/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Luke Muldowney/Carl McEachran
S: Spencer Talbot/Dubi Ogbonna

Injuries caused that backline to happen as we lost both our #1 and #2 DL and our #3 DL is tired after the Chell Trophy game.

23 - 25 yard free kick goal by Gomez-Pico is his first ever for us, and the first time we've held a lead in a league game for who knows how long? "For the first time in forever..." Thanks, Frozen. 1-0

49 - And because this is a soccer universe and Izulde dynasty where nothing can go right, Jake Wells is knocked out with injury, leaving U18 callup Gary Dowridge to step in. No pressure, kid. You're only replacing the most beloved Thetford Town player in this history.

63 - Did they score? Yep. Nti in for Talbot, Gittings for McEachran. I know it's totally crazy to dream I'll find league win, but for the first time in forever, at least we've got a chance. Don't let them in, don't let them score again... 1-1

Look at all the highlights nobody has.

Great big fucking sigh.

Fuck the transfer deadline. Let it go... let it go.... can't bring in any more... let it go... let it go...

16th vs Walsham-le-Willows (13th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Nas Foreman/Lewis Clover/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani
M: George Coy/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/DJ Spittlehouse/Carl McEachran
S: Spencer Talbot/Dubi Ogbonna

Snoozer first half. Jones for Coy

47 - Ugh. Y U MISS OGBONNA?!

60 - WTF SPITTLEHOUSE?! THAT WAS YOURS! OFF WITH HIS HEAD! GET IN THERE, MULDOWNEY!

82 - Late goal given up you say? Why yes! 0-1

Oh you feel being warned for missing practice was harsh, Max Bridges? Fuck you - you're out.

Good Trains
Lewis Clover
Ted Gusterston
Anthony Adams

Bad Trains
James Hambridge
Gary Dowridge

$2.99k profit last month and board is still satisfied

17th @Brantham Athletic (8th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Nas Foreman/Lewis Clover/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani
M: George Coy/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Luke Muldowney/Carl McEachran
S: Spencer Talbot/Dubi Ogbonna

0 - An embarassing miss by Talbot. Even his manager's got his head in hands. No, no I don't. I'm just shaking my head and mumbling about how it fucking figures.

19 - Aaaaaand now Ogbonna blows a gimme.

44 - Why yes, let's award them the penalty right before the half as they convert. Because fuck us actually being able to win a fucking league game, amirite? 0-1

Rayhan for Foreman at the break, even though it like, totes doesn't matter.

64 - Ogbonna sucks so Nti nips in.

66 - Wells with the balla interception and pass to Gomez-Pico. Even more awesome pass to Talbot sets up the 1 v 1 and this time he manages not to fuck it up. He scored one of our second half goals in the Chell Trophy defeat, but this is his first league goal for us 1-1

75 - And of course, there's a shit goal kick by Malek that's intercepted and they score, because really, we're supposed to say fuck that to Thetford Town actually finishing out of last place 1-2

80 - Not sure why celebration. Gomez-Pico does get a goal in a post-corner scrum, but like... can I haz wins? 2-2

At least it's not a defeat?

4 games left in the season, and Woodbridge Town has already clinched. Going to hunt up breakfast or lunch or fourthmeal or WTF ever it is, and then come back and finish off this miserable, miserable year.

Izulde

08-02-2014, 08:37 AM

Uh oh. Thetford Town is once again the subject of a takeover rumor.

17th @FC Clacton (12th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Nas Foreman/Lewis Clover/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani
M: George Coy/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Luke Muldowney/Carl McEachran
S: Spencer Talbot/Dubi Ogbonna

4 - Talbot gets the ball on Malek's goal kick and plays a beaut of a setup pass to Ogbonna, whose shot just barely manages to find the bottom of the net 1-0

Rayhan for Foreman at half.

59 - Clover gets the header on the corner but instead of sending it in, he nods it back to Rayhan, who further backpasses to Ogbonna. Coy gets the wing pass and crosses it to far post where Clover's migrated from the near post he originally headed and the kick in is easy. Muldowney is having a garbage game, so Gittings gets in 2-0

64 - Malek goal kicks and Ogbonna falls down heading it forward to open space. Talbot beats out the defender to the ball and deftly delivers on the 1 v 1. Barring a typical collapse, we've got this 3-0

8.1 for Matthew Malek, 7.5 for Egzon Asllani, 8.0 for Jake Wells, 8.5 and PotM for Lewis Clover, 8.0 for Dubi Ogbanna and 8.2 for Spencer Talbot. I literally can not remember a game we dominated this much.

Still in last place, though, as Ely City won, too.

Needham Market wins the Eastern Counties Senior Cup.

17th @Haverhill Rovers (10th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Jeffrey Green/Lewis Clover/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani
M: George Coy/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Luke Muldowney/Dan Gittings
S: Spencer Talbot/Dubi Ogbonna

Called up Jeffery Green from the U18/Reserve squad because Nas Foreman is actually seeing his ratings drop across the board, so I want to give someone else a shot.

5 - Gomez-Pico and Ogbonna play the 1-2 before the Nigerian cross passes to Talbot and it's easy breezy for the goal 1-0

52 - Malek goes to ground too soon and as a result they hit the 25 yard equalizer. Feh. Hann for Gittings, Nti for Talbot. 1-1

57 - Nti with an excellent interception that starts a move culminating in Ogbonna's forward header finding Muldowney wide open for a 1 on 1, and the center midfielder actually converts 2-1

90 - Nti's hurt and we're forced to switch to a flat 5-4-1, with Rayhan as a new DC.

7.6 for Spencer Talbot, 8.1 for Luke Muldowney, and 8.2 for PotM winner Dubi Ogbonna. Funny how we're finally finding our spark when the games don't matter. But still in last place on goal differential. With 2 games left, we can climb as high as... 15th. Yeah, it's been that bad a year.

17th vs Gorleston FC (12th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Jeffrey Green/Lewis Clover/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani
DM: Dil Spittlehouse
M: Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Luke Muldowney
AM: Jordan Sidhu/Carl McEachran
S: Spencer Talbot

I'm going to experiment with using the 4-5-1 Control tactic when we're favored and the 4-4-2 Counter when we're not and see how it does.

5 - Sidhu wins a jumper for possession on the left midfield and nods it on to Talbot on the left boundary of the six yard box. I think he's going to cross it but instead he confidently banks the diagonal in for the score! 1-0

22 - Sidhu is knocked, but he'll play out the rest of the half.

Though he's awkward at it, Jones is going to play the AML because we have no one else capable of playing it, and that's going to be one of our big priorities heading into next offseason if we decide to stick to this plan.

66 - Wood on for Spittlehouse. I should also note that these last several games, I've just been doing Key Highlights rather than Comprehensive to get through the season faster.

73 - Nathan Winsper has often been a thorn in our sides, and here he blocks two straight clearance attempts by our defenders, then chugs down to the box to shoot... and fortunately Malek picks it up. Then Green sprays an incredible cannon all the way down the left flank for Jones to grab, who dribbles down to the touchline just inside the box before crossing to the far side of the six yarder. McEachran is completely alone and unmarked, and he bangs it in. 2-0

88 - God damned bar helps THEM out 2-1

7.5 each for Spencer Talbot and Jake Wells, with my boy Wells getting PotM. The win moves us up to 15th, but we need to win to be able to ensure our position. Even with a draw, we could end up in last place if Ely City wins.

This interesting bit of news hits my email re: the takeover talks:

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/takeover2_zpse1947d32.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/takeover2_zpse1947d32.jpg.html)

Considering there's still $750k in loan debt, that would be massive if he wiped out all of that.

Wisbech Town wins the Chell Trophy, so at least we lost to the champions. Still a feeling of what might have been, there.

15th vs Dereham Town (2nd)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Jeffrey Green/Lewis Clover/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani
DM: Dil Spittlehouse
M: Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Luke Muldowney
AM: Jordan Sidhu/Carl McEachran
S: Spencer Talbot

Not an easy draw, but we're slightly favored against a hot team, so the 4-5-1 it is.

3 - Not a good start 0-1

Rayhan for Green and Ogbonna for Talbot at the half.

50 - Brilliant clearance by Wells and the ensuing move sees Sidhu dribble across the midfield line before drop-shotting a perfect pass for Ogbonna, who scores the equalizer to get us back in the game. 1-1

77 - Gomez-Pico and Ogbonna exchange passes before the kick-out to McEachran, who runs down to the sideline on the right wing before crossing back to Ogbonna. Defense tackles away the ball but then just sits there rather than clearing, and the Nigerian surges forth again to nip in the go-ahead goal. Wood subsequently comes in at DM for Spittlehouse 2-1

82 - Immediate answer but it doesn't matter because Ely City is getting waxed 3-0. 2-2

We should have won that game. no excuse to get a draw that late. Luckily both teams below us lost, so we finish 15th. Hope that's enough to save my job.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/4thyearstandings_zpsf91bae44.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/4thyearstandings_zpsf91bae44.jpg.html)

Goalkeepers
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/GK4th_zps49f21f9f.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/GK4th_zps49f21f9f.jpg.html)

Perfectly fine with these two going forward

Defenders
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/DEf4th_zpsf542814e.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/DEf4th_zpsf542814e.jpg.html)

No doubt about it - Nas Foreman was a bust. We've got our basic lineup of Calvin Powell, Lewis Clover, Jake Wells, Egzon Asllani going forward, as Clover looked very uncomfortable at DL relative to DC or even DR. Could definitely use some better depth here, though.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/MF4th_zpse8cab0d8.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/MF4th_zpse8cab0d8.jpg.html)

We need to look at two things here: the 4-4-2 and the 5-4-1. Under the 4-4-2, we're just fine with Luke Muldowney and Pelayo Gomez-Pico, and George Coy and Ollie Hann did well enough at ML/MR for me to quite like them. Dan Gittings did okay at MR, but I'm eh on his overall talent. TBH, I'm not quite sold on Coy or Hann as well, so talent upgrade is needed there probably. George Jones did just fine at MR, but Carl McEachran shouldn't be playing there, so depth, esp at ML, would be a huge help. MC depth there's Dil Spittlehouse and that's it, as Jason Wood was pretty bad there. Then again, Will Summerfield is legal next year, so he probably covers the MC starting or depth beautifully.

For the 4-5-1, Spittlehouse is solid at DM, but I don't trust Wood at all anymore. MC is already covered. At AM, Jordan Sidhu was okay on both sides, and Jones and McEachran both did well there, in spite of my aggravations with them. Depth will be a concern going forward.

But what about our reserves? Will Forbes and Kurt Twomey showed real promise at DM and MC, so they'll both get promoted to the senior team next year. Simon Farrell was meh, and Nigel Swaine eh. Yeah I just covered all the areas in one go.

Strikers
http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/ST4th_zps2c5bedd2.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/ST4th_zps2c5bedd2.jpg.html)

The four man rotation of Spencer Talbot, Dubi Ogbonna, Danny Nti, and Dom Petrucci works quite well. No need to go striker shopping, although I should note that Ricky Clarke's good games all came at AMC, a position we won't feature at all.

Thetford Town Top 10 (Not Counting Appearances and Goals Allowed)
Dubi Ogbonna - 2nd Goals - 16; T-2nd PoTM - 6; 10th Shot on Target % - 40; 5th Key Passes - 31
Dil Spittlehouse- T-8th Yellow Cards - 5
Lewis Clover - 1st PotM - 7; 1st Key Headers - 99 (Next had 76!), 1st Interceptions Made - 280 (Next had 238), 10th Average Rating - 7.27
Pelayo Gomez-Pico - 4th Pass Completion % - 82
Luke Muldowney - 10th Pass Completion % - 80
Egzon Asllani - T-5th Key Tackles - 12

Indeed, Lewis Clover proved the very incarnation of Jake Wells and even better than him in some respects.

Shopping List
Upgrade DL
Depth for DL/DC
Upgrade/Depth for ML/MR/AML/AMR

I honestly don't think we're that far from being a title challenging team. I really don't.

Bad Trains
Lewis Clover
Dom Petrucci

That's monthly, so calm blue ocean.

Gorleston FC and Soham Town Rangers join some other division squads in firing their managers. Forgot who the others were offhand. Fortunately for me, the current board is content despite our lackluster league finish.

Yearly Trains - Good
Lewis Clover

Yeah he's a keeper all right.

I decide to set June 13th as the preseason date, rather than the traditional first week in July. I want these guys to really work on getting their tactical knowledge and fitness down pat.

Speaking of, did we show any improvements in either of the strategies? I'll let you decide.

Top 1 is where we are right now; Bottom 1 is where we started

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/new4422_zpsaef1ee99.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/new4422_zpsaef1ee99.jpg.html)

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/new451_zps71816a40.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/new451_zps71816a40.jpg.html)

Takeley FC wins the FA Vase

Our physio retires so we hire the youngest sucky one we can find, in hops that he'll grow, because all our options are bad.

This nifty note pops up:

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/yayforbes_zpse0ea66fe.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/yayforbes_zpse0ea66fe.jpg.html)

Considering he's 17, I'm going to say it's a girlfriend that did it (and him).

Oh, and we can't bring anyone in because of the stupid transfer embargo while the board decides whether or not to sell.

What a crock. John Young does buy the team, but reneges on his promise to wipe out the loan debt.

We lost $16k last year which I thought was pretty good all things considered.

Transfer In - ST/AML Robert McDonald (27)
Depth signing.

Transfer In - AMR/MR Luke Smithson (28)
Depth signing.

Transfer In - MLR Joshua Hough (20)
Depth signing.

Transfer In - MLR Matty Campbell (19)
Another former Thetford Town player. Was Welsham-le-Willows best player last year in terms of average rating I think, or close to it (7.3). Very solid all around skillset and a surefire starter once again.

Honestly I probably shouldn't have signed those depth guys. They look pretty terrible, but it is what it is. Screen puked on me again, so I'm going to go ahead and submit this, then start anew.

mrtourette

08-02-2014, 09:11 AM

Good to see Jake Wells back in a Thetford shirt where he belongs.

Izulde

08-02-2014, 12:35 PM

Jason Wood gets $2.8k from Stamford FC and Lewis Clover stabs us in the back like Aaron Malton did, signing with division rival Dereham Town. We also lose Dan Gittings, to Cogenhoe United. Clover obviously hurts, though the other two were quite far down on our list, so it's all good.

Because of the early preseason start, the physio recommends extended leave of 4 weeks for a number of players:

Tired Guys
Egzon Asllani
Luke Muldowney
Pelayo Gomez-Pico
Dil Spittlehouse
Carl McEachran
Ricky Clarke
Jordan Sidhu
Joshua Hugh
Robert Macdonald
Matty Campbell

Permission is granted for all players to get another month off. Everyone else, high intensity Fitness Training

Transfer In - DC Tom Hawkins (26)
12 Pace, 12 Accleration, 11 Concentration, 10 Determination, 10 Workrate, 11 Tackling. Not Lewis Clover by any stretch of the imagination, but an adequate replacement.

vs Thetford Town 18s (Friendly)
GK: Hambridge
D: Foreman/Wells/Hawkins/Pitt
M: Hann/Twomey/Summerfield/Smithson
S: Talbot/Nti

Because we're going through so many friendlies, I'll just briefly summarize what happens with each of the 7-10 we have.

Danny Nti gets hurt early in this one and we go down 0-1 in the first half. Kurt Twomey gets injured as well. We tie it up early in the second half but go on to lose 1-2. Yeah.

Danny Nti is out a month after that injury.

Calvin Powell and Jordan Sidhu are considered the two worst signings of last year. Whatever, fuck you.

Traitor Lewis Clover is Fans Player of the Year, but I'm not going to show the Best 11 this year because it shows Pelayo Gomez-Pico as DM i a 5-4-1 which is stupid, because he never played there for us.

Matthew Malek is now on the All-Time starting 11, as is Luke Muldowney (as an AMC in a 4-3-1-2 setup, which is dumb too). Danny Nti and Lewis Clover made the All-Time team as reserves.

More stupidity: My assman thinks I should try and get a guy who's making $54k a year. ...Yeah that's gonna happen.

U18 Signing - ST Tod Sugarman
So this grey guy... 11 Finishing, 10 Free Kicks, 11 Long Shots, 10 Composure, 11 Determination, 11 Flair, 10 Balance, 10 Jumping, 14 Natural Fitness, 10 Strength... His only problem? 2 Pace. Still a damn interesting signing worth grabbing. He also scored the gamewinner in the U18 vs Seniors game.

vs Bourne Town - Friendly
GK: Malek
D: Powell/Rayhan/Hawkins/Pitt
M: Coy/Summerfield/Twomey/Hann
S: Talbot/Ogbonna

We go down 0-1 but then march back 2-1 on goals by Talbot and Ogbonna. But then Twomey is sent off with a red and we're forced to settle for the 2-2 draw.

vs Saffron Walden Town - Friendly
GK: Hambridge
D: Foreman/Rayhan/Wells/Smith
M: Coy/Twomey/Summerfield/Jones
S: Talbot/Sugarman

Boring game. 0-0 draw with maybe 2 highlights all contest.

Montenegro joins the European Union. Cool.

Carl McEachran signs for Felixstowe & Walton United. Not cool.

vs Welwyn Garden City (Friendly)
GK: Malek
D: Foreman/Rayhan/Hawkins/Pitt
M: Coy/Forbes/Summerfield/Hann
S: Petrucci/Ogbonna

Finally we have a good preseason game, winning 2-0 on goals by Ogbonna and Talbot as our opponents never even sniffed a shot at the goal. Hawkins completely controlled the backline with an 8.3

Transfer In - AMRLC Michael Holland (20)
Depth signing.

vs Wroxham FC
G: Hambridge
D: Foreman/Hawkins/Asllani/Smith
M: Campbell/Gomez-Pico/Spittlehouse/Hough
S: Talbot/Clarke

First half goals by Talbot and Clarke give us a surprising 2-0 halftime lead on a semi-pro team. Lead's cut to 2-1 early in the second, but Petrucci comes up with a big one on a tackle goal to make it 3-1 before we literally give one up mere seconds before the finish to end 3-2.

vs Lowestoft Town (Friendly)
G: Malek
D: Powell/Wells/Asllani/Pitt
M: Hann/Gomez-Pico/Spittlehouse/Campbell
S: Talbot/Ogbonna

So yeah, this friendly and the last one, both against superior teams? Scheduled by my fucking retard of an assman, as are the next two. Assman friendly handling only gives you 4 jobs and they all suck. Then you have to do the laborious process of scheduling the remainder yourself and it sucks big dick.

Promotion Odds
Needham Market: 5-2
Soham Town Rangers: 5-2
Dereham Town: 3-1
Cambridge Regional College: 3-1
Haverhill Rovers: 6-1
Thetford Town: 100-1

...Wow. Seriously, fuck you, oddsmakers. Worst.odds.ever.

I'm so offended, I blow right past the rest of the friendlies (1-1 draw and an absolutely insane 4-1 victory where we score all 4 goals after Kurt Twomey is sent off early in the first on an unfair red.

I'm never doing this multi-friendly again as long as we're Amateur level. It was a complete waste of time in terms of getting our tactics up to speed... maybe because we had 2? Guess I'll junk the 4-5-1 and just focus on the 4-4-2 since we'll be dogs in every single fucking game.

Izulde

08-02-2014, 12:36 PM

Good to see Jake Wells back in a Thetford shirt where he belongs.

Seriously. Especially since that asshole Clover betrayed us.

Greyfriars Bobby

08-02-2014, 12:59 PM

U18 Signing - ST Tod Sugarman
So this grey guy... 11 Finishing, 10 Free Kicks, 11 Long Shots, 10 Composure, 11 Determination, 11 Flair, 10 Balance, 10 Jumping, 14 Natural Fitness, 10 Strength... His only problem? 2 Pace. Still a damn interesting signing worth grabbing. He also scored the gamewinner in the U18 vs Seniors game.

A U18 striker with 2 Pace, who isn't a steaming pile of suck in general? He's even a fairly athletic dude, by other measures.

I look at the Grey Ghosts on my youth team, too. I've never seen one as intriguing as Sugarman, but I've signed two or three of them. One is developing into a young boss with our U19 side.

Izulde

08-02-2014, 02:03 PM

Good Trains
Gary Dowridge
Pelayo Gomez-Pico
Danny Nti

So yeah... fuck this long preseason bullshit. We went from the same but with Competent in Width to magically Awkward in Width in both formations and everything else set back to what it was at the end of last season even though I had Tactics Only for Default Match Training and Team Cohesion for General Training to acclimate the squad

Egzon Asllani retains his captaincy, with Dil Spittlehouse the new Vice-Captain.

George Jones goes off to Bedfont Sports so at this point, forget the 4-5-1 entirely. We'll just run the 4-4-2 this season. Even better, Will Summerfield tears his hamstring and is out 3-4 months.

vs Felixstowe & Walton United
G: Matthew Malek
D: Jeffrey Green/Tom Hawkins/Jake Wells/Lewis Smith
M: Ollie Hann/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Luke Muldowney/Matty Campbell
S: Spencer Talbot/Dubi Ogbonna

Real good chance to open up with a win. As for the lineup? Went with the best performers in preseason, with the exception of MR, but you're nuts if you think I'm not starting Campbell

9 - Free kick goal by Gomez-Pico! 1-0

33 - Campbell passes to Ogbonna but it's tackled away. No problem because Campbell goes forth and gets it back, then sends it to Talbot for the score! Fuck yeah! Eat my shit, 100-1 oddsmakers! 2-0

Spittlehouse for Campbell at the half, due to tiredness.

75 - Petrucci for Ogbonna, and I need to do a better job of picking out subs because we didn't have enough midfield coverage for this one when we needed it.

7.7 for PotM Pelayo Gomez-Pico and 7.5 for Jeffrey Green, validating my choice to promote him to the starting lineup. Not the best game, but it's a season opening win over Carl McEachran and his annually shitty band.

Media has us picked 16th of 17 teams, FWIW.

[b]5th @Walsham-le-Willows (17th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Nas Foreman/Tom Hawkins/Jake Wells/Lewis Smith
M: George Coy/Dil Spittlehouse/Will Forbes/Matty Campbell
S: Spencer Talbot/Dubi Ogbonna

9 - Flawless goal kick from Malek to Talbot, flawless pass to Ogbonna, and flawless shot for the score 1-0

48 - This is a team we should be able to handle without issues. Ugh. Petrucci for Talbot, Asllani for Smith 1-1

:( A game we should have been able to win easily.

Izulde

08-02-2014, 02:05 PM

A U18 striker with 2 Pace, who isn't a steaming pile of suck in general? He's even a fairly athletic dude, by other measures.

I look at the Grey Ghosts on my youth team, too. I've never seen one as intriguing as Sugarman, but I've signed two or three of them. One is developing into a young boss with our U19 side.

He'll have a tough time cracking the senior lineup, though. Our starters are set and we've seen enough out of our two reserves to keep them the rotation guys.. then again, at this level, if you're not a clearly defined starter, there's always someone who can beat you out.

Izulde

08-03-2014, 03:06 AM

5th vs Gorleston FC (2nd)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Jeffrey Green/Tom Hawkins/Jake Wells/Lewis Smith
M: Ollie Hann/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Luke Muldowney/Luke Smithson
S: Spencer Talbot/Tod Sugarman

Boring first half for the most part with neither team having all that real an opportunity. This is our real chance to go out and do something early in the season, too. Petrucci on for Talbot at the half.

70 - Asllani for Smith, Twomey for Muldowney

92 - FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!! FUCK YOU WINSPER! 0-1

vs Great Yarmouth Town (Chell Trophy 1st Round)
G: James Hambridge
D: Calvin Powell/Tom Hawkins/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani
M: George Coy/Will Forbes/Luke Muldowney/Matty Campbell
S: Spencer Talbot/Dubi Ogbonna

12 - Sigh. Ogbonna sets Talbot up perfectly and he shanks the shot.

21 - GO AFTER THE FUCKING BALL, YOU REJECTS! :banghead: 0-1

Smith for Asllani, Campbell to ML and Hough at MR at the half. I don't know WTF our team captain is off to such a shit start this year.

49 - Flawless bounce on the Hambridge goal kick to land at Talbot's feet for the easy 1 v 1 1-1

70 - Twomey for Muldowney but before that happens, Hawkins loses the ball and I'm throwing shit and wigging out when they score... and then I see it's offsides, heh.

78 - Sure. Have another fuck up why don't you, Talbot? What is that now, 900 fucking easy goals you've assfucked us on?

Transfer In - MR/ST Ben Cohen (22)
12 Pace, 11 Acceleration, 10 Determination, 10 Workrate, 8 Crossing. Able to play both wing midfield spots and will be a depth guy.

(6th) @Diss Town (12th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Jeffrey Green/Tom Hawkins/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani
M: Ollie Hann/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/D.J. Spittlehouse/Luke Smithson
S: Spencer Talbot/Tod Sugarman

15 - One thing I will say... it's hilarious to watch slow ass Sugarman lumber down the right wing before stops and crosses to Hann in the half-circle for the beautiful go-ahead screamer 1-0

Petrucci for Talbot at the break and a backline shuffling that sees Asllani at DC, Green at DR, and Foreman at DL for a tiring Hawkins

46 - :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: 1-1

62 - Hough in for Smithson

75 - I slam my keyboard as Wells misses a rare header. FUCK.THIS.GAME! 1-2

85 - Hough drops it back to Spittlehouse, who angles it out to Hann for his second just out of the box goal this game. I'm busy angrily pounding the water of Lake DGAF and don't care. 2-2

91 - Petrucci kicks a ridiculously high and long cross to the far right wing and I'm thinking WTH when Hough chases it down and crosses to the middle. Sugarman muscles everyone out of the way for the short kick in. Fucking sweet, Sugarman. 3-2

7.5 for Jake Wells, 8.8 for PotM Ollie Hann, and 8.1 for Tod Sugarman. Our tactics continue not to budge one bit despite Tactics Only match training and only formation being worked on. I have no fucking idea why and it's pissing me off.

Transfer In - ST Lasse Weber (26)
Danish striker with 10 Pace, 10 Natural Fitness, 11 Composure, 14 Influence, 10 Off Ball, 8 Finishing. Depth signing, naturally, just in case.

5th @Haverhill Rovers (1st)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Jeffrey Green/Tom Hawkins/Jake Wells/Lewis Smith
M: Ollie Hann/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Luke Muldowney/Matty Campbell
S: Spencer Talbot/Dubi Ogbonna

Win this one and we can firmly declare ourselves as serious players in the league this year.

10 - Talbot hits the corner and Hann kicks it in... but the ref is saying no goal as it bounces off the post. Wells settles the issue by hammering the short rebound with a pleasing ferocity 1-0

37 - DICK ASS FUCKING FLUKE GOALS 1-1

50 - DOUBLE YELLOW! FUCK YEAH! LET'S GO, BOYS! But Smith to DC, Green to DR, Foreman at ML and Sugarman at ST for Talbot first.

84 - They score a goal but it's called offsides.

85 - Sugarman gets crushed in the box and they don't call a fucking penalty because of fucking homecooking bullshit.

So naturally it's another god damned fucking draw like we always hae every fucking year ever.

@Great Yarmouth Town (Chell Trophy 1st Round 2nd Leg)
G: James Hambridge
D: Nas Foreman/Tom Hawkins/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani
M: George Coy/Will Forbes/Dil Spittlehouse/Josh Hough
S: Spencer Talbot/Tod Sugarman

4 - Wide open shot and Sugarman misses.

6 - :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: 0-1

12 - Talbot heads the pass from Spittlehouse to Hough, who slips it forward to Sugarman. A short dribble inside the box, and a kick that's slow and ponderous as Eeyore, but somehow it crosses the line for the tie 1-1

30 - They're in the middle of setting up a play and pass it back to midfield, only Sugarman is calmly standing there and he takes it, kicking a gorgeous pass for Talbot, who outruns everyone and hits the go-ahead with authority 2-1

42 - Talbot gets the ball back with an interception after losing and starts a move whose finisher is Talbot playing it back and forth with Forbes a couple times before the center midfielder short-passes it to Sugarman. An even shorter side pass back to Talbot and the outside box shot goes in! 3-1

Twomey for Spittlehouse at the half.

47 - And of course Talbot misses the easy hat-trick header.

71 - Absolutely flawless tackle by Asllani not only saves a goal, but gives it to Hough who runs down the right flank before passing to Twomey in the box. Dribbling forward, spot picked, and *BAM*! First.ever.senior.goal. Powell comes on DL 4-1

81 - Hambridge with the goal kick to Hough and it's on to Sugarman. 'Tis but a sweet second ere sending to Talbot, who crushes it like a Capulet inside the box for the motherfucking hat trick! 5-1

85 - Twomey-Sugarman-Talbot triangle = Goal #4! Montague! 6-1

9.8 for Spencer Talbot, 9.5 for Tod Sugarman, 8.1 for Will Forbes, 8.8 for Joshua Hough, 8.0 for Tom Hawkins, and 7.8 for Egzon Asllani.

Yeah. We showed up pissed off and ready to completely ruin Greater Yarmouth's day on their own home pitch. Fucking beautiful. Now if only we can start doing that in league play.

Izulde

08-03-2014, 04:49 AM

Spencer Talbot's 4 goals broke the 3 goal record for both Thetford Town and the Chell Trophy.

Good Trains
Tom Hawkins

Bad Trains
Danny Nti
Gary Dowridge

$942 lost last month. Board's pleased.

Lewis Smith leaves for Diss Town

5th vs Wisbech Town (12th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Jeffrey Green/Tom Hawkins/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani
M: Ollie Hann/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Dil Spittlehouse/Matty Campbell
S: Spencer Talbot/Tod Sugarman

32 - Gomez-Pico to Hann to Sugarman to Talbot just inside the half-circle and the boomer is in like a Sooner! 1-0

36 - Campbell intercepts and gets it to Hann for the header to Talbot, but the defense tackles the ball away. No worries as Hann crosses to Sugarman for the smooth, silky score! 2-0

48 - Asllani is knocked, so Green shifts to DR and Powell comes in at DL.

67 - Muldowney in for Gomez-Pico

Matching 8.2s for Jake Wells and Tod Sugarman, but it's the former of the two who wins PotM. Really glad I scheduled that U18 friendly now, as that's what allowed me to discover him.

Egzon Asllani is out for a week, further depleting our defensive right back situation.

@Gorleston FC (Eastern Counties Senior Cup 1st Round)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Calvin Powell/Tom Hawkins/Kurt Twomey/Jeffrey Green
M: George Coy/Will Forbes/Luke Muldowney/Matty Campbell
S: Ricky Clarke/Dubi Ogbonna

Don't care too much about this match, except more matches allegedly helps our tactic familiarity go up, though I've yet to see it.

3 - Lot of tackles and dispossessions made in this run, but the most beautiful is Ogbonna slide tackling the ball away from the defense and then running to beat the keeper and everyone for a sliding tackle shot that goes in the net. Oh so pretty! 1-0

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/aXAhTAv1Epc?list=UUfejaPA5RVDBG4kfNvJPCLw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

33 - Twomey launches a rocket over literally everyone to drop a ball at Ogbonna's feet. The Nigerian draws two defenders on to him on the right side of the goal before kicking it back into the wide open middle space for a streaking Muldowney to score 2-0

37 - Free kick goal, bleh. 2-1

62 - Smithson for Campbell, Petrucci for Clarke.

66 - Way to fuck up by not getting to the ball you should have Muldowney 2-2

91 - Smithson plays a good ball for Ogbonna, who does have to juggle a bit and trap it before powering past the defense for a 1 on 1 that he wins 3-2

9.3 for PotM Dubi Ogbonna, 8.3 for Calvin Powell, and 7.6 for Luke Muldowney despite the goal giveaway error. Nice to beat Rheo Josephs, but our mortal enemy, Nathan Winsper, was nowhere to be found.

4th vs FC Clacton (16th)
G: Matthew Malek
D: Nas Foreman/Tom Hawkins/Jake Wells/Tim Pitt
M: Ollie Hann/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Dil Spittlehouse/Matty Campbell
S: Spencer Talbot/Tod Sugarman

7 - Fucking own goal by Wells. WHY?! 0-1

28 - :( 0-2

44 - OH FOR FUCK'S SAKES! 0-3

I read the whole team the riot act at half and at the end of the game, as our second half is just as useless as our first. So yeah, we're probably going to be back stuck in that uncomfortable as fuck upper tier but not challenging thing again. Our tactical familiarity continues to show zero improvement, and in fact keeps regressing, so I'm about ready to give up on this, because it's probably bugged

Izulde

08-03-2014, 04:06 PM

vs Basildon United (FA Vase Qualifying Round)
G: James Hambridge
D: Nas Foreman/Tom Hawkins/Jake Wells/Tim Pitt
M: Ollie Hann/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Dil Spittlehouse/Matty Campbell
S: Spencer Talbot/Tod Sugarman

1 - Why am I playing this fucking game again? 0-1

3 - So I can watch Sugarman screw up easy goals.

7 - Opposing goalie slips in the mud and Talbot runs up to kick in the loose ball 1-1

12 - Campbell crosses to Talbot and after a quick exchange of passes with Sugarman, Talbot hammers in the half-circle shot. For all his struggles last year, he's really stepped it up this season 2-1

20 - Beautiful pass by Gomez-Pico to Spittlehouse for the 1 v 1.. and he shanks it in to the upright.

27 - Gomez-Pico again with a lofting pass, and Sugarman's the recipient this time, only he heads it up close to the six yard box where a speedy Talbot roars home his hat trick goal. Dude just goes into beast mode in Cup matches 3-1

30 - Yeah that defending sucked 3-2

47 - Yeah that just happened. Foreman is officially out for Powell and will never play another game for us if I can help it. Dude keeps fucking up every shot he gets.

56 - Campbell to ML, Smithson at MR, Muldowney replacing Spittelhouse

@Basildown United (FA Vase Qualifying Round Second Leg
G: James Hambridge
D: Cavlin Powell/Tom Hawkins/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani
M: Ollie Hann/Pelayo Gomez-Pico/Luke Muldowney/Matty Campbell
S: Tod Sugarman/Dubi Ogbonna

4 - Same shit, different game. 0-1

5 - Ogbonna gets the ball from Campbell and short passes to Sugarman, who does a slow but merry tapdance on the box boundary before firing in the immediate answer 1-1

15 - Great bounce on Hambridge's goal kick allows Ogbonna to be free of the defense and dribble to the half-circle for the go-ahead. Yeah, looking way eerily similar 2-1

28 - Knock for Muldowney, but he'll keep going.

42 - That's what you get when you elbow Campbell in the face on a goal kick, fucker. You get the red card you deserve.

48 - Muldowney delivers a nice ball to Sugarman, who immediately gift-wraps a perfect pass in box space for Ogbonna, and the Nigerian picks up that package and blasts it right in the net 3-1

60 - Forbes in for Muldowney

63 - Poor header by Wells, worse defense by Hawkins. Ugh. Rayhan on for the latter 3-2

86 - Hann hamfists what should have been a win guarantee goal on a corner after Wells puts him in the perfect spot.

We still grind it out though, and move on. 7.9 for James Hambridge, 8.8 for PotM Dubi Ogbonna and 8.0 for grey ghost claimant Tod Sugarman. Luke Muldowney's out 4-5 weeks.

I like Basildon United's head coach. He flips his shit about the red card even though it was totally well-deserved.

And this is why I fucking HATE being in a league with semipro teams. Spencer Talbot gets $4.2k from Norwich United and he's still in our division. I'm almost ready to rage quit over that.

9th @Cambridge Regional College (12th)
G: James Hambridge
D: Jeffrey Green/Tom Hawkins/Jake Wells/Egzon Asllani
M: Ollie Hann/Will Forbes/Dil Spittlehouse/Matty Campbell
S: Danny Nti/Dubi Ogbonna

Can't believe I forgot about Green the last few games.

Ben Cohen and Lasse Weber in for Campbell and Ogbonna at halftime.

53 - First non-starter highlight we've seen all game, and of course it's of Nti shanking a sitter.

57 - Fuck this. I'm looking for a semipro gig after this game 0-1

So I apply for a job, and I receive this notice:

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/TTangry_zpsc7583c08.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/TTangry_zpsc7583c08.jpg.html)

Fuck you. I fake apologize. It asks me if I want to apologize for my recent actions. ...If I do, does that mean my name gets shredded in the job application? Hmm. Let's try it.

The board forgives me, but now the fans are angry. Oh well.

And then...

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/scarath_zpsddfab43c.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/scarath_zpsddfab43c.jpg.html)

So there you have it. Should I actually go through with taking this job after being in the midst of my fifth season with little hope of finally promoting (this job would promote me up to the next level in addition to being the manager of a semipro team), or should I stay in Thetford Town and continue bravely fighting the brave fight as an amateur side, knowing damn well the semipro teams can steal our players at will, in hopes that some day we might finally break through and promote to semipro sweetness?

What say you, readers of the fucking Izulde rants?

Portiere

08-03-2014, 08:04 PM

I would say take it. Its not like your current employers have been greatly loyal to you--they just asked you to resign, and after tilting at the windmill, you're just really taking a better lance--its not like you've been approached by a league 2 team.

Brian Swartz

08-03-2014, 08:09 PM

I say take it as well. I think you've modestly outperformed expectations where you are at, and a disappointing club one level above is the kind of job that I would expect you to be able to jump to, so it's not a gamey or unrealistic move in my opinion. You've given your current club a good effort, and one could say you're at a point where maybe the best thing for them in a fresh face who will try new things(for better or worse). Leaving gives them the chance to bring someone in who might be a better fit.

bbgunn

08-03-2014, 09:52 PM

Do it!

Izulde

08-04-2014, 08:30 AM

Thanks, folks. They were the job I applied to, so it's not like a bolt out of blue approaching (should have made that more clear, I suppose).

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/leaving_zps61bd7f70.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/leaving_zps61bd7f70.jpg.html)

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/hisscar_zpse8a46677.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/hisscar_zpse8a46677.jpg.html)

Yeah they nearly did the double-promotion, but lost in the playoffs. They were also in the playoffs last year as the 5th place team, but lost. Cupwise you can see they've won two cups, but they also went to the Final of the Southern League Cup two years ago, which is also when they finished 11th in the league, their worst showing here.

As to why this job is open, today is September 27th. On September 19th, a new chairman took over and fired Rudy Funk, a 57 year old Romanian who took over the team in 2010 and led the Seadogs to the level of success they enjoy now. So I've some pretty big shoes to fill.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/scarborough-football-club-badge_zpsc54dda6d.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/scarborough-football-club-badge_zpsc54dda6d.jpg.html)

The Scarborough Athletic FC badge. Why the Seadogs have a bird, I don't know. Interesting history - this club is actually a renaissance of Scarborough FC, which fell apart due to politics and finances. Wikipedia's article on Athletic is pretty interesting:

Scarborough Athletic F.C - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarborough_Athletic_F.C).

Soo that Bridlington thing means...

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/scarstad_zps9b94f331.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/scarstad_zps9b94f331.jpg.html)

Yep. Having to rent. Wikipedia says the club is hoping to move back to Scarborough by 2016, but obviously that hasn't happened in this universe. Finances to build one or move? The club has a $500k loan debt. Granted, that's much smaller than Thetford Town's $725k one, but still...

At first blush, the talent level on this team is atrocious, and it's only their familiarity levels with the 4-4-2 that's kept them up this high. There's also been a rash of injuries that have decimated the squad.

First thing I do is piss off our best player, DR Mark Lynch, by demoting the 35 year old from captain to vice-captain. He agrees to suck it up, but he's not happy because he's already been transfer listed by the previous regime.

Fans have been staying away in droves - the last match drew just 65 attendees. Granted, it was a Cup match, but still... lowest in team history. I've got a lot of work to do.

The scouting range is upgraded, but I'm not sure where to. I do wish the game would tell you where.

The introductory press conference has just one journalist, and he's shocked that I would leave one debt-ridden club for another, especially one that doesn't even own its own stadium, and he really questions my ambition. I'm tempted to tell him to go fuck himself, but I'm trying to behave for once.

I try to bring in my former staff and some former players, but they all want way too much money, or aren't suited for this level. Egzon Asllani breaks his cheekbone and is out 4-5 weeks as the team loses their next match 0-1.

Weaknesses According To My Super New Assman
The entire backline
ML

Transfer In - MC Sam Jones (25) - From Whitby Town
10 passing, 11 Technique, 15 Teamwork, 11 Workrate, 11 Acceleration, 11 Agility, 10 Balance, 12 Pace, and yet Sam Austin hates him. No wonder he was willing to sign a $2,2k per year contract through 2019. Whatever. I'm going to give him a shot in the lineup anyway.

Transfer In - DC Jack Fisher (22) - From Bishop Auckland
Currently dealing with a sports hernia that'll have him out another couple weeks, but 12 Tackling, 11 Bravery, 10 Workrate, 10 Jumping, 11 Natural Fitness, 12 Strength. Rated 1.5/4* by the assman and signed on a one year, $6.5k contract

Transfer In - ST Dubi Ogbonna (24) - From Duh
A one year, $6.25k contract and because there's injuries in the striker department, he'll be a starter right off the bat to prove himself in our setup. We saw how well he did with us in Thetford Town. My assman actually rates him as our third best striker, so it appears to have been a decent pickup.

15th vs Uxbridge FC (4th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Harry Palmer/Lloyd Laycock/Craig Gott/Mark Lynch
M: Henry Sibenge/Sam Jones*/Adam Forster/Tony Stimpson
S: George Maris/Mike Hands

Ignore most of these names - a lot of U18 and reserve call-ups because everyone is so damned exhausted. Fortunately, the first half is a no-highlight show, so maybe we can scrape a draw out of this yet.

49 - Forster with a great pass to Stimpson, who despite his awful game so far runs past the defense on the wing and crosses to Maris, who hits home like Roger. 1-0

60 - Fabio Snow on for Jones, whose debut has been puke-worthy.

Yes, yes it was a poor match, but we just stole 3 points in my debut. Craig Gott gets an 8.1 and PotM. 7.7 for Lloyd Laycock

DR Reece Keeling (18)
Former Middlesborough prospect who never got a shot. An absolute physical beast in terms of Acceleration, Agility, and Balance all at 14, Natural Fitness at 11, and Pace at 12. Needs to work on Stamina (4) and Strength (1), but he signs a $2.5k/year contract through 2019 and my assman loves the shit out of him.

DC/DM Andy Draper (18)
Scunthorpe United prospect who never got a shot. 5 strength is lowest Physical attribute - everything else is 8 or higher. Solid all-around mental attributes including 19 Aggression (For its negatives as well) 12 Concentration, 10 Positioning and 15 Workrate. Decent Technical attributes but he needs to build those up. Still, at $4.7k a year through 2019, he's a bargain find, and my assman (11 Player Ab/9 Player Pot BTW) considers him our best DC right now.

A couple of managers in the league get fired, but I'm still safe, obviously.

12th @Crowborough Athletic (13th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Andy Draper*/Craig Gott/Mark Lynch
M: Henry Sibenge/Sam Jones*/Adam Forster/Ross Gardner
S: George Maris/Dubi Ogbonna*

I'm ever so slowly starting to get a sense for how this team looks. Frankly, I think my assman's scathing indictment of the defense is somewhat wrongheaded, as is his praise of the strikers. He's right about the wingers needing upgrades, though.

7 - Ugh. We really should have scored there, but Sibenge was called offsides anyway.

38 - I'm thinking there's not much difference after all in the levels after they flub their own easy shot.

Zac Cowling, who is considered Key Player by old regime, in for Jones and Hands in for Sibenge at the half.

72 - Old man Gardner takes the goal kick from Burke, strides forward to the half-circle, and fires the 20 yard shot in! 1-0

Peter Burke, 21 year old goalie, is considered a star keeper by my assman, and so far it's 2 games, 2 shutouts, as he delivers a 7.9 here for PotM honors, Ross Gardner's 7.3 the only other rating for us 7.1 or higher.

It's another scrappy, ugly win, but we'll darn sure take it. And despite all the changes I've been making, the team's gone from Fluid/Accomplished in a lot of areas to Fluid/Fluid, just in the two weeks I've been here. The joys of having a semi-pro team

Brian Swartz

08-04-2014, 09:25 AM

The scouting range is upgraded, but I'm not sure where to. I do wish the game would tell you where.

Boardroom --> Scouting in every version I've ever played, FYI.

mrtourette

08-04-2014, 10:28 AM

Ah Scarbrough, used to have my family holidays there every year as a child. Enjoy your fish and chips on the seafront.

Izulde

08-04-2014, 11:24 AM

For those wondering what the hell our setup looks like...

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/scar1st_zps5f31e704.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/scar1st_zps5f31e704.jpg.html)

As you can see, it looks very similar to the 4-4-2 I ran at Thetford Town, only the DLP has been replaced by an ordinary CM, and the winngers are now attacking instead of support. Both those things were accidental - I meant to make it a DLP and have the wingers to support when I designed the formation, but my brain took a short vacation.

Hard to argue with the two wins, though, so we'll keep going with it. The rigid counter play is in effect still of course.

Transfer Out - DR Mark Lynch (35) - To Pickering Town
The fans are sad to see him go, but the fact is, we have his replacement, who we're eager to get started, and he was making $12,000. We needed to free up more money to bring in other players, as we were already bumping up against the wage budget.

Transfer In - MC Will Summerfield (21) - From Duh
Okay so he's still out 2-3 weeks with his hamstring injury and he never played a competitive game for me in Thetford Town. But I still believe this kid can be worth something someday. He's on a one year, $4.7k deal to prove himself.

Transfer In - MLR Rheo Josephs (20) - From Gorleston FC
He struggled in Gorleston's setup, but in terms of his pure physical talent, Josephs rates as one of the best wingers for our level in my opinion. The reason he had difficulty? He was forced into the AML/R and MC roles, which aren't his game. Here, he can flourish and earn $4.1k a year through 2019 while doing it. Of course he only had one truly good season for us, but oh well.

Transfer In - MR/AMR Nathan Hudson (20) - From Armthorpe Welfare
11 Crossing, 10 Determination, 10 Teamwork, 12 Workrate, 11 Acceleration, 14 Natural Fitness, 11 Pace. Grades out as our best right midfielder by the assman's lights and I'll pay $3.8k/year through 2019 for that and his upside.

Transfer In - ST Ali Amiri (20) - From Armthorpe Welfare
Wow, AW must *really* hate us after stealing two of their players in one day. 10 Finishing, 11 First Touch, 10 Aggression, 10 Off Ball, 12 Teamwork, 10 Acceleration, 10 Agility, 12 Jumping, 10 Natural Fitness, 10 Pace. Iranian striker with 3 U21 caps already, he'll continue my long-running trend of international strikers by being the Target Man to Ogbonna's Poacher. $4.1k a year through 2019.

Those signings put us $600 over the annual wage budget so we'll look to move someone out.

Thetford Town Hire Andy Procter
33 year old rookie manager with 17 Attacking, 14 Mental, 12 Working with Youngsters, 10 Adaptability, 15 Determination. His Tactical Knowledge is 1, though. LOL.

10th @Potters Bar Town (1st)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Lee Molyneaux/Craig Gott/Reece Keeling*
M: Rheo Josephs*/Jimmy Beadle/Adam Forster/Nathan Hudson*
S: George Maris/Dubi Ogbonna*

Still some of our new signings getting their fitness up enough to play, but we're almost set in terms of our ideal lineup for the rest of the year, and a foundation for the next few seasons, I think.

20 - Laycock makes a great interception and sends it to Josephs, who dribbles before passing to Maris. The pass to Ogbonna is tackled away, but Maris[/] calmly crosses it farther to a suddenly there [b]Forster and the shot is easy 1-0

33 - It occurs to me that I haven't established my set pieces yet, but after Hudson's corner flies in for Gott's smart dart forward and header in, maybe I don't need to worry about that yet 2-0

47 - I see Ogbonna brought the post frustrations with him.

54 - We're unexpectedly awarded a penalty, and it's Josephs who's picked to take the shot... and he has no trouble converting the debut goal! 3-0

65 - Kelvin Lola in for Keeling. The 18 year old DRC is a very quality player and should probably be in the starting lineup - he's got legit all-around skills.

73 - Eh, it's only one goal. Jones on for Beadle. 3-1

89 - Forster steals the ball and passes to Ogbonna, who plays a beautiful ball for Maris. The shot nearly goes over the bar, but slides *just* under! 4-1

8.2 - Craig Gott, Nathan Hudson, George Maris (PotM)
8.1 - Adam Forster
7.6 - Lloyd Laycock, Rheo Josephs
7.5 - Lee Molyneaux

Holy shit! Did we really just upset the #1 team league on their own turf, and not only beat them, but embarrass the ever-living nightlights out of them?! Hell yes and HELL FUCKING YEAH!!!

Since our movement is more or less settled, let's do a review of the positions. Note that I'm only marking the 8+ in Key Areas for the Roles they're to play

Goalkeeper
Peter Burke (21) - 13 Aerial, 8 Handling, 8 1v1, 9 Reflexes, 9 Decisions, 10 Agility
Charles Rudd (19) - 8 Command, 8 Handling, 12 Reflexes, 8 Composure, 9 Agility

Both solid young keepers, but the Irishman Burke is clearly the better of the two. He's making $7.75k, Rudd $4.2k, but Burke wants a huge payraise before he'll discuss an extension, and financially we're not in the business of being able to do that.

Defender
DL Lloyd Laycock (20) - 8 Marking, 10 Tackling, 10 Anticipation, 10 Teamwork, 10 Workrate, 8 Acceleration, 10 Stamina (Able to play DC/DR)
DC Jack Fisher (22) - 9 Heading, 8 Marking, 12 Tackling, 8 Determination, 10 Jumping, 12 Strength
DC Craig Gott (22) - 8 Heading, 8 Marking, 8 Tackling, 9 Decisions, 10 Determination, 8 Positioning, 14 Jumping (Can also play DR and one other, which gets covered later
DC Lee Molyneaux (33) - 9 Heading, 9 Marking, 8 Tackling, 8 Determination, 8 Positioning, 11 Jumping, 10 Strength (Can also play DR)
DC Andy Draper (18) - 8 Heading, 9 Tackling, 12 Determination, 10 Positioning, 10 Jumping (Can also play DM)
DC Andrew Milne (26) - 12 Marking, 8 Tackling, 8 Decisions, 9 Determination, 9 Positioning, 12 Jumping
DCR Kelvin Lola (18) - 9 Marking, 9 Tackling, 9 Concentration, 12 Determination, 8 Positioning, 8 Jumping, 8 Strength, 14 Teamwork, 10 Workrate, 8 Acceleration, 10 Stamina
DR Reece Keeling (18) - 8 Tackling, 9 Anticipation, 9 Concentration, 8 Positioning, 8 Workrate, 14 Acceleration

Obviously we need more coverage in the DL area, but we're over wage budget. Funny... by the key ratings Lola should probably be starting over Keeling, but one is under contract for the next several years and the other isn't. Basically, we have a ton of DC guys who are all really close together. I tried shipping out Molyneaux but nobody was interested. Milne's still coming back from injury. I should probably see if I can sell off Milne for $2k (he's worth $7k). Laycock was an August trialist who signed a one year deal after his tryout, so he won't talk extension.

Midfielders
MCLR/AMC Ross Gardner (31) - 9 Crossing, 10 Technique, 8 Decisions, 10 Flair, 9 Off Ball, 9 Balance, 10 Passing, 9 Determination, 12 Teamwork, 8 Workrate, 8 Anticipation, 8 Stamina
MLR Rheo Josephs (20) - 11 Crossing, 11 Flair, 11 Acceleration, 9 Agility, 11 Balance, 11 Pace
ML/ST Mike Hands (18) - 15 Flair, 10 Acceleration, 8 Agility, 9 Balance, 10 Pace
MCR/ST Grant Darley (24) - 12 Determination, 9 Teamwork, 10 Workrate, 9 Longshots, 10 Acceleration, 10 Stamina
MC Jimmy Beadle (28) - 9 Heading, 12 Determination, 15 Teamwork, 14 Workrate, 9 Finishing, 9 Longshots, 15 Bravery, 11 Stamina, 14 Strength (B2B MC his strongest role by far)
MC Adam Forster (23) - 8 Passing, 11 Determination, 8 Teamwork, 10 Dribbling, 9 Finishing, 8 Technique, 10 Bravery
MC Zac Cowling (21) - 8 First Touch, 8 Decisions, 10 Determination, 12 Teamwork, 10 Workrate, 10 Technique, 9 Off Ball, 11 Acceleration (Can also play DR)
MC Craig Gott - 8 Heading, 8 Marking, 9 Passing, 8 Tackling, 9 Decisions, 10 Determination, 8 Positioning, 9 Teamwork, 10 Workrate - So many 1s in B2B I'm not even going to look
MC Will Summerfield (21) - Needs to buildup Marking and Strength (1 and 2) before seriously considered for selection
MC Fabio Snow and MCR/ST Tony Stimpson - Need to work on Passing before seriously considered, and I'm getting fatigue
MC Sam Jones (25) - 10 Passing, 8 Tackling, 9 Determination, 15 Teamwork, 11 Workrate, 11 Technique, 11 Acceleration
MR Nathan Hudson (20) - 11 Crossing, 11 Acceleration, 9 Agility, 9 Balance, 11 Pace

Because crossing and pace on the wings are so critical to the type of 4-4-2 I'm running, it's safe to say that Rheo Josephs and Nathan Hudson will be starting and that Ross Gardner will be a supersub. Craig Gott has 8s in every category for CM - Defend, but Sam Jones has some wow ratings, but also some awful ones. B2B is clearly going to be Jimmy Beadle after the review, which means I can move out somebody like Zac Cowling or Fabio Snow to get under wage budget again.

Strikers
Grant Darley - 12 Determination, 9 Teamwork, 10 Workrate, 10 Acceleration, 10 Agility, 10 Balance, 11 Pace
Dubi Ogbonna (24) - 11 Finishing, 9 First Touch, 8 Determination, 8 Workrate, 9 Jumping, 9 Dribbling, 8 Composure, 11 Off Ball, 9 Acceleration
George Maris (20) - 9 Finishing, 9 Determination, 9 Workrate, 9 Offball, 11 Acceleration, 8 Agility, 10 Pace
Ali Amiri (20) - 10 Finishing, 11 First Touch, 8 Bravery, 8 Determination, 12 Teamwork, 9 Workrate, 12 Jumping, 9 Composure, 10 Off Ball, 10 Acceleration, 10 Agility, 9 Balance, 10 Pace
Tony Stimpson (17) - 1 Bravery won't cut it
Mike Hands - I'm not going to consider 6 Finishing.

I wish Grant Darley didn't have a 2-3 month sports hernia injury. Dude can not finish, relative to the others (7), which negates his value in my eyes. Ali Amiri is our best all-around striker, and so far ahead of everyone else as a Target Man, it's ridiculous. Dubi Ogbonna's technical accomplishments and proven value in my system have him well over Darley's physical prowess, and Maris will be the third striker.

Whew. I'm tired and hungry now, so food hunting I go.

Izulde

08-04-2014, 11:38 AM

Boardroom --> Scouting in every version I've ever played, FYI.

Just says in this nation. So maybe the mileage within the country has increased? Not sure.

Izulde

08-04-2014, 11:40 AM

Ah Scarbrough, used to have my family holidays there every year as a child. Enjoy your fish and chips on the seafront.

Even better - I love living in a city that's on the water, and fish and chips is always great. Best I've ever eaten was at Beschoff's in Dublin.

Izulde

08-04-2014, 05:20 PM

6th vs Three Bridges FC (8th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Andy Draper/Jack Fisher/Kelvin Lola
M: Rheo Josephs/Craig Gott/Jimmy Beadle/Ross Gardner
S: George Maris/Dubi Ogbonna

Fitness/conditioning still preventing our ultimate ideal lineup, but that's okay.

30 - Mumble. 25 yard strike. 0-1

44 - Fucking ref. Maris was not offsides.

Molyneaux for Fisher and Gardner to MC for Hudson at MR at the break as I tell the team to knock that shit off. I'm just firm, though, not screaming.

68 - Beadle takes a knock.

It's a dull half with only Hudson's crossbar robbery of a fluke kick for excitement (Other teams get that shit all the time... why can't mine?)

Not going to yell, though. They picked up their play in the second half but just couldn't break past the defenses. Jimmy Beadle is out 2-3 weeks.

Aaaand I get suspended a game for cursing out the ref for that disallowed goal. Fuck you, FA.

8th vs Heybridge Swifts (17th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Andy Draper/Jack Fisher/Reece Keeling
M: Rheo Josephs/Sam Jones/Adam Forster/Nathan Hudson
S: Ali Amiri/Dubi Ogbonna

This may end up as our favored lineup the rest of the year, so it'll be interesting to see how they do without me.

18 - Was our three straight wins all just a dream? 0-1

24 - Knock for Josephs

25 - Knock for Jones

54 - Draper makes a sliding tackle but then loses the ball on a counter tackle. Josephs gets the loose ball and passes it to Amiri, who sends a breathtaking rainbow for Ogbonna, who runs it down and fires a half-volley from just inside the box for the tie 1-1

I'm stunned my assman made no subs. Lloyd Laycock has really struggled these last couple games, and that's worrying as he's the only one on the senior team able to play DL without having to dip into the youth squad.

Rheo Josephs is out 2 weeks, as is Sam Jones.

The training news is so bad all around I don't even want to remark it.

11th @Leiston FC (13th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Andy Draper/Andrew Milne/Rees Keeling
M: Ross Gardner/Craig Gott/Adam Forster/Nathan Hudson
S: Ali Amiri/Dubi Ogbonna

14 - Their goalie drops the ball but Ogbonna isn't fast enough to take advantage

33 - They should've scored on that free kick.

50 - Molyneaux replaces Draper

70 - Maris in for Amiri

87 - Should've scored there, too.

All in all, we'll take this result. Time to work on Team Cohesion, I think.

11th @Hemel Hempstead Town (17th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Andy Draper/Lee Molyneaux/Kelvin Lola
M: Ross Gardner/Craig Gott/Jimmy Beadle/Nathan Hudson
S: Ali Amiri/Dubi Ogbonna

17 - ....I still haven't set my set piece guys. Gardner's corner kick's deflected, but Beadle catches the clearance and wings it out to Gardner, who curls it round the near post, where Ogbonna is in the perfect spot to jam in the follow-through 1-0

66 - Forster for Beadle and Maris for Amiri

82 - Mein Gott! Forster intercepts a ferocious header, arcs it down to Maris, who jogs all the way down the left side of the pitch before dribbling into the box, and just when I think he's going to shoot, he centers to Gott for the insurance score! 2-0

No 7.5s, but 7.4 for Lloyd Laycock, Craig Gott, and Dubi Ogbonna and 7.3 for Andy Draper and Lee Molyneaux. I have to single Gott out in particular for making interception after interception in the closing minutes as they fought furiously to close the gap.

I've had a lot of teams ask to loan Zac Cowlings, but nobody's willing to pay more than 50% of his salary for 3 months. I am, however, intensely amused to see Thetford Town make a loan offer. Problem is they won't contribute anything to his salary. If they'll offer 50%, I'll accept it.

9th vs AFC Hayes (13th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Andy Draper/Andrew Milne/Rees Keeling
M: Rheo Josephs/Craig Gott/Lee Molyneaux/Nathan Hudson
S: Ali Amiri/Dubi Ogbonna

Gardner for Josephs and Forster for Gott at the half, as they're not doing very well.

66 - Gardner makes a beaut of a pickoff of a throw-in, starting a move that sees its last part Hudson on the River Wing (it's raining like a bitch), center to Amiri. The Iranian striker is tackled, but he recovers to put a big foot on the wet ball and *finally* get his first goal! His Nigerian counterpart goes out for Maris 1-0

73 - Amiri should have scored again, but I should have set my set piece takers, so hey. Hudson runs down his own cleared corner, but nothing comes of it.

83 - Terrible throw-in by Laycock almost results in a goal but Beadle bails us out. Gardner and Hudson exchange 90 million corner kicks that do nothing. Okay I get the point, FM!

90 - Aaaand the post denies Amiri. I really thought it was in. Sigh.

Still, we grind out the ugly win. I tell them they need to play better in other matches, and I get some baaad reactions, and it gets even worse when I try to tell Amiri he did a good job and rip Draper for his shit 5.9 performance. Oops.

But let's end with some good news, eh?

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/yayscar_zpsf7624b07.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/yayscar_zpsf7624b07.jpg.html)

Brian Swartz

08-04-2014, 05:34 PM

Just says in this nation. So maybe the mileage within the country has increased? Not sure.

Was it 'scouting' or 'youth scouting' range that increased?

Izulde

08-04-2014, 05:36 PM

Scouting range

Brian Swartz

08-04-2014, 05:45 PM

Ok I'm out of answers then -- every time that's expanded I've been able to see exactly what regions/countries(it's always been at least countries, never a 'mileage' distance) were added, going back to at least FM10 which is the first one I played.

So, I dunno.

bbgunn

08-04-2014, 07:03 PM

Wow... I never thought about having the Target Man on Attack duty, but you can't argue with the wins.

Izulde

08-04-2014, 07:33 PM

@Ilford FC (Isthmian Ryman League Cup 2nd Round)
G: Peter Burke
D: Harry Palmer/Jack Fisher/Andrew Milne/Kelvin Lola
M: Rheo Josephs/Will Summerfield/Adam Forster/Ross Gardner
S: George Maris/Dubi Ogbonna

Don't care about Cup matches much with how we're situated in league play, so we'll give lots of rest to guys and give some kids a shot to show something.

37 - Finally, fluke luck, as Gardner's 25 yard free kick bounces off the crossbar and goes in 1-0

Ilford FC are unfortunate to go in behind. Meh. Whatevs.

50 - The post blocks them and then they shank an easy goal. Of course if Gardner hadn't run pell-mell for the goal instead of waiting for the goal kick, this never would have even been an issue. Josephs to MR and Paul Grugel, a U18 DL callup who's competent across the midfield, at ML.

53 - Forster makes a nice little steal after an eh pass by Josephs and puts it a touch forward for Ogbonna, and as he's done so many times in this system, the Nigerian feeds his running mate a perfect line, and Maris converts. 2-0

74 - That was a completely bogus penalty. Wow. Unreal. Summerfield sits for Jones to try and save this game 2-1

78 - Knocked out is Fisher. In comes Molyneaux

Another scrappy win. Dubi Ogbonna's 7.4 nets PotM with 7.3s for Kelvin Lola and George Maris.

Hey, how about that? We actually get money! Granted, it's only $1.32k, but still, every little bit helps. Screw the media who calls us lucky. Bullshit. We owned that game because Seadogs be balla, yo!

7th vs Chertsey Town (20th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Andy Draper/Lee Molyneaux/Reece Keeling
M: Rheo Josephs/Sam Jones/Jimmy Beadle/Nathan Hudson
S: Ali Amiri/Dubi Ogbonna

16 - Beadle continues to show he's worth being on this team, high salary be damned by making a great interception at midfield to kill a counter attack. Then in our counter to the counter, he exchanges passes with Hudson on the right wing before merrily dribbling in to the box from the right wing where I never expected him to be and crossing the ball to the far post where Josephs hoofs it in. 1-0

41 - If I had a dollar for all the times Amiri got robbed by the post, I'd be able to move to San Diego tomorrow.

Molyneaux moves to DR and Gott comes in at DC because I don't trust Keeling to rebound from his 6.1 in the second half.

50 - The Amiri curse continues as he's knocked, and it's severe enough that I pull him for Maris anyway.

80 - Gardner for Jones

It gets scary in the waning minutes but we manage to hang on for the 3 points. Jimmy Beadle was a rockstar today, racking up an 8.3 for PotM honors. Andy Draper grabbed a 7.4, and a 7.3 was the result of Rheo Josephs' game. Not the kind of narrow victory you want over the last place team on your own home field, but shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.. our field's rented, so yeah.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/yayme_zps7152647d.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/yayme_zps7152647d.jpg.html)

Funny thing is... I like lots of goals scored, so it's kind of weird that I've built this balla D. Not complaining tho! Ali Amiri is out 5-6 weeks, which I *will* grumble about.

Loan In - MC/MR/AMC/AMR Elliot King (20) - From Stamford FC
3 months - 10 Dribbling, 9 Decisions, 12 Flair, 9 Off Ball, 8 Agility, 8 Balance, 8 Pace. Basically a trial run to see if he's worth giving a contract to at the end of the year. 8 First Touch, 9 Passing, 10 Decisions, 9 Determination, 10 Workrate, 9 Long Shots, 8 Acceleration.

Loan Out - MC Fabian Snow (22) - To Salford City
Til the end of the season and they're paying 50% of his salary, which comes to $1.75k and gets us below the wage budget.

Loan Out - MC Zac Cowling (21) - To Harrogate Railway Athletic
Like Snow, it's a 50% salary paid til end of season loan. In this case, that comes to $3.25k.

That puts us $4.41k under budget, which is enough to bring someone cheap in if I want, but I'm going to wait and see. No need to fuck with what's doing okay, right? Right.

5th @Ware FC (16th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Andy Draper/Lee Molyneaux/Reece Keeling
M: Rheo Josephs/Sam Jones/Jimmy Beadle/Nathan Hudson
S: George Maris/Dubi Ogbonna

4 - Post robbed them. There *is* some justice.

King for Jones and Lola for Molyneaux at the break, as we're playing like ass.

82 - Hands in for Maris. It's been a second half with literally no highlights.

I'm going to put this down to just not being lucky as most people picked up their play in the second half and our not getting a PK when we should have. Still would have been nice to pick up the win. It's a crowded race for the 4th and 5th playoff spots, and two teams within range have a game in hand.

Brian Swartz

08-04-2014, 07:39 PM

I don't know what to root for here. It'd be fantastic to see you get promoted and start building some traction in your career, making their decision to fire the previous guy look justified. On the other hand, if you just missed it(say in a playoff final or something), the resulting expletive explosion might be highly entertaining ...

Izulde

08-05-2014, 09:53 AM

Wow... I never thought about having the Target Man on Attack duty, but you can't argue with the wins.

I just looked back at my old 4-4-2, and you're right... that's an accidental change, too. But like you say, not going to argue with it, given our relative success.

I don't know what to root for here. It'd be fantastic to see you get promoted and start building some traction in your career, making their decision to fire the previous guy look justified. On the other hand, if you just missed it(say in a playoff final or something), the resulting expletive explosion might be highly entertaining ...

I'm actually fine with not promoting. It'll allow me an opportunity to really get the wage budget under control and a long-term vision/team established without the pressures of avoiding the drop.

Izulde

08-05-2014, 01:07 PM

Good Trains[/b
Will Summerfield
Nathan Hudson
Henry Sibenge
Steve Worsfold

Board's pleased but we lost $13.95k last month. Ouch. The board really wants to see players sold.

[b]6th vs Flackwell Heath (2nd)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Andy Draper/Lee Molyneaux/Reece Keeling
M: Rheo Josephs/Sam Jones/Jimmy Beadle/Nathan Hudson
S: George Maris/Dubi Ogbonna

They have a shot in the first half, but that's the only highlight.

55 - Gardner and King on for Jones and Beadle

60 - Knock on King

73 - Another knock on King

81 - Hudson blasts one down the field trying to find Ogbonna, but the keeper gets there first... but he can't hang on to it! Our Nigerian has just enough speed to sideswipe the ball and shoot in as the hordes close in on him! 1-0

93 - Always tough to see a player have to leave at the very last second due to injury, but that's what happens to Keeling. Lola in.

Lloyd Laycock with PotM on his 7.6, but let's applaud Lee Molyneaux 7.5 and of course Dubi Ogbonna's 7.3. Yet another narrow victory although it costs us Elliot King for almost 2 months. Hard to get a read on him now.

Peter Burke's development is praised by our coaches, but our contract negotiations break down, with the promotion salary raise percentage the sticking point. He wanted 25% raise if we promoted, and we were only willing to offer 15 on an $11,000 base contract.

Andrew Milne is out 4-5 weeks after a training injury.

6th @Tring Athletic (7th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Andy Draper/Lee Molyneaux/Kelvin Lola
M: Rheo Josephs/Sam Jones/Jimmy Beadle/Nathan Hudson
S: George Maris/Dubi Ogbonna

Big game here in terms of helping separate out the log-jam in the borderline playoff promotion range. We're tied on points but just ahead in goal differential.

4 - Clammy rain and our shutout streak is over 0-1

43 - That may have been the most beautiful drop shot pass I've ever seen from Maris over 5 defenders to set up Ogbonna with a 1 on 1, but he unforgivably shanks the shot

I tell them off royally in classic Izulde Jestor screaming at the half, and put in Grugel at DL and Grant Darley in for Ogbonna'

52 - Off goes Jones with injury and in comes Gardner

Everyone's feeling lousy after this one, as well they should. No excuse to be losing like this. Lee Molyneaux is out 4-5 weeks. Our first loss in 8 games.

So then this happens.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/WellsScarAth_zps3d3fbb80.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/WellsScarAth_zps3d3fbb80.jpg.html)

Transfer In - DC Jake Wells (20) - From Duh
A lot of teams were swarming around him, so I just *had* to make the offer, expensive though he was at $7,750 for a partial season rental. Gotta see how my boy does up here. I probably should have just gone ahead and signed him through 2019, but we'll see.

8th vs Waltham Abbey (7th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Andy Draper/Jake Wells/Reece Keeling
M: Rheo Josephs/Chris Gott/Jimmy Beadle/Nathan Hudson
S: George Maris/Dubi Ogbonna

....So at halftime I tell George Maris I'm not happy with his performance, and he looks delighted?! What the hell kind of demon spawn are you, kid?

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/crazymaris_zps4d1cf33b.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/crazymaris_zps4d1cf33b.jpg.html)

60 - Gardner comes on at MR, and Darley gets a shot at MC.

They should have scored in the second half but flub it. Jake Wells gets a 7.4 and PotM in his debut. I'm just saying, he's the diggity diggity bomb. I think it's time we worked on our attacking, as it's been quite poor these last several games.

Transfer Out - MR/MC/ST Grant Darley - To Bridlington Town
Well, he doesn't have to move addresses at all. He also gets a pay raise to $14.25k, so it ended up a really sweet deal for him, particularly since our co-hosts are 2nd in the league right now. We shed $12,000 in salary and are $8.65k under budget

Contract Extension - GK Peter Burke (21) - $11,250 base - Through 2019
$25 appearance fee and 25% promotion raise. I was able to talk him out of the $80 shutout fee, 10% yearly raises and down from $14,000 a year. Is it still more than I wanted to pay? Yeah. But good young goalies are so damn hard to find, it's worth it to lock one up when you get one. It also makes him our highest paid player. In fact, once everyone who's in the last year of their contract leaves (if not extended), the next highest wage earner is Andy Draper, making $4,700 a year. But like I said... great young keepers are hard to find, and he's had 13 shutouts in 23 games this year. Admittedly many of them were under my 4-4-2 counter setup, but still.

8th @Horsham YMCA (12th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Andy Draper/Jake Wells/Reece Keeling
M: Rheo Josephs/Chris Gott/Jimmy Beadle/Nathan Hudson
S: Ali Amiri/Dubi Ogbonna

7 - Oh Wells. Why didn't you tackle him? :( 0-1

20 Ugh. Corner kick fuckery. Time to overload 0-2

42 - Dafuq? 0-3

Wells and his 4.8 gets yanked, as does Amiri's 5.7. But considering the whole fucking team is lower than 6.6 and numerous sub-6s, they getting yelled at

49 - Amiri is giving me an earful about getting benched, and here's Gott passing to Ogbonna for the Nigerian's calm dribble through the defense and center to Maris, the replacement scoring the goal. Fuck off, Ali. 3-1

Morale's pretty low after that one, so I'm gentle. Definitely some people getting benched for next game though. Contract negotiations are a nightmare. *Everyone* wants 25% promotion raise and not a single one of them will accept anything less. Really irritating.

Feeling tired now. Think I'll go nap.

Brian Swartz

08-06-2014, 02:55 AM

So at halftime I tell George Maris I'm not happy with his performance, and he looks delighted?! What the hell kind of demon spawn are you, kid?

Some players want to be criticized if they didn't just give you an 8.8 with a hat trick. Perfectionism I guess. I had a guy in my team(Yogi) that I talked to and praised him after a 5 goals, 3 ass in 4 matches stretch, and he was a little turned off because he didn't think he'd been playing all that well and should be doing better. Said we had different ideas on what a top performance is. Others get ticked if you pull them when they are playing uber-crap. Definitely helps me to look at them as individuals.

mrtourette

08-06-2014, 04:58 AM

Everyone knows that young men crave discipline.

Izulde

08-06-2014, 08:03 AM

Some players want to be criticized if they didn't just give you an 8.8 with a hat trick. Perfectionism I guess. I had a guy in my team(Yogi) that I talked to and praised him after a 5 goals, 3 ass in 4 matches stretch, and he was a little turned off because he didn't think he'd been playing all that well and should be doing better. Said we had different ideas on what a top performance is. Others get ticked if you pull them when they are playing uber-crap. Definitely helps me to look at them as individuals.

Yeah I'm seeing that and I try to make note of it but sometimes forget to.

Everyone knows that young men crave discipline.

You mean like this?

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/karate_kid_xx264_zpsa5508064.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/karate_kid_xx264_zpsa5508064.jpg.html)

:D

Izulde

08-06-2014, 12:22 PM

Good Trains
Dubi Ogbonna
Gary Sheridan

Bad Trains
Mike Hands
Jack Fisher
Will Summerfield
Tony Griffiths

Board satisfied, but we keep bleeding money - $22.22k last month, and that can't be blamed on the $10.6k salary - we're just not generating any income. When $2.61k fundraising is your highest source of money, you know you've got problems.

Players Signed Past This Year So Far
GK Peter Burke (21) - $11,250 - 2019 - 6.99
DC/DM Andy Draper (18) - $4,700 - 2019 - 6.73
MLR Rheo Josephs (20) - $4,100 - 2019 - 6.84
ST Ali Amiri (21) - $4,100 - 2019 - 6.65
MR Nathan Hudson (20) - $3,800 - 2019 - 6.98
DR Reece Keeling (18) - $2,500 - 2019 - 6.81
MC Sam Jones (25) - $2,200 - 2019 - 6.31
DL/ML/MC/MR Paul Grugel - Youth contract - 2018 - 6.45
DL Harry Palmer - Youth contract - 2018 - 6.18
Plus whoever else has a youth contract with us

So bar the Sam Jones signing and maybe the Ali Amiri transfer, the kids I brought in have been good to great for us so far. Peter Burke is the only hold-over we've committed long-term to, and he's probably going to be the only one. So that means going into next year we have:

GK
DC
DR
ML
MC (eh)
MR
ST

set in terms of a starting lineup, or 7 of 11 players, plus the youth backups. That's a pretty good position to be in, particularly given how cheap a lot of these guys are, with Burke the only expensive one.

9th @Harlow Town (7th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Andy Draper/Lee Molyneaux/Reece Keeling
M: Rheo Josephs/Craig Gott/Adam Forster/Nathan Hudson
S: George Maris/Dubi Ogbonna

30 - Phenomenal interception by Wells and from there it's a straight line pass to Amiri, then Ogbonna for the half-circle score 1-0

45 - :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: Literally fucking SECONDS before the half is over, they fucking score 1-1

Draper and Gott with 5.9s at the half. I'll keep an eye on them, as both respond favorably to being told off.

50 - Yeah, I've seen enough. Fisher at DC, Gardner at MC.

55 - Fuckass debut goals 1-2

86 - Keeling intercepts and gives to Forster, who plays a pristine ball to Ogbonna. Literally four defenders crowd around the Nigerian and tackle the ball away, but it moves to the right-hand side, where a completely unmarked Amiri puts it away 2-2

Not pretty but we'll take it.

Gary Sheridan has learned much from Ross Gardner, a tutoring relationship established before I got here. That's nice, but the center midfielder still has a long way to go before he gets consideration.

We're now fully fluid in the 4-4-2, yay! That means it's time to work on another tactic, one that we might unveil next year. It'll combine elements of the 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 I've enjoyed having in this career.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/4141_zpscbd1c1dd.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/4141_zpscbd1c1dd.jpg.html)

So yeah, a blend of the 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 creates a shiny 4-1-4-1 with some different roles I haven't tried before (Anchor Man and Complete Forward), or at least in this universe. Still the More Direct passing with everything else at default. This is wholly my thoughts and invention except the CF, which idea I got from a review of another 4-1-4-1 tactic which suggested a CF instead of Poacher up front. So this feels a lot like *I* personally designed this tactic.

And oh look, perfect time to try it out.

@Romford (Isthmian Ryman League Cup Third Round)
See above for formation and starting lineup

This match has been postponed *twice* due to poor field conditions, and I was beginning to think we were never going to be able to play, but the game is finally here.

[b]2 - Ooof. 0-1

30 - Okay so this was a really, really bad idea 0-2

40 - REALLY BAD IDEA 0-3

Switching to the 4-4-2 at half, with Draper swapped out for Amiri.

77 - Subs. Doesn't matter who. I spend 2.

86 - Wells goes off. Oh so awesome.

90 - Well, we didn't get shutout 1-3

This one's on me. Our play picked up a lot in the second half.

Moral of the Story: Make sure your team knows the formation fluidly, stupid

Oh and we lose Jake Wells 5-6 weeks. That's just swell.

There's a young striker I really really want to sign, and he wants to come here too, but we can't afford the $8k compensation cost. Boo. I'll keep an eye on him, though.

With that in mind, I tell the board we need to find a parent club who will give us lots of cash. They agree.

10th vs Wroxham FC (18th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Lee Molyneaux/Andy Draper/Reece Keeling
M: Rheo Josephs/Sam Jones/Jimmy Beadle/Nathan Hudson
S: Ali Amiri/Dubi Ogbonna

So before this game I publicly expressed interest in the hot young striker, and now Ogbonna is feeling pressured. Oops.

44 - Completely inexcusable. 0-1

We switch to attacking at the half and Josephs is off for Gardner.

58 - WTF? Draper goes off for Gott. So sick of this fucking stupid ass sudden ability to play anything but assfuckery these last few games 0-2

Absolutely fucking pathetic. I don't give a shit if Andy Draper is out 2 weeks. We're dragging more ass out there than a fucking donkey pulling competition.

Five league games since we've won. We're now as cold as we were once hot.

Transfer In - DM/MC/AMC Bobby Armstrong (20) - From South Shields
$4.8k per year deal through 2019. Can play either of our MC requirements at a 4* level according to my coaches and scouts. Absolutely thrilled to get this kid and make him part of the long term future.

Transfer In - GK Shayne Cooper (21) - From Harborough Town
$4.1k a year may be a bit pricey for a backup keeper, but this way I can just set it and forget about it the next few years (Through 2019). Plus, his greatest area of strength is Important Matches, so he'll get his time with the first time in cup plays.

The signings put us $3.74k in the whole again, though I don't know how - We had over $8k in available space.

10th vs Maldon & Tiptree Town (4th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Lloyd Laycock/Chris Gott/Lee Molyneaux/Reece Keeling
M: Rheo Josephs/Elliott King/Bobby Armstrong/Nathan Hudson
S: George Maris/Dubi Ogbonna

13 - Got a little bar help on that header from Gott via Hudson's corner kick, but we'll take it. 1-0

14 - Can you say immediate answer? Of course you fucking can 1-1

58 - Gardner and Grugel go in at ML and DL because I'm tired of shit play from the left wing.

92 - BURKE YOU FUCKING ASSFARMER!!! WE ARE NOT FUCKING PAYING YOU THAT FUCKING MUCH MONEY TO COME OUT EARLY AND GETTING FUCKING BUGGERED ON THE GOD DAMNED TAIL END OF THE MOTHERFUCKING GAME!!!!!! YOU KNOW WHAT?! YOU'VE BEEN FUCKING HORRID SINCE YOU SIGNED THAT FAT FUCKING EXTENSION. YOU'RE GONE, ASSHOLE! 1-2

Craig Gott is out 4-5 weeks.

Transfer In - DL/ML Evan Finnegan (21) - From Bishop Auckland
Despite being under an immense wage budget crunch, we're able to steal this guy for $3.3k a year through 2019. 11 Tackling, 9 Teamwork, 10 Workrate, 13 Acceleration. We're doing really, really well with our transfer signings as far as the cost goes.

11th vs Bridlington Town (4th)
G: Peter Burke
D: Evan Finnegan/Kelvin Lola/Lee Molyneaux/Reece Keeling
M: Rheo Josephs/Will Summerfield/Bobby Armstrong/Nathan Hudson
S: Ali Amiri/Dubi Ogbonna

Our landlords come to our mutually shared place. Now I know how the Clippers feel. Anyway, Grant Darley gets some choice words from me about how how much he sucks in the run-up.

Laycock and Gardner for Molyneaux and Josephs respectively at the half. My coaches keep telling me I need to dump Josephs, and maybe they're right.

53 - At least it wasn't Darley Heh 0-1

66 - Seriously WTF is wrong with this team all of a sudden?! 0-2

Yeah, that was just awful. On the off chance it's our newcomers, I'm going to switch our training focus back to Team Cohesion.

Good Trans
Henry Sibenge
Luke Knott
Mickey Brough

$18.5k lost *and* the board thinks I should be doing better. Well shit. They also tell me it's not worth it to get a parent club after all. I'm really starting to hate you guys, you know.

Transfer Out - GK Peter Burke - Bridlington Town - $0
Nobody would give me any money for him, but our landlords once again snapped up our expensive salary player. Truth is, they actually wanted this deal before we played them but I was like fuck that. Maybe I should have let him go after all... fucker probably deliberately lost just to spite us. Asshole. He also signs a shorter contract with them - only through 2018.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/fuckyouboard_zps10f309ce.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/fuckyouboard_zps10f309ce.jpg.html)

Hey, assholes. Did you not see I had you up to 5th place earlier this season? Even if we are fucking 14th right now, we were 15th when I joined you guys. Still an improvement! Y'all are just pissed I sold off Mark Lynch on a free. Get over your butthurt, fuckwads.

Izulde

08-06-2014, 09:44 PM

So we're back to $4.16k under budget, which I do not understand because we were $4.37k over budget and yet we just got rid of an $11,250 contract, so we should be $7k under budget. Math is not adding up AT ALL.

14th @Worthing FC (2nd)
G: Shayne Cooper
D: Evan Finnegan/Lee Molyneaux/Andy Draper/Reece Keeling
M: Rheo Josephs/Sam Jones/Bobby Armstrong/Nathan Hudson
S: Ali Amiri/Dubi Ogbonna

30 - The decimation of our backline continues as Keeling is forced off with injury. Molyneaux moves to DR and Laycock comes in at DC.

31 - Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ! Now Josephs gets knocked out with an injury. Gardner in for him.

38 - Yeah fuck you, whatever. 0-1

49 - Wonder if I'll be fired after this game 0-2

66 - Considering how many first goals we're giving up, teams are beating us with their B sides 0-3

Reece Keeling out 2 weeks and Rheo Josephs 5-6 weeks. Our injury luck has been abysmal.

The three week break comes at just the right time to try and rebuild our shattered morale, as we've gone eight straight games without a win.

Transfer Out - MC Adam Forster - Winterton Rangers
Just clearing out more wage budget.

Awesome. Ali Amiri breaks his shoulder and is out 5-6 weeks.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/uhohscar_zps0753d895.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/uhohscar_zps0753d895.jpg.html)

Wow. Talk about an impatient board.

14th @ Uxbridge FC
G: Shayne Cooper
D: Evan Finnegan/Lee Molyneaux/Jake Wells/Reece Keeling
DM: Andy Draper
M: Ross Gardner/Sam Jones/Bobby Armstrong/Nathan Hudson
S: Dubi Ogbonna

It's partly the injury to Amiri, partly our being 100% fluid in it now, and partly my saying fuck you, gonna live or die by my handcrafted 4-1-4-1.

3 - I'm dreaming in pink 0-1

31 - We're denied a penalty.

35 - The crossbar denies Hudson

72 - They're given a bullshit penalty kick. Fucking fixing refs. 0-2

Six losses in a row is a new futility record.

14th vs Crowborough Athletic (11th)
G: Shayne Cooper
D: Evan Finnegan/Lee Molyneaux/Jake Wells/Reece Keeling
DM: Andy Draper
M: Ross Gardner/Sam Jones/Bobby Armstrong/Nathan Hudson
S: George Maris

25 - These guys are playing like someone hit the turbo button 0-1

Ogbonna at half and Lola at DR.

I can't remember the last time we scored.

Maldon & Tiptree Town fire their manager. I'm still around.

14th @Three Bridges FC (11th)
G: Shayne Cooper
D: Evan Finnegan/Lee Molyneaux/Jake Wells/Reece Keeling
DM: Andy Draper
M: Ross Gardner/Sam Jones/Bobby Armstrong/Nathan Hudson
S: Dubi Ogbonna

28 - Robbed by the crossbar, as our spell of dominance still = no goal.

30 - Keeling charges like a boss down the middle of the field to recover a cleared corner, kick-starting a move that caps in Hudson on the left wing of the box crossing to Ogbonna, who finally breaks the drought 1-0

Summerfield for Jones at the break.

56 - Lola for Molyneaux

73 - Gardner with the perfect free kick to Ogbonna for the Nigerian's second goal of the game 2-0

8.8 and PotM for Ogbonna, 7.7 for Hudson, and 7.5 for Cooper. Despite the string of losses, I feel like we've played better with the 4-1-4-1, and now we finally have the win to prove it.

Maldon & Tiptree Town hire none other than Rudy Funk to take their vacancy. Funny.

14th @Heybridge Swifts (17th)
G: Shayne Cooper
D: Evan Finnegan/Lee Molyneaux/Jake Wells/Reece Keeling
DM: Andy Draper
M: Rheo Josephs/Sam Jones/Bobby Armstrong/Nathan Hudson
S: Dubi Ogbonna

9 - Sigh. Molyneaux gets busted for that one. 0-1

12 - Hilariously, my assman tells me our play has been impressive 0-2

I make a couple subs in the second half but it doesn't matter. I'm just counting down the days until I'm fired at this point. Not that it's so bad. I mean, this is a club that can't even make enough per month to pay players' salaries - $6.51k to $9.88k, as an example.

14th vs Potters Bar Town
Same as it ever was.

33 - Yeah cuz we're really gonna beat the #1 team in the league 0-1

40 - We're gifted a penalty and Jones converts 1-1

45 - And of course they score right before half 1-2

I burn all my subs at half because why not?

55 - Yep, let's add on that 20 yard fluke goal 1-3

57 - Post-robbed again? Of course!

65 - They're gifted a penalty, but Cooper stops it

86 - Own goal by Gardner. Think he wants me gone. 1-4

We drop another place, but I'm still not fired.

15th vs Leiston FC (13th)
G: Shayne Cooper
D: Evan Finnegan/Lee Molyneaux/Jake Wells/Reece Keeling
DM: Andy Draper
M: Rheo Josephs/Sam Jones/Bobby Armstrong/Nathan Hudson
S: Dubi Ogbonna

6 - It's like we're not even trying anymore 0-1

52 - Lalala 0-2

88 - 30 yard fluke by Ogbonna. Also, we've been denied two penalties this half 1-2

We actually played really well today and didn't deserve to lose. Just how cookie crumbles.

15th @AFC Hayes (18th)
G: Shayne Cooper
D: Evan Finnegan/Lee Molyneaux/Jake Wells/Reece Keeling
DM: Andy Draper
M: Ross Gardner/Sam Jones/Bobby Armstrong/Nathan Hudson
S: Dubi Ogbonna

I was actually going to go with a 4-4-2, but Ali Amiri got hurt again, so yeah.

4 - Hudson should've crushed that cross from Josephs

Gardner for Josephs at half.

48 - ZOMG so much passing, the last of which is [b]Gardner[/b taking the cross from Hudson, dribbling inside the box, and firing away 1-0

54 - Absolutely incredible pass from Armstrong to Ogbonna and we've got this wrapped up 2-0

59 - ....Maybe. Damn corners 2-1

70 - *Two* goals given up on corner kicks? What does this mean? Lola at DR 2-2

92 - Nice little Wells to Armstrong to Gardner triangle there for the late steal 3-2

7.6 for Nathan Hudson, and of course, Ross Gardner's balla 8.7 PotM on 2 goals off the bench.

With two games left in the season, Potters Bar Town clinches the promotion and Chertsey Town is officially relegated. With 41 points on our tally and 34 points the dropline, there's no way we can be relegated. There's also no way we can promote playoffs, but that's just fine.

15th vs Hemel Hempstead (18th)
G: Shayne Cooper
D: Evan Finnegan/Lee Molyneaux/Jake Wells/Reece Keeling
DM: Andy Draper
M: Ross Gardner/Sam Jones/Bobby Armstrong/Nathan Hudson
S: Dubi Ogbonna

So that win against AFC Hayes last time? All but doomed them to the drop, and if we can beat HH here, we'll officially send them down.

10 - Aaand that's why they're on the dropline. Totally derpy miss.

30 - Beautiful run, dribble and shoot by Ogbonna there to put us up. Our season is ruined, so we'll ruin the year of everyone else. 1-0

33 - Another hilariously awful finish by them. Wow, they must be playing all nervy not to get it done.

53 - Cooper gives them a present of an own goal. Must have felt sorry for them 1-1

61 - Much fluke goal. Wow. 1-2

They had more to play for today, but it didn't matter because they got relegated anyway when Ware FC won.

15th @Chertsey Town (20th)
G: Shayne Cooper
D: Evan Finnegan/Lee Molyneaux/Jake Wells/Reece Keeling
DM: Andy Draper
M: Rheo Josephs/Sam Jones/Bobby Armstrong/Nathan Hudson
S: Ali Amiri

Everyone but Lee Molyneaux and Jake Wells is signed under contract through next year. Call this the All-Izulde lineup or something, even though I'm probably fired after this game.

51 - LOL. How fitting if we lose to the fucking LAST PLACE team in the league? 0-1

77 - WTFE 0-2

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/Izulde08007/scarfire_zpsc90921f5.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/Izulde08007/scarfire_zpsc90921f5.jpg.html)

Rudy Funk took his new team to the promotion playoffs. Thetford Town got up to 6th, further proving that I'm a really, really shitty manager. Oh well, time to see what openings are out there.

bbgunn

08-06-2014, 10:03 PM

Ugh... whatever could have went wrong, went wrong.

Ah well, third time's the charm, right?

Izulde

08-07-2014, 06:20 AM

Ugh... whatever could have went wrong, went wrong.

Ah well, third time's the charm, right?

One would hope so. That 4-1-4-1 didn't work at all, though in terms of generating offense, so I learned that much.

Brian Swartz

08-07-2014, 06:28 AM

Boo :(. So looks like you got real great advice from your fans here :P.

Qwikshot

08-07-2014, 07:19 AM

Keep at it...love reading this.

Izulde

08-07-2014, 11:45 AM

I opt to go on vacation and instruct my personal assistant to apply for every manager opening that comes up, and to notify me when I have a job offer.

Job Offers - Just Some Of Them
1. Camberley Town - Krooners for a nickname? No. Rejected
2. Alton Town - Ugly black and white logo? No.
3. Wellingborough Town - Garish logo and boring cup names for their league. Rejected.
4. Tilbury - Just not feeling it, despite the ample $40k contract and being demoted. Also well over wage budget.
5. AFC Kempston Rovers - Ugly logo.[/B]
6. Ilkeston FC - Very, very close... but has Legends. Screw that. I want to build something.
7. Hednesford Town - Booooring.
8. Cray Wanderers - I only like that much yellow on blonde girls.
9. Stansted - Why do so many football clubs have ugly or boring logos?
10. Merstham - Who made *that* logo? A 2 year old?
11. Sporting Bengal United - Is that supposed to be a Bengal? It looks like a dog holding a breadstick.
12. Burscough - I was all set to take this job until I saw they have Icons and Legends already.
13. Halesowen Town - Stuffed with Legend
14. Wakefield - They disbanded in 2014 IRL, so no. Too bad because they're awesome otherwise
15. Stocksbridge Park Steels - Logo is too busy
16. Hungerford Town - So close, but they have an Icon and are Insecure financially

Worthing FC beats Maldon & Tiptree Town 3-1 on aggregate in the final to promote up. Close but no cigar, Rudy Funk.

Finally, at long last, I find a club worth signing on to.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/200216-10409-large_zps0d7fac32.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/200216-10409-large_zps0d7fac32.jpg.html)
London Colney FC Blueboys
They promoted from the South Midlands Premier Division once, back in 2002, but they're still considered an Amateur club. Financially they're considered okay, carrying only a $28k loan debt. $110k value and they have $111,000 in the bank. I'm not sure why their loan is listed as Company Voluntary Agreement, but I'm not complaining.

Even better, they consistently finish in the lower portion of the enormous 24 team South Midlands Premier Division. The bad part? It's Level 9, so only one way to promotion.

To save money, we're not going to have a Reserves team next year, though the board insists on a U18 league participation.

We're in the midst of losing our best player, but I'm amused to note our old friend Kwasi "Frogpond" Frempong is on the roster. At 35 he's still got game.

So if we lose our top player, a striker, that means we're really going to be hurting for talent (except for our 19 year old goalie, who was the Fans' Player of the Year last season).

And the browser just crashed, so post and go again it will be.

Izulde

08-07-2014, 04:19 PM

Boo :(. So looks like you got real great advice from your fans here :P.

I don't mind it much, though. Like I said, I think the training was bugged for Thetford Town given we kept declining in Tactical Familiarity.

Keep at it...love reading this.

Awesome. :) And I certainly will keep going... because I'm a glutton for text-sim punishment or something.

Izulde

08-07-2014, 09:31 PM

Transfer In - ML/AML Earl Sterling (30) - From Sidley United
Veteran depth signing. Currently rated as our best ML at 0.5 gold *. Yeah.

Tranfer In - GK Lance Pierce (24) - From Lancing FC
Probably shouldn't have signed him. Another 0.5 * guy, with 2* upside after my assman looks at him. Oh well. Immediately released.

Transfer In - ST Antwon Bonnick (30) - From Boston Town
I thought this guy was going to be a find, but nope. 2* by my 10/10 Assman in Player Ability/Potential. Time to sort out the trash, by the way.

Cuts
Almost the whole damn team except the U18 squad.

Transfer In - MC Richie Harwood (20) - From Hartley Wintney
3.5* silver stars/5 gold stars. Finally someone whose upside my assman approves of at least. He wouldn't have survived the purge that just happened, but oh well.

Transfer In - GK Richie Stroud (28) - From Lingfield
Yeah he's a veteran. He's also rated our team's #1 goalkeeper by my assman, so he was a very thrilling pickup. I'm not saying we're going to contend for the title this season or anything, but this is a huge get. (4.5/4.5*)

Senior Squad So Far
Goalkeeper
Richard Stroud (28) - 4.5/4.5
Andy McGrath (19) - 4.5/5
Shane Chadwick (17) - 2.5/5

DL
DC/DM/MC/DL Luke Saxby (17) - 5 silver/4.5

DC
DC/DM/MC/DL Luke Saxby (17) - 2/4.5
DC/MC/ST Philip Riley (20) - 4/5

DR
None

DMC
DC/DM/MC/DL Luke Saxby (17) - 2/5
DM/MC Richie Harwood (20) - 3.5 silver/5

ML
ML/AML Earl Sterling (30) - 0.5/0.5
MLRC Nigel Stockwell (20) - 4 silver/5

MC
DC/DM/MC/DL Luke Saxby (17) - 2.5/5
MCR/AMR Kwasi Frempong (35) - 2.5/2.5
DC/MC/ST Philip Riley (20) - 1.5/4.5
MLRC Nigel Stockwell (20) - 4.5 silver/5
DM/MC Richie Harwood (20) - 3.5 silver/5

MR
MCR/AMR Kwasi Frempong (35) - 2.5/2.5
AML/MR/ST Kenny Potter (19) - 1/4.5
MLRC Nigel Stockwell (20) - 4 silver/5

AML
AML/MR/ST Kenny Potter (19) - 2.5/4.5
AMLR/ST Stuart Horgan (16) - 2/5
ML/AML Earl Sterling (30) - 0.5/0.5

AMC
None

AMR
AMLR/ST Stuart Horgan (16) - 4/5
MCR/AMR Kwasi Frempong (35) - 1/1

ST
AMLR/ST Stuart Horgan (16) - 4.5/5
DC/MC/ST Philip Riley (20) - 4.5/5
AML/MR/ST Kenny Potter (19) - 4/5
ST Antwon Bonnick (30) - 2/2

So... yeah. Need to get a lot more signings in after the hatchet job I just did.

Transfer In - DR Nathan Speed (27) - From London Bari
Remember him from Thetford Town? He was pretty good for us, so he'll get another shot here. Rates as our best DR by default.

Transfer In - DC Kyle Craig (20) - From Stotfold FC
6'6, 216. I may try rebuilding my team around tall dudes and junk a lot of these signings - I don't know yet. Or I may purely look at physical attributes from now on. Not sure. 0.5 silver/3.5* so a prospect.

Transfer In - MR/AMR Keith Browett (21) - From Ampthill Town
2 silver/3.5* but I love his 14 First Touch and Technique.

Transfer In - DLCR Lyndon Jefford (21) - From Holmesdale AFC
6'8, 222 with 14 Jumping. 2 silver/5. I love that he's a tall glass of water we can put at any of the defensive spots.

Transfer In - ST Jay McGregor (20) - From Newbury FC
6'9, 229 with 10 Finishing, 13 Aggression, 18 Bravery, 14 Determination, 10 Flair, 10 Off Ball, 15 Jumping, 10 Natural Fitness. 5 silver/5, but I do not give a fuck. This big, beautiful, brave bastard will be a starter from Day 1.

Transfer In - MC/AMC Will Summerfield (21) - From Duh
I just can't resist. I love his talent too much. So does my assman, giving him the coveted 5/5 rating. He should be our best player on the entire team next year.

Transfer In - ST Jordan Merriman (22) - From Hemel Hempstead Town
4/5 by assman. Beautiful all around ratings - 12 Finishing, 10 First Touch, 11 Determination, 14 Flair, 10 Influence, 11 Teamwork, 12 Workrate, 11 Acceleration, 10 Natural Fitness

Transfer In - MR/AMR Alex Britton (29) - From Continental Star
Strictly a flier and a meh one at that.

Transfer In - ML/AML Jason Gadsby (20)
Pure physical - 13 Acceleration, 10 Agility, 12 Pace. My assman rates him 1.5/5 and our best ML. Well there's that.

Transfer In - ST/MC/MR/AML Jordan Payne (19) - From Worksop Paramore
6'2, 191 - 10 Penalty Kick, 10 Concentration, 13 Flair, 12 Teamwork, 11 Workrate, 12 Jumping, 11 Natural Fitness, 11 Stamina, 10 Strength. Assman says 5/5 as ST, 4.5 as MC. Wow, this is really starting to open my eyes to how useless technical attributes are at this level, and why I kept getting my ass kicked.

Transfer In - DM/MC Andy Mogwo (24) - From Ashington
Democratic Republic of Congo. 10 Long Shots, 10 Determination, 12 Acceleration, 13 Natural Fitness, 13 Pace, 11 Stamina, 12 Strength. A 6'1, 192 physical god. 5/5 in both MC and DM

Transfer In - DM/MC Thomas Nunn (19) - From Goole AFC
8 Passing, 13 Aggression, 18 Bravery, 16 Determination, 10 Positioning, 10 Teamwork, 13 Workrate, 11 Balance, 13 Natural Fitness, 10 Stamina, 12 Strength. Can you say another star player? I knew you could. Holy shit this is getting crazy.

Transfer In - DLC George Gould (21) - From Parkgate FC
11 Teamwork, 15 Workrate, 10 Jumping, 12 Natural Fitness, 10 Stamina, 11 Strength. The weakest of the newcomers thus far at 1/5. Figures, because the backline is our new weakest area.

I think I just discovered a bug, by the way.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/Bugisbug_zps0ebab94e.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/Bugisbug_zps0ebab94e.jpg.html)

This was the exact same time. I literally only looked at a player's card and then backed out, and suddenly there were huge jumps

Izulde

08-07-2014, 11:38 PM

We lost one or two players along the way, but I missed it because I was being flooded with notices about players on my giant shortlist.

Prior To First Preseason Game

GK
Richard Stroud - 3*/3*
Andy McGrath - 3*/5*
Shane Chadwick - 1.5*/5*

Seriously? I think that's another one of the Amateur team related bugs. Not only is the Tactical Knowledge screwed up, but you never know from one day to the next what your staff is going to evaluate players.

DL
George Gould - 1*/5*
Luke Saxby - 4 silver/3.5*
Nathan Speed - 0.5/0.5
Lyndon Jefford - 0.5 silver/3.5
Kyle Craig - 0.5 silver/0.5

DC
Luke Saxby - 1/5*
George Gould - 1*/5*
Lyndon Jefford - 1.5 silver/3.5
Kyle Craig - 0.5 silver/2

DR
Nathan Speed - 1/1
Lyndon Jefford - 1.5 silver/3.5
Kyle Craig - 0.5 silver/0.5

ML
Jason Gadsby - 5 silver/5
Earl Sterling - 0.5/0.5
Nigel Stockwell - 2.5 silver/5
Jay McGregor - 1.5/silver/1.5

MC
Will Summerfield - 5/5
Thomas Nunn - 4.5/5
Andy Mogwo - 4/5
Jordan Payne - 3.5/5
Luke Saxby - 1.5/5*
Kwasi Frempong - 1.5/1.5
Nigel Stockwell - 3.5 silver/5
Richie Harwood - 2.5 silver/5
Jay McGregor - 1.5/silver/1.5

MR
Jordan Payne - 1.5/4.5
Kwasi Frempong - 1.5/1.5
Alex Britton - 1/1
Kenny Potter - 4.5 silver/2.5
Nigel Stockwell - 2.5 silver/5
Keith Browett - 1.5 silver/2.5

ST
Jordan Payne - 4/5
Stuart Horgan - 3/5
Jordan Merriman - 2.5/5
Kenny Potter - 2/5
Antwon Bonnick - 1/1
Jay McGregor - 4 silver/4.5

So in this re-evaluation, we're pretty well set at striker and overloaded at MC, with weakness all along the backline and both outside midfield spots.

vs Oxford City Nomads (Friendly)
G: Richard Stroud
D: George Gould/Luke Saxby/Lyndon Jefford/Nathan Speed
M: Jason Gadsby/Thomas Nunn/Will Summerfield/Jordan Payne
S: Stuart Horgan/Jordan Merriman

18 - Heh 0-1

38 - ... 0-2

40 - Forgot who got him the ball, but nice dribble into the box by Merriman before passing to Horgan for the score 1-2

Our backline has been precisely as bad as advertised.

50 - Mogwo scores on a PK 2-2

73 - Own goal by Speed. FFS 2-3

Transfer In - DR Martin Dynan (28) - From Hamworthy United
FFS 0.5/0.5. Why do I bother anymore?

Transfer In - DL Geoff Mustoe (20) - From Rochester United
3.5 silver/5. There's actual a U18 prospect we have who's better than him it turns out, so I'll call that dude up.

Transfer In - DL Ashley Johnson (20) - From Yaxley FC
1.5 silver/4.5. Whatever.

Transfer In - DL Liam Bostock (19)
4 silver/5. Eh.

@ St Francis Rangers (Friendly)
G: Richard Stroud
D: Elliott Burns/Kyle Craig/Lyndon Jefford/Martin Dynan
M: Nigel Stockwell/Thomas Nunn/Will Summerfield/Jordan Payne
S: Stuart Horgan/Jordan Merriman

41 - The more I play this fucking irritating game, the less I fucking understand it 0-1

63 - How the fuck are these cocksmacks going HEHEHEHEHEHEHE I FUCKING WIN EVERYTHING AND IF YOU CAN'T WIN U R A DERPY FAG. 0-2

80 - We score. I don't give a fuck 1-2

90 - My 1/1* veteran striker just scored his second goal to get us level. Do not fucking get this game at all nope, nope, nope 2-2

Oh look we're 50-1 promotion odds. Why the fuck do I even bother with this fucking stupid as fuck game that needs a god damned fucking PhD in fucking everything to god damned fucking do JACK FUCKING SHIT IN IT?!?!

vs Ware FC (Friendly)
G: Andy McGrath
D: Luke Craig/Luke Saxby/George Gould/Nathan Speed
M: Jason Gadsby/Andy Mogwo/Will Summerfield/Kwasi Frempong
S: Antwon Bonnick/Jordan Payne

Fuck it. Let my assman pick the lineups from now on. We'll get donkeyfucked by this semipro team anyway.

26 - Gadsby with a great pass to Payne in the box, who fights off the defender and fires it in. 1-0

65 - Speed intercepts the ball and it's an all-Izulde players row as it goes to Frogpond and then to Summerfield, who pushes aside the defender for a 25 yard strike and I'm like what the fuck is this demon magic? 2-0

I tell everyone if they play that way when it really matters, things are looking really great, and everyone looks at me like I'm a fucking idiot with the exception of Saxby. Yeah, fuck you guys then.

vs Waltham Abbey (Friendly)
G: Richard Stroud
D: Lyndon Jefford/George Gould/Luke Saxby/Nathan Speed
M: Jason Gadsby/Thomas Nunn/Will Summerfield/Keith Browett
S: Stuart Horgan/Jordan Payne

I'm just going to accept that my assman knows more about how to rotate guys than I do and leave it at that.

4 - Or maybe he doesn't 0-1

13 - You know, I read a few places that FM pre-determines game results. I'm starting to believe that 0-2

77 - LOL 0-3

86 - You think I give a fuck we scored? Because I don't 1-3

Nathan Speed is named Captain for the year, Jordan Merriman as Vice-Captain.

I'm getting really fucking sick of the shortlist offers spam and the fact that FM never fucking goes to my inbox and stays there when I tell it to. It says fuck you asshole, we're going to keep fucking continuing and you're going to keep fucking losing because you fucking suck. Happily, for the shortlist, I can just X out everything and save what little is left of my fucking FM sanity.

vs Hertford Town
G: Andy McGrath
D: Elliott Burns/Luke Saxby/Kyle Craig/Nathan Speed
M: Jason Gadsby/Thomas Nunn/Will Summerfield/Kwasi Frempong
S: Jordan Payne/Jordan Merriman

I've decided, for the early part of the season anyway, to just go with what the assman says for the lineups.. only fixing his stupid mistakes like putting red and yellow dot players in.

3 - Nunn gets a cleared out ball and passes to Summerfield, who makes a brills pass to Payne in the box. A little adjustment to set up his shot and *bam* in it goes! 1-0

23 - No defense and McGrath falls over before the shot gets there 1-1

39 - I fucking quit 1-2

Craig to DR and Gould in at DC. Not that it fucking matters because this game fucking won't let me win anyway. Fuck you FM.

I'm done wasting my time on this bullshit. No matter what I do, nothing ever fucking works. Doesn't fucking matter how much reading I do, what the fuck I try... it's all fucking bullshit.

Qwikshot

08-08-2014, 07:32 AM

Yowch, very discouraging.

Can I ask? Why go so far down in the leagues? (You might have answered this already) Because I would think you'd need to really know setting up tactics to deal with the lack of technique and you'd probably do better with more physically skilled players with high determination and stamina, and a few ringers to focus the offense.

I just fired up a game last night, and took the helm of York, granted its League 2 but they're expected to finish 23rd and the owner wants to consolidate so you get a little leverage to work the roster.

Good luck...it can be a frustrating game

Izulde

08-08-2014, 09:25 AM

Brian Swartz

08-08-2014, 09:28 AM

If you like, I can throw out a few ideas. Don't want to push it though as some people like to figure things out for themselves.

Izulde

08-08-2014, 09:44 AM

Stuff We Rank Top 10 At
First Touch - 6th
Passing - 8th
Strength - 7th

Stuff We Rank Low At
Decisions - 19th
Leadership - 21st
Aggression - 18th

Goalkeeping we rank no worse than 16th in the league in any category (next lowest is 12th, and 10th is lowest after that) and are 2nd in Handling and 4th in Throwing.

We have some of the worst Tackling/Heading/Marking for defenders in the league but the best Acceleration and #9 in Pace.

Midfield ranks in Top 10 or close to it in every category but Teamwork (19th) and Tackling (21st).

Attacking we're 3rd in Finishing and 2nd in Jumping, with our worst ratings 18th in Long Shots

Given our comparative strength in Acceleration, Pace, and Strength, it seems like we should be using the following shouts:

Pass Into Space
Effect: Instructs the team to play the ball in front of the receiving player so that he can run on to it and create space for attacks.
Action: Increases try through balls.
Useful: When not penetrating the oppositions; when having high possession and/or pass completion rates but few good shots; when playing against a side with far less acceleration or pace than your own

Pump Ball Into Box
Effect: Instructs the team to play long balls in to the opposition penalty area to try to get an advantage.
Action: Large increase in passing length but decrease in try through balls for defenders and defensive midfielders, tells players to play with less wide play, makes full backs and wingers hold up the ball, increases forward runs for forwards, sets maximum crossing for full backs, focus passing through the centre.
Useful: When needing a goal late on in the game; when possessing taller and/or stronger forwards than the opposition defenders.

Work Ball Into Box
Effect: Instructs the team to only shoot once they get close to the goal.
Action: Decreases try long shots.
Useful: When shooting far too much from range; when creating a lot of shots but few clear cut chances; when playing with a team who are poor at shooting from range.

After that abysmal effort in the opener, Andy McGrath signs with Hungerford Town.

Given our strength in Acceleration

16th @Leverstock Green (8th)
G: Richard Stroud
D: Lyndon Jefford/Luke Saxby/George Gould/Nathan Speed
M: Nigel Stockwell/Thomas Nunn/Andy Mogwo/Alex Britton
S: Jordan Payne/Antwon Bonnick

My own starting lineup this time.

15 - Fuck you. Bonnick was not offsides.

21 - Of course they fucking score 0-1

24 - FUCK THIS FUCKING GAME 0-2

Browett for Britton, but it's not like it's going to fucking matter.

63 - Sterling for Stockwell

70 - Fuck it 0-3

75 - FUCK YOU, CONSOLATION GOAL 1-3

77 - FUCK YOU FOR INJURING MOGWO AND ONLY FUCKING GIVE THE FUCKING DIPSTICK FUCKING FUCKWAD A FUCKING TELLING OFF

80 - Fuck this game so very fucking much 1-4

The whole team switches off red after the game. Fuck you guys too.

24th vs FC Stockfold (2nd)
G: Richard Stroud
D: Elliott Burns/Kyle Craig/George Gould/Martin Dynan
M: Jason Gadsby/Thomas Nunn/Will Summerfield/Kwasi Frempong
S: Stuart Horgan/Jordan Merriman

Still using the shouts combo, but going to have the backline play very deep to try and cut down on the goals we've been giving up.

Speed at DR, Stockwell for Nunn at half, as there's zero highlights to speak of in the first half. At least we're not giving up a ton of goals.

47 - Brilliant interception by Craig, and a low bullet to the feet of Merriman, who passes back and forth with Horgan in the face of a rough and tumble defense before Horgan blasts in a shot from the half-circle for our first second half lead of the year 1-0

77 - Way to shank the shot, Horgan. You should have nailed that.

Poor match? Fuck you. We get the win. Great redemption game for George Gould, getting 7.9 and PotM. Stuart Horgan just misses the 7.5 mark with 7.4.

20th @Wingate and Finchley (16th)
G: Richard Stroud
D: Elliott Burns/Kyle Craig/George Gould/Nathan Speed
M: Jason Gadsby/Thomas Nunn/Will Summerfield/Kwasi Frempong
S: Jordan Payne/Jordan Merriman

1 - Fuck the fluke dribble goal 0-1

4 - Gadsby dribbles out to the far sideline where he crosses. Payne rises up above everyone to knock the header down to Merriman for the easy goal 1-1

11 - Nunn with a free kick and the defense heads it away all wrong. Merriman's there to kick in the go-ahead! 2-1

29 - Nunn wins a physical challenge just past midfield in their territory and that starts a move ending in Payne popping a perfect pass to Merriman. But the defense tackles him and the ball sits by the touchline... Until Merriman darts forward and angles the shot in for the hat trick! 3-1

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/PbWDsxLWv70?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I'm trying to remember the last time we had that amazing a first half, and I can't.

57 - Of course Payne gets knocked. Rule #7 of FM 2013 - Whenever my team starts doing something great, something bad happens. Jay McGregor on.

66 - CUNTFUCKER 30 YARD STRIKE!!!!! THIS IS WHERE FM FUCKING SCREWS ME OVER 3-2

75 - Stockwell for Frogpond, who's retiring end of season BTW.

78 - What did I fucking tell you? 3-3

Fucking FM. I fucking hate how this game has fucking MAGIC COMEBACK MODE FOR ALL OPPONENTS!

Good Trains
Earl Sterling
Antwon Bonnick
Alex Britton

Bad Trains
Kwasi Frempong

Board's satisfied, and we turn $1.96k profit. Very nice.

Transfer In - DC Tom Kemp (27) - From Cray Valley Paper Mills
Just trying to increase the quality of the defense, and at 2.5*, Kemp is very much that.

19th @Haringey Borough (5th)
G: Richard Stroud
D: Elliott Burns/Kyle Craig/Tom Kemp/Nathan Speed
M: Jason Gadsby/Andy Mogwo/Will Summerfield/Kwasi Frempong
S: Jordan Payne/Jordan Merriman

18 - Amazing interception by new guy Kemp and Gadsby takes the clearance. His pass to Payne is tackled away, but like he's done so often this year, Merriman is in prime position to sink it 1-0

28 - The defense just STANDS THERE 1-1

36 - Summerfield outhustles the defense and we get the fluke goal. That'll do pig, that'll do. 2-1

47 - Seconds before the half, a knock for Burns.

Okay, so let's also Retain Possession in the second half, so as not to blow it like we did last time. Gould is in for Burns

60 - Disallowed goal for them. Got lucky there. Nunn in for tired Summerfield

78 - Ribbit. Frempong off injured. Stockwell on for him.

81 - MAGIC COMEBACK CODE ACTIVATED! 2-2

Oh and Elliott Burns is out 3 weeks. Fuck this game.

Izulde

08-08-2014, 09:45 AM

If you like, I can throw out a few ideas. Don't want to push it though as some people like to figure things out for themselves.

Considering how many literal weeks I've spent trying to crack this damn game, I'll take any suggestions.

mrtourette

08-08-2014, 10:27 AM

Brian Swartz

08-08-2014, 11:03 AM

Seriously? I think that's another one of the Amateur team related bugs. Not only is the Tactical Knowledge screwed up, but you never know from one day to the next what your staff is going to evaluate players.

I don't know what happened on the Tactic thing as I've never seen that before. This however I am certain is not a bug. The star rating of your players is relative to the best players on the roster. That is, your best players will have a 4-5 star rating, and the others will be scaled based on that.

So, when you get new talent(which is exactly what you did), it makes sense for the star rating to get adjusted for the existing players, because they are no longer as good as they were relative to the new best players on your roster. You bring in guys like Summerfield, your keepers look worse by comparison -- but it doesn't mean they actually are worse or that your coaches are on drugs. There are also adjustments as players age/improve/you get to know better(esp. for those in their first year with you or the club), but those tend to be less drastic most of the time.

So in this re-evaluation, we're pretty well set at striker and overloaded at MC, with weakness all along the backline and both outside midfield spots.

I think this is the #1 thing right here. I completely agree with your assessment here, as far as it goes. I think you would have done well to adjust your tactical formation and setup based on this though. Here's how I look at it:

Keepers -- solid
Defense -- Sucks as you noted. Can't do a whole lot about this in terms of the formation, you need quality defenders, you don't have them, it's going to be a big weakness and that's just the way it is
Midfield -- You are playing four here with wide players that you know aren't going to be any good, while quality central players sit
Strikers -- Looks like three decent players

At higher levels which is what most 'supertactics' are written for, you can get at least fair-quality players everywhere. You don't have that option. Because of that, I think probably the most important thing with a drek club is to make the most of what you do have. Maximize the strengths, minimize the weaknesses. Adapt your tactic to your players, not the other way around. It's hard to overemphasize how important I think this is. Another thing you've done well in that vein is using shouts based on the team comparison.

Based on the information presented, at the point you made the roster evaluation above(first preseason game), I would have thrown the 4-4-2 in the garbage. Harder to do now that the season is started, but I'd still recommend it. I would suggest a 4-3-1-2, which incidentally I've used to good effect in my game but that's not why it's a good idea. You want to get your best players on the pitch. Hand ML McGregor and MRs Payne/Frempong a nicy shiny invitation to sit their butts on the bench, that is if you even bother to dress them :). Go with triple MCs and an AMC:

AMC Summerfield
MCs Nunn/Mogwo/Payne

Now you've got your best players out there in the starting lineup. You'll have to shuffle things with injuries and stuff, but your 'first choice' lineup is much better.

With this 4-3-1-2 you can use Play Through the Middle to emphasize keeping the ball where you are strong, and Play Wider to give yourself a little better spacing and minimize the weakness of having no wide midfielders. You can also try training an MC or two in the wide positions, but that's takes a lot longer and they may just not be any good at it, definitely a slower solution esp. for an amateur club where it's probably just not doable at all.

The 4-3-1-2 is somewhat aggressive by nature, and with your defense being horrible the deep defensive line as you mentioned more recently is an excellent idea which I must enthusiastically salute. You are also correct in using the Work Ball Into Box with the long shots weakness.

Mentality will be important as well. I would additionally play a more conservative mentality, I'd probably try Counter at home and Defensive on the road to start out, to keep more players behind the ball when you don't have possession, having them push forward when you do. This is best done with More Direct Passing to get the ball forward quickly. If you were able to upgrade the defense to being even decent, I'd switch this to Control/Standard and change the passing shout which would take more advantage of your passing skills, but right now I think the defense is the most important concern.

Finally, as it relates to Fluidity and the roles for your players, I recommend an excellent guide on the SI Forums for the last couple of versions. How to Play FM14: A Twelve Step Guide (http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/366111-How-to-Play-FM14-A-Twelve-Step-Guide) I couldn't find the FM13 one which may not be there anymore, but almost everything should translate. Specifically, I recommend two things from it: base your Fluidity on the Specialist/Generic roles breakdown there(#1 of the 12 Steps) and make sure you have 'overlap' between defense/midfield and midfield/attack as mentioned in #4. Read the rest if you want, and of course there's more complicated stuff stickied there in the forum, but a lot of it really does get into being ridiculous territory IMO and much of it I don't understand. The 12-step guide and particularly #1 and #4 as I mentioned should give a base from which to find an intelligently based tactic for any club.

I'm sure I'll have a lot more challenges with my career, but I've also gotten to a point where I'm pretty confident I can tackle whatever comes semi-intelligently. I hope you get there as well :).

Izulde

08-08-2014, 11:22 AM

I found these extremely helpful, just saved me from relegation in my game:

How to create a successful tactic on Football Manager (http://www.fmscout.com/a-how-to-create-a-successful-tactic.html?pg=0)

Tactical Guide: Pairs and Combinations (http://www.fmscout.com/a-tactical-guide-pairs-and-combinations.html?pg=0)

Thanks. :) I may have seen that before in a different format, but that appears to be presented more cleanly.

Awesome analysis

Makes a lot of sense there, and I'll try it out to see how it goes. I hated not being able to use all my great central midfielders.

Izulde

08-08-2014, 12:48 PM

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/idealmaybe_zps1434a413.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/idealmaybe_zps1434a413.jpg.html)

Right, so let's see how this goes, and with the shout package of Play Wider, Work Ball Into Box, and Exploit The Middle

20th vs Hatfield Town (19th)

2 - Speed with the throw-in to Merriman and an exchange of passes before the team captain sends it to Payne. A deep cross and there's Gould of all people with the header in! 1-0

3 - And of course an own goal right after that by Kemp :banghead: 1-1

Nunn is exhausted at the half, so Harwood comes on.

65 - Bonnick in for Horgan

"London Colney might feel they should've won this game." That's for damn sure.

Nigel Stockwell is slacking off and doesn't appear to care anymore, so I cut him. Maybe a smaller squad will help familiarity increase.

vs St. Margaretsbury (Spartan South Midlands Senior Cup First Round)
G: Richard Stroud
D: Nathan Speed/Kyle Craig/Lyndon Jefford/Nathan Dynan
M: Thomas Nunn/Luke Saxby/Kwasi Frempong
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Jay McGregor/Antwon Bonnick

37 - Second stringers and shit 0-1

55 - Frogpond makes a great interception and executes a key pass to Summerfield. It's slid tackled away into the box and the defense has it, but then Bonnick charges forward, bulldozes the defender, and rams the ball in 1-1

66 - Harwood for Frempong, Horgan for McGregor, and we really need to shop for a backup AMC.

90 - Nothing matters. 1-2

I cut all the wide midfielders to make myself feel better.

Transfer In - AMLC Harry Powell (20) - From Biggleswade United
Solid all around young player content to back up Summerfield.

20th vs Holmer Green (8th)
G: Richard Stroud
D: George Gould/Kyle Craig/Tom Kemp/Nathan Speed
M: Andy Mogwo/Thomas Nunn/Jordan Payne
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Stuart Horgan/Jordan Merriman

13 - Speed makes a phenomenal clearance to set off a chain reaction finishing off in Horgan running to the right side of the box and waiting until the time is right to cross for Merriman's bombtastic muscle-in 1-0

61 - Harwood for Nunn

91 - He may be so exhausted it's a wonder he can still move, but when Summerfield exchanges passes with Merriman and gets a beautiful ball in open space, he converts to clinch the win! 2-0

Nathan Speed of all people gets PotM with 8.6. 7.8 for Tom Kemp, 8.3 for Kyle Craig, 7.4 for George Gould as our backline finally had a standup (if shocking) game. 7.7 for Will Summerfield, 8.5 for Jordan Merriman and 7.8 for Stuart Horgan.

Elliott Burns resumes training

Transfer In - DRC Gavin Lambert (21) - From Horndean
Rates as #2 DR though that's not saying much.

Kwasi "Frogpond" Frempong gets hit with a virus so bad, he's gone for 2-3 weeks.

16th @Wembley (12th)
G: Richard Stroud
D: George Gould/Kyle Craig/Tom Kemp/Nathan Speed
M: Andy Mogwo/Thomas Nunn/Jordan Payne
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Stuart Horgan/Jordan Merriman

First road game and we're Defensive.

3 - Man, Speed does a lot of great work in passing after throw-ins I've noticed. Here there's a lot of passing on the right wing before it gets to Mogwo, who sends it to Horgan and then on to Merriman. A little juke and our fearsome striker adds to his goal tally 1-0

10 - :( Off goes Merriman with injury. On comes Bonnick. Assholes.

15 - Now Payne is hurt. WTF.

28 - Summerfield on the free kick... and Mogwo gets in above everyone with the header to double our lead! 2-0

51 - Nobody stops the rebound after the wall blocks a free kick. Harwood in for Payne 2-1

73 - Speed with the 30 yard free kick and HOLY FUCK, IT'S IN!!!! 3-1

88 - Now Bonnick is dinged

92 - Great run forth by Summerfield after the pass from Mogwo, and he sizzles home the half-circle strike 4-1

8.1 for Nathan Speed, 7.9 for Tom Kemp, 8.0 for Kyle Craig, 7.9 for George Gould as it's a second straight amazing performance by our bashed backline. 8.7 for Andy Mogwo, and Will Summerfield's 8.9 is PotM. Also 8.1 for Stuart Horgan.

Jordan Merriman is out 3-4 weeks, which is pretty devastating, as his 6 goals are tied for third in the league in scoring, and his 7.6 average match rating is 4th. FM truly does giveth and taketh.

JonInMiddleGA

08-08-2014, 01:14 PM

The star rating of your players is relative to the best players on the roster.

And there's the other reason to read dynasties: you learn stuff.

I thought the stars were merely relative to the level you were playing at.

Izulde

08-08-2014, 02:37 PM

10th vs Hillingdon Borough (3rd)
G: Richard Stroud
D: Elliott Burns/Kyle Craig/Luke Saxby/Nathan Speed
M: Thomas Nunn/Richie Harwood/Jordan Payne
AM: Harry Powell
S: Stuart Horgan/Jay McGregor

We're having to play Horgan on 85% and I don't like playing guys below 90%, but it is what it is.

4 - Damn it. No less than 5 shots at the goal and they were all deflected by post or keeper. :rant:

14 - Absolutely no effort to go up and get the ball in the air 0-1

23 - Cool, because we don't have enough striker injuries. Horgan gets dinged up.

Fucking irritating first half. Bonnick in for Horgan and Lambert in for Craig.

48 - They're crying that it wasn't a penalty even though they spiked my dude. Fuck you. And fuck yeah to Payne for pulverizing the keeper on the PK 1-1

61 - Harwood is knocked, so it's an emergency press of Mogwo

67 - WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU CHARGING FORWARD WITHOUT THE FUCKING BALL, DEFENSE?! 1-2

72 - Fucking ass nuggets aren't even fucking trying now 1-3

A profitable month at $1.82k profit, and the board's pleased we're not in the bottom of the league.

@Black County Rangers (Dudley Latham Memorial Cup First Round First Leg)
G: Richard Stroud
D: George Gould/Kyle Craig/Tom Kemp/Nathan Speed
M: Andy Mogwo/Thomas Nunn/Jordan Payne
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Antwon Bonnick/Jay McGregor

We really need to get some more strikers in here.

9 - McGregor's hurt but he'll have to shake it off.

42 - Mogwo to Nunn to McGregor, and the 6'9 beast lumbers into the box. I think he's going to pass, but instead he hoofs his big foot forward and puts the ball in for his first goal for us 1-0

52 - Gould gives to Summerfield.. on to Nunn, to Payne... and then to Bonnick, who takes advantage of the goalkeeper slipping to put in the insurance 2-0

61 - Speed has no god damned speed. Off he goes for Lambert, and Harwood hops on for Payne. 2-1

72 - Key header by Gould, who's involved in a lot of the passes that follow, including one to Mogwo, who puts it to McGregor. Never thought I'd see a 6'9 guy make a pass that beautiful outside the basketball court, but Bonnick takes it and goes past both the defense and the keeper before kicking the clincher 3-1

82 - Oh look, Bonnick gets a knock and is 8%. Whatever. Game's almost over anyway.

8.2 for Tom Kemp, 8.6 for Kyle Craig, who has been doing his best Jake Wells/Lewis Clover impression, 8.4 for Jay McGregor, and 8.8 and PotM for Antwon Bonnick

And of course we lose Antwon Bonnick for 2 weeks.

14th @Northwood FC (16th)
G: Richard Stroud
D: Elliott Burns/George Gould/Gavin Lambert/Nathan Speed
M: Andy Mogwo/Richie Harwood/Jordan Payne
AM: Harry Powell
S: Stuart Horgan/Jay McGregor

We literally have 1 striker above 77% health right now. Not good.

4 - So many fucking own goals. I see why people bitch about the match engine 0-1

57 We'll take that fluke goal by Burns. Against better judgement, Saxby on for Payne. 1-1

60 - Great efforts by Mogwo to keep us alive. One thing I noticed is that in this setup, the opposing defense gets pressured into stupid mistakes, as McGregor's header to Horgan is broken up by the defense... but they only head it into space for Horgan to be all alone and shoot us ahead 2-1

63 - All our defenders literally fall down trying to tackle the ballcarrier, which means loose ball and easy goal. Jefford on for Speed. 2-2

Considering all our health issues, I'm perfectly fine with this draw.

Transfer In - ST Shane Bennett (25) - From Brantham Athletic
He's fast (11 pace) and strong (12 Strength). That's what we need from our strikers these days.

Jake Wells is out of contract, but he won't even talk to me about joining up again. I barely recognize Scarborough Athletic - My only long-term signings they kept and made a key part of the lineup are Shayne Cooper and Ali Amiri. They're mid-table right now. Thetford Town hasn't won a game yet.

13th vs Enfield Town (20th)
G: Richard Stroud
D: George Gould/Kyle Craig/Tom Kemp/Nathan Speed
M: Andy Mogwo/Thomas Nunn/Jordan Payne
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Stuart Horgan/Shane Bennett

18 - Payne on the corner, Gould on the header. 1-0

23 - Fluky interception by Nunn, but a committee of midfield passes meets before it's delivered to Speed on the wing. The long range shot's parried by the keeper, but Horgan wins the jump ball to pound it in 2-0

38 - Bennett runs ahead suddenly on an opponent's free kick which I don't get until Gould clears it to him, which starts a move. Speed finds Horgan for a booming kick and goal-scoring header, but the ref calls it no good due to foul. WTFE.

43 - Simple as simple gets. Stroud goal kick to Bennett, and chip ahead pass for Horgan to nail it home 3-0

Powell in for an exhausted Summerfield at half.

66 - Nunn gets possession back after it's lost and hoofs it all the way to Bennett. He lays off to Horgan, who kicks it back to Powell. Triangle's complete with a beautiful pass forward and Bennett adds to his brilliant debut game with a goal. Eat that, 4 finishing! 4-0

84 - Nunn is forced off because of injury, so in hops Harwood.

8.6 for Nathan Speed, 7.5 for Tom Kemp, 7.6 for Kyle Craig, 8.6 for George Gould, the boys demonstrating again the defense is underrated. Jordan Payne with 7.9, Shane Bennett with a debut 8.2, and Stuart Horgan takes PotM honors with an 8.8.

We move up to 9th. Enfield Town sacks their manager immediately after the game, and there's a fair few other firings around the league. Gotta say, it feels damned good to be winning, even if we continue not to develop any tactical familiarity despite Tactics and Tactics Only as our training settings.

JonInMiddleGA

08-08-2014, 04:22 PM

Eat that, 4 finishing!

I've found so little relationship to Finishing vs Goals Scored in the lowest levels that the stat borders on being meaningless.

What I think it does is roughly low Finishing = lots of spectacularly bad misses.

But in the right position & situation, 2 or higher seems to put the ball in the net way more often than you'd expect. I think it's simply a case of the defense being as bad or worse than the offense.

Izulde

08-08-2014, 05:31 PM

I've found so little relationship to Finishing vs Goals Scored in the lowest levels that the stat borders on being meaningless.

What I think it does is roughly low Finishing = lots of spectacularly bad misses.

But in the right position & situation, 2 or higher seems to put the ball in the net way more often than you'd expect. I think it's simply a case of the defense being as bad or worse than the offense.

Yeah that's the most difficult thing I've had to come to terms with is the comparative meaninglessness of technical attributes for strikers down here.

Izulde

08-08-2014, 07:57 PM

Remember how my coaches snidely pooh-poohed George Gould? Well, he's gone from 1 gold star at DL and DC to 1.5 in each and the media is going crazy with lavish praise for the 21 year old. He's also part of my Scarborough Shortlist Signings, which I'll explain at the end of the year.

vs Black Country Rangers (Dudley Lathum Memorial Cup First Round Second Leg)
G: Marcus Davies (U18 Callup)
D: Elliott Burns/Tom Kemp/Luke Saxby/Gavin Lambert
M: Andy Mogwo/Richie Harwood/Kwasi Frempong
AM: Harry Powell
S: Jay McGregor/Shane Bennett

We have a 3-1 advantage from the away game, so this is our chance to stretch out some guys who need to get fully match fit. Those two good backup keepers we had? They both went away somewhere and I didn't see where, so we had to call up our best U18 guy to give our starter a breather.

9 - Ding on McGregor

15 - Wow, that was some bullshit penalty right there. 0-1

29 - Terrible corner kick by Frogpond and they nail us on the counter 0-2

52 - Enough of this shit. Payne in for Bennett and Summerfield/b] for Frempong.

80 - We get the makeup penalty call and Payne converts 1-2

[]b]88 - *Another* PK?! This one's for us, and TBH, it genuinely was the right call, unlike the other one that looked like a makeup. Payne converts again and we've got this wrapped up now 2-2

91 - Kemp didn't even try on that backpass, and they pounced on it. I noticed he has a tendency to make major fuckups at times 2-3

8.1 and PotM for Jordan Payne obviously, but hat tip to 7.8 from Harry Powell. TBH, I'm very annoyed with how we played in this game, and we were damn lucky to advance.

@AFC Totton (FA Vase First Round)
G: Richard Stroud
D: George Gould/Kyle Craig/Lyndon Jefford/Nathan Speed
M: Jordan Payne/Thomas Nunn/Blaine Gregson (U18 Call-up)
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Stuart Horgan/Shane Bennett

3 days after that, we've got another Cup match, so we'll keep rotating in as many different guys as we can, because our next league game is 4 days after this one.

14 - Meh. 0-1

23 - Robbed by the fucking post

28 - Speed comes off with injury. Dynan on.

53 - Totally fluke off the bar free kick goal by Gregson. That'll do just fine 1-1

87 - Well isn't that swell. Gould is knocked out and I have no backup for him due to Speed getting knocked off earlier. The absolute best I can do is pull Jefford to DL, pull Nunn down to DM, put Frempong in at MC so that we're only running three in the backline, and pray we can hold out for a few more minutes.

89 - Stupid, stupid move by Craig, but they have an even stupider shot, so it's all square still.

We just got unlucky because of injuries today. George Gould is out for a week.

vs AFC Totton (FA Vase First Round Replay)
G: Richard Stroud
D: Elliott Burns/Tom Kemp/Gavin Lambert/Nathan Speed
M: Andy Mogwo/Richie Harwood/Kwasi Frempong
AM: Harry Powell
S: Antwon Bonnick/Jordan Merriman

Still trying to keep a reserve heavy lineup, because league match in a few days, and this is a team we have a tough time beating anyway.

36 - Kemp goes off with injury and Saxby is on.

73 - Standout interception by Burns[/b and he launches it to [b]Merriman, our star striker dribbling down the left wing until he turns around and sends it back to Mogwo. The Congolese passes to Frempong and it goes from Frogpond to Powell, who lays it into open space for a streaking Merriman. Defender lost, goal gained! 1-0

75 - Fucking immediate answer! 1-1

82 - Not only was that shit a foul, he was offsides, too!

87 - Mogwo and Burns keep trading passes until a longball is sent to Bonnick. He sends it sideways to a completely open Powell for the kid's first goal for us 2-1

90 - We drop into Contain.

92 - And there's the cross bar robbing Bonnick of a surefire goal.

9.0 and PotM for Harry Powell, 7.4 for Jordan Merriman, and 7.3 for Antwon Bonnick to give us the advancement.

We get $2.26k for winning the FA Vase First Round. Funny... I don't remember getting that for Thetford Town. Oh well... not going to worry about it.

I'm going to try setting Training to Low to see if that helps the Tactics Only grow faster.

13th @Oxhey Jets (6th)
G: Richard Stroud
D: Elliott Burns/Tom Kemp/Kyle Craig/Nathan Speed
M: Andy Mogwo/Thomas Nunn/Jordan Payne
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Stuart Horgan/Jordan Merriman

13 - I love these simple goals. Stroud's kick to Merriman, the pass to Horgan, the beating past the defender, the 1 on 1 for goal 1-0

19 - Speed atones for his own awful pass with a critical interception that he heads to Merriman. It's a smooth, silky ball to Horgan, who again outhustles the defense for a 1 on 1 and though I think the high shot is going to go over, it *just* drops in for the double 2-0

30 - YOU ASSCLOWN, STROUD! DON'T DROP THE FUCKING BALL OR I'LL FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN KICK YOUR SORRY ASS 2-1

Jefford for Burns and McGregor for Merriman at the break.

56 - Nunn wings it out to Speed, who goes to the right side of the box, pauses, and then launches it to the far post, where Horgan heads out everyone to nab his hat trick! 3-1

68 - I think I might literally go get some wine to celebrate after this. Speed kicks a ball so long and so far from the touchline I think it's going straight to the opponents, but instead bounces on the pitch and keeps on going. Well, you know who's going to get that, right? Yep, Horgan, beating out them all for his FOURTH GOAL OF THE GAME! 4-1

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/q3GwIbFcfYk?list=UUfejaPA5RVDBG4kfNvJPCLw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

75 - You think we're done yet? Oh, hellll no! Horgan knocks down a header upon the goal kick from Stroud, getting to Nunn, who plays a phenomenal pass up for Moose McGregor. And our 6'9 fellow rampages down the field for his first ever senior goal!!! Sorry, you guys are going to have to let me post this video, too. He's my own pet project after all. 5-1

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6ar8NvGKKWs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

78 - WOW!!! Moose intercepts a poor goal kick and passes it to Horgan. I'm thinking McGregor is going to get the give-back, but Horgan is feeling so confident, it's a stride forward and GOAL #5 FOR HIM ON THE DAY!!! OMG! OMG! 6-1

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/perfect10_zps2ee37958.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/perfect10_zps2ee37958.jpg.html)

I don't know if that's my first 10.0 or not in FM.... it might well be. But oh my God, what a moment!!! I won't paste all the goal highlights here, but I'm going to upload them to YouTube anyway because it was that damn special a game.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/earltimes_zps08032b35.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/earltimes_zps08032b35.jpg.html)

I know, I know... way too early to say anything, especially since we've been down this road before with both Thetford Town and Scarborough Athletic. But remember, this was also a team picked to finish 21st of 24 teams.

Oh, and as for Stuart Horgan?

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/Horgan_zpsc865de15.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/Horgan_zpsc865de15.jpg.html)

...Yeah. He's 16. He's also the kind of kid I never would have looked at twice in my previous way of thinking, but my assman's love for him and my WTF not attitude gave him his shot.

And maybe it's a year's difference. And maybe system matters a whole hell of a lot, because he was on this squad last season as a youth pull.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/horganstats_zps695736d9.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/horganstats_zps695736d9.jpg.html)

Brian Swartz

08-09-2014, 01:38 AM

68 - I think I might literally go get some wine to celebrate after this. Speed kicks a ball so long and so far from the touchline I think it's going straight to the opponents, but instead bounces on the pitch and keeps on going. Well, you know who's going to get that, right? Yep, Horgan, beating out them all for his FOURTH GOAL OF THE GAME! 4-1

What'd that take, like a half-dozen fixtures? I'm pretty jealous right now, inasmuch as I've had a 10.0 never, a couple mid-9s, and have two hat-tricks with no four-goal matches as well. Forget about five. You're doing great!

Edit: That's one ridiculously competitive table as well. A hot streak could really upset the apple cart.

Izulde

08-09-2014, 07:02 AM

What'd that take, like a half-dozen fixtures? I'm pretty jealous right now, inasmuch as I've had a 10.0 never, a couple mid-9s, and have two hat-tricks with no four-goal matches as well. Forget about five. You're doing great!

Edit: That's one ridiculously competitive table as well. A hot streak could really upset the apple cart.

TBH I think it's my first ever 10.0... at the very least since FM 10 (ironically) maybe 08? Can't remember that far back. Or maybe it is my very first, who knows?

All I know is, I about fell over in shock when it happened :D

Izulde

08-09-2014, 08:40 AM

So Stuart Horgan shattered the London Colney and South Midlands Premier Division goal-scoring records with that game. Former was a hat trick held by Jordan Merriman earlier this year, latter was 4, earned by a Anton Pooley from Hemel Hempstead Town earlier this season.

Bad Trains
Jordan Merriman
Jordan Payne
Tom Kemp

Good Trains
Shane Chadwick

So it turns out Shane Chadwick didn't go anywhere. I just forgot I put him in the U18s and somehow missed him when I went looking at the squad for who to call up.

Board is delighted so far. We made $3.64k in profit last month, due largely to the $2.26k FA Vase money.

8th @Bedford Town (15th)
G: Richard Stroud
D: George Gould/Tom Kemp/Kyle Craig/Gavin Lambert
M: Andy Mogwo/Thomas Nunn/Jordan Payne
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Stuart Horgan/Jordan Merriman

2 games in 3 days, boo. This looks to be the tougher one, though, so we'll field our best possible lineup here and shuffle the deck for the other game.

27 - This letdown is exactly what I was afraid of. Our defenders fall to the ground trying to tackle a guy and all miss 0-1

59 - Frempong for Nunn and McGregor for Horgan

60 - Double yellow for an opponent.... Now if we can just take advantage...

70 - Knock for Lambert, but he's been amazing, so he'll stay on.

84 - Whole lot of steady, slow passes, the last of which is Frogpond to Merriman to McGregor open in the box. Moose takes his time to line up his shot and pop it in 1-1

85 - They really should have scored the immediate answer on a corner kick, and we're lucky they didn't.

8.5 and PotM for Gavin Lambert, 7.5 for Tom Kemp. It was a very, very lucky draw, as we had just the one offensive highlight all game - They really wanted to shut us down, it seems.

Gavin Lambert also tore up his ankle so bad he's out 6-7 weeks. Unfortunate, but we'll keep on keeping on.

Kyle Craig has 108 interceptions, which currently places him 2nd in the league table. I sure do love my tall players.

6th vs Harefield United (18th)
G: Richard Stroud
D: Elliott Burns/Luke Saxby/Kyle Craig/Nathan Speed
M: Thomas Nunn/Richie Harwood/Kwasi Frempong
AM: Harry Powell
S: Stuart Horgan/Jay McGregor

16 - Ugh 0-1

31 - Great heading pickoff by Speed and he pops it to McGregor, who gives to Powell. The pass to Horgan is tackled away, but by that time Moose has made his way up the field and kicks it in with the kind of lumbering authority that only he can 1-1

Mogwo comes on for Frempong at the half and I shuffle the midfield for the best role arrangement. Kemp replaces Craig.

48 - Burns recovers a blocked shot and gives it to Harwood, who finds Moose. The pass in the area goes to Horgan, who completes the turnaround shot for his 10th goal of the season already 2-1

61 - Wow... their guy has a wide open shot after Saxby completely misses the tackle, and the dude shoots it to the stratosphere.

77 - We're getting very, very lucky with their wide open misses.

84 - They finally sink in a fucking rebound. I smash the top of my desk in frustration 2-2

The team gets pissed when I tell them off. Fuck you guys, we were fucking lucky to draw here with your shit coasting after we got the lead. As a result, we're 7 points back of the lead with all games knotted up.

Oh, and this is how bad London Colney has been - Stuart Horgan is the first Blueboy in this universe to score 10 goals in a season.

Transfer In - DRC Nigel Stockwell (19)
10 Strength, 10 Stamina, 11 Jumping, 10 Balance, 10 Bravery, 17 Teamwork, 12 Workrate. My scout liked him. My assman... not so much. But he's more insurance and even the assman has him #2 DR and #5 DC.

6th vs Hanwell Town (14th)
G: Richard Stroud
D: George Gould/Tom Kemp/Kyle Craig/Nathan Speed
M: Andy Mogwo/Thomas Nunn/Jordan Payne
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Stuart Horgan/Jordan Merriman

I fucking hate this 11 days off, then 2 matches in 3 days bullshit. We need to quit with these piddly draws, so best lineup goes out there.

5 - The post jumps in front of Merriman's short free kick. Fuck you, post. Fuck you.

24 - Nunn intercepts a goal kick and heads it to Summerfield, who dribbles and shoots. It's deflected, but Horgan is right there to bank in the angled shot on the rebound 1-0

34 - Payne pressures the opposition and steals the ball on the right wing after Speed's stupid pass. The cross to Summerfield sees our AMC stride to the half circle, shoot, and convert. 2-0

62 - Jefford on for Speed, Harwood for Nunn

7.9 for Kyle Craig, 7.8 for George Gould, 7.5 for Tom Kemp, and 8.7 for PotM Will Summerfield. The second half was humdrum all around, but we'll take the precious 3 points here.

The press really talks up Will Summerfield and his amazing performances this season, and rightfully so. I knew there was a reason I kept lugging this kid from stop to stop. Remember, he's also the dumbass who signed with us and got hit with the no more than two teams in a season rule so he never got to play for Thetford Town.

6th vs Hadley FC (24th)
G: Richard Stroud
D: Elliott Burns/Tom Kemp/Nigel Stockwell/Nathan Speed
M: Andy Mogwo/Thomas Nunn/Richie Harwood
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Stuart Horgan/Jay McGregor

Home game against the last place team is a good chance to rotate some guys and make sure everyone stays fresh.

25 - I feel a migraine coming on. Stroud can't catch the ball and they get the rebound. 0-1

36 - Supremely crafted move, the finisher of which is Nunn to Summerfield to McGregor, with Moose dribbling into the box before launching it in 1-1

Jefford in for Speed and Merriman for Horgan, with Moose moving to Target Man at the half.

70 - WTF Merriman?! You're supposed to destroy those shots!!!

75 - Heh. And now Merriman goes off with injury. Good thing I kept Payne on the bench as an emergency backup.

80 - Burns with the throw-in and McGregor gets absolutely hammered. No problem though, as Burns deep crosses it on the diagonal where Payne lifts his head and brings down the lead taking goal with authority! 2-1

91 - FUCK YOU, YOU COCKSUCKING SMURFDICK ASSFUCKING 20 YARD LATE EQUALIZER FUCKING BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!TGHRGUIOHUIOGHGUIO;HSFUIOHASRIOHTJGWT;WIOGFGHWR9THHER9RTG9PARTGATG[WRAG89R789FS789PGTS7GBUI4TIPEF79PYTW7895TY3-TY-34T3479PT 2-2

You better believe I fucking tore into the team in the god damned fucking locker room after that fucking HORSESHIT! This shit is fucking Thetford Town and Scarborough Athletic ALL THE FUCK OVER AGAIN.

HOW THE FUCK DO WE TIE THE GOD DAMNED LAST FUCKING PLACE TEAM IN THE LEAGUE IN OUR OWN FUCKING HOUSE?! THOSE FUCKWITS ONLY HAVE 1 WIN ON THE WHOLE GOD DAMNED FUCKING SEASON!

If we would have fucking won LIKE WE MOTHERFUCKING SHOULD HAVE, we'd only be 3 fucking points out of first place. But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO we had to act like we're fucking hot shot and fucking let the MAGIC FUCKING COMEBACK CODE bite us in the god damned fucking ass!

Brian Swartz

08-09-2014, 09:32 AM

Izulde

08-09-2014, 10:25 PM

Anytime I've had a defense that inept ... actually, I've never had a defense that inept. I'd be thrilled with anything top half really(I understand why you're not with the history and all).

Oh, and you haven't lost in your last half-dozen or so. The sky isn't falling :).

Is it that inept or is Summerfield (our lone 5* current guy) just that good? It's hard to say really. And true the sky isn't falling, but the treadmill annoys to no end.

Izulde

08-09-2014, 11:40 PM

6th @AFC Dunstable (15th)
G: Richard Stroud
D: George Gould/Tom Kemp/Luke Saxby/Nathan Speed
M: Andy Mogwo/Thomas Nunn/Jordan Payne
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Stuart Horgan/Jay McGregor

I forgot to mention Jordan Merriman is out a week with a concussion, so yeah. My assman rates Luke Saxby as our second best DC, so he's going to get an extended run to see how he does, even though Kyle Craig has been outperforming his ratings.

41 - Seeing a lot of complacent/uninterested guys out there, and yeah. 0-1

Bonnick for Horgan and Powell for Summerfield at the break, as I let the team have it.

60 - There has not been a single fucking offensive highlight for us all fucking game 0-2

More yelling.

@Willand Rovers (FA Vase Second Round)
G: Shane Chadwick
D: Elliott Burns/Tom Kemp/Kyle Craig/Nigel Stockwell
M: Richie Harwood/Will Summerfield/Kwasi Frempong
AM: Harry Powell
S: Stuart Horgan/Shane Bennett

Tired people means a very shaken up lineup, so we'll probably lose.

1 - I'm amused to see Pickup pass to Pack. I'm not at all amused to see them get a PK and convert right at the fucking beginning 1-0

14 - A simple Burns to Horgan to Powell, with the 20 yard shot from the last finding the mark 1-1

39 - Oh look, a shitty tackle by Frogpond. Oh look, a fucking late half goal to go down 1-2

43 - Harwood makes a great recovery of a loose ball and passes to Horgan, who sends it to Bennett in the box on a short give. Their keeper should have been able to stop that shot. $20 says they immediately answer 2-2

45 - That fucking home cooking, though. Luckily they shank the PK.

Kemp and Stockwell are pulled at the half for Jeffords and Dynan.

61 - Gregson on for Frempong

- Dickass fucking corners [b]2-3

84 - HOW THE FUCK DID YOU MISS THAT, HORGAN?!

Transfer In - SW Arran Goodchild (20) - From Diss Town
I honestly thought he was a DC. Oops. He can technically play DC and he's 3.5 silver/4.5 at Sweeper... which gives me an idea...

Transfer In - DC Tyke Hague (19) - From Totton & Eling AFC
Just bringing in bodies to see if we can upgrade that D. He sucks though.

Andy Mogwo has the highest pass completion % in the league with 83. Hmm.

Bad Trains
Kwasi Frempong
Some U18 Kid

Board delighted. $931 profit.

8th @Colney Heath (4th)
G: Richard Stroud
SW: Aaron Goodchild
D: George Gould/Tom Kemp/Kyle CraigNathan Speed
M: Andy Mogwo/Will Summerfield
AM: Harry Powell
S: Stuart Horgan/Jordan Payne

Oh yeah, I got suspended from this match. Sooo.... no special instructions package here.

67 - Well it worked for a half... but we suck at defending corners 0-1

87 - Meh 0-2

Bleh bleh bleh LOSE LOSE LOSE. So much for having turned shit around.

Brian Swartz

08-10-2014, 12:48 AM

Is it that inept or is Summerfield (our lone 5* current guy) just that good? It's hard to say really. And true the sky isn't falling, but the treadmill annoys to no end.

My read would be it's that inept(except for recent signee Kemp). Reason being, yeah Summerfield might just be that good but then there's the other mids ... and your strikers ... and your keepers ... all of which are a good deal better than your defense. My thinking is that based on what you've posted, you really need a couple more quality defenders. If you get them somehow, you should be good enough to challenge for promotion. I haven't done an amateur club in so long that I can't really tell you how to get them(and probably Summerfield will sign somewhere a league or two up the ladder before then, etc. but ya know)

Izulde

08-10-2014, 01:36 AM

My keeper also dropped to 2.5 stars so the problem is my entire back of the team it looks like. I'll go back to the 4-3-1-2, but try out Summerfield, Mogwo, and Nunn at MC, Powell at AMC, and Payne and Merriman up front... Payne is our highest rated striker at 4, with Merriman and Horgan at 3 and 2.5.

MC it's Summerfield 5, Mogwo and Nunn 4, Payne 3. AMC is Summerfield 5 and Powell 2.5, so I feel like overall we'll get more out of moving Payne to the striker spot.

Brian Swartz

08-10-2014, 01:52 AM

Where do you rank in terms of goals scored/allowed so far in your table?

Izulde

08-10-2014, 02:17 AM

3rd in Goals Scored (35 - Top Team has 39) and 17th in Goals Allowed with 28.

Brian Swartz

08-10-2014, 02:38 AM

law90026

08-10-2014, 04:40 AM

Out of curiosity, how is your team's morale? There sure is a lot of yelling

Izulde

08-10-2014, 07:27 AM

Ok sounds like definitely the back half then, that's pretty similar to what I would have expected. Offense is working fine it would seem(overall). Hopefully you can find a way to plug whatever the biggest holes are back there eventually.

Yeah it's proving difficult. Most guys are Hot Prospects or Backups when I go to sign them.

Out of curiosity, how is your team's morale? There sure is a lot of yelling

Okay overall, with a few Fairly Poors.

Izulde

08-10-2014, 08:37 AM

So I switch back to the 4-1-3-2, obviously.

Transfer In - DLR Wesley Nunn (21) - From Colney Heath
Massive talent upgrade. Assman rates him as 4/5 on DL and 3/5 on DR. 6.91 rating the last 5 games for our division foes. Immediately rates as one of our top players. 11 Tackling, Bravery, and Pace; 12 Influence and 10 Balance. This kid is an out and out steal for us.

13th vs Kingsbury London Tigers (21st)
G: Richard Stroud
D: Wesley Nunn/Tom Kemp/George Gould/Nathan Speed
M: Andy Mogwo/Thomas Nunn/Will Summerfield
AM: Harry Powell
S: Jordan Payne/Jordan Merriman

19 - ...WTF? Stroud thinks he hears a shot coming so he goes to ground even though the shot is like 20 yards away. It's blocked, but they get the rebound still 20 yards out and Stroud's fucking stupid ass is still on the ground, so they of course score. He's done. 0-1

33 - A pendulum of interceptions that finally ends with Summerfield to Thomas Nunn to Powell to Payne, and with the latter in the box, he takes a second to time and shoot past the defense and keeper 1-1

40 - Of course you fuckwits allow a goal right before half AGAIN! :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: 1-2

Goodchild in for Kemp at the break. Even more yelling. We need to stop losing at home to shit teams.

47 - Merriman with the 30 yard free kick goal to at least get us back level 2-2

58 - Fuck this jumped unfairly bullshit. That was a clear deserved goal for us.

64 - Frempong for Summerfield, who is having a shit game.

91 - GHOASHGIOSGHIOUGHHFGUOPHGFOYQT4900999W4SO'GHO[LTFYHGRGHUIOGHASGHWUIOGHWEUIORTEGHU;IOGHAWRIPGWR89TTYWAEO[RT GOD MOTHERFUKCING DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2-3

@ Stotfold FC (Dudley Latham Memorial Cup Second Round First Leg
G: Shane Chadwick
D: Wesley Nunn/Tom Kemp/George Gould/Nathan Speed
M: Andy Mogwo/Thomas Nunn/Will Summerfield
AM: Harry Powell
S: Jordan Payne/Jordan Merriman

We can forget about the league and promotion, so we may as well play for a fucking rinky dink cup.

19 - Fuck you. 0-1

28 - Gould's knocked out, so Goodchild in.

50 - WTFE 0-2

53 - Suck my dick, you fucking fuckknob of a ref. Powell wasn't offsides. But who gives a shit? We'd just fucking lose anyway.

72 - Hi, I'm Wesley Nunn and I'm going to play like a fucking idiot my first two games despite all the fucking hype 0-3

Because our backline didn't fucking suck enough, George Gould is out 2 months.

DO NOT FUCKING ASK ME ABOUT CONTRACTS WHEN WE'RE A FUCKING AMATEUR SIDE, YOU FUCKING DIPSTICK OF AN OLD FUCK REPORTER

Izulde

08-10-2014, 01:47 PM

15th vs St. Margaretsbury (22nd)
G: Shane Chadwick
D: Wesley Nunn/Tom Kemp/Kyle Craig/Gavin Lambert
M: Andy Mogwo/Richie Harwood/Blaine Gregson
AM: Harry Powell
S: Jordan Payne/Stuart Horgan

13 - Whole lot of passes by our midfield that create a line finishing in Horgan taking the ball and dribbling forward before laying it perfectly between two defenders for Payne to slam home 1-0

18 - Similar midfield passing build-up, with Harwood eventually passing the ball between two defenders in almost the exact same spot as the first goal, only this time, it's Powell taking advantage of the hole 2-0

Frogpond for Gregson at the half.

58 - Ton of passes all around the field here, but it finally plays out that Frempong passes to Payne, who puts it to Powell. Great pass for Horgan, but the defense tackles it away. Unfortunately for them, Payne is there to tap in his second goal of the game 3-0

Long time since we've had a game like this. 7.5 for Gavin Lambert, who I'm starting to prefer over Speed, and the same for Tom Kemp and Wesley Nunn. 8.0 for Kyle Craig who out performs his ratings better than anyone. 8.5 for Richie Harwood, 8.1 for Harry Powell, and 8.6 for Jordan Payne.

St. Margaretsbury fires their manager after the game, and so does Levenstock Green.

Jordan Payne is drawing a lot of media praise.

vs Stotfold FC (Dudley Lathum Memorial Cup Second Round Second Leg)
G: Richard Stroud
D: Elliott Burns/Arran Goodchild/Nigel Stockwell/Lyndon Jefford
M: Thomas Nunn/Kwasi Frempong/Luke Saxby
AM: Clive Talbot
S: Antwon Bonnick/Shane Bennett

This is what you call throwing the game because we're down 0-3 after the first leg and have a league match in 3 days.

5 - We're awarded a PK and Nunn converts. Nice start 1-0

11 - We suck at defending corners. I ain't even mad, tho 1-1

20 - Bonnick denied by the post for the 900th time.

27 - See this, Stroud? That stupid as fuck shit you do coming out for the ball and getting punished for it? That's why you're gone as soon as I can get a good keeper to come in here. Fucking 2 star old ass 1-2

50 - Nice work, Talbot, getting the red in your first senior game of my regime.

62 - I know you've had some hard ass luck, Bonnick, but when you blow easy ones like that, it's why Moose McGregor is ahead of you on the DC.

90 Yawn. 1-3

I go easy on them despite the complete joke of a performance. I do, however, warn Clive Talbot for his red. It was clearly deserved. He accepts the admonishment.

Luke Saxby goes off to AFC Kempston Rovers. Don't really care because of how much he sucked.

13th @Hertford Town (6th)
G: Shane Chadwick
D: Wesley Nunn/Tom Kemp/Kyle Craig/Gavin Lambert
M: Andy Mogwo/Richie Harwood/Will Summerfield
AM: Harry Powell
S: Jordan Payne/Jordan Merriman

11 - In which we continue to suck at corner kick defense 0-1

45 - WHY YES, DON'T FORGET TO FUCKING ALLOW A GOAL SECONDS BEFORE THE HALF ENDS, YOU INCOMPETENT FUCKNOZZLES!!!! 0-2

Nunn moves to DR and Burns comes on at DL.

48 - http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/ZOMGTACKLES_zpsd841d434.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/ZOMGTACKLES_zpsd841d434.jpg.html)

But Merriman still manages to fire it high and hard to cut the lead in half 1-2

59 - Payne backpasses to Burns on the wing, and here's a fuck yeah cross to the six yard box where Merriman half-volleys it in like a fucking boss. I'm tired of Summerfield sucking ass at MC, so I bring in Nunn to replace him 2-2

[b75[/b] - Look. I like you Harwood, but you can't go missing those sitters.

82 - Payne recovers a corner and passes to Powell on the wing. He dribbles inside the box and crosses to the six yard box, where despite howls of offside protest from the opposition, Merriman gets the hat trick 3-2

[b]89[/b= Thanks for missing and giving us a real shot at 3 points, dudes. :thumbsup:

We hold them off, and for once, yelling did the trick. In fact, they say after the game my epic rant turned things around. 7.6 for Kyle Craig, 9.6 for Jordan Merriman, and 7.5 for Jordan Payne.

One thing I've noticed is that Will Summerfield absolutely hates playing MC.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/amcattack_zps197edab4.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/amcattack_zps197edab4.jpg.html)

Will this work? Fuck if I know, but it can't hurt to have it as another tactic to work on.

From the Low Bar Department, Harry Powell's 7 season assists is a new London Colney record. Andy Merriman gets some blowies from the press.

Liam Bostock cries to the media twice in two days about not getting PT, so I cut his ass. We still can't get a keeper to show up here, by the way. Clive Talbot gets a 2 match suspension.

12th @Chalfont St. Peter (15th)
Yeah we're trying out that 4-2-2-2 you saw pictured up there, though the game wants to call it a 4-4-2. Whatevs.

3 - HTF did you miss that, Payne?!?!

13 - Man, Powell is just on fire. Makes two key interceptions here, and the pass to Payne in the box. When it's tackled away (of course), Powell charges forth to get the bounce off the keeper for the score 1-0

15 - Kemp, I am disappoint in your (in)ability to take a dude out 1-1

21 - Thomas Nunn and Payne exchange passes prior to T sending it in the box for Powell, who delivers goal the second. 2-1

31 - Lollerskates. Powell hits the corner and a defender leaps in the air to head it right in his own damn net. 3-1

41 - Thanks for the save, crossbar!

So like, if this 4-2-2-2 is really gonna be a thing, I need to find more AMCs. I also need a DR, because Lambert continues to suck on ice. Enter Wesley Nunn to DR and Burns to DL.

52 - Damn right that was a foul and the goal's disallowed. Harwood on for Mogwo.

60 - Go fuck a cactus, you fucking fluke goal. WHY THE FUCK DO THEY ALWAYS GET THEM AND NEVER US?! 2-3

66 - Double yellow, fuck yeah!

71 - FUCK YOU, YOUDOSHGOSFHGOSIHOSD FUCKING COMEBAKC CODE BULLFUCKINGASSFUCKTWITFUCKASSMONGERFUCKIKGNWHORTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ON A FUCKING SHORTHANDED GOAL?! ARE YOU *MOTHERFUCKING* KIDDING ME?!?! 3-3

89 - Summerfield gets triple gang-tackled in their half of the field and you're fucking right that shit is a free kick and yellow. Merriman's free kick goes in the air and we're awarded a penalty. Fuck them for bitching about it, and fucking hoo-fucking-ray for Merriman converting that shit. Let's fucking contain this bitch to say fuck you to the comeback code 4-3

91 - FUCK YOU RIGHT UP THE ASS WITH A FUCKING FLAMING 50 FUCKING ASSFUCKS OF GREY HOT ASS FUCKIGN POKER YOU HSNGIOHAGIOUIOGHEIOHGWRT9[WRH[TO9HTRE[J 4-4

I bitch out Kyle Craig and the two reserves, because those dumbfucks gave this shit away with their fucking HORRIBLE performance RIGHT OUT OF THE FUCKING BLUE.

I'm walking away from the screen before I literally snap my keyboard in half. We've had this fucking bullshit happen to us way too many fucking times this season.

bbgunn

08-10-2014, 08:06 PM

law90026

08-10-2014, 09:41 PM

What I would say is that I think you are tinkering too much with your formations when the season starts. One of the things about FM is that your strategy/tactics need to be ready (as much as possible) before the season starts.

Even plug and play tactics (i.e. those created to exploit certain mechanics in the game) only show results after 6-10 matches.

The other thing (and I realise this may take away the realism) is that morale is very important in the game and the team talks play a big part of it. If morale drops, performance drops and yelling doesn't necessarily help. It's kind of how a coach who is constantly yelling at his team in most sports eventually loses the locker room.

mrtourette

08-11-2014, 01:16 AM

Izulde

08-11-2014, 05:13 AM

Just a couple of things about the new 4-2-2-2 that I noticed.

* You have your DLRs on Attack duties. If that helps your attack, that's fine, but consider that you will have your DLRs too high at times when the other team intercepts the ball or something like that. If that happens, your DLRs will have a lot of space behind them for opposing wingers to use if they are fast, or if they are good at passing. That's probably one reason why Chalfont was able to come back. They might have gone more attacking in the second half, played direct, and got some long balls behind your DLRs.

Personally, without any MLRs, I would never put my DLRs any higher than Support duty. But I think you can get by with that if you have both your MCs on Defend duty. That way, at least if the other team does get a winger with some space on the flanks, you'll have four guys in the box to deal with any crosses - your two DCs and two MCs. You could also try just having one of your fullbacks on Attack, but have the other on Defend.

* Again, you know your team better than I do, but with two MCs, two AMCs and two STs, I don't think you need one ST to be a target man. If you have trouble in your attack, you could try putting him as a Deep Lying Forward. That way, the attack doesn't run through him and spread out more among your attacking players (although you have Nunn as a Deep Lying Playmaker, so that might not be such an issue anyway). But if Payne's a DLF, he might step back more and allow Powell to overlap and attack the box instead, creating some serious matchup problems for opposing defenses.

Anyway, just some thoughts. You can ignore them if you want.

Good points. I was just going by a link that said you should always one of your wide players in Attack mode, but perhaps because we're so low a level, that doesn't apply.

I'll try Payne at the DLF and the DLR at Support see what happens.

What I would say is that I think you are tinkering too much with your formations when the season starts. One of the things about FM is that your strategy/tactics need to be ready (as much as possible) before the season starts.

Even plug and play tactics (i.e. those created to exploit certain mechanics in the game) only show results after 6-10 matches.

The other thing (and I realise this may take away the realism) is that morale is very important in the game and the team talks play a big part of it. If morale drops, performance drops and yelling doesn't necessarily help. It's kind of how a coach who is constantly yelling at his team in most sports eventually loses the locker room.

True, and I know that about the tinkering and the morale, and that I should be calm when morale stops dropping.... just so damned hard to stay nice and polite. :lol:

I'd agree with this, having your full backs on attacking duty without any wide midfielders/wingers to help out means you're expecting your full-backs to cover the whole pitch. This is a big ask for low-level players and means they're likely to be caught out of position in defense and unable to be effective in attack, meaning the instruction is wasted and counter-productive.

Case in point, Leighton Baines for England against Italy in the World Cup. Without a defined/responsible left midfielder ahead of him he was easily contained by Italy's right-back and right-midfielder when going forward (thus nullifying his greatest asset and what he was in the team to do), and then caught out of position or overrun when Italy broke quickly down their right.

Excellent point. It's been adjusted now.

Izulde

08-11-2014, 06:49 AM

Jordan Merriman's 12 season goals breaks the London Colney record Stuart Horgan set earlier this year.

12th vs Leverstock Green (19th)
GK: Shane Chadwick
D: Elliott Burns/Gavin Lambert/Kyle Craig/Nathan Speed
M: Andy Mogwo/Richie Harwood/Blaine Gregson
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Jordan Payne/Jordan Merriman

4-3-1-2 due to health/rest stuff. We're training both it and the 4-4-2-2 in match training by the way.

25 - How the hell do you miss a PK, Merriman?!

28 - Knock on Speed

35 - Fuck corner kicks 0-1

Sometime later in the half - Oh fuck me. Merriman's knocked, too.

Frempong in for Mogwo at the half, Horgan for Merriman. Whole team is dragging ass out there.

47 - Eyyyy yo, fuck off. 0-2

51 - Gregson with the intercept and pass to Horgan, who immediately heads it on into the box, where Summerfield beats 3 defenders to score 1-2

64 - Great recovery by Frogpond of a blocked pass, starting a move that sees Burns cross to Payne for the shot. Deflected... but Payne's there for his rebound and bam we're level 2-2

65 - OH COME THE FUCK ON! 3 KNOCKS IN A FUCKING GAME?! This one's Harwood, but he'll simply have to fight through it.

75 - Lovely bit of running from Summerfield before he passes it to Payne in the box. Ball has just enough lift to pop over the keeper and into the net for the go ahead goal 3-2

81 - I feel bad you for Leverstock Green, cuz I got 99 problems, but shanking a shot ain't one.

93 - YOU HAVE GOT TO FUCKING BE KI.... oh. offsides. Well then.

This one was all about Will Summerfield going from 5.9 to 7.8 and Jordan Payne also turning it on in the second half to finish with an 8.8 and PotM. Funny part was? Summerfield had the red stressed reaction during halftime talk.

But this game costs us Nathan Speed, Jordan Merriman, and Richie Harwood all for 3 weeks. Fuck you in the dickhole, Leverstock Green.

Good Trains
Harry Powell
Gavin Lambert
Arran Goodchild

Bad Trains
Shane Chadwick

$2.7k profit. Board still loves me.

Transfer In - Atonofpositions George Jones (25) - From Hartley Whitney
Yep, that guy again. AMC is his natural position though, so... Unfortunately that 3.5* star guy I thought I was getting? 0.5 stars. Just damn. Worse? He gets hit with the no more than 2 teams a year thing Summerfield did a couple years ago.

Transfer In - DC/MC Barry Wilfort (20) - From Homer Green
13 Determination, 10 Influence, 12 Teamwork, 12 Workrate, 10 Natural Fitness. Can play DL/DR in a pinch, and my assman thinks he's our third best DC, though that's damning with faint praise. I really see him as a MC most of the time though, in our 4-3-1-2 variant anyway.

8th @Hemel Hempstead Town (2nd)
GK: Shane Chadwick
D: Wesley Nunn/Gavin Lambert/Tom Kemp/Nigel Stockwell
M: Thomas Nunn/Barry Wilfort/Andy Mogwo
AM: Harry Powell
S: Stuart Horgan/Jordan Payne

43 - Yep, let's just let them fucking score right before the fucking half ends 0-1

48 - Off goes Kemp with injury, and on comes Goodchild.

59 - McGregor on for Horgan, who is lousing up the game.

71 - Fair bit of buildup on the left wing, finalizing with Nunn forward to Wilfort, the new kid having a great near cross post where McGregor's 6'9 moosey self literally slide tackles a goal in. 1-1

89 - :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: 1-2

I go easy on them, but fuckign damn it if that itsn't the fucking 8093rd fucking time we've gotten fucking raped out of points by a fucking late ass fucking goal.

11th @Stotfold FC (8th)
GK: Shane Chadwick
D: Elliott Burns/Arran Goodchild/Kyle Craig/Wesley Nunn
M: Blaine Gregson/Will Summerfield/Kwasi Frempong
AM: Clive Talbot
S: Stuart Horgan/Jay McGregor

27 - Knock for McGregor

40 - Vicious knock on Nunn.

Jefford for Nunn at the half, because that's one nasty looking injury to try and play through.

54 - Deception games here as McGregor makes it look like he's going forward for a shot, when there's a sudden backpass to Talbot and then to Summerfield. Up to Horgan, pass to McGregor again, back to Talbot and the shot goes in for the kid's first goal of the year! I don't know HTF the defense can scream that's offsides 1-0

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cAvOo37bZ_c?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Kyle Craig was a one man wrecking crew for his 9.0 and PoTM, and an 8.0 for Clive Talbot on that rather pretty goal.

Moves us up to 7th, 9 points back of the lead, but the 2nd place team has 4 games in hand on the leaders and is 5 points back, so that could change in a hurry.

Izulde

08-11-2014, 09:45 AM

Nathan Dynan and one of the DL scrubs we signed both get their walking papers after complaining to the press

8th vs Wingate & Finchley (16th)
GK: Shane Chadwick
D: Elliott Burns/Gavin Lambert/Tom Kemp/Nigel Stockwell
M: Thomas Nunn/Barry Wilfort/Andy Mogwo
AM: Harry Powell
S: Stuart Horgan/Jordan Payne

1 - Ugh. Knock on Payne, but he'll play through.

12 - Nice to see a fluke goal by Mogwo go our way. Gotta say, Wilfort is looking great so far 1-0

14 - Like here, where Wilfort bangs down the header on Chadwick's goal kick, and puts it to Payne's feet. Dribble, dribble through the defense, and *bam*! Hello, happy doubletime! 2-0

79 - Not this shit again. Jefford and Craig in for Stockwell and Kemp and we're going Contain the rest of the way. 2-1

7.6 for Nigel Stockwell, 7.9 for Tom Kemp, 8.2 for PotM Gavin Lambert. 7.8 for Andy Mogwo, 7.5 for Barry Wilfort.

Transfer In - MC Joseph Boakye (25) - From Erith & Belvedere
Ghanaian with 11 Passing, 11 Technique, 11 Creativity, 11 Flair, 10 Influence, 15 Teamwork, 10 Workrate, 14 Natural Fitness, and 10 Pace. Checks in as 5* player and pretty much guarantees we're sticking with the 4-3-1-2 the rest of the year. I'm genuinely excited to get this guy.

Kyle Craig still #2 in interceptions with 211. Despite my coaches hating him rating him, kid just plays like mad.

5th @Hatfield Town (17th)
GK: Shane Chadwick
D: Wesley Nunn/Kyle Craig/Tom Kemp/Lyndon Jefford
M: Blaine Gregson/Will Summerfield/Joseph Boakye
AM: Clive Talbot
S: Jay McGregor/Antwon Bonnick

Lot of guys in need of rest here, so it's a cobbled together lineup.

7 - Can't keep strikers healthy. Moose knocked.

18 - Pfeh. 0-1

33 - Boakye's free kick does nothing, and Kemp's clang shot is blocked, but McGregor fights through the traffic to put his giant hoof on the ball and in 1-1

Goodchild for Kemp and Frempong for Talbot at the break.

77 - Oh look, Craig is knocked, too.

81 - Lot of great passes by Boakye on this drive, including the initial ring passes from him to Summerfield to Gregson to Nunn, which sets up the go-ahead goal. Frankly one of the prettiest I can recall seeing from a shape standpoint 2-1

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/EY8GBaA0_IY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

85 - You knew the Comeback Code was going to kick in, so I'm like a mild fuck you 2-2

Honestly, we've been dicked over so much by the magic late game AI comebacks, I feel like we would be in fucking first place right now or close to it. That's some bitter ass shit to swallow when we're 5th and 9 points out with a game hand. 2nd place is 5 back though and has 4 games in hand still, so that's still capable of a huge reversal.

Jay McGregor's out a week and Tom Kemp gets a week and a half vacation to deal with a nasty ass flu. We just can't catch a break in trying to title chase.

law90026

08-11-2014, 10:59 AM

Izulde

08-11-2014, 11:33 AM

I'm not sure if it's as applicable in FM2014 but the AI will go all out when it's down in the last 10 minutes or so. In games where it's close, it's not a bad idea to change the strategy to the most defensive one possible at that stage (I tend to use counter because I play with higher level teams but something like contain works better).

Perhaps. I run Counter at home and Defensive on the road, so I was already in defensive last game. Not sure Contain would have prevented it, but it's certainly possible. Maybe I'll have to use it more often.

Izulde

08-17-2014, 02:10 PM

5th @North Greenford United (15th)
GK: Shane Chadwick
D: Elliott Burns/Gavin Lambert/Nigel Stockwell/Wesley Nunn
M: Thomas Nunn/Barry Wilfort/Joseph Boakye
AM: Harry Powell
S: Stuart Horgan/Jordan Payne

5 - :banghead: 0-1

34 - How the fuck did we ever get to the 5th place? 0-2

38 - Powell has a beautiful one on one from a Payne pass, and he kicks it right at the fucking keeper.

Goodchild in for Stockwell, Mogwo for Boakye. The whole team has been lousy out there.

We made huge improvements in our second half play, but it results in no highlights of any kind.

Transfer In - GK Pompo Majara (19)
Lesothoan U20 team member who my coaches aren't all that fond of in his current ability, and he was a Waltham Forest backup the last few years. But hey, he's worth a shot, no?

5th vs Haringey Borough (2nd)
GK: Pompo Majara
D: Elliott Burns/Kyle Craig/Nigel Stockwell/Nathan Speed
M: Andy Mogwo/Richie Harwood/Joseph Boakye
AM: Will Sumemrfield
S: Shane Bennett/Jordan Merriman

5 - A knock for Boakye.

13 - Fuck you, frame. Fuck you. 0-1

Gregson for Boakye, Talbot for Summerfield

69 - We're just nowhere near ready to contend for promotion 0-2

Joseph Boakye is out 3 weeks.

Transfer In - ST Romone Barton (20)
Got sent off his last domestic match with Enfield 1893 FC so he'll sit out two games. 10 Free Kicks, 14 Determination, 11 Flair, 12 Teamwork, 14 Work Rate, 10 Balance, 12 Jumping, 10 Natural Fitness, 10 Stamina, 10 Strength. Our newest 5/5 player.

8th @Holmer Green (16th)
GK: Pompo Majara
D: Wesley Nunn/Kyle Craig/Tom Kemp/Nathan Speed
M: Thomas Nunn/Will Summerfield/Andy Mogwo
AM: Harry Powell
S: Jordan Merriman/Jordan Payne

20 - Mogwo tracks down a failed corner and exchanges passes with Summerfield before centering to Payne for the half-volley hit and final snapping of the goal drought 1-0

24 - Great clearance by Craig but the midfield doesn't get there and fuck 1-1

43 - Merriman shoots nervous and shanks an easy one.

54 - Majara is a bust for now Burns in for W Nunn 1-2

67 - Payne is completely hammered by 3 defenders, but it's too little, too late, as he's already sent the ball on to Merriman for the tying goal 2-2

We still can not find an upgrade on the defense or in goal who's willing to sign with us.

Izulde

08-17-2014, 08:15 PM

Bad Trains
Richie Harwood
Tom Kemp
Shane Chadwick
Paul Lawrence

Just $115 profit this month.

10th vs Northwood FC (11th)
GK: Richard Stroud
D: Wesley Nunn/Kyle Craig/Tom Kemp/Nathan Speed
M: Thomas Nunn/Will Summerfield/Andy Mogwo
AM: Harry Powell
S: Jordan Merriman/Jordan Payne

10 - Mogwo makes a header interception to Payne, who dribbles into the box and waits for Merriman to get open. He does, and we've finally got a lead in what feels like forever 1-0

21 - Merriman with an amazing ball forward for Payne at midfield. The keeper comes out and the shot is open, but it's blocked... but Thomas Nunn is there to apply the finish! 2-0

36 - Ugh. Doesn't matter who we put in goal, though Stroud did make a great save earlier 2-1

60 - :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: Burns for W Nunn, Gregson for Mogwo 2-2

80 - Wide open shot for Payne after a beautiful free kick by Speed and he completely assfucks it every which way but in the motherfucking net.

84 - You knew this was going to happen, didn't you? BECAUSE FUCK THE AI LATE GAME MAGIC GOAL BULLSHIT! 2-3

91 - Sure, Thomas Nunn. FUCKING BLOW THAT GOD DAMN EASY ASS FUCKING GOAL LIKE YOU'RE A FUCKING VEGAS HOOKER CARD CUMBUCKET BITCH!

I hate this team so very fucking much.

Stuart Horgan, the 5 goal kid? He just fucking went off to Hadley FC.

14th vs Wembley (20th)
GK: Pompo Majara
D: Wesley Nunn/Kyle Craig/Tom Kemp/Nathan Speed
M: Thomas Nunn/Richie Harwood/Andy Mogwo
AM: Harry Powell
S: Romone Barton/Jordan Merriman

7 - WTF do I even bother? 0-1

22 - Barton kicks it back to Harwood, who slides it over to Nunn. It's Merriman who receives the pass forward, and he dribbles into the box until he finds his spot, and good is his shot. 1-1

Payne in for Mogwo at the half.

59 - How did I fucking guess? 1-2

73 - Burns on for Wesley Nunn

76 - Burns gets the ball and starts a move ending in Nunn to Payne to Merriman. I can't cheer because we're still not fucking winning 2-2

81 - Nunn heads down a goal kick to Merriman, who sends it forward to Barton. He dribbles past everyone, times his shot, and roars it in for a debut goal! Let's contain this shit 3-2

This one was all PotM Jordan Merriman's 8.8 for 2 goals.

Jordan Payne sets the team season assists record with 10.

10th @Hillingdon Borough (13th)
GK: Pompo Majara
D: Elliott Burns/George Gould/Arran Goodchild/Gavin Lambert
M: Barry Willfort/Joseph Boakye/Andy Mogwo
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Jordan Merriman/Jordan Payne

3 - Oh look. Crossbar robbery.

11 - Should've scored there Merriman, even with the defense laying our guys out left and right

19 - Whole lot of passing here, capped off by Boakye to Summerfield to Merriman, who actually dribbles *away* from the goal to find his angle and shoot it in 1-0

27 - Whatever. 1-1

30 - Wilfort recovers a loose ball and the midfield passes it around a bit before Mogwo launches it up to Summerfield in the box. The shot is right at the keeper and pushed away, but Summerfield picks up his own rebound and sinks it 2-1

40 - These are for you, corner kicks. 2-2

54 - Lambert's knocked, so Wesley Nunn will get a redemption shot.

71 - Gregson for Boakye

81 - Fucking of course. Another fucking corner goal kick AND ANOTHER GOD DAMNED MOTHERFUCKING LATE GOAL GIVEN UP TO LOSE THE FUCKING GAME 2-3

And we STILL can't fucking ANYBODY to come in and play on this fucking shitty ass backline to upgrade it. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Qwikshot

08-18-2014, 11:13 AM

Izulde

08-18-2014, 11:55 AM

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/BIGGOALS_zps5e141b56.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/BIGGOALS_zps5e141b56.jpg.html)

So from this and from searching, it appears the FBs should be set to Zonal Marking and Own Area.

Shane Bennett breaks his arm and is out a month.

11th @Enfield Town (20th)
GK: Pompo Majara
D: Elliott Burns/Kyle Craig/Tom Kemp/Wesley Nunn
M: Thomas Nunn/Joseph Boakye/Andy Mogwo
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Romone Barton/Jordan Merriman

17 - Mogwo's knocked out with injury. Gregson in

18 - Yeah, that disallowed goal was correct. Don't be such a bully, Summerfield.

22 - Whole lot of midfield passing, winding up in Summerfield passing to Merriman just outside the box. Rather than go forward, our striker kicks it back to Gregson, who moves into the box and hits a bloop shot that gets a little help from the frame to go in 1-0

Jefford in for a tired Burns at the half.

80 - Magic AI catch up goal magic fucking happens again 1-1

Andy Mogwo is out 4 weeks with a groin tear. This whole fucking season has been a groin tear.

Good Trains
Kwasi Frempong
George Jones
Shane Chadwick

Bad Trains
Tom Kemp

We record our first losing month of the year - $885 in the red. But the board is still pleased despite our fucking inability to win a god damned game.

13th vs Bedford Town (7th)
GK: Pompo Majara
D: Elliott Burns/Kyle Craig/Tom Kemp/Wesley Nunn
M: Thomas Nunn/Joseph Boakye/Blaine Gregson
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Romone Barton/Jordan Merriman

8 - WTF Barton? Key players do not miss easy goals like that!!!!!!!!!!

47 - Harwood in for Thomas Nunn

57 - Powell in for Summerfield

Great work by the backline, and our Lesothoan keeper finally gets a shutout... and of course we don't win. :banghead:

13th @Oxhey Jets (7th)
GK: Pompo Majara
D: Elliott Burns/Kyle Craig/Tom Kemp/Wesley Nunn
M: Thomas Nunn/Joseph Boakye/Richie Harwood
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Romone Barton/Jordan Merriman

Payne in for Barton at the half.

60 - Powell in for Summerfield

65 - I'm about ready to say fuck the Counter and Defensive approaches 0-1

85 - MAGIC LATE GOAL AI AGAIN! 0-2

Offensive highlights we had that game? Zero.

I hate this fucking game, and envy the bastards who are fucking brilliant at it.

Izulde

08-18-2014, 11:57 AM

I'm just glad you are continuing...I'm saddened to see the frustration still.

That being said, should I get free time, you've inspired me to try this game again.

I'm looking at Bath City to start my escapade.

At least it's inspiring people. :)

I've seen a couple places where people have said if you don't manage to promote within the first 2-3 seasons as an Amateur side, you're pretty much dead because of all the semi-pro teams you'll have to contend with.

Izulde

08-18-2014, 04:02 PM

15th @Harefield United (24th)
GK: Pompo Majara
D: Elliott Burns/Kyle Craig/Tom Kemp/Wesley Nunn
M: Thomas Nunn/Will Summerfield/Blaine Gregson
AM: Harry Powell
S: Jordan Merriman/Jordan Payne

11 - A knock for Thomas Nunn but he'll play on.

38 - Terrible clearance by their keeper and Powell puts the longball in 1-0

44 - Merriman with the free kick... and Powell rises above everyone to head it in! 2-0

46 - And of course, literally seconds before the half, they score 2-1

53 - Jefford for Kemp, Boakye for Thomas Nunn.

72 - Payne makes a painful flub of an easy goal.

83 - Boakye gets a loose ball and passes it forward to Merriman for the 20 yard strike, and we drop into Contain. 3-1

86 - Only the post stops them from scoring here.

93 - With seconds left in the game, Merriman nails the free kick and Craig slams home the diving header 4-1

7.5 for Wesley Nunn, 8.4 for Kyle Craig, 7.5 for Elliott Burns, 9.3 and PotM for Harry Powell and 9.2 for Jordan Merriman.

It's hard to get excited about this win, though. We're mired in the mid-table, and the promotion place has pretty much been decided, and it's yet another Amateur team earning their Semi-Pro stripes next year.

Loan In - DR Lewis Dark (28) - From Potters Bar Town
Loaned in until the end of the season and marginally our best DR option at 2.5 stars. Means we can move Wesley Nunn back to DL.

13th @Hanwell Town (5th)
GK: Pompo Majara
D: Wesley Nunn/Tom Kemp/George Gould/Lewis Dark
M: Jordan Payne/Thomas Nunn/Joseph Boakye
AM: Harry Powell
S: Romone Barton/Jordan Merriman

14 - Didn't look offsides to me, but we'll take it.

15 - And then they screw up what should have been an easy goal on a corner

23 - Lazy fucking knockaway by Kemp that no one gets and fuckity fuck fuck fuck fuck 0-1

28 - Great aggressiveness by Powell to charge forward and receive passes from Barton and Merriman. The post denies his first shot, but he surges forth again and gets the rebound to go 1-1

60 - McGregor in for Barton, Jefford on for Dark

72 - Yep, once it hits 70, time for them to fucking get ALL THE GOALS 1-2

Izulde

08-18-2014, 11:11 PM

14th vs AFC Dunstable (5th)
GK: Pompo Majara
D: Wesley Nunn/Kyle Craig/George Gould/Lewis Dark
M: Jordan Payne/Will Summerfield/Joseph Boakye
AM: Harry Powell
S: Romone Barton/Jordan Merriman

11 - Nice runback, block, and retrieve by Boakye, who launches a boomer down the right flank. Merriman picks it up and hits a cross shot on the far side of the box. Keeper deflects, but Powell's on the other side to drop it in uncontested 1-0

32 - Terrible throw-in by Nunn, missed header by Dark Ugh 1-1

Payne moves up to ST to replace Barton and Thomas Nunn slides in to Payne's BWM spot at the half.

64 - Mogwo on for Boakye

Whatevs.

We try to get an AMC prospect in at the deadline but fail.

Good Trains
Richie Harwood
Tom Kemp
Pompo Majara

Bad Trains
Kwasi Frempong
Wesley Nunn
George Jones

$1.7k profit. Board's very pleased.

15th @Hadley United (22nd)
GK: Pompo Majara
D: Wesley Nunn/Kyle Craig/George Gould/Lewis Dark
M: Jordan Payne/Thomas Nunn/Joseph Boakye
AM: Harry Powell
S: Romone Barton/Jordan Merriman

18 - Summerfield to Powell to Barton inside the box, and the opposing goalkeeper can't quite handle the shot. Slips out of his hands and goes in 1-0

29 - Nice way to not try guys 1-1

39 - Lots of probing passing here that ends the run with Boakye to Merriman in the box, and then a slight kickback to Powell for his 10th goal of the year. He's really come on strong these last few games, Harry has. 2-1

56 - Real alpha and omega move here as Powell makes the stealing tackle and delivers the final pass, a nice jump shot to Merriman for the goal 3-1

59 - Dark is faked out of his shorts and Gould gets nailed for a penalty 3-2

93 - Literally SECONDS BEFORE THE FUCKING GAME ENDS, WE GIVE UP A GOD DAMNED FUCKING CORNER KICK GOAL EVEN THOUGH WE'RE ON FUCKING CONTAIN 3-3

Fuck you, magic comeback AI. Fuck this game, again. FUCK YET ANOTHER GOD DAMNED PISSING AWAY OF POINTS RIGHT AT THE VERY FUCKING END!

I do Contain, my backline is already so fucking deep it's a fucking assline. I fucking sub when my players get tired. WHAT THE FUCK ELSE IS THERE?!

Izulde

08-19-2014, 12:45 AM

14th vs Chalfont St Peter (11th)
GK: Pompo Majara
D: Wesley Nunn/Tom Kemp/Arran Goodchild/Lewis Dark
M: Thomas Nunn/Joseph Boakye/Andy Mogwo
AM: Harry Powell
S: Jordan Merriman/Jordan Payne

28 - Rare flub by Powell.

45 - Yep, let them score right when the half ends. Fuck you, FM 0-1

I ream the defense and they freak out. Jefford and Lambert on at DL and DC.

65 - Mogwo is knocked

81 - Majara kicks it to the other team like he got paid money 0-2

5 games left in the year and Heringay Borough has already clinched promotion. 84 points and a +40 GD. Yeah we'll never achieve that.

Our morale's been fine up until that game, but that loss just totally destroyed the team.

15th vs Colney Heath (11th)
GK: Pompo Majara
D: George Gould/Tom Kemp/Kyle Craig/Wesley Nunn
M: Thomas Nunn/Barry Wilfort/Blaine Gregson
AM: Will Summerfield
S: Romone Barton/Jordan Merriman

1 - Cool. They get a redcard 34 seconds in after Summerfield is elbowed in the face.

3 - Barton banks in a rebound. I'm sure they'll make that up by the end of the game 1-0

15 - Kemp with an interception and longball to Barton, who kicks it to Merriman for the easy goal 2-0

18 - Oh look, magic 25 yard goal. Guess we're getting started early 2-1

40 - Nice cross by Gregson to Barton in the box. I don't even care anymore though. Just want to get this season over with 3-1

77 - Gould intercepts, hitting the long ball to Barton. He waits and then strikes, mamba-like, for his hat trick 4-1

So yeah great win and all that, except...

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/Stilldum_zps16274c0a.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/Stilldum_zps16274c0a.jpg.html)

We have had Tactics Only on all fucking season and WE HAVEN'T IMPROVED A SINGLE DAMNED POINT IN ANY FUCKING AREA!

So sick of that bug. It's completely ruining any chance we have of doing anything, so I quit.

JonInMiddleGA

08-19-2014, 01:30 AM

I do Contain, my backline is already so fucking deep it's a fucking assline. I fucking sub when my players get tired. WHAT THE FUCK ELSE IS THERE?!

What do your Composure & Determination ratings look like?

Izulde

08-19-2014, 01:54 AM

What do your Composure & Determination ratings look like?

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/compcondet_zps09b80adf.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/compcondet_zps09b80adf.jpg.html)

Qwikshot

08-19-2014, 07:58 AM

I just think you need to move up to the bottom available division with the game. That or if you are a glutton for punishment select a No. Ireland or Welsh team, or a Scottish bottom feeder. You won't have to worry about any bugs.

Whenever I get a crap team, I look to the defense first.

Do I have a good goalie, if not can I loan one in?
How are my center defenders, I don't need them to be fast or pacy, I just need them to sit in the back and crush any incoming striker, they need not be fast but smart (so I would think positioning is key).
I just want my wingbacks to move it up to the line and distribute to my mids, from there, I hope I have enough talent on the o to generate a few goals (A nice old but smart striker does wonders, a young loan striker is nice too)

That being said, I suck at the game too.

Once I have a solid D, it's about a strong midfield to hold possession and dish to the O.

Izulde

08-19-2014, 09:28 AM

I may try applying to a Semi-Pro gig if one opens up... either that or ride it out until London Colney saves up enough money to go Semi-Pro. They have $124.4k in the bank right now, with an expectation to drop to $122k at season's end. Still a $12k profit projected on the year.

Izulde

08-19-2014, 10:40 AM

13th @Klingsbury Town Tigers (23rd)
GK: Pompo Majara
D: Wesley Nunn/Tom Kemp/Kyle Craig/Lewis Dark
M: Thomas Nunn/Will Summerfield/Joseph Boakye
AM: Harry Powell
S: Romone Barton/Jordan Merriman

3 - Powell on the corner and Craig heads it in 1-0

11 - Bitchass free kick goals 1-1

40 - Fuck this game 1-2

42 - It's like the results are pre-determined 1-3

43 - Keeper drops the ball and Barton drills it. Look at all the fucks I do not give 2-3

86 - Yeah. I'm resigning after this game. So tired of the bullshit. 4-2

Actually, I won't resign. I'll just go on vacation and see how my assman does.

So what happens?

3-1 W - Hemel Hempstead Town
2-0 W - North Greenford United
1-0 W - St. Margaretsbury

My assman went with an Attacking Strategy the last few games and we finish in 12th place.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/finalfam_zps8787ffc5.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/finalfam_zps8787ffc5.jpg.html)

...Yeah. Advance to Competent in 2 areas and go all the way back in everything else.

Good Yearly Trains
Harry Powell
Pompo Majara

Bad Yearly Trains
Harry Powell

Kwasi Frempong officially retires.

I get an offer from a Semi-Pro team, but they're in debt, so no.

More offers from semi-pro teams that don't interest me. Obviously all Amateur team sides are rejected.

And then along comes an offer I can't refuse.

Izulde

08-19-2014, 04:41 PM

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/Goole_AFC_logo_zpsbc521e42.png (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/Goole_AFC_logo_zpsbc521e42.png.html)
Goole AFC Vikings
A perennial Level 8 side, they promoted to Level 7 via playoffs last year and promptly finished last in the Northern Premier, so they're dropping back down to Level 8. They're also bleeding money, estimated to lose almost $300k this year, despite spending only $31.4k of their $189k wage budget. It's a bit of a masochistic challenge, but one I can't resist. Interestingly enough, they offered me $14.25k for one season. I kept countering for two years, and they insisted on one, finally raising the pay to $16.5k, so at that point I said F it, and took it.

Their only staff is a Head Physio and a Head Scout. Oh, and me, so the Vikings really ran a bare-bones operation here.

New Signing: Simon King - 35 year old Assman
16 Defending, 12 Fitness, 10 Tactical, 14 Technical, 12 Working With Youngsters, 14 Judge Player Ability, 11 Judge Player Potential. We hit a real homerun with this guy and lock him up until 2021 on a $9,250 a year deal. He gives us 2* coaching 6 different areas.

The previous manager snuck in some re-signings under me that get announced after I'm hired, which is a little irritating. Even more obnoxious - the wage budget is slashed to $86k.

Goalkeepers
Jonno Loft - 3.5/5
Arron Pratt - 2.5/2.5

Defensive Left
Joe Edwards - 3.5/4
Anthony Waterton - 2.5/5
Sam Williamson - 2/2
Kevin Grocott - 1.5/1.5
Dominic Durrant - 1/2.5

Defensive Center
Dominic Durrant - 4/5
Sam Topliss - 2/4
Kevin Grocott - 2/2
Grant Archibald - 1.5/5
Sam Williamson - 1.5/1.5
Ryan Clarke - 1/1

Defensive Right
Stephen Chiocchi - 3.5/3.5
Sam Topliss - 2/4
Kevin Grocott - 2/2
Ryan Clarke - 1/1

Middle Left
Anthony Waterton - 4 silver/2.5

Middle Center
Reece Webb - 2.5/5
Marlon Davidson - 2/4.5
Andy Pugh - 2/5
Liam Richardson - 2/3.5
Ryan Clarke - 0.5/0.5
Grant Archibald - 4 silver/2.5
Billy Kinney - 3.5 silver/1

Middle Right
Andy Pugh - 2.5/5
Ryan Clarke - 0.5/0.5

AMC
Billy Kinney - 3.5 silver/1

AMR
Andy Pugh - 5 silver/3

Striker
Sam Topliss - 2/4
Grant Archibald - 1.5/5
Billy Kinney - 1/4

First thing I do is go through and cut everyone making a salary who isn't at least a 4* potential player by my assman's view. There are a lot of very stupid long-term youth contracts signed by the previous managerand none of them will accept mutual termination so I have to put the whole fucking U18 team on sell at any price or sell and release :banghead: :banghead:

I don't like these per appearance and per whatever fees at all. They end up being much more than a flat-rate contract would be.

Andy Pugh signs with Harrogate Railway Athletic. The international young diamonds in the rough we try to sign get rejected after our work permit appeals fail.

Transfer In - ST Matty Hamilton (22) - From Warrington Town
12 Finishing, 12 Aggression, 11 Flair, 11 Influence, 11 Acceleration, 11 Agility, 11 Pace. Signed on a non-contract that pays him $45 per appearance and $45 per goal. Cheap enough for someone who at 2/5 is a starter.

I then go through and release everyone who is making way too much money on a P/A contract, which turns out to be pretty much everyone. I'm starting to see why this club is in such dire financial straits.

Gareth Archibald signs with Garforth Town. Sam Williamson signs with Brigg Town. Liam Murray goes to Prescott Cables. Marlon Davidson goes to Carlton Town.

We're probably not done with the purge and we have just 6 players under any form of agreement with the senior team. That goes down to 5 when Reece Webb signs with Heringey Borough, the team that just destroyed the league I was just in.

Transfer In - DLC Brian Haskins (21) - From Brigg Town
Absolutely dominant at this level and has just one physical attribute lower than a 9 (7 in Acceleration). On a P/A deal of $150 a pop, which is more than I wanted to spend (at 30 appearances that's $4,500 a year), but he's too quality to pass up.

Despite only having 7 players in total under contract, the board still wants a mid-table finish. Those fucking U18 kids who got a long contract still won't accept a mutual termination.

Transfer In - DC/Director of Football Operations Adam Docker (32)
Our level of talent has degraded to the point such that Brian Haskins is now a 5* player and this Pakistani with the very English name is 2.5*. He'll get paid $90 P/A and insisted on the Director of Football title. Whatever, man. You're not going to have shit to do. ...Or maybe you will. He's a slightly better scout than my Chief Scout, so I'll let him handle the scouting duties.

Transfer In - MC/AMC/ST David Parsons (20)
USA! USA! USA! $100 for each goal and $100 P/A. 11 Aggression, 11 Composure, 10 Determination, 12 Flair, 11 Agility, 10 Balance, 10 Pace. He'll start in the midfield by default.

Transfer In - DLR Danny Brown (20)
Cayman Islander who kept insisting on a $120 P/A contract. I can't get anyone to sign a long-term deal with me. Even one of the internationals I keep trying to sign is now downgraded from guaranteed contract to a P/A one. 10 Flair, 10 Agility, 11 Natural Fitness, 10 Pace, 10 Stamina. Our starter on the right side.

Between these signings and the U-18 callups, we have enough players to start some formations and not others.

We can only field 10 of 11 starters for a 4-4-2, for example. Obviously we'll need to/try to sign more players, but I figured I would post the guys I've signed so y'all could A: Laugh at how awful this team is, and B: See if you had any suggestions for how I might make something of this hodgepodge of cheap-ass mercaneries.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/MHamilton_zpsc7526292.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/MHamilton_zpsc7526292.jpg.html)

Izulde

08-19-2014, 06:31 PM

Transfer In - DR Grant Cook (21)
10 Technique, 12 Determination, 11 Acceleration, 11 Natural Fitness. $80 P/A Backup.

Transfer In - DR Taylor Hall (20)
10 Technique, 10 Aggression, 19 Bravery, 14 Determination, 12 Influence, 10 Workrate, 13 Acceleration, 11 Agility, 12 Natural Fitness, 12 Pace, 11 Stamina $100 P/A Key Player.

Transfer In - ST Leeroy Chinthengah (25)
Very pricey striker by our new cheap standards with a $220 P/A and $35 goal bonus. But 10 Dribbling, 11 Finishing, 13 First Touch, 10 Heading, 10 Aggression, 11 Composure, 16 Flair, 13 Teamwork, 10 Workrate, 11 Natural Fitness... yeah, he's worth every penny of that Key Player contract.

Transfer In - MC/ST Brian Denton (20)
Our first multi-year signing, for $3.3k a year through 2021 with no bonuses of any kind. A little worrying that he stunk up the lower level, but 17 Bravery, 12 Determination, 18 Flair, 11 Influence, 10 Workrate, 12 Jumping, 10 Natural Fitness. 5 silver/5*.

Anthony Waterton signs with Brigg Town so yeah...

Transfer In - MC/DMC Jimmy Wilcox (20)
10 First Touch, 13 Technique, 14 Determination, 11 Teamwork, 12 Workrate, 10 Balance, 11 Natural Fitness. Either 100 or 110 P/A I forget which.

Transfer In - MC/DMC Sonny Egginton (21)
10 First Touch, 16 Technique, 13 Aggression, 13 Bravery, 17 Determination, 13 Influence, 11 Workrate, 12 Acceleration, 11 Natural Fitness, 10 Stamina. Either 100 or 110 P/A I forget which.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/flairflair_zps4e4876e5.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/flairflair_zps4e4876e5.jpg.html)

We're going to try that starting out. For some reason, I never seem to have any luck finding wide midfielders :lol:

Izulde

08-19-2014, 07:18 PM

Bosnia-Herzegovnia and Serbia join the EU.

Billy Penney signs with Osset Albion.

Transfer In - DL Mick Deakin (20)
10 Tackling, 11 Aggression, 14 Bravery, 10 Determination, 11 Influence, 7 or higher in every single physical rating. $160 P/A

Transfer In - GK Jimmy Barlow (20)
10 Command of Area, 15 Eccentricity, 10 Reflexes, 13 Aggression, 10 Determination, 10 Balance, 16 Jumping, 12 Natural Fitness. $160 P/A

Transfer In - MC/AMC Frank Futcher (20)
11 Crossing, 10 Free Kick, 11 Passing, 10 Technique, 10 Determination, 10 Flair, 11 Off Ball, 11 Balance, 14 Natural Fitness, 11 Stamina. $30 P/G, $150 P/A

Transfer In - DM/MC Gareth Muldowney (20)
12 First Touch, 10 Heading, 10 Passing, 10 PK, 14 Aggression, 13 Determination, 11 Teamwork, 12 Balance, 11 Natural Fitness. I forget what P/G, but $200 P/A

Friendly @Arnold Town
GK: Jonno Loft
D: Mick Deakin/Brian Haskins/Adam Docker/Taylor Hall
DM: Gareth Muldowney
M: David Parson/Brian Denton
AM: Frank Futcher
S: Matty Hamilton/Leeroy Chinthengah

12 - One long ball by the opponents on a break and they score 0-1

18 - Our goalie sucks dick 0-2

51 - Docker's knocked out. Forget subs in a friendly

63 - Chinthengah gets the ball outside the box, then turns around and lays it in for Futcher for the goal 1-2

66 - Futcher to Chinthengah, who doesn't like his options and sends it to Denton. There's wide open space in the middle just outside the box, and Futcher takes advantage of the small cross to equalize 2-2

Massive second half improvement, but we lose Adam Docker for 3-4 months, our first really serious injury of this winding universe.

JonInMiddleGA

08-19-2014, 07:54 PM

I don't like these per appearance and per whatever fees at all. They end up being much more than a flat-rate contract would be.

Learn to live would be my advice. I hated 'em myself but they're good for staying waaaaay under my wage budget (and that increases my job security). Playing the L9 U.S. mod, those players were over half my team for the first couple of years, and in season 5 I still only have 13 players on "normal" contracts vs 12 on p/a deals. And about 40 or so on those $40/wk - $70/wk deals.

Now that's in FM14 so I'm not sure how much has changed there vs 13 but in the lowest levels they seem to be a fact of life now. Now I've also basically been printing money for 3 seasons (good cup performances & a shit ton of cash from finishing 3rd-8th-3rd-1st in four season ... an area the mod way overpowered IMO) but best I can tell whether you hate the p/a deals or learn to live with them, that's how the players are wired. The only way I've found to finally kind of work around it -- and even then only sometimes -- is to overpay by something like weekly is a bit more than what they wanted p/a and then a p/a bonus of about half that amount (too low & they'll often cut off negotiations & abandon you)

bbgunn

08-19-2014, 11:02 PM

Bosnia-Herzegovnia and Serbia join the EU.

This happens in the game? Wow...

Izulde

08-20-2014, 02:55 PM

Learn to live would be my advice. I hated 'em myself but they're good for staying waaaaay under my wage budget (and that increases my job security). Playing the L9 U.S. mod, those players were over half my team for the first couple of years, and in season 5 I still only have 13 players on "normal" contracts vs 12 on p/a deals. And about 40 or so on those $40/wk - $70/wk deals.

Now that's in FM14 so I'm not sure how much has changed there vs 13 but in the lowest levels they seem to be a fact of life now. Now I've also basically been printing money for 3 seasons (good cup performances & a shit ton of cash from finishing 3rd-8th-3rd-1st in four season ... an area the mod way overpowered IMO) but best I can tell whether you hate the p/a deals or learn to live with them, that's how the players are wired. The only way I've found to finally kind of work around it -- and even then only sometimes -- is to overpay by something like weekly is a bit more than what they wanted p/a and then a p/a bonus of about half that amount (too low & they'll often cut off negotiations & abandon you)

Yeah I'm using roughly $11k of my $83k wage budget, and most of that is tied up in the young idiots the previous regime paid the big bucks to. And at least my most expensive P/A is $220 whereas the old management had quite a few players making $300-400 P/A.

This happens in the game? Wow...

Yep. Pretty cool.

Izulde

08-20-2014, 03:39 PM

Friendly @Lincoln Moorlands Railway
GK: Jimmy Barlow
D: Danny Brown/Brian Haskins/Gareth Anderson/Grant Cook
DM: Gareth Muldowney
M: Jimmy Wilcox/Sonny Egginton
AM: Frank Futcher
S: Simon Stead/Leeroy Chinthengah

Yeah we need to get more bodies in here. We tried getting a few more U20/U21/U23 internationals from various places, but none of them want to talk to us.

36 - And this is a team we're supposed to beat by a basketball scoreline 0-1

42 - Beautiful pass by Futcher, but Stead shanks the open shot.

46 - Just before half, Chinthengah gets absolutely wrecked on a sliding tackle, but Stead redeems himself by pushing past the defense and shooting the ball in 1-1

47 - Chinthengah makes the defense look silly on the left side of the box, and I'm actually chuckling at the flailing. Ball crosses to Stead, who kicks it right at the keeper. Goalie can't hang on and Stead puts in his own rebound 2-1

Sure Simon Stead got 8.9 with 2 goals, but it was Brian Haskins with a 9.0 who won the match. 8.1 for Gareth Anderson, too. Would have/should have won by a bigger margin, but this is a new system and a new group of guys, so it's going to take time.

Speaking of, time to hit the shower and head off to orientation.

JonInMiddleGA

08-20-2014, 05:02 PM

Leeroy Chinthengah

Hey, a familiar face. He was on my Blyth squad for at least 2-3 seasons.

Qwikshot

08-21-2014, 08:25 AM

Got to play for an hour last night. I took the helm of Whitehawk, and it's been fun.

I do like on the tactics screen how you can really set up a nice formation with special instructions.

Currently, I'm playing with a 3-6-1. The goalie on the team is just not that good, but the defense showed promise. We have one good striker.

Figuring on this. I made there central defenders (two have good stopper skills). My wingers are so-so but I did manage to pick up on free a speedy RW who has somewhat decent cross skills.

My defenders are meant to stay on d and not really be a part of the offense, get it to midfield.

I have a defensive mid to help and basically channel to the 3 mids and the wingers.

So far, it's worked well.

I did manage to upgrade a position here and there but I really wish I could become a feeder team. I think one nice loan striker with talent and I could be really dangerous.

So thanks, I'll let you know how I do.

JonInMiddleGA

08-21-2014, 09:14 AM

I did manage to upgrade a position here and there but I really wish I could become a feeder team.

Or you could have my luck.

1st season at Georgia Revolution I got a parent club ... but the board found one that was 2 levels ahead of me so in 4 years only one single player was ever willing to come to me on loan. And he got hurt after 6 matches.

Qwikshot

08-21-2014, 09:48 AM

Or you could have my luck.

1st season at Georgia Revolution I got a parent club ... but the board found one that was 2 levels ahead of me so in 4 years only one single player was ever willing to come to me on loan. And he got hurt after 6 matches.

Yeah...I figure I'll have to at least promotion to the next level.

Izulde

08-24-2014, 01:55 AM

Looking forward to hearing how you go further, Qwikshot. 3-6-1 seems pretty inventive a formation.

Izulde

08-24-2014, 01:56 AM

Hey, a familiar face. He was on my Blyth squad for at least 2-3 seasons.

I forget - how'd he do?

Izulde

08-24-2014, 03:23 AM

vs Armthorpe Welfare
GK: Jimmy Barlow
D: Mick Deakin/Brian Haskins/Gareth Anderson/Taylor Hall
DM: Gareth Muldowney
M: Brian Denton/Alex Habergham
AM: David Parsons
S: Matty Hamilton/Leeroy Chinthengah

Forgot to go look for more DC, so we're running tired in that area.

4 - I love Muldowney's ironman nature. He's started all three games and here retrieves a clearance of his own pass to head it to Habergham. Parsons takes the ensuing pass and dribbles to the box line before firing into the upper right corner. USA USA USA! 1-0

7 - LOL. They backpass, only the defender suddenly runs ahead and the keeper charges forward... perfect for Chinthengah to beat everyone and put it in the literally unguarded net 2-0

8.4 by PotM Brian Haskins and 7.5 for Leeroy Chinthengah as it was an overall strong performance by a team that's starting to maybe look comfortable playing together.

vs Mossley (Friendly)
GK: Jimmy Barlow
D: Danny Brown/Brian Haskins/Gareth Anderson/Grant Cook
DM: Gareth Muldowney
M: Jimmy Wilcox/Sonny Egginton
AM: Frank Futcher
S: Matty Hamilton/Simon Stead

11 - Corner kick allowed goal oof 0-1

27 - Haskins head clears to Futcher to start a counter that ends in Stead kicking it back to Wilcox and up to Hamilton for the box-boundary goal 1-1

87 - Fucking 30 yard fluke goal 1-2

We lost $5.25k last month due to paying off the last of a loan, so hopefully this will be the start of a turnaround financially.

Transfer In - MC/AMC Craig Russell (17)
Gorgeous physical attributes - 14 Acceleration, 11 Agility, 13 Natural Fitness, 13 Pace, and some interesting Mental - 10 Aggression, 13 Determination, 15 Flair, 12 Workrate. 1/5 at AMC, 1/4.5 at MC. $55 goal bonus, $70 P/A fee. Really, really wanted to sign this kid to a long term contract but he wasn't having it.

Transfer In - DC Abs Wickenden (19)
16 Jumping, 15 Natural Fitness, 12 Stamina as my usual 6'8 workhorse. $130 P/A fee. 2.5/5 and an instant starter, though I really want him on a long-term contract, too. I've noticed, however, that the only guys willing to take on actual contracts are ones who suck.

Transfer In - DLC Roger Sedgewick (17)
$45 P/A is all he wanted. 12 Aggression, 13 Composure, 13 Determination, 13 Teamwork, 17 Workrate, 10 Balance, 16 Jumping, 17 Natural Fitness, 12 Stamina, and another 6'8 defender. 1.5/5 as DC, 1/5 as DL.

[b]@Harrogate Railway Athletic
GK: Jimmy Barlow
D: Mick Deakin/Roger Sedgewick/Abs Wickenden/Taylor Hall
DM: Sonny Egginton
M: Brian Denton/David Parsons
AM:Craig Russell
S: Simon Stead/Leeroy Chinthengah

20 - Feels like we just played these guys. Wickenden own goal 0-1

45 - Yeah this is shaping up as a terrible debut for the new guys. Russell is knocked out with injury.

56 - When you have 5 straight clearances go right to the opponent, you know they're going to score 0-2

Team played like shit in the last friendly. Not a good way to go into the games that count.

JonInMiddleGA

08-24-2014, 08:12 AM

I forget - how'd he do?

He was sort of frustrating for me. He'd have moments and appear to be ready to break through but ultimately didn't.

Izulde

08-25-2014, 03:34 AM

Some Level 9 team keeps begging to have one of my DCs on loan. I tell them to fuck off. Even more important when Roger Sedgewick goes down for 2 months with a training injury. FFS. We *just* got him in, too.

I go against my assman's recommendations and appoint Matty Hamilton as Captain (assman said to make him vice) and Taylor Hall as vice-captain.

Just about everyone is thrilled with Hamilton as team captain, but the 23 year old, who happens to be our 3rd oldest player, feels like it's too much pressure at such a young age. Uh, okay buddy.

vs Loughborough Dynamo
G: Jimmy Barlow
D: Mick Deakin/Brian Haskins/Gareth Anderson/Taylor Hall
DM: Gareth Muldowney
M: Brian Denton/David Parsons
AMC: Frank Futcher
S: Matty Hamilton/Leeroy Chinthengah

For some reason Abs Wickenden got hit with a 4 match suspension for being sent off even though I swear he didn't get sent off. Must have been from his prior club. That's going to hurt us, considering all the fucking DC injuries we have, and the fixture crunch at the start of the year.

21 - Futcher on the corner hits to the far post where Haskins outjumps the defense for an easy header goal 1-0

63 - This is what I love about Muldowney. Even when he makes a mistake, like he does kicking a pass directly into a defender, he recovers from it. Gets possession back and sends it into space for Parsons to pick up, dribble into the box, and slot a neat one home 2-0

70 - Wilcox on for Denton

83 - Chinthengah goes off with injury, forcing me to put Stead in.

87 - "Parsons didn't mean that!" I am so fucking sick and tired of these motherfucking fluke goals the AI keeps getting. Down to Contain, ugh 2-1

Matching 8.1s for Brian Haskins and Frank Futcher, but it was the F-Man who wins PotM. 7.6 for American David Parsons.

We sell 31 season tickets, but the board complains because we sold 39 last year. Well, what do you expect with a drop in division? Sheesh.

4th @Northwich Victoria (18th)
G: Jimmy Barlow
D: Mick Deakin/Brian Haskins/Gareth Anderson/Taylor Hall
DM: Gareth Muldowney
M: Jimmy Wilcox/Brian Denton
AMC: Frank Futcher
S: Matty Hamilton/Leeroy Chinthengah

1 - Excellent header interception on a goal by Muldowney, and the end of the move is Futcher passing to Chinthengah, then striding forward to take the return pass into the box and firing a beaut of a score 1-0

12 - Three straight setups by Hall and we can't convert a single one. The last, too high header by Futcher particularly nauseated.

17 - ...Really? REALLY? TWO STRAIGHT "HOW DID HE MANAGE TO MISS THAT?"?!?! This one by Chinthengah. We should be up 3-0 by now.

60 - Denton beautifully intercepts after Chinthengah races off too fast and allows the offense to head the ball down on our goal kick. Finisher here is Deakin hitting a blooper that I thought was meant for Futcher and so did the defense, who collapses on our AMC, but it instead takes a bounce into space for Chinthengah to stride forth and sink it. 2-0

75 - Drop to Contain. Egginton in for Denton

85 - Haskins is knocked, but I have literally no one who can fill in at DC. We'll have to ride it out.

What a great job by the backline. 9.0s for Brian Haskins and Mick Deakin, the latter earning PotM. 8.0 for Taylor Hall and 7.5 for Gareth Anderson. Up front we had 8.3s for Frank Futcher and Leeroy Chinthengah.;

We're also in 1st place. But of course we lose Haskins for 3 weeks, further killing our DC stocks

Izulde

08-25-2014, 07:53 AM

Transfer In - DCR Andy Roberts (22) - From Armthorpe Welfare
Yeah, yeah we just beat these guys 2-0 in a friendly, and the $90 P/A is a little steep. But 11 Tackling, 10 Marking, 13 Aggression, 13 Influence, 10 Balance, 10 Jumping, 10 Stamina, and we could be doing a lot worse for an emergency stopgap.

Transfer In - ST Ciaran Williams (18)
$1.7k annual salary through 2021 that goes to $2.3k a year after 30 games. Probably could have talked him down cheaper, but oh well. 10 Penalty Kicks, 11 Aggression, 11 Flair, 11 Acceleration, 13 Balance, 16 Natural Fitness, 11 Pace, 11 Stamina. Our 4th striker by the rankings, but since Parsons is an AMC/MC ideally, the kid essentially becomes our 3rd striker. 4.5 silver/5

1st vs Rainworth Miners Welfare (15th)
G: Jimmy Barlow
D: Mick Deakin/Andy Roberts/Gareth Anderson/Taylor Hall
DM: Gareth Muldowney
M: David Parsons/Brian Denton
AMC: Frank Futcher
S: Matty Hamilton/Leeroy Chinthengah

Egginton at DM and Russell at AM at the half, as we're playing a little lethargically out there, though the defense is still playing fantastically.

91 - Let's throw Williams in to try and catch them napping.

It's the first game I've ever seen without a single highlight. Ouch. My guess is they parked the bus to get the draw, and well, it worked.

Transfer In - DM Stewart Mulvaney (20) - From Maine Road
I wasn't planning on signing another DM, but my assman kept raving about him. 10 Penalty Kicks, 12 Teamwork, 12 Workrate, 10 Balance, 12 Pace, 11 Stamina. $120 P/A and clocks in at 3.5/5. What this means is that we can move Gareth Muldowney to MC, where he's 3.5 (and better than the 2.5 at DMC), and make our midfield that much stronger.

4th vs Romulus FC (10th)
G: Jimmy Barlow
D: Mick Deakin/Andy Roberts/Gareth Anderson/Taylor Hall
DM: Gareth Muldowney
M: Brian Denton/David Parsons
AMC: Frank Futcher
S: Matty Hamilton/Leeroy Chinthengah

Our newest signing is still tired from his last match with his old club, so he'll sit out this one.

17 - Knock for Parsons

20 - Knock for Denton. What the hell is this? Both our MCs getting dinged one right after the other.

38 - They really should have scored there. Weak effort.

Egginton at DM and Muldowney slides up to MC, with Russell coming on to take the other spot.

61 - Sigh. Time to attack 0-1

And a whole big pile of nothing. Half the team gets pissed off when I praise the defense, who did do a bang-up jump, and then more people get butthurt when I tell the rest of them they didn't do their fucking job. We also lose David Parsons for 2 weeks.

We made a profit of $46.8k last month, but that's due to the board infusing $55k. They're satisfied, but also say "your one saving grace is financial control, which has been satisfactory". Oh, fuck you.

7th @Ilkeston FC (13th)
G: Jimmy Barlow
D: Mick Deakin/Abs Wickenden/Gareth Anderson/Taylor Hall
DM: Stewart Mulvaney
M: Gareth Muldowney/Brian Denton
AMC: Frank Futcher
S: Matty Hamilton/Leeroy Chinthengah

20 - Yeah, you were so blatantly offsides even the popcorn vendor saw it, Hamilton

44 - And now you shank an easy goal Hamilton? No wonder Chinthengah says he can't get motivated with you as captain.

56 - Yay for not marking a guy on a corner 0-1

70 - Russell for Futcher, Egginton for Denton

82 - Deakin is knocked.

Sound familiar? Hot streak followed by being unable to buy a fucking goal? We played well enough to win, too. Including a 9.0 from Abs Wickenden.

On the other hand, injuries continue to pile up, as Mick Deakin goes out for 4 weeks.

14th @Newcastle Town (8th)
G: Jimmy Barlow
D: Brian Haskins/Abs Wickenden/Gareth Anderson/Taylor Hall
DM: Stewart Mulvaney
M: Gareth Muldowney/Brian Denton
AMC: Frank Futcher
S: Matty Hamilton/Leeroy Chinthengah

Williams comes in for Hamilton at half, as we continue to have real problems on offense.

79 - Russell in for Denton

94 - Argh! Chinthengah with a great chance for the dramatic late win, and he shanks it.

15th vs Heanor Town (17th)
G: Jimmy Barlow
D: Mick Deakin/Abs Wickenden/Gareth Anderson/Taylor Hall
DM: Stewart Mulvaney
M: David Parsons/Brian Denton
AMC: Frank Futcher
S: Matty Hamilton/Leeroy Chinthengah

5 - Anderson gets destroyed and I'm shocked there's no call. Instead, they score 0-1

8 - Mulvaney booms it to Hamilton in the box, and just as they're about to wipe Matty Sucks out, he crosses to Chinthengah for the immediate answer 1-1

56 - Williams in for Hamilton; Russell for Denton

62 - Because we don't have enough backline injuries, Anderson is knocked out and Roberts comes in.

80 - Parsons wings it out to Chinthengah, who immediately heads it to Futcher in the box. Dribbling forward until he finds his spot, and *bam*! Down to Contain we go 2-1

82 - But wait! Here's Futcher on the corner finding Wickenden's head for the insurance! 3-1

90 - One of their players goes off with a red! Cool note that the opposition is "losing their discipline"

91 - Parsons passes to Chinthengah, who slides it on over to Williams on the box boundary. The defense's effort to tackle it away fails, an the 18 year old looks up, sets his shot, and hammers in his first ever goal for us! 4-1

Accolades: PotM Abs Wickenden with 8.7, Brian Haskins with 7.8, Frank Futcher with 8.4, Leeroy Chinthengah netting an 8.3, and Ciaran Williams with a 7.6 and maybe getting his shot to be a starting striker.

And because of the rules of this universe dictate that bad shit has to immediately follow good shit, we lose Gareth Anderson for 4 weeks. Still, have to be happy with our first win in 5 games, a triumph that vaults us back up into 8th

8th vs Lincoln United (23rd)
G: Jimmy Barlow
D: Mick Deakin/Abs Wickenden/Andy Roberts/Taylor Hall
DM: Stewart Mulvaney
M: Gareth Muldowney/Brian Denton
AMC: Frank Futcher
S: Ciaran Williams/Leeroy Chinthengah

12 - Obvious offsides is obvious.

21 - ...Really? WE'RE FUCKING LOSING TO THE 2ND WORST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE?! 0-1

Muldowney to DM, Parsons at MC and Hamilton in for Williams, who has completely cracked under the pressure of starting.

53 - ANOTHER FUCKING FLUKE GOAL?! YOU HAVE *GOT* TO BE SHITTING ME! 0-2

65 - Chinthengah is knocked. Rigged game is fucking rigged.

And oh look [b]Leeroy Chinthengah is out 4-5 weeks. EVERY FUCKING GAME IT HURTS ONE OF MY STARTERS FOR MULTIPLE WEEKS. FUCK YOU, FM! FUCK YOU UP THE GIANT ASS WITH FUCKING THORNY POGO STICK FOR YOUR RIGGING GAMES AND INJURING ALL MY PLAYERS

Izulde

08-26-2014, 12:35 AM

11th @Corby Town (10th)
G: Jimmy Barlow
D: Brian Haskins/Abs Wickenden/Andy Roberts/Taylor Hall
DM: Stewart Mulvaney
M: Gareth Muldowney/Brian Denton
AMC: Frank Futcher
S: Matty Hamilton/Ciaran Williams

Going to run with a Counter strategy here since we're such big dogs.

29 - Why bother to clear out corners? They just get it back anyway and score 0-1

60 - Muldowney to DM, Parsons in. Stead for Hamilton at ST.

Our strikers continue to be major disappointments, even as our backline keeps playing well.

Current relegation candidates Retford United sign Jonno Loft away on $7.75k until the end of the season.

13th @Dunkirk (12th)
G: Jimmy Barlow
D: Brian Haskins/Abs Wickenden/Andy Roberts/Danny Brown
DM: Stewart Mulvaney
M: Gareth Muldowney/Sonny Egginton
AMC: Frank Futcher
S: Matty Hamilton/David Parsons

Again heavy dogs on the road, so again Counter. Going to try Parsons up front to see if that can enliven our moribund offense. Oh hey, look... Dunkirk is running the same formation we are.

14 - We should be able to switch to defending set pieces soon 0-1

23 - At least I was right about Parsons. He takes the pop pass from Futcher, dribbles until he's just on the box boundary, and then fires it in. Does me good to see an American succeed 1-1

38 - Futcher makes a great heading interception and later makes a pass to Parsons, who sends it just ahead of Hamilton. Our team captain who hates his job runs through the seam and hits an aerial ball outside the box that drops down and in to finally give him his first goal for us! 2-1

40 - First Mulvaney gives the ball away cheaply, killing an attack. Then he misses a tackle in the box that lets them answer back immediately. He's *really* struggled for us, and I think it's time he got benched 2-2

51 - Just keep giving up those corner goals, guys 2-3

60 - Muldowney to DM, Russell at MC and Hall in for Brown at DR.

72 - Switch to Attacking.

We really played well enough to win, but once again end up on the short end of the stick. V.V. frustrating.

Transfer In - ST Roger Horner (21) - From Boston Town
$3.8k a year, $120 Loyalty Bonus, signed through 2021. My assman gushed about the kid's potential, though he's not there yet (5 silver/5). Some intriguing ratings, though - 10 Determination, 10 Flair, 14 Influence, 10 Off Ball, 17 Teamwork, 13 Workrate, 10 Agility, 12 Pace... and he's the first player we've had whose best role is as Target Man. Matty Hamilton, who'd been playing there, had it as #3.

@Mossley (Northern League Challenge Cup 1st Round)
G: Jimmy Barlow
D: Mick Deakin/Abs Wickenden/Brian Haskins/Taylor Hall
DM: Sonny Egginton
M: Jimmy Wilcox/Brian Denton
AMC: Craig Russell
S: Matty Hamilton/David Parsons

I apologize for any errors in forgetting to note that Brian Haskins has been playing DL in Deakin's absence, with the switch now occurring. Obviously not much chance of a win here, but oh well. Remember, we lost to these guys in preseason on a 30 yard fluke goal, and that's with a stronger lineup than we have here.

Despite a couple efforts on their part, we hold them scoreless in the first half, so I'm going to try ambushing them with an Attack at the start of the second half.

55 - Awful pass by Egginton and we keep clearing it out right to them. Sure wish I knew how to stop that shit. Williams on for the now useless Parsons 0-1

62 - Another terrible pass by someone, and Haskins just stands there like a dipshit on the rebound, easy score for them 0-2

69 - We give up now 0-3

81 - I've noticed Hamilton has only scored in losses so far 1-3

And then it happens.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/FMError_zps916d3666.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/FMError_zps916d3666.jpg.html)

I just lost everything that happened in this update. So now what? Do I try and sign Roger Horner at the same time? Get him earlier? Obviously I have to accept the replay results (which may not be a bad thing).